How To Save Yourself From Being Targeted By The Anemo Archon In Genshin Impact? - Chapter 5

The timeline shifts back to fifteen minutes ago.

Because the Wind Spirit had snatched the skewer and vanished, Jiang Yubai pouted and grumbled to the System. His complaints boiled down to one thing: the Wind Spirit never told him where it went every day.

Soon, Jiang Yubai’s nagging instinct took over. He began worrying about the Wind Spirit’s safety, wondering if such a naive creature would be tricked while out in the world.

System: My host has successfully evolved into a nagging old mother.

Fortunately, Jiang Yubai did not nag for long. He began to wipe down his pair of daggers. Due to his meticulous care, the blades were polished to a mirror finish, gleaming with a sharp, cold light.

After his daily cleaning, Jiang Yubai tucked the daggers back into their places, one in the holster on his right thigh and the other at his waist beneath his black leather jacket.

Jiang Yubai’s preferred weapons were twin daggers. One was kept in plain sight to distract the enemy, while the other was hidden for sneak attacks. Most people’s first reaction upon seeing him would be that he carried only one weapon; they would never expect him to be a dual-wielder.

He pulled a black handgun from the inner pocket of his leather jacket and ejected the magazine. Seeing only two bullets left, he furrowed his brows.

System, can I still not take out the supplies I stored in the space?

The System replied sheepishly: No.

Jiang Yubai had nothing to say to that. He loaded the two bullets into the magazine but did not chamber a round before putting the gun back. By not chambering the round, he avoided an accidental discharge and self-injury.

With only two bullets left, Jiang Yubai did not intend to use them unless it was absolutely necessary. He already had a basic understanding of this world. It was primitive, still relying on cold steel and melee weapons. Firearms were far too advanced for this era.

Hilde pulled back the tent flap and approached Jiang Yubai. “Jiang, we plan to continue toward”

BOOM!

Without warning, the ground shuddered violently. Far in the distance, a snow-capped mountain collapsed with a thunderous roar. A streak of cyan light collided with a flash of blue before breaking away.

Their camp was far from the source of the disturbance, so the avalanche did not affect them much. When the tremors began, Jiang Yubai immediately reached out to push Hilde down, and the two crouched low to the ground. The refugees around them stumbled and fell due to the unstable footing, staring in terror at the distant conflict.

Jiang Yubai strained to look toward the source of the anomaly. Despite his excellent vision, the two shadows were colliding at such high speeds in mid-air that he could only see blurred afterimages. He could not distinguish what they were.

Hilde, however, was pale with horror, as if she had seen something that should not exist. Judging by her reaction, she clearly knew what was happening.

“Hilde, do you know what that is?” Because of the thunderous noise surrounding them, Jiang Yubai had to raise his voice.

“It is the Wolf King, Andrius, and the God of Storms, Decarabian!” Hilde cried. “Why are they fighting now?!”

The girl’s voice was full of confusion and shock. Her voice grew lower, almost as if she were talking to herself: “Decarabian actually left the tower”

Decarabian?

Jiang Yubai was equally shocked, but his surprise stemmed from the realization of a Demon God’s power. A disagreement leads to the earth splitting and mountains falling?

Humans cannot possibly fight against this stuff.

Faced with a Demon God, one might as well lie flat and wait for death. Even though Jiang Yubai had visited many worlds, he had to admit that if he faced such a being now, he would have a zero percent chance of winning. His current body was human; no matter how high his martial prowess was, it was insufficient against non-natural forces.

Even from a distance, he could feel the invisible pressure radiating from their battle.

Host, the opponent is too strong. You are not on the same level. I suggest you leave immediately! The System perched on Jiang Yubai’s shoulder.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Yubai said. “Leave now.”

The words were meant for Hilde. They had to retreat quickly before attracting attention. Jiang Yubai did not know the exact extent of a Demon God’s power, but surely they had not been noticed from this far away? He was not certain.

Hilde nodded heavily and quickly called the people together to prepare for retreat.

Jiang Yubai’s tea-colored eyes remained fixed on the front. In the time it took them to speak, the distant battle had reached a conclusion. His heart sank as he saw a massive wolf and a black figure facing off, both looking battered. Clearly, neither had gained the upper hand. It was a draw.

As Jiang Yubai rose to follow Hilde’s group, the distant Wolf King let out a roar and vanished.

The moment Andrius disappeared, a sharp, overwhelming gaze swept across the area. Jiang Yubai’s body froze. Alarm bells rang in his mind. Not good, we have been spotted!

System!

The System had also sensed it and screamed in panic: Run, run, run! Host, if you run into him, you will die!

In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before them. With eyes as black as ink and long hair fluttering in the wind, the God of Storms stood blocking their path.

The System’s screaming nearly split his head open.

Shut up! Jiang Yubai hissed. His body was tense as he watched the man standing silently at the front of their group.

Knowing it could not help and wanting to avoid distracting the host, the System fell silent. It huddled in the crook of Jiang Yubai’s neck, motionless, showing only a pair of nervous, worried eyes. Even though the System knew no one present could see or harm it, it was terrified.

What if the host dies in this world because of me? What do I do? the System shrieked internally.

Hilde, seeing the person blocking their way, could hardly contain her terror. Her body began to shake uncontrollably. As for the refugees, some were so frightened they fell to their knees. After all, this was a Demon God!

While Decarabian was fighting that meddlesome Wolf King, he had sensed a human presence in the distance. It felt familiar to him, which confused him. The only presence that felt familiar was that of his own subjects.

Does that mean someone escaped?

But no one could leave the wind wall without his permission. Decarabian stared at the strangely familiar Hilde, thinking for a moment before recognizing her. “A member of the Gunnhildr clan.”

“Why are you out here?”

His voice lacked any emotional fluctuation, yet Hilde shuddered violently.

Jiang Yubai’s eyes darted around, subtly scanning Hilde and the cold monarch. Hilde’s instinctive physical reaction suggested she was very familiar with him.

Sure enough, the Demon God’s lips curled slightly. “Did you run away on your own?”

Terror and despair flashed in Hilde’s eyes. She had seen how the gale armies treated those who failed to escape; they were executed on the spot and buried haphazardly near the wind wall.

And now, they had been discovered outside the wind wall by the Demon God himself. Hilde bit her lip. They were going to die here today. But Jiang, he had joined them halfway. He had nothing to do with this, yet he was being dragged down. Tears began to well in her eyes.

Jiang Yubai gave a small tsk. He pulled Hilde behind him, stepping forward to block Decarabian’s line of sight. As they crossed paths, he whispered in her ear: “When the fight starts, run. Do not hesitate. I will stall him.”

Hilde froze. Hearing the foolish words Jiang Yubai had just uttered, her eyes widened, and a tear slid down her cheek.

Jiang Yubai acted out of place, appearing relaxed as if he did not know he was facing a Demon God. He lazily met the other’s scrutinizing gaze and said slowly, “When talking to a lady, don’t be so intimidating. Look, you have frightened her to tears.”

Decarabian did not sense a shred of power from Jiang Yubai. He was not a Demon God, so he was human. His eyes flickered. A human dares to speak to me like this?

It was a first for him. The youth before him was composed, his handsome face looking over with a casual air, as if he were facing a minor character not worth his serious attention.

Jiang Yubai sighed inwardly and raised his hand. To an outsider, he was slowly stroking his neck, but in reality, he was pressing down on the screaming System. Stop yelling, it is deafening. I am not dead yet, but I will be killed by your sonic attack first.

Host! What are you doing?! AHHHH!

I am taking a gamble, Jiang Yubai thought, his hand gentle as if comforting the anxious System. Killing us is easy for him. If I fight him and the others take the chance to escape, there might be a sliver of hope. You know I am never someone who just waits for death.

Before he could finish his thought, the black-haired youth moved. Before Hilde could even react, Jiang Yubai was already in front of Decarabian. His dagger was in his hand. Had he been facing an ordinary human, they would have likely died instantly from a pierced heart.

Jiang Yubai’s pupils constricted. The tip of his blade was blocked by a sphere of purple light and could advance no further. He was just a hair’s breadth away from the other’s heart.

So, humans really cannot kill Demon Gods.

Decarabian blocked the sudden assassination attempt with his palm. His gaze shifted from the dagger in Jiang Yubai’s hand to his face, lingering for a moment on the small red mole at the corner of his eye. “Such speed.”

For a human, his speed was indeed incredible.

Since the first attack failed, Jiang Yubai knew the outcome. He stopped trying to kill him and turned his focus to stalling for time.

“Hilde, now!”

Decarabian’s eyes flashed, but he did not move. He wanted to see what tricks this human was playing. As a Demon God, he did not take them seriously at all.

Hilde snapped out of her daze. Knowing it was not the time for hesitation, she immediately led the refugees to run desperately in one direction.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.

Decarabian did not give chase. He blocked another of the human’s attacks, the second dagger, and then was hit by something unexpected. Decarabian stepped on Jiang Yubai’s back and felt his lower abdomen. A bullet was squeezed out of his flesh, and the wound vanished instantly.

A human weapon caused him negligible damage. Decarabian picked up the object he had never seen before and examined it closely.

The gun is useless! Host, what do we do?! the System wailed in a low voice.

When Jiang Yubai’s sneak attack failed, he was slammed to the ground. A human body truly could not withstand a Demon God’s attack; even without using his full power, the sheer force was enough to leave him reeling.

A trace of blood leaked from the corner of Jiang Yubai’s mouth. He frowned and hid the gun. When he had fired, he used his clothes as cover; he did not know if the other had seen it.

“Human, you are quite good. Swear fealty to me, and I shall let you go,” Decarabian said, looking down.

The youth let out a scoff. “Has anyone ever told you that you are incredibly arrogant?”

Host! Stop provoking him! the System cried, trembling with fear.

The pressure on his back increased. Jiang Yubai coughed a few times, blood spraying onto the snow.

Ugh, blood… blood…

It is just a small scene. You have seen it so many times; aren’t you used to it yet?

It is different! In the past, we could always fake a death and leave, but now I have no way to take you out of this world!

Jiang Yubai curled his lips into a reckless smile. His blood-stained lips looked even more vivid, showing no sign of the desolation of defeat. Instead, he possessed a certain beauty of brokenness.

Decarabian’s eyes darkened. He released the pressure on Jiang Yubai, hauled him up, and, under Jiang Yubai’s confused gaze, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Jiang!” Hilde had returned, followed by the group of refugees. The terror from before was gone, replaced by absolute determination.

Jiang Yubai looked at them in shock. Why did you come back? You had finally escaped.

Hilde said firmly, “We decided we could not leave you behind! If we die, we die together!”

Jiang Yubai: Damn it!

The scene that was about to turn into a heroic stand was torn to shreds by Decarabian in the next second.

System: (＠_＠;)

Jiang Yubai: “…”

They were all knocked to the ground by a violent gale, their bodies cut by the wind. Decarabian had held back; otherwise, they would not just be injured.

Decarabian suddenly laughed, looking at him leisurely. “Well? If you come with me, they can live.”

System, why is he so obsessed with me? He is even using them to threaten me.

This… maybe he is sick in the head?

As the System spoke, its voice suddenly took a sharp turn: Host! Do you remember a buff you got a long time ago? The Favorability Buff! Just now, it was triggered by chance!

What do you mean?

It means you didn’t die probably because of this buff. Decarabian has developed a favorable impression of you, complete with a filter, so he decided to spare your life. Heavens! I have treated that thing as junk for years; I didn’t expect it to come in handy at the critical moment!

Favorability… Jiang Yubai did not want this guy, especially a male one, to have some mysterious favorable impression of him.

Not realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Yubai’s lip twitched. His jaw was gripped, and he could only manage to speak with difficulty: “Do I even have a choice?”

Decarabian: “No.”

Then why the hell did you ask?!

Back to the present.

Because he had been carried by Decarabian through the howling gales, Jiang Yubai had been knocked unconscious by the force of the wind. When he regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a bed.

A chain was shackled to his ankle, extending to the leg of the bed.

“?”