Shao Yun walked alone into Uyuu Restaurant. Gorou didn't need to eat, but Shao Yun certainly did.
Just as he entered, before the shopkeeper behind the counter could greet him, Shao Yun unexpectedly bumped right into someone.
He steadied himself, fixing his gaze on the person he had run into. A flicker of surprise rose in his heart as he blurted out, "Enjou?"
Shao Yun stared at the man with suspicion, questions racing through his mind.
'Weren't you supposed to have gone to report to your brother-in-law about the documents you found in Enkanomiya? How are you here at Uyuu Restaurant?!'
Enjou first adjusted the bridge of his glasses (though he wasn't nearsighted).
When he saw Shao Yun, he could hardly contain his excitement.
Grabbing Shao Yun's hand tightly, he said urgently, "Mr. Shao Yun, you've come at just the right time!"
"I was just wondering how to find you—come, come, come! Private room upstairs, please!"
Hearing this, Shao Yun's expression shifted to surprise. He glanced doubtfully at the staircase leading up, then extended a finger toward it, muttering under his breath, 'Could it be that you…'
Inwardly, Shao Yun wondered, 'Did Enjou really summon my brother-in-law Aether here?'
Looking at Enjou's simple, honest expression, he even nodded with a silly smile and said, "Heh heh, you guessed it right!"
Shao Yun couldn't hold back his exasperation. Rolling his eyes, he muttered complaints under his breath.
"Seriously, I'm speechless! Lumine and Paimon just went out for a little break, but thanks to you making a fuss, it feels like Lumine and I had a breakup!"
Enjou quickly moved to Shao Yun's side, gesturing invitingly while trying to persuade him.
"Come now, don't say that. Going up to have a seat won't do any harm."
Shao Yun let out a helpless sigh, but then reconsidered—seeing his brother-in-law wasn't exactly a bad thing.
So, after giving Enjou's smiling face a glance and another at the stairs, he lifted his foot and headed toward the private room upstairs.
When they reached the door, Enjou stepped ahead and deftly pulled it open for him.
With a sycophantic smile, he said softly, "Please, please!"
Shao Yun stepped into the refined private room.
His gaze was first drawn to the colorful hanging scrolls on the wall, depicting the local customs of Inazuma.
Several delicately carved bamboo ornaments added a touch of nature to the room.
In the center stood a slightly low wooden dining table, surrounded by soft, comfortable cushions that invited one to sit and enjoy a moment of peace.
On the table rested an antique teapot, steam curling from its spout and carrying a faint, soothing fragrance of tea.
Beside it was a neatly arranged set of exquisitely crafted tea utensils.
But none of that mattered compared to the man already waiting inside.
Sitting steadily on one of the cushions, looking calm as ever, was the familiar figure of Shao Yun's brother-in-law—Aether.
When Aether saw Shao Yun enter, excitement lit up his face.
He sprang to his feet, but was too overcome to speak at first.
After a brief pause, he gestured toward the seat opposite him and said, a little too eagerly, "Brother-in-law, come sit here!"
Shao Yun smiled and nodded in reply, then sat cross-legged on the cushion before the table.
Enjou did not sit, but instead stood behind Aether, watching intently.
Shao Yun looked at them both, frowning slightly, and asked with a trace of concern:
"Brother-in-law, you're walking so openly in Inazuma City—aren't you worried about the danger? You know, no matter what, the Abyss Order…"
Here, Shao Yun paused briefly before continuing.
"They may not be as terrifying as that damned one, but they're hardly welcome here either."
Aether gently picked up the teapot, tilting it so the clear tea flowed into a cup.
Carefully, he handed the steaming tea to Shao Yun and said softly, "To see one's family, no matter the risk, is only natural."
Shao Yun thought to himself that in the original story, Aether didn't often appear before Lumine.
Still, this wasn't the original story—maybe his own actions had made Aether realize he needed to care for his sister more.
Either way, if Aether was here, that was a good thing.
After all, having family around was always comforting.
Even though Shao Yun didn't like tea, this was offered by his brother-in-law himself.
So, he raised the cup, took a small sip, and smiled playfully. "Showing up so brazenly—aren't you worried I might tie you up again?"
Aether smiled faintly, calmly pouring himself tea in return. "From my perspective, you wouldn't so easily use the same method twice."
At that, Shao Yun set down his cup, drawing out his voice deliberately like Old Fourteen, "Not necessarily…" (T/N: Old fourteen is a reference for Fu Hua's overly serious attitude and deadpan expression in HI3rd.)
Aether scratched his head awkwardly, chuckling dryly. "Haha, alright, alright—let's get to the point."
"Actually, I came this time specifically to check on you. And thank you for advising Enjou before—it really helped us gather a lot of important intel in Enkanomiya."
Shao Yun thought it was just some trivial matter.
Waving it off casually, he said, "Oh, that? No need for thanks. It was mutual benefit, that's all."
"After all, only by pushing Watatsumi Island to the brink could I have the chance to kill the Raiden Shogun and avenge Lumine's blood debt."
At the mention of Lumine, gratitude shone in Aether's eyes. He hadn't misjudged him.
"Thank you for everything you've done for my sister. I always believed in you—you truly are someone I can trust."
Shao Yun smiled warmly at the praise, but it was quickly replaced by worry.
He sighed. "Your praise is an honor, but… Lumine's current state…"
"You know she's still hung up on me killing the Raiden Shogun. She's taken Paimon and gone out to clear her mind."
Aether set down his cup, grasping Shao Yun's hand tightly.
Their eyes met, and it was as if an unspoken resolve passed between them.
"I understand your situation," Aether said firmly. "Don't worry—give her time. She'll come to understand everything you've done for her."
"Though your actions scared her… she'll come to terms with it."
Shao Yun nodded slightly. "I hope so… But no matter what, one must always hold hope for a better life."
Seeing him regain some spirit, Aether withdrew his hand and turned to Enjou.
"Enjou, go check if the dishes I ordered are ready. I have important matters to discuss with my brother-in-law in private."
Enjou nodded obediently. "Alright."
Without another word, he left for downstairs.
Now alone together, Aether looked earnestly at Shao Yun.
"Brother-in-law, I won't hide it—I have a favor to ask."
Hearing this, Shao Yun immediately recalled what Enjou had mentioned to him on Watatsumi Island.
He waved his hand in polite refusal. "Though you're my brother-in-law, you know I have no interest in reviving Khaenri'ah."
Aether wasn't surprised. He nodded, then shared his reasoning.
"You know the Abyss Order's allies are hardly 'brothers under the same sky'—more like 'rats everyone wants to kill'."
"If this were an ordinary plan, I wouldn't ask. But this is a good plan! Hear me out—you might agree."
There was no way Shao Yun would join the Abyss Order, but listening did no harm.
"Go ahead," he said. "Don't worry, I won't tell Lumine, Paimon, or Dainsleif. This is family business."
Aether thought for a moment, then said decisively, "Very well. Let me explain."
"First, a secret: many Hilichurls in Teyvat are actually cursed Khaenri'ah citizens, transformed by Celestia's curse."
Shao Yun nodded—he knew this.
Aether continued, detailing his and Wicked Torrent's experience in The Chasm.
"When we were exploring ancient ruins there, we found a pool."
"Unexpectedly, it eased the suffering caused by Celestia's curse on Khaenri'ahns."
Barely able to contain his excitement, he said, "After studying it, we realized—this could be it!"
"A chance to free Khaenri'ahns from the curse and make them human again!"
He looked at Shao Yun with joy.
"For so long, I've focused on resisting Celestia that I forgot my duty to restore the nation. Now this opportunity has come, and I need your help!"
Shao Yun, watching his expression, couldn't help remembering when he once thought the same way.
Quietly, he asked, "If, and I mean if, I helped you—what would I need to do?"
Aether replied after a pause, "I'd want you to stop Dainsleif—he mustn't interfere. With you on my side, nothing he does could stop this."
Shao Yun realized—this was the Requiem of the Echoing Depths Archon Quest.
That pool could ease the curse's pain, yes.
But Aether wasn't telling the full story—it was only theoretical and wouldn't truly work.
The so-called plan to turn Hilichurls human again was just using devices to amplify the pool's effect.
It was like a pool giving off oxygen—Hilichurls were suffocating, and staying nearby helped a bit.
But Aether's plan was to make them breathe pure oxygen.