After dealing with the Fatui's corpse, Shao Yun stayed by Lumine's side at Vimara Village until midnight, when she finally stirred awake.
Originally, he had planned to let her rest there for the night. But since Paimon was still waiting in Sumeru City, the two decided to return under the cover of night.
By the time they arrived, it was already well past midnight. Paimon, who had stayed up the whole time, immediately exhaled in relief when she saw them safe and sound—before puffing up her cheeks in irritation.
After all, Lumine had promised to come back soon, and now it was the middle of the night! Paimon could almost suspect the two of them had snuck off on some secret date...
Since neither of them had expected the delay, they soothed Paimon's tantrum by promising to treat her to something delicious later.
…
The Day of the Sabzeruz Festival
As the first light of dawn broke, soft sunlight filtered through drifting clouds and bathed Sumeru City in a golden glow.
The scent of blossoms filled the air, wrapping the whole city in a dreamy, fairytale-like atmosphere—bright colors, laughter, and the hum of celebration everywhere.
According to their plan, Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon were on their way to meet with Dunyarzad.
As they walked, Paimon couldn't help but yawn, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Ugh, it's your fault for coming back so late last night! I barely slept at all! We better not be late, you hear me?"
Stretching her tiny arms, she tried to shake off the drowsiness.
Lumine walked quietly beside them. Every so often, she glanced down at her own hands—still haunted by the memory of last night's bloodshed.
Even though Shao Yun had comforted her, an indescribable unease still lingered deep inside.
"It's so strange… I killed someone just last night, and now I'm supposed to smile and celebrate a festival like nothing happened…"
Noticing her somber tone, Shao Yun reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
"Hey, stop overthinking, Lumine. That Alphonso, or Trofin, or whatever name he went by—he's gone. He deserved what he got. You don't need to burden yourself with guilt."
Lumine's expression softened a little. She nodded faintly, adjusted the brim of her hat, and whispered, "Mm… alright…"
"Oh, and… thanks for the new guns and holsters yesterday. And for teaching me how to use them."
As she spoke, she patted the two Schofield revolvers holstered at her hips.
Originally, Shao Yun had planned to keep them himself—one gold, one silver—but knowing Lumine's arsenal was a bit bare, he decided to let her have them instead.
Sure, they'd come from a demon—but since that creature had promised not to harm Lumine or Paimon, it should be fine. Besides, the weapons were technically her reward.
…
At their meeting spot, Dunyarzad leaned casually against the railing, her radiant eyes scanning the crowd expectantly.
The moment she spotted them, her face lit up with a brilliant smile.
"Hey there! Happy Sabzeruz Festival!" she called out, waving enthusiastically.
"Dunyarzad! Happy Festival to you too!" Paimon chirped, waving her tiny hands with equal energy.
Then, tilting her head curiously, Paimon added, "You seem extra cheerful today!"
Dunyarzad nodded excitedly, her voice full of warmth. "Of course! I've been waiting for this day for ages! And you know what? So many kind vendors showed up to set up stalls—they even refused the subsidies we offered! Come on, let's go show them some support!"
Before anyone could respond, she was already leading the way toward the bustling marketplace.
Paimon mumbled, half in disbelief, "Refused subsidies? Wow, guess these vendors really care about more than just money…"
Dunyarzad turned back with a smile. "Exactly. They all said celebrating the Little Lord Kusanali means more to them than any amount of mora!"
Shao Yun thought to himself that idealism was probably part of it—but large crowds meant good business too. Still, it wasn't the day for cynical comments. Festivals needed cheer, not logic.
As they walked among the stalls, Paimon's sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of a food stand nearby.
"Hey! Look over there! They're selling food! Let's go check it out!"
They followed her eager lead until they stood before a vibrant stall overflowing with dishes.
Dunyarzad leaned in curiously. "Oh, this one's selling 'Seven Delicacies Table' dishes!"
But Paimon's excitement deflated in an instant as she scanned the vegetarian spread. "Aww… mushrooms, flowers, fruits… all veggies? What a letdown…"
Just then, a familiar, velvety voice chimed in:
"Well, well—little cutie, little Paimon, Mr. Shao Yun, and this lovely lady—hello there!"
Shao Yun turned toward the sound. There she was—Lisa, the ever-charming librarian of Mondstadt—gracefully approaching, a Dango Milk in hand and a teasing smile on her lips.
Shao Yun blinked in surprise. Wasn't she supposed to meet me at the Zubayr Theater? he thought. Well, whatever. As long as she brought what I need.
Paimon instantly forgot about food, flitting forward with delight. "Miss Lisa! You're here too? How's the festival?"
Lisa took a sip of her shake, eyes half-closed in contentment. "Mmm~ It's delightful. I'm enjoying it quite a lot."
Dunyarzad greeted her politely. "Hello, I'm Dunyarzad. I hope I'm not being too forward, but… are you perhaps a student of the Akademiya?"
Lisa adjusted her hat, smiling warmly. "Hello, I'm Lisa. Well, I was an Akademiya student once, yes—but now I'm just an ordinary librarian back in Mondstadt."
She shrugged lightly, unconcerned by the contrast.
"As for why I'm here," she continued, "it's all thanks to Shao Yun. He told me this year's festival would be something special, so I squeezed it into my vacation schedule. And he was right—the food's divine."
She licked her lips playfully, clearly still savoring the memory.
Dunyarzad beamed. "I'm so glad to hear that! On behalf of everyone in Sumeru—welcome, Miss Lisa. I hope you have a wonderful and unforgettable time here."
Lisa returned the smile. "Thank you, dear. And happy festival to you too! It's been lovely meeting such sweet company. Well then, I'll let you enjoy yourselves—eat plenty, laugh freely, and celebrate well!"
As Lisa departed, Paimon suddenly gasped and pointed ahead. "Candy! They're handing out free candy over there! Come on, let's go!"
…
Shao Yun didn't follow immediately. He lingered, glancing at Lisa with a knowing look. Then, in a low voice, he asked, "The item I requested?"
Lisa's lips curled in a sly smile. She pulled out a small, ornate notebook and waved it teasingly. "Right here. I waited for you all morning at the Grand Bazaar, you know—you never showed."
"I was just about to get a drink to cool off, and look who fate drops in front of me."
Shao Yun's eyes darted around to make sure no one was watching. Then, with one quick motion, he snatched the notebook and tucked it into his Legend of the East satchel.
"Sorry," he murmured. "Overslept a bit this morning."
Lisa leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? What you're planning… it's not small."
But Shao Yun didn't even hesitate. "Of course, I'm sure. I'm doing it."
When Lisa realized he meant to rescue the Lesser Lord Kusanali from the Sanctuary of Surasthana, her smile turned faintly amused. "Then you're in luck," she said softly.
"Word is, most of the Thirty have been reassigned elsewhere today. Even the Akademiya declared a public holiday. It's as if fate itself is clearing your path."
She pointed toward the towering, leafy boughs that housed the Akademiya. "You could walk right up to the Sanctuary's gates, bold as you please. You'll probably meet only a guard or two, if that."
Relief flickered through Shao Yun's eyes. One or two guards? That was as good as none.
"Thanks, Lisa. For the intel—and be careful yourself," he said sincerely.
Lisa winked, sipping her drink again. "How sweet of you to worry. Have fun, hero. And happy festival~"
…
After that, things unfolded as expected.
Shao Yun, Lumine, Paimon, and Dunyarzad wandered through the candy stalls. Lumine, by pure instinct, picked the Sunsettia-flavored candy on her first try.
The alchemical fortune-telling session was the same as always—Lumine drew the Moon, while Shao Yun chose not to participate.
Later, they joined Dehya to fend off the Eremite mercenaries who tried to ambush Dunyarzad.
Using the opportunity, Shao Yun returned Dehya's Beacon of the Reed Sea, the greatsword he had secretly bought back after she sold it. With it back in her hands, Dehya single-handedly wiped out the attackers.
When Dunyarzad asked how Shao Yun had her weapon, he simply told the truth—he'd seen her sell it and decided to buy it back.
Afterward, Dunyarzad expressed concern for her protector, but Dehya only smiled, made an excuse, and slipped quietly into the shadows once again—to continue watching over her.
…
As evening fell, the setting sun bathed Sumeru's harbor in warm gold. The rippling water mirrored the sky's crimson hues, painting the city in light and flame.
After a full day of festivities, the group sat on a bench by the docks to rest and chat.
For Dunyarzad, this festival felt particularly special. Because of that mysterious demonic painting, her usual frailty seemed to vanish—she was vibrant and full of life.
Mid-conversation, she suddenly clapped her hands. "Oh! I almost forgot—I prepared a surprise for you two!"
"There's still time before dark. Why don't you come to my house? I want to give them to you personally!"
The word gift instantly made Paimon's eyes sparkle. She turned to Shao Yun. "Are you coming too?"
But Shao Yun's gaze was fixed on the towering trunk of the Divine Tree, where the Akademiya stood.
"Sorry," he said softly. "There's something I need to take care of. You don't need that many people to pick up gifts anyway. Let's meet at the Zubayr Theater later, alright?"
Lumine nodded understandingly. "Okay. Don't worry—Paimon and I can protect Dunyarzad."
With a small smile, she waved him goodbye.