Thread by @Foxypepsi1

DAY (PART) 2 of
#HuaChengWeek2022

🧵Thread fic - Updates DAILY🕒
🏛️ A #hualian museum visit
Post-Canon, Modern, POV Outsider

Collab with @Ying_anSanren (2nd ART Below 💖)

🏛️ Prompt: Day 2 - Favourite Hua Cheng Moment

Read DAY (PART) 1 here:

https://twitter.com/Foxypepsi1/status/1532968551526563840?t=Lsy_19_A1ctVXwBCBQi8Nw&s=19

The next room is dark, only the displayed object is emitting some light. Its welcome flickering leads the group inside, instantly putting them in silent awe.

"Legends say," Tour Guide Guy begins, his voice ringing even more mysteriously in the dim atmosphere:

"The Red Supreme King lost his Beloved once. He has searched for many, many lifetimes across the three realms. To guide him home, he lit up the night with 3000 everlasting blessing lanterns—

—just like this one here. The lanterns became the stars, his beloved followed them in the endless night, wandering the City of Ghosts until they eventually brought him home. Thus, the two lovers reunited once again."

The majority of the class "aww"-s and "ahh"-s left and right.

At least some (Lai Wen thinks they are the sensible ones) are more skeptical:

"But didn't they have the red string?"

"Some reserchers would agree with you. It's up to debate," Tour Guy chuckles, "But if you ask me, I'd say they didn't have it back then."

"Maybe the Supreme King brought it to life to never lose his beloved again?"

"I guess you could say that," Tour Guy smiles fondly.

"How long were they separated?" One of the girls asks, all teary-eyed.

"For 800 years," Tour Guy replied, with a strain in his voice.

"At least they're together now," the same girl said, staring at the lantern before her.

"En," answers Tour Guy, his voice so heavy with emotions that even Lai Wen's stone heart is able to pick up on them.

Man, this guy plays his role well, Lai Wen thinks to himself.

"Excuse me," someone asks, "why does it say Qiandeng Temple?"

"Oh, right!" Tour Guy clears his throat, "well, it's for the Beloved. He's a god."

"What?? A god?"

"All of these are just speculations. Legends are what they are: legends," Tour Guy warns.

This whole museum visit is a sham, all is based on folktales and gossip, where are the cold, hard facts?

Lai Wen takes a last look at the tour guide's face, and by the faint lantern's glow and for a fleeting moment he seems even younger than him…

They leave for the next room, but everyone takes some of the light away with them.

// DAY 2 END - TO BE CONTINUED 🏛️

Check out @Ying_anSanren's art here! 🏮💖

Special thanks to @yingfish for helping us out with fact-checking! 💗🐟

https://twitter.com/Ying_anSanren/status/1533355794778955781?t=T7EfUmRH6uJAECGkDOmtvg&s=19

🕓UPDATE WITH DAY (PART) 3

Tour Guide Guy leads the group to the exquisite next room, what could be on display there? 👀👘

https://twitter.com/Foxypepsi1/status/1533492669871177730?t=AFx8UcPknpdStCRYqhFtHA&s=19