The Tales Behind the Fan

The Tales Behind the Fan is a World Quest in Liyue.
==Steps==
# Walk around Liyue Harbor
==Gameplay Notes==
* In Version 2.7, the quest item "Archaic Stone" would abnormally disappear after completing this quest. This was fixed in Version 2.8.
==Dialogue==
;(Enter Liyue Harbor)
:Paimon: It's been quite the trip, huh? Let's go down to Liyue Harbor for a walk to clear our heads a bit, shall we?
:Paimon: So, , do you wanna talk to someone about this?
:Paimon: We can try our luck and see if we can find the person there!
;(Approach the quest area)
:Paimon: Look, he really is over there!
:Paimon: Hey! Zhongli!
:Zhongli: Oh, it's you two.
:Paimon: We came to ask you about something!
:Zhongli: Would you mind waiting for a moment? I'm currently in the middle of something.
:Paimon: What are you busy with?
:Paimon: Speaking of which, to think you managed to return so quickly... What speed!
:Iron Tongue Tian: Ah, Zhongli, are these your friends? They often come here to look for you.
:Zhongli: Ah, yes. They are old acquaintances of mine.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Splendid. Since you two are also here, could you help me persuade Zhongli to sell his Archaic Stone, please?
:Paimon: Archaic Stone? What would you want one of those for?
:Iron Tongue Tian: Do you not know? Archaic Stone is highly sought-after now. It's not even a matter of price, for there is barely any supply on the market.
:Iron Tongue Tian: I was telling stories as usual today, and Zhongli dropped by as usual, too. Somehow we talked about my "Through the Eyes of a Dragon" — one of my finest works, if I do say so myself.
: Oh, you mean that story.
: I love to go back over it from time to time.
:Iron Tongue Tian: It's a good one, isn't it? Hehe, Zhongli also says that my storytelling is superb.
:Iron Tongue Tian: At first, I thought he was just an erudite gentleman who knew a lot about folk culture. But as it turns out, he's also well-versed in history and mythology. So, now I often trouble him with the various questions I've got.
:Zhongli: The pleasure is all mine.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Don't be so modest! You've helped me a lot! But come to think of it, the act of chatting is pleasurable only because you're talking to the right person. Zhongli, for instance, is a good chatting companion with many fantastic ideas and — to be honest — lots of far-fetched theories too, haha!
:Iron Tongue Tian: There was this one time when I told him, "See, my story first tells of how Rex Lapis carved Azhdaha out of a magical rock and then elaborates on how they fought side-by-side across the four corners of the world. Isn't that just mesmerizing?"
:Iron Tongue Tian: Yet he said: "The story is a true masterpiece save for some inaccurate details. According to some researchers, Rex Lapis may not have possessed the skills required to create such a work of craftsmanship."
: ...
:Iron Tongue Tian: What a bummer! And there was also another time when I told him about the serpent of Qingce Village. He didn't buy the story at all, saying it was too good to be true for the serpent to transform into a beautiful landscape.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Hmm, I wonder if too much knowledge can stifle imagination? What a shame that someone as well-cultured as Zhongli should fail to appreciate the aesthetics of artistic creation.
:Zhongli: I can hardly object to your criticism. I shall keep it in mind.
:Zhongli: But your stories are always marked by wild imaginations. I just point out what I notice as an ordinary listener and hope that it might be of use to you.
:Zhongli: Since storytelling requires a sharp mind, I am sure a storyteller such as you can certainly understand where I'm coming from — those are the heartfelt reactions from a devoted audience member.
:Iron Tongue Tian: You're right! I know your good intentions. You want me to become the best storyteller in Liyue Harbor, right?
: (I don't think you quite get it...)
: (He just means to say that the details in your stories aren't correct...)
:Paimon: Why are we talking about stories here? What has this gotta do with the Archaic Stone?
:Iron Tongue Tian: Ah, yes, back on topic, back on top. So, I told "Through the Eyes of a Dragon" again the other day.
:Paimon: Aren't you ever worried that your audience will get bored if you always tell the same story?
:Iron Tongue Tian: Some stories are worth being told time after time, forever and ever!
:Zhongli: His stories are meant to be told repeatedly. It takes time and creativity to come up with new plots, after all.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Ah, see? Zhongli really gets me. Anyway, that day, a miner — the leader of a mining crew — was out for work and happened to pass by while I was telling the story. He told me...
:Iron Tongue Tian: Well, do you know about The Chasm? There's a type of incredibly beautiful stone to be found in that place. Such stones have a faint and exquisite luster.
:Iron Tongue Tian: You can find them somewhere in a long and winding tunnel in The Chasm. Hmm, what did he say... I think "tunnel" is the word he used, right?
:Zhongli: You could probably say that.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Huh, The Chasm must be quite the mysterious place, if even someone as well-traveled as Zhongli has never been there.
:Iron Tongue Tian: I guess that's got to be because no one was allowed to go in until recently when mining operations resumed — and I only heard about that from others.
:Zhongli: Ah, yes, indeed.
:Iron Tongue Tian: The miner said that the stone springs forth within a tunnel. No one knows who built it. All they know is that the tunnel meanders forward as if created by someone dragging something colossal down.
:Iron Tongue Tian: The sheer view of it is most awe-inspiring, apparently! Some say that the place might have perhaps been an ancient battlefield.
:Iron Tongue Tian: But who fought there? We may never know. So I thought that Rex Lapis and Azhdaha could have fought there.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Actually, I've been working on a new story lately. It'd be nice if I could put this plot into it, so I thought!
:Iron Tongue Tian: So I invited Zhongli over to ask for his ideas, and to my surprise, he is in possession of an Archaic Stone. He said he bought it from a merchant at the market.
:Iron Tongue Tian: He's got good taste, and he wouldn't miss a true treasure. I was thinking that the stone could make an ideal testament to my story, so if Zhongli doesn't object, I'd like to purchase the stone as a memento.
:Paimon: Zhongli, are you really gonna sell him the stone?
:Zhongli: Yes. Tian is an ingenious storyteller, and I enjoy his stories very much. It's my pleasure to be able to contribute to his creation.
:Paimon: Eh!?
:Zhongli: That said, if I sold him the stone, it would undermine the credibility of his story. As we have discussed before, Rex Lapis sealed Azhdaha underground.
:Zhongli: According to experts, there are many caves and mining tunnels in The Chasm. It would be a constant disturbance to people there if Azhdaha really was sealed there. Would Rex Lapis not have considered that?
:Paimon: Hmm, that makes sense!
:Iron Tongue Tian: You're right... Rex Lapis wouldn't have done something so careless.
: Yup, that's a good point.
:Iron Tongue Tian: *sigh* To be honest, I'd wanted to exchange my favorite folding fan for Zhongli's Archaic Stone...
:Paimon: Huh? There's an illustration on it...
:Iron Tongue Tian: I love to have this fan in hand while telling "Through the Eyes of a Dragon." Upon it is drawn a dragon soaring into the skies, its body free to roam the world and its spirit unbound to aim high. It's an inspiring view.
:Paimon: Whoa... This sorta fan's really rare. Y'know, even Paimon wants it now.
:Paimon: Oh, right! Don't we have an Archaic Stone too?
:Iron Tongue Tian: R—Really!? Then would you mind giving it to me? You can have my folding fan!
:Zhongli: Might I have a word? The Archaic Stone is precious indeed, and your folding fan is also a work of art. I would advise against exchanging them as you would ordinary goods.
:Iron Tongue Tian: W—Well, if you say so... Actually, you know, I have more than one such fan...
:Zhongli: You drew the illustrations on them, and that already makes them special. Anyone who enjoys your storytelling will rejoice if they were given such a generous gift.
:Iron Tongue Tian: Really? Hmm, you're right. I truly am fortunate to have devoted listeners who understand my stories, and I couldn't ask for more than that, could I? To be honest, I made these fans so that I could one day gift them to like-minded audiences.
:Iron Tongue Tian: And you certainly are such audiences, so they were always meant to be yours. Please wait here for me to fetch them.
:
: Can I really keep this?
:Iron Tongue Tian: Of course. You are my audience, and that makes you a worthy recipient. Besides, I've made several such fans. So, don't worry, just take it.
:Iron Tongue Tian: And Zhongli, there's no need to be formal with me either! It's just a hand-made fan. I hope it's not too meager a gift for you.
:Zhongli: ...
:Zhongli: I'll gladly take it. Thank you.
:Zhongli: An exquisite work of art indeed. It is truly something worth treasuring.
:Paimon: Ah, right! Actually, we came to ask Zhongli about something. Can we talk to him for a moment?
:Iron Tongue Tian: Ah, have I taken up too much of your time? Oh dear. Well then, please, go ahead.
:Zhongli: There is no need to apologize. You have my gratitude.
:Paimon: Zhongli, were you at The Chasm? And you saved us too, didn't you?
: Thank you.
:Paimon: Xiao also said that he wouldn't have been able to escape without your help.
:Zhongli: Oh? Did he say so? Interesting.
:Zhongli: How time flies — even he has learned to open up to others.
:Paimon: So, what were you doing at The Chasm?
:Zhongli: Hmm? Was I at The Chasm? How curious. I must admit that this is the first time that I'm hearing of such a thing.
:Paimon: Huh!? Stop playing dumb!
:Zhongli: Haha, why would I "play dumb"? Hmm, this fan is of high quality indeed.
:Paimon: Zhongli!?
:Zhongli: ...Now that I am on vacation, I just take my time and walk around. I'd say that anything I run into is a happenstance of fate, for which I shall take no credit.
:Zhongli: Come to think of it, it's nice to travel to different places and witness many things in this vast world. They always bring old memories back.
: Do you miss the past?
:Zhongli: Not at all. I'm a mortal now, and being mortal means living in the present.
:Zhongli: A dragon soaring into the skies, its body free to roam the world and its spirit unbound to aim high... Most inspiring indeed.
:Zhongli: With much to be perceived in the four corners of the world and much to marvel at amongst mountains and waters, I believe I must travel still more in the future.
==Other Languages==
==Change History==
ja:扇底春秋
ru:Ход времён под сенью веера