89: Xiao's Proof of Strength

"I know you two," Xiao said first. "I saw you at Wangshu Inn half a month ago."

Huo Xi and Skirk nodded blankly.

Xiao sighed heavily: "I thank you for the good deeds you've done for the common folk. Though I don't know your origins, I hope that while doing good, you'll also consider the consequences more.

If it's just once or twice, it's fine, but you drastically save one person every day instead of simply offering a helping hand. Have you ever considered what would happen if all the people in Liyue Harbor became dependent on this in the future? Will you not leave Liyue Harbor eventually?"

After a few simple words, Huo Xi suddenly came to his senses. He turned to look at Skirk, only to find her expression unchanged.

Xiao also turned to look at Skirk: "You realized this long ago, didn't you? Why didn't you remind him?"

Skirk replied expressionlessly: "Watching other tragic families get saved gives me some beautiful fantasies."

Xiao didn't ask further, but Huo Xi understood Skirk's meaning.

She probably thought about reminding him at first, but later, seeing his actions, she developed a beautiful fantasy: "If a hero had saved us at all costs before my planet was destroyed, wouldn't I still be living happily with my parents now?"

It was this fantasy that made Skirk indulge in it, forgetting to remind him.

Now, Huo Xi could only admit his mistake with an apologetic expression: "Sorry, I really didn't think that far ahead."

Xiao stared at Huo Xi for a moment, then finally shook his head: "No matter. I know you are kind-hearted. If you truly wish to do something within your power for the people of Liyue, why not help me with some things?"

Huo Xi and Skirk exchanged glances again: "Do what?"

Xiao turned around, his Yaksha Mask already on his face: "Eliminate the monsters!"

...As for Xiao and Zhongli coming to find him, Huo Xi felt it was unexpected but reasonable.

He just didn't expect that old Zhongli, seeing Xiao had already arrived, would just leave without a word.

Historically, there have been people who were personally watched by Adepti because they were feared to cause trouble, and Huo Xi was very familiar with one such person: his cheap mother, Alice.

What bad things has Alice done? (BGM: This Life Wasted in Vain)

Captured Hilichurls, created a perpetual motion machine;

Blew up Mondstadt ruins, turning them into Stormterrors Lair;

Tied up innocent monsters, conducted flying experiments;

Modified Dodoco, filling the sky with smoke.

Manipulated Barbara into becoming Mondstadt's idol,

Converted Wangshu Inn's kitchen into an alchemy workshop,

Made the Shogun cry, saying the Electro Archon's face was stiff,

Burned off Kujou Sara's little wings;

Supplied Dori's black market, bringing in Mora,

Got drunk by the Shogun, now a tiger fallen into the plains,

Thankfully, gave birth to Klee-chan for Teyvat,

Capable, with heavy rewards.

And not long after Alice came to Liyue, Zhongli was so scared that he personally ran over to accompany her on scenic tours.

Zhongli: I didn't dare not go for a single day. For thousands of years, there was war. I'm scared of it. If I missed one day, Qingyun Peak might become a basin.

It can only be said that although Liyue was founded by a God and is a nation of humans, they still had to be wary of divine beings like Alice.

And now, Huo Xi has inherited Alice's true legacy. Although he hasn't done anything bad, he has also been listed as a key person of interest.

And now, in front of Skirk and Huo Xi, Xiao was fighting a group of monsters in the dense forest.

Huo Xi watched Xiao move nimbly through the dense forest, nodding in approval.

"He reminds me of some old friends."

"Oh?" Skirk said with interest. "It's rare for me to hear you mention old acquaintances."

Huo Xi smiled and shook his head: "It's not that I don't want to talk about the past, it's just that I care more about the people in front of me now."

"Then what does this Conqueror of Demons in front of you remind you of?"

"Nothing... It's just, I just think he looks very strong."

"..." Skirk didn't reply immediately. Instead, she also looked at Xiao, who was constantly weaving through the forest, slaughtering monsters.

Xiao wasn't facing ordinary monsters. The Archon War on the land of Liyue in the past was incredibly brutal, involving not only various Gods but also their numerous subordinates.

The resentment from these powerful beings doesn't disappear after they die; instead, it attaches to ordinary monsters in Liyue, making them incredibly powerful.

So why haven't players encountered any powerful monsters? The answer is now obvious: it's the Conqueror of Demons in front of them, who daily performs high-intensity monster clearing, killing all wild monsters of any significant strength.

So what constitutes "significant strength"? Xiao has a unique way of defining it. Taking Jean as an example, her combat power is considered very strong among ordinary people, and her combat power allows her to solo a Ruin Guard.

Similarly, Jiangxue, a fisherman in Liyue who can instantly dismantle a Ruin Hunter without using a Vision, is also on this list.

Xiao uses roughly the same standard: anyone strengthened by Archon remnants to be stronger than a Ruin Guard or Ruin Hunter will be killed by him; the rest are left to the Adventurers and Millelith.

Skirk spoke again: "You've met many people like him?"

"Not entirely," Huo Xi explained. "I've just met many strong people and summarized some common characteristics among them."

"I see, induction then. It has some reference value."

"Exactly."

Having received Skirk's affirmation, Huo Xi looked at Xiao's back, constantly performing Wind Wheel, Two Sides, and countless familiar powerful figures appeared in his mind.

Levi, Klydelia, Theresa, Hoshimi Miyabi, Onoki, Meliodas, Edward, Makarov Dreyar, Reborn, Echizen Ryoma, Hitsugaya Toshiro, and many others, all immensely powerful beings who dominated their eras.

And they all shared a common characteristic, which was also a mark of their strength.

Just like Xiao's current movement! With a very agile posture, he dashed through a small space with just one sprint. Most of the young male characters in allogene would definitely not be able to do this move.

Perhaps only strong individuals like Levi could do it, right?

Soon, Xiao had cleared all the monsters in this area.

Putting away his primordial jade winged-spear and taking off his Yaksha Mask, Xiao walked up to Huo Xi: "How about it, do you think you can do this good deed?"

Huo Xi patted his chest: "No problem! I'm best at fighting!"

The group arrived at another location, very close to the Blackrock Mining Area, which was recently occupied by a group of Geovishaps.

Huo Xi stepped forward: "Watch me! Simulated Black Hole, activate!"

Twenty seconds later, the fist-sized ideal black body disappeared. In the slightly scorching air, even the earthworms that had just burrowed out of the soil were baked dry.

Xiao and Skirk looked speechlessly at the land that had been forcibly stripped of a layer of skin, then at Huo Xi, who was shyly holding his hands behind his back and scuffing the ground with one foot.

Huo Xi chuckled awkwardly: "I originally wanted to use a black hole that only attracts monsters, not kills them, but... you know, for me, limiting power downwards is much harder than increasing it upwards."

However, after the previous mistake, Huo Xi had almost grasped some tricks, and now all he needed was continuous practice.

But Xiao pondered for a moment and then sighed: "Forget it, don't kill monsters with me."

"Ah? I just need to practice a few more times."

"Next time, find an uninhabited place to practice. Have you ever considered how terrible things would be if you used the wrong skill in a populated area?" After speaking, Xiao turned and walked into the mountains.

Huo Xi quickly asked: "Where are we going?"

"To visit other Adepti."

Xiao continued walking forward without looking back.

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