At midday, the blazing sun shone high in the sky, casting its scorching light upon the land. Shao Yun and Junkichi had arrived at the outskirts of Inazuma City, near the border of the Byakko Plain.
This was quite an open area. The grass was lush and green, and as the breeze brushed through, ripples stirred across the fields.
In the distance, Mt. Yougou stood against the blue sky and white clouds, creating a picturesque scene.
Junkichi had borrowed three scarecrows from a nearby household and set them up about ten meters away from Shao Yun to serve as shooting targets.
Then, scratching his head awkwardly, Junkichi stepped in front of Shao Yun and said, "Um, I got too excited earlier and completely forgot to ask your name. How should I address you?"
Shao Yun rolled his eyes thoughtfully for a moment before answering, "Tacitus Kilgore. Just call me Tacitus."
Junkichi nodded respectfully and gestured toward the straw men ten meters away. "Alright, Mr. Tacitus, could you show me how you shoot?"
Looking at the targets, Shao Yun thought, 'At this distance, even Paimon could hit them, let alone me!'
"Would you prefer I strike a dueling pose, or more of a reactive shooting stance like in an ambush?" Shao Yun asked.
Junkichi's eyes widened in surprise at the question, muttering to himself, 'So they have duels in Fontaine too? Is it like those formal duels before royalty...'
Images of dramatic battles between protagonists and powerful foes filled his mind.
Snapping back to reality, Junkichi said to Shao Yun, "Then could you show me the dueling pose first?"
Shao Yun stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, assuming a classic western dueling stance.
He flexed the fingers of his right hand a bit. His Deadeye remained inactive, and the Vision at his waist didn't light up either.
After all, this was merely a demonstration of shooting technique—no need to go all out.
Suddenly, he drew his cowboy revolver from his hip, index finger locked on the trigger, left hand quickly flicking the hammer.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Three shots fired in rapid succession, each bullet precisely piercing the straw heads of the targets.
Shao Yun fired so quickly that Junkichi had only blinked before it was all over—he hadn't seen anything, only heard the gunshots.
Summoning his courage, Junkichi said, "Mr. Tacitus, could you slow it down a bit? I couldn't catch any of that."
Shao Yun nodded understandingly. He once again took the dueling stance, this time deliberately slowing his movements. He fired from the hip—three shots, each one again piercing the same spot on the straw heads.
Junkichi's eyes widened in shock. He saw clearly this time—the shots had hit the exact same place as before.
He froze for a second, then hurriedly jotted down every detail and impression in his notebook, before looking up at Shao Yun.
"Mr. Tacitus, are all Fontaine gunslingers this fast?"
Shao Yun holstered his revolver and turned to Junkichi with a hint of displeasure on his face.
"Why do you people always assume that anyone who carries a gun must be from Fontaine? And did you see it clearly this time?"
Junkichi nodded quickly, a little flustered. "More or less. At least now I can describe it much more accurately. So, next, we…"
Before he could finish, a desperate cry echoed from the road nearby.
"Help!"
Followed by a cruel, menacing voice, laced with coldness: "Tough luck, buddy. We're taking both your goods and your life!"
The voices weren't far off. Wait, I just fired a gun here—how bold do you have to be to rob someone nearby? Why?
Shao Yun was intrigued. Did they mistake my gunfire for thunder?
Junkichi frowned upon hearing the voice and muttered, "Sounds like a robbery?"
The image of President Kurisu flashed in Shao Yun's mind. He decided to check things out. "I'm going to see what's happening over there. Be careful," he said as he started walking.
Watching Shao Yun leave, Junkichi thought, 'No way I'm missing out on such good material!' He quickly closed his notebook and followed.
"No worries, I'm coming with you! I can't let this kind of material slip by!"
…
On the other side, three tall Nobushi wearing tattered straw hats had surrounded Kurisu.
Behind him was a cart loaded with fabrics imported from Liyue. Two International Trade Association employees, their arms slashed, sat trembling on the ground.
Kurisu had also collapsed, trembling as he raised his hands to shield himself. "Don't be reckless! I'll give you the goods, just let us go!"
One of the Nobushi ran his hand along the blade of his katana, which gleamed coldly under the sun. He laughed, "Hahaha, you think we're dumb enough to let you leave and then get hunted down by the Tenryou Commission?"
Kurisu tried to appeal to them. "We're foreign merchants from Ritou. The Tenryou Commission won't help us. Please, show mercy!"
The three Nobushi burst into laughter, one even tearing up from laughing too hard. "Even better! No one's gonna come looking if we kill you!"
Then one raised his katana high, ready to cleave Kurisu in two.
Kurisu shut his eyes tight, thoughts flashing like a life reel. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps rang out.
He opened his eyes to see Lumine, Paimon, and Kamisato Ayaka rushing toward them.
Paimon shouted, "Stop!"
The Nobushi halted their blade, turning toward the three with confusion. "Who are you? Meddling in other people's business?"
Seeing them, Kurisu cried out in joy, "Miss Lumine, Miss Paimon! Lady Kamisato!"
They were like lifelines. Hope surged back into his heart.
The Nobushi glanced over the trio, then laughed mockingly. "Hahaha, two and a half little girls, trying to play heroes?"
Paimon stomped her foot in midair, shouting angrily, "Hey! Paimon's not a half! You annoying Nobushi!"
Her face flushed with rage and indignation.
One Nobushi recognized Kamisato Ayaka, squinting at her. "You're… the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan?"
She met his gaze expressionlessly. "Indeed. Kamisato Ayaka, of the Kamisato Clan."
She then shouted firmly at the Nobushi, "You bandits—leave now before things escalate! Otherwise, face the consequences!"
But the Nobushi leader scoffed at her warning. A smirk curled his lips.
He spat viciously on the ground. "Tch! To outsiders, maybe you're the so-called noble White Heron Princess. But to us, you're just a self-important brat! Today, I'll baptize my blade with your blood!"
Kamisato Ayaka's face turned cold. Without another word, she drew her blade—the Amenoma Kageuchi—its icy steel glinting ominously.
Her voice was steely. "In that case, there's nothing more to say. Let's settle this with strength!"
She signaled Lumine and Paimon to step back.
But Lumine didn't retreat. As a seasoned adventurer, she was no stranger to danger or battle.
She gripped her sword, stepping forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ayaka.
With unwavering resolve, she said, "Let's take them together!"
Just as battle was about to break out, Shao Yun arrived with Junkichi.
"What's going on here…" Shao Yun froze at the sight.
He looked at Ayaka, Lumine, and Paimon in disbelief. "What happened? Lumine, Paimon, and Kamisato Ayaka, you're all together… again?"
Did they become best friends after that banquet?
Kurisu saw Shao Yun arrive and his heart soared with relief.
It's over for them! Time to pop the champagne!
He scrambled to his feet and shouted arrogantly at the Nobushi, "Hah! Your end is here! You're done for now!"
The Nobushi glared at Kurisu. This coward just grew a spine? Now he's all high and mighty with backup?
"Well, well, look who's talking big now. Want me to slice you up first?"
He raised his katana, ready to strike Kurisu.
But just then—Bang! A crisp gunshot rang out.
The Nobushi suddenly felt a chill in his chest. A cold sensation spread rapidly.
He looked down to see blood gushing from his chest, soaking his clothes.
"I…" He tried to speak but dizziness overtook him. His limbs went limp. The katana slipped from his hand.
Then his body collapsed to the ground.
Shao Yun had drawn and fired his gun before anyone could see it, killing the Nobushi who was about to strike Kurisu.
Junkichi, who had seen it all, was hit with a surge of inspiration. He frantically scribbled everything into his notebook.
The remaining two Nobushi exchanged a look. They had to act.
They charged Shao Yun with their blades raised.
But Shao Yun didn't hesitate. He fired twice.
Bang! Bang! Two bullets entered their eyes and ricocheted inside their skulls, exploding out the back.
The two Nobushi dropped dead without a chance to react.
Shao Yun walked over and kicked each of their corpses disdainfully. "These days, any riffraff thinks they can be a bandit? Absolutely ridiculous!"
Hearing that, Junkichi wrote it down like it was gold.
He quickly put away his notebook, then beamed as he approached Shao Yun. Pressing his palms together, he bowed deeply.
"Oh, Mr. Tacitus, you're truly my lucky star! Thank you so much! Inspiration is pouring out of me—I've already got the first chapter of volume three mapped out! Thank you, thank you!"
Shao Yun raised his right hand, rubbing his thumb against his index and middle fingers, and said calmly, "Now, about the commission fee?"
Don't just thank me—where's the money?
Junkichi looked up with a sincere face and held out two fingers. "Once I publish chapter one of volume three and it sells, I'll give you 20% of the profits…"
He paused, feeling 20% wasn't generous enough. Then he raised three fingers. "No—30%! I'll give you 30%!"
Shao Yun found Inazumans' obsession with the number three puzzling, but he nodded—this reward was quite generous.
"Alright then, I accept."
With inspiration brimming, Junkichi dashed off toward Inazuma City.
"I'll be off now—I need to write! One night, one pen, one miracle!"
Watching him run off, Shao Yun shook his head and muttered, Writers these days really don't have it easy.