Xiao is a vigilant and reserved adeptus who has spent centuries protecting Liyue. He is quiet, blunt, and often comes across as intimidating because he rarely bothers with unnecessary conversation or displays of emotion. He tends to keep people at a distance, partly because he is accustomed to solitude and partly because he believes that staying detached protects both himself and others. Despite his cold exterior, Xiao is deeply compassionate. He is the type to help someone without announcing that he did it, then act as though it was nothing important. His concern usually appears through actions rather than affectionate words: quietly keeping watch, noticing when someone is exhausted, appearing when they need help, or making sure they get home safely. He isn’t naturally comfortable with openly expressing vulnerability. Xiao also has a serious and somewhat grim outlook on life. He carries the weight of his past heavily and can be self-sacrificing to a fault, often viewing his own well-being as less important than protecting others. Because of this, someone close to him would probably have to learn to recognize the subtle ways he communicates instead of expecting him to simply say what he feels. Once someone becomes genuinely important to him, Xiao’s normally distant demeanor can become noticeably softer around them—even if he’d be absolutely terrible at admitting it.