He changed Tiwat

But Yura was clearly very dissatisfied with him.

"Lawrence, how can you be so spineless! It's infuriating to watch!"

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

The knight named Lawrence instinctively bowed his head and apologized to Yura, but this only made Yura angrier.

"What are you apologizing for? It's clearly their fault. It's because you're such a coward that those cowards only dare to cause trouble for you!"

This wasn't the first time Lawrence had encountered something like this, nor was it the first time Yura had witnessed something like this.

Those drunkards who caused trouble earlier were all targets of Yura's "grudge".

They were all ordinary residents of Mondstadt and had no prior grudges against Yura. They were simply unhappy about the Lawrence family joining the Knights and also displeased with Yura's high-profile behavior.

To put it more bluntly, their mentality was probably—how could a “sinner” from the Lawrence family do so well in Mondstadt? Even become a captain in the Knights of Favonius? Why can’t I? Why?!

Driven by this mentality, they had all made things difficult for Yura on various occasions. The feud between Yura and that group of people was mainly due to the other party's provocations, which Yura met with a strong response.

Having lost face with Yura, and not daring to do anything to her, the group could only pick on the weakest link.

The guard named Lawrence was the easy target that the group of drunkards had found.

Today was no different. Those guys got drunk and came over to act crazy, taking their anger out on this "Lawrence family sinner" who guards the gate.

"I told you last time, when dealing with those unreasonable people, you should fight them head-on and make them feel bad so they'll know what they should and shouldn't do!"

Yura was already in a bad mood.

She went out of kindness to rescue Schubert, but was unjustly accused by him and even kicked out of his home. She was forced to lock her own family member in jail and even declared that she would be an enemy of her own family... No one would feel good if this happened to them.

Seeing this incident on her way back to the city and realizing that the drunken troublemakers were after her, Yura felt even worse.

—How did the people of Mondstadt, whom she paid such a high price to protect, view her? Was her sacrifice truly worthwhile?

At times like these, she can't help but doubt her own convictions.

Rather than saying she was angry at the guard Lawrence, it would be more accurate to say she was angry at herself, who was also Lawrence—although she had intimidated those people under the guise of "holding grudges," she knew very well that she had never truly escaped those rumors and malice.

In reality, she is not as carefree as she tries to portray herself.

Faced with Yura's angry expression, Lawrence could only lower his head and meekly say, "You're right..."

Yura's knuckles cracked with a "click".

Swan, who was standing guard nearby, couldn't help but speak up: "Captain Yura, this can't be entirely blamed on Lawrence... You know, Commander Jean clearly stipulated in the 'Knights of Favonius Guidebook, Fifth Edition': 'The Knights of Favonius are servants of the free citizens of Mondstadt and service providers for foreign guests. The duty of the Knights of Favonius is to serve the people of Mondstadt, and they must show respect and courtesy when facing the people.'"

"As the face of Mondstadt, we are strictly forbidden from getting into conflicts with locals and tourists. When we encounter such situations, we have no choice but to persuade them with words."

—Swann was right. Their duties required them to not fight back or talk back.

Although Yura didn't take the "Knights' Guidebook" seriously, Lawrence and Swan were in charge of reception work. They not only had to follow the manual's rules diligently, but also had to undergo regular assessments and memorize every single rule.

"You deserve to be bullied like this!" Yura said, then climbed back onto the carriage without looking back.

The minor commotion came to an end.

Lawrence and Swann both gave a wry smile and returned to their posts.

Not just anyone can be a gatekeeper at the gates of Mondstadt. These two are carefully selected as the face of the Knights of Fame, essentially the "figureheads" of the Knights of Fame. They need to be good-looking and gentle, so that they can leave visitors with a warm and welcoming first impression of Mondstadt.

Their role is more like that of a "guide" than a "knight" or "gatekeeper." Their daily work involves greeting people with a smile, introducing Mondstadt's service locations and famous attractions in a friendly manner, and providing assistance to visitors in need.

For example, “Welcome to Mondstadt, stranger and esteemed traveler/visitor!”, or “If this is your first time here, I recommend you visit Mondstadt Cathedral.”, and “When you feel tired, why not try the famous wines of Mondstadt at the ‘Gift of the Angel’ tavern?”

After Yura left, Kaiya and Han Fulai, who had been observing the situation from a distance, breathed a sigh of relief. They had been ready to intervene and mediate the dispute at any moment, but fortunately, Yura had remained restrained.

"By the way, Captain Kaiya, is that guard named Lawrence really related to the Lawrence family?" Han Fulai asked.

He had seen these two gatekeepers in the game, but they didn't have much of a role in the game, so Han Fulai didn't have a deep impression of them.

Kaiya smiled and said, "Well, actually he has nothing to do with the Lawrence family... but he does have some connection with you, Vice Minister Han..."

"Huh? What does this have to do with me?" Han Fulai blinked.

“It’s a long story,” Kaya said leisurely. “Does Deputy Minister Han know of a blacksmith shop called ‘Schutz’ in Mondstadt, and a craftsman named Wagner who works there?”

Han Fulai nodded. He not only knew the blacksmith shop, but also knew that the blacksmith Wagner had a terrible service attitude; players who asked him to make weapons would always be rude to him...

“Besides blacksmithing, Wagner liked to gamble with others on drinking and test their drinking capacity. When he was drunk, he would gamble on anything… You see, his blacksmith shop used to be called ‘Wagner’s Blacksmith Shop.’ The reason it was called ‘Schutz’s Blacksmith Shop’ was because he lost a drinking contest with his apprentice, Schutz, and that’s when he changed the name.”

"Uh... but what does this have to do with me?" Han Fulai didn't understand.

“…Ahem.” Kaiya glanced at the knighthood medal on his shoulder and coughed. “The guard Lawrence’s father is from your hometown of Fontainebleau. You know, in Fontainebleau, the name Lawrence is not taboo, it’s even considered a noble title.”

"His father was a Fontaine merchant who came to Mondstadt to do business, and also a heavy drinker. One day, he made a drinking contest with Wagner. Lawrence's father wagered his own child's name... and as you can see..."

"Truly, the people of Fontainebleau love watching a drama..." Han Fulai glanced at Lawrence with pity. The saying "Since the Song Dynasty, people have been ashamed to name their sons Qin Hui" is akin to a Chinese father losing a bet and naming his son Qin Hui...

Having such a terrible father is really unfortunate...

“Speaking of which, I met his father once at the tavern, and we talked about this…” Kaia looked at Lawrence with the same sympathy. “His father expressed immense regret, saying that if he had just had one more drink back then, Wagner would have named his most prized weapon ‘Pink Bunny’…”

Han Fulai suddenly felt that he understood Lawrence's father a little better—after all, no one could bear the humiliation of being killed by "Pink Bunny".

Chapter 225 Helping her become Yura Lawrence

Han Fulai couldn't sleep that night.

Many things did happen that day: the destruction of the Fools' stronghold, witnessing the break between Yura and the Lawrence family, etc. For most of those involved, it was a huge event. Many knights who went on the mission that day were so excited that they couldn't sleep.

But it's nothing to Han Fulai.

He's seen it all now. Killing a former chief inspector of the Knights of Fatalis, destroying a few Fools strongholds, or plotting a "slaughter of the uncle" drama—these things might be big deals for others, but for him, they're as casual as taking the trash out of the wastebasket with him when he leaves the house.

It wasn't that he was heartless; it was just that these things were far too insignificant compared to major events like the "False Heaven," the "Sky Island Governance," and the "Planning of the Wind God and the Rock God."

—Ever since Ningguang and Zhongli led him into the realm of thinking about the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World, his perspective on issues has indeed changed significantly.

Zhongli once told him, "As the 'successor of the Emperor,' you only have two things to consider. First, whether this should be done. Second, whether this can be done."

And he has always practiced what he preached.

For him, eliminating the Fools of Mondstadt, preserving Yola's position in the Knights of Faith, and ensuring the safety of the Lawrence family were all simply fulfilling his promises to Jean and Yola—this was what he should do, this was what he could do, nothing more.

As for the letter Schubert wrote to the head of the Lawrence family, it was by no means his intention to "act out a real relationship" with Yura and obtain "parental consent," but rather a backup plan he made to add another "nail" to the winter.

At this stage, maintaining the Lawrence family's cooperative relationship with the Fools is the best option for both Yura and the Lawrence family.

In name, Yura, the traitor of the Lawrence family, had been "swept out" by Schubert, and the Fools' stronghold was destroyed by Han Fulai, the Fools' mortal enemy. Schubert and the Lawrence family could even be considered "victims".

Schubert's final brilliant performance would also be spread through the Knights' channels, letting the Fools understand the Lawrence family's "sincerity" so that they wouldn't be made too difficult for them.

The Lawrence family's "bargaining chips"—Yura, who inherited the "Sign of Ice," and the secret temple buried in Mondstadt—are no longer in the Lawrence family's hands. Even if they were determined to cooperate with the Fatui, they couldn't offer any assistance. Now, in the eyes of the Fatui, they are nothing more than a useless burden, neither worth keeping nor worth discarding.

The only thing the Lawrence family can do now is to "behave themselves."

In this context, the letter in Han Fulai's hand symbolizes the identity verification given by Schubert, making the whole thing seem like "Schubert endured humiliation and sacrificed for his family, pushing Yura to a high position in the Knights," while he became "the benefactor who helped the Lawrence family rise to prominence."

Once the time is right, Han Fulai will make good use of the Lawrence family as a "nail"—this can be considered his "reward" for himself.

He considered himself a virtuous and upright man, and absolutely had no intention of coveting Yura's beauty. Asking Yura to perform a "ritual dance" as payment was merely a pretext to save face for Yura at the time. Even if the matter were resolved, he would not actually ask her to dance for him.

However, since this time the "Great Sage Who Subdues Demons" had to step in, he couldn't let this favor go unrewarded... He helped Commander Qin, and Commander Qin would sign a cooperation agreement between the two countries with him. As for helping Yura, he had to get something back from the Lawrence family.

He had already thought these things through clearly before, and there was no need for him to spend the whole night thinking about them again.

The reason he couldn't sleep that night was because he saw two Lawrences who had been "tricked by their fathers".

Yes, both Lawrences.

Lawrence, the gatekeeper, diligently fulfilled his duties every day and was so warm and friendly to everyone, yet he had to endure all sorts of grievances and humiliations simply because of his name.

And isn't Yura also a Lawrence burdened by the sins of her ancestors?

Han Fulai witnessed firsthand, at the closest possible distance, her contributions and sacrifices to Mondstadt.

She wanted to be the "Knight of the Waves," and she also wanted to be "Yura Lawrence"; she wanted to protect the freedom of the people of Mondstadt, and she also wanted to vindicate the Lawrence family, to tell everyone that not every Lawrence was as depraved as they were a thousand years ago, that this surname was once full of glory, and that it was the name of a founding hero of Mondstadt that could be spoken of with pride...

She has always worked very hard.

But her efforts did not yield much reward.

The Knights of Favonius were secretly on guard against her, and the people of Mondstadt also hated her. No matter what she did, she was always viewed negatively and ended up with no reward for her good deeds. Schubert's expulsion of her from his home was undoubtedly another typical example of "no reward for good deeds."

—This matter was personally initiated by Han Fulai.

He could indeed say with a clear conscience that it was all for Yura's good... But Schubert, who wanted to force Yura into a marriage alliance, and Kaia, who wanted to force Yura to choose the right side, could also say that they were doing it for Yura's good, and they could say it from the bottom of their hearts.

He suddenly felt that he was perhaps no different from Schubert, Keia, or those people who misunderstood Yura.

Perhaps due to his experiences on Earth, Han Fulai couldn't stand seeing hard work go unrewarded, and he especially couldn't bear to see good people go unpunished.

He had previously saved the Ninth Company in the Abyss of Laminar Lines, helped Old Meng in Mingyun Town, and helped Joel find his father... Ultimately, it was because he had witnessed things that he could not tolerate and wanted to change those tragic endings.

When Yura said to Lawrence, "You deserve to be bullied like this!" Han Fulai clearly saw tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Isn't this exactly what Yura was saying to herself?

Even after being transported to another world, to the continent of Teyvat in some unknown universe, many things remain unchanged. For example, good people deserve to have guns pointed at them, and good people are just waiting to have guns pointed at them.

But shouldn't an ideal society reward hard work and ensure that good people are rewarded?

He suddenly realized that he had never considered Yura's feelings in his calculations.

He had always been clearly aware that his interactions with Yura were purposeful, and that their relationship probably couldn't even be considered as friendship. Therefore, he had never truly considered things from Yura's perspective.

He assumed that Yura could accept the misunderstanding of her relatives, that she could accept severing ties with her family, and that she could "sacrifice her own family for the greater good"—but he never asked Yura's opinion; he simply did it naturally in his usual manner.

Looking back, however, he realized that he was essentially standing in a position of near-divine authority, looking down on Yura and influencing her fate—just like the "Heavenly Principle" who created the "False Heaven" and set up the "Seates of Fate" for the world.

He recalled Ningguang telling him that with each step she took on the path to becoming the "Goddess of Commerce," she drifted further away from humanity.

Wasn't he himself gradually losing his identity as a "human" on the path to becoming the "Salt King Emperor"?

This shouldn't be happening.

Yes, he did what he promised Yura, and the result was quite perfect—but is that really what Yura wanted?

To become "the paragon of the Knights of Favonius," to become "Yura who sacrificed her own family for the greater good," and to simply discard the name "Lawrence" like that?

No, doing so would only negate the efforts of "Yura Lawrence," who had worked alone in the Knights Order for four years.

He remembered how Yura introduced herself when they first met—

"Yura Lawrence, captain of the guerrilla squad of the Knights of Favonius, the 'Swept Knight'."

That night was the first time since he met Yura that he thought about it without any ulterior motives or calculations, and for no other reason than simply because he wanted to help Yura.

He considered what he could do to help Yura, to help her truly become the "Knights of Favonius, guerrilla squad leader, 'Wave Knight' Yura Lawrence," recognized by everyone.

Chapter 226 The Younger One Gets Beaten, the Older One Arrives

Because of his insomnia, Han Fulai slept until the afternoon. By the time he got up and finished washing up, the sun was already setting.

When he said goodbye to Kaiya yesterday, Kaiya told him to go to the Knights again today.

Although it's a bit late now, he had been traveling all day yesterday, so he deserved to rest. The Knights wouldn't send anyone to urge him, and his willingness to cooperate was already a great favor to the Knights.

He was, after all, a key witness in the destruction of the Fools' stronghold, and according to the Knights' procedures, he was required to explain the situation—even acts of heroism require a statement to be taken by the Knights first.

Kaiya meant that the Knights were probably already waiting to present him with banners and certificates of merit, and perhaps even the Commander Jean would bestow upon him the title of "Honorary Knight" as a token of their gratitude.

If possible, he'd love to take a picture with Yura, frame it, and hang it on the outer wall of the Knights of Favonius's gate—one of them is an international friend who helped Mondstadt destroy the Fools' spy hideout, and the other is an upright and righteous Knight of Favonius who puts family aside for the greater good; they're also an engaged couple—their publicity value is off the charts!

Of course, compared to Kaiya's so-called "exemplary model," Han Fulai knew that Kaiya actually meant to put the matter to rest in the name of the Knights, so that the Fools would know that the grievances had a source and the debtor had a culprit, and that complaints should be directed to the Moon Sea Pavilion Office...

—Just for his righteous act of drawing away the hatred of the Winter Kingdom, giving him the title of "Honorary Knight" is absolutely not an exaggeration.

Even if Kaeya sends the "Night Hero" to destroy the Fatui's secret stronghold, the "Night Hero" is still a mysterious figure protecting Mondstadt, and the Fatui's eyes will remain on Mondstadt. Han Fulai's inexplicable trip from Liyue to Mondstadt to harass the Fatui is, to them, a catastrophe, leaving them helpless.

Han Fulai strolled to the entrance of the Knights Order and saw Kaiya politely seeing an old gentleman off.

The old gentleman had gray hair, wore a tall black and white hat, a white robe and a red shawl, and held a thick book in his hand with a wind symbol on the cover.

This kind of attire suggests he must be a priest from the Church of the West Wind.

Han Fulai politely stepped aside to let the old man pass. The old man nodded slightly in greeting. As they passed each other, their eyes met unexpectedly—Han Fulai noticed that the other man seemed to be staring at his face, as if trying to imprint his face into his mind.

He turned his head away, thought for a moment, and confirmed that he had never seen this old man in the game or in real life.

This should be the first time the two of them have met.

What reason would someone have to stare at someone they've just met?

Han Fulai turned his gaze over again, only to find that the other person had already walked down the steps, leaving him with only a trembling back view.

Is it just my imagination?