Jeht took a deep breath and accepted the vial of medicine.
Without the slightest hesitation, she tilted her head back and swallowed the bitter, unsettling liquid in one go.
As the potion slid down her throat, an indescribable bitterness spread instantly, but Jeht clenched her teeth and forced herself not to spit it out.
Moments after drinking it, she suddenly felt a faint itching at the grotesque wound on her leg.
Looking down, she saw the blood stopping at an astonishing speed, and the wound that had been constantly oozing now beginning to heal.
Realizing her injury was improving, Jeht let out a relieved breath.
She lifted her head toward Lumine, guilt and apology filling her expression.
"Sorry, Lumine… it was my fault. I was deceived by Babel. I… lost my judgment for a moment…"
At that moment, Shao Yun, standing to the side, appeared completely unfazed.
He shrugged lightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, and said half-jokingly, "Haha, it's fine. The result is the same—you just failed to beat Lumine."
Jeht instantly felt her face heat with embarrassment.
Her eyes widened, and she almost retorted.
"You—! Can't you save me a little face? Saying it like that…"
But the words suddenly stopped in her throat.
After thinking for a moment, Jeht realized Shao Yun wasn't wrong—she really had failed to defeat Lumine.
But it wasn't because she couldn't beat Lumine. She simply didn't want to hurt her. During the fight earlier, she had even thought about just letting it end like Tadhla, dying directly under Lumine's blade.
But Lumine was using guns, making such a thought impossible.
And honestly, it was lucky Lumine had been wearing the "Cowgirl Gunslinger" outfit these past few days… otherwise…
…
Once the misunderstanding was resolved, the group didn't hurry back to confront Babel. Instead, they chose to rest first.
Outside the twice-slaughtered Fatui camp, they hastily set up a simple tent.
Jeht lay inside the tent, taking a short nap to recover her strength.
Meanwhile, Shao Yun, responsible for keeping watch, focused intently on the slightest movements around them.
At that moment, Lumine walked over and said, "Shao Yun, I have something I want to talk to you about."
Shao Yun continued scanning the surroundings but replied, "Oh? What is it?"
Lumine then drew the gold-and-silver pair of Schofield revolvers from her waist and explained the sensations she'd been experiencing while using them recently.
"When I'm using the weapons you gave me, the… the feeling is very strange. I always hit the target, but it feels like I'm shooting randomly—and yet every shot still lands."
After hearing this, Shao Yun immediately understood.
This was identical to the experience brought by the [Level-1 Deadeye]—nothing serious at all.
So, he offered a direct and simple explanation.
"The reason is simple. You haven't used them enough yet, so you're not accustomed to them."
Lumine listened, then combined his words with her own thoughts. "Hmm… So, it's kind of like those incredible martial arts novels from Liyue? Like I haven't reached the realm of 'being one with the sword'?"
But Shao Yun smiled and corrected her. "Not quite. Here it should be called being one with the gun. Anyway, is there anything else?"
Lumine's gaze drifted toward Jeht, who was resting quietly in the tent.
After a brief moment of thought, she turned back to Shao Yun. "Let's help Jeht settle things with Babel first. Then… let's head straight to Fontaine, okay?"
Shao Yun nodded. "Of course. Honestly, I've had enough of eating sand in this endless desert."
Having settled her own matters, Lumine then thought about Jeht's situation.
"So… Jeht…"
Shao Yun immediately offered a solution. "We'll place her in Aaru Village. It'll even ease some of Candace's burden."
Hearing this, Lumine agreed readily. "Right. Aaru Village really is the best place. And Jeht's wish to bury her parents' belongings has already been fulfilled."
Thus, the two finalized the general plan for their upcoming actions.
Once Shao Yun made sure everything was arranged, he urged, "Alright, go get some rest. We've got a tough fight ahead."
Lumine nodded obediently and turned toward the tent, preparing to get some sleep.
"Oh… okay…"
But just as she was about to rest, she suddenly added, "By the way, Shao Yun—Liloupar has stopped talking. It feels like her consciousness has returned to Gurabad…"
Shao Yun, his mind filled with thoughts of the coming battle, wasn't too concerned with Liloupar's situation.
Still, he expressed a hint of regret. "Really? That's a pity. I kind of miss the one who used to compete with Paimon for the right to float beside you…"
…
Before long, the afternoon sunlight spread across the land.
Jeht opened her eyes and awoke.
After half a day of rest, the serious gunshot wound on her leg had mostly healed, leaving her able to move freely.
The Tanit Tribe's "Purge" officially began.
…
Meanwhile, at the western entrance of the Tanit Tribe, Babel had been waiting an entire day without seeing Shao Yun return.
As time passed and dusk approached, panic began to gnaw at her.
Then a thought struck her like lightning—a terrible possibility.
Shao Yun, Lumine, Paimon, Jeht… none of them mattered to Babel.
What mattered was the guardian spirit, Liloupar.
If Shao Yun had taken Liloupar and fled—wouldn't that make Babel the biggest fool alive?
Driven by anxiety, she sent people out to search.
Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of several familiar figures approaching from afar.
Looking closely—it was Shao Yun and the others!
And they were uninjured—completely safe.
Babel's heart sank. This was the worst possible outcome. Worse than Shao Yun escaping with Liloupar.
Despite knowing she was finished, she forced a smile. "Jeht… and honored guests of the tribe—"
Before she could finish, Shao Yun cut her off with a mocking tone. "Sorry, Miss Babel. Seeing the four of us return—you must be surprised."
He continued smugly, "There's a saying: never pop the champagne halfway through. Otherwise…"
Shao Yun raised his right hand and slid his thumb slowly across his neck, signaling that Babel's death was at hand.
Babel still clung to a sliver of hope, attempting a final desperate gamble.
Her cheeks flushed. She stared at Shao Yun and whined sweetly, "Oh, what are you talking about? I only made a tiny little mistake because I was lonely and impulsive… I know I was wrong. Please don't be mad at me…"
Her flirtatious tone was clearly meant to sow discord between Shao Yun and Lumine.
But to Babel's disappointment, Lumine didn't react at all.
You could believe Shao Yun skins people and eats them, but say he messed around with her? Absolutely not…
Shao Yun also saw through Babel's pathetic trick, glaring at her with disgust.
"Enough of your acting, Babel."
"Are you going to offer your neck yourself? Or should I drag you by the hair and cut it open to drain your blood?"
Babel shivered at his words, but soon forced herself to regain composure. She knew there would be no peaceful ending today.
Seeing the group fully turned against her, she hardened her resolve and dropped her false gentleness.
"I haven't lost yet!"
Before the echo faded, Babel pointed toward Shao Yun's group and barked at the two Tanit "Falcons" beside her: "Why are you idiots standing around?! Go! Kill these traitors! Don't let a single one escape!"
Then Babel turned and fled back into the tribe.
Watching her run away in such a sorry state, Shao Yun snorted. "Heh, she really thinks two circus clowns are enough to kill us? How much fake wine did she drink?"
Jeht, however, remained cautious, eyes fixed on the two left behind. "Don't underestimate them. Those two do have some skills."
But Shao Yun dismissed her warning. "That just means you don't know how strong we really are."
He quickly issued orders.
"Lumine, I'll handle perimeter watch so no one sneaks in. You handle the damage."
After all, they'd stayed here this long to level her Deadeye—if she didn't take the experience, it would all be wasted.
Then Shao Yun looked at Jeht. "As for you, just stay behind us and enjoy the show."
"When we deal with Babel at the end—you can finish it."
Jeht blinked, surprised at being given such a light role. Then she nodded. She glanced at her still-aching leg and said apologetically, "Alright… sorry. I might drag you two down this time."
With Lumine and Jeht assigned, Shao Yun finally looked at Paimon floating beside Lumine.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then grinned. "As for you, Paimon—you just need to use your specialty. Be adorable."
Paimon could shoot, but with Shao Yun and Lumine here, she really only needed to be cute.
So, she zipped behind Shao Yun, nodding like a pecking chicken. "Okay! Paimon will stay right behind you! If it's being cute, leave it to Paimon!"
At that moment, one of the two "cannon fodder" left by Babel shouted, "Hey! You done with your last words? If you're finished, then hurry up and surrender!"
Seeing the two clueless fools rushing to die, Shao Yun leaned toward Lumine and whispered, "Lumine, these two annoying flies are yours."
Receiving the command, Lumine drew her gold-and-silver Schofield revolvers.
She aimed calmly at the two disposable fighters and replied, "Don't worry. This will be easy."
Two sharp gunshots cracked through the air.
…
Meanwhile, Babel sprinted back into the Tanit camp, shouting for the entire tribe to mobilize, form a defensive line, and kill Shao Yun's group at all costs.
Once everything was arranged, she hurried alone back to her chambers.
Heart pounding wildly, she rummaged desperately for the key to her treasure vault.
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa