Venti called out to Shao Yun, hesitating before speaking. "But… about what you just said to Miss Mona…"
Shao Yun froze mid-step, then slowly turned, his cold gaze locking onto Venti. His tone was sharp. "What, you were listening in?"
Venti quickly waved his hands, putting on a friendly smile. "Don't misunderstand, I meant no harm. The wind just happened to carry your words to me. Don't forget—I am Barbatos, the Anemo Archon."
"True, our relationship isn't as friendly as it once was, but at the very least we can still sit down and talk, can't we?"
Seeing Venti's candidness—and the fact that he had at least tried to answer his doubts earlier, even if without answers—Shao Yun felt that refusing outright would be petty. He nodded. "Fine. What do you want to talk about?"
A flicker of expectation crossed Venti's eyes. Carefully, he tested, "Shall we speak about the Lawrence family, then? May I?"
Shao Yun blinked, thought for a brief moment, then nodded.
"Alright."
Venti gathered his words, expression complicated, before speaking. "After you had me give up on the Lawrence souls, I tried searching for them again… but they had all vanished!
"And with the stories the wind carries to me—don't you think that's strange?"
At those words, Shao Yun immediately regretted not leaving earlier. Don't tell me Venti's going to try to "redeem" me…
He gave Venti a cold, impatient look. "Enough nonsense. Speak plainly, stop circling around! Alice already told me—those who die by my hand, so long as they bear a Vision, do not ascend. That's what you mean, isn't it?"
Since Shao Yun had cut straight to the point, Venti didn't beat around the bush. "Every time you kill a Vision bearer, the boundary of Teyvat weakens. Keep it up, and the consequences will be disastrous."
After all, the Abyss is ever gnawing at the edges of the world… too dangerous to ignore.
Shao Yun tilted his chin, eyes filled with challenge, and sneered. "Do you take me for some random butcher? I may be an outlaw, but I'm no brainless fool!"
Venti's eyes flicked sideways, evasive. He muttered, "After the Lessig Lawrence affair, I can't help but wonder…"
At that name, the image of Leseg's death at his own hands flashed in Shao Yun's mind. A cruel smile tugged at his lips.
"His end was a hundred times better than those who fell to devils! At least his soul returned to Mondstadt!
"I don't regret killing him! Back then I showed the utmost restraint! I trusted Acting Grand Master Jean to deal with the Lawrence family!
"But I was wrong. Against threats, only the cruelest, bloodiest methods will do!"
Venti considered that carefully. Indeed—Leseg's soul had returned home. It was, aside from Eula, the best possible outcome. A grim compromise.
"I understand. But have you thought—each time you kill a Vision wielder, the stars grow dimmer, the borders weaker.
"If the Abyss breaks through, if calamity strikes the Seven Nations as it did Khaenri'ah… and if the Heavenly Principles awaken to see you, the cause—what fate do you think awaits you?"
At that, Shao Yun's eyes narrowed. So, you're painting me as another Khaenri'ah… then I'll give you the same pressure.
His right hand slid toward the revolver at his hip, his voice cold. "Are you threatening me? You think I ran to Dragonspine with Lumine, Paimon, Aether, and Dainsleif, and accepted your terms, because I was afraid? No… it's because you haven't seen me truly unhinged."
Venti hurriedly shifted the subject, trying to calm him. "No, I mean… perhaps it's time you stepped out of the Traveler's journey."
The suggestion made Shao Yun laugh bitterly.
And who was it that insisted I go with them, even fought me for it?
He wanted to curse him out—but decided to leave Venti some dignity.
Shao Yun sneered. "Every damn night I dream of taking Lumine and Paimon far, far away! But right now Lumine has to reclaim her lost power! Only then can we escape this wretched mire!
"Isn't that what you all wanted? And now you're telling me to stop? You shameless bastard."
Venti realized Shao Yun had misunderstood, so he hinted further. "No. What I mean is… long ago, I already gave you wings—the Wind Glider at your back. But you know as well as I, it can only bear one person's weight."
Shao Yun caught the implication, his face darkening with a rising dread.
"What are you suggesting?"
Something was off in Venti's words.
Venti pressed his lips together, then said, "I mean… perhaps you should rest. And when Lumine and Paimon reach the end of their journey, then you can catch up to them…"
That hit Shao Yun's deepest nerve.
He yanked out his revolver—Goat's Blessing—and leveled it at Venti's head, roaring in rage. "I'll never treat Lumine like Arthur did Mary!"
Madness overtook him as he screamed, "I get it now! Unlike Lumine, I'm not so agreeable. You bastards see me as a threat to your Seven Archons!
"As long as I'm not by Lumine's side, you can twist and shape her however you please—turn her into your puppet, your slave!"
Venti backed away quickly, raising his right hand, his voice grave.
"Lumine has the strength to face her problems on her own. You know that in your heart."
The words stunned Shao Yun for a heartbeat—and in that instant, Venti dissolved into a gust of emerald wind, vanishing without trace.
Shao Yun stared helplessly as the wind scattered, caring nothing for whether the nuns and clerics of Favonius Cathedral overheard his furious curses.
"Damn you! Pcikles aren't worth eating!"
"You Archons are all bastards who belong in hell! I regret not taking that devil's deal back then—wiping every last one of you out for our freedom!"
Venti's voice drifted back on the breeze.
"One last warning—the words I spoke beneath the great tree in Windrise… one day they'll matter."
Shao Yun, blind with rage, bellowed at the vanishing wind. "To hell with you! Didn't you say you could sing of past and future? You pants-on-fire liar!"
His fury only grew hotter, convincing him more than ever that his brother-in-law had been right to side with the Abyss.
The so-called Seven Archons—nothing but shameless frauds, using others to serve their ends!
If they wanted to play the role of Bronte, then they had to be ready to end up as crocodile feed.
…
At that moment, Sister Rosaria stood atop the Favonius Cathedral, watching curiously. She murmured to herself, "What on earth's wrong with him? Why's he suddenly raving like a madman?"
…
Elsewhere, Venti appeared on a floating isle above Falcon Coast.
The very isle once used by the Hexenzirkel witches for their gatherings. Warmly arranged, though empty, it still felt as though a peculiar tea party was ongoing.
Venti walked slowly to the long table, his eyes resting on a lantern floating above it.
With a weary sigh, he said helplessly, "Lady Alice, the plan failed. He values staying with the Traveler more than his own life. To have him step away from Lumine, even briefly, to prevent further strain on the boundaries… it seems impossible."
Alice's voice came from within the lantern.
"I see. Ah… once, he was the man who stood on a bridge, defending Mondstadt against the Abyss hordes. Now he's become this… a crazed killer who stops at nothing. Perhaps that too is fate, written in the stars."
Venti voiced his darkest fear. "Must we really do as with Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago? Kill him, and let Lumine and Paimon…"
Alice cut him off.
"No. Too late for that. Even if we did as we did with Khaenri'ah—set the Heavenly Principles upon him… putting aside that strange god you mentioned—
"Even if we slew him, do you have any idea what that girl would do?
"And if you force the Heavenly Principles awake again, are you so sure the Cryo Archon wouldn't come for you?"
Venti said worriedly, "I'm afraid… he's devouring the border's strength so recklessly. The Cryo Archon's plans may fall apart before they even begin."
The lantern flickered before Alice's voice returned.
"Then I'll find a chance to speak with him alone. If he must—let him cripple Vision bearers, leave them broken, even living worse than death. As long as they don't fall into that strange god's hands."
Venti frowned. "Is that really a good idea? Leaving people half-dead…"
Alice's voice was bright and carefree.
"We'll have to try. The world's already in tatters—we have to patch it as best we can."