“…The Geo Archon was assassinated?”
Xiao remained silent for a long time after Paimon finally blurted out the truth. His expression was unreadable, leaving his thoughts an enigma.
“I cannot imagine what Liyue would be like without the Geo Archon,” Xiao murmured, shaking his head. “I understand what you’ve told me. I will seek out Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer—they must come to a decision.”
“Will the adepti take control of Liyue and confront the Qixing?” Lumine asked hesitantly. “Wouldn’t the people of Liyue get caught in the crossfire?”
Xiao looked at her, then sighed. “The adepti will not shirk their responsibilities.”
“While I have my reasons for staying away from the mortal world, I will not abandon the duties given to me by the Geo Archon. Protecting Liyue’s people is also part of my responsibility.”
With that, Xiao seemed unwilling to say more. His gaze shifted to Jia Changjiang.
“But you must come with me.”
“?!”
Lumine immediately stepped in front of Jia Changjiang, her voice firm. “No way! You can’t take Jax!”
“You attacked him earlier!” she said angrily, glaring at Xiao. “How do we know you won’t harm him again?”
“Yeah!” Paimon chimed in, poking her head out from behind Lumine. “Mr. Jax isn’t a bad guy!”
“I have no intention of harming him,” Xiao replied, turning his head slightly to avoid their accusing gazes. “He absorbed my karmic debt. While it hasn’t yet affected him, I can’t let him return to Liyue unchecked.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Lumine argued. “What even is karmic debt? All Jax did was touch you!”
Jia Changjiang raised a hand, signaling Lumine to calm down. “I don’t fully understand this karmic debt either,” he said, addressing Xiao. “But going with you is not an option.”
Standing beside Lumine, Jia Changjiang looked directly at Xiao. “She has nothing to do with this. And even if you’re an adeptus, you can’t force me.”
He gently moved Lumine behind him and took a step forward, closing the distance between himself and Xiao. “If you’re worried that I might be a threat to Liyue… then fight me.”
“That will prove whether this karmic debt of yours has caused any problems.”
Jia Changjiang’s challenge caused the atmosphere to grow tense, the air between the two men almost crackling with unspoken intensity.
“Hmph… Such disrespect toward an adeptus. Were it not for the Sigil of Permission…”
Xiao let out a cold snort, gripping his spear tightly but refraining from attacking.
“There is a demonic seal here at Wangshu Inn,” Xiao said after a moment, his tone restrained. “Find it and use the sap of a Glaze Lily to inscribe the seal onto your back. Otherwise, even the token won’t be enough to keep you safe from me.”
With that, Xiao vanished, leaving Jia Changjiang and the others standing in stunned silence.
“What is with that guy?!” Lumine fumed. “He’s so rude and infuriating!”
“Exactly!” Paimon added, puffing up indignantly. “Paimon wants to give him a terrible nickname! But if I do, will my treasure chests only have cabbages from now on…?”
“Go for it!” Jia Changjiang encouraged with a grin. “You’ve already given the Anemo Archon a nickname. Are you really afraid of one adeptus?”
Bolstered by his words, Paimon puffed up her courage. “Alright! From now on, I’m calling him… uh… ‘Shorty!’”
“Still,” Paimon muttered after her declaration, “where do we even find this demonic seal? And why can’t Mr. Jax return to Liyue without it?”
“No idea… Let’s ask the innkeeper,” Lumine suggested. “They might know where to find it.”
Muttering complaints about the “Vigilant Yaksha,” the group descended from the rooftop to the inn’s counter, where they found Verr Goldet.
“Miss Verr! Do you know anything about a demonic seal?” Lumine asked eagerly, leaning against the counter.
“Miss? I’m the innkeeper, not the innkeeper’s wife,” Verr Goldet corrected with a teasing smile. “But a demonic seal, you say? What do you need that for?”
“It’s that green guy!” Lumine huffed. “He said Jax can’t return to Liyue without inscribing the seal! Ugh, next time I see him, I’ll make him explain properly! What even is this karmic debt? All Jax did was touch him!”
Verr Goldet chuckled, clearly amused by Lumine’s frustration. “It seems you’ve already met the Vigilant Yaksha. So…”
Her gaze shifted to Jia Changjiang. “You’re the one who needs the demonic seal, correct? It’s a centuries-old tradition in Liyue, not something particularly rare. But it appears the Yaksha cares for your well-being.”
“Cares for us?!” Lumine said, incredulous. “He nearly attacked us!”
“Most of Liyue’s adepti express their care through battle,” Verr Goldet explained gently. “The Vigilant Yaksha is no exception. Though he struggles to show his emotions, he truly is concerned about others. Perhaps… you could try to make him smile.”
“Make him smile? That’s hard to imagine…” Paimon muttered. “He really doesn’t seem like he’s worried about us at all. He even pulled out his spear…”
“Let’s just say some fangs aren’t meant for speaking gentle words,” Jia Changjiang interjected.
Turning back to Verr Goldet, he asked, “By the way, do you have any Glaze Lilies here?”
“I do,” Verr Goldet replied with a nod. “And if you need help inscribing the demonic seal, I can do that as well. You travelers certainly have a knack for stirring things up—many eyes are on you.”
“Hm?” Lumine raised an eyebrow, sensing a hidden meaning behind her words, but couldn’t quite figure it out.
When Verr Goldet prepared the fresh Glaze Lily sap, Jia Changjiang seated himself on the rooftop’s quieter side, gazing out toward the southeast. His staff rested across his lap.
As Verr Goldet approached with the sap and a brush, she asked, “Where would you like the seal inscribed?”
“On my back,” Jia Changjiang replied, loosening his robes to reveal his broad back. “That way, it won’t get rubbed off in battle.”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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