Luya looked at Zhongli. Could it be that Zhongli had asked Xiao to deliver this to him??? That couldn't be right.
For no reason at all… Even if Zhongli were idle, he wouldn't just hand him free money. And besides, today was Luya's first time meeting Xiao. They had no prior connection…
These gemstone materials started at over 5 million Mora apiece! This whole bag was worth at least 50 million Mora. Why would Xiao give him so much… Luya's brain nearly fried.
But he couldn't make sense of it. So he asked directly:
"Immortal Xiao, what is the meaning of this?!"
"Why are you giving me so many precious gemstones?!"
Xiao thought for a moment, and said:
"Shopkeeper… The card you crafted, [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], can lessen my karmic debt."
"Just now, my karmic debt overwhelmed me and nearly claimed my life… I felt something here calling to me."
"So… I entered your shop. When your card was completed, the burden of my karmic debt lessened once again."
"Thus… to repay this lifesaving grace, I give you these mortal trinkets."
Hearing Xiao's explanation, Luya finally understood!
"So… the card has this kind of effect!"
He had originally intended [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] as merchandise to sell, to earn some extra profit. Unexpectedly, it had by chance helped Xiao reduce his karmic debt.
And Xiao, to repay this kindness, gifted him so many precious gemstones!
Xiao was a man of loyalty and gratitude! For the sake of repaying Zhongli's kindness alone, he had endured millennia of servitude guarding Liyue.
Xiao had always battled against remnants of Demon Gods and evil spirits. The power of Demon Gods was immense, their hatred and obsessions beyond human comprehension.
Thus he had accumulated massive karmic debt! This karmic debt, even Rex Lapis Zhongli could not resolve. Venti could at best ease it temporarily with music.
But if Xiao's karmic debt was not alleviated, one day it would drag him down with it! The other Yaksha had already perished long ago… only Xiao remained alive in this world.
Under the threat of karmic debt, even Xiao himself did not know how long he could last. All he could do was protect Liyue's people as much as possible before death.
Yet Luya had given Xiao hope—the method to lighten his karmic debt was for Luya to craft [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao]! Though the principle was unknown, the result was a tremendous blessing for Xiao.
Hearing Xiao's reason for gratitude, Luya felt happy for him… He hadn't expected that the system's recipe not only created powerful cards to make him rich, but also helped Xiao reduce his karmic burden.
...
"Please accept them… These things are of no use to me."
Xiao once again urged Luya to accept the gems as repayment. Seeing Xiao's seriousness, Luya no longer refused. But since their value was so high, Luya gave Xiao 500 card packs in return.
"From today onward… You are a Duelist!"
Xiao excitedly received the card packs, his heart surging with joy:
"So this is… Duel Monsters cards…"
Looking at the packs in his hands, Xiao was filled with anticipation.
For thousands of years, he had known nothing but battle and slaughter. His only leisure was eating Almond Tofu and hoping for a pleasant dream.
Now, with a way to reduce his karmic debt, his life suddenly had a new goal.
"From now on, leave the materials for [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] to me! Even if it's other materials—if the shopkeeper needs them, I will seek them out for you."
...
Xiao's expression was utterly earnest. For Luya, crafting [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] to help reduce Xiao's debt was just a small effort. The gemstones alone were already more than enough…
But such was Xiao's nature—repaying even a drop of kindness with a torrent.
Luya knew he could not dissuade him. So he agreed.
And this way, he no longer needed to prepare the materials for [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] himself.
Luya decided to price [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] at just 20,000 Mora. It would be no more than a processing fee.
After all, the materials came from Xiao, so he needn't spend a coin. It was also a way of helping Xiao—giving him something to do for Liyue's people beyond slaughter.
Otherwise, to accept gemstones worth 50 million Mora from Xiao, and then still profit from [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao], would feel like taking advantage of him. Helping Xiao in this way was a fairer pact.
It meant Xiao was making a contribution to Liyue.
Luya hoped that Xiao could soon interact with the people of Liyue normally. After thousands of years of solitary guardianship, he too deserved a relaxed and joyful life~ That Xiao, beyond protecting Liyue, could also experience life—not just Almond Tofu…
...
Seeing Xiao's persistence, Luya no longer tried to persuade him.
"Very well… From now on, you will provide the materials for [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao]."
Hearing this, Xiao's frown relaxed at once. His heart was overjoyed~ For Xiao, being able to repay Luya's kindness made him truly happy.
Though, in his eyes, these gestures were far from enough. For this was a lifesaving debt!
From today onward, Xiao's life no longer needed to be an endless cycle of killing…
Seeing Xiao change in this way, Zhongli too felt genuine happiness for him.
At this moment, the middle-aged man who had earlier spoken of being saved by Xiao in his childhood also walked up to him.
"Conqueror of Demons, sir… Thank you for saving my life thirty years ago!"
Xiao nodded, trying hard to recall the incident. But he had saved far too many people over the decades.
Though Xiao still bore the appearance of a young man, this uncle was utterly different from his childhood self. Thirty years ago, the uncle had been just a child barely over a meter tall. Xiao could no longer remember exactly which child he was…
Xiao forced a smile and said:
"There's no need to thank me… It was my duty."
The others who had been helped by Xiao, seeing him so approachable today, hurried to thank him as well. But for many of them, Xiao no longer remembered when or where he had helped them.
It didn't matter. These thanks were expressions of people's hearts.
Xiao responded one by one, surrounded by those he had saved, their gratitude washing over him. This unprecedented experience felt rather good to Xiao.
Now that the problem of karmic debt was resolved, he could finally settle down and interact with people.
After receiving everyone's thanks, Xiao lowered his head to look at the card packs Luya had given him, wanting to find a place to open them.
Just then, a boy wearing a green cape and a beret adorned with a white flower walked in.
"Ehe~ On such a fine day, shouldn't we drink and enjoy some music in celebration?"
The boy, holding wine and a lyre, stepped into the shop.
With his arrival, everyone turned their eyes toward him.
At the sight of this boy, memories surged into Xiao's mind…
After fighting all night, Xiao had nearly collapsed, unable to finish his task. Karmic debt had surged in, hatred crashing against his mind. He had fallen in agony into the reeds.
Then came a clear flute song, floating over mountains and waters, borne on the wind to his ears.
With the first light of dawn and startled flocks of birds, the melody had grown distinct… And the flutist at Dihua Marsh had been this very boy in green.
More than that, this flutist was Barbatos, the Anemo Archon himself.
Seeing this wandering singer, Luya was not surprised. After all, this Archon roamed about everywhere. Running into him anywhere was hardly strange.
And by now, Luya's shop had gained some fame, so it was natural for Venti to show up.
Though Luya knew full well this Archon had little Mora, he still welcomed this friend from Mondstadt.
"Hello~ Welcome!"
Venti adjusted his hat and nodded:
"Boss, would you like to hear a song? Just buy me a drink and I'll play!"
Luya was still considering what tune to request. Hearing a live performance from the Anemo Archon would be quite the treat.
At that moment, Xingqiu looked at Venti in surprise:
"Ah… it's you!"
Even Zhongli hadn't expected to encounter Barbatos while at a card game… He awkwardly asked:
"Ahem, so this is someone Young Master Xingqiu knows?"
Venti answered cheerfully, glancing at Xiao:
"Yes! And Xiao should recognize me too. We even talked a while back."
Xiao turned his head toward Venti.
"Y-yes… As the Lantern Rite draws near, the demons grow restless. Some days ago, while patrolling Dihua Marsh, I happened to meet this… this…"
Venti looked at him, exasperated.
"Hey!? Forgotten already after just a few days?! I'm a bard, remember~"
Xiao crossed his arms and nodded in thought: "Mm… yes… this is the bard. Back then, he was performing in Dihua Marsh. His music… was soothing, easing the heart. I… lingered to listen a while longer."
After chatting with the group for a bit, Venti laughed:
"Hi hi! Whether we met before or not~ today is a brand-new encounter!"
With that, Venti began to sing on his own.
When his song ended, Luya handed him a decent bottle of wine. Venti received the wine and left the shop with a smile.
...
After Venti departed, the shop continued its usual business.
Xiao, Xingqiu, and other customers exchanged deck-building tips.
Hu Tao and Keqing asked Luya for advice on what cards to include in their decks.
Whenever someone bought packs or used a Duel Stage, Hu Tao and Keqing eagerly helped Luya tend to customers. With their help, Luya had more time to craft [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao].
During this, Zhongli would occasionally glance at Luya, his hand brushing against the Lock of the Mortal World… with a sense of hesitation and resolve.
"He… could he really open this lock…?"
Zhongli sat at a spot in the shop, pondering the matter.
Over the course of the day, twenty copies of [Conqueror of Demons] were crafted. Not a single failure. It seemed the success rate of [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] was 100%.
As time passed, the business day finally ended.
Zhongli came to a decision… This Lock of the Mortal World, which he had been unable to open for millennia… perhaps it was time to let another try.
After Hu Tao, Keqing, Xingqiu and the others had left, Zhongli remained. He sat quietly in the shop.
Seeing Zhongli still there, Luya went up to ask:
"Rex Lapis, is there… something you wish to ask of me?!"
Hearing how Luya addressed him, Zhongli immediately smiled. It seemed he was not at all surprised that Luya had seen through his identity.
Zhongli laughed and said:
"Haha, just call me Zhongli. Shopkeeper, you truly are extraordinary… You recognized me at a glance."
"I do indeed have something I wish to ask of you… A matter that has troubled me for thousands of years…"
Hearing this, Luya's curiosity was piqued, and he sat opposite Zhongli.
"I'm listening."
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]