Inside Wangshu Inn.
Paimon lay peacefully on the bed, her breathing steady.
Lumine had woken at some unknown point and now sat at the table, resting her chin in her hands, lost in thought.
Suddenly, she noticed that the rain had stopped outside.
She pushed open the window. A fresh, earthy scent filled the air, instantly invigorating her.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow into the quiet room.
Just then, the door creaked open softly. Lumine turned her head toward it and saw Shao Yun walking in.
His soaked clothes were stained with blood, and he looked rather disheveled.
"Shao Yun, you're finally back," Lumine stepped forward with concern in her voice.
Shao Yun nodded. The moment he saw Lumine, a tired but contented smile appeared on his face, as if a weight had been lifted.
"Yes. I'm back."
Then, Shao Yun pulled a delicate box from his backpack and handed it to Lumine.
Inside was the balm Ying'er had given him days ago.
"Sorry... I got this several days ago, but... I forgot to give it to you," Shao Yun said apologetically.
Lumine accepted the balm and gently opened the box. A faint fragrance drifted out.
As she looked at the bloodstains on Shao Yun's clothes, a complex emotion stirred within her.
"I've been really worried about you these past few days," Lumine said softly, her voice full of concern. "Looks like... you killed Huachu and Jianqiu, didn't you?"
She had already guessed what happened, but still wanted to hear it from him.
Shao Yun nodded without denial. Calmly, he said, "Both are dead. It's over."
Hearing his cold and detached recounting, Lumine asked gently, "And do you feel any better now?"
Shao Yun looked at her, a bitter smile on his face as he replied with self-mockery, "You say that like I'm some psycho who gets uncomfortable unless I kill someone."
Lumine noticed the sharp, bloodstained white fragments embedded in Shao Yun's hands. She stepped closer, pointing at them.
"What's this in your hand... ceramic shards?"
There was a slight tremble in her voice. She didn't dare assume the worst.
Shao Yun glanced at the fragments piercing his flesh and then looked up calmly.
"No. That's part of Huachu's skull. She cursed you... said you'd die a terrible death. So, I beat her to death with my bare hands."
His voice remained flat, recounting something horrifying as if it were nothing—shattering a person's skull by force. Just how furious must one be to do that?
Lumine didn't say anything. Instead, she silently walked over and gently tugged on his sleeve.
"Let me treat your wounds. Just looking at them hurts."
She pulled Shao Yun over to sit at the table.
Her hands moved with quiet concentration as she carefully extracted the sharp bone fragments with tweezers.
"If it hurts, just tell me."
Trying to lighten the mood, Shao Yun replied playfully, "If I tell you, will you make it hurt less?"
But Lumine didn't smile or respond. Her full attention was on her task.
Only after she had thoroughly cleaned his hands did she look up at him.
She glanced at his blood-soaked clothing and frowned lightly.
"Take that shirt off."
Shao Yun blinked, a little embarrassed.
"Uh? Isn't that a bit... improper? Didn't you say—"
Before he could finish, Lumine cut him off.
"What are you thinking? Your clothes are soaked in blood! Paimon will wake up soon—you'll scare her like this!"
Realization dawned on Shao Yun. He'd thought she was... trying to comfort him. He had overthought it.
He took off his filthy brown jacket, revealing a blue shirt underneath—also stained with blood and bits of flesh.
Seeing this, Lumine sighed.
"Forget it. Just go to the bathroom, take it all off, and give yourself a proper wash!"
Shao Yun nodded and walked toward the bathroom.
But just as he stepped in, Lumine followed him.
Shao Yun turned, confused. "Lumine, what are you…"
Lumine didn't answer. She simply locked the door behind her.
"I'm bathing with you."
A flicker of surprise crossed Shao Yun's face. He looked at her, puzzled. She had said before that nothing would happen between them until she reunited with her brother.
Is this a reward? But the bathroom wasn't exactly romantic…
"You wish!" Lumine saw right through him and rolled her eyes.
"It's just a bath. Also, I need to talk to you about something."
Shao Yun covered his face awkwardly. "Alright, fine…"
He quietly sat by the edge of the bathtub, removing his gunslinger outfit piece by piece.
As the clothes slipped off, they revealed his firm muscles and healthy skin tone. He stepped into the tub.
Lumine stood beside him, slowly pouring warm water into the tub.
Steam rose, filling the room with a soft haze.
She instinctively reached for the ribbon of her dress—but paused at the last second.
Turning her back to Shao Yun, she said firmly, "Close your eyes. No peeking."
Shao Yun obediently shut his eyes. He heard the faint rustle of clothing, followed by a splash as she entered the water.
Moments later, the sound of water echoed softly through the bathroom like a gentle melody.
Then Lumine's voice floated to him—relaxed and slightly lazy.
"You can open your eyes now."
Shao Yun slowly opened his eyes.
Steam hovered above the tub. Lumine sat with her back to him, her wet hair clinging to her skin—graceful and alluring.
His gaze instinctively landed on her pale, smooth back. His cheeks flushed red.
"Lumine... is this really okay?"
Lumine didn't seem to notice his awkwardness. She pointed to the towel hanging beside the tub.
"Help scrub my back. Paimon's too weak—she never does a good job."
Shao Yun took a deep breath and dipped the towel in water. He began gently scrubbing her back.
His fingers moved carefully across her soft, silky skin. His heartbeat quickened, but he kept himself steady.
"How's the pressure?"
Lumine leaned against the edge. "It's fine. Keep going."
After finishing, Shao Yun quickly hung the towel aside and turned around, sitting with his back to her.
They soaked in silence, back to back.
After a while, Lumine spoke.
"Shao Yun, where do you think we should go next?"
Shao Yun's face flushed. "Wherever you and Paimon go, I'll follow. You two decide."
Lumine turned to look at his back, then hugged him from behind.
Shao Yun felt the sudden softness against his back. His heart thumped wildly.
"Lumine…"
She brought her lips close to his ear and whispered, "Don't overthink it."
"How could I not overthink? You know what you do to me." Shao Yun sighed, exasperated. "I'm not some monk, y'know."
Lumine rested quietly against his back, her arms wrapped tight around his neck.
"Once I find my brother, you can think however you want. But for now, listen to me."
Feeling the warmth behind him, Shao Yun inhaled deeply to steady himself.
He even slapped his own cheek to keep calm.
"Alright. I'm listening."
Lumine began laying out her thoughts.
"After the Rite of Parting, Zhongli mentioned that if we continued traveling, Inazuma would be a good next stop. But I want your opinion too. Your input matters to me."
"I don't really have suggestions. Inazuma's fine. But... are you sure we're going that soon?"
Still haven't met her brother yet... too soon to leave for another nation?
Lumine shifted slightly against his back, then scooped up a handful of warm water.
"Not right now. We still have things to do—like finishing the exploration of Tianqiu Valley. And we'll wait for my new clothes to arrive too."
Shao Yun frowned lightly.
"You're right... but those clothes—I ordered them over a month ago. Why aren't they here yet?"
Lumine pinched his cheek with a teasing smile.
"I don't know~ All I know is they're not here. That's on you!"
Shao Yun let her squish his face. When she finally let go, he smiled.
"Guess I'll have to ask the Adventurers' Guild…"
…
With business out of the way, Shao Yun lay motionless in the tub, letting Lumine lean against him.
He didn't dare move a muscle.
When the water started cooling, Lumine pressed even closer.
Then she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear:
"Shao Yun… I'm pressed up against you like this. You really have no other thoughts?"
Shao Yun paused, her warmth making his heart race. He turned to look at her.
"You told me not to overthink."
Before he could finish, Lumine playfully nipped his ear with her lips—mischievous, even a little flirty.
"You're too obedient. You really believe everything I say?"
Blood rushed to Shao Yun's head. "Then... can I disobey now?"
Lumine gave his back a playful slap. "Too late! If you make one wrong move now, I'm kicking you out!"
No one else in the world could speak to him like this.
As for that demon—she didn't count as human.
Shao Yun smiled bitterly and shook his head. This bath had been a slow torture. Why am I so obedient?!
…
"Your Highness, he really didn't touch your blood relative. He's a proper gentleman! You can lower your sword!"
"Really?"
"Absolutely!"
"Nope. Just because he's a gentleman today doesn't mean he'll be one tomorrow! Open the portal! I need to strike first while I still can—I'm going to kill him!"
"Your Highness, please calm down!"