Thanks for _______ ________ and Hermit Purple for becoming as Supporters!
===BREAK===
After hearing Shao Yun's words, Furina was rendered speechless on the spot. For a moment, she couldn't make sense of his logic at all—her mind had simply overloaded.
Furina stood high above the crowd, her face full of shock, her mouth opening and closing uselessly.
"Wait, you… you…"
Paimon, standing off to the side, saw Furina being completely shut down like this and leaned toward Lumine, lowering her voice. "Wow, Shao Yun actually made the Hydro Archon unable to talk back… that's amazing!"
But Lumine, ever observant, had noticed something rather strange. She leaned close to Paimon's ear and whispered softly.
"But on another note… Zhongli fell from way up there where the Hydro Archon was standing. Is he really not hurt?"
Paimon tilted her head thoughtfully, then lowered her voice in reply. "Mm… well, Zhongli used to be the Geo Archon, right? Something this small probably can't trouble him."
"And I also heard he can even eat rocks. So, falling from the same height probably isn't a big deal to him at all."
(Zhongli:Excuse me? What does eating rocks have to do with surviving a fall?)
Although Furina was at a temporary disadvantage in this verbal clash, the surrounding atmosphere grew increasingly heated.
People whispered among themselves, guessing what kind of exciting spectacle was about to unfold.
From within the crowd came bursts of hushed chatter.
"What's going on? Lady Furina is here? Are we getting a show?"
"Of course! That's the blonde traveler! If Lady Furina came here in person, she must be planning some kind of grand showdown!"
"Ooooh! This is going to be great! I knew Lady Furina wouldn't let us down!"
Shao Yun had said only two or three sentences, yet they had already left Furina feeling awkward.
But when the citizens of Fontaine all started rousing each other, shouting for the Hydro Archon to fight Shao Yun and his companions just for entertainment…
Upon hearing the rising cheers around her, especially the demands for her to duel Lumine, Furina felt herself caught in a dilemma.
But soon, she placed her hands on her hips, let out a loud, hearty laugh, and shouted to the Fontaine citizens present: "Ahahaha! Yes, yes, no need to rush."
"Those who believe in me always shout together with the spectators. So loud—and I shall tolerate this clamor."
Following the crowd's wishes, Furina continued, riding the momentum: "Just as you imagine, I am indeed resolved to face these foreign travelers in an epic battle!"
The moment she said this, the crowd erupted in even louder cheers.
Paimon, standing nearby, was dumbfounded upon hearing how decisively Furina agreed to fight.
"This… we're really starting a fight? Isn't this progressing too fast? I thought the Hydro Archon might be reasonable, but she's already picking a fight with us…"
Shao Yun saw that Furina was being swept along by public pressure, not thinking clearly.
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to ease the situation.
"Um… could we not fight? Maybe you could come down first, or we can go up there. Let's all sit down and talk, okay?"
But Furina completely misunderstood his goodwill, assuming she held the advantage, becoming even more arrogant.
"Oho? Are you afraid of the duel? Hmph! Looks like you're not as brave as the rumors claim!"
Hearing her aggressive words, Shao Yun frowned.
He had wanted to keep things peaceful, but seeing her push her luck, he no longer felt like wasting breath.
"I didn't come here to ask for trouble. We're just here for a vacation."
Then he added, "If you really don't want us entering Fontaine, then at least let us see the Hydro Archon's statue. Let us take that memory with us."
"As long as you grant that, we'll leave immediately. You be your Archon, we live our life. We won't bother each other."
Shao Yun was simply waiting for his brother-in-law to gather enough energy for the Loom of Fate. When the time came, he'd grab Aether, Lumine, and Paimon and run far away.
He wasn't some white-robed messiah—whether Fontaine perished or not had nothing to do with him. If Furina didn't welcome them, they'd get their Hydro energy and leave.
Wouldn't going to Natlan to play with dragons be much more fun?
When on someone else's territory, you show respect. If they want you gone, then leave. Simple.
Hearing that Shao Yun's group was about to leave, Furina froze completely.
Her purpose was to orchestrate a grand performance, not to chase them away!
If they really left, then the excited spectators would be sorely disappointed!
She had painstakingly arranged repairs at the Court of Fontaine and had waited at Romaritime Harbor for over a week for their arrival.
If things ended like this, all her planning would be wasted!
Meanwhile, the crowd, seeing that there would be no spectacle, began to grow restless.
"What! I thought we'd see a fierce battle between the Archon and the travelers!"
"Boring. Let's go."
Hearing their complaints and seeing disappointment spread across their faces, Furina panicked.
To reignite the excitement, she glanced over Shao Yun's group—and her eyes stopped on Paimon.
An idea flashed instantly.
Standing tall, Furina took a deep breath and shouted, "No! You absolutely cannot leave!"
Shao Yun heard this and thought: she won't let them into Fontaine, but also won't let them leave? She needed to explain herself.
So, he asked, annoyed, "And why not?"
Furina declared solemnly, "According to Fontaine law, no flying objects may be released in the city during the first three days of every month. You have violated this rule. Therefore, I have grounds to arrest you!"
Then she added, "You have the right to remain silent. But in court, please present your defense!"
Upon hearing they were to be arrested, Paimon panicked. "Wait—what did you say?"
With a straight face, Furina repeated without hesitation,
"You have committed a serious offense! As clearly stated by Fontaine law, during the first three days of each month, no one may release any form of flying object in Fontaine's city!"
"And yet you ignored this law—thus committing a violation!"
Paimon was baffled. How could "releasing a flying object" be a crime? What kind of ridiculous charge was that?
She looked around the area for what could have triggered this law.
Then suddenly, as if struck by lightning, she looked down at herself.
She was floating.
Wait… was she the flying object?
With disbelief, Paimon slowly raised her head to look at Furina.
"Wait… you mean… me? I'm that flying object?"
Furina stared at Paimon's stunned expression with great interest.
"Haha, that's right! Looks like you're quite self-aware! Since you have no objections, I, the Hydro Archon, shall officially arrest you!"
"Let's meet properly at the Opera Epiclese. I'm very much looking forward to your wonderful 'performance' there!"
Her words were like a bomb thrown into the crowd, instantly igniting everyone's emotions.
The atmosphere turned wild and tense.
Just as Furina felt triumphant, Shao Yun snapped.
I offer you wine, you refuse; I give you food, you spin the table away. Do you really think I'm air?!
Shao Yun strode forward in two quick steps, unleashing his fury without restraint.
He glared up at Furina and roared, "What did you just say? Say. It. Again!"
"You dared to call my precious daughter a flying object! You insult a daughter in front of her father—are you tired of living, you damned turtle-spawn?!"
The crowd froze. The lively plaza fell into dead silence.
Furina, hearing Shao Yun call Paimon his daughter, was stunned speechless.
After a long pause, she finally stammered, "D-daughter? Are you kidding me? Look at you two—how could you possibly be father and daughter?!"
Shao Yun pointed up at her, shouting, "Paimon is my adopted daughter! What's wrong with that?!"
"You racist! This absurd law you made is the biggest insult you could throw at my daughter!"
"If you dare to discriminate against her today, then what—will you build concentration camps tomorrow and throw everyone who doesn't 'look human' into crematoriums?!"
His words caused the entire situation to flip instantly.
Furina, who moments ago held the advantage, was smashed down completely—roles reversed in an instant.
Hearing Shao Yun accuse Furina of racial discrimination, the citizens of Fontaine were horrified.
Such a crime was grave—not just in Fontaine, but anywhere in Teyvat.
Teyvat was generally harmonious.
Any being capable of communication and goodwill—so long as they weren't mindless monsters—could live in peace.
There were no hard lines between demihumans and humans. Everyone coexisted as equals.
In Mondstadt, Diona—a little catgirl—was never insulted as a monster.
In Liyue, mixed children of Adepti and humans were common—Ganyu and Yanfei were examples.
In Inazuma, oni and yokai now lived peacefully with humans.
In Sumeru, Tighnari, descended from the people of Valuka Shuna, had fox ears—and no one cared.
Especially in Fontaine, with Melusines enjoying equal rights.
Discrimination was not merely frowned upon in Fontaine—it was a crime of tremendous severity.
Shao Yun's accusation made the once-excited crowd freeze, stunned and pale.
Then whispers erupted:
"Now that I think about it… there must be many beings in Teyvat like that little floating companion."
"If simply floating counts as violating the law, doesn't that sound discriminatory…?"
Another voice added, "Lady Furina being accused of racial discrimination? That's serious! Is she going to be sent to the Fortress of Meropide?!"
The scene quickly descended into chaos.
Furina stood above, her head buzzing, heart pounding.
Everything was spiraling beyond her expectations. She nearly fainted.
She wanted to hide in a hole.
"What do you mean I'm discriminating?! Why do they all think that…"
Panicked, she desperately tried to clarify.
"Hey! Everyone! Calm down and listen! That's not what I meant! I wasn't discriminating against that adorable white little one!"
But Shao Yun poured more oil onto the fire.
"Then explain yourself!"
"If you don't welcome me to visit Fontaine, we'll leave—we're not clinging here. But don't you dare discriminate against my daughter's unique way of moving! And using it as an excuse to arrest us?! Are you that eager to die?!"
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa