Shao Yun stormed to the cathedral door and cracked it open, peering through the gap to observe the situation outside.
The outer gate of the Favonius Cathedral—once a place of tranquility—was now saturated with tension and dread.
The Fatui Harbinger known as "La Signora" stood outside, flanked by two Electro Cicin Mages. Her gaze was fixed intently on the Holy Lyre in her hand, mysterious and ornate.
At that moment, Paimon had been frozen into a block of ice, Lumine was unconscious but otherwise unharmed, and Venti was lying on the ground gasping for breath. The scene was total chaos.
A smug smile appeared on La Signora's face as she sneered, "To think the great Anemo Archon would fall to such a state—having his Holy Lyre taken by a mere mortal through her own strength."
Her voice echoed around the cathedral entrance, tinged with mockery and provocation.
Venti looked up at the Holy Lyre in her hand, a complicated emotion flashing through his eyes.
Then he smirked provocatively. "Did you forget to mention the help from your master?"
The moment the words left his mouth, La Signora's expression turned dark.
Furious, she clenched the Holy Lyre as though she might crush it. She turned on Venti, seized him by the collar, and with eyes ablaze, slapped him hard across the face—again and again.
Red welts bloomed on Venti's cheeks, but he didn't utter a sound. He merely endured, his gaze still filled with defiant mischief, as though laughing at La Signora's impotence.
His defiance only enraged her further. She ground her teeth, seeming ready to vent all her fury on him.
Watching from the door crack, Shao Yun clenched his teeth in rage with every slap that landed. 'I mess with Venti for fun and never once hit him hard. He's someone even I can't bear to bully—and you're beating him like that?'
He summoned his golden repeating carbine from the system and was about to kick the door open when the situation shifted.
La Signora paused after striking Venti, seeming to recall something. She grabbed his chin, her voice icy. "Tell me something, Lord Anemo Archon. Will you answer a question for me?"
Though her grip hurt, Venti still wore that shameless smile, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you want to know?"
She pointed toward the ravaged Goth Grand Hotel in the distance. "Were you the one who killed all the Fatui inside? Who else but you could take out all those elite agents in one go? Not even the acting grand master could do that unscathed."
Venti's lips curled into a taunting grin. "Why don't you just admit your Fatui are incompetent?"
That jab pushed her over the edge. She slapped him again, roaring, "I know it was someone you sent! You said it yourself—you sent your second familiar, some three-headed, eight-armed demon... What is that thing? When did you find a freak like that?!"
Venti chuckled, staring at her fury as he said breezily, "You still believe the fairy tales I make up. Seems you haven't changed at all, Rosalyne..."
Her eyes widened with shock and rage at the name. "Shut up!" she screamed, then punched him in the stomach.
Venti's eyes bulged as he spat and passed out.
Three heads! Eight arms! So that's how you describe me, Venti? I look this good and that's the best you could come up with?!
Shao Yun suddenly didn't feel like rescuing Venti anymore. He actually hoped La Signora would land a few more hits.
She already has the Holy Lyre. She'll probably leave soon anyway. I'll just feed Venti a healing potion afterward, no big deal.
La Signora kicked Venti hard, the blow landing with a dull thud.
Her eyes were cold, filled with unrestrained malice.
Having vented her fury, she waved her hand with a chilling command.
"You two, bring the blonde girl over!"
Two Debt Collectors moved at her order, dragging the unconscious Lumine closer.
La Signora crouched, seizing Lumine's chin and lifting her face.
"Don't think I don't know she's your companion. I'll use this girl to lure out that three-headed, eight-armed freak—and then I'll have my revenge!"
Her voice was sharp and absolute, dripping with venomous hate.
Her eyes lingered on Lumine's young and lovely face.
Then she touched the mask over her right cheek and muttered, "Such a pretty face... Should I have the Doctor cut it off and graft it onto mine?"
Behind the door, Shao Yun witnessed everything. His fists clenched so tightly his nails cut into his palms, yet he didn't notice.
When La Signora spoke of flaying Lumine's face, Shao Yun's rage reached its breaking point.
'You hit Venti? Fine. But if you dare touch Lumine—you're dead!'
"You sour-faced hag! You really have a death wish!"
With a furious roar, he drew his repeating carbine and kicked the door wide open.
As the door slammed open, Shao Yun activated the Dead-Eye. A clap of thunder rang in his ears, followed by the ticking of a pocket watch.
This time, he wasn't slowing down time—he had stopped it.
He could see every motion and expression of La Signora and the Debt Collectors in vivid clarity.
Every Fatui soldier in sight now bore a bright red X over their heads, as though marked for death.
At his waist, the red Vision radiated an eerie, crimson glow. That light pulsed with overwhelming power, threatening to consume everything.
He pulled the trigger, cycled the lever, and ejected the spent shell in one seamless motion.
A deafening crack split the cathedral's stillness. Bullets screamed through the air, slamming into La Signora's skull and the heads of the Fatui agents.
To her credit, La Signora was tough—she suffered a concussion, but her skull didn't shatter.
The others weren't so lucky. The heads of four Fatui burst like balloons, gore and brain matter splattering everywhere.
Though badly injured, La Signora didn't collapse. Shao Yun didn't hesitate. He leapt down the steps and slammed the gunstock into her face.
Bang! With a dull crack, she fell, her black crown-like mask flying off. Instinctively, she clutched her right cheek as if guarding a horrifying secret.
Shao Yun gave her no reprieve. Afraid she'd retaliate, he snatched the Delusion from her hand and drove a dagger into her chest.
"Aaah—!" she screamed, her body convulsing.
Even in agony, she covered her right cheek like it was her last shred of dignity.
"Don't look at me! Don't look at me!" she shrieked in despair and fear.
Shao Yun didn't care. He ripped the dagger free and, roaring with rage, stabbed again.
"Your mistake was threatening Lumine!"
Her pain was immense, but still she clutched her face, whispering hoarsely:
"Don't... don't look at my face…"
Shao Yun ignored her pleas. Rising to his feet, he brandished the dagger and warned coldly, "You should've taken the Holy Lyre and left!"
La Signora, ever the Harbinger, tried to channel the Delusion's power—but realized with horror that its Cryo magic was gone.
In its place, uncontrollable Pyro energy surged within her. Without the Delusion to restrain it, the inferno threatened to consume her.
Shao Yun saw the fear in her eyes and felt no pity. Grinning, he dangled the Delusion before her. "Looking for this?"
La Signora's eyes were full of fury and despair. She knew she was helpless now.
"I learned how to steal from a kindly old man," Shao Yun added, mocking her with a playful sneer.
La Signora lay there pale, bleeding, and defeated. She rasped, "Cough... give it back!"
She reached out feebly, trying to reclaim the Delusion.
Shao Yun stared coldly, noting the flames beginning to envelop her. Without the Delusion's suppression, her own Pyro was turning on her.
She was in no shape to control it—let alone fight.
"If you use your elemental power, you'll only hasten your death," Shao Yun warned, leveling his revolver. "I can see the energy. My bullet will beat you to the draw."
He scoffed. "You're bleeding out. Use that power and you'll burn alive before hurting anyone. I'll get singed. You'll be ashes."
La Signora's strength was gone. She could feel life slipping away, fear gripping her heart.
She clutched her cheek, her one remaining eye glaring at Shao Yun. "Please... let me fight you properly! One-on-one!"
Shao Yun couldn't help but laugh. 'This isn't a duel—it's an execution. You're lucky I didn't torture you.'
He sneered. "You lost. Who else can you blame?"
Twirling the Delusion in his hand, he smirked. "I'll bury this with you. A memento of your failure."
Seeing the fear in her eyes, he decided to be merciful.
He drew his revolver, cocked the hammer, and said coldly, "Take one last look at the world."
La Signora, near death, gazed at the gun and Shao Yun's unflinching face. She muttered, dazed, "Barbatos was right... You really do have three heads, eight arms..."
To Shao Yun, it was just the delirium of a dying enemy.
[Alert: If you kill La Signora, all non-Mondstadt regions in Teyvat will become red zones. You must be prepared for constant Fatui attacks.]
Shao Yun scoffed at the system message.
Red zones? Hell, I'd charge through all of Teyvat for Lumine! Let the Fatui come!
Just as he was about to finish her, Venti—who had been faking unconsciousness—suddenly sprang to his feet and yelled:
"Shao Yun!"
He dashed forward and tackled Shao Yun just as the trigger was pulled.
The shot went wide. La Signora lived.
Shoving Venti aside, Shao Yun shouted, eyes blazing, "You drunk idiot! Why stop me?! I could've ended this plague on Mondstadt!"
Venti steadied himself and said with quiet firmness, "Some things aren't for you to meddle in."
Before Shao Yun could argue, Venti seized the Delusion from his hand and returned it to La Signora.
Then he gently replaced the black crown mask on her face.
La Signora felt Cryo surge back through her body, suppressing the inferno within. The burning eased instantly.