Because there was a "new guest" at home, everyone returned as soon as they could, no matter how busy they were.
After all, news from Teyvat was always a big deal.
The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a gentle light across the living room. Lu Chen saw Barbara, dressed in a little dress and leather shoes, gracefully push open the door and step inside.
She glanced around the room, noticed everyone was already there, and looked a little embarrassed as her eyes met Lu Chen's.
"I've been recording my debut song these past few days, so I got back a bit late..."
"No worries at all." Lu Chen waved it off casually—there were still others who hadn't returned yet.
Diluc had to watch over the tavern, but for some reason, even Venti hadn't shown up yet.
Seeing the unfamiliar guest, Barbara greeted him politely.
"Hello!"
"Hello." Xiao gave a slight nod.
Then silence fell. Neither of them continued the conversation.
Lu Chen glanced at Xiao, who exuded an aloof and quiet aura—it seemed that was about as much as one could expect from him in a conversation with strangers...
It wasn't that this Adeptus from Liyue was shy or looked down on mortals. Rather, years of living in darkness and constant battle had left him little room for casual chatter.
"Hey now! Why so stiff?" Master Hu's cheerful laugh cut through the awkward air.
"We're all one family now! No need for formalities! Come on, let's get dinner started!"
Her sunny energy always lifted everyone's spirits. By the time everyone was seated around the table, Xiao seemed a little more at ease.
Of course, that might have had something to do with the almond tofu Lu Chen made—Xiao's favorite.
Although the kitchen was usually Ei's domain, when it came to family meals like this, Lu Chen preferred to cook himself. He didn't want Xiao's first taste of Ei's... unique culinary creations to scare him off.
Lu Chen looked around and cleared his throat. "Let me properly introduce our new guest."
He turned to Xiao with a serious expression and began:
"This is the Three-Eyed, Five-Manifestation Adeptus who dwells among the clouds!"
"Liyue's Yaksha guardian!"
"The one known as the Great Sage, Conqueror of Demons—"
"Xiao!!."
Hu Tao clapped enthusiastically, and Barbara looked at Xiao with wide eyes.
"So many titles... That's amazing..."
Just then, a breeze drifted through the window, and Venti's voice rang out at the dinner table.
"I've got a bunch of titles too, you know?"
"I'm Mondstadt's greatest bard—"
"Teyvat's Archon of Wine—"
"The top fishing master at Cider Lake—"
"The hottest star in the music industry!"
"Venti is here~"
Rattling off a string of ridiculous titles like reading a menu, Venti plopped into his seat with a playful grin.
Everyone turned to look at him. Venti winked at the new guest.
"Hey, long time no see."
Seeing him, Xiao's eyes flickered, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"The flute player from Dihua Marsh... It's you."
"Yep, that's me." Venti smiled. "How are you liking the new place? You'll be living here for quite a while, after all."
Xiao looked around the seaside villa, at the familiar and unfamiliar faces, then shook his head.
"To be honest, it still feels unreal."
Lu Chen had already explained the "Reality Teyvat System" to him. When Xiao learned that only by completing missions could he reopen the gate back to Teyvat and return to Liyue, a strange unease crept into his heart.
He had spent his life fighting in the dark to fulfill the Emperor's charge—defending Liyue from the shadows, protecting its people from evil.
Now, faced with unexpected peace, he found himself lost.
What if the Archon remnants returned and Liyue was in danger again?
Xiao quickly steeled himself and looked around at everyone.
"I'll do my best to help complete the missions. That way, I can return to Liyue and continue fulfilling my duties."
"If any evil appears, call my name. I will—"
Zhongli suddenly cut him off, his golden eyes fixed on Xiao.
"You're here now. Settle in. There are no Archon remnants in this world. Use this time to rest and recover. Fate is in our hands—leave Liyue to me."
"...I see." Xiao paused, a bit surprised.
"Understood, Lord Zhongli."
He nodded slightly. If the Emperor said so, then he must have his reasons. His words always carried deeper meaning.
Lu Chen watched them both with suspicion. "Other arrangements?" Why did it sound like Zhongli was just looking for an excuse to retire?
And now he was dragging Xiao along with him...
"Well, that works too," Lu Chen muttered. "Since your mission is to help rid you of 'karma,' you should avoid battle for now. Just rest and take care of yourself."
Years of exposure to Archon remnants had steeped Xiao in karmic residue. To truly purge it, the first step was to stop the fighting—to stop the exposure.
"...Alright." With both Zhongli and Lu Chen insisting, Xiao couldn't say no.
After dinner, Diluc returned late and helped arrange for Xiao to stay in the room next to Zhongli's.
Later that night, behind the bar, Diluc and Venti were discussing tavern matters. Curious, Lu Chen came over and sat beside Venti.
He poured him a drink and asked, "About the karma Xiao carries—do you have any way to help him get rid of it?"
"How could I?" Venti frowned. "You know as well as I do—even Zhongli and I can't completely wipe out the Archons. Even if they're killed, their hatred lingers."
"The so-called Archon remnants are made of old grudges, unfulfilled wishes, the regrets of the defeated…"
His emerald eyes met Lu Chen's. "Take Yashiori Island, for example. After Raiden Ei killed the Archon there, the giant serpent's remains still stir to this day. The entire island is steeped in resentment—so much that the land's been rotted and you can't even grow crops."
Lu Chen sighed. "Still... you saved Xiao once. I thought maybe..."
Venti's expression grew wistful as he recalled the past.
"Do you know what state he was in back then?"
"He must have just finished fighting all night—exhausted, barely holding on. The resentment of the fallen Archons took the chance to erupt…"
"He collapsed in a field of reeds, his face twisted in pain…"
"I used my flute to help suppress the evil thoughts and restlessness in him, but that's all it was—suppression. The karma was still there. If the day comes when his will falters…"
Lu Chen didn't want to think about it. If Xiao ever lost control, he might end up like the other Yaksha...
Either consumed by karma and killed—or driven mad.
"If he could just stay away from that endless bloodshed, from the remnants of the Archons... maybe there's still time," Venti sighed.
"But you saw how he is today. I don't think he's willing to."