Shao Yun watched as Keqing was supported by two Millelith soldiers and led into Yuehai Pavilion. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Keqing really throws herself into her work!"
"If Rex Lapis had even half your work ethic, I'm afraid Eden's name would have long been changed to Liyue."
Once he had finished his musings, Shao Yun looked around. Seeing no one nearby, his courage grew, and he quietly muttered into the empty air.
"Hey, System! You useless thing, I saved Keqing and brought her back. Are you satisfied now?"
Yet, the System gave him no reply.
Shao Yun spat heavily onto the ground, cursing viciously. "Trash…"
After that, Shao Yun tugged his horse along, ready to leave Yujing Terrace.
At that very moment, Madame Ping, who was admiring the flowers, noticed him.
She waved kindly, calling out with warmth in her voice. "Well, if it isn't Shao Yun. Long time no see."
Hearing her, Shao Yun immediately led Carrot over and greeted her.
"Hello, Madame Ping. Why didn't you go deal with Beisht?"
Madame Ping chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. "Ah, I'm too old for that. This old body isn't what it used to be—how could I stand such exertion? Oh, would you like some tea?"
She then picked up a teacup from the table, poured steaming tea slowly from an ordinary teapot beside her, and offered it to Shao Yun.
Shao Yun instinctively wanted to refuse. "No, thank you, I don't really like tea…"
But he stopped midway, glancing at Madame Ping. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded instead. "Forget it, I'll have a cup then."
Taking the cup from her, he looked down at the tea.
Madame Ping smiled as she explained. "This tea was brought by Mr. Zhongli from Qingce Village. It has a very fine taste."
Hearing it was tea from Zhongli, Shao Yun felt relieved, nodding. "Oh, so it's that tea. I've tried it before—it really is quite good."
He lifted the cup and sipped slowly, treating it as though he were simply drinking hot water.
While Shao Yun was drinking, Madame Ping asked about Keqing.
"How's that little girl Keqing now? She's not badly hurt, is she?"
Shao Yun set down the cup, swallowing the last of his tea before answering plainly.
"When I got there, she had been choked by seawater, her lungs filled with water, she fell unconscious from lack of oxygen. After I brought her back, she was quite weak."
"But overall, her condition is stable. She isn't in any immediate danger."
Madame Ping pressed further. "You saved her?"
Looking into her eyes, Shao Yun felt something indescribable, as though there was hidden meaning behind her words.
But he couldn't grasp what it was.
"From the outcome, yes. But truthfully, I had no desire to save her." Shao Yun nodded helplessly, admitting honestly how he had felt at the time.
After all, saving someone willingly and saving someone out of compulsion are entirely different matters.
Madame Ping smiled faintly.
"Even so, you saved Keqing. That already counts for a lot."
At her praise, Shao Yun gave a cold laugh, sighing. "Perhaps I should have just watched her die on the beach, let Hu Tao prepare a grand funeral for her, and let her rest in peace in another world."
With that, he gently placed the teacup back on her table and began to complain.
"You saw it too. After I brought her back, she immediately went to Yuehai Pavilion to work, not even willing to rest."
Madame Ping gazed quietly at the cup before her, kindness in her eyes, and said softly, "No matter how you disguise it, the truth remains—you saved her."
She paused, then continued. "As you said, you are no saint. But neither are you as wicked as you claim to be. At the very least, you still follow your heart enough to save others."
Shao Yun gave a bitter smile inwardly.
If it weren't for that damned useless System, why would he have gone out of his way to save Keqing?
Shaking his head, he told her, "You've seen too little, Madame Ping. Still, your tone reminds me of Pastor Swanson."
The unfamiliar name startled Madame Ping. "And who is that?"
Shao Yun waved his hand carelessly. "No one important. Thanks for the tea, Madame Ping. Farewell."
He turned, ready to mount his horse and leave. But just then, something unexpected happened…
Suddenly, as though from the heavens, Xianyun—in her human guise, the Adeptus Cloud Retainer—appeared.
She landed gracefully, standing firmly at Madame Ping's side.
Xianyun nodded slightly to Shao Yun, then turned to Madame Ping, her expression solemn. "Ping, good thing you're here. Something urgent has come up—you must go to the Jade Chamber immediately."
Then she added, "The Geo Archon is there as well."
Hearing this, Madame Ping looked toward the Jade Chamber in the distance.
She sighed inwardly, already guessing the topic, but she had no desire to be involved.
Shaking her head, she declined. "Go ahead with your discussions. What use am I, this old woman?"
Xianyun looked at her, a trace of helplessness in her eyes, but insisted. "Ping, I understand your deep affection for Liyue governed by its people, and I know how you feel about this matter."
"But this time is different. We must consider carefully. You cannot be absent."
Madame Ping laughed it off. "Haha, I'm too old for your struggles. But if you ask my view of Liyue, I certainly support a Liyue ruled by its people!"
Seeing the elder's evasiveness, Xianyun felt exasperated, but powerless.
"Aping…"
Noticing Xianyun's reaction, Madame Ping felt satisfied and waved her hand. "No need to say more. Just carry my words for me. I trust you won't twist them."
Xianyun sighed but nodded. "Alright, Ping…"
On the side, Shao Yun had been happily eavesdropping. Seeing the drama around Liyue politics wrap up, he decided to leave.
But just then, Xianyun suddenly called out to him.
"By the way, Shao Yun, since you're here, come along too."
Shao Yun froze, staring at her in disbelief. "What? What's this got to do with me? I still need to buy dinner for Lumine, Paimon, and your disciple Shenhe!"
Glancing around, he added, "I don't want to get dragged into Liyue politics."
At that moment, Xiao appeared, arms crossed, expression cold. "Sorry, Shao Yun. You must come."
Seeing both Adepti calling him, Shao Yun felt a headache coming on.
"Are you Liyue's Adepti all drinking Mondstadt's bootleg wine? Did it rot your brains? What's any of this got to do with me!" he complained.
Xiao shook his head, his tone grave. "No, Shao Yun, it concerns you. You, Lumine, and Paimon witnessed Liyue's shift—from being ruled by gods to ruled by its people."
"And since you are not from Liyue, you can view everything objectively. You qualify to bear witness."
Hearing this reasoning, Shao Yun thought inwardly, so they just want a notary!
Still, he frowned. "Then why not ask Lumine and Paimon? They love meddling in Liyue's affairs. Why me?"
Xianyun hesitated before answering slowly. "Though what I say may anger you… Lumine and Paimon are indeed warm-hearted, and they care deeply for Liyue. But…"
"They lack your perspective. Compared to you, they are too naive."
She had chosen her words carefully. Put more bluntly, they were a "dumb blonde pushover and a gullible little sprite who'd pay someone after being sold."
Shao Yun frowned at her evaluation, displeased.
But after a pause, he nodded, voice calm. "True, Lumine and Paimon sometimes see things too idealistically. But that's precisely what makes them precious."
They may have flaws, but he would never allow outsiders to belittle them.
Even if those really were flaws, in front of others he would always praise them as virtues!
Realizing the conversation had drifted, Xianyun brought it back. "So, Shao Yun, what you mean is…"
Shao Yun shrugged, answering as if it were obvious. "Of course I'm not going. Why should I get involved in your affairs? I have a very important mission."
Xianyun perked up. "Oh? And what mission is that?"
Rolling his eyes, Shao Yun snapped, "Didn't I just say? Feeding Lumine, Paimon, and Shenhe! Enough, stop wasting my time. Farewell."
He moved to mount his horse.
But Xianyun quickly blocked his path, spreading her arms. Her face was tense.
"No. You must take part in this—it concerns Liyue's future."
Shao Yun gave her a mocking glance, spreading his hands innocently. "And what's Liyue's future got to do with me!"
Then he suddenly shifted tone, taunting. "Don't test my patience. Push me too far, and I'll stew you into soup. I'll serve your meat to Lumine, Paimon, and your disciple Shenhe!"
"When Shenhe drinks it, I'll make her say it tastes just like her master!"
Xianyun was struck dumb.
Her eye twitched, her lips trembled. This man's insults are way too bizarre!
Xiao, watching the whole scene, felt the tension grow unbearably awkward.
He stepped in to smooth things over. "Shao Yun, how about this: I'll order food and deliver it to Lumine, Paimon, and Shenhe. Meanwhile, you accompany Cloud Retainer to the Jade Chamber. How's that?"
Shao Yun eyed him, reluctant to yield. But recalling their time at Wangshu Inn, he finally relented.
With a weary sigh, he said, "Fine. For the sake of that lesson you gave me at Wangshu Inn—about not littering—I'll play notary."
He pulled a pouch of Mora from his bag and handed it to Xiao, telling him where Lumine lived.
Xianyun then led Shao Yun toward the Jade Chamber.
Xiao pocketed the Mora, muttering in puzzlement, "Isn't not littering just common sense?"
He turned to Madame Ping, asking, "Streetward Rambler, where in Liyue Harbor can I buy food?"
…
In the Jade Chamber, Ningguang, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, Ganyu, and Zhongli were divided into three camps.
On one side stood Ganyu and Ningguang, supporting Liyue ruled by its people.
On the other side, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper supported a Liyue ruled by Adepti.
And then there was Zhongli and Xiao, standing as neutral.
Ganyu's support for human rule came largely from Keqing's influence.
The Adepti such as Cloud Retainer did not resent Ganyu for taking the opposite stance.
After all, once this matter ended, Ganyu would still be Cloud Retainer's good disciple, her dear child.
Of note was that the Jade Chamber's control console was still active.
That meant Ningguang had indeed been ready to repeat what she had done against Osial—crash the Jade Chamber down on Beisht.
It was precisely that willingness which made the Adepti willing to hear Ningguang out.
For though Beisht had been driven away by the Adepti, the consequences he brought could not vanish so swiftly.
For instance, the rain above Guyun Stone Forest, lingering in the skies over the Jade Chamber, was the last to cease.