Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Knock.

Knock. A small cough. Another knock, two more, and–

Hu Tao huffs. "Aiya, just come in already, silly! Since when do you need my permission to walk in?"

With a small smile, Zhongli lets himself in. He leaves the door ajar behind him. "Accept my sincerest apologies, Director Hu. It would be inadvisable for me to simply waltz in as I please, would it not?"

She drops her book on her desk with a shake of her head. "Since when? This office may as well be yours. You spend more time here than on your own these days."

"Well, the amount of work in our hands last week merited it." Ay, no truer words have ever been spoken. "I've also noticed that you were quite absorbed by that book today. I couldn't bear interrupting you in the midst of a good read. A new one, I assume?"

Always so reliable, always so respectful. Hu Tao giggles, grabbing the book to trace the patterns on its cover. "I couldn't help myself, you see – 'twas just me, Director Hu Tao, wandering the cold night markets of Liyue Harbor, eyes roaming the decorations and crowds in search of inspiration… and gasp! A beautiful cover, glittering under the oil lamps of Feiyun Guild's booth, full of wisdom unmatched! I know it looks pretty dusty, but this came out earlier this year, and," she drums her hands on the table for fanfare, "I got it half off, too!"

She slides the book in his direction. When he takes it and opens it, he does it so delicately that it puts a smile on her face, especially as he grimaces at the oily, stuck-together pages at the beginning of the tome.

Hu Tao had wondered what climate the thing had gone through to be in such a dire state. Sand had managed to trickle between some pages and scratch off some of the ink, and the first chapters were glued together by a mix of suspicious-smelling oil and dampness. Of course, she had tried a variety of paper-friendly methods to get the pages off, but it was to no avail – that alone speaks of the grand voyage the book made before it reached her hands.

However, like everything in her field, the more delicate something is, the trickier it is to work with! And the trickier something is, the more valuable it will be in the long run.

Zhongli hums to himself. "I have only read two pages and I see it lives up to its title. It indeed speaks of Sumerian governance and the Great Red Sand's history."

"Mhm, mhm! It reads more like a personal diary full of drama than an actual academic document, doesn't it? It makes the read all the more interesting. Perks of editorializing, I guess." The consultant nods in agreement. "You can just feel the torment of the author as he traveled across Sumeru for his research. Education in the Akademiya is no joke, huh?"

"It's an entity known all across Teyvat for a reason. If you were to erect a nation in the name of wisdom and academic thoroughness, only something like the Akademiya would come about – in theory and ideally, at the very least." Zhongli continues reading through the book. "Sumeru has eons' worth of knowledge in its veins. It pours out philosophy and history like a fountain."

"... Until you find a nosy student wanting to write a thesis about your business. They go too far, sometimes."

"Ah, of course. I never said it was a system without flaws." Zhongli hums. "So, what came about for you to pick up such a topic? I never thought you would pick an interest in ancient politics. It's a quite complex topic."

"Oh-oh-oh! Someone's making me sound like a child again. You won't be getting any extra Mora this month with that behavior." With a playful grin, she gestures at the gilded pyramid in the cover of the book. It reflects the sunlight beautifully. "I must confess, I committed the terrible sin of very much judging the book by its pretty cover, but the contents are just as interesting, aren't they? There's so much character in it, so much the author had to say about what he discovered…"

Zhongli arches an eyebrow, shifting through some pages. "The fellow that penned this book is… quite emotional. I suppose it may make the idea of the desert appeal to the reader."

"Oh?" As he hands the book back to her, she giggles. "It's not the desert as a whole I'm interested in, honestly. The history period the author talks about is a bit too specific, and it's not the politics I'm after, either – it's the mausoleum!"

"The… mausoleum?"

She nods eagerly and skims through the book. She's read these passages so many times today she could find them with her eyes closed! "Let's see, where is it… Ah, yes, here! The Man Who Shall Become Sand, chapter thirteen," Hu Tao clears her throat, "Be it an illuminated intellectual or the most boorish of men, the Mausoleum of King Deshret looms over its visitors with universally archaic dominance. It feels both heavy and commanding – it inspires those who traveled here to kneel at its doorstep. An exercise on metaphoric architecture and a symbol of its rich history."

And Hu Tao shuts the book close with that. Zhongli's eyes widen. "It sounds intriguing, indeed. And a quite loaded praise."

She tuts. "And yet there's nothing about it as a burial site! No exploration of their funeral traditions, the style of the mausoleum, nothing. What's the worth of going to a mausoleum if you won't pay a lick of attention to its actual purpose?"

After a second of thought, she opens the book again, hopeful that she may have missed a passage or two about it. She has done this about ten times today, and it's not something she's happy about.

Zhongli doesn't seem too perplexed by her insistence. Rather, he's thoughtful. "I doubt many people would visit a building of such importance and pay attention to the tomb itself, unless they were after the actual remains of the deceased. The word mausoleum in a point of historic interest's name is little more than a semantic accessory to most."

Hu Tao brings a hand to her forehead. " A semantic accessory…! Tch, you have no regard for my heart, Zhongli."

He doesn't look too sorry. "I apologize. I would have been just as interested to read about the mausoleum itself as well. The author seemed to have an inclination for detail."

"See, see? I've been looking for more details about it, but there are very few works about that place in particular. It's like a ghost mansion, a haunted forest, a tomb with no name nor date of death!" Hu Tao drums her nails on her desk. "Granted, I'm sure there are laws in Sumeru about talking too much about these things, and I know that King Deshret's body is not there, but… Aiya."

Alas, it's not like she can afford to make a trip there now to fulfill her curiosity. Winter always comes with a surplus of lost adventurers in Dragonspine and Chenyu Vale, as well as plenty of sailors that get lost at sea and come home either frozen to bits or starved to death; the ocean between Inazuma and Liyue Harbor gets very stormy this time of year. Teyvat as a whole comes alive in an angry upheaval of bad weather and awful, awful storms in the west.

It's probably nicer near Sumeru, she laments to herself. It's been cloudy for a few days here, and neither poets nor flowers can flourish in a climate this gloomy.

Hu Tao lets out a slight whine as she leans back on her chair. It's fine as long as only Zhongli sees it. He's staring at her like he's used to it. She's unsure if that's a good thing. "You could always plan a quick trip to the Akademiya to borrow some books."

Her reservations still fresh in her mind, she vaguely gestures out her window. "Now? In winter?"

It's good that Zhongli knows what she means right away. "You've been making preparations for the season ever since you came back from Inazuma, and was this not the reason why you hired more undertakers?" That is true, but… "You can't expect to do all the work on your own."

Ah, what good advice – and how hard it is to heed, sadly. "Most of our undertakers won't be ready for expeditions of that caliber. I don't think even Meng would last an entire day in Dragonspine, and I mean the lower to medium levels! How can I leave when we'll be missing so many clients?" And so many families depend on those who will get lost to Dragonspine, too… She sighs in dismay. "We can't afford to leave families without any closure, especially near the holidays."

"True, but your presence won't help the undertakers much in terms of resilience. If they can't make the trip there, they won't magically make it there in your presence."

Hu Tao pouts. "I'll have you know, I'm a great mentor. There's nothing better than some poems and a quick joke to warm up one's spirit – not to mention that I have Vision too, remember? It wouldn't be responsible to leave now."

"The Adventurer's Guild can lend us a hand if needed. There are some parts of the range that not even you should approach, director." Hu Tao says nothing, because he's right. "Still, you would be surprised by just how resilient a lot of your new employees are. Bei'er and Hishue have been very helpful with reassembling some of the coffins that were lost during the last delivery from Mondstadt."

Ay-ay-ay, she'd rather not think of it. So much paperwork for insurance Mora, so many letters, so many losses in time…! She grimaces. "That's what I get for taking a risk in this season. Should've listened to my instinct that time."

Zhongli tilts his head softly. "You're rarely this opposed to taking breaks. If any of your undertakers fails, I'm not opposed to helping out if necessary. I've never minded an afternoon of paperwork nor a field day."

Hu Tao regards him with gratitude. It's true that he has never failed at helping on either end of a workday, but… She laughs a little. "Huh, I thought you told me you were feeling your age catching up with you last time I had to fetch you from the wharf. Not feeling your bones grind anymore?"

"That was a one-night moment of weakness. Please, pay me no mind." That makes her laugh a little more. "We can work on everything while you're gone. We have done pretty well in the past while you were absent, so though you will be missed, we will fare just fine."

Much to her own chagrin, she's reluctant to accept this. There's an inner beast within her that rages at the thought of leaving such harsh seasons unattended or not properly supervised. Leaving during summer or spring is different – there may be different situations, but nobody is at risk of being swallowed by snow or a cave-in. The less weather risk there is, the easier field work gets.

And yet, Zhongli is absolutely right as well. Woe as she is to accept this, she'd barely help her undertakers climb a mountain, even if she's used to climbing Dragonspine and venturing into the marsh at its worst – demons, frostbite and Xiao included. That man is as lovely as he can be a menace to the terrain.

A gentle smile curves her lips for a moment, but when she notices that Zhongli has seen it, she suppresses it with a cough. He smiles, too, saying, "You could always bring Adeptus Xiao with you as well. Even adepti could learn many things from the land of wisdom, and there are many books on Liyue's history in the Akademiya."

The sole thought of traveling with Xiao never fails to make her heart skip a beat. She fiddles with the collar of her shirt as heat rises from her chest. Celestia forbid, she's getting antsy! She tuts, "Still, it's easier said than done, hm?"

"How so?"

Hu Tao purses her lips. "Say that I do end up taking the week off and nothing goes wrong on our trip there or here – but with what clearance will I get into the Akademiya to borrow their books?" Her consultant turns silent at this. "I met someone in Mondstadt who used to study in the Akademiya. You're not withdrawing any books without some authorization. They must have very pricey material if they're so strict about it."

All the more reason to go, a part of her says, because there must be just such great research material, but…

"All the more reason to go there then, is it not?" Hu Tao purses her lips. "A few days off would do you good, I'm certain. I can tell at a glance you haven't been resting well, too. You have been quite busy these days."

Hu Tao squints, able to see the tail end of that thought that he's left out. She huffs. "And I can manage it just fine, as you can see. What sort of director would leave her business when things get busy? We don't need to crowd this place with misguided ghosts – that's what graveyards are for."

And yet, despite the worries wiggling and squirming in her heart, Hu Tao so very wishes to go. It's not every day that a civilization dedicates an entire area of their land to a mausoleum, of all things, and how can she not wanna know more? There must be so much information about it in books, and gosh, what if she could take a look at it from a distance? Would she find relics of the mausoleum dispersed across Sumeru, maybe even other examples of funerary rites in the most ancient corners of the land?

Oh, what a joy it would be, and if she could get Xiao to come with her, then…!

"Director, may I speak candidly?"

Ah, his words are so gentle. "Always."

He clears his throat. "You and Adeptus Xiao saw rather undesirable things in Inazuma, and I reckon he has been busy defending the land from the threats that are peeking into our nation before winter. If curiosity is turning your eyes to Sumeru, you don't need to pretend to be blind to that instinct. You have taken weeks off many times before."

Classic, sensical and reasonable Zhongli advice, oh so very tempting. Hu Tao places her cheek on her palm. "I know that. But none of it happened this close to the end of the year – not to mention that Lantern Rite is," she glances at the calendar on her table and grimaces, "one month away? Celestia, time goes by so fast."

Her consultant nods. "Indeed, as it usually does when one's life is hectic." Before she can harp on the fact that, again, she can handle it just fine, he smiles. Mysteriously so. "I'm certain Adeptus Xiao has his own plate loaded with troubles that he could quell with a distraction, at least for some days."

Hu Tao giggles, unable to hold back her joy at the mention of his name. "Oh my, you bring his name up so often that you may as well be his most devout follower."

"I doubt he would accept such praise from me." Gosh, to think Zhongli, of all people, would say something that silly! "Many in Liyue Harbor besides me admire his deeds, and I'm certain many others in the harbor are quite enamored by him. Or would be, if he was seen more often…"

Her heart slams into her chest and squeezes with shared longing, but she suppresses the feeling with an airy laugh. Legends and history aside, Xiao is quite charming in his own way, and anyone with a knack for fantasy would glance his way – though whether they'd withstand his karma or his dry, sporadic humor is another story. And his dull, tragically dull palate.

Hu Tao giggles. Nothing to be done about that. "I wouldn't be surprised, either. Many people in Liyue Harbor have no idea what business they're getting into, most of the time."

"Recklessness is the source of most of the trades that take place in the wharf. A contract protects against unloyalty, but not folly." Zhongli stares out the window behind her before taking a deep sigh. "Most lives are full of regretful decisions. I hope your choice not to pursue your curiosity won't become one of them, director."

He watches her intently, bending his arms behind his back, biding his time just like he always does when he proposes a plan that's too good to be rejected. Though she still has reservations about leaving, she can already envision the trip; it's unraveling before her very eyes, sand that spills between her fingers and clouds that roll lazily right above the tip of the flowers on her hat.

By the Seven, she longs to leave. The more she thinks of how she should stay here, how she must stay here, the more her mind drifts toward greener hills and cleaner air. This office is getting stuffy, and her mind is paying dearly for it these days.

The thought of breathing in the wonderful scent of the flowers in Sumeru makes her giddy, but she does her best to temper the emotion. "Are you sure you'll be able to handle everything without me? Cadavers aren't the coldest things in our trade, y'know. It's the living ones that are the worst of the bunch."

Zhongli lets out a chuckle. "I have plenty of experience in that field. Leave everything written down for me and I will convey your wishes to everyone in Wangsheng." He nods his head toward the thick book she has open on the side, scribbled with countless weekly notes that, apparently, she won't be using anymore. "Regarding the matter of clearance, how about writing that friend of yours for a letter of recommendation?"

That idea lights up something in her head. A little gasp escapes her before clapping her hands. "A letter of recommendation! Bet they'll let us in if she puts a word for us. Good thinking, Zhongli – I'll get to writing it right away."

Hu Tao grieves the idea of her position not being trustworthy to someone as important as a Grand Sage, but she pushes the thought aside as fast as it comes to be. He nods. "Let us reconvene to talk this out after my lecture. I'll have some tea ready."

With one bow of his head, Zhongli gives her one last gentle look before breezing past the door and shutting it close. A moment of silence elapses, and Hu Tao leans back on her chair again to take a deep breath.

Green grass, the subtle thrum of Dendro under her feet, the scarlet horizons blazing with the heat of tales untold… If she outstretches her hand, she can almost feel it already, a nation welcoming her and her beloved adeptus into its arms. Mmmm…

Birds chip outside her window, preening on her windowsill and peering inside. She hears the faint click of a heel on the cobblestone behind her office, and the poor birds flutter away in a frenzy.

Hu Tao's eyes widen. She rises from her chair, and as she catches a strand of teal poking into her window, her heart swells and falls into a familiar cadence, neither fast nor settled, simply smitten.

With a little laugh, she balances half her body out the window, just enough to find a cute adeptus leaning against the wall outside, eyes closed and looking nonchalant to her arrival – which is quite rude, considering she made enough noise for him to notice her presence! Adepti and their arrogance, truly…

Still, she grins. "Fancy meeting you here, o mighty yaksha. Ever heard of using a door?"

Xiao huffs. "I would rather not explain why an adeptus is visiting a mortal so early in the morning. I know Wangsheng isn't rumorproof."

"Gossiping about an adeptus and their director? They wouldn't dare." Or so she hopes. It makes Xiao's expression brighten with humor, at least. "If you're here to learn more about our agate snow burials, I'm afraid those won't be in season until we're done testing next month – but we're accepting early subscriptions if that's what you want."

That gets him to open his eyes to her, but given his lack of excitement, she'd wager he's not here for her offers. Bummer. "I doubt a snow burial would be too wise. Hilichurls and imprudent mortals walking where they shouldn't will make it melt easily."

She doesn't miss how exasperated he grows at the mention of mortals. It's impossible to let that jab go unmentioned. "Imprudent? What is a troubled soul to do then, quivering in the cold and unable to fend off for herself without fire and a blade?"

"Call for her partner's help, perhaps." When his hand touches hers on the windowsill, her heart tremors with adoration. Her head dips down a little, trying to catch the silver wisps of sunlight glittering in his eyes. "Anyway, snow burials wouldn't be practical. It melts easily, and any mortal could uncover a body by mistake."

A little chuckle scrapes her throat and makes her grin. "Dummy, but that's what the agate is for, too! Lacquered opaque for maximum privacy and laid down in the snow near the romantic cliffs of Sal Terrae. You shouldn't assume without a pamphlet in your hand – that's just irresponsible criticism."

Xiao blinks, owlishly so. "You… would encase a cadaver in agate?"

Hu Tao winks. "If they wish for it, I don't see why we wouldn't try. The energy in the agate shouldn't be harmful to the deceased, and it'd be much more sustainable than a wood coffin, don't you think?" Though, it's possible a particularly sensitive spirit may notice a slight discomfort… That wouldn't be good. Hu Tao hums softly before shaking her head. "Maybe I'll run some tests and commission some Starsilver coffins from Mondstadt if it doesn't work out. Those should handle the snow just fine."

"How would you run those tests?"

"With a willing subject inside, of course. Nothing like lying inside a coffin to test its temperature, cushioning and general feel." Xiao glances at her with an arched eyebrow. Hu Tao bites her lip as she keeps running the numbers. "There's also the question of how we'll get the cushioning etched into the amber…"

And it will be an awfully heavy coffin, but it'll last far longer than wood. Xiao crosses his arms. "Wouldn't that be too expensive?"

"Not if you use our seasonal coupons!" She springs some winter-themed coupons out of her pocket, wagging them seductively. "Look at them, just look! The colors are so bright, the lettering is wonderful, not to mention that we have the best prices out there and a guaranteed perfect service! Makes you wanna bite and get one, doesn't it? Hm?"

Hu Tao inches the coupons closer to him before he grips her wrist to grab them and leave them on her windowsill. "Should you not save them for someone that's due to come to you sooner?"

"Aiya, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn't nitpick its clients, and you never know when it's gonna happen! Everyone deserves a perfectly affordable quality experience, from the deceased's last breath to the family's first sigh of peace. It's a long road, but coupons always make them better." Knowing he won't bite for now, though, she stuffs them back into her pockets. "Whatever, I'll get you some other time! I'll just use these during our trip."

"Trip?" Under his vigilance, Hu Tao smirks to herself. "What trip?"

She swings her head from side to side, humming, thrilled by his evident show of attention. She'd rather it doesn't turn into irritation, though. It's dangerously easy to do, sometimes – but doesn't she love a good challenge! "Hm… Don't we do little trips all the time? Poet and warrior, you and I, walking miles on end in search of our destination, whether it is bloodshed or illumination that we seek."

He sees right through it, just as she expected, so he leans closer to get a good look into her eyes. Hu Tao averts her eyes a little, trying not to blush under his gaze. "I can tell you're planning something different."

"Oh? Having such little faith in me already? How disappointing. I even let you see my precious coupons during pre-sale season…"

As a slightly tepid breeze combs the space between them, Xiao holds a lock of her hair between his fingers. He doesn't tug nor caress it, but he plays with it as he keeps watching her undividedly. "You know I would never doubt your intentions." A pause. "Most of the time, at least."

Hu Tao giggles. "Caution is wise. Wouldn't expect any less from an adeptus." Xiao's chest swells with a slight chuckle. "And speaking of wisdom…"

For a second and one second only, she hesitates to pose this question to him. Despite his unquestionable loyalty to his duties, she doubts Xiao would reject her offer for a trip abroad. He never has, and she doubts he ever will at this point – but it's always better to deliver the news in the best conditions. In a comfortable place, preferably with food, professing her adoration and respect for his bravery and protection…

But they have no food, nor is this optimal in terms of comfort, so Hu Tao looks around before quickly grabbing him by the neck to pull him upward into a kiss.

Xiao lets out a muffled gasp against her lips before pulling himself upward to kiss her properly, cupping her hands with his and tilting his head with the beginnings of a smile. He exhales through his nose, and she finds herself doing the same – they've been so busy that their meetings turned into quick meals, and naps they'd share together have turned into a dull individual affair; what little they could do that's quick and filling is hugs and kisses in public, but that would be a total no-go.

Well, unlike now… Her stomach fills with butterflies at the sensation, so familiar in its warmth. Xiao breaks the kiss for a moment, brushing his nose against hers before kissing her again and slanting his hands on the windowsill to propel himself a little higher up.

Such quiet eagerness makes her burst into a fit of giggles, inevitably breaking the kiss. They can do that later – she has news to deliver! And now is a much better moment to do so, isn't it?

"Say… Ever thought about going to Sumeru? With your fatefully beloved funeral director, perhaps?"

The yaksha blinks, as though slowly taking in her request, and murmurs, "Perhaps I have."

A squeal rips out of her, unable to hold in her joy and love for him, and a second later, she's kissing him again.

Before writing to the Akademiya directly, Hu Tao had been quick to sit down to write a letter for Lisa, but after some deliberation, she decided to address the Knights of Favonius instead. She has a very vivid memory of the Acting Grand Master mentioning that Lisa wasn't where she was supposed to be most days, meaning it'd be faster to ask the Knights to give it to her instead.

Oh, the woes of working in unbreakable quiet when you just long to sprawl and meander the meadows of Mondstadt… Such powerful and languid imagery would also make it hard to stay still, though she's not sure inspiration is behind Lisa's disposition.

Thankfully, Lisa had written back pretty quickly, sending a perfumed letter full to the brim with details.

Dear madam director,

I supposed I might as well start off professionally, you never know who will go through your letters one day. I wouldn't want one of your workers to think I'll sweep you away one day!

Just like you asked, I have written the Acting Grand Sage a letter. You can find a copy of the letter of recommendation attached to this one, it took me a while to get a hold of it! He's quite the disagreeable man, you see – he wouldn't even write to me personally unless I sent his secretary a copy of my graduation title! It took me a couple of days to get to him, but he should let you through just fine. Not too many people in the Akademiya can say no to such a great graduate like me.

Beware of that man, though! I wouldn't want a cutie like you to be hurt by his lacking etiquette. I haven't seen a Grand Sage so ruthless in all my years of studying and working here in Mondstadt.

Speaking of being away from home, I think you'll be there right on time for the Shabagul Festival. It's such a wonderful festival, the night of flowers! We'd all gather at the tavern after weeks of grueling research, and at midnight, you'd see the flowers in the fields and mountains all over Sumeru light up! You can't miss that sight, if you have time. The Dendro Archon must have such a green thumb… I'm so jealous!

You should also drop by Port Ormos for a quick meal, they have the best pitas in the world! The way there can get a little dangerous, though. If you see any giant robots or funny little creatures, don't you worry, it's just a part of Sumeru. If it doesn't have fangs or a knife, surely it won't hurt you – but if it does, report it to the Matra immediately!

Also, please say hi to the General Mahamatra for me if you see him. If you need a special favor from him, make sure you have a TCG deck or a very interesting story. I hear he's quite busy dealing with bandits these days.

Oh, Jean mentioned that you might travel with that cute boy you brought to Mondstadt last time. I know a lot of romantic spots in Sumeru, just so you know. If you're in the mood, some of them even have space for–

Hu Tao quickly closes the envelope and stuffs it in her pocket, looking at the path ahead. The Chasm has never looked this sunny, even if the temperature is quite chilly. The back of her neck feels quite damp – not at all related to the weather. "Aiya, I wonder if there are any spirits left around here. We've done a lot of rounds in the area, but you never know…"

"I doubt so," Xiao comments, idly walking a path down the mountain and toward the barely signaled railway leading off the cliff, hovering over the thin afternoon mist. "Most of the spiritual disturbances lie within the mines, not on the surface."

She clicks her tongue with disapproval. "I know, but you have no idea the sorts of stories adventurers come running at me with! Translucent miners with tools smashed on their heads, looming over them and following them into their nightmares, preparing to strike before…" Hu Tao claws her hands and motions toward him with a hiss, "whoosh, out goes your life, like a candle in the wind! The more they see, the more susceptible they become."

Xiao looks just as displeased as her. "How risible. How can they expect to fend for themselves if they get scared so easily?"

"See, that's exactly what I've been saying all along!" Hu Tao huffs, kicking a pebble off the wooden path. It rolls off to the base of the Chasm with a slight clack. "You can't imagine how many letters I've sent the Qixing, kicking and pleading for them to ban access to the area, but no dice. It'd be so much safer that way too, but…" She sighs. "Maybe I'll just hang some of my offers around here. If they're gonna be reckless, they should have their backs covered at least…"

Still, she can't help but wonder just why someone would come here, unless they had a penchant for getting in trouble and upsetting the dormant corruption under the soil. There are so many lessons to be learnt here, none of them pleasant, and the more she listens to the sepulchral silence and wind sneaking between the crested mountains of the area, the more alert she feels.

Hu Tao chances a glance upward with a troubled look. "Guess it's too windy to glide to Sumeru from the top."

He nods, but needn't have done so – she can hear the wind howling overhead. "Considering we don't know where to go in Sumeru, it'd be best to stay on the beaten path. We shouldn't try to land somewhere undesirable."

"Undesirable? And what would you consider undesirable, hm?" Hu Tao counts with her fingers, smiling to herself. "A crowd of awed mortals, maybe? How about a pack of devoted sages, or, or! A pack of just as devoted tigers, more interested in your flesh than your wisdom and bravery!"

Xiao shakes his head. "I don't need either of those to stir my temper. Loud mortals such as you make one feel a certain way."

Hu Tao gasps with indignation as he scampers off, and despite the smile she can see filling his cheeks from behind and the evident fondness in his voice, she can't help but chase after him, pouting and placing a hand on her heart. "To think the Vigilant Yaksha wouldn't be vigilant of his manners… Do you expect me to swallow your insults like water, o mighty yaksha?"

"Says the one who keeps disrespecting the adepti. How hypocritical."

"Says the one who keeps disrespecting the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! At this rate, our millennia-standing alliance will fall apart faster than a silk flower without water." She brings a hand to her head, feigning faintness. "My oh my, the thought of it is un-bearable."

Xiao lets out a slight chuckle, and Hu Tao giggles as she fully catches up with him, skipping along the bridge leading out of the Tiangong Gorge. A powerful gust pushes dust and a metallic haze to the sky, forcing her to close her eyes against the tepid breeze.

They look downward and trade a knowing look of confirmation before leaping off the edge and gliding to the rickety torn bridge at the entrance of the tunnel. Xiao lands first and extends a hand for her to grab as she approaches, glancing toward the passage. "It appears the path is safe."

Hu Tao softly takes his hand as she lands on safe-ish ground. The wood is too creaky to her liking, but so are coffins in summer. It should be fine. "Not a very famous destination for silly-billy hilichurls or Treasure Hoarders, huh?"

"I don't blame them. There is little to do here." Closer to nothing, it seems. She's seen graveyards with less cobwebs than the road ahead. As Xiao lets go of her hand, he remarks, "Watch your step. The ground is uneven here."

And uncomfortable, too. Walking here feels as though the ground is eager to swallow her up and stab her feet. Little pieces of glass crack under her heels, and the air is so humid she can feel her hair and palms getting clammy. Minerals lay untouched, tools remain discarded, and the steady dripping of water fills the silence between them as they maneuver through the tunnel.

A torn bridge stands in the middle, with the debris that sticks out as the only means to proceed. Xiao jumps to the other side and patiently waits for Hu Tao to do the same as she calculates the leap. When she sticks the landing, Xiao hurriedly loops an arm around her middle so she won't tip backward, only releasing her when she balances herself one step away from the edge.

She glances behind her, concerned beyond belief. "How can this place be so run down? It's no wonder there's nobody around!"

"I also expected this place to be better maintained. It certainly looked better when it was a functioning mine." Yeah, but it must have been so long since then… "Perhaps we should have gone through the Dunyu Ruins and then Lumberpick Valley instead of this. Since you wanted to go on foot, I thought this would be the fastest path."

Hu Tao can hear the barest glimmers of guilt in those words. She shakes her head reassuringly. "No harm done, no harm done. Besides, what's a trip without something a little spooky and gloomy? It has a bit of charm, in its own way." Although… She can already smell the fresh grass and the flowers under the dust and humidity. How refreshing that will be! "Lisa said in her letter that it's usually sunny but cold all winter round. Thank Rex Lapis I packed some thicker clothes…"

Xiao offers a nod and a hum as a response. "Did she give you any pointers regarding accommodations?"

"No, not really," she laments, taking the letter out again in case she missed anything. "Let me check… She mentioned a couple of places to visit, but when I checked the map back at home, they looked a bit too far for us to go to on the first day."

"I can always take us there in a second," he offers. "It wouldn't be a bother."

She shakes her head. "Mm-mm-mm! That'd go against the spirit of exploring, dummy. If we do that, we'll miss out on so much of Sumeru. Nothing better than being a little lost to find the littlest yet best treasures a land can offer."

As always, he remains a little skeptical. "Weren't you interested in visiting the Akademiya first and foremost?"

"Yeah, but not first or foremost. The Akademiya isn't going anywhere – or so I hope! I've heard Sumeru's terrain tends to move a lot, so you never know." The image alone is enough to get her mind spinning. "I wonder if the Akademiya has any sort of funerary insurance for times like those..."

Xiao keeps quiet after that, regarding her with a look before helping her climb yet another torn bridge in the middle of the path. The road gets greener within seconds, covering the walls with moss and other sorts of herbs in all manners of shapes and smells. A faint light illuminates the way onward, and when she steals a look Xiao's way, he finds him to have turned his head towards her at the same time.

Her heart squeezes with mild embarrassment. He's such a pretty creature, and he caught her staring! It wouldn't be a first, nor is this her most indecent of moments, but…!

"I… actually wanted to talk to you about something."

Hu Tao's eyes widen. Adeptus Xiao, opening up a topic of discussion? Novelty at its finest! "No need to be so shy about it, o mighty yaksha. What is it?"

Much to her curiosity, Xiao seems to stew over his words, rubbing the back of his head as his eyes dart around and his walking slows down for a second. His expression tightens up, his cheeks catch some color, and she's sure there are few things in this world more intriguing and cute than this.

"As you know," he clears his throat, "anytime we're out and about in Liyue, as well as last time we went to Inazuma with Qiqi, we hide the fact that we're…"

He stumbles with his words again. Her heart swells. She may know where this is going. "Dating?"

"Yes." Xiao takes a deep breath. "We always agreed to do that since we had acquaintances there, but we don't know anyone in Sumeru, do we?"

Hu Tao takes his question seriously. It's obvious he's been thinking about this a lot. "Hm… We do know Dori."

A second is all it takes for that name to spark recognition in his eyes. He clears his throat again. "Well, that's true – but she isn't a close friend of ours, is she?" She's tempted to say that neither are most people in Inazuma, but she chooses to let him continue. "I was thinking we could perhaps…"

The words come out of her like a torrent, fast and sharp. "Stop pretending?"

Xiao stops walking for a second, lips parted and a little stunned, but he ultimately relaxes and nods in absolute and expectant silence. Hu Tao also takes a moment to take in the implications of this before erupting into light laughter, trying to muffle it as best as she can into a hand, lest he thinks she's laughing at him – but how can she not feel elated by such a request? She was thinking of the same thing!

Hu Tao tiptoes closer to him, fiddling with her rings as she tucks her hands behind her back. "I was getting a little tired of pretending too, y'know. The Whopperflower can only pretend to be a sweet flower for so long before it turns into an unmoving sweet flower itself, and I guess nobody in Sumeru would see us as something as dreadful as a Whopperflower, hm?"

Not in terms of potential national heresy, at least. While nobody outside of Sumeru knows that Xiao is an adeptus, the moment someone finds out, there's a chance they'll call their relationship an ill-fated thing. Not many immortals form such bonds with mortals, and a yaksha and a mortal falling in love would make it scandalous in the eye of someone that knows a tad too much but can only handle too little.

Hu Tao herself knows too much, but at least she can handle that information – and Xiao does too, for that matter!

No sooner does her mind start to wander, a gentle touch on her cheek brings her back to reality. His hand cups her cheek. "Are you sure you're comfortable with that?"

"Why would I not be?"

"I assume our relationship won't stay hidden forever." Hu Tao nods, because it almost sounded like a question, and she does not want them to be a secret forever, no. "This would be our first time acting as a couple. Or not hiding that we are one, at least."

Hu Tao rolls her eyes fondly. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we have to start acting like we can't get our hands off each other!" She shoots him a wink. "Unless you want me to, of course! I'm sure there are a lot of alleys in Sumeru for us to–"

Xiao covers her mouth with a hand. "You needn't be so crude, and we don't have to do that – whatever it is you're imagining."

Kissing is crude to him now? Then he's the crudest of them all! She softly peels off his hand. "Exactly, and we don't have to announce our relationship to the world either! We can just… roll with it for now. And see what comes of it."

Her hand stays locked with his as it falls to his side. Xiao tilts his head to look her in the eye. "Are you sure about this? People might gossip."

"Not necessarily, especially if they don't know what you are – we're not in Liyue now. Better keep people in the dark so they won't be blinded by the light."

"But the people of Liyue Harbor do know what I am. We both know it may eventually become a problem. Your kin is… loud about their beliefs, and they won't hesitate to share them with others."

"And? If some gossip was gonna hold me back from dating you, then I wouldn't be dating you!" Xiao doesn't look too convinced by this, so she throws her arms around his neck and gives him a radiant grin. "So long as we don't do something indecent in the middle of the boulevard, we won't get in any real trouble, Alatus. Sure, people will talk, but it's not like anyone has said anything about us going on dates…"

Or so she thinks. The versemonguer of the darkest alleys also knows the mortal sort of hubris that runs in them, too full of themselves not to denounce a relationship that's sinful in their eyes. Some mortals would consider their relationship a taboo of sorts, but they're the types that also think balming bodies is a crime. Beliefs in different ballparks, but they dress in the same colors.

He's not wrong in saying it may be a problem when their relationship is eventually public, but… they can take it slow and see where things go before going public. Enjoying this sort of privacy and hiding from the limelight when the lights of the harbor are too bright is thrilling in its own way.

She doesn't mind all of this that much, but she can tell Xiao does – although they're thinking of different things now. "Dates, you say? Have we ever truly gone on a date?"

His voice is so confused and baffled that it gives her pause. "... Huh? We haven't?"

The yaksha doesn't reply. Hold on, they haven't? But that can't be! He shakes his head, as though just as in denial as her. "I'm not entirely sure of what differentiates a date from a normal meeting between friends."

A drop of cold water lands on her neck. Only now does Hu Tao remember that they're supposed to be walking, not stalling! She grips his hand to tug him along. "But we aren't just friends, we're partners!"

"I'm aware of that," he says, slowly untangling his hand from hers to walk alongside her. "Is that how mortal convention functions, then? Dates are simply… meetings between lovers?"

They skip over a puddle and Xiao watches as she leaps over a log covered in long moss that lies across the path. She purses her lips. "We could call them dates. I'm sure we'd have just as much of a good time whether we had the most romantic of dinners or a basic meal."

Xiao doesn't seem swayed by her reassurance, though. "Is romance a key element, then? Or is it a matter of pure intent?" He grunts. "Why do you mortals have such complex traditions?"

Hu Tao wishes she knew what to say, but not even she herself could define a date with words. Yes, writing line after line about a dewdrop would be easier than defining this… There are more kinds of outings than there are snowflakes in Dragonspine; she has gone on a handful dates herself, yet she can't exactly pinpoint what differentiates those from all the outings she's gone on with Xiao, both now and when they were just friends – actually, she's unsure if that says a lot about her previous dates or nothing at all.

And since those were so similar to what she had with Xiao as a friend… Indeed, what makes a date a date?

She and Xiao did kiss by the end of most of these date-but-technically-maybe-not-a-date getaways, and they were all wonderful, but they never really prepared for any of them, did they? They never properly planned what they'd do in advance; they'd be spontaneous, slightly romantic, slightly aimless. Spending time together has always come naturally enough for it not to need any labels. Romance would be a product of happenstance, not planning.

They did have a very fancy dinner that time after dealing with the Fatui in the casino, but they weren't a couple back then, so it wasn't a date, right? Although, now that she thinks about it, that's the night that fits the bill the most, maybe…

What exactly makes something a date? If it's extensive planning and preparation, then…

"Hu Tao?"

She jolts. "Huh?"

"You've been quiet for a while."

Oh. When she looks up, Hu Tao realizes that there's natural light streaming into the tunnel from the next bend. A helpless laugh escapes her – only Xiao would make her roll an idea around the way a kitten does to a ball of yarn.

Hu Tao sighs, smiling fondly at him. "So… maybe we haven't had a hardback-worthy, mortal-denominated date."

He doesn't sound half as irritated by the idea as she feared. He appears more… disgruntled. "It's likely we haven't."

"Then… that means we can still have our first date, right?" His entire demeanor shows no appreciation for that notion, but that's where her expertise comes in! "Think about it! First dates are super special, you see. It's all about the build-up, the nerves thrusting through your blood, the anticipation to see that other person! Anything could happen, after all – and you usually get to dress nicely for the occasion, too."

Ah, just thinking of those times again makes her smile. Xiao shakes his head. "I didn't think dressing up would be such a big part of it. It's such a cumbersome manner of dressing..."

"Aha, but there's something very exciting about dressing up for it! Not to mention that seeing your date dressed up is quite interesting, too…" Ah, if only she could see Xiao dressed up like he was that night… Hu Tao twirls a lock of hair around her finger and smiles teasingly. "Did you find me attractive the first time we sat down for lunch together without being dressed up, o mighty yaksha? Did I blow you away with one glance your way, hm?"

Much like she expected, he looks absolutely bewildered by her question, gaping slightly before responding, "I won't grace that ridiculous question with an answer."

She gasps in feigned outrage. "Aw, c'mon! It's a perfectly reasonable question, what if you didn't like my perfume, or the way my hair looked?"

"Why would I have any issues with any of that? I wouldn't have compromised to have lunch with you if I didn't find you at least slightly pleasant – not that looks ever played a role in making that decision." He arches an eyebrow. "You don't look particularly troubled by this, anyway."

Ah, of course she isn't. It's not like Xiao has ever placed any importance on looks – still, it's fun to poke at him, and it's unfair for him to pretend to be so ignorant to it all, especially when she knows he has an eye for beauty!

Hu Tao prods his rosy cheek with a nail. "Un-believable. To think I would find a man with no standards whatsoever… What a shame." With a deeper than necessary sigh, she looks away. "I suppose I won't ever wear a fancy dress or hair accessories again. I truly loved those you bought for me in Inazuma, but alas…"

Xiao gently swats her hand off with a fond roll of his eyes. "You don't have to dress up at all if you don't want to – it takes too long for it to be practical. Do you ever think I need to do so?"

"Aiya, of course not. You're the prettiest man I've ever seen no matter what you're wearing." Her words clearly catch him off guard, and the sight of such surprise makes her giggle. "I wouldn't say a peep if you wanted to dress up, though. You look very good in formalwear."

"... So do you." His sincerity and bashfulness make her face heat up. It wasn't a necessary compliment, but it's such a rare gift that her heart flutters in her chest. "We can… dress up again if you wish so. For our supposed first date, I mean."

Hu Tao nods with a slight gulp. "We didn't get to try all of the menu at Xinyue Kiosk, did we?"

"We can make a reservation once we're back to Liyue Harbor. We might be able to have our first date by summer, then." Hu Tao would find that joke funny if it was an exaggeration. Ay, she's gonna have to wait so long to try their seafood noodles… "I think this is the end of the tunnel. The ground looks slippery."

They step into the hollow insides of a musky-smelling trunk, dotted with big mushrooms and ticklish leaves that bend backward as the path becomes less about roots and stones and more about dirt and recent footsteps. A warm yellow glow awaits by the end of the passage, followed by the gentle rippling of water and chirping birds that look at them from the exit before fluttering away.

Xiao peers over the mossy ledge before dropping down to a shallow stream below. He offers her a hand to jump down to his side, where there's no water, and the moment she follows him, a gust of wind buffets her with such strength that her eyes close in reflex.

When she opens them again, slowly, the flora of Sumeru rustles in a warm welcome. Gigantic flowers bend over the path and cast their light on the water and stones around them. Unlike in Liyue, the sky is completely devoid of clouds, disrupted only by the breathtaking glow of the Statue of the Seven, seated on an isthmus of altitude and lushness in a sea of grand, unparalleled verdure.

Her voice is lost, if only for a moment. Xiao finds his much faster. "That must be Buer's statue. I didn't expect to see one this close to Sumeru's entrance."

Hu Tao clears her throat. "Sumeru is a beacon of wisdom in Teyvat. Nothing better than having the wisest among the wise to welcome the fools that just went through the Chasm, yeah?"

"An… apt way to put it, yes." Xiao roofs his eyes with a hand, peering at their tall surroundings. "It would be best to go up there to gain a vantage point. This forest looks thick. I'm unsure if following the beaten path will be for the best."

Hm, and she can't see anyone around here, either… but she can see a tent not too far away, nobody guarding it at the moment – except a little blue creature peeking from behind its flaps, startled into a jolt before scampering off into the foliage. A sort of sentient flower, perhaps?

Still, that means that there is life meandering the area, so they can't be that far from a village. "That's quite the climb… Mind if I ask the Vigilant Yaksha for his help?" Hu Tao smiles sweetly. "I wouldn't mind calling his name to the wind for a touch of respect, but doing it so close to the Dendro Archon's image would be a bit awkward, not to mention that I have him right beside me…"

Xiao chuckles. "So you would be more respectful to the image of a foreign archon than the weapon of your nation's archon?"

"I don't know, everything in this world has a life, o mighty yaksha. They're as deserving of respect and care as you and I." Hu Tao loops her arm around his. "I shall shower you with praise and food if you lend me your hand. Sounds like a good deal, hm?"

"We can talk about the food later." Ugh, same old, same old! "Hold on tight. It won't take too long."

He outright ignores the tight hold she had on his arm and sweeps her into his arms for a quick leap into the air. Hu Tao holds onto her hat with a yelp – honestly, she would be more used to this, but he always does it so suddenly! He's not surviving any customer reviews, truly… But he gets a few points for how tight his hold is. She's never gonna fall off his embrace, that's for sure.

The whole of Sumeru opens before them like a book as they reach the summit. Irregular cliffs bow over a river running down below, tufted by vegetation and interrupted by birds and animals lazing by the edge under the sunshine. A waterfall gushes water in the distance, and beyond there, endless mountains cover the horizon, so distant in this quiet wilderness that she feels the barest touches of vertigo.

Her heart broadens, and she tiptoes to take the sunshine in. Sumeru moves despite its stillness, stretching miles away and toward her. If she had the wings to fly, perhaps not even a lifetime would be enough to scour this land.

When Xiao speaks, it's only after a couple minutes have passed, and he does so with infinite gentleness and respect. "I see that the Withering has failed to lay full claim on this land. I'm glad." Hu Tao nods in silence. "That over there must be the Divine Tree. I assume that's where Sumeru City and the Akademiya are located."

Such a big tree, standing with so much grandeur… Hu Tao looks a little closer than that, down to the river skirting the base of where they stand. "There's another pretty big tree over there. Think we'll find a village around there?"

"It does indeed look inhabited. It might not be a bad idea to ask if they have any accommodations available."

A very convenient solution, yet Hu Tao wouldn't mind things not going that way. She giggles. "What if they don't, hm? Feeling up to camping?"

"In a foreign land where we don't know what could jump on us at night? I don't mind staying up, but I'd prefer you weren't frightened." She gazes at him, awed by his consideration– oh no, she can tell she's smiling so big it's starting to embarrass him. "I mean this to say you should save your energy for tomorrow's visit to the Akademiya. Fear can prevent the heaviest of sleepers from finding rest."

"Me, scared? I've spent countless nights in the wild, Adeptus Xiao. A little fire and warmth will chase those nerves away." She nudges his side. "And, and! I still have some spooky bed stories I didn't have time for at Inazuma. There's nothing better to get sleepy than those – but I'll offer you my arms and body to cuddle your fears away if need be. Some stories can be quite… urn-settling."

The yaksha scoffs, though she isn't sure he's offended by the cuddles or the fear. It's likely it's the latter. "I have no need for sleep nor comfort. I've seen far worse than what your tales show."

Oh, it surely was the latter. She throws her hands up. "That's too bad. I suppose there shall be no cuddles for you." Before Xiao can say a word about it, she winks at him and nods her head onward. "How about a gliding race to burn some energy off? Since we couldn't glide from the Chasm, let's arrive in style!"

Xiao's eyebrows knit in a warning. "You won't be able to reach the area from here. The distance is too great."

She spares his suggestion one glance before shaking her head. "It's a straight line, it shouldn't be that risky!" Hu Tao brushes her shoes against the dirt. It's not too slippery, nor too dry. Perfect for a great take-off! "C'mon, the first to get there gets to cook dinner tonight!"

Hu Tao leaps off and immediately deploys her glider, minding the slight tumble in flight and keeping a hand on her hat before she stabilizes in the wind. In the distance behind her, a few choice curses come from Xiao before he inevitably follows – so she looks behind her shoulder and sticks her tongue out, relishing in his evident push to catch up with her and the silly irritation in his eyes.

To her disconcertment and chagrin, Xiao does a sideward turn to the much, much safer and boring path below them, but she won't be persuaded by his decision – she's a good judge of distance, she'll land just fine! One can't throw ashes without knowing how far they'll spread, or dig ditches for coffins based on written measurements. A safer glide doesn't make a fun glide, as many would say – and it looks like there is a village where they're going. Nothing better than a fun arrival as a greeting card!

Hu Tao, determined to reach her destination, curves her body to give her glider some upward momentum, but as she begins to crest down, she realizes that her goal may have been a tad too ambitious. Calculations begin to spiral in her head, and before she knows it, she's coming face to face with the torn ends of a wooden platform.

With a shriek, Hu Tao manages to hold onto the edge, trembling as she begins to slip. Her name echoes in the wind as she struggles to push herself up, but thankfully, a hand reaches down from above her.

Xiao helps her upward with a huff and grit teeth. "I told you that it wasn't feasible for you to reach the village. You got what you were looking for."

Hu Tao dusts off her clothes, pretending her knees aren't shaking a little. "Hey, no need to be so angry first thing here! It wouldn't have been that bad of a fall, and as you can see, I'm doing marvelously."

He clicks his tongue. "You were about to slip off the edge. I wouldn't call that marvelous – I'd call it reckless."

"Aiya, don't say it was reckless! Wouldn't you prefer, say… audacious? Braver than the wind, lighter than the feather of a finch?" Xiao resolutely shakes his head. "Shame. You just can't see the joy in gliding like I do – butbutbut, as you can see, I got here first! Have you seen any ingredients worth using for dinner?"

Oh oh, some people are starting to look at them, and Xiao's clear opposition to this isn't helping. "I clearly got here first. I should be the one to make dinner."

"Yeah, well, depends on what you call getting here! I certainly touched the village before you did, don't you think? You were probably jogging to where I was by the time I touched ground." Yes, touching ground is the best term to use here. "What is it, o dear partner of mine? Concerned I'll whip something up so delicious it'll change your life? I'm pretty sure I can smell something funny cooking up near here…"

As much as she turns her nose in the direction of the smell, she sees no cooking of any sorts. Xiao folds his arms. "I would rather not risk indigestion if you were to use any dangerous ingredients. Lady Kamisato nearly didn't survive Qiqi's goodbye banquet in their estate."

Oh, he's touching a sore subject! Hu Tao pouts. "Hey, I didn't know those blue fungi had to be boiled! It gave her a zap of energy, and we all need some of that sometimes. Maybe eating one of those could spark some life in some of my clients – there's always shroom for miracles in my industry!" That doesn't seem to be helping her case. It was such a tasty dish, though… "Whatever, whatever! Wanna come with me to find ingredients, then? I'm sure we could try–"

"Hey, hey! You two, how about you try to be a little more quiet?"

A man decked in green and what seem to be grass stains comes running toward them. Hu Tao brings a hand to her mouth. "What a pity, Xiao. I was about to suggest we cook together in the end, but… attempt interrupted, I suppose."

The stranger frowns at them both like they've grown two heads. "Cook what, exactly? And who are you, anyway?"

Ay-ay-ay, she forgot to introduce herself! What the thrill of romance and cooking does to her… Hu Tao offers her hand. "My bad! My name is Hu Tao, 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, deliverer of fate by day, and composer of poems and tombstones by night! If you're in need of a ceremony tailored to your divine taste and judgment, we'll be glad to be of service." She's quick to draw out a couple of her coupons. "I'm afraid we don't have desert-located body scouting yet, but we'll sort it out with the Adventurer's Guild if super-duper-necessary!"

The man regards the coupons with indifference. "May I ask what I would need those for? We don't need burial services – we need peace and quiet, ma'am."

Peace and quiet… Hu Tao nods enthusiastically. "I get it, I get it! Who wouldn't want any of that? Even the deceased want nothing more than that after crossing over, which is why having your backs covered is very important. You never know when an animal with sharp claws will pounce on you."

That doesn't do the trick, either. Tough clients are everywhere lately. "Nevermind, I don't really care about what you have to sell. What's your name, sir?"

"I'm Xiao. I have no involvement whatsoever with her marketing schemes."

Hu Tao pokes his shoulder. "You should! I've extended so many offers your way that you may as well be a permanent V.I.P… You've been fortunate not to need to use my services yet." When she takes a look at her coupons, she grimaces. "Aw, I don't have any themed coupons to sell around here, but we're offering our seasonal Mahogany After Agony coffin discount promotions in winter! How about that?"

The man shakes his head. "No. I have no interest in that, either."

She clicks her tongue. "Bummer, tough crowd… May I have your name, at least? It's always good to have each other's names in case the worst happens."

He doesn't look too willing to share that information, but given how he's efficiently dismissing everyone looking at them, Hu Tao hankers for that information even more – he must have quite the hold in this place! "I'm Tighnari, Forest Watcher and part-time researcher. Will that suffice?"

Hu Tao nods happily. Xiao says, "We apologize for disturbing your peace. We're only here on a leisure visit."

Tighnari's eyes widen. "A visit, huh? And you came this underprepared?" He looks them up and down with a worsening frown. "Neither of you look dressed to traverse the forest, so I'm pretty sure you don't know much about it, let alone what to eat and what not to eat – so what was all that talk about cooking, again?"

Whew, he sounds so serious about it she's starting to wonder just how much of this place can't be eaten. "How dangerous are we talking about here?"

"Death dangerous." Ah. How unfortunate. Tighnari sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'll find a copy of our guides before you go, I don't wanna have another wannabe adventurer in our medical bay just because you ate the wrong mushroom. Forest Rangers aren't the Matra, and we can't magically heal an upset stomach no matter how many herbalists we have here."

That's the sound of experience speaking. Awful, tiresome experience. Hu Tao bows her head. "Thanks. Experimenting is fun, but… I don't necessarily want any more clients punching my doors down."

Xiao nods in agreement. "Is there any chance you could provide us with a bed to sleep on for tonight? We will be off to Sumeru City the moment the sun is up."

"Hm, I think we should have a couple of rooms available. Most researchers don't stay the night in winter, especially before the Shabagul Festival." Tighnari's eyes dart between them. "Would it be a bed or two?"

"... Either option will suffice."

"I see." He glances around the village. Only now does Hu Tao realize that some cabins are hanging from the upper branches of the tree above them. "I'll ask Umm about it before I leave. I have to go on a quick scout of the area before the sun goes down."

That makes Xiao perk up a little. "Do you have to keep watch over the forest even after the Withering has been quelled?"

Tighnari's eyes lighten up and widen a little. "... Huh. So you aren't completely unprepared. Could've fooled me." A couple of Forest Rangers walk by them, and Tighnari waves at them and gestures to them to go to what looks to be the exit of the village over a hill. "The Withering may not be spreading, but you'll never know where you'll find an old root of it festering in the area. especially when it's windy. It's not a lethal menace, but it's dangerous to tourists like you, animals, and defenseless merchants."

Xiao hums. Hu Tao knows some about this. The Qixing have sent the funeral parlor plenty of documents about Eleazar and the measures to take in case the illness turned out to be contagious, even in corpses. Quite the unshakable pain, that one, until very recently at least, and the symptoms were so gnarly and raw that even her experienced stomach was upset by the sight.

In a way, Xiao's interest in such a topic isn't surprising to her – he's always expressed a certain sense of wonder upon seeing the elements rage against mortals – but he's rarely outright concerned about the affairs of other nations. It's quite a sight to see.

"Now that I think about it… I believe I have heard your name somewhere before."

Hu Tao realizes Tighnari is talking to her. "Oh? Nothing related to my business, I assume?"

"No, not really…" His expression lights up with recognition. "Ah, I think it was Cyno who mentioned you. Did you do anything to aggravate the Acting Grand Sage, by any chance?"

Hu Tao and Xiao trade looks of confusion. His eyebrows pinch, as though she could have made any trouble not even an hour into getting here! She turns to Tighnari. "I haven't spoken to the Acting Grand Age directly, other than a couple letters with his secretary, so… I doubt so."

"I see… I'm not too surprised, but it's better to ask, just in case." Why does he sound so… defeated, all of a sudden? "You must be that woman I heard he was meeting tomorrow. News spread pretty quickly in the Akademiya these days, and if it's anything regarding him…" His ears twitch and his entire body shifts with thoughtful discomfort.

Archons above, why is he so nervous now? Hu Tao frowns. "You're speaking about him like he's a madman! Aiya, don't tell me he is…"

Tighnari grimaces. "No, no, he's… particular, I guess." Huh? What is that supposed to mean? "In any case, if you want my advice, just watch your mouth and don't say anything too outlandish – and don't even think about taking out those coupons. He'll tear you down from head to toe, not even a slime will want your remains. I'm serious."

Xiao grows visibly concerned by this. "How can such a man be the Grand Sage of the Akademiya, then? Hu Tao only wants to borrow some books with his permission, nothing more."

"Well, for starters, he's the Acting Grand Sage, and saying he's acting is a pretty generous concession. He'll be stepping down the moment he's able to and honestly, that's for the best – some of the researchers that come here lately are more stressed than a frightened Shroomboar." He rubs his forehead, glancing behind him. "If you poke him for his honest opinion, he'll tear you to shreds. Or excite you a tad too much. You'll end up like all those people."

The people he's looking at look so haggard they can't be anything but students. Hu Tao can't tell if they're supposed to be devastated by criticism or overjoyed by a glowing, excessively motivating response. It's evident neither Xiao nor Tighnari can tell, either.

The yaksha, more precisely, looks stumped. "To think someone would go so far for research…"

"And some would go even further. The Akademiya is pretty big," Tighnari says. "Anyway, he isn't that bad of a guy, but don't do anything foolish in front of him. Don't blame me if things go awry."

She shakes her head. "A funeral director knows her manners more than wood knows fire. I'll keep your advice close to my heart."

Tighnari nods curtly. "Good. Come with me, I'll ask Umm about your rooms before leaving. Don't go eating any weird mushrooms while I'm gone without reading our guide, got it?"

Hu Tao doesn't appreciate being talked to like a child, but she's seen the effects of eating something you're not supposed to many times – sometimes it'd be Baizhu fruitlessly trying to scare her for a quick laugh, and other times the remains of the reckless would reach her door. She's gonna have to do some studying before she can cook some dinner for her dearest adeptus.

Arranging accommodations for tonight is pretty easy, considering that they'll be staying for one night only. The views from the hanging cabin they've reserved must be amazing, and that smell she picked up on earlier is still going strong.

Could it be a stew, perhaps? No, it smells a tad too floral and spiceless to be stew, but it's such a particularly warm scent that she can't help but feel a little hungry, somehow. It permeates her nostrils and makes her stomach twist a little. She… isn't too sure what she's feeling.

As Umm leaves them so she can get some extra blankets for their room, Hu Tao decides to ask Tighnari about it. "Where's that smell coming from? It doesn't smell bad or anything, but it's quite strong."

The Forest Ranger takes two deep sniffs of the air before turning in a downward direction. "Ah, that must be Haypasia meditating again – I'll tell her to tone it down a little when I'm back, it can be dangerous for people who aren't used to these sorts of incense." That causes Hu Tao to immediately hold her breath, and Xiao, while much less notably, does the same. "You don't need to stop breathing. You just need to walk away a little."

Both of them release a breath. Xiao frowns. "What sorts of meditation require such strong incense?"

"The sorts that you'd need to relax after handing a report to the Acting Grand Sage." Archons, not this man again! "Now that things are sorted on your end, I have to attend to patrol. Take care of yourselves."

He turns to leave, and Hu Tao gets ready for an earnest farewell, but out of the blue, Xiao raises a hand. "Pardon me if it sounds intrusive in any way, but… would you mind if I accompanied you and your group for patrol?"

… Huh?

Huh?

Tighnari blinks. "You want to come with us on patrol? An inexperienced tourist from another land?"

As always, calling Xiao inexperienced is a sure way to make him a little angry, but he only looks mildly inconvenienced by such a lackluster description. "I can assure you that I'm a quite experienced fighter. So long as nobody stands in my way, it'd be to your benefit."

The implications of those words seem to dawn on Tighnari pretty quickly. He looks at Xiao for a few seconds, as though taking in his evident intent, and Hu Tao can't help but do the same. He's by no means heartless, but he's never offered his help in other nations unless explicitly necessary. He didn't do it in Mondstadt, and he didn't do it in Inazuma right off the bat, either.

She doubts this is a matter of sudden compassion. Xiao is kind, but rarely this humanitarian. What's changed?

Tighnari hums to himself. "I see… Can I know why you want to come with us?"

The yaksha hesitates, but ultimately settles on, "It's a personal matter."

Hu Tao thought Tighnari would immediately turn heel and leave then and there, but he takes his suggestion in earnest. His sharp eyes flit to the Vision atop Xiao's hand, his clothes, his everything, and hums with a very serious sort of thoughtfulness. The Withering is no light business, so she awaits his decision with bated breath.

"... You may come with us if you want, but I'll keep an eye on you. I can't promise you will find any answers for whatever you seek, but we'll be grateful for your help regardless. Don't do anything funny." He turns to Hu Tao with a very slight smile. "I'll make sure nothing happens to him. You can rest easy."

Hu Tao nods with appreciation. "Thanks, but don't worry, he'll take care of himself just fine. Beware of he who wields the sharpest spear, lest you get in danger and he has to drag you home by the ear!"

Tighnari nods with a light chuckle before turning around to leave. Xiao doesn't follow him right away, and when the forest ranger jerks his head toward her, a clear sign for them to say their goodbyes, the yaksha turns to her again and sighs.

Given that they aren't hiding anything anymore, she takes the liberty to cup his cheek so he'll look her in the eye. "How come you're leaving? Scared I'll throw something funny into dinner?"

"I'm long used to that by now." Phew, as though he hadn't liked some of her most dynamic experiments! "It's complicated. I don't plan on doing anything reckless, and it's nothing related to Sumeru in specific. I just want to look into something, that is all."

She frowns softly. "What about your karma?"

"I'm very confident such small concentrations of pollution won't affect me." Xiao speaks so very confidently, and he's never had a reason to lie to her. She'd never think he is. "They may not even find anything, but I wish to go in case they do."

"I can go with you," she offers, because although patrolling isn't too appealing right now, the chance to explore really is. "A funeral director can never get enough on-field experience, and if I can help you in any way, too, then…"

As she had expected, Xiao rejects her proposal. "I don't think they need my help, let alone yours – and he mentioned it would be a quick patrol. We will be back shortly."

It's not like she has any say on this – Xiao is strong beyond doubt, and she can't detect a single lie in his words, nor a reason to worry about it. She lets him go slowly, missing the warmth of his skin already, but he quickly grasps her hand in his and leaves a small kiss on her knuckles, so swift and brief she nearly doesn't notice it.

… Save for the way he looks at her afterward, absolutely flustered and probably as keenly aware as her of the people around them. Her face heats up, and before she can second-guess herself, she grabs him by the neck and kisses his cheek just as quickly.

Xiao caresses the spot, and Hu Tao tucks her arms behind her back as she runs her thumb where he kissed her hand. It's… gonna take a while for them to get used to doing this so openly in public, huh?

With no words left to be said, Xiao hurriedly turns around and goes after Tighnari. Behind Hu Tao, the door leading to Umm's house shuts close, and the lady offers her a couple of thick blankets. "Goodness, look at your poor face! It's not hot enough to get so rosy, are you running a fever?"

Hu Tao shakes her head profusely, hugging the blankets to her chest, "Nononononono, I'm okay! I'm just a little tired, is all. We've come all the way from Liyue Harbor, and it was quite the walk!"

Umm gasps. "On foot? You must be famished too, then! Where did that boy you brought go?"

"He's off to patrol." And she isn't entirely sure why. It's likely she doesn't need to know. "How long do patrols take around here?"

"They don't take more than a couple hours these days. It's been very peaceful lately – even more so than in Sumeru City, but that's a given! Better live in a tiger-eats-person than a dog-eats-dog world, don't you agree?" Hu Tao nods. The blankets feel pillowy under her chin. "Speaking of panthers, I guess you haven't had dinner yet, then?"

Oh, true, she has dinner to make! Xiao might have no faith in her, but she's gonna make a dinner to remember, something so scrumptious he'll come back to the village running.

She grins to Umm. "Do you have a copy of your mushroom guide around here? I have a lot of studying to do."

The lady's eyes crinkle with softened amusement, sighing with a light chuckle as she opens the door to her house – just like she must have done to so many others that came here, lost or misguided – and Hu Tao follows her inside.