The sky was still cloaked in a mysterious shade of twilight. The sun had yet to break through the thick layers of clouds, leaving the world in a cold, dim light. Dewdrops clung to every leaf, glistening like pearls in the early morning haze.
While the entire Wangshu Inn was still wrapped in peaceful silence, Mei had already slipped quietly into the main hall. She tiptoed across the floor as if afraid to shatter the tranquility of the dawn, her eyes darting around like a spy searching for allies in enemy territory.
In one corner of the room, Verr Goldet was hunched over some documents, flipping through each page with a serious look, her sharp gaze scanning every line of text. Nearby, Huai’an was calmly watering potted plants, not even bothering to glance up. Yanxiao, on the other hand, was leisurely brewing tea at the reception counter.
Just when Mei thought no one had noticed her...
- Yanxiao (startled, nearly dropping the teapot lid): Whoa! Did someone possess you or something? Why are you up this early all of a sudden?
- Mei (startled, blushing furiously): Hey! Can you not embarrass me like that?
- Yanxiao (blinking innocently, trying not to laugh): Am I wrong though? It’s the first time in a whole month I’ve seen you up earlier than our guests.
- Mei (so embarrassed she wanted to vanish): That’s... just because I haven’t adjusted to the time zone here yet, okay?
From behind the plants, Huai’an couldn’t resist chiming in either.
- Huai’an (watering the plants with a chuckle): Haha, people say ‘eating and sleeping well is a blessing,’ nothing to be ashamed of.
- Mei (forcing a smile): Hehe... yeah, guess you're right...
Just as Mei was trying to shrink into invisibility, Verr Goldet finally spoke up, throwing her a lifeline like a blessing from above.
- Verr Goldet (calmly, in her usual tone): Mei, come take a look. Are these items enough to carry out the ritual?
- Mei (eyes lighting up like she’d struck gold): Coming!
Spread out on the table was an incredibly detailed and neatly handwritten plan, listing all the items required for the ceremony.
After reading it over, Mei froze, swallowing hard as cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.
- Mei (thinking): Oh dear, isn’t this a bit... over the top?
- Mei (thinking): All of it’s top-tier stuff, some even cost tens of thousands of mora! But if I recall correctly, in the game the Traveler just picked up random items lying around and it worked just fine?
- Mei (awkwardly speaking): Boss… is it really necessary to go all out like this? I mean, we’re not going to need any of this afterward anyway, right?
- Verr Goldet (gently taps Mei on the head): This was a request from the Demon Subduing Great Saint himself. Of course, we mustn’t treat it lightly.
- Verr Goldet (adds, tone still indifferent): Besides, this little bit isn’t worth much anyway.
- Mei: ...
She glanced back at the list and let out a quiet sigh. But just then, her expression turned serious as she noticed something.
- Verr Goldet: That said, we’re still missing one item — a censer. I’ve sent people to every nearby town and trading post, but no one seems to have one.
- Mei (frowning slightly, deep in thought): A censer...
She fell silent for a few seconds, her mind drifting.
- Mei: Strange... to search the entire region and still not find even a single censer. Could it be that it only exists in a specific location?
A theory slowly formed in her mind. Drawing from the storylines she remembered from the game, realization dawned on her face.
- Mei (thinking, eyes lighting up): That’s it! If I follow Xiao’s legend questline, then the censer… should be at the Domain of Guyun!
After a few moments of contemplation, she raised her head and spoke up.
- Mei: I think... I need to make a trip to the southern side of Tianheng Mountains. I heard there’s an abandoned shrine there maybe I’ll find the censer there.
- Verr Goldet (glancing at her):...And why do you think it would be there?
- Mei (letting out a sheepish laugh): Just a hunch… hehe. I mean, if we haven’t found it anywhere else, might as well take a gamble, right?
- Verr Goldet (pauses, then nods): Very well. I do trust your hunches.
- Yanxiao (surprised): But the Tianheng Mountains are over 15 miles away! Are you sure you’ll make it?
- Mei: Huh!? …Oh no!
- Mei (panicking internally): Ahhh I forgot! I’m not the Traveler — I can’t just teleport there in an instant!
- Mei: Right… now what do I do?
- Huai’an: Don’t worry, I’ll—
Before he could finish, a calm, slightly urgent voice interrupted them from behind.
- Unknown voice: Apologies for interrupting your conversation.
All three turned around. Standing before them was a tall man in a noble-style black cloak, his face calm but sharp. A few attendants stood behind him — it was clear he wasn’t just any ordinary traveler.
That man was Elzer — a notable figure from Mondstadt whom Mei had met before. He walked up to the counter with a polite smile.
- Elzer: I need to leave immediately for an urgent matter. Madam, may I pay in advance for my men to stay a few more days?
- Verr Goldet (narrowing her eyes slightly, thinking): He showed up at just the right moment. Moves in silence… and now this sudden request. But given his status, better not to provoke him.
- Verr Goldet (after a pause, nods):
Of course, sir. Just sign this confirmation list and we’re all set.
- Elzer (nodding politely): Thank you for your trouble.
After handling everything for his subordinates, Elzer turned to leave only to stop when his gaze landed on a familiar face—Mei.
- Elzer (approaching with a friendly smile): What a coincidence. We meet again, Mei.
Instantly, everyone in the inn’s lobby turned their eyes toward Mei. She panicked inwardly, forcing an awkward smile.
- Mei: Haha, hello… Elzer.
- Mei (thinking): Oh no, don’t look at me like that... it’s like they think I’ve been hiding some dark secret!
- Mei (blurting to distract them): You seem like you’re in a rush. Got another delivery to make, I assume?
- Elzer (nodding slightly): Yes. To be honest, I have an urgent shipment bound for Liyue Harbor.
- Mei (eyes lighting up like she just won the lottery): Liyue Harbor!? That means... you’ll pass by Tianheng Mountains, right!?
- Elzer (a little surprised): That’s right. Why?
Mei bit her lip, then mustered her courage and looked up.
- Mei: Could you... give me a ride there? I have something important to take care of nearby!
- Mei (quickly adds): I’ll pay for the ride, of course! I won’t let you take a loss!
Elzer looked briefly stunned by her sudden earnestness. He paused to consider.
- Elzer (thinking): This young lady… why the sudden desperation?
- Elzer (thinking): But judging from what I’ve seen so far, she doesn’t seem like someone who would cause trouble...
He studied her for a moment, then gave a gentle nod.
- Elzer (softly): Of course. There’s still space in the carriage — you’re welcome to come along.
- Elzer (reassuring smile): And no need to worry about the fee. It’s just a ride, after all.
- Mei (so happy she could burst): Thank you so much! I’ll never forget this favor!
After bidding farewell and receiving a few words of advice from Verr Goldet, Mei boarded the carriage with Elzer’s group. The wheels rolled steadily over the red dirt roads, passing rugged mountain slopes, lush groves of green bamboo, and glimmering patches of silvergrass under the sunlight.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was rather quiet, with only the rhythmic clattering of wheels and the steady clopping of hooves echoing on the earthen path.
- Elzer (breaking the silence, gently asks):
May I ask you something? Why are you heading to the southern side of Tianheng Mountains?
- Mei (honestly replies): Because I’m looking for a censer. I’ve searched all around here and still haven’t found one, so I want to try my luck there.
- Elzer (pausing to think): Strange… Such a vast area, and not a single censer?
- Mei: Sounds odd, right? But I’m being serious.
- Elzer (chuckles lightly): Haha, I believe you.
- Mei (expression calm but screaming internally): Hmph! He says that, but his face clearly says ‘I don’t believe you’ in bold letters!
There was a brief silence before Elzer suddenly asked.
- Elzer: Oh, and I heard from others... you’re not actually from Liyue. Is that true?
- Mei (pauses for a second, slightly flustered): Ah… that’s true. It’s a long story…
And so, using her uncanny talent for "legendary storytelling," Mei spun a tale that was half-truth, half-fiction — about how she was a lost traveler, pulled into Liyue under unfortunate circumstances, how she narrowly escaped danger several times, was saved by kind people, and eventually decided to stay for a while...
Elzer didn’t interrupt. He simply listened patiently, occasionally nodding, sometimes letting out a soft “I see” or “That sounds dangerous,” and now and then smiling as if he were listening to some grand tale of a child dreaming of becoming a world-saving hero.
The sun was already tilting westward, dyeing the mountaintops in a brilliant golden orange hue. Fluffy clouds stretched lazily across the ridgelines, like ribbons draped across the sky.
The carriage came to a stop at a flat clearing near the mountain’s base. Elzer stepped down first and politely extended his hand to help Mei. But she swiftly leapt off before he could react, hurrying to dash off.
- Elzer (blocking her path, his gaze serious):
"Wait, don’t tell me… the place you’re heading to is that abandoned shrine over there?"
- Mei: That’s right. I need to get there as soon as possible.
- Elzer (slightly furrowing his brow): I’ve heard that place is dangerous. Monsters tend to appear around dusk. Are you… sure you’ll be alright?
- Mei (grinning brightly): Don’t worry! I’m pretty hard to kill.
- Mei (putting her hands together and bowing slightly): Thanks for helping me out today. I’ll definitely repay you the next time we meet!
Elzer didn’t say a word. He simply gave a faint smile and a nod, standing there silently as he watched Mei disappear into the moss covered woods leading up the mountainside.