Shao Yun couldn't understand Venti's actions. His heart was brimming with confusion and fury as he shouted, "Why?! She tried to kill Lumine!"
He couldn't wrap his head around why Venti had stopped him. 'She slapped you, stole from you—even that damned system didn't stop me this time! But you did? Today I must kill this Fatui Harbinger—La Signora!'
That thought burned in his mind as he raised his gun again. The rage in his eyes flared, threatening to incinerate everything.
But then, Venti's braid began to glow with a teal light as he grabbed Shao Yun by the collar and shouted:
"Shao Yun! Calm down! Lumine is fine! Do you hear me? She's fine!"
"But if you go berserk again, don't blame me for what happens next!"
So, you act weak in front of La Signora, but want to throw hands with me, huh, Venti?
Shao Yun didn't fear death. He spread his arms wide, eyes filled with reckless defiance.
"If you want to stop me, come on—let me see what you've got!"
His voice was cold and resolute, ready for a duel. He stepped back, putting distance between them.
Venti saw the fury blazing in Shao Yun's eyes and felt a surge of grief and frustration.
He knew that a head-on clash would only make things worse. So, he softened his voice, trying to quell the fire within Shao Yun.
"Please, calm down—consider it a favor. Lumine is okay! She still has her face, doesn't she? And Rosalyne's already paid the price. You did beat her to a pulp."
His words gave Shao Yun pause. There was logic in them.
Looking at Venti's sorrowful yet firm gaze, and seeing the glow fade from his braid, Shao Yun's rage began to ebb.
After a long breath, he slowly holstered his revolver, trying to contain the storm inside him. Staring Venti down, he said in a low voice, "You better be making a real deal."
His tone was calmer now—and that was enough.
Seeing Shao Yun relent, Venti immediately knelt beside the battered La Signora, gently cradling her and brushing her cheek.
"Shao Yun can kill you right now—I may not be able to stop him. Whether you hate me or not, I'm saving you. Let's make a deal—one that ends this, that lets you live."
La Signora opened her left eye slightly, glancing at Shao Yun's menacing expression, then looked at Venti. Weakly, she asked, "Speak. What deal?"
Shao Yun was still burning with indignation. He cast Venti a deep, loaded glance and said, "You really sure about this, Venti?"
Venti turned to him, brows tightly knit, and shook his head slightly, urging him to wait.
Then, facing La Signora again, he revealed the deal.
"I'll give you the Holy Lyre. In return, Shao Yun's grudge with the Fatui ends here. Once he leaves Mondstadt, the Fatui won't pursue him."
La Signora understood and sneered faintly. "You're trading Fatui lives for your Gnosis?"
Venti nodded. "Yes. If we don't give Shao Yun something real, he will kill you—and he's not afraid of being hunted."
Watching them about to strike a deal, Shao Yun's lip curled into a scornful grin.
"Being hunted? Hah. What'll she do—send that noseless freak after me? Venti, you're wasting time! This is so beneath you."
Venti turned to him, his voice calm but firm. "The Holy Lyre means nothing to me. I won't risk danger for something worthless. Would you rather see Lumine dragged into this?"
And just like that, Venti had found the right string to pull.
At the mention of Lumine, Shao Yun's expression shifted. He waved dismissively, not wanting to talk about it further.
La Signora, lying in Venti's arms, was silent. After a moment of consideration, she nodded weakly. "Fine. I agree... to the deal."
As she spoke, a green breeze swept over her, bringing coolness and vitality—Venti's healing magic.
Shao Yun couldn't hold it in anymore. He frowned and demanded, "Venti, are you insane? Letting her live is one thing, but healing her?"
Without turning, Venti replied, "She's dying. You know how hard you hit. I won't watch her die in front of me."
Shao Yun snorted. "Fatui sure are tough. Normal folks would be dead from my Pyro-enhanced bullets. She's lasted this long—I thought she might regenerate."
All this effort and we're back where we started... It's only because Venti's the Anemo Archon—and because La Signora was just mouthing off. If she'd gone through with it, this would not have ended so easily.
As La Signora recovered under Venti's care, her strength returned.
She shoved Venti aside and stood tall, fury gleaming in her eyes.
"Barbatos, don't think saving me means I'll forgive you!"
Venti didn't seem surprised.
With a casual shrug and a soft smile, he said, "I know. But I'll still love my people. Parents and kids don't stay mad forever. If they do, they can make up the day after tomorrow."
La Signora scoffed. "Hypocrite."
"You better show some respect!"
Shao Yun reached for his gun again, but Venti's braid glowed once more, his divine authority flaring as he commanded, "Both of you, stand down—give me this one moment!"
That burst of intensity brought calm. Shao Yun respected Venti. La Signora likely feared what would happen if she fought them both.
The balance was fragile, but no fight broke out.
La Signora turned toward Shao Yun, her expression complicated. She took a breath and tried to sound composed.
"The Goth Grand Hotel—was that your doing?"
Shao Yun didn't meet her gaze, looking off to the side with a dismissive tone. "Yeah. That was me."
The answer reignited her fury. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "May I have the name of the one who did this?"
Shao Yun chuckled coldly. "Why would I tell you?"
Her eyes narrowed with threat. "If you don't tell me, I'll kill you."
Her tone was icy, trying to force him to submit.
Shao Yun nearly laughed. "If Venti hadn't saved you, you'd be dead already!"
His voice dripped with scorn and mockery.
La Signora, enraged, snapped at Venti, "I never asked you to save me!"
Seeing her ungratefulness, Shao Yun sneered and drew his revolver, pointing it at her.
"Fine then. I'll put a bullet in your skull. Or slice your throat and let you bleed out."
His voice was cold and deadly.
La Signora stepped back, clearly shaken. She hadn't expected him to go so far. But with Venti present, the tension remained just a contest of will.
She drew a breath, trying to regain her composure and spoke with renewed force.
"I am the Fatui Harbinger La Signora. Kill me, and I guarantee—you won't live once you leave Mondstadt."
She tried to use her title and influence as a shield.
But Shao Yun wasn't fazed. He smirked. "Why wouldn't I kill you? You think I fear revenge? Killing's easier for me than eating."
When it came to intimidation, Shao Yun had never backed down.
They stood locked in a fierce standoff. The tension hung heavy in the air.
La Signora saw the look in Shao Yun's eyes and hesitated—remembering how close to death she'd been...
She tried to hide her fear behind icy words.
"When did Mondstadt get someone as reckless as you?"
Her voice was still sharp—but it trembled.
Shao Yun noticed. His lip curled in mock fear. "Oh, I'm terrified. That's why I kill anyone who threatens me. Dying by my hand? Consider it an honor. Most don't see a second shot."
La Signora turned pale with rage, barely suppressing her fury. "Fine! Show me what you've got!"
"Gladly. Let's duel!"
Just as the situation was about to erupt again, Venti's voice rang out like thunder.
"Stop!"
The command carried divine force. Everyone paused.
La Signora and Shao Yun turned toward him.
Venti stooped to pick up the Holy Lyre from the ground. Walking to La Signora, he placed it in her hands, speaking with a weary, regretful tone.
"Go, Rosalyne," he said softly. "There's nothing more to say. I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
La Signora stared at the Holy Lyre and quietly tucked it away.
She looked at Venti with deep resentment and snarled, "I'll say it again—I will never forgive you."