I am shock to see people actually like this book, and because of that, I decide to continue this book!

Yayy~

Thank you all for supporting and reading this book, even though it's pretty crappy because I haven't edited it, but thank you~!!

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"Ah! Yoriichi-san! Nice to see you!" Greeted the [h/c] Slayer, waving her hand excitedly at the taller male.

"[Name]-san. . ." The younger Tsugikuni smiled, pleased to see the [H/C] girl well and healthy.

"Are you going somewhere? On a mission?? Or maybe on a date??"

Yoriichi sweatdrop, a nervous smile etched on his face as he watched [name] asked him about useless questions.

"Ah, none of those. I was about to head to Wanmim restaurant," the female raised an eyebrow, wondering why Yoriichi is going to Wanmin instead of eating at home??

"Why??"

"Oh, Well... When I knew you were back, I... Wanted to give you some food as a welcome...."

She was touched.

She could even feel the tears building on the corner of her eyes because of how touched she is.

"Y-Yoriichi!!" The girl awed, staring at the red head male with sparkles around her.

"I didn't knew you were this sweet!!" She squealed, trapping Yoriichi in a tight hug.

"It was nothing, but... Aren't you supposed to head to Wangshuu Inn, along with the traveller??"

"Ah–"

"Ah! I forgot about that! I'll see you later Yoriichi-san!"

The red head male stared in amusement, but was a little sadden knowing that she wouldn't be staying in Liyue for a while... Especially since Oyakata-sama ordered her to watch over Lumine and Paimon on their Journey...

He wish she would just stay for a little longer...

The shadow estate was quiet without her around. Well, it was already quite, but it wasn't the same without [name]...

He wanted to be selfish and told her to stay, but he can't and won't do something like that.

[❁]

"Bunny!"

"[Name]! Where were you!? We thought you ditch us!" Paimon yelled, stomping her foot on midair.

The Slayer could only chuckled nervously with a sweatdrop, "sorry~ I was talking with a friend of mine and somehow forgotten about going to Wangshuu Inn..."

Paimon huff, resting both of her hands on her hips. "Hmph! Paimon forgive you this time, but don't be late again!"

[Name] laugh, softly patting the floating child's head. "Hai, hai~"

The [h/c] woman then look around the balcony, wondering why it's empty.

"Oh~? He's not here?" She mumbled, a frown etched on her face.

She walked closer to the railings and placed her hands on it, "woah~!!" Paimon awed, looking at the view with sparkles in her eyes.

"To the blind, everything may not be as it appears..."

Paimon yelped, turning her head around, only to see the Yaksha they were supposed to find.

"Oh it's you..." The demon Slayer hummed, ignoring the blank look that was given to her.

Xiao sigh before turning to the traveler, "A Sigil of Permission? You came prepared. Though this only prevents me from hurting you myself. Doesn't stop you from getting hurt in other ways."

Paimon sweatdrop, scratching her cheeks with her finger. "Ugh... Paimon doesn't get it..."

"Same." the slayer sigh, placing a hand on the child's head. Lumine could only deadpan at the two for sharing the same braincells.

"Too much contact with our world is breaking the rules. Mortal souls are not as robust as those of adepti, nor can your blood carry this level of adeptal energy. It's for your own good. Leave. Now." He ordered.

"Wait a sec, we came here to–" before Paimon could finish her sentence, our favourite emo Yaksha had already disappear into some black and teal mist.

The Shadow hashira sigh in disappointment, "and there he goes again~"

"Argh! Paimon's peeved! All he does is think about himself!" She complained, stomping her foot in mid air.

[Name] hummed and turn her head to the scenery, not even bothering to listen to their conversation.

'that stupid dragon... If he wants to retired, he should've just said so! Why did he even have to cause a scene...'

Paimon and Lumine turn to the slayer who was so deep in thoughts, she didn't even realize that they have been calling her name for the past 5 minutes.

"Argh! That stupid dragon!!" The two flinch at their companion's sudden yell.

Staring at each other, they slowly nod before leaving the hashira all by herself.

'she's definitely possessed...' Paimon thought, sweat trickling down on her cheek.

"Ugh!! If I see him I would seriously– eh?? Where did they go?" The Slayer blinked, staring at Lumine and Paimon's previous spot with dotted eyes.

"They left a while ago."

[Name] turn to the side and saw Xiao staring up at her with his usual stoic demeanor. The [H/C] girl blink a couple of times before snickering slightly at the height difference.

Noticing what she's thinking, the Yaksha suddenly smack her hand, to which she dodge smoothly. "Stop it!"

"Ahah~ sorry sorry~ anyway! How have you been? Surprise you didn't grew an inch from our last meeting!" She laugh, smacking the Yaksha's back harshly.

Xiao stumble forward at the impact, and glared at the [h/c] woman, before sighing. "I'm good... But I do miss you..." he mumbled the last part, but the demon Slayer could still hear it loud and clear.

With a teasing grin, she slung her arm around his shoulders and brought him to a hug. "I didn't know you could be this cute!! Oh I could just pamper you with kisses!!" She squealed, nuzzling her nose against his cheeks.

[Name] should be lucky she's not a human, if she is than maybe Xiao wouldn't let her do such actions towards him.

The Yaksha groaned, his whole face reddened because of what [Name] had did. "S-stop that! Someone will see us and spread some foolish gossips!"

[Name] laugh light before ruffling Xiao's black and teal hair. Her eyes softening at the shorter boy, "don't worry. I also miss you and the others," oh how Xiao wish she only said she misses him.

But sadly, their sweet and wholesome moment has to cut off short when our adorable Yaksha heard footsteps approaching them.

[Name] was startled when she saw Xiao disappearing so suddenly, but appeared again.

'what the fu–'

"You two again..." Sighing, Xiao was about to leave but was stopped by Paimon.

Lumine quickly gave the food to Xiao, "what's this?"

"It's your favorite, Almond Tofu! As well as this distant traveler's best dish– a Satisfying Salad."

[Name] hummed hearing Lumine told Xiao the whole story about what has happened, though she's still salty because that broke archon didn't told her he's retiring and decide to make a fucking scene.

"Rex Lapis... How could this be? I... can't imagine it. Though times have changed, I've never imagined a Liyue without him. The ruling Qixing... Just what role have they played in this?"

'This is so boring! I wanna go homeee! I wanna see Yoriichi, Eichi and Michikatsu! Oka-saaannnn!!'

Xiao sweatdrop seeing the blank expression of the demon Slayer beside him, although he can clearly tell what she's thinking despite her blank look.

"... I will seek Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer. It is time they too made their decisions."

Lumine inhale a big amount of oxygen, probably getting the courage to ask the edgy adeptus, "Will the adepti interrogate the Qixing?"

Xiao sigh, crossing his arms as he did so, "Adepti do not turn on their responsibilities. I have my reasons to not want to be tainted by the mortal realm, but... responsibilities are responsibilities. Our god is the God of Contracts after all."

'oh wow, the first time I heard him say this much'

Again, Xiao was about to leave if it weren't for Paimon stopping him for the second time in this chapter.

"Wait! Paimon still has one last question."

"Hmm?"

"That... Dusky Ming. She's..."

"When conquering demons, on occasion, you can come across spirits who have never hurt anyone, yet are also not yet able to be moved on. So I asked the innkeeper and the boss if they could keep her here for a time."

"So really, Wangshu Inn was looking after her! Really keeping a wide range of business going, huh!" The floating child mused, not even noticing two missing figures.

[❁]

"It has been a while. how are you, [Name]?"

The demon Slayer groan, staring at the ex-archon with a glare.

"Oh stop with the greetings. How dare you retire without telling me! And to cause such scene!?! You stupid excuse of a dragon!"

Zhongli hum, not even minding the little insult she has thrown towards him.

"And making a contract with a fucking harbinger!?!"

Yoriichi and Eichi watch in silent. They sure want to help the former archon with the frustrated and overly-angered demon slayer. But facing the wrath from the shadow pillar?

Is a big no.

Sighing, [Name] plopped down on one of the chair and rubbed her temples with her bandaged fingers.

"I seriously want to murder you with my own hand..."

A chuckle escape past Zhongli's lips. Quiet amusing to see the, oh-so cold, goddess of war fussing over such scene he had just cause a couple of hours ago.

"Well–"

"Zhongli Xiansheng~!"

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T.B.C