Worried that last night's incident might repeat itself, Shao Yun decided to lay down some ground rules with Alice before things went any further.
"Let me be clear first—if you came here expecting me to play the meek little lamb, then you'd better give up on that thought right now."
"Don't push me to start cursing you in front of Klee. Last time, when I tore into the Lawrence clan, I even went out of my way to cover your daughter's ears."
The lantern floated slowly around Shao Yun once in silence.
Then Alice's voice emerged, calm and reassuring.
With a tone both gentle and resolute, she said, "No, you're overthinking it. I'd never say something like that."
Shao Yun had assumed Alice, like some rigid gods, had come to "enlighten" him—urge him to cower and submit.
But apparently, that wasn't the case.
His curiosity was piqued. "Then I really wonder what you're here to say."
The lantern stopped before him, swaying lightly.
Alice wasted no time. "I believe you've met B's disciple, Mona, haven't you? And I trust you're aware of the impact your actions in Inazuma have had?"
Shao Yun recalled last night's conversation between Mona's master, Barbatos, and Alice—specifically Barbatos suggesting that killing him might be best.
Arching a brow at the lantern, Shao Yun asked evenly, with a hint of provocation, "What, you here to kill me? Deliver a declaration of war?"
The lantern bobbed violently, like it had been startled, shaking side to side in denial.
Alice quickly explained, "Don't be so on edge. It's true you've strained Teyvat's boundaries in a troubling way, but I didn't come to scold you, and I've no intention of killing you."
So, it wasn't to "convert" him, and not to "kill" him either. Then what?
Curiosity sharpening, Shao Yun asked, "So what are you saying?"
Alice's voice took on an unnaturally calm tone—just before she dropped a suggestion soaked in blood and cruelty.
"I know you'd kill, and I don't expect you to put away your blade. But think about it—what if slaughter alone stops satisfying you? Venting anger on corpses isn't nearly as gratifying as on the living, is it?"
"Instead, why not torment those you want dead without actually finishing them? Cut off their limbs, gouge out their eyes, rip out their tongues. Let them stumble through life in endless misery until death finally claims them. How does that sound?"
The implication was clear: Alice only asked that Shao Yun leave his victims barely alive. Just one breath left, rather than ending them outright.
Shao Yun sucked in a sharp breath at her proposal.
Was Alice a member of the Hexenzirkel, or had she come straight from the Skinner gang in West Elizabeth?
Why not suggest peeling skulls while she was at it?
He licked his lips, muttering in genuine awe, "I always thought I was crazy enough at times… but turns out someone out there is even crazier than me. As expected of a witch."
Alice sounded puzzled. "What do you mean?"
A crooked grin tugged at Shao Yun's mouth, his tone laced with mockery.
"My killings end with death. Sure, the process can get bloody and violent, but the goal is always the same—make sure they die."
"I didn't expect you to be the one advocating endless suffering instead. Seems your witch circle knows how to play it darker than I do."
Amused, Alice suggested eagerly, "But isn't that better? So much more satisfying! Surely it's stronger than just killing outright?"
Shao Yun's mind flashed to something his brother Charles once said. Closing his eyes, he spoke slowly:
"You know how long a man can live without his scalp? About a week."
"If his intestines are ruptured, maybe a month. But always in unspeakable agony."
Alice sounded perplexed. "What do you mean? Didn't you already test this yourself?"
"In Liyue, you strung up those Treasure Hoarders' guts in the trees, stuffed their heads into their own bellies. In Inazuma, you gutted Hiiragi Shinsuke. And now you act like you're above it?"
Her meaning was clear: That doesn't sound like you.
But Shao Yun had only been repeating Charles' grim wisdom.
Besides, his grotesque "art" was done after killing, more in the spirit of a Van der Linde gang stunt. Alice's proposal, though? That was pure Skinner Brothers cruelty.
(And truth be told, both were monsters.)
With a cold sneer, Shao Yun curled his lip and said icily, "But they all ended up dead. Not one survived."
"They died in pain, sure—but dead they were. 'Kill who must be killed, save who must be saved, feed who must be fed.' Leaving people half-dead… tell me, is that saving them, or killing them?"
"And I'll say this—those who deserve death are shown mercy if they're left alive, even in torment. To me, that's too generous."
In his eyes, letting the guilty live—even half-dead—was still an undeserved gift.
Alice sighed deeply, realizing he wouldn't accept her proposal.
After a pause, she spoke again. "Fine. Then let me be honest with you."
"So long as you don't deliver the killing blow, you can do whatever you like to them."
"You just lack the right tools. I can provide instruments that won't kill outright but will leave people begging for death. Would that satisfy you?"
"Once you've used them, maybe you'll understand—sometimes, letting someone live is the cruelest punishment."
"And you need to realize something: Teyvat's borders are even more fragile than you think. If they ever collapse… the Abyss will invade, just like Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago. That would spell trouble for you too, wouldn't it?"
It made a twisted kind of sense. After all, Lumine and Aether couldn't freely cross worlds like Alice could.
But turning people into living husks?
Wait—Alice was Klee's mother, not Lumine's. What right did she have to order him around? And if she did want him to listen, shouldn't there be a reward?
Shao Yun folded his arms, shaking his head. "Interesting. But if I play along, what do I get out of it?"
Alice sounded genuinely startled. "What?"
At her confusion, Shao Yun's expression soured like a mountain storm. He snapped irritably, "The hell? You're not Lumine. Why should I follow your rules unconditionally?"
"You want me to toe your line? Then you'd better pay a price—or offer something in return."
From within the lantern, Alice sounded exasperated at his greed. "Oh, for the love of—"
But before she could finish, a distant scream pierced the air.
"Ahhh! Hilichurls! Help!"
Klee's eyes lit up at the cry, her sense of justice flaring to life.
She froze mid-chase after the butterflies, then shouted, "Bad guys are hurting people! Klee has to help!" With that, she bolted toward the sound.
Seeing her darting away, Shao Yun barked to Alice, "Our talk's on hold."
He kicked his horse's flanks hard. Carrot whinnied sharply, surging forward to catch up with the running girl.
"Klee! Wait! Come back!" Shao Yun called desperately.
He seized an opening, grabbing hold of her backpack and hoisting her up.
Smoothing her cheek with a gentle hand, he muttered, "Up you go, you little troublemaker."
He intended to ride off with her in tow.
But Klee wriggled, her voice brimming with righteous indignation. "Someone's in danger! According to the Knights of Favonius Handbook, Fifth Edition, Rule One: as Knights, we must remain vigilant at all times and lend aid to citizens in need. Protecting Mondstadt's people is our duty!"
Shao Yun sighed, exasperated. "Yes, yes, you're the Spark Knight—but you're also just a child…"
The scream rang out again.
"Help me! Somebody, please!"
Klee's eyes darted up to him, full of urgency. "Big Brother Shao Yun!"
He glanced at the little knight sitting in front of him and let out a heavy sigh.
Then, drawing a revolver from his hip, he held it ready. "Fine. In that case, leave the saving to me."
…
With that, Shao Yun spurred his horse into a gallop.
Before long, they arrived at the source of the cries.
A pack of a dozen Hilichurls, led by a Samachurl, were viciously attacking a supply balloon caravan.
A young woman in an Adventurers' Guild uniform cowered on the ground, hugging her head and trembling.
Several Hilichurls loomed over her with wooden clubs, ready to beat her down.
Klee's little face flushed red with fury. Pointing at them, she squeaked, "You mean bullies! Take Klee's Jumpy Dumpty!"
She yanked one from her pack and hurled it with all her might.
The bomb arced gracefully through the air before landing squarely beside the Hilichurls.
BOOM!
A thunderous blast sent the creatures flying skyward in a spectacular explosion.
Shao Yun's eyes widened at the sheer force. If only he could buy explosives like that—what power!
Still, as he looked at Klee, he couldn't help but remind her, "I recall Acting Grand Master Jean warning us—be careful, don't use dangerous items recklessly…"
But before he could finish, Klee had already lobbed several more bombs, one after another.
At that point, it was far too late to stop her.
So, Shao Yun just shook his head with a helpless sigh.
"Forget it. I didn't see anything."