vii. since then we've been history
liyue harbor is abuzz with excitement as fresh stocks of a newly-published novel by the famous liyue author chenqiu arrived from inazuma not too long ago. even people who don't have much interest in books are craving for a copy of the novel.
xingqiu thinks the excitement surrounding the book is understandable. after all, the author has never before published a romance novel centering on an immortal adeptus and his mortal lover. as soon as news of the general plot of this latest novel hit liyue, everyone's been dying to read it.
the young son of the feiyun commerce guild watches with glee at the never-ending line that formed at wanwen bookhouse. fortunately for him, he has already been given two special copies of the novel before it was even released. pushing himself off the ledge he's been leaning on to watch the crowd, xingqiu makes his way out of liyue harbor.
there is still someone he must meet.
he makes his way to his destination, arriving an hour later than he expected (he blames the hilichurls that tried to attack him on the way). the young student of the guhua clan opted to rest awhile before making his way up the inn, checking in with verr goldet to see if the person he is meeting is in.
the boss confirms with a smile and a small nod and xingqiu makes his way to the top of wangshu inn where the guardian yaksha is resting peacefully, eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest.
the blue-haired guhua disciple greets the resting yaksha far more casually than any other mortal. if it was some other mortal, they would have been blasted from the roof of the inn to dihua marsh below, never to see the light of day again.
but xiao has grown fond of the man over the course of the years. he was one of hu tao's greatest friends and dare he admit it? he finds many similarities between the man and the fallen butterfly.
the yaksha opens golden orbs before staring up at the man responsible for disrupting his peace, a frown on his face as he takes in the other man's more mature appearance. gone are the days of the guhua disciple's youth.
"what do you want?"
the grin on his face only widens as he takes another step forward, arm stretching out as he hands the bound book in his arm. xiao only stares at it.
"the author chenqiu just released a new book. it's apparently a hit, especially to the ladies," xingqiu explains.
one brow rises as xiao fails to see how the novel has anything to do with him. the yaksha barely read books (though he owns poetry anthologies. a secret treasure close to his heart, just like the hexagram hat). xingqiu gives the book another nudge.
"i received two special copies of the book. this is one of them."
still the yaksha hasn't made a move to take the hardbound. xingqiu sighs.
"this special copy contains a picture drawn by mr. kreideprinz. flip the book to the last page. you'll see."
the yaksha sighs, taking the book. if xingqiu is planning to prank him… he will surely regret it in the end. xiao opens the book to the last page and is greeted… by an exquisite portrait of him and hu tao.
digits clutch the book tighter as his golden orbs continue to stare at the smiling face of hu tao, her eyes of blossoms alive with mischief, xiao beside her, reserved as ever. an unspoken question begins to form in xiao's mind.
"hu tao and i talked about collaborating on a novel before. we never got to do anything of the sort so i thought… it would be nice if her story was immortalized somehow."
a digit traces hu tao's outlined jaw and xiao wishes he could feel her warmth once again. a small smile forms on his lips as his sight turns a little blurry.
xingqiu turns on his heels. it is time to give the yaksha some privacy.
the yaksha's whisper of gratitude doesn't go unheard.