Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 168 The Lantern After a Year (1)

Inside the hidden stone cave of Sumeru, Xuan Yue was pondering the next step when an inconspicuous letter beside him caught his attention.

"A letter? Whose?" Xuan Yue picked up the envelope, opened it, and her eyes immediately turned slightly red. Her hand holding the envelope tightened reflexively.

"This is…"

Wangshu Inn —————

Paimon stretched and looked around, noticing that a number of workers had come to the inn and seemed to be setting up some kind of decoration.

"Hmm, what day is it today? It seems like the inn is getting busy."

"Hey, didn't you know? The Lantern Festival is coming soon, and we're making preparations," the innkeeper, Phil Goddart, turned around and answered their question.

But seeing that they still looked blank, I smiled and explained Liyue's traditional festivals to them.

"The first full moon night of each year is Liyue's 'Lantern Festival.' This is a festival to commemorate heroes; at night, people release 'Sky Lanterns' and 'Bright Sky Lanterns' into the night sky."

"The meaning of those lanterns is 'May the flame be passed on, and may virtue never die.' We believe that the beacon in the night sea will guide the departed souls back home."

"Wow...this sounds like a really big festival." Paimon's eyes practically lit up. "Skull, you understand what I mean, right!"

"Maybe... there will be lots of delicious food!"

Kong looked at Paimon with amusement: "You can just say you want to participate."

"whee."

“That’s perfect. The period leading up to the night of the Lantern Festival can be considered a holiday. During this time, one can pray for peace and ward off bad luck. In Liyue’s words, it’s called ‘saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.’ Also…” Philgodette enthusiastically provided them with some new information, but also made a somewhat impolite request.

"Is there any difficulty?" This was Kong's first reaction. Don't blame him; he had been adventuring in Liyue, Inazuma, and Mondstadt for the past few months, and this first instinct had become a conditioned reflex.

"Haha, if possible... um... how about you try inviting Xiao to come along?"

"?!" Empty: (What's going on?)

"He's not close to us, so it's not really appropriate for me to ask him. But I see you guys seem to have gotten to know each other a bit, so perhaps..." The innkeeper finished speaking, feeling a little embarrassed, as if he was asking a difficult question.

“However, considering Xiao’s current mood…” Sora was also somewhat at a loss for words.

Rewind to a few days ago:

"Xiao, are you there?" Sora carried two plates of almond tofu to the rooftop terrace and called out to the immortal.

Xiao appeared before him in an instant, and his tone softened upon seeing him: "I'm here. Is something important?"

Kong shook his head and pointed to the almond tofu he had just placed on the table, teasingly saying, "I called you over to try my cooking. It's been a while since I've been back to Liyue, so I don't know if I've gotten the hang of this dish as good as before. I'll trouble you, Immortal Xiao."

“…Okay.” Xiao’s ears inexplicably turned a little red, but he didn’t show it on his face. He sat down in the chair and slowly took a bite with a spoon.

"I prefer milder flavors. This almond tofu was just the right amount of sweetness for me, and the texture was flawless."

Xiao's very serious evaluation made Sora's smile even brighter.

"Haha, eat more if you like it. It was specially cooked for you."

"...Thank you." Xiao was at a loss for words and could only say this in the end, but a faint smile appeared on his lips as he continued eating the almond tofu in front of him.

Kong sat down naturally opposite him, resting her chin on her hand, and asked, "How have you been lately?"

"...Same as always, nothing different. Cleanse evil spirits, exorcise demons and ward off evil."

"What about your health? Are your karmic obstacles still affecting you?"

"It's alright now. Lord Tianjun gave me a new purification bead, but my current karmic obstacles are already bound to my soul. As long as they're not too severe, they can still be suppressed. It's just..." Xiao's voice was somewhat muffled, as if he had something on his mind.

"What's wrong?" Sora wanted to ask further, but Xiao remained silent or gave evasive answers. He teleported away immediately after finishing both plates of almond tofu, as if afraid Sora would ask another question.

Back to the present, Kong's simple explanation left the other two people present helpless.

Paimon: "Yeah, it really wouldn't be good to bother him these next few days..."

"Really... It's alright! I was just saying it offhand. You should hurry up and head to Liyue Harbor." The shopkeeper quickly reassured them, then added a hint to end the topic as soon as possible.

"If you go too late, the city will be packed with people, and it will be difficult to explore and have fun. Go quickly, and have a great time at the Lantern Festival!"

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After saying goodbye to their boss, Sora and Paimon immediately set off for Liyue to experience the atmosphere of the Liyue Lantern Festival.

"Ahem, young man, if I may ask, how much would you sell this little thing floating beside you for?" A middle-aged man in a long robe with a frizzy hairstyle called out to Kong, looking at Paimon flying beside him with great interest.

Kong suddenly had a wicked idea and deliberately said, "You can't afford the price I've set."

“Yes, yes… wait, something sounds weird here!” Paimon suddenly realized and couldn’t help but complain, “Shouldn’t it be ‘I won’t sell for any price’? You actually have a price tag for me?!”

"I was just joking."

"Hahaha, I'm short on cash lately, so I really can't afford to pay that price," the uncle said with a laugh. "After all, I'm just an ordinary businessman, and I don't deal in rare and exotic treasures."

Paimon (→_→): "...Your tone sounds suspicious."

"Don't say that. Little one, would you like some candy?"

Paimon's eyes lit up instantly as he looked at Sora (☆_☆): "Sora, I think this person can be trusted!"

(Hehe... As expected of Paimon.) Empty's lips twitched slightly. Paimon really knows how to play with this one-second change of expression.

"Haha, judging from the way you've all rushed here, it must be for the 'Sea Lantern Festival,'" the uncle explained with a laugh. "This year's 'Sky Lantern' is going to be spectacular. The 'Floating Stone' used to make the giant lantern float is the largest it's been in twenty years."

"It's so large that one can't help but think that if the floating city in the clouds in mythology really existed... it would just be a floating stone of about the same size placed underneath."

Paimon: "The 'Floating Life Stone'? Isn't that the big rock we found with Shen He before? I think it was called the 'Mingxia Floating Life Stone'."

"Haha, there are many kinds of 'floating stones,' each with different uses. You can experience them for yourselves. Well then, until we meet again. Happy Lantern Festival!"

The uncle offered his blessings and left with a smile.

"Yes, Happy Lantern Festival."

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Mu Xiang: Happy New Year everyone! (≧w≦)