The Night of Liyue's Uprising
The night sky was as black as ink, spilling over the land of Liyue. Once a realm of prosperity, where immortals and mortals lived in harmony under sacred pacts, its peace had now been shattered by the iron hooves of a strange invader. Lü Bu, a mighty warrior who had descended abruptly from another world, swept across all of Liyue with thunderous force, wielding his peerless Sky Piercer halberd and riding his swift Red Hare steed. The faint glimmers of Geo Visions flickered amid the ruins, as if silently mourning the lost order. Meanwhile, Lü Bu's banners fluttered high above every town, their ferocious beast emblems greedily devouring the life of the land.
Qingce Village, a pastoral hamlet nestled among mountains, now lay shrouded in oppressive gloom. By the stone bridge at the village entrance, Zhang Miao, a general under Lü Bu, was roughly driving away villagers who tried to approach the fields with a squad of soldiers. A curved blade hung at his waist, his face twisted with impatient arrogance as he glanced at the terrified villagers, as if gazing at insignificant ants.
"Scram!" He kicked over an elderly woman clutching a clay pot, begging for a sip of water. "This is Lord Wenhou's domain! How dare you make such a racket? One more step, and my blade will show no mercy!"
The pot shattered on the ground, clean water mixing with mud. The old woman lay trembling, her hunched back shaking with fear and pain, yet she dared not utter a single whimper. The villagers could only lower their heads in silent rage, burying their resentment deep in their hearts. The gentleness and courtesy passed down for generations on this land were being crushed bit by bit under tyranny.
Deep within Qingce Village, however, inside a dilapidated thatched cottage hidden by dense bamboo, the atmosphere was far from the lifelessness outside. By the dim lamplight, Yelan stood in a tight combat suit, her usual poise and ease replaced by unprecedented gravity and resolve. She clutched a gleaming dagger, its surface reflecting her determined gaze. Behind her stood dozens of carefully chosen warriors — former Millelith soldiers, homeless hunters, and villagers whose families had been destroyed by Lü Bu's army. All bore the same expression: the fire of vengeance and longing for freedom.
"Everyone," Yelan spoke in a low, powerful voice, like a stone dropped into a deep pool, sending ripples through the crowd. "Lü Bu has seized Liyue, slaughtered the loyal, and trampled our pacts. Our homes burn, our loved ones suffer. Shall we wait to die, letting this beast run wild on our soil?"
"No!" A bearded man clenched his fist so hard his knuckles whitened. "Lady Yelan, give the order! Even if it costs my life, I'll make these dogs know Liyue's people are not to be bullied!"
"Yes! Fight them to the end!"
"For Liyue! For our fallen kin!"
Long-suppressed anger erupted. Yelan raised a hand to quiet them, her eyes sweeping over every agitated face.
"Vengeance is not reckless courage," she said slowly. "Our uprising today is to reclaim Liyue, to let the spirit of contracts take root again. And our first step is to pull out the poisonous tooth stuck in Qingce Village — Zhang Miao."
At that moment, the cottage door creaked open. A figure slipped in silently: a man in a blue robe with a gaunt face, He Chizhe. He held an antique brocade box, stepped before Yelan, and opened it gently. Inside lay two crystal-clear jade talismans, shimmering with faint spiritual light, holding mysterious power.
"Yelan," He Chizhe said, his voice tired but firm. "These are the Soul-Returning Talismans I forged over years. They cannot reverse fate, but they can borrow the power of yin and yang to call back departed souls. Xiangling and Hutao cherished Liyue in life; their spirits linger still. With these talismans, they may return to aid us."
Yelan stared at the jade talismans, her eyes glistening with emotion and gratitude. Xiangling's cooking had warmed countless Liyue hearts; Hutao's liveliness had brought endless joy. More importantly, both held a sincere heart to protect Liyue. If they could return…
"Thank you, Master He." Yelan took the box solemnly, took a deep breath, and turned to the others. "Everyone, today we fight not only for ourselves, but for the fallen heroes! Now, let us welcome back two brave companions!"
She stepped to the center of the cottage and placed the talismans on the ground. He Chizhe approached, formed hand seals, and chanted an incantation. The spiritual light on the talismans blazed brighter, bursting into two dazzling pillars of light that pierced the thatched roof and soared into the night sky.
Within the pillars, two blurry figures took shape. One wore a red apron, holding a spatula, with a familiar smile. The other dressed in black, wearing a playful hat with lively eyes — it was Hutao. Their forms solidified, as if waking from slumber. They looked around confusedly, then their doubt gave way to a strong sense of purpose.
"Sister Yelan?" Xiangling spoke tentatively, her voice ethereal yet clear. "Is this… Qingce Village? What happened?"
Hutao reacted faster, sniffing the air and raising an eyebrow. "Hmm? This overbearing, savage aura doesn't belong in Liyue. Some fool dared to run wild on our turf?"
Yelan stepped forward and briefly explained Lü Bu's invasion and Liyue's fall, her voice heavy with grief yet unyielding. "Xiangling, Hutao — Liyue needs you. A pack of jackals has broken into our home, and we will drive them out."
Xiangling gripped her spatula, her gentle gaze sharpening. "If they dare hurt Liyue, I won't forgive them!"
Hutao grinned, revealing her white teeth, a long scythe appearing in her hand. Her tone was playful as ever, but sharp with resolve. "Hehe, sending unruly folks to the afterlife is my specialty. Sister Yelan, who's first?"
Yelan looked toward the village entrance, where Zhang Miao's shouting could still be heard. Her eyes turned cold.
"First: Zhang Miao."
The operation began.
Yelan led the group like hidden hunters, creeping silently toward the entrance under the cover of bamboo. Xiangling and Hutao walked beside her. Though newly returned and not yet at full strength, their combat instincts remained sharp. Xiangling swung her spatula fiercely, a faint scent of fire in the air. Hutao flitted through the shadows like a ghost, her scythe glinting with cold light.
Zhang Miao sat on a stone by the bridge, drinking strong wine offered by a soldier, half-drunk. He did not sense the shadow of death closing in. Several guards fell silently in pools of blood under the warriors' sudden ambush.
"Sir, finished drinking? We should patrol the next area," a soldier said fawningly.
Zhang Miao waved impatiently and tried to stand, when a chill ran down his back. He spun around — a dark figure lunged at him with murderous cold. It was Hutao. Her scythe sliced through the air, aimed straight for his neck.
"Who are you?!" Zhang Miao panicked, drawing his blade to block. Clang! The weapons clashed, sparks flying. A tremendous force numbed his arm; he nearly dropped his sword. He could not believe such strength came from a young girl.
In that split second, Xiangling struck. She flipped her spatula, and fiery serpents shot toward Zhang Miao's face. He dodged hastily, but his cheek was singed, burning painfully.
"Damned fools!" Enraged and alarmed, he realized formidable foes lurked in this tiny village. He roared and swung his blade at the two girls, trying to overpower them.
But Yelan would not allow it. "Attack!"
Warriors ambushed from all sides, slashing at Zhang Miao's soldiers with swords and farm tools. The quiet night erupted into battle cries.
Trapped between Hutao and Xiangling, Zhang Miao struggled desperately. Hutao's movements were ghostly, attacking from impossible angles. Xiangling's flames raged, forcing him back, burning holes in his clothes. He tried to break free, only to find himself surrounded.
"Who are you? How dare you defy Lord Wenhou's army?" he shouted bluffingly, hoping Lü Bu's name would frighten them.
"Lord Wenhou?" Hutao sneered, slashing her scythe. "Just a robber stealing others' homes! Today is your last day!"
Xiangling leaped into the air and slammed her spatula onto the ground. "Blazing Wildfire!"
A ring of fire erupted around Zhang Miao, trapping him inside. The flames raged, making breathing difficult.
Despair filled his eyes. He saw the hatred in the villagers' stares, Yelan's cold gaze, and Xiangling and Hutao standing unyielding beyond the fire. He finally understood: he had stepped onto a land that would never bow to tyranny.
"I won't accept this!" he roared, swinging his blade to escape.
But his struggle was futile. Yelan's eyes flashed; she threw her dagger like a shooting star, piercing Zhang Miao's throat.
His body froze. He stared in disbelief at the wound, blood gushing out. He opened his mouth, but only gurgling sounds came out. He collapsed into the ring of fire, consumed by the flames.
After slaying Zhang Miao, Yelan stood at the village entrance, gazing at the fallen soldiers, cheering villagers and warriors, and Xiangling and Hutao beside her. She took a deep breath.
Killing Zhang Miao was only the first step of the uprising. Harder battles lay ahead. But seeing the hopeful faces and reignited fighting spirit around her, Yelan knew they had taken the most crucial step.
The night sky above Qingce Village seemed to glow faintly with this victory. That faint light would one day become a wildfire, illuminating all of Liyue — and driving the invaders out for good.