Chapter 104: Honkai: Star Rail — The Xianzhou General Wouldn't Dream of a Yandere Chapter 101: The Sword in the Heart, Held in the Ha

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Inside the Guest Reception Room, warmth filled the air; Shen Wu Xian Zhou's personal guards respectfully escorted Han Guang and Ye Li, the two of them, to an elegant guest reception room.

The hall's furnishings were simple yet tasteful; the table already held warm tea and several plates of exquisite pastries, all unique specialties of Shen Wu Xian Zhou.

Tea fragrance mingled with the pastries' refreshing sweetness, permeating the entire room.

"Please wait a moment, the two of you; General Shen Wei is finishing up trivial matters and will be here shortly."

The personal guard's words and conduct were proper, his etiquette thorough; he gestured for the two to sit and sample the specialties.

"Thank you for your trouble, brother." Han Guang gave a slight nod, returning the courtesy politely.

After the Shen Wu personal guard left, Han Guang's gaze had already uncontrollably drifted toward the hall's beams, pillars, and furnishings, his eyes full of curiosity and admiration.

Ye Li at his side watched her husband; ever since they disembarked from the Hang Jian, he had been incessantly scrutinizing Shen Wu's architectural style.

Even after entering the guest reception room, his gaze never paused; she couldn't help but smile helplessly, her tone brimming with doting affection:

"Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world; if we settle down in Shen Wu in the future, there'll be plenty of time to look slowly."

Only then did Han Guang reluctantly withdraw his gaze, turning to look at his wife; the admiration in his eyes had not faded, and he smiled wryly:

"It's not that I haven't seen the world; look at Shen Wu's style — antique and elegant yet not crude, everywhere revealing ingenious craftsmanship.

Even that Shen Wu military brother's armor just now was the same — battle skirt, pauldrons, cuirass, every part fusing top-tier forging art with Xian Zhou technology, simply perfect."

Once forging and technology were mentioned, Han Guang grew enthusiastic, his tone increasingly impassioned:

"Madam, let me tell you, Shen Wu Xian Zhou not only possesses the greatest martial might in the Xianzhou Alliance, its technology and forging attainments are also absolutely top-tier, far surpassing our Zhu Ming."

As he spoke, he stood up, left hand clasped behind his back, right index finger unconsciously tracing the armor's outline in the air, eyes shining:

"I've seen that armor in Teacher Huai Yan's Heavenly Works Illustrated Catalog; it has built-in Biological Stance, Power Absorption, Nano Repair, and many other functions, covering virtually all practical combat needs.

A suit of such armor is priceless — never mind buying a whole building in Zhu Ming Xian Zhou's city center, even carving out a large chunk of land near Teacher's General's Mansion might not be enough to trade for one."

"And Shen Wu Army's standard weapons are all Overclocked Kinetic Spears; paired with Shen Wu's unique Xuan Ma, when the Iron Cavalry charges,

even a casual thrust can blow apart most of an enemy's body.

Not to mention the Xuan Ma's speed and bodily hardness; even steel plates dozens of centimeters thick made of Star Material can't withstand a single Xuan Ma collision."

Han Guang gestured with both hands, mimicking the Iron Cavalry's charge and the long spear's piercing; the more he spoke, the more excited he grew, a fanatical light flashing in his eyes.

He had been obsessed with forging all his life, and a place like Shen Wu was undoubtedly the perfect stage for him to display his talent.

Thinking that his forging art could be exerted to the utmost here, he couldn't suppress the restlessness in his heart.

"Hehe~ Brother Han Guang seems to understand Shen Wu's forging and armaments very thoroughly."

A steady, gentle voice suddenly rang out, cutting off Han Guang's torrent of words.

Xuan Ge wore a faint smile, clad in dark General's regular uniform, his bearing upright; he walked slowly into the guest reception room, his aura restrained yet impossible to ignore.

"General Shen Wei!" Han Guang and Ye Li both rose simultaneously, respectfully cupping fists in salute, yet their eyes subconsciously stole covert glances at the person before them.

Although Xuan Ge wore a smile and spoke gently, everyone knew this General Shen Wei was a ruthless figure who dared lead troops directly into other Xian Zhou, bypass the Ten Kings Offices, and exterminate entire clans.

Such a legendary figure standing truly before them — anyone would subconsciously feel awe and secret trepidation.

Xuan Ge paid no mind to the restraint and scrutiny in their eyes; he walked straight to the main seat and sat down, raising a hand to gesture to the two:

"No need for excessive courtesy; sit and speak."

Once the two were seated, Xuan Ge took out a Tablet from the side; fingertips swiped lightly, quickly reviewing Han Guang's data.

His gaze lingered on the screen for a moment, then he looked up at Han Guang, tone casual, carrying a hint of familiarity:

"How's Yan Lao been lately? Haven't seen him in a long time; actually miss the weapons he forges a bit."

Xuan Ge's aura was too powerful; Han Guang subconsciously straightened his spine, cupped fists in salute again, froze for a beat before realizing, then hurriedly replied respectfully:

"Thank you for your concern, General; Teacher is doing well, same as always — when idle he forges weapons.

Occasionally he also checks the learning progress of his junior brothers and sisters, urging them to refine their skills."

Xuan Ge set the Tablet down lightly, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

Fusing Sui Yang into weapons to assist the wielder in exerting stronger combat power — this is a talent with ideas, who dares innovate, and dares put it into action; precisely what Shen Wu's Engineering Division needs.

But there is no perfect solution in the world; though Han Guang's method lets the wielder control the weapon better, it hides an enormous drawback.

Xuan Ge knew clearly in his heart: Sui Yang feeds on the emotions of living beings, while those who use such weapons are mostly killers who gallop across battlefields.

Sui Yang can only absorb negative emotions of slaughter and killing; it cannot obtain positive emotions.

Over time, this will inevitably lead to one outcome:

The user's mind will gradually be eroded by Sui Yang, ultimately unable to suppress Sui Yang's baleful qi, falling into madness, becoming a monster that knows only slaughter.

Xuan Ge looked up, his gaze turning a few degrees graver; he didn't need cumbersome tests — a single question would decide whether Han Guang was fit to stay in Shen Wu, fit to shoulder the Engineering Division's heavy responsibility:

"Han Guang, I ask you: in your view, is the sword in the hand, or in the heart?"

Hearing this, Han Guang immediately lowered his eyes in contemplation, fingertips unconsciously rubbing his sleeve cuff.

He knew clearly in his heart that this was General Shen Wei's test of him.

Presumably the General had already read his data just now, learned of his method of fusing Sui Yang into weapons, and this question was precisely an interrogation of his forging philosophy, of the weapon's essence.

All of these were things Teacher Huai Yan had specially instructed him to ponder well before coming to Shen Wu.

A moment later, Han Guang raised his head, gaze fixed firmly on Xuan Ge, tone steady, every word clear:

"General, the iron in my hand can forge swords that 'think', can forge weapons possessing both power and spirituality;

but if the 'weapon' in the heart loses its measure, loses its bottom line, no matter how clever, no matter how sharp the sword, it will degenerate into a vicious instrument that harms others."

He took a deep breath, his gaze growing even firmer, and slowly spoke his answer, which was also the forging philosophy he had upheld all his life:

"Heart Sword, Hand Holds Sword. Heart Has Measure, Hand Has Sword — only then can one not disgrace the name of forging, not fail the weapon's duty."

Xuan Ge nodded slightly, a trace of surprise and approval flashing in his eyes.

He hadn't expected that these genius craftsmen not only possessed outstanding skill, but actually had such insight, such "literary temperament."

Back then Ying Xing once spoke the bold words "Rather like a firefly flying into fire, than be a useless tree living long"; now Han Guang gave such a lucid answer, which gave him quite a pleasant surprise.

Xuan Ge stood up, taking out a black-gold waist token from his bosom; the token was neither fully square nor fully round, engraved with the patterns of the Shen Wu Xian Zhou Gong Zao Si, emitting a faint metallic luster.

This is the exclusive waist token of the Gong Zao Si's Master Craftsman, symbolizing extremely high status and trust.

He walked to Han Guang's front, passed the waist token over, his tone gentle yet carrying affirmation:

"Hehe~ The two of you's residence, in a moment the Shen Wu Imperial Guards will take you there, guaranteed to satisfy. This General still has important matters, so I'll take my leave first."

Han Guang received the waist token with both hands, fingertips stroking the patterns on the token, gripping it tightly in hand, eyes full of delight and gratitude, once again saluting with clasped fists, voice clanging:

"Many thanks for the General's trust! Subordinate will certainly not disgrace the mission, will forge the most top-tier weapons for Shen Wu!"

Xuan Ge laughed, patted Han Guang's shoulder, turned and walked out of the Guest Reception Room.

In his heart he had already made a decision; by now the Gong Zao Si's four Master Craftsmen had also reached the time when they should retire.

After all.... his old subordinates were all reaching their time one after another....

The Third Abundance People's War is the final turning point.....

And Shen Wu needs fresh blood, needs craftsmen like Han Guang who have ideas and ability, to inject new strength into Shen Wu's armaments.

Walking out of the Dake Tang, Xuan Ge lightly sighed a breath, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Then turned, walking toward the Shen Wu Xian Zhou's harbor direction.

He knew, Xing Xiao was still there waiting for him.