In Gandharva Ville, most were fast asleep. Only the patrolling rangers kept watch under the moonlight.
Shao Yun was no exception, lying peacefully on his bed, breathing evenly in deep slumber.
But then—a faint murmur tickled his ear.
At first, it was barely audible. Yet it grew clearer, louder, repeating endlessly:
"I have something to tell you. Come and meet me."
Again and again, the voice droned on, tugging him awake.
Annoyed, Shao Yun stirred, muttering, "What the hell? Who's whispering in my ear?"
The words came again, sharp and deliberate.
"I have something to tell you. Come and meet me."
His eyes snapped open. He glanced around. Lumine was still clinging to his arm, sleeping soundly. She hadn't noticed a thing. And suddenly—the voice stopped.
Shao Yun sighed, thinking it a prank. He carefully slipped free from Lumine's grasp and crept outside.
But once again, the whisper echoed, chilling his spine.
Not a prank. The Devil was back.
…
On the southern hill, a Man with a Top Hat stood at the cliff's edge, hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the tranquil settlement.
Rage surged through Shao Yun as he stormed forward, shouting, "In the middle of the night, you bastard—what game are you playing now?!"
The Man with a Top Hat ignored his anger, only turning slowly to meet Shao Yun's glare. "What do you think?"
Grinding his teeth, Shao Yun growled, "What, drag me out here so the mosquitoes can feast?"
The figure looked back at the forest, murmuring, "This place… feels like Guarma."
Shao Yun's patience frayed. "Cut the crap. What trick are you pulling this time?"
But the Man with a Top Hat remained calm. "There isn't one."
Shao Yun exhaled sharply. Fine. He'd use this chance to demand answers.
"Why did you give Collei your portrait?"
The Man with a Top Hat's voice was steady. "As payment for summoning you, I'll answer. You see, under the Akademiya's influence, most in Sumeru revere the late Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, praising her endlessly… while neglecting the Little Lord Kusanali."
"To me, lambs who stray from their shepherd—whether by choice or force—become mine. But those still under the shepherd's care? I will not challenge her authority. In fact, I helped that fragile shepherd protect her flock. In return, the wandering lambs are rightfully mine."
Shao Yun frowned, recalling what Venti, Zhongli, and Alice had once hinted about shepherds and souls.
"This is nonsense! Rukkhadevata and Nahida are both incarnations of Irminsul. She sacrificed her branch to create Nahida—part of herself! They are one. Stop twisting words!"
The Man with a Top Hat's eyes narrowed. "And yet, they are two gods. Don't deny it."
Shao Yun snapped back, "They're one! Don't spew your sophistry!"
Unfazed, the Man with a Top Hat pressed on. "The liar here is you. The Ship of Theseus, hm? And what of the lambs dressing another in a shepherd's skin to deceive themselves? When wolves come, they'll be devoured without pity."
The venom in his words made Shao Yun think of Mona's star chart. His chest tightened. He barked, "Whatever your plan is, leave me out. If you want blood, spill it yourself!"
The Man with a Top Hat's gaze sharpened. "So, you truly won't kill again?"
Shao Yun's fists clenched. "I'll torment my enemies until they beg for death! But I won't let you twist this. You only came because you overheard me and Alice. You're panicking."
Yet his trembling voice betrayed him.
The Man with a Top Hat shook his head. "Are you really the type to torture? You always threaten—but in the end, you either free or kill them. Never leave them half-dead. It's not your nature."
Shao Yun's eyes darted away. "I… I can change!"
The Man with a Top Hat's calm words cut deeper: "You can't escape your nature. Just as people can't defy gravity."
"Bullshit!" Shao Yun roared. "You just want me to kill so you can just snatch their souls!"
The Man with a Top Hat's reply was chillingly measured. "Mercy is seen as weakness. Strength, as cruelty. And you a benevolent tyrant? What a joke."
Then—a scream from below.
"Help! The Withering is here!"
Shao Yun spun around. To his horror, the corruption was spreading at impossible speed toward Gandharva Ville.
He whipped his revolver free, aiming at the man. "We had a deal! Don't you dare target Lumine or Paimon!"
But the Man with a Top Hat only pressed the barrel aside gently. "Calm yourself. I'm not after them. I'm honoring another agreement."
Shao Yun froze, blood running cold. That useless System had made another secret deal.
"What deal?!"
The man continued, unmoved. "Two choices. Take the girls to Collei's hut, far from the corruption, and say it's safer. Or… stay here until the rangers handle it, and go back 'safe.' Either way, you'll suffer consequences."
"You know I'll go back! Why tempt me to hide?!" Shao Yun demanded.
The man's gaze flicked to the skull-adorned "Vision" at Shao Yun's hip. "You know that trinket isn't a true Vision. You cannot resist the Withering. Return now, and you'll fall ill. And sickness… is not easily cured."
Then, softly: "But if you hide, when she wakes and finds you gone? What will she think, Dutch van der Linde?"
The name pierced him.
"Why are you doing this?" Shao Yun growled.
The answer was chilling in its simplicity. "Just a deal."
And the man vanished.
Shao Yun trembled with rage, fists cracking under the strain.
"So, this is your plan with the Devil? This is what you call 'being on my side'?"
The System's reply appeared in his mind:
[I had no choice. I couldn't gamble on your humanity. I couldn't beat him. But I had to keep you alive. If sickness was the price, then so be it!]
Shao Yun spat back, voice raw: "If I can't avenge Arthur, everything's as fake as Jack's fairy tales!"
The System countered:
[The path to a better world demands sacrifice. If you die, everything ends!]
Shao Yun tore off his Legend of the East Valley Hat, replacing it with Arthur's Gambler's Hat. His voice was steel.
"This is my answer. You think disease will stop me?"
The System struck back:
[Lumine fears your death! That's why she stopped you in Dragonspine!]
"Don't mention that!" Shao Yun bellowed.
The System pressed on:
[You won't let Scaramouche live. But not now! Don't make the same mistake as Blackwater—don't smash through blindly! Solve Sumeru's crisis, and as 'insurance,' the sickness will fade. Nahida will hand Scaramouche to Yae Miko, and she'll finish him. Isn't that still death?]
[And you heard the Devil. You can't let his plan succeed again!]
Shao Yun scoffed. "He made the Fatui blow up Tatarasuna, tried to kill me! And I'm supposed to believe losing one soul will shatter Teyvat?"
The System faltered, then pivoted:
[This is why I can't trust your judgment! Yae wants him dead even more than you. Now go—Lumine's waking! Are you really going to waste time here fighting me?]
Shao Yun looked toward the advancing Withering.
With deliberate calm, he set his Legend of the East Valley Hat back in place.
"Fine. We'll leave Scaramouche, the Devil, and your damn 'insurance' aside. But remember this—"
"When a man is cornered, he doesn't surrender. He'll go mad if he must, and burn the world for a chance at survival."
And with that, Shao Yun strode straight into the Withering.