Chapter 114: Shao Yun vs. Tartaglia

The grand hall of the Golden House shimmered with brilliance and solemnity. Golden walls and ornate carvings sparkled under the lights, as if the entire space were drenched in radiant gold.

Against this opulent backdrop, a fierce battle was unfolding.

Childe stood on one side of the hall, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. The bow in his hands gleamed with a cold glint. Suddenly, he moved—swift as lightning.

He pulled his bowstring taut, then loosed twelve arrows infused with Hydro and Electro, unleashing them with thunderous speed. They sliced through the air straight toward Shao Yun.

Shao Yun stood at the other end of the hall, facing the sudden onslaught with perfect composure.

With a flick of his wrists, his twin cowboy revolvers were ready, bullets chambered.

He took aim at the incoming arrows. His index fingers pulled the triggers, thumbs cocked the hammers—twelve shots of Pyro-enchanted bullets roared forth to meet the arrows in midair.

Bang! Bang! Bang!— the sounds of gunfire and arrow strikes blended into a fierce symphony.

Waves of elemental energy blossomed in the air like dangerous flowers—beautiful and deadly.

Lumine and Paimon stood off to the side, stunned. Before they could even react, the first round was already over.

Shao Yun exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked at Childe with mockery. "'That's all you've got? A turtle that does nothing but spit?'"

Childe wasn't provoked. Instead, he looked at Shao Yun with a hint of admiration. "Your marksmanship is impressive. I thought you were only on par with our musket rangers. It seems… I was wrong."

Then came round two.

Childe's Foul Legacy armor granted him overwhelming power. His bow moved so fast it left afterimages. Each pull of the string summoned bolts crackling with lightning and rippling with water, shooting toward Shao Yun like a barrage of arrows.

But Shao Yun remained calm. His revolvers were extensions of himself—trusted companions. Every pull of the trigger was precise, every bullet intercepted its mark.

Pyro bullets streaked through the air, colliding with Childe's elemental arrows in sizzling bursts, dissolving into vapor as they met.

Dozens of times, Shao Yun shot down Childe's attacks without even activating his Deadeye—relying solely on his reflexes.

He even had time to light a second cigar, drawing in a deep puff before exhaling a thick cloud of white smoke.

Lumine and Paimon were left speechless, eyes wide in awe at the spectacle before them.

Lumine thought, 'So this is the legendary sharpshooter—every shot unfailing, every counter decisive.'

Paimon was captivated by Shao Yun's unshakable composure, as though he had the entire battle wrapped around his finger.

Even Childe was rattled. Never had he faced such a difficult opponent. Every attack of his was nullified effortlessly—while the man still had time to smoke.

Gripping his purple-black bow, a chill crept up Childe's spine.

He realized—if he didn't go all out, he might actually lose.

Seeing Childe pause, Shao Yun flicked the spent cigar to the ground. He twirled his revolver with flair, then scoffed, "Come on, use whatever tricks you've got left. You won't survive one serious shot from me."

Childe's eyes flashed with irritation. He gritted his teeth. "You sure talk big!"

Without another word, he pulled his bowstring once more—this time preparing a full-power strike.

He inhaled deeply, drawing elemental energy from the surroundings. Muscles tensed, the bow creaked to its limit, pulsing with power.

Then he released.

The arrow shot upward, striking the ceiling—and exploded in a radiant blast of Hydro energy.

In that moment, a massive water-elemental whale materialized, its colossal body swirling in the air, churning waves around it. It looked poised to leap from the ceiling and crash into the ground.

The whale opened its maw with a thunderous roar. The sheer force of it made the air tremble.

Shao Yun's face shifted. "Lumine, Paimon, move!" he barked, firm and commanding.

He dove to the left, rolling low across the ground.

At the same moment, Lumine and Paimon darted to the right. Their reactions were synchronized, narrowly dodging the beast's devastating charge.

The whale's massive body slammed into where they had stood, shaking the entire Golden House with a mighty crash.

Once the creature dissipated, Shao Yun stood up, brushing dust off himself, his eyes gleaming with taunt.

He looked at Childe, raised his middle finger, and sneered, "'Alright, I take it back. You're not a spitting turtle—you're a fat-ass catfish.'"

Childe's face darkened. The lone eye on his mask flickered with a violet light.

"'Fat catfish?' That comparison's really pushing it," he growled.

Then, with ghost-like finesse, his purple-black bow traced elegant arcs through the air—but just as Shao Yun expected another volley…

Childe switched tactics.

He drew two short blades, the same ominous purple-black hue. They spun in his hands like dancers, merging into a single long spear.

The tip shimmered with deadly light. He gripped it tightly, eyes locked on Shao Yun.

He inhaled, voice ringing with resolve and fire.

"At range, I may be lacking—but close combat… that's my true stage!"

A close-range archer, indeed…

Shao Yun stood at the far end, gaze sharp and measured.

He eyed the spear in Childe's hand, then smiled faintly. "I respect your confidence, Childe. But I won't give you the chance to get close."

He struck a classic Western gunslinger's pose.

Legs apart. Body tilted slightly forward. Revolver holstered, ready to draw. His eyes gleamed with deadly focus.

Childe showed no hesitation. Electro energy crackled wildly across his armor, threatening to drown the entire hall in lightning.

In that blinding light, he seemed like a war god incarnate.

Suddenly, Childe charged.

And in that instant—Shao Yun activated his Deadeye.

The world around him slowed.

His Vision at his waist glowed faintly. He drew his revolver in a flash, locked onto Childe's head and heart. His right index finger squeezed the trigger—left thumb hammered the striker.

Six purple-red Pyro-infused bullets screamed through the air.

They struck Childe's armor, clashing violently with the Electro energy, erupting in a thunderous explosion. Flame and lightning tangled together in a brilliant burst of light.

In that radiant storm, Childe's body was blown back, slamming into the wall with a crash, kicking up clouds of dust.

The haze spread. Lumine watched anxiously. In the swirling mist, Childe's silhouette flickered—unclear, shadowed by the debris cloud raised from the impact.

Lumine clasped her hands together, heart pounding. In a soft, unsure voice, she asked, "'Did we beat him?'"

Her voice echoed in the empty hall, full of uncertainty and hope.

But Shao Yun simply shook his head with calm indifference. "He's like a cockroach—too hard to kill. If it were that easy, he wouldn't be a Fatui Harbinger."

There was begrudging respect in his tone… and a hint of anticipation for what was coming next.

As the smoke thinned, Childe's form reappeared.

He seized the opportunity—dashing toward the Husk of the Geo Archon.

He ran a hand over the cracked spot on his Foul Legacy armor, just where the bullet had struck. A trace of fear passed through his eyes, quickly replaced by steely resolve.

Facing Shao Yun, he called out, "Give me a few seconds. I'll grab the Gnosis, then we can continue."

Lumine's heart jumped. She cried out, "Shao Yun, stop him!"

But Shao Yun remained relaxed. He waved a hand with a playful smirk. "No rush. The real show's just starting."

If Childe really manages to find the Gnosis, Shao Yun mused, I'll jump off the Jade Chamber without gliding and scream 'Chelonia' on the way down!

Lumine blinked. "What?"

She sounded confused—clearly not catching the reference.

But Shao Yun said nothing more, just smiled, eyes fixed on the spectacle about to unfold.

Childe now stood before the Ancestral Husk, hand reaching for the Gnosis.

As his fingers touched it, the relic glowed with golden light.

"Oh no, he's going to succeed!" Paimon gasped, almost rushing forward on impulse.

But Shao Yun stayed as still as stone, casually drinking a bottle of Guarma Rum to restore stamina and Vision energy.

"What's there to worry about? Let him take it—the surprise is coming right after."

Just as Childe thought victory was his, he pulled his hand back…

And found it empty.

Staring at his palm in disbelief—he felt like he'd just been on a roller coaster of emotion. From triumph to devastation in a second. His composure shattered.

"Where's the Gnosis?!"

Shao Yun burst into laughter. "Surprise!"

Childe stared at his hand, his mind racing, connecting the clues.

Then he turned to Shao Yun, voice filled with disbelief. "You tricked me?"

Shao Yun shrugged. "What did I lie about?"

Childe pointed his spear at Shao Yun. "I get it now—this was a trap. You leaked the location on purpose to lure me here. The Liyue Qixing already took the Gnosis. Even if I kill you, I won't find it. But it won't stop me. I'll kill you, then burn Liyue Harbor to the ground if I have to."

Shao Yun gave a casual nod. "You're half right. But you won't kill me. I'm the one who's going to win."

Beneath his mask, Childe's eye blazed with fury. He clenched his fist, rage boiling over like a storm.

With a violent motion, he hurled that rage outward. A shockwave erupted from him like a hurricane.

The lone eye on his mask burned with ominous violet light, hungry and all-consuming.

He gripped his long spear tightly, its tip glinting with danger.

Whirling it through the air like a dragon of purple flame, he roared:

"Let me show you the power… of a Harbinger!"