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Wuwang Hill is an innocuous enough location…on the surface. The citizens of Liyue had come to both fear and respect the renowned locale, which was probably for the best. The number of thrill seekers and tour guides that’d sworn off getting near the place served as yet another ominous indication of just how unpredictable it could be. Any attempts to uncover its secrets or pilfer any supposed treasures concealed in the gloom that seemed to radiate from the ground itself were both discouraged and effectively forbidden.
Thick, gnarled trunks and their equally oppressive, leafy canopies shrouded the area in shadows. They hung from the twisted branches and boughs like impenetrable curtains, complemented by the ever present fog that clung to the grass and suffocated the air with its obscuring presence. It was almost as if the forest was exercising its will, preventing any light from seeping in of its own accord. But, if the land itself truly was determined to keep even the thinnest sliver of light out, what exactly was it so concerned about protecting from that light? Perhaps there was no point in wasting time nor energy on such nonsensical questions.
If one wasn’t careful, they might find themselves haplessly drawn in by the forest’s silent allure, an unspoken temptation that was impossible to prove and functionally just as impossible to ignore. So much the worse for any greedy criminals or petty thieves that set their sites on these woods as their mark. And should any ill fated wanderer or adventurer muster up the courage (which could just as easily be mistaken as recklessness or misplaced bravado) to act on said impulse, what they initially encountered would probably seem a little shocking.
Harmless and likewise unsettling glimmers of minute azure wisps were suspended among the trees, conjuring an illusion of star dappled scenery that even seasoned travelers were likely to pause and marvel at. Such was the simple yet simultaneously profound beauty that contributed to the forest’s mystifying nature. The ghostly glow of the wisps lent an undeniably ethereal atmosphere to the place, which was only reinforced by the luminous reflection they cast in the small, undisturbed pools of water scattered across the forest floor.
To the untrained eye, a precursory assessment of the area would reveal little beyond the fact that it was a dense wilderness. Solemn and serene, it was situated near the Stone Gate that marked the border between Liyue and Mondstadt. The infamous locale’s reputation certainly preceded it, especially in the minds and hearts of anyone unfortunate enough to have gained first hand experience delving into its dark, unknown depths. Although not many lives had been lost to the forest’s thorny, eerie grasp--at least, none that’d been documented--there was no telling how many treasure hoarders or various other individuals of dubious intent had been judged by the forest’s wrath…and rightly so.
Despite the distrust so many held towards Wuwang Hill, plenty of those same people knew that a majority of the superstition surrounding it was little more than just that--superstition. There was almost no end to the number of sacred and ancient Liyuen ruins and notable landmarks that bore their share of warnings and cryptic tales. New places were discovered and new stories developed with each passing day; such was the impact of scholars, historians, and storytellers alike that all sought to lend their findings and perspective to Liyue’s vast and impressive heritage. At least, that’s what they told themselves and others when the subject arose.
As it stood, an elite and revered group of qualified people held a monopoly on who was permitted and expected to regularly conduct business there, a standard that wasn’t likely to change any time soon. This evening, one such individual happened to be visiting the forest--for reasons of her own. The director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor made trips like this often, even in the absence of any official affairs that needed tending to. And a little more often than her colleagues and concerned parties would have liked.
Wuwang Hill held a special place in her heart for several reasons, but the rationale for her decision to grace the land with her presence at this particular hour was simply her judgment that it was the perfect night for a leisurely stroll. She’d wandered quite a ways from the port town, to be sure, but the reward of drinking in the majesty of the night in the wilderness made the risk more than worth it to her. Though many would be quite startled by the director’s whimsical explanation, and plenty had been when they’d dared to ask before, nothing seemed more natural in her eyes. And why shouldn’t that be the case?
Hu Tao’s history and experiences with the enigmatic Wuwang Hill were a bit more involved and profound than most. That, paired with the weight and duties of her position as the director of Liyue’s most respected funeral parlor, facilitated a different kind of relationship between the girl and the forest. In a way, it was almost as if the hill itself recognized and regarded the director with acceptance, fondness, understanding…but a place like this, marred as it was with the stain of death and secrecy, couldn’t have possibly developed such feelings. Not to mention the fact that land, inanimate and lifeless as it was, shouldn’t have been capable of feeling anything in the first place.
The young director frolicked through the trees--yes, that was the most apt description of her movement--somehow managing to avoid getting her long pigtails hooked or snagged by some stray branch or bush. Humming to herself, she danced across the moist earth with an enthusiasm and ease that felt distinctly out of place, almost as if it was her will to disrupt the dreary atmosphere just by being there. Dampened by the dew and any occasional storms that happened to pass through, even the texture of the ground was familiar, almost refreshing to her. It was odd to reminisce on the first time she’d come here, considering the scope of the undertaking she’d tackled by embarking on the journey at such a young age.
Now, she knew that all the hardship and pain she’d faced thus far was essential for her to learn, to grow, to accept this place and perceive its true nature. Sometimes, Hu Tao swore that these woods felt more like home to her than the bustling harbor where she ran her business…but she knew she could never trade one for the other. Of that, she was unwaveringly certain. Besides, her time to dwell here as a resident of the other side would come; there was no reason to rush it.
Abruptly, the unmistakable sound of a snapping twig disturbed the still air, cutting the young woman’s wordless serenade short. She paused, fanning out her hearing as she slowly, cautiously cast her gaze in the direction of the noise.
“Who’s there?”
Perhaps maintaining an aloof silence and concealing herself would have been a more sensible reaction, but the words left her mouth before she could catch them. Hu Tao wasn’t generally caught off guard by unexplained disturbances that echoed in the dark, but this time she just couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that something was off. Of course, it wasn’t like she ever went anywhere without her Vision and her trusty polearm, both of which generally guaranteed her safety no matter what manner of threats or obstacles descended upon her.
But something Hu Tao often failed to recall was that she was still a young girl. Formidable as she was in both battle and the handling of her duties, she was not invincible or all powerful. There were plenty of beings and a variety of professionals and masters across the realm that might qualify for the title, but even in such cases their suitability was frequently overestimated.
The noises intensified alongside a new rustling in the brush, and those noises were soon joined by the unquestionable hum of conversing voices. Feeling confident, the director summoned her weapon. She shifted into a defensive stance as it materialized in her hand, carefully inching forward in preparation to confront the unknown. Again, it was probably in her best interest to cut her losses and retreat, especially considering she hadn’t lost anything yet, and could avoid such an outcome if she just listened to that sensible little voice in the back of her head for once.
Interestingly enough, the tone her conscience tended to adopt was that of a particularly straight-laced consultant that offered his extensive knowledge to the funeral parlor. He was a man with an old fashioned streak that bordered on ancient. Even some of the elderly people he interacted with felt misplaced in time after exchanging a few words with the perpetually perplexing, eloquent, austere consultant. Admittedly, Hu Tao held him in high esteem, but she also enjoyed pestering him to no end, much to his dismay. Well, it was kind of his fault, anyway…he shouldn’t have made it so much fun in the first place!
Now wasn’t the time to get distracted by such things, though; Hu Tao needed to focus on the threat at hand. Said threat revealed itself at that very moment as it burst forth from the bushes, exposing itself as nothing more than a couple of witless criminals. She’d dealt with their kind before, and would no doubt face them again somewhere down the line. Probably sooner than she would have liked. Their numbers never seemed to dwindle, but it was just as likely that the organization they belonged to was constantly recruiting and relocating people all over Teyvat. If the Fatui could manage it, so could Treasure Hoarders and the like, but those details didn’t interest Hu Tao. She maintained her stance, preparing a witty quip and waiting patiently for the perfect moment to--
Well, she didn’t get the chance to land a strike or make her snarky remark. The young director had been careless, naive, her attention caught up in the captivating atmosphere rather than the dangerous reality closing in on her. Hands seized her shoulders from behind, buckling her legs with a swift kick that was quickly followed by supplementary restraint. She needed to use her Vision now, she needed to employ her spear. She knew how to fight; she’d polished her techniques with one of the best spear wielders in Liyue, perhaps even the whole world. She could still make it out of this on her own.
She knew falling prey to an ambush like this was always a possibility out here, but Hu Tao considered herself quite the conscientious traveler. She usually had her guard up and kept her awareness sharp enough to avoid trouble before it could even hope to get close. She thought she’d been ahead of the game when she’d heard the first branches break. However, this time she’d been careless, allowing herself to become helplessly distracted by the enchanting aura of the place.
She brandished her spear, gripping it like a lifeline as she kicked and struggled against the arms that bound her and the restraints they were trying to employ. Eventually, she resorted to sinking her teeth into any limb that exposed itself to her attack. But some of them wore armor, and Hu Tao noticed in the chaos that the group was growing in numbers. As much as she wanted to invoke her Vision she just couldn’t seem to get in the right position, the right angle to utilize its elemental properties without hurting herself in the process.
I guess it’s good the barrier is nearby, if I’m going to be visiting the other side…she thought grimly as the arm around her neck tightened, blurring her vision and ruining any chance she may have had to fight back.
Then, suddenly, there was light.
Bright light. A golden aura. Divine.
A brightness the likes of which Hu Tao had never glimpsed before…or so she thought. Maybe it was the forest playing tricks on her? She could have continued to believe that, and probably would have, if her pursuers hadn’t turned to stone before her very eyes. There was still an arm hooked around her neck, though, and now it was uncharacteristically rough and solid. The rocky exterior left a few scrapes on her throat and legs as she frantically freed herself from the bandit-turned-statues’s frozen grasps.
There was a man standing between her and the enemy reinforcements that were evidently still coming. Well, it was more like he was kneeling. The strong, silent figure rose to his feet, clutching a golden staff in his hand as he leaned some of his weight on it. She knew that weapon; she’d traded blows with it before. And wow, she’d severely underestimated both the number and strength of her adversaries.
Then again, no one would have blamed her, considering the general reputation of Treasure Hoarders among Vision users, seasoned adventurers, and the like. They’d scurried out of the woodwork, emerged from the trees like the slimy bugs they were. For the moment, however, it would have been more accurate to call them impromptu works of art. Not exactly the kind of art she appreciated, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be grateful that all of this had enabled her escape.
“I thought you might appreciate some assistance.”
Ah, there was the voice of her conscience again. Only this time, the words were tangible. They were calm, familiar sounds that nestled in her ears like a doting bird lining its nest with the softest fluff it could find. Of course that was how he would frame this selfless, heroic act of his…but Hu Tao didn’t mind. The man’s frightening display of power had been nothing more and nothing less than some minor assistance offered by an innocent bystander. An innocent bystander that just so happened to be visiting Wuwang Hill on this same evening. Purely by coincidence, of course.
He’d summoned a blinding meteor from the sky, somehow managing to alter the attack to spare her--and only her--from the consequences of his magnificent wrath. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she’d been in peril, and she was lucky someone else had been around to lend a hand. And, despite the drastic disaster her once pleasant evening had become, she couldn’t help counting herself lucky that he was the one who had found her. He was the one who had followed her. Or perhaps he could just sense these things…she wasn’t really sure if she had a right to ask.
“Mr. Zhongli!” She dove at him the same way she always did, and he received her tackle in kind.
“We shouldn’t stay here--they won’t remain in this idle state forever.”
“...thank you.”
The tiny voice that spoke against Zhongli’s shirt made his heart skip. A tender smile formed on his lips as the consultant lightly patted the trembling young girl’s head. “It’s alright now, you’re safe. But we’ll both be even safer once we return to the harbor. It is a tad late to be tackling such an extensive trip, though. I suppose spending an evening at Wangshu Inn couldn’t hurt.”
“Really? We’re going to stop at Wangshu?” The excitement in her flowery eyes, her exuberant voice, her…everywhere seemed like it was going to burst through the seams of her very being at any moment. He could attribute part of it to adrenaline, but it wasn’t like she didn’t display this kind of behavior back in the harbor, or anywhere else for that matter. But, Zhongli couldn’t deny the mild reassurance that stirred in him, seeing her get back to her old self--or at least acting the part.
“As long as you promise not to run off any--”
“Last one there’s a poltergeist!”
Always so enthusiastic, always getting ahead of herself, and inevitably tripping herself up as a result…and anyone else that happened to get swept up in her chaotic current. Hu Tao was a certified handful, and Zhongli was content to look after the blunt, headstrong young director just as she was. Preserving her smile, ensuring her safety was as essential as any other service he provided to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and Zhongli dedicated himself to his duties with pride. And perhaps a smidge of personal incentive.