Under everyone's gaze, the one who had been motionless until now seems to awaken, slightly turning his head, his ears twitching with vitality.
Is he truly a Mingxiao lantern, or is this a temporary revival of the real Shifting Sky Grand Monarch?
Who knows? Under everyone's eyes, he lowers his raised front hoof, steps into the void, gallops in the air, running higher and higher, then leaps up!
Blue flowing light streaks across Liyue, and following this beam of light, more and more Xiao lanterns are released, stubbornly lighting up the entire Liyue.
So many Mingxiao lanterns light up Liyue and occupy everyone's view, but the Shifting Sky Grand Monarch is even more dazzling and brilliant than them.
He leaps into the air and soars, and at the highest point, he bursts into the most splendid fireworks—a fireworks display that makes even Yoimiya widen her eyes, so radiant.
So, life isn't just bitter; it's also brilliant as a song, right?
"Traveler, look quick! So pretty!" Paimon shakes little Lumine.
"Yeah." Little Lumine nods, then smiles at Paimon and says: "Next year, we'll watch together again."
"Of course! Next year, the year after, every year! We'll watch together!" Paimon claps her hands.
Xiao stares straight at all this, a faint smile seeming to tug at the corner of his mouth.
He knows now why he exists: he is proof of their existence.
I'm not a relic left by them—Liyue is! This city, this nation—they are the relics they left behind.
All the things they left are still accompanying me, healing me, aren't they?
Zhongli observes Xiao from the shadows and, seeing Xiao's expression, imperceptibly breathes a sigh of relief.
This invitation wasn't in vain; the giant Mingxiao lantern of the Shifting Sky Grand Monarch that Lucian suggested really had an effect.
"Young friend Lucian's new book has your story in it." Zhongli hands the book to Xiao.
"Me?" Xiao is puzzled. Wasn't there already a story about me before? Another one about me?
Venti nods. "Yeah, not just you—us too."
He and Zhongli haven't actually read the contents in the book yet; these words are what Lucian told them.
Under everyone's gaze, the one who had been motionless until now seems to awaken, slightly turning his head, his ears twitching with vitality.
Is he truly a Mingxiao lantern, or is this a temporary revival of the real Shifting Sky Grand Monarch?
Who knows? Under everyone's eyes, he lowers his raised front hoof, steps into the void, gallops in the air, running higher and higher, then leaps up!
Blue flowing light streaks across Liyue, and following this beam of light, more and more Xiao lanterns are released, stubbornly lighting up the entire Liyue.
So many Mingxiao lanterns light up Liyue and occupy everyone's view, but the Shifting Sky Grand Monarch is even more dazzling and brilliant than them.
He leaps into the air and soars, and at the highest point, he bursts into the most splendid fireworks—a fireworks display that makes even Yoimiya widen her eyes, so radiant.
So, life isn't just bitter; it's also brilliant as a song, right?
"Traveler, look quick! So pretty!" Paimon shakes little Lumine.
"Yeah." Little Lumine nods, then smiles at Paimon and says: "Next year, we'll watch together again."
"Of course! Next year, the year after, every year! We'll watch together!" Paimon claps her hands.
Xiao stares straight at all this, a faint smile seeming to tug at the corner of his mouth.
He knows now why he exists: he is proof of their existence.
I'm not a relic left by them—Liyue is! This city, this nation—they are the relics they left behind.
All the things they left are still accompanying me, healing me, aren't they?
Zhongli observes Xiao from the shadows and, seeing Xiao's expression, imperceptibly breathes a sigh of relief.
This invitation wasn't in vain; the giant Mingxiao lantern of the Shifting Sky Grand Monarch that Lucian suggested really had an effect.
"Young friend Lin's new book has your story in it." Zhongli hands the book to Xiao.
"Me?" Xiao is puzzled. Wasn't there already a story about me before? Another one about me?
Venti nods. "Yeah, not just you—us too."
He and Zhongli haven't actually read the contents in the book yet; these words are what Lucian told them.
So they're quite curious: in a future without a prophet, what will we few do when gathered together?
That said, the story about the Shifting Sky Grand Monarch doesn't need Lucian to write it, because someone already did long ago, and Liyue people are even more familiar with it.
That's why Liyue made such a Mingxiao lantern this year; Lucian just mentioned it to Ningguang, and it passed easily.
On the other side, inside the Northland Bank, Rosalyne and Arlecchino sit together watching the Xiao lanterns outside the window.
The two of them didn't go to Lucian's home; among the Fatui, only Tartaglia went.
"You're not releasing one?" Rosalyne asks.
"No." Arlecchino shakes her head.
"Is that so? Then I'll go release one." Rosalyne waves her hand slightly, turns, and walks away, though her walking pace is very slow.
"...Sigh, release one for me too." Arlecchino's voice comes from behind Rosalyne.
Rosalyne doesn't turn back or respond, just leaves Arlecchino with her back, who knows if she agreed or not.
If you could see her front, you'd notice a faint smile at the corner of Rosalyne's mouth; her originally slow steps also return to normal.
The Xiao lantern in memory of Clervie—I prepared it for you long ago.
Arlecchino looks up at the Xiao lanterns outside the window. The light of the Xiao lanterns isn't blinding; the faint glow is warm and cozy, instead more likely to stir up memories.
But sentimentality really isn't suitable for the New Year, right? Arlecchino collects her thoughts and shifts her gaze to the book in her hand.
This is Lucian's new book, writing about Liyue's Lantern Rite, but not this year's—seems like next year or the year after? Anyway, some future year's.
Night deepens, some play, some stroll; now after releasing the Xiao lanterns, everyone is satisfied and heads home one after another, back to Lucian's house.
The Lantern Rite is basically over, so next, let's see the next Lantern Rite in the future that Lucian wrote.
'Lantern Rite: Qin Xian Zou Hua Night'
The story begins, once again, with our familiar little Lumine.
Liyue has arrived at Lantern Rite; little Lumine and Paimon naturally have to come back to see, but who to find first upon returning?
Paimon suggests finding Xiangling—no reason, the big glutton is just hungry.
However, before the two can move, Zhongli strolls over.
Zhongli originally came out to complete the task items assigned by Director Hu, but he went to drink tea instead. After finishing tea, shouldn't he get moving?
No, he has a sudden whim and plans to just stroll all the way to Qingce Village to find some "sprouting bamboo shoots."
No particular reason—just thinks they taste good.
Readers are also sweating. This God of Contracts after retirement is no less than the God of Freedom.
The boss assigns you a task, and you're in no hurry at all, even planning to leg it to Qingce Village for "sprouting bamboo shoots"? Are you bamboo or not!
Even more bamboo is that Zhongli describes these bamboo shoots as so delicious that Paimon, this big glutton, can't resist at all and gets hooked in one go.
Venti watches with a chuckle. Just loves seeing the old man like this—has a bit of my flair.
In the story, Paimon also realizes Zhongli said it on purpose, just to tempt her appetite, but realization is realization—hunger is still hunger.
Seeing Paimon so hungry, the Traveler is very indulgent toward her and decides to set off immediately to gather some bamboo shoots; anyway, little Lumine is quite tempted too.
Zhongli immediately says that's great—you all go, and remember to bring some back for me when you return.
[ Zhongli says: "Bamboo shoots on the dining table are, after all, merely the icing on the cake. Enjoying them with friends only enhances their meaning." ]
Though there's suspicion of misleading, what he says is indeed reasonable.
So the Traveler agrees and will bring some "sprouting bamboo shoots" back for Zhongli as well.
With the bamboo shoots issue handed to the Traveler, what about the things Hu Tao wants? Zhongli thinks for a moment and decides to have another cup of tea before setting off.
At Lucian's home, everyone turns their gaze to Venti—no, not Zhongli, Venti.
How did this temperament become so like you, kid? Did you corrupt His Excellency the Geo Archon?
"Eh? Blame me?" Venti points at himself.
Venti insists he's innocent! How could I corrupt the old man! If I could, I'd have done it long ago! Why wait until now?
If we're talking stubbornness, Zhongli is no less than Ei; it's just that Zhongli usually loves pondering when idle—he doesn't cling to dead reason.
The God of Contracts, after all, unlike the God of Eternity, doesn't fixate on one eternity and pour all his energy into it.
But before Zhongli's retirement, who would dare say he's not stubborn? If not stubborn, how could he be the God of Contracts?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice-Over · Mona: About the Novel
"Damn it, can't out-prophesy Him, can't out-write novels either! Fighting... seems I can't win there too. Damn it, damn it!"