Chapter Text
Character Trailer- Zhao: An Average Day In Liyue
Voice Actor: Justin Briner
In Liyue’s ever standing Wangsheng Funeral Parlor lives a young man by the name of Zhao Zilong, who on this particular day happened to sleep in.
The dream Zhao was having was brilliant, he’d somehow worked up the courage to ask Lady Keqing on a date, and she had even said yes! Lady Ningguang had made him a member of the Qixing, he graduated from Law School and received his diploma from Ms. Yanfei and topped it all off with everyone having a great dinner at the Wanmin Restaurant, it was the perfect dream!
However, it was just that, a dream.
“Hellooooooo! Zhao! WAKE UP!”
“GYAHHHHH!” Zhao was shocked awake and rolled out of his bed and the perpetrator stood right above him.
“Well good morning good morning little brother!” She said poking his forehead. “Boy I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sleep in this late!”
“Gahhhh WHAT THE HECK?!” He yelled, rolling to sit up and yawning while he did. “Ugh…. Oh man, I guess I did sleep in! Lady Keqing and I were inspecting around the Chasm last night, so we got back late, so combine that with everything I did when I got back and… wait what time is it?”
“A little passed 9,” The 77th Director of the Funeral Parlor told him.
“GAH 9?! I’M GONNA BE LATE!” He yelled rushing past her, and tripping on his blanket.
“Oh I’m sure our dazzling Yuheng will be forgiving little brother!” She told him as she watched him run around his room struggling to find an outfit. “But don’t forget, I still need your help on Mt. Tianheng at-.”
“10am sharp I know!” Zhao told her, groaning annoyed as he hobbled and pulled on his shoes. “And stop calling me little brother we’re the same age!”
“Ah! That may be so, but my Grandfather took you in! I was here first, you were here second which makes you my adorable little baby brother!”
“Where’s the logic in that?!” He cried, groaning as he slung a bag over his shoulder and walked to the window. “I’ll have to skip my usual morning routine… tell Mr. Zhongli I’ll be back for dinner!”
She rolled her eyes and followed him to the ledge. “You know, Lady Keqing doesn’t need you at Yuehi Pavillion until 10:30, you don’t have to do all those other jobs.”
“Ha, I know,” Zhao said, opening his window and standing on the edge. He smiled back at her and winked. “But then I’d be awfully bored! I’ll meet you at ten!”
“Oh what am I going to do with you,” She sighed dramatically, before smiling and waving at him. “Well you better be off, toodeloo!”
Zhao nodded, and without turning around he fell backwards into open air. The smell of Liyue attacked his nose and he was able to smile as he looked up at the beautiful sun and clouds, and as was always the case, seeing the distant mountains cast their shadow over the harbor made him smile almost giddily.
As he fell, however, he panicked for a moment.
“GAH! My vision! Did I put it on my… oh there it is!”
He saw the loose dangling geo vision fly upwards attached to his belt. It glew its beautiful color and just before Zhao hit the ground a pillar of stone came shooting out of the ground. It hit the bottom of his feet and Zhao sunk down into it for a moment before his vision glew again and it shot him upwards into the air.
“Wow….” He said breathlessly as he felt like he was floating through the air.
He’d gotten so high he was in the shadow directly under the Jade Chamber, he could see everything stretched out below him. He saw a dozen ships coming into port, the streets and markets flooding with the morning rush, he saw the gardens at Yuehi Pavillion and swore he could even spot Ganyu from this distance. The smell of the salty sea air hit his nose, and he suddenly felt rejuvenated, his messy light gray hair was blown back, and he looked over towards the harbor.
“Okay! I’m already a bit late, but I’ll start there!”
His geo vision glew again and a blade of Geo shot out below him back down towards the city. He ran along it and jumped off towards the harbor and the minute he did his vision glew again and the geo blade vanished, and he was finally on his way.
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“Hey Zhao bring these crates this way for me!”
“Oh sure thing!” Zhao said rushing along with the stack in his arms.
“Zhao! You think you can help me roll up the sail, my back is killing me!”
“No problem at all!” Zhao said, rushing over to the next boat and helping the older sailor roll the sail up.
“Over here Zhao! It’s a shipment of spice from Sumeru, mind bringing it to the harbor for me?”
“I’ll get right on it!”
Zhao grabbed up the barrel, and saying hi to the dozens of sailors and captains he knew, he lifted it like it weighed nothing. Despite looking a bit skinny, with slimmer arms he was extremely strong. That had come from his years upon years of doing all of these odd jobs.
“Here we go!” He said, setting the barrel down and smiling at Captain Liu. “Anything else Captain Liu?”
“Oh no, that’ll be all thanks Zhao!” He said, pulling an envelope out of his back pocket. “Can you just do me a favor and bring this to Northland Bank for me on your way back through town?”
“Of course I’d be happy too!” Zhao said, turning from the old man. “I gotta go, see you Captain-.”
“I know you’re not leaving without saying hey to me first!”
Zhao turned back around to another dock and smiled wide. “Captain Beidou! Haha, I didn’t know you’d be back this early!”
“Bringing in some good stuff for the Rite of Descension,” The Captain said wrapping Zhao in a hug which he returned. “Still got that job with the Yuheng?”
“Definitely! There’s nobody I’d rather work for!” Zhao said with enthusiasm.
Beidou chuckled and patted his back hard. “Haha, you’re sodded and anyone with a brain can see that! Good to see you’re safe kid.”
Zhao blushed at the ‘sodded’ comment but sighed. “You know you’re not that much older than me you don’t need to call me kid.”
“I’ll stop calling you kid when you finally set sail with me!” She joked. “Now get going your Yuheng is probably waiting!”
Zhao laughed and turned. “Haha I still got a few stops, I’ll come and see you later, I owe you a drink this time!”
Beidou smiled and waved, as Zhao took off in a run back up towards town. He looked up at the sun, and from its position he could tell the time.
“Only 9:15! Ha, I’m getting even quicker!
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“Sorry I’m late Ms. Ying’er! I picked up your package like you asked,” Zhao said rushing into the perfume shop with the package he picked up.
The beautiful perfume lady chuckled and took it from him. “Aw, thank you, you’re as cutely dutiful as ever Zhao, you know how seeing you is the best part of my day.”
Zhao tried not to blush but failed. “Aha, it’s no problem Ms. Ying’er, seeing you is the best part of my day to!”
She chuckled and pretended to tear up. “Oh how could you lie to me like that Zhao! That can’t be true, not when you see our lovely Yuheng every day, I’m sure she is the best part of the day for you.”
“I… I just work for her honest, there’s nothing else to it really!” Zhao said turning around to leave and not let her see him blush. “Is there anything else you need Ms. Ying’er?
“Ahaha, oh I know, you tell me all the time,” Ying’er said, but before he could leave she called out to him. “I don’t need anything else right now but stop by later. This package has some of the ingredients you requested for that special order!”
Zhao’s excitement soared and he smiled. “Really?! Oh that’s awesome! I’ll be back later for sure!”
“Getting to see you again is a delight,” The perfume lady smiled. “But, you know you could have just asked me to make it, it wouldn’t take long. I was surprised when you asked to make it yourself.”
Zhao chuckled embarrassed. “Aha… well, even if I don’t tell her I made it, it’ll feel more like a gift if I put in the work myself. Just buying something with mora doesn’t feel special enough.”
Ying’er smiled wider. “Only the most special for our Yuheng, right Zhao?”
He stammered and she laughed.
“I… I’m only trying to show my appreciation! She took the chance on me, and I’ve almost been her assistant for a year she deserves it! I gotta go, I’ll be back later Ms. Ying’er!”
Zhao ran out the door and looked up at the sun again.
“Okay…. Oh yeah Northland Bank! I should make it in time!”
It was only 9:30 now, but to save some time, Zhao’s vision glew again and a pillar of Geo shot out from under his feet, and he jumped up towards Northland Bank.
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“Well, well, well look who it is!” He said when Zhao walked in. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you Zhao!”
“Oh, Mr. Childe I didn’t know you were here!” Zhao said, shaking his hand as he got inside Northland Bank. “Have you had any meetings with Mr. Zhongli yet?”
“Not yet, but I get the feeling I will soon with the Rite of Descension around the corner,” Childe said as he took the letter from Zhao. “And I thought I said you can drop the Mr. we’re friends after all aren’t we?”
“Ahaha, yeah, but Mr. Zhongli says it’s important to respect people in positions of power,” Zhao said. “Besides, everyone gets the same amount of respect from me until they lose it.”
“Haha, I like that about you Zhao,” Childe said, shaking his hand again. “You better get running, I’m sure we’ll talk again soon. Maybe we’ll have dinner!”
“Sounds good, like you said we are friends after all,” Zhao said, turning back towards the door. “I’ll see you later!”
He burst out the door and right away looked at the sun, and panic set in.
“GAH! 9:45?! I still need to get to the pharmacy!”
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“I picked up your shipment from the docks. Dr. Baizhu!” Zhao said as he finished organizing all that needed to be organized in the pharmacy. “Did you need anything else?”
He was practically bouncing up and down, he was feeling so impatient. He knew getting to the spot Hu Tao needed him on Mt. Tianheng would only take a moment, but he didn’t want to risk being late, he never knew how long things with her took!
The doctor smiled at him from behind the desk but sighed. “Aha, thank you Zhao. You’re as dependable as ever. However, can I impose upon you one more request?”
“I… well…” Zhao said slowly, looking at the position of the sun which surely said he would soon be late, but he sighed and nodded. “Of course, what is it?”
“Qiqi went out to Mt. Tianheng to gather some herbs for me, but she hasn’t gotten back yet,” The Doctor said with another sigh. “I’m sure she’s fine, but do you mind going and checking on her for me?”
“Mt. Tianheng? I’m going there anyone, no worries Dr. Baizhu!” Zhao said, turning and rushing out the door.
“Thank you as always Zhao!” The Doctor yelled after him, as Zhao burst outside and looked at the mountain looming over Yuehi Pavillion.
“Ugh… this is what I get for sleeping in!” Zhao scolded himself, before taking off in a run.
After making sure no people were around that could get hurt, his vision exploded with light and the ground right underneath him shook. A blade of geo shot out from beneath him and launched him up into the air towards the mountain.
As he soared he looked down at the pavilion and bit his lip.
“I can totally make it!”
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“Um… maybe I can’t,” Zhao said as he came down towards the ground and saw the situation. “QIQI!”
He saw the zombie girl he was so fond of surrounded by hilichurls led by an Abyss Mage. Of course he knew Qiqi had both a vision and a knack for getting herself out of trouble, but he was taking no chances.
The long and saber-bladed claymore appeared in his hands and just as Qiqi looked up Zhao hit the ground. As his sword dug into the ground, blades of geo shot out from around him in a circle, all the hilichurls yelled as they were either hit with the blades of geo or knocked backwards from the effect.
“Oh, hi Zhao,” Qiqi said from next to him, seemingly unaffected.
“Hi Qiqi,” Zhao said, looking up. “Dr. Baizhu wants-.”
The icy spear from the abyss mage was easily knocked out of the air. Zhao looked up and saw the abyss mage and hilichurls regrouping. Sighing, he looked at Qiqi.
“Just wait here Qiqi!”
“Okay… Qiqi will wait.”
Zhao turned and dashed forwards, he knocked another ice spear out of the sky as well as multiple crossbow bolts and arrows. The first hilichurl was sent flying by his sword and behind him Zhao closed his fist and saw his vision spring to life. Blade of Geo shot from the sky and hit another group just as he turned back around more ice came from the Abyss Mage.
“I thought I felt demonic activity yesterday!” Zhao said as the ground beneath him shook and shot into the air holding the claymore in one hand.
A swirl of adepti sigils appeared around him, and just as the Abyss Mage shot back up another shield of cryo energy but the sky glew above him. With a swing of his hand downwards a massive pillar of stone slammed downwards. It crashed through the cryo shield and knocked aside any hilichurls that were still moving as well. The Abyss Mage was thrown backwards against the mountain, and that was when Zhao came down.
The sigils shot down with him and the ground shook, but Zhao slashed, and his sword easily cleaved the Abyss Mage into two before it disappeared into dust.
Zhao looked down at the smoke and bodies of hilichurls worriedly. There’s been a lot more monsters and demonic activity too close to Liyue lately… I should mention it to Lady Keqing today.
“Wow, that was so cool Zhao,” Qiqi’s tired voice said followed by clapping.
Zhao turned and nearly jumped. “GAH! Qiqi! You should get… GAH I’M LATE!”
He looked up at the sun in the sky and realized it was nearly 10o’clock.
He sighed and turned back to Qiqi. “Well, if I’m late because I’m getting you back she’ll understand-.”
A loud BOOM in the distance, followed by a smokey smell made Zhao and Qiqi turn.
Zhao saw the ploom of smoke and groaned. Yeah no that’s definitely her…
“Sorry Qiqi, I know she scares you, but we gotta help Hu Tao!” Zhao yelled picking Qiqi up in his arms and jumping.
“Qiqi understands, Qiqi… ahhhhhh!”
Qiqi even sounded tired when she yelled as the ground beneath Zhao shot him up into the air again.
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“Mhm, so it’s just like I thought, it wasn’t just some evil spirit,” Hu Tao said, before Zhao saw her look up. “Ah! There you are little brother, oooohhh and you brought cute Qiqi along too what-.”
“LOOK OUT!” Zhao yelled as he swung his sword when he landed again. Qiqi jumped off his back, and Zhao growled as he turned back to Hu Tao. “I thought you said it was just an unruly spirit!”
“That’s what I thought at first, but the more I thought about it on my way here, and during the ritual, I realized,” Hu said as they were surrounded, sounding completely unbothered. “I realized that this was much, much more!”
“YOU THINK?!” Zhao panicked as the two massive stonehide lawachurls and now a pyro Abyss Mage closed in.
Zhao looked and sighed when he saw the remnants of an old Adepti seal that was probably responsible for the paranormal activity they had both been going to investigate. He couldn’t think of why more Abyss Mages would be so close to Liyue, but he didn’t have time to think.
“Yes I do think!” Hu Tao said, grabbing hold of Qiqi. “That’s why I brought you! Go forth little brother and defeat these ghastly foes! I’ll take care of Qiqi!”
“Uh… Qiqi doesn’t like being so close to-.”
“BEHIND YOU!”
Zhao saw one lawachurls rush from behind them and try to snatch the two of them up. Zhao shot up his hand and more sigils appeared, and more importantly geo surrounded both shielding them with what Zhao knew was nearly impenetrable geo. The lawachurls jumped back when his hand bounced off the shield and Zhao leapt up.
His sword smashed against the lawachurls fist and bounced off it, and when he was falling back Zhao’s vision glew. A wall of geo shot up and he managed to use it as a springboard to leap back to it. The other lawachurls rushed as well, and when he hit the floor, Zhao smashed his sword into the ground and it started to shake. Hu Tao and Qiqi with their shields stumbled, but geo energy was making the ground beneath them quake. The lawachurls finally stumbled, and Zhao yelled as he leapt up and a massive blade of geo erupted from his claymore.
He swung down and it finally managed to cut deep and sever one of the lawachurls arms. His claymore cut through the geo and the beast roared while the other tried to smash Zhao out of the air. However, before his fist could hit him, Zhao landed and with one stomp of his foot into the ground, a blade of geo erupted from the ground and pierced through its arm.
Zhao took the chance and leapt up as the creature was stuck and cut through its arm with another blade of geo, and when he landed from his leap he turned back around and yelled, slamming his sword into the ground.
Dozens of blades of geo shot up and towards the two, they pierced through them and sent them flying backwards dead. Just before he could celebrate a victory however, he felt hot, he turned and brought up a wall of geo to block the Abyss Mages fire. Seeing his last remaining enemy Zhao swung his claymore upwards through the air, the saber like blade glew the color of geo, and with his other hand Zhao drew the correct sigils in the air and recited the incantation he’d known his whole life but somehow didn’t remember where he learned it from.
“Mind be purged, world be saved, unshakeable earth!”
He slammed the sword downwards and like before the ground beneath them started quaking. The wave of geo shot towards the Abyss Mage and the blades pierced through its shield and through the evil creature itself and the moment it disappeared, the blade of geo disappeared as well.
When all was quiet Zhao finally sighed and held a hand against his chest. He knew that a normal person should have been exhausted after expending so much elemental energy, but Zhao only felt his heartrate shoot up, the energy that surged within him felt almost immeasurable, and at the moment he felt like he could fight a thousand Abyss Mages.
But still, Lady Keqing should know about these monsters, he thought, shaking his head. And maybe I can ask Ganyu as well, maybe the Adepti will know something-.
“Wow, that was even cooler then last time Zhao,” Qiqi said, clapping again.
“She’s right! AH! What a dazzling display by my brilliant little brother!” Hu Tao squealed also clapping as well.
Zhao turned and with a wave, the shield around them both disappeared.
“Thanks… but I don’t like this,” Zhao told them before looking up at the sky. “Monsters so close to the Rite of Descension, it doesn’t…. AHHH! I’M GONNA BE LATE-.”
“Um… what is that?” Hu Tao asked as the ground started shaking.
“Qiqi thinks Zhao made the ground shake again,” Qiqi said, as Hu Tao reached out and grabbed him along with Qiqi.
The ground beneath them sure enough was shaking again. Zhao blushed out of embarrassment as he knew that Qiqi was right, him moving the ground beneath them so much was more then likely what was causing so much movement. He looked down and saw Yuehi Pavillion on the distance, and panic started setting in.
“We need to get off the mountain!” He yelled, grabbing Qiqi in his arms and letting Hu Tao jump on his back. “Come on let’s-ARGHHHHHHH!”
“AAHHHHHHH WOOHOOOO!”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Zhao had meant to push off the ground and into the air with a pillar of geo like normal, but the shaking of the ground made him lose his balance and concentration at the last second.
So now, he flew through the air towards Yuehi Pavillion flailing everywhere with Hu Tao and Qiqi both hanging off of him.
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At Yuehi Pavillion
“Lady Keqing…are you okay?” Ganyu asked her.
Keqing would admit she was pacing, it was partly from the amount of work she knew had to be done today, but mostly from the fact the person she’d come to rely on to help her shoulder at least part of the load wasn’t there yet.
“I… I’m fine,” She said, turning from the railing overlooking the city. “Ganyu, have you seen Zhao today?”
Ganyu as usual looked tired but held a finger to her chin thinking. “Oh, Zhao? I… believe I saw him flying through the air earlier heading towards the docks.”
“That’s normal, he always goes to help there before he comes here,” She said, looking towards the docks. “But he hasn’t come to Yuehi Pavillion yet?”
“No, not yet. He normally brings me tea, and we drink some together before he goes to see you,” Ganyu admitted. “But he hasn’t shown up yet today. Are you worried about him?”
Keqing stammered and hesitated. “I… no, of course not, he can handle himself. I just… he’s normally here by now. It’s not like him to be late.”
“But he isn’t late yet right? He says his start time is normally 10:30,” The secretary reminded her. “I know he’s normally here an hour early, but perhaps he just got caught up at one of his other jobs.”
Keqing stammered again. She didn’t want to admit to anyone that the hour from 9:30 when Zhao normally arrived, to 10:30 when his official duties as her assistant began, were precious to her, as she enjoyed having a brief period of time where she didn’t have to focus solely on work.
“I… I… of course you’re probably right!” She said trying to have finality in her voice. “Besides, if he doesn’t want to show up early, that’s fine, it’s not a requirement.”
A small smile grew on Ganyu’s face. “Of course, you’ve just grown used to it is all, correct?”
“Yes!” Keqing said, shaking her head. “He’s lasted longer than any assistant I’ve ever had, and I appreciate his punctuality.”
“Among other things,” Ganyu added.
“Y…yes, among other things!” Keqing said, before sighing as she looked up at the sky. “But still, it is almost 10:30, I wonder where… Huh?! Earthquake!”
“Hold on!” Ganyu yelled as she grabbed onto the railing with Keqing.
A few people yelled as the ground started shaking. She looked right away up at the mountain for fear of an avalanche, but as fast as the tremors started they ended. The momentary fright gone, Keqing looked to Ganyu who was looking at the sky.
“That was a bit odd…” She said, shaking her head. “We’ve had a few of those the last few months, but we… Ganyu?”
“Um… Lady Keqing, I think I found-.”
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“AHAHAHAHAHA WOHOOOOO!”
“HEADS UUUUUUPPPPPPP!”
Keqing and Ganyu both went wide eyed and jumped backwards as they looked up and saw someone falling down towards them. From the middle of Yuehi Pavillion where things were already being prepped for the Rite of Descension, a wall of geo shot upwards.
Whoever was falling slammed into it, and that was when Keqing noticed it was three people and not only one. They all hit it and rolled down the blade of geo, and the minute they hit the ground the geo wall disappeared.
And one of the people rolled and found himself at her feet, his eyes tired with a sick look on his face, and when he blinked and realized she was standing over him he weakly held a hand to his chest like a Milileth salute.
“Z…. Zhao?!” Keqing yelled, her voice not hiding how worried she was now.
Zhao groaned, sounding like he was going to be sick, but nodded. “R…reporting for duty for the day… Lady Keqing.”
His head fell back and he was unconscious. Keqing’s jaw went slack as her worry intensified.
“AHAHAHA that was so much fun!” A disheveled Hu Tao said shooting to her feet.
“Qiqi doesn’t wanna do that again….” The tiny zombie girl said holding her head.
Keqing stammered as she looked from them back down at her unconscious assistant. He light fluffy gray hair was sprawled out behind him and he started groaning as he suddenly opened his eyes and clamped a hand over his mouth.
“I’ll go get Dr. Baizhu!” Ganyu said worriedly as she ran from the terrace.
Keqing only sighed as Zhao suddenly opened his eyes, turned and got sick all over the ground. He slowly turned back and seemed worried she was gonna scold him, with a pale sick looking face he nervously.
“Ha… s…sorry I didn’t get here when I normally do Lady Keqing…”
She could only sigh and couldn’t hold a smile back.
“You’re the only one who would apologize for not being an hour early,” She sighed, before letting her smile grow. “Just, get some rest for a few hours I’ll be fine on my own. And before you ask, yes that’s an order.”
There had been plenty of times she’d told him to take a day or any amount of time off from his duties, but he had an annoying habit of showing up anyway incase she ‘changed her mind and needed him’, which she found incredibly sweet but also knew was dangerous.
This time, however, Zhao just nodded and let his head fall back on the ground.
“U…understood,” He said before covering his mouth again. “But I… I think I’m gonna be sick again.”