The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [354]

"That would be wonderful…"

Pervases’s voice carried a faint yearning. "Could you describe Liyue as it is today for me? The effects of the [Art of Form Retention] are fading quickly."

"Is there anything else you wish to do?" Jia Changjiang asked, studying the statue of Pervases before him.

"Something else I wish to do?" Pervases hesitated briefly before responding with a tinge of nostalgia. "I’d like… to taste grilled Tigerfish one more time."

His tone grew wistful as memories of fighting alongside his comrades on the battlefield against the gods flickered through his mind.

"In turbulent seas, seek the Tigerfish; in snowy mountains, slay the demons…"

"I’ve got some!"

Before Pervases could lose himself in the past, Lumine pulled a skewer of grilled Tigerfish from her bag. "But… how are you supposed to eat it in your current state?"

She glanced at the statue, wondering how exactly a sculpture might consume food.

"Hahaha…"

Pervases chuckled. "It seems there’s someone to look after the Conqueror of Demons now."

"Instead of food, tell me more about Liyue."

"Of course." Jia Changjiang opened the jar of wine they had earlier offered at the shrine, pouring a small bowl and placing it before the statue.

"Liyue today… is wonderful."

"Even outsiders like us have come to love it."

...

...

...

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As the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness crept in, Pervases’s voice gradually faded.

Jia Changjiang and Lumine had shared stories of modern-day Liyue until the last rays of sunlight disappeared, but by then, Pervases had already dissipated.

Walking away from the restored shrine, Paimon spoke up, "Do you think the Adepti… also long for a peaceful life?"

"Probably…" Lumine mused. "Liyue’s Adepti… It seems they aren’t limited to the few we know. Many must have given their lives to protect Liyue during the wars."

"Pervases…"

Jia Changjiang repeated the name thoughtfully before saying, "When we have time, we should come back to light some incense. Maybe bring some grilled Tigerfish too."

"Yeah," Paimon nodded firmly. "I hope people remember Adepti like Pervases in the future."

"Let’s go. It’s night now, and Xiao’s waiting for us," Jia Changjiang urged. "After the ritual, let’s buy some tiles and finish fixing the shrine."

The group set off toward the Yaksha statues.

When they arrived, Xiao was already there, waiting beneath the towering statues.

"Did you prepare the ritual items?" Xiao asked as they presented the censer and seven lamps. "These tools… Their design is impeccable."

He frowned slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "They seem almost made for Adepti rituals. Where did you find them?"

"A Yaksha named Pervases," Lumine explained. "Apparently, these are for use with the [Art of Form Retention]. Oh, and he asked us to pass along his regards to you."

"The [Art of Form Retention]… I see. Today is Pervases’s death anniversary," Xiao murmured, a faint hint of recollection crossing his face. "That does sound like him."

"I hope he finds comfort in seeing what Liyue has become," Xiao said softly. Suddenly, a skewer of grilled Tigerfish appeared in front of him.

Looking up, he saw Lumine holding it out. "Want some?"

"Not right now," Xiao replied, shaking his head. "Let’s complete the ritual first."

"Place the censer in the central position of honor, arrange the seven lamps in the order of the stars, and include an extremely cold object to accentuate the setting," Xiao instructed.

Jia Changjiang and Lumine carefully set up the ritual site as he described.

"There are four steps to the ritual: incense offering, meditation, chanting the incantation, and the release of the soul," Xiao explained, detailing the order of events.

His methodical explanations left Lumine slightly overwhelmed, reminiscent of her magic lessons with Lisa.

"Adeptal arts are the result of thousands of years of insight. Their intricacies must not be taken lightly," Xiao warned. "Otherwise, you risk backlash, leaving your soul unmoored from your body."

"First, offer a stick of incense, showing reverence to the Geo Archon. Second, meditate to clear your mind and focus on the soul you wish to summon.

"Third, chant the incantation: ‘Emperor Yaksha, summon the three corpses.’

"Finally, release the soul by shooting arrows at the statues to seal the contract."

"Got it?" Xiao asked.

"Reverence for the Geo Archon…" Lumine muttered, already sensing potential trouble.

Thinking of Zhongli brought to mind his carefree demeanor and tendency to forget his wallet. Respect? That might be a stretch…

"Is that all?" Jia Changjiang asked after committing the steps to memory.

"That’s all. Once the ritual is complete, the soul will appear. The rest… is up to you mortals."

"I only slay demons."

Following Xiao’s instructions, Jia Changjiang and Lumine performed the ritual step by step: offering incense, meditating, chanting the incantation, and finally firing arrows at the Yaksha statues.

The censer began to glow, the seven lamps lit up one by one, and even the damaged statues underwent a subtle transformation.

Before long, a man wearing a mask appeared before them. It was none other than the so-called Celestial Lord of Starcatching.

"Huh? Why is he still wearing a mask?" Lumine wondered aloud. "Is that part of his soul too?"

"The image you envisioned during meditation determines the form," Xiao explained.

"Well, duh! If souls appeared as just people, wouldn’t all ghosts be running around naked?" Jia Changjiang teased, knocking on Lumine’s head.

"You’ve got a point…"

As Jia Changjiang and Lumine bantered, the Celestial Lord of Starcatching eyed them warily. "Who are you thieves?! Why do I feel weightless?!"

"Because you’re dead. You passed away in your sleep just now," Jia Changjiang said casually. "Your soul was summoned here as punishment for impersonating an adeptus."

"Dead?! That’s impossible!" the masked man protested. "I was peacefully sleeping at Wangshu Inn—one of the safest places in all of Liyue!"

"Oh, I see! This is just a dream!" the man reasoned, trying to reassure himself.

Jia Changjiang smirked. "That’s fine."

"Pain has a way of clarifying things… or maybe souls don’t feel pain?"

Drawing his blades, he pointed them at the man. "I always prefer to let my sword do the talking. That way, no matter who I’m dealing with, we can have a proper conversation."

"And that includes you, oh fake adeptusl."

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This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!