xizaii

[xizaii]

A spear did not distinguish between friend or foe, and the calamity that the red ropes held back still remained clear in her mind. Yet also, her own discretion felt as though it had grown as of late. A companion or two with her during her patrols did not sound... unpleasant for the both of them anymore. Such a fate for this one to have such a pure yang energy contained within, one that felt almost beyond the boundary of mortals when they met in the wilderness, it spurred her to speak again. "If... company during another excursion is desired for you, I would not mind accompanying you either."

The scent of Qingxin clung faintly to the boy and she could recall the same scent on his clothes since their first meeting. Herbs were used in medicine here in the harbor; this she knew and the cooling nature of Qingxin was one she was familiar with as well. So he was using herbs to aid with the nature of his.

"Be still." It wasn't a call for outside stillness but rather inner stillness. "Your awareness is expertly honed... yet it is your biggest wall. Mindfulness is excellent, however to block exit is also to block entrance. Energy flows from you but also from around you, once you learn to find harmony between, I trust that your control will reach final mastery." A pause.

"Merely a suggestion, I am aware that not all lessons can be applied to all situations."

　　HE NODS, ACCEPTING HER THANKS, and feeling slightly hopeful that she'll come to see the family. They all still feel terribly about what happened, some still blaming themselves, although Chongyun has tried to assure them that Shenhe does not see it that way. At the same time, though, he's relieved that they want to make amends so badly.

　　" We will! " Chongyun assures her. Adding a meeting with her to the annual event is something he's more than happy to do, although he also hopes to see her more than once each year.

　　The nerves of their interactions are also something he hopes will continue to ease with time, as he feels his yang energy reacting to it. Doing better does not mean mastered; he still has to exercise a lot of restraint to keep it quelled. The mention of an incident does not help, and color rushes to his cheeks, eyes pulling to the ground. He's about to scramble for a popsicle, but Shenhe uses her own cryo vision to invite a soothing chill into him, and after an initial startle, he relaxes a bit.

　　" ...Thank you, Auntie. I-I have been doing a little better, but I'm still far from having it under control. "

[xizaii]

She could recall the hospitality that came from Chongyun's side of the family, how they had attempted to welcome her back into the city through their home. A boisterous group and close knit in a way that she wasn't quite comfortable with, but their nature was one that brought appreciation from her. "I understand and I thank you and your family again for your hospitality." Perhaps this year she would extend her greetings in person. Only time would tell.

"I see." Cloud Retainer along with the other adepti in the mountains of Liyue had abstained from venturing close to the city for the years she had known them, and naturally she had done the same. The distant glow from the lanterns were an annual sight that she came to accept as her view of Lantern Rite in years past, yet the prospect of change in the years to come brought a slight smile to her face now. "I will come again next year too then. If we see each other again, I will greet again as well."

Again, his face was warm. A contemplative look crossed her face, Shenhe reaching a hand over to carefully touch the back of her hand to his forehead before calling forth a cooling touch, keeping her hand there for just a moment longer. "Your control has improved since last year." She remarked, nodding after. "I heard from your mother that you are more mindful since an incident prior?"

　　HE'S STILL NOT CERTAIN about calling her by such a familiar title, but at the same time, it's one of respectーshe responds in kind with ' newphew ' and his worries are put at ease, allowing him to relax and look up at her a little bit brighter as she speaks more than he's expecting her to. Chongyun nods, happy at how much less gruff she seems to be since he first met her. " I will! They'll be happy to hear from you. You're welcome with them anytime, you know! "

　　He nods along with her description. " It's like that every year. The same festival, but with unique facets each time it comes around. The big lantern usually is a different adepti to be honored, and even when that repeats, it's never quite the same thing. " He blinks at her question, and shakes his head, becoming a little bashful in the moment regardless. " N-no, I'm fine! I'm having a lot of fun this year with my friends, and I've been doing better around crowds... " Some of it is hazy, he has to admit, and the concert had been quite overwhelming, but he'd stepped away when he needed to, and settling back down after hadn't been too difficultーat least not compared to other incidents, where he'd completely blacked out...

[xizaii]

@scarletooyoroi

Hands her a ring affixed with Noctilucous jade, refined and glowing with shining luminosity as he gives her a stare fixed with resolve. The heart knows what the heart truly knows. "This is for you, and for the boundless, potential filled days that shall come in our name."

The footsteps of well traveled adventurers echo differently on the earth. This was a truth that she had learned lately, with her own increasing presence on mountains where other mortals would travel through. With a shift in her own actions, it felt as though there had been a shifting in the climate as of late. The foolhardy individuals had been mostly of Liyuean or Mondstadian descendent, or of icy lands that she had never been to, yet the crackling of electro scented the auras of some newcomers.

No matter, if her master wished to not be disturbed, origin mattered not. Although her isolation leaned towards a muted curiosity nowadays, duty and personal interest remained firmly separated in her mind even so. A lack of familiarity made decisions easy.

"You are trespassing." No sign of a weapon in his hands as of this moment, but the mountains were treacherous enough that it would require an extreme amount of luck to make it thus far without the skills to back it up. Her old instincts would have told her to strike first, but the traveler and others had advised that words were always wise to use first.

"This is a warning, best you - " Pale hues widened a tad, genuine confusion taking hold of her. Was this... an offering? The jade glimmered and shone brightly on the ring, surely a reflection of the quality of the stone. Many came to the mountain seeking council from the great adepti with not anything but their words or some force to back it up. This person must have a purpose to be here. Still...

"...is it my master that you seek an audience with? If so, you have brought the wrong offerings. Adepti have no need for items of high mortal value."

[xizaii]

vagrantminor

Chongyun opens his mouth, then shuts it as he hesitates with how to address Shenhe. "A...Auntie, I'm glad to see you at lantern rite. Are you enjoying the festival? Is it too much?"

As trips to the harbor grew more frequent with the passing of days in the year, so too had the next year's lantern rite come to pass. Her trip into the harbor last year had a mission attached to it, a known purpose that she had fulfilled with the aid of others. This year however, her entry into the city had been partly spurred on by a personal desire experience more of the life of mortals. Large crowds still drew some discomfort, but just as she had her own goals in the city, so did the others here.

A familiar face caught her attention amidst the crowd, evidently the same was for him and she turned to face the other as he appeared to mentally grapple with something before speaking.

"...Nephew." She responded decisively, nodding after. "It is good to see you again as well and at Lantern Rite. Please extend my new years greetings to your family as well." Was his face reddening? Were crowds also a source of discomfort for him as well?

"I am. It is... different from the sights of last year, yet familiar as well. I am not the most accustomed to life here, however it has been enjoyable so far. And of yourself? Is there anything that ails you?"

[xizaii]

Ah. This was a sentiment heard from various others who took up residence in the harbor as opposed to the familiar company of the adepti here in the mountains. There wasn't anything inherently wrong about individuals coming to the mountain, however their presence would surely disturb the peace here. She nodded. "Then... I will use my discretion and act accordingly." Negotiations were necessary sometimes, is what she learned as of late. Perhaps she could exorcise such today.

A bow of her head expressed gratitude, silence following for the briefest. "Lady Ganyu, although she eats the same flora and herbs as I do, also enjoys several dishes that I have memorized the recipes for. I would like to... surprise her."

@xizaii

Understood. I will wait by the foot of Mt. Aocang and dispatch of those who cross the threshold. In return... may I borrow the Supreme Cuisine Machine after?

　"While such an arrangement would have certainly been agreeable, one reckons that there's no need for such a... ah, how would the old bones call it? 'Drastic' measure?" She disagrees though. A threat a day keeps the intruders away, they say.

　"You may borrow one's Supreme Cuisine Machine, regardless. And if you wish to share the magnificence and quality of its results with your friends down at the harbor, be my guest as well." They will know of real cooking, those humans!

[xizaii]

happy lunar new year !!

[xizaii]

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