Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail

Chapter 571: Ghostbusters (XXIV)

"...That is about the gist of it."

Yanqing’s expression was still as he comprehended Jing Yuan’s words. A moment passed, and he asked:

"Is that even plausible? To use the strength of three Paths to wipe out Yaoshi..."

The General solemnly shook his head, electric gaze absent as if his mind was lost elsewhere.

"A case of mutual Destruction, is what it is. ’A price is always enacted for what Fate bestows...’ I can’t quite recall who it was that spoke those words."

Yanqing tilted his head, clearly pondering on something.

"And the veracity of their claim?"

"It isn’t impossible for them to be either deceived or mad, but those two certainly believe in it. The Xianzhou’s best Diviners met up just to confirm their words, ha!"

Jing Yuan boisterously chuckled, before settling down with a darker expression.

"It is too bad that Jingliu managed to escape the Shackling Prison. We won’t be able to get anything more out of her."

Yanqing blinked. As the words registered in his mind, he paled.

"Wha— How?!"

As they walked through the exposed corridors of the estate, night breeze flowing through their long hair, Jing Yuan turned to look up at the artificial moon.

"When it comes to that woman, I find it simpler to not ask questions."

"But—

"Do. Not. Ask. Questions."

"...Yes, Sir."

Yanqing had an exasperated expression as he stopped a meter or so behind Jing Yuan. He lingered for a long moment.

"General, I have an unrelated question."

The man nodded.

"Speak."

If Jing Yuan was looking at the blonde, he would have noticed that something alien seemed to glimmer in his eyes. Inhumanly prideful, burning with something deep and ancient.

Unfortunately, the General of the Luofu never noticed.

Yanqing’s mouth opened, mouth curling into an eerie smile.

"The Marshal. It has been an extensive amount of time since I last saw her, when my execution was called off."

Raising a brow, Jing Yuan turned around, studying his student for a moment. Nothing seemed off, but this was an unusual direction for the direction to take.

Yanqing was antisocial, and despite having learned to properly interact with others under Jing Yuan’s tutelage — both citizens and those amongst the Cloud Knights’ ranks — he was not the kind to continue an avoidable conversation unless he wanted something.

So, what was it he wanted that he was seemingly too shy to directly ask for? And what could it possibly have to do with Marshal Hua?

A rare paternal smile spread across Jing Yuan’s face.

"That is true, yes. What about her?"

A delay.

A sharp one.

Something completely unnoticeable to most, but to Jing Yuan, who can perceive ’instants,’ Yanqing’s hesitation was clear. Also unusual. The boy was not one to hesitate under most occasions — outside of a conflict, that is. Not one to falter.

Sometimes, Jing Yuan found the inner workings of Yanqing’s mind frightening, as if he was a machine that simply did as he was told. No space for fear, no space for hate, no space for waste. A blade who played at the idea of being human.

That was why Marshal Hua spared him, despite his status as an Emanator of Abundance. He was controllable, and showed no potential to blossom beyond that control.

That, and the fact that The Hunt’s arrow was with him, as well. Jing Yuan would be lying if he were to say that he ever met anyone, past or present, with potential that rivaled that of Yanqing... with the sole exception of the Starkiller, of course. It was a shame that Fu Xuan seemed insistent on only divulging the bare minimum of what she knew, no matter how long he pestered her.

As the instant of hesitation passed, Yanqing explained:

"I can’t quite forget her presence. When I first laid my eyes upon a human Sovereign... I believe I passed out at the time, but it is hard to recall."

Jing Yuan let out the hints of an amused laugh.

"That you did. Why, I believe I still have the pictures!"

Outside of Jing Yuan’s expectations, Yanqing did not react to the teasing — a response he nurtured and developed until embarrassment eventually became a genuine reaction. Instead, the boy continued.

"You are strong, General. Much too powerful for those such as myself to challenge. But if one were to defeat you, the next step would be the Marshal, wouldn’t it?"

It was at this point when Jing Yuan sensed something has gone wrong. He crossed his arms behind his back, instincts formed over the years from multiple Nightmares telling him that Yanqing was not who he was.

Why?

Because the boy had no ambition. No desire for strength.

The only thing that held any weight in Yanqing’s mind was his swordplay and his duty. His oath to the Xianzhou Alliance.

So, Jing Yuan simply sighed.

"Sure. Except, there are five other Generals from the other ships you’d need to get through. General Feixiao is far stronger than I am, and that is not a sign of humility."

His narrowed eyes landed on Yanqing’s face.

"But, Heliobus, don’t you think that it is far too arrogant to believe yourself to be a match for me, much less the Marshal? A Sovereign with a cultivated Domain that spans across dozens of Saints, tens of thousands of Masters, and countless Awakened and mundane? Why, if you were to so much as enter her sight, she may simply wipe you off of the slate of existence."

Yanqing’s mouth split wide, as if in utter glee that he had been noticed.

"So, you aren’t a complete pushover after all, General. Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t heavily disappointed. I can tell from a glance... General Teng Xiao was a far greater foe."

Jing Yuan’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Ah, a fragment of Ignamar that retained their memories. How odd. I wonder if I should be more respectful."

He seemed to speak to himself for a moment, before smiling.

"Well, no matter. Why don’t you leave my dear student’s body so that we can get you sealed, hm?"

An uncharacteristic cackle escaped Yanqing’s lips.

"No thanks. I quite like this boy’s mind. Sharp, yet tame emotions... not that I care. Rather, your body seems far superior, General."

A wicked glint shimmered in Yanqing’s eyes.

"But I think it’d look much better on me."

A flicker of flame, a fragment of the Heliobus’ body, shot out of Yanqing, shooting towards Jing Yuan. Unfazed, he gave the Heliobus a chance to learn that any action they took was futile. He was already equipped with an anti-Heliobi Memory that would prevent him from being possessed, something that even Phantylia wouldn’t have been able to bypass.

...Which, at this very moment, was bypassed.

Jing Yuan’s nerves burned.

"Oh, pardon me. The name is Cirrus, dear General, and I accept your invitation."