Seeing Lumine's expression tighten a little, Shao Yun realized maybe he'd gone a bit overboard. He quickly reached out and gave her cheek a gentle squeeze, like teasing a child.
"Well, yeah, I said all that, but it's not like we're off to die or anything. It's just a bit of thievery—low risk. You already brought Paimon with you, and you're gonna ditch me?"
"Don't be ridiculous…" Lumine stepped back, freeing herself and rubbing her cheek. "Alright, fine—one more person, one more hand."
Venti and Paimon couldn't hear their conversation, but they definitely noticed the subtle closeness between the two. They exchanged knowingly smug glances and smiled in silent amusement.
Back in the bushes, now with the addition of a "professional" like Shao Yun, the operation looked far more promising.
"So," Shao Yun asked, "do you guys have a plan for stealing the Holy Lyre de Himmel?"
The moment he finished the sentence, all three scratched their heads in embarrassment. Not a single plan in sight.
Shao Yun stared at them in disbelief. So, you've been loitering here in the bushes like some amateur sentries? Really?
Paimon's eyes lit up suddenly as inspiration struck.
"Hey, now that you're in on this, you come up with something!"
"Eh?" Shao Yun was caught off guard. Seriously? You want me to do the job and make the plan too? Not cool.
"You used to be… y'know…" Paimon's eyes flicked to Venti, making it clear she couldn't say it outright.
Well, Shao Yun thought, at least that's some kind of vote of confidence. From petty theft to full-blown bank heists, he certainly wasn't short on experience.
"Oh? What's this secret you're hiding from me?" Venti looked at them with a curious glint in his eye.
Judging by Venti's reaction, Lumine and Paimon hadn't spilled anything. Loyal little companions, huh.
Back to business—better to get this done fast. Planning wasn't hard for someone like him.
He wiped the dirt marks off the ground with his boot and picked up a stick.
"Alright, alright. You want a plan? I got one."
All three nodded enthusiastically, eager for his input.
Shao Yun first confirmed the internal layout of the Cathedral, pinpointing the chamber where the Holy Lyre de Himmel was stored. Then he drew a basic layout in the dirt.
Pointing to the Cathedral entrance on the sketch, he looked at Venti.
"Venti, you're on the front entrance. Keep it secure, make sure no one's coming or going. You're the lookout."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
He turned to Lumine.
"Lumine, you and I will infiltrate the chamber where the Lyre is stored. According to Venti, there aren't too many guards—we'll bypass them. If we're spotted, I'll draw their attention. You move in and grab the Lyre."
"If we get it clean, we leave together. If not, we split up and regroup."
Venti raised his hand, volunteering their usual meet-up spot.
"Let's meet at the Angel's Share, no matter what happens."
"What about me?" Paimon asked, waving her little arms. "What am I supposed to do?"
Shao Yun squinted at her, trying to figure out what the emergency food mascot could actually do.
"You… go with Lumine. Protect her."
Which was basically the same as giving her no job at all. But it was honestly hard to come up with a role for her.
He repeated the summary: Venti watches the door, he and Lumine go in for the Lyre, and Paimon… well, tags along.
"Feels a bit simplistic," Paimon muttered, spreading her arms. But strangely enough, hearing it from Shao Yun made her feel kind of reassured.
Venti nodded in agreement. Way better than the idea of just walking in and asking to borrow it. Even if Shao Yun hadn't shown up, they'd likely have ended up with something like this anyway.
"The simpler the plan, the better the chance of success. It's always the overcomplicated ones that fall apart," Venti remarked.
Just as they were getting ready, Shao Yun suddenly stopped them.
"Wait—Venti, take this."
He pulled a slender cylinder and a box of matches from his pack and handed them over.
Venti took them, puzzled. It looked like a flute, but heavier, solid, and… ominously dangerous.
"What is this?"
Shao Yun's eyes turned serious. Most disasters happen during the escape phase. We need backup.
"It's dynamite. If something goes wrong—say, too many reinforcements show up and we're trapped inside—light this and cause a loud distraction. Give us cover to escape."
Venti looked like he wanted to return it. It's just a Lyre heist… not a bank robbery. But seeing the steely resolve in Shao Yun's eyes, he took it and nodded.
"Alright. Hope we don't need it."
Shao Yun pulled up his bandana mask and lowered his hat brim—ready to roll. He didn't pull his revolver yet, but the tension was there.
Seeing his serious demeanor, Paimon couldn't help but comment, "Is all this really necessary? The guards have all gone home."
"We're stealing the Holy Lyre de Himmel—it's one of Mondstadt's most precious relics. It may not be worth much in Mora, but symbolically? This is like robbing the soul of the city. This isn't any easier than robbing a bank."
"If a fight breaks out, it's gonna get messy."
After confirming everyone was ready, Shao Yun took the lead.
"I'll go first. Move out!"
Lumine and Paimon followed behind, with Venti watching their six.
Shao Yun gently pushed open the Cathedral's doors, peeking in. No one.
"All clear. Let's move." He slipped through a narrow gap.
From behind, Venti grinned. "Lumine, Paimon—your travel buddy's got experience."
"He's alright," Lumine replied a bit awkwardly. Paimon, meanwhile, regretted ever letting him take the lead.
"Should've just stuck with the old plan…"
…
Inside the grand Mondstadt Cathedral, Shao Yun's boots echoed softly against the floor.
Above, the arched ceiling loomed high, with extinguished chandeliers and West Church banners hanging between them. Moonlight streamed through stained glass, painting the hall in color.
At the far end, he opened a stone door that led to a spiral staircase descending to the underground vault—the Holy Lyre de Himmel's chamber.
As they stepped into the passage, muffled voices of knights echoed up from below.
"Someone's really gonna steal the Holy Lyre de Himmel? Looks like an ordinary harp to me…"
"Even if it's a decoy, our job's to guard it. Less talking, more watching."
Voices… two? Shao Yun peeked—and nearly cursed aloud.
There weren't two guards—there were seven or eight pacing the chamber.
One of the earlier guards added, "Some drunk bard claiming to be Barbatos tried borrowing it today. Church said we needed extra patrols tonight."
Shao Yun clenched his fists. "Venti, you idiot! You spooked them!"
…
"Achoo!"
Outside, Venti sneezed, sniffling. "Brrr, getting cold. Or maybe someone's talking about me…"
…
But they were already here—no turning back.
Shao Yun turned to Lumine with a final warning.
"If you're spotted, I'll distract them. Grab the Lyre and run. If I'm caught, you hide, alright?"
Just as he was about to move, Lumine tugged his sleeve.
"Maybe I should distract them. Say I'm here on an inspection. You sneak in."
Before Shao Yun could protest, Paimon interjected with the obvious flaw.
"You'd be way too suspicious. They'd start asking questions—you'd slip up."
Shao Yun appreciated her concern, but she couldn't take the risk.
"Stick to the original plan. I can't let you get caught."
They moved, crouched low, footsteps as soft as feathers. Every motion was measured, cautious. Knights moved methodically, their weapons clinking faintly as they patrolled the underground.
Using blind spots and columns for cover, Shao Yun and Lumine advanced, ghosting through the dim chamber like shadows.
At last, they reached the Lyre's resting place. One guard just stepped away on his patrol loop.
Shao Yun exhaled. Halfway there. Just a few more seconds and the Lyre would be theirs.
But then—
The guard doubled back.
The chamber had no place to hide. If he looked through the door, they were toast.
Shao Yun readied himself, twisting his shoulder, preparing to knock the man out.
As the knight turned the corner, Shao Yun lunged, grabbing his collar and striking his neck in one clean chop. The knight crumpled unconscious.
Lowering him gently to the floor, Shao Yun turned and barked, "Don't just stand there—get the Lyre!"
Just as Lumine reached for it, a Fatui Electro Cicin Mage appeared, snatching the Lyre first.
"Who are you?!"
Paimon's shout made Shao Yun spin around. The Fatui? Seriously?!
The moment she spoke, Shao Yun pulled his revolver and activated his Vision—firing a shot straight at the mage's head.
[WARNING: You cannot kill key story characters!]
The system intervened, redirecting his bullet to the mage's leg.
The Electro Cicin Mage let out a sharp cry and vanished instantly.
"Damn it!"
Of course, the system had its reasons—but Shao Yun was still furious.
No one robs from me. No one. Today's failure was a rare, stinging humiliation.
Between Paimon's shout, the gunshot, and the mage's scream—they were definitely exposed.
Maybe this was meant to happen, but he'd hoped his involvement could change the outcome. Apparently not. The Holy Lyre de Himmel was still gone, and the blame was still going to fall on them.
Footsteps were growing louder. No time to dwell.
Whatever happens, get out—now.