XiaoLan

XiaoLan is the het ship between Xiao and Yelan from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Canon
Yelan's family has a long history with the Yakshas as they come from the Chasm, her elders told her to treat the Vigilant Yaksha with utmost respect. 500 years prior to the main timeline Bosacius fought with the Milileth in the Chasm with which two of Yelan's ancestors took part: Boyang and Rongzhao. Boyang and Bosacius would use the Fantastic Compass to trap the abyssal army in a powerful space that could weaken them. Unfortunately the two would be trapped within themselves and eventually die together.

Rongzhao would go on to survive but was heavily afflicted by Bosacius' karmic debt and eventually go insane. Yelan notes that the only times he would be at peace was when he nearby Wangshu Inn, where Xiao resides.

Perilous Trail
Following their descent into the deeper ends of the Chasm, as the group is about to ascertain their surroundings, Yelan hears somebody behind them who is revealed to be Xiao. Upon recognizing the Vigilant Yaksha, she lets out a quiet gasp. He explains that he came down from above as he had heard a noise. After telling the group that he's looking for someone and that they shouldn't be here, he disappears.

Further along as the group investigates, they find Xiao as an illusion. He tells them to get out of the domain and says that something is wrong with it. Yelan tells everyone that if they could, they should have him regroup with them as soon as possible. As Xiao is about to explain, he disappears once again.

After Yanfei and the Traveler recover Xiao, he is seen badly injured and is taken back to the camp. Xiao says that he doesn't want to be a burden, but Yanfei and Yelan convince him to stay. Yelan tells Xiao to get some rest and that everything else could wait. Xiao is reluctant but agrees due to his injuries.

Later, while Xiao, the Traveler, and Yanfei are talking, Yelan is shown spying on them, listening in to their conversation. She then joins them and gives Xiao information that she has seen some strange things also; objects that shouldn't be there, strange figures appearing then vanishing. Yelan discerns that she doesn't think any of it is real. Yanfei assumes that they're just illusions but Xiao explains to them how it isn't that simple.

Yelan is suspicious that Xiao seems like he knows a way out, but Xiao explains it's just a guess and that he isn't sure. He says that if he uses all the energy he has, he may be able to tear a passageway open and give the group a chance to escape. Paimon asks Xiao if when he says he's going to get everyone out, he means he's going to stay there. When Yanfei and Paimon object profusely to his idea he replies, "What if I told you... this is my last will?" and Yelan scoffs while pointing out his guilt-tripping strategy. She tells Xiao that he can't be serious and that they have no guarantee that his plan will succeed, or if it's even safe. Xiao tells her that "if you fear sacrifice or failure, you can never be victorious". Yelan immediately rebuts him and argues that she herself has been in treacherous battles and understands the extremes taken amidst combat.

Yelan continues, saying that if Xiao doesn't know if his self-sacrifice is going to pay off, all he's doing is hurting morale. She adds that if Xiao was so determined to end it all, he wouldn't have given them the opportunity to share their opinions and she says that she doesn't buy his "oh-so cold and ruthless" act. Yelan moves closer and tells him that it's not time for drastic measures as there could be a hidden passage they haven't discovered yet. Xiao asks Yelan what if there isn't, and in the end he'll be too weak to sacrifice himself. She replies to Xiao that there's no difference between sacrificing him and trying to find another way out in terms of success, so they shouldn't be rushing into a risky course of action. The Traveler realizes Yelan is serious and wonders if she's annoyed with Xiao.

Later on Yanfei talks to the traveler, telling them that if Yelan hadn't spoken out, she isn't sure that Yelan would've gotten through to Xiao. She says that self-sacrifice is something Yelan feels strongly about as she has lost comrades before, and has been rescued herself.

They later find the Fantastic Compass and while Paimon is freaking out over being stuck in the chasm forever, she knocks it down. As Yelan is about to pick it up, Xiao does so instead, to which she quickly retracts her hand. When the two both make contact with the Compass, there is a spark of energy at its core. Through this, they find out that the Fantastic Compass needs a mortal and an adeptus to combine their power so that it can be fully activated. Yanfei says that luckily for them, they have an adeptus and a human with training in magic arts; referring to Xiao and Yelan. The Traveler asks if that means the two would need to cooperate in the aftermath of their argument. Yelan says that all of them should have a quick break and that she and Xiao would give it a try once they're ready.

After everyone has had a rest, Yanfei asks Xiao and Yelan how they are. Both Yelan and Xiao say that they're ready, and they glance at each other before combining their powers. After activating it Xiao tells her that he'll maintain the energy flow and Yelan lets him. While the group ascends towards the surface, several spirits start attacking them. Yelan and Yanfei combine their efforts to protect Xiao so that he can focus on maintaining the energy flow. As they continue to the surface, he realizes he doesn't have the strength to get them out, and he decides to use the last of his strength to send everyone else back. When teal light surrounds everyone and they start to realize that Xiao is going to try sacrificing himself, Yelan reaches out to him in a desperate attempt to stop him.

Everyone is able to escape safely, and at the last moment Xiao is saved by Zhongli. After everyone has recovered, Yelan approaches Xiao ready to chastise him but relents, saying that she can't expect to talk him out of a mindset that's been built up over a lifetime. She thanks him for saving them but laments over the fact she doesn't think they could have come to an agreement. Xiao reminds her that he wouldn't have been able to do it on his own, to which Yelan cheekily replies "Don't mention it."

Yelan leaves to survey the area and Yanfei says that Yelan likely believes Xiao saved everyone on his own, including herself, and that she has given up trying to talk to Xiao. Paimon laughs telling the adeptus that she's criticizing him. Xiao only replies that she speaks the truth and he can't argue with it. Later on when Yelan returns she makes note that someone of great importance must have assisted them so they could all escape. Xiao is visibly silent at her discernment.

At the end whilst the Traveler is talking with Xiao, he finally admits that Yelan was right. He says their arguments both had their flaws but that ultimately the unknown power they dealt with was beyond all of them. He says he couldn't have escaped without everyone's help.

Quotes
"The elders in my clan once said that we must always show the utmost respect to the Vigilant Yaksha. Apparently, the only time that our ancestor would gain some temporary relief from his insanity was when passing by the Wangshu Inn. It must have been the comforting effect of his presence that wards off evil spirits. That said, if I ever have the honor of fighting side by side with the Conqueror of Demons, I will focus only on the mission. I cannot let myself be distracted by concerns about his status."

- Yelan's About Xiao voice-line "I've heard that she once investigated The Chasm, following the trail of the Millelith. If she can investigate mysteries like that on her own, she must be someone of rare skill."

- Xiao's About Yelan voice-line "The battlefield is a treacherous place. Every opportunity you take, you put everything on the line for. If you fear sacrifice and failure, you can never be victorious."

- Xiao, End of the Line (Perilous Trail) "You say these things in the hope that we will understand and accept them. But if you don't even know that your self-sacrifice is going to pay off, all you're doing is hurting morale. Besides, if you were really so determined to end it all, you wouldn't have given us the opportunity to share our opinions. You think you're oh-so cold and ruthless, but I'm not buying it. And anyway, losing one of us so the rest can escape? Some victory that is."

- Yelan, End of the Line (Perilous Trail) "Yelan was right in everything she said. Both of our proposals had their drawbacks, and both were sensible suggestions. But the power of that space was far beyond all of us."

- Xiao, At Tunnel's End, Light (Perilous Trail)

Fanon
Following Yelan's release fans noted the connection the two had with Yelan's ancestors and her admiration of Xiao. She says herself that she'd have to watch herself when around the Vigilant Yaksha as she'd be distracted by his status. She says it would be an honor if she got to fight side by side with Xiao in the future. Fans interpreted this as her having long looked up to the adeptus and that she perhaps grew up hearing of his admiral feats from her elders who worshiped him. This is further solidified when upon meeting Xiao for the first time in Perilous Trail, she lets out a small gasp when he first appears before her.

After the Perilous Trail quest the relationship got more attention as the two were the focal characters of the story. Many people noted the parallels between the two characters and then tension in their interactions, most notable during their heated argument when Xiao suggests sacrificing himself to save everyone else. Yelan is the first mortal to be openly arguing and contesting him. He later even admits that she was correct and he should've thought more about his decision.

Both Yelan and Xiao lost all their friends and consider themselves alone. Both are considered survivors and have thus kept their distance to others and avoid forming close relationships. Very few people understand them and even then the two believe that no one else could understand. Their similar experiences with loss is likely why Yelan reacted so passionately to Xiao's self sacrificial nature and fans theorize that if the tables were turned Xiao would contest her sacrificing herself. The two's shared experience is likely why they were able to quickly understand the other following their argument with Xiao finally admitting he was wrong for once and Yelan accepting that it's hard to change such a deep rooted sacrificial belief.

Similarly, Yelan and Xiao were both "rescued" by the current leader of Liyue at the time in Ningguang and Zhongli respectively. Yelan has a very small circle of friends and following her team dying in an expedition it was Ningguang who reached out to check on her, which strengthened her resolve. Xiao was saved by Zhongli from his abusive master during the Archon War which led to him deciding to protect Liyue alongside his fellow yaksha before their demise. Yelan and Xiao work in tandem with Ningguang and Zhongli, the shadows to their leaders and doing the dirty work that the general public shouldn't see. Xiao with cleansing the country of karmic ridden creatures and demons while Yelan investigates and executes threats to Liyue. The two are even seen working during Lantern Rite with Yelan leaving a function to attend to matters and Xiao still on patrol whilst the fireworks go off.

The ship has 50+ works written about it on AO3.

XiaoLan's rival ships are XiaoVen, Xiaother/Xiaolumi, Shenlan, and YanLan.

Fandom
FAN FICTION