Snow was falling, blanketing all of Liyue Harbor, warm-hued lantern light and pure white snowflakes interweaving.
The tavern downstairs from the Wanwen Bookhouse.
The tavern's proprietress leaned against the doorway. She wore a cheongsam, over which she'd draped a coat with a snow-white fluffy collar, and on her legs was a pair of warm black silk stockings.
Even amid the sky-filling snow and the bitter, freezing cold, her charm was undiminished, and she remained the very picture of intelligent poise.
"It's snowing. Looks like there won't be much business tonight."
Watching the passersby on the street hurry along without pausing, she let out a soft sigh.
True, these days plenty of people had been gathering at the tavern to drink and celebrate the Lantern Rite, but it was still nowhere near as lively as on the days Fang Qiu released a book, when the whole tavern was packed and they even had to set up tables outside.
It was snowing again today, and in this freezing cold she figured few customers would come.
She lifted her head toward the night sky. The night was desolate.
"Whew."
She exhaled a puff of warm breath and hugged her arms across her chest.
Even with the coat on, it was still a bit cold.
Just as she was about to turn and head back inside for a drink to warm herself, she suddenly noticed that from another part of the street, quite a few people were hurrying over.
"Proprietress, are there any seats left?"
More than a dozen people crowded around, their eyes bright red. At first it gave the proprietress a start—she thought these red-eyed people were about to do something unlawful.
Like a robbery.
But it turned out these people just seemed to be here to drink?
Only then did the proprietress notice that their faces were full of grief, as though they'd run into something heartbreaking.
Their eyes must have been red from crying.
What had happened?
She was a little puzzled.
But seeing several of them heading toward the tavern across the way run by that big fellow, she couldn't be bothered to ask further.
"There are plenty of seats. Please, everyone, come inside."
The proprietress quickly ushered the crowd into the tavern.
So many people came that before long, not only her place but even the big fellow's tavern across the way was packed with customers.
The proprietress glanced at the weather, feeling rather helpless.
If only someone could clear up the sky.
That way, she could move tables outside and set up a few more.
Rex Lapis, now—he could surely disperse this snowstorm with ease.
She remembered the first time she'd watched the Rite of Descension as a child. The sky then had been overcast, but after Rex Lapis descended, the dark clouds filling the heavens had scattered at once.
That scene was etched deeply into her heart.
Sigh...
Yet in the blink of an eye, Rex Lapis's soul had already returned to the high heavens.
Just as she was mourning and reminiscing about Rex Lapis, a steady voice rang out.
"Proprietress."
The proprietress started, and turning to look, she saw an imposing young man standing nine paces away.
His expression was placid, neither joyful nor sorrowful.
Only, the snow settling upon him had turned his hair white, lending him an inexplicable air of loneliness.
The sight left the proprietress momentarily dazed.
"Mr. Zhongli, have you come to drink too?"
The proprietress asked reflexively, but the moment the words left her mouth, she realized the tavern had no seats, and hurriedly added, "I'm sorry, the tavern is full."
"No matter."
Zhongli shook his head and said, "Two jars of your finest Osmanthus Wine, to take away."
"Then please wait a moment, Mr. Zhongli."
The proprietress quickly turned and went into the tavern.
Before long, she came back out, carrying two jars of wine with some effort.
The wine jars were tied with red cord, swaying back and forth.
"Mr. Zhongli, your finest Osmanthus Wine."
The proprietress said, "I'll send the bill to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Many thanks."
Zhongli nodded, took the two jars of wine, and turned to walk off into the distance. Soon his somewhat lonely figure gradually vanished into the snowstorm.
"Come to think of it, the direction Mr. Zhongli left in doesn't seem to be the way to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, does it?"
The proprietress was a little puzzled.
But she was more curious about what exactly had happened to draw so many people to come drinking—and to make even Mr. Zhongli come buy wine.
So she turned and went back into the tavern, and asked a young man whose expression looked somewhat less grim.
"What on earth happened? Why have you all come to drink?"
the proprietress asked, puzzled.
"Ahh... don't even get me started. Proprietress, have you heard of 'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother'?"
The young man arched an eyebrow.
"I have. What about it?"
The proprietress was a little puzzled.
Though she'd been busy the whole time during the Lantern Rite, she'd made time to go to the picture studio and watch 'Your Name.'
Only, after watching it, she'd found that the picture studio was still screening another film.
'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother.'
She'd assumed it was a film shot by some other commercial guild, but on closer look she discovered that 'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother' was, in fact, created by Fang Qiu and the Yun-Han Opera Troupe working together.
So she watched 'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother' as well.
She had to admit, both Fang Qiu and the Yun-Han Opera Troupe were at the top of their game.
It was a wonderful, heartwarming work, perfectly suited for watching during the Lantern Rite.
Its only flaw was that it didn't drive people to come to the tavern for a drink...
So then, what did that work have to do with all these people coming to drink together?
Didn't 'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother' have a happy, all-is-well ending?
"'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother' has a second part now..."
The young man clutched his head, took a sip of wine, and said.
"What's the second part about?"
The proprietress was a little puzzled.
A second part?
What on earth had happened?
"The protagonist of the second part is Yang Jian..."
Seeing that the proprietress didn't mind spoilers, the young man gave her a rough rundown of the story of Yang Jian splitting the mountain to save his mother.
After hearing it, the proprietress instantly drew a sharp, cold breath...
Fang Qiu, oh, Fang Qiu...
You really could bring yourself to do it...
Just from listening to the young man's account, combined with the scene she'd watched earlier in 'Splitting the Mountain to Save Mother,' where Yang Jian mercilessly suppressed the Third Holy Mother, she felt a stifling weight pressing on her chest.
No wonder so many people had come to drink.
To shoulder everything, and forge ahead.
Back then, Rex Lapis too, like Yang Jian, must have shouldered everything on behalf of the people of Liyue...
The proprietress looked outside, where the snowstorm raged on as before.
Zhongli, carrying two jars of Osmanthus Wine, walked through the streets of Liyue, making his way toward the outskirts of the city.
Because it was snowing—and the snow looked set to grow heavier—the passersby on the road had grown sparse.
There wasn't much business either, and many vendors had already begun packing up their stalls to rest.
As he reached the city outskirts, a girl dressed in purple, her hair done up in cat-eared twin ponytails, came walking toward him from the other end of the street.
"This is the route out of the city. Are you leaving the city, Mr. Zhongli?"
Keqing stopped in her tracks and, looking at the distinguished young man before her, asked.
"Mm. I'm going to see an old friend."
Zhongli nodded.
"This snow looks like it's only going to get heavier. You'd best turn back, sir. Heavy snow at night can easily make a person lose their way, and on a snowy night, starving beasts or Hilichurls will attack people. There are also Treasure Hoarders who take advantage of snowy nights to rob travelers. Though I just led the Millelith on a patrol, I can't guarantee that none slipped through the net."
Keqing furrowed her brow and said, "Just yesterday, some Treasure Hoarders were robbed by their own kind."
"Thank you for the reminder, Yuheng."
Zhongli said, "But rest assured—I'm still quite capable of protecting myself."
"All right, then. Where you go is your own freedom. Since you insist on leaving the city, I won't stop you."
Keqing said.
Had it been an ordinary citizen, she certainly wouldn't have let them leave the city.
Just as she'd said, the area outside the city on a snowy night was far too dangerous.
But Mr. Zhongli was, after all, a Vision-bearer, and moreover erudite and well-traveled, seasoned in the ways of the world—truly admirable.
It was just a pity that the way he conducted himself was all too much like Rex Lapis's manner.
But merely imitating Rex Lapis blindly without being able to forge his own path showed a certain lack of independent judgment.
If he could realize this, and improve upon it...
Then, come that day, recruiting him into her ranks would surely be of great help to Liyue's development.
"Thank you, Yuheng."
Zhongli said.
Bidding farewell to the Yuheng, he set off toward the outside of the city.
As he stepped onto the wooden arched bridge, the structure gave a faint creak. On the wooden bridge, warm lantern light shone upon the snowflakes.
The snowflakes drifted down, melting into the river water.
Watching Zhongli's retreating figure, Keqing couldn't help feeling that something was odd.
When she'd mentioned that she'd just finished patrolling the outskirts, she thought she'd caught a trace of gratification in Zhongli's eyes.
How strange...
She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but that look was very much like the way one gazes at a junior.
Yet Zhongli wasn't much older than her, was he?
Never mind. She wouldn't dwell on it.
She'd go get something to eat first—she'd been so busy with work she hadn't even had dinner yet.
She was absolutely famished.
Should she go to Wanmin Restaurant and have Xiangling make a delicious plate of Golden Shrimp Balls?
Or just drop by some random eatery to get by?
She hesitated.
Before she got moving, she instinctively glanced back, only to find that Zhongli had long since disappeared into the snowstorm.
A gust of wind swept by.
The frigid wind, carrying snowflakes, blew through the gaps in the mountains of Nantianmen and struck Zhongli, who stood before that towering, sky-high tree.
His robes flapped, the tree branches swaying.
The wine he'd prepared for Azhdaha during the Lantern Rite had already frozen over.
Zhongli sat down beside the stone table, set the two jars of Osmanthus Wine upon it, then opened one of them and poured out two bowls.
The fragrance of the wine was rich.
It was indeed a fine Osmanthus Wine.
Snowflakes drifted into the bowls and quickly melted.
Zhongli lifted his wine bowl and looked up at the branches and leaves of the Dragon-Queller. In the snowstorm, the branches and leaves of the Dragon-Queller swayed in the wind.
The night was hazy and dim.
The snow grew heavier still.
...
Meanwhile, at Wanmin Restaurant.
Though it was bitterly cold outside, inside Wanmin Restaurant it was bustling and lively.
Paimon's stomach seemed to have no bottom as she kept shoveling in food.
Fang Qiu also picked up a piece of charcoal-grilled cured rib and took a bite. Instantly, the rich aroma of the meat and the fragrance of the spices filled her mouth.
The texture was chewy yet not stringy, oily yet not greasy.
Truly worthy of Xiangling.
Even without chili powder, it was extremely delicious.
Though she ate quite daintily, she inevitably still got grease all over her lips.
Besides all this, they'd also bought warm Dango Milk from the Dango Milk shop at Chihu Rock.
Meat, plus Dango Milk, plus the atmosphere of a gathering—this cold winter night no longer seemed quite so cold.
Soon, Xiangling brought out another dish: Golden Shrimp Balls.
"Come to think of it, this dish is Keqing's absolute favorite. Fang Qiu, try one and see."
Paimon picked up a Golden Shrimp Ball and popped it into her mouth, saying, "The taste is really quite good. During the Moonchase Festival, me, the Traveler, Xiangling, Guoba, and Keqing all went to Wangshu Inn together, and Wangshu Inn's head chef, Smiley Yanxiao, made a whole plate. But before Keqing could even eat any, it all got... secretly eaten up by Guoba."
"Mm, let me have a taste."
Though she didn't know why Paimon had paused when mentioning Guoba, Fang Qiu nodded, wiped the grease from her fingertips clean, then picked up her chopsticks, took a Golden Shrimp Ball, and took a small bite.
"How is it?" Paimon asked.
"The texture is crisp, the flavor fresh and richly fragrant. Very tasty."
Fang Qiu nodded and praised, "Truly a food that even Guoba would sneak a bite of."
Hearing Fang Qiu's words, Guoba instantly drooped its head.
A little dejected.
"The texture is crisp, the flavor fresh and richly fragrant—mm, I've written that down."
Paimon nodded.
"Why are you writing that down?"
Lumine asked.
"Next time I go out to eat, I'll borrow Fang Qiu's words, and that way others will think I'm really cultured."
Paimon said smugly, "I've noted down plenty of Zhongli's lines too."
"The way Fang Qiu just appraised the food really was a bit like that fellow Zhongli—except that fellow Zhongli would go and explain the whole cooking process, too."
Hu Tao said with a laugh.
"Speaking of which, during the Lantern Rite, that new way I invented of eating grilled fish with dipping sauce—Mr. Zhongli cracked it after just a few bites."
Xiangling nodded in agreement and said, "And here I'd gone to so much trouble to come up with it."
"That fellow Zhongli is an old fogey. Who knows what kind of knowledge he's got crammed inside his head."
Hu Tao waved her hand, then looked toward that plate of Golden Shrimp Balls and said, "Let me try these Golden Shrimp Balls that Fang Qiu praised so highly, and that even Keqing loves."
As she spoke, she picked up a Golden Shrimp Ball, put it in her mouth, and took a bite. Instantly, her eyes lit up a little.
"How is it?"
Xiangling asked.
"Not bad, not bad. I share Fang Qiu's opinion—very good indeed."
Hu Tao said with a smile.
"And here I thought you'd surely have some grand pronouncement, Hu Tao. Who'd have guessed you'd be lazy and just borrow Fang Qiu's words."
Paimon said.
"You can't put it that way. This Director's thoughts are the same as Fang Qiu's, so repeating the praise all over again would be pointless, wouldn't it?"
Hu Tao said with a laugh.
"I suppose what you're saying makes sense, but somehow it still feels off."
Paimon wanted to scratch her head, but her hands were covered in grease, so she stopped halfway and said, "Never mind, I won't think about it. Let's keep eating."
Just as they were about to continue, a purple-clad girl with cat-eared twin ponytails walked into the room.
"Xiangling, one order of..."
The purple-clad girl had gotten only halfway through when she spotted Fang Qiu and the others, and her words came to a halt.
"What are you all doing here?"
Keqing was slightly taken aback.
Fang Qiu, Hu Tao, Shenhe, Yun Jin, and also Beidou, Kaedehara Kazuha, and Xinyan?
Why had they all come to Wanmin Restaurant?
And there were some others... who looked like people from the Liyue Publishing House?
"We just finished watching the new play Yun Jin and Fang Qiu worked on together, so we came to have a meal together."
Paimon said.
Everyone greeted her one after another.
Those female editors were thrilled to see the Yuheng, Keqing, as well.
After the greetings, Paimon said with a smile, "Oh, right, you've come at just the right time. Xiangling just made a plate of Golden Shrimp Balls—come try some, quick."
"Golden Shrimp Balls? I'm not really that..."
Before Keqing could finish, Paimon cut her off.
"Huh? The Golden Shrimp Balls? How are they all gone?"
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