Shao Yun led his horse at a steady pace behind Mona, and the two arrived together at her home.
The moment he stepped through the door, Shao Yun couldn't help but frown.
Her so-called astrology laboratory was in utter chaos, with instruments and books piled haphazardly together, showing no trace of order.
The table was covered with unfinished and completed star charts, along with countless sheets of calculations, creating an overcrowded and messy sight.
Aside from that, the room also contained specialized cameras, custom telescopes, and many stargazing tools Shao Yun couldn't even name.
He cast a casual glance at the clutter, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward as he teased with a mocking tone. "Hmm… the environment here is indeed a little messy, almost like a thief ransacked the place… though I doubt anyone would want to steal this stuff."
At his words, Mona flushed with embarrassment, quickly tugging down her witch's hat to hide her face as she explained. "Ah, I've just been too busy these past few days, so… But it's still a nice place to live in, isn't it?"
Shao Yun waved a hand lightly, showing he didn't mind.
"I've no interest in discussing your lifestyle. Out with it—what is it you want to tell me?"
Mona snapped back to herself, hurried to the desk, and began rummaging among the towering piles of star charts.
"Hold on, let me find it…"
Watching her dig through the stacks, Shao Yun dragged over a chair and sat down, eyeing her busy figure with amusement.
Mona muttered under her breath as she searched. "Where is it…?"
Curious, Shao Yun asked, "Can't you explain while you're looking?"
Realizing he was right, Mona gave a quick summary of why she had called him over.
"Didn't you ask me to divine your ending before? Back then, I only got some very vague words. Recently, I've added a lot of instruments and discovered quite a few interesting things."
The mention of instruments instantly brought to Shao Yun's mind what Kirara had told him—about a Mondstadt client ordering goods shipped from Fontaine.
Recalling too that Mona had once submitted work to Fontaine's Steambird Newspaper, he speculated aloud. "Let me guess—the shipment carried by that courier named Kirara was for you, wasn't it?"
Mona froze, turned toward him, and asked, "You met her?"
Shao Yun nodded. "We traveled together for a stretch on the road to Mondstadt."
…
Mona finally gathered the star charts she had been looking for and handed them over solemnly. "Take a look at these first."
Shao Yun accepted the thick stack, his face showing genuine surprise.
"Good heavens! Just how many are there?"
Mona smiled slightly, patiently explaining. "Only a bit over a hundred. But every single one reflects your image in Teyvat's night sky."
Intrigued, Shao Yun picked up the first chart labeled "1" and studied it carefully.
Several stars were connected by lines into the shape of a stag.
"A stag, huh… wow…" he murmured softly, curiosity welling up inside.
Mona pointed at the rest of the stack on his lap, her tone gentle. "Keep looking."
Flipping through dozens more charts, Shao Yun noticed something different.
The stag remained, but additional stars had been connected in another color, outlining the form of a coyote.
He frowned in puzzlement. "Some stars look brighter while others dimmer… and the shape looks a bit like a wolf? But by your drawing, the wolf is wrapped inside the stag."
Mona produced two more charts and handed them over with deliberate care.
Her eyes gleamed with mystery as she whispered, "That's right. Now look at these two."
Shao Yun studied them, his brows knitting.
They were marked "Flabellum" and "Imperatrix Umbrosa."
If memory served, those were the constellations of Kujou Sara and the Raiden Shogun.
Both had fallen by his hand.
He already guessed most of the truth but feigned ignorance. "And what's this supposed to mean?"
Mona pointed at the charts, her tone grave. "Months ago, these constellations were still clearly visible. Now, they've vanished."
"And the time of their disappearance coincides with what you experienced in Inazuma. I've also heard some rumors about you, so…"
Before she could finish, Shao Yun tossed the two charts aside with casual indifference. "If people die, their constellations vanish. Isn't that normal?"
His demeanor was utterly relaxed, as though it were the most natural thing in the world—not worth questioning.
Mona bit her lip, hesitated, then pressed on. "Yes, that was my first thought too, that they had simply died. But…"
She suddenly turned, rummaged through a chest, and pulled out a phonograph with a large horn. "This contains a recording of a conversation between Lady Alice and my master. Listen, and you'll understand."
She reached for the switch, but Shao Yun interrupted, a thought striking him. "Wait—you just said your master? Don't tell me you're still spying on her secrets…"
He remembered her legend quest, where she had secretly read her master's diary. And after that, she still dared keep contact?
Mona's face drained of color, and she frantically waved her hands, panicked. "The old woman already punished me! Please don't bring that up again! Let's just listen to what's on the phonograph."
Without waiting for his reply, she flipped the switch, afraid he'd dig deeper.
…
The phonograph whirred softly, its inner mechanism beginning to spin. Voices crackled out.
A woman's surprised voice—it was Barbeloth, Mona's teacher.
"Oh my, A, what's the matter? So urgent?"
Then another, familiar yet weary voice—it was Alice.
"Sigh… if it weren't important, would I be in such a hurry? Have you heard what's happened recently in Inazuma?"
Barbeloth asked curiously, "You mean that incident with the reinforced Mikage Furnace exploding? I don't do furnace repairs. If you want help, I can't do much there."
Alice cut her off. "No. The Electro Archon of Inazuma is dead."
Barbeloth was intrigued. A sound of rushing water came through—she must have been scrying.
"Oh? A, do you think it was Orobashi's doing? My divination shows that before the Archon's death, all over Inazuma there were whispers claiming Orobashi's return. But by my water reading, Orobashi is completely dead. No resurrection."
Alice clarified. "Beelzebul was slain by that man who once disrupted Teyvat's ley lines, because she had injured Lumine. He did something earth-shaking."
"What was it?" Barbeloth asked, intrigued.
Alice paused, choosing her words, then spoke slowly.
"He killed Baalzebul. But the fox lady of the Grand Narukami Shrine chose silence. She even disguised the truth as a light novel. Otherwise, the title of Godslayer would already echo across the continent."
Barbeloth laughed softly. "Oh, I see. Then that man must be quite formidable indeed. It reminds me of J's beloved—he was so devoted to J."
But Alice moved on, voice turning serious.
"Forget that for now. His actions have severely weakened Inazuma's borders. If not for Lumine and Paimon, those hounds gnawing at the rift would have already claimed Tsurumi and Seirai."
She sighed in exasperation. "Honestly, why can't all the world's dogs be as cute as Miss Lisa's apprentice or Inazuma's Canine General? Instead, they only bring trouble."
Barbeloth frowned in confusion. "Wait—I thought Razor's constellation was Lupus Minor. Why are you calling him a pup?"
Then realization struck her, and she exclaimed. "No—that can't be right! If so many have died, the border shouldn't be weakening. The souls of Vision holders should rise to the heavens and reinforce it, shouldn't they?"
Alice's voice was patient but grim. "But when he kills those with Visions, their souls vanish completely—as if they never existed. That's why I'm so alarmed."
Barbeloth gasped. "Vanish? Impossible!"
Alice confirmed heavily. "Yes. The same happened to the members of the Lawrence Clan he killed…"
Barbeloth pressed urgently. "So bizarre? That's a serious problem indeed. Does N know? Has she foreseen anything?"
Alice sighed softly. "Of course N knows. But she cannot read his future. In her words, he is like a colossal mistake—a powerful, confounding mistake."
Barbeloth hesitated, sounding displeased. "So, what now? Are we to eliminate him?"
Alice chuckled lightly. "No. I mean, you can forward this recording to your clever pupil by mail."
Barbeloth's voice bristled with annoyance. "Recording? Mail? Alice—you were secretly recording this? Why not speak to him yourself?"
Alice's old cheer returned, her tone playful. "Ah, but I must tend to the borders near Inazuma. Time is short, so I leave it to you!"
Barbeloth sighed in resignation. "You… I can never refuse you."
…
Hearing the recording, Shao Yun's mind drifted to the words of the wretch and the devil—that he was devouring everything…
So that was it. The souls of those he slew didn't ascend—they were consumed, strengthening the border. No wonder the wretch made a pact with the devil.
If the Abyss broke through, Khaenri'ah's calamity would befall everyone.
Yet after grasping the truth, Shao Yun merely gave a cold smile, eyes flashing with disdain.
He turned to Mona, his voice calm. "So what?"
Mona scratched her head nervously, unease rising within.
She knew how dangerous Shao Yun was—and how close his ties with Lumine ran.
Cautiously, she answered. "I know about you and Lumine, so I don't intend to pry into how you killed the Raiden Shogun. I only want to know… how you captured the souls of those who died by your hand. My master and Lady Alice are both deeply curious."
Shao Yun drew his golden cowboy revolver, letting it gleam before her eyes. "With this. More or less…"
Mona studied it carefully, suspicion in her gaze. "What's so special about it?"
He explained what he knew. "It's a weapon blessed by a devil. I believe this gun is what seizes their souls."
Mona did not press the meaning of devil. She knew he wouldn't give a clear answer.
Her eyes lingered on the golden revolver. "So, you used this to kill the Raiden Shogun?"
Shao Yun nodded, then pulled another revolver from his Legend of the East satchel—Micah's Revolver—and laid it beside the first.
Weighing the golden gun in his right hand, he said flatly, "This one—wounded Beelzebul gravely."
Then, hefting Micah's Revolver in his left, he smiled faintly.
"And this one—ended her life."
Mona stared at the golden revolver. Despite its shining brilliance, it exuded a strange unease, as if countless eyes watched her from behind.
Micah's Revolver was worse still. The red skull etched into its grip radiated a chilling aura, terrifying to behold.
She shivered, whispering nervously, "These weapons… they give off an ominous aura…" Fear and dread gnawed at her.
Shao Yun said nothing. He simply holstered both guns again, his eyes cold as he asked blandly, "Is there anything else?"