Chapter 113-117
Chapter 113: Walking in the Rain
It was at this moment that the system's voice echoed in Amon's mind.
"Ding! Kamisato Ayaka's favorability has increased from level 1 to level 2."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining an Intertwined Fate!"
Amon's efforts had not been in vain. At least Ayaka's favorability towards him had increased.
Soon, Amon skillfully opened the card pool and drew the lottery. A blue light surged down from the sky, and when it dissipated, it revealed a mask—slightly damaged and dull in color. Upon closer inspection, the mask bore the pattern of a red Yaksha, marked by a faint trace of blood.
Could this mask be a relic of one of the five great Yakshas?
Could it have some connection to Xiao?
Amon didn't know the answer, so he temporarily stored the mask in his backpack.
---
Time flew by, and soon it was nighttime. After a full day of practice, Shen He emerged from her room, the first thing she did was leap into Amon's arms.
Amon suddenly felt as if he were picking up his little daughter from kindergarten. The lively girl clung to his hand, enthusiastically recounting all the events of her day.
Amon listened attentively, a faint smile on his face. Seeing Shen He so passionate about learning magic brought him relief. He knew her swift progress was thanks to Gan Yu's dedicated teaching.
Turning to Gan Yu, who stood beside him, Amon softly said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Gan Yu shook her head with a gentle smile. "It's not hard at all. Shen He is very talented. She remembers everything after I explain it just once."
"If she continues at this pace, little Shen He may truly become an Adeptus one day."
Watching Shen He and Gan Yu interact so harmoniously, Amon smiled warmly.
In the original storyline, Shen He and Gan Yu were fellow disciples, yet their relationship was distant. But now, with Amon's intervention, Gan Yu had become Shen He's master, and the two shared a close bond.
This development was a blessing for both. Shen He no longer seemed so withdrawn, and Gan Yu appeared less introverted.
All in all, things were moving in a positive direction.
---
Amon glanced out the window. The night had settled in, and it was time for dinner. He called out to Gan Yu, Shen He, and the other children, "Wash your hands; dinner is ready."
Upon hearing this, Ningguang and Beidou quickly abandoned their chess game and ran barefoot across the wooden floor to wash up. Qiqi, too, set down her birdcage and followed them.
When it came to eating, the girls were surprisingly obedient. Only little Ayaka remained lying on her chair, indifferent.
At first, Amon thought Ayaka didn't understand Liyue's language, so he repeated his words in Inazuman. Still, the little girl didn't budge.
Curious, Amon approached, only to find that she had fallen asleep on the chair. Her breathing was steady, and her peaceful expression suggested she was enjoying a sweet dream.
Amon chuckled softly, amused. These children had a knack for falling asleep anywhere after a day of excitement.
Not wanting to disturb Ayaka's rest, Amon prepared a room for her, carefully laying her down on the bed. After tucking her in, he turned off the lights and quietly left the room.
Before closing the door, he heard Ayaka mumble in her sleep:
"Mom, I met a big brother named Amon in Liyue. Can our family replace the bad guy Ayato with Brother Amon? I want Brother Amon to be my real brother."
Amon stifled a laugh. "What's going on in this little girl's head? She's adorable," he thought, gently closing the door.
---
After dinner, the children, tired from playing, returned to their rooms. Gan Yu, however, prepared to leave for Yuehai Pavilion.
Having spent the day teaching Shen He meditation, she still had unfinished work waiting for her at Yuehai Pavilion. As its secretary, her responsibilities couldn't be ignored.
Seeing her about to leave in the heavy rain, Amon grew concerned. He grabbed an umbrella and caught up with her.
"Miss Gan Yu, shall I escort you to Yuehai Pavilion? It's late, and I'd feel better if you didn't walk alone."
Though Gan Yu was a half-human, half-Adeptus with formidable strength—capable of defeating nearly any threat in Liyue—Amon couldn't help but see her as an ordinary girl.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Gan Yu hesitated for a moment before smiling. "Thank you, Mr. Amon."
---
The two walked side by side under the rain, sharing an umbrella. The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella created a soothing rhythm, but in Gan Yu's world, all other sounds seemed to fade away, leaving only Amon's presence.
Gan Yu glanced at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. Gathering her courage, she softly said, "Mr. Amon..."
"Hmm? What's the matter, Miss Gan Yu?"
"My umbrella is a little small... The rain is soaking my back."
Amon looked behind her and noticed her white shirt dampened by the rain, revealing a faint outline of her delicate back.
"My umbrella is large enough for two people. Would you like to share mine?" he offered, meeting her gaze.
Gan Yu hesitated for a moment before nodding, her face growing hotter. "Thank you, Mr. Amon."
She folded her umbrella and stepped closer to Amon, sharing the space beneath his. Their proximity heightened the tension between them.
Amon caught the faint, floral fragrance emanating from Gan Yu—a delicate mix of glaze lilies and other pure blooms.
Gan Yu, in turn, felt her heart race, her mind too flustered to focus. Her nervous demeanor only made Amon smile. Reaching out, he gently held her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Gan Yu's initial surprise gave way to a sense of calm, and she tightened her grip on his hand, her gaze softening as happiness welled in her eyes.
---
As they neared Yuehai Pavilion, Amon noticed something unusual.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure standing atop a distant hill. A young man in blue stood motionless in the wind and rain, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
The spear in his hand and his imposing demeanor left no doubt.
Chapter 114: You Are Looking for Amon—What Does It Have to Do with Me? It's Zhongli!
Amon felt that something was wrong.
It turned out that there was a "light bulb" shining in the distance.
Even though it was far away, it still stood out.
Amon didn't understand why Xiao was here. Shouldn't he be staying at Wangshu Inn as usual?
Although he was full of questions, Amon decided to escort Ganyu to Yuehai Pavilion first.
After parting with her, Amon walked to a quiet and empty forest with his umbrella.
He thought to himself:
If Xiao had come for him, this would be the moment for him to show up.
And indeed—
A strong gust of wind swept through the forest, and then Xiao appeared before him.
"The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao," Amon muttered, gazing at him with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Amon asked.
Xiao stood upright, looked Amon in the eye, and slowly said:
"Rex Lapis said he would be away from Liyue for some time."
"During this period, he has tasked me with following Mr. Amon's instructions."
Amon: "???"
Rex Lapis—that deadbeat god!
Not only did he decide to leave Liyue and wander off, but he also planned to dump all his responsibilities onto Amon?
And what's this about governing Liyue?
Does Zhongli think Amon is fit to replace him as Geo Archon?
Absolutely not. Amon had no intention of becoming Liyue's next guardian. He wasn't an Archon—he was just a guy trying to enjoy life without working.
He looked at Xiao and said, feigning helplessness:
"Brother, you said Rex Lapis asked you to find someone named Amon, right? What does that have to do with me? My name is Zhongli."
His tone dripped with sarcasm. That lazy god thought he could pawn off his duties? Dream on!
Hearing this, Xiao's typically stoic face revealed a rare moment of surprise.
Could it be… he had the wrong person?
But no, Rex Lapis had specifically provided Xiao with Amon's information before departing. The man before him was undoubtedly the one he was tasked with assisting.
Still, Xiao decided not to press the issue further. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. If you need anything, just call my name—no matter the mountains or seas, I will come."
As he finished speaking, Xiao donned his Yaksha mask and prepared to depart.
But just as he was about to leave, his body tensed.
Years of combat experience had honed his instincts to sense danger.
The ground trembled violently. Trees toppled in the distance. The sound of mechanical parts whirring echoed ominously through the night.
Out of the darkness emerged Ruin Guards and Ruin Hunters—scores of them awakening all at once.
Xiao immediately put on his mask, unleashing an overwhelming aura. The force of his power shook the forest, rustling leaves and bending branches.
In a blink, Xiao vanished, reappearing behind a Ruin Guard. His spear struck its weak point with precision, causing the machine to collapse in a fiery explosion.
But more kept coming.
The mechanical titans surrounded Xiao, spinning their windmill-like arms and advancing relentlessly.
The sheer number of Ruin Guards was staggering, their ranks swelling as more crawled out of the earth.
Even for Xiao, this battle would drag on until dawn.
Amon, watching from the sidelines, couldn't just stand by. If these machines were allowed to wreak havoc, the aftermath would fall on Ganyu to handle.
And Amon wasn't about to let that happen.
With a flash, the Kusanagi appeared in his hand. Employing the Kamisato-ryu Tachijutsu, Amon made short work of the Ruin Guards, slicing through them like butter.
(T/N: Seriously, that's overkill.)
His intervention halved Xiao's workload.
What would have taken Xiao all night was resolved in mere moments with Amon's help.
By the end, the Ruin Guards lay in heaps of scrap metal.
Though exhausted, Xiao stood tall, arms crossed over his chest. His golden eyes observed Amon thoughtfully.
It was just as Rex Lapis had said—Amon's presence would bring unprecedented changes to Liyue.
"How are you holding up?" Amon asked casually, panting slightly from the exertion.
Xiao, ever stoic, simply replied, "I'm fine."
But it was clear he was anything but fine.
His expression twisted, his breathing grew labored, and pain flickered across his face.
The karma within him—the accumulated resentment of slain gods—began to surge uncontrollably.
Black mist swirled around Xiao, suffused with anguished whispers. These voices sought to pull him into the abyss, to drown him in eternal torment.
Xiao gritted his teeth, fighting back with sheer willpower, as he always had. But the struggle was visibly overwhelming.
Amon suddenly remembered the Exorcist Powder he had won in the lottery.
That pill could suppress karma.
Without hesitation, Amon retrieved the medicine from his backpack and handed it to Xiao.
"This will help suppress the karma in your body. Take it now," he urged.
Xiao hesitated, shaking his head. "Ordinary medicine won't work on me. And… you should stay away. I don't want to hurt you."
"For centuries, I've endured this karma alone. Tonight will be no different."
Despite his words, Xiao's trembling body betrayed him. Cold sweat dripped down his face, and his pained expression deepened.
Amon frowned. "Didn't Rex Lapis tell you to follow my orders?"
"Now I'm ordering you to take this medicine. Are you defying his command?"
Xiao froze.
Rex Lapis was the one who had rescued him, given him a name, and offered him a purpose. His orders were absolute—more sacred than Xiao's own life.
Reluctantly, Xiao reached out and took the Exorcist Powder.
As he swallowed it, a wave of relief washed over him.
The whispers of the dead vanished. The corrosive force of the karma diminished. For the first time in centuries, Xiao felt unshackled.
"This medicine…" Xiao murmured, staring at the powder in disbelief.
Even the remedies Rex Lapis had provided in the past couldn't achieve this effect.
Amon smirked. "You see? Sometimes, you just have to listen."
Xiao didn't respond. Instead, he gazed at Amon, the faintest glimmer of respect in his golden eyes.
The night grew still once more.
For now, at least, peace had returned to Liyue.
The Conqueror of Demons.
The Guardian Yaksha.
Chapter 115: Let's Do Some Serious Work! Barbatos
Xiao held the Exorcist Powder in his hand and remained silent for a long time.
Although the medicine bottle was only the size of a palm, its worth in his heart was immeasurable.
At the time, Xiao was physically exhausted and plagued by evil karma.
He wasn't certain he could suppress it.
Amon's bottle of medicine had been a lifesaver.
Without it, Xiao couldn't guarantee what might have happened next.
After a long silence, Xiao, usually taciturn, suddenly said, "Thank you."
His voice was quick and soft.
If one didn't listen carefully, it would have been easy to miss.
Amon, however, didn't hear it clearly at all.
He glanced at Xiao in confusion. "What did you just say?"
Xiao turned his head away, his tone indifferent, as if nothing had changed between them: "Nothing."
Xiao stuck his spear into the ground and casually sat down, indifferent to the rain pooling beneath him.
Those pale golden eyes quietly gazed at the now-prosperous and peaceful Liyue.
The horsetails on Dihua Marsh swayed gently in the wind.
Raindrops hit the water, forming ripples.
The atmosphere was quiet and beautiful.
In the distance, the sound of a musical instrument drifted through the air.
The melody was graceful, coming with the wind.
As Xiao listened to the gentle sound of bagpipes, his mind reached an unprecedented level of tranquility.
The melody seemed to carry an indescribable power.
It was like a ray of light piercing the endless darkness, filling one with peace.
Intrigued, Amon instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.
"Who would come out to play the bagpipes on a rainy night?"
"Can someone who does that even be considered a serious person?"
A figure appeared in Amon's mind.
Barbatos—the god of wind who never did his job properly.
It had to be him.
That lazy trickster.
This event reminded Amon of Xiao's background story.
Xiao, after fighting all night, had been consumed by exhaustion.
Evil karma had taken the chance to wreak havoc on his body, leaving him powerless to resist.
It was the sound of bagpipes in the distance that had brought peace to his mind.
That tranquility allowed Xiao to suppress his karma.
While the story didn't explicitly state who played the bagpipes, players deduced that it was Barbatos who had helped Xiao.
Now, seeing this scene, Amon couldn't help but mutter,
"Morax goes to Mondstadt for a vacation, and Barbatos comes to Liyue to freeload?"
"The two of them swapped lands—what is this? A no-Mora travel pact?"
Amon's thoughts were interrupted as the melody suddenly stopped mid-song.
Curious, he followed the sound and discovered Venti picking apples from a tree.
Hearing footsteps, Venti immediately froze.
He hadn't expected anyone else to be out on such a rainy night.
For a moment, the two stared at each other.
One was perched in a tree; the other stood firmly on the ground.
The atmosphere was undeniably awkward.
"Hey~"
"Good evening, my friend,"
Venti greeted cheerfully, as though nothing were out of the ordinary.
If he wasn't embarrassed, then the awkwardness was entirely Amon's.
"The apples on this tree are big and red—they must be delicious. Want one?"
As he spoke, Venti extended an apple toward Amon.
His expression practically screamed:
"Eat this apple, and we'll pretend this never happened."
From an outsider's perspective, who would guess that the bard picking apples in the rain was Mondstadt's God of Wind?
No wonder Barbara once mistook Venti for a blasphemer.
After all, this man had nothing divine about him!
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not a bad person," Venti said with an innocent smile.
"I'm the world's greatest bard. You can call me Venti."
"As for why I climbed this tree... let's just say I was seeking inspiration."
"A true artist creates beauty even in unexpected places. Would you like me to compose a song for you?"
A harmless smile accompanied his words.
If Amon hadn't known better, he might have believed him.
Before Amon could respond, Xiao's voice drifted from behind:
"Can you sing that song again?"
Venti was pleasantly surprised that someone in Liyue appreciated his music.
Smiling, he replied,
"Of course! But if you want to hear the second half, how about treating me to a meal first?"
The truth was that Venti had been too embarrassed to freeload at Dawn Winery again.
Chapter 116: The Wind God with No Money in His Pocket
Faced with Venti's request, Xiao did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.
As an Adeptus who has protected Liyue for thousands of years, he was not short on Mora.
Treating Venti to a meal was no issue.
Although Xiao wasn't fond of eating himself,
The most important reason was that he felt Venti's singing possessed a healing power.
Xiao hoped to hear the entire song.
He paused briefly before turning his gaze to Amon beside him.
"Mr. Amon, please come along as well."
Naturally, Xiao would not neglect someone valued by the Geo Archon.
Moreover, this was an opportunity to better understand Amon.
When Amon heard about the prospect of spending money, he immediately perked up.
Whether it was about spending money or not didn't matter to him.
The main thing was that he enjoyed making friends.
"That's fine. I'll treat you to dinner today. I'm also curious about the second half of Mr. Venti's flute song."
Amon paused, glancing toward the Wangshu Inn, its lights shining brightly even at night.
"Shall we have dinner at Wangshu Inn?"
Venti, being an avid drinker, would be content as long as alcohol was involved.
Xiao, however, was more particular—he only tolerated almond tofu.
Knowing the Wangshu Inn specialized in almond tofu, Amon chose it as their dining spot.
Seeing that dinner plans were settled, Venti's face lit up with joy.
"Then let's head there now!"
"Although, it's a bit far from here to Wangshu Inn. Walking there would take a long time, right?"
"But there's a solution... Mr. Amon, is your name Amon? Please hold my hand tightly."
As he spoke, green elemental energy enveloped Venti's body.
The wind between heaven and earth seemed to respond to his call, gathering around him.
The powerful wind element lifted the bard high into the sky.
Venti smiled and extended his hand toward Amon.
He could tell Xiao had a wind-element Vision and didn't need assistance traveling.
Instead, Venti focused on Amon, who, though outwardly ordinary, was anything but.
Without hesitation, Amon took Venti's hand.
Though Venti was often unreliable, there were moments when he could be trusted.
Under Venti's guidance, Amon ascended into the air, his body feeling weightless.
The sensation was entirely different from using Kaedehara Kazuha's "Chihayaburu."
Kaedehara Kazuha's skill was like riding the wind—essentially flying on air.
But now, guided by Venti, Amon felt as if he had become a breeze himself, a mere wind seed drifting between heaven and earth.
The light, carefree feeling was unlike anything Amon had ever experienced.
No wonder Venti indulged in a carefree lifestyle as the God of Wind.
If Amon had control over the wind element, he'd be an even greater slacker than Venti.
...
Before long, the trio arrived at Wangshu Inn.
Amon handed menus to both Xiao and Venti.
"Order whatever you like. Don't hold back," he said.
Xiao didn't even glance at the menu. For him, only almond tofu was remotely edible.
Venti, however, studied the menu seriously.
After some deliberation, he circled a few items with a pen.
Curious, Amon peeked at the selections and noticed Venti had chosen the cheapest dishes.
Amon felt a bit moved.
Although Venti was unreliable and often shirked responsibilities,
At least he was polite enough not to order expensive dishes when treated to a meal.
Amon was about to say, "Don't be so modest, order freely,"
When Venti handed the menu to the inn clerk with a smile.
"Please don't prepare the circled dishes. Serve everything else instead."
Amon: "???"
Was Venti trying to provoke him?
Though Amon didn't have much money, he considered himself generous.
But Venti had taken things to a whole new level.
Noticing Amon's incredulous stare, Venti scratched his head sheepishly.
"Mr. Amon, I'm sorry. I was really hungry, so I might have ordered a bit... extravagantly."
"But as thanks, I'll play two extra songs for you later~"
"Oh, and if you ever visit Mondstadt, I'll treat you to my prized cider!"
Venti had no extravagant hobbies—just a love for wine.
In the game's lore, Venti once traveled from Mondstadt to Liyue to visit Zhongli.
Zhongli had been alarmed, thinking something urgent had occurred.
It turned out Venti had come all that way just to share a bottle of fine wine.
Abandoning his duties for a thousand-mile journey just to drink—it was clear how much wine meant to Venti.
Now, offering to share his cider with Amon was a sign of genuine friendship.
Smiling slightly, Amon replied, "If I ever visit Mondstadt, I'll be sure to have a drink with you, Mr. Venti."
Soon, a table laden with steaming food arrived.
Amon doubted they could finish everything.
He had already eaten dinner.
Xiao focused solely on his almond tofu, ignoring everything else.
It left Venti to handle the feast alone.
Unexpectedly, Venti polished off every dish by himself.
Not only that, he drank heavily, his body reeking of alcohol.
Drunkenly, he pulled out his lyre, preparing to play a song.
Amon felt concerned.
Could Venti really perform well in this state?
But his worries proved unnecessary.
Venti's skill as a bard wasn't hindered by his drunkenness.
In fact, his post-drink melodies seemed even more soulful.
Xiao listened intently, silent for a long while after the song ended.
Perhaps the music stirred memories of the past.
He stood up slowly and said to Amon and Venti, "Goodbye."
In the next moment, Xiao disappeared into a wisp of green smoke.
The song had ended, but his duties in maintaining Liyue's peace had not.
Amon, too, prepared to leave.
But as he glanced at Venti, sprawled drunk across the table, he hesitated.
Was this really the God of Wind?
He seemed to live more freely than anyone else.
At that moment, Venti raised his head and looked at Amon.
"Mr. Amon, are you leaving? It's time to part ways."
"But it's raining heavily outside, Mondstadt is far from Wangshu Inn, and I'm drunk... what a headache."
Venti paused before looking at Amon with a hopeful smile.
"Mr. Amon, might your home have space for me to stay the night?"
"Can I? Can I? Can I?"
Chapter 117: Caring Little Cotton Jackets
Seeing Venti's pitiful appearance, Amon nodded and said, "Okay, then you can stay at my house tonight."
Fortunately, there were enough rooms in the house, so it was no problem for Venti to stay for one night.
Amon helped Venti out of Wangshu Inn.
When they had arrived, Venti had carried Amon using the wind element.
Now, as they left, it was Amon's turn to use the wind element to take Venti back.
The two of them took turns working hard.
Amon supported Venti's arm and leapt down from Wangshu Inn's height.
Then, he used Kaedehara Kazuha's "Chihayaburu" to launch them high into the air and glide toward Liyue Harbor.
Perhaps because Venti was a wind spirit, he was lighter than Amon had imagined.
As they flew, the drunk Venti's gaze lingered on Amon for a moment before he closed his eyes.
This young man named Amon was indeed as Morax had described:
He could wield elemental power without a Vision.
...
Soon, Amon brought Venti home.
It was already late at night, but Ningguang, Beidou, Shenhe, and the others had not gone to bed yet.
Though visibly sleepy, they sat dozing off on the sofa, unwilling to go to bed.
The reason was simple. They were waiting for Amon to return.
They didn't want the house to be dark and cold when Amon came home.
Only after seeing him back safely could they sleep peacefully.
As the door handle turned with a creak,
The little girls immediately sat up straight and looked toward the entrance.
When they saw Amon returning, they all rushed over to greet him.
At that moment, they noticed Amon was supporting a young man dressed like someone from Mondstadt.
The boy looked harmless, honest, and simple,
But there was a strong scent of alcohol on him.
Looking at Ningguang and the others, Amon asked in surprise, "Little ones, why haven't you gone to bed yet?"
Ningguang tugged at the corner of Amon's clothes and shook her head gently.
"Brother Amon didn't come home. I felt like something was missing in my heart, so I couldn't sleep."
Beidou chimed in, "Brother Amon isn't home. It just feels strange and lonely."
Shenhe raised her head and said in a soft, babyish voice,
"Brother Amon, can you come home earlier in the future? He'er gets worried about you..."
Qiqi blinked her wide eyes and murmured,
"Qiqi... can go with Amon... and protect Amon..."
Each little girl's eyes shone with concern and affection for Amon, their voices filled with worry.
Amon felt a surge of emotion,
As though he were an old father gazing fondly at his thoughtful and well-behaved daughters.
"I'll come home earlier in the future so you won't have to worry," he said gently.
"Now, it's late, so off to bed, all of you."
The little girls nodded obediently and headed to their rooms.
Before leaving, Ningguang ran to the kitchen and brewed a pot of sobering tea.
She brought the tea to Amon and said with concern,
"Brother Amon, drink this. It will help with the alcohol."
Smelling the faint scent of alcohol on him, she worried he might have harmed his health by drinking too much.
She paused, looked up at Amon, and said seriously,
"Also, Brother Amon, can you drink less in the future? Mother says drinking is bad for your health."
Seeing Ningguang's earnest expression, Amon felt a warm current flow through his heart.
It's true what they say—daughters are like little cotton-padded jackets.
Smiling, he reached out and gently ruffled Ningguang's hair.
"Alright, Ningguang, I promise to drink less in the future."
Hearing his response, Ningguang beamed with joy and nodded enthusiastically.
"Great! Then, Brother Amon, sleep early too. Good night!"
Soon, all the little girls went upstairs to rest.
Amon helped Venti sit on the sofa and gave him a bowl of sobering soup.
He nudged Venti's shoulder, but the wind god remained unresponsive, sound asleep.
"Venti, can you hear me?"
No response.
"Get up and drink this hangover soup."
At the mention of wine, Venti suddenly sat bolt upright.
"What wine? Give me a bowl! I can drink more!"
He was a true drunkard.
Nothing else seemed to register with him,
But the mere mention of wine elicited an immediate reaction.
It was hard to tell if he was feigning ignorance or if his love for wine ran that deep.
After watching Venti finish the bowl of sobering soup, Amon helped the so-called wind god to a guest room to rest.
The room was specifically set aside for temporary guests, and Amon settled Venti there.
As soon as his head hit the pillow, Venti fell into a deep sleep, mumbling something about wanting more wine.
This Barbatos really did live up to his reputation for taking nothing seriously.
Amon sighed, left the room, and closed the door behind him.
.