Genshin Impact: The Sharpshooter of Teyvat

On the eighth day of arriving at the Dragon Ridge Snow Mountain, late at night, strong winds brought heavy snow, violently beating the world.

Shao Yun sat alone at the door of Albedo's laboratory, his eyes passing through the flying snowflakes, gazing at the scenery deeply embraced by the blizzard.

Not far away, Paimon, Sora, and Dainsleb lay quietly on the ground, breathing steadily, as if they had fallen asleep.

Kong lay on his side, with his back facing Shao Yun and the door of the laboratory. His body was like a still sculpture, motionless.

From that posture, it was difficult to tell whether he had lost consciousness due to anger over his sister being abducted by Shao Yun.

Or maybe he fell into a deep sleep due to the exhaustion from fleeing for the past seven days.

Or maybe, he was just avoiding the impending separation in a unique way, pretending that he was still wandering in a dream.

At this moment, a slight sound of footsteps broke the silence around them. Ying, wearing the legendary white bison leather coat, quietly appeared beside Shao Yun.

She sat down next to Shao Yun, looked back at the "sleeping" Kong, then turned to Shao Yun and said softly: "My brother fell asleep. Tell me, is he mad at you, or is he really exhausted?"

Shao Yun smiled slightly, threw the snowball in his hand, and finally disappeared in the vast sea of ​​snow.

He turned his head and glanced at the motionless Kong, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"I feel like he's just pretending. He's leaving tomorrow, so how could he really sleep? He's probably just pretending to sleep because he doesn't want to face reality, and he doesn't want us to see what he's thinking."

This sentence is not only about "emptiness", but also about Shao Yun himself. He himself does not want to face the facts.

He thought about what the man in the top hat said to him when he left.

It's not too late to regret before sunrise.

Shao Yun looked at Ying beside him, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke tentatively.

"Ying, I'm just assuming that if I have a way to completely free us from the shackles of the Abyss Cult, but the price is that many people we've never met will be killed by me, do you think it's worth it?"

When Ying heard this, her expression changed slightly and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Shao Yun, I don't understand why you suddenly have such an idea. Is this related to our current situation?"

Seeing this, Shao Yun pursed his lips and explained boldly: "I am just making a hypothesis and want to hear your thoughts. After all, what if such a good thing really happens? Think about it, a group of people you have never met before died, and your brother is staying by your side, you can..."

However, Ying did not let Shao Yun continue speaking. She held Shao Yun's hand tightly, with a slight tremor in her voice.

"Shao Yun, stop saying these things. I'm afraid to hear such assumptions from you. Besides, what do you mean by saying that my brother will stay with me just because a group of people I've never met died? I don't understand."

Shao Yun looked at Ying's eyes that were filled with fear and worry, and knew that all this would not work at all. It wouldn't even work for people he had never met, let alone killing all the familiar people like Mondstadt and Liyue.

If I really did that, Ying might kill me.

He smiled softly and said gently, "Don't worry, Ying. I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

After saying this, Shao Yun changed the subject and took out the precious Algernon revolver compensated by the system from the Eastern Legend backpack on his waist.

He handed the weapon to Ying with a smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Just now you thought I was talking nonsense. Now help me look at this weapon. This is the one I picked specially for Paimon. Look, how does it feel?"

Ying looked at such a fine work of art and instantly forgot what Shao Yun had just said. She carefully took the revolver and examined every detail meticulously.

It is indeed smaller than the Hawker Revolver, but it is still a little bit big for Paimon.

"This gun is a bit too big for Paimon's small hands. I guess I can't hold it with one hand."

Upon hearing this, Shao Yun also lowered his head to examine the revolver in his hand, with a smile on his lips.

"Yeah, one hand may not be able to hold it steadily, but two hands should be able to hold it. For Paimon, as long as he can hold it, aim, and pull the trigger, that's enough. Shooting a gun is much easier than eating."

Having said that, he did not forget to tease Paimon.

"From now on, Paimon will be able to deal with those forest pigs easily!"

Ying laughed heartily at Shao Yun's humor. She patted Shao Yun's shoulder lightly and said angrily, "You, there's really nothing I can do about you..."

After the laughter, Shao Yun's expression became serious.

"By the way, Ying, we are continuing our journey to Inazuma. I have an idea, but I want to hear your opinion first."

Ying pondered for a moment, stroking her chin gently with her fingers.

"I remember that at the port of Liyue Harbor, there is a girl from Inazuma named 'Zhuzi'. Perhaps we can ask her and see if she knows a convenient way to Inazuma."

Shao Yun nodded in agreement.

"That's a good idea. Let's go ask Zhuzi first. If that doesn't work, we can ask Lady Ningguang for help. I believe she will have a way for us to reach Inazuma smoothly."

Shao Yun talked with Ying about how to get to Inazuma, and his thoughts drifted back to the scene during the day.

After the devil's provocation, even though he said he didn't want to delve into it, his inner curiosity still drove him to ask that question.

"Ying, regarding your change of mind about continuing the journey, I don't really mind the reason, but I am indeed curious. Did your brother tell you something?"

When Ying heard this, her eyes became soft and deep, as if she had returned to the moment when they first met.

"Shao Yun, do you remember the first time we met? I said that my brother and I were stopped by a strange god. But that god was not a god, but the guardian of heaven's law. I have lost my original power now. My brother said that this power is very important to me and I can't give it up easily. I must travel across the seven kingdoms to find the power that belongs to me."

When this was mentioned, Shao Yun remembered that the other person not only wanted to find his brother, but also wanted to regain his strength, so he had forgotten about this.

Then a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"But that's not why I keep traveling. There's a more important factor."

Having said that, Ying gently touched Shao Yun with her shoulder and threw him a wink.

"My brother said that as long as I continue to travel, he will support us to be together and bless us. Although I will choose to be with you even without his blessing, the recognition of family members is always reassuring."

Shao Yun couldn't believe what he heard. Is this why you choose to continue traveling? I don't believe it!

"Just because of this blessing? Have you made up your mind?"

Ying looked at him with her big watery eyes and nodded seriously.

"Ah."

Shao Yun was so angry that he laughed at her answer. It would have been fine if you hadn't added the last part. You just said that I just wanted to take my power back, and if I hesitated for a moment, I would have died a miserable death!

But you added a "blessing", which feels a bit awkward.

Is this the awkwardness between 12+ and 18+?

It felt like seven days of escape, not eating well and not sleeping well, just to get the blessing of my brother-in-law.

"No other reasons?" He confirmed again. "Is there any other important reason?"

Say a little more, even if it's just that Paimon doesn't want to see me kill Venti and Zhongli, to prove my fantasy!

Ying shook her head with a dazed expression on her face.

"Nothing."

Shao Yun's mood was very complicated, with anger and helplessness intertwined in his heart.

Just treat it as a dream. It seems that I cannot agree to the devil's conditions...

In the end, he just sighed, which turned into an indulgent smile on his face.

He gently stroked Ying's cheek, with a hint of reproach in his affection.

"You... Thanks to you for saying you wanted to regain your strength, otherwise I would have thought that you gave up just for such a simple reason as your brother's blessing, ah..."

Ying hugged Shao Yun's shoulders tightly and apologized in a gentle voice.

"Sorry……"

Shao Yun shook his head. Things had come to this point, there was no point in saying more, so he would just accompany Ying to regain strength!

By the way, you don't have to be nice to those gods anymore. You use us to send letters, and you want us to send them to you and be grateful to you? Nonsense!

Although I still feel uncomfortable with Ying's last reason, at worst I can get it back from Ying one night in the future!

"Forget it, as I said before, as long as you are happy."

Afterwards, the two of them sat together outside Albedo's laboratory and enjoyed the snow scenery.

The world outside was shrouded in a blizzard, and snowflakes were swirling and falling in the night sky.

The two of them stared at the scene quietly. A long time had passed before they realized it, and then Shao Yun broke the silence.

"Well, it's getting late. Now, go back and get some rest."

"Good~"

Ying responded softly, she turned and walked into the laboratory, lying on the "bear skin" (Samsung's grizzly bear skin) that Shao Yun had laid out for her. Her thoughts could not help but drift back to the scenes that happened during the day.

……

"Sister, you need to travel to regain your strength. Not only for yourself, but you also have to think about Shao Yun! He only listens to you now!"

"Brother, what do you mean?"

"This... Sister, how long do you think Shao Yun can live?"

"Ah! I hadn't thought of that."

"Shao Yun doesn't have as long a life as us. He will die! Do you want to watch him die?"

"So, brother, what do you mean?"

"At the end of the journey, I will find a way, not only for you, but also for him. You must keep going."

"Well, then I'll go talk to Shao Yun."

"Wait a minute, sister, you can't tell Shao Yun about this. But you do have to stop him before he makes an irreparable mistake."

"Why can't we tell Shao Yun? This is a good thing for him..."

"I won't hurt you, sister. But don't tell Shao Yun about this!"

Shao Yun's voice came from outside.

"Stop talking nonsense. At this moment, we are enemies of life and death! If I win, I won't remember you!"

"Go stop him, or it will be too late!"

……

The scenes from the day played back in her mind like a movie.

She closed her eyes and murmured silently in her heart: "I'm sorry, Shao Yun. In fact, my brother also told me that at the end of the journey, he will find a way to give you a life as long as ours."

"Recovering my power is not important to me. What's important is that I must go on this journey for you... I'm sorry that my brother didn't let me tell you and made you feel wronged..."