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They say that a people reflect the land they are born from. This couldn’t be truer for the people of Liyue. In all of Teyvat the Traveler has seen, they have yet to meet any more resolute and stubborn than those from the Geo nation. Denizens stand strong and proud like the great spires of rock that form the mountains in Minlin.
Liyue has a long history of struggle. Wars and famine drove people from their homes. The old gods led them towards the barest hope of survival. Much like the stone their Archon commands, they planted themselves firmly and weathered the storm – battered and eroded, but still standing – and as a result have made their lands one of the richest in the world.
Many of those old gods are gone now. Several resigned themselves to an eternal slumber, others had given up their life energy to protect the humans they cared so deeply for. Though they are gone, their influence can still be felt in every part of the land. Fertile soils nourish the people as a final blessing from the Stove God. Grand stone mountains stand behind Liyue Harbor in perpetual watch over the city below.
Remnants from a time long past remain to care for the people, whether they’re aware of it or not.
“Paimon thinks she found something! Look over here!” Paimon flies around the Traveler in a quick circle before darting between the Sandbearer trees that line the trail. The two had been hiking for most of the morning, having set out early from their stay in Liyue Harbor for the mountains just west of the city. After their adventure helping stage a rebellion in Inazuma, it only seemed fit to reacquaint themselves with the stability of the Geo nation. Without the threat of destruction looming on the horizon, the pair found it much easier to enjoy the peaceful air of the mountains.
They push through the brush and follow the direction Paimon flew off the path. Whatever she found, it was probably either dangerous or edible. Sometimes it was both.
The Traveler follows their companion through the trees, who’s still calling out from ahead. “Hurry your butt up! You have to see this!”
“I’m coming as fast as I can. Not all of us can fly around like a giant bug.” They ignore Paimon’s protests and adjust the pack on their back before ducking under one final branch to see just what has Paimon so excited.
She was right. It’s breathtaking.
Miles above the city, hidden between the trees and the cliffs on Tianheng, is a small glade with a clear blue pool in the center. Crystalline waters trickle down the cliff face into the pond, spraying mists and cooling the air. The pebbled bank lead into the water, stones growing larger until the bottom of the lake where large flat rocks line the basin like giant tiles. Dragonflies flit around the soft grasses and flowers in the meadow, and the breeze creates a rush of sound as it’s funneled between the cliff sides to shake the tree branches.
“Wow Paimon. I had no idea this was up here.” The area seems completely natural – no sign of a worn trail or even a trampled flower bud. “It doesn’t look like anyone else knows about it either.”
“Hehe Paimon has an eye for exploration! That’s why she’s the perfect guide for you.” She floats over to peer in the water. “Aw drat! Paimon was hoping to find some fish in the pond!” She stamps her foog, though it doesn’t have the same impact as it out if she weren’t floating three feet in the air.
The Traveler laughs at her childishness and shrugs off their pack. Opening the bag, they pull out a large box wrapped in red ribbon. “Well hopefully this will satisfy your mighty hunger, O Great Paimon.” They open the lid to reveal soft white cubes covered in golden honey.
“Almond tofu!”
“Yep! Smiley Yanxiao gave me some this morning before we left town. He said it was a thank you for helping teach him a few new recipes.” They sit down and set the box next to them on the grass. It’s a perfect afternoon. A peaceful view, delicious snacks, and good company.
Paimon hovers over the box, stars in her eyes. “There’s so much! Paimon will have to thank him properly next time we’re at Wangshu Inn. It almost feels like too much for just us…” She scratches her head as her face scrunches in thought. You could almost see steam come out of her ears.
“Paimon, are you suggesting sharing your snacks with someone else?” they tease.
“Well… We just got back from saving everyone again, but Paimon’s not used to having quiet time. It’s almost lonely without another friend around.” Never mind that time with her is never quiet, she has a point.
Ever since waking up, the Traveler has roamed the various nations, gathering information and friends alike. Every day something new pops up that pulls their attention. Serene moments are hard to come by, so it’s no wonder that Paimon is unsure of what to do.
“Well, which of our friends would you like to see? We’ve got quite the selection.”
She huffs. “The almond tofu only makes me think of one person. That grumpy yaksha!
The Traveler rolls their eyes, but Paimon was right. It had been a while since they’d seen their friend, and if anyone deserved to share a calm afternoon over a favorite dessert, it was him.
As a soft wind pulls through the glade, shaking the leaves to the same tune as the waving grass, the Traveler closes their eyes with a smile.
He said he will come whenever the Traveler calls his name, right? All he has to do is say that one syllable, carried across Liyue on the wind, and he would be there with them in a moment.
Xiao.
The gentle breeze strengthens almost imperceptibly as their voice is carried away from the mountain and across Liyue. As the sound of his name fades from their lips, the grass and leaves settle back into silence. The only noise to break the stillness is the water falling into the pool. In the now still meadow, a voice calls from behind them.
“You summoned me?” Xiao is leaning against a tree at the edge of the glade, for all appearances looking as if he had been there the whole time. The only evidence of his arrival is his dark hair settling around his face. The demonic yaksha mask at his hip glowed with a turquoise light, standing out against the swirling shadows emanating from the inside. The way it hangs from the cords on his belt makes it seem far heavier than a wooden mask would be.
Paimon flies up to Xiao and grabs for his hand. “Good you’re here! Paimon has a surprise treat for you.” She goes to pull him along, but he carefully dodges her attempt. Though, he still follows willingly when she leads him to their picnic.
Xiao gives the Traveler a wary look. They try to smile and nod, encouraging him to humor her. Xiao follows to where the Traveler is sitting, a lacquered wooden box sitting beside them on the grass. Paimon lifts the lid to show the treasure inside.
“Ta-da!” She puts her hands on her hips, “what do you think? Pretty great, right?”
Xiao eyes the box of tofu before his gaze settles on the Traveler “What is your flying pet trying to do?”
“Well, we were taking a hike to relax and found this place. I figured it was a perfect place to spend our day off, and Paimon here suggested we invite someone to share our snacks with.” They gesture to the box and pat the grass beside them. Xiao tilts his head in thought.
Paimon huffs, “Yeah, what they said! You should be grateful that Paimon is willing to share her snacks with you. Paimon won’t do that for just anyone, you know?” She swoops down to pick up one of the squares of tofu and pops it in her mouth. “Mmm! Smiley Yanxiao really outdid himself with this batch. It’s soooo good!~”
At Paimon’s clear endeavor to tempt him into staying, Xiao crosses his arms. “You.. Want me to join you? Why?” His brows furrow in confusion.
The yaksha doesn’t take breaks. He remains ever vigilant as he wards off the evil that seeps into the world, protecting the people of Liyue in a never-ending cycle of violence and karmic debt. Not once in the last thousand years has he truly rested – even the room reserved for him at the Wangshuu Inn is nothing more than a temporary base of operations.
“We don’t get to see you often and thought it would be nice,” the Traveler smiles up at him. “You wanted to learn more about humanity, so think of this as a hands-on experience.” Like Paimon, they grab a bite of tofu and look expectantly at Xiao.
He sighs. “I cannot always be bribed with human food.” As he says that though, Xiao sits down on the grass beside them and reaches for a piece of his own.
“And yet here you are – the mighty yaksha drawn in by the promise of Yanxiao’s specialty snacks”
Xiao grumbles at the thought. “You called my name, and so I am fulfilling your request as I promised I would.” He lays back on the ground with one arm pillowing his head.
The three of them sit together and enjoy the view, listening to Paimon chatter on about their latest exploits in Inazuma. The high afternoon sun warms their faces just as much as the mountain air works to cool them off. This high above Liyue Harbor, the sounds of the city cannot reach them, but they can still see a few ships just out of port waiting for permission to dock. Further out still, the reef spreads into the Sea of Clouds, broken only by the grand spires of the Guyun Stone Forest. If they looked hard enough, the Traveler is sure they would spot the Alcor anchored just out of sight behind the rocks.
It's Paimon that breaks the peace of the moment. Because of course she does.
“Prepare to be amazed! You get to bear witness to the magnificent Paimon Super Duper Canon Ball Special Attack!” With that shout, she flies high into the air, nearly at the top of the waterfall, before she plunges back down, curling in on herself and aiming straight for the pool in front of them.
As she dives in, breaking the surface with a crash, water swells up and creates a splash easily twice Paimon’s height. Even more impressive is how much water comes rushing towards the shore, thoroughly soaking both the Traveler and Xiao.
Compared to the warm afternoon, the water is cold . It might have felt good to dip their feet into later but getting instantly drenched doesn’t evoke the same summertime leisure. Everything from the top of their blonde head to the souls of their shoes – nothing was spared the wrath of the Paimon Super Duper Cannonball Special.
The culprit soon resurfaces, a wide grin on her face as she floats up from the water and over to the pair on the shore. “What do you think? Pretty good, huh?” She puts her hands on her hips in triumph.
“You’ve definitely come a long way in those swimming lessons!” The Traveler pushes their bangs from their face, plastering their hair out of the way. “Now I don't have to worry about having to fish you out of the water… much.”
“Excuse you I’ll have you know I didn’t drown a single time in Inazuma!”
They roll their eyes, “I think that’s because we were a little too busy to go for a swim.”
Xiao watches them trade quips back and forth. He wasn’t spared from the splash zone, and though the sun’s warmed him back up enough, it still isn’t comfortable to sit in your own puddle. He summons a warm wind to swirl around him, evaporating the water and drying his clothes and hair. The ground below him is still damp, but he’s no longer dripping and adding to it.
The Traveler looks at Xiao with a pout. “Lucky you, getting to dry yourself off like that. We haven’t gone back to Mondstadt yet so I’m still resonating with Electro.”
“Sorry about that… I didn’t realize how big the area of effect on my Canon Ball Special Attack would be. My bad,” Paimon apologizes, fidgeting with her hands.
“You’re alright! It’s just water and I’m washable. I’ll get you back next time though so be warned!” They shake their head quickly, flicking water out on their companions much like a dog after a bath. Paimon laughs and flies out of the way, dodging the Traveler’s attempt at revenge.
“If you would like,” Xiao starts, “I could help you dry your hair?”
The Traveler laughs. “You just don’t want to get caught in the crossfire! I’d be dumb not to take you up on that offer, though. Thank you.” They turn their back to Xiao and sit with their legs crossed under them. Xiao settles behind them, kneeling on the wet grass.
He hovers his hands over the top of their head and summons a small current of air in his palms. The wind is warm and gentle as it stirs the golden hair under his guidance, airing out each section at a time. As the water evaporates, the once saturated locks start to regain their volume, returning to their natural fluffy state.
Peace returns to the glade. Paimon distracts herself by chasing dragonflies, and the Traveler enjoys the feeling of being pampered under Xiao’s hands.
“You’re good at this. It’s nice.” They let their eyes close. “Better be careful or Paimon might give you a new name like ‘personal hairdryer yaksha’ or something”
“That doesn’t quite sound like something she might come up with.” He hasn’t spent a lot of time around her, but Xiao knows Paimon would have more words to say than that.
The Traveler scratches at their head, now significantly drier than before. “Yeah, she probably is better at the creative nicknames. Don’t tell her I told you that, though!” They glance over to where said fairy is frolicking, putting a finger to their mouth as if swearing Xiao to secrecy.
It’s all quite childish, really, and to see that the Traveler and Paimon somehow haven’t lost their wonder and humor, no matter how many battles they’ve seen, how many they know are yet to come, it stirs something inside Xiao.
Thousands of years ago, before the Archon War, and before the yaksha answered the call of Rex Lapis, scenes like this weren’t unknown to Xiao. His brothers and sisters were close – they were family after all, forged in the heat of battle and the peace between. They played pranks on each other often, as well. On more than one occasion, Xiao was the victim, waking up with drawings inked on his face was common – loving gifts from their supposed leader.
More than once, someone found themselves at the wrong end of Bonanus hydro jets, getting soaked to the bones in her anger. Back then, whoever it was – often Indaris – would ask Xiao to dry them off in the same way he was doing to the Traveler now.
His command of the air was harsh during battle, bringing enemies to their knees and tearing them apart with powerful gusts. But he was skilled, and his winds could also be gentle and soothing, a comforting caress he manages with care for those loved ones long lost.
Although, here he was, once again performing a familiar duty for someone. Who could tell how many hundreds – if not thousands – of years it had been since Xiao had used his abilities for something so mundane. Two people sitting with him, banter shared back and forth, and though he wasn’t one to participate himself they still desired his company.
In fact, they called for him specifically. By name.
It had been a while since someone called upon him for something so simple.
Maybe Xiao could admit he missed this.
But it’s not something that could last. The last time he worked for too long with the Traveler his karmic debt left a stain on them. The risks of interacting with anyone far outweigh any momentary pleasures he might gain. Besides that, he gave up any sense of worldly pleasures the moment he heeded the call to fight against the old god’s hatred.
He can’t let himself get too used to it. Sooner or later, he was going to succumb to his debts too, just like his brothers and sisters lost to madness and fury. He wasn’t going to drag anyone else down with him, and especially not those who could still enjoy these bits of peace, partially created by his own hands.
“-iao. Xiao. I think my hair’s done drying.”
“Oh.” He stops the airflow and lowers his hands. “My apologies.”
The Traveler turns around and looks up to face Xiao. “You’re fine. Days off are made for getting lost in thought. Just make sure you come back to us every once in a while, alright?”
If he chose to look deeper, Xiao might have found more meaning behind their words. But as it was, he did not want to make that choice yet.
“Okay.”
“Good. I hope you let me return the favor someday! That was really relaxing.” The Traveler stretches their arms over their head. Their clothes were still damp, but much more comfortable than earlier. What Xiao couldn’t get done would quickly be finished off by the sunshine.
“You do not owe anything in return. It was merely a favor.” Xiao settles back down beside the Traveler on the grass and crosses his arms.
A gentle tap on the back of Xiao’s head announced Paimon’s return to them. “That’s not the point, dummy Adeptus! You’re our friend, and friends do nice things for each other just because. Like this, see?” She punctuates her point by producing two Qingxin flowers and offering them to the pair. “Paimon found two pretty flowers and thought her friends might like them, so she brought them to you. Isn’t Paimon the nicest?”
Thus, the rest of the afternoon was spent – in a beautiful place among friends, sharing delicious food and stories of rebellion and fighting gods. Much of the storytelling was done by Paimon, but neither of the others minded that too much.