The Essence of Poetry

The Essence of Poetry was a temporary daily commission that started in Wangshu Inn, Liyue. It was available during the Unreconciled Stars event.
==Steps==
#Talk to Qingzhou
#Convince Qingzhou to avoid the meteorites
;If he was convinced (branch 1)
#Get three Silk Flowers or Mist Flowers
#Report back to Qingzhou
;If not convinced (branch 2)
#Defeat all the opponents
#* According to multiple people who've reached this branch, the enemies don't spawn so it may not have been possible to complete the commission through branch 2.
==Rewards==
==Dialogue==
;(Talking to Qingzhou)
:Qingzhou: Hmm... No, this verse will not do. It won't do at all. *sigh* I really must go and see for myself...
: Is something the matter?
:Qingzhou: How do you fare this day, my liege? My name is Qingzhou. I might add that I consider myself a poet, if I may be so bold.
:Qingzhou: By some strange chance, I received a single strain of poetic inspiration of late, but I have yet to find a continuation worthy of its brilliance since...
:Qingzhou: Recently, the skies have been strange, and meteorites have fallen in flame to the earth. It is truly a rare sight to see on this mortal plane.
:Qingzhou: It came to my mind that if I were to gain some inspiration from observing up close, that next, elusive sentence in my poem may yet surface...
: Th—That might not be appropriate...
:Qingzhou: Not appropriate? Whatever might you mean by that?
----
;(Talking to Qingzhou again)
:Qingzhou: What are you referring to as "inappropriate"?
: You'll be knocked unconscious if you touch those meteorites...
:Qingzhou: Ah, I've heard tell of this. But if I but observe them up close, nothing untoward will befall me, yes?
: Can you guarantee that you won't touch them?
:Qingzhou: W—Well, I shall exercise restraint.
;(Friendship gauge appears with 3 out of 5 Hearts)
;First statement
: There are monsters near those meteorites.
::Qingzhou: Haha, of course. I have traversed many a place in Liyue, and have seen many a foul beast. If the road is indeed too dangerous, then I shall just hire a guard.
: There's a better way to view those meteorites.
::Qingzhou: A better way, you say? ...Hmm, you do have a point. If I but gaze into the meteor's fame, but ignore all that surrounds it, would that not be overly narrow of me?
:;(Friendship Improved, +1 Heart)
: You can write poetry from here, can't you?
::Qingzhou: That simply won't do, my liege. If I stay cloistered and safe all my life, then what would the poems I write be, if not the groans of the healthy, or the pontifications of a fool?
;Second statement
: Will looking at a meteorite really inspire you?
::Qingzhou: Ah, you think too little of me, my liege. Were I to gaze upon one, I would surely write you a fine verse.
: But if you were to fall into a slumber...
::Qingzhou: Of this you need not fret, my liege. I shall show the utmost restraint. Yet, if the meteorites do indeed consign people to slumber, one wonders what they dream of...
::Qingzhou: Yes, how very curious... Ahem! I was merely theorizing. Do not worry, I will not put myself at such a risk.
:;(No change)
: Not everything you write has to shock the world, right?
::Qingzhou: You speak truly — the best verses are divinely inspired, and the finest hands are guided by chance. And yet, this verse has plagued me for far too long. I must continue it somehow...
;Third statement
: Are you sure that you can deal with the risks?
::Qingzhou: Well, I will bring a guard with me, naturally — just in case.
:: It might be difficult to hire someone right now.
::Qingzhou: Um... hmm. Yes, that's... You make a good question, my liege.
:;(Friendship Improved, +1 Heart)
: Inspiration doesn't guarantee good execution.
::Qingzhou: Haha, Now, I do not mean to brag, my liege. But though I, Qingzhou, may lack talent, I have still published many a popular verse. You need not worry on my behalf.
: Your writing's pretty good already.
::Qingzhou: I am unworthy of such praise. But alas, how can a poet live with themselves if they cannot write poetry?
:Qingzhou: I have heard your advice, my liege, and I will heed it.
:Qingzhou: As to whether we should approach the crash site or not, allow me to give it a little more consideration...
:;(Proceed to Branch 1 or Branch 2 depending on whether Qingzhou was convinced)
===Branch 1===
;(If the player convinced Qingzhou not to seek out the meteorites)
:Qingzhou: I have given your words much thought, my liege, and valid are your concerns. I shall not risk myself unnecessarily by seeking those meteorites out.
: That's good...
:Qingzhou: What's more, a unique stroke does not good poetry make. It is in the many fine details that one's broader quality may be judged.
:Qingzhou: We may be able to compose a fine verse from a flower or some other small object. Yet the number of poems written in praise of flora are many indeed...
:Qingzhou: Hmm... It is said that outsiders see clearly, yes? Well then, Traveler, what sort of flower do you think I as reference for composing my poem?
: The Silk Flower, perhaps?
::Qingzhou: That seems a fair choice. Even with the skies as they are, the Silk Flowers still bloom as they always have.
::Qingzhou: There may be some values in juxtaposing the two...
::Qingzhou: Could you gather three Silk Flowers for me, then? Perhaps having the objects close at hand may light my path.
:: Got it.
::Qingzhou: You have my utmost thanks, my liege.
: Mist Flowers, perhaps?
::Qingzhou: Mist Flowers. Hmm... There could be potential in comparing the falling meteorites to Mist Flowers.
::Qingzhou: May I ask you to help me gather three Mist Flowers? Perhaps having such objects close at hand may light my path.
:: Sure.
::Qingzhou: You have my utmost thanks, my liege.
----
;(Returning to Qingzhou with the flowers)
:Qingzhou: Have you gathered the (Mist/Silk) Flowers?
: I have them right here.
:Qingzhou: Excellent. I shall receive them gladly.
;(Give Qingzhou three (Mist/Silk) Flowers)
:Qingzhou: *sigh* Inspiration is indeed hard to come by...
:Qingzhou: You have my thanks, my liege. This gift is unworthy by comparison, but do accept it.
:Qingzhou: Flowers and meteorites... Now that certainly is new.
===Branch 2===
;(If the player failed to convince Qingzhou to not seek out the meteorites)
:Qingzhou: I have given your words much thought, my liege, but the meteorites are too rare a sight to be missed. I will go nonetheless.
: You...
:Qingzhou: But if I were to immediately go close to those meteorites, I fear I might be attracted by them only, thus missing the world around them.
:Qingzhou: A poet's worst nightmare is to have eyes for one thing only. If I were to merely observe those meteorites, I doubt that anything good should come from my brush.
:Qingzhou: So I shall first observe them from afar, taking in the surroundings, before moving in for a closer look...
:Qingzhou: And then... Hmm, wait. With so many monsters on the road, and no one to accompany me...
:Qingzhou: Traveler, perhaps you might be so kind as to dispose of the monsters that might bar our path?
: Okay.
::Qingzhou: Wonderful! Most splendid! I shall be depending on you, then.
: Just promise me you won't touch those meteorites...
::Qingzhou: I—I... Alright, I promise. Come now, why would I put myself in harm's way when I know that touching them may put me in an unending slumber?
::Qingzhou: Yet, one wonders what those consigned to such torpor by the meteorites might dream of...
::Qingzhou: *coughs* I—I was just joking! Please help me deal with those monsters.
;(Defeat the opponents — not completable due to a bug)
==Other Languages==
==Change History==
==Navigation==
es:La esencia de la poesía
pt-br:A Essência da Poesia