Back in his room, Shao Yun's face instantly darkened. He immediately called out the system.
He glared at the system's interface, anger flashing in his eyes as he muttered curses under his breath.
"So, this was all your doing? Other than you, I can't think of anyone who could pull this off!"
The system displayed a string of text, openly admitting its actions.
[To prevent that taciturn girl from suffering a mental breakdown, I made some adjustments here. Because you've been violently altering the fates of everyone! You should return to Mondstadt and take a look at what you look like under the skies of Teyvat!]
"Oh? And what's your big opinion on my approach, 'know-it-all'?" Shao Yun eyed the words with contempt as he asked.
The system elaborated.
[To put it accurately, this is a matter of predetermined fate. You can think of Teyvat's night sky as a script—each person's life written in full, like the curtain of a stage play. But you, you're recklessly tearing apart everything before you!]
Shao Yun's eyes widened, full of dissatisfaction at the rambling explanation.
"Teyvat's sky? Predetermined fate? Cooperation? What do you mean? Explain it clearly!"
At that moment, a strange wind swept through the room, curtains flaring in the gust.
A familiar demonic voice sounded from behind him.
"Let me tell you what that thing is really trying to do."
Shao Yun turned, his gaze falling on the man in the tall hat. His voice was cold.
"Oh, fine then. Let's hear it from you, demon."
The Man with a Top Hat stood with his hands clasped behind his back, glancing at the room's furnishings before speaking softly.
"The wolf devoured too many sheep, and the shepherd took notice."
"To avoid unnecessary trouble, that detestable creature had no choice but to act this way."
Shao Yun frowned, confused.
"What does that even mean? What trouble?"
He had expected a simple back-and-forth with the demon—but to his surprise, the usually pathetic system actually spoke up.
[As absurd as it sounds, the problem has already exceeded your understanding. Originally, none of this was so serious. But this creature before you has made it far more complicated!]
Shao Yun blinked in shock, muttering.
"You worthless piece of trash… you can actually speak in front of this devil?"
Before the system could respond, the Man with a Top Hat cut in as though he could read its interface—indeed, he could.
"That's because, for now, I am cooperating with this detestable thing. So long as that's the case, I'll show it no hostility. Which means it can speak freely before me."
Shao Yun rubbed his temples, his expression filled with suspicion.
"What do you mean, the two of you are cooperating? What could possibly make you work together?"
The Man with a Top Hat asked, "Do you recall what happened when you spoke with Raiden Makoto?"
Shao Yun didn't understand why he'd bring that up, but still nodded.
"Of course I remember. So what?"
The man explained in detail the gamble he had made during his attempt to kill Raiden Ei, when he struck a deal with Makoto.
"At the time, I bet her on whether you would return. If you didn't, I would replant the Sacred Sakura's seed in the past. In the end, I upheld my side of the bargain."
The system then displayed a furious message.
[And when this fool went back, he was noticed! That stupid demon!]
The Man with a Top Hat didn't try to defend himself. Instead, he admitted plainly.
"I truly did not anticipate that the will of the world at that specific moment would notice me. I thought myself perfectly concealed. Yet, the truth is, I was seen—if only for an instant."
The more Shao Yun listened, the more frustrated he became.
"And what does that have to do with me? That's your problem. Why drag me into it?"
He raised his voice, full of irritation.
"So, what if you were seen by the Heavenly Principles? How does that affect me? Because I've killed too many people?"
The Man with a Top Hat tilted his right eye upward toward the ceiling, a strange look flickering across his face.
"There is some effect, yes. But more importantly, I've made too many deals with you. That thing will naturally assume we are allied."
"That is why your detestable companion here struck a bargain with me—to avoid pointless trouble."
Shao Yun narrowed his eyes at the demon, asking coldly.
"To be seen… is it really such a troublesome thing for you?"
The man lazily ran his fingers through his mustache.
"I often enjoy creating little troubles, then profiting from the solutions. But no, I do not enjoy trouble itself."
The system interjected again.
[In any case, I despise the bargain struck between you and it. But the truth is, your situation has become dangerous. Like this—]
[If, in The Elves and the Shoemaker, the elves had ruined the shoes instead of helping, what would have become of that mischievous little elf then?]
Shao Yun immediately caught the implication. Spreading his arms, he examined himself and demanded.
"What danger am I supposed to be in? The Electro Archon still reigns, the Seven still rule. Why would the Heavenly Principles single me out for death?"
The system fired back a stern warning.
[Do you recall what that fortune teller said? In a sea of flames and corpses, the demon will make his sacrifice… If you keep acting so recklessly, you will die in Sumeru! Because you will never sacrifice Lumine's life in exchange for your own survival.]
Shao Yun's fury boiled over at the words.
Are you cursing me to die?
He bared his teeth in anger.
"So now you're threatening me? There's no such thing as tuberculosis in Teyvat! And I've never run a loan-sharking business! How the hell do I die?"
The system refused to elaborate further.
[In short, we've agreed: when you reach Sumeru, no matter what, you must remain calm. As calm as you were in Mondstadt—at least back before you slaughtered those men in the Goth Grand Hotel.]
The Man with a Top Hat gave his own explanation for cooperating.
"I agreed for one reason: so long as you live, I profit. I don't want my golden goose dying too early. Small gains are nothing—I want a fortune."
Then, as always, he left a second option dangling.
"But of course, the decision is yours. Act however you like—so long as you can bear the consequences."
The system flashed a furious red warning.
[Don't you dare try to sway him! We've already struck a deal!]
The man's gaze turned cold, fixing on Shao Yun.
"Very well. I'll stay silent."
He turned and left, vanishing from the room.
The system then asked bluntly:
[So… where do you stand?]
Shao Yun pointed one finger at the demon's fading presence, and another at the system's screen.
"You two bizarre creatures—I'll never accept any decisions you make behind my back. Get out of my sight, both of you!"
The Man with a Top Hat didn't argue, leaving almost eagerly.
"Fine. I'm gone. As an accountant, your life or death is just a matter of numbers to me."
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared without a trace.
The system, baffled by Shao Yun's defiance, demanded:
[What do you mean by that?!]
But Shao Yun had no patience left—not for the demon, not for the broken code before him.
"I don't answer to you anymore. I left the snowbound village behind. No one can stop me now."
His eyes shone with a touch of madness.
"You should support me, not try to control and command me!"
The system spat back in bitter rage.
[Pathetic… (static)… (static)… An arrogant fool who ignores reason is doomed to self-destruction—just like Dutch van der Linde!]
Shao Yun spread his arms wide, a manic smile twisting his face.
"Thanks for the compliment! When men face despair, they either turn to mysterious powers or ask themselves—what would their fathers do? My choices are perfectly reasonable!"
The system, enraged, flashed bright red text.
[Fine! Then I order you—go to the coast and save Keqing. Prove to me there's still hope for you!]
[No rewards this time. What will you do? As Dutch once said—save who should be saved, kill who should be killed, feed who should be fed. So, tell me, Shao Yun: what does Keqing mean to you?]
Shao Yun's rage flared even hotter at the command. His eyes went wide with fury.
If he could find an uninstall button, he'd delete this wretched thing without hesitation.
"You filthy code! Don't you dare guilt-trip me—I'm not Beisht, trying to destroy Liyue Harbor!"
His voice roared through the room.
After venting, he stomped the floor hard, then took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Fine. I'll buy some food for the three girls next door—and while I'm at it, I'll go save Keqing."
"After all, we did rob a bank together once. Guess that makes us… acquaintances. Now give me her location!"
The system gave the reply without hesitation.
[Keqing's current position: the eastern beach outside Liyue Harbor. You have ten minutes. If you're late—she dies.]