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Zhongli sipped his tea as he stood at the side, listening to Tea Master Liu Su tell the classic Lantern Rite legend of the bird-beast known as Xiao.
“Long ago, there was a bird-beast by the name of Xiao. He had a pair of massive golden wings and his body was covered with black and teal feathers, and his piercing eyes were the colour of cor lapis. For most of the year, he would sleep in mountain caves. But on the lunar new year, he would awaken. He would terrorise villages, stealing the livestock…or even people,” Liu Su said dramatically. Several of the younger children, like Yaoyao and Qiqi, gasped while the teenagers like Ga Ming and Xiangling chuckled at their fear.
Liu Su paused to give the teenagers an unimpressed look before continuing with the story. “The people were terrified of Xiao and would hide away in their homes, praying to Rex Lapis that Xiao would not find them. Those were dark times for the people of Liyue.”
“Oh, oh! But in the end-” Xiangling was about to spoil the ending when Xingqiu gave her a look.
“Don’t spoil it! We know the ending, but the children do not.” he said. “…Please continue with the story, Tea Master Liu Su.”
Liu Su sighed, having been through the teenagers’ shenanigans for several Lantern Rites straight, but continued telling the story. “…One day, close to the lunar new year, an elderly man was passing through one of the towns that were often terrorised by Xiao.”
Hu Tao raised her hand. “Can I please tell part of the story? Pretty please please?”
“…No harm in that, I suppose. Please say the right things. Nothing inappropriate, and absolutely no impromptu advertising of Wangsheng Funeral Parlour’s services.” Liu Su gave Hu Tao a stern look. The young woman chuckled.
“Promise I won’t. Anyways, the people asked the old man what he was doing, passing through the area so close to the lunar new year. He replied, ‘I have important matters to attend to.’” The way Hu Tao did the voice acting had the younger ones cracking up. Zhongli was also rather fond of the young woman’s antics, though he might not admit it. He was also impressed that Hu Tao had unknowingly said almost the exact same words that had actually been spoken. “The people said, ‘More important than your life? The lunar new year isn’t a very auspicious time to die.’” This left the children confused but had the teens laughing even more. Meanwhile, Zhongli sighed. He had known Hu Tao for long enough to know that this, if not redirected, would become an advertisement for her business. He was greatly endeared to his daughter- boss, but sometimes her lack of tact was frustrating.
Liu Su cleared his throat. “Save the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour advertisement for a time after Lantern Rite, will you?” Bless that man for stopping Hu Tao in her tracks, Zhongli thought.
Hu Tao seemed embarrassed at having been caught in the act. “Alright… Back to the story. The man seemed unaware of the danger that Xiao posed, and so the people told him about that terrible avian beast. The old man paused, then offered a solution…” Hu Tao lowered her voice to seem more mysterious.
“Tell us!” Yaoyao said excitedly.
Qiqi nodded slowly. “Yes. Please tell us more,” she said in her usual monotone voice.
“I think I’ll take over from here.” Xingqiu grinned as he took centre stage. “The elderly man’s solution seemed rather foolish at first, but there wasn’t really anything to lose so the townsfolk decided to try it. The night that Xiao would attack, everyone hung bright red decorations around the town. When the evil beast arrived, the people set off firecrackers and banged drums. Terrified, Xiao took to the skies and flew away, never to return to that town. The joyful people shared this incident with other towns and villages which adopted the same method to fend Xiao off, and from that year on, that evil bird-beast was never seen again.”
Xiangling took over. “To celebrate their victory, people all across Liyue made floating lanterns and wrote their wishes on pieces of paper, then released the lanterns into the sky. These lanterns were dubbed Xiao lanterns, as they represented the triumph of the people over Xiao. Over time, the lunar new year became celebrated as the festival we now know as the Lantern Rite. A time of remembering the past, cherishing the present, and looking forward to a brighter future ahead.” She smiled as she finished the story.
Liu Su clapped. “You youngsters did pretty well. Perhaps in the future you can be the ones telling the stories?”
Ga Ming replied, “I’m good. I’ll stick with Wushou dancing, at least until I’m an old man.”
Zhongli nodded in appreciation of the storytelling session. “All the storytellers did indeed do well.” He bade goodbye to Hu Tao, having already handed in the forms for the leave he always took during the week leading up to the Lantern Rite. He had important matters to attend to, after all.
~~~~~
Ga Ming had just finished a job delivering a shipment of raw ingredients to Wanmin Restaurant when he bumped into a very familiar dark-haired lady. “Oh, sorry Aunty Xianyun! Are you okay?”
Xianyun nodded and replied, “It was a minor accident, one does not blame you.” She adjusted her glasses. “…Say, Ga Ming. All know of the legend of Xiao, but one knows more than what most do. Would you like to hear?”
“Sure,” Ga Ming replied. “I don’t really have other jobs today.”
“Alright, one shall begin telling the tale.” She took a deep breath. To others, it would seem like she was calming her nerves, but Ga Ming knew it was just for dramatics and show. “…All who know the tale of Xiao know that the first town to perform festivities on the lunar new year was the last one to ever see him. But have you ever wondered why?”
Ga Ming paused. “…Hmm, you’re right. Why would he be scared of festive decorations and firecrackers?”
Xianyun looked ever so slightly smug. “One knows the truth. Xiao was not scared. …In truth, the old man who had helped the townspeople ward Xiao off was actually a powerful immortal. When he left the town, he headed for the mountains where Xiao resided. Not to search for the Xiao…but to search for Xiao’s terrible master.” Xianyun lowered her voice and leaned in close to Ga Ming for dramatic effect. She then stood up straight once more, adjusting her glasses. “…Apologies if one scared you. One did not intend to do so. One simply got carried away in the conveying the mood of the story.”
“It’s fine, Aunty.” Ga Ming waved it off. “You can go on.”
“Right. …The immortal, along with his old friends, faced off against Xiao’s master. They all fought for days and nights, before finally the immortal and his allies emerged victorious, slaying Xiao’s master triumphantly. Xiao was freed from being forced to destroy innocent villages, and never again returned to terrorise people against his will.” As Xianyun finished, there was a slight smile on her face.
Ga Ming blinked in surprise. “…Wow. That was a really unexpected twist. Who told you this version of the story?”
Xianyun scoffed. “One shall not speak of it, for one is under contract. One does not wish to suffer the wrath of the rock.”
“Okay, got it. …If you’re up for dim sum later, I’ll be around,” Ga Ming said cheerfully.
Xianyun nodded. “…However…one does not wish you to foot the bill this time. One has enough Mora to pay for a little dim sum.”
Ga Ming laughed. “If you say so. Bye Aunty Xianyun!” He waved as he walked off. He was indeed privileged to know a wise woman like her.
~~~~~
Xiao’s gaze, which had been focused on a trinket the Traveler had gifted him for his birthday, drifted to the entrance of his abode as he heard footsteps. Was the Traveler visiting him again? He hoped so. He greatly missed them, though he understood that they were on a journey across Teyvat and couldn’t stay in Liyue forever.
“Xiao?” That voice… Xiao’s eyes widened as he heard it.
“…Morax?” he said softly. His golden wings fluttered.
The person who stepped into Xiao’s abode was a young man with expensive clothing, so different from the old-looking man who had defeated Xiao’s master, but it was undeniably him. And beside him was Cloud Retainer, who had aided Morax in battle against the one who had enslaved Xiao.
“…Just call me Zhongli. …I’ve grown weary of solitary life, and I’ve decided to stay in Liyue Harbour for at least a few decades,” Morax- no, Zhongli replied.
Cloud Retainer continued, “And one wishes to be known as Xianyun. The golden age of immortals is long past, and one will adapt with time.”
Xiao nodded in understanding. “Alright, Zhongli and Xianyun. …Why did you take the time to visit me, though? Surely you both have something better to do than spend the week before the Lantern Rite with a monster like me…” he whispered, hugging his knees to his chest.
Xianyun scoffed. “Nonsense. You are not a monster, not in my eyes. One will keep on telling you until you know it to be true.”
Xiao felt touched that Xianyun felt that way about him. “…Thank you… I will miss you both. …You won’t leave me forever, will you?”
“One is affronted that you would think that! One will always visit when one finds the time.” Xianyun’s tone was sharp but fond as she placed a container of almond tofu on the ground for him to enjoy in his own time. “…One must depart now, but one wishes you to know that you are loved.” Her gaze was fond as she left Xiao’s abode.
“I will not be here all the time, but I will always return to visit you,” Zhongli said as he shifted into his dragon form, curling around Xiao as he would his own hatchlings. Xiao also shifted into his bird form, which was huge but could still comfortably fit in Zhongli’s coils. “And I promise that I will spend every Lantern Rite with you.”
Xiao barely heard Zhongli’s whisper as he snuggled into the dragon’s coils. “…After all, I love my child very dearly.”
Yes, Xiao was indeed loved.
~~~~~