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- The greatest challenge of tonight will be found not here, but at Hu Tao's Gate of Death.
I will do my utmost to alleviate her burden. - — Xiao saying that he will do he's utmost to alleviate Hu Tao's burden
HuXiao is the het ship between Xiao and Hu Tao from the Genshin Impact fandom.
Canon[]
They both have butterflies as a motif. Xiao's story quest is called "Butterfly's Dream" while Hu Tao's quest is called "Yet the Butterfly Flutters Away".
In their voice lines, Hu Tao seems to be the only human that Xiao actually finds 'humorous', and Xiao is also one of the very few people who has a positive impression of her. This is quite surprising since Xiao is an introvert who keeps himself away from others and has a stoic, serious personality. On the other hand, Hu Tao's voice line about Xiao sounds like she is flustered and is trying to keep a secret about him. Similarly, her voice line is surprising because Hu Tao is not shy—she doesn’t hold back her opinion on any other character she has voice lines about.
In "Chapter I, Act I: Of the Land Amidst Monoliths", there is a ghost named Dusky Ming who Xiao is taking care of at Wangshu Inn. He described her as a spirit who had never hurt anyone, yet is also not yet able to be moved on. The ghost can be seen singing 'Hilitune', a song which Hu Tao composed. Moreover, this ghost was also featured on Hu Tao's 2021 birthday post, playing hide-and-seek with her.
Both the yakshas and Wangsheng Funeral Parlor play a role in keeping Liyue safe from the resentful remnants of dead gods. Xiao’s story quest and voice lines mention that the yakshas keep the resentment from spreading by slaughtering the demons that spawned from remnants. Hu Tao’s story quest and the Staff of Homa description mention that doctors and directors at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor have historically helped purify the resentment that plagued the people of Liyue.
Lantern Rite 2023 (The Exquisite Night Chimes)[]
Epilogue - Between Facades and Familiar Faces[]
In the Lantern Rite 2023 event story, "The Exquisite Night Chimes: Epilogue," Hu Tao invites her peers to dinner to celebrate Lantern Rite. Hu Tao's friends all arrived via invitation, but Xiao was fetched by Hu Tao in person, making Paimon assume he is a "super important" guest. Paimon thinks "it's pretty amazing that she managed to talk Xiao into coming... He rarely ever enters Liyue Harbor, after all." Xiao responds that it wasn't complicated at all.
Hu Tao managed to invite Xiao by talking to Verr Goldet, Wangshu Inn's boss, and calling out Xiao's various names and titles from the Inn's top floor. He appeared in front of her and asked what she needed. This is a notable detail because not all characters have succeeded in summoning him by name, such as Paimon in the Moonchase Festival. Zhongli mentioned there were more reasons for Xiao accepting her invite beyond just her pestering him. Hu Tao applaudes his perception and says she discussed the relationship between Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the Yaksha, just to be sociable. Hu Tao labeles their relationship as a "deep-rooted connection" due to their roles in the Archon War. Xiao was initially hesitant to accept the invite due to his negative karma, but Hu Tao was mindful of this and curated the guestlist to contain people who hold visions in order to reassure him and mitigate potential harm.
Waterborne Poetry Event[]
Part I - Congenial Gathering[]
In the Waterborne Poetry event, "Congenial Gathering," Hu Tao keep her word to Venti and decides to host a poetry event between Mondstadt and Liyue dubbed the "Neighboring Nations Congenial Poetry Gala." Similar to Lantern Rite 2023, Hu Tao seeks out Xiao at Wangshu Inn to invite him as their special guest. After coaxing from Hu Tao, Venti, and Traveler, Xiao considers the invination before disappearing. Hu Tao and Venti stay back to discuss their opening and further needle Xiao into joining the event.
After the opening ceremony, if you talk to Hu Tao, she'll tell Traveler that she couldn't convince Xiao to join in but he did promise he would watch the event from the hills. Hu Tao notes its a shame he didn't join in since she made a poem specifically for his introduction.
Lantern Rite 2024 (Vibrant Harriers Aloft in the Spring Breeze)[]
Part III - The Glede Returns to the Pavilion[]
In the Lantern Rite 2024 event story, "The Glede Returns to the Pavilion," Zhongli brings Traveler and Paimon away from Yip Tak and Gaming to meet up with Xiao. Surprised he's here, Xiao tells them he has been here the whole time. A flashback occurs, showing Xiao in a tree, relaxing, before spotting a kite that looks like Hu Tao's ghost. Upon seeing the kite, Xiao wonders why Hu Tao is at the inn again but decides it is none of his concern. He goes to greet her due to being Zhongli's boss but is surprised to find not Hu Tao but Zhongli. Surprised, Xiao tells Zhongli he had mistaken him for Director Hu.
The conversation tunnels into the two discussing Hu Tao. Upon Xiao asking Zhongli if Hu Tao is here for sesame oil again, Zhongli inquires Xiao for the reason the Director may be so fixated on the product. Xiao says he has only talked to Hu Tao a few times so he would not know the answer. Zhongli tells him that it must be a sign that he should visit Wangsheng when he has the time. Zhongli later gives Xiao the ghost shaped kites and encourages him to find friends to play with, insinuating he hopes Xiao can make a friend in Hu Tao.
Lantern Rite 2025 (Springtime Charms)[]
Second Stanza - The Funeral Parlor Has No Master, Yujing Terrace Calls the Troops[]
In the Lantern Rite 2025 event story, Xiao is tasked along with Yelan to retrieve Hu Tao from the border, suspecting something has gone awry. Yelan is swapped out for Traveler by Ningguang. Tasking Yelan to find out about the gates needed for the ceremony. Xiao is reluctant to let Traveler come but after some convincing they go off to Wuwang Hill in search of the border. When Paimon asks Xiao if he know how to get into the border he responds with a no, claiming that balancing life and death has always been Wangsheng's duty. However, with the help of his adepti perception, he follows the fetor and finds a place he can create an entrance. The traveler goes through to find Hu Tao.
After finding Hu Tao, Traveler calls for Xiao to open the entrance so Hu Tao, Lan Yan, and Qiqi can escape. Hu Tao thanks Xiao for his assistance. Xiao tells her "no need..." before opening a portal for them to enter. The group is attacked by a horde of monsters and fends them off while Xiao tries to create an exit. After escaping, Xiao is relieved they made it out before asking if anyone is hurt. Hu Tao tells him no but Qiqi absorbed too much fetor. While not in danger, Xiao takes Qiqi back to Bubu Pharmacy and advises the others to meet with Ningguang to continue the mission.
Third Stanza - Qimen Arts and the Rite of Homa, the Spirits are Calmed and Life Restored[]
If you go to Wangshu Inn before following Hu Tao, you can talk to Xiao. Xiao will ask if Traveler and Paimon are feeling well after their journey. When asked about the Gate of Terrian, he tells you not to worry. The gate is somewhat auspicious, representing light, growth, and prosperity. Instead he says the greatest challenge is at Hu Tao's Gate of Death and that he will "do he's utmost to alleviate her burden."
Quotes[]
- “Hu Tao? Her liveliness is irritating. Fortunately, she is also humorous, so you need not worry about her growing into a boring human.”
- — Xiao about Hu Tao
- “What would I know of the adepti? Ai-yai-yai, that kind of stuff is top-secret! Don't come asking me about it!”
- — Hu Tao about Xiao
- “Ta-da! We're here! We're not late to the party, right? Right? Good thing the Conqueror of Demons and I are both as swift as the wind. And whoosh! We made it just in time!”
- — Hu Tao entering Xinyue Kiosk with Xiao in Lantern Rite 2023 "The Exquisite Night Chimes: Epilogue"
- “The parlor director went out of her way with the invitation, so it was difficult to turn her down. I had made mental preparations before agreeing to come.”
- — Xiao talking about accepting Hu Tao's inviation in Lantern Rite 2023 "The Exquisite Night Chimes: Epilogue"
- “Do you know the history of the Yaksha? They once fought against the ancient gods. They fought brilliantly in a battle that engulfed the whole world in darkness. Although the gods were defeated in the end, their resentment persevered.”
- — Hu Tao in her story quest "Yet the Butterfly Flutters Away": "In Pursuit of a Phantom"
Fanon[]
The HuXiao ship emerged when their voice lines about each other were revealed, sparking interest in their dynamic. Many HuXiao shippers envision Xiao as protective of Hu Tao, believing that she could be the one to help him find peace and happiness amidst his struggles.
Fans are drawn to the ship for its engaging dynamic, rich angst potential, and thematic similarities. A significant aspect of their connection lies in their shared associations with butterflies and death. Hu Tao and Xiao represent two sides of the same coin; both are intertwined with the concept of death, yet their perspectives differ. Hu Tao views death as a natural part of life, seeing it as a peaceful conclusion that allows souls to move forward—represented by the fluttering of butterflies. In contrast, Xiao perceives death as a form of redemption, a release from the suffering of life. For him, death embodies the essence of dreams and desires.
Even those who do not ship HuXiao romantically appreciate their bond as friends or members of a found family, often with Zhongli as the father figure and occasionally Ganyu or Qiqi as sisters. Their similarities in gameplay, both being DPS characters that require careful HP management, have also inspired fanworks featuring the two together.
While HuXiao is sometimes overshadowed by other ships—such as XiaoVen and Xiaother on Xiao's side, or YanTao on Hu Tao's side—it remains one of Hu Tao's more popular pairings. Currently, there are over 400 fanfics about Xiao and Hu Tao on Archive of Our Own.
Their first canon interaction occurred during the Lantern Rite 2023 event, which delighted HuXiao shippers. Fans enjoyed that Hu Tao was the one to successfully invite Xiao to celebrate Lantern Rite, marking his first time partaking in celebrations, despite having been invited by the Traveler in the two years prior. Many like to imagine that Xiao carried or teleported Hu Tao to Xinyue Kiosk, arriving together with the force of a hurricane. Additionally, the flashback at Wangshu Inn was amusingly reminiscent of scenes depicted in various HuXiao fanfics written long before the event.
In Lantern Rite 2024, fans were entertained by Xiao’s effort to engage with Hu Tao—an action he would have avoided in the past. The double meaning behind Zhongli's remarks about wanting to spend more time with Xiao while encouraging him to befriend Hu Tao has left shippers speculating about the continuation of this storyline in Lantern Rite 2025.
While small, Huxiao fans are surprised to get another Lantern Rite interaction between the two. A joke has formed that Hoyoverse is doing a slow burn romance with the two. This is due to how much they set the two up together one way or another.
Fanworks[]
A “HuXiao Week” featuring HuXiao fanwork took place from 4th to 10th of November. Fans created and shared many fanfictions and fanart centered around a different theme each day.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Hu Tao/Xiao tag on AO3
- FAN ART
- 魈桃 tag on Pixiv
- HuXiao tag on DeviantArt
Trivia[]
- In Chinese culture, the butterfly is a symbol of long life and conjugal bliss.
- "Butterfly Lovers" is a famous Chinese legend about the tragic love story between two lovers who couldn't be together in life and became butterflies in death.
- The butterfly is a shared motif of Hu Tao and Xiao. Butterflies can be seen fluttering around the pair during both their Elemental Skill and Burst.
- Their namecards also feature butterflies of similar designs with light particles accompanying them.
- Silk flowers, Hu Tao's ascension material, is seen within a bouquet being held by Xiao in the official 2021 Mid-Autumn Festival art.
- Hu Tao and Xiao were featured as the mascots of the real-life Sweets Paradise x Genshin cafe collaboration (Liyue version). As such, there is official merchandise depicting them together in their cafe costumes.
- Official Art of Xiao from the Version 1.3 Wallpaper RPG Site, and Official Art of Hu Tao Artbook from Official Weibo Post, the two we're not together. However, in the Official CN Website "Genshin Seal Wafer" the two we're shown together in the same frame.
- Hu Tao and Xiao were featured in a mobile Genshin Impact ad, depicting them racing at Wangshu Inn. However, this post has been removed in the future.
- The 5th tab of in-game chat stickers is dedicated entirely to Hu Tao and Xiao stickers.
- Staff of Homa, Hu Tao's signature weapon, also has ties to the adepti in lore, specifically the yakshas. It so happens that Xiao is the last remaining yaksha.
- Staff of Homa was once wielded by an ancestor of Hu Tao. There was once a time wherein plague and curses frequented Liyue as a result of the gods’ lingering resentment, and thus killed many citizens and non-citizens; Hu Tao's ancestor, a doctor, had used the staff to cleanse the dead bodies of karmic impurity.
- In her story quest, Hu Tao shows a deep understanding of yakshas and their place in history. Many in-game sources indicate that knowledge of yakshas is very uncommon among the people of Liyue in the current era.
- Hu Tao has some connections to Wangshu Inn, where Xiao resides:
- Her ascension level-up materials (silk flowers) are found there.
- The recipe for Vegetarian Abalone, the base for her specialty dish, is sold there.
- Her favored indoor furnishing set Cloudy Haze Dream-Court is described as “a humble and unassuming bedroom alike in many ways to one you might find in Wangshu Inn.”
- In the description about the Stone Lion Statue: The Knowing, it is said that the first stone lion were built from jade and based on the forms of adepti, having an ability to frighten evil away. People are often seen preparing a serving of Almond Tofu as a little token of appreciation for a certain adepti for that. Contrastingly, according to the description about the Stone Lion Statue: The Warding, despite the fact that most people treat these statues with an utmost respect, Hu Tao seems happy to disregard this tradition, regularly showing up around them to play some pranks.
- In Chinese architecture, stone lion statues usually come in a male-female pair and are used to protect the buildings they guard from harmful threats. This could be a reference to the roles that Xiao and Hu Tao play as protectors.
- The furnishing set Thouroughfare Entrance: Evil Banisher features these two statues together with an Adeptus Gate.
- They have quite a number of similarities:
- Both Xiao and Hu Tao are five star polearm users who were initally released in patch 1.3 and use Juvenile Jade as an ascension material.
- The two of them both have ombre hair.
- Both of their elemental powers drain their HP and imbue their attacks with an element.
- Both of them have talents that decrease a total 30% of current health.
- Hu Tao drains an immediate 30% of current health from her Elemental Skill.
- Xiao drains a total of 30% current health over 15 seconds from his Elemental Burst.
- Both of them have talents that decrease a total 30% of current health.
- They both favor the outdoor furnishing set Qingce Cloud Residence.
- They both hold respect for Zhongli.
- Zhongli's true identity being Morax remains a secret to most, but both their voice lines for Zhongli imply that they know who he is.
- Qiqi is a significant character to both of them.
- Qiqi's story and voice lines imply that Xiao was one of the adepti involved in her death and/or resurrection.
- Hu Tao proclaims herself as Qiqi's "true friend" and wishes to lay Qiqi to rest, though later Hu Tao accepts Qiqi's will to live and no longer wants to force her to move on.
- They both highly regard Beidou's fighting ability.
- They both disregard Chongyun's clan exorcist abilities.
- Chongyun's voice line about Xiao mentions his dismissal of human exorcist, regarding their power as trivial and their form poor. Chongyun feels driven to prove him wrong despite his respect for Xiao.
- Chongyun regards Wangsheng as a "reputable institution that acts with integrity," however, Hu Tao's teasing remarks of how his clan shouldn't worry about the serious side of Liyue's spirituality upsets Chongyun.
- They both deal in death and serve as protectors of sorts.
- Xiao as the Conqueror of Demons killing evil spirits to protect Liyue from the effects of god residue, and Hu Tao as the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor carrying out last rites and ceremonies to protect the world's natural order and the “border” between life and death.
- Even though their personalities are very different, they're both serious about doing their jobs correctly and respecting the "rules" of the world. Xiao’s first lines upon meeting the Traveler are telling them that too much contact with the adeptal world is “breaking the rules”. Hu Tao’s entire reason for initially wanting to put Qiqi to rest is that Qiqi’s existence contradicts the natural cycle of life and death. Hu Tao describes herself as strict about guarding the border between life and death, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s most important responsibility.
- They both have the ability to communicate with spirits/ghosts.
- In Xiao's story quest, Pervases says that “The line between adepti and ghosts is a fine one indeed.”
- In Genshin Impact EP - Lingering Aroma of the Solitary Butterfly, Hu Tao can be seen at a waterfall near Pervases’ temple. Wangshu Inn features prominently throughout the rest of the video.
- Genshin Impact EP - A Moment of Tranquility in the Eradication of Evil also features the waterfall/Pervases’ temple and Wangshu Inn. The ending shot at Wangshu Inn also shows Wuwang Hill in the background.
- In Xiao's story quest, Pervases says that “The line between adepti and ghosts is a fine one indeed.”
- The two are often featured together in Official and Promotional Art.
- To play Baizhu's Story Quest, Lagenaria Act I: The Heart of Healing, Hu Tao and Xiao's story quest must be completed.
- This is because the quest prominently features Hu Tao and Baizhu's ideological conflict but also highlights the use of god's remains for human ambition, containing any threats the remains impose falling under Hu Tao and Xiao's jurisdiction.
- Xiao also disagrees with Baizhu's search for immortality. However, unlike Hu Tao who disagrees because Baizhu is breaching the laws of life and death, Xiao warns him that immortality is not as grandiose as it seems, being someone who has suffered greatly due to his immortality.
Gallery[]
- Main article: HuXiao/Gallery
