Just as Shao Yun was sitting on the ground, watching Lumine and Paimon chatting with Arataki Itto and Kuki Shinobu, Yelan returned.
She strode up to the group, pointed in the direction she had just gone, and said softly:
"There's an entrance up ahead. It looks like there's a path inside."
At the mention of a path, everyone immediately stood up, full of anticipation, and followed Yelan to the entrance of a Domain.
Shao Yun looked at the Domain entrance before him, a flicker of curiosity and excitement rising in his heart.
After all, they were getting closer and closer to that mysterious "Domain." What's more, in a sense, this was the first time he had ever seen the entrance to one.
"This is… a Domain? I guess this is the first time I've seen what the entrance looks like."
Yelan turned her head, scrutinized Shao Yun, and with the corner of her lips slightly upturned, asked:
"Hm? This is your first time seeing a Domain entrance? I thought you'd have gone on plenty of Domain expeditions with your girlfriend."
As she spoke, her gaze occasionally drifted toward Lumine.
Shao Yun helplessly shrugged and explained:
"I told you before, Lumine and I don't have exactly the same interests. I'm not like her and Paimon, who can't walk past a chest without opening it. For me, adventuring is just an optional lifestyle."
Hearing Shao Yun's words, Paimon's expression stiffened, her face betraying a hint of awkwardness.
She puffed her cheeks and muttered:
"Even if most of what you said is true, the way you said it makes it sound so weird…"
Just as everyone was about to step into the Domain, suddenly, a strange sound echoed from behind.
Yelan's sharp ears picked it up instantly. She immediately grew alert, raised her right hand to signal everyone to stop, and said in a low, serious tone:
"Shh. There's a sound."
Everyone froze at her words, nervously scanning their surroundings.
Lumine and Paimon slowly turned their heads, eyes wary as they looked behind them.
When they saw who it was, Paimon couldn't help but cry out in surprise:
"Xiao!"
Yanfei, upon seeing Xiao here, was equally astonished and blurted out:
"Vigilant Yaksha? Why are you here?"
Xiao's face was expressionless, his voice devoid of much emotion:
"I just came down from above. I heard noises and followed them here."
Paimon blinked and innocently asked:
"Did you fall down by accident? Why not… come with us?"
Xiao shook his head slightly, his tone calm as he declined her suggestion:
"No need. I have other matters to attend to."
Lumine tilted her head curiously and asked:
"Important matters?"
Xiao gazed quietly at them and gave a flat, two-word reply:
"Looking for someone."
The moment Shao Yun heard Xiao say he was searching for someone, his mind immediately recalled what had happened on the Jade Chamber more than half a month ago.
He muttered inwardly, thinking he hadn't expected to run into Xiao again here.
After all, even if Xiao traveled on foot, no matter how slowly, it shouldn't have taken him more than half a month to get here.
Out of curiosity, Shao Yun asked conversationally:
"Is this about that matter you kept petitioning on the Jade Chamber? I thought that was long settled. Why are you only setting out now?"
Xiao nodded slightly and replied:
"Correct. But I petitioned Rex Lapis multiple times afterward, and only in the past two days did I finally resolve myself."
Hearing that Xiao had gone to Zhongli several more times, Shao Yun's lips twitched awkwardly, and he muttered under his breath:
"Ah… this…"
Then, in his heart, he scoffed:
You really are Zhongli's obedient child…
Xiao scanned the surroundings, then solemnly advised:
"In any case, this is not a place you should be. You'd best leave quickly."
The instant his words fell, Xiao's figure vanished without a trace.
Shao Yun frowned and muttered in protest:
"What? You tell us to leave quickly, but don't even explain how? It's not like we can scale walls and walk on air like you. How are we supposed to get out of that giant hole?"
Paimon tugged at Shao Yun's sleeve and whispered:
"Shao Yun, I think Xiao's already gone…"
Shao Yun sighed helplessly and muttered:
"I know he always comes and goes without a trace. But what does he think my glider is, Icarus' wings? Like I can just fly wherever I want?"
Hearing Shao Yun spout more strange nonsense, Paimon quickly waved her hands, flustered:
"Ahh, what are you even talking about? Anyway, let's stick to the plan and check out that Domain!"
…
The group entered the Domain in search of an exit.
Shao Yun silently walked at the back of the party. After all, aside from reading treasure maps, he had no puzzle-solving skills. With Lumine around, there was no need for him anyway.
After passing through the Domain, Arataki Itto looked around and muttered in confusion:
"Huh? Wait, this looks… really familiar!"
Paimon also glanced around suspiciously and exclaimed in shock:
"We… we came back?!"
Kuki Shinobu surveyed the area briefly, then muttered under her breath:
"Looks like the starting point. Strange…"
Itto scratched his head in bewilderment and frowned:
"But we didn't take a wrong turn. The whole way, we were heading toward the exit—never backtracking."
Yelan nodded in agreement:
"That's what I remember too."
Shao Yun tilted his head upward and, sure enough, the giant hole they had originally fallen through was gone. The others hadn't noticed this detail yet.
He asked pointedly:
"Are you all really sure… we came back?"
At his words, Yelan examined their surroundings again, puzzled:
"What do you mean? Everything looks the same as when we arrived."
Shao Yun pointed at the ceiling, frowning:
"Look up. Are you certain?"
Following his finger, Paimon's eyes widened into circles and her mouth dropped open in shock:
"Ah! The hole—it's gone!"
Yanfei also looked upward and, seeing the missing hole, remarked with surprise:
"You're right! That means… we must be in another space now?"
Paimon patted her chest nervously, relieved:
"Phew… at least we're not just running in circles. Otherwise, we really would've been trapped here forever!"
As long as they could reach the next area, there shouldn't be a problem.
Yelan raised her head and confirmed the hole was indeed gone. She fell into thought, silently pondering the mystery of this strange space.
Yanfei then suggested:
"Either way, let's rest a bit. I remember when we fell into this mysterious space, it was already pretty late."
At the words "pretty late," Paimon immediately clutched her belly pitifully and whined:
"You're right, we haven't even had dinner yet!"
Hearing this, Kuki Shinobu quickly pulled a few lavender melons from her bag and said caringly:
"Good thing I brought some. I'll roast them up for everyone."
Shao Yun also chimed in when he heard Paimon was hungry:
"Then I'll make some stew."
At the mention of stew, Yelan instantly recalled their previous shared dinner. She started to ask:
"I thought the cooking pot was still back at camp…"
But before she could finish, Shao Yun had already pulled out his usual cooking pot.
From his Legend of the East satchel at his waist, he produced a massive pot—one that looked very much like Pearson's stewpot.
Yelan wasn't surprised by the fact he could pull such a huge pot out of such a small bag. Instead, she was more curious about when he had stowed it away.
"Huh? When did you pack that up? I thought you only dismantled the cooking setup when moving camp."
Shao Yun dodged the question, instead countering with a smile:
"Don't worry about it. Want me to make you a serving?"
Yelan gently shook her head:
"No, I already ate plenty at dinner."
…
Together, Kuki Shinobu and Shao Yun prepared dinner. Shinobu roasted some lavender melons, while Shao Yun cooked a large pot of stew—enough for about seven servings.
Though there were only five of them eating, he had made plenty, since Paimon's appetite alone matched three people's.
After dinner, the group sat on the ground to rest. Shao Yun quietly walked off to a more secluded spot where no one could see him.
Leaning against a stone wall, he lit a cigar, savoring a moment of peace.
As he watched the smoke curl upward, he finally had the chance to think and relax.
Halfway through his cigar, he suddenly heard approaching footsteps.
He assumed it was Lumine coming to find him, and began considering how to cover up the fact he was smoking.
But when the figure appeared, he realized it was Kuki Shinobu.
She saw the cigar between his fingers as he leaned against the stone wall, blinked, and asked curiously:
"So, this is where you are…"
Relieved it wasn't Lumine, Shao Yun smiled and greeted her:
"Hey, Shinobu. Something on your mind?"
She shook her head lightly, her eyes tinged with faint melancholy as she said softly:
"Not really. After I finished roasting the melons, I noticed you suddenly disappeared…"
Her gaze drifted to the cigar in his hand:
"So, you were here smoking."
Shao Yun glanced down at the cigar, a wry smile crossing his face.
With a sigh, he earnestly reminded her:
"Don't tell Lumine or Paimon about this. They don't know I smoke cigars."
He flicked the cigar away and stamped it out underfoot, as if burying the secret for good.
Then, to mask the tobacco smell, he quickly chewed a sprig of mint.
"So, you just wanted a quiet place." Shao Yun fanned away the lingering smoke and asked thoughtfully.
Kuki Shinobu leaned against the wall beside him, a meter apart, like two ordinary friends having a quiet chat.
"Boss has made friends with Lumine and Paimon."
Her voice carried mixed emotions—part relief, part wistfulness.
"He called Paimon the 'Flying Lavender Melon,' and she called him 'Bull-Chucker.' It's funny. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time."
Shao Yun sighed at her words:
"Well, that's a good thing. No need to let me interfere with their friendship."
The two sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts.
Time passed, until finally, Shinobu broke the quiet with a weary sigh:
"I feel so tired. If it weren't for that incident, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Shao Yun smirked and teased:
"Hasn't Itto always been giving you trouble? Why feel exhausted only now?"
Shinobu gave a bitter smile and shook her head:
"This time's different. If it weren't for Boss, we wouldn't have fallen into this strange space."
In the past, Itto's antics only disturbed the peace. But now, he had endangered everyone. Even if no one else said it, Shinobu couldn't help but worry.
Shao Yun recalled something Micah Bell once said. Forcing down a wave of discomfort, he consoled her:
"An outlaw once said: 'Let it be. Whatever's meant to happen will happen. No one can alter its course, and no one can easily change what's already fated.' Even without Itto's duel with me, we still would've fallen. Don't dwell on it too much."
Shinobu folded her arms, frowning in melancholy:
"You don't need to comfort me. The reality is, it's because of Boss's recklessness that we're in this predicament. I've been thinking… before he does something even harder to undo…"
She fell silent, visibly struggling inwardly, before continuing:
"I want to tell him the truth. About Sara's death, and about how I used your money to buy that statue. I think it's time to end this farce."
Shao Yun's response was cold, almost instinctive:
"And then what? Let Itto believe you weren't on his side, creating a rift between you? In the end, the Arataki Gang disbands? Is that the outcome you want?"
Shinobu thought he was only trying to help her, but she couldn't accept that her Boss's inexplicable hatred of Shao Yun was a good thing.
She asked heatedly:
"So, you'd rather let him hate you for no reason? That makes no sense! Lady Sara…"
At the mention of Kujou Sara, she felt a sharp headache.
Clutching her forehead, she murmured:
"This is so… ahh… Boss isn't wrong, you aren't wrong, Lady Kujou isn't wrong… so where is the mistake?"
Shao Yun thought to himself: Isn't it obvious? The one chasing eternity.
But he didn't say it aloud. Instead, he simply looked at Shinobu and offered:
"What's done is done. Regret won't change it. What you need to do now is fully support Itto, help him shift his focus. Build with him a world where I'm the one to be resented."
Shinobu sighed deeply, her gaze fixed on Shao Yun, filled with complicated emotions:
"Is living in a world of lies really so wonderful?"
Shao Yun stroked his chin and replied indifferently:
"Think of it this way: what you call lies are many people's dreams. Besides, he'll never defeat me, and our chances of meeting again are almost zero. Why torture yourself by chasing an uncertain outcome?"
Shinobu revealed her deepest worry: "Boss may seem carefree now, but… I fear this will fester in his heart. In time, it could become a true burden. No—worse than that. What if, someday, he breaks his promise to only trouble you? I don't dare imagine it…"
Her thoughts drifted to the distant future. Could Itto keep his clarity now, and in a year? Two years? Five? Seven? What kind of person would he become?
Her heart was clouded with unease and fear.
If Shao Yun knew she was thinking seven years ahead, he might've replied as he once had to Miss Molly O'Shea: Seven years? It's a miracle if we even live that long.
Looking at the torn and conflicted Shinobu, a thought suddenly crossed Shao Yun's mind.
Why did he care so much about the Arataki Gang?
Why did he feel responsible for maintaining the bond between Itto and Shinobu?
After all, the Arataki Gang wasn't the Van der Linde gang. So why was he so invested?
With that realization, his attitude shifted dramatically.
He encouraged Shinobu:
"If helping Itto maintain this 'dream' is exhausting, then you should tell him the truth. Let him understand the reasoning. As long as it doesn't affect Lumine and Paimon, I won't interfere."
Shinobu gazed at him deeply, her eyes full of conflicting emotions. After a pause, she slowly said:
"Mm. Once we leave here, I'll find the right time… and tell him everything."