Venti?!
Jiang Chen was stunned to see the bard here.
When did this guy sneak in?
At the moment, Jiang Chen was having lunch with Havria at a local eatery.
Spotting Venti out of nowhere was unexpected.
When Jiang Chen looked over, Venti noticed him too.
The bard had just woken up from his hangover, his head still pounding.
But the moment he saw Jiang Chen, his mind snapped to clarity.
Blood rushed to his head, his eyes turning crimson with rage.
"You bastard!!"*
"Give me back my wine!!"*
Venti charged at him like an angry boar.
The sight of Jiang Chen reminded him of his precious, aged wine collection—
All stolen by this thief!
He'd come to Liyue specifically for this—
But got distracted by the local alcohol.
"Nonsense!"
"That was my wine!"
"I traded you several bottles for it!"
Jiang Chen countered as Venti lunged at him.
What's the problem?
You drank my wine, I took yours. Fair exchange.
Are you trying to back out now?
Venti's face twisted in confusion.
When did they trade?*
His outburst had drawn stares from nearby diners.
Havria tugged Jiang Chen's sleeve, urging him to calm down.
Jiang Chen cleared his throat.
"Ahem!"
"Sit down."
"Join us for lunch."
"Since you're here, you're our guest."
"This meal's on me."*
"Let's talk things over properly."*
"No need to shout."*
"Look how undignified you're being."
Venti seethed, fantasizing about shoving Jiang Chen's head into a latrine.
This scoundrel was unbearable!
Grudgingly, he took a seat.
Today, he'd get answers—or he'd never leave.
"An extra set of utensils."
The restaurant was a humble eatery, but the food was excellent—
Hence Jiang Chen's patronage.
A waiter promptly brought utensils.
Venti dug in without hesitation.
His stomach had been empty for hours.
"I don't care!!"
"You have to return my wine!"
He growled between bites.
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Nope."
"I gave it to Zhongli. Go ask him for it."
Don't ask me—I don't have it.
He had gifted Zhongli a bottle during their first meeting.
Venti's hand trembled.
"Huh?!"
"You gave it to Morax?!"*
His face paled.
Could he really get it back from Zhongli?
This was disastrous.*
Jiang Chen smirked.
"Yep, I gave it to him."
"How else do you think I became the Tianquan?"*
Didn't see that coming, did you?
Once something was in his hands, no force in Teyvat could pry it loose.
*No doors, no windows—*not even a mouse hole.
Venti looked utterly defeated.
"Let's not talk about this."
"No matter what you say, I don't have it."
"Let me introduce you—this is Havria."*
"The Salt Archon."
Venti glanced at Havria, his expression shifting to awe.
"Truly remarkable power."
"I should've kept you in Mondstadt."
"You could've even been the Grand Master."*
"What a pity."*
Another resurrected god?
He nodded politely at Havria, then sighed inwardly.
Missed opportunity.
This feels like losing millions of Mora.*
Jiang Chen scowled.
"I'd never stay in Mondstadt."
"Look what you've done to those people!"
"They're too free."
"You've spoiled them into overgrown babies!"*
Mondstadt's citizens were so coddled, Jiang Chen feared he'd snap and purge them all.
Venti's eye twitched.
Remembering Mondstadt's… quirks, he couldn't argue.
Fine.
He sighed and resumed eating.
Such a waste.
Seeing him drop the topic, Jiang Chen couldn't help but ask:
"Why are you in Liyue?"
Venti glared.
"You know why!"
Wasn't it obvious?
He'd come for Jiang Chen—
And to spectate and catch up with Zhongli.
"Oh!"
"Don't bury your wine in the ground next time."
"Where I'm from, anything unclaimed on the ground is free to take."
"Especially aged wine."
Jiang Chen grinned.
This matter was settled.
By dragging Zhongli into it, he'd sealed the deal.
If Venti wanted his wine back, he'd have to confront the Geo Archon.
"Bullshit!!"
"I put a barrier around it!"
"You knew exactly what you were doing!"
"You planned this!"
"That's why you bribed me with wine!"
"I fell for your tricks!"*
Venti raged, his face flushed with indignation.
This was highway robbery!
"Was the wine good or not?"
"I had it specially brewed."
"Here, have another bottle—my apology."*
Jiang Chen pulled out a bottle of Diona's specialty brew.
Venti hesitated—
But the aroma weakened his resolve.
Soon, he was gulping it down.
And then—
Thud.
He passed out, face-first onto the table.
Jiang Chen's smirk widened.
Too easy.
Havria watched, unimpressed.
The Anemo Archon had met his match.*
"Let's go."
After a few more bites, Jiang Chen stood, signaling Havria to leave.
Time to return to work.
As for Venti?
He paid the restaurant staff to dump him in a hotel.
The expense didn't bother him—
The money came from selling Venti's wine to Diluc anyway.
Back at his office, Ganyu arrived with a document.
"Jiang Chen."
"Lady Guizhong asked me to deliver this."
It was the cost analysis for the communication talismans.
Jiang Chen skimmed through it—
Every material and expense was detailed clearly.