Encouraged by Shao Yun, Paimon decided to ride her newfound confidence and fire off the remaining three bullets.
With each pull of the trigger, she shattered a bottle—and with every shatter came her gleeful cheer, each one a witness to her progress.
Seeing her revolver empty, Shao Yun took it from her hands and gently reloaded it.
"How are you feeling, Paimon?" Shao Yun asked softly, a trace of warmth in his voice.
Paimon rubbed her round chin and smiled contentedly.
"Hehe, well..." She blinked playfully. "Breaking bottles feels super rewarding, but honestly, I still prefer hiding behind you and Lumine. It just feels... safer."
Shao Yun shook his head with a helpless smile tugging at his lips.
"So, you're still that little one who needs looking after. But it's fine—hitting stationary targets from ten meters is already a big step forward for you."
As he'd promised, Shao Yun didn't need Paimon to fight—just to be able to defend herself if necessary.
Then, his eyes turned toward Lumine, who was still focused on her training nearby.
By now, Lumine had become comfortable with the revolver's recoil. Each shot she fired was increasingly steady.
Shao Yun knew it was time to take her training up a notch.
He approached and asked in a low voice, "Lumine, how do you feel now?"
Lumine rotated her slightly sore right wrist. "Pretty good," she replied confidently. "I've gotten used to the gun's weight and the kickback."
Shao Yun nodded with satisfaction. "Your progress is impressive. But we're not done yet. Now, we move on to a tougher challenge."
Lumine blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? There's more?"
Shao Yun smiled, his eyes reflecting belief in her. "For Paimon, ten-meter targets are enough. But for you, this is just the beginning."
He counted off on his fingers, laying out his plan.
"My goal is to have you land every shot on fast-moving targets at fifty meters, master quick-draw hip firing in emergencies, and..."
Lumine scratched her head, visibly overwhelmed. "That... sounds hard. Do I really need to learn all that?"
There was hesitation in her voice. The mounting challenge was clearly pressuring her.
"You're really trying to turn me into a sharpshooter like you?"
Shao Yun chuckled, tapping her forehead lightly. "Don't sell yourself short, Lumine. You've got more potential than you think. Mastering this is a huge advantage—and not everyone gets the chance. So, treasure it and give it your all."
And he wasn't exaggerating. Once they reached Fontaine, the Special Patrol units who used firearms would probably pay a fortune to get Shao Yun to teach them.
He might not be Landon Ricketts, but as the Sharpshooter of the Legend of the East set, his title wasn't for show.
…
In the days that followed, the Crux Clash was in full swing under Beidou's fleet. Every match was packed with tension and excitement.
Shao Yun, however, dedicated himself fully to teaching Lumine. His guidance brimmed with the essence of true marksmanship.
Lumine, for her part, showed stunning comprehension. Her skill improved rapidly—within thirty meters, her aim was virtually flawless.
Amid their rigorous routine, the trio also made time to attend the tournament, drawn by the heat and energy of the crowd.
The tournament grounds buzzed with fervor—cheers and shouts rippled through the crowd, and the contestants' performances were nothing short of spectacular, sometimes even downright hilarious.
Take, for instance, a disciple of the Ling Shan Sect named Chai Yi. He used internal force to focus his energy in his face and tried to headbutt his opponent's fists. The result? He got knocked out cold—missing teeth, a crooked mouth, a swollen eye, and a tongue too stiff to speak. The whole crowd roared with laughter.
Yet one contestant left a distinct impression on Shao Yun—a particularly narcissistic fellow named Jinyou.
Before his match, he boasted to everyone about his flawless record in school, business, and social life. He even claimed he'd win a Vision in the tournament and become a "perfect person."
Reality gave him a sharp slap.
In his very first match, a muscular dockworker flattened him with one punch. The scene was painfully awkward.
Later, Shao Yun learned from Beidou that Jinyou was the son of a wealthy Liyue merchant. His so-called achievements? All thanks to daddy's money and influence.
…
Time flew by, and the day of the Crux Clash final finally arrived. Paimon, already at the venue, waited with bated breath for the thrilling showdown.
Meanwhile, Lumine continued her practice on the familiar beach, basking in warm sunlight and focusing her shots on a fixed target fifty meters away.
For a beginner, this distance was daunting.
But her hard work was paying off. She could now hit the target three times out of six—an impressive feat.
Shao Yun observed her progress with satisfaction. He knew how much effort she had poured into this, and it showed.
However, one issue emerged—Lumine had no holster for her revolver.
That troubled him. A holster was essential for any gunslinger.
He glanced at his own sidearm holster and had a thought.
Maybe I should just give mine to Lumine…
Losing one revolver wouldn't be a big deal—if it meant helping her.
At that moment, the system chimed in, reading his thoughts.
[A standalone holster has been issued. You may gift it to Lumine.]
Shao Yun was momentarily stunned, then surprised.
When did you get so thoughtful? he asked mentally.
The system didn't reply, only showing a set of ellipses.
[...]
Shaking his head with a wry smile, Shao Yun muttered, "Alright, I get it. You don't have many features, but thanks for this."
He clapped his hands together and refocused on Lumine.
He called out, "Lumine! That's enough for today!"
Lumine stopped, wiped the sweat from her brow, and fanned herself with her hat. She turned toward him with a faintly exasperated smile.
"That fifty-meter bottle is tiny. I feel like I'm going cross-eyed…"
Shao Yun grinned and, with a swift motion, drew his revolver from his hip.
Without aiming too carefully, he hip-fired three shots.
Bang, bang, bang!
Each shot shattered a bottle with dazzling precision, shards glittering in the sun.
Lumine stared, stunned and awestruck.
Shao Yun turned to her with a gentle smile and patted her shoulder.
"It's fine. You've made amazing progress. In just a few days, you've gone from beginner to hitting half your shots at fifty meters. That's no small feat."
Lumine shrugged with a wry smile. "I'll take that as consolation. But I've still got a long way to go."
"I'm being honest. If you got to my level in just a few days, I'd have to throw myself in the sea." Shao Yun chuckled, the teasing lightening the mood.
Lumine poked his chest with her finger. "You're such a joker."
Shao Yun waved his hand. "Alright, enough talk. I've got something for you—as a reward."
He retrieved a finely-crafted holster from his Legend of the East satchel.
Made of genuine leather, dark brown and elegant, it was simple yet striking.
With gentle hands, he secured it to Lumine's belt.
"There. Now my little sharpshooter has a proper home for her weapon. You're going to be incredible, I know it."
…
[Lumine has received the outfit "Cowgirl"]
…
Lumine looked down at the holster on her right hip, then at her gleaming silver revolver.
She slid the weapon into the holster, completing what felt like a sacred ritual.
Then she looked up, eyes meeting Shao Yun's. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she murmured, "I... don't know what to say."
Shao Yun gazed back, his voice warm and steady. "Just remember what I've taught you—that's enough."
In that tender, slightly tense moment, Lumine suddenly rose on tiptoe and planted a feather-light kiss on Shao Yun's cheek.
Their hearts skipped a beat.
Then, her voice came, soft and full of hidden meaning.
"Don't sleep too early tonight…"
Shao Yun's lips curled into a knowing smile. He looked at her deeply, understanding exactly what she meant.
"Oh~"
That single sound was filled with anticipation, adding layers to their already charged exchange.
Just as the moment hovered between them, Kaedehara Kazuha appeared.
He caught the scene, froze momentarily, then quickly turned away with a flicker of awkwardness across his face.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt. Paimon asked me to come."
Hearing that, both Shao Yun and Lumine instinctively stepped apart, the air between them tinged with subtle embarrassment.
Lumine cleared her throat and smiled, trying to ease the awkwardness. "Kazuha, what brings you here?"
Still facing away, Kazuha replied, slightly flustered, "It's about the Crux Clash finals. Paimon asked me to let you know. Sorry for the poor timing."
Shao Yun wasn't angry at the intrusion—just embarrassed.
He tried to sound casual. "No worries, Kazuha. We'll head there right away. Thanks."
…
Shao Yun, Lumine, and Kazuha made their way to the tournament grounds. The atmosphere was awkward at first, thanks to the moment Kazuha had inadvertently walked in on.
To lighten the mood, Shao Yun changed the topic.
"Kazuha, if I may ask—who are the two finalists?"
Kazuha paused, thinking. "Let me see… one's a strong fellow named 'Uncle Yun.' The other is a contestant named 'Fei Fei.'"
Shao Yun seized the opportunity to keep the small talk going.
"Is that so? Then who do you think has the upper hand?"
Kazuha considered for a moment. "Uncle Yun is known for his strength, while Fei Fei relies on speed. Both have their merits. Hard to say who'll win."
Shao Yun nodded and grinned mysteriously. "I've got a feeling Uncle Yun's going to win."
Kazuha raised a brow, intrigued. "Oh? Why's that?"
Shao Yun tapped his temple. "Just a hunch. Sometimes, gut feeling beats any logic."
Kazuha paused, then smiled in agreement. "Instinct, huh? Yes... sometimes, it's more reliable than clues."
Of course, Shao Yun already knew the outcome—Fei Fei was a member of the Treasure Hoarders. He'd try to steal the Vision before the final, so naturally, his opponent would win.
But even without knowing the plot, it was obvious—a featherweight versus a heavyweight? Most would bet on the bigger guy.