Mu Yang still remembered that, in the original story,
Xiao had only said a few words when he first appeared.
Then he had urged the Traveler to leave.
He had vanished from the spot himself as well.
Even when the Traveler took out the "Hundred-Proof Talisman," it had been useless.
Paimon had even wanted to give him a nickname because of it.
But Xiao had done so out of kindness.
The Karmic Debt on him was too severe.
The "Hundred-Proof Talisman" could only ensure that Xiao would not attack.
It could not ensure that the Traveler would not be harmed by his Karmic Debt.
So it was better to stay farther away.
Lest he harm others.
Afterward, with a hint from the owner of Wangshu Inn, the Traveler had still
made a "Satisfying Salad" and "Almond Tofu."
(Though it had been the emperor's new clothes of cuisine, performed without any actual food.)
Taking advantage of Xiao being locked down by the meal,
they had finally told him the whole story.
So Mu Yang ordering food directly this time
was also meant to give Xiao some hard crowd control.
To make him listen until they had finished speaking.
During the meal, Paimon would also be relatively "well-behaved."
She would not have time to ask questions she should not ask.
When Xiao heard Mu Yang say that the four of them would be eating together,
he immediately refused.
"You may be one thing, but those two should still stay farther away from me."
Mu Yang explained,
"It is fine. The Karmic Debt will not harm them."
After all, Xiao had been in contact with the Traveler for so many years without issue.
In the end, Xiao chose to believe Mu Yang.
He prepared to stay for dinner.
"I trust you. You would not joke about your friends' safety."
Only then did Xiao and Lumine walk over together from the railing.
They prepared to eat.
Originally, this should have been a simple transition scene.
But the sight of the two walking side by side amused the players.
Because Xiao seemed to be about the same height as Lumine.
In the livestream.
As expected of a former content-creating streamer, Guinaifen
reacted quickly.
No one knew where she pulled a ruler from.
Then she aimed her camera at the screen.
She held the ruler horizontally to compare the tops of their heads.
"Family, family, don't force the slander, okay?"
"Mortal eyes do not necessarily see the truth!"
"It's just a visual effect. Xiao is still taller than little sis!"
What the hell was "mortal eyes do not necessarily see the truth"? The boomerang came back that fast?
I'm dying, has Xiao Guizi's dramatic side kicked in?
The streamer's urge to perform has surfaced.
He has to be at least five feet tall, right?
At least five-one.
Ah, Minos, streamer, what are you doing? Ouch, stop slandering our precious Xiao already!
Feels like this place is about to spawn a new meme...
Xiao Guizi restored the livestream view.
"There should be meme images on HoYoLAB tonight."
"This is way too hilarious."
Good, good, this Xiao main can now die in peace.
Count me in. Let's be buried together.
You brat, so that's what you were plotting?
Naturally, Teyvat had no idea about the players' discussion.
Lumine and the other two walked to the table and sat down.
The dishes happened to arrive at that moment.
Xiao even vanished with remarkable attention to detail.
He waited until the waiter had placed all the dishes down.
Only then did he reappear.
This left Paimon completely confused.
She asked Mu Yang, "Is he always like this?"
"Vanishing suddenly, appearing suddenly... and what did you mean earlier?"
Lumine also asked, "Yeah, what is Karmic Debt?"
Mu Yang told Lumine several stories.
The yaksha clan specialized in slaughter and warfare.
Back then, they had fought alongside The Geo Archon and incurred countless killings.
Karmic Debt could be crudely understood as the resentment or grudges produced by slaughter.
Over time, it would not only harm oneself.
It would also harm the people around them.
Damn, I feel so bad for precious Xiao.
Does that mean he has to stay alone all the time?
Hahaha, such a tiny knife. Laughable, laughable. You think this can hurt me?
"That is why he does not want to get too close to you."
Paimon panicked. "Huh?! We really will not be affected, right?"
Though she said that,
the chopsticks in her hand did not stop moving at all.
Lumine said she did not feel anything.
While listening to the story, she had also been observing him.
She noticed that Xiao ate very little.
And that he only touched the Almond Tofu.
She guessed it was related to his experiences.
But she politely did not ask.
Just the phrase "the yaksha clan specialized in slaughter and warfare"
was enough to tell her that his past must have been extraordinary.
Meanwhile, while Mu Yang told the story,
Xiao remained silent and focused on eating.
After he finished eating, he raised an eyebrow.
Then he asked,
"Some old stories?"
Meaning, there was far too much that Mu Yang had remembered.
Mu Yang played innocent.
"The owner told me all of that. You cannot expect that after you greeted me, I would remember nothing at all."
"Let's leave this matter at that. It will affect my sleep."
Xiao asked, "What have you come here for today?"
Lumine took out the "Hundred-Proof Talisman."
"Let me explain."
Then Lumine told him about Rex Lapis being assassinated,
as well as Moon Carver's request.
Little Paimon was still worried.
Would this Demon Slayer Great Sage, who specialized in slaughter and warfare, suddenly fly into a rage
and charge toward Liyue Harbor?
But Xiao's reaction after hearing all this
could not be said to be exactly the same as Cloud Retainer's.
It could only be said that it was completely different.
Xiao was extremely calm.
"Rex Lapis... has suffered such a calamity."
His expression did not even change.
Seeing Xiao's awkward acting
and that flat delivery,
Mu Yang thought, Brother, at least show something.
When I regained my memories just now, you even showed a little expression.
Rex Lapis was assassinated, and you feel absolutely nothing, huh?
Xiao continued delivering his lines flatly.
"I... cannot imagine it."
"No matter how the ages may change, I have never imagined a Liyue without Rex Lapis."
"The Qixing who govern the mortal realm... what role did they play in this matter?"
Listening to Xiao's lines,
Guinaifen immediately mocked him.
"Family, let me just say this: wasn't he speaking just fine earlier?"
"Why does he sound like he's reading from a script once Rex Lapis comes up?"
"Didn't he fight beside The Geo Archon for years? That's his reaction?"
It really does feel a little perfunctory.
Streamer, you do not understand. True grief is silent. The calmer he is, the more it shows that he...
Keep making it up. I'm listening.
Xiao: Rex Lapis was assassinated, there's wine and food... so Mu Yang called me here for a funeral feast!
Xiao: Rex Lapis... nom nom has suffered such a calamity... nom nom nom
The news of Rex Lapis's assassination was not as important as Mu Yang regaining his memories.
True. When he heard Mu Yang had recovered his memories, the corner of Xiao's mouth lifted by one pixel.
Are you watching the livestream through a microscope?
"Everyone gets that feeling too, right? There's definitely something suspicious about this!"
What brilliant insight does Xiao Guizi have?
If it has nothing to do with Mu Yang, she cannot figure it out.
Guinaifen began spouting nonsense.
"Didn't I predict it? Rex Lapis being assassinated is not so simple!"
6
If Mu Yang said that instead, she would analyze it seriously. It's all just content.
Xiao Guizi is a genius at playing dumb. Does anyone really think she does not understand?
Xiao sighed.
"I will go find Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer."
"It is time for them to make a decision as well."
Paimon still asked the question she had been worried about.
"Will you take over Liyue?"
Xiao told Paimon.
"The adepti will not shirk their responsibilities, although... I have my reasons for not wishing to involve myself in mortal affairs."
"But responsibility is responsibility, after all, because our god is the God of Contracts."
After speaking, Xiao turned to Mu Yang.
"And you? Protecting Liyue Harbor may not be your responsibility, but the Geo Archon, after all..."
Mu Yang cut him off. "I'll be there shortly."
Of course Mu Yang would go.
This had nothing to do with whether he was protecting Liyue Harbor or not.
How could I show off if I don't go?
And without showing off, where would I get any popularity?
Osial, just you wait.
I'll yank your hood right off your head.
Having received Mu Yang's answer, Xiao—
vanished into thin air.
Paimon still wasn't used to it.
"Can't he walk normally... ? He's always appearing and disappearing like some ghost."
Lumine leaned close and whispered into Paimon's ear.
"He's an adeptus. His hearing is excellent, and he might not have gone very far..."
Paimon hurriedly covered her mouth.
"What do I do, what do I do? I said something bad about an adeptus. Will chests only give me cabbages from now on?"
As expected of little money-grubber Paimon, the things she cared about were always different from everyone else's.
They'd already mentioned the Great Immortal Bird before.
From now on, if they failed to get any loot while farming, they could blame Paimon.
Lumine had only been teasing Paimon.
After their playful banter,
she became much more serious.
"What should we do next?"
Before you continue