Genshin Impact: The Sharpshooter of Teyvat

Shao Yun gave no response, swallowed by silence.

In the stillness, only the crackling of the fire and the occasional chirp of insects in the distance filled the air.

"Those were false memories…" Shao Yun finally broke the silence, his voice quivering slightly.

He tried to explain to the Man with a Top Hat, but was swiftly cut off.

The Man with a Top Hat tossed the now-charred stick into the flames. The firelight danced across his face—calm, unreadable, hiding countless intentions.

He smiled faintly, as if already understanding all the turmoil and doubt inside Shao Yun.

"I know. Some mysterious figure gave you a new identity." His voice was deep and magnetic, like echoes from an ancient cavern.

"But I once heard a saying—'Zhuang Zhou dreams of being a butterfly.' How can you be sure you're Shao Yun, and not Arthur Morgan? Or John Marston? Or Jack Marston? Or someone else entirely?"

Shao Yun froze. His eyes widened, struck by the man's words like a lightning bolt.

He'd never told anyone about the system. He didn't like it, sure—but he didn't hate it either.

And yet this demon seemed to see right through it. Was it even more powerful than that code?

"How do you know about that?" Shao Yun's voice was laced with astonishment and confusion.

Then, a memory surfaced—Zhongli's words during the funeral rites.

"No… You're just a projection. Leave. I've figured out your secret."

The Man with a Top Hat didn't answer directly. Instead, he stared into the flames for a long moment before speaking again.

"You're not really going to trust what that Zhongli fellow told you, are you? How do you know whether what you saw was a mirror, or just plain glass?"

Shao Yun's heart sank. He stood, pointing a finger at the man, voice filled with fury and resolve.

"You're trying to manipulate me. It won't work. I'm leaving this place."

"Don't change the subject." The Man with a Top Hat's voice was steady and forceful—each word a hammer pounding into Shao Yun's chest.

"If you don't believe me, go ahead and ask it now. But I'll tell you this—it's nothing more than a tool that makes abstract things tangible. It can't help you."

Shao Yun clenched his fists, sweat beading on his forehead.

He drew a deep breath and tried to call out to that damn piece of code—the system he'd cursed so many times.

"System… I've never truly liked you… but right now, I beg you—tell me who I am! Expose this demon's lies!"

But the system remained silent—as if it had ceased to exist.

No sound. No reply.

Shao Yun was overwhelmed by a despair and helplessness unlike any he'd ever known.

The Man with a Top Hat saw it all and smiled faintly. "You see now? It can't help you. And do you know why it kept interfering with you back in Mondstadt?"

Shao Yun recalled those maddening days in Mondstadt—always pretending, constantly watched. Like a puppet on strings.

"Why?"

The Man with a Top Hat picked up another branch and stirred the flames. Sparks lit his face.

"Because that thing was protecting you. If you'd run wild in Mondstadt, they'd have seen you as a madman. Do you think the people of Mondstadt would trust you? Even Dutch Van der Linde had to play a role when he reached Rhodes. You really don't get it?"

Shao Yun was quiet for a while, and the Man with a Top Hat pressed on.

"And at the time, you weren't even that close to the girl, were you? If that thing hadn't helped you blend in, she'd have ditched you with some excuse—and what would you have done then? Joined some new Van der Linde gang? Go back to looting and killing?"

Shao Yun felt invisible pressure weigh on him—this demon was pushing him closer to a dark, unknowable edge.

"Stop comparing me to others!" His voice was filled with defiance. "I am me! No one else!"

The Man with a Top Hat smiled, a strange glint in his eyes. He spoke like a philosopher:

"When memories enter your mind that don't belong to you—how do you know which one is truly you? Facing yourself… is the only path forward."

That struck Shao Yun like a thunderclap.

But he steadied his breath, turned toward his horse, and said coldly over his shoulder, "I don't want to talk to you. I'm leaving."

The man's voice came again.

"I only have a few questions. Answer them, and if I'm satisfied… I'll grant you one request. No conditions."

Shao Yun stopped, but didn't turn around. He drew a breath and said firmly, "I refuse."

The Man with a Top Hat wasn't surprised. He stood, hands clasped behind him, and said slowly, "Then I guess I'll go find your little girlfriend."

Shao Yun whirled around, eyes flaring with fury. He pointed a trembling finger. "What… what do you mean?"

The man looked utterly calm. "She's still searching for her brother, isn't she? I can let her meet him—right now. I imagine she'll take that deal."

Shao Yun turned pale. He knew it was true. Lumine had searched for years—that was her hope… and her pain.

He couldn't imagine what she might sacrifice if the man approached her. If she accepted—what price would she pay?

He didn't think. He drew his revolver and aimed it squarely at the Man with a Top Hat.

"Lumine is smart. She won't fall for your pretty lies. You're just a devil who won't even share his name—you're not someone to be trusted. She won't be your pawn. I won't let her."

The Man with a Top Hat walked forward, unbothered, every step deliberate.

"Oh? Then let's wager. Let's bet whether Lumine becomes the next Dutch Van der Linde."

Shao Yun's brows knit together, concern flashing through his eyes.

He holstered the revolver and quickly said, "Fine! I'll answer your questions. But you must promise—swear it! You will never involve Lumine or Paimon in your schemes again!"

The man stopped, now face-to-face with him. His eyes locked onto Shao Yun's, gauging his resolve.

After a pause, he nodded slowly.

"I accept. We have a deal. But if you lose… you owe me a task."

Shao Yun didn't notice the trick in those words. He was too eager to get rid of him.

"Ask your question."

The Man with a Top Hat grinned slightly.

"Why did you kill that man—Tartaglia, or Ajax, whatever his name was? He was good to you all. Sure, he offended your precious Lumine, but he only wanted you to fight seriously. You could've knocked him out—but you chose to kill him."

Shao Yun paused, remembering the fight in the Golden House. He answered plainly.

"It was either him or us. I chose to kill him. I'd already wiped out the Fatui in Mondstadt—I couldn't gamble on his conscience."

The man nodded, unsurprised. He continued.

"Then why didn't you shoot his heart—or his head? Why strike his left rib? You should've finished the job."

"Paimon begged me. I hesitated. Whether he died in agony or was rescued—I don't care, as long as Lumine and Paimon didn't see it."

Shao Yun didn't regret a thing. If he fought Childe again, he'd do the same.

The Man with a Top Hat nodded again, then moved to his next point.

"You stole five hundred billion from the Northland Bank—but for a child's request, you killed nearly an entire ship of people, then refused to take his payment. Why?"

Shao Yun gave a wry smile.

"I don't take money from those struggling to live. I rob monsters who deserve it. That kid needed the money to survive. I couldn't take it—'a job requires pay' isn't an excuse for greed."

"Ah, so you think you're Robin Hood now?" the man said, voice dripping with mockery. Then he delivered the blow.

"But you let the killer of that child's mother go—for thirty Mora."

That struck Shao Yun hard. He'd never forgiven himself for advising Jianqiu that day.

His hands trembled. He tried to justify himself.

"I didn't know. I thought they were just eloping…"

The man didn't press—just nodded and moved on.

"Then why give eighty million Mora to two kids you barely know? You didn't want to avenge Nianhua—why help them?"

Shao Yun's eyes widened. The puzzle clicked into place. Nianhua had told him about the contract—her soul in exchange for revenge.

He glared at the Man with a Top Hat, realization flooding in.

"Wait… I get it now. You want me to feel guilt! That's it! You want me to regret letting them live—so I go kill them and fulfill your damn contract!"

The man grinned, amused.

"You're right. That was the deal with Nianhua. But you've already lost—so just go fulfill the contract. I won't punish you otherwise."

"Lost what?!" Shao Yun snapped, confused. "Explain yourself!"

"Remember that game back in Mondstadt?" His voice was calm—so calm it chilled.

Shao Yun tensed. The Whispering Woods… that cursed day…

"You drew the King. Came to Liyue. Then took thirty Mora from the killers."

Every word cut deep.

"You tried to use your goodness to free Nianhua. But you lost the game the moment you sold your kindness—a month ago."

Shao Yun felt dread rising. He tried to stay calm, but his voice trembled.

"You… what are you talking about?"

The man didn't answer. He reached into Shao Yun's Legend of the East satchel.

Every movement was slow, precise—like a silent melody.

Shao Yun just stood there, stunned.

The man pulled out a thin pouch. He shook it gently—clink clink. Coins inside.

"These are the thirty Mora? How many apples can they buy?" he said with mocking amusement.

Shao Yun's heart dropped. How had he let this happen?

He lunged forward.

"Give it back!"

The man dodged easily, inspected the pouch, and tossed it back.

"Fine. Take it."

Shao Yun opened it—no Mora.

Only thirty Roman silver coins.

He stared, stunned. "Where's my money?!"

The man turned, smug smile on his face.

"I think Roman coins suit you better… Thirteenth Disciple."

Thirty cold coins. Like thirty eyes, watching. Whispering for him to fall.

Shao Yun's hand shook. He flung the pouch at the man's feet.

Thud.

"You don't get it. We played poker. I won. You said it yourself!"

The man bent down and picked up the pouch.

"True. You won the card game. But I also bet… that you'd sell your soul for thirty coins—just like the Thirteenth before you."

That smug smile again. Everything was always in his hands.

"You never said that!"

"I didn't have to. Doesn't mean it wasn't true."

"You drew the King. You became the Thirteenth. You traded your conscience for thirty Mora. That's the truth. Now go finish the contract—and I'll leave your precious girlfriend alone."

His words sliced like razors through Shao Yun's mind.

Searing pain erupted in his head—unbearable.

"You planned this since we first met… every step… and now the rules are all yours to twist!"