17: A Two-on-One for Justice

Night fell over Wangshu Inn, and under Verr Goldet's instruction, a table was brought up to the rooftop and set with an abundant meal. Saphir sat alone at the table, quietly awaiting Xiao's arrival. All unrelated personnel had been dismissed, and the rooftop, bathed in moonlight, carried a lonely stillness.

"You shouldn't have used my name to deceive them." A low, youthful voice broke the silence as a green-clad figure appeared in the seat across from her.

The boy had golden eyes, a diamond mark on his forehead, and stylish, dark green hair. His sleeveless white vest exposed toned arms, one of which bore a tattoo—the symbol of the Conqueror of Demons, the Yaksha general.

Xiao's first words were scolding, but Saphir remained calm. She raised her cup and smiled. "A full moon overhead, a pleasant breeze in the air… and yet the great adeptus greets me with a reprimand? That's hardly in good taste."

"Hmph. You're disrespecting an adeptus," Xiao said with a pout, though his eyes drifted to the plate of almond tofu in front of him. "You carry the scent of the Lord of Geo. That's the only reason I agreed to see you."

Saphir frowned slightly before realizing—he must've sensed her contract with Zhongli. Though he likely didn't know the details, he could detect a connection.

"You could say the Geo Archon and I are… friends," Saphir said, choosing her words carefully. "He told me I resemble someone he once knew. Her name was… Guizhong."

Xiao paused mid-bite. The Yaksha had spent most of their time on the front lines in battle, rarely interacting with the higher echelons like Morax—or the reclusive Guizhong, the Lord of Dust. Though he'd seen her before, her image had long since faded from memory.

Still, if Morax said it, then it must be true. Xiao thought back to how Saphir had lied to Verr Goldet earlier. He didn't voice his doubts, but he remained unconvinced.

"Guizhong is long gone. You are not her. Even if your face is similar, you're just a flower that resembles another." He took another spoonful of almond tofu and savored it.

Saphir watched him enjoy his tofu with an amused smile. She couldn't help feeling satisfied.

Then, a thought struck her. "Xiao, would you be willing to assist me with a little experiment?"

"Experiment? What kind of nonsense is that?" He stopped mid-bite, warily eyeing her.

"I want to try something. If it works, it might ease your suffering." Her tone was serious.

Xiao scoffed. His pain didn't stem from his body, but from the karmic debt he bore—centuries of fighting corrupted remnants, absorbing their wrath. In all these years, only the bard from Mondstadt had ever alleviated it. What could some random girl possibly do?

"There's no harm in trying, is there?" Saphir said, and her appearance began to change.

Her silver hair turned pitch black, cascading freely like a waterfall. Her tight leather outfit morphed into a loose, flowing black-and-white nun's robe, exuding a holy aura. A golden Vision glowed at her chest, worn like a pendant.

Xiao's eyes narrowed. He recognized a disguise when he saw one, but to alter one's entire appearance with a single thought? That was something only gods could do. Morax had done it before—Xiao remembered clearly.

Saphir gently clasped the golden Vision at her chest and closed her eyes.

Purification: Removes abnormal status effects from the target.

Would karmic debt count as an abnormal status effect? Saphir wasn't sure—but it was worth a shot.

The skill took effect. Wisps of black mist began to rise from Xiao's body. They swirled into grotesque ghostly faces that shrieked in eerie agony.

Downstairs, Verr Goldet heard the sound and was terrified. She rushed to the stairs—only to be stopped by Saphir's sharp voice. "No one comes up. Or you'll die."

"But—"

"Listen to her," Xiao's voice followed. "Don't worry. I'm fine."

The expelled karmic energy gathered but did not dissipate. More and more of it coalesced until it formed a shape—a young boy, identical to Xiao, slowly took form.

"Karmic manifestation…" Xiao muttered, eyes narrowing.

Saphir drew her cross-shaped weapon, ready to destroy it.

"No need," Xiao said, rising to his feet. "He's my inner demon. I'll face him myself." The jade spear, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, appeared in his hand.

"Bane of All Evil!" His mask snapped into place, and the wind around him turned lighter, purer than usual.

The doppelgänger mirrored him, even donning a mask, but the effect was only superficial.

"Hmph!" With a snort, Xiao charged. "Lemniscatic Wind Cycling!"

He struck with overwhelming force, sending the karmic shade flying into the air.

Saphir took her chance. Raising her cross like a bat, she delivered a clean uppercut swing, launching the manifestation even further away—beyond the inn's rooftop.

Now Xiao could fight without worrying about damaging property.

"How boring," Xiao muttered. Though secretly grateful for her assistance, he didn't say it out loud.

He leapt into the air, soaring like an eagle, his spear poised to pierce.

The karmic demon recovered midair, drawing an identical spear to block the strike. A twisted grin formed on its face—the same cruel smile that had haunted Xiao's dreams for centuries.

"Go to hell!" came Saphir's shout.

A dagger, gleaming coldly, plunged into the demon's side. In her Sharp persona, Saphir appeared behind the shade, yanking the blade out savagely and deepening the wound.

Xiao's attack had been deflected, but he didn't interrupt. He now saw that Saphir's strength wasn't far below that of the karmic shade—perhaps because it was only a partial manifestation of his karmic debt. Still, she had it handled. He held back, waiting for the chance to deliver a killing blow.

"Down you go!"

Before the demon could respond, Saphir grabbed it by the head, twisted midair, and slammed it toward the ground in a brutal throw.

Doomfall: Grabs the enemy and smashes them into the ground with centrifugal force. Can be used midair. Landing a back attack increases impact radius and damage.

The sight made Xiao's heart skip. That was a long drop. A normal human should be crushed.

But Saphir wasn't foolish. She used the demon's body as a cushion, slamming it into the earth with enough force to leave a crater. She immediately bounced away, landing unharmed, leaving the dazed enemy at the center of the crater.

Xiao's experience as a warrior was immense. He seized the opportunity, flipped midair, used his spear as a pivot, and dove—his strike like a falling star.

"Die!"

The jade spear pierced the demon like a knife through tofu, burying deep into the earth. Only a fragment of the shaft remained visible.

The shade let out one last unwilling shriek before dispersing into black mist.

This karmic manifestation had accumulated over thousands of years. Even Morax could only suppress it. But Saphir's move—though limited in strength—had struck the root rather than the surface.

Xiao hadn't even needed to use his full power. With Saphir's assistance, the battle was won with ease. Removing his mask, he turned to her with a rare nod of approval.

"You're strong. That manifestation wasn't weak. I didn't expect it to be defeated so easily."

"Of course!" Saphir beamed. "That was a two-on-one for justice!"

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