Shao Yun finished watching the thing he feared most, and the expression on his face grew increasingly complicated.
He silently stepped back. Even though the door had already closed, his eyes remained fixed on it, unmoving.
Yanfei, after seeing what lay within Shao Yun's heart, tilted her head in confusion.
"So that's what terrifies you so much? I don't get it at all. What kind of illness is tuberculosis?"
"It sounds a bit like Sumeru's Eleazar, the kind that gets worse over time."
She furrowed her brows, trying hard to make sense of the unfamiliar name.
Yelan pinched her chin gently, muttering under her breath.
"Dutch… that name sounds like it belongs to someone from Fontaine or Mondstadt."
After watching, Paimon scrunched her face in disgust, pouting.
"Ew, who was that guy laughing like a maniac at the end? He feels so annoying."
A shiver ran through her, as if the laugh had chilled her bones.
Arataki Itto, noticing that Shao Yun had seen not one, but three visions, couldn't help but tease with a booming laugh.
"Ha! Didn't expect that. We all only got one scene, but you had three! So, this so-called fearless killer actually has a lot of things he's scared of!"
Kuki Shinobu tugged urgently at his sleeve, whispering, "Boss, mind your words. Now's not the time to start a fight. You promised Yanfei-senpai, remember?"
Shao Yun took a deep breath, forcing down the turmoil inside.
He clenched his fist tightly, only to slowly release it again. Then, feigning ease, he said with forced lightness, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Since he didn't explain the meaning of those scenes, everyone else wisely refrained from pressing him further.
Yanfei, seeing that Shao Yun had finished, shifted the topic. "Enough of that. Anyone else want to try this door?"
Her eyes instinctively drifted toward Yelan.
With arms crossed and face unreadable, Yelan replied in her cool tone, "Don't look at me. I'm not trying it."
Itto was baffled.
"What? Even that killer gave it a shot, and you won't? What makes you so special? If you don't want to, at least give us a reason that makes sense."
Yelan sighed, shaking her head, before casting him a sidelong glance.
"In that case, I'll be blunt. I serve as the Tianquan Star under Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing. My work involves top-level state secrets."
Her gaze shifted to the relic's door, her tone calm but laced with menace.
"Opening that door might mean I'd have to silence you two Inazumans to keep my secrets safe."
"Does that reason satisfy you?"
Itto froze, realizing her words were aimed squarely at him and Shinobu. He bristled with anger.
"Why single us out just because we're from Inazuma? Why not threaten him, the killer?!" He jabbed his own face in outrage.
Yelan glanced briefly at Shao Yun, suppressing a smirk at Itto's foolish question.
Do you really not get it? Who's more likely to threaten who between us and Shao Yun?
She answered plainly, "Because I can't beat Shao Yun. But you two? More than easy. Simple as that."
Itto trembled with fury, roaring, "So you're the type that bullies the weak but fears the strong! Picking on easy prey like some cowardly vulture!"
Yelan raised a brow, her lips curling into a provocative smile.
"That's right. Got a problem with it?"
If you were as strong as Shao Yun, maybe I'd think twice. Otherwise, deal with it.
Smoke all but poured from Itto's ears as he shook with impotent rage. Finally, he blurted out, "I have no comeback! Fine, you win this one!"
…
With Yelan out of the running, only Lumine remained.
Yanfei turned toward her. "You're up. Lumine, do you want to try?"
Lumine looked at the relic's door, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
…
She entered, and the same thing happened again.
The door closed, trapping Lumine inside.
As everyone fretted—Shao Yun included—Lumine reappeared suddenly behind them, as if nothing had happened.
After this dangerous trial, everyone except Shao Yun felt a wave of inexplicable exhaustion.
With no trace of Xiao nearby, Yanfei suggested they leave quickly.
She advised firmly, "Even if we haven't found the Conqueror of Demons, I say we return and rest first. We can't wear ourselves down before helping others."
Shinobu agreed, "Yes, let's head back."
…
Just as they were about to depart, everyone noticed something strange: both Lumine and Shao Yun stood rooted in place, staring fixedly at the relic door as if paralyzed.
Yelan was the first to sense it. She frowned and called out, "Hey! Shao Yun, Lumine! What are you spacing out for? We're leaving."
Her voice snapped Shao Yun out of his trance. He swallowed hard, answering nervously, "Oh… right, I'm coming."
He turned to beckon Lumine along, but she suddenly turned her head and locked eyes with him.
Her gaze was sharp, serious—it made Shao Yun's chest tighten.
Lowering her voice, Lumine said, "Shao Yun, there's something I need to tell you."
Confused, he asked, "What is it?"
Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "Inside that domain, besides the Abyss, I saw another scene. I didn't tell the others."
Shao Yun's eyes widened. "Another scene? What do you mean?"
What else besides the Abyss could there be?
Lumine pressed her lips together, sinking into memory, then carefully recounted what she saw.
"After the Abyss, I saw a man. I couldn't make out his face, but I felt the overwhelming pressure he radiated. He stood before a massive burning tree, flames devouring it as if they would consume the world."
"He told me, 'We succeeded,' and, 'Humans will do anything to survive—it's their nature.'"
"Then the ground beneath me collapsed. I fell into a pit, and before I knew it, I appeared behind you all. I never heard what the other man said."
As she spoke, Shao Yun's brows knitted tightly.
In his mind, that burning tree rose vivid and terrible, stirring unease in his chest.
His first thought: the World Tree.
But he dismissed it quickly. I'd never burn the World Tree. Why would I? And how? Pour moonshine over it and set it ablaze like that old man's tobacco fields back in Rhodes?
Could it be the Akademiya's sacred tree in Sumeru?
That seemed possible. If those book-smart scholars picked a fight with him, torching their tree wasn't out of the question.
"I think you're just scaring yourself…" Shao Yun said dismissively. "Come on, we should catch up with the others."
But Lumine frowned, insisting, "I've thought about our journey, and about the three scenes you saw in your domain. Even though I couldn't see his face, something deep inside tells me—that man was you. Do you remember Inazuma? I don't mean anything else by this. What happened with the Raiden Shogun was an exception, but I don't want us remembered as God-slayers."
She took his right hand gently, her eyes filled with worry. "Shao Yun, please trust me. One day, when this long journey ends, when I've regained my true power, we can live peacefully with my brother. But until then, promise me—don't act recklessly. Please?"
Shao Yun stared into her clear, autumn-water eyes, falling silent.
Then he lifted his left hand, covering hers softly, and said in a low voice, "Stop overthinking. You're just scaring yourself. Let's hurry and rejoin the group."
He tried to pull her along, but Lumine refused to relent.
"Shao Yun, please promise me. What happened in Inazuma was an exception. But, as my brother said, if we can't be friends with people like Zhongli and Venti, then at least let's remain strangers. Don't tear everything apart unless absolutely necessary."
Exasperated, Shao Yun sighed, "I hope so. But when a candle burns at night, moths fly into the flame. You can't stop the fire from attracting them."
If trouble comes looking for me, I'll kill. But why would I kill that featherball who just asks people to go to the bathroom? Lumine, you're overthinking this. Who knows—by the time we reach Sumeru, you might be the one pushing me to kill someone.
Lumine, half-resigned, half-playful, smirked. "Then I'll take that as a promise."
From a distance, Yelan watched the pair dragging their feet with visible annoyance.
She muttered inwardly, How long are these two going to stall? Everyone's waiting up ahead.
She had assumed Shao Yun was comforting Lumine after her trial. But even so, couldn't they pick a better time?
Finally, unable to bear it, Yelan raised her voice. "I understand the deep bond between you two, but this isn't the time for lovey-dovey displays."
That snapped Lumine back.
She turned toward Yelan, waving sheepishly. "Alright, alright! We're coming!"
She tugged Shao Yun forward, and the two hurried to catch up.
…
When they finally returned to camp, everyone exhaled in relief and began to rest.
Paimon floated weakly toward the campfire, mumbling, "So tired…"
Shao Yun immediately showed concern. "If you're exhausted, don't push yourself. Rest for a bit."
But Paimon pouted pitifully. "The ground's too hard… it won't be comfy. If only there were some grass…"
Half-asleep, she didn't even demand Shao Yun prepare a bed for her, as she usually would.
Shao Yun smacked his forehead. How could I forget?
Reaching into his Legend of the East satchel, he didn't expect much—this was just a camp, not a safehouse.
Yet to his surprise, he pulled out the shepherd's shawl from last time.
Woven entirely from pure wool, its softness was evident at first glance.
"Lie on this—it should help." He spread it flat on the ground, making her a makeshift bed.
Though drowsy, Paimon managed a smile of gratitude. "Hehe, thanks a bunch!"
Shao Yun smiled warmly. "No need to thank me. Rest up. I'll cook something."
…
He swiftly pulled out fresh cuts of meat, roasting them by the fire while also simmering a pot of hearty stew.
Shinobu contributed a few bright lavender melons, preparing to roast them.
Just as the food was nearly ready, a loud, low moo echoed across the camp.
Itto's companion, Ushi—the creature resembling a bull—came barreling over.
It knelt beside the fire, settling down protectively next to the sleeping Paimon.