Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Inside the private room of Xinyuexuan—

Zhongli: "Old friend, it's been so many years. Isn't there anything you'd like to talk about?"

Xuanqing: ...

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Xuan Yue could only say, "Originally, A Qing was going to go and discuss matters with Mr. Zhongli, but now..."

Xuan Yue turned to look at Xuan Qing, who was now withdrawn and silent, and was genuinely worried, but she still had to push her: "A-Qing... now that you're back, don't think about those things that aren't important, it's better to look forward..."

Xuan Qing frantically tried to mentally prepare himself, and after a long silence, he finally asked, "Are they... alright?"

The "them" here naturally refers to the old friends in Jueyunjian, who are known for their skills in controlling clouds and wind, carving the moon and building the sun, and managing water and stacking mountains.

"Haha, they are in Jueyun now. If you're worried, old friend, why don't you go back and see for yourself?" Zhongli said, taking a sip of tea before continuing, "Is this magnificent scene of Liyue as you wish?"

Xuan Yue: "Very satisfied, as expected of the Rock King Emperor!"

Xuan Qing fell silent again. Returning to the end, Mark Hughes, Shifting the Heavens, Roaring Sea and Dwelling in the Clouds, Floating Abode, Conquering Difficulties, Responding, Infernal Wrath… If it weren't for that scheme… no, even without it, it wouldn't have been possible…

"Xuan Qing! Calm down!" Xuan Yue immediately realized something was wrong with Xuan Qing. A chill was emanating from him and growing stronger... Xuan Qing's eyes became vacant, and bloodshot appeared in them—a sign that he was about to lose control...

"Watch out!" Zhongli pulled Xuan Yue away and took out a yin-yang openwork jade pendant from his chest pocket. The pendant emitted a faint glow, resonating with the one on Xuan Qing's waist...

"Who's there! Whose child is missing!"

"Hahaha, didn't you say you wouldn't have too much to do with humans? Then how did you end up here, and why are you being treated like a lost child?"

"Hargentus, I suggest you forget about this as soon as possible..."

"Okay, okay... hahaha, let me laugh a little longer..."

---

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"I'm scared! I, the mighty Dragon King of Rota, have fought alongside Morax in the north and south, how could I possibly do this! Let's go!"

"Ah! Joavis! You're cheating! Ah!!!"

"You can find helpers, but as long as I land, I'll consider it a loss."

Who do you think you are?!

"you."

---

"Xuanqing! The Great Iceberg!...Aqing..."

"Old friend, how have you been since we last met?"

"Your Majesty..."

"Tianjun."

"Your Majesty, take a look! This is my latest inspiration..."

"Joavis, try it... How is it? Delicious, isn't it..."

"Oh dear, Xiao Xuanqing, don't look so sad, give me a smile!"

"Haha, Your Majesty, let's go to the Lantern Festival together!"

"Joavis! You're bullying me!"

...I...miss you all so much...

Xuan Yue hugged Xuan Qing, who had fallen to one side, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and looked at Zhong Li with a questioning gaze.

Zhongli: "Xuanqing's condition seems to indicate that he has unresolved inner conflicts and almost went mad with demonic possession."

Xuan Yue: "As expected... A Qing is still concerned about that incident from 500 years ago..."

Zhongli: "Old friend, do you have any clues...?"

Xuan Yue looked at Zhongli, the guest elder, and said, "If you want to know what the clues are, shouldn't you know better than me?"

Zhongli: "Even the most solid rock will bear the marks of time; that's the price. Looking at Xuanqing now, it seems he's trapped in the past, trying to escape the present..."

Xuan Yue: "Then! Then... I'll take him to Jueyun Realm now..."

Zhongli calmed the anxious Xuan Yue and took back the jade pendant, saying, "How about... we take this opportunity to have Xuan Qing join us? An old friend can lend a hand..."

Xuan Yue: "...Sigh~, go ahead and tell me, I'm already on your pirate ship anyway. If Xuan Qing comes after me later, I'll let him hold you responsible..."

Zhongli smiled helplessly, looking at the unconscious Xuanqing, thinking to herself: (You're still here...that's good...)

-----

Half an hour later, Xuan Qing slowly woke up and found that they were still in Xinyue Pavilion, but just now... what had happened...

Seeing that Xuan Qing had woken up, Xuan Yue rubbed his temples and said, "You must have been too tired lately. You were already drowsy before the food was even served."

Xuan Qing: "Me?"

"What have you been up to lately, my old friend?" Zhongli immediately changed the subject.

Xuan Qing, having regained some composure, slowly spoke: "Integrate the reports from the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild to help Barbatos resolve the dragon calamity in Mondstadt... Oh, I remember now, I heard that the Executive Officer of Winter's End is in close contact with you. What's going on?"

Zhongli: "They're trying to find a breakthrough through me, and we're still at a stalemate. However, the [Invitation to Immortals Ritual] will be held soon. My old friend, would you like to go and take a look...?"

Xuan Qing: "I still don't need to..."

"I want to go! I've never seen what this [Invitation to Immortals Ceremony] is like! Ah Qing, will you come with me?" Xuan Yue said coquettishly, clinging to Xuan Qing's arm.

Xuan Qing, feeling a bit reluctant to refuse under Xuan Yue's intense gaze, said, "Alright, let go first."

Zhongli: "Then welcome back the two of you in triumph. This meal is on me."

At this moment, Xuan Qing's eyes flashed, and he said somewhat speechlessly, "Guest Elder, where is your wallet?"

Xuan Yue: "?"

Zhongli: "...So, it seems I really did forget to bring Mora again. Well then... let's put the bill on the Northern Bank..."

Xuanqing →_→: ……

Xuan Yue ( ′?w?) ：……

After a long pause, Xuan Qing finally spoke, "Xuan Yue, you can go pay the bill later." He then gave Xuan Yue a bag of Mora and told him to go downstairs to pay first and call the waiter to bring the food.

When only the two of them remained in the private room, Xuan Qing still managed to ask with difficulty, "You... haven't blamed me at all?" Blamed me for getting involved in their game, blamed me for pushing forward the Demon God War, blamed me... for arriving too late...

Zhongli: "I said it back then, and I don't mind saying it again now. We are not only comrades-in-arms, but also family. You will always be one of us, always."

Xuanqing: (I wish... you had ever blamed me...)

Zhongli: "Old friend, don't overthink it. Instead, take this opportunity to get to know each other better; Liuyun and the others often talk about you..."

Xuan Qing: "If I have the chance... I'll go back..."

As for when to go back... he's not ready yet; running into him was just an accident! Next time, he'll definitely stay far away from the Hall of Rebirth!

At this moment, Xuan Yue pushed open the door to the private room: "Zhong Li, the dishes you ordered are really expensive. Each plate costs 5 Mora, and the whole table has only a few dishes but costs 84 Mora. No wonder the head of the Rebirth Hall has to sell flyers on the street!"

Zhongli pondered for a moment and said, "Is there that much? I'm sorry to have troubled you..."

Xuan Qing: "How come you're short of Mora?"

Xuan Yue: "Yeah, how come you don't have Mora?"

Zhongli calmly replied, "Since we intend to roam the mortal world, we should naturally adapt to mortal life as humans and integrate into it."

Xuan Yue looked at Xuan Qing: "A Qing... what did he say?...?"

Xuanqing rubbed Xuanyue's head and said, "He means that he is a human right now, and a human cannot transform into Mora."

Xuan Yue: "Oh... that's it. Given his personality, it's hard for him not to go to the opera and walk his birds. He once said that he had to listen to the latest operas, drink the most expensive tea, and eat the finest food... Uh, can the Rebirth Hall afford to support him?"

Xuanqing: (That is a problem...)

Zhongli didn't think much of Xuan Yue's complaints: "Everything in the world has a price, such as knowledge, learning, and experience... If you have to price everything based on Mora, that would be narrow-minded."

Xuanqing: (You actually have a point...)

Xuan Yue: (Xuan Qing, am I misunderstanding something or is he saying something wrong? I didn't understand a word he said.)

Xuanqing: (Okay, okay, we won't listen.)

After the meal, Xuan Yue clearly sensed that Xuan Qing's mindset had relaxed a bit. Barbatos was right; the one who tied the knot must untie it, and the remedy still needed to be found in Li Yue.

Xuanqing and Xuanyue returned to the house provided by the Feiyun Merchant Guild. Xuanqing gazed at the brightly lit night sky of Liyue, a solitary figure lost in thought…

Xuan Yue saw all this and could only hope that Zhong Li's plan would work, otherwise... otherwise... at worst, he would sacrifice himself and drag Xuan Qing away from Li Yue! Hmph!