"Even though Qiu Nian did say he was seriously injured…"
"But being injured to that extent seems a little unreasonable, doesn't it?"
Xuehua stared at Qiu Nian's completely serious expression on the screen.
The more she watched, the more she felt he was acting.
The chat agreed immediately.
[He's definitely acting.]
[He's obviously just going along with Lumine and Paimon.]
[If Qiu Nian really couldn't even beat a hilichurl, that would be ridiculous.]
"I know."
"But I am Liyue's Yaksha."
"Protecting Liyue is a contract I must fulfill."
Xiao closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
"I intend to remove the karmic debt currently accumulated within you…"
Qiu Nian said as he turned toward him.
"Lord Gui Xu."
"You are already gravely injured."
"There is no need to go this far for my sake."
Xiao shook his head quickly.
"I may be injured, but I'm not so weak that I cannot even deal with ordinary monsters."
Qiu Nian turned back toward him with a faint smile.
"You didn't actually believe what I said earlier just to go along with Lumine and Paimon… did you?"
"…"
"…Ah."
Xiao froze in embarrassment.
Because he had, in fact, believed it.
The chat burst out laughing.
[Damn it, the way Qiu Nian said it earlier sounded so real I almost believed him too.]
[Looking back at it now, it's hilarious.]
[The acting skills of a veteran performer.]
[More importantly—Qiu Nian can save Xiao!]
"But… my adeptal power is already intertwined with the karmic debt."
"It's like water and ink mixed together."
"If the karmic debt is removed, my power may also be affected."
"Even Rex Lapis cannot resolve such a situation."
"I cannot abandon the power I possess now."
"I still need it."
Xiao said seriously, one hand resting over his chest.
"Every field has its own expertise."
"Even gods are no exception."
"Do not worry."
"If I were not confident, I would not have brought it up."
Qiu Nian replied with a gentle laugh.
Xiao looked at him with concern.
"Can you truly accomplish something like this… without paying a price?"
After all—
Lumine had said earlier that Qiu Nian had been struck by a god's desperate attack.
That was the dying strike of a god.
Even Rex Lapis could not solve this problem.
Could Qiu Nian really do it in his current condition without consequence?
"When your karmic debt overflows…"
"Ordinary people, living creatures, and even monsters will be contaminated by it."
"They become violent. Insane."
"Only Vision holders can resist it to some degree."
"That is one of the reasons you avoid crowds, isn't it?"
Qiu Nian looked toward Liyue Harbor as he spoke.
"Do not worry."
"I will not need to pay any price."
"Though the process… will be painful."
The chat began discussing the revelation.
[So karmic debt affects ordinary people too? No wonder Xiao avoids crowds.]
[If the karmic debt is removed, Xiao could finally approach people normally.]
[Even Rex Lapis couldn't fix this… can Qiu Nian really do it while injured?]
[Remember the pure adeptal power Xiao gave Lumine earlier? He separated it from his karmic debt.]
[Now I'm worried about both Qiu Nian and Xiao.]
[Wait—the scene from the PV must be this moment!]
"Then… I will entrust myself to you, Lord Gui Xu."
After thinking for a moment, Xiao nodded.
"Clear your mind."
Qiu Nian raised his hand.
Xiao slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then Qiu Nian extended one hand.
White energy tinged with crimson surged from his palm.
In the next instant—
A burst of cyan adeptal power erupted around Xiao, mixed with violent black miasma.
The black aura was the karmic debt.
"You will need to endure the next part."
Qiu Nian pushed his hand forward.
The black miasma slowly began turning into cyan energy.
Suddenly—
Xiao dropped to his knees.
He clutched his head with both hands, teeth clenched, his body trembling in pain.
His pupils shrank.
A cry tore from his throat.
The chat exploded.
[THE PV SCENE!]
[Hold on, Xiao!]
[My heart hurts watching this!]
[Qiu Nian: Won't anyone worry about me?]
Qiu Nian frowned slightly.
The karmic debt within Xiao was far heavier than he expected.
It contained the unconscious hatred of multiple gods.
For over two thousand years—
Since the day he signed his contract—
Xiao had continuously purged the remnants of defeated gods across Liyue.
If all that karmic debt erupted at once…
Even powerful adepti would be forced to avoid him.
But to Qiu Nian—
it was still insignificant.
White-and-crimson divine power surged around him.
He clenched his hand.
Xiao's cyan energy exploded outward.
With Qiu Nian's help, the adeptal power took control—
rapidly transforming every trace of black miasma into pure cyan energy.
"I…"
In that instant, Xiao's eyes became clearer than ever before.
The chaotic thoughts in his mind vanished.
The constant pain disappeared.
It felt as if a tremendous weight that had pressed upon him for centuries had suddenly vanished.
For the first time—
Xiao felt truly light.
He stood up slowly, staring at his own hands in disbelief.
Qiu Nian quietly withdrew his power.
"Thank you, Lord Gui Xu!"
Xiao immediately knelt on one knee.
"There is no need for that."
"For me, it was merely a small effort."
Qiu Nian shook his head.
"How do you feel now?"
The chat erupted again.
[A small effort?!]
[He just erased two thousand years of karmic debt!]
[I'm starting to suspect Qiu Nian faked that injury.]
"It is… incredible."
"The karmic debt has all transformed into pure adeptal power."
"And none of my strength was lost."
Xiao replied respectfully.
Such a feat was beyond his understanding.
Other adepti had once told him that Gui Xu's power rivaled Rex Lapis himself.
Now he realized—
they had been telling the truth.
Despite meeting him for the first time—
this god had helped him even while injured.
What a gentle deity.
Gratitude and respect filled Xiao's heart.
"Yakshas are Liyue's divine beasts."
"Fierce warriors who kill to protect."
"Yet even those with immense power cannot escape the corruption of karmic debt."
"The burden you carried for two thousand years…"
"Perhaps even other gods could do nothing about it."
Qiu Nian smiled faintly.
"But fortunately…"
"You met me."
Xuehua stared blankly at the screen.
"Wait… Qiu Nian… are you really seriously injured?"
She remembered how he had simply raised one hand—
and solved the problem effortlessly.
The chat erupted again.
['Perhaps even other gods could do nothing.']
[This guy was definitely acting earlier.]
[Other gods couldn't do it, but he solved it with one hand.]
[If he hadn't said anything, I'd think removing karmic debt was easy.]
[Don't forget—even Rex Lapis couldn't solve it.]
[The craziest part is he didn't just remove it—he converted it into pure power.]
[And called it a small effort.]
[Lord Husband… are you really injured?]
Some viewers still tried to reason it out.
[Maybe it's just his specialty.]
[Even if he's injured, he might still be able to help Xiao.]
Others weren't convinced.
[Nah. I still think he's acting.]
But most people were simply relieved.
[At least Xiao no longer has to suffer from karmic debt.]
[Someone hurry up and thank Lord Gui Xu!]
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