Shao Yun rode hard, the wind howling past him as Windrise drew closer. The scenery blurred around him, but he barely spared it a glance—his mind was locked on one thing.
As he rounded a bend, a campfire flickered into view. Sitting beside it was a lone knight, the flames casting shifting light across his firm features, though his furrowed brows betrayed inner turmoil.
Not wanting to jump to conclusions, Shao Yun decided to test the waters first.
He dismounted, walked over, and greeted politely, "Hey there. Mind if I warm myself by your fire?"
The knight looked up, scanning Shao Yun quickly before nodding. "Not at all, friend. Have a seat."
Shao Yun sat across from him, feigning casual interest in the fire while mentally probing his approach.
"I'm Tacitus. Judging by your armor, you must be with the Knights of Favonius?"
The knight gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, I'm Godwin. Knight of Favonius."
Bingo.
Shao Yun kept his tone light and conversational.
"You knights really are something—setting up a camp like this while on patrol."
He gestured at the well-pitched tent and the carefully stoked fire.
Godwin scratched the back of his head, modest. "Haha, I'll take that as a compliment."
Shao Yun's eyes flicked with calculation. He pulled a bottle from his bag and offered it.
"Drink?"
But Godwin shook his head. "Can't drink while on patrol."
Plan A failed. Time for plan B.
"Must be rough out here. Mondstadt's short-handed—can't be easy doing patrols in the wild."
Godwin laughed nervously. "Haha, duty is duty. Protecting Mondstadt is worth the hardship."
Shao Yun wasn't buying it. "You get rotation breaks, right? Times when you return to Mondstadt?"
Godwin laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, of course. There's always leave… eventually."
Clearly evading. Time to go straight to the heart of it.
Shao Yun gazed around, pretending to admire the landscape. "I just arrived in Mondstadt recently. It's a great place—good wine, beautiful sights, and the people are so warm and kind."
Godwin nodded vaguely. "Yeah… it is a great place."
Shao Yun's voice dropped, gaze distant as he pointed back toward the city.
"I met a girl there—her name's Glory."
Godwin froze. His expression shifted instantly, eyes filled with mixed emotions.
"Glory?"
Shao Yun smirked inwardly. Gotcha.
He raised a brow, voice dripping with implication. "Yeah. Her eyes were injured—she can't see. Funny thing, her lover's name is Godwin."
Godwin dropped his gaze, silent for a beat. Then, with a sigh, he admitted, "So… you already know."
Shao Yun crushed the fire with a few sharp stomps, extinguishing the flames completely.
Then he waved Godwin to his feet with a voice like steel. "You know I know. So, what are you waiting for? Come on—maybe we'll still catch lunch in town."
But Godwin's face darkened, and he shook his head slowly, wearing a bitter smile. "I… I can't. I've got my reasons."
Shao Yun's gaze turned cold. He stepped forward and in one fluid motion slammed Godwin to the ground, binding his wrists with rope.
Then, without another word, hoisted him up and tossed him onto his horse.
Completely stunned, Godwin shouted, "What are you doing?!"
Shao Yun patted his head firmly. "Not asking. If you won't walk back, I'll drag you."
Godwin thrashed, but the ropes were tight.
"I can't go back!"
Shao Yun mounted up beside him, slapping the reins. "What, think Acting Grand Master Jean's gonna hang you from the city gates for falling behind? Mondstadt's short on men. Wandering the wild is what's really irresponsible."
And with that, the horse bolted toward Mondstadt.
Godwin squirmed in panic. "I lost the keepsake Glory gave me—I can't face her yet! Let me find it first!"
Shao Yun's expression darkened, and he let out a curse.
"You've got to be kidding me."
He punched Godwin.
"You'd rather waste a girl's best years than bruise your ego?"
Godwin winced from the blow, face twisting in pain.
After a while, he spoke again. "I will return. Just… when the timing's right. When the Grand Master returns, I'll come back with the expedition."
Shao Yun's rage flared anew. Another punch.
"You'd have better luck waiting for Mora to rain from the sky!"
Godwin fell silent under the blows, while Shao Yun pressed on, voice heavy with meaning.
"Let me tell you something. Glory issues a commission every single day, asking someone to bring her dandelions."
Godwin's heart clenched. Memories of their time together flickered in his mind. A soft smile tugged at his lips. "She's still so innocent… I never thought she'd believe that fairy tale I told her."
But Shao Yun's next words hit like a sledgehammer.
"What you don't know is that those commissions cost her her meal. She's been skipping lunch every day—just to think about you."
Godwin's face turned ghost-white. Guilt surged through him like a tidal wave.
"Please… sir, you have to help me. Make her eat. Please!"
Shao Yun's eyes went steely. Another punch. His voice was a blade.
"Why don't you feed her, since you're the reason she's starving?! I should strip your skin and see just how thick it is—letting a girl go hungry for you!"