"Wow, big brother, you really know?"
"Hehe, the Golden Apple Archipelago you're talking about used to be called the Foggy Sea Archipelago. It's located in a special sea area that's hard for ordinary people to reach. Plus, there are always storms and thick fog there, making it difficult for ships to even get close, let alone land. Speaking of which, why do you want to go there?"
Venti chuckled and then slowly explained, knowing that area like the back of his hand.
"Klee wants to see the Great Demon King! He said he wants to test Klee's qualifications as a Dodo-cho family member!"
Klee said with a serious expression.
"Mm-hmm, and little Klee, are you scared of him?"
Venti asked with a smile.
"A... a little bit... but Klee won't give up. Big brother, the singing big brother, please help Klee!"
Klee looked at Venti with hopeful eyes.
"The singing big brother... Haha, that's interesting, I like that name..."
Hearing Klee call him 'big brother,' Venti couldn't help but laugh. Paimon often called him 'the singer,' but adding 'big brother' made it feel completely different.
"Since Klee has this wish, I'll definitely help. After all, a child's wish is the purest and freest thing in the world!"
As he spoke, Venti took out an instrument identical in style to the Skyward Harp and was about to summon Dvalin.
"Wait, singing big brother, Klee needs to ask Acting Grand Master Jean for leave before going to the Golden Apple Archipelago, Klee needs permission! Because Klee is the Spark Knight!"
Klee stated that she was a sensible and good child, and she needed to inform her guardians before going on a long trip.
"Mm-hmm, then after Klee gets her leave, come find me at Windrise. I'll be waiting for you there."
Hearing Klee say that, Venti couldn't help but give Klee a thumbs-up and agreed on a meeting place with Klee.
"Okay, Klee will come after Klee gets leave!"
Klee chuckled and waved goodbye to the singing big brother.
"Aether, if you're not in a hurry to travel, would you like to come with me and accompany Klee to the Golden Apple Archipelago? I heard the sea views there are pleasant, a good place for a summer vacation..."
Before accompanying Klee to the Knights' headquarters to ask Acting Grand Master Jean for leave, Feng Yi suddenly had an idea and invited Aether to join them.
"Sister Aether, will you help Klee?"
Hearing this, Klee immediately looked at Aether beside her.
"Alright, then I'll go to Liyue a bit later."
Aether met Klee's pleading eyes and, after receiving a wink from Feng Yi, smiled and agreed.
"Hooray!"
Klee happily spun in place.
"In that case, I want to go too! Feng Yi, Aether, you're not going to leave me behind, are you?"
Paimon, seeing this, quickly flew over and declared that she wanted to go too.
"Little Paimon wants to help Klee too? That's great!"
Klee counted on her fingers. With big brother Feng Yi, sister Aether, and little Paimon helping, her chances of defeating the Dodo-cho Demon King would be much higher.
"Then let's all go together."
Feng Yi also nodded. He knew Paimon would definitely follow Aether and had already assumed Paimon was included.
Afterward, Feng Yi informed Diona, who was working, that the Cat's Tail tavern would be temporarily closed for about a week, giving her a short vacation to rest well.
He asked Aether and Paimon to go back and prepare, and during this time, Feng Yi took Klee to the Knights of Favonius to request leave.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, Klee needs to take leave, Klee is going on a trip!"
"Klee? Feng Yi is here too?"
Jean, who was discussing some matters with Barbara, was interrupted by Klee's sudden entrance.
"Hi, little Klee, and Feng Yi, long time no see."
Barbara smiled and waved hello. She had been busy researching healing incantations a couple of days ago and missed meeting Feng Yi. Today, she had something to discuss with her sister and unexpectedly ran into Feng Yi.
Indeed, this was fate!
"Mm-hmm, long time no see. Did I disturb you by coming in so suddenly?"
Feng Yi smiled slightly at Barbara. They hadn't seen each other in a long time, and he was happy to meet her here today.
"Ahem, of course not. By the way, Klee, you just suddenly said you need leave, what's going on?"
Jean walked over and looked at Klee with confusion.
"Klee is going to the Golden Apple Archipelago to see the Dodo-cho Great Demon King! Otherwise, otherwise he'll snatch Klee's Dodo-cho!"
"Great Demon King? Snatching Dodo-cho?"
Barbara was a bit confused. Where did this person she'd never heard of come from?
She subtly glanced at her sister's expression and saw that it was not much different from hers, filled with surprise and confusion, proving that her sister also didn't know who this Dodo-cho Great Demon King was.
"Wuwu... He doesn't believe Klee is qualified to be Dodo-cho's family... Klee must prove herself, and big brother Feng Yi will help too!"
Klee clenched her cute little pink fists and declared her unshakeable resolve to Acting Grand Master Jean.
"Alright, but I've never heard of the Golden Apple Archipelago, where is it?"
Jean looked at Feng Yi with a questioning gaze. Seeing Feng Yi nod, she continued to inquire for details.
Barbara immediately stated that she had also never heard of this place.
"Klee doesn't know either, but that singing big brother said that the Golden Apple Archipelago is in a very mysterious place on the sea, and he'll take Klee there!"
Klee remembered the place she had agreed upon with the singing big brother and nodded seriously.
"The singing big brother? Who is that?"
Jean, along with Barbara, looked at Feng Yi with questioning eyes.
"He's a bard who often mooches for drinks at the Cat's Tail tavern. He wears green clothes, and I think you've seen him before. His name is Venti. Although he's usually unreliable, he's quite dependable in crucial moments..."
Feng Yi introduced him simply, without revealing Venti's true identity.
"So it's him..."
Jean lowered her head and pondered. Hearing Feng Yi's description, she immediately knew who he was.
Although she hadn't had close contact with him, Jean could feel that the person was not ordinary.
Moreover, she wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but Jean seemed to see a shadow of Lord Barbatos in him.
She had sent people to investigate Venti's origins before, but the results were all blank, as if he had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Based on the few clues she had, Jean had come up with a wild yet logical guess about Venti's identity...
"Sis... uh, Acting Grand Master Jean, who is that person?"
Barbara didn't have a strong impression of that person. Seeing that her sister seemed to know, she directly asked.
"He's a very mysterious person, and I'm not entirely sure of his identity. If you meet him, just show him the necessary respect..."