Shao Yun watched as the Abyss Herald "Wicked Torrents" scaled the wall with ease, gradually vanishing from sight. He couldn't help but murmur under his breath.
'That Abyss Herald… doesn't seem all that tough, huh? Ran off so easily?'
Standing nearby, Lumine heard Shao Yun's muttering. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she replied, "Maybe it's just because you're too powerful."
Shao Yun chuckled at that, smoothly holstering his twin revolvers.
"Thanks for the compliment."
He turned to Lumine and asked, "So, what's our plan now?"
Lumine glanced back at the Wolf King and replied, "I'm planning to speak with the Great Wolf King. I want to learn a few things."
Shao Yun nodded in agreement.
His gaze naturally drifted to Razor, and with a thoughtful tone, he said, "In that case, I think I'll go meet this new friend of ours."
His voice carried a hint of interest—clearly, Razor had piqued his curiosity.
After all, the last wolf child he met ended up supplying him with two three-star wolf pelts.
Lumine followed his gaze and asked, "You mean Razor?"
She had a pretty good impression of Razor as well.
"Yeah. Seems like a decent kid. I'd like to get to know him." With that, Shao Yun started walking toward Razor.
He approached with a warm smile and extended a friendly hand.
"Hi, Razor. A moment like that wasn't the best for introductions. I'm Shao Yun. I go by many names, but this one's all you need to remember."
Razor looked a little nervous. He slowly reached out and shook Shao Yun's hand, his voice carrying a trace of tension.
"You... hello. I'm... Razor."
As their hands parted, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Shao Yun began chatting with Razor, and naturally, the topic turned to hunting.
It was a subject Shao Yun was clearly passionate about.
"Razor, did you know? I love horseback hunting. If it's just to fill my belly, I'm not too picky about what weapon I use."
"But when I'm after an animal's pelt, I become very patient. I choose my weapon carefully, based on the prey's traits." His words revealed a deep understanding of the art of the hunt.
Razor listened intently. Though his responses were broken and simple, it was clear he had his own thoughts on the subject.
"Lupical... hunt... together... I like... traps."
Shao Yun nodded and started sharing a memorable hunting tale.
"One time, I spent three days and nights in the wild just to get a perfect badger pelt. It was a battle with nature—a test of will. But when I finally saw that flawless pelt, I knew it was all worth it. I still remember..."
He described the hunt in detail, and Razor listened with rapt attention—he'd never heard of anyone so committed to hunting before.
Seeing his reaction, Shao Yun continued, "The most unforgettable time? I was tracking a perfect mountain lion pelt. It ambushed me. I nearly became its prey. Luckily, my aim was faster. Barely escaped its claws."
Razor frowned slightly and asked with a puzzled tone, "Lion? Why... hunt?"
Shao Yun patted the Legend of the East satchel at his waist and explained, "It was for making this bag. Needed mountain lion hide."
He didn't mention it also required wolf pelts.
Still, Razor couldn't understand Shao Yun's logic. Hunting was for food, wasn't it?
Scratching his head, he said, "Strange... lion... Lupical... not eat... no danger... not bother."
Shao Yun smiled and waved it off. "Razor, it seems we see things differently. If this topic's a little odd for you, let's talk about something else."
He looked up at the sky, searching for a new topic.
Soon, he shifted the conversation toward Razor's unusual bond with the wolves.
"Razor, can I ask? Why did you choose to live with the wolf pack? There must be a story behind it."
Razor's eyes softened. After a moment of reflection, he answered in his quiet, sincere tone.
"My Lupical are wolves. They are my family. Deep in the forest... we depend on each other, live together."
His voice carried deep emotion—a bond that went beyond words.
Shao Yun followed Razor's gaze into the distance.
Lumine was still speaking with the Great Wolf King. Shao Yun thought to himself—after this brief reunion with her brother, Lumine would soon resume her long journey. Even with him and Paimon by her side, blood ties were irreplaceable.
The impulse stirred again, the one he'd had by the ocean.
He turned his gaze back to Razor and asked, probing,
"Razor, suppose there was a brother and sister. They were forced apart by something they couldn't resist. Later, fate gave them a chance to reunite—but for some complicated reason, the brother chose to leave again. The sister, full of hope to see him again, was rejected. What would you think about that?"
Razor was clearly stumped. He frowned deeply, unable to grasp the meaning behind Shao Yun's words.
"I don't understand," he said, scratching his head.
"Lupical... not abandon. Death... separate... understand. Alive... separate... don't get it."
Then, trying his best to organize his thoughts, Razor added in his simple, honest way,
"Lupical... only. Others... false."
Shao Yun's eyes lit up.
He nodded and said, "I get it. You're saying, apart from real family, everything else is just bullshit."
Razor nodded firmly in agreement.
Shao Yun looked up at the vast sky, emotions swirling within him.
He let out a soft sigh and murmured, "Razor... you really remind me of Dutch. Before he lost his mind, he was a great man. He thought about family in the same way."
Razor tilted his head curiously. "Who?"
Shao Yun smiled, patting Razor's shoulder with a touch of release in his voice.
"No one special. Just someone I suddenly remembered. Thank you, Razor. Because of what you said, I think I finally have the courage to try. I've made up my mind."
Razor stood there, puzzled, staring at the clarity in Shao Yun's eyes.
"I go now. Lupical... see you." With that, Razor turned and left, leaving Shao Yun alone.
As Razor's figure disappeared, a cold warning from the system struck Shao Yun like icy rain.
[Please don't do this. You'll cause serious consequences.]
But Shao Yun had already made up his mind. He looked toward Lumine.
"Lumine's journey is to find her brother. Razor reminded me of Dutch before he went mad. Family is the only real thing. Everything else... is bullshit."
Then Shao Yun's voice grew resolute. He wasn't just speaking to the system—he was swearing to himself.
"I will keep my promise—to help Lumine reunite with her brother. Even if it means walking through hellfire. This is our only chance."
The system's warnings grew urgent.
[Are you insane? If you do this, the entire continent of Teyvat will become a red zone. The Abyss Order will hunt you relentlessly.]
"Maybe I am insane. But I don't even know who I am anymore. What I do know... is that I can't just give up. I survived Blackwater. What's this compared to that?" Shao Yun's voice carried a conviction that could not be shaken.
The system continued its plea.
[Maybe you're Arthur Morgan, but right now you don't have the Van der Linde gang at your side.]
But Shao Yun simply shook his head. He possessed something far more valuable.
"I have Lumine. I have Paimon. A true hero fears nothing. No matter how hard the road ahead, I'll keep moving forward."
His words rang out like thunder—unyielding, unshakable.
The system fell silent for a moment, then finally responded with an ancient proverb.
["The wise are free of doubt, the benevolent free of worry, the brave free of fear." —Analects of Confucius, Zi Han chapter]
Perhaps it was the system's final reminder: you must be more than just fearless—you must also be wise and kind.
But Shao Yun wasn't swayed. He looked at the system interface and issued a final ultimatum.
"I'm a fool. And right now, I need your help. In Mondstadt, I followed your guidance, stayed on script. But now, I want to change something—I want to try a new path. I need your support."
The system hesitated, then posed one last question.
[And if I say no?]
Shao Yun only smiled—calm, but resolute.
"Unless you pull the same stunt you did with the stolen Holy Lyre, and force my hand... I will go through with this."
His words were like stone—an unshakable declaration of intent.
The system was silent for a long time. Then, finally, a reluctant prompt appeared.
[You'll get everyone killed.]
"No one will die. What you should be thinking about is whether we'll raise cattle or plant mangoes when I'm traveling with Lumine, Aether, and Paimon."
…
Just then, Lumine finished speaking with the Wolf King. She had acquired valuable intel—the location of the world's very first plough.
Turning gracefully, she smiled at Shao Yun and waved.
"Shao Yun, I got the info. Time to go."
Shao Yun nodded and quickly caught up.
"Alright, I'm coming."
The three of them walked side by side, leaving the Wolf King's trial grounds behind.
"This time, we've got a crucial lead. We must inform Dainsleif right away."
Just then, Shao Yun grabbed Lumine's hand, halting her steps.
She turned in surprise, her gaze filled with confusion.
"Shao Yun, what is it? Something wrong?"
Shao Yun's eyes locked onto Lumine's golden irises.
He gently reached up and adjusted the hat on her head—an unspoken gesture of trust and closeness. His voice was low, yet steady.
"Lumine, I have a plan. I need you to trust me."
Lumine blinked, puzzled by his sudden seriousness.
"Shao Yun, what are you talking about? What plan? I don't understand."
Shao Yun placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
"Lumine, don't ask too many questions. Just answer me this—do you trust me?"
She gazed at him. Despite the confusion swirling in her mind, she nodded firmly.
"You... you're being weird. But yes—I trust you."
Hearing that, Shao Yun's face lit up with a radiant smile. He patted her shoulder—part encouragement, part reassurance.
"That's all I needed. Lumine, this plan is absolutely crazy—borderline delusional. But if it works… it'll make Project TAHITI look like child's play."
Lumine stared at his exaggerated expression, utterly bewildered.
"Shao Yun, why are you acting so strange all of a sudden?"
Shao Yun gave a helpless chuckle, brushing her cheek gently.
"Maybe I'm just... excited."