Liyue’s mountains hide many secrets, but few are spoken of more than Qiaoying Village—a once-thriving settlement that vanished without a trace centuries ago. The only remnants of its existence are a broken bell tower standing alone in the misty peaks and a single forgotten name in ancient records.

Intrigued by the legend, the Traveler sets out to find the truth.

But they are not alone.

As they trek through the winding paths of the Chenyu Vale, they hear it—a bell tolling in the distance. Yet the bell is shattered. It should not ring.

At the sound, the sky darkens. The mist thickens. The mountains shift.

And standing before them, shrouded in celestial light, is Cloud Retainer.

"Ah… so fate has led you here at last."

She regards the Traveler with an expression that is neither joy nor sorrow, but something deeper—a remembrance.

"I must warn you, young one. Some echoes of the past were never meant to be heard again. Will you still seek the answer?"

Before they can respond, the ground beneath them gives way, and they are pulled into a vision of the past.

They awaken in Qiaoying Village—alive, bustling, untouched by time. The streets are filled with laughter, lanterns, and people… yet none of them see the Traveler. None of them acknowledge their presence.

And in the center of it all stands a young woman, ringing the great bell of the village, her eyes searching for something… or someone.

Then, the sky cracks open.

The Traveler watches in horror as a shadow descends upon the village—a calamity long forgotten. The people’s joyous voices turn into screams. And at the very last moment, the young woman turns—staring directly at the Traveler.

"You… you were supposed to save us."

The vision shatters