Inside Angel's Share, Diluc was listening to the bartender describe Su Bai's expression and words from earlier. After pondering for a moment, Diluc looked towards Venti, who was still drinking.
"Aren't you going to do something about this?"
"Master Diluc, do you really want to see me die out there? Su Bai learned all sorts of strange curses and techniques in Inazuma. I don't want to be his test subject."
Venti shook his head vigorously. He didn't want to get involved in this matter. Right now, he just wanted to see if he could take advantage of the chaos later to sneak a few more bottles of wine from the Lawrence family's cellar.
"In that case, I won't interfere either. After all, within the Lawrence clan, aside from Eula, I truly haven't found any other decent people."
"Charles, go to the Knights of Favonius. Deliver this information and the news that Su Bai has gone to the Lawrence clan to Jean."
"Knights of Favonius... let me see if you are still as corrupt as you were years ago."
"Father... even at the end of your life, you held no resentment towards the Knights. But the Knights of today are no longer the Knights of Favonius recorded in our family chronicles."
Diluc looked up at the ceiling. Those deep eyes made Venti sigh inwardly, though Venti didn't plan to say anything. The corruption of the Knights of Favonius was something he also saw clearly.
---
Outside the Lawrence Clan Compound
Su Bai had been meditating and regulating his breath for a short while. Looking up at the modified magical formation he had set up in the sky, he nodded in satisfaction. Preparations were complete. Now, it was time to go and demand an explanation from the Lawrence clan.
Su Bai arrived at the main gate of the Lawrence compound and, without any courtesy, delivered a fierce kick. The gate, crafted from precious wood, was sent flying inward by Su Bai's kick.
"Who goes there? How dare you cause trouble at the Lawrence clan!"
"What do you mean 'our Lawrence'? You, a lowly guard, dare say 'our Lawrence'?"
"You lowly guards are just dogs raised by us Lawrences. If I hear you say 'our Lawrence' again, I'll have your dog lives!"
A portly middle-aged man began furiously berating a guard, his vulgar language making even Su Bai frown. He came here to pick a fight, but they're having an internal conflict first? What kind of situation is this?
"Hey, hey, that fat guy, stop yelling for a moment. Don't you see I'm here to cause trouble for your Lawrence clan?"
"Cause trouble? All by yourself?"
The fat man seemed to have heard the funniest joke, holding his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably. The guards nearby also looked at Su Bai as if he were an idiot.
"Ha ha ha ha, you're killing me!"
"I won't bully a commoner like you. I'll give you ten minutes to call for help. Oh, right, a commoner like you living in the sewers probably can't call many people anyway."
To highlight his noble pride, this Lawrence fatty directly told Su Bai to go find help, not forgetting to mock him in the process.
Su Bai was rendered speechless by this brainless individual. How does someone this weak manage to be so confident? Do the people of the Lawrence clan not know how the word 'death' is written?
"No need for others. I alone am more than enough to deal with you lot who aren't even fit to be called human."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Electro energy instantly enveloped Su Bai. The delicate fruit knife in his hand reflected a cold, white light. In just a few breaths, the guards only saw a flash of white light before losing consciousness. This was the perfect fusion of illusion technique and Electro energy, Su Bai's most commonly used method.
Seeing all his guards fall, the Lawrence fatty was instantly dumbfounded. Only then did he understand what fear meant.
"You... stay back! Don't come any closer! I order you to stop!"
"I command you to stop in the name of the Lawrence surname! Stop!"
The fear of death robbed this noble of his usual demeanor, but his contorted face and hysterical screams did nothing to halt Su Bai's advancing steps.
Years of living in comfort and privilege had made this noble forget how to even hold a sword. Faced with Su Bai's relentless approach, his legs gave way and he slumped to the ground. A pungent smell of urine made Su Bai grimace in disgust.
"Originally, I wanted the Lawrence clan to slowly walk the path to ruin. I didn't expect to have blood on my hands in the end."
"Since the blood is already on my hands, I might as well let you experience some Liyue adeptal techniques. That way, you won't have lived this life in vain."
Su Bai's hand, brimming with adeptal energy, slowly closed around the Lawrence fatty's head. The adeptal energy instantly permeated the man's soul.
As Su Bai gradually increased the pressure, the agony of having his soul forcibly torn from his body made the fatty let out scream after scream.
"Ah! Spare... spare me! I can give you anything! Anything!"
Su Bai sneered coldly. Begging for mercy now? Too late. Su Bai exerted force with his arm. The soul was completely ripped out. The fatty lost all strength and slumped limply to the ground, falling silent.
In Su Bai's hand, the fatty's soul wore a mask of agonized contortion, yet its eyes were filled with a desperate plea for life. However, this did nothing to quench the anger in Su Bai's heart.
"If only my adeptal energy were sufficient, I would tear your soul into eight pieces."
With a continuous output of adeptal energy, the fatty's soul was directly crushed by Su Bai into motes of white light, disappearing from his hand.
A Pyro Agent observing from afar shuddered. He had seen that thing before in Wuwang Hill, Liyue. That was a human soul! This guy actually ripped a person's soul straight out of their body and crushed it?
"Time to make ourselves scarce. This guy is way out of our league."
"Captain, it's just one person. We should be able to handle him. Besides, if we leave like this, what will we tell the Lawrence clan if they demand answers?"
"Handle him? Handle him my foot! That thing in his hand was that fatty's soul. If you want to experience that yourselves, I won't stop you."
Hearing their captain say this, the several Pyro Agents swiftly slipped out through the Lawrence clan's back door. As for the fate of their other comrades, these agents couldn't be bothered.
Ignoring the breathing, vegetative body at his feet, Su Bai headed straight for the most luxurious building. He wanted to see just how many heads the Lawrence clan's leader had, daring to provoke him like this.
Along the way, Su Bai showed no mercy to the Lawrence clan guards either. Since they themselves didn't want to be human, Su Bai certainly wouldn't treat them as such.
"Gentlemen, you've watched long enough. Time to show yourselves."
"Young man, originally I merely found you somewhat disagreeable. Now it seems I must use your life to restore the glory of our Lawrence clan."
Schubert emerged from the tallest building, accompanied by several guards who wielded Visions. It seemed the Lawrence clan still had some reserves of power.
Schubert didn't even glance at the dead guards on the ground. If a corpse blocked his path, he simply kicked it aside, as if these guards were supposed to sacrifice themselves for the Lawrence clan. He showed not a trace of sympathy.
"Young man, Eula isn't in the clan today. No one will help you this time."
"Tch. I'll say the same to you. Last time, if Eula hadn't pulled me away, the grass on your grave would probably be two meters tall by now."
Su Bai casually drew several Electro talismans in the air. Schubert paid Su Bai no mind at all. After giving Su Bai a dismissive look, he ordered calmly:
"Capture this Liyue adeptus alive. He will be our bargaining chip in negotiations with Liyue."
Only then did Su Bai notice the greed and madness in Schubert's gaze. He looked as if he had Su Bai completely figured out.
"The Lawrence clan shall achieve greatness again under my hand! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
By now, Schubert was lost in his dream of unifying Mondstadt. Watching the laughing Schubert, Su Bai felt utterly exasperated. Now he understood why the Lawrence clan had declined. Good heavens, they were all fools making the decisions! No wonder they fell.
"And you lot... you all possess Visions. Why act as dogs for the Lawrence clan?"
Su Bai looked with interest at the several Vision bearers before him. Hearing Su Bai describe them as dogs, a flicker of anger appeared on their faces.
"The Lawrence clan took us in when we were young. We are repaying a debt of gratitude!"
Repaying gratitude? Su Bai tilted his head. He didn't think the Lawrence clan seemed like the type to do such a thing. There must be some unknown secret behind this.
"Enough talk, sir. We must apologize in advance."
The several guards charged at Su Bai with their weapons. Su Bai, however, showed no sign of moving to engage. Just as the guards were puzzled, a female voice accompanied by terrifying Anemo energy came from behind Su Bai.
"Gust Surge!"