Xiao knew nothing but combat and slaughter. He did not want to rest. He wanted to continue fighting for this land, to continue protecting it, to carry on Hepuyuan's wish. But seeing his own soul and body eroded by karmic debt and seeing Bosacius, his elder brother, often losing himself, he relented. He could only accept Rex Lapis's command.
"Very well. I'll leave the matter of the demons to you for now."
After years of eradication by the five foremost yakshas, there were not many demons left on the land of Liyue, only a few remnants. Relying on the adepti's power, dealing with the remaining demons should not be difficult.
With that, Xiao helped his wounded brother Bosacius to his feet and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Cloud Retainer quickly said, "Alatus, Bosacius—besides you two, I still need to inform the other three foremost yakshas: Menogias, Bonanus, and Indarias. Where are they?"
Looking at the yakshas eroded by karmic debt, even the aloof adeptus could not help but frown.
Hearing Cloud Retainer's words, Xiao and Bosacius did not stop. They continued walking.
At the same time, they both spoke. "Those three? They are already buried deep in this land. They can never return."
Their voices were calm, even indifferent. But if one listened closely, beneath that indifference lay deep sorrow and helplessness. The other three foremost yakshas were dead. Only the two of them remained, destined to live on alone, continuing to protect this land.
Bosacius and Xiao left the demon battlefield and, following Rex Lapis's command, went to Liyue Harbor to rest. Behind them, Cloud Retainer was stunned by their answer.
Dead. The other three foremost yakshas were dead.
Cloud Retainer wanted to know how many battles the yakshas had fought before their arrival and how many demons they had slain to be so deeply eroded by karmic debt and evil energy. But she would never know. She could only watch the two yakshas walk away, shaking her head with a sigh.
"Don't worry. Once you return to Liyue Harbor, you will be able to live in peace."
These demons that plagued the land were, in truth, the stubborn resentments of dead gods. Eradicating them was, strictly speaking, an extension of the Archon War. But thankfully, both on land and at sea, the demons had been mostly cleared. There was no need for more battles. The yakshas deserved a good rest.
Thinking this, Cloud Retainer let out a sigh of relief. Even the adepti deserved a rest. But what she did not know was that a greater crisis was quietly brewing in the corners of the world, a disaster that would soon sweep across the continent. When it came, Liyue would once again be invaded by monsters.
...
While Cloud Retainer and the other adepti were cleaning up after the demon eradication, Bosacius and Xiao, who had fought for years to protect Liyue, finally returned to Liyue Harbor. They met Rex Lapis.
As he had been a thousand years ago, Rex Lapis looked like a young man, not a day older. But anyone could see the worry etched on his brow.
Bosacius spoke first. "Rex Lapis, now that the demons on the land of Liyue have been cleared, what still worries you?"
Xiao added, "Rex Lapis, if you need us to fight, please let me know."
Fresh from their demon‑hunting mission, Bosacius and Xiao were full of hope and good wishes for Liyue's future. They did not understand Rex Lapis's concern.
Hearing their questions, Rex Lapis said slowly, "Perhaps I am overthinking. I have heard about Menogias, Bonanus, and Indarias. I will arrange proper funerals for them. For now, the two of you should rest and recuperate."
Despite his words, the worry on his brow did not ease. Even Bosacius and Xiao, who had fought by his side for many years, were puzzled.
When Liyue was first founded, Rex Lapis had not been this worried. When Liyue declared war on the Overlord of the Vortex, he had not been this worried. What could be causing him such concern now?
Though they did not understand, Bosacius and Xiao followed Rex Lapis's command and stayed in Liyue Harbor to rest. During this time, Xiao even took on the task of guarding Liyue Harbor.
Compared to the still-active Xiao, Bosacius was less fortunate. Though the battles against demons had ended, the evil energy of the demons and the endless karmic debt remained in his soul, tormenting him constantly. Gradually, his karmic debt grew worse. More and more memories faded from his mind.
Memories of fighting by Rex Lapis's side during the Archon War. Memories of protecting Liyue during that war. Memories of fighting alongside the other four foremost yakshas. Memories of exterminating demons to protect Liyue. One by one, these memories slipped away.
To avoid troubling those around him, Bosacius chose to abandon everything he once had. He carved his lucid thoughts on a stone tablet and placed all the treasures he had accumulated in a chest, leaving them for some destined soul to find in the future.
Thus, Bosacius cast aside all his glory, all his status, everything he had once possessed. From then on, he lived as an ordinary mortal, growing old quietly. Even if he forgot everything, he would not cause trouble for others.
But as his karmic debt worsened, his memory loss grew more severe. Eventually, he forgot who he was and why he had chosen to live in seclusion. The only thing he did not forget was that he was a yaksha.
The yaksha blood flowing through his veins constantly reminded him: yakshas were unyielding warriors.
So, five hundred years ago, having forgotten everything, Bosacius set out once more as a traveler to protect Liyue. By the time Xiao discovered Bosacius was missing, it was too late. Knowing his brother's condition, Xiao was deeply worried about him traveling alone.
Just as Xiao was about to search for Bosacius, a catastrophe swept across the continent.
The ancient nation of Khaenri'ah was destroyed.
Countless terrifying monsters spread out from the fallen nation, engulfing all of Teyvat.