The night sky over Mondstadt was a tapestry of deep indigo, studded with countless stars that twinkled like scattered jewels, their light reflecting off the cobblestone streets below. The city was bathed in the soft glow of lanterns, their amber flames flickering in the gentle breeze, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls of the buildings. The air was cool, carrying the scent of fresh flowers and the faint tang of dandelion wine, a lingering reminder of the city's recent celebrations. Mondstadt was quiet now, the bustle of the day having given way to a serene stillness, broken only by the occasional strum of a bard's lute or the soft laughter of late-night strollers. The towering statue of Barbatos loomed over the plaza, its stone wings spread wide, a silent guardian watching over the city as the wind whispered through the streets, a gentle breeze that carried the promise of a peaceful night.
In the plaza near the city gates, a small crowd had gathered, their attention fixed on the virtual screen of the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room, its ethereal light casting a soft blue hue over the cobblestones. The citizens of Mondstadt laughed and gasped, their spirits lifted by the latest video, a comedic take on the Traveler Ying's "crumbs" that had already caused a stir across Teyvat. Jean stood near the fountain, her blue cape fluttering in the breeze, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair catching the lantern light as she watched with a mix of amusement and concern, her arms crossed over her chest. Eula leaned against a nearby wall, her silver-blue hair shimmering like frost, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip, her icy blue eyes narrowed with a smirk as she observed the chaos unfolding on the screen. Paimon hovered in the air, her starry cape fluttering as she clutched her tiny fists, her face a mix of indignation and embarrassment, her cheeks puffed out with frustration. Ying stood at the center of the crowd, her golden eyes wide with horror, her blonde hair shimmering in the lantern light as she gripped her sword, her Anemo powers swirling chaotically around her in response to her rising panic.
Xander sat at a table outside the Good Hunter, a mug of cider in hand, his cloak draped over the back of his chair, the Shadowfang Blade resting against the table, its dark steel glinting in the lantern light. His recent upgrade to A-level had left him feeling invigorated, his senses sharper, his movements more fluid, a vibrant blue aura still lingering faintly around him. He had orchestrated this second creation video with a clear goal in mind—to highlight Ying's chaotic and often morally questionable antics, a humorous take on her "billions of crumbs" that had made her a beloved yet infamous figure in Teyvat. The video had already caused a stir, and as it played on the big screen, the audience's reactions grew louder with each passing scene, their laughter and gasps flooding the chat with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
The video had reached its climax, with Ying, Paimon, Noelle, and Beatrice gathered near the city gates, the cobblestone plaza now bathed in the soft glow of the lanterns, the air filled with the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Noelle stood with her characteristic grace, her silver armor gleaming in the lantern light, her Geo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail as she smiled warmly at Ying. Beatrice stood beside her, her brown hair tied back in a messy bun, her green dress slightly rumpled as she fidgeted nervously, her eyes bright with anticipation as she waited to see the photos Ying had taken of Mondstadt's scenic spots for her date.
Ying handed the stack of photos to Beatrice with a flourish, her golden eyes gleaming with pride as she puffed out her chest. "Here you go—feast your eyes on these masterpieces," she said, her voice brimming with self-assurance as she crossed her arms, her Anemo Vision glowing faintly at her waist. "How about it? Doesn't it give you that… special feeling? Hahahaha!"
Beatrice took the photos eagerly, her eyes scanning the first few with anticipation—but as she flipped through them, her expression shifted from excitement to utter disbelief, her mouth dropping open in shock. The crowd in the plaza held their breath, their laughter turning to gasps as they watched Beatrice's reaction unfold on the screen.
The first photo was of Windrise, the ancient tree standing tall in the clearing, its gnarled branches stretching toward the sky like the arms of a protective giant. But at the base of the tree, near the statue of Barbatos, Ying had placed two large glowing stones on either side, their luminescent surfaces casting an eerie light over the scene. The stones were positioned in such a way that, combined with the statue, they formed a shape that was unmistakably… suggestive, resembling what the video called an "Armstrong Cyclotron Armstrong Cannon"—a comically exaggerated and inappropriate structure that left little to the imagination.
Beatrice flipped to the next photo, her hands trembling as she examined the image of the Cape of Oath. The cliffside was framed by the vibrant green of the surrounding fields, the ocean stretching out to the horizon—but there, at the edge of the cliff, Ying had placed two more glowing stones with a rock pillar sandwiched between them, once again forming the same scandalous shape. The Cliff of Picking Stars was no different, the starry sky above marred by the same arrangement of stones and a pillar, each photo a testament to Ying's bizarre and inappropriate sense of "decoration."
Beatrice's face turned bright red, her voice a mix of shock and embarrassment as she stammered, "This… this is… what is this?!" Her hands shook as she dropped the photos, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at Ying, her expression one of utter mortification.
Ying, oblivious to the gravity of her actions, laughed heartily, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief as she slapped her knee. "Pretty great, right? I told you I'd make it special—doesn't it give you that… feeling?" she said, her voice filled with pride as she gestured to the photos, her Anemo powers swirling faintly around her in a show of bravado.
But before Ying could say another word, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the plaza, the clank of armor signaling the arrival of the Knights of Favonius. A squad of knights, led by a stern-looking captain, marched into the frame, their expressions a mix of disapproval and exasperation as they approached Ying. The captain, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, pointed a gloved finger at Ying, his voice booming with authority. "Traveler Ying, you're under arrest for defacing sacred landmarks and public indecency!" he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument as he signaled to his men.
Ying's laughter died in her throat, her golden eyes widening in confusion as the knights moved to restrain her. "Huh?!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and disbelief as the knights slapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists, her Anemo powers flaring briefly in protest before fizzling out under the weight of her confusion. The crowd in the plaza gasped, their laughter turning to shocked murmurs as they watched Ying being led away, her protests echoing through the square.
The video ended abruptly, the screen fading to black with a cheerful message: [Video ends, thanks for watching.] The broadcast room announced the rewards: Ying received an "Unlimited Film Camera" as a tongue-in-cheek nod to her photography antics, Noelle was given a copy of My Flow Exercise Manual to help her channel her strength, and Paimon was awarded a "Super-Luxury Family Bucket of Kenkiki" to satisfy her endless appetite. The message concluded with a timer: [The live broadcast room will close in five minutes…]
The crowd in the plaza erupted in a mix of laughter and disbelief, the absurdity of Ying's actions sending them into hysterics as they clutched their sides, their voices rising in a chorus of amusement. The chat flooded with reactions, the audience across Teyvat reeling from the scandalous turn of events as they poked fun at Ying's latest "crumb."
Klee: "Huh? Why would the knights arrest you for putting stones under the statue?"
Jean: "@Klee, ahem, this isn't something children should worry about—I'll test your math skills later."
Timmy: "That shape looks so familiar… I can't quite place it."
Kaeya: "I'm at a loss for words this time—I don't even know how to tease her about this."
Lisa: "Oh, the little cutie's mentality must be in shambles right now."
Keqing: "This might be the most outrageous moment since the second creation broadcast started."
Kujou Sara: "Don't come to me, don't come to me, don't come to me…"
Yoimiya: "Even General Kujou is scared off by this?!"
Arataki Itto: "Hahahaha, isn't that shape just like—well, you know!"
Kuki Shinobu: "Boss, please, keep your mouth shut!"
Kamisato Ayato: "@Arataki Itto, there are children in the chat—watch what you say."
Hu Tao: "@Zhongli, that pillar looks awfully familiar… I wonder if Keqing recognizes it?"
Zhongli: "Ahem, it's just a second creation video—anything can happen."
Zhongli's composed demeanor nearly cracked, his stoic expression faltering as he read Hu Tao's comment. The pillar in the photos bore an uncanny resemblance to his own Geo constructs, a fact that hit a little too close to home for the former Geo Archon. He coughed into his hand, his voice strained as he muttered to himself, "This… this is too much." The idea that his sacred Geo powers had been mocked in such a scandalous way made him feel as though he might cough up blood, his usually unshakable calm replaced by a rare moment of flustered embarrassment. Compared to the second creation's ability to humiliate even the mightiest of beings, Zhongli thought, his identity as Morax being exposed seemed like a minor inconvenience.
As the five-minute timer ran out, the broadcast room closed, and the viewers were transported back to their respective locations across Teyvat. Ying and Paimon materialized on a quiet street in Mondstadt, the cobblestones cool beneath their feet, the air filled with the scent of night-blooming flowers. The city was silent now, the crowd from the plaza having dispersed, leaving only the soft glow of the lanterns to light their way.
Ying stood frozen, her body turned to a gray stone statue, her golden eyes wide with horror, her expression one of utter despair. Her mentality had been shattered, as if a nuclear bomb had detonated in her mind, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake. She was a pure, lovely, kind, and honest Traveler—or so she had always believed. But the second creation video had painted her as the ultimate scumbag, a chaotic force of nature whose antics had now landed her in the most humiliating situation yet. The image of her being arrested by the Knights of Favonius, all because of her inappropriate "decorations," replayed in her mind, each moment a fresh stab to her pride.
Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering in the breeze as she looked at Ying with concern, her tiny hands wringing together. "Ying, are you okay?!" she asked, her voice trembling with worry as she darted around Ying, her eyes wide with alarm. Ying's petrified state was more than just a visual effect—it was a reflection of her shattered spirit, her dreams of being a heroic Traveler crumbling under the weight of her latest "crumb."
When Ying didn't respond, Paimon reached out to nudge her, her tiny hands pushing against Ying's stone arm. "Come on, snap out of it!" she said, her voice a mix of panic and frustration as she gave Ying a gentle shove. But the push was too much for Ying's fragile state—cracks began to form along her stone surface, the gray-white fluorite splintering with a series of sharp clicks. Before Paimon could react, Ying's statue shattered completely, crumbling to the ground in a pile of dust and fragments, leaving Paimon staring in horror at the mess.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Paimon exclaimed, her tiny body trembling as she hovered over the pile of debris, her starry cape fluttering wildly. She looked around frantically, spotting a nearby merchant closing up his stall for the night. "Excuse me, sir! Do you have a broom and dustpan I can borrow?!" she shouted, her voice a mix of panic and desperation as she darted over to the merchant, her tiny hands gesturing wildly.
The merchant, a stout man with a bushy beard, raised an eyebrow but handed over a broom and dustpan with a chuckle. "What in Barbatos' name happened here?" he asked, his tone filled with amusement as he glanced at the pile of stone fragments on the ground.
Paimon's cheeks puffed out with indignation, her tiny fists shaking as she pointed at the pile. "It's a long story!" she huffed, her voice a mix of frustration and embarrassment as she began sweeping up the fragments, her movements frantic as she tried to clean up the mess.
Xander, who had been watching the entire scene from his table at the Good Hunter, leaned back in his chair, his grin wide as he took a sip of his cider. He felt a pang of guilt as he watched Paimon struggle to clean up Ying's remains, her tiny body darting back and forth with the broom. Ying's mental collapse was a direct result of his second creation video, and while he hadn't intended for things to go quite this far, he couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "Well, she'll get over it," he muttered to himself, his tone light as he set his mug down on the table. "Ying's essence is crumbs, after all—this is just a preview of her future. A little second creation chaos will only make her stronger… maybe even awaken her true chaotic potential."
But as he watched Paimon sweep up the last of the fragments, Xander's expression softened, a flicker of sympathy crossing his features. Ying had been through a lot recently—Rosalyn's attack, the theft of the Heart of God, and now this humiliating spectacle. Perhaps it was time to give her a break in the next video, to focus on someone else—like Venti, who still owed him a bit of payback for his theatrics. "She'll be fine in a few days," he said to himself, his voice filled with quiet confidence as he stood, slinging his cloak over his shoulder. "Let's see how the Bard handles a taste of his own medicine."
As the stars twinkled in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Mondstadt, the city settled into a peaceful slumber, the second creation video a reminder that even heroes could be the source of a good laugh—and that even in the land of freedom, there was always room for a little chaos.
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