Original God Zhongli BG Xiao Qinglong traveled through time

Zhongli's fingertips tapped lightly on the sandalwood window frame, a sound like dewdrops falling into a clear pond, spreading invisible ripples. "The Hall Master awaits your arrival. The ceremonial matters must be finalized. This year, the osmanthus flowers on Yujing Terrace are in full bloom, their branches overflowing with golden grains, their fragrance permeating the streets for miles." His voice was steady, like a still, calm well, but his gaze, like a wisp of warm jade, quietly passed over the frozen silver-gray figure, finally nodding slightly to Shen He and Yu Qing. With the flutter of his dark robe, his figure melted into the shadows deep within the porch. Only the faint sound of his footsteps on the wooden steps remained, steady and receding, like the last wave of the tide soothing the sandbank.

The top floor suddenly felt spacious. The sunlight was still generous, the tea smoke still graceful, but once the deep, rich aroma of rock was removed, the air seemed to have lost its anchor, even the floating dust seemed to have no place to rest, and a subtle, suddenly amplified silence permeated the air.

On the brocade cushion, the "cat-shaped butter" seemed to have collapsed half a bit, and the edge had merged more thoroughly with the fabric, as if it had given up even the last bit of the desire to absorb light and heat, leaving only a kind of almost nihilistic, abandoned weariness.

Shen He's icy blue eyes suddenly lit up, like the sun reflecting off a snowy field, clear and resolute. "Mr. Zhongli has already shown us the way forward. Our priority now is to devise a plan for their safe transfer." She turned toward the pile of cat biscuits, her tone pure and unforced, without a trace of distraction. "Junior Master's form is stable, but his mind is locked. Forcing it might lead to conflict. We must find a way to reconcile and ease the situation."

There was a clear, crisp "tap" sound, the warm chess piece between Yu Qing's fingers striking the vermilion railing. The crisp sound shattered the excessive stillness. "Easy? Harmonious?" A hint of sarcasm escaped his lips, his red robe trailing like a stream of fire as he approached lazily, his eyes glancing critically at the furry, stubborn mass. "By the time she figures it out, I'm afraid the embers of the Lantern Festival will have cooled. I'd just pick her up and leave. If a winter cat were this sentimental, it would have become a frozen ornament on the icy plains."

"The samples are scarce, so it's hard to say for sure." Shen He argued seriously, actually pulling out a jade scroll shimmering with spiritual light from her sleeves. Using ice as a pen, she traced several lines of crystal-clear seal script in the air. "Based on the study of the habits of spirit beasts and the art of transporting objects using unusual machines, we've come up with three strategies. The best strategy: Use wind-controlling talismans to support the mat and transport it as a whole, ensuring safety. The middle strategy: Make a simple sled and apply a constant speed to pull it, avoiding the pain of the bumps. The worst strategy:..." She paused, then turned her gaze to Yu Qing. "As you say, we can carry it by hand, but we need to accurately measure the points where the force is applied to avoid internal injuries."

The cat shrank slightly, as if the word "internal injury" had turned into actual pain, attacking from a distance.

Yu Qing put his hand to his forehead, almost fainting: "You...you really want to build a sled for her?!" He pointed at the pile of cat biscuits, his tone full of absurdity, "She is in a bad mood, not physically injured!"

Shen He tilted her head slightly in confusion, her snow-white hair brushing against her cheek: "The body and the spirit are one. It's never wrong to be cautious." After she finished speaking, she actually activated her immortal power, and a chilling cold air flowed from her fingertips. As it swirled around and around, an ice ski frame with an exquisite structure and even a streamlined beauty took shape. The side edges were engraved with fine windproof and shape-stabilizing runes, and the light was flowing.

Xiao remained silent, deep within the pillar's shadow. Beneath his Nuo mask, his piercing eyes swept across the increasingly bizarre ice sled, past Yu Qing's expression of "unbearable to watch," and finally settled back on the cat pancake, which had become increasingly stiff from the scene. He shook his head ever so slightly, silently moving half a foot back. His aura grew increasingly cold and aloof, clearly signaling a clear break.

Yu Qing rolled his eyes, completely giving up on reasoning with Shen He and resorting to his usual "psychological tactics." He leaned in close to Mao Bing and, with that magnetic, mocking voice, whispered like a demon: "Hey, do you hear me? If you don't move, she'll really make you an ice coffin and parade it through the streets. The whole of Liyue will be empty, eager to witness the spectacle of Wangshu Inn's 'Ice Coffin Leisure Tour'... Tell me, wouldn't this be considered a unique and historic event?"

The tip of Maobing's furry tail trembled uncontrollably.

Yu Qing pressed the issue, her tone becoming increasingly cunning. "Or perhaps, are you imitating the wife-waiting rock in the opera? What a pity, they're looking forward to their beloved, while you're looking forward to... the old... ahem, old gentleman who left you alone. The difference in meaning is as great as heaven and earth."

These words were like an invisible ice spike, piercing a deeply hidden vital point with pinpoint accuracy. The barrier that had always kept people at arm's length rippled through Mao Bing's body, a subtle but genuine wave of grievance.

Shen He's ice sled had already taken shape in her hands. She was concentrating on adjusting the talisman's levitation ability. A chill permeated the air, making the entire private room feel like it was plunging into an icy cellar. Perhaps due to the intertwining energies, a miniature soundproofing barrier she had previously set up suddenly mutated—entirely enveloping Mao Bing.

Instantly, Mao Bing was plunged into absolute silence. She watched Yu Qing's lips and teeth move, Shen He fiddling with his ridiculous ice sled, as if watching a pantomime, all sound vanishing! A sense of complete isolation and panic gripped her heart. Her ears, always drooping, suddenly stood up, her azure eyes filled with the horror of "deafness," and her little claws subconsciously scratched at the air in panic.

Yu Qing pointed at the ferocious cat within the barrier and said to Shen He, who was still immersed in the world of talismans, "Look, she's happily practicing the ancient cat boxing techniques. Your strategy is indeed effective."

Shen He glanced up and nodded in approval: "Indeed, absolute silence is beneficial to peace of mind."

Just as the chaos reached its climax, the silver-gray cat, with all the accumulated grievances, frustrations, and regrets of being left behind throughout the morning, as well as the despair over the outrageous behavior of these two "reinforcements", finally broke through the "tragic" embankment like a glacier.

She kicked her hind legs hard, shooting up from the increasingly cold cushion like lightning. She didn't flee, but drew an arc filled with grief and anger. In full view of everyone (including Xiao's gaze that turned from "indifferent" to "slightly surprised"), she unexpectedly and accurately crashed into—

In Xiao's arms.

Yes, perhaps the original trajectory should have pointed to Yu Qing, but in that moment of extreme confusion and grievance, it was that dark green figure like a pool, always silent but standing in the shadows like a mountain, exuding a cold and familiar sense of security that was more in line with her current mood.

The cat buried its face in the cool armor on Xiao's chest, its small body trembling with emotion. A long-suppressed whimper escaped its throat, a sob that seemed to accuse the world of injustice. Its front paws tightly grasped the edge of his dark green shirt, afraid to be pushed away.

Xiao's body suddenly stiffened.

He still held the untold demon-slaying Hepu Kite in his palm. His Nuo mask obscured all expression, but the hand, suspended in mid-air, at a loss for what to do, and the momentary hesitation, palpable even through the icy mask, betrayed his current helplessness. He was accustomed to enduring the ravages of karma and facing bloodshed, but he had never faced such a tender creature, bearing warmth, tears, and utter dependence, crashing into his arms.

Shen He paused her talismanic movements, and the ice sled shone brightly. She stared at the trembling silver-gray mass in Xiao's arms, her eyes filled with pure confusion. "This strategy... is ineffective?"

Yu Qingchu was stunned for a moment, then let out a vague chuckle, mixed with a bit of "as expected" realization, and a hint of disappointment that he himself hadn't even noticed, which was soon covered by a deeper joke: "Heh... I picked the hardest one to hit, and I'm not afraid of breaking my teeth."

Xiao stood frozen for several breaths. Finally, with an almost reverent clumsiness, his hovering hand gently placed its hand on the cat's trembling back. His fingertips pierced through the lush fur, and he could clearly feel the subtle twitching within the tiny body. He said nothing, but the chilling, murderous aura that had always lingered around him quietly faded a bit.

This decisive pounce was like pressing the mute button on time and space. All the noise, arguments, and absurd plans disappeared without a trace.

Shen He observed the scene quietly, tilting his head in thought for a moment, then lightly raised his slender finger and removed the silent barrier. The sound of the wind outside, the muffled sound in the distance, and Yu Qing's laughter once again surged back like a tide.

The cat moved slightly in Xiao's arms, as if startled by the sudden sound of its return, and shrank even deeper into the cold shelter.

Yu Qing stretched his waist and sauntered lazily to the window, gazing towards Liyue Harbor. He muttered, "Alright, alright, the show's over. If we delay any longer, the perfect viewing spot will be taken." He glanced back, his gaze sweeping over the still-stiff Xiao and the cat in his arms. "Hey, Yaksha, does your 'Thousand Rock Shield' have to double as your 'steed'? Let's get going."

Xiao lowered his head, glancing at the cat in his arms, which seemed to have calmed down a bit but still refused to look up. Then he looked back up at the gradually fading stars in the sky and the increasingly distinct smell of the harbor. He took a very light breath, adjusted his arms so the cat could curl up more comfortably, and then took steady steps.

Upon seeing this, Shen He immediately followed silently, still maintaining a highly alert posture, as if guarding some extremely valuable rare treasure.

The top floor of Wangshu Inn finally returned to complete silence. All that remained were the gradually cooling cup of tea and the golden ginkgo leaf on the windowsill that had once startled the cat into sneezing. In the increasingly clear and bright morning light, they shimmered delicately and gently.

Three figures (plus a cat) formed a strange and unprecedented formation, embarking on the journey back to Liyue Harbor. Xiao, holding the cat, walked in front, his posture still as straight as a pine tree, yet a kind of ice seemed to be quietly melting. Shen He followed closely behind, his eyes piercing. Yu Qing trailed behind, a faint complaint of "trouble" still lingering on his lips, but his pace never faltered.

The morning light finally completely washed away the darkness of night, gently enveloping them and the sleepless port city in the distance that was about to be lit up by thousands of night lights.