Jiuyuan Ruins
Ji Lin slowly opened her eyes.
The oppressive weight was gone, and she suddenly felt incredibly light.
No—to be precise, she didn't even have a body anymore. Instead, she was attached to a golden sword.
The Xuanyuan Sword.
Memories of her final battle with Chi You flooded her mind.
The sea had been torn apart, the sky stained with ominous violet light, as if doomsday had descended upon the Divine Land.
Fuxi and Nuwa had sacrificed themselves to resist the calamity.
Ji Lin, too, had been sealed beneath Jiuyuan, forced into an endless battle in the dark abyss of slaughter.
Eventually, she too had been corrupted, becoming the blackened, slaughter-driven Hei Ji Lin.
Yet even then, Ji Lin had clung to a sliver of clarity, ultimately splitting her consciousness into a "pure self" and an "eroded self."
The pure self was the Ji Lin of now—though so weakened that she stood no chance against Hei Ji Lin. Thus, she had no choice but to abandon her body and attach herself to the Xuanyuan Sword, waiting for a destined successor... only to end up encountering Ye Feng.
Originally, Ji Lin had vaguely sensed three brave warriors and intended to bestow the Xuanyuan Sword upon them.
But before she could manifest, she had been drawn into Ye Feng's world.
Collecting her thoughts, the Xuanyuan Sword hovered midair, its tip tracing a slow circle.
The dim, expansive tunnel was jagged with strange rocks, dotted with pink-purple crystals, the air thick with Honkai energy.
"...It seems I have returned."
"Just as Ye Feng said... my consciousness travels between worlds."
Ji Lin recalled her experiences in that other world.
It truly had felt like a dream.
She had learned of "Chiyou's" current state—a joyous revelation.
And she had discovered a way to revive Fuxi and Nuwa—another cause for celebration.
These two joys overlapped, creating even greater happiness, as if she had been granted a blissful, dreamlike moment.
Yet... the situation was far from optimistic.
Ji Lin rubbed her shoulders. Though the weight on her chest was gone, she still felt a phantom ache.
"That man... is dangerous."
She murmured softly.
Moreover, she had agreed to three requests.
Though she could refuse if they crossed a line... she still felt a faint unease.
"What's done is done... For now, I must find Fuxi and Nuwa."
If what Ye Feng said was true, their formation must not be disturbed.
◇
Meanwhile, Ye Feng's world welcomed an unexpected visitor.
A woman as cold and clear as moonlight, standing alone upon the reflected water's surface.
Clad in blue battle armor and a short skirt, her aura was sharp and aloof.
Her flowing, pale blue-gray hair was loosely tied with a ribbon, her figure tall and graceful, exuding the noble sanctity of a goddess—untouchable.
Her face was as flawless as the moon, yet obscured by a black blindfold adorned with a silver crescent pattern, adding an irresistible allure to her otherwise ascetic presence.
"Jingliu."
From Honkai: Star Rail's Xianzhou "Cangcheng." One of the legendary "Cloud Quintet," revered as the peerless swordmaster, "Unbroken Moonlight."
"Now this is something new."
Ye Feng's fingers traced Jingliu's jade-like cheek.
He fell into brief contemplation.
Then—"a sudden realization."
This was his world. Naturally, he could perceive all its "logic."
For every three new zones unlocked, an additional "otherworldly" character would appear.
Up until now, aside from the original zone "St. Freya Academy," Ye Feng's world had unlocked three areas:
Chiba Academy
Elysian Realm
Jiuyuan
Thus, Jingliu had manifested here.
Her in-game art had already been breathtaking, but now, with her standing before him in the flesh, Ye Feng truly understood what it meant to behold a sword fairy.
He reached for the crescent-moon blindfold covering her eyes.
The black cloth fluttered down like falling petals.
Her eyes were an ethereal cyan, clear as the heavens.
Her aura was icy, her bearing transcendent.
Her jade-like face, perfectly proportioned shoulders, towering snow peaks of a chest, slender waist—every inch of her was flawless, devoid of imperfection. Her saintly purity made her seem untouchable, as if even approaching her would invite shame.
Especially those slender, porcelain legs, encased in classical combat boots—smooth, taut, and radiating strength. Likely honed from years of swordsmanship, they exuded a fluid power. Just imagining them draped over his shoulders was enough to make one dizzy with desire.
Then—the moonlit beauty's long lashes quivered slightly.
She was about to "awaken"!
Ye Feng's heart stirred. With a thought, he applied several "status effects" to Jingliu.
Her eyes slowly opened.
Though Ye Feng stood right before her, she could not see him.
Jingliu assumed this was another hallucination brought on by her Mara-struck state.
"Again... have I come here?"
Jingliu suffered from "Mara"—the affliction of the Xianzhou's long-life species.
Mara did not merely warp the body—it corroded the mind.
Jingliu had long since crossed her limit, teetering on the edge of succumbing to Mara.
Yet her psyche was under constant assault, never granted a moment's peace.
Sometimes, like today, she would fall into these "illusions," tormented by hatred and fury.
The inhuman negativity in her heart would take form—black hands gripping her heart, squeezing tighter and tighter, until her reason evaporated... leaving only a monster of vengeance.
But today felt... different?
The "dark hands" emerging from her heart were... strangely gentle?
They traced the edges of her body, their fingertips brushing lightly, sending tingling waves of sensation through her.
"...What is this?"
An unfamiliar heat spread through her.
Before she could process it, Jingliu—trapped in darkness—felt her wrists seized and pinned against a wall.
Her toes instinctively lifted, leaving her barely standing.
In the darkness, her jade-like arms were exposed—pale as lotus roots, warm as polished white jade, their curves soft and mesmerizing.
A flawless work of art, her arms were unblemished, glowing faintly, the very definition of "ice-skin jade-bones"—enough to bewitch any soul.
Jingliu steadied her breath, trying to "sever" this wicked illusion, only to find her body utterly devoid of strength.
"...Perfect."
Ye Feng's voice was tender.
But to Jingliu, it was the clash of blades.
Her emotions surged—this was something she had never dared imagine.
"Since when do Mara hallucinations... have consciousness?"
Unheard of!
Never in her past episodes had she encountered such a demonic tribulation!
Meanwhile, Ye Feng held the peerless sword fairy with one arm while his other hand moved leisurely, as if preparing to unveil a treasure.
His fingers glided along her jade-smooth arms, savoring their softness and luster.
Truly worthy of the Xianzhou's swordmaster—these arms, honed by centuries of swordsmanship, were perfection incarnate.
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