Published: 03/07/22

Act I - Chapter IX

The Clash

Another clang between his blade and Sheng's fist, as Aether fell back.

With a plan formulating in his mind, he clashed with Sheng once more, and Aether's eyes wandered free around the battlefield. With the half-hearted battle waging, the mask bastard was bound to show up.

Trying to parry a fist was not ideal, as Aether was hit on one of his arms. Bones cracked, and his skin blistered to dust. He retaliated with a swing at Sheng's smugass face, but the man dodged.

"Came up with a plan yet?" Sheng asked, as he twisted his head sideward, harrowingly dodged a frustrated swing.

Aether smiled, "I do, actually. I just need you to stay still!" Anemo armed at his palm, blasting his foe away with a powerful blow.

Sheng only skidded a few meters, before he recovered, cracking his neck and stretching loose. "Good." A grin was plastered on his face. "I'll play along. Time for this charade to be over."

With a flex, more rocks emerged from his flesh, adding more to his already growing size. To Aether's eyes, Sheng is more rock than man at that point. A walking mountain, overshadowing him a meter or two. But still, Aether anticipated this, and prepared his reserves.

With a vicious roar, enough to let the residents of the Warehouse hear it, Sheng charged at Aether like a raged bull. A simple twist of his body, Aether dodged the oncoming bullet of rock.

With a loud slam into the wall, Sheng was down for the count.

Aether breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the man made of crystals collapse whilst his upper torso and head was embedded on the wall. Not a single movement.

It was over, he won.

"It seems I was right about you."

Aether turned around to see a mask staring at him, impressed and wary. Urging himself to hold his emotions, he greeted the masked individual with a courtesy befitting a cow's dung. Golden eyes narrowed dangerously at it.

"I have defeated him." Aether declared. Gesturing towards the pile of wood, rock, and geo particles with his blade, he made a good show towards it.

"So you have." There was something smug and alarming with that response. "I have seen better, of course, but what a wonderful show you've made. The Serpent will be pleased." The mad cackle returned, but instead of being annoyed by it, Aether was intrigued.

"I'm sure they will be," drawled Aether. "If anything, I am curious as to what the Serpent is. You've been spouting words I have not heard of before." With a perk of his brow, Aether politely asked the masked man. "I wish to know more."

He resisted to gag when the masked bastard actually started to happily make a noise that resembled a giggle and cackle. "Oh my, it seems that your hunger for knowledge is what drives you. How intriguing."

Yeah, Aether did not disagree, but it was still weird to talk to someone so zealous on something he can't comprehend. He has so many questions, but he needed to make this quick.

"Is the Serpent representing the Syndicate?"

The Mist Guard hummed, "Well, yes and no." Walking around him, the masked bastard explained to Aether like an adult explaining to a child. "We, the Servants of her Holiness, serve the ever Grand and Generous Mistress of ours. The Serpents of the Infinite Circle are but one of the many members of the Syndicate. This collection of Fontaine's most powerful and influential crime families is what makes the Syndicate."

Approaching the unmoving body of Sheng, the Mist Guard mockingly tapped the armor of Geo as he continued his explanation. "You see, unlike this disappointing trash, We the servants of the Serpent are gifted abilities no Vision users could ever imagine." Beneath that porcelain white mask, Aether could feel the glee reverberating out of it. "Our Goddess gifted us with the ability to manipulate flesh and bones, torturing the non-believers and heretics that dared challenge us!"

Goddess. Aether tensed immediately at the word, and his mind shifted towards a much darker time. A time where even the most normal-looking person could have been a member of the Unknown God's cult. A kind old man, a sweet little flower girl, or even a widow could have been an enemy with daggers pointed at his back.

This masked lunatic reminded him of one of them.

"Goddess, you say?" Trying to sound intrigued, Aether fabricated a mask to suit the bastard's needs. A kind, and hopeful smile, Aether was a person seemingly ready to accept a new religion. "What is Her name, may I ask? It would be kind to this poor soul if I was to be enlightened by Her name."

It was hard not to cringe at the excited noise the masked lunatic made. "The beautiful name that was gifted by the Heavens, by Celestia themselves! Her Holiness, Mobius the Eternal Mighty! Lady of Evolution and the Goddess of Ascension!"

Never heard of her.

It was not the Unknown God, which was the only positive thing about it, but another possible threat of his plans to save the future. Aether and his friends killed too many gods from Celestia, it was too many to count.

They were naturally stronger than normal Vision-wielders, sure, but being locked within a gilded cage that was Celestia for untold millennia made them rather weak and arrogant. There were a few exceptions, like Vanessa, but she was a prisoner rather than a guest.

It was interesting times, being with friends and going on an adventure, no matter how bleak the war was getting, and having the time of his life. How ironic everything fell apart when Celestia descended from the sky, a burning wreck.

It was supposed to be a victory for them, instead it was just another escalation of things that was yet to come.

"Her Glory! Her wisdom! Her courage! Naught but the Gods could dare challenge her might!"

Aether resisted to shrug, instead forced a smile that could make the Abyss shriek in terror. Yet, the Mist Guard never noticed such a thing. He was tempted to finish the bastard himself, but Aether reminded himself that a deal was a deal.

At the end of the day, Aether would still have his revenge for what this lunatic bastard did to a friend. "I, uh, feel honored by your- Her wisdom, and wish to know more...?"

The Mist Guard gasped, and bowed graciously, as if forgetting this was the same man who went to beat down a powerful Vision-user. "Of course. Of course! My words of Her Holiness' wisdom came to uplift another soul! Oh, how this day is gifted. A soul may have perished, a new one is to be born!"

The Mist Guard did not feel, nor see the rubble behind him shift. The mountain of Geo moved, and slowly grew and grew. The masked bastard won't know what hit him.

"Glorious day! What a glorious day! My heart sings with joy!" The Mist Guard yelled to the heavens, not sensing the growing pile of rocks and Geo behind him, blinded by the zealousness in his tongue. "With this new Serpent born from the ashes of destruction- comes the Windward Serpent!"

With a hand gesturing to Aether, he resisted to flinch when it was pointed at him. "May you, the kind soul who has thou witness the strength and truth of the world, may accept her Goddess' will!?" Raising both hands at the sky, as if praising the sun, the Mist Guard raised his voice even higher, muting the hulking figure behind him. "DO YOU ACCEPT THE GRACE, THE BEAUTY, THE TRUTH, AND THE WISDOM OF JURMANDR-"

With a loud smack, a giant fist of stone, rocks, and rubble smashed the Mist Guard amidst his preach. Music to Aether's ears, as the fist was raised again, and smashed downwards once more.

And it kept going, raised and dropped furiously, like a flesh hammer and anvil.

Sheng, who was finally up at this point, kept smashing the ground beneath him, not caring for the balance of the stone pavement. Aether could even see the limbs flailing around, the human body asking and begging for it to stop.

A pitiful noise was made, a gasp and a screech, from the Mist Guard. What remains of him anyway. The smashing halted, and both of them gazed at the destruction made.

The torso was grinded to dust and blood, whilst the limbs and head were intact. There was nothing left of him at all. And yet, the head stirred. Aether was shocked at the willpower to live like that. Looking at Sheng, the man shrugged, and shed his armor at last, revealing a naked torso bloodied and scarred.

"I'm just glad that's finally over with." Sheng said, gazing at the pathetic form of what was once a man. A delusional man, and a lunatic at that. Aether won't shed any tears.

"Me too," nodded Aether, not disagreeing with the man. "Good thing our ruse worked, huh?"

Sheng gave him an incredulous look. "You're kidding, right? That was a gamble I would have never taken if not for you proving your strength." He scoffed lightly. "Next time, there would be no such luck. If he was any sane man, your pathetic display of willingness could not fool a child."

"Lemme rephrase that then," Aether grinned. "How lucky was I to encounter such a reliable guy? Sheng is truly the strongest..."

"Don't push it, kid." Sheng chuckled anyway, amused by the disarming banter they shared. "Still, that was far too easy."

Gone was the joyous mood, and Aether frowned thoughtfully. "I still haven't managed to find more about the Syndicate. All I know is that the Serpents are but one of many other groups. Crime families or gangs maybe?"

"There is always competition," huffed Sheng, shaking off the dust on his wide shoulders. "Before the Serpents controlled my gang and forced us to move in at the Harbor, there were multiple small-timers roaming the dark streets. Of course, the masked bastard forced my people to defeat and assimilate them to this new gang. Under the Serpent, and the Syndicate, as a whole."

He narrowed his dark eyes at Aether. "How did you come up with the idea that the Syndicate was the one causing trouble?" Sheng frowned. "Not even the Qixing had a clue. We made sure of it."

Ningguang's memories that were mysteriously imbued in him. Aether seriously cannot disclose that secret. All her emotions, her memories, and her way of thinking was merged with Aether's soul. Those he had dreams of were too, but some were weak, others were notably stronger. Lisa's emotions of her final moments, and the nostalgia of Sumeru, were the second most notable one. His recent dreams of Xiao did not uncover any secrets. Just pain.

"...give...strength..."

Aether gazed down at the pile of flesh and blood in surprise. "He's still alive?" he whispered in shock. There were only a few individuals with such stubbornness, and Aether was honestly surprised that this madman was one of them.

Sheng narrowed his eyes dangerously, his bulky arms crossed. "That's not possible. No man could survive that, not even a Vision-user."

Grinded to dust and blood, Aether could agree that a human would have perished on the first strike. Sheng brought a dozen. Not that he blamed the guy, as being forced as a slave and seeing your family forced to work against personal ideals, must have been frustrating for Sheng to let loose a ton of weight into his hits.

And yet, this stubborn bastard lives.

As Aether knelt closer to the crater around the corpse, he noticed that the mask on the untouched head was slipping off. What he saw horrified him. Aether had seen human hybrids across Teyvat, half-dragons, half-horses centaurs.

The madman was still human in every way, with the exception of his face and eyes. They were slits, dark emerald and promising retribution. Snake-eyes.

But that was not natural, as Aether saw the man's whole face, scarred and burned. It was as if the madman was tortured to death, and revived as a puppet flesh. He had seen such necromancy within the cruelty of some gods. Most were just purely based on their nature of death and cycle. Letting dead souls be their puppets, and skeletons be their marionettes.

It seems this new "Goddess" was playing with flesh and soul.

Aether could feel the corruption eke off the poor bastard. Purple, and gloomy, Aether was tempted to blow it away with Anemo. That would have been a stupid thing to do, as it would spread fast.

There was no way for Aether to contain a large amount of corrupted energy like this without a proper vessel. Morax has his own vessels to combat the darkness, the Yakshas, and the Shrine Maidens had their "champions" but Aether has neither.

He heard Sheng curse absurdities as the broad-shouldered man realized as well that this might get ugly real fast.

Combing through his infinite-space for holding his stuff, the "inventory" as Childe humorously quipped once, Aether was desperate to find something to quell the growing cloud of energy bursting from the pile of grinded flesh and bones. Apart from a few memorabilia from his travels and a few items he treasured for his dead friends' memories, there was nothing to combat against it.

Aether decided to curse Venti for his luck. The drunk bard might as well be laughing at the realms beyond, with a bottle in his hand and the lyre in the other. That image calmed him down, as Aether began to think of ways to prevent this.

"What do we do?" Sheng asked. He was stern and guarded against the corpse, or a yet dead one. "This shit is gonna spread fast! If we don't do something, the whole Harbor is gonna be tainted with it." The man grimaced, his stern face soured at the thought. "It might be the second coming of the plague that threatened the land seven generations ago."

Aether remembered that story from Hu Tao, the few times that she was truly solemn. "There won't be any bodies to burn today. Or tomorrow." Aether came back to change the future, not to create another disaster. Early on too! What a drag. "We just need to-"

"...free...me...shackles...life..."

As the mask fully slipped from his face, the horrendous image of a burned and scarred man, his flesh soft and disgusting nearly made Aether revile on the sight alone.

Sheng hummed, "So, he IS still alive. I would have been impressed, if not for the lunacy he spouts every minute." He was still stern with the madman, not letting his guard down.

Aether watched carefully, from the smog of corruption, he could see the grueling face of what was once a man twitching his mouth. "Free me... from the... shackles of life..."

The serpent eyes glowed in the dark and smog, revealing a sight that promised a paradise free from death or living. "Jormundur... give me strength... Orobaxi show me the way..."

Aether's heart stilled when the smog began to holler and move erratically.

"Damn," Sheng softly cursed. "We need to move, this 'ere is gonna blow!" The limbs of the madman swindled lifelessly, as the head twitched, and the madman gave a rictus smile.

"Mister Aether?"

The world stopped when Aether was prepared to get to cover when he saw two small figures coming out of the pile of crates on the far corner of the warehouse. Qiqi and Ningguang were holding hands. Qiqi was trying her best to struggle, but Ningguang seemed unperturbed. "Mister Aether? We heard no noise of distress, so we came to look." Ningguang smiled shyly, trying to pull Qiqi towards them. "I'm glad you're okay! I thought you were hurt! I tried to- Hey, Qiqi! Stop that! Don't embarrass me in front of mister Aether!"

He was having none of it. "QIQI! ACTIVATE PRESERVATION SKILL!" Aether did not know if this Qiqi could be familiar with the same team work he did with his Qiqi on the last timeline, but to his surprise, Qiqi delivered without hesitation. Like clockwork, the little zombie girl stopped struggling. Her eyes and talisman glowed in the dark.

Aether ignored Ningguang's sudden yelp of surprise when both Qiqi and her were encased in a pillar of ice, imbued with strong magic. He leaped for the canal that the ships entered, and dived right in the water. Sheng was shouting something, or to someone about getting out fast. He did not hear the rest of it as he entered the cool waters of the Arsenal.

The last thing he saw the man do was rush after the madman's corpse and encased himself in Geo. Not just the torso, but the head, legs, and arms. Aether wished his comrade goodluck when he felt the corruption erupted, and the explosion dulled by the waters above him.

It seriously reminded him of his early times at Inazuma, struggling without his trusty boat in traveling to other islands.

The cool waters of the canal were comforting, but knowing that he was needed at the surface, Aether emerged from the depths. Gasping for breath, Aether hauled himself from the waters, and into the dry and dusty ruins of what was the Arsenal.

Aether resisted to gag at the suffocating air of corruption that stirred the cloudy sky.

Sighing, Aether used his Anemo powers to dry himself, and shield his body from the growing corruption. It was everywhere, and while he and Vision-users were not affected, a pit grew in his stomach at the thought of the people around.

If the blast did not harm them, then the seeping darkness will.

Still, as screams of terror were spreading through the thick fog, they were oddly enough distressed rather panicked. Guilt threatened to overcome him, but Aether resolved to set this right.

He felt exhausted and bruised from his brawl with Sheng. Aether still inched forward.

That Serpent bastard had a few surprises to him, and Aether resolves not to repeat that. He wondered if there were more of them, and the odds were likely. The Mist Guard was not the only victim then.

Trudging to the ruins, Aether could see the once humongous structure was only reduced to its walls and floor, as the roof was blown off by a massive force. A mushroom cloud could have been seen at a distance. Aether was sure that this was way worse than Starsnatch cliff. At least he did not blow up the entire mountain back then, but destroying a powerful and symbolic structure of Liyue's merchant fleet and power was not polite.

Sheng was seen on the ground near the edge of the property, bordering the street near the Arsenal. He was unconscious, but unharmed, and his protective casing of Geo saved his bulky ass. Aether can't help but feel relieved, which was a surprise.

It was a long while since he had cared for some stranger. Speaking of strangers-

Ganyu- Aether felt his throat choke at the sight -who was at the scene, horrified and shocked. She was as before she took a crusade to help the other allied nations. Brave, and courageous. Close to that, anyway, as she seemed tense immediately.

Not at him, or the situation, but rather to the rest of her companions.

Xiao was there, appearing like the mist and air manifest in fury. His eyes glaring everywhere, from the ruins of the Arsenal, to the destruction of a nearby neighborhood, and towards the smog of spreading corruption.

Yanfei was still here, bothered and rather tense, so much so that a twitch of trouble could ignite something furious within.

Seeing familiar friends that were lost in a cause that churned the whole world, Aether's heart felt lighter. His face was blank, a skill that Kaeya taught him. It revealed no joy, no sorrow, just a blank face for the world to see.

It was best that way.

Tension in the air arose, but not because of the corruption.

In fact, to Aether's surprise and worry, the karma in the air was suddenly growing thin. Far too thin for convenience. It was by Xiao's abilities to consume karma that proved useful.

Aether would have cheered if not for the angry look he received from him.

The figure of Xiao, ready to fight him, gold versus gold, a battle between heavenly dark and the unnatural force that is Aether made his abdomen stir. Aether certainly couldn't forget that feeling of jade within his flesh. And the pain of betrayal.

This Xiao was no enemy, a bit guarded, but he could work with that.

Sheng's plan worked well in blocking most of the explosion, but there were unfortunate setbacks, as Aether always did. He could work with the aid of the Adepti, as he knows that Ganyu and Yanfei would prioritize the safety of Liyue than start another fight.

What he did not expect was that Xiao glaring daggers at him, no longer angry but furious and snarling.

Xiao's face disappeared. Only the mask of the Vigilant Yaksha remained, stern and unyielding.

A sight that even demons crumble to dust in their final moments made Aether pause, this was no corruption, this was no betrayal, Xiao's anger was genuine retribution.

His heart paused, remembering Ningguang and Qiqi behind him.

It seems that Xiao noticed them as well.

Aether felt the wind shift, a cold, furious wind behind him. A mere moment of hesitation could have cost him. Fortunately, he already knew of Xiao's style of fighting.

A jaded color flashed behind his hair, a near miss of a few inches. Twisting his head so fast gave Aether a headache, but he forced it nonetheless.

The Yaksha's eyes widened, but his relentless strike moved again, and swiped dangerously close to Aether's neck. A blur and a clang later, Aether felt the burning sensation in his forearm, as the jaded blade pierced deep from flesh to bone.

It was better than his whole hand being cut off.

Using anemo to blast towards Xiao, the Yaksha already knew the blast would hit and disappeared like a mist. The fury of wind shattered where Aether stood, the ground beneath cracked.

Aether was too slow, and before he could think, or even balance himself. He resisted to gasp when a familiar emerald blade took a chunk of flesh off his leg, making him stumble. When he turned around, Xiao struck behind him, striking his shoulder and nearly piercing his neck.

The Yaksha was a blur of green and red. Karma and fury. Twisting circles and hard lines were too hard to read and too fast to strike. Aether was outmatched.

"Xiao! No!" He did not know if that was from Ganyu, but the pain searing his limbs was too much to bear, and too agonizing for him to care at the moment.

The outcry was blunted by another stab at his other leg, and Aether could barely hear Ganyu's horrified voice, as the weight of his body collapsed on his crippled legs.

Grunting in pain, Aether resisted coughing blood. His body wasn't being battered like what Sheng tried to do, instead he was picked apart piece by piece by the wind that struck stronger and faster than him. Aether's wind was a storm, while Xiao's was a hurricane. There was no comparison, he was outmatched by speed and skill.

No matter the experience, Xiao trumped him in battle that was to the death. The Yaksha faced that everyday for thousands of years, Aether could only experience that in a few desperate years. Xiao was a beast, growling and howling in anger.

Still, the karma was fueling his rage, and Aether could not understand why.

A deathly wispy sound above him, Xiao appearing like a furious angel. A firm scowl was on his face, and even with the mask on, Aether could tell. With the tip of his spear pointed down, Aether closed his eyes, prepared to receive the blow.

"Sacred Name: Fortune Preserver."

A hollow gasp escaped him, as Aether felt the cold numbness shrouded his body. This sensation was a familiar one, a sensation that he left at Liyue Harbor back then to fight in the war. The last time he felt this pleasant feeling within was when he left a certain child behind, thankful for her companionship and comradery. But Aether was too afraid to lose her too.

On his knees, he looked behind him to see Qiqi wielding a blade he dropped when he tried to "fight" Sheng. Her eyes were a familiar sight, a certain degree of aloofness and determination. Eyes that seem oddly familiar of a little girl at a counter, praying to not forget.

Qiqi quickly stood behind him, sword in hand, and the spirits of the dead around her. The air did not feel so oppressing anymore, and the Karma in fact was being consumed by the sheer amount of divine energy that Qiqi was emitting.

Aether was not the only one to witness this, as Ganyu and Yanfei gasped at the sweltering energy. Xiao on the other hand froze, and normally anybody would have found it funny that a child managed to freeze him, not a grown opponent. And yet, Aether could not blame him, this world was filled with crazy children after all.

"Qiqi, stay behind me," Aether said, a stern tone laced to it. He steadily stood up, and gave the zombie a smile he would only reserve for his friends, a gesture that Aether had missed so much. "Like old times, huh?" It might have been irrational, but Aether knew in his heart that this Qiqi was the same one he abandoned at Liyue. Those eyes filled with happiness, and a promise that was shared between them.

No matter what, they'll stay with each other, to the next life or in this one.

"Orders given," Qiqi nodded, giving the rooted Yaksha a blank gaze, a vow that made Xiao shudder. "Orders received."

Wind and ice against the karmic tempest. Swords against spear, Adventurer and Herbalist against Yaksha. The future versus the past.

Ganyu did not know what to feel.

Fear? Against the child-adepti? From the mysterious individual? Or was it from Xiao?

Her head churned in confusion and frustration. The district was blown up, a dangerous bandit was laying on the ground, and a masked corpse buried within a crater. Smoke was rising from the Arsenal, the shipyards and docks were in ruin, the streets were reduced to dust. Yanfei did not know what to do, gazing back in forth between fear of the Yaksha or bewilderment of the duo.

Ganyu, for the first time in her life, just wants to ignore this and go to her comfy bed that she had strayed from last night. Her soft, unused bed, and her sweet pillow that awaits her.

Instead, Ganyu stood still, unwilling to act. Against Sheng, against Xiao, or even the child and adventurer.

The clash of steel, followed by a burst of ice, continued back and forth. It seemed that the mysterious adventurer had gained his second wind, not only matching Xiao's swing and blows, but even his speed! The armored man was a blur, his blade invisible to the naked eye that even Ganyu had a hard time keeping up with.

Xiao was being outpaced, bit by bit. The man actually managed to put Xiao on the defense, using his speed to dodge instead of strike. The mask donned by Xiao, it was hard to figure out what the Yaksha was feeling. But the sloppy counters and slow transitions behind his foe could let Ganyu read that he was frustrated.

Not with his opponent, but by something else.

Whatever it was, Xiao was too quick with his moves; he could not see that the adventurer was already behind him. Luckily, before she could utter a pathetic warning, Xiao disappeared. He was beset by the child immediately, her little spirit hounding him fast, as if knowing where he would transition next.

He tried aiming for the girl to knock her out, and as much as Ganyu disapproves, it was his only choice. The girl keeps healing whatever damage Xiao deals with the adventurer, it was logical for him to target her.

Instead of making it easy, the girl moved fast, using her height to her advantage and ducked low. Even for his short, yet deadly stature, Xiao was caught off-guard with her quick strikes, and even more so with her fast counters. How could a little girl fight like that? Ganyu was at awe when Xiao tried to retreat, and Qiqi chased after him.

It made sense a moment later when suddenly the adventurer appeared behind Xiao. Trapped between two opponents, Xiao disappeared again. This time, appearing somewhere off the battle, grunting and huffing.

Ganyu frowned, as she noticed that his karmic binds slowly disappeared. But how? In an instant, Xiao's horrifying howls echoed throughout the ruins. The mask seemed to glow bright red, and Xiao was getting burned by it.

Her heart stilled. "Oh no, Xiao!"

She did not hesitate anymore, as she hurried off to the ailing Yaksha, his mask fell off and shattered to the ground. His face, Ganyu nearly paused, was etched in agony. Veins were popping, and his golden eyes were shaking.

Ganyu halted a bit, recalling that horrible nightmare. The image became much more vivid in her memory. Apart from those eyes, there was the last part that she truly tried to forget. His cruel face. He loved snuffing the life out of her, even as she begged, and pleaded. That monster only tilted his head and grinned, before using both of his hands to strangle her out of that vision- out of that blasted dream.

And yet, the young man that haunted her dreams and every waking moment since he came here, was not that monster she feared.

As she cradled his head on her lap, Ganyu could see that he was just a boy. Soothing his hair, she noticed that he seemed to relax a bit. Her heart swelled, as that terrible image was replaced with a more recent memory, a rather calm Xiao. A person who listened to her plea, and instead of being judgmental or critical, he was a silent shoulder to metaphorically lean on. He still insisted on insulting humans, though.

Turning her gaze at the two, she was conflicted on what to do or say. On one hand, they had done nothing notable that incurred a Yaksha's wrath, not at least if Xiao explained. Yanfei seemed to know them, considering the recognition in her eyes.

"Who are you?" Ganyu demanded. "Why have you provoked the wrath of the Yaksha?"

To her surprise and shock, the adventurer and the child shared a look, before shrugging. "I have no idea honestly," the Adventurer shrugged, sheathing his blade by making it disappear. Ganyu was startled, but relented. "To be fair, I was not actively provoking him, but it might be unfair to blame him either. I'll let this matter slide."

His eyes slid to the child beside him. "Won't we, Qiqi?"

The little girl, Qiqi, nodded her head compliantly.

"I-" Ganyu stuttered. "What are you even doing here? Trespassing is a very unwarranted crime." She glared at the man who might have started this mess. Ganyu had no idea how right she was.

"Well, technically trespassing on a territory illegally contributed by a Qixing member to a foreign entity might be an exception, I think?" The stranger proceeded to rub his head, unsure of what he just said. "I mean, being part of the Syndicate from Fontaine shouldn't be legal, right?" He gave a disarming smile. "One that kidnapped a little girl from her home last night. I'm sure that is fine, the Qixing doesn't seem to mind, since they treat criminals with respect lately."

No it wasn't. Ganyu stared at the nervous figure way beyond them. The poor girl was shifting on her feet, tightly holding on to a bag anxiously. Could that be the victim that the adventurer spoke of?

"Wha- How could-"

"You can ask the owner of the inn," interrupted the Adventurer, whose teeth seemingly became sharper by the second. "Lady Jun could easily testify in the case. Heck, why not ask the poor girl herself if you wish. Though, the poor girl had been through so much." Ganyu resisted to shiver when the man gave her a serene smile. "It would be rude now, wouldn't it?"

Ganyu felt her anger surge, how dare this mortal belittle the adepti? When she tried to reply tersely, Ganyu yelped when Xiao held her hand in protest.

His eyes were still closed, and was rather relaxed. Or what it would look like, as she can feel his body tense once more. "Please," Xiao gasped. "Answer me, how are you here?"

When his eyes finally opened, Ganyu could see that it was directed at the little girl. Her heart shattered when tears threatened to fall from his golden eyes. He was crying, the Yaksha, a figure that stood vigil over the centuries shed tears.

Raising his arm towards her, Xiao was pulling his strength to ask. "Did the man take you?" Xiao was desperate to know, as he tried to sit up from her lap. Ganyu would have none of it, and held him back from standing. "Why are you with him?"

"Did I...?" Xiao heaved, struggling to seek his resolve with the girl. "Did I fail?"

Ganyu wanted to hold on to Xiao, no matter how embarrassing it would be, or terrifying after he recovers. He just needed a hug, and she wanted to give him one.

The girl, Qiqi, remained blank at his question. But when Aether tried to nudge her, she begrudgingly stared at Xiao's eyes. "That girl is gone." Qiqi said, not feeling anything. No loss, no regrets. "Qiqi, is now a zombie. And she is happy." The girl looked at the adventurer, a small smile evident on her lips. "The Traveler- this man -did not take me. He taught me, and gave me love. Gave me warmth, not the ones that could end me, but rather make me feel whole again. New, and worth the memory."

She smiled at Xiao, a sad one. "I no longer forgot. The girl was already gone." Blinking, Qiqi stared at the sky. "I am Adepti. Fortune Preserver. A herbalist." She looked at the adventurer again, not once with uncertainty or doubt. "To him, and his friends. I am Qiqi."

Xiao could only gape at the girl.

She was different from the bleeding wreck Xiao rescued from that cave. That guilt stained his heart for many centuries, and there were times he often wondered how the poor girl was under Mountain Shaper's care. Did the girl possess dreams? Was she at peace?

It seems that time began to shape his mind, as he slowly forgot the child that he ruined that day. He may never have forgotten his failures, but he certainly tried to forget that pained face. Her screams, her silence. Xiao did his best to wipe it out. It just won't leave. It will never leave.

And yet, when he saw those familiar eyes, bereft of any emotions, the darkness that day came back. Xiao did not know what came over him, only that the karma of the area suffocated him, and blinded him.

Nearly making him snap from the balance he had over the years. Xiao knew the amount of Karma he had gathered overshadowed the rest of his fellow Yaksha. He should've succumbed to it by now.

In a twist of fate, it seemed that his failures and sins are what kept him going, kept him fighting and never succumbing to the karma he sought so viscously.

After that fateful day, at those amber peaked mountains, Xiao wanted to die, no longer fit to witness another failure. But he lived, and survived, and even thrived in recent years. It was a miracle to even think of how he is still fighting. Struggling.

Seeing the girl- no, Qiqi -alive, walking, and her eyes without any pain, made him nearly give in to the karma that binded him. He felt relieved. Enough to give up on the reins that he was gripping on for countless eons, releasing those negative emotions and finally embracing his fate.

She was alive, that was enough for him. He finally felt at peace.

Xiao let go of his binds. Everything became darker. And he was free. For a moment, the binds that he held on to, bled to, and suffered throughout, was gone. It felt nice, peaceful and tranquil. No more pain, no more aches that threatened to harm his already dead soul.

And yet, with a strangled cry from Ganyu, and the sensation of a piece of himself from Qiqi, Xiao awoke to a sight that scared him. His hands, stained with blood, and the people around him shuddering in fear. Ganyu was shaking, the other adepti was frozen in fear, the man was defiant, and another child was crying in the background, and Qiqi- she was determined.

It felt like his whole body was consumed by another being, and he was made to watch as he tore apart the man. He felt no anger, nor hate towards him. And yet, his heart gripped every moment he chipped a flesh or piece of armor away. Those golden eyes too began to fear him.

It was maddening, having the willpower to do nothing.

The feeling was disgusting, watching your body do something unnatural. Xiao wanted to stop, but the Karmic binds he let go was fueled by raw amounts of it. He could no longer rein it in.

Xiao was lost to the Karmic powers, becoming like the past Yakshas who could no longer handle the deepening pressure of darkness consuming their souls. It was over.

Xiao wanted it to end, and he watched as his spear was aimed downwards. The man too, seemed to accept it.

But the bonds were still there, he was unable to reach it, but it was still present. If only he could reach it, then Xiao might control his body once more. But his will was weak after he accepted his fate, and let the air of karmic retribution consume him. He was ashamed of failing his duty.

Alatus felt the world disappear, and the darkness that threatened to consume him finally devoured what was left of Xiao.

Fortune Preserver.

When that name was uttered, Xiao unconsciously reached towards his binds. She remembered! The name that he blessed her with, a title he would have been proud to say it himself, was being used against him. A swell of emotions came in, pride, shock, and joy.

"You..." Xiao tried to gasp, his head falling into the soft lap of Ganyu. "You said the name," he paused, looking her straight in the eyes. "The name I gave you. Can you...? Can you say it again?"

The girl tilted her head, and looked at the man beside her for permission. Xiao held in whatever miniscule of jealousy he felt towards the man.

"You don't need my permission, Qiqi." The man smiled, and there was something natural and right about it. "I did not know he was involved with your past," he said, with a bit of hesitation at the last part. "But I have no right on what you think best."

With a little nudge, Qiqi did not argue. When her eyes locked with his, he felt his breath hitched with guilt. Was she gonna be angry? Will she demand retribution for his selfish actions? If so, he was prepared to meet it.

"Qiqi does not know the name," she said blankly. "Or the gem." She gestured to her Vision strapped with a rope to her waist. "But Qiqi thinks it is right to have them. I love the name. I love the gem. It gives Qiqi her purpose. My happiness."

Qiqi knelt beside him, and said. "I don't know you." Those words nearly shattered what's left of his willpower, but he held it in for the sake of Ganyu and Qiqi. And everyone around him. He will not succumb to it again. "I know those eyes."

Xiao's eyes widened. "I remember eyes so scary," Qiqi said, drooping her head down. "They were sad too. They glow bright in the darkness, welcoming it, but never part of it. I saw those eyes brighten up, and laugh aloud. I saw those eyes with hope."

The small girl cupped his face with her cold, tiny hands. His heart leaped when she finally smiled at him. "Qiqi saw those eyes. You have it." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Without those eyes, there would be no Qiqi."

His stained soul lifted in spirit, as he felt the karma retreat. Xiao rested his soul and body, letting fall at the warm embrace of the Qilin. Slumping in exhaustion, Xiao slumbered at the gentle tune of humming. Dreams threatened his mind, but Xiao let them free, as the dream of amber and flowers lulled him to sleep.

Aether felt he could finally rest.

Walking away from such a cute sight, he had a feeling Ganyu would regret that decision. Having a terrifying Yaksha sleep on her lap, Aether did not know how to feel about that. Amused? Scared? Tired?

The ache in his muscles agreed with the latter. Tired it is.

Still, with the corruption in the air disappearing slowly, and the people were oddly harmed but not dead, Aether let out a smile. That smile grew when he saw the bright look on Ningguang's face.

"Mister Aether! I'm sorry you had to save me again! Please don't be angry!" Ningguang was shedding tears. He could not tell if it was joy, sadness, or pure hysterical. And yet, he did not hesitate to give the poor girl a tight hug.

"Wha-? Mister-!?" Ningguang flushed brightly, but Aether did not care, as the pure relief that she was unharmed occupied him.

"I'm just glad you're safe." He whispered into her ear. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." No child ever should. Aether had a guilty feeling that the previous Ningguang never had seen such action until she was a grown woman. "It's all my fault, I'm sorry."

Ningguang was no longer feeling embarrassed. She pulled away from the hug, and gave Aether the most stern and familiar look he had seen from her.

"It is not your fault." When Aether tried to argue, Ningguang cut him off. "Doesn't matter if it was me, or some other poor girl, but it would only be a matter of time when someone is hurt." Her red eyes spoke of how grateful she was, even if Aether refused to see it. "I don't understand what is going on," she whispered, "But you came for me, that's all I ever wish."

With a shy peck to the cheek, Ningguang blushed. "Thank you."

Rubbing the spot, Aether felt numb from the relief emotions he felt. The guilt was backtracked by joy. He can't deny that he did save her, even if it was from his foolish actions, but she was right that there could have been others that may try to harm her. She was also right that he would have saved her no matter what.

Aether chuckled shyly, and replied. "I'm no hero."

"On the contrary."

That voice. Aether's head snapped behind Ningguang, to a massive shadow approaching them. His heart turned to stone when Aether saw those amused amber slits. A dragon peered over the ruins, not angry, but rather entertained by the whole thing.

"I believe that your performance was rather commendable."

Aether refused to whimper at his current predicament. Damn you Venti.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Aether ain't the only one exhausted here. With some hectic stuff going on last week, and the coming finals I have soon, I feel rather burned out. No matter, the Liyue arc finally has come to an end. The epilogue chapter would be long as heck. So much stuff to conclude.

The poll on the FFN site was a massive YES in agreement, but with the response of my AO3 readers, and the poll of my Discord Server, it was a resounding NO in changing the update format. Welp, looks like I'm gonna have to stick with the longer chapters then. No complaints here, I was just wondering what my readers think about the way I write my stuff. I still appreciate that, no worries.

I also need a beta reader for this story. I was looking at my Discord server members, which was a great and honorable failure in effort, as only four volunteered. One did try, the other duped me, and the remaining two were too lazy. I still haven't got the response from the one that did his best. I'm still waiting, by the way. It was for the last chapter too.

The epilogue would be uploaded soon, and the coming Sneznhayan arc would be next.

But first, rest, exams, and some sleep. No updates for my other stories, as I have decided to take a small break (again) from writing as I am already busy with IRL stuff. With the complications of a commissioner from another story, and the hectic arguments we had, I decided to not pursue other projects current and future ones. For now.

Give me your thoughts, please, as they are the lifeblood of this story.

Next update on 28th of March, 2022. Stay tuned for the update!