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Chongyun lowered his claymore, breathing heavily as sweat dripped down his neck. He swiped at it in vague annoyance, his attention solely on the Abyss Mage cowering before him. He’d probably chased it all across Liyue at this point and his body was burning with relentless heat.
But he knew his limits. The constant use of his Vision was also helping somewhat, pulsing with cool energy despite being slightly draining to use in his current condition. But still, he smiled. This would all be over soon and then he could get a proper rest.
As the Abyss Mage struggled to its feet, Chongyun adjusted his grip on his claymore, eyes narrowed as he approached.
“This explains all the demonic activity,” he fumed. “It was all your doing. This ends now!”
He prepared to lunge at his opponent but just then, the Mage’s demeanor changed completely. One second it was shaking in fear and the next, it cackled menacingly, drawing itself up as its staff glowed. Against his better judgment, Chongyun paused, frowning in confusion and-
A chill rode up his spine as loud roars sounded behind him. He whirled around, immediately honing in on the two heavy axes heading straight towards him. Damn it, the Mage must have summoned more monsters in his moment of confusion. His claymore wouldn’t do much against the brute force of a Mitachurl and especially not on such short notice. Still, he threw the weapon up to meet the axes, bracing for impact.
But the axes never met their mark as the unexpected happened. He saw it coming from his peripheral vision, an icy blue silhouette, and for all of a second, he thought he must be seeing his first ever spirit.
But that pristine blue and the breeze that accompanied it was all too familiar. And by the time the figure stopped the axes from descending, he had his answer.
“A Cryo avatar…” he marveled. “Who are you?”
The avatar simply pushed the axes back before flying past the monsters, circling the center of the lake to meet its master. A tall and formidable woman stood on a rock rising from the water, her gaze sharp as the avatar came to rest by her side. She turned her cool gaze to Chongyun, freezing him to the spot.
“Demons are masters of deception. Never let down your guard.”
No sooner had her words settled than she leapt off the rock, dashing across the surface of the lake, a frozen bridge left in her wake. Chongyun knew when he was outranked and stepped aside quickly, watching in awe as she dealt with both the Abyss Mage and the monsters it summoned with an elegant strength.
She fought in tandem with her Cryo double, each moving like an eagle through the clouds, a crane across the lake. Chongyun didn’t miss the talismans she used nor the symbols she formed with her fingers. Something about her rang familiar in his head.
“Mind be purged, world be saved!”
Chongyun’s breath caught in his throat. That was his clan’s mantra! The one he could never quite manage to remember. The only way she could know it by heart would be if she’d trained with his clan once upon a time. But he had never seen this woman before…
When the Abyss Mage had finally been reduced to ashes, Chongyun didn’t hesitate to rush up to her, clasping his hands in front of him and bowing his head in a show of respect.
“Thank you for rendering your assistance,” he rushed out before he could second guess himself. “I see you’re also an adept exorcist. Some of your techniques look quite familiar, so I’m wondering…”
The woman turned, her piercing gaze making him falter. But she simply regarded him coolly for a moment before speaking.
“I am Shenhe,” she stated, and the name sounded familiar. “I roam these mountains. You needn’t worry about me.”
She began walking away and Chongyun panicked, turning to follow her, to stop her from leaving. But then, she turned back sharply, leaning down to be at eye level with him. Chongyun froze, eyes wide as she scrutinized him.
“But you…” She frowned, startling him as she suddenly pressed a hand against his forehead. “Your temperature seems unusually high. Are you alright?”
He blinked, jumping back in surprise.
“Oh! My popsicle, I almost forgot…”
Now that she mentioned it, the previously forgotten heat came surging back. If she hadn’t reminded him-
But wait, what did she say her name was? Shenhe? As in-
“Wait… Shenhe?”
She tilted her head slightly, a hint of confusion in her otherwise blank stare. There was no doubt about it, she looked exactly how his father described her, minus the silvery white locks cascading down her back.
“Wait, so you’re my… You’re my auntie?!”
There was a brief silence and then something shifted in her gaze as she leaned back. He stared up at her, hardly daring to believe it. She opened her mouth to speak-
“Well, what do we have here?”
And the moment vanished, shattered by the unwelcome voices of Treasure Hoarders. Normally it wouldn’t irritate him, but he had just been on the cusp of discovering a long lost relative and his Yang energy was still on the rise, making him more prone to anger.
Still, he grit his teeth, reeling it in and turning to face the enemies.
“Thanks for doing the dirty work, you two. We’ll take it from here,” one of them smirked, twirling a knife lazily.
So the Abyss Mage must have been guarding some sort of treasure. But when he glanced over at Shenhe, she shook her head minutely. Maybe they were just deluding themselves. After all, if Shenhe lived in the mountains, she would know better than anyone where treasure was hidden.
“I’ll handle them,” she said simply, summoning her spear.
“I can help,” Chongyun protested.
She regarded him silently for a second before nodding.
“Fine, but don’t overdo it.”
“Understood.”
They lunged towards the enemies. The two of them - three, counting Shenhe’s Cryo avatar - made quick work of the Hoarders. Chongyun tried his best to focus on the fight but constantly found his eyes drawn to Shenhe and her impeccable skills. How could one utilize such strength while still being the picture of grace and elegance? Her power paired with her movements… She almost made fighting look like dancing instead.
A sharp pain tore across his shoulder, forcing his gaze back to the enemy before him. Narrowing his eyes, he ignored the pain for the time being, swinging his weapon into the Treasure Hoarder as he got ready to sling another knife at him.
The enemy stumbled back, throwing down his hand and disappearing in a burst of smoke. But just before he vanished, Chongyun caught his eyes, and the man grinned in what was clearly triumph.
Lowering his weapon to the floor, Chongyun frowned, contemplating the expression on the enemy’s face for a moment. It was probably nothing, a last ditch attempt to appear intimidating or-
“Chongyun.”
He startled at the call of his name, all thoughts of the strange Hoarder scattering. He whirled around to face Shenhe, eyes wide.
“You know my name?”
“Of course,” she said matter-of-factly. “I was there when you were born. Though I was only a child at the time. But I knew your mother. You take after Shiyun.”
“S-so,” Chongyun breathed. “You really are my aunt.”
“I am,” she nodded.
“And you were alive? All this time?”
He felt the need to ask despite the proof being right in front of his eyes. For all he knew, he could be having hallucinations at this point. Could it be a side effect of his Yang energy? This had never happened before but it was quite possible if-
And now she looked vaguely uncomfortable, dropping her gaze and clearing her throat.
“How much do you know about my story?”
“Only what my parents and the elders know,” he said honestly. “That… tragedy befell your household and that your father sacrificed you to bring back your mother. Everyone took you for dead. I was only a year old when it happened so I couldn’t do much… You must have been through a lot.”
It was somewhat fascinating seeing emotion steadily spread across her face, though there always remained a hint of neutrality, as if something was preventing her from feeling the emotion entirely. Still, Chongyun knew when someone didn’t want to discuss something anymore. He stopped speaking just as she began.
“No need to pity me,” she stated. “It happened a long time ago and I do not fault my father for it any longer. As you can see, I still managed to live well.”
Chongyun’s heart swelled as he smiled, nodding. She really did seem to be doing well. She had even learned how to be such an adept fighter, and Chongyun guessed she must have her own family among the Adepti, just like the stories he’d heard.
He himself had never had a deep connection with his family. His family was large, a constant presence in his life, yet there were always matters they’d never agree on, causing their relationship to strain at times.
But now, with his long lost aunt standing before him, removed from his family in every aspect but blood, Chongyun felt a pull, a desire to get to know her. A desire to know what true family felt like.
“Chongyun.”
Once again, her voice pulled him back to present and he turned, watching as the unease melted off her face, turning instead to concern.
“You’re hurt,” she said, gesturing to the wound on his shoulder. “Let me take you to Mount Aocang. My master will tend to you.”
“Ah, that won’t be necessary,” Chongyun smiled. “We could just-”
“You don’t plan to leave it as is, do you?”
“Oh, no, not at all,” he chuckled sheepishly, somewhat nervous at the firm tone. “We’re closer to Liyue Harbor right now. It would be more efficient if we went to Bubu Pharmacy instead.”
Truthfully, he wouldn’t mind going with her to her home. But the idea of meeting the mighty Adepti made his heart flutter with nerves. He didn’t think he was ready just yet. And besides, this was the best time to take Shenhe down to the Harbor and have her meet his friends. The thought of introducing his long lost aunt to the rest of his little family was far more exciting than meeting the Adepti. One day, he would, but not like this.
Shenhe paused for a moment, hesitance bleeding into her blank stare. Finally, she nodded and Chongyun beamed, gesturing for her to follow him as he walked down the path.
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It had been years since Shenhe last stepped foot in Liyue Harbor. She hadn’t thought of going back for some time now, at least not yet. But she never could have imagined that she’d meet one of her own in the mountains, and such an earnest child at that.
Shenhe didn’t think any of her family would be happy to see her if she ever came back. Surely, no one would appreciate the cursed child’s return. But Chongyun was happy to see her, despite never knowing her.
Besides, he was injured and if a quick trip to Liyue Harbor was what it took to keep the smile on his face, then so be it.
She soon found that Chongyun was not the only earnest individual in Liyue. The mysterious man at Bubu Pharmacy and even the strange snake around his neck were both quite passionate when it came to their craft.
“Shenhe, why didn’t you tell me you were injured as well?” Chongyun demanded, worried eyes grabbing her bleeding hand.
“It’s only a scratch,” she informed him.
But the strange man, Baizhu, chuckled at that and ushered her over while the blank eyed child tended to Chongyun.
“Even the smallest wounds can run deep at times,” Baizhu told her as he rummaged through the shelves behind his desk. “Now, wouldn’t it be disastrous if that tiny scratch was poisoned?”
Shenhe glanced down at her hand, scrutinizing the cut across her palm. It wasn’t painful but for a slight sting.
“But it’s not poisoned,” she stated.
“Thank the Archons for that,” Baizhu grinned. “Still, leaving a wound unattended could lead to infection.”
Shenhe remained silent after that, allowing the man to tend to her wound and bandage it up. Off to the side, the young girl, Qiqi, was trying to do the same with Chongyun. But the boy was extremely excitable, prattling on about how he met his long lost aunt in a twist of fate.
“Shenhe is… your aunt?” Qiqi wondered.
“Yes!” Chongyun beamed. “The elders talked about her as if she was dead but I always felt it was possible that she was still out there!”
“How fortunate,” Baizhu chuckled, turning to Shenhe. “If you ever plan on returning to Liyue Harbor, I’m sure Chongyun would love to show you around.”
“Actually, I was thinking we could do that right now!”
Shenhe turned to Chongyun, frowning slightly at the bright anticipation on his face. She had only agreed to make this small trip to get his wound treated. He wasn’t even properly allowing Qiqi to do her job, too excited to sit still. Had he eaten his popsicle yet? He was looking a little flushed…
In any case, Shenhe wanted to return to her master as soon as possible. Though now that she thought about it, Cloud Retainer wouldn’t be so happy if she missed her chance to get acquainted with human life.
As she contemplated, Chongyun’s expression dropped and his shoulders slumped.
“I won’t take up too much of your time!” he insisted. “I just… would like it if I could introduce you to my friends. They’re very good people and I’m sure they’d love to meet you!”
Shenhe looked at Chongyun’s imploring gaze and sighed. She nodded, wondering what would come of this. But it was worth it to see Chongyun’s face light up again.
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Chongyun knew he’d eventually have to tell his actual family about meeting Shenhe. But even the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. He wished he could just pretend they didn’t exist and only tell the people who really mattered to him.
Still, despite his strained relationship with his family, he wasn’t going to hide this sort of thing from them. They had just as much right to know as anyone else. But maybe just… not today.
Any sort of interaction he had with his family never ended well. And while Chongyun couldn’t be sure exactly what they were thinking, he had a few solid guesses. He knew they didn’t see him as a suitable heir to take over the clan’s affairs due to the Yang Spirit he was born with.
They looked down on him because of it, and always pressured him to find a way to diffuse it. There was simply nothing to be done about it though, and every time he finally decided to accept the Yang Spirit for what it was, one of the elders would make an offhand comment, reopening the wound.
So most of the time, he tried to ignore them and how lonely they made him feel.
He was also worried about Shenhe, perhaps somewhat irrationally. He felt that his family might treat her badly or try to force her back into the exorcist lifestyle. He didn’t even know if that was something Shenhe wanted or not but he did know one thing.
Regardless of whether or not someone wants to pursue something, pressure them into it enough and they’ll hate it all their life.
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For a while, they simply wandered through the Harbor together, with Shenhe mostly staying silent as Chongyun dragged her from place to place. There was just so much to show and so much to tell that Chongyun didn’t know where to begin.
They stayed a while at the ports, watching as the ships came in. They visited some of the shops, and Chongyun bought Shenhe a Jade bracelet she kept staring at.
Her face was mostly expressionless but sometimes her eyes would glint just so and Chongyun knew she was enjoying herself, even if she was still a bit hesitant.
Soon enough, they came upon Wanwen Bookstore, and that’s when Chongyun heard a couple of familiar voices.
“Love’s warmth burns in his frosty eyes~”
“ I love you ,' he says, before his demise!”
“He- what?! Don’t say that! That’s a terrible way to end a poem!”
Chongyun chuckled softly, climbing the stairs so quickly, he nearly tripped. Hu Tao and Xingqiu were still arguing about their poem when he peeked over the railing, catching Hu Tao’s eye.
Hu Tao beamed as he stepped into the bookstore area, immediately standing to address him.
“Ah, just the person I wanted to see!” she exclaimed. “Chongyun, what do you think of-”
Chongyun held back a giggle as Xingqiu cleared his throat pointedly and shot a death glare at Hu Tao. The expression vanished in an instant as he turned to Chongyun, replaced by a smile.
“Dear Chongyun, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said hurriedly.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important.”
“Not at all,” Xingqiu grinned, peering over his shoulder. “Oh? And who might this be?”
“Oh!”
Chongyun turned to see Shenhe standing just behind him, silent and bemused, as though waiting her turn. He grabbed her hand and pulled her forward until she came to stand beside him, a hesitant smile on her face.
“Guys, this is my aunt, Shenhe!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Shenhe said, inclining her head.
“Wow, I didn’t even know you had an aunt!” Hu Tao said, leaning forward to give Shenhe an enthusiastic handshake. “Are you visiting from afar?”
“It’s… a long story,” Chongyun muttered sheepishly in her stead.
“I believe you may have mentioned it to me before,” Xingqiu said to Chongyun, before greeting Shenhe. “Though I must say, it’s wonderful to meet you in person, Miss Shenhe.”
“You could say I’m visiting,” Shenhe said. “I wasn’t keen on coming to the Harbor but Chongyun wanted me to meet his friends. He said you all are very good people and I trusted his judgment.”
“I’m flattered,” Hu Tao grinned. “But you’ll be singing a different tune once you see what Xingqiu has up his sleeve. His pranks will only-”
“Come now, Hu Tao,” Xingqiu said disapprovingly. “Lying about your friends like that? Miss Shenhe, it may be time to reassess your trust in Chongyun’s judgment. Hu Tao is not a good person.”
Chongyun didn’t know whether to laugh at their banter or try to stop it before they scared Shenhe away. But she was watching the scene, a hint of amusement on her face.
“Well,” she said after a beat of silence. “I don’t know about his judgment, but you two certainly match his energy well. Ah, and your poems are quite nice.”
It was the right thing to say apparently, as both Hu Tao and Xingqiu beamed at the praise, telling her she had a good ear. They rambled on, bringing up their other poems and asking what she thought about them.
Chongyun cut in and asked them all to settle down to finally have a proper chat. He himself didn’t say much, simply watched as his friends brought out poem after poem, book after book, talking up a storm. Shenhe spoke minimally, only when necessary.
But it was nice to see how raptly she was listening, how her eyes would light up briefly, the barest of smiles flashing across her face. His friends looked happier than they had in ages, as if Shenhe was their long lost aunt as well.
He’d been feeling bitter and cold earlier when thinking about his family. But now, as he watched Shenhe talking with his friends, that frigidness slowly gave way to warmth, spreading in his chest. Their voices faded into one another, melding into a calming hum, a comforting embrace settling around him.
The warmth moved from his heart, creeping up his body and into his cheeks, down his neck. It felt nice, but… it was stinging now, almost burning in an insistent way, pushing its way into his head and-
“-yun? Chongyun, can you hear me?”
Chongyun blinked, shuddering lightly as the warmth receded, its burning fingers scrambling away as though caught red handed. The sounds around him were still somewhat muffled and his vision was slightly unfocused, but he could make out Shenhe’s worried eyes.
“Chongyun, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” he said in a rush, barely stopping to think.
It was probably his Yang Spirit acting up again. When was the last time he ate a popsicle? It didn’t matter, he would attend to that later. For now, he had to make sure Shenhe didn’t needlessly worry. It would be counterproductive to explain his Yang Spirit when he could take care of it on his own at a later time.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded, almost frantically. He summoned a small amount of Cryo energy to his hands as an afterthought, wondering if that would stave off the effects for a time. But now Hu Tao and Xingqiu were staring at him, equally worried.
“Chongyun, you don’t look so good,” Hu Tao pointed out.
“Is it your Yang Spirit?”
Chongyun winced at Xingqiu’s question, sighing in resignation when Shenhe turned to him in confusion.
“Yang Spirit?”
He took only a second to decide that his silence would only make things worse. He took a breath, opened his mouth, and-
“Ah, there you are, Director.”
Chongyun startled, turning around in his chair to see Zhongli, the formidable yet kind consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He cast a knowing look around the table, and smiled reassuringly, as though to ease everyone’s worries.
“I’ve been looking all over for you, Hu Tao,” he stated.
“Oh? Do we have customers?”
“Indeed we do,” he said, to which Hu Tao’s expression lit up.
“Is today the day I get to sell that beautiful cypress wood coffin?”
“Perhaps,” Zhongli chuckled, before addressing the others at the table. “I hope you’ll forgive me for taking Hu Tao away from you all. But she’ll be back soon. In the meantime, Chongyun, take care of yourself. Xingqiu, you’ll keep an eye on him, won’t you?”
“That I will.”
“Good,” he smiled, then turned to Shenhe. “It’s nice to see you in the Harbor, Shenhe. Give Cloud Retainer my regards.”
And with those cryptic words, he left with a confused but happy Hu Tao in tow, throwing one last smile to the group of friends before disappearing around the corner.
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Shenhe thought Xingqiu was quite an interesting child. He was at once excitable and calm, his voice gentle and soothing even as he rambled on and on.
As the three of them left the bookstore, on their way to meet another of Chongyun’s friends, Xingqiu prattled on about Zhongli, explaining how he also appreciated his poems. Shenhe didn’t mind. Zhongli was an intriguing individual as well, and while she’d never met him before, he seemed to know her master personally. He must be a good person to be on such amiable terms with the irritable crane.
Chongyun, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought and almost frazzled as he led the way to a restaurant his friend worked at. His shoulders seemed to curl inward, his cheeks dusted pink. And he was avoiding eye contact with her since Xingqiu brought up the Yang Spirit.
She’d heard tales of such things before during her time with the Adepti, though she couldn’t remember exactly what it entailed. She knew it was powerful enough to scare even the most malicious spirits away. But how would it affect a human?
Just as she was about to reach out to grab Chongyun’s attention, the boy turned of his own accord, shooting a half hearted glare at Xingqiu.
“No pranks today, Xingqiu,” he said, a hint of bitterness in his tired voice.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, dear Chongyun,” Xingqiu teased. “But don’t you think family should be privy to all sides of you?”
“Xing,” Chongyun sighed in exasperation. “Not today.”
Shenhe frowned at her nephew’s behavior towards one of his best friends. He wasn’t even masking his irritation anymore, face set in a deep frown. But Xingqiu took this in stride, simply smiling in his usual calm manner as he nodded.
Shenhe kept an eye on Chongyun as they finally arrived at Wanmin Restaurant. A blue haired girl dressed in orange came rushing out, a small bear-like creature following closely behind. Another excitable child, by the looks of it, as she hugged both boys enthusiastically.
“Who’s your new friend?” she asked politely, waving at Shenhe.
“This is Shenhe,” Chongyun said with a tired smile. “She’s my aunt.”
“Your aunt? How wonderful!” She reached out a hand which Shenhe readily took. “I’m Xiangling! It’s nice to meet you! Is this your first time visiting the Harbor?”
“It is,” Shenhe confirmed.
“Oh my! So also your first time eating at my restaurant!” Xiangling beamed. “Would you like a menu or should I recommend some of our specials?”
“I have lived in the mountains all my life. So I’m afraid I would have no idea what dishes to try.”
“In the mountains?” Xiangling shared a wide eyed glance with the other boys. “You mean…?”
“Exactly what you’re thinking,” Xingqiu grinned as Chongyun nodded.
Shenhe watched as Xiangling’s expression transformed. No doubt, she just realized Shenhe had lived with the Adepti all her life. She wondered what her reaction would be, but in the end Xiangling surprised her.
“I know just what to cook for you!”
She bolted back into the kitchen, her small companion singing as it followed her. Bemused, Shenhe took a seat with the boys and smiled slightly. Usually people would either begin to worship her or keep their distance when they heard she was basically an adeptus. Xingqiu also seemed to know, yet all of Chongyun’s friends so far were treating her as though she was human.
Which… she was, something Cloud Retainer would remind her as often as she could. It felt nice to be in the Harbor, amongst the humans, and allow that point to be driven home. She was just as much a human as they were.
Soon enough, Xiangling came back with their food, dragging a chair over to sit with them. Shenhe recognized the dish immediately as one of her master’s favorites.
Adeptus Temptation.
Some mortals would prepare the dish and leave it on the table just outside Cloud Retainer’s abode and the crane would not stop marveling about its taste. Shenhe had tried a bite or two before but always stuck to her herbs religiously. She couldn’t afford to get attached to human food if she never planned to live among them.
But now, she did her best to pay respects to the chef, eating and complimenting the flavor. And it wasn’t just for show either. Xiangling really was an amazing cook, even better than the mortals who left offerings for the Adepti. When Cloud Retainer asked about her trip later, Shenhe would definitely bring up this moment.
She kept one ear on the other conversations happening on the table but only said something when necessary. She was used to the silence of the mountains, but ambient noise like this was something she could get used to.
Sadly, it didn’t last for much longer as the laughter suddenly died out and the excited chatter turned to worried mutters. Looking up, she frowned when she found that Chongyun was no longer participating in the conversation, instead having put his head down on the table. Xiangling and Xingqiu were asking if he was alright, hands fluttering nervously around him.
“I’m ok,” Chongyun said, voice muffled as he kept his head down. “It’s just… a little hot today, I guess.”
“Do you have a popsicle with you?” Xiangling asked.
Shenhe frowned at the question, remembering Chongyun’s words when they first met. His skin had been warm to touch and when she pointed it out, he seemed alarmed.
“Oh! My popsicle, I almost forgot…”
And Xingqiu had mentioned something about Yang Spirit earlier when Chongyun seemed off. Was this how a Yang Spirit could affect a human body?
Chongyun nodded, lifting his head and pulling out a popsicle. He seemed to have genuinely forgotten he had one, his eyes dazed and confused as he absentmindedly put the treat in his mouth.
Xingqiu smiled, a bright yet worried thing as he patted his friend’s shoulder.
“Let us know if you still feel sick,” he said.
“I’ll be fine with this,” Chongyun reassured halfheartedly, though he returned the smile. “Thanks.”
The rest of their meal continued quietly and Shenhe desperately wanted to fill the silence. She wanted to ask Chongyun about his Yang Spirit and the apparent illness caused by it. But she got the feeling that maybe he didn’t want her to know. He would have told her himself by now and he seemed rather irritated that it was affecting him now.
Shenhe knew how that felt, hiding injuries from her master at a young age, not wanting to appear weak when she’d just met her. But now she understood the value of honesty and vulnerability with her loved ones. Still, she wouldn’t push Chongyun into saying anything and especially not when he had others willing to care for him.
As it turned out, Shenhe didn’t need to worry about the silence for much longer. The mood lifted once more as Xiangling suddenly stood from her chair, waving and calling out merrily to someone in the distance. Shenhe turned to see a red clad girl with striking features and a strange instrument slung on her back.
Once Xiangling caught her attention, the girl bounded over in seconds, her eyes wide and excited as she beamed at them all.
“Hiya, Xiangling! Xingqiu, Chongyun, nice seeing y’all here!” she greeted. “Having a party without me, I see?”
“Dear Xinyan, it wouldn’t be a party without you,” Xingqiu grinned.
“Alright, alright, cut it out,” Xinyan smiled back, rolling her eyes, before turning to Shenhe. “Who’s this new face? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before, ma’am!”
“I am Shenhe, Chongyun’s aunt,” she introduced herself. “It’s nice to meet you, Xinyan.”
“Chongyun’s aunt?” Xinyan marveled. “Yun, you have an aunt? That’s amazing!”
Chongyun smiled tiredly and nodded.
“We met by chance in the mountains,” he explained. “I knew she existed but I didn’t know she was still alive.”
“Woah,” Xinyan breathed. “So she’s like… your long lost aunt or something?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, this calls for a celebration!” she declared. “Xingqiu, if it’s a party you want, then it’s a party you’ll get!”
“I like the sound of that,” Xingqiu said, eyes gleaming in excitement.
At that, Xinyan laughed boisterously, bounding away as she called over her shoulder.
“If y’all have time, join me by the Harbor for an impromptu concert!”
Shenhe didn’t know what an impromptu concert was, but Xinyan’s excitement rubbed off on her and she found herself looking forward to it. Glancing at Chongyun, she frowned, hoping the concert would lift his spirits too.
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Chongyun trudged all the way to the ports with the others, insisting that they go on ahead without him and that he’d catch up later. They tried protesting in the beginning but eventually seemed to realize he needed his space. Even then, they only walked a little distance ahead of him, constantly keeping an eye on him.
When they finally got to the ports, Xinyan was already strumming up a couple tunes to warm up, and a small crowd had begun to form. He allowed himself a tired smile at that, glad that people were beginning to warm up to Xinyan’s music.
Xiangling caught sight of Hu Tao and Zhongli among the crowd, running on ahead to join them. Xingqiu cast a glance at Chongyun and smiled softly, leaving him with a small wave. They both knew he wouldn’t be joining the concert for obvious reasons.
But Shenhe lingered, clearly unsure. Chongyun hated that his Yang Spirit had to act up today . It was supposed to be a wonderful day, but he couldn’t even bring himself to smile as the heat weighed down his whole body.
He was hoping to work his way up to telling her about it, but it seemed he may just have to come clean now. He put on a strained smile as she slowed, matching his pace.
“Chongyun, won’t you attend the impromptu concert?” she asked.
Chongyun sighed heavily, shaking his head.
“I don’t think so,” he said finally.
“Why not? Do you not like this sort of music?”
Even from afar, he could feel the rousing music scattering his nerves, making him want to move , anything to exhaust the restless energy in his body. At the same time, exhaustion pressed in on him from all sides and he just wanted to sleep it off.
“I love it,” he sighed. “I just… My Yang Spirit makes it so I can’t participate in activities like this.”
He lifted his head, forcing himself to make eye contact with her. He regretted it as soon as he saw her concerned eyes, piercing and insistent. The emotion must have been strong for her usually blank eyes to display it so clearly.
He smiled again, to ease her worry,
“It makes me excitable and rash, and I usually don’t remember what I’ve done until after it’s already happened,” he explained. “And it… exhausts me.”
“You should rest,” Shenhe stated. “I will sit with you on the sidelines while we wait for your friends.”
“No, that’s fine,” he said, hurriedly. “Please, don’t sit out because of me.”
Shenhe frowned deeply and Chongyun hated that he’d worried her. He tried to smile more genuinely, desperately hoping it would put her at ease.
“I’ll be fine by myself, I promise,” he said. “You should watch the performance. It’s for you, anyway. Please.”
Shenhe paused for a second more, the conflict clear in her eyes. But then she glanced over at the crowd, watching as Xinyan called out to her over the chatter. She sighed, nodding.
“Fine, I’ll go,” she said. “But only for a little while. You rest here in the meantime.”
Chongyun breathed a sigh of relief, nodding and smiling as she walked off with a hesitant wave. As soon as she had joined the crowd, Chongyun made his way to an empty shop stall, half collapsing against the counter as he watched the crowd from under the awning.
He vaguely wondered if he should just head home instead. Even from a distance, the music could affect him. Or maybe not, since his hearing was strangely muffled now, the sounds melding into a hum.
He watched numbly as the crowd faded into swirling colors, a mess of bright lights. He couldn’t feel his body but at the same time heat was permeating through it, burning his skin. His head was spinning, his stomach swirling as the flashing colors blinded him.
He groaned, closing his eyes though it did nothing to dispel the strange colors. A jolt of alarm struck his heart and a thought occurred to him. It was hot, sweltering even. Sure signs of his Yang Spirit but… something was different. The effects usually weren’t so disorienting and while he couldn’t feel his body, he felt the pain stabbing through his shoulder. Maybe this wasn’t just his Yang Spirit. Maybe it was-
“Chongyun?”
A voice cut through the haze and Chongyun forced his eyes open, trying desperately not to puke as he allowed the swirling colors to stop their lazy spin. He lifted his head slowly, blinking as he gazed at whoever was standing over him.
“Son, are you alright? Come now, let’s get you off the ground.”
Ground? When had he ended up on the ground? Gentle hands grabbed his arms, nausea swirling in his stomach as he was lifted to a standing position. He was propped against the counter again, a popsicle thrust into his hand. Chongyun put it in his mouth, still dazed. But the cool sensation allowed some clarity to filter in and he was finally able to make sense of what happened.
But as soon as he saw his mother’s worried eyes on him and his father’s deep frown, he found himself wishing for the daze to return. The sight of his parents left a bitter feeling in his heart and he turned away.
“Are you feeling better, son?” his father asked, smiling kindly.
“We heard a concert was going to take place and so we thought to come watch it,” his mother explained. “We saw you with your friends and tried catching up to you, but lost you in the crowd. We only just discovered you here.”
“I’m fine now, mother,” Chongyun said simply. “No need to worry about me. Go enjoy the concert.”
“Take care of yourself, ok?” his mother said, smiling. “We’ll be off now. Ah, by the way…”
Chongyun watched as she turned and squinted at the crowd, pointing to a head of white hair in the distance.
“I saw that woman with you earlier,” she said. “Who is she? A new friend?”
Chongyun frowned, wondering if he should tell her the truth right away. He’d already decided not to tell his family that day but now he was faced with the question and he didn’t want to lie now when he’d have to come clean later.
Still, he hesitated, not speaking for a time. But in the end, it didn’t matter, as the realization slowly came to his parents on its own.
“Wait…” his mother breathed, a hand over her mouth. “Oh my Archons, is that… I used to care for her when she was a child but it can’t be… Cousin Shenhe? But her hair is…”
“Actually, I think you may be right,” his father said, his voice lowered as thought telling a secret. “Remember the stories Sensei Wangji always tells the young ones? About how she returned years later to see what had become of her father and childhood home? He says her hair had become completely white because of the calamity that befell her.”
“Oh,” his mother sighed, voice becoming choked and emotional. “I don’t remember it well but I cared for her as a teenager. She was taken only months after Chongyun was born. Oh, Cousin Shenhe!”
With that, his mother rushed into the crowd, pushing and shoving to reach her cousin. His father ran after her and Chongyun glanced at them in alarm, wondering if he should put a stop to this right away. But he reacted too late and the crowd was already dispersing, Xinyan’s music faltering slightly.
Despite the persistent dizziness, Chongyun ran after his parents, deeply unsettled as he saw his mother practically manhandle Shenhe into a hug. Shenhe clearly looked uncomfortable but made no move to stop it from happening, listening on as his mother began to ramble.
“Shenhe, do you remember me?” she asked, wide eyed.
“Shiyun,” Shenhe nodded. “I do remember you. I remember every moment of my life.”
“Oh,” his mother breathed, tears flowing freely now. “Then you must remember every detail of the tragedy you went through.”
“Now, now, enough of that,” his father cut in, chuckling. “Today is an auspicious day! We must begin preparations right away now that you’ve returned.”
“Preparations?” Shenhe asked, confused.
Chongyun did not like where this was going.
“Why, of course! We must organize a grand celebration to commemorate the return of a long lost relative!” his father beamed. “And after that, we’ll do our best to help you readjust to mortal life. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to hearing tales of your time with the Adepti, even if they were just rumors. Ah, and of course, your position in the clan is to be discussed! You’ll find us to be most accommodating to your needs. Oh, did the Adepti, by any chance, teach you anything of thaumaturgy and exorcism?”
Shenhe blinked, staying silent for a moment after his long winded speech. She seemed to be deeply contemplating something and Chongyun clenched his fists, waiting.
“I appreciate your hospitality,” she said carefully. “Though I must make something clear right now. I do not intend to return with you. My home is with the Adepti.”
Chongyun smiled in triumph as his parents were left in a stunned silence, sharing a look of confusion. Shenhe seemed concerned by this response and rushed to amend herself.
“I mean no disrespect, of course.”
At that, Chongyun’s mother smiled tearfully and shook her head, as if to forgive her foolish words. She reached out to caress Shenhe’s shoulder, something she clearly wasn’t enjoying.
“No worries, Shenhe. We understand your hesitance,” she said, ignoring Shenhe’s frown. “However, if you would just try it out? Maybe live with us for a few days and then see if you change your mind?”
Shenhe’s opinion was clearly on her face and besides, she’d already voiced her concerns. Yet, his mother kept pushing, blatantly ignoring her attempts to protest. It made Chongyun’s blood boil.
The sounds around him were beginning to muffle once more, heat crawling up his body. Colors swirled into a haze of red , his fists clenched so tightly his nails were digging into his palms painfully. All he could see was Shenhe’s bothered expression and his parents’ grinning faces, completely oblivious- No, purposely ignorant towards her feelings.
“She said she doesn’t want to return with you,” he said before he could rethink it, his voice low and angry.
The conversation stopped abruptly, but only for a second. His father shot an annoyed look at him briefly, before turning back to Shenhe.
“As I was saying, Shen-”
“She said ,” Chongyun repeated, raising his voice. “She doesn’t want to return with you!”
Silence fell once more, this time effectively staying in place. His heart was beating erratically, his hands were shaking. But he stood there defiantly, not caring that the whole crowd had fallen silent now.
“Chongyun,” his father said firmly. “Stop creating a scene this instant!”
But now Chonyun was on a roll. He recognized that his Yang Spirit was slowly taking over, the heat rushing to his head and scrambling his thoughts. But he embraced the anger, the rush of blood.
“Why?” he demanded. “So you can keep pressuring her into something she doesn't want? Just like you’ve done to me all my life?”
And oh , wasn’t that wonderful? Was it finally time to dredge up all these emotions and unleash them? Would he finally get to speak his mind for once? Maybe the Yang Spirit wasn’t so bad, after all.
“Chongyun,” his mother said worriedly. “What’s wrong with-”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me!” he yelled, fisting a hand over his heart. “This- this spirit! This life! Everything !”
“So what are you saying?” his father asked, angrily. “You want to stop being an exorcist? You want to leave behind the family legacy?”
“I never said that!” Chongyun said, his head pounding as he searched his enraged thoughts for the right words. “I just- I don’t want you to-”
“Do as you please, Chongyun,” his father said with a derisive laugh. “It wouldn't make a difference to the clan if you left. What use is an exorcist who has never seen a single spirit?”
The words made his chest ache, his lungs tightening as he struggled for breath. His throat closed and his eyes burned. He searched his frazzled mind for the right words but he’d long since forgotten what he was fighting about. All he knew was the heat and the pain and his clan’s words ringing in his head.
“This is what I'm talking about!” he yelled brokenly. “I don't want to stop being an exorcist, I want this to stop!”
“You want it to stop?” his father taunted. “Then you should fix the problem instead of shouting about it.”
“You think I haven’t tried- ”
“And so you have. But has anything worked? No, it hasn’t. So when we take the initiative to fix it our way,” he said, gesturing at Shenhe, who was watching in concern. “I think it’s best that you step aside. Especially when you have absolutely nothing to show for.”
Somehow, those words were the final blow and Chongyun was left gasping for breath in the stunned silence that followed. His ears were ringing, his head throbbing, the words vanished from his scattered mind. He vaguely noticed that the crowd surrounding him had grown in size but was eerily silent.
That forced him to shake off the haze threatening to overtake him as he stumbled away, pushing through the crowd with shaking hands. Distantly, he heard the silence break, his mother’s muffled voice calling out to him, but Shenhe’s call ringing clearly in his head.
He ignored them both, breaking out into a clumsy sprint. The floor began to tilt beneath him but he kept going. His breaths came faster and shorter, a tingling numbness spreading through his entire body.
Eventually, his legs gave out and he collapsed harshly on the cold stone path. He hardly felt the impact, the haze darkening until it clouded his mind entirely. He felt a cool hand brushing across his forehead and relished in it for a brief moment.
Then he closed his eyes and let the darkness take him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shenhe cast another scrutinizing look over at her nephew, who was lying bedridden and pale on the infirmary bed at the Bubu Pharmacy. She had taken the unconscious boy in her arms and ran all the way to the pharmacy, pushing through the crowds of nosy people.
Qiqi had seen her coming and informed Baizhu right away. Chongyun had been whisked away and tended to. By the time Baizhu returned to the main area, Shenhe had to fight against Chongyun’s parents, denying them access to see their son.
Perhaps she was being irrational, but she counted them lucky to have escaped her true wrath. If they weren’t her nephew’s parents, she may have done away with them even before they said those horrible things to their son.
But they were stubborn in their own right, not budging an inch. When Baizhu came to diffuse the situation, she relayed the tale to him, and soon enough, he was the one shooing them out of his pharmacy.
With that out of the way, Shenhe was able to enter Chongyun’s room and explain in a bit more detail the events that occurred.
“That explains a lot,” Baizhu sighed. “I thought he seemed a bit excitable when you two came in this morning. Qiqi informed me that she didn’t get a chance to properly tend to him before he bolted out the door.”
“So what happened to him?” Shenhe asked, slightly impatient.
“The knife wound in his shoulder,” Baizhu sighed. “It was poisoned.”
Shenhe’s heart dropped, eyes flitting to Chongyun’s face, then his wound.
“Nothing too serious, don’t worry,” he reassured. “It was a basic poison, designed only to make the victim extremely ill. But coupled with his Yang Spirit, the effects intensified.”
Shenhe nodded in understanding, not having the heart to say anything as the previous events played out in her mind. He had looked so angry but underneath that was a vulnerability, a deep sorrow that shone through only because he’d allowed it to fester in his heart for so long.
Baizhu seemed to pick up on what she was thinking and he hummed thoughtfully.
“You know,” he mused. “Now that you’ve returned, Chongyun’s clan is not the only family he has anymore. And if it’s a family’s acceptance he desires, you may be able to help.”
Baizhu’s words rang true and Shenhe found that they eased some of the worry in her heart. She glanced at him, mildly impressed with his wisdom. The man grinned as he made to leave.
“Think on it,” he said over his shoulder. “I’m sure you can help him understand.”
And Shenhe vowed to do just that. But first, she would need to return to her own family and inform her of the things she learned in the human world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chongyun awoke two days later, in the Bubu Pharmacy, feeling worse for wear. Had he taken just a few minutes more to think before rushing into an altercation with his parents, he would have figured it out on his own.
He sat through Baizhu’s explanation of what happened. Apparently, when he and Shenhe were fighting those Treasure Hoarders together, the wound he’d sustained had been poisoned. The poison itself was pretty basic, but his Yang Spirit managed to intensify the effects until his body was forced to shut down.
Biazhu also told him that Shenhe stayed by his bedside for the majority of the time, only having left late last night to inform her master of where she’d been and what happened on her trip thus far. She said she would return soon but didn’t give a definite time.
Chongyun was released from Bubu Pharmacy after a promise to take it easy for the next few days.
He wasn’t keen on going home after everything and eventually found himself on the roof of Wanmin Restaurant, knees drawn up to his chest as he watched the people go about their daily lives. His friends were just below him, no doubt keeping a constant eye on him.
Every so often, Xiangling would peek up at him, asking if he wanted something to eat. He would politely decline every time, but it didn’t deter her. Hu Tao dropped by to ask if he wanted to hear her latest poem. Xinyan came along with a song to cheer him up. And Xingqiu simply reminded him to eat his popsicles.
For a time, Chongyun sat there in silence, allowing the soft morning chatter to wash over him. The calm had almost lulled him to sleep when light footsteps broke through the haze. He turned to see Shenhe walking across the roof towards him, as if it was the most natural thing to do. He was about to ask how she got there but looked up just in time to see a magnificent crane flying off into the clouds.
Shenhe sat next to him wordlessly and for a while, they simply basked in the silence. Shenhe broke it first, sighing softly.
“I appreciate that you stood against your parents to defend my wishes that day,” she began. “I only wish it had not come at the cost of your own health.”
Chongyun shrugged, still somewhat dejected by the events that took place.
“No worries. I’m glad I could help,” he said, wincing internally because did that even count as help?
“Anyway,” he continued. “I’m used to this, so don’t worry about me.”
“When you become used to something,” Shenhe mused. “Does the pain vanish?”
He still starkly remembered the way his father’s words had left him breathless, anger and sorrow warring for attention inside his throbbing head. No, time didn’t make things easier.
“No,” Chongyun sighed. “No, it doesn’t.”
Shenhe hummed thoughtfully, speaking after a beat of silence.
“It’s like… how I’m used to the taste of herbs, but they are still just as bitter every time I eat them.”
“Yeah.” Chongyun chuckled at the analogy. “It is like that.”
“But I complain to Cloud Retainer every time,” she continued. “She grows tired of my complaints sometimes and encourages me to eat other foods… but she never tells me to stop complaining. If I don’t complain, the bitterness of those herbs may well reside in my heart forever.”
Chongyun fell silent as he realized the meaning of her words.
“...Are you telling me I should have told my parents sooner?”
“Maybe…” she said. “I don't know your parents well, so I'm not sure how effective that would be. I’m not much of a talker. If it were me, I would have sooner destroyed the clan than deal with the trials you dealt with.”
“Ah, yeah I don't think I could do that,” he said with a nervous chuckle. “But… talking wouldn't have helped either. You saw it the other day. They won't budge.”
“Maybe not. As I said, some hardships are meant to last forever, like the bitter herbs I must eat every day,” she said, to which Chongyun couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Just like that, you may have to deal with your clan’s bitterness for a lifetime. But you can always talk about it, allow the bitterness to escape your heart once in a while, so that you don't harm yourself by keeping it in. You don't necessarily have to tell your parents about it. There are others who are willing to listen.”
Maybe it was the residual effects of his illness, but the speech made his throat tighten and his eyes burn. He turned away with a watery laugh.
“So,” he said wryly. “Just distance myself from my family?”
“If they're bad for you, yes. And who says your family should only consist of your parents and clan members?” She glanced down below at his friends, their soft chatter just barely audible. “I'm hoping you can find family in the right places. In your friends… And in me.”
Those words were his breaking point, his throat closing and scalding tears rolling down his cheeks. But for perhaps the first time in his life, his heart felt full as he allowed himself to be surrounded by those who truly mattered.
“Thanks, Aunt Shenhe,” he choked out.
“No need,” she smiled. “That is what family is for.”