Original God Zhongli BG Xiao Qinglong traveled through time

Dusk, a giant brush saturated with ochre and gamboge, slowly descended from the ridgeline of Tianheng Mountain, transforming the clouds into tassels of molten gold before settling silently on the azure tiles of Lin Huan's courtyard. The last rays of setting sun seemed to possess substantial weight, lazily resting on the osmanthus bush in the corner of the courtyard, baking the edges of the newly opened white buds into a fuzzy texture, as if adorned with a soft velvet woven from warm light.

Complex layers of fragrance drifted through the air: smoke rising from the thousands of homes in Liyue Harbor below, carrying the hearty, warm aroma of earthly crops; the "Cloud Fairy Wisteria" tea simmering on a small stove exuded a subtle sweetness as clear as mountain mist; and the fallen petals, buried beneath the osmanthus tree last year, now exuded a faint, cold sweetness, honed by time. These aromas intertwined, composing a silent prelude to dusk in this tranquil courtyard.

Lin Huan reclined in a bamboo rocking chair, dressed in a plain green dress that almost blended in with the lush bamboo forest behind her. Only occasionally, as the chair rocked gently, a white jade hairpin in her hair would radiate a gentle sheen, like a fleeting star in the night river. The heavy issues brought about by the day's Jade Star Keqing, concerning the strata of rock and the blood and fire of five hundred years ago, had not yet fully subsided in her heart. Meanwhile, Xingqiu's youthful, inexperienced anticipation of his journey to Inazuma, like a lively koi fish, stirred new ripples in her stilled heart. The confluence of these two undercurrents, warm and cold, caused her slender fingertips to tap lightly on the armrest, echoing a rhythm from the depths of time that only she could hear.

In this silence permeated by dusk and the fragrance of tea, a burst of footsteps as brisk as glass beads rolling down a jade plate, mixed with the sound of subtle air currents caused by rapid flight, which was unique to some elves, came from far away, crisply and vividly breaking through the quiet barrier of the courtyard.

"Lin Huan—We're back!"

Paimon's penetrating, childish cheer was like a colorful pebble dropped into a mirrored lake, instantly stirring up ripples of joy. Lin Huan looked up at the sound and saw the familiar figure of Traveler Ying—she was turning around the moon gate wrapped in wisteria, the afterglow of the setting sun gilding her short golden hair with a gorgeous rim, as if she were wearing an invisible crown of glory. And Paimon, like a little white cannonball launched with excitement, waving his chubby little hands, rushed to the rocking chair.

"I heard you're 'officially' back today!" Paimon braked hastily, hands on hips, and leaned forward slightly in excitement. His big, star-like eyes were filled with undisguised curiosity and pure joy. "Let me take a closer look. Is there any difference between you and the always lazy Xizhi?"

Ying's steps were steady and graceful. She approached without saying much, a faint, understanding smile lingering on the corners of her lips, like the ripples of a stone thrown to test the waters. Her eyes, glimpsing many of Teyvat's secrets and steeped in the starry skies and the frost of time, now rested quietly and intently on Lin Huan, as if performing a silent ritual of confirmation. The exquisite food box she held, from Wanmin Hall, emanated the alluring aroma of pepper chicken and spicy steamed bread, adding a touch of the rich, earthy flavor to this ethereal courtyard.

Lin Huan gazed at them, the ripples in his heart, stirred by the weight of the past and the long journey ahead, strangely soothed and pacified by this warm sense of reality. She slowly rose from her rocking chair, her blue gown fluttering silently like ripples on the water, her sleeves seemingly carrying the coolness of the mountain breeze and moonlight. The smile that blossomed on her face was genuine and warm, like the first ray of bright moonlight entering the courtyard, dispelling the last traces of dusk's melancholy.

"Welcome back." Her voice carried the relaxation and warmth that comes after a long separation, like sweet soup bubbling over the fire as old friends sit together. "I happen to have some freshly brewed 'Cloud Fairy Rose', and some new snacks that Xingqiu left behind, supposedly from New Moon Pavilion. If the journey doesn't bother you, let's try some."

"Snacks! From Xinyuexuan!" Paimeng's eyes instantly burst into a light comparable to the brightest gems. He immediately threw the "morphological inspection" task to the wind, and whooshed into a white meteor, hovering precisely beside the stone table. He stared at Lin Huan as he spread out the plain porcelain cups and gold-painted snack plates one by one as if unfolding a scroll.

The three of them sat around a stone table crafted from aged pear wood. The sweet aroma of tea and pastries lingered, forming a warm, invisible web. Paimon was completely absorbed in the ocean of delicious food, his cheeks bulging with contentment, like a hamster storing food for the winter, and he let out a vague sigh of satisfaction. Ying, on the other hand, sipped her tea gracefully, her gaze occasionally flickering to Lin Huan's profile, as serene as an ancient jade, and to the blue-tiled courtyard behind her, which seemed even more serene and private in the deepening twilight.

"It's so nice here," Ying said softly, her tone carrying a subtle weariness after a long journey, as well as the relaxation of finding a safe place. "Compared to our Chen Ge Hu, which relies on immortal energy and always seems a little... too perfect, it has much more... how should I put it, a down-to-earth, living, human touch."

Lin Huan picked up the warm white porcelain teapot and slowly refilled her with clear, emerald tea. Her eyelashes drooped slightly, casting two soft shadows like small fans across her fair cheeks. "It's just a moment of leisure from this turbulent life," she said softly. "But you, on the other hand, still bear the traces of travel in your eyes." Her fingertips gently brushed the back of Ying's hand, which lay casually on the table. The unique, tranquil warmth of immortal power flowed in like a thawed stream in early spring. "You didn't come here just to see me, your 'old friend,' did you?"

Upon hearing this, Paimon hurriedly swallowed his mouthful of food with great effort, then flew up like a startled bird and answered, "Of course I came to see you! But... I also have some super new news to tell you! We might have to go to Inazuma again soon! It seems that things there are not as busy as before. It seems that there is a super lively 'Rongcai Festival' coming up..."

"Paimon." Ying called out helplessly, but there was no real blame in her voice, but rather a hint of indulgence.

A flash of quick, all-seeing understanding flashed across Lin Huan's eyes, then transformed into a deeper, softer gentleness, like moonlight sinking into a deep pool. "So that's how it is. Inazuma... is indeed a land where beauty and sharp edges coexist." She cleverly avoided mentioning her upcoming trip and, like the most patient listener, spoke eloquently, "The thunder cherry blossoms there, in full bloom, resemble clouds and rosy clouds, their splendor almost tragic. The tea ceremony is complex and elegant, every gesture a question of eternity. However, the sea breeze swirling around the island always carries a lingering salty taste, the bitterness of thunderstorms and tears. For first-timers, it may take some time to get used to it."

"Eh? Lin Huan, have you been to Inazuma?" Paimeng's curiosity was completely aroused, and he couldn't help but move closer, almost touching Lin Huan's face.

"...all those things happened a long time ago." Lin Huan's gaze momentarily drifted away and lost focus, as if piercing through the courtyard and the twilight before her, and catching sight of the land of her memories, shrouded in purple lightning and crimson cherry blossoms. She shook her head gently, as if to shake off the complex images of the past, and turned to look at Paimeng. A gentle, playful smile crept back into her lips. "Come to think of it, Paimeng seems to have been obsessed with the furry 'Xizhi'?"

"Of course!" Paimon was immediately diverted from the topic. She stamped her feet excitedly in the air, her voice rising a notch. "Xizhi was so adorable! So soft and cuddly, like a warm cloud in your arms. He would rub his furry little head against your palms, making gurgling sounds in his throat! Compared to this... this..." She gestured hard, her face wrinkled, as if she couldn't find the right words to describe Lin Huan's elegant and otherworldly appearance at the moment. "Anyway, he's just cuter! I want to bury him in it even more!"

Ying couldn't help but put her hand on her forehead and whispered a reminder: "Paimon, this is so rude."

Lin Huan, however, wasn't annoyed. Instead, he chuckled softly at Paimeng's unadulterated sincerity. Her laughter was as clear and melodious as the murmur of a mountain stream flowing through the cracks of rock, carrying a sense of relief and purity that comes from being freed from all burdens. She gracefully set down the white porcelain teacup in her hand and stood up. The wide sleeves of her blue gown fluttered gently in the rising evening breeze, like rippling blue water.

"Since Paimon misses that 'furry' so much..."

Her words had a sly, slightly rising ending tone. Under Ying's slightly surprised but understanding gaze and Paimeng's eyes that suddenly burst with strong expectation, Lin Huan took a light step forward.

There was no earth-shattering surge of immortal energy, no dazzling elemental brilliance. It was as if the twilight in the courtyard had been disturbed by her, the wind automatically entangling her, becoming her shifting gauze garment. Her figure suddenly became hazy and soft amidst the interweaving of light and shadow, gracefully shrinking and condensing in a gesture that transcended common sense yet was incredibly natural and fluid.

In the blink of an eye, Xizhi, the ragdoll cat, covered in long, silver-gray fur, like a brocade woven from moonlight and stardust, landed lightly and silently on the cool, smooth bluestone slab. She gracefully raised her furry little head. Her signature eyes, a blend of the finest amber and the clearest sky, sparkled in the deepening night, gleaming with the uniquely innocent and intelligent light of a cat. She turned toward Paimon and said softly,

"Miwu~"

This voice, with a bit of coquettish nasal tone, was light and soft, like a feather gently scratching the heart, instantly hitting the softest corner of Paimeng and Ying's hearts.

"Xizhi! It's really Xizhi! You're back!" Paimon cheered, opening his arms and ready to rush over for a warm hug.

However, before she could get close, Xizhi deftly tilted her head, and the small, golden-belled collar around her neck tinkled softly. Like a playful dancer determined to save her most exciting performance for last, she gave a slight push on her hind legs and gracefully spun on the spot. Her long, silver-gray tail, as fluffy as clouds and as lush as a sparrow's tail, traced a perfect, flowing arc in the air, like a lady in a lavish attire, gracefully lifting her nonexistent, ornate skirt at the height of her dance.

The wind gathered again, this time carrying countless azure-gold fragments of light like shattered stars, gently yet swiftly dancing around her. The fragments flickered like fireflies on a summer night, illuminating her satin-smooth, glossy hair, each strand seemingly infused with life. Within that dreamy, hazy glow, her form stretched and shifted in a rhythmic pattern, showcasing the wonders of nature.

The next moment, the wind and stardust dissipated quietly like a curtain at the end of the show.

Lin Huan stood still, her blue robe still flowing, her hair untangled, as if the astonishing transformation had just been a collective, enchanting hallucination. Only the wily, lively glint of "Xizhi" that flickered in her eyes as she tilted her head slightly, still lingering, and the warm, pure, sun-kissed, downy aura that still lingered, a scent so warm and pure it made one want to bury oneself in it and breathe deeply, confirmed the reality of the magical scene.

She even imitated the gestures of the green-clad dancers with fluttering sleeves as they bowed at the most famous stage in Liyue Harbor. With both hands, she lifted the ends of her skirt very lightly and gracefully, and performed an ancient ritual that was both playful like a cat and elegant like an immortal, facing the stunned little Paimon with his mouth open and Ying with a gentle smile in her golden eyes.

"So," her voice was filled with a resonant smile like the sound of a clear spring hitting jade. Her gaze first swept over the still-shocked Paimeng, and finally, she looked deeply into Ying's eyes, which were filled with relief and understanding. "Are you used to it? Whether it's the 'Lin Huan' who discusses Taoism and drinks tea with you, or the 'Xizhi' who can curl up in your lap and play, the one standing before you now is the whole me... the real me, the one who no longer avoids me."

Paimeng's little mouth opened and closed, and it took her a while to find her voice. She flew forward, almost sticking to Lin Huan's face for a second confirmation: "Wow! You...you can actually change like this...like this at will! It's...so magical! So cute!" She expressed her greatest shock and the most straightforward praise with a poor vocabulary but rich emotions.

Ying finally couldn't help herself, a soft, clear laugh escaping her throat, like the wind whispering through lilies of the orchid. She stepped forward, extending her hand. It wasn't a polite greeting between immortal and traveler, but a gentle, sisterly shake of Lin Huan's hand, like a close friend. Her palm was warm, calloused with the thin calluses of years of wielding a sword and traversing mountains and seas. It was rough, yet incredibly firm and true.

"You look very beautiful." Ying's voice was soft, yet as firm and sincere as a vow. "Whether you're in a green robe as white as jade or in a pair of silver fur as white as snow, you're both beautiful. Seeing you standing here like this... truly and peacefully, we're truly relieved."

Lin Huanhui held her hand, and the solid warmth from the human world spread from their touching fingertips to the last lonely and cold corner of her heart. She raised her eyes, gazing at the diamond-like stars that were gradually becoming clearer in the night sky. A light, genuine smile of relief played on her lips, and she whispered:

"Yeah... after coming this far, I also think it's really good to be able to do this... "

The evening breeze grew gentler, caressing the courtyard, bringing with it the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, which grew richer and more ethereal in the night. On the stone table, the tea was still warm, the snacks lingered, and the echoes of conversation seemed to linger faintly in the air. And in this small world enveloped by starlight and warmth, a silent ritual of homecoming, of friendship, of reconciliation with the past, and of complete self-acceptance, witnessed by the shifting twilight and the rising stars, came to a gentle and perfect conclusion.

From a distant mountain path, one could faintly hear Xingqiu's enthusiastic, clear, and high-spirited humming. He was practicing a new opera excerpt that he was preparing to perform at the Inazuma Yosai Festival. The sound, which came from far away, was full of the youthful vigor and infinite longing for an unknown journey, clearly foreshadowing that a new chapter of the story was about to begin.

But at this moment, this night, in this courtyard, only the tea is warm, the bells are quiet, and the old friends are at peace.