Original God Zhongli BG Xiao Qinglong traveled through time

Dusk, like an overturned inkstone, smudged the jagged outline of Mount Tianheng into a silent, dark mark. The last rays of evening light struggled to melt into the clouds, edging the mountain ridge with a dark golden edge. Below, the myriad lanterns of Liyue Harbor gradually lit up, first twinkling like scattered stars, then gradually connecting into a flowing river of light, spreading to the distant horizon. The wind rustled through the pine trees, bringing with it the faint clamor of the marketplace below and the charred aroma of roasted chestnuts, but as it reached the mountaintop, all warmth was shaved off, leaving only a chill.

Three figures slowly ascended the gravel path. Xiao, walking in front, remained as upright as a lone pine tree, while the silver-gray cat in his arms had somehow tensed up. Its lush fur rustled gently in the evening breeze, and its tail, once lazily draped, stiffened, its claws unconsciously digging into the dark green fabric of his shirt.

“Mm…”

A suppressed growl escaped the cat's throat, a warning, a plea. Xiao lowered his gaze, only to see that the cat's azure eyes, which always held the image of the vast ocean and clear sky, had now shrunk into two sharp vertical lines, fixed fixedly on the winding downhill road ahead. The cat's ears had been flattened into airplane-shaped folds, and the entire round face exuded a resolute determination, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Still... afraid of humans?" A barely audible sigh emanated from beneath Nuo's mask, as deep as the night wind across the wasteland. He instinctively folded his arms, attempting to use his body to shield the suddenly nervous little beasts from the growing sounds and lights below. Elemental energy flowed silently, radiating a barely perceptible azure glow around him, like an invisible barrier.

"laugh--"

A soft chuckle echoed from behind him, carrying a hint of playful coolness. Yu leaned against a twisted, ancient pine tree, his red skirt fluttering in the wind like a flame that refused to extinguish. "Warm sun melts ice?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Xiao's stiff back and the exploding ball of silver-gray fur. "But it can't even warm the 'ice' in its own embrace. Isn't that ironic?"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao took a tentative half step forward.

"ha--!"

The cat suddenly arched its back, its fur exploding, and its size instantly doubled, transforming into a truly angry dandelion. Its tiny fangs bared, a threatening hiss erupted from its throat, and its front paws dug into Xiao's chest, every fur on its body screaming, "No more!"

Shen He, who had been following silently, suddenly stopped. A flash of understanding flashed across her icy blue eyes. She pulled a jade scroll shimmering with spiritual energy from her wide sleeves. Her fingertips formed an icy pen and quickly sketched in the air: "'Analysis of Monster Stress Behavior' states: 'The rippling of fur, the drooping of ears, and the sounds of menace are all caused by the perception of great danger.' Based on this, we infer that there is an unknown threat on the way down the mountain, perhaps caused by the remnant of an evil spirit." She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and determined. "I suggest deploying a 'Calming Formation' to isolate the source of the disturbance. We'll discuss further."

After she finished speaking, she actually made some hand gestures and chanted an incantation. A chilling cold air spread from her feet, and ice-blue talismans appeared in the air, about to form a formation.

"Forget it, you icy girl." Yu Qing interrupted lazily. A black bullet shot out from his fingertips, accurately shattering a talisman that was about to take shape. "Do you think this is an exorcism? Look at the look in that cat's eyes—" He pointed at the blue eyes that were staring at Xiao, almost spitting fire. "It's not that they're afraid of ghosts at the foot of the mountain, it's clearly afraid that this piece of wood in their arms will suffer."

He walked forward, circled in front of Xiao, and leaned down to meet the bristling cat's gaze. A smile that was half mocking and half pitying played on his lips. "Hey, little one, even if you're protecting your child, you don't want to be this protective. This stone digger is full of evil spirits, and others avoid him as much as possible. Are you afraid that the fireworks in Liyue Harbor will burn him?"

The cat turned its head angrily and faced him with the back of its head, but its tail slapped Xiao's arm anxiously.

Yu Qing wasn't angry. He stood up and said to Xiao, "This time last year, a traveler dragged you to eat at Tiger Rock. You stood there in the crowd, your knuckles white from pinching. The cold sweat beneath your Nuo mask could probably keep a Jueyun pepper plant alive." He glanced at the dazzling sea of ​​lights below the mountain, his tone tinged with a complex sigh. "Why? This year, a cat is the one making you feel uncomfortable? You're quite calculating, hiding away in the quiet while letting this furry little ball act as a shield."

Xiao's body trembled imperceptibly. His Nuo mask concealed all expression, but the sudden tightening of his arms and the subtle whimper of the cat in his arms at the change in his strength betrayed a certain tremor of being struck deep within. He subconsciously tried to take another step, as if to prove otherwise.

"Woo!" The cat issued a shrill warning, extending its claws and slapping the cold Nuo mask with its paw pads. A soft, soft "slap" sound echoed. It wasn't an attack, but it was more of a deterrent than any other. Its eyes were filled with the impatience of a frustrated and unhelpful person, as if to say, "Idiot! Do I really have to tell you?!"

This single blow, with a strangely penetrating power, shattered a thousand-year-old barrier. Xiao finally stopped moving, completely stunned. Countless fragments of memory surged through his mind: the discomfort of being tormented by the bustling city, the solitary figure standing alone on the eaves during festive reunions, and... the deep-seated exhaustion and self-loathing that followed each forced attempt to blend in. He had never spoken of it, yet it seemed those clear, cat-like eyes had seen it all.

The mountain wind grew stronger, blowing his clothes and ruffling the cat's long, silver-gray fur. Lights from a thousand homes streamed silently beneath their feet, like a grand, distant dream. He looked down at the little animal in his arms, trembling slightly with nervousness, yet still stubbornly resisting him. An unprecedented feeling of poignancy and warmth quietly washed over him.

Shen He looked at the two people (one man and one cat) who had suddenly stopped moving. A hint of confusion flashed in her icy eyes, but the brilliance of the talisman in her hand gradually dimmed. She seemed to sense a more subtle atmosphere flowing beyond the records in the classics.

Yu Qing folded his arms and watched, but this time, he didn't sneer. He simply watched quietly, the usual sneer in his eyes gradually fading, transforming into a complex understanding. He thought of his own origins, his own struggles. Wasn't it the same thing, using a body of thorns to cover the soft underbelly he didn't want to show to others.

After a long time, a very light sigh, almost dissipated in the wind, escaped from under Nuo's mask.

"...As you wish."

Xiao finally bent his knees and sat down on a flat bluestone atop the mountain. His movements were a little stiff, yet they carried a sense of compromise, a sense of letting go of a heavy burden. He gently placed the cat on his knees, his gesture surprisingly cautious and solemn.

Miraculously, the cat, so tense just moments ago, calmed down like the tide the moment it touched his knee. Its swollen body shrank back to its original rounded shape, and its ears perked up again, only their tips still trembling with sensitivity. The threatening sound in its throat faded, replaced by a tiny, contented meow, a nasal sound of relief.

She adjusted herself to a comfortable position on his lap, then slumped down softly, her chin resting on her front paws. Her azure pupils returned to a round, jujube-shaped form, reflecting the brilliant starry sky below. Her long, silver-gray tail, however, remained restless. The tip of its tail lifted slightly, with a hint of tentative hesitation, and then, with extremely light movements, it wrapped itself around one of Xiao's fingers, which dangled at his side.

Xiao's fingers trembled slightly, but he didn't pull away. He looked down at the furry tip of his tail, then raised his eyes to gaze into the distance. Nuo's mask remained icy, but the chilling, murderous aura surrounding him had subtly dissipated. He sat quietly, like another silent rock atop the mountain, embracing a small, warm secret that protected a piece of pure land for him.

Shen He walked to the side silently, stood leaning against a pine tree, his eyes swept over the people and cats leaning against each other, and looked at the vast sea of ​​lights, as if he had realized something.

Yu Qing snorted softly, then turned around and casually sat down on a rock. He pulled a pot of wine from his pocket and took a sip. The spicy liquid slid down his throat. He squinted his eyes, watching the lights winding like a long dragon, and a smile that was hard to tell whether it was mockery or envy appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The mountain breeze remained, but no longer biting. Atop Tianheng Mountain, a man, a cat, two immortals, gazed upon the hustle and bustle of the world below, forming a strange yet tranquil silhouette amidst the bustling world. At that moment, the largest sky lantern ascended into the sky, blossoming like a golden stamen, its brilliance instantly illuminating the cliffs and the sparkling pride in the cat's eyes, a glimmer of hidden achievement and fame. She gently flicked the tip of her tail and wrapped her hand tighter around the cold finger.

In this loneliness "hijacked" by good intentions, thousands of years of karma seem to have found a temporary haven.