"You wish to observe the storyline first before deciding?"
"Certainly," Jing Yuan responded understandingly, accommodating their request.
"Why not...watch together here? We can project the Yuzhao images onto the sand table, allowing for clearer viewing of both combat details and subtle clues on the map." He added, "Whenever encountering points of interest, we can discuss them collectively and strategize accordingly."
"As such gracious hosts, it would be impolite to decline your invitation," Old Yang replied.
"Uncle Yang, could your homeland be like a Xianzhou planet or something? How come using such refined language doesn't sound out of place at all?" March 7th remarked, surprised.
Old Yang did not explain further.
Under Yukong's arrangement, everyone took their seats around the sand table.
Together with Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan, they began watching the live stream.
The vast Palace of Astrum fell silent, akin to a movie theater atmosphere.
Everyone's attention focused on the unfolding plot.
In the top left corner, it displayed:
Current objective: [Cross Cloudford and catch up with the exploration team].
Dan Heng's inner monologue appeared:
"Little has changed since I left..."
"In my memories of Luofu, aside from darkness, this is the only place I recall."
March 7th couldn't help but glance at Dan Heng, seated next to her, catching only his cold profile. She desperately wanted to ask what exactly he had experienced in Luofu. Why did he remember only this dock apart from the darkness? Could it be that he never ventured outside from birth until leaving Luofu?
However, considering the presence of several influential figures nearby, March 7th knew it wasn't the right time for such questions. Instead, she continued watching intently!
Not far away, a girl and a man with long golden hair were trapped by monsters. The girl placed her hands on her hips and confidently declared, "Just stay put over there."
"Leave the rescuing to the professionals—"
The man, leaning against a large and intricately designed box, remained composed and calm.
Witnessing this scene, Streamer Little Gui Zi exclaimed incredulously, "Shangshang, am-I-am I seeing this correctly?! Someone really came to save Dan Heng... And that someone is—you!"
Li Sushang was momentarily stunned.
Rubbing his eyes and leaning closer to the screen, he exclaimed, "Aaaaaah, it's really me!"
"Mom! Look at me now!"
"I've appeared in a 'Star Rail' storyline!!!"
Watching the lively banter between the two girls in the Live Streaming Room brought smiles to everyone's faces.
However, Old Yang looked utterly terrified, as if he had seen a ghost!
Especially when the camera focused on the golden-haired man—his appearance and demeanor were unmistakably Otto's!
Old Yang's palms began to sweat profusely, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Noticing Old Yang's unease, Dan Heng asked, "Welt, what's wrong?"
"These two...both...are my...acquaintances..." Old Yang struggled to utter these words.
"Huh?"
In the unfolding plot:
Dan Heng bravely stepped forward to assist Sushang against the Form Refiner from Medicine King's secret lineage.
This Form Refiner proved significantly stronger than ordinary Demonic Yin Bodies; its spear attacks even replenished its health!
Sushang's health bar quickly turned red, causing Little Gui Zi to panic frantically.
"Shangshang, you're about to go down!"
"What do we do? There's no shield or healer in this party!"
"How about retreating for now? I could eat some [Great Cosmic Fried Rice] before taking it on again?"
Unable to resist, Sushang nudged Guinaifen gently, "But Dan Heng is still alive! It's not like the real me is going to bite the dust."
The plot suddenly took an unexpected turn!
***
The blonde man behind them sprang into action! With a swift hum, his sleek black-and-white sword plunged into the ground, leaving a trail resembling a teal-colored flower bloom.
Surprised, Dan Heng and Sushang noticed healing effects manifesting on their bodies.
"You both fought to save me; how could Luocha remain indifferent... [Stay put]?"
The man's intervention was perfectly timed—both stylish and graceful.
However...
Upon hearing this man's voice, Old Yang completely lost his composure! He jumped up from his seat, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he wiped his brow with the back of his hand, adjusted his glasses, and sat down again, eyes fixed intently on the golden-haired figure in the scene.
"This must be some form of survivorship bias..." he thought desperately, searching for explanations. "In game narratives, only significant characters appear, which is why I keep seeing echoes of familiar faces."
"Besides, it's just a game; real-life counterparts may not exactly match their in-game personas..."
Old Yang struggled internally, trying to rationalize what he was witnessing.
He had no choice; he needed to rationalize this away!
The sight before him was simply too unnerving.
These two characters mirrored Otto and Li Sushang from his homeland.
Sushang appeared youthful, innocent, and vibrant—a stark contrast in style and demeanor compared to her original persona.
But the blonde man was different. His profound aura suggested a hidden depth, immediately hinting at untold stories!
If the universe were a grand theater, this actor's role would undoubtedly be that of an irredeemably wicked villain!
This figure demanded close attention!
The battle resumed anew.
This time, the golden-haired man who called himself Luocha joined their team.
After Dan Heng suffered an attack from the Form Refiner, Luocha raised his ornamented hand and proclaimed, "White Flower Bloom!"
Instantly, Dan Heng's health bar surged upwards.
With this healer on board, the fight became significantly easier.
They defeated the Form Refiner.
"Ha, we Cloud Knights are here to protect you folks. The area is under lockdown now, and I'm assisting with evacuating civilians. Follow me, I'll guide you to safety."
Li Sushang insisted that they follow her to the safe zone.
"Let's move out! Stick close, both of you; Cloud Rider Li Sushang will ensure your safety!"
"Oh right, later on, could you help me sign my name... I'm not too proficient with characters, so I might get it wrong..."
Dan Heng's perspective came to a temporary pause.
March 7th softly sighed, "It seems Dan Heng won't be in immediate danger now."
"That cloud rider girl may be impulsive, but she has a good heart."
"As for the man called Luocha, I can't quite tell... What do you think, Uncle Yang?"
"Huh? Uncle Yang, what's wrong?!"
Upon hearing this, even Stelle turned to look.
They realized then that the usually composed Uncle Yang was unexpectedly sitting there, drenched in sweat.
"You mustn't underestimate him!"
"Since experiencing Honkai: Star Rail, I've encountered numerous individuals with strikingly similar appearances and sometimes identical names within this game."
"These people inhabit different worlds, yet their destinies often follow similar trajectories."
"I've encountered two individuals resembling this Luocha, and they were...far from benevolent."
"Both possessed the power to effortlessly overturn entire worlds," Old Yang continued.
Upon hearing this, everyone present, including Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan, displayed expressions of surprise.
After a moment, Jing Yuan spoke up, "Since Mr. Welt holds such high regard for this foreigner... I trust your judgment.
"I will notify the Realm-Keeping Commission and the Sky-Faring Commission to closely monitor this person's background and activities."
March 7th immediately clapped her hands and flattered him, "Brilliant decision, General!"
In sync, Stelle chimed in, "Thoroughly investigate Luocha!"
Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm translating. I upload at least 2 times daily for each novel.
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******
Within Little Gui Zi's live stream:
"Huh? Our perspective switched back so quickly?"
"I wanted to see more of your performance within the storyline, Shangshang." Little Gui Zi sighed wistfully.
"That's enough already!"
"I must hurry and record this segment with my appearance; can't wait to rewatch it when I get back!" Sushang exclaimed excitedly.
Watching Sushang's thrilled expression, Guinaifen couldn't help but feel slightly envious. "If only I could make an appearance in the storyline too..." she muttered. "I don't even need a significant role, just being a minor NPC on the streets would be fine."
"Sigh, we're not major characters or government officials, so chances seem slim," she added.
"Don't lose heart, Little Gui Zi. You still have plenty of side quests uncompleted in this game. With your knack for creating content, I bet Feathered Spirit will assign you at least one!"
"Quickly send a private message to Feathered Spirit, Little Gui Zi! Considering how much popularity you've gained by streaming 'Star Rail,' I'm sure they'll agree."
"The perspective switch is intriguing; hope to see more of these later!"
"Hurry up and capture Kafka! I can't wait to reunite with Mom!"
Little Gui Zi nodded.
Yes!
Capturing Kafka is the top priority now!
If only they could really get their hands on that wicked woman! The Grand Diviner's Office would undoubtedly extract astonishing intelligence from her.
Back to the unfolding plot...
Tingyun announced, "I've brought along an assistant who will surely aid you all, Crew. Capturing Kafka is of utmost importance; the Sky-Faring Commission cannot afford to let her escape. So, I used some influence and borrowed this valuable tool for pursuit from the Artisanship Commission."
A small copper creature blinked, observing its surroundings curiously.
"Oh... how adorable!" March 7th exclaimed excitedly.
"Ahem, what exactly is this treasure? Can it pounce and hold onto Kafka tightly?" asked March 7th.
"Yes, but not quite," Tingyun replied. "This Ditti was developed by the Artisanship Commission, mimicking the five senses of my fox clan, with even greater acuity. Whether it's footprints or scents, once locked onto a distinctive feature, it can track the target's trail relentlessly until the end."
"As long as we find even the slightest trace of Kafka, no matter how well she hides, she won't evade the Ditti's pursuit."
To help the Astral Express Crew become proficient with the Ditti, Tingyun served as bait, asking them to test if they could locate her using the device.
Seeing the Ditti's endearingly clueless expression, Guinaifen felt her heart melt!
She secretly resolved that for her next outdoor live stream, she must get a few Dittis like these. The entertainment value could potentially double with their presence!
Within the Palace of Astrum, Yukong observed Tingyun's seasoned demeanor in the unfolding plot—resourceful and adept at utilizing external aids. Before departure, she even remembered to calibrate and test crucial equipment.
Yukong was immensely pleased, feeling her tail couldn't help but perk up behind her, and the corners of her lips curved uncontrollably upward.
"Look at her! Truly deserving to be my most trusted subordinate. Even the Astral Express Crew follows Tingyun's instructions!"
"...Speaking of which, it has been quite some time since I last saw Tingyun."
"If the crew is heading towards The Shackling Prison next, let her lead the way."
In Yukong's eyes, Tingyun's performance within the plot was highly satisfactory. Initially hesitant about grooming Tingyun as her successor, she now felt completely reassured.
It wasn't just Yukong; even the game developer, Yuzhi Ling, must have been equally satisfied with Tingyun!
Otherwise,
why would Tingyun have such a significant role in the storyline?
Luofu, The Shackling Prison.
"Bang!"
Seven or eight Cloud Knights were simultaneously sent flying, their weapons shattered in half.
Blade wreaked havoc amidst the crowd, cutting down foes left and right.
However...
Just as he breached a gap, more Cloud Knights immediately rushed to fill it, relentless and unyielding!
Outnumbered, Blade stood alone against wave after wave of attackers. Yet these Cloud Knights seemed like wildfire, impossible to extinguish completely—always regenerating with each spring breeze!
Unstoppable though Blade was, his fury boiled under such overwhelming odds, leaving him powerless.
Suddenly:
A woman's voice echoed from within the rear ranks of the military formation.
"Listen to me: Everyone, drop your weapons."
The Cloud Knights were taken aback.
Slowly, they began lowering their arms.
Suddenly,
a sword's cry pierced the sky!
The youth, riding his flying sword like surfing a wave, swiftly headed towards the source of the sound.
"Clang!"
His jade-like blade clashed with Kafka's purple katana, the crisp impact startling some of the controlled Cloud Knights back to awareness.
After exchanging this first blow,
Yanqing hovered mid-air and coldly said, "Stellaron Hunter—Kafka, correct?"
"The General anticipated your rescue attempt and specifically ordered me to wait here. This trap was meticulously set just for you!"
Kafka smiled faintly. The purple katana disappeared, replaced by two gleaming submachine guns.
"Don't be too confident, little brother," Kafka replied, suddenly recalling her ultimate ability in the game. She considered that replicating it now might have quite an impressive effect.
"I'll capture you first and let the General decide your fate!" Yanqing pointed his sword forward, and behind him, a fan-like array of shimmering blades materialized, reminiscent of a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
"Swish—"
"Swish—"
"Swish—"
Each sword attacked Kafka from different angles.
However, in an instant...
As if falling into invisible black holes, the swords disintegrated into countless shimmering fragments and vanished.
Yanqing's expression shifted abruptly.
Another figure emerged from beside Kafka.
Silver Wolf, casually blowing bubbles, remarked with a nonchalant tone, "Let's make this quick, Kafka. I still have to log back into the Simulated Universe later."
"Agreed."
Yanqing's gaze grew solemn as he raised his sole remaining sword.
"Excellent. It seems I might apprehend three Stellaron Hunters at once!"
":." Silver Wolf glanced disdainfully at Yanqing, "Where did they find this brat? So ordinary yet so overconfident. Well, Kafka, you deal with him; I don't want bullying kids on my record."
"Brat?!?" Yanqing instantly flared up in anger.
"I am the Cloud Knight Lieutenant—Yanqing!" He challenged, "Outlaw, take this strike!"
While Yanqing was focused solely on Silver Wolf, Kafka silently moved behind him.
"[Hear Me]: Stand down," commanded Kafka.
Yanqing froze, all his fierce momentum dissipating. He dropped to one knee, his sword clattering to the ground beside him.
The surrounding Cloud Knights attempted to assist but were suddenly repelled by an intense burst of sword energy, leaving an empty space around them.
Silver Wolf looked at the fallen Yanqing and scoffed, "And you didn't believe me when I called you a kid? How easily deceived you are."
Blade approached Kafka and Silver Wolf, preparing for their swift departure.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the area:
"Oh?"
"It seems your age isn't much greater either."
A subtle smirk formed at the corner of Kafka's lips as he remarked, "Today just keeps getting more interesting."
Silver Wolf's expression turned grave.
As for Blade, his eyes instantly glowed with a blood-red hue, like a ferocious wolf sensing the scent of blood. He roared towards the sky, "It's you! You've returned too!"
White snowflakes drifted gently from above while layers of icy blades burst forth from the ground below. In an instant, they formed sharp walls of ice, isolating the pursuing Cloud Knights behind them.
Emerging from the darkness were a white-haired woman and a golden-haired man, walking side by side. The woman wore a black veil over her eyes, while the man carried a coffin.
"I am merely a humble merchant, truly honored to have this fortuitous encounter with all of you."