With curiosity gnawing at him, Shao Yun stepped into Jean's office.
"What's the matter?" he asked plainly, standing before her.
Jean motioned for him to sit. Once he was settled, she began slowly.
"I've already delivered Mondstadt's official stance to Snezhnaya," she said, her gaze unwavering.
Though her voice was calm, every word radiated firm resolve—clearly signaling she was aligning Mondstadt with Shao Yun and his companions.
Shao Yun's instincts kicked in. He had a good idea where this was going.
"From now on, the Fatui are no longer welcome in Mondstadt and will be treated as an illegal organization," Jean continued. "I've issued orders to expel the Tsaritsa's diplomatic envoy. Only private trade between our regions will be tolerated."
In essence, Mondstadt had cut diplomatic ties, with the allowance of private commerce serving as a subtle message: If you want to do business, that's fine. But don't try to manipulate Mondstadt.
"Thanks," Shao Yun replied simply.
Jean massaged her temples, clearly worn out, her eyes revealing a flicker of complex emotion.
"No, it's me who should thank you," she said. "Without your help—even if the Knights had held off the Abyss Order—we'd have stood no chance against the Fatui."
Shao Yun waved off her gratitude with a casual gesture. "You've helped me a lot too. Saved me quite a bit of trouble. I imagine this hasn't been easy for you either, huh?"
Jean gave a weary smile and shook her head. "I honestly don't know how to thank you. You don't want fame or money, so the only thing I can do is ensure your, Lumine's, and Paimon's safety in Mondstadt."
That caught Shao Yun off guard. Who told you I didn't want money? he thought. But in the end, he just smiled faintly. Truthfully, he had enough Mora to travel Teyvat several times over without worry.
"If there's nothing else, I'll get going. Still need to accompany Lumine to the Favonius Cathedral," he said, rising to leave.
At the mention of the cathedral, something clicked for Jean. She'd already cleared the matter of the Holy Lyre der Himmel with the church—they wouldn't make things difficult.
She reminded him, "The issue with the Holy Lyre has been handled with the church. They won't cause trouble."
Shao Yun nodded his thanks, about to push the door open—when something came to mind. A few days ago, Barbara had come looking for Jean under the pretext of official business, though it was clear she simply wanted to see her sister.
He paused at the door and glanced back. "Aren't you coming?"
Jean blinked, confused. "Me?"
Shao Yun chuckled and explained what he'd seen—that nun standing hesitantly outside her office door.
He described Barbara's appearance, and Jean immediately recognized her sister.
Her eyes flickered—nervous, hopeful.
She stood, ready to follow them—but suddenly stopped, sitting back down with a bitter smile.
"Forget it. I've still got work to do," she said.
Shao Yun saw through it instantly—Jean wanted to see Barbara, but something held her back.
Feigning nonchalance, he added, "That nun had official business, I think. I told her to come back later. If it's too long a delay..."
A convenient excuse.
Sure enough, Jean's eyes sharpened, and she rose immediately.
"Why didn't you say so sooner? I'll go with you!" she said, trying to mask her urgency with mock scolding.
Shao Yun couldn't help but feel pity for the awkwardness between the sisters—clearly caring deeply for each other, yet unable to close the distance.
He exhaled through his nose and led the way, helping them along.
Shao Yun, Lumine, Paimon, and Jean left the Knights of Favonius Headquarters and made their way toward the cathedral square.
At that very moment, Venti stood in the center of the plaza, performing a lilting melody. His voice, soft as a stream, told of newly heard tales in poetic song.
He sang: "Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, sent his second vessel, a mighty demon king with three heads and eight arms, to vanquish the northern wolves and return warm winds to Mondstadt's blessed lands..."
The crowd roared with applause at this mythologized retelling of Shao Yun's one-man massacre of the Fatui.
If Shao Yun heard this, someone whispered, he'd probably demand royalties—or knock Venti into next week.
As Venti prepared to follow up with a ballad of the Honorary Knight battling a dragon, a white figure approached from afar. Noticing the coin pile at his feet was sufficient for that night's drinking, he ended the show.
The crowd dispersed.
"Venti! We're here!" Paimon shouted excitedly.
Lumine, Shao Yun, and Jean followed close behind.
Venti waved while pocketing his earnings. "Coming, coming!" he chirped, slinging his lyre onto his back and trotting over.
With everyone gathered, they prepared to head for the Favonius Cathedral—until Shao Yun suddenly remembered something.
In the original sequence of events, the Holy Lyre gets broken by an Abyss Mage. If we return a ruined lyre, the Church might just come at us with claymores and fury.
Shao Yun halted.
"Hey, uh... about the Holy Lyre..."
Everyone froze, expressions shifting quickly to awkward panic.
Shao Yun's heart sank. Don't tell me…
Lumine reluctantly produced the damaged lyre. Its strings snapped, the body scorched and cracked as if clawed and burned.
Shao Yun clutched his forehead, pressing his finger against his philtrum to keep from passing out.
After a full minute, he whispered, "Oh my god. Thank the heavens I asked. You were just gonna return this to the church?"
He jabbed a finger at the busted lyre.
"If we hand this over, we'll be wanted fugitives within five minutes! Even with Jean's protection, best case scenario—closed-casket funeral!"
Panic rising, he mentally plotted a fast escape route to Liyue with Lumine and Paimon on his steed "Carrot."
Then a thought struck him. Why not just replace it with a look-alike? It had looked plain when they first got it.
He grinned. Initially thinking of asking Venti, he turned to Jean instead.
"Captain Jean, are there any second-hand stalls around here where we can grab a decent fake?"
Jean was stunned by the idea—searching for a counterfeit lyre in a pile of old junk sounded both insane and impossible.
She frowned and offered a better plan.
"Let's check out Windblume's Glory instead. If we're going to buy one, let's buy a quality replica."
A practical solution. Better quality, less risk.
Shao Yun slapped his thigh. "That's why you're the captain! You think big!"
As the group prepared to change course toward the boutique, Venti raised his hand.
"Actually... give it to me. I've got a solution."
Taking the broken lyre from Lumine, he gently ran his fingers along the wood. Emerald light swirled around it, dancing like a sprite.
To everyone's astonishment, the Holy Lyre was restored—good as new.
Paimon gawked. "Venti! If you can do that, why are you wasting time as a bard? Open a repair shop! You'd make a fortune!"
Venti rubbed his head sheepishly. "Ehe... It's just an illusion. Very unstable."
Shao Yun facepalmed. Even my stall idea sounds better now!
He pulled Venti aside. "Didn't you say you owed me two wishes? I'm cashing in the second."
Venti blinked. "Uh? What wish?"
"My second wish... is to kill you!" Shao Yun growled, seizing him by the neck and giving him a good shake.
He didn't use force—but the threat was real.
Lumine and Jean rushed in to separate them.
Shao Yun, still seething, hissed quietly, "If this illusion fails, and the church comes at us with righteous fury, I'm using you as a meat shield while I get Lumine out of here!"
Venti winked and hid behind Lumine. "Relax, it'll hold for a day. Just return it quickly. After that? Not our problem."
Fair enough. Let someone else deal with the fallout.
Shao Yun exhaled deeply but still snorted in exasperation.
"You drunkard—why didn't you say that earlier?"
"You didn't ask!" Venti whistled innocently.
Shao Yun raised a fist. "Still talking back, huh?!"