In Search for the Lost Osmanthus Wine

Chapter 5: Qiongji Estuary and the Wailing Music:

The first step was filled with ecstasy, for they haven’t felt grass for 2 whole weeks. Sure there was grass in Dragonspine, but it wasn’t like the nice, green ol’ grass, and the green trees, the bright blue sky filled with white cotton candy clouds, most importantly the city, civilisation that had entered their views.

Liyue harbour was far away yet they have all been there before, they can feel the warm feeling that the people bring, the smell of Chef Mao’s cooking and the look of Liyue’s culture and background all from one view, Liyue itself.

As Xiao stands by Zhongli, he smiles down towards Wangshu Inn, typically his used to be home. He looks up at his father, “I missed this place, dad.” Zhongli smiled as he closed his eyes, his left arm behind his back, a bit above his waist as the other went under his chin.

“I do too, my son. Let’s go visit Wangshu Inn, maybe they have an idea of where this Osmanthus wine is.”

As they began to walk on the mountain of Qiongji Estuary, the wind slowly pushed against them. Venti sighed as he boredly looked around, this wasn’t fun anymore, it was torture, “Mr. Zhongli, a bard like I shouldn’t be walking around here, when there’s no one near. I should be somewhere far, where all the people are.”

Zhongli suddenly stops before looking behind himself towards Venti, a cold stare was met with a shocked one, “I don’t want to hear from you, after all because you’re a bard you can sing songs for us, if you have nothing to do because there are people here.”

Venti sighed again, except it was more exaggerated than before, Kazuha smiled slightly before pulling a leaf out of his hair, he blew into it and a harmonised noise came out, similar to a harmonica.

The bard perks up looking at Kazuha, he smiles.

“Oh Kazuha… WHY DON’T YOU SHUT UP!” Kazuha stalls, and his freezing movements cause him to let go of his leaf, it was as if a mirror had shattered and Kazuha stands still in shock. Venti sighed before walking ahead of him, ignoring the hurt boy.

Kazuha sighed, “Venti, what happened to you?”

Xiao looks around astonished as he holds his dads hand, he looks up at him, “Wow, father this place is the best thing i’ve ever seen.” Zhongli gave him a bittersweet look as he stared at the tall tree of Wangshu Inn, “It is quite the sight to behold, but son.” Xiao looks up at his father, awaiting a question.

“Do you remember being here?” Xiao slowly shakes his head, the hold on Zhongli becomes tighter. Zhongli smiled. “Well, this was where we used to live.” Although that was a complete lie, part of it was true. Zhongli and Xiao used to hang out where Wangshu Inn was. Though the building wasn’t there, it was still the same place.

As Zhongli walks closer to the building Xiao freezes at the sight of more people, there are people eating at the tables, talking and having a gay time. Xiao shakes his head before slightly walking behind Zhongli, Zhongli looks behind himself.

“You must act natural, so then people won’t look at you.” He smiled before letting go of Xiao’s hand and walking up the steps. Xiao shakes his head before a cold expression lays on his face. He walks behind Zhongli with no expressions displayed.

Venti ran up the stairs, his hands in the air as he breathed in and out, “This is the perfect place to play a song!” Kazuha rolled his eyes before walking away Venti scratched his head, “Kazuha! Where are you going? We need to perform a song.” Venti tugs on Kazuha’s arm.

The lone samurai sighed, “I don’t want to talk with you right now, not after your idiocy enveloping my surroundings. The tides are low and the birds are noisy.” Kazuha walks with the others, leaving behind a dumbfounded Venti.