Chapter 263 Heroic Desolation

Time passed quietly, and soon, Lin Huan and Xiangling skillfully brought out delicious dishes from the kitchen, and then placed them one by one on the table in the yard. Under the familiar old osmanthus tree in the backyard of Wangsheng Hall, the small stone table and stone benches that used to be there were no longer visible, and were replaced by a slightly larger wooden round table. The sumptuous dishes were placed steadily on the table, exuding an enticing aroma, which drifted away in strands, instantly arousing everyone's appetite like an invisible hand.

Everyone sat around the table, their faces filled with anticipation, as if a grand feast of taste was about to begin. Hu Tao couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks, her eyes sparkling like bright stars, looking at the food, she couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wow, these dishes look so delicious! Xiangling, you are so great!" Xingqiu also smiled and nodded in agreement, his smile was like a spring breeze: "Indeed, just looking at the appearance, you know that the taste must be extraordinary." Chongyun smiled shyly, although he didn't say anything, but his eyes were also full of anticipation for the food, that anticipation was like a cluster of bright flames, dancing in his eyes.

Lin Huan looked at everyone's excited expressions, her eyes occasionally falling on Mr. Zhongli. Just because Mr. Zhongli hadn't started eating yet, everyone was eager to try, and no one took the initiative to move. Seeing this scene, her heart was filled with warmth. The warmth was like a spring breeze, gently brushing across her heart, as if countless tiny threads of emotion were intertwined in this scene, silently telling of an indescribable closeness and care.

Lin Huan spoke softly, her voice like the sound of flowing water: "Everyone here is close to us, there is no need to be restrained. Come and try the new flavors Xiangling brought back from Mondstadt!"

Hearing this, Mr. Zhongli nodded slightly. His manner was elegant and calm, like an ancient painting. He slowly picked up the chopsticks and reached for one of the dishes first. Xiangling looked at everyone expectantly. Her eyes were full of desire, and she was eager to hear everyone's comments on her new dishes.

Everyone enjoyed the food and chatted happily. Hu Tao excitedly told about the interesting things that happened in Wangsheng Hall recently. Her words were like a string of cheerful notes, making everyone laugh. Xingqiu and Chongyun also shared their experiences in the adventure. Those experiences were thrilling and interesting, making everyone listen with great interest.

Lin Huan listened to everyone's conversation quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words. She always had a gentle smile on her face, and that smile was just like the warm sunshine in spring, warm and bright. She gazed at the lively scene, feeling a lot of emotions in her heart. In this vibrant and warm Liyue Harbor, she met so many lovely people again and experienced countless wonderful things together. The laughter and joy echoed in the air, so real, so moving. It's great... She slowly looked around the familiar backyard layout in front of her, and could clearly see the room that once belonged to her. The small courtyard in front of her seemed to carry countless precious memories, some with her father, some with her brother, and some with Brother Boyang. She remembered that the first time she met Brother Boyang was under this old tree, and her first meeting with the Emperor was also here.

However, this was not the time to let her thoughts run wild. She retracted her gaze and refocused her eyes on the people in front of her. Their smiles were like bright stars, lighting up this small backyard. Hu Tao was dancing and telling hilarious stories, while Xingqiu and Chongyun sometimes nodded in agreement and sometimes showed surprised expressions. Mr. Zhongli listened quietly, occasionally expressing a few profound insights.

Although the old friends were missed, the fresh and bright figures in front of her and the good times were also worth cherishing. She was determined not to repeat the same mistakes.

After the five dishes were served and everyone put down their chopsticks contentedly, Xiangling began to recount her experiences in Mondstadt with bright eyes.

"You know what? When I was in Mondstadt, it was a wonderful journey. I met a mysterious traveler girl named Ying. She exudes a unique aura that makes people want to get close to her. When I first saw her, she was with a flying elf, and they were in a hurry. I curiously went up to say hello, and after chatting, I learned that she was busy solving the dragon disaster in Mondstadt."

"That dragon disaster was really terrible. The wind dragon was raging in the sky, destroying many places. Mondstadt's architectural style is unique, and people's clothing is also very distinctive, but in the face of the dragon disaster, everything became so fragile. The strong wind brought by the wind dragon was howling, as if it was going to overturn the entire Mondstadt city. People were very scared, but Ying and her companions were not afraid at all. Together with the Knights of Favonius, they made various plans to fight against the wind dragon."

"In order to find out the reason why the Wind Dragon appeared, they went deep into various dangerous places. In the ancient ruins, the mysterious atmosphere was filled, and every step was full of unknown dangers; in the mysterious caves, the darkness was shrouded, and people couldn't help but feel a little fear in their hearts; there were also mountains with howling winds, and the wind was so strong that people could hardly stand. In these places, they encountered many dangers, but they relied on their courage and wisdom to overcome danger again and again."

"In the process, Ying showed great strength. She can use all kinds of magical elemental powers and fight side by side with her companions. I was really moved when I saw them working hard to protect Mondstadt. Moreover, when I was in Mondstadt, I also saw the unity and bravery of the people of Mondstadt. Although they were afraid of the dragon disaster, they did not back down. Together, they provided help to the Knights of Favonius and contributed their own strength to solving the dragon disaster. This spirit of unity also touched me deeply."

"I also met some chefs from Mondstadt. They exchanged a lot of cooking techniques and experiences with me, which benefited me a lot. I also introduced Liyue's food culture to them, and they were all very interested."

"What is most regrettable is that the hero who once protected Mondstadt, Tevalin the East Wind, has been forgotten by people. The dragon is full of sorrow, pain and helplessness. When it cries, its tears even carry the pollution of the abyss, which can only be purified by Ying. Five hundred years ago, Tevalin the East Wind Guardian fought a thrilling battle with the dragon from the abyss to defend Mondstadt. Although he was seriously injured, he still brought peace and tranquility to Mondstadt. However, time flies, and people gradually forget its contribution."

"When the dragon disaster came, Tvarin was corrupted by evil power and became extremely violent. It rampaged in the sky and destroyed Mondstadt beyond recognition. People were full of fear of it, but they didn't know that it was once their guardian. While struggling to find a solution to the dragon disaster, Ying and her companions accidentally discovered Tvarin's secret. They learned that Tvarin was used by bad people to become so violent. So they decided to help Tvarin and restore his sanity."

"During this difficult journey, they encountered countless difficulties. Tevarin's power was extremely strong, and it was difficult for them to approach it. But they never gave up and kept looking for ways. In the end, they successfully found Tevarin's weakness and helped it break free from the control of the evil power."

Lin Huan listened to Xiangling's story quietly, with an indescribable complex emotion in her heart. Her thoughts drifted far away, as if she saw those stories that were once forgotten by people, but would never be forgotten again this time. The deeds of those heroes have been passed down to this day, becoming classics in the streets and alleys, circulating in the market, and becoming legends passed down by word of mouth. She deeply missed those heroes who had experienced the vicissitudes of life with her, and missed their bravery, tenacity and selfless dedication.

She lowered her eyes slightly, a gleam of water quietly flowed in her eyes, but no one noticed it. She whispered in a low voice, with a slight tremor, "Time is sometimes so cruel that it makes people helpless. Those unrecorded pasts are too easy to be forgotten by people. People always easily forget those who have fought for them. But this time, this will not happen again. Because of those persistent people, their stories will not be forgotten again... The dedication of the heroes will not be buried by time again. Their light will always shine in people's memory..."

Walnut only heard the first half of the sentence, but she still nodded gently and said, "Yes, we can't forget those heroes. They have sacrificed so much for our happiness. We should always remember them and be grateful."

Mr. Zhongli nodded slightly, his expression calm. He said, "It is normal for heroes to be forgotten. But there will always be someone who awakens those forgotten memories at the right time. This is what happened to Tevarin. Mondstadt has travelers, and Liyue also has people who remember heroes."

His eyes slowly swept over the crowd, with a calm and composed look that had accumulated over the years. Then, as if being pulled by an invisible thread, his eyes finally landed gently on Lin Huan. His eyes were filled with silent and warm comfort, and he slowly spoke, his tone calm and full of warmth.

"The achievements of heroes should not be buried by time. Their stories, no matter how heroic or ordinary, are shining stars in the long river of history. We should learn from history, cherish the contributions of heroes and inherit their spirit."

Mr. Zhongli picked up the teacup, took a sip, and continued, "Just like Tevarin, although he went through hardships, he returned to the right path due to the efforts of kind people. The heroes of Liyue also persevered in difficult situations and brought hope and peace to this land. We should always remember them and let the spirits of heroes be passed on forever."

After hearing what Mr. Zhongli said, everyone nodded slightly and fell into deep thought. After a moment, Xingqiu's eyes turned smartly, and a playful smile appeared on his face. He said: "Oh, the story of Mondstadt is indeed wonderful, but we in Liyue also have many legends. Take the upcoming ceremony of summoning the immortals, for example, there will definitely be wonderful things happening there. This young master is looking forward to it, maybe it will be as exciting as encountering new things in an adventure, and it will be hard to control myself."

After saying this, Xingqiu quietly glanced at Lin Huan, and then playfully said, "Hey, Sister Lin Huan, let's put those heavy things aside for now. The upcoming Summoning the Immortals Ceremony is Liyue's top priority every year. Just imagine, the scene must be grand and solemn, and no one can guess what kind of surprises are waiting for us. Maybe we can witness an unprecedented wonderful scene there, and open a new chapter for Liyue."

When everyone heard Xingqiu's words, their interest was instantly ignited. Hu Tao shouted excitedly: "Yes, yes, I am really looking forward to the Immortal Invitation Ceremony! I wonder if there will be any new performances or fun activities this time." Chongyun nodded slightly and said softly: "The Immortal Invitation Ceremony has always been solemn and dignified. It really makes people curious about what will be different this time."

Mr. Zhongli looked calm, but there was an imperceptible depth in his eyes. He slowly said, "The Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals is an important ceremony in Liyue. Every time it is held, it may bring new changes and opportunities."

Xingqiu then said, “Hehe, then we should all look forward to it. Perhaps this ceremony of inviting the immortals will be the starting point of our new adventure. We might even meet new friends there, or discover mysterious clues.”

Xingqiu's words inspired everyone to imagine, and the atmosphere became more and more heated. Everyone discussed the possible scenes of the Summoning Immortals Ceremony, as if they were already in the grand ceremony.

However, children's imagination is limited after all. After a while, the topic naturally turned from the solemnity and mystery of the invitation ceremony to the relaxed and happy daily life. Hu Tao enthusiastically talked about the new clothes she prepared for the invitation ceremony, how unique the style was and how bright the colors were. Xingqiu shared the new places he planned to explore after the ceremony, describing the wonderful scenery and unknown challenges that might exist there. Chongyun also joined the discussion, talking about his expectations for Liyue's traditional food during the ceremony, imagining the taste of various delicacies blooming on the tip of his tongue. Lin Huan looked at everyone's energetic appearance, and the heaviness in his heart gradually dissipated. He smiled and joined their chat. For a while, there was constant laughter in the backyard, and it seemed that the heaviness just now had never appeared.

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