Check out my new translation!
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When Shao Yun placed Scaramouche's scorched, unrecognizable head into his Legend of the East satchel, Lumine, Paimon, and Nahida appeared in the Joururi Workshop.
The moment Paimon saw Shao Yun, she waved her little hands excitedly and shouted, "Shao Yun, we've got the Archon's Gnosis!"
However, before she could finish, a sharp, burnt smell filled the air.
Paimon froze for a moment, then quickly covered her nose with both hands, frowning deeply as she cried out, "Ugh! What's that awful smell? It's killing me!"
Shao Yun couldn't help but let a faint, almost imperceptible smile slip across his face.
He deliberately stood in front of Scaramouche's charred, headless body, then waved casually toward the trio and explained lightly, "Nothing serious, just a bit of a burnt odor. Don't mind it."
Hearing his offhand tone, Paimon blinked and curiously looked past Shao Yun.
When she saw the strange, blackened humanoid form on the floor, she immediately covered her mouth in shock.
Glancing around, she noticed the shattered fragments of the Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom's machinery scattered everywhere—and suddenly understood where that unsettling smell had come from.
At that moment, Shao Yun pulled out a glowing purple Gnosis—the Raiden Shogun's divine core—and tossed it toward Nahida.
He called out loudly, "You came just in time. Here, catch this Gnosis! Don't drop it!"
Nahida raised her hand gently and caught the Gnosis with ease.
Yet her attention wasn't on it. Her expression tensed as she lifted her gaze toward the workshop's ceiling—though she seemed to be looking beyond it, perhaps sensing something unseen.
Shao Yun noticed the worry etched across her face and could already guess what was troubling her.
Still, he asked, "What's wrong? You look… troubled."
Nahida seemed to awaken from a trance. She looked straight at Shao Yun, her tone calm but solemn as she said, "Shao Yun… all I can do now is wish you the best of luck."
Before she could finish, a sudden, blinding flash engulfed everything.
Instinctively, Shao Yun squeezed his eyes shut, raising his arms in front of him in a cross to block the searing light that threatened to swallow him whole.
In an instant, the brilliant white radiance consumed his entire form.
Within that dazzling flood of light, Shao Yun's silhouette grew faint… until it vanished completely.
When the light faded, Lumine turned toward Nahida, her voice trembling with fear. "Na… Nahida! Where's Shao Yun?"
Nahida sighed softly and replied, "There's no use speaking further. All we can do now is pray… that Shao Yun survives this trial."
"After all, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles will never forgive an act as reckless as his."
…
Somewhere—a place unknown.
Shao Yun still stood with his arms raised, shielding himself from the fading light.
Gradually, the painful glare subsided, replaced by stillness.
He lowered his arms and cautiously opened his eyes, taking in the unfamiliar scene before him.
What he saw reminded him of Mondstadt's Stormterror's Lair—yet this place was entirely different. The entire domain floated among the clouds, high above the world below.
All around stretched ruins and desolation. Crumbling walls and shattered towers jutted from the mist, and fractured bridges crossed each other like broken ribs of a forgotten sky-city.
Above, the deep blue heavens shimmered with countless stars, infinite and distant.
Shao Yun stared at the surreal view, murmuring to himself, 'This feeling… strange. Familiar, yet foreign. What is this place?'
Just as that thought formed, a deep, resonant female voice echoed behind him.
"An existence that should not be here… one who dares disrupt the order of the world. Your insolence has reached its limit."
The voice struck like thunder, and Shao Yun spun around, startled.
Before him stood a being with long, pure white hair. Her golden slit-pupiled eyes gleamed with divine authority, her presence transcendent—untouched by any mortal dust.
At that instant, as their eyes met, both spoke in unison: "The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles…"
Realizing the truth of who stood before him, Shao Yun showed not fear, but excitement. He clapped his hands together and exclaimed, "Wow! It's really you!"
The Sustainer's brow furrowed, her tone curious. "Unlike the twins from five hundred years ago, you show no fear before me. Why?"
Shao Yun answered without hesitation, "Because I've already seen true fear. Compared to that, you're much prettier!"
He even winked playfully.
The Sustainer, misunderstanding his tone, thought he was trying to flatter her to beg for mercy.
She shook her head slightly. "No matter what you say, your fate is sealed. I will not allow someone like you to exist."
Shao Yun tilted his head, unfazed. "And why must I die? Care to give me a reasonable explanation?"
The Sustainer paused, taken aback by his composure. After a brief silence, she answered coldly, "The reason is simple—you've taken many lives."
Shao Yun laughed softly, mocking her. "And you—or your master—haven't? What a funny world this is."
He continued, voice steady. "Forget that ruined nation, let's talk about Khaenri'ah. Those people became Hilichurls, lost in madness, or were cursed to live forever in torment. Compared to that, my actions look merciful."
The Sustainer remained expressionless. "The destruction of Khaenri'ah and your killings are not the same."
"You're twisting words," Shao Yun shot back. "We both act for our own ends. Saying I must die for killing? That's a joke."
He exhaled sharply and added, "Don't pretend. You're after me because I stole what you were using to reinforce Teyvat's borders. Don't dress it up with morality."
At that, the Sustainer's composure cracked. "You… know?"
Shao Yun nodded calmly. "I wanted to hear it from your own mouth. And let's be honest—this chaos began because you stole from us first."
She froze, momentarily lost for words. "What?" she managed, eyes widening in disbelief.
Pointing directly at her, Shao Yun continued, "You took Lumine and Aether—those two blond siblings you just mentioned. Don't tell me you've forgotten already."
The Sustainer's golden eyes flickered with recognition. "You… what's your relation to the twins?"
Shao Yun stood tall, pride gleaming in his eyes. "Lumine is my wife, and Aether—my brother-in-law. You get me now?"
Her expression softened briefly in understanding. "I see."
Then Shao Yun spread his feet, leaning forward slightly, his right hand lowering toward the gun at his belt—the classic stance of a western duel.
He glared coldly at the Sustainer and said, "Enough talk. Return Lumine and Aether's power, and send us out of Teyvat."
Her gaze hardened. "And if I refuse?"
Shao Yun narrowed his eyes. "Then only one of us walks away from this."
She regarded him coolly, unshaken. "You're weak. Look at yourself—a flickering flame about to go out. If you were whole, perhaps you'd stand a chance… but now?" She shook her head.
Her body radiated divine pressure, arms spreading as power gathered around her.
Shao Yun inhaled deeply, centering himself.
In that instant, his Deadeye activated—thunder echoed in his mind, accompanied by the ticking of a clock.
Time slowed to a crawl. The Sustainer's every motion stretched into deliberate clarity.
Shao Yun drew his weapon in a flash—faster than thought.
But just as his finger tightened on the trigger, the Sustainer vanished.
'Not good!' he thought—and then, before he could react, she reappeared before him.
A sharp impact struck his chest. His breath caught.
He looked down—a dark wound blooming across his shirt, red spreading fast.
He lifted his gaze again. The Sustainer loomed above, her expression cold and untouched by emotion.
Shao Yun clenched his teeth, struggling to stay upright. But strength drained from him, and his body fell backward.
The world blurred. His vision dimmed.
Yet even at the brink, Shao Yun forced out a final murmur, voice trembling but clear.
"Sorry, Lumine… looks like I'm about to eat dirt…"
And with that, his eyes closed.