[Xishi cosplay] The Ballad of the Carp: The Dreamy Water Maiden from Honor of Kings

The photos of this Xishi cosplay in The Ballad of the Carp are finally ready! I had very high expectations for this styling before shooting, and upon seeing the actual costume in person, the fidelity was genuinely spot on. The overall goal was to convey that misty, ethereal sensation wandering between the game's ink-wash aesthetic and a dreamscape. Thus, for the shoot, we specifically chose an indoor space with traditional lattice windows where natural sunlight streamed in softly, complemented by peach blossom branches and peony floral props to completely max out the water-fairy ambiance of The Ballad of the Carp from Honor of Kings.

For hair and makeup, my primary focus was on creating a sense of translucency. In terms of hairstyle, I went with her iconic straight-bangs short cut; the wig fiber was chosen to closely mimic the smoothness of real hair, avoiding any heavy plastic sheen. The bangs were trimmed to be light and airy to better flatter facial contours. In makeup, the most effort went into blending the eyeshadow and blush: generous sweeps of soft pink and pale purple eyeshadow extended toward the outer corners, echoing the gradient shades of the costume. For lip makeup, a glassy lip glaze texture was used to emphasize dewy moisture, seamlessly matching this celestial, flowing outfit. The base makeup was kept fresh and breathable so that the skin could radiate a natural, dewy glow under the light.

In terms of costume design, the tailoring of this cosplay outfit is remarkably detailed. The outer layer consists of gradient sheer tulle infused with subtle pearlescent shimmer, transitioning gracefully from pinkish-white at the shoulders down to soft lavender and light blue at the hemline. The fabric is so airy that it creates exquisite pleated folds whenever caught in a breeze. The metallic chest ornaments and hollowed-out metal waist buckle belt add immense refinement, establishing a vivid textural contrast between rigid metals and soft chiffon, faithfully recreating the magnificent design of The Ballad of the Carp. In particular, the detached arm sleeves reflect an iridescent mother-of-pearl sheen under highlights, making them truly eye-catching. The crown headpiece also deserves special mention: rather than simple cloth, it features structural shaping adorned with delicate dangling metal charms, which wonderfully balances head-to-shoulder proportions when worn.

Posing during the shoot was quite a challenge, as the multi-layered construction across the top and bottom of the outfit requires deliberate handling; seated or semi-reclining poses allowed the cascading layers of the tulle skirt to spread out organically. The seated pose selected in the photo was specifically chosen to showcase the leg lines and the rich dimensional layering of the garment. For lighting, we positioned the main light from an oblique frontal angle while utilizing backlighting from the window lattice to cast a delicate rim light along the edges of my hair, preventing the silhouette from blending into the backdrop and making the subject pop with depth.

After seeing the final edits, I really love the soft, dreamy color palette—free of harsh over-sharpening, preserving the gentle misty blur of the tulle fabrics. Every endeavor to faithfully recreate a character from Honor of Kings provides a unique persona experience in real life. This The Ballad of the Carp styling has always been iconic among the diverse cast of the Honor of Kings franchise, and bringing her to life firsthand as part of the Honor of Kings IP Creation Team spirit was a deeply thrilling journey. Throughout the shoot, I also noticed the numerous ingenious design touches in the outfit itself, truly doing justice to my signature hero.