The night passed, and the morning sunlight streamed through the window into the room.
Lying on the bed, Shao Yun was still sound asleep, while beside him, Lumine furrowed her brows slightly, slowly opening her drowsy eyes.
"Is it morning already?" she murmured to herself.
Then, Lumine covered her forehead with her right hand, clutching the blanket tightly with her left, as she slowly sat up and leaned against the bed's headboard.
She glanced at Shao Yun, who had his back to her, recalling what happened last night. The fire of anger began to rise in her heart.
Finally, she couldn't help but give Shao Yun a hard shove on the back, shouting angrily, "Can't you be gentler?!"
The sudden blow startled Shao Yun awake. He quickly turned his head, looking at her in confusion, and asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Lumine rolled her eyes at him in exasperation and complained, "Didn't I tell you to take it easy? I really regret agreeing last night just because I felt sorry for you."
After saying that, she turned her head away with puffed cheeks, ignoring Shao Yun.
Hearing her words, Shao Yun realized she was actually blaming him, and he found it somewhat amusing.
With interest, he stared at her, the corner of his lips curling into a teasing smile. "Sorry about that."
"But, from the way you looked earlier, you seemed to enjoy it too, didn't you? What's that saying again, 'pain mixed with pleasure,' right?"
First, he apologized with mock sincerity, then cracked a joke, leaving Lumine at a loss for words, forcing her to glare at him instead.
Then, she spat in annoyance and muttered, "Tch! As expected, Yae Miko was right about you."
Those words made Shao Yun realize he might have gone too far. He quickly dropped the smirk from his face and looked at her seriously, hoping to ease her anger.
Seeing Lumine genuinely upset, Shao Yun couldn't hold back a laugh. He reached out to tickle her waist lightly, trying to lighten the mood as he reassured her, "I only tease you. I won't bother other girls, don't worry."
But this only made Lumine feel even more uncomfortable. She swatted his hand away, protesting with a playful pout, "Cut it out, I need to get dressed, and you should get up too."
With that, she lifted the blanket, ready to put on her clothes.
At that moment, Shao Yun suddenly asked, "Can't you wear the clothes I bought for you?"
He looked at Lumine expectantly, testing how far he could push.
Lumine turned her head, stuck out her tongue mischievously, and replied, "Keep dreaming, don't push your luck."
Then she went back to dressing herself.
Shao Yun, on the other hand, sat by the bed, watching her with amusement. From time to time, he even whistled deliberately, earning sharp glares from her in return.
Once Shao Yun had also put on his Legend of the East outfit, suddenly, the door swung open and Paimon flew right in.
As for why Lumine and Paimon could freely enter the room, it was mainly because Shao Yun had handed the inn's only two spare keys to them.
The innkeeper wept…
Seeing Lumine in Shao Yun's room, Paimon crossed her arms with mild displeasure and said, "So that's why you weren't in your room last night, Lumine. I was wondering why I couldn't find you first thing in the morning."
After saying that, Paimon floated over to Shao Yun, sniffed the air around him, and wrinkled her nose. "What's that smell? Shao Yun, did you not take a bath?"
Scratching his head, Shao Yun laughed awkwardly. "I was too tired when I came back last night, so I skipped it."
Shao Yun didn't say more—since Paimon hadn't caught on, it was better not to spell it out.
Paimon shook her head with a sigh, clearly dissatisfied with his lack of hygiene.
Then, flying back to Lumine's side, she realized Lumine carried the same scent as Shao Yun. Her eyes filled with suspicion.
Paimon blinked, then seemed to catch on. In a teasing tone, she said, "You two last night… don't tell me… No wonder you ended up in Shao Yun's room…"
She gave them a look that said everything without saying it.
Lumine, catching that look, flushed bright red to her ears.
"Paimon! You little rascal, how dare you tease me?!"
Paimon smirked mischievously, but still nodded as if to say she understood.
Lumine cleared her throat, quickly changing the subject. "Ahem, enough about me—how's Shenhe?"
At the mention of Shenhe, Paimon's expression turned serious. She shook her head and replied, "Not too well. Last night, half-asleep, I heard her mumbling in her dreams. Her voice was faint, but I could tell she was in pain."
"When I woke up, she looked worse than yesterday—her face even paler."
Hearing this, Lumine's heart tightened with worry.
…
The three of them entered the next room, where Shenhe was already awake, leaning against the bed's headboard with a blanket covering her lower body.
When she saw Lumine, Paimon, and Shao Yun enter, Shenhe weakly nodded in greeting.
Even after a night's rest, Shenhe still looked frail, her condition not much improved.
Lumine rushed to her side, sat down on the bed, and held her hand tightly. "Shenhe, you look even worse than yesterday."
Shenhe answered dully, "I don't feel well. I kept having nightmares last night, all filled with memories from my childhood."
As she spoke, she looked at Lumine. Though her face rarely showed much emotion, she forced herself to appear a little sorrowful.
"Do you think… it's because of my Solitary and Calamitous Fate that these disasters are happening in Liyue Harbor…"
Her voice was heavy as she continued, "Perhaps I truly don't belong in Liyue Harbor. The mountains and forests suit me better."
Hearing Shenhe blame herself, Lumine grew confused and quickly tried to comfort her. "How could that be? It's just a coincidence. You shouldn't blame yourself!"
"Lumine, I know you're trying to console me, but…" Shenhe's expression twisted in pain again.
She clutched her head, her eyes filled with guilt.
"But what other explanation is there?"
"Shenhe…" Lumine looked at her with sorrow, not knowing what else to say.
She wanted to convince Shenhe not to blame herself, but it was clear Shenhe had fallen into a spiral she couldn't escape.
"Things aren't as bad as you think!" Paimon added anxiously.
But no matter how they tried, Shenhe couldn't shake off the shadow of guilt.
She shook her head calmly and said in a low voice, "Don't persuade me. In a few days, I'll return to Mt. Aocang to find my master."
She had made up her mind to go back to her former life—far from Liyue Harbor, back to the solitude she knew.
Paimon looked shocked and reluctant. She couldn't understand why Shenhe would choose to leave. Just yesterday, she had enjoyed herself in Liyue Harbor.
"But… don't you feel any attachment to Liyue Harbor? Yesterday, you even—" Paimon tried to remind her of the happy memories.
Shenhe nodded faintly, admitting she did feel something special for Liyue Harbor.
Yet that very attachment left her torn.
"I like Liyue Harbor a lot. Everything here feels warm and welcoming."
"But, to keep what I cherish safe from being destroyed because of me, I have to let go of that attachment. Perhaps… this is my fate."
Paimon's eyes widened in disbelief. "Shenhe, you've got it all wrong! We've been together for over a month now, and nothing dangerous has happened. We've been so happy together!"
Expressionless, Shenhe countered, "Then how do you explain this crisis in Liyue Harbor?"
Paimon couldn't grasp her logic and argued, "This disaster has nothing to do with you!"
Shenhe quietly watched Paimon's frantic face. Reaching out, she gently stroked Paimon's cheek and whispered, "There's no point saying more, Paimon. I've already made my decision."
But afraid her words might wound Paimon, she added, "Even if I won't stay in Liyue Harbor, you can always come visit me at Mt. Aocang. Our bond will never change."
Feeling the warmth of her palm, Paimon gazed at Shenhe's face, which tried to soften with tenderness, and a sense of helplessness washed over her. She nodded reluctantly.
"Even so, I can't help but feel so powerless…"
Shenhe gently caressed her cheek, her gaze calm. "My master once told me, the world can never be smooth sailing. But the month I spent with you all… those memories are etched in me forever. I'll never forget them."
Her eyes turned toward Lumine and Shao Yun. "I'm truly glad to have become friends with you."
Though she wasn't especially close to Shao Yun, because of her deep bond with Lumine, she also counted him as a friend.
At this, Paimon felt a pang of sadness and whispered, "Shenhe…"
Shenhe softly wiped away the tears brimming at the corner of Paimon's eyes, comforting her. "Don't be so sad. While I'm still here, let's cherish these last moments together."
Knowing Shenhe's mind was made up, Paimon nodded firmly and asked, "Then… when will you leave Liyue Harbor?"
After a pause, Shenhe replied, "Once I've seen Yun Jin's performance of The Divine Damsel of Devastation, I'll return to Mt. Aocang."
Lumine tried to persuade her again. "Do you really have to?"
Shenhe nodded. "My decision is final. Thank you for your care this past month. If you ever have time, come visit me.
"Of course, who knows—perhaps we'll meet again in the mountains and forests. Anything's possible."
At that moment, Shao Yun—who had been mostly silent like a background figure—suddenly saw a system prompt appear before him.
[Congratulations. You've severed Shenhe's last mortal attachment. In the future, she will be an ethereal white-haired adeptus.]
Though just emotionless text, Shao Yun could sense the system's snide tone.
In his heart, he cursed simply, 'Shut up! No one asked you!'
…
Once it was clear Shenhe really planned to leave, Shao Yun decided to prepare breakfast.
He opened the door, closing it carefully behind him. As he turned, he noticed Yelan standing at the door across the hall, her back facing him.
"Yelan?" Shao Yun called in surprise.
Startled by his voice from behind, Yelan quickly turned to see him standing there, looking at her.
Steadying herself, she greeted him.
"Well, what a coincidence. I was just about to knock, and here you come out of Lumine's room."
Shao Yun shrugged indifferently. "What is it?"
Crossing her arms, Yelan explained, "I came to inform you—at six this evening, Ningguang will host a banquet at the Jade Chamber to celebrate its reconstruction. Some of Liyue's important figures are invited."
Curious, Shao Yun asked, "Holding a feast so soon after a crisis? I thought they'd wait a few days."
Yelan gave her reasoning.
"My guess is because of the adepti. You understand—Liyue is ruled by humans, yet it's always the adepti who save the day. That leaves people with, you know, a lack of faith in the Liyue Qixing."
"So, I suppose Ningguang wants to lift morale. To show through action that the Qixing can handle things." Her tone carried a trace of amusement.
That made Shao Yun recall something: how Yae Miko had once written in a light novel, exaggerating and boldly sketching out the many deaths of Raiden Ei.
Curious, he asked, "Don't tell me she's going to use The Divine Damsel of Devastation to stage some kind of… atmosphere that benefits the Qixing?"
At first surprised by his mention of the opera, Yelan then shook her head.
"You're overthinking it. Besides, like you told Lady Yuheng before, you don't really care about Liyue's politics, do you?"
After some thought, Shao Yun realized she was right. Politics in Liyue had little to do with him.
He shrugged, agreeing, "Fair point. Not my problem."
Waving his hand, he signaled he didn't want to dwell on the topic.
With the banquet matter settled, Yelan moved on to another important subject—hiring Shao Yun for a mission in the Chasm.
She looked at him and asked, "So, about my commission. Did you and Lumine talk it over?"
Shao Yun nodded. "Lumine agreed. I'll take it."
Relieved, Yelan folded her arms and smiled. "Good. Now then, when should we depart…"
But Shao Yun interrupted, frowning as he asked seriously, "Hold on. What about the payment? Can you tell me?"
At this point, it was only fair she show her cards.
For a moment, Yelan looked surprised, then smiled mysteriously. In a soft voice, she said, "The payment, hmm… I'll tell you on the day of the mission. It still needs preparation."
Since she insisted, and given he'd just agreed, Shao Yun didn't press further.
Still, he reminded her kindly, "Fine. But if I'm not satisfied, I'll refuse.
"I'd rather stay at Iron Tongue Tian's place, listening to the same old storytelling for the hundredth time, than work for a lousy payment."
Hearing that, Yelan's smile grew more enigmatic. She nodded slowly. "Don't worry. You'll be satisfied. Just wait and see."