"Klee absolutely won't give up. Klee must go there. Brother Feng Yi, you're so amazing, you must have a way, right?"
To protect her best friend, no matter where the Golden Apple Archipelago was, Klee had to find a way to get there.
"Please! Please! Please! Please help Klee!"
Klee blinked her incredibly cute eyes and tugged on Feng Yi's hand, pleading.
This heartwarming scene from the game unfolded before them. Who could resist such a sight?
At least Feng Yi couldn't.
"Alright, then I'll accompany you on this trip," Feng Yi said, nodding.
"Yay! Brother Feng Yi is the best to Klee!" Klee jumped up happily.
"However, we have to agree beforehand. Klee must be obedient on the way and not run off alone!" Feng Yi added as a reminder.
"Okay—" Klee agreed happily.
"Brother Feng Yi, do you know where the Golden Apple Archipelago mentioned in the letter is?" Klee looked at Brother Feng Yi expectantly.
"Hmm, I'm not entirely sure about that. Let's ask someone else." Although Feng Yi had a general idea of the direction, he couldn't pinpoint the exact location. In the game, the main characters traveled there with Dvalin, the Anemo Dragon, and the specific route wasn't specified.
The Golden Apple Archipelago is a mysterious archipelago surrounded by storms and dense fog. It belongs to no nation. Creatures from the outside cannot enter, and creatures from within cannot leave... Only the chosen can set foot on its land.
Legend has it that many years ago, a fleet from Mondstadt sighted a group of islands at sea. It was a stormy day with hurricane-force winds, and the people on board vaguely saw land behind the thick fog... The islands weren't far, but no matter how the ship sailed, they couldn't reach them. The crew was first astonished, then fearful, believing they were hallucinating.
Just as the legend says, the mists surrounding the islands can disorient normal people. Unless one stumbles upon it by chance, it's impossible for most to reach the Golden Apple Archipelago.
It seems this matter will require the Anemo Dragon's help once more. Feng Yi left the Knights with Klee, planning to go directly to Venti.
As it happened, they encountered the talkative Grand Master Cyrus on the way.
"Oh, look at this little adventurer with a troubled expression. Have you two encountered any difficulties?" Grand Master Cyrus asked enthusiastically.
"Yes, Grand Master Cyrus, we're looking for the location of an archipelago..." Klee happily greeted the man and silently prayed, 'I really hope he knows, I really hope he knows...'
"Hahaha, inquiring about unknown lands and seeking adventurous knowledge? You've come to the right person, Cyrus!" Cyrus laughed heartily. As an experienced adventurer himself, he loved guiding newcomers.
"What kind of archipelago are you two looking for?"
"An archipelago with many small islands... at sea..." Klee said earnestly.
Cyrus: ??? The answer was given, but it felt like no answer was given.
"Ahem, Grand Master Cyrus, it's a place called the Golden Apple Archipelago. Have you heard of it?" Although Feng Yi knew Cyrus wouldn't know where the Golden Apple Archipelago was, since he had enthusiastically offered help, Feng Yi couldn't just brush him off. It was important to maintain good social graces. Politely ending the conversation would be best for both parties.
"Golden Apple Archipelago... uh... hmm... hm? Ah ha ha ha! You two are truly amazing! You've mentioned a place that even I, Cyrus, have never heard of!" Cyrus thought hard, and indeed, he hadn't. So he laughed loudly to ease the awkwardness.
"Ah, Uncle Grand Master Cyrus, even you haven't heard of it..." Klee looked disappointed.
"That's perfectly normal. The Teyvat continent is so vast that no one can explore it all. But don't worry, my dear friend, you must have the courage to venture into the unknown!"
"Thank you, Grand Master Cyrus. We'll go ask someone else." Feng Yi and Klee bid farewell to Grand Master Cyrus. He took Klee to the Cat's Tail tavern. Rather than searching the entire world for Venti's whereabouts, Feng Yi preferred a more passive approach. Where did Venti like to hang out? One was under the big tree in Windrise, and the other was the Cat's Tail tavern. Feng Yi suspected Venti was more likely to be at the tavern, drinking.
"Feng Yi, you're back! And little Klee too, what are you doing here?" Paimon greeted Feng Yi upon seeing him return with Klee.
"It's little Paimon! Klee is going with Brother Feng Yi to the Golden Apple Archipelago to defeat the Dodo-King and protect Klee's best friend, Dodoco..." Klee waved to Paimon.
"Golden Apple Archipelago? Dodo-King? That's a bit confusing, I didn't quite understand..." Paimon was a bit bewildered by Klee's explanation.
"We'll talk about that later. Has Venti arrived? I need to consult him about the Golden Apple Archipelago..." Feng Yi waved his hand, prioritizing the important matter.
"Apple cider? What apple cider?!" Just as Paimon was about to answer, Venti's voice suddenly sounded. Feng Yi turned to see Venti drunk, slumped over the table, muttering about apple cider.
"Venti, it's good you're here. I have something to ask you. Do you know where the Golden Apple Archipelago is?" Feng Yi sat down in front of Venti and asked the drunken bard.
"Apple cider, hehehe, Feng Yi... are you going to buy me some apple cider? I haven't had it in a long time... *hic*..." Venti's face was flushed, and it was unclear how much he had drunk, his speech slurred. Venti let out a burp of alcohol directly at Feng Yi, who subtly turned his face away with a hint of disgust.
This wouldn't do. Feng Yi asked Lumine to fetch a bowl of hangover soup from the kitchen and force-fed it to Venti.
"Feng Yi, you're here. Want to have a drink together?" After drinking the hangover soup, the flush on Venti's face subsided, and he seemed to have sobered up considerably.
"We'll drink later. Venti, how much do you know about the Golden Apple Archipelago?" Feng Yi waved his hand, seizing the opportunity to ask about the important matter.
"The Golden Apple Archipelago?" Venti frowned upon hearing this.
"Are you referring to the Sea of Fog Archipelago?" As if recalling something, he then smiled.
"That's right, it's surrounded by thick fog and storms!" Feng Yi nodded. It seemed to have this alias in the game.
"Hahaha, then you've certainly come to the right person..." Venti took a sip of the remaining wine in his cup and laughed heartily.
"Wow wow wow, big brother, you really know?!" Klee finally saw someone who knew about the Golden Apple Archipelago and was overjoyed.