Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 182 The Lantern Festival After a Thousand Years (XV)

"So slow~, are they talking badly about us?" Xuan Yue couldn't help but tease when Zhongli and Ruotuo finally came out.

"Haha, not at all, we're here now! There's still plenty of time, we can wander around a bit more." Ruotuo chuckled as she walked up to him, then leaned close to Xuan Yue's ear and whispered, "I know exactly where that 'Ten Miles of Drunken Immortal' you secretly hid back then. Be careful Xuan Qing finds out, he'll nag you to death."

Xuan Yue knew exactly what Ruo Tuo meant. He just wanted to put him in his place.

Xuan Yue, not to be outdone, grinned mischievously and said, "Heh, you flatter me. How can you compare to the Dragon King? He must have ruined quite a few of Morax's antiques back then. I heard that the Crystal Cloud Cup was a rare treasure; he cherished it dearly. What a pity, that clumsy dragon accidentally smashed it to pieces." (If you dare tell Xuan Qing, I dare tell Morax. You won't get away with it.)

"How did you know?!" Ruotuo's eyes widened instantly; he hadn't told a single person.

"Hmph, I was drinking on the tree where you hid the fragment back then. Who knew you would sneak out in the middle of the night just to hide a fragment?"

"If Morax hadn't been so desperate to find them later, I wouldn't have known what those fragments were."

(They can't threaten me now, right?) Xuan Yue looked smug and somewhat pleased with herself. She didn't notice that their voices were getting louder, nor did she see that the two people behind her had the same gloomy expression.

"Drinking while hiding in a tree? Doesn't sound like a first offense, Yue." Xuan Yue was stunned for a moment, stiffly turning his head to see Xuan Qing smiling gently, but it sent a chill down his spine: "Aren't you going to explain?"

"Ah...Ah Qing, listen to me, it's not what you think!" ∑(°口°?)!

Ruotuo sensed something was wrong and immediately felt guilty, so he tried to sneak away. Unexpectedly, his back bumped into a familiar arm, and a hand wearing a black glove rested on his shoulder. A deep voice sounded from behind: "I thought I had forgotten where I put that crystal cloud cup. Turns out—it's because of you, old friend."

"I...I...I...I didn't mean to!" (′?皿?｀)

"Sigh...Kong, Paimon, turn your backs." Xiao sighed, turned around first, and reminded the two beside him.

"Ok?"

"why?"

Kong and Paimon had a string of question marks above their heads, but they still listened and turned around to stand properly.

"See no evil."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ruotuo's scream came from behind him.

--------

It was getting closer and closer to midnight, but the streets were still bustling with activity. Xuanqing could only hold Xiao's hand with her right hand and occasionally tug at Xuanyue, who was falling behind, to prevent them from being separated by the crowd.

Xiao was extremely careful not to come into contact with others, fearing that they might suddenly be tainted by his karma, but being by Xuanqing's side made him feel a little more at ease. It was the first time he had entered Liyue Harbor for the Lantern Festival, the first time he had stepped into the bustling streets, the first time he had argued with his friends in the streets, and the first time he felt that he was a part of this lively scene.

Xiao held Xuan Qing's hand, looked at the smiling faces of the five little figures inside the crystal ball in his arms, and then at the festively decorated scene, and smiled knowingly...

(Thanks…)

Zhongli was quite carefree. After spotting an antique stall, he would look at the items for a while and buy the ones he liked directly. Of course, this time there was no record of payment; Xuanqing paid directly.

I've been to Paimon and Sora a few times before, but this time I don't have to pay! I can just buy whatever I want.

Only——

"We both made the same mistake, so why am I the only one being punished?! I'm not having it!" Ruotuo looked at the dozen or so bags she was carrying and couldn't help but complain about Xuan Yue, who was walking ahead and happily eating the pastries that Xuan Qing had handed her.

"Really? Hmm, how come you're not really losing weight?" "No way! Aren't I being punished right now?" Xuan Yue retorted, her words muffled as she chewed on her pastries.

"Huh? You're not being punished here."

"Gulp~" Xuan Yue swallowed the last bite of pastry, then smiled slyly and said, "Isn't A Qing punishing me by making me eat until I'm stuffed?"

Ruotao: "..."(=tェt=)

"Alright, stop being naughty. If you sneak a drink again next time, I'll really punish you." Xuan Qing lightly tapped his forehead, pretending to be serious.

Xuan Yue wasn't annoyed. She simply wrapped her arm around Xuan Qing's, rested her chin on his shoulder, and said in a coquettish tone, "So, how does A Qing want to punish me~"

"I'll confiscate all your novels for a month."

"No, please! I promise I won't sneak a drink again."

"Hmm, try this." Xuan Qing didn't mind, picked up a sample candy from a small shop, and held it to Xuan Yue's lips. The person in question obediently opened her mouth to accept the feeding. Xuan Qing even picked out a piece that didn't look so sweet and handed it to Xiao on the other side: "Try it, do you like it?"

"Thank you, Tian... uh, brother." Xuan Qing fed Xiao quite a bit along the way, and the way he addressed Xiao was Xuan Yue's idea. As a result, the blush on Xiao's ears hasn't faded yet.

"Is it good?" Paimon flew over and saw Xiao's eyes light up, and immediately became curious.

"Not bad, mine is actually peach flavored. But it tastes different from the ones from other vendors." Xuan Yue even closed her eyes to savor the taste.

"Really? I'll try some too." Paimon also took a piece of the kind Xiao had just eaten and put it in his mouth to taste it: "Wow! It's almond flavored! So delicious!"

"Haha, thank you for your kind review, sir. All the candies in my shop are handmade without any additives. Because almonds are slightly bitter, I add milk during the making process to neutralize it, so they have a slight milky taste." The stall owner, a woman, also carefully answered Xuan Yue's question: "You're right, because if it were just the taste of peaches, it probably wouldn't attract many customers. Haha, I can't compete with those established candy shops."

"So I added some sunset fruit juice, and unexpectedly, the resulting candy had an indescribable feeling. It was a bestseller and sold very well."

"Haha, congratulations!" Looking at the many varieties laid out before her, Xuan Yue was at a loss for what to choose and could only call out, "A-Qing~"

"..." Xuan Qing exchanged a silent glance with Xuan Yue, and finally gave in helplessly: "Boss, pack three portions of all kinds. There will be some left after packing this almond flavor, so pack them all into one portion."

"Okay!" The boss's eyes lit up, and his mouth was practically stretched to the back of his ears.

"Zhongli, Ruotuo, do you want some?" Xuanqing asked, looking at the two people picking out items not far away.

"Sure, I'll take some back for the sect leader."

"Give me one too."

With their response, Xuan Qing nodded and paid for two more items. While waiting, he also bought a few cups of milk tea and sat on an empty chair near the huge lantern to pass the time.

"I'm so full." Paimon rubbed his bulging belly, looking satisfied.

Kong said helplessly, "I'm so full. My mouth hasn't stopped all night."

"So sleepy~" Xuan Yue yawned, resting her head on Xuan Qing's shoulder, her eyes half-closed.

"How about taking a nap?" Xuan Qing thought that his little golden crow was sleepy because it had eaten too much.

"Hmm~" Xuan Yue hummed and fell asleep. Xuan Qing sighed and turned to ask Xiao, who was sipping his slightly sweetened milk tea, "How was your first time experiencing the Lantern Festival up close? Did you feel uncomfortable?"

"...Very good, and also...happy." Xiao was still a little shy; there were too many people here, and he was still a little uncomfortable.

“It’s normal, you’ll get used to it after a few more times.” Xuan Qing smiled and comforted Xiao. Then, looking at Kong and Paimon, who were also drowsy, he suddenly asked, “Would you like to know what the Lantern Festival was like a thousand years ago?”

"I want to!" Paimon immediately woke up, and Kong shook his head vigorously to drive away the drowsiness.

"The Lantern Festival a thousand years ago was very different from today's, most notably in the 'lanterns' themselves. Back then, the lanterns were decorative lanterns placed in the water on high ground, and people would write their wishes inside, believing they would come true the following year."

Paimon: "Wow, that must be beautiful."

"Hehe, I'm also a little curious. What wishes did you write down back then? Did they come true?"

“…” Xuan Qing was taken aback, his expression slightly unnatural: “It’s been too long… I forgot.”

“I wish to be with you day and night, accompanying you beneath the bright sun.” Xuan Yue suddenly spoke, her heterochromatic eyes meeting his. Xuan Qing could clearly see his reflection in her eyes, and his gaze softened.

"I am willing to serve you; if faced with a great calamity, I will choose to be the one to be abandoned."