Xiao was not only cryptic in his speech but also sparing with his words.
The other Adepti were much the same. Perhaps having lived in the mountains for so long had made them somewhat difficult to understand. The black crane and the sika deer tried to explain, but the more they spoke, the more confused Ji An became.
"Hmph. Let this Adeptus explain instead."
The white crane named Cloud Retainer spoke up. "We wish to use the Oneiric Shallows immortal art to send you into a dream, to meet with someone. If all goes smoothly, the crisis at The Chasm can be resolved."
Ji An breathed a sigh of relief. "If you'd said that from the start, I would have understood."
Finally, someone who spoke clearly!
At this moment, he had to admire Seymour's judgment. His eye for people — well, for Adepti — was quite accurate.
This big white crane was probably the most articulate of the lot.
"However, Lady Cloud Retainer, I really can't figure out how meeting someone in a dream could resolve this crisis."
He asked, puzzled, "And why choose me? There are many Vision holders in the camp. Wouldn't any of them be a better choice?"
"This matter requires none other than you."
Xiao, arms crossed, shook his head slightly.
Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, and Cloud Retainer all looked at him and nodded. "Exactly so."
Ji An: ...
What's with this 'You are the chosen one, young man' feeling?
Since when did he get the protagonist's script?
"Alright, if I can help, I won't refuse."
Ji An stopped hesitating. He had come here for the sake of The Chasm in the first place.
Perhaps because of how similar this world's culture was to his previous life, he had gradually come to love this land during his time in Liyue. If this could be resolved quickly, it might reduce the chance of casualties.
Xiao nodded. "This method requires a ceremony. We will need an incense burner and Seven-Star Lamps."
"Finding them on the spot... there doesn't seem to be anything like that around here."
Ji An thought for a moment. "What style of incense burner and lamps are needed? Maybe I can help."
If he used Arcane Transmutation, making these two things wouldn't be too difficult.
"The style doesn't matter much, but they need some accumulated incense and prayer power."
Xiao shook his head. "Along the mountain path on Mt. Tianheng, there are two Yaksha Stone Statues. The ancient people of Liyue used to offer sacrifices to the Yaksha nearby. We should be able to find some suitable items there."
"Yaksha..."
He couldn't help but feel a flicker of awkwardness. Not long ago, he had learned that this tattooed youth was the conquering Yaksha himself, famed as the Conqueror of Demons.
Xiao, as if not noticing his expression, said calmly, "I will take you there using my immortal arts. We only need to retrieve those items."
"Alright."
Ji An didn't ask why Xiao couldn't go and retrieve them himself. No doubt there was some reason he couldn't.
"Then let's depart."
Xiao placed his hand on Ji An's shoulder. With those words, the two of them vanished into thin air.
Xiao was truly among the most powerful of the Adepti, even by the standards of immortals.
The entire way, he carried Ji An through a series of flashing teleportations without pausing once, as if his power were inexhaustible.
Ji An could only watch the scenery blur past on either side.
Mm... it felt a bit like riding a high-speed train in his previous life.
What would have taken three or four days on foot took them less than half an hour.
Xiao stopped well outside the temple dedicated to the Yaksha.
"Ji An, please go and fetch the items. I... won't go in." He paused. "Thank you."
"It's nothing."
Ji An nodded and walked inside.
From a distance, he had noticed the temple was abandoned. Drawing closer, he found it even more dilapidated than he had imagined.
Just then, from somewhere high within the temple, a faint voice drifted down.
"Green hills, clear waters, the soul drifts light — at leisure in this floating life, I wave my fan with delight..."
Eh? Someone's reciting poetry here?
Ji An walked toward the sound and found a middle-aged man in a reddish-brown robe, gazing up at the sky.
"A fine poem!"
He couldn't help but call out in admiration. "Uncle, what pleasant leisure you have!"
Although he had no idea what relation this man had to the Yaksha Temple, paying a compliment to someone with a literary air was never a bad way to start a conversation — it would make borrowing things much easier.
"Cough—?!"
The brown-robed man startled at the sound. "L-little lad... why are you shouting so loudly?"
"Sorry about that, uncle. I'm naturally quite outgoing."
Ji An continued, "By the way, I came here to borrow the incense burner and lamps from the Yaksha Temple. May I ask what relation you have to this place?"
"Borrow the incense burner and lamps?"
The brown-robed man was taken aback, then shook his head with a laugh. "Well now, this must be the rarest thing under heaven. A young man comes to a temple — not to seek the immortals, not to pray to the gods — but to carry off the incense burner! Hahaha."
He asked with a smile, "Is this for the ceremony of the Art of Dream Journeys?"
His expression had taken on that particular look of someone who believed they already knew the answer.
Ji An: "No, it's for the Oneiric Shallows ceremony."
Brown-robed uncle: ...
Oneiric Shallows? What on earth was that? He'd never heard of it.
This young lad — why wasn't he playing along?
The man, his attempt at profundity having fallen flat, showed a flicker of embarrassment. "Oh. Oh, I see."
Ji An asked curiously, "But uncle, you know of the Art of Dream Journeys?"
The brown-robed man smiled and shook his head. "Heh, the time I've spent in this temple is certainly longer than you could imagine. Perhaps out of sincere devotion, I've been fortunate enough to pick up a little along the way."
He waved his hand. "Never mind all that. Take them — being able to help someone today is a fortunate thing in itself."
He paused. "Besides, there's no real meaning in staying here any longer."
The man turned, looked up at the sky, and sighed quietly. "Don't mind me. Take whatever you need."
With those words, he turned and walked away.
By the time Ji An reacted, the man's figure had already vanished.
He stood there for a moment, then slowly came to a realization.
This uncle probably wasn't an ordinary mortal, whatever he appeared to be. Perhaps some kind of guardian spirit of the temple.
He carefully packed up the incense burner and the Seven-Star Lamps.
"The situation is urgent today, so I can't express my gratitude properly. I'll come back another day."
Ji An bowed toward the temple, then turned and left.
When he returned to where Xiao was waiting outside, the youth said nothing — he simply took Ji An by the shoulder and brought them both back to The Chasm.
---
"And so, everything needed for the Oneiric Shallows ceremony is now prepared."
By this point, not only the Adepti, but others in the camp who had heard about the matter had all gathered around.
Keqing, Yanfei, Baizhu, Hu Tao...
"Hey, you — why does it have to be Xiao An? Can't this Director do it instead?"
Hu Tao looked at Xiao, dissatisfied.
"..."
Xiao looked back at her, brow furrowed. But perhaps something held him back, because he ultimately said nothing.
Cloud Retainer said, "This Adeptus can attest — this matter truly requires none other than young Ji An."
As she spoke, she seemed to sense something and glanced toward a patch of grass at the edge of the camp.
Ji An spoke up. "Alright, stop arguing. It's just entering a dream. Nothing will happen."
Keqing stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him. "Mr. Ji An, if this journey can resolve the crisis, then you will be Liyue's benefactor. Keqing, along with the rest of Liyue, will not forget what you've done."
"Lady Keqing—"
Keqing interrupted, "Don't call me 'lady.' Just call me Keqing."
"Alright, Keqing." Ji An complied without argument. "In a situation like this, it's not just me — anyone else would do the same if they could help. I'm glad to be of use."
Keqing looked moved. "Mr. Ji An..."
Ji An turned to Xiao. "I'm ready. Let's begin. What do I need to do?"
Xiao nodded. "Follow me."
He led Ji An to where the incense burner and Seven-Star Lamps had been arranged outside.
Seeing the scene there, Ji An broke out in a light sweat.
The little herbalist girl from Bubu Pharmacy was squatting beside the Seven-Star Lamps, murmuring to herself.
"One, two... seven. Seven."
"Two, two... seven. Seven."
Xiangling clapped delightedly beside her. "Wow, Qiqi is so amazing! You counted correctly again!"
Guoba: "♫!"
"Oh — Ji An and Xiao are here. Qiqi, let's go play somewhere else. Don't disturb their important business."
Xiangling chuckled, and pulled Qiqi and Guoba away.
Xiao shook his head, walked over, and gestured to the circle of Seven-Star Lamps. "Ji An, stand in the center. I will perform the art."
Ji An did as instructed and stepped inside.
Xiao waved his hand, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the incense burner. Then he raised a finger toward Ji An.
"Enter the dream..."
As his words fell, Ji An's vision blurred — and then a deep, heavy drowsiness washed over him.
---
His senses drifted. He knew not for how long.
At some moment, consciousness returned.
Where am I...?
This is...
What is this feeling...?
It felt as if warm, gentle sunlight was shining on him — pleasantly, softly warm.
A breeze brushed his face, carrying with it the faint fragrance of osmanthus, refreshing and light.
Then, sounds reached his ears: the calls of vendors, the hubbub of passersby, the shouts of street performers.
It sounded like... a bustling marketplace?
Even within the dream, Ji An vaguely remembered why he was here.
He struggled to open his eyes.
A flash of light.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing on a busy street.
Looking at the ancient buildings around him, the stone structures, the clothing people wore — the style was very similar to Liyue Harbor, yet somehow even more prosperous.
"Is this a dream? It's so real..."
Ji An looked around.
His self-awareness had returned fully.
The dream felt incredibly vivid — so much so that it didn't feel like a dream at all. The expressions on the faces of the passersby seemed entirely genuine.
This Oneiric Shallows immortal art was truly something remarkable. If you didn't know beforehand, a person could be trapped within it for a lifetime and never realize it.
Right — Xiao and the others said I was to meet someone in this dream. Where could they be...?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a hesitant, slightly stammering voice came from behind him.
"Um... this is our first meeting."
He turned instinctively.
Amidst the flowing crowd, a young girl in a dark yellow dress stood not far away, watching him with nervous eyes.
-------
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