When Jia Changjiang and the others followed the Celestial Lord of Plucked Stars and Seized Constellations back to the previous location, they found new Hilichurls, corrupted by resentment, appearing before him and his followers.
The Celestial Lord attempted to drive them away using a [Sigil of Permission], but this time, it was ineffective. The Hilichurls continued their advance, undeterred by the talisman’s power.
The Celestial Lord began to panic, repeatedly channeling the talisman’s energy in vain.
“Traveler! Mr. Jia Changjiang! I know that guy’s a liar, but… but those followers are innocent!” Paimon tugged on Jia Changjiang and Lumine’s sleeves. “Let’s help them, okay?”
“He should suffer a little first… But fine, who knows if whatever’s affecting those Hilichurls might spread.” Lumine grumbled, preparing to step in, but Jia Changjiang had already drawn a simple bow.
“There’s no need for us to show ourselves. Let’s just deal with the Hilichurls directly.”
With that, Jia Changjiang nocked an arrow and let it fly, striking down one of the Hilichurls instantly.
The others, seeing their comrade fall to a projectile from an unseen assailant, panicked and scattered in retreat.
“Great shot!” Paimon cheered, clapping enthusiastically.
However, Jia Changjiang’s expression grew serious as he watched the fleeing Hilichurls.
His system—more specifically, the Tai Sui Star Lord title within it—had stirred for the first time in a while.
There was something disturbingly familiar about the karmic energy on those Hilichurls.
And it seemed… there were more creatures like them.
“What about the Celestial Lord over there?” Lumine asked, glancing at him.
“Forget him.”
What truly concerned Jia Changjiang now was the source of the karmic taint, not the Celestial Lord.
“Let’s go.”
He slung his bow over his shoulder and unsheathed two swords of differing lengths—Yone’s twin blades.
“We’re going demon-hunting. As for that Celestial Lord, we’ll leave him alone for now. Consider it a favor for Xiao, lightening his workload a little.”
“Fine.”
Lumine nodded, pulling out her [Festering Desire] with her left hand and her [Summit Shaper] with her right, mimicking Jia Changjiang’s dual-wielding stance. “I’ll do it out of pity for the guy.”
Leaving the Celestial Lord behind, Jia Changjiang and Lumine pursued the fleeing Hilichurls. Though the creatures had grown faster under the influence of karmic energy, they were no match for the duo’s speed. One by one, they were cut down.
Following the remaining Hilichurls deeper into the wilderness, they soon encountered a sight that made them pause.
One of the fleeing Hilichurls was skewered by a jade-green spear, impaled with precision.
Its wielder was none other than Xiao.
“Hm? It’s you.” Xiao’s voice was calm but surprised as he noticed Jia Changjiang and Lumine. “Why are you chasing these Hilichurls here?”
“…Were you affected by the demonic energy, or did I interrupt something?”
“We saw these corrupted Hilichurls and decided to lend you a hand,” Lumine replied without hesitation. “But don’t feel too grateful. We did it because we wanted to.”
“Exactly! We’re heroes of justice, after all!” Paimon chimed in, hands on her hips. “But… why did you say you thought you disturbed us?”
“Because this disturbance originates from me,” Xiao said simply. “The karmic taint is from my own burden.”
“I knew it.”
Jia Changjiang sheathed his blades and rested a hand on Xiao’s shoulder. “I thought the energy felt familiar… It’s the same as what I absorbed last time. It’s your karmic burden, isn’t it?”
“The karmic energy on Xiao… Is it the same as what that book described?” Lumine asked, her voice softer now. “Does it hurt a lot?”
Seeing Xiao in person made Paimon feel even more sympathetic. “Xiao, this is just so sad…”
Uncomfortable with their reactions, Xiao took a step back, shrugging off Jia Changjiang’s hand. “What book?”
“The Guardian Yaksha Adepti Chronicle,” Lumine said, pulling the book from her pack. “It talks about you.”
“Those are nothing more than the idle musings of mortal poets from centuries past.” Xiao shook his head, his tone dismissive. “All things are transient, and life is suffering. A Yaksha’s resolve has no place for pity or tears.”
“My fallen comrades would not have appreciated such posthumous commentary either.”
Xiao’s gaze hardened. “If you have no further business, leave. I must deal with the source of this disturbance.”
But instead of stepping aside, Jia Changjiang and Lumine closed the gap, following him even more closely.
Once again, Jia Changjiang placed a hand on Xiao’s shoulder.
“Want me to help with some of that resentment and karmic burden? It might only be a temporary fix, but at least it could ease the pain for a while.”
“And do you need help with the source of the disturbance?” Lumine added. “You know what we’re capable of. Plus, karmic energy doesn’t affect us much.”
“There’s no need.” Xiao stepped away again, shaking his head. “This pain… is my penance for countless lifetimes of slaughter. I accepted it long ago.”
“I only underestimated how much the karmic burden would overflow, corrupting other creatures. That is my failing, and I will correct it.”
Xiao’s voice was steady but firm. “Save your peculiar techniques for others burdened by karmic energy.”
He turned toward the dense pocket of resentment emanating from a nearby domain.
Even as he walked away, Jia Changjiang and Lumine followed closely, refusing to be left behind.
“….”
Xiao understood that driving them away would be futile. After a moment of hesitation, he resigned himself to their presence.
As they approached the entrance of the domain, the oppressive aura of corruption grew stronger, sending chills through the group.
“So much demonic energy… so many creatures corrupted…” Xiao frowned as he studied the domain’s foreboding presence.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with karmic energy, the oppressive air gnawing at the edges of one’s sanity. Lumine shivered involuntarily as they entered.
The domain itself seemed tainted, filled with a sinister aura that made it deeply unsettling.
“This place reeks of karmic taint. I’ll perform the [Ritual of Purging Evil] to sever its hold. Remain calm and focus your minds, so the corruption doesn’t disturb you.”
With that, Xiao donned his mask.
The air around him shifted. The serene aura of an adeptus was replaced by the ferocity of a demon-slaying warrior.
“Let’s begin.”
—
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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