Chapter Text
When Xiangling had rushed to her desk, sleepiness still dulling her senses, she had thought nothing of the dark figure hovering over the corner of her desk. She instead slipped into her chair and tapped impatiently on the spacebar of her computer, willing the old thing to turn on and give her access to the report due last night before Keqing could come and scold her ear off. The screen flashed to life, the bright gold symbol of Morax greeting her before her desktop items loaded into existence. She managed to open the document and hit the print button moments before she heard the familiar footsteps round the corner. Relieved, she leaned back against her chair, only to sit right back up once she met the gaze of amused red eyes.
“Why hello there.” The red eyed stranger greeted, her head tilted curiously. She was only a step or two away from Xiangling’s desk, yet she hadn’t felt her presence at all nor heard her approach. Xiangling materialized her spear.
“Who are you? How did you get here? Why did you sneak up on me?” Xiangling asked, each question flowing directly after the other. She had stood up and faced the stranger, her spear held defensively between the two of them. When the stranger let out a surprised laugh, she had considered summoning Guoba before a familiar gloved hand grasped her wrist.
“Xiangling. Please disarm and disengage.” Keqing instructed, and after a moment of reluctance met with a pointed look, Xiangling dissolved the spear. Keqing then let go of her wrist and took a step back, bowing slightly to the stranger, which gave Xiangling the slight feeling of oh shit I fucked up . “My apologies, Director Hu, I’m afraid we haven’t been able to reach Xiangling until now, so she’s unaware of your assigned partnership.”
Director Hu? Xiangling vaguely remembered a name like that being mentioned by Ningguang at some point during one of their weekly meetings. Xiangling gulped, concluding that she might’ve just pulled a weapon on someone very important and bowed sharply, her head ducked in apology.
“I’m sorry as well! I didn’t mean to pull a weapon on you.” Xiangling exclaimed, only to be shocked when the stranger squatted down and looked up at her, their red eyes boring into her own.
“No need to bow. It was only fair that you reacted so when I appeared unannounced.” The stranger mused, a small smile creeping onto their face as they extended an open hand towards Xiangling. “I’m Hu Tao, Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and I’m your new partner for however long this case lasts.”
Xiangling blinked, her body acting faster than her brain as she reached down to shake Hu Tao’s hand. Now Wangsheng was a very familiar name. It was the funeral parlor that the agency gets their autopsy reports from, and although they often worked with the agency, the detectives couldn’t help but stay clear of them due to the rumored eccentricities of the staff and the creepiness of the parlor itself. And now Xiangling was shaking the hand of the parlor’s boss.
“I-I’m Xiangling.” She said stupidly, her brain finally catching up. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Director Hu.”
“Likewise. Also there’s no need for formalities. We’re partners now, and if your file is correct then we’re the same age as well, so I’ll consider you a friend.” Hu Tao said, smiling brightly up at the other girl. Xiangling offered a small smile back, although too much was going through her head for it to be fully genuine. The director of the infamous Wangsheng was a young woman the same age as her? And the aforementioned young woman was now her new partner? On a case she didn’t even know she had?
The sound of someone clearing their throat made Xiangling realize her surroundings and she stood up straight, her ears burning red from embarrassment as she realized Keqing was still there and had witnessed in clarity whatever just happened.
“I’ve given the case file to Director Hu, and it appears that you two have now become acquainted with one another, so I’ll leave you to it.’ Keqing said, and if the unordinary interaction had perturbed her in any way, she didn’t show it as she simply inclined her head in a slight bow and was off.
There was a brief silence after Keqing had left, and Xiangling had taken the opportunity to really take a look at the Wangsheng director. Now standing, the girl was about the same height as her. Her dark hair was fixed in long twintails under a black cap, framing her face and making her blood red eyes seem to glow. She was dressed in mostly black, from her shorts to the detective’s cape hanging around her shoulders, the only piece of her clothing that differed from the dark array being the offwhite button up underneath.
“The fastest way to get to someone’s heart is between the third and fourth rib.” Hu Tao commented, and at Xiangling’s taken aback expression, she elaborated. “Well you were examining me quite intensely, so I thought I might offer some tips.”
“No!” Xiangling quickly interjected, holding her hands up and moving them quickly from side to side as if to wipe away the misunderstanding. “That wasn’t my intention, I swear.”
Hu Tao simply giggled and patted the other girl’s shoulder understandingly. “It’s okay,” she said, “I wouldn’t be offended if you did want to kill me! In fact I would like to see you try.”
“Uh.”
“Just kidding~” The young director sang before winking playfully at her new partner. She reached for one of Xiangling’s hands and took it, starting to lead her away. “Come on now, let’s go before the case gets cold!”
Xiangling let herself be led away from her desk, and out of the Qixing Special Operations building, ignoring the stares of her fellow agents on their way out. Hu Tao’s hand was cold, yet oddly comforting, and it almost distracted her from the fact she didn’t even know where she was going or what she was going towards. Almost.
“Wait! Where are we even going? What’s the case?” Xiangling asked, her eyebrows furrowing.
Hu Tao turned slightly to face her, her smile seeming to glint in the sunlight as she said, “It’s better to see for yourself, the things that lie in Wuwang District are things you can only confirm with your own eyes after all.”
---
If Xiangling had not been born and raised in Liyue Harbor, she would’ve thought Wuwang District was its own city entirely, brooding and glum at the edge of bright and cheerful Liyue. The buildings in Wuwang were of wood and brick as opposed to steel and concrete and despite only having two floors at most, they loomed over the streets. Hu Tao had not let go of her hand, and although uncertain of the unnecessary skinship at first, she was grateful for it now. Wuwang seemed like one of those places where people get lost, and never found.
Speaking of people, Xiangling suddenly realized that they haven’t seen anyone in the streets ever since they walked into Wuwang district. For midday in a city as populus as Liyue, even the smaller communities must have some people walking around or signs of life such as a dog in a front yard, but there was nothing. Xiangling looked around, and the longer she did the more it became apparent that Wuwang was barren, and soulless.
“Where is everyone?” Xiangling asked, an uneasy feeling beginning to settle in her gut. Her partner turned to look at her, a surprised look on her face before it melted into a small smile and she began explaining.
“Most of the buildings in Wuwang are unoccupied due to this district being the most susceptible to flooding when rain is relentless, and the old buildings don’t help.” Hu Tao started, and gestured with her free hand at the puddle-ridden streets. Xiangling became acutely aware of just how waterlogged the area was. It was as if the pavement was never dry in the first place.
“But that doesn’t mean that nothing lives here.” Hu Tao continued, turning a corner, and as if on cue, spotted two people standing down the street. A woman and a teenage looking boy were standing in front of one of the nicer looking houses and they were speaking to each other in hushed tones, seeming to not have noticed the newcomers yet. Hu Tao lowered her voice, as if not to alert them, as she finished. “The ones that do live here, however, are here because they want to be left alone. And they don’t take to outsiders very well.”
Knowing this, Hu Tao continued walking down the street towards the only other people they’ve seen in Wuwang as casually as if she were strolling into a coffee shop. Xiangling could only hold onto the other girl’s hand tighter and feel the fear build up in her chest as they got closer to the pairing.
“You shouldn’t stay here any longer, Xiao. It was risky before with all the negative spiritual energy here, but now it’s just plain dangerous.” The woman was saying to the boy, and her hands itched at her sides as if she wanted to touch him but was holding herself back. “I know you can take care of yourself against regular spirits but there is something wrong here, and I don’t want you to stick around to find out what.”
“I can handle myself, Ms. Goldet.” The boy, Xiao said, crossing his arms over his chest. He leaned back, starting to look disinterested before he spotted the newcomers in the corner of his eye. He moved quickly, almost too quickly for the eye to register, and in the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of Hu Tao, his previously nonexistent spear braced at her throat. Xiangling instinctively pulled Hu Tao backwards, let go of her hand, and summoned her own spear, expertly wedging it under the blade of his and pushing it back with a clang .
“Warm and friendly as ever, Xiao.” Hu Tao called out from behind Xiangling, stepping to stand beside her instead. To Xiangling’s surprise, the spear she was pushing against dissolved with a “Tch” from its owner, and she found herself stumbling forward now that the force was gone.
“You snuck up on me again. I have warned you many times not to do so.” Xiao said, letting out an exasperated breath before crossing his arms over his chest once again. Xiangling regained her balance and dissolved her own spear, standing up straight and gaining the sinking feeling that this morning’s scare would not be the last.
“So you have a habit of doing that huh.” Xiangling commented dryly, starting to suspect that her partner actually enjoyed sneaking up on people. Hu Tao responded with a smile, her eyes turning into crescents before she turned to face Xiao.
“You know, that’s the second time someone has threatened me with a spear today.” She said mirthfully before peeking around Xiao, at the house he had been standing in front of. Her brow furrowed as she seemed to examine the house in more detail, her playful look dropping into a solemn one for just the briefest of seconds before it reverted. She spoke again, her tone deadly serious this time, “If even you are scared enough to finally put up sigils of protection, I think it would be best if you listen to Ms. Goldet.”
“Thank you, Director Hu.” Ms. Goldet said gratefully, speaking up for the first time since their presence was acknowledged, and sending Xiangling into her own little social bubble. Great. Everyone knew each other except her. Upon closer inspection, the woman didn’t appear to be from Liyue although her clothes did. Goldet wasn’t a Liyue surname either. Xiangling turned to Hu Tao, wondering just how the young funeral director became acquainted with these people. Hu Tao took this look as a sign to intertwine their fingers, which Xiangling began to sputter at before Ms. Goldet spoke up.
“I really must get going now before Yanxiao gets overwhelmed at lunch time reception, but please Xiao, remember that Wangshu Inn would love to have you.” She said, tentatively reaching out to touch Xiao’s shoulder. Xiao stiffened at this, and Goldet removed her hand, a dispirited expression beginning to come over her face before Xiao sighed and begrudgingly nodded. A smile blossomed on her face, and Xiangling noted that the woman was very pretty.
“Great! I’ll tell Yanxiao to make almond tofu for dinner tonight and Huai'an to get a room ready. Just-- Make sure to leave Wuwang before dark, okay?” Goldet said, and Xiao responded with a “mm” which was enough for her. She then turned to Hu Tao and Xiangling, waved at each of them in turn, and promptly left, as if staying in Wuwang district a second longer would kill her. Xiangling didn’t blame her.
“You know, I don’t think the neighborhoods of Wuwang are the ideal place for a date.” Xiao said wryly, cleverly bringing the subject of interest away from what had just transpired.
“We’re not on a date.” Xiangling corrected, feeling the tips of her ears beginning to turn red. Xiao raised his eyebrows, unconvinced, but shrugged anyway. With a little difficulty, Xiangling tugged her wallet out of her pocket with her free hand and unfurled it, showing the shiny badge that read Qixing Investigator inside. “We’re here for a case.”
Xiao looked scornfully at the badge before he said, “Ugh. Qixing.”
“Hey..” Xiangling started, only to be interrupted by her partner.
“Now is the time to set our differences aside.” Hu Tao said, cutting through the conversation. “Xiao, if you would be so kind. Please take us to Little Nine’s abode.”
Xiao seemed to sober at the mention of that name, and without a moment’s hesitation, began to walk down the street. Hu Tao followed, and with her, although begrudgingly, Xiangling. They delved deeper into Wuwang district and the houses slowly seemed to become more and more bare as they kept walking, until they no longer had walls or doors. In front of a sagging wooden framework that might’ve been a house once, they came to a stop.
“This is it.” Xiao said, sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning back, as if that would provide him a false sense of security. Xiangling had been uneasy before but now, here, where it seemed to be dark although it was midday, and shadows were cast on them from every direction, her gut was telling her to run. Only Hu Tao seemed unnerved, her demeanor curious rather than antsy or stiff.
“I uh.. I don’t think anyone could live here.” Xiangling said, really hoping that Xiao had somehow got the place wrong and was just pulling a prank on them although he really didn’t seem like the type to.
“Being a ghost hardly counts as living.” Xiao said seriously, and Xiangling suddenly felt very, very scared.