Chapter Twenty-One: Departure

Seeing that the time had come, Lin Feng went to the hotel where Yun Shan was staying to see off his generous benefactor as promised.

Yun Shan and his daughter, Yun Lu, had already packed their belongings. After Lin Feng escorted them to the entrance of The Chasm, he bid them farewell. Uncle Yun Shan remained as warm as ever, repeatedly reminding Lin Feng that if he ever visited Liyue, he must stop by the Feiyun Commerce Guild.

Knowing that she had narrowly escaped death this time, Yun Lu expressed her gratitude to Lin Feng once more before they departed. She quietly slipped a small parcel into his hand, telling him he must not open it until he returned. Unable to decline, Lin Feng accepted it.

As Yun Lu looked back repeatedly and Yun Shan, still dressed like an ordinary merchant, walked further away under the escort of the Millelith, Lin Feng prepared to head back. Before leaving, he suddenly paused, looking up at the tunnel guarded by the Millelith. For some reason, he felt an urge to walk straight through, as if his long-lost homeland lay on the other side. Perhaps this was what they called a sense of cultural belonging?

Even though he had never been to Liyue, Lin Feng still harbored an indescribable affection for that land.

Suppressing these feelings, Lin Feng turned back. At least for now, the time was not yet right; he still had things he needed to complete in Sumeru.

...

Three days later, Tighnari finally returned to Gandharva Ville. After personally inspecting the remains of the Withering Zone, Tighnari was stunned by the extent of the destruction caused by Lin Feng.

Although the official report ultimately attributed the collapse to shifting ley lines, Tighnari couldn't help but feel that the circular crater, now transformed into a small pond, was inextricably linked to Lin Feng—especially after seeing Lin Feng’s look of feigned innocence.

After dealing with the scholars from the Akademiya who came to investigate, Lin Feng, having grown fully confident in the little Dendro Archon's teachings, returned to his daily routine: patrolling during the day, occasionally asking Tighnari for advice on using Dendro energy, and studying Teyvat’s history at night—Lin Feng was already capable of reading complex academic papers on his own.

Once asleep, Lin Feng would chat with the visiting little Dendro Archon, mostly sharing his daily observations and stories from his past life, including fairy tales. Lin Feng was very interested in the toys the little Dendro Archon crafted, sometimes asking Nahida to teach him how to play with them—though, in the end, it was usually Nahida who had the most fun.

Although he was still occasionally kicked out of the dream for habitually touching the little Archon's ears or the leaf on her head, the lonely little Archon would always return after a few days—and her friendliness never seemed to wane.

In this way, Lin Feng enriched his understanding of Teyvat while simultaneously developing his own combat style.

...

Three months later.

Watching the hilichurl camp being completely annihilated by the toxic spores Lin Feng released, without the slightest resistance, Tighnari officially agreed to Lin Feng’s request to leave Gandharva Ville.

"Although I expected you would leave soon, this pace is still quite beyond my expectations."

On the way back, Tighnari looked at Lin Feng with a sense of gratification.

"Whether in terms of theoretical knowledge or combat techniques, your learning speed is so fast that it almost makes me feel frustrated."

"Sometimes I wonder if I should study how to grow a bigger brain myself," Tighnari quipped.

"Perhaps that is the tragedy of a genius," Lin Feng joked, acting a bit smug.

"But I’ve only been in Gandharva Ville for less than half a year. Are you really willing to let me go?" Lin Feng was surprised by how easily Tighnari had approved his resignation.

"You have the nerve to ask? Wasn't it you who wrote that resignation letter saying, 'The world is so big, I want to go see it'?" Tighnari retorted with practiced ease.

"Besides, I can't find any faults in your theoretical learning or practical combat skills, so naturally, I have no reason to stop you." Tighnari smiled, clearly satisfied with his star pupil who had graduated at lightning speed.

"Don't forget the farewell banquet tomorrow; everyone will be there to see you off."

"It's a pity. I've only just had a moment of ease. I don't know when the next newcomer with a Vision will join," Tighnari lamented, clearly distressed by his heavy workload.

"Rest assured, that day won't be too far off. They might not be the brightest, but I'm sure a fantastic Forest Ranger will join eventually," Lin Feng comforted him.

"I'll head back first to see if there's anything else I need to pack." Lin Feng bid Tighnari farewell.

"Mm, get some rest early. Don't forget the ceremony tomorrow evening." Tighnari reminded him once more, concerned.

Lin Feng waved his hand and returned to his dwelling.

...

"Hmm... clothes, medicine, Mora, food..." Looking at his substantial amount of luggage, Lin Feng felt an urgent desire to have a Serenitea Pot like the Traveler.

Among the luggage lay an item that seemed out of place—a jade hairpin.

Seeing it, Lin Feng couldn't help but recall its origin.

When he had seen Yun Lu off, she had handed him a small parcel containing only a letter and this hairpin. In the letter, the young girl explained that she wanted to repay him for saving her life, but as she had nothing else of value to offer, she gave him the hairpin she wore. She told him that if he ever needed Mora, he could sell it for emergency funds.

*She really is a rich girl...* Lin Feng thought to himself, looking at the hairpin worth over a hundred thousand Mora.

Even so, he didn't intend to sell it. With the five hundred thousand Mora from Yun Shan and the bounties he had earned from clearing out monsters, he wouldn't be short of money for a while.

*I'll find a chance to return it to her. I didn't realize it was so precious at the time,* he thought, carefully putting the hairpin back into the parcel.

Looking around the small room he had stayed in for only a few months, Lin Feng felt a sudden pang of reluctance. Though the time was short, it had truly been his first home.

Putting these stray thoughts aside, Lin Feng finished packing, lay on his bed, and prepared to meet the little one who had nudged him toward leaving this place.

...

The familiar green space greeted him. Despite being a dream, it was filled with the vitality of grass and trees.

The little Dendro Archon sat across from the table where Lin Feng usually sat, watching with a speechless expression as he casually picked up various snacks and began to eat.

"Are you certain you want to accept my commission?"

"Although I am not sure of the source of your power at the time, given your current level of strength, dealing with an avatar of the Withering is still quite dangerous."

Nahida looked at Lin Feng, appearing as if she hoped he would reconsider.