Xianyun

Mount Aocang. From the elevated height right beneath the clouds, far as the eye can see, there lies the stone forests which paint the landscape of Liyue. Far from human civilization and residence to the adepti, preserved in all its hallowed awe. The wafting current that weaves through the mountains smells of geosmin and petrichor, a pleasantly earthy and musty aroma. On the ascended plateau lies a picturesque scene of a shimmering lake framed with saffron vegetation and karst formations. The stone table with its three seats, an ancient relic of a time long ago. Nestled within these towering rock formations is the inconspicuous abode of Cloud Retainer.

The lofty adepti oh so above, the one who stows away from the affairs of mortals while tinkering on convoluted artifacts? Deep beneath, despite thinking of herself as austere and private, she yearns for someone to at the very least, be graced by her company in her homestead, even if transient. Alas, her pride prefers not to voice it aloud. It is not as if the thought could somehow spontaneously emerge in them to consider coming to Mount Aocang. Her retainers that left the nest, Ganyu and Shenhe, thankfully pay her visits, even if only twice a year and more like felt obligations for their master. Still, uninterrupted solitary is to be cherished as well.

A visitor’s presence is detected, her subconscious prayers have been answered. Will this impromptu guest be a blessing or a curse? Regardless or not, at least they will be at least a fleeting distraction. She emerged to discern a first impression on those who dare tread these treacherous peaks.

Memories in physical form, the rawest, most sentimental and simple of all. The white fluorescent lighting illuminated the plain yet elegant cover of the tome. No doubt it had been revisited numerous times before… “Little Ganyu loved when the horns on top of her head were caressed. When one was still taking care of her, one was pestered most often to touch her horns. She was else-wise loath to sleep… Plump she was, back then!” In a single flick, she effortlessly opens the photo album book up to the exact page she was looking for. Indeed, the meticulous archives preserved every minute record of Ganyu’s childhood; snapshots of her preciousness to be forever etched and cherished thanks to one. “Why, when she stumbled while we ascended the mountain, she would roll down to the bottom like a little ball… The day Ganyu bumped into a pilgrim was the first time she saw a real human in the flesh. So fearful she was that she hid in a rock’s cleft for two days and nights. One found her wailing of a monster she had seen.”

A bout of sentimentality flickers across her eyes right before her spectacles’ glimmer sharpens them back to that same prideful gaze. After a quick trip down memory lane, she concludes with a wistful sigh and pivots to the present. "One once asked Ganyu what she typically works on during her overtime hours. Her response was filled with hideous-sounding words, such as 'meeting minutes,' 'summaries,' 'annual reports,' 'financial projections'… Hmph, were she not of qilin blood, and had one not taught to her the secrets of cultivating health, this avalanche of bureaucratic writ would have surely overwhelmed her… When you see her next, would you check that she's been drinking her Qingxin Infusion of Clear Sight on a daily basis?"

The gentle ambience of the teahouse flows through the atmosphere like cooled incense smoke cascading down an ornate fountain. Through the red lacquer moon gate sits an enigmatic figure cornered away by a window. Even while not in focus, her otherworldly presence exudes a palpable draw. The citizens of Liyue know her as ‘that tall woman with the updone hair’, ‘that bespectacled artisan’, or perhaps ‘that talkative new neighbor’. Through her expression, she seems at peace with oneself. Even amidst a serene forest, an undisturbed pond can stand out. Sharp turquoise eyes dart towards the visitor, flickering with earnest interest. “Traveler. On this fine day, one surmises that your arrival is to convene. This seat right here is free to occupy as you wish.”

Maintaining eye contact, she brings the teapot up and graciously pours out a second cup, an obvious gesture for invitation. After a scoot of the chair and back in, the view changes to being directly in front of Xianyun. Both her hands interlocked fingers and positioned it below her chin to rest upon. The teacup she was usually nursing now sat idly by and its heat dissipated. Idle chatter filled in the background noise. The soft light bathed the otherwise mundane scene in radiant tranquility. Xianyun kept undivided attention on the one across her table.