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CHONGYUN
"Chongyun," his father said in a stern tone that made blood freeze in his veins, "I’d like to remind you this occasion is of the most extreme importance."
Chongyun averted his eyes, unable to sustain the weight of such a piercing gaze. His anger was more than justified. His entire family, the scholars and all the exorcists (apprentices and novices included) had been preparing for the big ceremony for weeks, if not even months. And now, barely a few minutes before setting for the journey, he was refusing to go. "I know, father," he said, "But—"
"New exorcists get nominated once every ten years," his father interrupted him, choking his protest from the start. "When it was your turn to be initiated, you were only six. It’s a solemn moment where future allies and coworkers make their first appearance on the scene."
"I know—" Chongyun tried to step in again, in vain.
"As professionals," the man raised his voice, "We must get to know not only those we fight against, but also those we fight alongside us."
"Listen!" Chongyun finally snapped, earning himself an irritated look from his mother sitting at the tea-table. "I swear I’m not playing around. It’s work I’m staying behind for."
This was a game-changer, and he knew that very well. Whenever a job was mentioned, his parents instantly changed their mood, proud of their son for his services to be demanded. They were aware of his condition and of how often he had been underestimated by his own clients, yet their faith in him had never once quivered. Although he deeply appreciated their affection and support, sometimes he had to admit he took advantage of their favor, manipulating his sentences to convince them to let him go around freely.
Well, to be fair, this specific plan was Xingqiu’s concept. But he deserved some praise for the flawless execution, anyway.
His father glanced behind, to exchange a quick silent dialogue with his wife. "You mean..." he said, suddenly docile, "You have a commission?"
"Sort of," Chongyun answered. "More like… hints. Paths for me to investigate." It wouldn’t do him any good to lie about the source of information, considering his family could simply ask the Adventurer’s Guild for confirmation and blow up his cover with a single conversation. Better play it safe.
His father brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful. "Is it reliable?" he asked.
Touché. Truth is, when Xingqiu was concerned, Chongyun had no idea of the extent of his reliability. But every single one of his friends knew how important this event was, so the best he could hope was for this track to be extremely serious. It just had to be.
"I hope it is," he said. Realizing he didn’t sound convincing at all, he rushedly added, "Should be. Maybe. Probably?" Wow, great acting indeed. And only by getting vaguely flustered about his blatant lie, he could feel his condition already start to impact him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down his spirit before things could get out of control.
His father sighed. "Chongyun," he said, gently patting his shoulder with his hand, "Friends are important, I taught you that. But remember to care for your own future, and to not waste unique chances for mere… vague opportunities."
He was right. He was so damn right. Chongyun was hurt by how much the man had understood about his bond with Xingqiu in spite of never meeting him in person. But, even after being pranked so many times, even after getting upset and tricked on countless occasions, he couldn’t give up on him. He knew he meant no harm— he simply had complicated ways to express his affection.
"I believe in him," he declared.
"To be honest with you, son," the man added, "I think Xingqiu likes to weave verses a lot, and he is indeed a genius child. But he has little practical understanding of what your career means to you… to us." He gestured to his mother, and to the temple they lived in. His home. His family.
For a moment, he considered going back on his steps. Telling Xingqiu he was busy, and they’d hang out when he was back, maybe on a trip to Qingce Village, where he could enjoy a popsicle while his friend quietly read a novel. But it was too late.
"But," his father spoke quickly, preventing him from talking, "I don’t plan on stepping in your personal matters. May the Geo Archon guide you, Chongyun."
Chongyun pressed his lips together. As he watched from the courtyard, his body frozen by sudden regret, the door closed before him.
"Farewell, father," he mumbled to no one.
— ✦ —
The very last slime burst like a bubble of water, soaking his clothes with its damp coating. Chongyun wiped the sweat off his forehead, his body temperature dangerously high from the physical effort of fighting. He took a popsicle out of his bag and quickly bit on its icy surface, trying to cool down his spirit.
There was no sign of any ghost. Panic had been biting at the back of his head for a long time, now, after the first two tracks he had been guided to had proven to be fake and left by simple hilichurls.
Although he didn’t want to lose all hope in that hunt, tightly clinging onto the tiny hope that there was some truth behind Xingqiu’s job description, he was starting to doubt his choices. Maybe he had made a big mistake in refusing to go with his family. There was a time for friends and a time for duty, and he had stepped too far across the thin border dividing them.
A sudden shiver ran down his spine. He lifted his gaze, eyeing the whole clearing to inspect every nook and cranny his sight could reach. There was something, or someone, looking at him. Staring, painfully close.
The bush before his eyes trembled, the rustling of the leaves echoing through Chongyun’s head. He gripped at his claymore tightly, tensing his muscles for a fight, as he rapidly swallowed what was left of his popsicle and approached the mysterious source of the noise.
With small, careful steps, he reached his destination. He reached out with his hand, trying to move some of the branches out of the way to peek at what was hidden behind them, his body ready to jump…
"Boo!" A familiar voice screamed, making him fall back in fear.
It took him but an instant to recognize the stranger. And, for the first time in his life, anger promptly built up in his chest.
"I’m a scary evil spirit living in the depths of the forest!" Xingqiu chanted, waving his hands in the air in a childish manner, pretending to be a cliche ghost from a theater piece. "I’m here to haunt you."
Chongyun had no strength to even comment on what was happening. He clenched his fists, desperately fighting his own spirit to keep calm and stop heating up in rage, but already feeling dizzy. This wasn’t going to end well. He was scared, and filled with regret.
"Chongyun?" Xingqiu said, his voice now full of worry. "Why are you crying?"
He didn’t even notice the tears already streaming down his cheeks. It was a rare occasion for him to cry, considering he barely showed any emotion at all, always struggling to keep them at bay. He hated being seen like this, especially by the person he had liked for so many years… and whose sight only made him fume at the moment.
"It’s just me," Xingqiu added. He approached him, gently resting a hand on his shoulder.
In a normal situation, Chongyun would have blushed, frantically chewing on something cold or taking deep cleansing breaths to keep his heartbeat and breath at a steady rhythm. But now, he simply swatted it away, distancing himself from the other boy.
Xingqiu seemed hurt by this rejection, and silently sat beside him. "Did I scare you that much?" he asked. "It’s me, not a real ghost."
"That’s exactly the problem," Chongyun finally said. His voice was cold, surprising even to himself.
"I beg your pardon?" Xingqiu said, his voice uncharacteristically shaky. "Aren’t you happy to see me?"
Was he hurt, was he teasing? Chongyun couldn’t fathom his real feelings. That was the typical issue with Xingqiu— a master at acting, a professional at wording, he never failed to conceal the truth from the others, perpetually leaving them with a nagging doubt about his heartfelt state of mind. "Xingqiu, you—" Chongyun tried to explain, but was annoyingly cut off mid-sentence.
"Are you seriously so easy to upset?" Xingqiu said, jokingly. "Aw, dear Chongyun, you sweet soul..."
The mockery was far too much for his shattered nerves. Chongyun had no intention to sit there as he got made fun of, after being tricked for the millionth time and hurt when smashing his nose against the harsh reality. Xingqiu could have been his best friend, his longtime crush, his most loyal companion… yet, he couldn’t be trusted. Not on this. "I’m leaving," he muttered.
To prove his point, he stood up in a rush, quickly grabbing his claymore from the ground and walking down the hill path, aiming for the entrance of the forest.
Xingqiu snapped to his feet as well, agile as a cat. "Wait, what?"
And he followed him. No matter how fast he walked, what sidetracks he took, Xingqiu was constantly pursuing him, to the point of frustration. "Do you think it’s so funny to play with my feelings?" he snapped, turning around to face him. "Building my expectations up with your notes about some weird cases, having me come here and break a sweat for hours, only to prank me in the end?"
Xingqiu halted, hurt evident in his eyes. "Chongyun..." he said, "I’ve been doing this for a long time. I thought you found it amusing as well."
"I do not!" Chongyun yelled. He didn’t plan to sound so aggressive, but he couldn’t control himself anymore. He had gone past his breaking point a while before, his body sweating, and his head wrapped in a hazy mist that annihilated every single one of his rational thoughts. He knew it would happen the moment he’d let anger take over, but even the patience of saints had a limit. "I never did. I simply pretended to be alright with it because I l… like you."
"I’m… sorry?" Xingqiu whispered. It seemed as if he, too, was on the verge of a crying fit. Maybe he was overdoing it as well, shoving immaturity in response to more immaturity. "I didn’t know it hurt you this much, I—"
"Especially today," Chongyun went on, unable to control his words anymore, letting his thoughts flow freely through his lips. "I can stand it any other day, but not when I was supposed to attend a very important ceremony, an event that only happens once every ten years, to chase… a lie."
He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, wiping away the tears. How could he even face his father now? It seemed as if even he knew him better than Chongyun, his best friend since childhood. He should have listened.
"The thing is," Xingqiu said, once again drawing nearer, "You always have such a sad and tense look whenever you have to accompany your family on mundane occasions. I figured this might be a pleasant distraction, a way to keep you safe from those exorcist hangout events."
Chongyun’s heart skipped a sad beat. How could an excellent writer such as him not realize the weight of his speech? "Hangout events?" he repeated, shocked. "That’s what they are to you?"
Their eyes met, and Xingqiu flinched in fear , taking a trembling step back. Chongyun didn’t mean that. He didn’t want to scare him off, to seem dangerous. He was over the edge, all he needed was to run in a corner and maybe jump in a frozen lake, cooling his head off. But Xingqiu simply didn’t allow him to leave and let him get his alone time, thus unleashing his… less nice side.
"I mean—" Xingqiu tried to explain, his voice trembling in a way Chongyun had never heard before. "It isn’t a commercial or business appointment, so—"
"Xingqiu," Chongyun said, suddenly calm, "You should really learn to respect my job and my family, if you want us to get along."
And without adding anything else, nor leaving him the time to snap out of his trance and follow up, he darted away, almost tripping in his escape.
CHONGYUN
Time flew by surprisingly fast.
Chongyun wasn’t expecting things to go that way. He had been friends with Xingqiu ever since childhood, and they were rumored to be dating for years, considering they never left each other’s side. And well, useless to say he gladly basked in those rumors, enjoying the idea people thought they were a thing, ever since he had come to terms with his romantic feelings for him.
But strangely enough, he didn’t mind being apart. Although he did miss him sometimes (occasionally turning around as if to say something to him, and then remembering he was not there) he was nowhere as distraught as he thought he’d be.
Maybe they needed a break after all.
He didn’t regret what he had done that day. He simply didn’t like the way he handled the matter, swayed by his sudden rush of anger. As an exorcist, he should know better than to let negative influxes take over his logic like that. He couldn’t help but feel as if it was a minor failure on his part, a setback he could have prevented with only a little more skill.
They hadn’t been talking for a couple of weeks, perhaps even a month. And he was doing surprisingly alright.
It’s not like he hated Xingqiu or disliked him. He still loved him a whole lot (way more than he’d ever receive in return, probably, his one-sided crush being the bane of his existence), and held the utmost respect for him in every aspect of life, be it social, linguistic, intellectual, and so on. And he wasn’t the type to hold a grudge, not at all. He wanted some peace of mind, though, to recollect his thoughts, and reconsider his impulsive decisions.
The day they’d talk again, he’d be a changed man. One of whom everyone, from his family to Xingqiu himself, could be proud of.
He stood up, abandoning the comfortable embrace of his bed to walk up to his desk. He opened one of the drawers below it and stuck his hand inside, rummaging through the contents until he managed to dig up a tattered sketchbook. He quickly wiped the dust off its cover, before opening it carefully.
That was his personal treasure. All the notes, scribbles, and drawings he had meticulously written down during his previous training, when his family and his fellow disciples were going through the basics of exorcism and combat, learning how to discern malicious forces from the sane principles ruling this world.
Whenever he found himself in a rut, with his spirit down and unable to get back on his feet, he read them all over again and relived those moments in his mind. But in a deep crisis such as the current one, he probably needed more. How long had it been since he last did any physical activity, aside from his weekly sparring appointment with Xingqiu? It couldn’t hurt to pick back some of those healthy habits.
He quickly skimmed over his ancient routine. There were lots of pushups and situps, as expected, and other common exercises any other sportsman or fighter could engage in. But what shocked everyone he had mentioned it to was the hardcore part. Diving into freezing lakes, running through thunderstorms, subjecting his body to extreme temperatures to push his toleration limit as high up as he could, and possibly get a better grip over his constitution.
If seven-year-old Chongyun could handle all of this, there was no reason for his grown-up version to struggle.
It was a dozen, no, a hundred times harder than he remembered.
Every breath sent sharp spikes of pain through his lungs, his throat completely frozen. He preferred cold weather to hot one by a fair measure, but this was still too extreme for his body. He wondered how long he could keep going before collapsing to the ground… and who knew if anyone would ever find him, as deep into the mountain as he was.
Dragonspine really had no mercy. How did he find the strength to carry on in the past? This was a real nightmare. Maybe he was stronger back then, when he was fueled by the awareness that, after his long training, he’d start his real career as an exorcist.
Current Chongyun regretted it a lot, though.
“A changed man, Chongyun,” he thought as if to motivate himself, “A changed man.”
And gathering all of his remaining energies, he started speeding through the frozen pines, up towards the summit of the mountain.
XINGQIU
Xingqiu took a deep breath before stepping inside the reception room of the Feiyun Commerce Guild. The air was stale as per usual, an unpleasant but familiar smell he had grown accustomed to across the years. That was the place where he had spent most of his childhood years, hunched on the small tea table while taking notes during economics and business class, or listening to his family scold him whenever he pulled a prank on someone.
True… a prank. He thanked his own brain for reminding him of the issue at hand, the wound of the fight with Chongyun still fresh. They hadn’t talked in far too long for him to handle, his own guilt pressing over his shoulder like a heavy boulder and pushing him down into more and more sadness with each passing day.
He put on his polite facade. No matter the issue, a true professional always knows to keep up their appearance and never show their weak side to potential clients or rivals.
He walked up to the chaise longue in the middle of the room and sat down on the blue pillows, sinking in the soft fabric. He crossed his legs, looking at the man sitting before him.
"Good morning," Xingqiu greeted, politely. "I’ve been told there is something you wish to discuss with me."
"Let’s skip with the formalities, shall we," the man spoke, instantly piquing Xingqiu’s curiosity. His voice was hoarse, his manners apparently impeccable from the way he sat and gestured, but he had the feeling such perfect conduct and seemingly strong confidence concealed something shady. "I had a word with the Boss of Feiyun Commerce Guild, and he agreed you’d be the one to negotiate this matter with us."
Ah yes, his father. Always proclaiming his trust in him, yet always putting him to the test. As the second son, he had always been floating between having to earn his respect, and constantly being put down for every decision he took. He figured the eternal struggle of pleasing his parents would never end, so he had learned to somehow deal with it.
"And to be fairly honest," the man continued, "I’m delighted to be dealing with you in person directly."
An alarm bell blinked inside of Xingqiu’s mind. " Directly?" he echoed. "Were you planning to discuss the matter with me from the beginning, my liege?"
"I very much hoped so."
There was something cunning in his smile, a light he couldn’t fully trust. He carefully lifted his cup of tea from the table and took a polite sip. "And why is that, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
The man’s grin didn’t tremble the slightest bit. It was almost eerie, at this point. He stood up, "I caught a rumor that you were the one who ruined Gentry Maocai’s attempted trade in Cor Lapis."
The blood in Xingqiu’s veins froze. How could anyone know? He had gone out of his way to keep the information secret and control all people involved. It was impossible for anyone to breach through his security system, and yet…
"If you’re wondering how I know," the man interrupted his fantasies, almost as if he had read his mind, "As a fellow businessman, you should know better than me that the one who wins is the one who has the best informers."
That started to sound threatening. Cold sweat dripping down his neck, Xingqiu took a deep breath. "What does this matter have to do with that affair?" Was it possible for it to be an attempt at revenge, or something equally dangerous for him and his family’s reputation?
"Oh, nothing," was the answer he hoped to hear. "But it shares some similarities in the method. On a bigger scale, even." Xingqiu nodded, prompting him to continue. "If this deal will come to subsist, the involved parties are going to be my own company, Feiyun Commerce Guild, as well as my client."
So many vague words, so many empty holes in his discussion. He must think he was a newcomer he could easily trick, if he expected him to accept his offer without questioning even the smallest detail of it. Starting with the biggest and most suspicious points. "Your client," he repeated. "So, if my understanding is on point, you came here on someone else’s behalf."
"Indeed." No hesitation. The man sure had a ready answer no matter what objection he raised.
"Isn’t it a bit… audacious , if I may say so," Xingqiu said, schemingly taking a sip of tea, letting his word echo through the room, "To demand me to trust you on such a deep level? I have no proof, no detail, I am sure as a fellow businessman you shall understand where I’m coming from, Sir."
He knew it was a risky move to provoke his anger by throwing his own words against him, but that had always been his strategy, after all. Poke the enemy until their cover starts fading, their mask begins crumbling.
The man, though, was full of surprises. "Surely, and I was going to discuss those shortly," he said, glaring at him through his glasses. "Growing impatient? How surprising, coming from the second heir of such a greatly influential guild."
Damn, Xingqiu cursed mentally. He couldn’t think of any solid comeback to that, and maybe he was right— his brainpower wasn’t at its fullest, sleep-deprived and tired as he had been since his fight with Chongyun. He had no choice, it was a matter of honor. He had to keep his head up. "Without any further ado, then," he said, "Let’s discuss these details, if you will."
He drank the remains of his tea, before placing the empty cup on the table for the maids to collect. The stranger might not know so, but that was Xingqiu’s secret code. He enjoyed sipping a hot drink throughout the entirety of his business meetings, his classes, and in general any extended period of time that demanded his intense attention. When he dropped the act midway, it meant he was annoyed. And eager to get down to business.
"Certainly," the man agreed. And finally, his explanation began. "Help me refresh my memory. If I recall correctly, from the data my secret informer provided, you forced an unfair deal with Gentry Maocai by purchasing every stock of Cor Lapis in the entirety of Liyue, leaving them no choice but to accept your price, or suffer the consequences of breaking an agreement with a powerful international organization."
On point, Xingqiu had to give him that. He had no clue who the spy among his men was, but they did do an amazing job. He gulped, ignoring the red flags in his head that compelled him to interrupt the conversation beforehand and simply reject the offer on the spot. "Precisely," he said through gritted teeth.
"Well, the deal we have at hand is quite similar," the man went on. "It involves yet again acquiring a monopoly of a product, to monopolize its stocks in Liyue and ensure us a profitable trade with a foreign buyer."
Xingqiu furrowed his eyebrows. "How convenient," he said, failing to conceal a sarcastic note in his voice. "Truly a shockingly similar story. But may I inquire as to what would be in it for the Guild? You see, that one time I was settling some... personal matter, but in this case, I don’t see why I would be interested in your offer."
"Doesn’t Feiyun Commerce Guild specialize in silk trading?" the man asked. "You probably know the White Silk Festival in Inazuma is nearby. It seems some big names in the industrial scene in the neighboring nation are looking forward to establishing exclusive economical bonds with an elite of business companies in Liyue."
"It seems ?" irritation in Xingqiu’s voice grew bigger and clearer, as he took a hand to his temples to massage them softly. He felt as if his time was being pointlessly wasted, and he hated that. He was busy being sad and enjoying the ripeness of his youth, he had no time for such obvious liars who thought they could fool him simply because he was a teen. "Aren’t we being a little vague? I’d like to see some documents proving your facts, some actual proof we aren’t discussing hot air, or at least a memorandum of your conversation with said buyer..." He gestured into the air, as to imply “Anything, really. ”
The man finally seemed to be ticked off. The first breach in his perfect, pristine mask. "I will obviously provide you with such valuable information, were you to accept our proposal," he said. "For the time being, I would kindly require your trust."
When resorting to such arguments, one has already lost their debate. Xingqiu now had the upper hand, and the smell of scam lingered strongly in the air.
Nice try, too bad it won’t work against me”, he thought. "Let’s say I do trust you and your mysterious client," he said, uncrossing his legs and bending forward to look at him up close. "What would your demand towards the Guild be?"
"I— We would simply need you to collect all stocks of the rarest Silk Flower variety on the eastern coast of Liyue," he explained. "We will do the same on the western side, with the ultimate goal of monopolizing the entire stocks. So, the buyer will have no choice but to choose us to set their trade."
"And in the end, we’d split up the profits," Xingqiu concluded for him.
"And in the end, we’d split up the profits," the man echoed.
Xingqiu took a moment to pretend he was giving it some real thought. It was so terribly naive of that man to expect him to fall for such an obvious trap. What was he after? His honor, maybe? His name? Kidnapping him to ask for a ransom, or special favors? He was in for trouble, if that was the case. He might have been young, he might have been only second in line, but he sure knew how to put up a fight, in spite of his delicate constitution.
Still… a nagging idea boiled at the back of his head. What if for once… he chose the immature path? What if he pretended to accept that offer, and used the chance to prove to his family that he was able to hold his ground against any opponent, no matter how much they tried to trick him?
It sounded terribly stupid and dangerous.
Like the foolish adventure of a credulous, childish knight in a coming-of-age novel.
And he absolutely loved every bit of it.
He glanced over at the door. His father peeked through the wooden panes, gesturing at him to refuse the offer and go back to his room. "I will consider it," he said, internally rejoicing in seeing the shocked look on his parents’ faces. "I will be sure to send you a missive with the Guild’s final decision on this matter."
The man smiled. He got up to his feet, slipping a tissue out of his pocket and drying off sweat beads from his forehead, ingenuously revealing how tense he was. Another big mistake, but Xingqiu was in no place to point out the fallacies in his plan— not when he had chosen to pretend to take the bait. "Thank you," he said.
To analyze the situation in a cold-blooded fashion, he was truly fucking up. No way to sugarcoat the matter, he was making a horrible mistake and, what’s worse, he was conscious of the idiocy of his acts. But he didn’t care. He could afford acting spontaneously for once, dropping the cover of the perfect prodigal son and living a small bit of excitement.
Also, this could be the excuse he was looking for. To redeem himself from his mistakes, to show he could resist any offense to his name, and well, perhaps to try and trick the very same person who had tried to scam him. Many maybes, little certainties— but it was enough for him.
Xingqiu stood up as well, affably holding out his hand. "Thank you, Sir..." he asked, noticing only at that moment that he didn’t even bother asking for his name. What a slip-up, coming from him.
"Chen," the man answered.
And as he left, bowing politely to his parents, completely unaware of the storm that was about to hit that household, Xingqiu realized what he had done. Such poor judgment. It wasn’t even the first time— nothing in his life was in one piece anymore, after all.
— ✦ —
It is at night that doubts assault one’s mind, when the body is tired and thoughts are free to wander off. And that’s why Xingqiu lay in bed, unable to fall asleep, continuously rolling around in the bedsheets, as he wondered whether he made the right decision or not.
Purposely falling into a trap, no matter the intention behind it, seemed unnecessarily dangerous. His father had gone all out as soon as the guest had left, pouring a huge amount of piled-up anger on him, especially disappointed in the way Xingqiu had ignored his sign to reject the negotiation and send the man off.
There is none so deaf as he who will not hear, thus explaining his real goal to him would have been fruitless. But now that he was alone, he realized how careless he had been. He was sure he could handle most dangerous situations, as a Vision holder and a skilled connoisseur of the Guhua style, but there were too many unknown variables. His fate relied on someone else’s plan, and he had no control over it. Maybe his attempt at being a better person had proven to be, in fact, the exact opposite of that.
He rubbed his fingers along the glossy surface of his Vision, keeping it up in the air as he watched the pale light of the moon reflect inside it and turn into shiny blue hues. Sometimes he felt as if the element he had been chosen to wield didn’t fit him at all. Hydro was calm, peaceful, methodical and steady. All he could do was put up the mask of a professional young man, act like a gentleman from his favorite novels, and hide away in his fantasy world made of books, and friendly jokes that he pushed way too far.
His fingers reached the tassel tied at the end of the gem, and his heart skipped a beat. He still remembered the day they exchanged those, as an eternal keepsake of their strong friendship, which had never been actually that, in Xingqiu’s heart— he couldn’t deny his feelings had been way stronger than mere companionship since their childhood years.
And now, Chongyun was gone. Truth is, he missed him. A lot. They had never been apart for so long, and not having him by his side was more painful than he would have liked to admit.
But maybe… He could still change that. He had a chance to get him back. If only he dared to look for him and ask for his help during the affair he had just accepted.
Holding his Vision in a tight grip, he rushed to get up, dressing as quickly as he could, not bothering with buttoning up his shirt or tying his laces. He made sure he was at least fit to be seen and, clumsily wearing his shoes like slippers, he opened his window, the chilly breeze of the night instantly ruffling his hair up.
He liked that sight on the plaza, being able to see the bulletin board and the stairs leading to the harbor as soon as he woke up, immersing him into the mood of the city from the start of the day. And also, being on the first floor allowed him to sneak out at any time, unseen by anyone, and come back in the same way. Something he and Chongyun had often taken advantage of during their rebellious years.
Xingqiu took a deep breath. He climbed up the small frame of the window, sitting on the wooden cornice and staring outside for a handful of seconds, gathering the courage to go. When he was ready, he jumped down into the street, his feet hurting only a little from the fall.
And as if he had pulled at his end of the red string of fate, he saw him.
Chongyun was in front of him, his face as surprised as ever.
CHONGYUN
The breeze blowing in Liyue Harbor was chilly, a nice change compared to the icy, burning winds in the mountains. Even after giving up on the harsh Dragonspine and settling for warmer peaks for his training, Chongyun was still overwhelmed by the cold sometimes— and he’d never think it could happen before this moment, always actively looking for cooler places.
He was tired. Exhausted, even. Yet, a strong feeling of satisfaction pooled at the pit of his stomach, knowing he was improving. No more than a week had passed since he had started his old-new routine, and he felt a tiny little bit different. More determined, more conscious of his limits. And honestly, it felt great.
He lazily chomped down on his popsicle, enjoying the stroll around the main streets. The lights and shop signs shone in the dim light of the night, painting the evening with a pleasant warm glow, almost like a magical setting. As focused as he was on admiring the landscape all around, of his native city which never failed to amaze him, he almost didn’t notice the boy standing right in front of him, in the middle of the road.
His heart skipped a beat upon seeing him.
"Chongyun," Xingqiu called his name. He was disheveled, his hair sticking out in all directions and his clothes ruffled and messy. Did he just get out of bed, or something? What happened to the usually perfect Xingqiu?
No, it was too soon. He wasn’t ready to face him yet.
"Hey," he waved at him. He hastened his pace, walking past him at the speed of light, his chest shaking as he took a glimpse of his bangs and his beautiful eyes. Oh, how much had he missed him. The realization hit him just now, of how much he had been pretending, merely lying to himself about being fine. But his quest to become a changed man wasn’t fulfilled yet. He had more to work on.
"Chongyun!" the other boy seemed really eager to confront him, though.
Reluctantly, Chongyun turned around to meet his gaze. "Need something?" he asked, hating the rude way his own voice sounded. He didn’t plan to treat him badly, but he couldn’t help faking some indifference for the sake of his pride. He still had to hear a proper apology, after all.
Hurt was evident in Xingqiu’s amber eyes. "I— I might have accepted a trade," he explained, seemingly uneasy. "It is clearly an attempt of fraud, but I decided to go along with it to prove to my family I am able to succeed and get benefits for the Guild even in front of the biggest trick."
"And what’s my role in this?" Chongyun asked.
Xingqiu clenched his fists and lowered his gaze. "Could you please… accompany me?" he begged. "I know you are angry and you despise me, but… I can’t guarantee my safety, and I am quite afraid."
His fear seemed genuine. But Chongyun’s trauma was fresh, he had witnessed first hand his excellent acting skills, and he couldn’t truly trust him to that extent. There probably wasn’t any haunted place, nor any real risk. Plus, it was Xingqiu, a prodigy and a great fighter, one of the last remaining representatives of the Guhua Clan. He’d be fine.
"I’m sorry," he politely refused, "I’m afraid I’m gonna be busy these days."
Xingqiu gave him a surprised look. "With what?" he asked.
"Training," was Chongyun’s deadpan answer. "I have a lot to do. I’ve been neglecting my schedule for a long time to follow… wrong paths."
As sharp as ever, Xingqiu immediately caught on his reference. He stiffened, suddenly uncomfortable, and hugged his own chest with his arms. He looked so small, Chongyun was almost tempted to run to him and wrap him up in a tight hug. He bit his lower lip to fight back the urge. "I see," he whispered. "That’s understandable. Sorry for disturbing you."
And he left on a whim, heartbroken.
Chongyun felt a hint of regret staining his pride.
XIANGLING
Wanmin Restaurant was as busy as ever, customers from all parts of the city bustling inside for their lunch, forming a long line outside the door and pressing against the counter. It wasn’t easy to deal with such a loud and demanding crowd with the highest expectations, which is why every member of the family had to be employed full-time. Usually, they managed with no major issues… except, that day, Xiangling had too many things to work on at the same time.
"I don’t get it," Xingqiu snapped, aggressively waving his chopsticks in the air, "I was merely joking, wasn’t I?"
Xiangling sighed, as she finished plating the next dish. It was such a rare sight to witness Xingqiu lose his typical calm, letting out his frustration for once. She wished it’d happen at a better time, though, and not while she was already paying attention to three different meals to cook.
"Yes," she answered, "But sometimes you do… over spice it a little." She poured a handful of chilis inside the pot, hoping to capture the exact level of spicy the client had asked for.
"But my behavior has always been the same!" Xingqiu kept rambling. "Doesn’t he know by now that I care for him? How could I ever wrong him on purpose?"
"I know, but—" Xiangling tried to say, only to be furtherly talked over.
"He looks perpetually sad!" he insisted. "So unfazed and unimpressed by everything. I want to make him laugh!"
A few customers glanced at the counter from their tables. Xiangling glared at her friend, in a quiet order to keep quiet, as he would indeed bother everyone in the span of a mile. She could only hope her father wouldn’t scold her for the rushed decision of letting a very angry Xingqiu sit in the back of the kitchen, where they were all working, and enjoying a private meal. They wouldn’t dare send him away, if not due to the bond he had with her, at least for the money he was going to spend with all the food he was stuffing himself with.
"I thought you did this because you liked his reactions," she commented, gesturing a silent “I’m sorry!” to the upset clients, as she focused once more on her work.
"I also like his reactions," Xingqiu said. "But my point is still valid."
Xiangling took some more dumplings out of the steamer, carefully placing them on the plate after making sure no carrots ended up in their filling, and put it on the table he was sitting at— desperately trying to wedge it among the other countless plates already on it.
"Hm, I see," she said. "Are you sure you can eat all of that?"
Xingqiu gave her a telling look. "I’m in such a dreadful mood that I could even swallow Guoba whole."
Xiangling flinched, her hand instinctively running to the red panda hanging from her golden belt. "Please don’t," she quietly begged.
"Anyway!" Xingqiu drove the conversation back to the main topic, much to Xiangling’s annoyance. "I asked him to accompany me to a risky negotiation, and I cannot believe he had the courage to refuse."
Xiangling pressed her lips together. So far, she had only listened to his version of this whole mess, and what she had understood didn’t really play in Xingqiu’s favor. Sure, the two of them had to sit down and talk things out properly, that was a given, but… she doubted Chongyun would have denied his request if he had known the real danger. He might be angry, yes— Still, he cared for him so much, and he certainly wasn’t so selfish.
"It’s a misunderstanding," she said, picking up some of the empty plates he was spreading on the table. "Why don’t you try to explain it better to him?"
Xingqiu glared at her. "If he was a real friend," he declared, "He should understand when I’m serious."
Xiangling sighed. She turned her back to him, returning to her workstation behind the burners to prevent her calm from slowly slipping away. That guy was so pointlessly stubborn.
"Xingqiu," she said, "Acting all mighty and proud won’t do you any good right now."
With an incredibly adorable “ tch ”, Xingqiu went quiet and finished his meal in total silence, piqued by her words. Truth always hurts, that’s what Xiangling had learned during her multiple participations in contests and competitions, but it’s something he had to interiorize and accept.
She kept cooking, humming songs under her breath to give herself the strength and willpower to cook for hours uninterrupted, until she remembered. She had another appointment. And Xingqiu couldn’t, in the most absolute way, be there for it.
She ran back to him, joining her hands in a sign of apology. "Sorry, Xingqiu," she said, "I must ask you to leave now. This table has been reserved."
Xingqiu raised an eyebrow in disbelief. " This table?" he asked, skeptical. "The private table for the staff that only I am allowed to use on very special occasions?"
Oh no, he had seen right through her poor excuse. Well, she had no time to discuss anyway.
"Why do you care?!" she exclaimed, trying to sound as cheerful as she could to hide the pressure weighing on her shoulders, and not to upset her already angry childhood friend. "Now shoo, I have work to do."
With an amused chuckle, Xingqiu finally stood up and headed to the counter to pay, whispering an “ I’ll remember this” as he passed her by.
Xiangling knew his revenge would be pretty annoying. But she was doing all of this for him, and it was a price she was willing to pay if it meant reconciling her best friends.
— ✦ —
"So," Xiangling said, draining the noodles and setting them aside to cool down, "A bird told me things haven’t been that fine between you and Xingqiu."
Chongyun lifted his eyes on her, his annoyance piercing through her chest like a knife. "Ah, rumors sure spread fast."
After a couple of minutes of silence, spent garnishing in total concentration, Xiangling brought the finished dish to him, gently laying it on the table. "Well," she explained, "It’s unusual for you to react in such a … heated way."
Chongyun smiled at that pun about his condition and picked up his chopstick, ready to enjoy his meal. He started slurping his noodles, and Xiangling hoped they were cold enough for him to bear. For once, she didn’t plan on setting his insides on fire to check what would happen.
"On the spur of the moment," he said, taking a break to drink some fresh water, "I admit it was my constitution taking over. I lost control because I was quite angry, and reacted on impulse."
Xiangling sensed there was a “but” following, so she let him finish his tale, returning to the stove to finish up her workday.
"But thinking about it with a clear mind," Chongyun continued, "This time he overdid it."
"He’s always been teasing you, though," she commented, without turning around.
She heard him put down the glass with a dull thud . "One time too much."
Wow, that sounded so definitive and unnecessarily dramatic. Those two sure knew how to be some trouble whenever they had a fight, and Xiangling always ended up being the glue to stick them back together. It seemed more difficult than usual, that day.
"So, you won’t go with him?" she asked.
"Why?" he lifted his voice, and immediately coughed to regain his composure. "To risk being pranked again? At this point, I think I need to find a better source of intel and call it a day."
Oh yes, I’ve been telling you all my life, if only you weren’t so stupidly in love with him, she thought. But she was concerned for real, so maybe now wasn’t the appropriate time to poke fun at him about his hopeless crush. "What if it’s real, though?" she asked, turning to give him a concerned look. "What if he’ll be in danger?"
Chongyun’s mind was clearly set. "Won’t happen. Trust me."
Xiangling leaned her back against the counter, crossing her arms around her chest. Xingqiu himself had defined that trade as “risky” and “dangerous” while rambling all details to her— of which she had caught perhaps a third, focused as she was on the cooking. It wasn’t like him to worry so much about some random commission, so there must have been a kernel of truth in his demand for help.
"Anyway, he can handle it himself," Chongyun added. "It’s him we’re talking about."
Xiangling smiled. So he didn’t hate him, as she had figured. Those two were such a disaster, both in love with each other since forever and yet never daring to confess, blindly sure it would end in rejection. Maybe she had to set them up, someday, and she already knew a few people who could lend her a hand.
"I see," she said, her mind already dashing to future plans. A love declaration at a concert sounded so romantic, but she wasn’t sure Xinyan’s music was the most fitting for the atmosphere they’d need to set the mood…
"Sorry for the bother," Chongyun said, snapping her out of her fantasies. She blinked twice in surprise, and saw him standing up and bowing before her, his plate lying empty on the table. "And thank you for the meal."
"Wait!" Xiangling managed to stop him just in time before he left the room. "Xingqiu can be kinda blunt and get himself into real trouble. Please save him if he gets hurt."
She didn’t have time to add anything else, as Chongyun had sprinted off to the cash at record speed, leaving her speechless to wallow in her own imaginary scenarios.
XINGQIU
The cart halted its course with a loud screech, echoing endlessly through the empty air of the valley. Xingqiu rose his head, quickly glancing at the cargo to make sure not a single flower had been harmed in the journey, before hopping down to the ground.
There was no one in sight. Although he had come prepared for nothing but thin air to greet him, as the instructions given by Chen had been clear enough in demanding him to come alone, with no servants or attendants, to deal with the other parties… he had expected a bit more. Be it more people to discuss with, be it a simple swarm of kidnappers ready to jump at his throat. That surely wasn’t the adventure he had been dreaming of in his heart.
He waited for a long time, the only things keeping him company being the rumbling noises of the waterfalls at the far back, and the novel he carried in his pocket. But weirdly enough, even a bookworm like him couldn’t focus enough to proceed with his reading, the nervousness from the upcoming encounter piling up in his stomach, preventing him from finding any peace of mind. After struggling with even the very first paragraph, Xingqiu gave up and decided to wander around, exploring the area to ease his soul.
The abandoned temple cast an eerie aura in the air, yet not quite as unsettling as the ruined village in Wuwang Hill. While the air in the latter location smelled a lot like tragedy and despair, the atmosphere wrapping this other place felt more like loneliness. Almost as if everyone had forgotten about its existence, and left it to rot and slowly fade from memory.
Xingqiu stepped on the stone steps, his shoes slipping on the moss. Inside the ancient temple, a bronze censer was lit. Someone must have been there recently, even if he had no way to figure out who would go to such an isolated place to simply light up a candle. There was nothing else in there aside from that object and the carved statue of a bird.
Must be an Adeptus, Xingqiu thought, running his fingers along the stone, as he noticed the patterns and decors on the animal.
He sighed deeply, the dusty air filling his lungs to the brim. Being there reminded him too much about Wuwang Hill, the place where it all began. His heart couldn’t help but remember the times he had been there with Chongyun— from their childhood, when he had helped him practice the very basics of investigation and track following, to the time Xingqiu had challenged the limits of Chongyun’s constitution by kissing him and testing his reactions (a gesture that had immediately been forgotten, swallowed by the blur of one’s memory and by the embarrassment of the other, never to be brought up again), to their argument in the end.
It didn’t help that the entire wall of the temple was covered in talismans and half blurred symbols to repel evil. Everything in there screamed “exorcist”, slapping him in the face with thousands of unsolicited thoughts about Chongyun. The boy he had a crush on since always, and that he had teased a little too much, scaring him away forever.
Lost as he was in his bubble, a part of him finding pleasure in dwelling in the faraway memories of their childhood, another part suffering as it recalled the way they parted, he didn’t notice a man moving at the corner of his eye. His vision went dark for a single second, as a loud thud resonated through his ears.
The last thing he could perceive was his body hitting the ground, spikes of pain spreading through his limbs and pulsating in his head, as his mind faded to black.
— ✦ —
Ah, the sweet aftertaste of hardship hindering the path to your goal. No hero can be called such before having faced the whims of fate and swum against the currents of life. With this thought in mind, feeling much like the main character from a novel, Xingqiu came back to his senses.
His head felt heavy, and the nape of his neck was on fire. Whoever had hit him, he sure had done a good job with it, as he had no recollection of anything past the moment he had fainted. And as he tried to rub his swollen eyes, he noticed his hands were tied firmly behind his back.
Time to inspect his surroundings. He squinted, trying to adjust his pupils to the dim light of the room, and barely managed to distinguish the silhouettes of the items around him. Jars, barrels, and a lot of assorted garbage were lying around, nothing that caught his attention more than the rest. He must have been thrown inside a storeroom of some sort, maybe a warehouse. And of course, what role fit him better than the rich, noble damsel in distress captured in the cellar.
He could only hope the dragon guarding his tower wouldn’t be too strong.
"A billion Mora, in a week," a deep voice thundered from the floor above him. Xingqiu took a deep breath, forcing his heartbeat to slow down and allow him to spy on the conversation between his kidnappers.
That was quite a high price. He had never considered what his real market value would have been, were he to be sold out by his family or some similar childish fantasy of the kind, but he had the impression they were overestimating him a tad too much.
Not that the Guild couldn’t afford to pay such a sum. They were quite literally swimming in gold, that was no issue for them, barely a settling of matters. But Xingqiu didn’t want to stain his honor and pride in this way— accepting to be rescued through payment would mean he had failed in showing his worth, and he’d be forever condemned to feel inferior as a businessman… Unacceptable.
With his arms locked in place, he crawled to a sitting position, and without some difficulty, he grabbed the friendship tassel around his Vision with his teeth. He pulled and pulled at it, until his jaw went sore, but the knot came loose. He then carefully dropped it to the floor, kicking it to a corner of the room. Invisible to the eye, but surely found whenever looked for (and well, following the elemental tracks was another path to go).
"Are they seriously going to wait the entire week?!" the voices yelled again. "They think we won’t harm him, huh?"
Ignoring the shiver of fear running down his spine, Xingqiu tried to focus on the positive note: he had time. His family trusted him enough to give him a chance to redeem himself and get his own breeches out of trouble. A plan was already outlining itself in his head, a path to follow in case no one would come to his rescue.
Everything would go smoothly, he was sure.
CHONGYUN
"Have you heard? The warehouse near Mount Tianheng seems to be haunted."
Chongyun listened carefully as the woman spoke. The crashing of the water all around him made it hard to distinguish any sound at all, yet he couldn’t afford to move. It was part of his meditation session to stand still under the pressure of the current, as the fish in the small lake bit at his ankles and the smell of lotus flowers made him dizzy.
He was supposed to lock himself up in his own world, framing out every other sound, but he couldn’t bring himself to cut off all sounds, the walk surrounding Bubu Pharmacy and leading up to Yujing Terrace as crowded as ever. And he was, in fact, also interested in picking up some information about new cases, now that Xingqiu had been erased as his source of hints and tracks.
"Workers and farmers on their way home said they’ve been hearing voices,", the woman continued. "The spirit recites creepy poetry while knocking with pebbles against the window."
"My husband heard them too," a second lady agreed, joining in the conversation. "He said he even saw water swords flying in the air and hitting the ground right before his feet."
"So scary... " the first one wept. "Liyue truly seems to be defenseless since Rex Lapis’ death."
That’s the moment Chongyun chose to stop listening. Although this whole matter sounded a little too familiar, it was probably not worth giving any credit. It must have been some Hydro Vision holder having fun with unaware passersby, more than an actual spirit. In his year-long experience, he couldn’t recall ever seeing any ghost capable of manipulating elements, so the idea it could be a prank was more than likely.
Chongyun adjusted his position on the rock, almost slipping in the pond, as the waterfall repeatedly pushed his hair in his eyes. He was surprised by his own mind— ever since meeting and befriending Xingqiu, he rarely had any chance to do proper thinking, leaving the lucubrations to him. Not because he considered him to be smarter (he was, to be fair, but this didn’t equal to him being any less intelligent), but simply out of laziness. Now that his brain was back into individual action, he had learned how to better distinguish fake tracks from actual hints, how to tell apart rumors from real hauntings.
And even if his mind couldn’t stop drifting back to Xingqiu, he surely wasn’t the only one able to summon water swords. It was an immature joke of some bored youngster, he concluded— and he swore he wouldn’t fall for any red herring anymore.
XINGQIU
The dawn of his third day of reclusion found Xingqiu as stubborn as ever.
His kidnappers were kind of... spineless, he considered. They did engage in some minor kicking and punching whenever he put up a fight or gave a sassier reply than expected, but they didn’t engage in any serious beating. He wondered more than once if they weren’t able to, or simply not granted permission to ruin the merchandise too much. After all, he had to be alive and at least in decent shape in order to be worth the price set for the trade.
What really weighed on his nerves was the waiting. His schedule was the most boring torture he could have ever thought of— every day waking up to sarcastic remarks from his jailers, refusing to eat more than a morsel of bread, receiving his daily kick in the stomach, and then being left alone to rot on the floor until the following morning. Not even a good book to read, or a clear view of the sky to stargaze at night.
His only moment of fun was the pranks he pulled on the passersby. The warehouse was isolated from the city, but still frequented by the workers up in the mountains, the farmers, and other unlucky fellows who decided to have a pleasant night walk up the rocky paths. Whenever he heard footsteps approaching in the dark, Xingqiu put his plan into motion: some random verses from poems he could recall on the spur of the moment, a couple pebbles and items kicked against the thick glass of the window, and then a water sword created with his Vision, to finish the job. Anyone, even the toughest of all civilians, would lose their calm at least with one of these signs.
And, by targeting anyone indiscriminately, Xingqiu made sure the rumors would spread fast enough through the streets of Liyue Harbor, eventually reaching Chongyun’s ears. He must know, by now, and he was smart enough to connect all the sightings to him. Who else was sly enough to come up with such a plan? No regular ghost or demon would act in a similar fashion.
But he never came.
On his fifth day, Xingqiu contemplated how stupid his kidnappers were for never noticing what he was scheming behind their backs. They surely resided nearby, and were unaware of the commotion he was causing, or else there was no way they’d let him do as he pleased, continuously drawing attention to their secret hideout.
On the sixth night, the last drop of hesitation he could afford, Xingqiu realized how much more stupid he was, for still hoping in Chongyun’s arrival. He couldn’t help but sulk a little when the thought hit him. He knew he had overdone it with his pranks, apparently ruining his life a couple times (and, in retrospect, he had probably risked injuring him for real, in the past), but he didn’t expect him to stubbornly ignore him even in a life or death situation.
He did take into account the possibility that the rumors never even got to him in the first place, of course. What if he had left the city— damn, what if he had left the nation entirely, to retire in some weird form of monkish hermitage. For all he knew, as he was trapped inside the warehouse about to lose his pride and dignity in front of his family, Chongyun was swimming in the frozen lakes of Dragonspine, climbing the steep mountains of Jueyun Karst, among the chilis and the qingxin flowers, or maybe he was chilling with the Traveler in the faraway Mondstadt.
Anyway, be it what may, one thing was sure. He wouldn’t come to rescue him.
Xingqiu had read enough novels to know when the lead had to drop the part of the damsel in distress, and start wearing the knight armor themself. If Chongyun wasn’t going to come, he’d get out of trouble on his own.
As he fell asleep, his brain working full throttle even in his slumber, he clung for one last night to the shattered remains of their friendship.
CHONGYUN
One last glance to make sure everything was in place, before Chongyun snapped the bag closed.
"Seems I’ve got everything I need," he said, giving his father a determined look.
The man smiled at him and waved goodbye, as Chongyun picked up his belongings and began walking down the road, leaving his house behind his back.
After weeks of constantly second-guessing his decisions, his mind had finally been set. Whenever he believed he was doing alright, his feelings for Xingqiu long forgotten as he enjoyed his new, independent life as an exorcist, his mind fell back to him. It’s not like he planned to never spend time with him anymore, or to tear apart their friendship for good— he merely didn’t want his heart to wander off following pointless romantic thoughts about him, fruitlessly fantasizing about their bond being more than just platonic, and quivering whenever they happened to touch. It hindered his logic, it made him worship him too much. He had to be free, before they could be reunited.
He couldn’t help seeing him in the details of his daily routine. Xingqiu was everywhere. He lingered in Chongyun’s shy glances at the doors of the Guild as he walked back home, in his nervous poking at the friendship tassel wrapped around his Vision, in the way his head naturally turned around to his side, where Xingqiu used to walk along with him, as if silently checking for his approval. Xingqiu was almost the air itself he breathed in.
A harsh break was the only way to break his shackles. Isolating from the world, spending a couple of weeks or even a month on top of a mountain in Jueyun Karst was the best solution he had found to harmonize his sentimental needs and his work ethic.
"Mister Chongyun!" A voice called out to him.
He turned around. Lost in his world, he hadn’t realized how far he had traveled, the rough shapes of the ruins in Guili Plains already on the horizon. A man approached him in a rush, his breath heavy from a seemingly long chase. He wondered how many times he had screamed his name at the top of his lungs, only for his voice to clash against the barrier of his concentration.
"Mister Chongyun," the man said upon reaching him. "Master Xingqiu has—"
Now he recognized him. Xu, servant of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, which he often nicknamed “Xingqiu’s babysitter” in an affectionate manner. The poor guy had to constantly chase him down each time he fled from home, trying in vain to convince him to desist his reckless escapes.
Whatever prank Xingqiu had going on at that moment, though, was none of his business.
"Listen," he said, politely, "I owe so many things to the Guild, and I’m grateful for your care and concern about our friendship through the years. Even so, if what you are about to tell me is a prank Xingqiu has set up for me, or an escape plan he’s carried out, I apologize but I’m not up to the task of retrieving him, this time. Remember to check Qingce Village, he often flees there."
Xu furrowed his eyebrows pensively. Chongyun could understand his confusion. After all, he had been akin to a puppet in Xingqiu’s hands for most of his childhood and teenage life— it was only normal to react in shock to his sudden rebellion.
"Prank?" the man repeated. "Escape plan? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister Chongyun."
Cold sweat ran down his spine. What could it be if not that ? "What is it, then?" he asked.
And the man’s next words froze all blood in his veins. "Master Xingqiu was kidnapped a week ago by an unknown group of scoundrels," he explained. "The ransom is due today, and the family is about to depart to settle the affair. But I am sure Master Xingqiu would prefer you to—"
"Where," Chongyun snapped.
Xu took a hesitant step back, scared off by the look in his eyes. "Near Mount Tianheng," he said. "He was supposed to meet for a trade near the abandoned Adeptus temple, but I don’t know where they took him."
Chongyun needed to know no more. Chomping on a popsicle to prevent his mind from falling prey to his yang energy, thus losing any trace of his rational side, he stormed off.
— ✦ —
As he ran, air furiously whipping his cheeks and arms as he dashed through the buildings of Liyue, he felt like an asshole. There was literally no better word to describe him, at that moment.
He had been so blind, so stupid, so egoistic— how could he not understand that the rumors in the crowd were pointing straight at Xingqiu, that the begging look in his eyes when asking for him to tag along was serious, that he was in danger? It hurt to think the length his friend had gone to get the information to him, in a silent cry for help. And he had ignored it, abandoning him to his fate.
He rushed down the worn merchant path, reaching the abandoned temple. It was as empty as ever, eerie vibes radiating from the bird statue in the middle of the ruins. His lungs were burning for the long run, his breath unsteady. He bit on another popsicle, desperately trying to calm his body down from the burning that was biting at his stomach.
Maybe Xingqiu wasn’t the problem. Maybe the fault fell on him, always so stingy and quick to snap, constantly taking things a little bit to heart. He had understood long before that his real intentions were genuine. He wanted him to feel less lonely, to laugh sincerely, to set his mind off his family matters and his responsibility. They were both the heirs of some business, although entirely different, and they shared the same burden of never feeling good enough. There was great kindness behind his mean side, and true affection.
And he had betrayed his trust.
— ✦ —
The kidnappers, whoever they were, knew a thing or two. The chosen hiding spot was perfect. Not too far from the meeting place they had established for the fake trade, yet not too close, requiring some deep investigation of the surroundings in order to be spotted, the roofs concealed by the mist most of the time. Away from prying eyes, but not too isolated so as not to attract suspicions of any sort.
Too bad all their efforts were nothing compared to Chongyun’s determination. He was nothing but stubborn, after all, something Xiangling had been repeating since they had become acquainted. He rushed up the path, his shoes sinking in the mud, and finally reached the building, praying in his heart that it wasn’t too late to rescue his friend.
He came right at the perfect time.
Two men laid unconscious on the floor, covered in water splotches and cuts all over their legs. It was Xingqiu’s trademark— hurting without harming, knocking enemies down without killing them, using his Vision not to wound but merely to scare off.
But even for someone as skilled and talented as him, three adult men might have been a bit too much. Xingqiu was on his knees, hugging a swollen leg to his chest, as a thin river of blood pooled on the grass. And someone was standing in front of him, a shovel up in the air, ready to aim at his head.
Chongyun’s body moved on its own. He jumped in, his claymore instantly in his hands, and stepped between the two figures. Before the stranger could utter a single sound, the spine of the blade had landed on the back of his head, rendering him unconscious as he flopped down with a pained grunt.
Out of breath, Chongyun turned to face Xingqiu. Their eyes met for the longest moment, and oh, they had so many things to say. Issues to solve, kind words to cheer each other up, silly jokes to ease up the mood. What they didn’t have, though, was time.
"Chong—" Xingqiu tried to say, but Chongyun’s finger promptly silenced him.
"No time to lose," he panted. "Come. Reinforcements must be on their way with all the mess we made." On a further glance, Xingqiu’s leg didn’t look healthy enough to sustain his weight. Chongyun knelt down, waiting for him to climb up his back and let himself be carried.
Xingqiu’s cheeks flushed red, but he complied nonetheless. And as soon as Chongyun felt the familiar weight of his childhood friends on his shoulders, he ran off, taking him to safety.
— ✦ —
His body was well trained, but apparently never enough.
Chongyun stopped near a waterfall to catch his breath, letting Xingqiu get off his shoulders and stand up on his own. Running all day was a hard task even for his tempered lungs, and doing so while carrying dead weight on his back was quite the struggle. He hadn’t felt so exhausted in a long time, his legs simply refusing to take a single step further until he’d drunk some water and calmed his spirit.
Xingqiu didn’t speak as Chongyun approached the stream, taking a generous sip of cold water. And he didn’t open his mouth even when he pulled a popsicle out of his bag and bit hard on it, in a way that would make most people’s brains freeze on the spot. A sight he was used to.
Their eyes met again, and Chongyun stopped eating.
"I’m—" Xingqiu tried to say.
"I’m sorry!" Chongyun anticipated him. He balanced the popsicle stick in his mouth, and joined his hands in front of his face, lowering his head in prayer.
Xingqiu chuckled, sounding only the tiniest bit uncomfortable. "Alright, you go first," he let him take the lead.
Chongyun stood up again, fetching all his scattered feelings and trying to convey them through his words. "I’m sorry for not believing you," he said, in a serious tone that surprised even himself. "I’m an idiot. I know I was upset for your pranks, but I should have known you were being honest when asking for me to accompany you, I shouldn’t… I should—" he took a rushed little breath. "You got hurt because of me." He lowered his gaze in shame, fully realizing the truth he had spoken.
Xingqiu’s hands wrapped around his, and Chongyun lifted his eyes again, meeting his. He was about to cry, clearly forcing his tears back by biting his lower lip. A wet-eyed, desperate Xingqiu… something that the exorcist would have never expected to see in his life.
"No, I’m the idiot here," he said, vigorously shaking his head. "My pranks were not as amusing as I figured they’d be, and well… I took it way too far, and also I disrespected your profession and your family, I— I deserved it," he smiled bitterly, the first tear streaming down his cheek. "I’m a horrible friend."
How the tables had turned. Chongyun caught the falling tear with his finger, gently brushing against his face. "You did it for me, didn’t you?" he asked. "You wanted me to laugh."
Xingqiu nodded, silently. And then, as fast as a sudden gust of spring wind, he hugged him.
Chongyun’s eyes filled up with tears as well. Only now, with his friend in his arms, he realized how much he had missed him. How stupid it had been of both of them to run away from their problems, letting their mutual resentment grow like an evil root in their souls, rotting their reasoning with horrible decisions. He wrapped his arms around Xingqiu, holding him tight against his chest, for what felt like an eternity.
Then, Xingqiu’s slender fingers reached his arm, teasingly poking at the muscle under his hoodie. "You sure have beefed up, huh?"
Chongyun blinked and looked at his own biceps. To be honest, he could see no difference, and he doubted a single week of intense training was enough to build mass, no matter how strenuous the exercising. "Wasn’t I always like this?"
Xingqiu shook his head, failing to hold back a shy laugh. "Nope," he said. "You didn’t look so strong, before. And trust me, I have been staring at you enough to let every detail of your body get engraved inside my eyeballs."
Chongyun’s face caught literal fire as he heard that. Why did he word it that way? It sounded almost like a love confession, and he could feel his repressed feelings instantly rushing back to his head, making his heart race in his chest and echo through his head. He eagerly bit on his popsicle, accidentally snapping it in half and watching it hopelessly fall to the ground, forever lost.
Xingqiu should have laughed at that, poking fun at his clumsiness, but he didn’t. He was still staring, his gaze so heavy and intense, impossible to resist.
"Xingqiu... " he mumbled, his throat suddenly dry.
"Thanks for saving me," Xingqiu said, with a polite bow. "I owe you, my hero."
The flush reached the tip of Chongyun’s ears. That was… too much. His poor soul couldn’t face that direct assault. He took a step back, his entire face burning, and shut his eyes close to escape from Xingqiu’s relentless stare.
"I didn’t do anything!" he rejected his gratitude. "I only—"
Whatever words he was meant to say, he forgot. His entire mind blanked out as Xingqiu stood on his tiptoes, leaning closer to gently press their lips together. It was nothing more than a feathery brush, yet to his touch starved mouth it felt like a river in the desert.
It ended all too quickly, Chongyun having barely the time to react and kiss him back, before the other boy pulled back, pushing him away with his hands on his chest. The aftertaste lingering on Chongyun’s lips was bittersweet— it tasted warm, homely, but also cold, full of way too many things not said.
"I hear voices drawing near," Xingqiu said with extreme nonchalance, as if he wasn’t responsible for single-handedly flipping Chongyun’s entire world upside down. "We must hurry."
XINGQIU
All’s well what ends well, the fables tell. Well, Xingqiu is quite sure this outcome is the most positive one, with the forces of evil defeated and the hero triumphing. And more importantly, with his pride still not stained.
Making up with Chongyun had been easier than expected. Even in his wildest fantasies, he had imagined a more or less long time of settlement between them, awkward days when they’d try to build their bond from scratch, grasping at their past memories but with the wounds of the recent argument still open and fresh in their hearts. And yet, a simple kiss, and a sincere apology had been all it took to fix their broken relationship, and shyly turned it into something entirely new. Something neither of them had ever thought they’d need.
"Still reading that novel from Inazuma?" Chongyun said with a snarky smile, catching his attention. "I thought you wouldn’t want to hear from the nation for a while, after the incident."
Xingqiu glanced at him, still nose deep in his book. True, the week after being rescued by Chongyun, he had been dramatically pouting at the entire country of Inazuma, refusing to meet their diplomats and innocent commercial partners. What made him change his attitude was, late enough, realizing the nation had absolutely nothing to do with it— his kidnappers were no more than a group of Treasure Hoarders, plus some corrupt businessman who had tried to make their fortune sideways, crushed by the hardships of being a merchant in Liyue Harbor.
Well, his father probably gave them a lesson they surely wouldn’t forget for the rest of their lives. He remembered that dialogue with a shiver, the man’s voice rising like never before, the culprits struggling to find excuses and justification, before running away with more debts on their heads than fortune before, their already fragile reputation in shambles. And all the time, Xingqiu had been sitting next to his father, his chest vibrating with every yell coming from his voice, but his eyes focused on Chongyun, at the opposite side of the room.
"I could ask the same about you," he said. "Still reading that newspaper?"
Chongyun chuckled, laying the paper sheet down on the tiles. They were in their special place, somewhere every other inhabitant of the city would have defined as crazy . Sitting on the roof of Feiyun Commerce Guild, Xingqiu’s legs dangling from the drainpipe as the breeze from the empty space below caressed his face with its cold and feathery touch, they used to spend most of their afternoons like that in the past. Only the two of them, Chongyun’s back resting against the wooden columns and enjoying the quiet, voices muffled in the background.
At nighttime, the lanterns radiated a warm and comfortable light, meddling with the small glowing dots in the sky that were the fireflies, rendering the place magical and romantic. Now, Xingqiu understood why he appreciated so much being there with Chongyun— it was the first, naive sign of his feelings for him.
"Yup," Chongyun answered, "I’m looking for work."
Xingqiu pouted, faking offense. "Hey!" he lamented. "Is my intel not of your liking anymore?"
Chongyun didn’t need to answer: even without turning around, he knew what expression was printed on his face. Eyebrows lifted in an incredulous frown, a smile slightly curving his lips in spite of the pretend irritation. They were back to normal, to their usual banter, and it felt so comfortable Xingqiu thought he was dreaming.
He rolled his eyes. "Alright, that’s fair," he said. "But I swear there is always at least one real track to follow among all my… purposeful sidetracking."
"Still," Chongyun said, "You can’t really expect me to rely on your sources only. It takes quite some time to flip through all your fake papers and find the real clues."
That was the cue for Xingqiu to start his favorite part of their conversations: the drama . He lowered his book, ditching it on the tiles beside him, and crawled on all fours to Chongyun. The boy jolted in surprise, but didn’t push him away, not even when Xingqiu basically climbed his lap and stared straight into his eyes. "So... " he said, emphatically, like a tragic actor on stage, "What you are implying is that you have no more use for my information, my liege?"
Chongyun held his gaze longer than Xingqiu had imagined. But then, as planned, he averted his eyes, his cheeks flushing slightly as he took in how close their faces were. "I—" he stuttered. "I never said anything like that. Your papers are always the first one I go through every day, I simply want more than just one track to follow."
That was a satisfying answer. After all, he got the confirmation he needed— Chongyun still relied on him, their bond had been restored and improved for the better, and he was allowed to poke fun at him once more, wallowing in the silly sense of pride pooling in his stomach whenever he managed to make him flush. "Ah, I see," he said. "Good to know I still have a special spot inside of dear Chongyun’s little heart." He tapped against his chest with the tip of his fingers, a mischievous smile curving his lips.
It was all too much for Chongyun to handle. "You… idiot," he muttered.
And before Xingqiu could add anything to their affectionate teasing, Chongyun grasped at the last fragments of his boldness to press their mouths together. Xingqiu straddled his lap, sitting more comfortably and granting better access, as they kissed under the pale light of the lanterns.
No material good in Liyue, nor in the entirety of Teyvat, could have brought him the same joy he was feeling that night, tightly held in the arms of the boy he had loved forever, after risking to lose him due to his own pesky attitude. He knew that, no matter the troubles and the hardships, he’d find Chongyun in the same place as ever tomorrow.
And he was the happiest person in the world.