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It’s nighttime and Xiao sits atop Wangshu Inn’s roof, gazing up at the stars. A fully finished platter of Almond Tofu accompanies him, its sweet aroma still sifting through the air and silky texture still fresh in his mouth. Xiao sighs and his eyes wander aimlessly through the thousands of glittering specks above him.
His most recent encounter with the demonic spirits brought him to Qingyun Peak. As he remembers the pain that he felt which spread from his chest throughout his body as he teleported back to Wangshu Inn, Xiao winces and clenches his fists. His karmic debt was relentless. And recent battles have only caused him even more agony.
It’s not like I can do anything about it.
A songbird chirps and rustles the golden leaves of its tree. Xiao’s thoughts return to the stars, now disappearing into the background. Slowly, but faster than what Xiao would have preferred, the land around him comes to life. He can make out the faint glow of the sun in the distance, behind the snowy peaks of Dragonspire.
To his right, he watches as the light first hits the wetlands of Dihua Marsh and then creeps up the slope of Mount Qingce. To his left, he notices how the rays illuminate the rocky terrain of Jueyun Karst, leaving dark shadows underneath their formations. He can even make out the faint outline of Qingyun Peak in the distance.
Below him, he hears Verr Goldet yawning as she begins her day’s work. The wooden staircases of the Inn creak as Smiley Yanxiao slowly trudges up to take his spot in the kitchen. The sound of the wind is dotted once more with Soraya’s musings about Liyue’s history and Guili Assembly. Yes. Just like the thousands of acres of Liyue land Xiao vowed to protect, he had a duty to the safety of the Liyue people too. His work shouldn’t — no, couldn't — stop because of any pain he was feeling. Yet, Xiao felt his sorrow was starting to consume him. No longer did he agree to take afternoon strolls with Rex Lapis around Guili Plains or put up with Barbados’ tunes on an occasional evening. He was just so… alone. So devastatingly alone.
When did he become so weak?
Xiao hated it so much that his selfishness — his weakness — was becoming more apparent. And he feared that it would one day control him, preventing him from doing what needed to be done. He imagines his haggard body as he is forced to flee from demons for the first time. He imagines the disappointment on Rex Lapis’ face as he reports his failure. And as he imagines the despair of the Liyue people that would lose their loved ones, silken tears well up in his eyes, gradually trickling down his sunlit face.
Xiao sighed once more, shaking his thoughts from his head. It was the same every night. Today would be just another day for the people of Liyue, as it would be for him. He picked up his spear from his side and stood up, gingerly placing the finished platter of Almond Tofu on the balcony before immediately teleporting to where he sensed the first demonic spirits of the day.
What he was unaware of, however, were the glistening tears he left behind on the rooftop, gleaming with the same golden glow of the sun that shined so brightly on the rest of the land in Liyue.