Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

The battle itself was brief, hardly worth elaborating on.

Whether it was the typical Aberrations of Abundance or the unfortunate Cloud Knights who had succumbed to the Abyss of Aberration, their strength was capped at that of ordinary soldiers.

While their resilience had drastically increased, making them fearless in combat, they posed no real challenge to the Trailblazers.

The team's prior experience battling the colossal demon on Snail-III had already equipped them with effective strategies for handling "thick-skinned" enemies. Dispatching these foes now was second nature—so much so that their resistance barely caused a ripple.

As for the Cloud Knights, though many bore injuries, their battle-readiness steadily improved over time. While they couldn't take on a leading role, they were more than capable of covering defensive gaps and delivering finishing blows.

From the moment the fight began, victory was inevitable.

When the last Aberration fell and stayed down, unable to revive, the fox-eared girl who had called for help finally stepped out. With poised grace, she bowed deeply in gratitude to the group.

It was only then that they noticed her distinctive appearance.

Large fox ears adorned her head, and her smooth brown hair, tied into a spirited ponytail, flowed lightly behind her. Her emerald eyes glistened like polished jade, holding a depth akin to autumn water. Accentuated by crimson eyeliner, they carried a subtle allure. Her voice was sweet, carrying a gentle charm.

"Thank you, noble benefactors, for your lifesaving help. I have nothing to offer in return except—"

"Don't tell me you're about to offer yourself in marriage to all of us," March 7 interjected, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The fox-eared girl chuckled softly.

"You jest, benefactor. Though I admire you all greatly, I still value propriety and decorum. To demand such a promise upon first meeting would only invite ridicule."

"Eugh, your way of speaking is really… something else," March 7 muttered, scratching her cheek. "Ah, right—we don't even know your name. Mind introducing yourself?"

The fox-eared girl gave a warm smile, her jade-green eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I am Tingyun, a ferryperson for the Luofu Sky-Faring Commission's Merchant Guild. Might I ask for the names of my esteemed benefactors?"

Tingyun's gaze lingered on each of them as she spoke, her tone both respectful and inquisitive.

"No need to be so formal!" March 7 replied brightly. "I'm March 7, that's Mr. Yang—well, actually, Mr. Welt Yang. This here is Stelle, and lastly—"

"I'm Venti, a humble bard," Venti said with his usual lighthearted cheer. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Tingyun~"

Tingyun's serene smile flickered ever so slightly, though she quickly masked it with practiced grace.

"Thank you for the introductions, and especially for your timely aid, Venti—should I call you Miss or Mister?"

"Either works! I don't mind what Miss Tingyun chooses."

This is definitely something other people would mind, March 7 thought, suppressing a groan.

Tingyun's expression didn't betray her thoughts, but her bushy tail swayed slightly, betraying a flicker of curiosity.

"Then I'll take the liberty of addressing you as Miss Venti. By the way, there's something I don't quite understand—since the Astral Sea has been completely sealed off, and your attire doesn't resemble that of Xianzhou citizens, may I ask what brings you here?"

Though Tingyun maintained her gentle demeanor, she discreetly signaled the Cloud Knights nearby.

"If there's no reasonable explanation, these fine Cloud Knights may have no choice but to detain you for questioning."

Even though they owed the Trailblazers their lives, the Cloud Knights hesitated only briefly before closing ranks around them, though no weapons were drawn.

The lead Cloud Knight spoke with a heavy heart, clearly torn.

"My deepest apologies. While we don't believe you're connected to this chaos, we must ask you to clarify your purpose here."

The sudden tension made March 7 instinctively grip her bow, memories of past encounters with local authorities flashing through her mind. She stiffened, ready to fight her way out if necessary.

But Welt placed a calming hand on her shoulder, signaling her to stand down.

With his composed demeanor and air of authority, Welt's words naturally carried an undeniable weight of credibility.

"There's no need for alarm. We didn't enter illegally. We were granted proper docking clearance at the Jade Gate but found no guide upon arrival, so we've been searching for answers ourselves."

"That's impossible," Tingyun said, her tone showing surprise rather than doubt. "My ship was the last to dock before the Jade Gate closed, and the Sky-Faring Commission has sealed the Astral Sea entirely."

"Tingyun," Welt replied evenly, pushing up his glasses, "I have no reason to lie about something so easily verifiable. A simple check of the Jade Gate's activation records will confirm my words."

He paused before adding, "It's also worth mentioning that the person who granted us clearance has gone silent. I suspect foul play."

"…"

Tingyun fell silent, seemingly lost in thought, before her sharp eyes caught Venti's subtle, amused smile.

Her fox tail bristled ever so slightly, and a faint shiver ran up her spine. She flicked her ears, smoothing her expression as she resumed her gentle tone.

"So, you truly are Trailblazers from the Astral Express?"

"Miss Tingyun, have you encountered anyone else claiming to be us?" Venti asked, his tone playful yet sharp.

"Well… not exactly. I've merely heard about the attack on the Herta Space Station and how the Trailblazers saved it," Tingyun replied, her gaze lingering on the group with cautious curiosity.

"If circumstances were different, I'd happily invite you to the Merchant Guild to hear tales of true heroes. But as things stand, your timing couldn't be worse. With the Xianzhou in turmoil, we can't properly host guests."

She sighed lightly, her voice carrying a tone of regret.

"Whether you're here to sightsee, seek treatment, or conduct business, I'm afraid none of that will be possible right now."

The Cloud Knights nodded in agreement, but before anyone else could respond, Venti stepped forward to stand beside Welt, feigning concern.

"Oh, really? That's unfortunate," he said with a troubled expression. "We actually came here for my incurable illness."

"Incurable illness?" Tingyun echoed, tilting her head slightly. "I'm no expert in medicine, but I know a bit of face reading. And from what I see, Miss Venti, your complexion is vibrant, and your energy is strong. You don't look like someone at death's door."

"It's a sickness of the heart," Venti replied with a dramatic sigh. "I don't think I'll live to see next year… And to think all my songs will be left unsung, collecting dust in obscurity."

He delivered the lie with such theatrical sincerity that March 7 had to stifle her laughter. Stelle nudged her, prompting her to hastily adopt a "sorrowful" expression.

"Is it really that serious? You even managed to heal those Cloud Knights earlier…" Tingyun asked, her surprise evident as she tried to process his outlandish claim.

"They say doctors can't heal themselves, right? I'm no different," Venti replied, waving his hand dismissively as he donned an air of melancholy.

His youthful appearance and the deep well of memories in Barbatos's mind provided the perfect stage for his performance. It was difficult to discern truth from falsehood.

The Cloud Knights, bound by simple and earnest values, were visibly conflicted. As straightforward soldiers, they weren't accustomed to navigating complex moral dilemmas.

Here were legitimate visitors—ones who had helped them in their time of need—and now they were being asked to detain a benefactor seeking treatment. The thought left a sour taste in their mouths.

Though their helmets obscured their faces, the hesitation in their body language was evident, undermining Tingyun's earlier justification.

She relented with a soft sigh.

"Well… perhaps we can reach a compromise. For the sake of your safety, let's head to the Astral Sea's central hub to take shelter. There, we can request an audience with Lady Yukong, who oversees the Sky-Faring Commission. She can determine the truth of your claims.

"Regardless of the outcome, I'll personally arrange for Lady Bailu to examine you. How does that sound?"

Welt considered her suggestion, then nodded.

Before departing, he had anticipated complications like this. The Stellaron Hunters may have sought to prove their innocence, but for the Trailblazers, addressing the Stellaron-induced crisis was one matter. Mitigating the consequences of the temporal disturbances caused by previous events was another.

The two objectives didn't conflict, but conflating them would raise suspicions. Approaching the Xianzhou under the guise of seeking treatment seemed far more plausible.

Besides, the situation on the Xianzhou appeared even graver than anticipated.

The defeated Aberrations—once Cloud Knights—bore no external wounds, nor did they bleed. Their corpses remained eerily intact, as if they had simply… burned out.

While piecing together these observations, Welt listened to March 7 spar with Tingyun.

"You know, you talk all sweet and polite, but your actions scream betrayal! We saved you, and now you want the soldiers to arrest us?" March 7 accused, pouting.

"You misunderstand, benefactor," Tingyun replied with a calm smile. "The situation is dire, and I must act with caution. If you were in my place, wouldn't you do the same?"

"Well, yeah, but it's still annoying!" March 7 huffed, stomping her foot. "It feels like every time we visit a new place, we're always misunderstood. It's frustrating!"

"There, there," Tingyun soothed. "Let's put that aside for now. I could use your help with something up ahead."

Blocking their path was a massive stack of cargo containers, clearly left behind by the retreating Cloud Knights to serve as barricades.

"Figures. Even jobs like this feel like déjà vu," March 7 grumbled, rubbing her temples before turning to Venti. "All right, Venti—do your thing."

"Oh, you mean a wind current? No problem~" Venti said, raising a hand to summon a breeze that gently lifted the group over the blockade.

As he worked, he glanced at March 7 with a teasing smirk.

"Say, March, are you sure you haven't grown a little too reliant on me?"

"No, I think this is purely about your utility as a tool," Stelle interjected with deadpan honesty.

Venti froze, crestfallen. Strumming a few mournful chords on his lyre, he radiated melodramatic despair. Even Tingyun's tail drooped sympathetically.

Fortunately, the distance wasn't far. Any longer, and March 7 might have lost her patience entirely. After all, no self-respecting Trailblazer would enjoy being bossed around like an errand runner—especially not by someone as sly as Tingyun.

After locating the boat Tingyun had mentioned, they encountered yet another obstacle: the crazed disciples of the Medicine King's Secrets.

These so-called alchemists sought forbidden knowledge of Abundance, using it to pursue a twisted path toward "immortality." Clad in armor imbued with unnatural energy, they drained life from others to sustain themselves, earning their infamy as pariahs.

Though their methods were despicable, their weapons and techniques hinted at a dangerous understanding of longevity's mysteries.

By the time the Trailblazers subdued their foes and boarded the ship bound for the central hub, their understanding of the Xianzhou's plight had deepened considerably.

The Trailblazers continued their journey toward the Astral Sea's heart.

---

Tingyun's demeanor shifted subtly, like a fish effortlessly gliding through the sea. Her smile remained gentle, but her attitude carried a newfound ease compared to earlier.

"On the Luofu, matters of space, navigation, and trade fall under the jurisdiction of the Sky-Faring Commission, one of the six major departments. As the largest port, the Astral Sea is also under our authority. Now that we've arrived here, you can consider yourselves safe."

"Quite the impressive setup…" March 7 muttered under her breath.

Stelle's focus, however, was drawn to the Jade Gate. Despite the chaos they had encountered earlier, the bustling starships passing through the port moved with calm precision, their movements orderly and unhindered.

It was as though the disturbances ahead had no bearing on the serenity here—though whether this was due to preemptive measures or a calculated response remained unclear.

Meanwhile, Tingyun suggested they head straight to Sichen Palace to seek an audience with Lady Yukong. Her urgency was palpable, as though she wanted nothing more than to march the group there immediately.

However, Welt politely declined, proposing instead that Tingyun go ahead to report their arrival while they took a moment to confer.

After sending Tingyun on her way, Welt's expression shifted, his tone lowering.

"That Miss Tingyun… might pose a problem."

"Huh? Uncle Yang, you've already found a clue!?"

---

T/N: I WANT MORE TINGYUN VENTI INTERATCIONS

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