When Shao Yun heard Dainsleif say he had joined the Abyss Order, he nearly burst out laughing.
He thought it was utterly absurd—how could he possibly join the Abyss Order? There was no reason at all!
Holding back his laughter, he asked with a puzzled look, "What? No, since when did I ever join the Abyss Order?"
Then he turned to Aether beside him, asking with genuine confusion, "Brother-in-law, when did I join the Abyss Order? Do you know?"
Aether glanced at Dainsleif's cold face, then back at Shao Yun, and replied in all seriousness, "If you want to join, you can join right now."
Shao Yun's face instantly collapsed, groaning inwardly. 'Brother-in-law, do you have to say it in such a misleading way?!'
Looking rather flustered, he waved his hands at Aether and hurriedly explained, "Don't mess around! I'm just here to look! I didn't come here to get recruited!"
Watching the two of them bicker, Dainsleif's brows furrowed. His voice was cold as ice. "What kind of play are you two putting on here?"
Shao Yun quickly sobered up and looked at him. "I really am just here to see my brother-in-law's work, nothing more."
But Dainsleif cast a glance at the Abyss Mages behind Shao Yun and Aether, and then at the Abyss Herald Wicked Torrents who was still lodged in the wall. His eyes narrowed as he asked coldly, "Do you honestly think I'll believe you?"
Taking in the scene, Shao Yun let out a bitter smile in his heart. Truthfully, even if he were in Dainsleif's place, he wouldn't believe it either.
Still, he had one decisive reason. He blurted out, "Come on, why would I ever abandon Lumine to join the Abyss Order? Use your brain!"
Dainsleif studied him closely, caught between doubt and belief.
"You make a fair point… but how can I be sure you're not deceiving me?"
As he spoke, his right foot slid back slightly, left leg tense, and his right hand clenched into a fist—ready to strike at any moment.
"Prove to me that what you say is true."
Seeing the suspicion etched on Dainsleif's face and his aggressive stance, Shao Yun's heart sank.
He had thought his explanation would be enough, but clearly it wasn't.
Then again, it wasn't unreasonable—such coincidences never looked like coincidences.
Out in the world, one must always be wary of others, even those who once lent a helping hand. Intentions could change; alliances could be traps.
At that moment, the system chimed mechanically in Shao Yun's head.
[Dainsleif has issued you a duel challenge.]
Shao Yun's chest tightened. He had no desire to fight.
Sure, Dainsleif had said some things that influenced Lumine, but Shao Yun hadn't forgotten that Dainsleif had once helped him kidnap his brother-in-law.
They had even hidden together in Dragonspine, however fleetingly. Even if it was mostly because of Shao Yun's elusive "payment," they had endured hardship together.
So, he didn't want this to escalate into hostility.
Trying for a calm, rational approach, he said, "We need to cool down. Let's just sit down, the three of us, and talk—like we did back on Dragonspine. There's no need for bloodshed."
"Besides, this time, what Aether and the Abyss Order are doing doesn't affect anyone else. If you'd come two days later, it wouldn't have mattered."
After all, whether Hilichurls lived or died, Shao Yun truly didn't care.
Even if the plan would worsen Dainsleif's curse, wasn't it simple? Just don't come.
At that moment, Aether cut in, raising his voice at Dainsleif. "Wait. I have a few words to say."
Dainsleif turned his eyes on him, suspicious. "What is it?"
Aether pointed at Shao Yun and explained, "This has nothing to do with him. I only brought him here to observe. He hasn't joined the Abyss Order."
Seeing Aether's sincerity and Shao Yun's bewildered expression, Dainsleif began to waver.
But fate had other plans.
Wicked Torrents stirred, wrenching itself free from the wall with both hands.
He stumbled behind Aether and muttered, "Your Highness, while we have the chance, why don't we drag your blood relative's lover into our side?"
Though whispered, he deliberately let Dainsleif overhear.
The tension returned instantly to Dainsleif's face.
Aether spun around in fury. "Shut up! Can't you be more like Enjou, and actually use your brain?"
Seeing the Prince enraged, Wicked Torrents clammed up at once.
Still, being told to emulate that pencil-pusher Enjou gnawed at his pride. 'What does that guy have that I don't? He's just a clerk! Why should I learn from him?'
But orders were orders. Perhaps he'd find a chance to study under him anyway.
Turning back, Aether met Dainsleif's eyes with sincere resolve. "Dainsleif, this has nothing to do with my brother-in-law. Let him leave. Whatever grudges remain are between us."
Dainsleif's gaze shifted to Shao Yun, who looked entirely unwilling to leave.
Then he remembered Shao Yun's earlier words—and Lumine. Even just for her sake, Shao Yun shouldn't be dragged into this mess.
At last, Dainsleif sighed and nodded. "Very well, Shao Yun. Leave this place."
Relief washed over Aether. He drew his white-gold longsword and gripped it tight, facing Dainsleif.
"Good. Now that the outsider is gone, we can fight without restraint!"
But Shao Yun's eyes went wide. He shouted, "Hold on! Listen to me first!"
Both of them turned to him. He cried out, "My Archon! If you two really fight, how the hell am I supposed to just walk away?!"
"Can't we just talk like we did on Dragonspine?"
Dainsleif shook his head firmly. "What happened on Dragonspine was far too exceptional."
"Enough talk. Shao Yun, make your choice. Will you leave now, or stand with the Abyss Order?"
Taking a deep breath, Shao Yun stomped his foot to steady himself. But it didn't help.
Without thinking, he pulled Aether behind him and glared at Dainsleif. "I want you two to sit down and talk this out. I'm not just standing aside!"
"The only way is to beat you into listening, then the three of us—me, you, and 'not-so-Prince-of-the-Abyss' Aether—will talk it through! That's what I mean!"
Dragged behind, Aether protested quickly, "This doesn't concern you! I have nothing left to say to Dainsleif!"
But Shao Yun wasn't thinking straight anymore. Words just tumbled out.
"You're Lumine's brother! I can't just ignore you! If Dainsleif had waited until I was gone, fine—I wouldn't care. But now that I'm here, I don't have a choice!"
Dainsleif frowned at his stubbornness, his tone grim. "I can't make sense of your actions anymore."
"But if you insist on siding with the Abyss Order, then I have no choice but to treat you as an enemy."
The system chimed again.
[You have accepted Dainsleif's duel.]
Shao Yun immediately switched his weapon, trading his holstered Schofield revolver for another.
His right hand rested on the grip of Micah's Revolver (a god-slaying weapon; Inscribed with "Vengeance Is Hereby Mine").
Narrowing his eyes, he fixed his gaze on Dainsleif, brimming with vigilance.
Yet he had not drawn the Cowboy Revolver (the "Goat's Blessing"). The reason was simple—he didn't actually want to kill Dainsleif.
After all, he had accepted Lumine's 500 Mora and three questions. That put him firmly on her side. And besides, in Dragonspine… he had really helped there.
Even in this tense moment, Shao Yun still tried to negotiate.
He offered, "We can still talk. Just the three of us. No need for a fight."
But Dainsleif gave no reply.
Instead, a mysterious sword materialized in his right hand. That alone was his answer—battle was inevitable.
To him, Shao Yun had chosen Aether's side. That made him an enemy.
It wasn't impossible for friends to become foes. And strictly speaking, Shao Yun was never really a "friend" at all.
When Dainsleif revealed the Twilight Sword, panic flickered across Aether's face. He quickly tried to explain, "Dainsleif, Shao Yun has nothing to do with the Abyss Order!"
But Dainsleif remained silent. So did Shao Yun.
Sensing the shift, Aether retreated two steps, leaving space for them.
Then Dainsleif lunged. His speed was inhuman, his blade darting for Shao Yun's chest like lightning.
The instant Dainsleif moved, Shao Yun activated the Deadeye.
A thunderclap roared in his mind, followed by the ticking of a clock.
His Vision on his hip did not glow. Instead, dark violet blood trickled from the skull-carved socket.
Dainsleif was powerful indeed. To Shao Yun's eyes, his speed even surpassed the Raiden Shogun's.
The difference was like comparing 0.5 to 0.8—perhaps even 0.85.
Shao Yun drew and fired.
The moment Dainsleif's blade was half a meter away, a deafening gunshot shook the ruins.
A dark crimson-violet bullet burst from Micah's Revolver.
It pierced Dainsleif's right chest—not fatal, but enough to wound him.
The shot was so fast he saw only its afterimage.
As it struck, Dainsleif's ears filled with the wails of countless souls.
A searing pain spread through his chest, like flames licking his flesh.
But his body was stronger than most—centuries of surviving the Abyss curse had hardened him. The pain stayed at the wound, not spreading.
Staggering, his sword slipped from his grasp and vanished.
He stumbled back, then collapsed hard onto the ground.
Seeing this, Wicked Torrents cried out in excitement, "Now's our chance!"
He bolted forward to finish Dainsleif.
But Shao Yun swung his revolver toward him and fired without hesitation, barking, "Drop the act!"
Boosted by the Deadeye, the bullet's force was overwhelming, nearly stripping Wicked Torrents of his second life.
Hit, he crashed to the ground, groaning inwardly. 'Why is it always me who gets screwed over?!'
With a flourish, Shao Yun holstered Micah's Revolver, casting a cold glance at the water-soaked Herald on the ground.
Then he approached Dainsleif, crouched beside him, and, coughing lightly, asked with a faint smile, "So… how about we have that little talk now?"