Genshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Yelan x Shenhe – For Whom the Love Trap is Set (Part 2)

Maple Leaves Convey Affection, Inviting Companionship

On the winding path back to Liyue Harbor, a deep, lingering quiet settled between the two women.

“It seems today is my lucky day,” Yelan said, breaking the silence first. She cast a sidelong glance at Shenhe. “First, you saved me. Then I received excellent medicine. And finally, even that troublesome array was resolved.”

“What is a lucky day?” Shenhe asked, her voice as flat and unreadable as a still pond.

A hint of surprise flashed through Yelan’s eyes, quickly melting into a much deeper, knowing smile.

“A lucky day is… when you are fully prepared to break an array all on your own, but you happen to meet a highly reliable companion. When you expect to return injured, but you receive excellent medicine instead.” Yelan tilted her head slightly, the evening breeze catching her dark hair. “It is like rolling the highest number three times in a row when throwing dice… though I suppose you probably do not know what dice are.”

Shenhe indeed did not know. She pondered the concept seriously for a moment, her brow furrowing just a fraction. “When I cultivate, I often travel alone through the deep mountains. If I encounter danger, I can only resolve it myself. Today’s matter was merely a request from Ningguang.”

“So for you, meeting me today isn’t lucky?” Yelan asked, her tone laced with amusement as she closed the distance between them by a single, deliberate step.

“Master once said that all things have cause and effect. Our meeting today may simply be due to a past fate, regardless of whether it is considered lucky or not,” Shenhe replied, her gaze fixed straight ahead as they walked. “It is like the clouds and mist drifting through the mountains. Their gathering and dispersing follow the natural laws of the world. There is no need for joy, nor is there any need for regret.”

“You are right, of course. But for us mortals, encountering a reliable companion is something worth celebrating.” Yelan bent down gracefully, picking up a perfectly intact fallen maple leaf from the edge of the dirt path. She twirled the crimson stem between her slender fingers before gently pressing it into Shenhe’s open palm. “Take this leaf, for instance. It fell before us today—a choice made by the wind, and its ultimate destiny. But I still feel it is incredibly lucky to witness its perfect shape.”

Shenhe gazed down at the vibrant maple leaf resting in her hand. She could still feel the intentional—or perhaps unintentional—brush of Yelan’s fingertips against her bare palm, leaving behind a faint, ticklish heat. She fell silent, lost in thought. She had cultivated in the mountains for many years and had seen countless fallen leaves blanket the earth, but she had never once stopped to consider whether their shapes were perfect.

“Speaking of which…” Yelan watched closely as Shenhe carefully tucked the maple leaf into the wide sleeve of her garment. Her tone was as casual as if she were merely discussing the weather. “How about joining me for a while later? I know a rather good restaurant down in Liyue Harbor. Consider it my way of returning the favor for your help today.”

Shenhe’s steady footsteps did not falter. Her gaze remained calmly fixed on the winding mountain path stretching out before them. “Cultivators do not focus on the desires of the palate. I usually focus on chewing raw Qingxin to aid my cultivation, so there is no need for a special meal.”

“Not even for a cup of clear tea?” Yelan turned her head to look fully at her, a glint of playful inquiry shining in her eyes. “I remember that day at the Jade Chamber. You did not refuse to stand there and enjoy the scenery with me.”

“That day was different.” Shenhe paused slightly, the memory surfacing in her mind. “Master once said that cultivating in the mundane world is also a form of cultivation. Observing the countless forms of human life and listening to the hustle and bustle of the mortal markets are all methods for tempering the heart.”

“If that is the case, isn’t observing the countless forms of human life from inside a restaurant also a form of cultivation?” Yelan chuckled softly, her fingers lightly brushing against the drooping branches lining the roadside. “The window seat in this particular restaurant offers a perfect view of Liyue Harbor’s most bustling street. The passing crowds, the hawkers shouting their wares—it is all much more real and grounded than what you can see from high up in the Jade Chamber.”

Yelan’s smooth persistence caught Shenhe slightly off guard. She opened her mouth, fully intending to refuse once more, but her eyes caught sight of the freshly bandaged spot on Yelan’s arm. Unbidden, the memory of the cool, damp touch she had felt while treating the wound surfaced in her mind.

“If you insist,” Shenhe replied softly, her voice yielding just a fraction. “But I only need a cup of plain water.”

She caught a fleeting flash of triumphant amusement dancing in Yelan’s eyes, as if the intelligence agent hadn’t actually expected her to agree so easily.

“Alright. As you wish.”

Tea Fragrance Lingers, Affection Quietly Blooms

By the time they arrived, the countless lights of thousands of homes had begun to light up one after another, casting a warm, golden glow over the city.

Yelan led Shenhe through the densely packed, bustling market district, eventually arriving at a restaurant that appeared ordinary on the outside but exuded a quiet, refined elegance within. Just as Yelan had promised, their table offered an unobstructed view of Liyue Harbor’s most prosperous, vibrant street.

An enthusiastic waiter hurried over to greet them. Yelan skillfully ordered several signature dishes without even glancing at the menu, finally adding, “And bring us a pot of your absolute best Qingxin tea, brewed exclusively with mountain spring water.”

Shenhe sat perfectly still by the open window, her ethereal presence contrasting sharply with the lively atmosphere as she watched the sea of people flowing below.

The rhythmic cries of the street hawkers, the bright laughter of chasing children, the heavy wooden clatter of carriage wheels rolling over uneven cobblestones—all of this was deeply unfamiliar to her.

Decades of isolated cultivation had accustomed her to maintaining a vast, unbridgeable distance from this worldly clamor.

“Look,” Yelan murmured, pouring a cup of the freshly delivered, steaming clear tea for Shenhe. As she handed the delicate ceramic cup over, her fingers gently draped over Shenhe’s hand. “These ordinary, bustling scenes are sometimes far harder to comprehend than any deep Immortal art.”

Shenhe accepted the teacup. The rising steam slightly blurred her vision, but she found it entirely impossible to ignore the lingering, phantom warmth resting on the back of her hand.

“Why are you so insistent on treating me to this meal?” Shenhe asked, her tone direct.

Yelan rested her chin gracefully on her palm. Her sharp, beautiful gaze locked onto Shenhe’s face, remaining entirely motionless for a long, stretched moment. “Perhaps it is because I am simply very curious. I want to know how someone who completely avoids partaking in worldly affairs views these most ordinary, mundane matters.”

She leaned forward across the table, lowering her voice so that the rich timbre of her words was meant only for the two of them. Her eyes held a deep, swirling undercurrent of meaning that Shenhe could not quite decipher. “Or perhaps, I just wanted an excuse to spend a little more time with you.”

Shenhe lowered her eyes, staring deeply into the clear, rippling tea in her cup. Yelan’s softly spoken words stirred strange, unfamiliar ripples within her own heart. The arduous cultivation path she followed heavily emphasized absolute purity and emotional detachment. Yet, right now, Yelan’s elusive, teasing closeness and that heavily meaningful gaze made her feel a long-unfamiliar sense of disquiet.

She subconsciously glanced down at the red ropes bound tightly across her body. They showed no signs of loosening, yet the tension in her chest remained.

“I do not understand.” Shenhe looked back up, meeting Yelan’s intense gaze directly. “Why do you want to spend more time with me?”

Yelan gently swirled the tea in her cup, a faint, captivating smile playing on her lips. Hearing Shenhe’s blunt, unvarnished question, she smoothly countered, “What do you think?”

The vibrant city lights outside the window twinkled brightly, reflecting in Yelan’s deep eyes like a sprawling galaxy. Looking into them, Shenhe was suddenly reminded of the vast, endless night sky she occasionally watched while meditating alone in Jueyun Karst.

“I do not know,” Shenhe answered truthfully, her voice dropping a few shades softer than its usual icy cadence.

Yelan leaned further forward, resting her elbows on the polished wooden table and propping her chin on her hand as she studied the white-haired woman. “Shenhe, have you ever seen a Glaze Lily bloom under the moonlight?”

Shenhe shook her head. She had never once cared about flowers blooming.

She had, however, eaten a Glaze Lily before. Upon tasting it, she found it possessed a delicate floral fragrance and a mild sweetness. After swallowing, a faint, refreshing coolness lingered in her throat, and it had made her mood feel remarkably calm and pleasant.

“They emit a faint, ethereal glow under the light of the moon. It is indescribably beautiful,” Yelan said, her voice low, gentle, and dripping with a velvet smoothness. “But if no one ever stops to appreciate it, that beauty loses its meaning.”

Shenhe frowned slightly, her brow pinching. “They bloom and fall according to their nature. It is never for the pleasure of others.”

“You are right.” Yelan chuckled, a rich, melodic sound. “But wouldn’t the act of appreciation make that inherent beauty even more complete?”

Just then, the waiter returned, carefully setting down several exquisite vegetarian dishes and effectively breaking the heavy, subtle tension that had settled between the two women.

“Today, thanks entirely to you, things went incredibly smoothly.” Yelan noticed that Shenhe had made no move to pick up her chopsticks, but she did not press the issue. Instead, she raised her teacup, offering a toast to Shenhe with tea in place of wine.

“It was merely my duty,” Shenhe responded calmly, though her gaze unconsciously drifted back down to Yelan’s bandaged arm. “Your injury…”

“It is perfectly fine now,” Yelan smiled warmly. However, as she raised her arm to drink, she deliberately let out a soft, sharp gasp of pain. The calculated act successfully caught a fleeting, genuine look of worry flashing through Shenhe’s usually impassive eyes. Having achieved her goal, Yelan very naturally shifted the subject. “Speaking of which, your martial skill is even more impressive than the street rumors suggest. Cloud Retainer has taught you remarkably well.”

At the mention of her revered Master, a soft, reverent light flickered in Shenhe’s eyes. “Master treats me exceptionally well.”

“So I have heard.” Yelan nodded slowly. “Immortals raising mortal children isn’t entirely unheard of in Liyue, but every single one of those bonds is entirely unique.”

Shenhe was slightly startled by the casual acceptance. “You… do not find it strange?”

“Why would it be strange?” Yelan countered smoothly, her slender fingertip slowly tracing the delicate ceramic rim of her cup. “The people and things in this world are inherently diverse. Forcibly attempting to measure them all by the exact same standard of common sense is nothing short of foolish.”

The words were spoken with a breezy casualness, yet they brought an unexpected, deep touch of warmth to Shenhe’s guarded heart. Ever since she had returned to the human world, she had heard far too many people express fear, surprise, and blatant incomprehension regarding her existence. Very few had ever accepted her nature so frankly and effortlessly.

“Thank you,” Shenhe said softly, the words carrying a rare, fragile weight.

Yelan smiled. She did not ruin the moment by asking why Shenhe was thanking her; she simply reached over and poured the white-haired cultivator another cup of steaming tea.

Throughout the remainder of the meal, whenever Shenhe occasionally looked up from her cup, she always found Yelan’s gaze already fixed intently upon her.

That gaze was gentle, heavily focused, and deeply observant—as if Shenhe were the most intriguing, beautiful puzzle in the entire world.

“Do you always look at people like that?” Shenhe finally asked, unable to hold the question back any longer.

“Look at people how?”

“As if… you want to see straight through them.”

Yelan gently swirled the teacup in her hand, a deeply affectionate smile blooming in her sharp eyes. “No. Only you.”

The statement was far too direct, leaving Shenhe entirely unsure of how to properly respond. She slowly put down her chopsticks, turning her gaze back out toward the bustling street beyond the window. Yet, even as she watched the city, she could distinctly feel Yelan’s gaze still lingering heavily on her profile—a steady, intimate heat that was absolutely impossible to ignore.