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Just like that, Shao Yun walked forward while looking at the flyer in his hand.
Along the way, he focused entirely on weighing the pros and cons of each apartment listed on the flyer, paying no attention at all to the changes in his surroundings.
Before he realized it, he had arrived in front of the Beaumont Workshop.
By this time, Shao Yun had already narrowed down a few options he felt quite satisfied with.
Just as he was about to lift his head to confirm where he was, suddenly, a figure both familiar and unfamiliar entered his sight.
That figure was enthusiastically chatting with Lumine and Paimon.
Shao Yun took a closer look and instantly drew a sharp breath—wasn't that none other than Childe, the last-ranked Harbinger of the Fatui?!
This was someone Shao Yun would never forget for as long as he lived, even if he didn't bring him up often…
So, Shao Yun carefully lightened his footsteps, tiptoeing as he silently approached Childe, afraid to make even the slightest sound that might alert his target ahead.
When he was only a few steps away from Childe, Shao Yun slowly extended his hand and gently drew John's Cattleman Revolver from his waist.
His lips curled into a slight, teasing smile.
"Wow, look what I found?" Shao Yun lowered his voice, purposely dragging out his tone, speaking with playful mockery. "Didn't expect it—Snezhnaya already mastered the technology to resurrect the dead!"
Childe shuddered violently upon hearing the familiar voice behind him, his expression freezing on the spot.
Immediately after, he raised both hands, indicating he meant no harm to Lumine or Paimon!
"Wow, Mr. Shao Yun, I knew it! If I ran into Lumine and Paimon, then I was bound to run into you!" Childe turned around, forcing a friendly smile.
However, Shao Yun was completely unmoved by Childe's attempt at friendliness. He snorted coldly and replied with obvious irritation: "Save it! Don't you dare give me small talk—we're not on good terms."
"Speak. How exactly did you survive?"
Childe still held his hands high, his face full of disbelief.
He thought Shao Yun had long forgotten about sparing his life back then, so he hurriedly reminded him: "Huh? You don't remember? You were the one who mercifully spared me!"
As he spoke, Childe trembled slightly and pointed at the area near his right ribs with his right hand before explaining, "Right here—you shot me here and let me keep my life!"
Shao Yun's eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint as he stared at Childe, a malicious smile tugging at his lips. "I pierced your lung, and you still lived? Are you joking with me?"
Seeing Shao Yun's ferocious expression, Childe felt his heart tighten, but he forced himself to stay calm and said with a strained smile, "My master, Skirk… You probably don't know her. But I can—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly realized Shao Yun had zero interest in his explanation and didn't even have the patience to listen.
Sure enough, Shao Yun cut him off irritably, frowning as he said, "I regret sparing you back then. Since that's the case, I wonder if it's still not too late to put another bullet in you now?"
With that, Shao Yun decisively cocked the hammer.
A crisp "click" rang out.
Childe's whole body trembled, and a sheen of cold sweat instantly formed across his forehead.
"W-wait, you're not serious, right?! I admit it—I did something stupid in Liyue back then, but I've already been punished!"
"I was beaten half to death by you! I lay in a bed for over half a year before I barely recovered. Isn't that enough for you to calm down?!"
Yet despite Childe's desperate pleading, Shao Yun remained silent. He merely scanned the man in front of him—the man who once stood as his enemy— with cold, sharp eyes.
Seeing that Shao Yun refused to respond at all, Childe knew today likely wouldn't end well.
He clenched his teeth tightly, his throat bobbing unconsciously as he steeled himself. Even if he died, he would have to fight. He absolutely could not sit back and wait for death.
After all, Childe was not the type to surrender meekly in the face of danger!
Just when the tension peaked, a little boy in a Snezhnayan fur hat suddenly skipped over.
He held four ice creams in his small hands, calling joyfully, "Brother! I bought the ice cream!"
The moment Childe—locked in a standoff—heard that familiar voice, his face instantly drained of color.
He whipped his head around and shouted with all his strength, "Teucer! Don't come here! Run!"
Originally focused entirely on Childe, Shao Yun immediately reacted to Childe's unusual panic and the little boy approaching. When he recognized that this child was Childe's younger brother, he hesitated briefly—then decisively put his gun away.
After all, even if he truly intended to kill Childe, he would never do it in front of the man's little brother…
Teucer, confused by his brother's sudden shout, blinked his innocent eyes and hurried closer.
With a puzzled expression, he asked, "Brother? What happened? Why don't you want me to come over?"
But just as Childe was about to explain, he instinctively turned his head.
He saw Shao Yun casually spreading his hands with a shrug, then giving him a half-smiling look—tilting his chin slightly while his gaze flicked meaningfully toward Teucer.
Childe wasn't stupid; he instantly understood the hidden meaning behind Shao Yun's gesture.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to look relaxed, and slowly walked up to Teucer.
Then he crouched down, gently ruffled Teucer's hair, and softly comforted him: "It's nothing, Teucer. Just a little misunderstanding. Come on—go share the ice cream with these two big sisters."
While Lumine and Paimon enjoyed their ice cream, Shao Yun asked with interest, "Your brother?"
Childe slowly stood up, instinctively cooperating with the act.
"Yes, my little brother—Teucer…"
Shao Yun smiled warmly, bowed slightly toward Teucer, then removed his hat and offered a polite salute.
"Hello, kid. Nice to meet you."
Hearing this, Teucer's innocent face lit up with a bright smile. "Hi, big brother!"
Seeing this, Childe silently exhaled in relief and swiftly took the ice cream Teucer had bought for him.
Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out some Mora, and said softly to Teucer, "Teucer, could you bring one more for this kind big brother?"
He handed the Mora to Teucer.
Teucer nodded obediently and accepted the Mora, promising confidently, "Don't worry, Brother! Your injury only just healed. Running around like this—I can handle it for you!"
Once Teucer's figure disappeared from view, Childe turned back to Shao Yun with gratitude in his eyes.
"Uh… thank you so much for not drawing your weapon in front of Teucer earlier. If you'd scared him, that would've been terrible…"
But before Childe could finish, Shao Yun's next words instantly sent him plummeting from heaven back into hell.
"Now that your brother's gone, I can draw my weapon and take your life."
In the blink of an eye, Shao Yun once again pulled out his gun and pressed the barrel firmly against Childe's forehead.
Seeing this, Childe felt like crying but had no tears left.
Heavens—within just a few minutes, his emotions had been on a roller coaster. Life truly came with wild ups and downs!
"I already apologized to Lumine and Paimon! They forgave me! For their sake, calm down!"
Hearing this, Shao Yun narrowed his eyes and cast a suspicious look toward Lumine and Paimon, who were calmly enjoying their ice cream nearby.
"Hey, Lumine, Paimon—what the brat said true?"
Paimon leisurely swallowed her last bite of delicious ice cream, then nodded and answered slowly, "Yep, Childe did apologize to us, that's true… but whether we forgave him or not…"
She dragged out the last part on purpose, revealing a mischievously dark smile.
Childe's heart dropped instantly, and he shouted in panic, "Miss Paimon! Don't look all sinister like that! My life is literally in you two ladies' hands—please take this seriously!"
Lumine raised a hand and lightly flicked Paimon's forehead, telling her to stop fooling around.
Then she walked up to Shao Yun and gently pressed down his gun arm.
"All right, Shao Yun. Put the gun away. Childe did apologize to us, and I choose to forgive him."
After saying that, Lumine paused as if remembering something, turning to glance thoughtfully at Childe.
Facing Shao Yun again, she said softly, "Compared to those Fatui who are utterly insane and perform human experiments, he's honestly far better, isn't he?"
"And besides, because of you, he spent half a year bedridden recovering. For him, that's more than enough punishment."
"He was impulsive, yes—but he didn't actually hurt me. So, let him go."
As for Childe, aside from being obsessed with combat, his morals were practically saint-level among the Fatui.
Especially after everything in Sumeru, he had become someone Lumine genuinely saw as… not bad.
Seeing Lumine giving him a way out, Childe hurriedly nodded and pleaded to Shao Yun, "Everyone makes dumb mistakes. Forgive me!"
Since Lumine herself pleaded on his behalf, Shao Yun finally holstered his gun.
Then Shao Yun casually asked Lumine, "Lumine, Paimon—anything else you need to say to Childe?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a meaningful glance.
After a brief silence, Lumine slowly shook her head. "Mm… I don't think so? Why ask all of a sudden?"
Seeing that the two no longer had business with Childe, Shao Yun grabbed Lumine's wrist and urged, "If that's the case, then let's not waste time! We should get going!"
"Don't forget—you still haven't finished your Adventurer Registration Transfer! Once that's taken care of, we still need to find a place to rest!"
Seeing Shao Yun eager to drag Lumine away, Childe quickly called after them, "H-hey? Don't rush off! Let me treat you all to a meal at the Hotel Debord! Lumine, Paimon—wait!"
Watching him try the same trick he used back in Liyue, Shao Yun shot Childe an annoyed glare.
"I didn't put a hole in your head and leave your little brother crying over your corpse—you should be thanking me! But eating your food? I'm afraid you'd poison me!"
With that, Shao Yun dragged Lumine and Paimon away at a brisk pace.
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