'Whether or not you listen to my self-introduction doesn't really matter. It's similar to the one in the game. Lumine is a traveler from beyond the world. Because of interference from a mysterious god, her brother was taken. In order to find him, she decided to embark on a journey.'
'Then, a few months ago, while resting and fishing by the seaside, she rescued Paimon who had fallen into the water. Paimon is the best guide in Teyvat, and from then on, the two began their journey together.'
Shao Yun listened while fiddling with his system, checking his three main attributes. The materialization of physical stats allowed him to see the state of his body more intuitively—truly convenient.
[Health, Stamina, Deadeye.]
[Core HP and Peripheral HP make up the overall health bar. When taking damage, peripheral HP depletes first. Core HP drops when drinking special liquor. If both are depleted, you'll "pass out." Any further damage while unconscious results in "death." Treasure your life.]
[Core Stamina and Peripheral Stamina constitute the stamina bar. If peripheral stamina is too low, core stamina will be consumed. If both are exhausted, sprinting will be forcibly halted.]
[Deadeye, essentially, is the manifestation of your marksmanship. When activated, your vision makes the world appear slower—though in reality, you're just faster.]
[Tip: No one in Teyvat has marksmanship or reflexes better than yours.]
While reviewing the attribute descriptions, the two had finished explaining their story and turned to look at Shao Yun.
"Is it my turn now? I..."
Shao Yun was genuinely confused. How he ended up here was as unclear as trying to remember when exactly one fell asleep—not something easily pinned down.
"Please use your new identity," a prompt appeared before him.
Since he'd bound himself to the system, he now had a new identity assigned. He had to utilize it.
Reading from the introduction the system provided, he began aloud.
"My name is Shao Yun. Like the Traveler said, I'm somewhat similar. I've spent my life traveling. Although to put it nicely it's called 'traveling,' in reality, it's just been a life of drifting, with no fixed home..."
The identity the system gave him was from the world of Red Dead Redemption. He had lived with the Van der Linde gang and hadn't experienced a normal life. A gunslinger—robbing, killing, helping people, aiding the poor, committing every kind of deed, good and bad.
Shao Yun basically followed the system's script as he performed, pretending to reminisce, but it was more of an act—as though he'd really lived through all those events.
Telling it felt strangely novel, like experiencing an entirely different life. Unconsciously, he began to feel like those days had truly been his.
…
"In the end, they abandoned me—or maybe I abandoned them. I'm a gunslinger, a fugitive. I've taken lives and I've saved them. Someone once asked me, 'Aren't you afraid of going to hell for all this?' And I answered, 'I hope my death is excruciating, or I'll doubt whether karma really exists.' Ha..."
Shao Yun leaned against a rock, the corners of his lips lifting slightly into a self-deprecating smile. His laughter trembled slightly, as if realizing he'd been a complete fool—that all he'd done in the past had been in vain, a farce masquerading as a life.
"As for how I came to this world—I don't know. And what I'm supposed to do—I have no idea. No goal. Like a wandering ghost." He fully committed to the act, even ad-libbing a bit.
Shao Yun couldn't help but immerse himself in this new persona. With this kind of performance, if he didn't win an Oscar, it would be a crime. But Paimon, after listening, was genuinely moved—on the verge of tears.
"Uuuhhh... Shao Yun, your past was so tragic..."
"I thought you'd feel fear or something else. I didn't expect sadness. I've already gotten used to my past," Shao Yun said, patting Paimon's head. "You don't need to feel sad for someone like me. I'm not worth it."
After all, it was all "made up." Seeing someone mourn over a fabricated past felt… inappropriate.
Paimon wiped her tears and nodded.
"You're right—we have to stay strong and optimistic."
Lumine thought for a moment, then looked at Shao Yun, reaching out her hand in invitation. "Then, Shao Yun, if you don't have a clear goal, why not travel with us?"
Paimon chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! If you don't have a goal, then come with us!"
As soon as the words fell, a task prompt popped up in front of Shao Yun.
[Main Quest: Travel with the Traveler and Paimon. Fully enjoy the stories of Teyvat.]
"Seriously? I used to be a fugitive." Shao Yun hesitated. Were Lumine and Paimon really that trusting? His new identity was that of a gunslinger outlaw.
Lumine slightly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a faint smile. Her smile was like the warm spring sun—gentle and comforting.
"A little concerned, yes. But since you've been honest with us about your past, I believe... you're not all that bad."
"Alright then. Thanks for trusting me." Shao Yun extended his hand, and the three bumped fists. The original duo had become a trio.
"Oh, right—Shao Yun, this should be yours!" Paimon suddenly remembered something, flying over to a rock and struggling to lift a waist pouch.
Looks familiar... No way—isn't this the Legend of the East Satchel? Practically Doraemon's four-dimensional pocket—it can store anything.
"Thanks. Yep, it's mine." He strapped the bag to his waist and gave it a little shake. Fit perfectly.
"There's still a few more items!" Paimon was about to fetch them one by one.
"Thanks, but I'll get them myself. No need for you to keep flying back and forth."
Shao Yun declined Paimon's help and walked behind the rock, spotting two gun holsters and a pair of cowboy revolvers.
Both revolvers had a golden metallic finish with silver inlays in a Baroque style.
"So here you are." He fastened the holsters and slipped the revolvers in. The system's starter gear was now fully equipped.
With everything ready, they left the beach.
Shao Yun looked around at the scenery. Even though he'd walked this place countless times in the game, being here in person—feeling the real wind brush his face—stirred something inside him.
Paimon flew between the two, introducing the first stop on their journey—Mondstadt, the starter city.
"The first nation we're going to is Mondstadt! It's the land of the Anemo Archon, a city of freedom and poetry."
She looked at Lumine. "Starting in Mondstadt isn't random—its songs and language drift on the wind. Maybe you'll hear news of your brother."
Then turning to Shao Yun, "And the scenery is really nice. Great place to relax!"
Listening to Paimon's introduction, Shao Yun was genuinely intrigued. They were about to catch their first glimpse of Mondstadt. He still remembered how stunned he'd been the first time he played.
Sure enough, after climbing the slope with Paimon and Lumine, the first thing that came into view was Starfell Lake and the towering Anemo Archon statue. The lake mirrored the sky like a mirror. Mondstadt, in the distance, was even larger than expected—built on an island in Cider Lake, with towering walls, a massive cathedral, and windmills lining the battlements.
However, the three had different focal points. Paimon and Lumine focused on the Seven Archons statue. Shao Yun's eyes were fixed on Mondstadt itself.
Following the plot, Lumine resonated with the statue. Paimon suggested, "Why don't we go closer to the statue of The Seven and see what surprises await?"
Lumine nodded. Shao Yun agreed.
"Good idea."
Arriving at Starfell Lake—just a small pond in the game—but here, it was a true lake, crystal clear, with fish swimming through it.
Suddenly inspired, Shao Yun pulled out his journal and began sketching.
He didn't actually know how to draw, but somehow, it felt intuitive. As if guided by a muse, his hand danced across the page.
The soft scratching of pen on paper caught Lumine and Paimon's attention. They turned their gaze from the statue to Shao Yun.
Lumine leaned in close. Due to the height difference, she stood on tiptoe. Paimon hovered nearby, quietly observing.
Shao Yun didn't mind. He openly let them watch him draw.
"Shao Yun, are you sketching the statue of The Seven?" Lumine's eyes widened as the picture on the paper gradually took shape.
"Yeah, just recording it." As he finished speaking, the drawing of Starfell Lake was complete.
Paimon rested on Lumine's head. "Can I see?"
Shao Yun handed the journal to them. "Go ahead." Then he stepped into the lake.
Though the lake was vast, it felt shallow. The water only reached just below his chest, and he could feel the lakebed underfoot.
Wading through the water, he approached the statue of The Seven.
He gently touched the statue—feeling nothing unusual despite trying for a while.
"Looks like I won't get elemental powers as easily as Lumine." He felt a little let down. But glancing at the weapons on his waist, he soon let it go.
"Whatever. I'm here to enjoy the journey. Gaining elemental powers... let Lumine and Paimon handle that."
He carefully examined the statue's texture—it resembled marble, yet not quite. Just an oddly unique stone surface.
Also, under the statue, he felt a strange force pressing on his head—urging him to bow. But it had no real effect. As long as he didn't bow, it just felt like something weighing on him. Nothing uncomfortable, though.
The sketch was soon appreciated, and the two finally realized Shao Yun was already under the statue.
"Oh right, almost forgot! Traveler, let's head to the statue," Paimon said, closing the journal and flying across the lake to return it to Shao Yun.
Since Paimon could fly, Lumine eyed the water, thinking. At this point, she'd have to swim across.
She stepped into the water, floated, and began swimming toward the statue at the lake's center.
Meanwhile, Shao Yun put the journal away and noticed Lumine swimming with some difficulty. It reminded him of his own early days—when he'd once drowned here as a rookie.
Without hesitation, he jumped in, scooped Lumine up in a princess carry, and brought her to the small island in the lake.
"Thanks..." Lumine nodded as her feet touched the ground.