Chapter 113: Xueyi

The star-skiff flew with a steady hum through the night sky, its silhouette a fleeting shadow against the artificial constellations of the Xianzhou Luofu. After about fifteen minutes, it descended, settling silently at the mouth of a remote, shadowed alley.

“We’re here.”

The group disembarked, their boots scuffing softly on the ancient stone. As the others took in their surroundings, Chen began to attend to his own, far more important business.

His gaze flickered between Li Sushang and Luocha, a plan already forming in his mind. He needed to be subtle. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, he made a show of straightening his silken robes, his hand darting out in a quick, seemingly incidental pat on Li Sushang’s arm.

A moment later, as Luocha gracefully moved past him, he “accidentally” brushed against her long, flowing sleeve.

Deep within his consciousness, two new icons flared to life almost simultaneously.

[Li Sushang, Four-star. Unlocked.]

[Luocha, Five-star. Unlocked.]

Chen chuckled inwardly, a triumphant smirk hidden behind his demure fan. Job done.

Neither of the women paid his subtle movements any mind. They were far too professional for that.

Just then, a strange, guttural sound echoed from deeper within the alley.

“What was that?” Li Sushang’s demeanor sharpened instantly, her hand instinctively dropping to the hilt of her sword.

Miss Dan Heng, ever vigilant, gripped her spear, Cloud-Piercer, and raised a single finger to her lips, signaling for silence. The four of them crept forward, hugging the shadows of the towering buildings.

They soon came upon a small clearing. A man in a dark, formal uniform was half-kneeling on the ground, clutching a long, broken blade. He was surrounded. Five grotesque figures, their eyes glowing with a malevolent blood-red light and their movements twisted and unnatural, were closing in. The air was thick with their raspy, inhuman groans.

The man was grievously wounded. A deep gash on his left shoulder was torn open to the bone, yet strangely, not a single drop of blood flowed from the wound.

Chen squinted, studying the scene. ‘This person… he looks a little familiar.’

There was no more time for thought. The five Mara-Struck lunged.

“Oh no,” Li Sushang whispered, her voice tight with alarm.

Without a second of hesitation, Dan Heng surged forward, her spear a blur of motion. Li Sushang was right behind her, her own longsword already unsheathed and singing through the air.

Luocha turned to Chen, her expression serene. “Miss Tingyun, you…”

“I’ll watch the fight! I’ll be your cheerleader!” Chen declared, very consciously taking two steps back and raising his hands to show just how harmless he was. “Good luck, everyone!”

Luocha shook her head with a faint, helpless smile before turning to follow the others into the fray.

The battle was hardly a battle at all. It was a culling. Under the combined assault of Dan Heng’s precise, deadly spear strikes and Li Sushang’s powerful swordplay, the five common Mara-Struck were dispatched in less than three minutes, collapsing into lifeless heaps. Luocha didn’t even need to make a move, merely observing from the side with a placid calm.

Chen, meanwhile, had found a comfortable spot squatting behind some bushes, providing his own running commentary in a soft mutter.

‘Miss Dan Heng’s spear technique is just gorgeous! So efficient! Little Li’s sword work isn’t half bad either… Ooh, that Mara-Struck fell a bit awkwardly. A 4/10 on the landing…’

The moment the last enemy fell, Chen immediately popped up and jogged over to the heavily injured man, who could no longer support himself and had collapsed onto the ground, his consciousness fading.

Chen squatted down, carefully examining his face and the damaged uniform. ‘So familiar… ah, whatever. Let’s just tap him first.’

Muttering to himself, he reached out and patted the man’s uninjured right shoulder.

An icon lit up in his mind.

[Xueyi. Four-star. Unlocked.]

Chen froze for a second. ‘Xueyi! So it is him! No wonder I barely recognized him; I hardly ever used him in the game.’

Dan Heng walked over, her expression unreadable. “Is he still alive?”

“Alive,” Chen confirmed, moving aside to give her room. “But he’s very badly hurt.”

Luocha stepped forward and knelt, her delicate fingers lightly pressing against the side of the man’s neck. She then inspected the ghastly wound on his shoulder, her brow furrowing slightly.

“The injuries are severe, and…” She paused, looking up at Dan Heng and Li Sushang. “This is not the body of a living person.”

Li Sushang gasped.

“It’s a puppet,” Luocha stated calmly. “The body is composed mostly of machinery and specialized synthetic materials. Only the core components retain the original living tissue. That’s why he can move and possesses consciousness, but strictly speaking… he is no longer alive.”

Li Sushang stared at the man on the ground for a long moment before a flash of recognition crossed her face. “This must be one of the Judges from the Ten-Lords Commission! Only they have bodies like these!”

“Save him first,” Dan Heng interrupted, cutting straight to the point.

Luocha nodded, and a soft, verdant light began to glow from her palms. The light enveloped the man, and the horrific wound on his shoulder began to knit itself closed at a speed visible to the naked eye. It wasn’t just the flesh that was mending; even the damaged internal mechanical structures were gradually being repaired and reorganized within the gentle green radiance.

Li Sushang watched, utterly amazed. “Miss Luocha, your medical skills… they can even repair machinery?!”

Luocha offered a slight, mysterious smile. “I know a thing or two.”

Chen watched with rapt attention from the side. ‘A five-star Abundance character really is on another level,’he thought, thoroughly impressed.’She can treat the living, the dead… ah, no, she can even fix puppets! If she opened a repair shop on the side, wouldn’t she make an absolute fortune?’

After about ten minutes, Luocha withdrew her hands. The wound on the man’s shoulder was completely healed, leaving behind only smooth, unblemished skin.

He opened his eyes, his gaze still somewhat unfocused as it drifted over them. “…Was it you who saved me?”

“We were just passing by,” Dan Heng said coolly. “Are you a Judge of the Ten-Lords Commission?”

The man struggled to sit up, and Luocha offered him a hand. He leaned against a nearby cargo crate and gave a stiff, expressionless nod. “Yes. I am Xueyi, one of the Judges of the Ten-Lords Commission.”

Xueyi’s eyes scanned the area before settling on Dan Heng and her companions. A flicker of perception crossed his face. “You… are not locals of the Luofu?”

“Astral Express. Passing through,” Dan Heng replied, as concise as ever.

“Astral Express?” Xueyi’s posture straightened slightly. “Then… could you perhaps do me a favor?”

‘Here it comes,’Chen muttered internally.’The quest prompt is here.’

“I need to get to the nearest ferry crossing,” Xueyi explained. “There is a Ten-Lords Commission rendezvous point there. However, I am currently unable to move with ease, and traveling alone is too risky. If you would be willing to escort me, the Ten-Lords Commission will surely reward you handsomely.”

Li Sushang looked to Dan Heng for the decision.

Dan Heng pondered for a moment before asking, “How far is the ferry crossing?”

“Five li to the east. There is a small pier. My colleagues from the Commission should already be waiting.”

Dan Heng nodded. “Very well.”

A wave of relief washed over Xueyi’s stoic features. “Thank you.”

Chen, who had been listening quietly from the side, suddenly raised his hand, a look of deep earnestness on his face. “Um… maybe I shouldn’t go?”

Everyone turned to look at him.

Chen scratched his head, his expression a perfect picture of sincerity. “Look, I’m just a weak woman who can’t even lift a finger. Following along would just make me a burden. And I’ve only just escaped death myself! I need rest, I need to recover…”

He gestured dramatically to the tattered silk robe he wore, then pointed to the streaks of soot on his face that he hadn’t bothered to wipe clean. “You all go handle the important business, and I’ll just wait for you to come back here. How about that?”

Li Sushang frowned. “Sister Tingyun, it’s not safe for you to be here alone, is it?”

“Safe, safe! Perfectly safe!” Chen said quickly. “This place is so remote, no one will come by. I’ll just hide in the star-skiff and lock the door. I’ll definitely be fine!”

Luocha glanced at him, a knowing glint in her eyes, but said nothing. Xueyi, on the other hand, was sizing him up with open confusion.

Dan Heng stared at Chen for a few long seconds, her gaze sharp and penetrating. Then, she spoke. “As you wish.”

Chen was ecstatic, but he managed to school his features into a look of deep gratitude. “Thank you for your understanding, Miss Dan Heng! You can all go with peace of mind. I promise to stay put right here!”

Dan Heng ignored him and turned to Xueyi. “Let’s go. Time is of the essence.”

Li Sushang still looked a bit hesitant, but seeing that Dan Heng had made her decision, she could only nod in agreement. Luocha helped Xueyi to his feet, and the four of them started down the small path leading east.

After they had taken a few steps, Dan Heng suddenly stopped and turned back, her eyes locking with Chen’s one last time.

The look was faint, almost imperceptible, but Chen felt a jolt run through him. It was a look that seemed to say… I know everything.

“Be careful,” she said, her voice flat.

And with that, Dan Heng turned and left without a backward glance.

Chen stood amidst the wild grass, watching until the four figures had completely disappeared into the darkness. Only then did he finally let out a long, gusty sigh of relief.

“Finally… slipped away.”

[Elysian’s Note:

Having a good time with the story?

Every single bit helps immensely:

Thanks a ton for making this journey possible!]