Shao Yun thought releasing all his anger toward Huachu and Jianqiu would calm him—yet the turmoil inside only simmered more fiercely.
He went to Tiance's street storytelling stall, hoping the tale and crowds would help him pass the agonizing hours.
Tasting Liyue's street snacks and sipping fine wine, Shao Yun was surrounded by the storyteller's voice, cheers, and chatter—yet his heart felt like an island cut off in that noisy sea.
At noon, as Tiance took a break, Zhongli quietly appeared before Shao Yun.
Seeing him, Shao Yun's heart pounded—he lifted his wine bottle to toast.
"Mr. Zhongli, fancy meeting you here again! Care for a drink or two?"
Zhongli didn't respond but sat opposite Shao Yun, studying him before speaking calmly:
"Mr. Shao Yun, you seem distracted. Is something weighing on your mind?"
Shao Yun masked his emotions with a smile.
"Nothing at all. I'm happier than ever—never felt like this before."
But Zhongli wasn't fooled.
"I see sorrow, anger, and rage in your eyes. You can't hide what you feel—your forced cheer doesn't fool me."
Shao Yun's smile faded. He placed the bottle on the table and forced a laugh:
"You're mistaken. I've never been this happy! Just… drink with me, okay?"
Zhongli remained silent, watching Shao Yun intently.
"I know you're upset about Miss Nianhua's fate."
Hearing that, Shao Yun's face changed. He nudged the bottle toward Zhongli, voice trembling:
"No, I'm not. I don't want to deal with it anymore. Please, just one drink."
Zhongli stayed still, his gaze unwavering. Then he inhaled deeply:
"Shao Yun. I understand the whole situation—from the Pearl Galley, how those two killed Miss Nianhua and left her children orphaned. You're holding onto that anger. You're allowed to seek justice—no one will stop you."
Shao Yun's face darkened. He slammed the table with clenched fury, leaning forward:
"I'll say it once more—Miss Nianhua's case is resolved! I don't want to talk about it again. Just have a drink with me!"
Zhongli noted the intensity and sensed Shao Yun was under pressure.
"Is it because of that man behind you? Is he forcing you to...?"
At the mention of the "tall-hat man," Shao Yun's eyes flashed with uncontrollable rage. He leapt up, sweeping the wooden table aside in a thunderous crash.
He was halfway to madness, pointing at Zhongli in a frenzy.
"No—I just don't want to deal with it! Did you make a deal with that guy? Come here to push me into killing those two?"
Zhongli, seeing through Shao Yun's turmoil, spoke softly:
"Let it out—it's no good swallowing it all..."
But Shao Yun had lost himself, lashing out—like a mad dog snarling in his rage.
"What did that guy promise you? He told you to push me to kill Huachu and Jianqiu, didn't he?"
His voice tore through the air; his eyes burned red hot.
"Do you understand?! If I did it… Miss Nianhua's spirit would be taken forever! She'd never find peace!"
He shouted, hands on his chest, emotions blazing:
"You're just some tea-sipping idle! Miss Nianhua prayed to the Geo Archon—nothing. She prayed to a demon instead—and it worked! The demon made her deal! I poured all my strength into stopping that contract—what do you understand?"
Zhongli remained impassive, listening without interruption.
Then an older bald man burst into their circle, startled:
"Were you calling my daughter 'Huachu' just now?"
Shao Yun, interrupted, turned to the stranger.
"Who are you?"
The man drew a trembling breath.
"I'm Gentry De'an—people call me that. That daughter you mentioned… Huachu—is my child."
Hearing this, fury flared within Shao Yun. He recounted everything, word for word.
"Yes, that Huachu—she and her lover Jianqiu, plotting elopement… they murdered Miss Nianhua!"
Gentry De'an stared, unbelieving. He grabbed Shao Yun's arm with tremors:
"Are you saying... Xiao Chu is alive?"
Shao Yun shook him off, voice roaring:
"Yes! She's alive—and she killed an innocent woman!"
But Gentry De'an didn't care. A strange joy lit his face.
"That's wonderful! Our child is alive! The Archon must be watching over her!"
Watching this, Shao Yun reached his breaking point.
"You heard him? Huachu and Jianqiu killed Miss Nianhua to run away—and you celebrate?! How can you be so glad?"
But Gentry De'an, lost in his relief, ignored him.
"Of course I'm glad! Just a lowly performer died—my daughter lives. That's all that matters!"
That final selfish declaration shattered Shao Yun utterly. His eyes brimmed with tears and rage.
"Shut the hell up! Miss Nianhua wasn't a performer—she was a mother! Where do you see her life as worthless but your daughter's as precious? You're unfit to be human!"
He lunged forward and gripped Gentry De'an's throat—lifting him entirely off his feet.
The man, gasping for breath, struggled:
"Help… help me…"
Zhongli watched in horror as Shao Yun teetered on the edge of madness. He called out:
"Shao Yun! Stop! Are you insane? You're in public—you'll be killed for this!"
But Shao Yun didn't hear anything but his own fury.
"Don't stop me! Today, I will kill this bastard—even Ningguang herself won't stop me!"
Zhongli knew he had to act—and just as he moved, his eyes caught another soul-shattering sight.
Yi Zhu—stood frozen, apples clutched in trembling hands, a look of despair etched on his face.
Zhongli grabbed Shao Yun's arm and shouted:
"Shao Yun! Do you want to kill someone in front of children?"
The words snapped Shao Yun awake like an icy plunge. He whirled and locked eyes with Yi Zhu.
The boy held a few apples, now fallen, eyes wide with fear.
"Big brother," he choked out, voice small and broken. "You... you said... my mother was killed?"
Shao Yun froze. His grip on Gentry De'an loosened; his knuckles whitened.
He struggled for composure, voice unsteady:
"No—your mother... she killed herself. You heard wrong."
But under Yi Zhu's devastated gaze, his words rang hollow.
The boy stared with heartbreaking clarity, and Shao Yun's heart thundered—his lies unraveled before him.
He backed away, panic overtaking him.
"I—I'm a useless fool! Don't... don't trust me!" he cried, spinning away and fleeing into the crowd.
Yi Zhu stood there, tears silently falling. He stared at the apples, then watched Shao Yun's retreating form.
"My mother was killed by Huachu and Jianqiu..." he whispered.
Zhongli watched them all—Yi Zhu, Gentry De'an crumpled on the ground, and Shao Yun's frantic disappearance—then he sighed.
"It's over now. Shao Yun will stop at nothing to kill those two."
…
Shao Yun ran out of Liyue Harbor, over hills and fields, blindly through nightfall to moonrise. His steps carried him far beyond exhaustion—until finally, he collapsed on the ground.
Kneeling, hands braced on dirt, he gasped. Raising his face to the sky, he roared in anguish:
"Ah! Damn you, demon! Why did you interfere? I hate you!"
After screaming out his devastation, he collapsed, drained and broken. Sweat mingled with soil as pain etched across his exhaustion.
…
"Revenge is a fool's game!"
…
"I'm John Marston, you damned fool!"
…
"I ain't going nowhere, old man!"