"You can actually sense the Karmic Debt on Xiao?"
Venti looked at the pure heartache in Lydia's eyes and couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
This child could actually see through Xiao's cold exterior and accurately capture the thousand-year Karmic Debt he bore.
One must know that if that Karmic Debt, which was deeply ingrained in his bones, did not flare up and was hidden by Xiao within his body, even he would find it difficult to sense accurately.
Lydia, a young girl who had just recovered her spiritual form and regained her power, yet possessed such keen perception.
"What is Karmic Debt?" Lydia asked, tilting her head as she saw Venti's expression flicker.
Her snow-white ponytail swayed gently with her movement, her eyes full of pure curiosity, and even the hand holding the Festering Desire subconsciously loosened its grip a bit.
"Xiao is equivalent to the guardian of Liyue." Venti withdrew his thoughts, leaned against the balcony railing, and slowly began to explain. "In ancient times, the gods of Liyue rose all at once, and monsters ran rampant. Those monsters were a hundred times more ferocious than they are now, each one trying to seize control of Liyue, igniting countless wars."
He paused, his tone growing heavier, and even the wind around him seemed to slow down.
"In the end, Morax defeated all his rivals and emerged as the final victor. The other gods either fell in battle or fled in panic."
"But the resentment and malevolence of those fallen gods did not dissipate. Instead, they lingered on Liyue's land like a poisonous mist, corrupting the flora and fauna and unsettling the hearts of men."
"Xiao's duty is to eradicate this filth left behind by the gods." Venti gazed at the distant mountains, as if he could see the figures of Yakshas fighting a thousand years ago. "But as he purges the filth, he cannot escape the erosion himself. The remnants of those gods burrow into his soul, scorching his mind day and night. This is the Karmic Debt."
"So he doesn't like to be close to people? Not because he's aloof, but because he's afraid his Karmic Debt will harm others?" Lydia asked softly, the heartache in her eyes deepening.
Her snow-white eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she were grieving for the Adeptus she had never met.
Venti nodded, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "That's right. He has borne a thousand years of loneliness and pain, yet he has always silently guarded Liyue's peace, never asking for anything in return."
Lumine and Paimon's hearts also sank as they listened.
"Xiao is just too pitiful... He's done so much, yet he can only endure the pain alone," Paimon muttered softly.
"Alright, let's not bring up such sad things." Venti waved his hand, his tone turning cheerful again, trying to dispel the gloom in the air. "The old man has his own ways of looking after him. Our main task right now is to improve our strength so we can deal with the trouble from the Abyss and 'Him' later."
The three nodded heavily, but Lydia's eyes suddenly lit up.
As if she had thought of a wonderful idea, she quickly moved to Venti's side, gently shaking his sleeve. Her voice was soft and carried a hint of coquettishness: "Venti, Venti! Since we're already in Liyue, let's go see Liyue Harbor first!"
"I've been going around in circles in Mondstadt my whole life, and I've never seen the customs of other countries! I heard Liyue Harbor has so much delicious food, fun things to do, and even glowing jade!"
Venti was taken aback, subconsciously frowning, a flash of hesitation crossing his emerald eyes.
He quickly calculated in his mind: Liyue Harbor was crowded with people, and the old man Zhongli loved to mingle in lively places. He was likely at a teahouse listening to stories or appreciating antiques.
Zhongli had seen Lydia as a child following behind him, and he knew all too well that she had died at the hands of the Abyss.
If they ran into him now, with Zhongli's insight, he would definitely see through Lydia's current condition.
But looking at Lydia's sparkling eyes, which seemed to hold all the starlight of Liyue,
And her slightly pouting lips and deliberately lowered snow-white eyelashes, clearly poised to cling to her act and be adorable to the very end, Venti really couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"Alright, alright, you've truly defeated me." He sighed helplessly, reaching out to ruffle the top of Lydia's head, "But we'll have to travel on foot. It's a good chance to practice and familiarize ourselves with the monsters of Liyue along the way."
Lydia immediately cheered, her snow-white skirt fluttering with her jumps: "Great! You're the best, Venti!"
The four of them set off for Liyue Harbor along the winding mountain road. Sure enough, they encountered quite a few monsters along the way.
Hilichurls charged out of the grass, brandishing crude wooden clubs and howling.
Slimes bounced on the road, launching sneak attacks, their sticky bodies making dull thuds as they struck the stones.
There was even a Hilichurl Shaman waving its staff, summoning blinding Elemental Power.
A Mitachurl blocked their path, carrying a giant axe and striding with heavy steps.
But Lydia held the Festering Desire, the Anemo Vision at her waist shining brightly. Wind blades and sword qi wove into an airtight defensive net, easily cleaving through the monsters' attacks.
Lumine was no less capable, Elemental Power flowing in her palms as she sent the monsters crashing to the ground.
Paimon flew by their side to help warn them, occasionally shouting, "Slime on the left!" or "Watch out for the Mitachurl behind you!"
Venti lazily backed them up, occasionally waving his hand to sweep away the remaining enemies with Anemo, making their journey exceptionally easy.
As they approached the Statue of The Seven in Guili Plains, Lumine's footsteps suddenly stopped.
The simple, small earthen hut not far away came into view.
The weeds outside the walls were now lush, and familiar vines climbed the corner, instantly stirring memories buried deep in her heart.
This was where she and Paimon had first met Yunqin, and the three of them had once spent the night here.
The moonlight back then was gentle, and the sound of laughter still echoed in her ears, but now her friend's soul had returned to the earth and sky.
Her mood suddenly plummeted, the light in her eyes fading away bit by bit, her footsteps slowing down as her fingertips curled unconsciously.
Paimon also fell silent, staring blankly at the small earthen hut, her eyes slightly reddening as she clearly remembered that boisterous girl.
"What's wrong?" Lydia noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two, stopped with confusion, and tightened her grip on the Festering Desire, warily eyeing the small earthen hut. "Could there be monsters hiding inside waiting to ambush us?"
"It's nothing, I just remembered an old friend." Lumine forced a smile, shook her head, her voice carrying a faint, barely perceptible raspiness. "Let's go."
They walked in silence all the way, until the outline of Liyue Harbor gradually came into focus in their vision, and Lydia's excitement was reignited.
Buildings with blue and black tiles stood in neat rows, and copper bells hanging from the upturned eaves chimed in the wind.
Merchant ships shuttled back and forth on the river, the patterns on their sails clearly visible.
Pedestrians on the streets wore attire completely different from that in Mondstadt, a blend of fine silk and coarse linen.
The sounds of vendors hawking, customers haggling, and children laughing mingled together, brimming with the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.
"Wow! So this is Liyue Harbor!" Lydia's eyes shone like stars.