After speaking, La Signora turned to leave.
However, just then, Shao Yun suddenly stepped forward and blocked her path.
"Hold on a second!"
Both La Signora and Venti were stunned by his abrupt move.
Shao Yun reached swiftly and expertly toward her waist.
By the time La Signora realized what was happening, her purse had already been snatched.
With her purse in hand, Shao Yun quickly pulled back, tossing the stolen wallet in his hand with a smug grin.
La Signora instinctively reached for her waist, then glared at the purse in Shao Yun's grip, nearly losing her mind with rage.
Her left eye widened in fury, almost as if it would shoot flames. She had not expected Shao Yun to rob her at a time like this!
Shao Yun gave her a taunting look. "What're you staring at? Careful, I'll take the other eye too."
His voice was laced with mockery and provocation, clearly intended to rile her up.
La Signora exploded. "You—are you a bandit?!"
If not for Venti releasing his divine aura to stop her, she might've fought Shao Yun to the death on the spot.
Instead of being offended, Shao Yun looked delighted by her insult. He laughed. "Thanks for the compliment!"
His unexpected response only infuriated her more, while Venti could do nothing but chuckle awkwardly.
Then Shao Yun turned to Venti and casually said, "Venti, we'll split this later."
La Signora was about to explode. She cursed, "You heartless bandit! You sewer rat! Trash from the trash can! You'll freeze to death on the tundra!"
Shao Yun just covered his ears.
"La la la, not listening!"
His childish defiance pushed her to the brink of helpless frustration.
Unbothered, Shao Yun stuffed the purse away with a smug grin. "Let's just say you paid for the Holy Lyre. Honestly, that amount doesn't even cover it."
Normally, La Signora might've just walked away. After all, as a Fatui Harbinger, she had plenty of resources. But not this time.
Watching her wallet disappear, she bit her lip and hesitantly asked, "Can I... have it back?"
There was a rare hint of pleading in her voice.
Shao Yun found it hilarious to see her act so pitiful. Shaking his head, he quipped, "Mondstadt sure is special. First time I've seen someone beg for their money back after it's been robbed. Let's call it payment for the Holy Lyre and Venti, Lumine, and Paimon's medical bills!"
His voice dripped with sarcasm, clearly trying to annoy her.
La Signora's face turned beet red. "That was my salary for the month—you took everything!"
Shao Yun shrugged indifferently. "What's that got to do with me?"
His voice was cold, devoid of sympathy.
She stared at him, despair creeping in. "I was going to buy someone a gift. If I can't... someone will be hurt."
Venti, watching from the side, was stunned. He'd known La Signora for a long time but had never seen her beg like this.
Then Shao Yun remembered something the Fatui Fourth Harbinger "The Knave" once said.
She'd mentioned that the Eighth Harbinger, "La Signora," would buy gifts for the orphans of the House of Hearth to earn their affection.
With a conflicted sigh, Shao Yun pulled out her wallet. "Fine, I'll give you something back."
He pulled out 1,000 Mora and handed it to her.
La Signora stared at the measly amount, furious. "You're so stingy! I can't even leave Mondstadt with this—let alone buy gifts!"
Unbothered, Shao Yun scratched his ear and replied, "Don't the Fatui reimburse travel expenses?"
She nearly threw the Mora at his head but held back, carefully tucking it away.
"Mondstadt's Fatui are dead—you killed them. Where am I supposed to get reimbursed now? I can't even afford a meal with this!"
Venti tugged on Shao Yun's sleeve and whispered, "Shao Yun... aren't you going a little too far?"
Shao Yun glanced at Venti, snorted, and replied, "If you pity her, use your money."
Then he jabbed a finger at Venti, scolding him.
"And I haven't even gotten started with you! Don't forget how she beat you up! If Lumine hadn't just passed out, I would have killed La Signora! Most of this money's your medical bill! Don't turn your back on your own!"
Venti looked sheepish, but the mention of getting a cut of the money made a subtle glint flash in his eyes.
He scratched his head awkwardly and offered a compromise. "Let's not go to war over this. How about... we give her a bit more? Just enough to get back to Snezhnaya?"
La Signora listened, growing more indignant. Her money had turned into some kind of charity handout from these two.
"My money's mine—since when did it become yours? Now you're donating it to me?!"
Shao Yun snapped back. "Don't act like the victim! If you hadn't threatened Lumine, I wouldn't be doing this!"
Then he pulled out another 29,000 Mora and handed her a total of 30,000.
She glared at Venti, rage undiminished. "So, the Anemo Archon's turned bandit too, huh?"
With that, she spun around and stormed off, full of fury and humiliation.
Shao Yun watched her leave, smirking as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
Then he shouted, "Hey! I gave you money and you didn't even say thanks?!"
La Signora stopped dead in her tracks. Enraged by his provocation, she whipped around, fire in her eyes.
With a sneer, she growled, "You damn bandit!"
Shao Yun grinned, spreading his arms. "Well, if you're not gonna thank me, I'll just take it back!"
La Signora clenched her fists, clearly itching to punch him in the face.
But in the end, she restrained herself and forced out through gritted teeth, "Thank you. So much."
Clutching her chest, she turned on her heel and left swiftly, worried that any more time around Shao Yun might literally make her sick.
He waved at her retreating figure, still smirking, and yelled after her, "Travel safe! Watch out for treasure hoarders—I'm not covering your expenses!"
She shouted without looking back, "Why can't you shut up?! Screw off!"
She quickened her pace and disappeared from view.
Once she was gone, Shao Yun turned to check on Lumine and Paimon—only to notice that Venti was quietly trying to slip away.
He called out, "Where do you think you're going?"
Caught, Venti turned around sheepishly. "The matter's resolved. I figured I'd head off."
Shao Yun immediately stepped in front of him, frowning. "Hold up! I've got a lot of questions for you. You're not leaving!"
Venti looked at Shao Yun's determined gaze and sighed. He gently moved Shao Yun's hand aside and smiled. "Don't worry, Shao Yun. Let's meet at Windrise. I'll answer everything there."
With that, Venti turned to run.
"Wait! Just one question!" Shao Yun called after him.
Venti paused and turned his head. "Oh? What is it?"
Shao Yun took a deep breath and asked seriously, "If I hadn't calmed down and had killed Rosalyne—would you have killed me?"
Venti kept his usual relaxed smile.
"Ehe, I'll tell you everything at Windrise."
Shao Yun wasn't satisfied. Grabbing Venti's arm, he pressed on. "Don't 'ehe' me! Answer me! Would you have killed me?!"
Seeing how persistent Shao Yun was, Venti glanced toward the Favonius Cathedral and got an idea.
"Oh, right."
He snapped his fingers, seemingly lifting some kind of seal, then grinned mischievously. "I'll let you handle what comes next!"
With that, he turned into a teal breeze and vanished.
Shao Yun looked up at the drifting wind, shaking his fist. "Get back here!"
Just then, a crowd burst out of the cathedral—mostly Sisters of the Favonius Church, but others as well.
Jean drew her sword, the Falcon of the West. Noelle charged ahead with her claymore.
In unison, they shouted, "What happened?!"
Then they saw the scene: dismembered Fatui corpses scattered across the ground.
Everyone froze. The shock on their faces said it all.
One by one, all eyes turned to Shao Yun. Their questioning gazes made him feel awkward.
He pointed to the bodies, then to Jean, then looked skyward and roared:
"Venti, we are not done yet!"