Shao Yun was stunned the moment he heard those words—his mind buzzed like a struck gong. He couldn't comprehend what had just been said.
Even if you'd offered me something else, I would've accepted… but this?
The phrase "I offer myself to your bed, to be yours" ignited an unexplainable fury from deep within him, like an inferno erupting without warning. Back in the day, even Bonnie MacFarlane wouldn't have dared say something like that to Marston! Are you out of your mind?!
Shao Yun's eyes widened like a volcano on the verge of eruption—any second now, he might explode with uncontrollable rage.
"You want to repeat that, huh?"
Thoma immediately realized things were spiraling out of control. He rushed in front of Kamisato Ayaka, trying to prevent the imminent clash.
"Please, Mr. Shao Yun, calm down!"
But his plea did nothing.
Shao Yun's fury had overtaken him completely. He charged forward in three long strides, and without hesitation, threw a heavy punch straight at Thoma's jaw.
Pow!
Thoma blacked out instantly and crumpled to the floor.
Shao Yun didn't stop. He grabbed Kamisato Ayaka by the throat and lifted her off the ground.
He roared in anger, "Did the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree rot your brain? Did they rip out your eyes too? You think because people call you the Frostflake Heron, you're really royalty? You think the whole world's enchanted by you?!"
"To others, you're a noble heiress of the Kamisato clan. To me, you're just another person—one bullet and you're dead like anyone else. Let me be perfectly clear: we're here to meet the Raiden Shogun. Nothing else matters!"
Ayaka dangled helplessly in the air, teeth clenched, legs kicking wildly. Her words came out in gasps.
"I-I didn't… m-mean it that way… I'm sorry… I was wrong…"
Shao Yun's expression twisted with rage. His grip tightened. Ayaka's resistance weakened, her limbs flailing less and less—until, finally, he let go.
She collapsed to the floor, wheezing, her eyes wet from the suffocating pain. She clutched her reddened neck and gasped for air.
After catching her breath, she began to apologize.
"I'm sorry… I was wrong. I offended you. Please forgive me…"
Shao Yun glared at her, eyes gleaming with menace. He growled through clenched teeth.
"How about this instead? You get us an audience with the Raiden Shogun, and I'll kill her on the spot. Then you can become Inazuma's new Shogun! General Ayaka! Shogun Kamisato! Then you'll have every reason to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree!"
He was shouting by the end, barely able to contain his fury.
Ayaka stared at him, stunned.
"Y-you're joking… right?"
Shao Yun's voice boomed with rage.
"You're the one who started the joke!"
With that, he spun on his heel, stormed out, and slammed the door behind him—his anger echoing in the sound.
Ayaka remained seated on the floor, frozen in shock.
Thoma lay nearby, barely conscious, his head spinning.
Ayaka rushed over, her voice trembling. "Thoma! Stay with me!"
Thoma groaned, reaching for his aching head, trying to regain clarity.
After a while, he managed to sit up, though still dizzy.
He looked at her with concern. "Miss Ayaka, are you alright?"
She touched her bruised neck and winced, then gave a slight shake of her head to reassure him.
Her eyes drifted toward the door Shao Yun had stormed through, her heart churning with indescribable emotion.
After a long silence, Thoma finally asked cautiously, "Miss, what… what do we do now?"
Ayaka lowered her gaze and whispered, "It seems I'll have to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine personally… speak with Lady Yae. As for resisting the Vision Hunt Decree… let's put it on hold for now."
Thoma nodded solemnly. If they keep pushing Shao Yun, he really might set the Kamisato estate on fire next time…
But curiosity got the better of him.
"Forgive me, Miss… but why would you say something like 'offer yourself'…?"
Ayaka bit her lip, her face puzzled.
"In a light novel from Liyue I secretly read, the heroine, when facing a desperate situation, would put on a pitiful expression and say that to the male lead. He'd always agree to help afterward… But why didn't it work on me?"
Thoma blinked, stunned.
"You… you really don't know what that phrase means?"
Ayaka tilted her head in confusion.
"No, I don't. Thoma, what does it actually mean?"
Thoma's mind went blank. He stammered, face flushing.
"It—it means… um, you know… a thing… between a man and a woman… that kind of thing…"
Ayaka's face turned crimson in an instant.
She slapped her hands over her cheeks, panicking.
"T-that's not what I meant at all! The author said it was effective on boys, I didn't know it meant that! I never should've read that novel…"
Whether she truly understood, only Ayaka herself knew.
Maybe she was telling the truth—her brother Ayato had always protected her from the darker sides of the world.
Or maybe… seeing Shao Yun's reaction, she was now using the novel as an excuse, a shield for her dignity.
Thoma didn't dwell on it. He tried to comfort her.
"Don't blame yourself, Miss. In any case… perhaps it's best to let the Clan Master handle this now."
…
Meanwhile, Shao Yun stormed out of the teahouse, fuming as he walked through the bustling streets.
Is that woman actually insane?!
She pulled every emotional string she could, acting like they were her only salvation.
Even if she'd offered Mora, or promised them her backing—that would've been reasonable!
Instead, after all that… that was what she offered?
The hell with that!
If she hadn't already secured those travel passes and kept her tone so humble earlier, he would've blown her head off.
Forget the Vision Hunt Decree. I'm done. Let someone else handle it.
The more he thought, the angrier he got.
Before he knew it, he was standing before the Adventurers' Guild.
Miss Katheryne, ever courteous, greeted him with her familiar line.
"Ad astra abyssosque. Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild."
Shao Yun didn't make a habit of lashing out at innocent people—unless you were a member of the Treasure Hoarders, the Fatui, or a Hilichurl.
He took a deep breath, calming himself, and handed over his adventurer certificate.
"Hello, Miss Katheryne. I'd like to process an adventurer transfer."
Katheryne accepted the document and studied it carefully.
"Understood. Please wait a moment, Mr. Tacitus Kilgore."
Just as she began the process, Kujou Sara arrived back from Ritou.
She spotted Shao Yun immediately and froze.
Him? Here? Didn't he just arrive on Ritou a few days ago?
Sara quickly recalled Heizou's suspicions. She approached, standing beside him.
"Excuse me, traveler. I have a few questions."
Shao Yun turned casually.
"Hello. What do you need?"
Sara, seeing his calm demeanor, lowered her guard slightly—but kept her expression stern.
"Weren't you on Ritou a few days ago? What are you doing in Inazuma City?"
Shao Yun laughed.
"What a funny question. I'm not a tree planted on Ritou—I can move, can't I?"
Sara extended a hand.
"Do you have a travel permit? If not, I'll have to treat you as an illegal entrant."
Shao Yun pulled out the permit Ayaka had given him and handed it over.
"Here."
Sara inspected it thoroughly—seal, handwriting, paper texture… all checked out.
It's real? How the hell did he get this?
With no flaws to be found, she returned it.
"Here you go. Also, this is our second meeting. Allow me to introduce myself—Kujou Sara, general of the Shogunate forces. And your name?"
Still trying to probe. Clever.
Just then, Katheryne finished the transfer process.
"Mr. Tacitus Kilgore, your transfer is complete."
Sara's expression froze.
"Tacitus…?"
Shao Yun accepted his certificate and nodded politely.
"Yes, Tacitus Kilgore. Tacitus is fine. Anything else?"
If he'd said it himself, Sara might've doubted. But with Katheryne confirming it, her suspicions faded.
She shook her head.
"Nothing. Just thought your name was… unique. Welcome to Inazuma. May your adventures be fruitful."
With that, she turned and headed toward the Tenryou Commission to submit her report.
Shao Yun, unaware of the theories floating between Kujou Sara and Heizou, would've been glad to know that a fake name really does save you a lot of trouble.
Once she was gone, Shao Yun looked at Katheryne.
"Miss Katheryne, did you happen to see Lumine and Paimon?"
Katheryne nodded.
"They took a commission and left. But they asked me to pass along a message."
Shao Yun wasn't surprised.
Off doing side quests again. Classic.
"At this hour, probably Paimon's idea. What's the message?"
Katheryne tapped her chin, thinking.
"They said… they want to eat at Uyuu Restaurant tonight. Asked you to bring something back."
No doubt that was Paimon's doing.
Shao Yun chuckled.
"Ha! Got it. Thanks, Miss Katheryne."
She smiled gently and waved a hand.
"No need for thanks. It's my duty."