"Evening – The Abandoned Shrine"
The sun had begun to sink behind the rocky cliffs, leaving behind a deep crimson hue that spread across Tianheng Mountain. The wind turned chilly, carrying with it the earthy scent of moss, trees, and stone.
Mei stood before a stone step covered in moss. Above it loomed an ancient, decaying shrine. Its once-emerald roof tiles had crumbled in patches, pillars stood cracked and weather-stained, and the once-elegant carvings of dragons and phoenixes had faded to near obscurity.
- Mei (panting, clutching her chest): Ugh… I thought sprinting a little would get me there faster, but this is just…
She plopped down on a mossy stone, took out her water bottle, and drank in big gulps.
- Mei (grimacing at the shrine): It looked so close from afar! But running here felt like trekking from Liyue to Snezhnaya, seriously…
After a short break, she caught her breath and carefully stepped into the shrine.
Inside, the air was strangely still—like time itself had frozen. Faint rays of light slipped through cracks in the ceiling, casting a soft glow on floating dust and giving the space a dreamlike feel.
At the center stood a solemn stone statue of a bird. Though the rain and wind had eroded most of its features, a sense of sacred dignity still radiated from it.
Tucked in the corner of the main hall sat an old incense burner, thick with dust yet oddly untouched by time, emitting an unfamiliar spiritual energy.
- Mei (eyes lighting up, shouting with joy): Oh my gosh, the heavens have answered! I finally found it!
She rushed over, reaching to grab the incense burner—when a mysterious voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks.
- ???: Haha… hello there. It’s been a while since anyone’s visited.
The voice echoed softly, ethereal and strange, almost dreamlike.
- Mei (jumping out of her skin): Holy crap! Ghost?!
- ???: Calm down, calm down. I’m not a ghost, nor any kind of evil spirit.
- ???: Over here… I’m standing right next to you.
Eyes wide, Mei frantically looked around the hall… but there was no one in sight. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto the stone bird statue.
- Mei (taking a step back, suspicious): Wait a sec… don’t tell me it’s this statue?!
- ???: Haha, bingo! That’s me.
A gentle light began to emanate from the statue. From within, a translucent figure emerged—a man in ancient robes, with short hair and a calm but commanding presence.
- ???: I was once a minor adeptus, named Dong Que by the Geo Lord himself. I fell on the battlefield a thousand years ago, too weak to survive.
- Dong Que: Today is the anniversary of my passing. I used the last of my magic… just to gaze upon Liyue once more.
- Mei: ...I see.
- Mei (thinking): If I remember correctly, Dong Que was one of the Yakshas. I think he knew Xiao...
- Dong Que (smiling as if reading her thoughts): It seems… you’ve met the Demon Subduing Great Saint, haven’t you?
- Mei (startled): H-How do you know?!
- Dong Que: I can sense his karmic scent still lingering on you… and the traces of heavy resentment.
Mei instinctively sniffed her arm, then immediately realized how dumb that looked. Dong Que gave a soft sigh.
- Dong Que: I don’t use my nose like mortals do, you know. No need to check.
- Mei (a little disappointed): Oh… right.
A brief silence followed.
- Dong Que (his voice somber): Sigh… I imagine the Demon Subduing Great Saint has endured so much over the centuries.
- Dong Que: Not being able to help him… it shames me deeply.
- Mei (gently, trying to comfort): Don’t say that! You fought for Liyue too—you gave your life to protect its people. That’s not something to be ashamed of.
- Dong Que (smiling faintly, shaking his head): Compared to what he continues to bear… my death was a release.
- Mei (quietly, to herself): He’s right. Xiao’s body is being eroded day by day by karma. He puts on a brave face, but I know… he’s silently suffering through it all.
- Dong Que (softening): But today isn’t a day for sorrow. Let’s not dwell on pain.
- Dong Que: You’ve come here… for that incense burner, haven’t you?
- Mei (nodding): Yeah, it’s like this…
She explained everything. After listening, Dong Que closed his eyes, smiled, and nodded slowly.
- Dong Que: I see… then take it. If it can help the Demon Subduing Great Sain in any way, I’ll consider it an honor.
- Mei (eyes sparkling): Really?! Thank you so much!
She carefully picked up the incense burner, holding it like a precious treasure.
- Dong Que: It’s getting late. You should return and deliver it to him.
At that, Mei paused, eyes wide.
- Mei: Wait… return…? Oh no—how do I get back to the inn?!
- Mei (smacking her forehead): Ugh! I forgot this isn’t a game, I can’t just teleport!
- Dong Que (chuckling softly): You’re quite the curious one…
He raised his hand, a warm golden light forming in his palm. A glowing magic circle began to form beneath Mei’s feet.
- Dong Que: With what little power I have left, I’ll send you back to Wangshu Inn. But don’t step outside the circle, alright?
- Mei (worried): Wait… what about you?
- Dong Que (calm as the wind): Today, I fulfilled my final wish. I saw Liyue again… and spoke with someone who carries the scent of an old comrade. I have no regrets.
- Dong Que: Please send my regards to the Demon Subduing Great Saint.
- Mei (eyes misty, bowing deeply): I will. Goodbye… Master Dong Que.
A golden light engulfed her and shot upward like a falling star—then vanished.
- Dong Que (watching, a soft smile on his lips): Ah… I really miss grilled Tiger Fish.
- Dong Que: “Off to sea to find the tiger’s roar… in snow and wind, slaying demons once more…”
His voice echoed through the shrine, then faded into silence.
---
POOF!
A burst of golden light lit up the inn’s lobby, making everyone whip their heads around in shock. As it faded, Mei appeared in the center, sitting dazed on the floor.
- Yanxiao (jumping): Holy heck! Where did you fall from?!
- Mei (rubbing her sore backside): A kind adeptus helped me… otherwise I’d still be crawling out there somewhere.
She stood up, dusted off her skirt, and carefully held out the incense burner.
- Mei: Here, take this to the boss lady. It’s rare, so handle with care, okay?
- Yanxiao (eyes wide): You actually found it?!
- Mei (exhausted but smug): Of course I did. Who else could pull it off but me?
Ten minutes later, the sound of running water filled the second-floor bath. Steam rose in swirls as Mei soaked, her sore muscles finally relaxing. She mumbled to herself.
- Mei: Ugh… my back’s about to snap. But that adeptus… he was really kind…
- Mei: Still, it’s kind of sad. I didn’t expect people like Xiao… or Dong Que… to suffer so much.
- Mei: When I wrote those scenes, I thought of them as nothing but words on paper...
- Mei: But facing them in real life like this…
She sighed softly. Her reflection on the water shimmered with a distant look.
After drying her hair and slipping into something cozy, Mei headed to the kitchen, her stomach practically devouring itself.
- Mei (eyes sparkling as she opened the cabinet): Yes! There’s still one Mora Cake left!
She grabbed it and wandered down the hallway, munching. The last rays of sunset filtered through the trees, casting a patchwork of light and shadow across the floor.
Soon, she reached the open space behind the inn—where Verr Goldet had arranged everything needed for the ritual.
Verr stood in the middle of the courtyard, inspecting the ceremonial items. When Mei approached, she glanced up and said casually:
- Verr Goldet: You’ve worked hard, Mei. I’ve had everything prepared, just as you requested.
- Mei (munching, giving a thumbs-up): Hehe, as expected of the inn’s secret ultimate weapon!
- Verr Goldet (shrugging with a faint smile): Tonight, I’ll temporarily seal off the area to ensure the ritual goes smoothly. Don’t worry.
Mei nodded, finishing her last bite as she looked up at the sky—quietly awaiting the moment to come.