Genshin Impact : The Divine Gunsliger of Teyvat

The introductions weren't anything groundbreaking—pretty much what you'd expect if you'd played the game. Lumine was a traveler from another world, separated from her brother by the interference of an unknown god. Determined to find him, she had set out on a journey across Teyvat. A few months ago, while resting and fishing by the sea, she had rescued Paimon from the water. Paimon, self-proclaimed as Teyvat's best guide, had since joined her on her travels.

As Lumine and Paimon recounted their story, Shao Yun fiddled with his system interface, examining his three core attributes. Having his physical stats quantified made it easier to understand his condition. Convenient, really.

Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye.

Core Health and Outer Health represented his life force. Damage would first deplete the Outer Health, while Core Health would decrease when consuming special drinks. If both were depleted, he'd fall into a "coma," and further damage in that state would lead to "death." The system's advice? Cherish your life.

Core Stamina and Outer Stamina governed his energy. When Outer Stamina ran low, Core Stamina would kick in. Exhaust both, and he'd be forced to stop running.

Dead Eye, on the other hand, was essentially a manifestation of his sharpshooting skills. Activating it slowed down his perception of the world, though in reality, it was his reflexes that sped up.

A helpful tip popped up: In Teyvat, no one surpasses your marksmanship and reaction time.

By the time Shao Yun finished reading through the descriptions, Lumine and Paimon had wrapped up their story. Both turned to him expectantly.

"My turn, huh? Well…" Shao Yun scratched his head, genuinely at a loss. Explaining how he got here was like trying to recall the exact moment he fell asleep—nearly impossible.

A prompt appeared before him: *Please use your new identity.*

Right. The system had given him a backstory. Time to play the part.

Clearing his throat, Shao Yun began, "My name's Shao Yun. Like Lumine, I've been a traveler most of my life. Though, if I'm being honest, 'traveler' sounds a bit too glamorous. I've mostly been drifting, never really settling down…"

According to the system, he was from the world of Red Dead Redemption, a former member of the Van der Linde gang. His life had been anything but ordinary—a gunslinger, an outlaw. He'd robbed, killed, helped the poor, and done both good and bad. The system's backstory painted him as a man who'd lived on the edge, a wanderer with no real place in the world.

As Shao Yun spoke, he found himself slipping into the role. It felt oddly natural, as if he were recounting memories rather than fabricating a story. The more he spoke, the more he felt like he'd truly lived this life.

"In the end, they abandoned me. Or maybe I abandoned them. I was a gunslinger, a wanted man. I've killed, and I've saved lives. Once, someone asked me if I was afraid of going to hell for what I'd done. I told them I hoped my death would be excruciating—otherwise, I'd start to doubt whether karma even existed." Shao Yun leaned back against the rock, a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips. His laughter carried a faint tremor, as if he were mocking his own foolishness. All those years, all those deeds—had they meant anything at all?

"As for how I ended up here… I don't know. What I'm supposed to do now? No clue. I'm just… drifting. Like a ghost." He added the last bit for dramatic effect, fully embracing his new persona. If there were Oscars for this kind of performance, he'd have won hands down.

Paimon, however, wasn't thinking about acting awards. Her eyes welled up with tears. "Waaah, Shao Yun, your life was so tragic!"

Shao Yun blinked, surprised. "I thought you'd be scared or something. Didn't expect you to get emotional. But hey, I'm used to it. No need to cry over someone like me." He reached out and patted Paimon's head gently. It felt wrong to let her grieve over a fabricated past.

Paimon sniffled and wiped her tears. "You're right. Paimon should stay strong and optimistic!"

Lumine, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. "Shao Yun, if you don't have a clear goal, why not travel with us?"

Paimon nodded vigorously. "Yeah, yeah! If you don't know where to go, come with us!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, a new quest notification popped up in Shao Yun's vision: Main Quest: Travel with Lumine and Paimon. Enjoy the stories of Teyvat.

"Are you sure?" Shao Yun hesitated. "I was an outlaw, you know. A gunslinger. A wanted man."

Lumine smiled softly, her expression warm and reassuring. "I have some reservations, but you've been honest about your past. I don't think you're a bad person."

"Alright then. Thanks for the trust." Shao Yun extended his hand, and the three of them bumped fists. The duo had officially become a trio.

"Oh! Shao Yun, Paimon thinks this belongs to you!" Paimon suddenly remembered something and flew behind a nearby rock, returning with a satchel.

Shao Yun's eyes widened. Was that the Eastern Legend Backpack? The thing was practically a bottomless pit, capable of holding just about anything.

"Thanks. That's definitely mine." He slung the backpack over his shoulder, adjusting it until it felt just right.

"There's more stuff over there!" Paimon started to fly back, but Shao Yun stopped her.

"Don't worry about it. I'll get it myself."

Behind the rock, he found two holsters and a pair of ornate cowboy revolvers. The guns were a sight to behold—golden with intricate silver engravings in a Baroque style.

"There you are." He strapped on the holsters and slid the revolvers into place. With his initial gear now equipped, he was ready to go.

As they left the beach, Shao Yun took in the scenery. He'd traversed these lands countless times in the game, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. The wind brushing against his face, the vivid colors—it all felt so real.

Paimon flew between Lumine and Shao Yun, chattering excitedly about their first destination: Mondstadt, the City of Freedom.

"Our first stop is Mondstadt, the nation of the Anemo Archon. It's a city of poetry and freedom!" Paimon turned to Lumine. "We're starting here because the winds carry stories and songs. Who knows? We might find a clue about your brother."

She then looked at Shao Yun. "Plus, the scenery is amazing! It's really relaxing."

Shao Yun couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He was about to see Mondstadt in all its glory. The first time he'd laid eyes on the city in the game, it had left him in awe.

Sure enough, as they climbed the hill, the view unfolded before them. Starfell Lake, with its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky, lay at the foot of the hill. In the distance, Mondstadt stood proudly on an island in Cider Lake. Its towering walls, the grand cathedral, and the windmills spinning lazily on the ramparts—it was a sight to behold.

While Lumine and Paimon focused on the Statue of the Seven, Shao Yun's gaze lingered on the city.

Lumine, as expected, resonated with the statue. Paimon, ever the enthusiastic guide, suggested, "Let's get closer to the statue! Maybe something cool will happen."

Lumine nodded, and Shao Yun agreed. "Good idea."

As they approached Starfell Lake, Shao Yun was struck by how much larger it seemed in person. In the game, it was little more than a pond, but here, it was a proper lake, teeming with fish.

Suddenly inspired, Shao Yun pulled out a journal from his backpack and began sketching. He wasn't much of an artist, but the strokes came effortlessly, as if guided by some unseen hand.

The sound of pencil on paper caught Lumine and Paimon's attention. They turned from the statue to watch Shao Yun work.

Lumine tiptoed to peek over his shoulder, while Paimon hovered quietly, observing.

"Are you drawing the Statue of the Seven?" Lumine asked, her eyes widening as the image took shape.

"Yeah, just documenting the moment." Shao Yun finished the sketch with a flourish and handed the journal to them. "Here, take a look."

While they admired his work, Shao Yun waded into the lake. The water reached just below his chest, and he could feel the soft mud beneath his feet.

As he approached the statue, he reached out to touch it. Nothing happened.

"Guess I'm not getting any elemental powers like Lumine," he muttered, a little disappointed. But then he glanced at the revolvers at his side and shrugged. "Oh well. I'm here to enjoy the journey. Let Lumine and Paimon handle the elemental stuff."

The statue felt strange under his fingers—smooth, like marble, but not quite. It was an odd, otherworldly texture.

Standing beneath the statue, Shao Yun felt a peculiar pressure, as if something was trying to force him to bow his head. But he resisted, feeling only a slight discomfort.

By the time Lumine and Paimon finished admiring the sketch, Shao Yun was already at the base of the statue.

"Oh! Paimon almost forgot! Traveler, let's check out the statue!" Paimon flew over the lake, returning the journal to Shao Yun.

Lumine, meanwhile, hesitated at the water's edge. With no other option, she began to swim toward the statue.

Seeing her struggle, Shao Yun remembered his own early days in the game, when he'd met his untimely demise in this very lake. Without a second thought, he leapt into the water, scooped Lumine up in a princess carry, and carried her to the small island.

"Thanks…" Lumine said softly as he set her down.

Shao Yun grinned. "Anytime."

And so, their journey began—a gunslinger, a traveler, and a floating guide, setting off toward Mondstadt and whatever adventures awaited them.