Chapter 34: Honkai: Star Rail — The Xianzhou General Wouldn't Dream of a Yandere Chapter 34: Dahlia

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Shen Wu Xian Zhou, Xingcha Hai Zhong Shu.

Wind wrapped in fine stardust brushed past the open-air tea stall, lifting the hem of a pure white figure's skirt into a light tremble.

Star skiffs shuttling through the air dragged pale blue light trails, reflecting against the tea stall's Qing stone slabs, tables and chairs, weaving a tapestry unique to the Xian Zhou — bustling yet tranquil intertwined.

That pure white figure sat quietly in the corner of the tea stall, clad in an elegant long dress tailored to perfection, the hem falling neat as congealed fat, a black satin flower at the waist blending with the fabric, tracing a slender yet curved waistline.

She wore an exquisite gift hat adorned with black satin flowers, the brim pulled extremely low, concealing most of her brows and eyes, revealing only a beautifully contoured jawline, and a pair of red lips that seemed to forever hold a smile.

The lip color was full, like cinnabar dipped in honey, carrying three parts bewitching charm even when not smiling.

Most eye-catching were the two sides of her head: a pair of black horns, like two crescent moons, yet also like demon horns, emerged from her hair.

The horns curved inward toward her cheeks, adding a few points of inhuman, eerie allure to her.

"My my~ The Xian Zhou truly lives up to being a place of flourishing martial fortune."

A coquettish voice carried a few parts of lazy drawl; Da Li Hua slowly hooked up her right leg, the pure white skirt hem sliding down a little, toes lightly tapping the ground, exuding an air of carefree leisure.

Her purple eyes gazed into the distance through the gap in the hat brim, where patrol star skiffs constantly passed, pale blue light trails weaving a net across the sky, heavily guarded yet orderly.

"Indeed, this Shen Wu Xian Zhou has already entered a war-ready state."

A male voice carrying laughter rang out at her side, breaking the tea stall's tranquility.

The corners of Da Li Hua's mouth hooked up slightly, the tear mole beneath her left eye trembling lightly with the smile, as if coming alive, adding a few more points of allure to her exquisite features.

She did not turn her head, yet could clearly sense the newcomer's aura.....

Steady yet with a touch of unruliness, like a drawn sharp blade, edge restrained yet impossible to ignore.

Xuan Ge didn't wait for her to greet him, directly sitting opposite Da Li Hua.

He wore a black robe, hem falling casually, sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing wrists with defined lines.

His face bore a habitual playful shallow smile.

Golden eyes half-narrowed, his gaze sweeping over the woman opposite, carrying a few parts scrutiny, a few parts nonchalance.

Then, Xuan Ge naturally picked up the teapot before Da Li Hua, pouring himself a cup of warm tea.

Only then did Da Li Hua slowly turn her head, purple eyes staring straight at Xuan Ge, gently pushing the teapot in her hand over:

"The Xianzhou Alliance's Third Abundance War, I'm still quite looking forward to it~"

The pot body was elegant white porcelain, painted with a few strokes of pale ink bamboo shadows, inexplicably matching her pure white long dress.

She didn't like drinking tea, that taste of first bitter then sweet too tormenting, far inferior to direct gratification; this pot of tea was merely for serving her guest.

"Just wonder if this time the Xianzhou Alliance will again end up requiring the Hunt Aeon to intervene~"

Da Li Hua watched Xuan Ge's gentle smile with great interest, her tone carrying a few parts deliberate provocation.

She propped her elbow on the tabletop, palm lightly cradling her cheek, a flush quietly creeping onto her face, as if steamed by the tea's heat, making her already bewitching features even more enchanting.

"Hmm~ Miss.... uh... Ma'am, you don't put the Xian Zhou Heavenly General in your eyes at all."

Xuan Ge's motion of holding the teacup paused, his gaze subconsciously sweeping over Da Li Hua.

As his line of sight brushed past her chest, it unconsciously paused for half an instant.

The curves outlined by that pure white fabric were too astonishing, as if harboring some dangerous attraction.

He then casually moved his gaze away, the "Miss" that had reached his lips forcibly twisted a corner, turning into a slightly polite "Ma'am".

Fingertips lightly rubbed the cup rim, a trace of playfulness flashing through the depths of his eyes, then covered by a smile.

"How would I dare~"

Da Li Hua lightly shook her head, hair strands swaying slightly with the motion, brushing against the black horns, leaving fine shadows.

"That Divine Might General is infamous far and wide, recently even cornered Monarch Xing Xiao in the Sui Xing Dai~"

Her voice was soft, glutinous, and bewitching, as if carrying hooks, entwining around one's eardrums.

Xuan Ge's tea-drinking motion abruptly froze for an instant, looking at Da Li Hua with some surprise.

Why is this woman flushing again?

Why is your face red?

This reaction was beyond his expectations, stirring a strange feeling in his heart.

Xuan Ge put down the teacup, the corners of his mouth hooking up a meaningful smile.

He leaned his body forward slightly, as if to share some earth-shattering secret with Da Li Hua, lowering his voice:

"Indeed, since the Divine Might and Burning Wind great battle, few in this Huan Yu dare provoke the Divine Might General.

But just recently, a Memosprite actually dared to flirt with Divine Might; I'm quite curious what exactly she wants to do?"

"I think otherwise~"

The flush on Da Li Hua's face became even more obvious, her breathing even slightly hurried, yet her voice remained soft and glutinous as if about to drip water.

"That Memosprite rescued a Xianzhou Fox Person~ And even helped the Divine Might General uproot a nest of Bai Lang~ How can that be called flirting?"

Her fingertips lightly curled, her legs under the table slightly clamping tight, as if struggling to maintain surface composure.

Xuan Ge watched her reaction, slowly nodding, the smile on his face slightly retracting, golden eyes gaining a few more points of sharpness:

"True, I should indeed thank that Memosprite on behalf of that fox girl."

He paused, tone flat yet carrying undeniable weight: "After all, she wasted that girl thirty years of time, just to lure out the Divine Might General."

The flush on Da Li Hua's face faded a few degrees at visible speed, her originally watery purple eyes still bewitching, yet gaining a thread of imperceptible gravity.

Her red lips pressed slightly, as if concealing something, then relaxed again, the smile still hanging on her face, merely losing a few parts of the previous laziness, gaining a few parts of deliberately maintained composure:

"The General jests...."

"I still must thank that Memokeeper on Xing Xiao's behalf."

Xuan Ge ignored her explanation, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, knuckles rapping the wooden table with a soft 'du du' sound, the volume not high yet carrying penetrating force.

"It was she who let the Divine Might General slip up, letting Xing Xiao escape."

The flush on Dahlia's face faded another degree, the smile at the corners of her mouth also slightly retracting, the originally slightly upturned lip corners now turning flat.

Xuan Ge took in all her reactions, his body leaning forward once more, closing the distance between the two.

The aura on him enveloped over even more clearly, carrying a faint scent of green plum and Stardust, full of oppressive pressure:

"However, that Memokeeper nearly got the Divine Might General's soldiers killed."

This sentence was like the last straw, completely crushing Dahlia's surface composure.

The flush on her face completely receded, returning to her originally fair complexion, the smile at the corners of her mouth also fading by more than half, the charm in her eyes replaced by gravity.

She leaned back slightly, creating a bit of distance, avoiding Xuan Ge's overly sharp gaze.

Seeing her like this, the sharpness in Xuan Ge's eyes receded, replaced by a trace of comprehending mockery.

He did not continue playing either, straightening up and leaning back against the chair back, his tone returning to the previous casualness, yet carrying an undeniable determination:

"Speak then, Memokeeper, what purpose brings you to see me?"

"Can it not be that I admire you?"

Dahlia raised her head, meeting Xuan Ge's gaze, the softness in her voice disappearing by a few degrees, adding a few parts of feigned composure and resolve.

She had not the slightest fear, after all, as a Memokeeper, she had her own confidence.

But in her heart she also had no bottom, unable to gauge whether this Divine Might General before her might on a whim imprison her..... or even do something more excessive.

Thinking of this, her heartbeat inexplicably sped up a few degrees, her cheeks again beginning to flush with red.

"Admire me?" Xuan Ge raised an eyebrow, his golden eyes full of mockery, as if he had heard some colossal joke.

He sized Dahlia up and down, seeing that she had clearly retracted her flush yet still faintly carried a few parts of expectant appearance......

A strange thought suddenly popped into Xuan Ge's mind——this woman, could it be she has a bit of that tendency?

He scoffed a laugh, his tone carrying exaggerated grievance:

"Envy me sitting in the General's Mansion, sitting for days on end, staring blankly at Official Documents piled like a mountain?

Or envy me being manipulated by the Chief Strategist day after day, urged to work overtime day after day?"