The Last Yaksha

Conquering demons is what I do. [About] | [Rules] | [Headcanons]

[lastyaksha]

“Visions? Desire? Ha. Do not judge adepti by your mortal ideals. I have no desire.”

Independent Xiao Roleplay Blog

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[lastyaksha]

risingsol​:

Xiao appearing with a polearm at the ready was expected and Aether gave an awkward chuckle when the other seemed to look around before putting it away. While Aether didn’t mind calling on Xiao in the middle of battle, perhaps he wanted the other to also think about… coming without some kind of prompting in the future too. That might take some time though and a lot of future bribes of almond tofu… 

He only awkwardly chuckled when Xiao semi-scolded him, waiting out the storm before just passing over the plate to the yaksha who had clearly been eyeing it since it was made apparent. For all the stern words and dismissiveness that came from the other, Xiao always ate like a starved man - pausing once only to seemingly taste the dish before shoveling a bunch down like it was going to disappear the minute he stopped. What was that thing that Xiangling said? That it was satisfying watching someone enjoy your cooking? He had to laugh a little when Xiao finally slowed down. 

“You’ve gotta breathe a little when you’re eating, you know. It’ll still be there even if you take a break - but hey, I’m glad you liked it! I can make more for you in the future too, if you want.” At the other’s question, he paused to rub at his chin. 

“Ah - erm, I didn’t really have much of a plan. But um! You said you haven’t really been there in a while, right? I’m sure there’s plenty of things that’ve changed since then! Thought we could just… walk around and erm, see it? And we can get food and even pop by to see a um, certain funeral parlor consultant if you’re feeling up for it?” 

Xiao awkwardly cleared his throat and placed the empty plate on the railing. It balanced precariously, but Xiao didn’t give it another thought. He crossed his arms and looked away. “There’s no need for you to make more. I have no need to eat,” Xiao said in a gruff voice, “but if you insist, I will accept more at a later time.” Aether looked so happy to see him eat, Xiao felt a little warm seeing his smile. Being happy at someone simply eating? Xiao can’t wrap his head around the emotions of such a trivial thing.

“It has been centuries since I’ve been to Liyue Harbor. I doubt I would recognize much,” he said at Aether’s response before furrowing his brows at the last suggestion. “There’s no need to visit the funeral parlor. Re- ...Zhongli would summon me if he needed me. There is no need to inconvenience him otherwise.” The age of adepti may be over according to his god, but Xiao can’t really accept that. His contract with Zhongli is still in effect whether he wants to retire or not. Xiao will continue to fight against evil until his very soul is destroyed.

But alas, Xiao was well aware of that and there was no need to linger on such thoughts. He uncrossed his arms and started walking out the exit and to the elevator. “Come, we should leave immediately before the sun becomes too hot.”

[lastyaksha]

risingsol​:

@lastyaksha​ / unplotted but planned starter

That brief conversation that the two of them had in the teapot had really made another home in Aether’s mind as of late. To begin with, having a conversation with the other almost felt like a bit of a breakthrough - Aether could remember when the only times that Xiao would ever speak were in the midst of battle or when explaining something adeptus related before a battle. Granted the other clearly didn’t look the most comfortable doing something that didn’t involve some kind of fighting, but that’s why Aether was here, right?! 

In his heart of hearts, he wanted Xiao to experience something besides the endless slaughter that seemed to be commonplace in his life. There had been glimpses of a softer side that Aether had been lucky enough to see from time to time - and he wanted to see them more, wanted Xiao to feel like he could expose those more vulnerable parts of himself to him. 

“Ahem - um, great adeptus Xiao?” He gave a brief pause, surely Xiao had heard him. Calling with that title felt a little dumb, especially when he was just standing on the rooftop balcony with a fresh plate of almond tofu in his hands. 

“Are you uh, ready to go to Liyue Harbor? I brought some food for the road.” 

Aether had just finished his sentence when Xiao appeared in front of him. While he didn’t have his mask on, his polearm was out just in case Aether was calling for help in battle rather than their planned meeting. A quick glance showed that there was no danger and Xiao dispelled his weapon in a flash of jade. Xiao crossed his arms and allowed himself to relax.

“There’s no need for such formalities at this point,” Xiao said. ‘Great adeptus?’ It was almost enough to make his eyes roll. “Nor is there a need to bring food...” Xiao continued, eyeing the rather delicious-looking almond tofu. Well, since Aether made it anyways, it would be rude not to eat it. Xiao accepted the almond tofu and immediately started digging into it. With just one bite, his eyes widened and let the taste linger in his mouth before swallowing. It was quite possibly the best almond tofu Xiao had eaten in his life. Two more spoonfuls and Xiao could quite possibly melt on the top of Wangshu Inn in bliss. A jolt brought him back to the present as he saw Aether looking expectantly at him. Xiao cleared his throat. “...It’s good,” he murmured, taking more precise movements to eat slower.

“What shall we be doing when we’re in the Harbor?” he asked. It had been a very long time since he last visited. Xiao wondered if he would even recognize it.

[lastyaksha]

[lastyaksha]

windbladelumi​:

Lumine wiped the sweat from her brow as the Wangshu Inn came into view. The sun seemed hotter than ever, and the idea of a place to rest and get a cold drink was just enough to pick up her pace. As she approached the small patio area, she could’ve sworn the wind howled in her ear, but just as quickly as the sound came, it was gone

And replaced with a person?

Lumine was shocked at first, and it took her a moment to find the right words to say “Oh! Uhm, I’m a traveller. I was just hoping to stop in and rest before continuing on the way to Liyue harbor” She explained, eyeing the polearm the man held

Xiao blinked as he took in the person before him. While he could sense a deep power within her, he didn’t sense any kind of maliciousness, nor any lies. Xiao twirled his polearm into the air and dispersed it into flecks of jade before crossing his arms.

“Wangshu Inn is open for resting. The Boss will take care of you at the top,” he said, gesturing with his chin to the top of the tree where Verr Goldet awaited guests. Xiao looked back at the Traveller, who looked dead on her feet. No sense in holding her up from her rest. “If that is all you need then, I will take my leave,” he said, taking a step back in preparation of returning to the wind.

[lastyaksha]

[lastyaksha]

xiiaoyun​:

And just like that, the jade spear was gone! Would it be disrespectful to approach now that the other had their guard down? At the same time, it wasn’t super appropriate to continue conversing at this far of a distance, was it? Chongyun opted to just take a little half step closer, jumping a bit when the other spoke. Wait, he was speaking to him? “Ah – yes. There still are a few of us that take on exorcisms whenever necessary. Actually, I come from a long line of exorcists, our bloodline I believe traces back to the founding days of Liyue.” He bit his tongue when he almost began speaking of the yakshas and adeptuses – it must be a little tiring to hear about your own legends over the years. 

At the mention of the expedition though, Chongyun couldn’t help deflating a tad. There were always successes and defeats whenever it came to this job, but it was embarrassing to admit that there wasn’t even an opportunity to have either of those outcomes. And in front of what might be the last yaksha! “Um… actually… my sources weren’t the most um, reliable. When I was on my expedition, I found no evidence of any demons. I was um, on my way back to the harbor to maybe seek out some more information about future ones…” He sighed again. “Maybe I need some more training to hone my skills in that aspect.” 

Was it presumptuous to ask for some suggestions from someone as experienced as the other? “Do you… have any advice when it comes to that? U-Um since you seem like you’re experienced!” 

Xiao tilted his head in thought as Chongyun spoke. A family with a history of exorcism? There were only a handful left from the dozens of families that had once protected Liyue during its darker times. The teachings and techniques have been lost with the flow of time. It didn’t surprise Xiao that this young exorcist might not know all of the ancient ways of expelling demons.

“By standing in your presence, I can feel the copious amounts yang energy within you. With that kind of innate power, demons would be dispersed the second you stepped in their vicinity.” Of course, this was already something the exorcist should already be highly aware of. “Why do you need my advice of exorcism when your very being expels demons?” If a human was born within a long line of exorcist with a natural power of exorcism, what could Xiao possibly provide? Humans were truly beyond rational thought.

[lastyaksha]

[lastyaksha]

xiiaoyun​:

Another day, another failed attempt to find a spot with actual evil spirits to vanquish – Chongyun did his best to quiet a sigh when this last venture over in Dihua Marsh only cost him a whole bunch of muddy clothes instead of some kind of fruit. Was there something wrong with the hints and clues that Xingqiu had given him? No no… his best friend wouldn’t do anything like lie to him about the locations of demons and the like, it had to be his own yang energy dispelling the spirits before he could even set foot into the area. Walking in the cool night air had at least done wonders to help cool down the swirling energies in his body, but he was starting to get a little hungry… 

Wangshu Inn really was perfectly placed, Chongyun wondering if it would be rude to pop in at this early time of the morning when a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He could have sworn that he was alone on this road?

A familiar yet unfamiliar frame was in front of him, Chongyun doing his best to blink away the surprise when his eyes went to the weapon held in the other’s hand. Though most of the public knew of the yakshas, legends of the deeds of the yakshas had been passed down through the generations of his family as well. Wangshu Inn was heralded as a location for the final yaksha in many of these texts and many scrolls went into detail about the jade green colored spear that the final yaksha wielded in battle. 

“Oh- I…!” This was no time to be awestruck! He couldn’t even say for sure if the other was who he thought it was either. “Um, my name is Chongyun. I’m an exorcist – my apologies, I was on my way back from an expedition…”  

Xiao blinked and dispersed his polearm with a flick of his wrist. It was very obvious to him just by appearances that this exorcist meant no harm, even if his staring at Xiao was a tad unnerving. Even beyond physical appearances, Xiao could tell that Chongyun certainly was no demon. The yang energy radiating off of him was brighter in Xiao’s eyes than the sun. It was almost hard to look at him. Chongyun’s occupation certainly seemed fitting - no demon would come close to him with the amount of energy pouring out of his very being.

“An exorcist? Exorcism isn’t common as it once was long ago.” Long, long ago. “Where was this expedition that you came from? If there are demons converging somewhere, I will be sure to bring a permanent end to them.” While yang energy certainly can dispel demons, it cannot necessarily bring an permanent end to them. Xiao can certainly clean up the rest.

[lastyaksha]

[Open RP]

The sun rose over Liyue signaling the start of a new day, a light breeze the only thing interrupting an otherwise calm and quiet morning. Xiao sat on the highest rooftop of the Wangshu Inn, watching the sun rise in it’s pleasant glory. It was a sight seen many times over the millennia of protecting Liyue, but each morning always seemed unique from all the previous. This was the only time that Xiao allowed himself a true period of rest. He had spent the night patrolling and the day before slaughtering demons. If there was no rest for the wicked, there was no rest for those who exterminate the wicked.

The wind shifted, signalling a change in the environment. Xiao was in tune with the wind, letting it tell it’s tale to him. A person was approaching the Inn and while Xiao could tell the wind was excited, he couldn’t make out if the person was friend of foe. Summoning his polearm just in case, Xiao stood up on the roof and disappeared into the wind before reappearing right in front of the visitor at the bottom of the Inn.

“State your business,” Xiao said, gripping his polearm to his side before looking at the visitor.