Moonlight spilled into the solemn, aging council hall, and the massive crystal chandelier swayed with a faint, flickering glow.
Schubert and the other members of the Lawrence family sat around the long table, their faces etched with impatience and frustration.
The midnight bell had already rung, its echo lingering in the vast hall, yet Shao Yun's figure remained absent.
Schubert's brows were furrowed tightly, flames of rage flickering in his eyes.
He slammed the table hard, the sound piercing sharply through the stillness of the night.
"That insolent mongrel! How dare he ignore the summons of the Lawrence family like this!"
Milton Lawrence immediately stood up at Schubert's words. Puffing out his chest, he requested firmly, "Head of the House, please allow me to bring that wretch here myself! And for his blatant disrespect, he must be properly punished!"
Schubert gave a slow nod, a vicious gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Good. Go. Once you find him, tell him this: Even if he helps us reclaim control over Mondstadt, we still won't let him bear the name Lawrence again. That's the price for this insult."
Milton bowed respectfully. "As you command, Head of the House!"
Just as Milton was about to step out of the council chamber, a harsh, shattering crash of glass erupted from the heavy windows, as if a stone had rippled through the calm surface of a lake.
Startled by the sudden sound, Schubert sprang up, shouting, "What's going on?!"
But what followed was far more terrifying.
A lit stick of dynamite landed squarely on the council table.
Chaos instantly broke out in the chamber.
Ross Lawrence, completely losing his usual composure, widened his eyes in terror and screamed, "It's a bomb!"
Faced with life-or-death danger, the once-proud Lawrence family members forgot all their noble airs and dignity, scattering like frightened birds as they rushed toward the doors.
Schubert, who was farthest from the exit, barely made it out before the dynamite exploded behind him.
A massive shockwave knocked him to the ground. Dazed, ears ringing, Schubert lay motionless as his vision spun.
He tried to stand but his body wouldn't cooperate. In a muddled voice, he muttered, "Cough… What just happened..."
But the disaster was far from over.
Outside the villa, Shao Yun hurled the remaining seven sticks of dynamite into different rooms.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—explosions rang out one after another inside the Lawrence mansion.
All the windows shattered to pieces. The walls sustained various degrees of damage.
The once-luxurious villa, with its golden splendor, now looked like it had been turned into a heap of rubble—no longer a symbol of grandeur and honor.
Watching the results of his handiwork, Shao Yun curled his lips into a cruel smile.
"That's what you get for messing with me while I was fishing, you damn bastards! If it weren't for the festival, I would've chopped you all down myself!"
…
Inside the villa, the Lawrence family was a mess of ash and debris. Dust and soot clung to their clothes, hair, and faces.
Frantically, they looked around for any safe way out.
Schubert, the head of the family, was still dazed from the blast. His ears buzzed like a swarm of bees.
He staggered to his feet, mumbling in confusion, "What... what is this..."
Milton and Ross Lawrence rushed over to support him.
Milton surveyed the destruction with panic in his eyes.
"Head of the House, I think… someone threw bombs into our home!"
Schubert rubbed his ears, trying to understand what Milton was saying.
"Who threw bombs?!"
Ross suddenly recalled the little girl he'd threatened earlier that day. A realization struck him, and he immediately made an accusation.
"Head of the House, the only person in Mondstadt who knows how to use dynamite is that Spark Knight from the Knights of Favonius—it must have been her!"
Schubert's expression darkened with fury.
"We didn't even go after the Knights, and they dare mess with us? Tomorrow, we'll settle this!"
Ross blinked in confusion. "Head of the House, why not go now?"
Schubert shot him a glare. "Fool! The Knights aren't going anywhere. Right now, we need to bathe and fix our appearance! No matter what happens, the Lawrence family must uphold its pride!"
Ross nodded hastily. He understood that the dignity of a noble house like theirs must never be tarnished—not even when covered in soot.
…
The night was deep and the stars glittered across the endless sky. Shao Yun had completed the lightest act of vengeance against the Lawrence estate.
"Didn't even kill anyone this time," he muttered. "Guess I'm feeling generous for the holidays. A real living saint today, aren't I?"
"Weinlesefest... what a romantic name," he added with a chuckle.
Back home, Shao Yun opened the door gently, careful not to disturb the sleeping Lumine and Paimon, and slipped quietly into his room.
He lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and within three minutes, his snores echoed softly through the room.
…
The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten with a pale silvery light and streaks of dawn stretched across the horizon, Paimon flew into Shao Yun's room.
She spotted him sprawled across the bed like a giant bear, snoring away in peace.
Paimon floated over to the bedside, tugged on his arm, and chirped, "Wake up! Shao Yun! The sun's already cooking your butt!"
Groggy from sleep, Shao Yun slowly opened his eyes.
He rubbed the sleep from his face and saw Paimon floating nearby, glaring at him with those big, bright eyes.
"If you don't get up, I'll stop being polite!"
He massaged his temples to shake off the drowsiness, looking at her with confusion.
"What the hell? What's going on?"
Paimon tugged his hand again. "Get up! We're going out!"
That snapped him halfway awake.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, and turned to look out the window.
Outside, the sky had lightened into a soft blue, flecked with the first light of dawn.
Turning to Paimon, he asked with a puzzled expression, "What time is it? And where are we going?"
Lumine suddenly appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame in the denim outfit Shao Yun had bought for her.
"Obviously, to the Knights—report to Master Jean for our assignment! Today, you're working with me!"
Still half-asleep, Shao Yun yawned, turned lazily in bed, and muttered, "But it's so early… I bet it's not even six yet..."
"Hurry up, I already made breakfast. If you don't eat it, Paimon will eat everything!"
The moment Lumine mentioned food, Shao Yun was wide awake.
He shot up and jumped out of bed, hastily fixing his clothes. "Alright, alright, I'm up!"
…
After breakfast, the three of them—Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon—set off.
Shao Yun was in high spirits. Looking at Lumine beside him, he praised her, "Lumine, your cooking is amazing! Being able to eat your food is honestly one of the greatest blessings of my life. It's way better than Paimon's cooking."
Paimon puffed her cheeks indignantly and shot back, "Hey! Shao Yun, how could you praise one and diss the other like that! I cook just fine too!" She waved her little fists in protest.
Shao Yun burst out laughing and teased her, "Oh yeah? Then how come I remember your grilled ribs last time ended up completely burnt?"
Paimon's face turned beet red but she still snapped back, "That's just because you didn't get to try my other masterpiece—Frosted Slime! Lumine said it tasted great!"
Shao Yun turned to Lumine, raising a curious brow. "Really? That Frosted Slime was actually good?"
Lumine nodded with a smile. "Mm. It was surprisingly tasty. Paimon's creativity is one of a kind. Turning a slime into a dessert… the texture was interesting. And yeah, it was very sweet. But…"
She paused, then added, "Thinking about eating a slime… it's just a little weird."
Shao Yun looked tenderly at Paimon beside him, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
"So… next time, could Paimon maybe prepare that famous'Frosted Slime' for me too?"
Paimon's expression twisted as she turned her head away with a pout.
"Hmph, you hurt my feelings, so no dessert for you!"
Shao Yun softened his tone with a light chuckle.
"Aww, Paimon, I'm sorry. I was just teasing. How about this—I'll buy you all your favorite snacks as an apology. Deal?"
The mention of food made Paimon's eyes light up with excitement, though she still played it cool.
"Then… then I want Pile 'Em Up, and Sweet Madame, and… hmm… that other one too..."
Shao Yun grinned and slapped his chest. "No problem at all! Once the Weinlesefest is over, I'll take you to Good Hunter and let you feast your heart out!"
Paimon's face lit up like sunshine. She spun midair and beamed, "Hehe, since you're being so sincere, I'll reluctantly accept your apology!"
She even winked playfully, proud of her "victory."
A little while later, the trio arrived at the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius. Their attention was immediately caught by a crowd gathered at the gates.
The people wore extravagant clothes—some adorned with fine jewelry, others cloaked in elegant capes.
Curious, Lumine asked, "Shao Yun, look at all those people at the Knights' gate… What are they doing? Why is it so lively?"
Shao Yun shook his head. "No idea either. Let's go check it out."