The video had ended, but the matter was far from over.
After all, who wouldn't want to give a scoundrel like Cao Zhong a good kick?
[Xingqiu: I propose a public execution for Cao Zhong!]
[Keqing: A scumbag like Cao Zhong should just hurry up and die!]
[Cao Zhong: @Keqing, a Liyue official minding Mondstadt's business. My, what authority you have!]
[Jean: I think what the Yuheng Star said is perfectly reasonable!]
[Cao Zhong: Wuwuwu~ Grand Master Jean, you have to believe me — I was framed!]
[Barbara: Oh wow, who could possibly frame someone as impressive as you!]
[Cao Zhong: @Venti, say something in my defense! Otherwise I really can't stay in Mondstadt anymore!]
[Venti: ...]
[Cao Zhong: You're an Anemo Archon! They'll at least listen to you a little!]
[Venti: I think you're being way too optimistic. I've been slacking off for thousands of years — I've never done anything useful. I can't help you either. Maybe just don't be a scumbag in your next life!]
[Kaeya: Exactly. Why can't you be like me — consistently faithful and devoted to love?]
[Cao Zhong: You're just someone who simply can't find anyone!]
[Kaeya: @#$%! Go die, you mutt — you deserve everything coming to you!]
[Arataki Itto: Why'd Kaeya-bro suddenly blow up like that?]
[Xingqiu: Who knows — maybe someone poked his sore spot!]
[Hu Tao: The truth comes out!]
[Venti: I kind of want to laugh!]
[Kamisato Ayato: I can't hold it together anymore!]
Meanwhile, on the other side of Mondstadt.
In the Wangshu Inn, Cao Zhong had no more time to idle in the group chat.
He could already foresee exactly how much animosity the women of Mondstadt would have toward him after that video dropped.
Honestly, it made him want to cry a little. All that goodwill he'd painstakingly built up during the Stormterror incident — gone in one sweep.
He'd been so close to establishing his own little harem, too.
Now it was a disaster. Not only had he been set all the way back to square one, he was going to have to flee his home and leave Mondstadt entirely.
Being a man is hard. Being a scoundrel is even harder.
"Forget it. Pack up fast. Any later and there'll be no getting away."
Half an hour later.
Cao Zhong had already loaded everything he wanted to take into his Serenitea Pot — his bankbooks, his Raiden Shogun notebook, his Liyue photo collection... anything that could be packed was packed.
Whatever couldn't be taken, he'd leave behind. Who knew — maybe one day he'd make a triumphant return.
He turned back for one last look at the shop behind him.
Goodbye, Mondstadt.
Goodbye, my beloved girls.
On another side of the city.
At that very moment, Venti, Kaeya, and Bennett had been surrounded and cornered by Grand Master Jean leading an assembled squad of women.
The three of them were crouched on the ground with their hands over their heads, like criminals.
A sharp knight's sword was pressed against Venti's neck.
Grand Master Jean's expression was grave, her gaze razor-sharp, as she demanded sternly: "Talk! If you don't, I'll have you all thrown into Cider Lake to feed the fish!"
Venti put on a pitiful face. "Grand Master Jean, what do you want us to say? You haven't actually asked us anything yet!"
Ah...
"I didn't ask?" Jean quietly turned to Lisa beside her.
"Seems like you didn't~!" Lisa answered with a sweet smile.
Grand Master Jean's cheeks turned faintly pink.
It was all Cao Zhong's fault — he'd made her so furious she'd forgotten something as basic as that.
So she snapped sternly again: "Speak. Where are you hiding Cao Zhong?"
The three of them looked up in shock.
Cao Zhong was now public enemy number one in Mondstadt — a major criminal. They wouldn't dare hide him. They were trying to avoid him themselves!
"Wrongly accused, Grand Master! Wrongly accused!"
The three of them cried their innocence. This was not a pot they were willing to carry.
"Wrongly accused? Don't think I don't know you're Cao the Scoundrel's sworn brothers and closest companions! Speak now, or don't blame me for resorting to serious measures!"
Jean's gaze grew even colder. She was determined to make that scumbag pay today — to make him understand the price of betraying the hearts he'd toyed with.
"Talk! Or don't blame us for what comes next!"
The other girls behind Jean cheered her on.
Wuwuwu~~~ So scary~~~
Venti and the others had never been surrounded by so many women at once. Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse.
"Kaeya-bro, Venti — maybe we should just tell them. By now Cao Zhong should be long gone anyway!"
Bennett looked at Jean's group, who clearly weren't going to back down until they got what they wanted, and whispered to the other two.
Venti glanced up at the bright moon overhead, felt the message carried on the wind, and let out a long sigh.
Brother Cao, this is as far as we can go for you.
The road ahead — you walk it alone.
"Cao... Cao the Scoundrel has already left."
Venti slowly revealed the truth.
Jean and the others were stunned. "Left? Where did he go?"
The combined pressure of several women made the three of them tremble.
"He left Mondstadt. Where exactly, we truly don't know."
The three of them pressed tightly together, afraid she might strike at any moment.
"Sister, we can't just let that guy walk away so easily!" Barbara said, biting her lip.
"Agreed, Gunnhildr. We can't let him go," Eula added coldly.
"That's right! We can't let him go out there scamming other women — better he come back and scam us!" Amber chimed in enthusiastically.
Hm?
Every woman's gaze instantly snapped to Amber.
Amber... do you even hear yourself?
You're literally covering for that scumbag!
"Let's send messages in the group chat and lure him back! And then..."
Jean drew a finger across her throat.
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
...
"Amber, don't you dare tip him off!"
Every woman's eyes fixed on Amber simultaneously.
"I... I got it!"
Amber looked small and helpless.
In the group chat:
[Jean: @Cao Zhong, where are you? The festival isn't over yet — how come we can't see you anywhere?]
[Barbara: @Cao Zhong, come back quickly, I can't bear this alone... Come back quickly, life shines brighter because of you. Come back quickly, bring my longing back with you. Don't leave my heart as empty as the open sea.]
[Eula: @Cao Zhong, Mr. Cao Zhong, I bought new stockings today~]
[Lisa: @Cao Zhong, big sis will let you touch her Vision today~]
[Amber: @Cao Zhong, big brother, I miss you so much, big brother~!]
...
[Hu Tao: Hmm~ what exactly is going on here?]
[Xingqiu: Grand Master, what are you all doing?! Get a hold of yourselves!]
[Yae Miko: If any of you are being threatened, just type 'mm'.]
[Cao Zhong: @Eula @Lisa — really? Is what you two said for real?]
On this side of things, when Jean, Barbara, and the others saw that Cao Zhong had only reacted to Eula's and Lisa's messages, their faces twisted with indignation.
"We are luring him back today, and then — into the pig cage with him!"
"Yes! Into the pig cage!"
The crowd erupted with righteous fury.
"Do you two feel that?" Venti said, crouched in the corner, shuddering, and turned to look at Kaeya and Bennett.
"Cold. So cold. It's really cold." Bennett kept rubbing his hands together, frost practically crystallizing on his eyebrows.
It was still summer. Yet the temperature had plummeted.
"That's killing intent," Kaeya said, his expression grave. "Killing intent that's taken on physical form."
"You mean..." Bennett's eyes went wide with horror.
[Eula: @Cao Zhong, it's true, of course it's true — your favorite Balenciaga~]
[Lisa: @Cao Zhong, big sis has something nice prepared too — lace trim~]
[Cao Zhong: 😍😍😍]
Grand Master Jean thought she already had Cao Zhong in the bag — but then, out of nowhere, everything changed.
[Venti: @Cao Zhong — don't believe them, they're lying to you! Don't believe them, they're lying to you!]
[Kaeya: @Cao Zhong — RUN! Don't look back, just RUN!]
[Bennett: @Cao Zhong — THIS IS NOT HOME! THIS IS NOT HOME!]
[Hu Tao: Wait, what's happening...]
[Xingqiu: Blood is about to be spilled!]
[Cao Zhong: You guys... I understand. I got it!]
[Thoma: Wow, that's so touching!]
[Kamisato Ayaka: I never expected that even though you all mock Cao Zhong every day, you'd stand up for him at the critical moment. So this is the bond of brotherhood?]
[Yae Miko: @Raiden Shogun — Ei, are you seeing this?]
Mid-sprint, Cao Zhong read Venti and the others' warnings in the group chat, and his heart was filled with warmth.
Good brothers.
Tears.
At that moment, Cao Zhong stopped, turned to face the direction of Mondstadt, and bowed deeply.
Take care.
Back in Mondstadt.
"Grand Master Jean, please let us explain!"
Venti, Kaeya, and Bennett backed away slowly, faces pale with terror.
"Explain? No need."
"Since you're clearly so loyal and devoted to Cao Zhong — you can take his punishment in his place."
Grand Master Jean and the others stared at them, eyes glowing red, lips curled back.
Like monsters from the Abyss.
Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.