Chapter Text
Xiao trudges up the hills of Dihua Marsh, wiping off the blood stains from his shirt and pants he got from stabbing so many demonic spirits with his jade spear. It’s nearing the evening and Xiao still doesn’t have a place to stay for the night. While he could stay near the slopes of Qingce Village and continue hunting demons or find a peaceful spot near the lakes in Lingju Pass to lie down, lately he’s been craving somewhere warm. Somewhere safe, where he won’t have to incessantly worry about having to defend himself from monsters.
As he continues forward, a large wooden structure — no, a treehouse? — appears in his vision. Ah, so this was the inn that Morax mentioned to him while they were strolling near Jueyun Karst yesterday morning. His plan would be simple: politely walk into the inn and ask the receptionist for a room, and then quietly stay in his room for the rest of the night.
The area under the inn is full of bustling activity. Xiao notices vendors advertising their goods to the occasional passersby, groups of children playing with the red silk flowers, and families talking excitedly over plates of steaming food.
Xiao walks slowly up the spiraling wooden staircase. He’s not sure where to ask for a room but decides to just wing it, hoping for minimal social interaction. Finally, he reaches an enclosed area and sees a woman, Verr Goldet, dressed in a traditional red and black dress and standing behind a counter.
“One room,” he mutters, avoiding her eyes and looking to the side.
“Welcome to Wangshu Inn! For how many nights would you like to stay?” Verr Goldet smiles at Xiao.
“Um, one day for now.”
“Alright!” She hands him a pair of golden, clinking keys. “Your room is on the second floor, third room on the right off of the stairs. Enjoy your stay and let me know if you need anything!”
“... Thanks.” Xiao grabs the keys and heads quickly down the stairs, entering and closing his door with a small thud.
***
A few hours later, Verr Goldet finishes her day’s work with a yawn and starts packing up. Her mind wanders back to all the customers she has served today. A fidgety merchant from Fontaine, a wandering traveler from Mondstadt, and a mysterious man that seemed to be a warrior. Verr remembers the blood stains all over his clothes and how was emitting an unearthly aura.
Dark hair with teal highlights, piercing golden eyes, tattoos along his arms, purple pants, and a thin white shirt… Suddenly, Verr Goldet’s eyes go wide. She gasps and curses herself for being so clueless and blind. That was Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons and the last living Yaksha. The very Xiao from the countless stories and books she had seen throughout the years. And she didn’t do anything. She didn’t thank him for his daily sacrifices, treat him with extra respect, or simply show him to his room. Verr Goldet groans internally and smashes her fists down onto her desk. She had to do something to make up for it, something that would make Xiao happy. The problem was though, that she had absolutely no idea what he liked.
Talking to Xiao again, now knowing that he was the Conqueror of Demons, was going to be downright frightening. He didn’t look extremely aggressive or mad when he first checked in, but Verr Goldet made a mental note to be extra polite and careful.
Slowly, she walked down the stairs and stopped in front of Xiao’s door. Knocking lightly twice, she sucked in a breath and put on a smile. A few moments later, the door creaked open, and a blank face stared straight at her.
“Hello Xiao. My apologies for not recognizing you earlier.” Verr Goldet bowed her head down low. “We appreciate the protection you bring to the people of Liyue very much and would like an opportunity to repay it. Is there anything you nee-”
“No.” Xiao firmly denied the offer and slammed the door in her face.
A few seconds later, however, he opened the door again with an apologetic face. “There is no need to repay me. It is simply my duty to protect Liyue.”
“But still! I insist. We would very much want to do something to repay the favor.”
Verr Goldet noticed how Xiao was slowly closing the door once more and rushed to intercept. “I- Is there anything you want, any accommodations? Any food? We can make all of that happen.”
***
Food. It had been centuries since Xiao last had food of the mortals, and he can vaguely remember how it was during a dinner with Morax and Ganyu. The numerous plates of food on top of a rocky table were blurry at best in his mind. But among the Bamboo Shoot Soups, Osmanthus Wine, and Adeptus’ Temptation, he remembers the taste of one dish clearly. It was cream white and cut into several rectangular pieces. Its smooth surface left a tangy, yet sweet feel in his mouth. But most importantly, it tasted just like the food of his long-forgotten past. The taste of dreams.
When Morax first introduced the dish to him, he was so hesitant he didn’t take a single bite until Morax forcefully pushed a small piece into his mouth and didn’t allow him to spit it out. Now, Xiao would be lying if he said that he wasn’t craving that delicious dish, though it was centuries later.
Lost in thought, he mutters “something smooth in my mouth, silky smooth…” but stops and closes his mouth.
When he opens it again, Xiao steps forward and walks past her. “If there is nothing you require of me, I wish not to be bothered.” It would be wise of him to go and stay somewhere high up for the night, somewhere others couldn’t bother him like now.
But instead of stopping Xiao once more, Verr Goldet simply smiles and walks back to the reception with a plan. It was going to be a plan so great that it would please even the mightiest of warriors, the last Yaksha Xiao. Quickly, she called Smiley Yanxiao and Dusky Ming, whispering her plan to them with a grin.
***
When the sun starts setting in the distance, Xiao perches on the highest point he can find in the inn. He feels the wind pick up his teal locks and brush strokes across his face.
Suddenly, he hears the balcony beneath him rustle with activity and he stands up, peering over the roof’s ledge to take a peek. The back of Verr Goldet’s dress blurs by and heads back into the inn, but he notices four bowls of steaming food left behind on the balcony floor. Jumping back down onto the balcony, Xiao waits until he hears zero movement from others and then crouches beside the bowls.
A savory dish of glass noodles with Jueyun Chilis and Shrimp that made Xiao thirsty, a still boiling bowl of wonton soup, congee, and…
Xiao gasped lightly. The last dish looked exactly the same as the image that still burned fresh in his mind from centuries before. As the fragrant aroma wafted towards his nose, it took Xiao all of his energy to stop himself from drooling. The plump and soft white pieces wobbled slightly with every movement and stared back at him as if to scream: “EAT ME.”
Xiao gingerly cupped the bowl of almond tofu and took the chopsticks also offered by Verr Goldet. He grabbed the first piece of tofu, pausing slightly before shoving it into his mouth. It melted instantly in his mouth and the flowery syrup left a sweet aftertaste on his lips. Xiao felt himself reaching for more and more until there was none left.
The fully finished bowl of almond tofu with just syrup left reminded Xiao of his memories with old friends. He makes a mental note to ask Morax out on an evening stroll near Dihua Marsh. And at that moment, any observant onlooker would conclude that Xiao was smiling. It wasn’t a big grin from ear-to-ear, but a subtle yet genuine smile that arose from a long deserved spark of joy.
Maybe staying at Wangshu Inn wouldn’t be so bad after all.