Sweet Dreams Are Not Dreams (Extra)

(Place to store your brain)

(Since this is an interlude, there's no need to worry about whether the timeline is accurate.)

The sky and river blended into one, spotless and clear; a lone bright moon hung high in the heavens.

On the vast plain stood an ancient tree towering into the sky, rooted there as it bore witness to the rise and fall of this land.

Built upon that great tree was an inn called Wangshu Inn.

A youth stood on Wangshu Inn's balcony. His golden eyes gazed blankly into the distance, at the layered mountain ranges and winding streams, as though lost in thought.

"A few days ago, you traveled through that Traveler's world. What did you think of it?" A voice suddenly sounded beside him. Xiao turned around and saw a familiar figure.

The man was slender and elegant—the one who had given him the name "Xiao": the Geo Archon, Morax, now traveling the mortal world under the identity of Zhongli.

Xiao answered, "As you instructed, Lord Zhongli, that Traveler did indeed take me to his world some days ago."

"The language they use was just as you expected, my lord."

"That Traveler told me some things about that world."

"As you predicted, my lord, I have many... fans in that world. Their support for me is considerable."

The young adeptus glanced at the talisman folded into a triangle at his waist. After many days of battle, it had turned completely black, with only the red pattern on it still retaining its vivid color.

"That Traveler truly has some skill, to be able to suppress your karmic debt."

Zhongli folded his arms and asked again, "If you sense any adverse effects from that talisman, it would be best to discard it promptly."

"I understand, Lord Zhongli."

That night, Zhongli and Xiao spoke at length, until Xiao heard a cry for help.

"Help!!!"

"Whoosh—"

Without even asking Zhongli's opinion, Xiao once again transformed into a streak of dark green light and vanished from the spot.

Near the Statue of The Seven in Bishui Plain, a woman was surrounded by several Hilichurls, who celebrated having caught fresh prey.

"What do I do? What do I do? I'm going to die here!!!!" Terror had left the woman completely unable to think of running away.

A Hilichurl immediately swung its wooden club, about to knock the woman unconscious.

"No!!!!"

"Xing—" A dark green flash streaked past, and the Hilichurl instantly turned to ash, scattering across the ground before gradually fading away.

The woman then noticed a white figure at her side, like the god of death, harvesting every one of those Hilichurls' lives.

In less than five seconds, that figure stood some distance away from the woman.

Xiao bore karmic debt and could not get too close to ordinary people, lest it affect them.

"Oh my, Adeptus Xiao! Thank you so much!" What followed was a stream of polite pleasantries from the woman.

"It isn't safe at night. Be more careful." After leaving those words behind, Xiao returned to Wangshu Inn to continue chatting with Zhongli.

Late at night, Zhongli took his leave. Xiao came to Dihua Marsh again and patrolled the surrounding area.

"Nothing seems to be happening tonight..." Xiao muttered to himself, then lay beneath a tree, preparing to rest for a while—rarely was there nothing to do, so he might as well rest properly and conserve his strength.

Gradually, Xiao drifted into sleep.

"Jinpeng..."

"Indarias has been completely corrupted by karmic debt. Don't go over there, Jinpeng!"

"Fushe, but..."

"Menogias, Bonanus, stop!"

"Stop it!"

"Jinpeng, this journey of mine is fraught with danger."

"If anything happens to me, Liyue's safety will depend on you and the other adepti from then on."

"No, Fushe, no!!!!"

"I grant you the name Xiao. It represents a demon that has encountered suffering and endured countless trials."

"You have experienced so much as well. Use this name from now on."

"Storming waves enter the sea in search of chihu..."

"Wind and snow return to the mountains to slay demons and evil..."

"Having killed so many people, do you feel guilty? Afraid?"

"Do you wish to protect Liyue better?"

"Come. Give us your soul, and we will grant you greater power..."

"Ugh... Don't think you'll succeed! Aaaah—"

"This flute can actually suppress the karmic debt within me..."

"The Anemo Archon, Barbatos..."

"If this continues, your power will..."

"Xiao!!!"

"Sweet dreams are not dreams; Chang'an is but a fleeting dream of mortal life."

At last, Xiao opened his eyes from that endless nightmare. Looking around, he found that the sun had already risen overhead. He berated himself for falling asleep and waking so late.

Xiao sighed. He did not wish to dream. Whenever he closed his eyes, endless resentment and painful memories of the past surfaced in his mind.

He hurriedly inspected the area, only to find not a single monster anywhere. It left the adeptus deeply puzzled.

"Well, well, look who this is?" A clear voice rang out. Xiao turned toward it and saw a lean figure appear out of thin air.

In the distance, three animals—two cranes and a deer—flew over, carrying two women.

"It's you..." Xiao looked at the figure. It was the person who had taken him to another world some time ago, the one who called himself the Traveler.

"This junior told us that today is your birthday. He came all the way to Mt. Aocang to inform this adeptus of it."

After the three animals landed, Cloud Retainer assumed human form and spoke.

On Moon Carver's back were naturally Ganyu and Shenhe. The Cryo Qilin jumped down and said, "Early this morning, Master caught the scent of food and said someone had made an offering, so she came out to inspect it."

"Then this... friend told us that today is your birthday."

Shenhe nodded. "I didn't expect him to invite me as well. If Master had not said this was also a good opportunity to experience the mortal world, I would still be cultivating in the wilderness."

Xiao's gaze remained indifferent as he said quietly, "You have my thanks, but I do not need to celebrate my birthday."

Lin Yiyi pulled him to his feet. "Hey, how can that be? Look at this whole group—I called every one of them here for you."

"You can't stand us up, right?"

He then handed Xiao several newly folded talismans and picked up a box that had been sitting on the ground. "You can burn the old one. Come on, let's go have a huge meal at Wangshu Inn!"

The group then jostled one another all the way to the bottom of Wangshu Inn, where they found Zhongli already waiting for them.

They ordered many fine dishes and began eating and drinking heartily.

Lin Yiyi opened the large box. Inside was an enormous cake.

Lighting candles, putting on birthday hats, and going through the whole sequence of rituals left Xiao utterly overwhelmed.

"Adeptus Xiao, happy birthday!" Lin Yiyi set off fireworks and celebrated with the rest of the adepti.

Faced with such a scene, the usually cold and distant adeptus did not know how to respond. He could only keep saying, "Thank you."

"Xiao, make a wish, then blow out the candles," Zhongli explained while sitting beside him. Since Zhongli had learned much in that other world, he was able to explain the custom to Xiao.

After Xiao did as instructed, Lin Yiyi burst into cheers again. As for the other adepti? Given their personalities, applause suited their status better than cheering.

"Oh my, it's the adeptus's birthday today?"

"Everyone, come on over! The hero who protects Liyue is celebrating his birthday!"

The diners at Wangshu Inn soon learned why a crowd had gathered here and joined Xiao's birthday party one after another. They pushed tables together and celebrated boisterously—even Ganyu and Shenhe were coaxed by Lin Yiyi into eating a little.

The corners of the adeptus's mouth, usually set in a stern line, lifted ever so slightly.

Everyone cheered together, celebrating another year of his life.

"Everyone, let's take a picture together?"

After the meal, Lin Yiyi took out a camera and captured that beautiful moment.

The banquet lasted until the afternoon. After everyone had left, Lin Yiyi sat on a bench, watching the sunset slowly descend.

Xiao came to stand beside him. The talisman at his waist had already been replaced with a new one.

"Were you happy today?" the youth asked.

"Yes, thank you. I'm still a little unaccustomed to it, but seeing the smiles on their faces... I seem to have been affected by them as well."

Lin Yiyi smiled but said nothing.

"By the way, when is your birthday?"

"I don't celebrate birthdays anymore."