Compared to traveling on foot, using mounts was clearly much faster.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had horses too—Jiang Bai had ridden them from time to time when bored—so he wasn't unfamiliar with horseback riding.
But he rarely needed a horse when traveling. After all, horses couldn't teleport.
As for Hu Tao—she simply believed she could outrun one.
"Alright then."
Kaeya lifted Klee onto his horse, and the three of them rode out of the city.
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed over the plains as Jiang Bai tugged the reins, galloping across the grasslands. Blades of grass were kicked into the air, spun briefly in the wind, and fluttered back down.
Klee sat high in the saddle, arms stretched out wide, cheering with joy—completely unfazed by the idea of falling off at full speed.
And sure enough, riding was faster than running. The three made swift progress, only stopping occasionally to let the horses rest and graze. By sundown, they had reached the camp at the base of Dragonspine.
It was a large outpost, set up for adventurers journeying to and from the mountain.
There was a blacksmith for equipment repairs, a warm and bustling food stall run by a cheerful woman, shops selling cold-weather gear, and even a cozy tavern-inn where adventurers could drink and rest.
The constant flow of adventurers kept the place in business.
But as evening settled in, traffic slowed. Few dared the mountain after dark, so the camp was quiet.
"Let's rest here tonight and head up in the morning," Kaeya said, stretching his back as he led his horse to the stables.
After a day in the saddle, it wasn't just the horses who were tired—the riders were sore, too. Especially their backsides.
"Mm."
Climbing Dragonspine at night was dangerous—common knowledge, really.
Even Klee, eager as she was, didn't argue to set out right away.
They tied their horses in the stables and left them in the care of a familiar hand. Then Kaeya brought Jiang Bai and Klee to a small restaurant.
Leaning casually on the counter, Kaeya flipped a bright Mora coin into the air—it landed with a clear clink.
"Order whatever you want. My treat."
"Well, don't mind if I do." With a smile, Jiang Bai accepted the offer and picked out a few house specialties.
Klee raised her hand. "Klee wants hot milk!"
"Coming right up!"
As they ate, Jiang Bai seemed a little distracted.
His thoughts were on Hu Tao.
The route from Mondstadt to Dragonspine was much shorter than the one from Liyue Harbor, and since they were approaching from different directions, Hu Tao would've chosen the closest path up the mountain. The chance of them crossing paths was slim.
It had already been a full day and a half since they'd parted ways and he'd begun his journey here. He had no idea where she was now…
---
At that very moment, Hu Tao was also at the foot of Dragonspine, on the opposite side of the mountain.
Though she moved quickly, the journey had taken its toll. She was currently camped near the spot where Jiang Bai had previously pitched his tent, roasting a chicken drumstick over a fire.
"Man… times like this really make me jealous that Jiang Bai can teleport. Why can't I teleport?"
She mumbled to herself idly as her ghostly companion floated out of her body and settled on her shoulder.
She poked it lightly—her finger sank in like it was pressing into a big jelly blob.
"Yooyoouu, why can't you help me teleport, huh?"
The little ghost: (∞)
I'm just a little ghost… teleportation's way out of my league!
Hu Tao grabbed its tail and let go. It shot off like a deflating balloon with a fwip.
"Alright—eat, then sleep! Gotta climb early tomorrow!"
---
The next morning, the trio emerged from the inn bundled up in warm clothes, ready to tackle the mountain.
Klee wore a fluffy hat that covered her pointed ears and a pair of fuzzy mittens.
All bundled up with her backpack on, she looked like a round little ball—but an adorable one.
Kaeya wore a thick coat with a fur-lined collar that protected his neck. Despite the layers, he still looked trim and composed.
As for Jiang Bai, he was still in his Wangsheng Parlor uniform, complete with a soul-summoning banner strapped to his back—still acting as a walking advertisement.
"Let's go! Let's go!" Klee charged ahead toward Dragonspine, as excited as if it were a school field trip.
Which, for her, it basically was.
At the bridge that connected to the mountain path, Klee paused to peer down at the fish swimming below.
I wonder how Dragonspine fish taste… Her hands itched for a bouncing bomb.
Kaeya immediately caught on, his smirk playful but firm.
"Klee—don't even think about it."
"Okay…" Klee pouted a little, but the thought of blowing up the giant spike quickly replaced her disappointment.
The path up the mountain from this side was much easier than the route from Liyue's Mingyun Village.
Thanks to the steady flow of adventurers, the trail was kept relatively clear. Snow was thinner and more compacted, making it less slippery.
Nearby monsters had been cleared out, and emergency supply caches were spaced out along the route in case of food shortages.
If I'd known about this path, Jiang Bai thought, I could've cut my travel time in half.
Kaeya, being the cavalry captain, knew Mondstadt's terrain like the back of his hand—including the routes on Dragonspine.
He hadn't explored the summit much, but he knew the way to the Statue of the Seven.
Under his guidance, their ascent was swift.
But speed didn't dull the cold. Not one bit.
Klee's cheeks were so red they nearly matched her coat.
Jiang Bai wrapped a scarf around her head, leaving only her eyes exposed.
"Klee is now the Masked Spark Knight!"
Her voice was muffled, but brimming with excitement.
Despite the altitude, she showed no signs of slowing down.
Her energy lasted all the way until they entered the final mountain cave leading toward the summit.
"So… so cold… Klee's gonna turn into an ice sculpture…"
She clutched her thick coat tightly, teeth chattering.
"Why is it so cold here…"
"Because we're almost at the top."
Jiang Bai looked up at the dark stone ceiling overhead.
Above them was the final ascent.
Climbing the vertical path would take time—and Klee probably wouldn't make it on her own.
Fortunately, there was help above.
Cupping his hands around his mouth, Jiang Bai shouted upward into the darkness:
"Albedo~!"
His voice echoed through the cave in wave after wave, bouncing off the stone.
And it reached Albedo, clearly.
"You've arrived?"
Albedo's voice floated down from above, noticeably clearer than Jiang Bai's had been.
And the moment he heard Jiang Bai calling from below, he had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Jiang Bai followed up with:
"Send down a lift basket! We need you to pull Klee up!"
---
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