The group chatted and joked among themselves, laughter and conversation weaving together in a joyful melody.
Time flowed quietly, like a gentle stream meandering onward without pause.
Unnoticed, the blazing sun that had dominated the sky during the day was now slowly sinking behind the western hills, as if drawn down by an invisible hand.
Its dazzling brilliance faded gradually, casting a warm orange-red glow across the world.
As the sun set, the veil of night began to settle over the land. At that very moment, a radiant full moon emerged quietly at the edge of the sky.
At first, she peeked out shyly, like a girl stealing a glance from behind a door;
But soon she gathered her courage, revealing her full, luminous face for all to see.
Moonlight poured down like flowing mercury, illuminating mountains, rivers, fields, and villages, turning the dusky night into something soft and bright.
Ningguang glanced at the sky, then clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention.
"It's about time. Let's go see the main event of this year's Moonchase Festival."
Hu Tao, now fully recovered, suddenly popped up again from who-knows-where.
"Ooh! I know, I know! I saw Granny Ping rushing around earlier—this must be what she was working on!"
Cloud Retainer adjusted the glasses on her nose.
"A performance by… Ping… for the Moonchase Festival…"
She glanced at Guoba, who was lounging atop Xiangling's head.
A knowing look appeared in her eyes.
——
By now, a sizable crowd had gathered at Liyue's plaza.
At its center stood a massive stone slab placed at the altar for the God of the Stove.
In front of it was… steamed cornbread?
Furina tugged on Shajin's sleeve.
"Bad guy, who's this 'God of the Stove' supposed to be?"
Shajin pondered for a moment.
"The God of the Stove is also a god. His name is Marchosius, the God of the Soil and Stove."
"You've all met him before."
Furina tilted her head.
"Met before…?"
At that moment, Granny Ping walked over.
"Hohoho… You've arrived just in time."
A deep rumble came from the plaza.
The massive stone began to crack, and with a resounding boom, it burst apart—revealing the God of the Stove within.
Xiangling's eyes widened.
"Guo… Guoba?!"
Even the Guoba sitting atop her head widened his eyes.
"Lu?!"
Granny Ping stepped forward, standing beside Xiangling and Guoba.
"Yes, indeed. After all, Guoba is the God of the Stove."
Shajin picked up the curious Nahida beside her and gave a nod toward Zhongli, who stood not far away.
"Best to leave this kind of storytelling to the expert."
Zhongli returned from his reverie, exhaling slowly.
"Very well. Allow me."
"Marchosius, the God of the Stove, was born from the sparks of colliding stone."
"He governed fire and the lives of the common people."
"A god who loved humanity."
"A thousand years ago, the people of Liyue expanded the city."
"They built new settlements on the plains and named them Guili Assembly."
"The Stove God cherished the people's welfare."
"He sent out avatars into countless homes to help light stoves and prepare meals, fostering warmth and togetherness."
"But then a great flood struck."
"It destroyed Guili Assembly."
"The people were forced to migrate south, back to Liyue Harbor."
"The distance was short, but the journey was plagued by storms."
"The Adepti escorted the refugees for over ten days."
"During that time, the Stove God created an ancient dish."
"Made of flatbread and a warming, dampness-expelling meat sauce—easy to carry and nourishing."
"For centuries afterward, disasters and disease spread across the land."
"The Stove God stopped appearing frequently."
"Instead, he poured all his power into the land."
"To suppress the calamities."
"But this drained him of strength."
"His intelligence dulled. His form grew small."
"And when he finally said farewell to humanity… he was no taller than a child."
"He passed on his knowledge and cooking to the Geo Archon and the other Adepti."
"Then quietly departed into the wilderness."
"And fell into a long, long slumber."
Granny Ping picked up the tale from there.
"When the Stove God left this world, Guoba was born."
"The day he awoke, he tasted a spicy meat cornbread made by a girl in yellow."
"He couldn't recall his past, but it moved him deeply."
"And he decided to follow her."
"After the god's quiet departure…"
"Each morning, the marketplace still rang with merchants' cries."
"People still ventured out to buy ingredients, to light fires, and cook meals…"
"Just as they had always done."
"Because Liyue… has always been like this~"
"Blessed by heaven and earth, through storm and sea, joy shared alike."
"Though the stars shift and the seas churn with mist, the human world of smoke and flame remains unchanged."
Xiangling gently lifted Guoba from her head and held him in her arms.
"Yeah! I met Guoba in a cave! That day, I was hiding from the rain, and I saw an offering table inside the cave, so I left one of my spicy meat cornbreads on it…"
"Then I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, Guoba had eaten the whole thing! He's been with me ever since—he's family now~"
Cloud Retainer chuckled softly.
"A kind of immortal fate, one might say~"
"Such vitality, surging from the heart of the land… Even after thousands of years, this ancient soil still shines with brilliance."
"This… is Liyue."
Night fell like a deep blue silk ribbon, unfolding gently from the edge of the sky and wrapping the land in a soft embrace.
The night sky held a quiet, mysterious beauty that drew one into its serenity.
The moon, round and full, was set like a pearl into the velvet sky. Its silver light pierced the thin clouds and fell to earth like strands of fine silk.
The moonlight bathed the land, bringing a touch of warmth and romance to the night.
In the courtyard, several trees swayed under the moonlight.
Their branches rustled gently, and their tiny blossoms drifted through the air like snowflakes.
A soft fragrance filled the breeze—delicate and ephemeral, as if a floral rain had fallen from the moon itself, imbued with a touch of celestial poetry.
Everyone gathered around the table, which was laid with exquisite dishes.
There were sweet, fragrant mooncakes, vibrant seasonal fruits, and of course, the signature spicy meat cornbread.
Under the moon's glow, the food gleamed with an appetizing sheen.
In the distance, the lake shimmered, mirroring the bright moon above. The moon's reflection lay on the surface like a glowing jade disc.
Every now and then, a playful fish would leap, sending ripples across the water and breaking the stillness.
But the disturbance would quickly fade, the lake returning to its tranquil, eternal tableau of the Moonchase Festival.
A gentle breeze passed, rustling the reeds along the shore, whispering the age-old stories of chasing the moon.
_
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