Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

The Tri-Xuan Society had met its end, and in the most complete sense.

With just a single strike, Xiao had wiped them out—nothing like the wild devastation Gu Sanqiu had witnessed in his last clash with the Dragon King. This precision only underscored Xiao's incredible control over his power.

Both body and soul of every Tri-Xuan member were utterly obliterated under that force, even the colossal turtle golem left riddled with holes. Gu Sanqiu couldn't help but feel a pang of regret; had he known Xiao would be so thorough, he'd have told him to spare the golem. With some modifications, that thing could've made for a perfect amphibious fortress—especially with a few high-grade weapons he could surely pull from his Golden Finger.

"Are there more of them elsewhere?" Xiao asked.

Gu Sanqiu shook his head. "There might be a few left in Qingce Village, or lurking around the Lisha coast, making deals with the Treasure Hoarders. But those are minor issues. I've got a full list of these outposts thanks to my paper soldiers' memories. I'll hunt them down; no need to bother you again."

"Very well."

Xiao seized Gu Sanqiu and, with a single bound, rode a fierce gale back to Liyue Harbor's outskirts, depositing him a safe distance from the city's gate.

"One day to recuperate. Meet me back here tomorrow."

Without another word, Xiao vanished in a flash of green light, demonstrating once again the truth of "mobility enhances style."

"Wow… what's with him getting all aloof again?" Gu Sanqiu chuckled, giving his head a small shake. Taking down the Tri-Xuan had been unexpectedly straightforward; having the great Conqueror of Demons as his chauffeur, bodyguard, and finisher made this whole ordeal almost a little… monotonous.

"But at least I saved myself some energy—and got a powerful connection out of it," he smirked, patting his chest.

After all, he had one more critical matter at hand, something far more pressing than dealing with the Tri-Xuan Society.

Back at the Gu family estate, he carefully arranged a selection of the finest flowers from his personal collection. He set his spear horizontally on the ground and fetched a vibrant gold stone etched with red patterns from the shrine's main censer.

"That should just about do it."

After double-checking his setup, Gu Sanqiu darted into the kitchen, whipping up a tableful of dishes with precise, rapid movements, and setting the steaming plates onto a stone table. From his pocket, he pulled out a talisman, pricking his finger to let a drop of blood soak into its surface.

"Hey, brother—Tri-Xuan's gone. Isn't it time you came out for a bit?"

A gust swept through the courtyard, and then a voice responded.

"Mortal, why summon a god such as myself?"

…

Across the table sat a man, seemingly made of pale, shifting mist, his body formed from pure white energy and arms crossed. Gu Sanqiu's lips twitched as he looked at the visitor.

"Have you been poking around in my memories and seeing things you shouldn't?"

"Coming from you, that sounds like everything in your head is totally normal."

"So, you have been watching them, haven't you?"

The figure nodded with a wry smirk. "Can't deny it. The bizarre things in your head make for interesting entertainment, especially when I have some time to kill."

The talisman continued burning, and the spirit casually took up a pair of chopsticks, snagging a chunk of meat and savoring it.

"Hmm, glad you at least remembered I can only eat shadow food like this. Given your… mischievous tendencies, I half expected you'd summon me just to watch you eat."

"Excuse me, but you're the one with the twisted sense of humor here," Gu Sanqiu replied dryly, waving a hand to ensure the talisman's ashes spread over each dish.

"Funny—just a minute ago, you were smiling while you blew up a mountain and skewered an entire battalion."

"I only go that far for the people I actually care about. And don't tell me you didn't want those bastards turned to dust for what they did to you."

"Gu Sanqiu." The spirit glanced at him.

"…Yeah, yeah, that's my name."

The figure smiled. "I'm Gu Sanqiu, too. You and I are the same, right?"

"Right… friend."

"Heh," Gu Sanqiu scoffed, though he didn't hide a smile. "To be honest, I figured something was off the moment I got here and saw you hadn't actually died. I mean, even if it was during that rare century-turning stone ritual, it was odd to think you'd be offed by a couple of petty thieves."

"So, you're saying you faked your death all along?"

"Oh, not at all," the white mist figure waved it off. "I was dead, alright. It's just that my soul remained intact. Those fools didn't know the Gu family's secret arts, so I slipped through their fingers."

"And right after that, you—a stranger from who-knows-where—showed up."

"So then… are we actually two sides of the same soul, like something out of the tales in your memories? One yin, one yang, two parts of a whole across two worlds?"

"If so, we'd need to have some serious pull at a cosmic level for that to work."

Gu Sanqiu's face broke into a forced grin. "And if that's really the case, then if I ever get a chance to meet this supposed higher version of myself, I've got some serious questions about the choices he's made with my life."

"Haha! That sounds just like something you'd say." The figure laughed, then looked thoughtfully at Gu Sanqiu. "But seriously, you have to admit, your soul has perfectly synchronized with this body of mine. That alone makes me wonder about our origins."

Gu Sanqiu clenched his fists. "Perfect synchronization. So, it was this strange compatibility that led you to think there's something unusual about our souls?"

"Exactly. Even the records in Wangsheng's archives don't describe a phenomenon like this."

"Typically, when a soul leaves its body, even if it returns, there's an adjustment period—a time of illness while the spirit readjusts to the flesh."

The figure pointed at him. "But you took over my body, and by the next day, you were prancing over to Wanmin Restaurant, already scheming your next move. Given that kind of vitality and the bizarre hints from your memories, it's hard not to question the origin of our souls."

"Well… maybe you're right," Gu Sanqiu shrugged, "I mean, I already crossed over from another world, so it's not impossible the things I once read could actually exist here."

He studied the spirit. "The Tri-Xuan Society's gone now. What's next for you?"

The figure leaned back, a wistful look crossing his face. "There are still so many places I want to visit: Mondstadt's winds, Inazuma's lightning, the stone-stubborn scholars at the Sumeru Akademiya. Maybe even take a peek at the Abyss someday?"

He downed a cup of wine, savoring it. "The world has so much to see. But all that depends on you."

"Wait, are you about to give me the classic 'see the world on my behalf' line before vanishing into thin air?"

The spirit shrugged. "Not a chance. I'm not done living yet. As long as I can occasionally step out like this, there's no rush for me to fade away."

"Besides, who knows? Maybe I'll get to explore worlds beyond someday, too."

Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. "Hold on—don't tell me that's really your plan."

---

Oh, hey there, Traveler! 🍃 My friend here is the one bringing these stories to you—quite the talent, wouldn't you agree? If anything feels off, just give them a nudge—they're always happy to make things even better.

Now, don't forget to take a moment to rest! Grab a drink (perhaps something as refreshing as Mondstadt's finest), and let the stories whisk you away.

Oh, and if you're feeling generous, you could check out [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Supporting them is like throwing a coin to your favorite bard—it keeps the magic flowing!

Here's to more adventures and endless inspiration~ 🎵