Shao Yun stood to the side, catching the look of disappointment on Mona's face. True to his principle of helping people to the end, he stepped forward.
"Mr. Goth, we meet again. I have a question—would you mind answering it for me?"
Old Mr. Goth clearly hadn't expected Shao Yun to suddenly question him and was momentarily caught off guard.
"Oh, Mr. Shao Yun, you've returned. Is there something I can help you with?"
Shao Yun ignored the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Why did the previous tenant place a seal on this house?"
Goth's expression shifted. He clearly hadn't expected such a direct and thorny question. He stammered, "W-Well, I'm not really sure. I wasn't the tenant—I wouldn't know what was going through their mind."
Shao Yun smiled faintly and voiced his suspicion.
"Mr. Goth, could it be that you withheld the previous tenant's deposit, causing them to leave this seal out of spite?"
Goth froze on the spot. Shao Yun had clearly hit the nail on the head. The old man flailed his arms in a panic, hastily trying to explain.
"Mr. Shao Yun, you've misunderstood! I would never do something like that. Truly, you've misunderstood!"
Seeing his reaction, Shao Yun became even more convinced of his theory.
"I really think you would. I mean... just remember what happened with Goth Grand Hotel."
Goth's face turned slightly red at the mention of the hotel—he knew exactly what Shao Yun was implying.
"Haha... Well, if not for this young lady, who knows when that seal would've been lifted. The house is yours—make yourselves comfortable, I won't disturb you anymore. As for rent... forget it. Stay as long as you like."
He turned as he spoke, clearly trying to escape this uncomfortable situation.
But Shao Yun didn't give him the chance.
He swiftly reached out and grabbed the retreating Goth by the shoulder.
"Hold on, Mr. Goth. One more thing—I need your help. Lumine, Paimon, and I also need a place to stay. Can you arrange something for us?"
Goth blinked, glancing at the house behind them, then at Mona, confusion clouding his face.
"Don't you already have a place...?"
Shao Yun smiled and explained, "That's Mona's residence. I'm looking for a place for myself, Lumine, and Paimon."
Still puzzled, Goth gestured toward Mona and asked, "Isn't she your..."
Before he could finish the sentence, Shao Yun's hand moved to the grip of his Schofield revolver. His gaze turned sharp as a blade, lips curling into a half-smile.
"Mona is my what? Say it clearly..."
Last girl who started a rumor like that left crying. You really pushing your luck, old man?
Goth instantly realized his mistake, flashing an awkward smile as he hurried to apologize.
"Ah! I'm sorry—I really must be getting senile. My brain's not what it used to be. I'll arrange your housing right away!"
With that, Goth turned and quickly left, inwardly grateful he had dodged something worse.
Still, he couldn't help but regret his past decisions. That damn bribe from the Fatui... and now I've lost two houses over it!
Shao Yun turned to Mona.
"You should be able to live here rent-free for a few months. Even though Lumine said not to rush, I still want to confirm—can you divine what we want to know using the belongings the previous tenant left behind?"
"I'll head in and take a look. I'm hoping for a full set of star-gazing tools. That'd save me a ton."
Mona entered the house, her eyes scanning the interior. She looked over shelves of alchemy books and vials of magical reagents, then sighed.
When she returned outside, she reported to Shao Yun.
"Ah... I'm sorry. There's none of the specialized astrology equipment I need in there. I don't have any new insights, nor the right tools. With just my scrying disc, I can't fulfill my promise."
Worried that Shao Yun would be upset, Mona quickly added more.
"But if you give me some time, once I earn some mora, I'll buy better equipment and more astrology texts. Then I'll definitely fulfill my promise."
Shao Yun turned to Lumine and asked quietly, "Lumine, what do you think we should do?"
Lumine had nothing more to say. The situation was what it was. Even if they didn't get anything out of this, at least they made a friend in Mona.
"It's okay. Fate's unpredictable. Besides... Mona had no idea her 'successor' would turn out to be Klee..."
Since Lumine once again vouched for Mona, Shao Yun didn't push the issue.
He looked back at Mona and said, "Alright, Miss Mona. I won't force you. But I hope you'll prepare everything you need as soon as possible. Without the rent burden, I believe you'll have answers for us soon."
Mona smiled gratefully.
"Thank you all so much for your support. I promise—I'll fulfill my commitment as soon as I can."
But then Shao Yun's tone shifted, turning casual as he added, "Good to hear. Still, I'm gonna need to collect a little interest."
Mona blinked, startled by the sudden request. She hadn't expected this twist.
Happiness came fast... and left faster.
She bit her lip lightly, hesitated, then reluctantly pulled out the mora Boss Zhu had given her.
It was supposed to be her meal money for the next ten days... But gritting her teeth, she handed it to Shao Yun.
"Here... It's twenty thousand mora..." Mona's voice trembled slightly. Her feelings for that money ran deep.
But Shao Yun didn't reach for the coins.
"I told you before—that money is yours. We don't want it. You're an astrologist, right? Since you couldn't give Lumine an answer, then give me a reading."
Mona paused in surprise. She looked up at the star-filled night sky.
Water divination was especially effective at night—on a bright night like this, anything short of overly obscure questions could yield results.
"I can do that. But are you sure, Shao Yun? If you wait until I get better tools, the reading will be more accurate. I'm not saying no—just that it might waste your time."
Shao Yun shrugged.
"Goth's gonna take a while anyway. Nothing wrong with passing the time."
"Alright then. What do you want to ask?"
Shao Yun turned to Lumine and Paimon.
"Please give me and Mona a little space."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance and quietly stepped back, giving them room.
Mona blinked curiously.
"What are we divining? You're being so mysterious."
"Mona, I want you to divine... my final fate."
Shao Yun's tone was dead serious—after all, a good brother once said: Knowing your death day is a gift from the heavens.
Mona blinked again, confused by his sudden request—but she nodded.
"Alright. I'll give it a try."
She summoned her scrying disc. The crystal-clear surface began to ripple gently, reflecting the starry sky above.
Mona focused intently as the divination began.
Soon, stars on the disc began to shift and arrange themselves, forming blurry lines of text that gradually became clear.
It was the first time Mona had seen this happen. Usually, she had to interpret symbolic images—but this time, actual words were appearing.
She read aloud from the disc.
"In a land of fire and corpses, the devil shall offer sacrifice. There, the wolf and the stag will make their final choice: to become an eagle and soar high, or to linger on as a vulture, scavenging to survive. The choice... shall be yours alone."
Mona stared at the strange prophecy, falling into thought.
She asked in confusion, "Shao Yun... do you understand it? I don't get it at all."
"I don't know either. Maybe time will tell."