The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [189]

“So, are the other adepti planning to visit Liyue as well? If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll run into them?”

Jia Changjiang wandered through Liyue’s bustling marketplace, a stick from a candied hawthorn dangling from his mouth, with Xiao trailing slightly behind.

“…If fate wills it, you may,” Xiao replied, his tone as distant as ever. He kept his head turned, clearly unwilling to engage too much in conversation.

“Don’t be so cold. Here, have some sticky rice cakes—they’re fresh out of the pot and still warm,” Jia Changjiang said, seemingly unbothered by Xiao’s aloofness.

For someone like Xiao, just walking alongside him without resistance was already an accomplishment. If not for the wager he’d lost, Xiao might’ve already disappeared without a word, off to some unknown corner of the land.

The only person in Liyue capable of making Xiao settle down was likely Rex Lapis himself…

Though Xiao still didn’t know that Rex Lapis had assumed the mortal guise of Zhongli, quietly preparing for his own send-off ceremony.

“Your wounds have healed quickly. Did an adeptus treat you?” Xiao finally asked, noticing that the injuries Jia Changjiang had sustained in their earlier battle were completely gone.

“Oh, those? A certain adeptus named Granny Ping helped me out,” Jia Changjiang replied nonchalantly.

“I see… that does make sense. She resides in Liyue Harbor,” Xiao remarked, falling silent afterward.

But Jia Changjiang wasn’t about to let the conversation drop.

“Recently, we’ve been busy preparing for the Rite of Parting, but Ningguang invited us to meet her. Lumine’s working on a gift, so I’ve got some free time,” Jia Changjiang said casually, munching on a skewer. “When we were gathering supplies, some merchants gave us discounts when they heard it was for Rex Lapis. Liyue really loves their Archon—just like Mondstadt.”

“…”

Xiao didn’t respond immediately, but after a long pause, he asked, “The mark on your shoulder—it bears the trace of the Anemo Archon. You and that Lumine person came from Mondstadt… you’ve met the Anemo Archon, haven’t you?”

“Of course we have. I even shared a drink with him,” Jia Changjiang said with a laugh, recalling Venti. “Though we’ve parted ways for now, the world is vast—we’ll meet again someday.”

He glanced at Xiao, noticing the untouched rice cake in his hand. “Why haven’t you eaten that yet? It’ll lose its flavor if it gets cold.”

Xiao glanced down at the rice cake, now cooling in his palm. “Such trivialities… mortals grow increasingly frivolous.”

“Sometimes, a little frivolity is worth it for something tasty,” Jia Changjiang said with a grin, shoving a candied hawthorn skewer into Xiao’s free hand. “Almond tofu is way more complicated to make, but you still like it, don’t you? Everyone’s got something they enjoy—Paimon likes sweets, Lumine’s into fried food…”

“Come on, let’s check out that stall over there. Looks lively—and they’ve got masks!” Jia Changjiang gave Xiao a nudge, urging him to move faster.

“Let go,” Xiao protested, his voice tinged with annoyance. But bound by their wager and his sense of honor, he refrained from striking back.

“If not for this pact… I wouldn’t be wasting time like this,” Xiao thought, reluctantly letting Jia Changjiang steer him toward the next stall.

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The market was bustling with activity. Jia Changjiang’s attention was drawn to a small child staring at Xiao, or more specifically, the mask hanging at Xiao’s waist.

“Big brother, your mask looks so cool! It’s way better than the ones the mask-seller makes!” the child exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with admiration. “The uncle at the stall said this pattern is from the Yaksha! If I had a mask like that, everyone would be jealous of me!”

Xiao instinctively moved back, his hand brushing against the mask as if shielding it. He wasn’t annoyed at the child’s curiosity but rather concerned—his karmic burdens could harm those who came too close.

Before he could retreat further, Jia Changjiang clapped a hand on his shoulder and addressed the child. “The mask is pretty awesome, right? The Yaksha were adepti who protected Liyue. Do you know what an adeptus is?”

“Of course! The adepti have protected Liyue so many times. My grandparents even have statues of them at home!” the child replied enthusiastically.

“Sounds like you know a lot! How about I get you a mask?” Jia Changjiang crouched down, meeting the boy’s eyes.

“But my mom says I can’t take food from strangers…” the child hesitated.

“Good thing a mask isn’t food, right? Hey, shopkeeper! Three masks, please—help me pick out some good ones,” Jia Changjiang called over to the nearby stall owner.

The shopkeeper chuckled, clearly familiar with the little boy. “This kid’s had his eye on the Yaksha mask for ages. As for you two gentlemen…”

The shopkeeper sized up Jia Changjiang and Xiao before selecting two additional masks.

“For the young master here, this ‘Rex Lapis’ mask should suit you perfectly—kind eyes and a gentle smile, modeled after how the Geo Archon was said to look during Liyue’s founding.” He handed over a mask depicting an elderly man with a serene expression.

“As for you…” The shopkeeper examined Jia Changjiang for a moment. “Haven’t seen someone as spirited as you in a while. How about this ‘Kui Star’ mask?”

He handed Jia Changjiang a fierce mask carved from sandalwood, complete with horns, sharp fangs, and furrowed brows—a visage that radiated raw power.

“All my masks are top-quality carvings. You won’t regret it!” the shopkeeper said proudly.

“Perfect. I’ll take it!” Jia Changjiang paid the shopkeeper with a broad grin. “I like masks with a bit of bite. The scarier, the better.”

He pressed the mask to his face and turned to Xiao. “So? How do I look?”

“… Intimidating,” Xiao replied after a beat, his voice neutral.

“Good. Think it’s fierce enough for a fight?” Jia Changjiang asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

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T/N: NOOO I TAKE IT BACK NO HAREM I ONLY WANT THE VEX SHIP TO SAILL STOP CHEATING ON VENTIII

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!