Shao Yun began recounting his experiences. He told Yae Miko how he had met Lumine and Paimon, and shared tales of their adventures together in Mondstadt and Liyue.
He described the battle with the great dragon, and his fierce clashes with the Abyss forces as he defended Mondstadt from their attacks. He also slaughtered all the Fatui agents holed up in the Goth Hotel.
Then, he talked about the events in Liyue, including 'killing' the Fatui Harbinger known as Childe, and the audacious robbery of the Northland Bank.
Shao Yun omitted any mention of meeting his brother-in-law or the events on the snowy mountain. He didn't want to revisit those memories.
So, he skipped over them and went straight to talking about Inazuma.
He had exterminated the entire Hiiragi clan, though a few stragglers had slipped through. Beat up Thoma, along with Kamisato Ayaka, and saved Junkichi from the blades of the Nobushi.
After finishing, Shao Yun pursed his lips and took a big swig of liquor before saying, "That's my story. To sum it up—killing and robbing in one place, doing a few trivial good deeds, and then moving on to the next place to repeat the cycle. Simple as that."
Yae Miko listened to Shao Yun recount his past, nodding slightly, a faint smile curling her lips.
"So that's how it is. Real experiences like these... no light novel could ever replace them."
Shao Yun gently placed the bottle on the counter, turned to look at Yae Miko, and said calmly, "Now it's your turn. I've shared so much already. Time for you to tell your story."
However, Yae Miko gently shook her head, a flicker of complex emotion flashing through her eyes.
"My story... let's not. There's really nothing worth telling."
At that, Shao Yun immediately grumbled with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Hey! Don't tell me you tricked me? I spilled all that, and you won't share yours? That's way too unfair!"
Yae Miko chuckled mischievously, her expression sly.
"Hehe, foxes are known for being deceptive, you know~ Besides, my story is full of farewells and not much else. Sharing it might just ruin your mood. But if you really want to know, you could pick up a copy of The New Tale of the Six Kitsune at Yae Publishing House. You might find some answers there."
She winked as she said this, masking the sorrow that briefly flickered in her eyes.
Shao Yun snorted. "Fine, since you're taking us to meet the Raiden Shogun, I'll let it slide. But those Yae Publishing House novels—me, Lumine, and Paimon—we're reading them for free."
After all, she was the one guiding them to the Raiden Shogun—killing her would've been a hassle.
Upon hearing this, Yae Miko, fully aware that Shao Yun wouldn't dare lay a finger on her right now, immediately put on a pitiful expression, slumping onto the counter in an exaggeratedly pitiable posture as she pleaded coyly, "Oh no~ I'm just a humble small business owner~ Please have mercy and spare me~"
Shao Yun shot her a glare. Give you a bit of sunshine and you start blooming—what are you, a sunflower?
Seeing her pushing her luck, he snapped irritably, "Cut it out! Yae Publishing House is rolling in money thanks to my stories. What's a few novels to me?"
"Yesterday at the release event for Chapter 1 of Volume 3 of The Gunslinger Butcher from Fontaine, the crowd outside your publishing house was massive. You must've raked in a fortune. If you don't let me read for free, I swear I'll just rob you!"
I might not beat you up, but I'll rob you with my fists if I have to!
Seeing how ruthless Shao Yun was being, Yae Miko chuckled to herself, though her face feigned heartbreak. She pouted and teased, "Aiya~ Fine, fine, I'll let you read for free. After all, I am just a delicate woman, aren't I?"
"Like those girls in light novels, helplessly robbed by bandits in the woods—where's my big hero when I need him?"
With that, she threw a flirtatious glance at Taromaru, who sat atop the counter.
"Taromaru, will you be the hero who saves a helpless maiden?" Her gaze was full of hope, as if seeking a promise.
Taromaru immediately turned his head away, thinking, You crafty vixen… This store manager wants to live a little longer, thanks!
"You, a helpless maiden? Give me a break..." Shao Yun shrugged, muttering to himself as he finished the last bit of liquor from the bottle.
Looking at Taromaru, Shao Yun couldn't help but think of Gorou from Watatsumi Island. Could this fox have been teasing Gorou the same way she's teasing Taromaru? Come to think of it, Gorou did look a lot like a Shiba Inu...
At that moment, the doors of the Teahouse were violently flung open, and the wind chimes above the door clanged chaotically.
Kamisato Ayaka rushed in, panic evident in her eyes. Seeing the two at the counter, she cried out, "Something terrible has happened!"
Sitting at the counter, Yae Miko and Shao Yun both turned to her with puzzled expressions.
Seeing Ayaka so flustered piqued Yae Miko's curiosity. "Miss Kamisato, what's wrong? You're usually so composed."
Ayaka caught her breath and said, "Thoma's been arrested by the Tenryou Commission. They plan to carry out the Vision Hunt Ceremony on him—they want to take his Vision."
In that moment, fragments of the original storyline flashed through Shao Yun's mind—along with the hurried departure of Heizou the day before. Could the Vision Hunt Decree arc have begun?
But he quickly brushed the thought aside. What does that have to do with me now? And losing a Vision doesn't seem like that big a deal...
So, he replied nonchalantly, "Don't worry. Losing a Vision doesn't really have any serious side effects, from what I can tell. I ran into someone called Arataki Itto and another named Kuki Shinobu yesterday—both of them had already lost their Visions and were perfectly fine."
"I think we just need to bring Thoma back, cook him something nice, cheer him up a bit. Isn't that enough?"
Kamisato Ayaka was stunned by those words. How could someone say something so cold with such a straight face?
Desperately, she pleaded, "Mr. Shao Yun, please help me. Please save Thoma. Not everyone can handle the loss of a Vision so easily!"
Fair point. In the original story, the three who lost their Visions did suffer greatly.
Shao Yun pondered. Thoma only lost his Vision—it's not like he got beheaded. No need to panic. Calmly, he offered a plan.
"How about this—once Lumine gets back, we see the Raiden Shogun, and later tonight I'll help you pry Thoma's Vision off that giant Statue of the Omnipresent God. How's that?"
Yae Miko thought for a moment, then added reassuringly, "How about this, Miss Kamisato? I'll speak with the Shogun later and see if she'll let Thoma go."
Shao Yun nodded in agreement and added, "Exactly. Thoma hasn't been beheaded. There's no need to panic."
But Kamisato Ayaka's expression turned grim. "But… Lumine and Paimon have already gone to rescue Thoma…"
At that moment, a thunderclap roared through Shao Yun's mind. His blood pressure spiked.
We're back to square one!?
His first thought was that Kamisato Ayaka had tricked him. After all, the biggest—
Before he could finish the thought, Shao Yun stormed over and roared at her, veins bulging in fury, "You damned bastard! This was your trap, wasn't it?! You used Lumine to rebel against the Vision Hunt Decree!"
Seeing Shao Yun's eyes blaze with fury, as if they'd scorch her to ashes, Ayaka quickly tried to explain.
"I swear I didn't! I was talking with Miss Yayoi about lacquerware when Lumine and Paimon showed up with a boy named Shouta. Just as we were talking about General Kujou, we saw a commotion near Tenshukaku. A large crowd rushed toward the Statue of the Omnipresent God."
"We stopped one of them and found out Thoma had been captured and was going to have his Vision taken in a public ceremony. I wanted to rush there immediately, but Lumine and Paimon stopped me. They told me to find you while they went to save him. I'm telling the truth! The Hiiragi clan incident already taught me a harsh lesson. I would never scheme against you again!"
Hearing the mention of Shouta, Shao Yun calmed down. If she hadn't mentioned him, he might've just blown a hole through her skull.
That morning, Lumine had indeed said she was going to help Shouta—Ayaka wasn't lying.
Still, Shao Yun wasn't any less furious. He shouted, "You idiot! Why didn't you stop them?!"
"I… I couldn't disobey her!" Ayaka quickly replied. "Lumine told me to find you…"
Shao Yun was so angry that his face turned red. He stormed forward, grabbed Ayaka by the collar, and lifted her off the ground.
Ayaka squeezed her eyes shut, trembling as she pleaded with him.
"I'm sorry! I should've stopped them! I'm sorry… I was wrong… But right now, Lumine and Paimon are in danger! Once this is over, you can beat me all you want!"
Shao Yun stared at the terrified Kamisato Ayaka, speechless with rage.
He glared at her for several long seconds. Finally, he let go of her collar.
Ayaka collapsed to the floor. She sat on the cold ground, tears welling in her eyes, though she held them back.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to compose herself and murmured softly, "I'm sorry… I'll find a way to make it up to you."
The logic checked out. The evidence was sound. But it was all just too coincidental.
Shao Yun's face remained grim. He pointed at her and threatened, "I don't have time to deal with you right now. I'm going to save Lumine. But if I find out you planned this, I'll feed you to the fish!"
With that, Shao Yun turned sharply, kicked open the doors of the Teahouse, and stormed out.
Outside, the steady drizzle had ceased. The sky was now blanketed in a gray haze, a heavy, stifling silence hanging in the air.
Shao Yun raised his gaze toward the distance, locking eyes on Tenshukaku and the massive Statue of the Omnipresent God.
Without hesitation, he drew his cowboy revolver from his waist, gripped it tightly, and dashed in that direction.
Yae Miko was filled with a sense of foreboding. She realized this was more complicated—and dangerous—than she had thought.
Why would the Shogun, who's been hiding inside Tenshukaku for a whole month, suddenly decide to perform the Vision Hunt Ceremony today!?
There was no time to ponder. She raced after Shao Yun, following closely as they headed toward the statue.
…
Meanwhile, in Mondstadt, at Mona's home.
With her hands on her hips, Mona beamed proudly at her brand-new, luxurious astrology equipment. Her heart brimmed with joy and satisfaction.
She muttered gleefully to herself, "How lucky! Thanks to Shao Yun, I don't have to worry about rent anymore. Without his help, I wouldn't have been able to afford this high-end stargazing gear for a long time. In that case, let me repay him with a quick reading."
Moving swiftly, Mona expertly activated her newly purchased instruments. Her Vision emitted a gentle blue glow.
As she moved, a dense surge of Hydro energy gathered in her palm, gradually forming a mystical, radiant divination disc of water.
Soon, an image of Shao Yun beneath the Teyvat night sky emerged upon the disc, vivid and lifelike.
But just as Mona tried to discern the shape the stars were forming, the surface of the water abruptly rippled into chaos, as if disturbed by an unseen force.
Startled, Mona whispered nervously, "No way… How can this be? I spent ten million Mora on this—the best, most precise equipment! It can't be faulty!"
Seconds ticked by. Mona anxiously waited for the disc to stabilize.
Finally, after several long minutes, the chaotic ripples ceased, and a clear pattern slowly emerged.
Relieved, Mona let out a long breath, patting her chest. "Phew, that scared me. I thought I'd been scammed…"
Just as she was about to make out the image, the Hydro disc exploded, soaking her to the bone.
Dripping wet, Mona wiped her face and grumbled, "Ptooey! Are you kidding me? How could such high-end gear still malfunction?"