(3RD POV) (Liyue Harbor)
[Four days passed since the incident between Chang The Ninth and Gentry Maocai. And it all ended peacefully thanks to the efforts of Musashi and the others.]
Musashi: "Ah~ All commissions are done!"
[And, speaking of Musashi and Lumine and Paimon, They had just returned from the Adventurer's Guild and were taking the commission rewards they had done.]
Paimon: "Hehe~ We have collected a lot of money from those commisions!"
Lumine: "We also have a lot of savings."
Musashi: "With all of that money, we can buy something or forge weapons."
[Paimon was overjoyed and floated around Lumine and Musashi.]
Paimon: "Hehe~ We can also buy groceries and make Wonton Soup like Yuanji served us a few days ago!"
Lumine: "You like that Wonton Soup, don't you?"
Paimon: "Yeah! The meat filling in the wontons is delicious! The broth is a little salty but refreshing! Paimon really likes it!"
[Lumine and Musashi giggles at Paimon's reaction.]
Musashi: "As for me... I prefer Yuanji's beef buns."
Lumine: "Me too. Fortunately, I've asked her for the recipe. So, I can cook those food for you two."
Paimon: "Yatta! Lumine is the best!"
[Paimon jumps and hugs Lumine tightly. Musashi giggles at both of them. And then...]
Paimon: "Oh yeah! Paimon forgots something!"
[Then, Paimon back into serious mode. She floats like usual, and...]
Paimon: "Say, Slime's Lover... You know the history between Yuanji and Xingcai, right?"
Musashi: "Well, I know about it, but not in detail."
Lumine: "Do you curious about it, Paimon?"
[Paimon nods twice at Lumine and Musashi.]
Paimon: "Yeah! Actually, Paimon wanted to know more about the history of the two of them, considering that the two of them weren't from this world."
Musashi: "...Their history is known as the Age of the Three Kingdoms."
Lumine: "Three Kingdoms?"
Musashi: "Well, Yuanji had already said that, the Wei kingdom, had succeeded in overthrowing the Shu kingdom."
Paimon: "That's just two kingdoms... In that case-"
Musashi: "There's one more... The Kingdom Of Wu."
[Paimon and Lumine fell in thought for a minute...]
Lumine: "Wei, Wu and Shu..."
Paimon: "Three Kingdoms are fighting for power to unify the country, named China..."
Musashi: "Actually, before Three Kingdoms were formed... China was ruled by the previous Emperors of the Han Dynasty."
[And.. Paimon immediately felt dizzy.]
Paimon: "Ugh... Paimon's brain seemed to be on fire. There are so many things that Paimon doesn't know about them."
Lumine: "I guess... we should ask the experts."
[Musashi giggles at Paimon and then, she pats her head.]
Musashi: "How about we take a trip to Wangshu Inn...? Count it as our short vacation."
Lumine: "Good idea, Musashi. After all, we haven't been there in a long time."
Paimon: "Yeah! Starting from Osial, and other problems... We hardly ever visit Wangshu Inn!"
Musashi: "Alright then! Wangshu Inn! Here we come!"
Lumine/Paimon: "OH!"
(Opening Song : Again - Yui)
Kono omoi wo keshite shimau niwa Mada jinsei nagai desho?
[As the song starts, the screen shows Lumine is looking at his older brother, Aether, who is smiling and walked away.]
Yarinokoshiteru koto Yarinaoshite mitai kara
[Lumine tries to catch up with him, but it's turned out to be a dream. When Lumine opened her eyes, she sees Musashi is sitting beside her, and Paimon floating near her.]
[And as Musashi stood up and pointed her blade to the sky, the screen shows the title "Genshin Impact : Shattered Void".]
Yume no tsuzuki oikakete ita hazu nano ni
[Lumine walks around the foot of the mountain near Liyue, accompanied by the smiling Paimon. She looks at the white flower near her feet. She crouched down and touch that flower softly and carefully.]
Magarikunetta hosoi michi hito ni tsumazuku
[Aether accompanied by Abyss Mages and Abyss Herald, stand on the cliff of the mountain. Aether found a white flower below him. He looked at that leaf for a moment, then he step on it and crushed that flower to pieces.]
Ano koro mitai ni tte modoritai
[Lumine, Musashi and Paimon finally arrived at Liyue Harbor and being welcomed by the resident of Liyue.]
Wakejanai no nakushite
[But at the same time, Musashi felt a sharp gaze from somewhere.]
Kita sora wo Sagashiteru
[Two unknown female is looking at them from different places. One from Adventurer's Guild and the other from the top of Liyue's tower.]
Wakattekuremasu you ni
[Shenhe who just appeared on Liyue, just take a look at the Travelers and feel their power from afar.]
Gisei ni natta you na Kanashii kao wa
[The screen shows Childe with his cynical smile, and then Zhongli with his arm crossed and he closed his eyes, and...]
Yamete yo
[Zhongli opens his eyes and glowing gold.]
Tsumi no saigo wa namida janai yo
[Out of Liyue Harbor, Keqing slashed one Hilichurl and Ganyu shots the other Hilichurl from the high ground.]
Zutto kurushiku seotteku nda
[Hu Tao herself is playing around with Hilichurls.]
Deguchi mienai kanjou meiru ni
[Beidou, along with his pirate crews are exterminating Hilichurl and Ruin Guard around Liyue, due to Ningguang Request.]
Dare wo matteru no?
[The screen shows La Signora stands in front of Northland Bank leading a small troops of Fatui fighter.]
Shiroi no-to ni tsuzutta you ni
[Near Wangshu Inn, Xiao is surrounded by a bunch of Hilichurl.]
Motto sunao ni hakidashitai yo
[But then, Xinqiu and Chongyun shows up to help Xiao and eradicate those Hilichurls.]
Nani kara Nogaretainda ... Genjitsu tte yatsu?
[And the scenes changes Childe is standing in the center of Golden House, smiling evilly. And then, he use his Foul Legacy Transformation.]
Kanaeru tame ni Ikiterundatte
[Musashi eyes turned green as Childe unleashed his Hydro Whale, Musashi just slashed through the whale and their weapon clashed.]
Wasurechai sou na Yoru no manaa
[Lumine breaks their clashed with her new Geo Attack. Childe using his spears, clashed with Lumine's blade and Musashi's katana.]
Bunan ni nante Yatterarenai kara..
[At Qince Village, Two unknown woman warrior are staring at each other, rain is pouring hard.]
Kaeru basho mo nai no
[As the rain stopped, both of them are dashing towards against each other with their own weapon.]
Yasashisa niwa itsumo kansha shite'ru
[Madame Ping is looking at the sunset, and Yanfei appeared behind her and stands together to watch the sunset.]
Dakara tsuyoku naritai (I'M ON THE WAY)
[Musashi, Lumine, Keqing, Ningguang and two unknown woman warrior are fending off the Fatui as Three Adepti are fighting Osial.]
Natsukashiku naru
[Powered up by Lumine, Ningguang and All Adeptus...]
Konna itami mo kangei jan
[Musashi unleashed the powered up "Ishana Daitenshou" towards Osial, and the screen turned white.]
-------------------- Chapter 24 -------------------
(Still 3RD POV)
(And now, the trio were in the vicinity of the Wangshu Inn... However, they came across the strange form of two Hilichurls with dark auras.]
Musashi: "What the?"
Paimon: "Hey, Lumine, Slime's Lover... Is it just Paimon, or is there something weird about those hilichurls over there?"
Lumine: "They do give off a sinister energy."
Paimon: "Paimon thinks so too. We've seen plenty of hilichurls before, and they're always the bad guys... but this is different."
Musashi: "And... Uh... They seem unusually agitated."
Paimon: "Right! Maybe it has something to do with that sorta... dark energy they're giving off?"
[But then, those Hilichurls spots Lumine and the others.]
Paimon: "Eh!? They're coming!"
[And then... Those Hilichurls grabs their wooden stick, and...]
Hilichurl: "HRAAH!!!"
Lumine: "Ah!"
Paimon: "Wha-"
*SLASH!!!*
Lumine: "!!!"
[The two Hilichurls tried to attack, but luckily, Musashi was already prepared and slashed at the two Hilichurls. The two Hilichurls were instantly split in half and turned into ashes.]
Musashi: "Damn... That was close."
*CTAK!*
[Musashi put her katanas back into their scabbards. And then, she immediately checked Lumine and Paimon.]
Musashi: "Hey, you two! Are you two okay!?"
Paimon: "Yeah... Paimon just shocked."
[As Musashi examined Lumine, her chest skipped a beat... Well, the feeling of someone in love.]
Lumine: (Musashi... So close...)
[And... There's no scratch or injury on Lumine's body.]
Musashi: "Alright... You're fine. It's good to know."
Lumine: "....Because I have you by my side... I'll be fine."
[Musashi blushed slightly. Lumine giggles at her reaction.]
Musashi: "W-Well... If you say so, Lumine. ☺️"
Lumine: "Hehe~ 🥰"
Paimon: "Ugh... Somehow, Paimon feels Paimon is being ignored like the wind."
[Then, both of them realized that. And...]
Musashi: "Come to think of this... What has just happened?"
Lumine: "...Something seems to be going on here."
Paimon: "Hey, seems like people are gathering over there... Wonder what they're doing?"
Musashi: "Whoa... What the heck is he doing right here?"
[And... They saw a man with mask holds a Sigil Of Permission. He is kinda performing some exorcist arts on to a dark Hilichurls.]
Paimon: "Whoa, see that guy in the mask? He-He scared off all the hilichurls!"
Lumine: "Could he be an adeptus?"
Musashi: "Looked like he was using some sort of adeptus art..."
Paimon: "Oh, you mean like Xiao? Now that you mention it, this guy's mask is kinda similar to the one he wears... But the magic he was using seemed even more adeptus-y than Xiao's. Shall we go say hi?"
[Lumine nods and follow Paimon to meet that man. Musashi still stands at her position and fall in thought.]
Musashi: (Is it true that he is an Adeptus? For some reason, I felt something was odd.)
[And so... The trio decides to greet that mysterious man. And there... They heard three person talks to themselves.]
Male Believer: "...Is indeed divine!"
Mercantile Believer: "...Adepti arts in action!"
Female Believer: "...As powerful as ever."
[But... They ignored their strange talk, and they greeted the masked man.]
Paimon: "Ahem! Hello! Allow us to introduce ourselves, this-"
????: "Please, if you're here to thank me, there's no need. Cleansing the world of evil is the duty of the adepti. Think nothing of it - I certainly don't."
[But... That man seems confused as he meets the trio for the first time.]
????: "...Wait, who are you? One had assumed you were followers, but on closer inspection it seems that we have not met."
Lumine: "We are just travelers that passing by this place."
Paimon: "My name's Paimon! And this is my sidekick, Lumine and Musashi."
[When Paimon says sidekick, Musashi and Lumine want to smack Paimon on the head. However, they decided against it.]
Lumine: "Paimon~ 😑"
Paimon: "Hehe~"
????: "One sees. One, too, shall introduce oneself, for it is good manners to comply."
[And... that man introduces himself to the trio.]
????: "Ahem... The one before you is the adeptus, Master of Stars, though one is better known to one's followers as "Starsnatcher."
Musashi: "Starsnatcher?"
[And that man introduces himself as Starsnatcher. Musashi scratches her hair in confusion.]
Starsnatcher: "One descended from one's mountain abode to cleanse the world of evil, whereupon fate saw fit that our paths should cross. Now... tell me that which you wish for."
Paimon: "Our wishes? Paimon thought that the adepti in Liyue were just really good in battle... You mean you can grant people's wishes, too?"
Starsnatcher: "Haha... There are different levels of adepti... Are not the stars loftier than the mountains, clouds, and moon?Yet, it is unbecoming of an adepti to boast of one's powers. One would have you first speak to one's followers, and only then make your verdict."
(5 minutes later...)
[And... Musashi and Lumine tried to talk to the three believers standing behind the Starsnatcher. And oddly enough, they seemed to adore and even praise the Starsnatcher like the strongest Adeptus. And...]
Starsnatcher: "What do you think? One's adherents may exaggerate a little, but they speak from the heart."
Lumine: "Or... From their imaginations, I'd say..."
Starsnatcher: "Hahaha. Surely you must jest. There was once a senior adeptus, Xue Wuliang, known to the people as "Liangzi." He said this..."
[Starsnatcher cleared his throat slightly, and...]
Starsnatcher: "All things are connected. That which mortals call 'imagination' is merely the bridge betwixt the spiritual and the material."
Musashi: "....."
Lumine: "....."
Paimon: "Uh..."
Starsnatcher: "In other words, their wishes are already on the path of transitioning into reality. Does this make things clearer?"
[Instead of being clear, Paimon became even more confused.]
Paimon: "Ahh... Nope, it makes them way more complicated... But basically, what you're saying is that their wishes can come true, right?"
Starsnatcher: "Indeed. You are perceptive, my diminutive friend."
Paimon: "Okay. Um, so we also have one other question."
Starsnatcher: "Oh? You need but ask."
[Lumine and Musashi looks at each other and nods. And...]
Lumine: "Why do you wear a mask?"
Musashi: "Go on, take it off, lemme see your real face!"
Paimon: "Hey! Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
[Starsnatcher laughes a little. Even though, he's kinda afraid to shows his true face to the trio.]
Starsnatcher: "Hm. Indeed, it would be inappropriate for one to remove one's mask.One... wanders among mortals, doing good and cleansing evil. One reveals not one's visage to avoid further disturbance to this realm than is necessary."
Paimon: "Ah, got it."
Starsnatcher: "Now then - what are your wishes?"
[Lumine sighed... She also has a doubt for this Adeptus, and...]
Lumine: "I want to know where my big brother is."
Starsnatcher: "Hmm... One senses that a tragic tale lies behind this wish..."
[Musashi clenches her fist. She was annoyed that the Starsnatcher seemed to add an insults to Lumine's old wounds.]
Starsnatcher: "So be it. This wish is not beyond one's power to grant..."
Musashi: "WHAT!?"
Starsnatcher: "But first, one must see some proof of your... faith."
Paimon: "...What's that supposed to mean?"
Starsnatcher: "The way of the adepti cannot be grasped from words alone. One must seek... the profound truths that lie beyond them... Should you fail to perceive one's hidden meaning, then regrettably, one may lend you no aid."
[Starsnatcher walks away with his believer. And Musashi felt something is really wrong right now.]
Paimon: "What do we do? Paimon doesn't understand him at all!"
Lumine: "I think he wants us to sweeten the deal..."
Musashi: "In other words... Mora."
Paimon: 'Oh, that's right! Some of those believers mentioned that they had to pay a pretty sum for the adeptus' help, didn't they? Well, Paimon's not forking over any Mora, and we don't have anything valuable enough on us. And... You don't even have a Vision..."
[Musashi and Lumine sighed a little.]
Lumine: "I don't think people put Visions up for sale."
Musashi: "No need to rub it in, Paimon..."
Paimon: "Hey! Why don't we make him a tasty snack? No one can resist the temptation of good food, can they?"
[And... It seems they have no choice but to follow Paimon's plan.]
Lumine: "No one who share your values, for sure..."
Musashi: "But, i guess it's worth a try."
Paimon: "Yep, a tasty snack is sure to work! Hehehe... Why don't we head over to Wanwen Bookhouse and see if they've got any new recipes in?"
Musashi: "Alright then... Let us go back to Liyue Harbor."
(20 minutes later...)
[And now... They finally arrived at Wanwen Bookhouse... Again. Upon arriving at the bookstore, they all saw... Jifang is talking with the Starsnatcher.]
Jifang: "So, you'd like a copy of "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti"?"
Starsnatcher: "Yes. Here, and keep the change."
Jifang: "Oh, aren't you generous? Thank you for your patronage!"
[After paying his debts, Starsnatcher departs from Wanwen Bookhouse. They all saw it all.]
Paimon: "Hey, isn't that, um... Starsnapper? What a coincidence, running into him again!"
[Lumine and Musashi giggles at Paimon's miswords.]
Lumine: "Paimon... It's Starsnatcher..."
Musashi: "Coincidence, or Adeptincidence?"
Paimon: Haha~ Very funny, you two. By the way, did you hear the name of that book he just bought? Was it... "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti"?"
[And... They find it strange. They thought, How could an adeptus try to find an info about other adeptus.]
Paimon: "Ah, well anyway, it was definitely a book about the adepti. Why would an adeptus wanna buy a book about himself?"
Musashi: "I always found him fishy..."
Paimon: "Really? What's so fishy about him?"
Musashi: "He's a charlatan, if you ask me."
Paimon: "So, what you're trying to say is that he can't grant people's wishes?"
[Musashi nods. It seems clear to her that something is not right.]
Paimon: "Hmm... Paimon thinks we should check out that book. Maybe we'll find out something about this guy that we can use!"
Lumine: "Alright. Let us talk the owner about that book."
[And... the trio decides to ask Jifang about that book.]
Paimon: "Hey there. We'd like a copy of "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti" - do you have one in stock?"
Jifang: "Huh. Since when did that old chestnut become a best-seller? You're a rare breed of youngster if this is what you like to read... But you should be able to find a copy somewhere on that shelf over there."
[And... they searches that book on the far shelf, and... they found it.]
Paimon: "This is the one! Let's see what it's about, shall we?"
"In ancient times, Liyue was a land of misery, where the shadow of evil loomed large.
As slain gods festered, their vengeful wrath cursed the world, manifesting in infernal forms. When demons stirred, miasmas, monsters, and mutations infested the land.
Then, Rex Lapis summoned the yakshas to vanquish the demons.
They swore an oath: "Restore order through slaughter, purge evil through battle, to this, we dedicate our lives."
Eons of bloodshed later, karmic debt weighed upon them, phantom wrath seeping into their broken souls. They went mad with fear, turned on each other, or succumbed to the darkness.
Of the five foremost yakshas, death came to three, while the fourth vanished without a trace.
In the millennia since, one conqueror of demons remains the sole surviving yaksha in the mortal realm. And only on moonlit nights, in the glow from Guyun and in the sound of the dihua flute, is his memory preserved."
[And that's the story of Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti.]
Musashi: (Come to think of it... Sensei told me about this story.)
(Flashback...)
Zhongli: "Tales of the yaksha have survived from ancient times to be recorded into books. In ancient Liyue, pestilience, demons, and anomalies could be found throughout the land, and each was the work of demons, the product of the lingering hatred and grudges that arose from the corpses of defeated gods.
The yaksha heeded the summons of Rex Lapis and cleansed these demons. In this long and brutal war, they became tainted by these lingering grudges and suffered greatly as a result, till at last only one Conqueror of Demons remained..."
(Back to Present...)
[And... The trio finally learned about the story of the Yakshas.]
Paimon: "This book is about the yakshas, a group of adepti who defend Liyue. Hmm, seems like a pretty niche topic. Was there anything that stood out to you?"
Musashi: "There's a lot of it. But what makes me so curious... Is about the sole surviving Yaksha."
[Paimon fall in thought for a moment.]
Paimon: "So, there used to be five main yakshas, but supposedly only one of them is still alive today. Do you think that it could have anything to do with that Starsnatcher guy?"
Lumine: Hmm... I think not. He doesn't exactly give off the impression that he's been suffering for thousands of years..."
[But, Lumine also fall in thought...]
Lumine: "But this book also tells us about the demons."
Musashi: "The book says that the wrathful spirits of the gods defeated during the Archon War can sometimes cause plagues, monsters or mutations... All of which sound pretty horrendous."
Paimon: "Hey, wait a second... Paimon wonders if... Do you think those super-evil hilichurls we saw earlier were the "mutations" that the book's talking about?"
[Both Lumine and Musashi shrugged since they don't know the answer, and...]
Lumine: "About karma..."
Musashi: "The book says that the yakshas, after fighting against the wrath of the gods for thousands of years, became bound by karma. Poisoned by the hateful thoughts of the gods, the yakshas would often descend into indescribable fits of terror, rage, or agony..."
[Paimon sigh in sadness as she hears a lot about this Yakshas's story.]
Paimon: "It's so tragic... After everything they went through in all their years of protecting Liyue, they got no reward, and had to deal with so much suffering instead."
[Musashi closed the book and put it back to the shelf. And the trio decides to put a small meeting between them.]
Paimon: "So, back to the matter at hand. The things we need answers on are one, where did those super evil-looking hilichurls came from, and two, what does Starsnatcher have to do with the yakshas. Right?"
Musashi: "Yup-yup."
Paimon: "Now to head back to where this all started and commence our investigation! Let's part the fog of mystery that hangs over Jueyun Karst, and let the truth shine through in its full glory!"
[Musashi and Lumine giggles at Paimon's enthusiasm.]
Musashi: "Wow... You're way too into this, Paimon."
Lumine: "Hehe~ So, we're playing detective now, are we?"
Paimon: "Ehehe! To be honest, Paimon actually hopes he is a real adeptus. Ah... His exorcism techniques seemed real enough, at least... But, if we get our hopes up, there's further for them to come down. So it makes sense to investigate thoroughly first, just to be sure! Alright, let's head back to Wangshu Inn!"
(Another 20 minutes later...)
[And after another 20 minutes passed... The trio finally back at the vicinity of Wangshu Inn. And, they saw Starsnatcher is in action to kick those dark Hilichurls away.]
Starsnatcher: "Flee at my command, foul demon!"
[But, Oddly, the Sigil Of Permission used by Starsnatcher doesn't work. And, that invoked the wrath of those hilichurls.]
Starsnatcher: "Wh-Why won't you flee?!"
Hilichurl: "Beru nye! Beru nya! Beru nyaaaa!!!"
[And those Hilichurls grabs their weapon, and dashed towards Starsnatcher. And...]
Paimon: "Uh-oh! Looks like Starsnatcher's in trouble! And there are innocent bystanders here, too! We have to-"
*WUSH!*
Musashi: "Wha-"
*BRUAGH!*
Hilichurls: "ARGH!"
[Suddenly, a shield flew from behind the Travelers' heads and hit the Hilichurls.]
Lumine: "T-That shield!"
????: "HYAAH!"
*SLASH! *SLASH!* *SLASH!*
[When those Hilichurl were stunned by that shield, a young woman jumps from the high ground and catch the flying shield. And, she dashed and kill all of those Hilichurls.]
Xingcai: "Begone, you villain."
[And turns out, it was Xingcai. With three slashes, the Hilichurls were split in two and turned to ashes. Quickly, she checks those people while the trio decides to confront Starsnatcher.]
Starsnatcher: "I don't get it... Why didn't the Sigil of Permission do anything? Has the evil aura of these hilichurls grown in intensity?
Paimon: "Sigil of Permission, huh? Now why does that sound familiar?"
Musashi: "Ah yes, the get out of Jueyun free card..."
Lumine: "So, that's what he was using for his exorcisms..."
[And Lumine and Paimon found out Starsnatcher is using Sigil Of Permission to shove away those Hilichurls.]
Paimon: "Right! It's a keepsake of the adepti, so it must still contain traces of their power! No wonder he was able to scare those monsters away earlier!"
Starsnatcher: "Wh-What are you two babbling on about? One is merely underslept... meaning that one's adeptal power... is not in full flow! Were one but given another opportunity..."
Musashi: "You big liar..."
Lumine: "It's totally a scam."
Paimon: "Well, as it happens, there goes another bunch of evil hilichurls over there. Should we leave them to you, then?"
[Afraid of Paimon's threat, Starsnatcher decides to...]
Starsnatcher: "I-O-One... suddenly feels ill at ease. Surely one has overexpended one's adeptal powers, otherwise, one would surely purge these infernal beings at once!"
[And he runs away!]
Paimon: "Ugh, so you WERE just bragging after all. We were right to be suspicious!"
Xingcai: "Um... Excuse me."
[From behind, Xingcai walks closer to greet Musashi, Lumine and Paimon.]
Paimon: "Ah! Xingcai!"
Musashi: "Hey, good work back there!"
Xingcai: "I'm glad to see you three are okay. Those people are okay, as well."
[The trio sighed in relief.]
Xingcai: "By the way, what are you three doing here?"
Paimon: "Well, we're investigating about a man that claims to be an Adeptus called Starsnatcher.."
Xingcai: "Starsnatcher?"
Musashi: "But... He is a big liar. Believe me... I know a liar when i see one."
[Xingcai is a bit confused by all of this.]
Xingcai: "If i remember... There is no Adeptus called Starsnatcher."
Lumine: "Yeah... That man used Sigil Of Permission to shove those Hilichurls away."
Xingcai: "I see... But, when you said "Sigil Of Permission", i can guess something is not right here."
Musashi: "What do you mean?"
[Xingcai decides to explain what is going on.]
Xingcai: "Well, since three days ago, There is a report from Wangshu Inn. It is said there had been an increase in Hilichurl's activity recently. But, this time... a bit strange."
Musashi: "Strange? How?"
Xingcai: "Somehow... The Hilihcurls attacked more ferociously than usual. You could say... They're like possessed by a very evil power."
Lumine: "Do you think... It has something to do with Sigil Of Permission?"
[Xingcai nods slowly.]
Xingcai: "There's possibility about it. So, Miss Keqing asked me to investigate this matter."
Musashi: "Hee~ So, Neko-chan notices this matter, huh?"
[And... Lumine looked at Musashi with a slightly displeased face. Well, in other words... she's jealous.]
Lumine: "...."
Xingcai: "Then, if you don't mind, may I join you to investigate this matter?"
Paimon: "Wow... It seems we got ourselves a reinforcement!"
[When Paimon said that, both Lumine and Musashi agrees.]
Musashi: "Well, the more the merrier. Welcome aboard, Xingcai."
Lumine: "Yes, i'm glad you came to help us, Miss Xingcai."
Xingcai: "Thank you, you three. So, where should we start?"
[Paimon nods and the investigation continues.]
Paimon: "Come on, Traveler, looks like it's up to us. Use your Elemental Sight and hunt them down!"
Lumine: "Follow me!"
Musashi: "Alright! Let's do this thing!"
[Musashi and Paimon follows Lumine's lead. As for Xingcai...]
Xingcai: (Come to think of it... Speaking of Lady Keqing.)
(Flashback... 2 days ago.) (In front of Keqing's house.)
[Two days ago, Xingcai comes to Keqing's house to delivers some important documents.]
Xingcai: "Lady Keqing should be at home by now. I should-"
Keqing: "ARGH!!!"
[Before Xingcai knocked the door, she can hears Keqing's scream from inside.]
Xingcai: (What the-)
Keqing: "Why does that idiot's face keep appearing in my head!?"
Xingcai: (....What?)
Keqing: "I only see her as a friend! Nothing more! But, why does Musashi keep appearing in my head!?"
(Back to present...)
Xingcai: (Is it possible that... Miss Keqing fell in love with Musashi?)
Paimon: "Xingcai! What's wrong!? Come on!"
Xingcai: "Coming!"
[Using Elemntal Sight, Lumine and the others follows the trail of Hilichurl's evil aura. Upon approaching the hilichurls with the evil aura, it already slain by...]
Paimon: "Oh, it's that Conqueror of Demons again. No wonder! Paimon was just wondering who could've made such short work of these hilichurls."
Xingcai: "Perhaps he has the answer for all of this."
Musashi: "Alright! Let's greet him!"
[And... The group decides to greet Xiao.]
Musashi: "Hey! Alatus!"
Xiao: "Oh, It's you, Musashi..."
[Then, Xiao looks at the others.]
Lumine: "Hello, Xiao."
Xingcai: "Greetings."
Xiao: "I remember you all. I was purging some living beings that had been tainted by the demonic. It would appear that I have caused you some trouble."
Paimon: "But, you were exorcizing demons, how is that causing trouble?"
Xiao: "That is because the changes that occurred in these monsters stem from me - or more precisely, from the karma I have accumulated."
Paimon: "Mutations, karma... Does that mean..."
Xingcai: "Master Xiao is the Final Yaksha."
[Then, the trio remembers the book they just read at the bookstore.]
Paimon: "Yeah... Paimon remembers that Xiao is also called the Vigilant Yaksha, isn't he? So... so that means... Aww... Poor Xiao."
[Then, Paimon cries on Lumine's shoulder.]
Paimon: "Huee~"
Lumine: "There, there... Paimon."
Musashi: "Well... We were just reading a book called "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti."
Xiao: "I see. You must mean that piece of literati fan fiction from a few hundred years ago."
[Xiao sighed a bit.]
Xiao: "Hmph. All things are impermanent, and to exist is to suffer. We yakshas have no need of sympathy or tears. My comrades who have passed on would see your tears as a stain on their legacy."
Xingcai: "Master Xiao..."
[Then, Paimon feels calm a bit. Then, she goes from Lumine's arms.]
Paimon: "Oh, uh... Paimon's sorry..."
Xiao: "It matters not. In any case, I am on my way to purge a cavern of demonic influence, so we shall part ways here."
[Xiao walks away and ready to leave, but...]
Musashi: "Wait! Alatus!"
Xiao: "...."
[Xiao suddenly stops on the spot.]
Xiao: "What?"
Paimon: "W-Wait! Take us with you! We'll be a big help, Paimon promises!"
Xiao: "No need. I am used to fighting alone, and in any case these mutations originated from me to begin with..."
Lumine: "But, we want to help you, Xiao."
Xingcai: "Yes. Let us help you, Master Xiao."
[Xiao falls silent... He didn't utter a word, until...]
Musashi: "Uh... Alatus?"
Xiao: "...Come on then."
[Xiao walks away. The group follows his lead. And, on their way...]
Paimon: "Say, Master Xiao... I heard You've been suffering from the bad karma all this time?"
Xiao: "Suffering is my price to pay for eons of endless slaughter... I have come to accept this. But, in recent years, other living things have suffered, when the burden should be mine alone to bear... I must reflect on this."
[And they folows Xiao's lead. And... They finally arrived at Karma-Heavy Cavern.]
Xingcai: "Oh my..."
Musashi: "Damn... This place gives me creeps."
Lumine: "Y-Yeah... It gives me goosebumps."
Xiao: "I will use the ritual known as the Bane of All Evil to relieve this place of its karma. You must remain calm. Do not allow yourself to be affected by the lingering wrath of bygone gods."
*BWOSH!*
[Xiao activates his Bane Of All The Evil. And they all proceed slowly and steadily.]
Xingcai: "Bane of All Evil... That must be the power you got for being a Vigilant Yaksha, right?"
Xiao: "Yes."
Paimon: "Paimon's just realized that you only wear your mask when you're fighting the bad guys. But that Starsnatcher guy wears his mask the rest of the time, too..."
[Xiao seems confused when Paimon said Starsnatcher.]
Xiao: "Starsnatcher? ...I am aware of no adeptus by such a name."
Paimon: "So, he IS a fraud! Well! We'll continue this discussion later, you should focus on your battle for now."
[And then... They press forward to the deepest part of the the Cavern. Xiao keeps destroying the karma around the cavern... Until...]
Xiao: "DISAPPEAR!!!"
*BWOSH!*
[Xiao's Anemo power managed to expel all the karma and evil spirits that were in the Cavern. And they finally reaches and stands at the deepest part.]
Xiao: "It is good that we came here. An unusual number of living things had fallen under infernal influence. Had we not arrived in good time, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Xingcai: "But, we cannot do it without your help, Master Xiao."
Musashi: "Yeah! You're the best, Alatus!"
[Xiao just blushed a bit after he being complimented by them. But then, he still curious about this Starsnatcher.]
Xiao: "N-Now. This "Starsnatcher" you speak of. What is the situation?"
Paimon: "Ooh, Paimon'll tell you!"
[Paimon relates the matter concerning Starsnatcher... And...]
Xiao: "An adeptus who grants wishes... To think that people could be so easily deceived by such blatant lies..."
Paimon: "As an adeptus, do you have the power to grant wishes, Xiao?"
[Xiao shakes his head.]
Xiao: "The Liyue of yesteryear would never ask the adepti for boons unearned. Millennia ago, the ancestral people of Liyue asked for nothing more than the strength to defend the land they called their home."
Paimon: "Ehh... To be honest, an adepti who grants people's wishes is probably more appealing to people nowadays..."
Xiao: "However, feeble people nowadays may be, they are not my concern. I concern myself only with following Rex Lapis' original decree."
[And Musashi, Lumine and Xingcai glares at Paimon. Paimon just giggles nervously.]
Paimon: "Whoops... Paimon spoke without thinking again... Oh, ah, one more thing! That fake adeptus has a Sigil of Permission. It's what he uses to exorcise demons!"
[Xiao shocked a bit when he knows Starsnatcher used Sigil Of Permission. But, he is more pissed than shocked.]
Xiao: "Hmph... Fool. Exorcizing demons without exterminating them - it is no wonder they have been congregating here. If this continues, things may spiral out of even my control... We must confiscate his Sigil of Permission."
Lumine: "Confiscate? Is that all?"
Musashi: "I think I'd also like to teach him a lesson."
Xingcai: "I prefer to give him punishment that he will never forget."
[Paimon nods furiously as she agreed with Musashi and Xingcai.]
Paimon: "Great minds think alike! Paimon agrees, we've gotta show that trickster what you get for trying to fool us! And it just so happens that we've got a real adeptus with us too! If Xiao were to teach Starsnatcher a lesson, you can bet he'll never dare to pose as an adeptus ever again!"
Xiao: "No. I only slay demons - I do not kill mortals."
*BRUAGH!!!*
[Instantly, Musashi, Lumine, Xingcai and Paimon fall to the ground comically after hearing Xiao's words. And...]
Musashi: "God Damn! It's not about killing, Alatus!"
Paimon: "...Who said anything about killing him!?"
Xiao: "Well... It would certainly benefit Liyue if we could convince him to cease his wicked ways. I possess an art called Dream Trawler. It is normally used to separate the soul from the body, that one might cultivate oneself in a waking dream... But, it can also be used to call forth the spirits of others."
Paimon: "Whoa, now that's a real adepti art for ya!"
Lumine: "Similar to "gifting dreams and visions"?"
Musashi: "Wow... You'll scare him out of his wits for sure, Alatus."
[Xiao ignores Musashi's comment. And...]
Xiao: "A ritual must be performed for this art to be used. Assist me in gathering a few items... a censer, seven lamps, and something to reduce the temperature."
Paimon: "Reduce the temperature... Oh, some Mist Flowers will probably do, right? But, as for the censer and the seven lamps... Hmm... Probably not the kinds of things we're gonna just stumble across in the wild."
[Xiao nods slowly, as he keeps talking about what to do.]
Xiao: "Do you know of the two yaksha statues that stand guard beside a merchant road on the southern face of Mt. Tianheng?"
Xingcai: "Yeah. I know that place. I can take you there."
Xiao: "The ancestors of the people of Liyue built shrines there to honor the yakshas. You should still be able to find some ceremonial items there. Once you have found them, meet me at the yaksha statues after nightfall, and I will teach you how to use this art."
[And they all agreed to do what Xiao said. In order to give Starsnatcher a lesson... A ritual must be made.]
(30 minutes later...)
[And after split with Xiao, the group arrives at the temple ruins at Mt. Tianheng. There, they meet the guardian of the temple.]
Pervases: "The spirit soars the mountains high, while the body rests as the world goes by..."
Paimon: "Um... Sorry to interrupt you, but... Uh..."
Lumine: "We'd like to borrow a censer and some lamps."
[That man... called Pervases. He just smiles and greet the group happily.]
Pervases: "Well I'll be... Isn't that something? Two pair walk into a shrine, neither to seek nor worship gods or adepti, but to pilfer the tools of worship for their own ends. Hahaha..."
Paimon: "We know it's rude to ask, but we just need them for a short while - honest!"
Pervases: "For the Dream Trawler ritual, I trust?"
[And, the group shocked when Pervases said that.]
Musashi: "What the!?"
Paimon: "Wha- How'd you know that?"
Pervases: "I have been in this shrine for far longer than you would expect. Perhaps as a reward for my faithfulness, I have been endowed with some understanding of the adepti arts."
[And, the group is impressed by Pervases's knowledge about adepti arts.]
Paimon: "Wow... Paimon's never heard of that happening before."
Pervases: "Ah, it matters not. Take what you need. It is a fortuitous thing that these items may be of service to you. They served little purpose here, in any case."
[Pervases smiles at the four of them. But, Xingcai knows there's something in Pervases's mind.]
Xingcai: "Um... Something on your mind, sir?"
Pervases: "Heh, nothing that you need to concern yourself with. Please, take what you wish."
Musashi: "Well... thanks a lot, sir!"
Pervases: "You are quite welcome. Please, take what you wish."
[And after split in two groups, Xingcai and Paimon manages to collect the Censer, while Lumine and Musashi manages to collect Seven-Star Lamps. And, They went back to the temple to say goodbye to Pervases, but...]
Musashi: "No one's here?"
Paimon: "Huh? Where'd he go!? He was right here..."
Statue: "I had presumed that once you had acquired what you came for, you would forget about me and simply be on your way..."
[Musashi, Lumine, Paimon and Xingcai were shocked after hearing the voice from that statue.]
Paimon: "Ah! It's that guy's voice! ...Hello? Wh-Where are you?"
Statue: "My physical form ceased to exist over a thousand years ago. What you witnessed earlier was an illusion, created by the adepti art known as Mortal Lingering. Now, that you have taken the Seven-Star Lamps and censer used in the Mortal Lingering ritual, my form is no longer visible to you."
Lumine: "So, you're..."
Musashi: "G-Ghost?"
[That statue let out a voice of small laugh.]
Statue: "Hahaha... It is not untrue to say this. The line between adepti and ghosts is a fine one indeed. I was once a junior in the order of the yakshas, bestowed with the name Pervases by Rex Lapis himself. Yet my strength failed, and I was slain in battle. Today was the anniversary of my death. My last wish was to see a modern Liyue, and so I took the liberty of performing this ritual here. That aside... You were sent here by the Conqueror of Demons, were you not?"
Paimon: "So, you two know each other then?"
Statue: "I sense his aura upon you... that, and the heavy burden of his karma."
[That statue let out a small sigh.]
Statue: "Even after all these millennia, he still must endure such tremendous suffering? I am truly ashamed."
Paimon: "Don't say that, Pervases - you sacrificed your life for Liyue, didn't you?"
Statue: "Life is a precious thing, yes... But when I think of the burden that the Conqueror of Demons must bear..."
[That statue sighed once again.]
Statue: "Death seems to me to have been the easy way out. A selfish indulgence, even."
Paimon: "Pervases..."
Statue: "Hahaha, I apologize. Birthdays are joyful occasions, but by the same token, it is hard to not be melancholy on the anniversary of one's death. The Mortal Lingering will not last much longer. Take care, you two, and please pass on my regards to the Conqueror of Demons..."
Musashi: "We will!"
Lumine: "You take care too, Pervases..."
Xingcai: "It's truly a honor to meet you in person, Master Pervases."
[And... the statue has gone silent. No more sound or voice that can be heard anymore.]
Paimon: "Huh? Looks like he's gone, then... Paimon really hopes that at least someone will remember Pervases the Yaksha."
Xingcai: "Everyone will remember him. I'll guarantee that."
Paimon: "We should get going. But let's come back here and make an offering sometime."
Musashi: "Yeah. I agree."
(Timeskip... 19.00)
[Now, nightfall has come. The group agreed to meet Xiao at two Yaksha's statue. There... They meet Xiao.]
Musashi: "Yo, Alatus!"
Xiao: "Have you gathered the items for the ritual?"
Musashi: "We have it here!"
[Then, Xiao checks it all... He makes sure nothing is missed.]
Xiao: "Hmm... This censer, and these lamps... Their designs are flawless, almost as if they were made specifically for use in the adepti arts. Where did you come by them?"
Lumine: "We got them from a yaksha named Pervases..."
Paimon: "Oh! And um, he says hi!"
Xiao: "Pervases..."
[Xiao closed his eyes for a minute, remembering Pervases. And then, he opens his eyes.]
Xiao: "Yes, this does have the hallmarks of something Pervases might do. As I thought, it seems that he could not leave Liyue behind either... I hope that its present state will allow him to rest in peace. Well then, Let us begin preparing for the ritual."
Xingcai: "So, what to do?"
Xiao: "Place the censer in the middle, and surround it with the Seven-Star Lamps. Adorn the area with the items of abject cold. Once this is done, we shall proceed."
[The group prepare the ground for the Dream Trawler ritual, as Xiao instructed. And...]
Xiao: "Yes, this will do. Now, the next step is the key to performing Dream Trawler... There are four steps to performing this ritual: offering incense, meditation, incantation, and loosing an arrow."
Paimon: "Ah... Seems like a real rigmarole."
Xiao: "Adepti arts are the product of millennia of study by adepti. Do not dismiss their mystical workings as "rigmarole." Failure to take this seriously could cause the technique to devour one's own body, or cause the spirit to be sundered from one's flesh permanently..."
[Paimon feels being bullied by Xiao due to her poor choice of words.]
Paimon: "Agh! Stop talking! Paimon's sorry!"
Xiao: "When offering the incense, we place the incense into the censer with reverence for Rex Lapis in our hearts. Meditation is to empty ourselves of trivial thoughts, and to focus on the target of the art we are performing. Then, we shall recite the incantation in a loud voice: "Devayaksha, Bring Forth Sin!"
Xiao: Finally, we will loose an arrow towards each of the yaksha statues to enlist their authority for our contract. If all goes well, Starsnatcher's soul will be brought forth shortly."
Xingcai: "Understood."
Lumine: "We have to do it."
Musashi: "Now or never."
Xiao: "If you have no other questions, let us begin."
Paimon: "Hmm... Well... let's start by offering up incense, shall we? You know, with respect for Rex Lapis and everything..."
(15 minutes later...)
[And after all steps has been done by Musashi, Lumine, Paimon and Xingcai... The soul of the Starsnatcher appears before five of them...]
Starsnatcher: "Where is one... Huh? You two look familiar. What's with one's body? One feels... light. Weightless!"
Lumine: "We summoned your spirit forth with an adepti art."
Xingcai: "To bring judgment upon you."
Starsnatcher: "An adepti art?"
[Starstancher laughes as he cannot believe what Lumine just said.]
Starsnatcher: "Hahaha! You dare don the guise of an adeptus in one's presence? But, as for the matter of one's present location... One could have sworn that one was dozing off to sleep at Wangshu Inn not a moment ago..."
[Since, it's not effective, Musashi decides to scare him.]
Musashi: "Guess what, dumbass? You're already dead."
Starsnatcher: "Dead!? Impossible! One was just lying in peaceful repose at Wangshu Inn... Wait... that must be it... of course it must! Haha, as expected of an adeptus such as oneself... One must indeed be in a dream!"
[And... Musashi has really out of her patience. She really want to kick this idiot's butt.]
Paimon: "Ugh, there's no helping this guy, is there?"
Lumine: "Oh, you're not dreaming."
Musashi: "Dreamers, after all, feel no pain."
Starsnatcher: "Huh? What is the meaning of this? Do you truly think that one will permit such insolence in one's own dreams?"
Paimon: "...Alright! That's it! Time to take him down a peg!"
*CRACK!* *CRACK!*
[Musashi decides to step in as she crackes her knuckles.]
Musashi: "Alright... Time to teach you... A lesson."
Starsnatcher: "W-Wait! I-One is-"
*WHAM!*
Starsnatcher: "GAH!"
*WHAM!*
Starsnatcher: "OUCH!"
*WHAM!*
Starsnatcher: "YEOUWCH!"
*WHAM!*
Starsnatcher: "AAGH!!!"
*WHAM!*
Starsnatcher: "Ooouuu..."
[After five strikes from Musashi (one punch on the face, two knee kick on the stomach, and two hard kick on Starsnatcher's groin...) He give up! Instantly!]
Starsnatcher: "P-Please, stop! I surrender, I surrender! Argh..."
Lumine: "So, do you believe us now?"
Starsnatcher: "Yes! Yes, I do! I thought I was going to die..."
Musashi: "So, are we still going to do this "oneself" song and dance?"
Starsnatcher: "N-No! No! never again! Y-You almost killed me... How did I ever have the misfortune to meet you two..."
[Then, Starsnatcher looks at Xiao and beg him to save his life.]
Starsnatcher: "Please, great adepti, spare my life. I won't do this every again, I swear it..."
Paimon: "We did call your spirit here, but we're not adepti. He, however, is."
Xiao: "You deceive the masses with quackery, masquerade as an adeptus, exorcise demons without exterminating them, and display a callous lack of regard for life. One day, you will reap that which you have sown... For those who invite the infernal into their lives, there is no redemption!"
[Xiao's words has struck down Starsnatcher. He even lost for words after being lectured by Xiao.]
Starsnatcher: "Ah... I... You're..."
Paimon: "Seems like Xiao's got him scared stiff."
Starsnatcher: "O great adeptus... might I ask your name?"
Lumine: "He is the Conqueror of Demons."
Xingcai: "He is the Vigilant Yaksha."
Musashi: "Master Alatus..."
[Starsnatcher shocked once again, after realizing that the last surviving Yaksha is standing before him.]
Starsnatcher: "It really is you! It's truly you! Never in my life did I imagine that I might meet the Conqueror of Demons, the Vigilant Yaksha himself!"
Paimon: "You know about Xiao?"
Starsnatcher: Of course! My grandfather was a folklorist - I learned the tales of the Conqueror of Demons at his knee... To this day, I am an avid collector of books concerning the yakshas. But, ever since I discovered a Sigil of Permission while rummaging through my grandfather's personal effects... At first, I was just imitating the adepti for fun... but slowly I began to stray further and further from the righteous path..."
Paimon: "Huh, so to sum you up... you're Xiao's biggest fan?"
[Starsnatcher nods vigorously.]
Starsnatcher: "Y-Yes. Thank you for allowing me to witness the Conqueror of Demons in the flesh - it's like a dream come true!"
Paimon: "Uh, that wasn't quite our intention..."
Starsnatcher: "O Great Conqueror of Demons, please allow me to swear this oath before you... I swear to turn away from the evil, to live an honest life, and to never again stain from the name of the adepti!"
Xiao: "I will remember your oath... Now go."
Starsnatcher: "Thank you... A thousand thanks for your forgiveness... and for all that you have done for Liyue..."
[Then, Starsnatcher's soul has just vanished before them all.]
Paimon: "He seemed very earnest when he was making that oath there. Guess he won't be tricking anyone anymore. Oh, wait! We haven't gotten the Sigil of Permission back yet. Let's head over to Wangshu Inn first thing tomorrow and look for him!"
Musashi: "Alright then! Let us meet again at Wangshu Inn tomorrow morning."
[They all agreed. They went separate way tonight and they will meet again tomorrow.]
(Timeskip... Tomorrow Morning)
(Wangshu Inn... 09.00)
[And the sun has rise. Now, the group already arrived at Wangshu Inn to find that false Adeptus.]
Paimon: "Hey there, Boss. Starsnatcher's staying here, right?"
Verr Goldet: "Starsnatcher... Hm... You mean the false adeptus who wore a mask?"
[They all look at Verr Goldet in confusion, and...]
Verr Goldet: "He signed in here under the name Wang Ping'an."
Musashi: "That's a... really normal name."
Lumine: "So a really, really ordinary person after all."
Xingcai: "A normal person."
Verr Goldet: "He's already checked out. He said he wished to go on a solo pilgrimage... Ah, yes. He also requested that I give this letter to a traveler who journeys together with a "talking fairy" ...Should they come asking for him."
Paimon: "Talking fairy... Who's that?"
[Then, all eyes are looking at the confusing Paimon. And...]
Verr Goldet: "...Well anyway, you must be the traveler. Here's the letter."
Paimon: "How strange that he would leave a letter for us. Is this the final attempt to fool us, maybe?"
Musashi: "Maybe not."
Paimon: "Come on, open it! Paimon's curious!"
[Lumine slowly opens the letter. In the letter, the ordinary man named Wang Ping'an repents sincerely. He is determined to fulfill his oath through self-improvement, and by forsaking evil and doing good, such that he may become a true adherent of the adepti. He has returned the money he gained dishonestly while pretending to be an adeptus, and has returned the Sigil of Permission that his grandfather left behind to you. He has even left them what possessions he has on his person that he deems useless to his penance...]
Musashi: "Alright! He left the Sigil Of Permission!"
Paimon: "Paimon hasn't met a bad guy like him in a long time..."
Lumine: "I'm actually quite touched..."
Xingcai: "This is all thanks to Master Xiao and Master Pervases."
Paimon: "Yeah... Anyway, let's go take this Sigil of Permission to Xiao, shall we?"
[And turns out, Xiao is sitting on the chair of dining table at lower floor.]
Paimon: "Hey, Xiao! We got the Sigil of Permission back. Do you wanna take it?"
Xiao: "You have my thanks."
[Xiao receives the Sigil Of Permission from Paimon. Then, the group looks One Grilled Ticker Fish on the table.]
Paimon: "Huh? No Almond Tofu this time? Well that's not like Xiao."
Xiao: "Ticker Fish was Pervases' favorite dish... I just want to... see how it tastes."
Musashi: "O-Oh..."
Xiao: "By wave and storm I hunt for fish, by wind and snow I slay evil..."
[Then, they all agreed to give Xiao a private time. They all leaves Wangshu Inn and stands near the bridge.]
Musashi: "With this, problem has been solved."
Lumine: "Yeah. It ended peacefully and no one get hurts."
Paimon: "Yay! Detective Paimon has just solved another case!"
[Xingcai keeps smiling at those three. And...]
Xingcai: "And about the temple ruins we visited yesterday... I've asked some skilled carpenters to rebuild the temple for Pervases."
Paimon: "Wow! Xingcai is so kind!"
Lumine: "Hehe~ I'm sure Pervases will be proud of you, Miss Xingcai."
Xingcai: "That's all I can do to commemorate the services of Master Pervases."
[The trio is also happy because Pervases will never be forgotten again. And...]
Xingcai: "Now, the problem has been solved... I must leave to report this investigation to Miss Keqing."
Musashi: "I'm sure Neko-chan will be delighted when she hears everything is fine."
Xingcai: "Then, i will take my-"
Lumine: "W-Wait, Miss Xingcai."
[But, before Xingcai could leave... Lumine decides to ask her something.]
Xingcai: "What is it, Miss Lumine?"
Lumine: "Um... I want to ask you something."
Xingcai: "About what?"
Lumine: ".....About your enmity with Wang Yuanji."
[Instantly, the atmosphere turned sour a bit.]
Xingcai: "....Did she tell you anything?"
Paimon: "Well... Yuanji told us about her past. She also said that you hate her because of what happened to you and Shu Kingdom."
[Xingcai took a deep breath.]
Xingcai: "I hate her... She is my enemy... My beloved Kingdom has fall because of her, her husband and her Kingdom of Wei."
Lumine: "Miss Xingcai..."
Musashi: "But, Xingcai. It's already in the past... You have to let go of that past... Let go of that hatred..."
[Xingcai slowly turned back...]
Xingcai: "I must take my leave. I will see you all later."
[Xingcai walks away from them.]
Musashi: "Wow... I guess we hit the soft spot, huh?"
Lumine: "I feel bad for asking her like that. But, i don't want her to fight Yuanji... Not like this."
Paimon: "Y-Yeah! Paimon could feel it... Xingcai will indeed not hesitate to kill Yuanji."
[Musash just sighed.]
Musashi: "Well... I guess we can leave it for now. We should go back to Liyue Harbor."
Lumine: "Yeah... We still have to do some comission, right?"
[Musashi nods slowly. But then... Lumine hugs Musashi's right arm.]
Lumine: "In that case... Let us do our comission for today... And then, take a rest at Serenitea Pot."
Musashi: "Eh? What do you mean?"
Lumine: "Hehe~ I want to spend my time with you today... In bed."
[Musashi just giggled at Lumine, and...]
Musashi: "You know... I think you cannot sleep without me on the bed, huh?"
Lumine: "Hehe~ I am your girlfriend, remember?"
Musashi: "Eh? What? Since when-"
[Before Musashi could finish that sentence, Paimon intervenes.]
Paimon: "Uh... Paimon really knows that you two are close and sticky like paper and glue... But, Paimon hopes you two don't do weird things on the bed."
[Musashi blushed madly while Lumine giggles.]
Musashi: "Eh? What!? Eh!?"
Lumine: "What are you talking about, Paimon? Two girls who are friends... Sleeping in the same bed, that's normal."
Paimon: "Paimon knows it's normal. But, seeing the relationship between the two of you... Paimon couldn't imagine... What would you two do when you two slept together in the same bed."
*POOF~*
[And so, Musashi is blushing like a tomato, while Lumine blushing slightly and smiles. Then, she pulls Musashi's hand and run away.]
Lumine: "Come on, Musashi!"
Musashi: "W-Wait!"
Paimon: "Hey! Don't leave Paimon alone!"
[And thus... Lumine, Musashi and Paimon went back to Liyue Harbor with smiles on their face.]
(Timeskip... 00.00)
(Dihua Marsh)
*RUMBLE!!!*
[And now... midnight at Dihua Marsh... The rain is pouring hard...]
Xingcai: "...."
[But, Xingcai was standing in the middle of a large field in Dihua Marsh. The rain wet her body.]
Xingcai: "So, you came."
*TAP!*
[And in front of her... A girl standing in front of her...]
Yuanji: "....."
[Then, Xingcai points her sword at Yuanji.]
Xingcai: "You... have poisoned the minds of those Travelers."
Yuanji: "Poisoned...? I guess you are wrong. I just tell them the truth. The truth of our history."
[Xingcai glared at Yuanji. There is an animosity between those two, mainly from Xingcai.]
Yuanji: "Let it go, Xingcai. I do not wish to fight you."
Xingcai: "I'm here... to claim my revenge. I will kill you for what you and your husband did to me and my beloved Kingdom."
Yuanji: "....Do i have to say that again?"
[Yuanji took one step forward and cross her arms in front of her chest.]
Yuanji: "The fall of Shu Kingdom... Is not because of you, not because of it's people... And not because of General Jiang Wei..."
Xingcai: "....."
Yuanji: "The Shu Kingdom has fallen due to the incompetence of it's later Emperor, Liu Shan."
*WUSH!*
[Xingcai swiftly jumps high and already prepared her sword and shield to kill Yuanji.]
Xingcai: "DON'T YOU DARE MOCK LORD LIU SHAN!!"
[Yuanji also grabs her throwing knives and ready to fight Xingcai to stop her at all cost...]
-------------- End Of Chapter 24 -------------
[A/N : That's the end of Chapter 24 of Genshin Impact : Shattered Void. In this chapter, Musashi, Lumine and Paimon find something weird around Wangshu Inn's vicinity. There's a lot of strange Hilichurls that seems being posessed by a dark power. And there, they also meet Starsnatcher who claims he is an Adeptus that can grant any wish. Feels something is strange... Musashi, Lumine and Paimon joined forces with Xingcai and Xiao to investigate this problem. But, thanks to Xiao's ritual... They found out that Starsnatcher is a big liar and they beat him to pulp. What will happened between Xingcai and Wang Yuanji? Can their enmity turned into a friendship? What will happened next? Find out at the next chapter of Genshin Impact : Shattered Void. You can vote the story if you like it, and you can ask me anything you want through comment.]
[P.S : Musashi's Current Relationship :
1. Lumine : Crush (Both Sides)
2. Paimon : Best Friend
3. Raiden Makoto : Best Friend
4. Quizhong : Friend
(Monstadt)
5. Venti : Crush (One-Sided Love)
6. Jean : Crush (One-Sided Love)
7. Lisa : Crush (One-Sided Love)
8. Amber : Crush (One-Sided Love)
9. Kaeya : Friend
10. Diluc : Best Friend
11. Eula : Rival & Crush (One-Sided Love)
12. Sucrose : Crush (One-Sided Love)
(Liyue)
13. Keqing : Crush (One-Sided Love)
14. Ganyu : Crush (One-Sided Love)
15. Yanfei : Crush (One-Sided Love)
16. Xiangling : Best Friend
17. Xiao : Friend
18. Ningguang : Acquaintance
19. Wang Yuanji : Friend
20. Zhongli : Teacher & Student
21. Xingcai : Friend
22. Qiqi : Friend
23. Baizhu : Acquaintance
24. Xingqiu : Friend
(Fatui-Snezhnaya)
25. Childe : Distrust
26. La Signora : Arch-Enemy
27. Arlecchino : Fre-enemy (?)
(That's all, folks! KeysOfVoid out!)
(P.S : Hello, readers! KeysOfVoid here... The new cover of Bang "Direct Drive DJ" Dream 5D's has been updated!
Sorry, if it's bad. But, I hope you all like this new cover! And i guess i could say, the final season will start in near future!
STAY TUNED!!!