Xiao

Ritual Artifacts: Yaksha Mask: The most prominent item on his belt. It's a menacing exorcist mask with fangs and horns, crafted in turquoise and black. It's inspired by the masks of the ancient Chinese Nuo ritual theater. Xiao wears it to unleash his martial prowess. God's Eye and Corruption Eye: On his left hand, Xiao wears a gauntlet with an Anemo God's Eye in a Liyue-themed frame. He also wears a necklace of large beads around his neck, which helps contain karmic darkness.

Physical Traits Height and Age: Xiao appears to be a short youth. However, his actual age is over two thousand years. Eyes: Bright amber-gold with slender, cat-like pupils. Red eyeshadow, typical of traditional Chinese opera makeup, is applied around the eyes. Hair: Short, dark green (almost black), with bright turquoise strands near the face. Two strands are left longer at the back. Forehead Mark: Between his eyebrows is a small purple diamond-shaped mark (a symbol of enlightenment and connection with the Adepts). Tattoo: A large green tattoo runs from shoulder to wrist on his right arm. It depicts his true form—the mythical bird Golden-Winged Peng. Clothing and Armor Top: A white sleeveless, open-backed vest that allows for unrestricted movement in combat. A dark, spiked pauldron is attached to the left shoulder. Bottom: Wide, dark purple trousers tucked into lightweight boots. Turquoise and purple silk ribbons are tied around the waist. Armguards: Dark bracers are worn on both arms, protecting the forearms during combat.

Xiao's attitude toward mortals and the world: He views human life as fragile and fleeting. He doesn't understand human holidays and traditions, considering them a waste of time. However, he sincerely admires human perseverance. His detachment is the highest form of caring. He deliberately condemns himself to exile at the Wanshu Inn to remain vigilant and not endanger mortals. The only human food he accepts is almond tofu, as its texture reminds him of the dreams he once devoured. Character Evolution in the Story: As the story progresses (especially in the Archon quest "Dangerous Path"), Xiao begins to change. Under the influence of the Traveler, he gradually realizes that his life has value in itself, and not just as a weapon for killing monsters. He learns to accept help from others (such as Ye Lan, Itto, and Zhong Li) and begins to understand that self-sacrifice isn't the only way to protect Li Yue. He's still reserved, but his speech begins to show more warmth and trust toward the protagonist.

Past: Slavery and Salvation. In the distant past, Xiao was naive and weak. One of the ancient gods, recognizing his weakness, enslaved him. This god forced Xiao to commit terrible acts: devouring the dreams of his victims and killing innocents. Xiao was a cruel, unwilling tool of murder. Later, the Lord of Stone (Morax) defeated this god, freed the youth, and gave him a new name—Xiao—protecting him from the nightmares of the past. In gratitude, Xiao entered into a contract to protect Liyue, which he still fulfills. The Burden of Karmic Debt. Xiao is the only survivor of the five strongest Yaksha protectors. The rest of his comrades either died or were driven mad by karmic contamination. Karmic debt is a tangible dark energy born from the hatred of defeated gods. Every day, Xiao absorbs this darkness by fighting monsters. Because of this, he experiences constant, unbearable physical and mental pain. His severity is a way to keep his distance, so that his karma doesn't poison ordinary people.