To the people of Liyue, the Anemo Archon might fall slightly short of Rex Lapis, but Mondstadt's citizens consider their Archon truly magnificent.
Not only did he resolve Mondstadt's issues, but he still had capacity to save an Adeptus from Liyue—what greatness!
Indeed, all those claims about Lord Barbatos slacking off in Liyue were completely unfounded. Every move the Anemo Archon makes carries profound meaning.
"Lord Barbatos!" Barbara immediately knelt before the statue to pray.
Venti's actions alone would earn him favor, let alone from someone like Barbara who already adored him unconditionally.
Only the people of Inazuma had an unusual takeaway: "So even gods travel abroad?"
It had been centuries since the Raiden Shogun last left Inazuma—none alive today had witnessed it.
In fact, they barely saw her emerge from Tenshukaku at all.
The current Shogun resembled those wild enemies in games—patrolling only within fixed boundaries.
By comparison, even Nahida was more active. Though similarly "homebound," at least she frequently visited people's dreams.
Returning to the story—when the Traveler and Paimon went back to find the Adeptus Who Grasps the Stars and Seizes the Heavens, they discovered him surrounded by monsters, utterly helpless.
[Adeptus Who Grasps the Stars and Seizes the Heavens: "How... why is the 'Sigil of Permission' not working?"]
The mystery was solved—this fraud had been relying on residual Adeptal energy from the Sigil of Permission to repel monsters.
After the Traveler drove off the monsters and saw how unreliable this fake was, they decided to handle the escaped monsters themselves.
But upon arrival, they found Xiao had already eliminated every last one, standing silently amidst the remains.
Xiao explained these monsters had grown frenzied after being tainted by his karmic debt.
Just a fraction of his corruption was enough to drive them mad—one could only imagine what agony Xiao endured daily.
[Xiao: "All is transient, all is suffering. A Yaksha's will walks not with pity nor tears."]
[Xiao: "My departed comrades would not wish to be remembered thus."]
Indeed—Yakshas needed neither sympathy nor mourning. They killed to protect life, and never regretted it.
Xiao's words echoed Bosacius's philosophy: All is suffering, all must be relinquished—hence why they rejected compassion.
Perhaps what the Yakshas truly wanted was simply to see the Liyue they protected—to witness its present state.
More than tears, they'd prefer to behold the bustling harbor during Lantern Rite, the laughing crowds, the Xiao lanterns illuminating the night sky.
Yet even these joys seemed as incompatible with Yakshas as sorrow.
In the story, Xiao prepared to cleanse a monster-infested cavern where creatures had been corrupted by his karma.
When the Traveler offered assistance, Xiao refused.
[Xiao: "Unnecessary. I work alone—more so when this corruption stems from me."]
His meaning was clear: This is my burden to bear—I won't involve others.
Cloud Retainer sighed. When would the Vigilant Yaksha understand that his troubles were theirs as well?
The Millelith felt similarly—just because it originated from him didn't mean he had to handle it alone. Hadn't Liyue's humans and Adepti shared hardships for millennia?
The Traveler in the story thought likewise—and through persistence, secured Xiao's reluctant permission to accompany him.
During their mission, Paimon brought up the "Celestial Lord Who Grasps the Stars"—miraculously pronouncing it correctly this time.
[Xiao: "'Celestial Lord Who Grasps the Stars'? Never heard such an Adeptal title."]
The genuine Adeptus had just confirmed the fraud.
After Paimon explained the imposter's deeds, she asked:
[Paimon: "So as a real Adeptus, can you grant wishes?"]
[Xiao: "Ancient Liyue never made such indolent demands of us."]
[Xiao: "For thousands of years, what our people needed was power to protect this land they called home."]
[Paimon: "But for modern folks, wish-granting Adepti are way more appealing, no?"]
It was natural—once safety and sustenance were secured, people sought higher aspirations.
Fortunately, readers could maintain clarity as observers. The people of Liyue reflected—wasn't the protection Adepti provided what enabled their wishes in the first place?
Without Xiao's vigilance or Marchosius's sacrifice, they'd still be struggling against monsters and starvation—where would they find room for dreams?
From this perspective, Adepti did indeed possess "wish-granting" abilities.
Meanwhile, Inazumans suffered silently—their god not only refused wishes but actively confiscated them.
All they could do was wait for their deity to revert to the Shogun who "guarded her people's dreams."
Learning how the fraud used Sigils of Permission to repel but not eliminate monsters—allowing their accumulation—Xiao resolved to expose him.
Xiao mentioned a technique called "Dream Trawler", originally meant for soul projection during meditative sleep, but adaptable to summon spirits.
It required an incense burner, seven lamps, and cooling agents—items likely available at a Yaksha temple.
Thus the Traveler headed to a temple outside Liyue Harbor.
There, a man stood admiring the view:
[Pervases: "Wandering soul 'midst blue peaks and streams, a leisurely fan sways in life's brief dream."]
For once, Xiao's composure broke—he hadn't expected Pervases's appearance. No wonder Lucian had specifically urged him to read this installment.
Other Adepti were equally startled—that Pervases's consciousness lingered at the temple... Would removing the incense burner and lamps...?
Yet Pervases raised no objections—even recognizing their purpose for the Dream Trawler ritual.
This made Liyue's citizens reconsider his identity—initially assumed to be just a Yaksha-worshipping poet, he clearly knew Adeptal arts.
After taking the burner, the Traveler also grabbed the seven-star lamps—
Earning Lumine the nickname "Little Wei Yan" (after the general who famously extinguished the Seven Star Lamps).
With the items removed, the man called Pervases vanished—until the statue spoke:
[Statue: "I hadn't thought you'd notice my absence... Most would simply take what they came for."]
The ordinary folk were stunned—so Pervases was an Adeptus too?!
[Statue: "I was but a minor Yaksha—bestowed the name 'Pervases' by Rex Lapis. Fell in battle millennia ago, my strength insufficient."]
[Statue: "Today marks my death anniversary. To see Liyue once more was my final wish—hence this presumptuous manifestation."]
Liyue fell silent—here was yet another Yaksha who'd died for their sake.
And the temple commemorating him lay in ruins.
"I'm rebuilding that temple right now!" Wang Ping'an set down his book.
(In reality, he'd avoided becoming a scam artist after reading Lucian's works and learning of Xiao's existence early on.)
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Character Voiceline · Guizhong: About the Yakshas · Anemo
"The Golden-Winged King was always the most taciturn—seemingly the least concerned with mortal affairs among the five.
Yet I believe otherwise—he cares more than he realizes, doesn't he?"