Just as Shao Yun was on the verge of losing control, Rosaria reacted swiftly, throwing herself forward to grip his revolver with all her strength.
"Don't lose it!"
Her voice was calm, but carried a firmness that brooked no argument.
Miss Vile, terrified by Shao Yun's fury, collapsed onto the ground, clutching her head and wailing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have spoken out of turn—I deserve this! Sister Rosaria, stop him!"
Seeing Shao Yun grow more agitated, Rosaria knew she had to defuse the situation fast.
She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Enough. Miss Jilliana is in danger! We can't waste time here. Have you forgotten Lumine's words?"
Shao Yun hesitated for a moment at her mention, his teeth clenched. Finally, he lowered his revolver.
Before leaving, he shot a cold glare at Vile and warned, "You'd better give me a reward worth my trouble."
Miss Vile nodded furiously, promising to meet his expectations.
…
Under the low-hanging night sky, Shao Yun and Rosaria exited Mondstadt's gates, one after the other.
Outside the city, the world was veiled in a mysterious black mist, the stars like scattered gems shimmering dimly above.
Everything around them was hushed and profound, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Taking advantage of a moment when Rosaria wasn't looking, Shao Yun summoned "Carrot" from his mobile stable system.
Hearing the noise, Rosaria turned to see Shao Yun already seated securely in the saddle.
She didn't question where he'd gotten the horse—her eyes instead fixed on the creature itself.
Its coat gleamed, limbs long and powerful, movements graceful yet strong—and it was a pale pink.
Rosaria gave a nod of approval. "Nice horse."
Shao Yun, pleased by the compliment, patted Carrot's neck proudly, as if showing off.
"Thanks."
But the moment the words left his mouth, Rosaria was already stepping toward the horse, clearly intending to climb on as well.
Shao Yun quickly threw an arm out to block her, frowning. "Did I say you could get on?"
Caught off guard, Rosaria looked up at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. She pointed at the saddle. "Can't this horse carry two?"
The horse looked sturdy enough, clearly able to handle the weight.
Shao Yun shook his head and rubbed his fingers together. "Pay up."
Rosaria froze, staring at his gesture. "Would you charge your little girlfriend too?"
Shao Yun scoffed. "You think you're Lumine? Riding behind me for free?"
Rosaria snorted, her expression turning cold.
"Hmph, I've got legs, don't I?"
…
Shao Yun galloped across the wide road atop his imposing Andalusian steed, moonlight washing over both rider and mount.
Meanwhile, Rosaria dashed alongside like a streak of black lightning, keeping pace with the horse.
Far ahead, in the Whispering Woods, two Treasure Hoarders—"Fat Boar" and "Skinny Monkey"—were creeping cautiously toward Mondstadt.
Fat Boar was tall and clumsy, while Skinny Monkey was short, wiry, and sly.
The two reeked of sleaze and menace, their presence enough to make anyone uneasy.
Fat Boar grumbled, "Our boss must be crazy. How are we supposed to kidnap that father and daughter from Mondstadt? We can't take on the Knights of Favonius!"
His voice trembled slightly in the night wind—fear evident.
Skinny Monkey rolled his eyes. "Use your head for once, you oaf! Haven't you heard of tricks?"
There was a glint of cunning in his eyes; clearly, he had a plan.
Fat Boar scratched his head. "How we gonna trick 'em, Skinny Monkey?"
Skinny Monkey grinned and leaned in close, whispering his plan.
"When we get to the house, you hide by the door. I knock and say I found a nun hurt in the woods—says her name is Jilliana, wants her husband. While he's distracted and steps out with me, you bash him over the head. Then I grab the kid. Quiet and fast—the Knights'll never know."
Fat Boar's eyes lit up. "Damn, Monkey, you're a genius!"
"You're just lard with legs!" Monkey jabbed him in the gut. "All muscle, no brain!"
The two weaved through the woods's leafy trails, moving stealthily.
Fat Boar was already panting heavily, his steps growing sluggish. "This path's long… I'm beat…"
Skinny Monkey smirked. "Think of it as weight loss. Might stop folks calling you Boar."
Suddenly, the clatter of hooves broke the quiet—hoofbeats pounding from afar.
Fat Boar perked up. "Hey! Monkey, hear that? Sounds like a horse!"
Monkey frowned. "What? Since when does Mondstadt have horses?"
He grew cautious, wary of the unknown.
But Fat Boar's eyes gleamed with greed. "Must be some rich guy! Let's kill him and steal the horse!"
Monkey's lips curled into a wicked grin. "For once, you're thinking right. Let's ambush him and grab the loot!"
They crouched in the brush, breaths held, waiting for their prey.
Meanwhile, Shao Yun and Rosaria continued through the woods.
Shao Yun glanced at her, noticing her fatigue. "You tired?"
Rosaria shook her head stubbornly. "I... I'm not tired."
He sighed, feeling helpless. "Alright, alright. Get on. I said you could ride behind me."
Rosaria snapped, "Screw you! Let your little girlfriend ride there instead!"
He shook his head, pulled a bitter tonic from his pack, and handed it to her. "Drink this. Restores stamina."
Rosaria inspected it skeptically. "What the hell is this?"
"Trust me—it works."
She eyed the bottle, uncertain, then took a gamble.
With a breath, she chugged the liquid.
The bitterness hit instantly, like a thousand needles stabbing her tongue.
She grimaced in agony and hurled the bottle away.
"Blegh—"
She gagged, nearly retching. Tears welled in her eyes. "I've drunk spoiled water that tastes better than that crap!"
Even the horse neighed in protest.
Shao Yun soothed it, muttering, "Bitter medicine's the best cure—you've never heard that?"
Suddenly, Fat Boar and Skinny Monkey burst from the grass.
"Hands up!"
Rosaria wiped her tears, glaring at them like they were idiots.
Shao Yun, amused, watched them as if they were theater actors.
Fat Boar cleared his throat and barked, "There's a saying from the Liyue Treasure Hoarders: 'This road is mine, this tree I planted!'"
Skinny Monkey chimed in with his squeaky voice, "'Wanna pass? Leave a toll!'"
The Mondstadt branch quoting Liyue slogans. Adorable.
Shao Yun clapped mockingly, tossed two Mora at them like alms.
"Nice performance. Here's your tip."
Fat Boar fumed. "You taking us for beggars?!"
Shao Yun scoffed. "Aren't you?"
Skinny Monkey drew a dagger. "You clearly don't know who you're messing with!"
Greed gleamed in Fat Boar's eyes. "Hand over your valuables and the horse!"
But Shao Yun's smile vanished, replaced by cold steel. His hand moved to his revolver.
"What did you just call me and her?"
Skinny Monkey laughed, mocking. "Aww, he's shy now!"
Fat Boar added, "Another nun-loving guy? What's up with that in Mondstadt?"
I just confessed to Lumine. You spread crap about me? You really don't know what death looks like, do you?
Skinny Monkey guffawed, "Too bad we didn't wait—might've caught a show!"
But his laughter stopped dead.
A thunderous blast echoed through the woods.
His head exploded like a watermelon—blood splattering the ground.
The woods fell silent.
Fat Boar stared in horror, looking from the corpse to Shao Yun.
Shao Yun aimed at him. "Repeat what he was about to say."
Fat Boar stammered, "He said... if you come into the woods at night, it's probably to—"
BOOM!
Another deafening shot.
"You really said it!"
Fat Boar's skull was blown open. He collapsed beside his partner—dead.
Silence returned, broken only by rustling leaves.
Rosaria stared at the corpses, smirked, and spat.
"Nice shooting."
Then she strode over and hopped on behind Shao Yun.
He looked back. "What are you doing?"
"You said I could ride, remember?"
He scratched his nose awkwardly. "Didn't I give you a tonic for that?"
Her reply was unarguable.
"After that taste? You owe me a ride. Move."
Shao Yun sighed, knowing arguing was useless.
He snapped the reins and rode deeper into the woods, Rosaria behind him.
In the darkness, their figures faded into the trees, leaving only silence—and two lifeless bodies in the night.