Curiosity

"Who left their rings here? That's pretty stupid." Aether said taking the rings. One was a chain ring that extended from his index finger to his ring finger. The remaining rings were a couple set.

"Couple set? Well I guess I'll find my moon here. Tattoos and rings. What's next black nails like Hu Tao and eye makeup like Xiao and Zhongli? " Aether grumbled and put the rings on.

Paimon was eating breakfast brought to their rooms by a waiter.

" Don't dwell on it Aether. Come join Paimon and eat! " Paimon called Aether to join her in the feast. Aether said nothing and sat with her.

After their stomachs were bloated, they went to Verr and returned the room card.

" Come back next time! " Verr bowed with a smile. Aether nodded and they went out of the inn.

" Well. Let's continue our journey. Liyue is north. Meaning it's in front of us. Why are you giving me that face Paimon? I read the map." Aether said looking at Paimon a little offended by the 'really?' look she was giving him.

"If you say so. But if we fight some sort of golem on the way I'm turning back to Mondstadt." Paimon decided.

" We've fought dragons. Virtually nothing can scare us except gods and adepti. " Aether argued back. Paimon shook her head.

" Let's just go. We won't make any progress if we keep standing here. " Paimon said and disappeared. Aether sighed and got a hold of himself. He disappeared in a blur.

" Fought dragons huh? Let's see if that's true or not. " A mysterious feminine voice said.

Ten minutes of blurring later, Aether has arrived at Qiongji Estuary. He spotted a statue of Rex Lapis and went to activate it. He also sent clones to activate teleport points in other places of Liyue.

Aether was about to continue on his journey when he stopped. He had sensed something that made him sigh.

"It's a treasure hoarder camp. Fuck, not again. I cleared all of your camps back in Mondstadt. Now I have to do it again in Liyue. " Aether muttered to himself. He then disappeared and reappeared standing on a tree. He looked at the camp.

"Oh a treasure chest." Aether muttered not interested in it.

"Boss. How do we open this treasure chest?" A greedy treasure hoarder asked the leader who was a big guy.

"By sacrificing your soul." Aether said menacingly while walking past them.

" Intruder—

*PSSSKKKK!!!*

The treasure hoarder looked at the rolling head of his boss in fear.

"No please—

*PSSSK!!*

The screams ended immediately as his head was cut off from his body.

"Take this!!" A person appeared behind Aether raising his hand that was holding an axe.

Aether didn't even turn around. But when he was about to get hit, Aether turned around while raising his hand and backhanded it on the side of the guys chest.

*Boom!*

Ribs were broken from the impact and inside the man's body, his heart was destroyed. The man flew and hit a tree.

*Bam!*

He fell down without a sound.

*Fiuuuuuu!!*

Aether turned to his right to see an arrow flying straight to his head. Aether narrowed his dark red eyes and unsheathed his sword.

*Shing!*

The arrow was cut into two pieces. Aether looked around and found the guy shooting the arrow.

He stared into the man's eyes.

"C'mon. Fire it again. I dare you." Aether mocked as his eyes drilled holes into the man's mind.

Fearing for his life, the man loaded his crossbow again. But when he looked up he saw no one in front of him.

"Huh—

*CHAKK!!*

" Ack! Ugh! Erk!!! " The treasure hoarder was stabbed behind the back. Aether's sword pierced through his heart.

" Fool. " Aether muttered and pulled out his sword violently. The man dropped to the ground. He is dead now.

*Zoom!*

Aether's eyes looked at a bush. He narrowed his eyes at it.

*Zoom!*

Aether heard the leaves shaking again. This time in another direction. Aether grinned.

"So. You think you're faster than me?" Aether asked as he looked at the direction of the sound the enemy made every time he hid somewhere.

"You should no that you're very stupid." Aether said and charged up a fireball in his hand.

He heard the man move again and turned to the direction he was in and threw the fireball.

*BOOM!*

The fireball exploded the tree the man was hiding in. The tree exploded into pieces and was now burning.

Aether used Elemental Sight and found that there was no one alive anymore. He sighed, then sheathed back his sword and went to the treasure chest the hoarders were so excited about it earlier.

Aether knelt down and found lock on it. He gritted his teeth and yanked the lock with his hand. The chest opened and Aether took everything in it and closed it back again. If someone thought they got a free treasure chest, they were wrong.

Aether looked around the place again and used Elemental Sight to double check his surroundings.

Aether chuckled. Why would he be chuckling? There should be no enemies left right? Wrong.

"How come I didn't sense you? Are you an expert at this!?" Aether shouted loudly. Seeing that no one responded Aether got annoyed.

" You don't have to play with me you know? I can sense where you are! Come out and face me like a man! Or a woman! Whatever your gender is I don't care!" Aether shouted out loud. No one responded. If you were beside him you would think Aether was a lunatic.

But you don't question a warrior's instinct.

"Fine! If you're not going to come out! Then get sliced to pieces!" Aether shouted and turned to Northwest of him. There was a tree but Aether sensed someone hiding in that tree.

Aether raised his hand and swiped casually at thin air.

*SHIKKK!! CRACK!!!*

The tree in front of him got sliced into a thousand pieces. Tree barks and leaves were falling around him.

The now sliced up tree revealed...

To be continued....