A Heart of Pure Water and a Face of Ice. This reputation proceeded him throughout Liyue, causing him to be the one to call when a spirit was making a fuss, spreading evil and darkness in it’s wake. However, when this commission was rumored to be an Adeptus that had lost control, Chongyun was shocked. Not only was he going to face a powerful Spirit, but an Adeptus at that. Such a powerful deity! Surely he might be able to see it...however, one must not go unprepared for such a journey.
Having packed, and double checked, there was one more thing he wanted to try. He had spoken to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s Consultant. Being typically declined when he asks for accompaniment, he did not have high hopes. That was proven wrong when he was given a yes.
Now they trot through the cold and ice, snow covering every inch of their vision. Blinding white was met with a freezing touch. His slipper sunk into the ground as the snow came up around bare skin. Such an adventure reminded him of a dark time, a time he did not feel like sharing quite yet. The chill, however, that still ran down his spine was ever too familiar.
The frozen flora around them had perked his interest, and he made an offhand comment about it. He looked back over at Zhongli...
“Your lack of warmer clothing...are you certain you will be alright?”
Even if he himself brought no heavier clothing, and still wore his light and breathable outfit, he still voiced concern. Hearing the reply, Chongyun looked up at the foreboding clouds. The warning they gave was clear, and so he nodded in agreement.
“That would be for the best for the incoming storm.”
He spoke as he caught up to Zhongli, looking at the flower that stay crystalized by the cold. He kneels down to get a better look, his eyebrows furrowing in thought.
“Something like this is most unusual. Plants in cold weather usually wilt and end their life cycle, only to continue when it’s warmer....However, it seems as though the flower is being preserved by the cold...”
Standing alongside his companion, Chongyun spoke once more.
“My congenital positivity so far has staved off any spirit that has even been in my vicinity for all of my life. An exorcist that has never seen a spirit... I have been searching for a demon that does not run off due to my appearance for some time now. This might actually be the chance that I get to see my first sight of evil.”
There’s a small bit of hope in his eyes. Though he can feel his body struggling to stay warm at all in this climate, he seems genuinely happy that he could do something he always dreamed of: exhibiting the actions of a true Exorcist. However, he shook his head, remembering to answer the last part of his comment.
“While I cannot deny that it is effective at driving away evil, it is not the work of an experienced exorcist. When all that is required of me to do is to stand still in one area for a period of time to rid that area of evil, it feels as though I am not an exorcist at all. It does not utilize thaumaturgy or martial arts in any capacity, techniques that other exorcists use to master their trade. I have never once used those same techniques passed down in my family for several generations.”
He looks off to the side.
“Being of use means little if I only stand idle.”
He gazes to his right, and then left. Standing here for too long...he shouldn’t have talked so much. They needed to find a shelter, and soon. He perks up when he sees a cave off in the distance, and plunges his feet into the snow once more.
“Over here, quickly. We should be protected from snow and storm inside here.”
