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Zy0x sighed discontentedly as he leaned over the balcony of the Wangshu Inn; another day had passed, yet his on-set vermillion anemo goblet still hadn’t shown up. How much longer would it take? Even after he had poured thousands of hours and hundreds of condensed resin into The Lost Valley domain, the only thing he’d reaped was the title of #1 Ayato main. Zy0x cried out to the wind, "how much longer will it take?! I've given you everything I have, Hoyoverse!" Tears welled up in the adult entertainer's eyes. "I've given you everything I have, Xiao...!" He fell to his knees in despair.
From the shadows, a tall figure appeared: "Adeptus Xiao. I will be here at your call," the Yaksha murmured. Gently, Xiao put a hand on Zy0x's shoulder. Although tears had already streaked down Zy0nix's face at this point, the sudden empathetic gesture helped to ease the pain. "Thanks.. hic.. you came.." he muttered through controlled sobs. Zy0x tried his best to conceal any leftover tears. It was embarrassing enough to be crying over some bad luck in a video game, but to have Xiao witness this tantrum was even worse.
"No need to thank me. Are you alright?" Xiao asked. Zy0x finally met his gaze. This backfired almost immediately, however, because he was instantly met with Xiao's towering stature. Zy0x stumbled backwards in shock. Although he had been preaching about Xiao's immense height since the day he was born, Zy0x was still awestruck by Xiao's sheer size. He had to have been at least two sauces tall. After a concerned look from him, Zy0x finally stammered, "Yeah.. I'm.. I'm okay." Xiao nodded curtly. "If that's all, then I'll be going."
What? Zy0x was taken aback. Was this exchange between him and his idol really going to be that brief? No, he couldn't let this opportunity slip away..! "Wait, Xiao," Zy0x called out. "I know it's late but, if you have some time…
…I’d be happy to treat you to some almond tofu.”
The Yaksha paused.
It wasn't unusual for mortals to give him offerings every so often.. but, for some reason, it felt odd that Zy0nix was the one treating him this time. Xiao hasn't had anyone offer to eat with him like this since.. well, since Bosacius was alive. The adeptus winced, although thankfully out of Zy0x's view. Like sand on a shore, these memories resurfaced. The tides waded in and out; time allowed the coast to forget how it felt to be submerged under the sea. But, the water relentlessly returned. Xiao found himself drowning under the pressure. His karmic debt seemed to weigh more on him with every passing moment, no matter how much he repented. He just wanted to retreat back to the highest perch of Wangshu Inn and avoid people glimpsing past his heroic mask… after all, his karma hurt anyone who came near.
"... Hmph. Don't make me repeat myself. I am in no need of your gratitude, I simply answered your call. Farewell."
Zy0x's face fell. Not only did he let Xiao spot him in a moment of weakness, but also he got rejected in less than a minute. Did Xiao not think this throat artist was good enough to treat him? Sure, he just spent all his mora on leveling defense pieces, but surely he could afford one almond tofu for Xiao. A satisfying salad was all he needed for himself anyways, just as long as his husband -- ahem, uh -- as long as Xiao was pleased.
"...Wait, Xiao, please!" The streamer fell to his knees, then clasped his hands together and held them up high. "I swear I have enough mora..! I just want to get to know you better -- no, I just want to give you what you deserve as the tall, handsome, brave yaksha you are!"
The vigilant yaksha went quiet. As he turned away from Mika’s voice actor, a new burden seemed to weigh him down. His chest felt unusually heavy, a stark contrast to the sudden realization that the adeptus’ back felt considerably lighter now compared to just moments before. “strange…” He muttered to himself. Why did the weight of his sins turn from boulders to stones when this mortal was around? Xiao glanced back. Zy0x certainly didn't seem to possess any extraordinary abilities… or features for that matter. But it was undeniable. For the first time in years, Xiao’s karmic debt felt.. bearable.
The f2p player looked back at his idol with a longing gaze. He watched Xiao mutter something under his breath before he turned to look at him. His heart pounded against his ribcage… was this a yes?
“You mortals always find yourselves meddling where you shouldn’t.” Xiao let out a long sigh. “Whatever, do as you wish. I don’t mind staying by your side a little longer, if that’s what you truly desire. The almond tofu is unnecessary,” he paused, then reluctantly added, “...but appreciated.” The yaksha observed Zy0x’s expression shift from anxious anticipation to pure, beaming joy. Mr Sock’s brow unfurled in relief, and he now possessed a radiant smile. For an instant, Xiao’s karmic debt felt completely weightless, as if somehow the look of boundless happiness on Zy0x’s face lifted Xiao’s spirits as well.
“Don't worry, Vigilant Yaksha Xiao! Your tofu’s on me!” Zy0x sprang from his pathetic kneeling position to the closest table, and pulled out a chair. “Here, please sit, king! Let’s eat together, if you don't mind!”
“I am not a king, so do not address me as such.” Xiao was starting to regret agreeing to stay after all. “Adeptus Xiao is enough.” But, he couldn't help but note that the shackles of his karma were noticeably lighter. He begrudgingly sat down across from Zy0x.
Verr Goldet, the boss of the Wangshu Inn, noticed the pair, and briskly walked over to their table. “Xiao! And I see that a returning customer is with you. Welcome, thank you for stopping by. What can I get for you two?”
Zy0x piped up, “One almond tofu and satisfying salad please.”
The boss nodded, then turned to Xiao. “And you, sir?”
Xiao stared blankly at her for a moment, before glancing at Zy0x.
A little red, the Jungkook of Genshin Impact sheepishly corrected her, “Sorry ma’am, there's a misunderstanding, my order was meant for the both of us.”
“Oh! My apologies. Are you sure that’s it?”
“Yeah, um, unless you want anything else Xiao..?” Zy0x fidgeted slightly while making uneasy eye contact with the adeptus.
“...Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” Xiao said evenly.
“Okay then, one almond tofu and a satisfying salad coming up… are you sure that’s enough food for two people?”
“Um, yeah, I’m not that hungry haha..” Zy0x said meekly.
“Alright, your food will be delivered shortly.” Verr Goldet walked back towards the inn.
Awkward silence fell between the two men sitting down.
Zy0x was the first to break the ice, as expected. “So.. how have your Yaksha duties been lately? Any cool fights or monsters you vanquished?” He offered a friendly smile across the table to cover up the haunting embarrassment he experienced just now.
Xiao tensed up. “The duties of a Yaksha are not something common folk should get themselves entangled in. It’s best if these responsibilities are kept to myself.”
“Oh, yeah of course, that makes sense.” Did I just make the tension worse? Zy0x nervously thought to himself. His palms felt sweaty. Curse his damned artifact luck…!! If only he had a little more mora, he could've been able to save himself the ridicule of looking dirt poor in front of his idol. “Maintaining peace throughout Liyue is a real challenge after all, even for someone as capable, brave, and – um, yeah – as you.” Zy0x hopelessly stared across the table. It would be impossible to save the conversation now, he thought defeatedly. Why’d he have to mess up the opportunity of a lifetime right in front of him?
Xiao’s long silence only helped convince Zy0x to wipe his hands. It was only after the guidemaker considered jumping from the balcony that Xiao hesitantly started, “...you're right. Maintaining the peace in Liyue is an arduous journey, riddled with bloodshed and suffering. The karmic debt I am saddled with only intensifies the torture I must endure every passing day. Ironically, despite being haunted by deaths from millennia ago, the only remaining means of service that I possess are the bloodied spear on my back, and the ability to come out of battle unscathed.” He let out a heavy sigh… sharing his deep-seated burden with a mortal... how pathetic. Was it this easy to sway the Conqueror of Demons with a little temporary relief?
Wangshu Inn’s boss came back out to the balcony shortly, balancing a bowl of satisfying salad in one hand and an almond tofu in the other. “Here’s your meal. Please enjoy.” With that, she went back to her usual position at the front desk.
Zy0x promptly dug into his salad after Xiao’s heavy monologue, deliberately avoiding eye contact as he thought about what to say next. He knew Xiao’s karma was a heavy weight to bear, but to hear Xiao himself confess to having a weakness was the most shocking revelation for the Lebron James of Genshin. His vulnerability was unexpected, but also, somewhat touching. He subtly glanced across the table to see Xiao staring down at his uneaten plate of almond tofu with stoicism.
“...Hey, aren’t you gonna eat that?”
“...”
Was he silent because I didn’t respond to his monologue earlier? Zy0x asked himself. He should really have a bite… especially since I spent the last of my funds on it…
Zy0x garnered the courage to speak again. “Xiao, I’m super honored to have been told about your karmic debt. Really, I am. But to be honest, it doesn’t really change anything for me. You’re still Xiao, the Vigilant Yaksha, Conqueror of Demons, the tallest character in Genshin Impact! No matter what you go through, I’m willing to stay by your side, even if your karma brings misfortune to me too. I’d be more than happy to help find you salvation, even despite the costs. I care a lot about you.”
Nicholas Fragrance reached over to grab the plate of almond tofu. Xiao sharply looked up, no longer ignoring Zy0x.
“What do you think you’re–”
“Say ‘ahh’ Xiao.”
The master baiter was holding out a spoonful of almond tofu to the adeptus. “Eat up.”
Xiao immediately snatched the almond tofu and his spoon back. “...I refuse to be treated like this by a human who can barely afford two thousand mora to treat me to lunch.” He said as he finally bit down on the spoonful of tofu. However, he quickly displayed a gentler disposition after swallowing. After some hesitation, he asked, “...Are you sure about what you said earlier, mortal?”
Zy0x smiled. “Yeah. Of course, Xiao. I’ll be here at your call, haha.”
“Your kind can’t display the same speed and agility that the adepti arts I’ve mastered can.” Xiao remarked as he finished half his tofu. “Still, thank you, I guess.”
Zy0x nearly jumped out of his seat with joy. Xiao was thanking him! Yet, an intrusive thought still pervaded his mind. “...A human who can barely afford two thousand mora to treat me to lunch…” He murmured. It really is embarrassing. How could he stand to sit across from his idol when his pockets were lined with lint? That wouldn’t bother him if Xiao’s artifact set was complete… but it was lukewarm at best. Despite all this time, he still couldn’t top the akasha charts.
“...Y’know Xiao, I’m sorry I couldn’t treat you to anything more than this. Even after serving you a mediocre meal, I don’t have the artifacts to show for the mora I withheld…” The elation he had experienced was now soured by the shame that suddenly penetrated every fiber of Zy0x’s being. “Seriously, I’m pathetic.” He almost felt like sobbing like he had when Xiao first found him on the Inn’s terrace.
“...I am indifferent to the amount of mora you possess. I care not for flimsy mortal instruments of exchange. And those… ‘artifacts’ you speak of. I have no idea what they are, so you needn’t fret about them.” The yaksha reasonably said.
Though these words seemed to soothe Zy Zero Echs Echs Echs, he remained quiet, trying to push down the lump in his throat.
Xiao sat in uneasy contemplation. He wasn’t privy to human emotions, but evidently needed to do something here.
“Ahem… Say, ‘ahh’.”
Zy0x looked up to see Xiao dubiously offering a spoonful of his nearly-clean plate of almond tofu to him.
“...What?” Zy0x choked out in laughter. What remained of the lump in his throat made it hurt to burst into a fit of giggles.
Xiao put the spoon down. “These human rituals are pointless, and humiliate the honor of the adepti. Why should anyone be inclined to participate in such shameful tradition...”
The lord of stall was pressed against the table laughing by now, his throat aching. That’s twice that Xiao surprised him today. Recovering himself, he nonchalantly commented, “I wouldn’t mind trying some of your tofu if you didn’t mind..”
After a pause endowed with considerable contemplation, Xiao hesitantly replied, “...Fine. Go ahead. Though, there’s not much left.”
For a moment, the sun’s only rival was Zy0x’s radiant smile. Xiao wasn’t normally the type to share, especially when it came to the one dish he ate, so Zy0x delightedly accepted without giving Xiao a moment to take it back. He took the plate of mostly-eaten tofu from Xiao’s hands, and tried a spoonful. “Mmm!!” He almost sounded like a certain chef from Liyue. “The texture is really good! Wait, here, try some of mine too!” He pushed his bowl of salad towards the adeptus.
“Almond tofu is the only thing I can stomach. Other mortal cuisines don't appeal to me.” Xiao replied, somewhat repulsed.
“It’s that bad? You sure you don’t even want a bite?” Zee Ox pleaded.
Xiao surveyed Zy0x’s let down expression. Why was it so easy for this mortal to finagle with his feelings? After much deliberation, he tried a forkful of greens with the utmost caution… and promptly spat it out.
“It tastes awful. Nothing like the sweet dreams that I used to consume…” Xiao muttered.
Zy0x couldn't help but laugh again at Xiao’s scrunched up face. “Sorry! I won't make you eat it again. But y’know, it’s good to branch out sometimes.” He playfully remarked.
“Hmph.” Despite Xiao’s disgruntled countenance, later, Zy0x would swear he saw a shadow of a smile behind it. “Once you finish your pathetic meal, I’ll be leaving.”
This time, Zy0x’s heart bobbled with hope instead of sinking. “I’ll see you again, right?”
For a while, the adeptus made no reply. Zy0x finished what little remained of his salad, before Xiao quietly answered, “Perhaps, mortal.”
The stars looked brighter that night when Zy0x stood alone on the Wangshu Inn’s balcony once more. He would have to go back to the vermillion hereafter domain the next morning, and continue grinding for his spot at the top of the Akasha charts. Silk flowers swayed below him, and offered their sweet scent, yet strangely, the only smell that he noticed was that of lingering Qingxin.