Shao Yun looked at the intelligence report in his hand, then raised his head and said to Ningguang, "By the way, Miss Ningguang, I'll be keeping this report."
Ningguang was slightly taken aback, a hint of puzzlement crossing her brow. She looked at Shao Yun with curiosity but nodded and said, "Alright, but why do you want it?"
Shao Yun gave a faint smile and slipped the report into the "Legend of the East" backpack at his waist. "I promised Paimon I'd sneak out a copy of 'Frostfall' from you. Gotta keep my word."
At the mention of 'Frostfall', realization dawned on Ningguang.
She pointed at the wall where countless reports were displayed. "There's one over there about recent ore market price forecasts. That intelligence is worth a fortune to any merchant. Whether you use it for business or resell it, it'd turn a hefty profit. Why not take that one?"
Shao Yun raised two fingers and said casually, "Two reasons. First, I don't need money. And once I rob the Northland Bank, I'll be even richer. So, market trends? Not my thing."
Ningguang's eyes widened slightly in shock upon hearing his audacious plan. She parted her lips, seemingly unsure if she'd heard correctly. Her voice trembled slightly. "You're really going to rob the Northland Bank?"
Seeing her reaction, Shao Yun's eyes gleamed with excitement. He nodded vigorously.
"Of course. Once Liyue and the Fatui are openly hostile, I'll hit their bank. And by then, you folks won't even issue a bounty on me. It's like a dream come true!"
Ningguang took a deep breath, trying to steady her surprise.
"And your second reason?"
Shao Yun looked at her, his expression turning serious, his voice low.
"I want Lumine and Paimon to see for themselves that the Fatui can't be trusted. I've seen through their greed and deceit long ago. With this operation, I want them to understand that even those Fatui who wear smiles are nothing more than wolves in sheep's clothing."
Ningguang gave a small nod. She understood his conviction. Still, she offered a word of caution.
"Then when you hit the bank, make sure not to set anything on fire. Liyue Harbor has good fire safety measures, but I always have this feeling—you might burn the whole place down."
Shao Yun noticed the concern in her eyes and nodded earnestly. "Sure. Just make sure to clear the crowds, and don't let any kids witness the bloody scene. I remember back in Mondstadt, there was this lying 'pirate captain' who didn't control the crowd, and a fifteen-year-old girl saw something she shouldn't have. I nearly beat him up."
That memory brought Noelle's face to his mind again. He almost wanted to head back to Mondstadt just to punch Kaeya.
Hearing his words, Ningguang's worry eased slightly. She nodded. "Alright, I understand. I'll dispatch the Millelith to seal off the area around the Northland Bank when the time comes."
Shao Yun felt exhilarated at that. Millelith keeping order while he strutted in for a clean heist? That was the dream!
…
Shao Yun left the Jade Chamber and made his way to Yujing Terrace, where he spotted Madame Ping enjoying the flowers.
Suddenly, he remembered Lumine and Paimon were trying to borrow the Cleansing Bell. He wondered how far along they were.
He walked over and asked softly, "Excuse me, are you Madame Ping?"
Madame Ping lifted her head slowly at his voice and looked at him with a kind smile. "Hello, young man. Is there something you need?"
Shao Yun smiled slightly. "I'm looking for a blonde girl and a floating white-haired… uh, child."
He paused briefly, searching for a better word to describe Paimon.
Madame Ping nodded knowingly, smiling. "Ah, you mean Lumine and Paimon. I just saw them. They mentioned you too—said your name is Shao Yun, right?"
Shao Yun nodded. "Do you know where they are now?"
Madame Ping smiled and pointed to the ornate teapot on the table. "They're inside my teapot looking for something. They'll be out shortly."
Shao Yun breathed a sigh of relief. So, they were just at that stage. Not bad.
"Oh, got it. I'll wait here for them, then." His tone was calm.
Madame Ping studied his peaceful expression, curiosity surfacing. She let out a thoughtful hum. "Shao Yun, aren't you curious how they got inside the teapot? It's quite the mysterious thing, you know."
Shao Yun chuckled and scratched his head, sorting his thoughts. Instead of answering directly, he changed the subject. "I suddenly remembered a joke. Thought it was pretty funny. Want to hear it?"
Madame Ping's face lit up with interest. "Oh? What joke? Tell this old lady."
Shao Yun thought for a moment. "Have you ever heard of a Sumeru sandbeast? How many steps would it take to stuff one into a wardrobe?"
Madame Ping shook her head, clearly intrigued.
Shao Yun held up three fingers, his expression serious. "Three steps. Step one, open the wardrobe. Step two, put the elephant—no wait, the sandbeast—in. Step three, close the wardrobe."
Madame Ping stared at him, blinking, then smiled awkwardly.
"That was a pretty cold joke, wasn't it?" Shao Yun asked.
She sighed with a laugh. "Haha, yes… it was quite the chilly joke."
"In this ancient and mystical land of Liyue, some things truly deserve deep thought," Shao Yun mused. "But others? They're simple. Like those two girls inside the teapot—it's like stuffing a sandbeast into a wardrobe. No need to overthink it. Just wait."
Madame Ping smiled knowingly.
"Hahaha, you're quite the talker, young man. Seems you've figured out who I really am."
Shao Yun smiled and nodded, his gaze unwavering. "You're an Adeptus. Your title is 'Streetward Rambler,' right?"
Madame Ping nodded gently, a trace of nostalgia in her eyes. "Yes… it's been so long since someone called me that. I do miss it a bit."
Shao Yun lowered his voice. "Don't worry, I won't tell Lumine or Paimon."
But Madame Ping shook her head with a warm smile. "It's fine if you do. You all carry Adepti fate. My identity is no secret to you."
Shao Yun let out a wry smile. 'Adepti fate,' huh? If I were fated to become one, then Celestia must be blind.
In the gentle sunlight, Madame Ping patted his arm, her expression kind.
"Why not sit and enjoy the flowers with this old lady? Seems like those two won't be out for a while."
Shao Yun instinctively reached into his bag and pulled out a cigar.
Just as he was about to light it, he paused and looked at Madame Ping, silently seeking approval.
She smiled, full of understanding, and nodded lightly.
"It's fine. I won't tell. But I'll say this—young man, you should smoke less. It's bad for your health."
Shao Yun smiled, looked at the cigar, then shook his head and put it away.
Instead, he took out a bottle of gold-label liquor and gently twisted off the cap. A rich aroma wafted into the air.
Raising the bottle slightly, he said, "Alright, I'll have some of this instead."
The two of them sat on the stone bench, chatting idly as Shao Yun sipped the liquor.
…
"I'm not really into fishing," Shao Yun said, "but you know? That moment the fish bites, the tension, and then the satisfaction of reeling it in—that feeling can't be replaced."
Madame Ping nodded. "Fishing? It's great for calming the mind. But I haven't fished in years."
Shao Yun drained the last drop from his bottle, smacked his lips, and began recounting his hunting experiences.
"Hunting is much simpler for me. I use special hollow bullets. One shot, and most animals drop instantly. Unless it's absurdly huge or something exotic, it won't survive."
The mention of hunting sparked Madame Ping's interest.
"Hunting's a fine thing. I remember thousands of years ago—must've been around thirteen hundred years—someone once hunted twelve wild boars in a single day with just a bow. They threw a grand banquet afterward. It was quite the event."
Just then, a gentle breeze stirred the teapot on the table, causing it to sway slightly. Lumine and Paimon emerged.
Their appearance interrupted the conversation.
Lumine held a softly glowing Cleansing Bell in her hand.
"Madame Ping, we found it!"
Madame Ping looked surprised at first, then smiled with joy. She looked at the bell and said warmly, "Well done, youngsters. That was fast."
Her voice, like a spring breeze, brought comfort to the soul.
Lumine smiled and shook the bell lightly. "Thanks for the compliment. Madame Ping, we'll be taking this Cleansing Bell now."
Madame Ping waved her hand. "It's fine. I got it from the Archon anyway. If it's useful to you, take it."
At that moment, Lumine noticed Shao Yun sitting nearby. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah! Shao Yun? I didn't expect to see you here so suddenly."
Paimon turned around, also surprised.
"I thought you wouldn't show up until noon. That was fast."
Shao Yun capped the empty bottle and stood up. "Not much to it. But enough about me—where's Mr. Zhongli? Why isn't he here?"
Paimon pointed north. "Mr. Zhongli said he was heading out to find some wild Glaze Lilies. He went on ahead. Told us to meet him at Dihua Marsh."
Shao Yun nodded, frowning slightly as he mulled something over. "I see. So, we're still missing a kite..."
Hearing that, Paimon perked up. "Oh, the kite? Childe's already taken care of that."
Shao Yun frowned. "Childe? When did you two run into him?"
Paimon blinked and thought back. "We left early this morning and—surprise!—he was waiting outside the inn. He was super friendly and even treated us to breakfast!"
She patted her belly, clearly pleased. "It was delicious!"
"Maybe Childe is one of the good ones in the Fatui," Paimon muttered, her fondness for Tartaglia growing.
Shao Yun looked at her innocent face and shook his head silently. Give you food and you think everyone's a good person. You're just a gluttonous kid.
Still, that did tell him one thing—Childe was getting anxious.
That meant it was time to "accidentally" leak the intelligence.
He waved his hand, bringing everyone back to the present. "Alright. Since Childe's already on it, let's go check on the kite situation."
Paimon nodded vigorously, then turned to Madame Ping. "Madame Ping, we're heading off. See you later!"
Shao Yun and Lumine also bade farewell together, their voices warm and sincere. "Goodbye, Madame Ping."
Madame Ping smiled as she waved. "Goodbye, youngsters. Come visit this old lady again sometime."