Chapter 2: Honkai: Star Rail — The Xianzhou General Would Not Dream of a Yandere Chapter 2: The Divine Might General's Strictest Mo

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

At the edge of the Shattered Star Belt, space resembles shattered glass, with countless stellar wreckage floating about.

The light here is distorted; time flows slowly and viscous.

The Antimatter Legion's fleet hovers silently among the ruins, like packs of beasts lurking in the shadows.

On the largest hull at the center, Xing Xiao stands there.

Her white long hair spreads silently in the vacuum, the tips shimmering with a faint starlight.

A delicate ring of star-rings encircles her eyes, its glow soft yet completely veiling her pupils, allowing not a shred of emotion to be glimpsed.

She wears a pure white bodysuit, the fabric outlining tall, sharp lines.

Only at the cuffs and shoulders do white pleats resembling a formal dress extend, adding a few touches of eerie elegance to this killing austerity.

She faces a certain point in deep space.

There, several jumps away, the Shen Wu Xian Zhou's sky-ship looms like a silent mountain peak, suspended amid the star sea.

The corner of Xing Xiao's mouth hooks into an extremely faint, interested curve.

Her running into Xuan Ge was no coincidence.

It was because she calculated that he would not dare to strike at her.

Xianzhou Alliance, the Seven Heavenly Generals of the Imperial Bow.

Aside from that unfathomable Marshal, the power of the remaining six Heavenly Generals all comes from inheritance — when the previous holder passes or steps down, the next generation inherits their "Divine Lord's Numinous Spirit," becoming an envoy of the Hunt.

Only the Marshal, and that Divine Might General Xuan Ge, are exceptions.

They are envoys personally promoted by the Hunt Aeon Lan.

The Marshal's strength is like an abyss and sea; no one can fathom its depth.

And Xuan Ge... what he bears is the most special, and also most troublesome, kind of power on the Hunt's Path — Karma.

Each of his attacks is entwined with threads of "Cause" and "Effect."

Xing Xiao cannot beat him.

But Xuan Ge, likewise, does not dare to truly harm her.

Because her "Cause" is not pure.

She is an "Infinite Consort" of the Harmony World.

Later, she was personally refined by the Destruction Aeon Nanuk, becoming an Extinction Monarch.

Her essence of existence was forcibly twisted, corrupted, and branded with the mark of "Destruction."

If Xuan Ge's power of Karma were to wound her, the entangled "Cause" would trace back to her "Harmony" essence, ultimately... harming the Harmony Aeon Xi Pei.

Xi Pei might not care.

But Nanuk would certainly care.

When the time comes, if the Destruction Aeon's gaze is drawn directly, even descending to interfere, because of a Hunt envoy... that consequence, Xuan Ge cannot bear.

No matter how strong he is, he cannot face an Aeon's will with a mortal body.

The worst possibility is that he is eroded and transformed by the power of Destruction, becoming yet another "Divine Might" General under Nanuk's command.

That would be the Hunt's greatest loss and disgrace.

Therefore, she can appear before him with utter impunity.

And Xuan Ge can only drive her back, trap her, yet cannot deal her a truly fatal blow.

Conversely, she cannot injure Xuan Ge in the slightest either.

His defense, too, is based on Karma.

Her attacks can reach the layer of "Cause," yet can never touch that final "Effect."

Like seeing the arrow leave the bowstring, yet never being able to make it hit the bullseye.

To wound Xuan Ge in such a state requires another envoy of the same tier to act simultaneously — one to fix the "Cause," one to sever the "Effect."

Xing Xiao raises her hand.

Virtual Number energy circulates and compresses in her palm, condensing into a pure white, unmarked Special Letter Paper.

"Deliver this letter to him."

She speaks, her voice clear and cold, transmitting through energy vibration in the vacuum.

She could of course use interstellar communication to directly contact the Shen Wu Xian Zhou.

But Xuan Ge absolutely would not answer.

And the content of this letter... is also unsuited to leave any traceable tracks.

It is an invitation, an appointment to meet, the location in the most chaotic, most core region of the Shattered Star Belt.

Distorted light and shadow flicker at her side; a figure, ethereal and as if composed of pure Destruction Energy, a "Phantom Soldier," manifests.

It silently receives the Special Letter Paper, its form blurring and dispersing once more, as if merging into space itself.

The letter has been sent.

Shen Wu Xian Zhou, Xingcha Hai Hub.

This place cannot compare to the Luo Fu Xingcha Hai's myriad merchants and dazzling lights, yet it has its own bustle.

Pavilions stand in rows, corridors and bridges crisscross; star rafts large and small shuttle back and forth on fixed lanes like swimming fish.

Crowds throng, hawking calls, laughter, children's playful clamor blending into a background hum full of the breath of life.

The most bustling place was still the teahouse by the water.

A storyteller stood on the stage, spittle flying, the clapper cracking *pa-pa* loudly, just reaching the passage "Imperial Bow Siming's First Shot at the Jianmu," drawing cheers from the full hall.

In the elegant window seat on the second floor, Xuan Ge and Ling Sha sat facing each other.

That half-meter-high mountain of documents on the desk was finally finished with Ling Sha's "patient" assistance.

As a reward — or rather, as the General's "atonement" — Xuan Ge was brought here by Ling Sha.

Ostensibly to: observe the people's conditions, feel the Xian Zhou's atmosphere of daily life.

Xuan Ge adapted quite well.

He still wore the General's uniform symbolizing authority, a black robe, sleeves tightly bound, cloud patterns embroidered on the body, high ponytail, hair tips at his forehead stirring slightly in the wind.

This entire Shen Wu Xian Zhou was brought out by his own troops over hundreds of years; those old things were indeed right, he indeed holds troops for his own power.

But what makes them regretful is, he is on the Marshal's side.

Xuan Ge sat with legs crossed, posture relaxed, one hand holding a freshly bought bag of sugar-cured meat wrapped in oiled paper, the other cupping a milk tea with double pearls, listening with great relish.

The sky light outside the window fell on his side face, outlining clear lines; those golden eyes appeared exceptionally focused while listening to the story.

Occasionally hearing an exciting part, he would curl his lips along with the audience below, that roguishly handsome vibe revealing itself unguarded.

Sitting opposite, Ling Sha held a cup of clear tea, watching her own General's completely relaxed, even somewhat "childish" appearance, and lightly sighed.

"Ah~"

Xuan Ge turned his head at the sound, cheeks still slightly bulging.

He blinked, pushing the bag of meat in his hand toward Ling Sha's side.

"What are you sighing for?" he said indistinctly, swallowing the food.

"This life, isn't it better than you in Zhu Ming sitting in clinic every day, getting headaches from those difficult weird cases and picky patients?"

Ling Sha glanced at that greasy paper bag, but in the end still picked up a small piece, elegantly putting it in her mouth.

The taste was unexpectedly not bad, salty-sweet and pleasant, carrying the aroma of fruitwood smoking and roasting.

"That's true." Ling Sha admitted, this life was indeed comfortable; even on campaign, the Divine Might General could sweep away everything.

"The pressure on Zhu Ming Xian Zhou's physicians is great. But here......"

Her gaze swept over the neatly walking crowd downstairs; though lively, it faintly exuded a sense of order unique to a military community.

"The atmosphere is a bit too regulated. All are soldiers' families; words and deeds, all seem grown according to military regulations."

Xuan Ge took a big sip of milk tea, narrowing his eyes in satisfaction: "Is regulated bad? Peaceful."

Ling Sha didn't respond to that.

She looked out the window, gaze following a cargo star-skiff slowly rising into the air, heading out of the harbor.

That star-skiff was plain in design, exuding a utilitarian air.

"General~" she suddenly spoke, voice calm.

"I feel the 'vitality' on the Xian Zhou is still too thin. In the long run, it's not a good thing."

"Hm?" Xuan Ge put down the milk tea, looked at her.

"Like a prescription." Ling Sha made an analogy.

"Ingredients all present, sovereign-minister-assistant-courier also correct, but the decocting heat is too excessive, water boiled dry, the medicinal liquid congeals and hardens, loses fluidity, efficacy also freezes up."

She turned her head back, brown eyes looking at Xuan Ge:

"Shen Wu Xian Zhou right now, is like that pot of medicine boiled too long.

The qi of weapons and killing is the chief ingredient, but cannot lack other assistant ingredients to harmonize and activate.

Life qi, atmosphere of daily life, even a bit of 'disorderly' vitality, are all necessary 'medicine guides'."

She paused, continued:

"All the breath of conquest, will unknowingly crush every person, from soldiers to families, to...... the decision-makers themselves. The bowstring drawn too tight, will snap."

Xuan Ge listened silently, fingers unconsciously rubbing the warm milk tea cup wall.

He knew Ling Sha was right. Shen Wu Xian Zhou was his "private army," his backing, and also his responsibility.

Every person here had intricate connections with him, some as old subordinates, some as orphans, some following out of faith.

He brought them onto this ship, bestowed mission and glory, also brought invisible heavy pressure.

This ship, is too much like a pure weapon.

Sharp, sturdy, point where to hit where.

But a weapon has no "life."

"You're right." Xuan Ge finally spoke, voice lower than usual. "This matter I will consider."

He looked out at the prosperous yet stiff streetscape, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his golden eyes.

"But, Ling Sha, reform is not a one-day achievement. Shen Wu Xian Zhou has a mission it must bear, at least in the short term, before the immediate threat is removed......"

He withdrew his gaze, looked at her, tone returning to its usual determination, yet with more frankness: "This ship, cannot change."

Ling Sha quietly watched him, no rebuttal, no further persuasion.

She merely lightly nodded.

She understood. What the General carried on his shoulders was far more than just this one Xian Zhou's peace.

Xing Xiao's threat was close at hand, the "Calamity Ancestor of Cinders" shadow might lurk deep in the Alliance, the Marshal's secret orders weighed heavily on his heart......

All this made "change" a luxury.

But she had already buried the seed.

In the future, when the smoke of war temporarily ceases, when this scarred Xian Zhou needs to seek a new heading, today's words might become a starting point.

She knew, the General had listened in.

That was enough.

Between the two of them fell a quiet silence, only the storyteller downstairs speaking with impassioned fervor and the faint clamor of the Fu Wu Dian drifting up.

Sunlight streamed through the carved lattice window, casting bright patches on the tabletop, while dust motes danced slowly in the beams of light.

At this moment, there were no general and chief strategist, only two 'young people' who had stolen half a day of leisure, sharing a packet of snacks amid the bustling market streets, pondering the heavy yet unavoidable matter of the 'future'.