Chapter 58 Side Story 1: Back to Liyue Harbor

So much has happened since you left. I'll tell you all about it slowly, it could take a lifetime.

Over the course of a thousand years, the landscape of Liyue has changed, and Liyue Harbor was established east of Mount Tianheng, becoming the largest port among the seven kingdoms.

Zhongli led Qiao Xi through Liyue. Looking at his figure, Qiao Xi always felt that he was much more composed than Morax had been before.

It seems the winds of time have been blowing relentlessly, perhaps even a little too much.

They went to Wanmintang, where Zhongli ordered several of Liyue's current specialty dishes and put them in Qiaoxi's bowl.

“I often think that if it were you, you would love to eat,” he said, looking down.

Qiao Xi didn't pick up her chopsticks immediately. She tilted her head and looked at Zhong Li. Thousands of years had passed since they were together. In those thousands of years, he had experienced countless things, and every single one of them had touched his heart. So, were his feelings for her still the same?

But for her, it was only a few dozen days. Can a thousand years and ten days really be the same?

Zhong Li moved quietly and calmly, arranging everything at his own pace. He then chatted casually with Qiao Xi about what happened back then: "Your news gave us time to prepare. No one left during that war."

He picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.

Qiao Xi looked at him, and Zhong Li put down his teacup with a calm expression.

Qiao Xi: "What happened to you after that?"

Zhongli said casually, "Later, as time went by, some old friends left."

Qiao Xi lowered her eyes. She could change that one time, but she couldn't stop the things that happened afterward.

She looked up at the other person and said, "Morax."

“By the way,” Zhongli smiled at her, “I have relinquished my divine duties, and Liyue is now under human rule. When you’re out in public, you can just call me Zhongli.”

To Qiao Xi, his tone sounded slightly distant and polite.

Indeed, after all, for him, the two had not seen each other for thousands of years.

The wind outside the window was so strong that even the noisy voices seemed quiet.

Qiao Xi nodded. She picked up a cup of tea, but as she put the teacup back, she noticed the safety buckle on Zhong Li's wrist.

Qiao Xi was stunned. She looked up at the other person.

Zhongli's eyes remained calm and composed.

After finishing their meal, Qiao Xi and Zhong Li were walking in Liyue Harbor when a girl wearing a plum blossom in her hair came skipping along. Zhong Li nodded and smiled at her from afar.

After seeing the other person, Qiao Xi looked at Zhong Li again.

Zhongli bowed his head and said to her, "This is Hu Tao, the head of the Hall of Rebirth."

Hu Tao had already arrived. She smiled at Qiao Xi and said, "Guest, new friend?"

Qiao Xi wondered what Hu Tao meant by "guest minister".

Hu Tao naturally took Qiao Xi's hand and said with a bright smile, "My name is Hu Tao, Hu as in 'making a fuss,' and Tao as in 'peach.' I am Zhongli's boss and the current head of the Rebirth Hall."

Qiao Xi: "Huh?"

The owner of Morax?

Is Morax working?

She paused for a moment, then smiled and awkwardly introduced herself: "My name is Qiao Xi."

Walnut blinked.

Zhongli then picked up where Qiao Xi left off, saying to Hu Tao, "The 'Qiao' in 'Qiaomu' (乔木), and the 'Xi' in 'Xi' (兮), which is a modal particle without real meaning."

His introduction was natural and skillful.

Qiao Xi couldn't help but look at Zhong Li, who had introduced herself when they first met.

Walnut: "Great name! I love it!"

She took Qiao Xi's hand affectionately: "Qiao Xi, would you like to join our Rebirth Hall? We're having a grand opening sale and we're short of staff right now."

“Master,” Zhongli called out to Hu Tao with a smile, “I met an old friend, but we haven’t had a chance to catch up yet.”

Hu Tao understood immediately. She smiled, waved to the two of them, and went about her own business.

Qiao Xi turned to look at Hu Tao's back; she liked this lively girl.

Zhongli: "What are you looking at?"

Qiao Xi turned to look at him: "I feel that Li Yue has changed a lot."

Zhong Li gave a soft "hmm" and continued walking with Qiao Xi.

They went to Yujing Terrace. When Aping and Guizhong saw Qiaoxi, they were stunned for a long time. Then Guizhong asked Aping, "That person should be the Emperor, right?"

Aping: "Yes."

Gui Zhong frowned, then smiled: "Then Xiao Xi is back!"

When Qiao Xi ran towards the two of them, Gui Zhong and A Ping both smiled, but when Qiao Xi stood in front of them, Gui Zhong and A Ping looked distressed.

Zhongli simply stood by the rainbow flowers, quietly watching them.

"The Emperor has told us everything about you, Xiao Xi. You went through so much for all of us, and we are truly heartbroken. Xiao Xi, you have suffered so much. It is so good to see you again that year. Thank you."

“After you left, every year during the Lantern Festival, we, along with Liu Yun and the Emperor, would release a lantern for you. As the lantern flew into the sky, we would always think how lively the festival would be if you were still here.”

"After you left, the Emperor moved the bamboo in the Bamboo Garden to Qingce Manor, and they are growing very well."

"Liu Yun, Yi Xiao, and Li Shui are in the mountains and fields, while Gui and I have stayed in Liyue Harbor. Xiao Xi, no matter where you go, this will always be your home."

Qiao Xi's voice choked with emotion as she said, "It's so good to see everyone."

*

On their way to Qingce Village, they passed through Guili Plain, where Qiao Xi and Zhong Li walked through fields of glass lilies.

The sunlight casts shadows on the flowers, as if stretching out the leisurely moments of time.

Butterflies fluttered about, carrying a delicate fragrance. Qiao Xi's jeans were covered in pollen. She stopped in one spot, gazing at the sea of ​​flowers in a daze.

Zhongli came to her side and said, "I promised to bring you here that year, but I broke my promise."

Qiao Xi lowered her eyes, and after a moment, she raised her head and looked at Zhong Li: "I've heard about the punishments for breaking promises in Liyue. What do you think would happen if Morax, the Geo Archon, broke his promise?"

Zhong Li couldn't help but smile, looking at Qiao Xi with interest: "Hmm?"

Taking advantage of Zhong Li's inattention, Qiao Xi picked up a snowball and threw it at his face.

Blue and white ice crystals refracted the sunlight and fell into the flower bushes with a rustling sound.

Zhong Li looked into Qiao Xi's eyes, and his gaze slowly darkened.

Qiao Xi looked at him.

She remembered an old song, the lyrics of which went like this:

[The interplay of light and shadow between life and death—I only saw the shadow of the trees that day, the shadow that fell on your face, and then time would never stand still again.]

Qiao Xi smiled.

Zhongli looked at her, his eyes filled with a tenderness that seemed to span a thousand years, and he smiled.

The setting sun casts its rays on the shadows in the corner of the wall.

Qiao Xi walked to Morax's side, and the two stood side by side, much closer than before. As they headed towards Mount Aozang, Zhong Li silently took Qiao Xi's hand.

*

When Yi Xiao saw Qiao Xi, he almost burst into tears. He hugged Qiao Xi in his arms, feeling extremely distressed: "You little girl, how did you go through so much suffering all by yourself? Your master couldn't find you anywhere afterward."

When Qiao Xi saw Hao Hao standing in front of her, looking exactly the same as before, she also felt like crying.

But just then, the food processor that Liu Yun had made exploded, ruining the atmosphere for two seconds. After that, Liu Yun came out of the cave and was stunned to see Qiao Xi, unable to believe his eyes.

"Xiaoxi, you're back?"

Qiao Xi wanted to cry, but she still nodded with a smile.

Liu Yun ran over and hugged Qiao Xi: "That year, we couldn't find you. Later, due to changes, the house you lived in was gone, but we kept the bamboo for you. Xiao Xi, thank you."

"Masters," Qiao Xi wiped away her tears, "it's so good to see you all."

The scenery inside the cave is different from that of Tianheng Mountain in the past.

As she ate the familiar food, Qiao Xi sighed deeply. It felt so good to have her stomach full.

Over the past thousand years, everyone has experienced a lot, and inevitably, time has taken its toll.

But when he saw Qiao Xi, who was still the same as before, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. It was wonderful that the ancients were reunited.

Yi Xiao asked Qiao Xi, "Xiao Xi, what are your plans for the future?"

Qiao Xi said, "Master, my mother and my friends are still over there. I have to go and live out my life before I come back."

Yi Xiao: "Does this 'bridge' you mentioned make you feel uncomfortable?"

Qiao Xi frowned, then shook her head.

*

In Qingce Village, Qiao Xi was hit by a wild boar as soon as she arrived at the bamboo forest. She frowned and said, "These guys from Morax aren't the same batch of pigs as before, are they? Why are they hitting me?"

Zhong Li smiled and took Qiao Xi's hand back, saying, "Let's go for a walk."

The bamboo forest under the setting sun still looks the same as it did a thousand years ago. Qiao Xi walked through the forest in a daze. The wind carried the scent of bamboo leaves. Qiao Xi raised her hand and touched a leaf.

Zhongli lowered his eyes and quietly looked at her.

Qiao Xi tiptoed, picked a leaf, and, taking advantage of Zhong Li's inattention, stuck it in his hair.

Zhongli smiled as he took the bamboo leaf, held it in his palm to examine it, and then pinned it to Qiao Xi's head. Footsteps came from ahead, indicating that someone was coming. Zhongli then cast a shield on the two of them with one hand, making them appear invisible from the outside.

Qiao Xi and Zhong Li felt a deep sense of freedom in this corner of the world.

Zhongli released her hand and led her to continue wandering through the mountains. At the top of the mountain, sitting on a rock and looking at the sea of ​​clouds in the distance, Qiao Xi turned her head and glanced at Zhongli.

Zhongli's gaze remained calm, and he sat upright.

Qiao Xi hesitated for a moment, then quietly rested her head on Morax's shoulder and closed her eyes.

He felt Qiao Xi's weight on his shoulder and heard her breathing again. Zhong Li looked calmly at the sea of ​​clouds in the distance and smiled slightly. That's good enough.

A moment later, before sunset, Qiao Xi opened her eyes. She reached out a finger and gently tapped Zhong Li's chin, looking into his eyes and saying in a soft voice, "Morax."

Zhongli lowered his head, hummed in agreement, and then lowered his head to kiss her lips.

The afterglow carried a hint of warmth, and the quiet environment made the sound of water more noticeable. Zhong Li kissed her earnestly, stroking Qiao Xi's ear and then her chin, lifting it slightly to force her mouth open so that his tongue could explore inside.

A thousand years later, he held her in his arms, exploring the depths of her tongue, and finally kissed her eyes.

*

In Zhongli's house in Liyue Harbor, Qiao Xi was sitting on his lap, her arms around his neck.

She lowered her head and kissed him, looking into his eyes: "Morax. I missed you so much."

Zhongli looked up at her: "Me too."

He took the initiative, flipping her over and pinning her to the bed, his brows furrowing slightly: "Are you still willing?"

Qiao Xi: "Actually, that's what I wanted to ask you too."

Zhong Li smiled slightly, gently stroking Qiao Xi's forehead, and whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry for making you go through so much alone."

His words made Qiao Xi feel a little wronged. She buried her face in his chest and said, "I didn't know that so much time had passed. I thought you had forgotten that we were together."

Zhong Li frowned upon hearing this. He gently pinched Qiao Xi's cheek, kissed her earlobe, and then traced his kiss down from the tip of her nose.

He frowned as he reached her lower abdomen, pulled Qiao Xi up, held her in his arms, and stroked her back: "I won't take off your clothes."

Qiao Xi then realized that she was wearing jeans with a belt.

She looked at Zhongli with a mischievous glint in her eyes and said, "I won't teach you."

With a hint of helpless pleasure in his voice, Zhongli said, "Then I'll learn it myself."

When they entered again, both of them were a little awkward. Qiao Xi bit Zhong Li's shoulder, not wanting to make a sound.

Zhongli lifted her up, then turned her over and hugged her from behind.

Unable to see Zhongli's face, yet feeling a constant force pressing against her from behind, she was forced to grip the bed frame. Before she could adjust, she was lifted up again. She hadn't expected Zhongli to carry her off the bed and then to the bathroom mirror, so that even from behind, they could see each other's faces.

The next day, Qiao Xi was still a little sore. She reached around for a long time but couldn't find Zhong Li.

Qiao Xi turned over groggily, took over Zhong Li's sleeping spot, and snored comfortably for a few moments.

When Zhongli brought the porridge, he saw Qiao Xi sprawled out on the bed, taking up the entire space, and he couldn't help but smile.

The sun was shining brightly today, and a few birds occasionally landed outside to peck at food. Zhongli placed the porridge on the bedside table and shook Qiaoxi.

Qiao Xi reluctantly opened her eyes and reached out to pry Zhong Li off. When she couldn't move him, she clung to him like a sloth.

Zhongli: "Have some food."

Qiao Xi shook her head: "I overdid it last night, I can't eat it."

After saying this, she paused, opened her eyes, and looked at Zhongli.

Zhong Li frowned slightly as he looked at Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi suddenly said, "Do you remember what you said last night at that time? It sounded really—"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhongli decisively covered her mouth.

Seeing Zhongli's slightly awkward appearance, and recalling how he spoke and acted behind her last night in a way that was completely different from his usual composed demeanor, she couldn't hide the smile in her big eyes.

Zhongli sighed helplessly and removed her hand: "Want to eat more?"

Qiao Xi: "Could you say that again?"

Zhongli: "No."

Qiao Xi: "Please."

Zhongli: "...Let's eat."

Qiao Xi: "Oh....."

She enjoyed her meal very much.

After resting for a while, Qiao Xi and Zhong Li strolled around Liyue Harbor.

Qiao Xi, knowing that Zhong Li had a job, couldn't help but ask, "Don't you need to go to work on time?"

Zhongli: "Why on time?"

Qiao Xi paused, sensing that Zhong Li was quite extraordinary.

Besides the freedom of her work schedule, Qiao Xi also noticed that Zhong Li always kept a record of her shopping expenses.

She couldn't help but ask, "Morax, don't you carry any money with you when you go out?"

“From a purely rational perspective, it should be necessary to bring it, but,” Zhongli looked at her, “I forgot.”

Qiao Xi couldn't help but laugh.

Zhongli looked at her and smiled too.

While passing by Wanwen Collection House, Qiao Xi handed over a strange book.

Qiao Xi picked it up, and Ji Fang from Wanwen Collection House said, "This is a collection of stories that has been passed down for a thousand years. It is said to have been written by a Qianyan Army guarding the Layered Rock Abyss, but what about the content of the stories?"

Ji Fang paused for a moment, then continued, "Very advanced."

Qiao Xi blinked: "Ahead of its time?"

Ji Fang smiled: "However, there is another story about the Qianyan Army, which is widely circulated. It tells the story of a girl named Xiao Xi who traveled through time and saved Tianheng Mountain. But it was too long ago, so we don't know what happened to the Qianyan Army after that."

Qiao Xi asked, "Then how did this story come about?"

Ji Fang said, "It is said that when he was helping nearby residents or miners, he would always tell them this story. Later, a miner hoped that he could write a book of stories, but it is said that the contents of this book were written by a friend of Qianyanjun, and he just recorded it based on his memory."

A gust of wind blew by, turning several pages of the book in her hands until she reached the last page. There, Qiao Xi saw the last paragraph of the story: "I'm sorry for making you go through all this. Thank you, my friend."

For a thousand years, the wind has never stopped blowing across the land, from the chill of early spring to the lush growth of grass and birdsong, then to the abundance of fruits and fallen leaves, and finally to the heavy snowfall.

*

In the evening, Qiao Xi sat on the dock, enjoying the breeze. Zhong Li walked over and sat next to her, and Qiao Xi naturally rested her head on his shoulder.

Zhongli held her hand and said, "I'll go back with you, accompany you through the rest of your life, and then come back with you."

Qiao Xi looked up at him.

Zhongli smiled and pressed Qiao Xi's head back onto his shoulder: "I promised you I would grow old with you."

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. Zhongli turned around slightly on guard, and his brows relaxed when he saw who it was.

Qiao Xi looked over and saw the boy in green clothes that she had seen on the bridge before.

Qiao Xi waved to him, and the boy waved back to her.

Zhongli looked at the two of them and smiled slightly.

The green-clad youth rushed forward in a single stride, the wind element clearly visible on him: "Hello, I'm Venti, a bard from Mondstadt, the old man's best friend."

Qiao Xi: "Hello, my name is Qiao Xi. I'm a graduate from, uh, No. 13 Middle School."

Wendy tilted her head: "No. 13 Middle School?"

Qiao Xi was also puzzled. She looked at Zhong Li and asked, "Grandpa?"

Zhongli nodded: "But I don't recommend you call me that."

Qiao Xi deliberately replied, "Okay, boss."

Wendy stepped forward and looked at Zhongli: "Boss?"

Zhongli was getting a headache from these two. He asked, "Which of you brought money? Let's go have some tea."

Zhongli paused after saying this, then said, "Never mind, just put it on the bill."

New Moon Pavilion, private room.

Zhong Li poured a cup of tea for Qiao Xi first. Qiao Xi and Wendy were chatting very congenially when she suddenly exclaimed, "You can actually imitate Morax's handwriting?"

Wendy: "Xiaoxi can do that too?"

Qiao Xi: "What a coincidence! Shake hands!"

Wendy smiled: "Shake hands!"

Zhongli poured himself a cup of tea with a helpless expression and slowly drank it.

*

That evening, Zhongli asked Qiaoxi if she wanted to stay the night.

Qiao Xi shook her head and said, "The time in the two worlds is the same now. My mom will worry if I go back too late."

Zhongli stepped forward, ruffled her hair, and said, "Then let's go now."

Qiao Xi blinked: "You're going too?"

Zhongli: "Well, a hundred years is nothing to me, but it is your life. I don't want to miss it, and I want to walk with you to the end."

-----------------------

Author's note: There's one more story.