Guinaifen stared at Mu Yang's new outfit on the screen.
His striking beauty now carried an extra touch of roguish charm.
She blurted out, "Whoa! So cool!"
[Host, wipe that drool, it's embarrassing (drooling bean emoji).]
[What's that noise upstairs? Your drool's dripping on my head (sweating bean emoji).]
[Mu Yang's gone rogue?! I'm all for this trope, give me more, more!]
[Mu Yang (Darkened).]
[From Sword Immortal to Sword Demon, yes, yes, yes!]
[Twilight Star Spirit! I could slay you a thousand times, and it wouldn't be enough!]
[This Sword Demon thing, maybe let's not…]
Guinaifen didn't quite agree with the barrage's take.
"Mu Yang was just talking to Xiao, wasn't he? How could he have gone rogue?"
"He's probably still in control, right?"
[What's with that voice and half a Sharingan eye?]
[Sharingan's in the mix now? You're unstoppable, bro.]
[Can you even keep up?]
[No need to keep up, it's just for show. This skin's not even for sale.]
[That Mihoyo guy really loves losing money.]
— — — — — —
In truth, Guinaifen's guess wasn't far off.
Though there was a slight hiccup with the Oath of the Sunken Blade,
it was far from affecting Mu Yang's mind.
This outfit was something he came up with on the fly.
The inspiration came from a game he played before crossing over, where the design was based on a crane.
Mu Yang tweaked the feathers, increased the black, and voilà—his new look.
As for Clarisse's meddling, Mu Yang wasn't about to let it slide so easily.
That scene was supposed to make players grieve for a few more minutes.
Thanks to her, he lost some precious popularity points.
But he couldn't go back to deal with her just yet.
So, he came up with this plan.
You want to cause trouble? Fine, I'll turn the tables and use you.
The voice and appearance? All part of Mu Yang's costume.
It's fake.
Facing Lumine's tentative call, he casually asked,
"What's wrong? Did I say something off?"
Lumine shook her head, "No, it's just… what's with this getup?"
Mu Yang quickly looked down at his attire,
a flicker of surprise in his eyes before returning to his usual calm.
"No worries. Once I'm back in Chenyu Vale, I'll recover after some rest."
Though Lumine wasn't used to Mu Yang's "emergency duet" voice,
she remembered he never lied to her.
Down below, he said he had a plan, and he did have a way to survive.
During the Lantern Rite, even after losing half an arm,
when they met again, he had not only recovered but grown stronger, ready to challenge the Raiden Shogun.
When it came to her, Mu Yang always kept his word.
So this time, Lumine didn't doubt him. She trusted that once he returned from Chenyu Vale, everything would be back to normal.
As for the details, she'd ask later.
For now, they needed to resolve Xiao's inner conflict.
Hearing their conversation, Xiao asked Mu Yang, "Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine."
Xiao believed him. His ability to sense auras was sharper than Lumine's,
and he'd known Mu Yang longer.
Despite Mu Yang's flashy new look,
only the red eye held a faint trace of a God's aura.
That was it—it shouldn't affect Mu Yang's mind.
Hearing Mu Yang confirm he was fine, Xiao didn't press further.
He steered the conversation back.
In truth, Mu Yang's earlier words weren't wrong.
Xiao himself knew that saying "dying to save others isn't a bad thing" wasn't entirely honest.
At first, he was ready to sacrifice himself for the others' lives.
Even when Yelan and Mu Yang suggested alternatives, he still wanted to go it alone.
But after the secret domain adventure, he no longer saw Yelan and the others as mere protectees.
They were "companions."
Like Mu Yang, Bosacius, and the others.
So, when he learned everyone could escape, Xiao was relieved.
If it weren't for those sudden Rifthound Whelps,
he wouldn't have needed to sacrifice himself.
Mu Yang: No need to thank me.
As his body plummeted deeper into the Chasm,
beyond a sense of release, Xiao felt a trace of reluctance.
Or perhaps his thoughts, tainted by karmic debt, had grown mad.
A Yaksha born for slaughter—how could he cling to such things?
Paimon noticed Xiao's complex expression and
stepped up as the mascot.
"We've got something to tell you. It's from Ushi, super important."
Xiao snapped back, "Hm?"
Earlier, during the group's discussion, he had, as usual, kept his distance,
missing Arataki Itto's translation.
Ushi had said:
He had the power to ward off spirits and was used to guard against ghosts.
But after meeting Arataki Itto, he stuck with him.
He didn't understand grand principles, only that you should live with whoever makes you happiest.
There aren't that many rules to living in this world.
"He hopes you understand that even if Yaksha power harms people, it doesn't mean you can't be with everyone."
[No fault in what Ushi said this time.]
[Feels like Arataki Itto's the dumbest in the Arataki Gang.]
[Somehow, this part's kinda touching. I didn't vibe with the earlier bits.]
[Same…]
[Just some karmic debt? No one here's scared of that. Those with Visions aren't either. Xiao can be more proactive.]
[Salute to Teyvat's Karmic Debt Endurance King, Lumine!]
Following Paimon's words, Lumine comforted, "There'll always be someone to stand by your side."
"Yeah, like people with Visions can handle your power, right?"
"And, and…" Paimon trailed off, stuck.
Mu Yang helped the little one out, "Old friends from Mt. Aocang, and us."
"Exactly! There's no shortage of people who care about you."
Xiao seemed to smile.
"…Hah, that sounds like something Bosacius and the others would say."
"Mu Yang, do you remember? Those words they always had on their lips."
"I remember." When Mu Yang said this, his voice had returned to normal…
Xiao turned toward Liyue Harbor.
"Those guys used to say that when the world was at peace, they'd live a mortal life."
"It seems… I was the only one who didn't think that way."
Lumine and Mu Yang exchanged a glance, silently listening to Xiao's story.
Bosacius, Menogias, Bonanus, Indarias.
The tales of the [Yaksha Adepti], one by one, piece by piece…
[The knife's still cutting, 30 meters in. I don't believe there's more to come!]
[You've gutted me!]
[Wahh, why are my eyes turning into water guns?]
[Damn, upstairs with the god-tier line, you stole my final stab!]
[Your one sentence choked me up, thanks.]
In the end, Xiao seemed to have come to terms with it.
But breaking habits formed over years would take more effort.
Maybe joining the Lantern Rite each year,
having a meal together, helping Hutao fly kites…
Supporting each other is how you go further.