As they arrived at the cave entrance, the atmosphere turned gloomy, eerie, and bone chilling. Ancient talismans trembled in the wind, forming a weak barrier. Without hesitation, Xiao raised his spear and effortlessly broke through it, walking straight in without so much as a glance back.
The deeper they went, the denser the sinister aura became. No one knew how long they'd been walking, but eventually, they reached the very depths of the cave.
The space was cold and utterly pitch-black, as if all color had been drained from it. Xiao stepped forward and waved his hand flickering lights burst to life from ancient stone lamps, trembling as they lit up the aged walls. The miasma here was thick, suffocating, as though trying to crush the breath from the living.
- Mei (thinking): This place… is even more suffocating than those jam-packed Japanese train stations.
Xiao moved ahead, standing silently on a stone platform. His spear tilted ever so slightly, its blade glowing a soft teal. A black wind began to stir, carrying with it eerie howls from all directions.
Illusions, sealed memories taking shape, and grotesque beings rose from the void all targeting them.
- Mei (a bit scared): Wh-What… what is all this?
- Xiao (turning to her, calm): Stay calm. Don’t move from this spot until I’m done.
- Mei (nodding firmly): Got it!
Hearing her response, Xiao showed no hesitation. He took a breath, donned his Yaksha mask, and launched into battle.
- Mei (thinking): OMG! The demon exorcising dance is starting!
BOOM!
His figure shot into the air, slicing through the monsters like an inverted shooting star. His spear turned into lightning, slamming down with a deep, thunderous crack, like a roar from the underworld. Sharp shockwaves erupted outward, ripping through the air and sweeping away the phantoms like a violent storm.
- Mei (momentarily forgetting her fear): So badass. I’ve never seen a live-action fight scene in full HD like this before.
The anguished wails of vanquished spirits echoed all around, but the Yaksha remained unfazed, mercilessly cutting down every enemy in sight. A new wave of vengeful ghosts emerged, whispering lonely words from the darkness.
"Alone... forever."
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to be remembered."
…
- Xiao (softly): ...Silence.
He ignored the venomous voices and continued fighting, as if long numbed to their cruelty. His eyes, flickering amber beneath the mask, burned with unrelenting killing intent.
Wind, light, and dark aura swirled together into a storm. In that moment, Xiao danced like a battle-worn spirit, fulfilling his duty to guard the mortal world — with no need for gratitude or remembrance.
An hour passed. Now, nothing remained but the thick remnants of resentment. Xiao had completely cleansed the area. Mei, having witnessed it all, couldn’t help but shiver.
- Mei (thinking): I used to think Xiao looked super cool doing this in the game… but now, I’m kinda scared.
Mei peeked down from her spot, only to realize Xiao had vanished from sight. A sudden wave of panic swept over her.
- Mei (calling out): Hey, Demon Subduing Great Saint! Where’d you go…? Are you hurt?!
Suddenly, Xiao appeared behind her. His Yaksha mask slowly cracked and crumbled into dust, revealing the same cold expression as always.
- Mei (startled): Xiao… Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!
- Mei (giving him a quick once-over, sighing in relief): Whew… thank the Archons, he’s not injured.
- Xiao (flatly): If you’re afraid, don’t follow me.
- Mei (awkwardly): Uh… I-I’m not scared! Really!
- Mei (changing the subject in embarrassment): So… do all Yaksha have to face dangers like that?
- Xiao (quietly): ...I’m not sure.
- Mei (thinking sadly): Sigh... The Yaksha follow the Geo Archon’s command to protect humanity… yet they can’t even protect themselves.
Noticing the gloomy look on Mei’s face, Xiao spoke as if reading her mind.
- Xiao: The Yaksha’s will has never included pity or tears. So there’s no need for you to look sad.
- Mei: ...Sorry, Xiao. I promise I won’t let my mouth wander off like that again.
- Xiao: …It’s not that serious.
- Xiao: Let’s get out of here.
He turned and led the way, and Mei quietly followed behind.
- Mei (thinking): Oh right, I almost forgot according to the plot, this is where I’m supposed to tell Xiao about that con artist.
- Mei: Demon Subduing Great Saint! Have you heard the rumors? Lately, there’s someone pretending to be an adeptus and scamming people.
- Xiao: I don’t meddle in mortal affairs.
- Mei: Relax, just let me explain.
Mei quickly began recounting everything that had happened. Though Xiao appeared disinterested, he listened closely, not missing a single detail.
- Xiao (arms crossed, speaking evenly): So it’s true...
- Xiao (frowning): That technique only drives away demons - it doesn’t eliminate them. No wonder all the evil spirits gathered at the inn.
- Xiao: ...We must retrieve the Forbidden Manual of Hundred No’s from him.
- Mei (adding fuel to the fire): Retrieving it won’t be enough - we need to teach that guy a lesson he’ll never forget.
- Mei: We can’t let him keep deceiving people like this.
- Xiao (firmly): I do not kill mortals.
- Mei (waving her hands frantically): No need to go that far! Just… rough him up a little. Scare him straight!
- Xiao (thinking for a moment): …Alright.
- Xiao: There’s a spell that can force his spirit to separate from his body.
- Mei (nodding in awe): Whoa, that’s awesome! As expected from the Demon Subduing Great Saint.
- Xiao: But the spell requires a ritual. I’ll need an incense burner, seven lanterns, and some items that can lower the temperature.
- Mei (without hesitation): Got it. I’ll find them as soon as I can.
- Xiao (nodding slightly): Tomorrow, at the third watch of the night, meet me in the clearing behind the inn.
- Xiao: ...I’ll be waiting for you there.
Mei nodded in understanding, and together they made their way back toward the cave entrance.
- Xiao: You go ahead. I need to restore the barrier here.
- Mei (weary): Alright... take care, then. I’ll head back.
The golden light of sunset washed over the clouds, tinting them with hues of pink and orange. Down below, a girl in a dust streaked dress dotted with dried blood stains trudged forward. Scratches marked her arms and legs, her body clearly worn down - yet she pressed on, her shadow stretched long beneath the leaning trees.
Back at the inn, the sound of Mei’s exhausted footsteps echoed through the lobby, drawing everyone’s attention. Yanxiao was the first to look over and his jaw dropped.
- Yanxiao: Did you tick someone off and they hired the Treasure Hoarders to teach you a lesson or something?
- Mei (confused): ...Do I look like the kind of person who picks fights?
Huai’an stepped out from behind the counter, narrowing his eyes at her beat-up appearance before speaking.
- Huai’an: Did you get robbed on the way back?
Mei shook her head slowly.
At that moment, Verr Goldet descended the stairs, pausing mid-step in surprise at the sight. But she didn’t say a word. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if checking whether Mei was still breathing, then walked over and grabbed her by the wrist.
- Mei: Huh? Miss Verr, where are you taking me?
- Verr Goldet: To the bath.
- Mei: ???
Verr Goldet: If you stand around like this any longer, you’ll ruin the inn’s reputation.
Under the innkeeper’s firm guidance, Mei was dragged off to the bath, leaving Yanxiao and Huai’an staring at each other like they’d just witnessed a silent hurricane pass through.
After the bath, Mei felt reborn, as if a cool stream had washed through her veins, washing away every ounce of fatigue. She finally remembered Xiao’s instructions and went to speak with the innkeepers.
Back in her room, Verr Goldet sat on the edge of the bed, gently applying medicine to Mei’s wounds. Her tone was calm, cool as ever.
- Verr Goldet: So the story’s true, huh? That’s... serious.
Huai’an, seated on a chair near the small table by the window, took a sip of tea and chimed in.
- Huai’an (serious): If even the Demon Subduing Great Saint is stepping in, then this is no longer just a rumor.
- Mei (curious): So… what about the things we need to prepare for the ritual?
- Verr Goldet (smiling as usual): Haha, if the Demon Subduing Great Saint is willing to help, then of course we have to make proper preparations.
- Huai’an (sighing): We need to settle this as soon as possible.
Verr Goldet stood up, gave Mei a gentle pat on the shoulder, and said:
- Verr Goldet: That’s enough for today. Get some rest - we’ll handle the rest.
Mei nodded obediently, her eyes full of gratitude. Once they left, the room fell into peaceful silence.
Mei collapsed onto the bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and rolled over to face the window.
Outside, the moon had risen high. The night breeze rustled the leaves, whispering like an ancient lullaby from a time before Liyue had even found its name on the map of Teyvat.
- Mei (quietly reflecting): Keeping the secret of that strange light from them... was that the right thing to do?
- Mei (sighing): Haah… what a long, exhausting day.
- Mei: But... getting to travel with Xiao guess that’s a blessing in disguise.
She slowly closed her eyes, letting the memories of the day drift away, carried off into a deep, peaceful sleep.