Genshin Impact: The Sharpshooter of Teyvat

Wuwang Hill—this corner forgotten by time loomed like an aged scroll, forever shrouded in gloomy darkness.

The surrounding forest lay silent, with only the occasional sigh of wind whispering endless grievances.

A chilling cold pervaded the air, sinking into the very marrow of one's bones.

Shao Yun followed the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's procession, stepping onto this cursed land.

His gaze slid through the darkness, landing on the flickering blue ghost‑lights. They wavered, like the eyes of the departed, watching everything through the night.

Shao Yun muttered under his breath, "This place is truly ominous. For mortals, it's a cursed ground to be avoided. But for specters…it's a rare haven."

At that moment, the undertakers busied themselves unloading supplies from the cargo hot‑air balloons: a massive drum stretched tight, ready to thunder; a bronze gong, its surface mottled with age; weapons—swords, spears, axes—flashing cold light in the night.

Most puzzling were the yellow talisman papers inscribed with bizarre symbols. Shao Yun peered at them, eyes full of curiosity.

"Seems the Funeral Parlor has really gone all out this time. They came fully prepared."

Hu Tao was directing the undertakers, arranging the exorcism setup under her guidance.

On hearing Shao Yun's praise, she arched her brow with pride, turning to him and saying, "Of course—we weren't well‑prepared last time. This time I've pulled out the Funeral Parlor's best."

She removed an ornate pouch from her waist and handed it to Shao Yun. "Here are twenty‑eight Mora coins. In a moment, follow my instructions to set up the array."

Shao Yun accepted the pouch, puzzled. He was a bandit, a gunslinger—not an exorcist or scholar. He stared at the copper coins, unsure how to begin.

"How do I place them?"

Hu Tao smiled, drew out an ancient tome from her bosom, and opened it. Pointing to the diagrams, she explained:

"According to the Funeral Parlor's secret manual, you place the twenty‑eight Mora coins in the four cardinal directions—seven in each. Based on the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. To avoid alerting ghosts, cover each with a layer of earth. When the specter enters the center, we trigger the array. There's much knowledge embedded…"

Shao Yun's head spun. He scratched it and interrupted her torrent of instruction:

"Just tell me where to put them. I'll do it."

Hu Tao closed the tome with a smile and nodded. "Right—this is complicated for outsiders. Come with me; I'll show you."

Under her direction, Shao Yun buried the twenty‑eight coins in the soil at their designated positions.

Once the last coin was placed, Hu Tao's eyes gleamed in satisfaction. "Well done! Even a novice under my guidance might err. But you placed each coin perfectly."

Shao Yun stroked his chin, murmuring to himself, "Honestly, I don't grasp the mystery of this array… but I've done similar work before."

Hu Tao's brow arched in curiosity. "Similar work? What do you mean?"

Shao Yun lifted his gaze, a recollection in his eyes. "In the past… for some missions, I had to blow up railway bridges. I had to place explosives precisely on the bridge."

Hu Tao's eyes widened. "You mean—you blew up bridges?"

Shao Yun nodded and continued: "You could say, in Fontaine I strapped explosives on a bridge, blew it, and hijacked a Mora‑laden railroad barge."

Hu Tao paused, astonished by his admission. Then with concern, she asked, "You really did that? Blew up a bridge to rob Mora?"

Shao Yun sighed and shook his head. "That was just the idea. If I'd done it—Lumine would've been furious. She's helpful… not someone to let me do something like that."

Seeing his sincerity, Hu Tao swiftly changed the subject. "Alright. Let's stop chatting. Let's go check on the others."

…

Hu Tao and Shao Yun returned. In the center of the clearing stood Xiao, inspecting the setup around the hot‑air balloons and undertakers.

Hu Tao's face lit up when she saw him. She hurried over. "Guardian Yaksha, you arrived just in time. Please look—how's our preparation?"

Xiao turned slowly, his gaze scanning the site. Calmly, he said: "Your setup is quite thorough. Ancient exorcism arrays from Liyue are well‑placed. But I spotted a missing element."

Hu Tao froze, puzzled. "Missing? What?"

Xiao nodded subtly, retrieved a sheet from the cargo balloon, and handed it to Hu Tao.

It detailed Hu Tao's backup plan. He pointed specifically to the final step—"sending the ghost underground." He spoke solemnly:

"Your ultimate move 'sending the ghost to the earth' lacks a key item—you forgot the Funeral Parlor's peach‑wood sword."

Hu Tao took the paper. Her face drained. "How… how is that possible?"

She rifled through the cargo but found nothing. Pale, she murmured, "Oh no… I really forgot it!"

Shao Yun frowned. "So, what's this 'sending ghost to earth' thing?"

Xiao's eyes flicked between them. He spoke slowly:

"The Adepti once said: when yin is strong and yang confronts it, there is the power of 'entering the earth.' Where yin is greatest, yang is extinguished. Where yang is greatest, one buries it in the earth so it cannot reincarnate."

Shao Yun heard a jumble of arcane terms. "Xiao, I don't understand a word…"

Hu Tao, dejected, approached Shao Yun. Her voice was steady, but a tremor betrayed her:

"My plan was to suppress Nianhua with the Ghost‑Locking Array and exorcise her. But if her strength overwhelms, I'd deploy the Eight‑Yang Array and then use the Funeral Parlor's peach‑wood sword—drive it three inches into the ground to send her wholly into the earth, ensuring her true passing."

At that, she covered her face; her voice quivered with sorrow: "But… I forgot the peach‑wood sword! I didn't rest well—just forgot!"

Shao Yun and Xiao gazed at each other, unsure what to do.

Then Hu Tao suddenly brightened. She fixed her gaze on Shao Yun. "Right—Shao Yun, what about the peach‑wood sword I gave you the day before yesterday?"

Shao Yun scratched his head, sheepish. "Um… that sword? I already gave it to Lumine last night."

Hu Tao's mood plunged. Her face turned ashen, her light extinguished. She looked helplessly at Shao Yun and Xiao, voice shaking: "It's… over."

Now they were heading into battle without their weapon—like cooking without knives.

Xiao, recalling lore to find a solution, paused thoughtfully before speaking:

"It doesn't have to be a peach‑wood sword. A weapon steeped in murderous qi, once used by a caster—well—might suffice. In ancient Liyue, practitioners used blades stained by killing—swords or daggers. So, a weapon with a history of spilling blood might be more powerful."

Hu Tao heard hope in his words—her eyes lit up.

But Xiao frowned and added: "Nowadays such weapons are hard to find. Where do we look?" His tone was frustrated and puzzled.

Their eyes snapped to Shao Yun.

If anyone fit the bill… surely this "living executioner" had a dark past.

Shao Yun felt their gazes. He scratched his head, giving an awkward grin.

"You found the right guy. I do have a dagger—and yes, I've killed before. I once slit the throat of a Fatui fool. Think this will do?"

Hu Tao's eyes glistened; she nodded eagerly. "Something is better than nothing—you've bled, that's enough!"

Shao Yun drew the dagger at his waist. Despite its humble look, a chilling aura swept the clearing.

Xiao watched with alert eyes. He sensed not just the cold steel, but the heavy murderous aura—like countless wronged souls howling.

Hu Tao, sensing Xiao's reaction, whispered: "Guardian Yaksha, are you alright? You look… different."

Xiao inhaled deeply, forcing calm. "Shao Yun, this dagger… are you sure it only killed one man? I feel its aura is far stronger than just one spirit."

Shao Yun's grip tightened. Indeed, the dagger's past went deeper. While in Teyvat he may have used it once on a Fatui, before that it skinned animals—and took countless lives.

"I used it to stab a Fatui once, but before I met Lumine…" He left the rest unsaid, nodding at Xiao and Hu Tao—those who understood would understand.

Hu Tao and Xiao exchanged a look—a shared shock at Shao Yun's hidden past.

Xiao pressed on: "The murderous aura is intense, yet you don't seem burdened by it. Why?"

Shao Yun said nothing. He hadn't considered the reason—perhaps his honor in Liyue overshadowed it.

Hu Tao let it pass. "We have a replacement. Let's prepare."

She took the dagger from Shao Yun and spoke to Xiao: "Guardian Yaksha, find a hidden spot to wait without alerting the ghost. Shao Yun—you help set the ghost‑trap."