Shao Yun arrived at the wide and bustling plaza of Ritou.
He saw Albedo standing ahead, gazing intently at the five canvases before him.
At this moment, Albedo seemed completely immersed in his own world, brows slightly furrowed, racking his brain over something.
Shao Yun's gaze slowly fell upon the fifth canvas in front of Albedo.
Suddenly, he vaguely realized why he had encountered the Glorious Festival.
Not wanting to startle Albedo, Shao Yun called out loudly from a distance.
"Mr. Albedo!"
Albedo was completely absorbed in designing how to depict the image of Green Light, the first among the Five Immortal Poets.
However, at this crucial moment, Shao Yun's sudden shout yanked him abruptly from the ocean of his thoughts back to reality.
Albedo paused for a moment, then slowly turned around, his gaze calm as water as he softly replied, "Hello, Mr. Shao Yun."
"Back at Ritou Harbor, I was wondering where you went. I'd just settled Klee at the International Trade Association, and now here you are."
Back at the harbor, Albedo had seen Lumine and Paimon greeting him, but Shao Yun had been nowhere to be found—only for them to meet here instead.
Shao Yun stepped forward, his gaze moving past Albedo's shoulder to the blank canvases behind him.
"Sorry, did I interrupt your train of thought? My apologies…"
With a gentle tone, Albedo replied, "Not at all. I'd only just stepped up to the canvas—not enough to be disrupted."
They exchanged a warm and friendly greeting, chatting about various aspects of Mondstadt.
Then Shao Yun suddenly remembered something important.
"Oh, right, Albedo—I actually wanted to ask you something."
Albedo gave a small nod, indicating he was ready to listen.
Scratching his chin, Shao Yun said, "Mm… it's about Eula. I was wondering how she's been lately?"
Albedo didn't immediately ask why Shao Yun wanted to know.
Instead, he closed his eyes and thought seriously.
After a moment, he opened them and slowly replied, "To be honest, I don't see Eula very often."
"But from the little I've observed, she doesn't seem all that different from before."
"In her spare time, she still enjoys going to Dragonspine for those freezing spring baths, and visiting the Cat's Tail tavern for a few drinks."
Mentioning the tavern brought something else to Albedo's mind.
"Oh, speaking of the Cat's Tail, Kaeya mentioned that Miss Diona has apparently created a brand-new drink. There are only a few samples for now, but according to Kaeya, the taste is superb."
"I wonder what ingredients Miss Diona used to make even Captain Kaeya praise it so highly…"
Shao Yun couldn't help but remember the item he'd given Diona—a foul-smelling scent gland.
And the key point—it wasn't from Teyvat. If even that couldn't break the curse of the spring spirit, then Diona would never make a bad drink in her life.
Realizing he'd gone off-topic, Albedo quickly reined himself in. "Right, why did you ask about Eula?"
Shao Yun calmly told him about killing Kujou Sara and the resulting enmity with Arataki Itto.
When he finished, he said evenly, "That incident reminded me of Eula, so I thought I'd ask."
Albedo didn't know who Arataki Itto was, but he did know about Eula and the Lawrence family.
He gave his opinion. "Lessig wasn't bad. I was puzzled when you killed him."
"But I get it now—he didn't have Eula's courage to escape the Lawrence family. And while he knew about their actions, even if he didn't participate like the others…"
"As you said, just being there makes him complicit."
Hearing his own words to Eula repeated by Albedo surprised Shao Yun.
"Who told you that?"
Amber? That didn't seem right. She wouldn't spill Eula's little secrets.
Eula herself? Was she that close to Albedo? She'd be more likely to tell Sara than him.
Albedo closed his eyes, recalling a certain night.
The memory returned—a quiet street under moonlight, two figures visible.
A drunk, staggering Eula, and Amber carefully supporting her.
Albedo opened his eyes and recounted it. "One night, Eula was completely drunk. Amber took her to her own home to rest."
"I happened to pass by and overheard Eula repeating those words—and saying they were yours."
Shao Yun realized, so she let it slip drunk. The truth comes out after wine.
He asked, "Has Eula ever thought about getting revenge on me?"
Albedo nodded. "She has… Later, the Acting Grand Master had a long talk with her."
"Since then, outwardly she hasn't seemed fixated on it. But what's in her heart—only she knows."
Shao Yun nodded. "Alright, thanks for telling me. I won't keep you from painting."
He turned to leave.
"Wait, Mr. Shao Yun," Albedo called. "There's something I need to tell you."
Shao Yun stopped and turned back. "What is it?"
Albedo took out a small, worn green bottle, his expression serious.
"That potion you gave me—I've figured out its secret."
Shao Yun's eyes locked on the Special Miracle Tonic, shock and doubt in his heart.
"You figured it out? What do you mean? Did you find its ingredients? Where?"
Albedo shared his findings. "This is the potion Miss Lisa called capable of dispelling Abyss influence."
"Strictly speaking, it can't truly remove the Abyss's effects."
"Its real function is to temporarily enhance the body so much that its immune system can resist and expel the Abyss."
"And most importantly—no side effects."
He paused. "That said, I don't know its upper limits yet. And for certain illnesses, it might not be effective."
Shao Yun shook his head, thinking Well, that was a pointless shock.
He said lightly, "Oh, I already knew that."
"A kind doctor once told me these potions don't work on stubborn chronic illnesses."
Albedo blinked, confused. "What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Shao Yun took off his hat with a small smile. "Haha, you never asked."
He walked away, leaving Albedo standing there, mouth twitching awkwardly.
…
Shao Yun wandered around the island.
Lumine and Paimon were enthusiastically greeting bards from Mondstadt for the festival.
Seeing this, Shao Yun said nothing. As long as those two enjoyed themselves, that was enough.
Eventually, Shao Yun returned to the Magistrate's Office.
Inside, Yae Miko was sitting leisurely at a table, a plate of fragrant fried tofu before her, reading an ornate light novel.
Shao Yun silently pulled up a stool opposite her, took a light novel, and began reading.
Out of the corner of her eye, Yae Miko noted his casual behavior.
Oh dear… in all of Inazuma, only you, Shao Yun, would dare to read my Yae Publishing books for free…
Though slightly displeased, she couldn't really do anything.
He paid for his purchases—just not for her profits.
As long as he didn't take her fried tofu…
But just as she was relieved, Shao Yun drew his dagger, deftly speared a piece of tofu, and popped it into his mouth.
Yae Miko's composure cracked. "Hey! It's one thing to read for free, but to steal my favorite tofu?!"
Shao Yun swallowed, sheathed his dagger, and replied calmly, "Why? You have a problem with that?"
Her eye twitched, but she could only mutter, "You're such a rude bandit…"
Shao Yun smiled. "Thanks for the compliment."
…
"Stories brought on the wind will bloom into legends in due time."
"The eternal nation… Ah, Beelzebul, just what has happened to Inazuma…"