Good Karma

Safe and sound

"Good job traveler."
Smiley Yanxiao commented.
He observed the bag of ingredients.

"All good?"
Aether asked.

"Okay, this is good."
Smiley Yanxiao took the ingredients from Aether, setting them down on the table.

"Anything else?"
Aether had regretted asking that, but his kindness couldn't let him leave without asking.

"Yeah, mind giving this plate of almond tofu to Xiao?"
Smiley Yanxiao quickly created a dish of Almond tofu, handing it to Aether.

"Ah ok."
Aether grabbed the dish from the Chef's hands. He began to walk towards the stairs before being to by Smiley Yanxiao.

"Hey kid,"
Aether looked at the chef who was cooking some more food.
"Have this as payment."
Smiley Yanxiao washed his hands, stepping away from the cooking food.

He gives Aether a handful of Mora and primogems.

"Thank you!"
Aether gives a small bow before continuing up the stairs.

Aether had been thinking about his run in with Xiao. Xiao seemed more open then usual. Perhaps something good has happened? Maybe I'll ask him.

Aether got to the top of the stairs. He walked towards the edge of the small balcony, setting the almond tofu on the ledge.

Aether looked out into Liyue. He felt as if something about this area he remembered.

"Xiao?"
Aether called out,
"Sorry he's not here at the moment."
Verr Goldet steps out on the balcony with Aether.

"Hey kid."
She greets Aether, smiling.
"Hey Ms. Goldet, wheres Xiao?"
Aether asked, setting the tofu on the ledge.

"He's on work."
Verr Goldet grabs the tofu from off the ledge of the balcony.
"Ill wrap this until he gets back. Will you be waiting?"
Aether hesitated at first.

He indeed wanted to wait for Xiao, to know he's safe and sound. But he knows better than to bother Xiao.

"It's fine. Tell him the tofu is from Smiley Yanxiao."
Aether gave Verr Goldet a sweet smile, however when walking away, the sweetness turned bitter.

.
.
.
.

"Aether are you okay?"
Paimon appeared next to Aether as they walked from Wangshu inn to Liyue harbor.

"Yeah I'm fine, just bummed out. Haha."
The laugh was soft and light, the travelers blonde hair sparkled in the light. The geo light shined from his clothing.

Paimon slowly floated behind him.

"Paimon has a feeling we should go ask Katherine for commissions."
Paimon watched as Aether nodded tiredly.

"We don't have to, Paimon can ask another time-"

"It's fine Paimon."
Aether interrupted, "let's go to Katherine."
And with that Aether and Paimon walked towards Liyue harbor.

.
.
.
.

"Xiao, focus."
Xiao inhaled slowly, he focused on one thought before being stopped.

"Xiao, one does not understand the reasoning for wanting to reach into the depths of the mind."
Cloud retainer commented.

"To unlock my potential, I must reach pass my karma and see my true intention."
Cloud retainer sighed, walking towards the pond.

"Is something bothering you Xiao?"
Cloud retainer looked back at Xiao. Xiao had his back straight, sitting in a crisscross position. Slowly inhaling and exhaling.

"I want to know the truth."
Xiao answered.

Cloud retainer felt pity for the poor Adepti. However, she could not tell Xiao that Rex Lapis is not dead until Xiao has proven he can move on like Liyue did.

"Rex Lapis is dead."
Moon carver tread onto Cloud retainer's land.

"There's no way a god could be slain so easily."
Xiao sneered.
Moon carver examined the meditating Yaksha.

"Know now, if you do not learn to live without a master your downfall is certain. It is preposterous, one knows, however it is the truth."
Moon carver said bluntly.

Xiao grit his teeth, quickly rising up from the ground. He summoned his pole-arm before leaving the scene.

Moon carver turns towards Cloud retainer. "Morax's last wish was for Liyue to move on. A contract is a contract. The vigilant Yaksha included."

Cloud retainer looks out, "Even so, he has every right to know that his master is still alive."
Cloud retainer responded.

"Our master has passed, he shall do what Liyue has done."
Moon carver walked away leaving cloud retainer.

"The Adepti are knowledgeable beings. Why must we exclude one of our kind?"

.
.
.
.