—Teyvat
After receiving Jun Bai's invitation, Lumine took Paimon and Yiya and used a teleport waypoint to arrive at Fengdeng Lou.
As soon as they teleported over, they heard Chen Yuan's voice:
"Yes, just like that, stick it right here."
Following the voice, they saw Chen Yuan directing a worker. The worker was riding the elevator outside Fengdeng Lou, pasting paper onto it.
Looking around, it wasn't just Chen Yuan—other members of Fengdeng Lou were also directing workers.
"Chen Yuan, good morning."
From afar, Paimon greeted Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan looked toward the three and nodded in acknowledgment, then shouted to the worker on the elevator: "Come down and take a break for now!"
Only then did Chen Yuan greet the three: "Good morning to the two distinguished guests and Lady Yiya."
"Are you decorating Fengdeng Lou?" Paimon asked, pointing at the workers pasting red paper on Fengdeng Lou.
Chen Yuan followed Paimon's finger, then smiled: "Not exactly, but you could understand it that way."
"This is pasting New Year reds—it's one of the Lantern Rite customs in Guili Assembly. It's used to add a festive atmosphere and represents the people's beautiful hopes for the new year."
[Pasting New Year reds… isn't it pasting Spring Festival couplets?]
[Pasting New Year reds is the general term for pasting couplets, window decorations, etc.—basically anything you paste on walls for New Year counts as New Year reds.]
[So you have to paste this kind of thing for New Year?]
[I almost forgot—it's been years since I last bought Spring Festival couplets.]
"It's called decoration, and that's not wrong."
As he spoke, Chen Yuan gestured for the three to turn around and take a good look at Fengdeng Lou now.
"Fengdeng Lou has turned all red—red like Yiya's eyes." Paimon exclaimed.
"Eeya! (Pretty!)"
Lumine smiled: "Indeed, this is decoration. Fengdeng Lou looks completely different from before."
"The three of you are here to see the Marshal, right? I'll take you up to him now." With that, Chen Yuan led the way forward.
"Huh? No need to trouble yourself—you still have work to do, right? We can go up ourselves." Paimon stopped the enthusiastic Chen Yuan.
"Oh? You mean the New Year reds? Actually, it's almost finished. And these workers are veteran masters at pasting New Year reds—whether I'm supervising on site or not doesn't really matter."
Chen Yuan smiled.
[Feels like Chen Yuan wants to go see Jun Bai…]
[You can drop the 'feels'—Chen Yuan isn't as fanatical as Xuanjian, but he's still the Marshal's fan.]
[Chen Yuan: Give me a chance, I want to advance!]
Hearing this, Lumine knew it was hard to refuse the kindness, so she followed Chen Yuan up to the third floor.
"You're here?"
Jun Bai, who was on the third-floor terrace looking at the scenery while drinking, turned his head toward the four coming up the stairs.
"Marshal, I've brought your friends. I'll take my leave now." Chen Yuan bowed to Jun Bai, then turned and went downstairs.
Yiya excitedly trotted all the way to Jun Bai, handing him the unactivated Scarlet Plume: "Eeya!"
"Thank you, Yiya." Jun Bai took the Scarlet Plume, then patted Yiya's little head.
Jun Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon: "Actually, I thought you two would come tomorrow. Looks like I misjudged Scarlet Plume's speed."
"Tomorrow? Will Guili Assembly be different tomorrow from today?" Lumine asked.
"It'll be very festive. When you look at the decorated Guili Assembly from Wangshu Inn, it looks almost like it's on fire—that scene is quite spectacular." Jun Bai smiled.
"Oh! Just hearing it sounds beautiful!" Paimon exclaimed.
"So we came at the wrong time?" Lumine asked with a smile on her face.
[No, you came at exactly the right time (reaching out.jpg) (embracing both sides.jpg)]
[If it were anyone else doing this, I'd curse their ancestors for eighteen generations—but if it's Jun Bai, then I'll reluctantly accept it (shy.jpg)]
"Looks like it." Jun Bai nodded, then made a suggestion: "Guili Assembly is still setting up for Lantern Rite—why don't you head to Liyue Harbor first?"
"Does that mean Liyue Harbor is already prepared?" Lumine asked curiously.
Jun Bai nodded: "I went to check earlier—it's pretty lively. Second Brother even chose to stay there and won't come back until after seeing this year's Bright Firmament Lantern."
[So that's why we didn't see Second Brother.]
[Pass it on: Second Brother was abducted by Liyue Harbor!]
"Both are approaching Lantern Rite, but Liyue Harbor finished preparing first?" Paimon expressed confusion.
"Well, it's a bit complicated to explain."
After thinking, Jun Bai asked: "Do you know that the meaning of Lantern Rite is different in Guili Assembly and Liyue Harbor?"
To Jun Bai's surprise, Lumine nodded: "We know—Paimon told us."
Jun Bai looked at Paimon—impressive! She actually remembered something like this. Was it because of Yiya?
"The Teyvat Travel Guide has it written! I'm determined to become the best guide in Teyvat, so I've been doing my homework this whole time."
Paimon proudly puffed out her chest.
[Tears in eyes—Paimon finally has another use.]
[This is her worrying that little Yiya will completely replace Paimon and we'll stew her in one pot!]
"Since you know, it's easy to explain."
"Lantern Rite in Liyue Harbor is a day to commemorate heroes, but in Guili Assembly, it represents bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new."
"The difference in symbolism means the focus of Lantern Rite is different."
"In Liyue Harbor, the focus of Lantern Rite is on the preparation stage. From the moment they start decorating for Lantern Rite, Liyue Harbor has already begun Lantern Rite."
"When Liyue Harbor's Xiao Lanterns rise, it symbolizes that Liyue Harbor's Lantern Rite is about to end."
"But for Guili Assembly, when Liyue Harbor's Xiao Lanterns rise, Guili Assembly's Lantern Rite is just about to begin."
Jun Bai smiled as he explained: "The people of Guili Assembly even gave this period before Lantern Rite a name—'Year-End'."
"Year-End, Year-End—naturally, it's time to wrap up the year's work. Since it's wrapping up, there's naturally no time to enjoy Lantern Rite."
"So the focus in Guili Assembly is on Lantern Rite day itself and the period after— what the people call 'New Year's Eve' and 'New Year Beginning'."
(New Year's Eve is just another way to say the eve of the new year.)
"That's the true essence of Lantern Rite in Guili Assembly."
"As for the details, let me keep you in suspense for now. I'll tell you after you come back from seeing the Xiao Lanterns in Liyue Harbor." Jun Bai placed his index finger to his lips and gave a slight smile. "Keeping some mystery builds anticipation."
[He's really good at this!]
[Then I'm looking forward to it. If it's not fun, just wait to work in the Abyss until Lantern Rite ends!]
"Mm… Lumine, what do you think?" As usual, Paimon left the choice to Lumine.
"Since Jun Bai recommends it so much, let's head to Liyue Harbor." Lumine chose to go to Liyue Harbor.
"Then have fun, you two." Jun Bai smiled, then lowered his head. "Yiya, do you want to stay here?"
"Eeya…" Yiya struggled internally.
Brother, or sister?
"Yiya, you stay here. It's rare to see Jun Bai." Paimon said understandingly.
[Paimon, this is slander—Jun Bai is at Fengdeng Lou every day. She's talking like Jun Bai runs off to the deep mountains all the time.]
[Are you talking about Ganyu or Guizhong?]
[Paimon: Hurry up and leave, don't follow—then I'll be safer!]
"Eeya!" Yiya pounced into Jun Bai's arms.
Jun Bai smiled very happily, then looked at Lumine and Paimon: "The Xiao Lanterns will be tomorrow, and New Year's Eve the day after. Remember to come back after seeing the Xiao Lanterns."
"This year's gathering would definitely feel lacking without the two of you."
"If you want something to do, you can ask around near Fengdeng Lou. The people of Guili Assembly are rushing to finish all work before New Year's Eve—the pay is much better than usual."