Liyue was in shambles. Houses burning down, people screaming and running to get away from the fires and dangers that threatened to take their lives. Monstrous evil and violent beings from the Archon War have been appearing and terrorizing Liyue with no one to restrain them. All the Yaksha that protected Liyue from the evil wrath that threatened to swallow Liyue whole were gone. Died during the Archon War.

All except one: Xiao. He fought day and night to protect Liyue during its week of terror. No rest, no help, just fighting constantly for seven days straight. It was what he was born to do, he knew that.

So why in Celestia would Morax gather some trusted humans to aid him on the last day? Mortals, of all things to insult him with? He doesn’t need help. He’s capable of vanquishing demons by himself, so why? Only Morax knew the answer to that.

---

It was the aftermath of the week’s fight. For the most part, Xiao fought in it alone except for the last few days, but even then he ignored your requests to aid him. He went off on his own and fought, leaving you to clean up on the smaller, weaker parts of the evil wrath.

You and Xiao stood in the middle of Minlin, the previously beautiful valley looking tattered and destroyed. It would grow back eventually, you knew that, but it still pained your heart to see such a wonderful place hurting. As you kneeled down to gently touch a batch of wildflowers, Xiao spoke behind you, his voice gruff and cold.

“You should go. I’ll go south to Tianqui Valley.”

His expression was cold and indifferent, the usual when it came to Xiao. He held himself as if he hadn’t been fighting for a week straight to rotorcraft Liyue, and he was holding the majority of the burden by himself. It was starting to take a toll, and despite his efforts to disguise his struggles he couldn’t completely.