Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.

---

"Tingyun, since Lady Yukong assigned you to assist us, I trust the Alliance has agreed to share intelligence, correct?"

Welt adjusted his glasses, their reflective glint hiding his steady gaze. Across from him, Tingyun smiled sweetly as ever.

"You are most perceptive, my dear benefactor. Regarding Kafka's whereabouts, the Sky-Faring Commission does have some leads," she said, retrieving a jade device from her waist.

"Though the suspect is cunning, encrypting her transmissions and carefully timing them to evade detection, the Divination Commission has managed to uncover a few clues."

A projection sprang up above the jade device, displaying Kafka's familiar transmission.

"The coordinates are here. The rest is up to you."

"Though our goals may differ, the paths of the stars inevitably converge. Farewell."

The record was identical to the one the Trailblazers had seen aboard the train, her voice clear and haunting, as if Kafka herself were performing it live.

This time, however, they analyzed the recording with sharper focus, catching the faint mechanical hum in the background—a distinct sound emitted by some form of machinery.

"Hmm, while this is a lead, it doesn't exactly narrow things down," March 7th muttered, scratching her head.

"After all, this is the Xianzhou. With all the astral skiffs overhead and the countless logistics areas we've seen, it'd be impossible to pinpoint her location from just this noise."

"You're correct, Miss March, but you've overlooked something. While most people might struggle to distinguish such sounds, for the artisans of the Artisanship Commission, every machine's operation is like a unique melody," Tingyun explained.

March 7th muttered under her breath, "What happened to calling me 'benefactor'?"

Tingyun's perfect smile almost faltered. Welt and Stelle, however, turned their attention to Venti.

"Ah, yes, the melody of machinery—the click of gears interlocking, the ignition of engines, the swift passage of astral skiffs through the sky. These sounds are indeed distinct," Venti said, tilting his head as if listening to a distant tune.

Before Tingyun could elaborate, Venti suddenly declared, "I know where she is."

"Excuse me?" Tingyun blinked, her bright green eyes wide with confusion.

"I hear the winds speaking. It's a place where broken wings take flight once more," Venti said cryptically.

"Uh… broken wings? Taking flight? What are you talking about?" March 7th asked, her expression mirroring Tingyun's bewilderment.

Stelle sighed, her voice deadpan. "Speak plainly. Please."

With a mischievous grin, Venti asked, "Tingyun, where on the Xianzhou are the shipbuilding facilities? The mechanical hum in Kafka's background matches the sounds from there perfectly."

"The shipyard… That would be the 'Feathered Harbor.' But how could you distinguish that so quickly? This is your first visit here," Tingyun said, her tone skeptical. Her hand hovered near the jade device, ready to activate its alarm.

"It's the wind, my dear. The wind carries melodies from afar, and as a bard, I remember every tune I hear," Venti replied with a sly smile and a wink.

"So, what you're saying is… wherever there's wind, there's no secret you can't uncover?" Tingyun asked, her smile strained.

"Exactly—" Venti drew out the word, enjoying her reaction before teasingly adding, "—except not really."

"What?"

"You see, there are countless winds, just as there are countless people. Distinguishing the one you want requires considerable effort."

To illustrate, Venti continued, "For example, remember when Lady Yukong quickly identified our ship? Tingyun, have you considered how she managed that so swiftly?"

"Because there was only one entrance, and your ship was the sole arrival during that time frame," Tingyun said, her expression clearing.

"Exactly. What I did is similar to scanning thousands of security feeds to find a single frame of interest. It's not impossible, but it requires focus and precision," Venti explained, plucking at his lyre.

Soft, ethereal notes filled the air, soothing and entrancing. The melody was delicate yet profound, as though invisible feathers brushed against their ears.

"Setting filters for specific melodies makes the task much easier, doesn't it?" Venti smiled.

"Such an approach is truly ingenious. I've learned much today," Tingyun said, her emerald eyes gleaming with admiration.

"Does this mean you could capture Kafka on your own?"

"Ah, no, no. I'm just a humble bard, far less capable than my companions when it comes to strength," Venti replied modestly, waving his hand.

The others exchanged amused glances at his feigned humility.

"But helping you locate Kafka's position? That's doable. Did you know she was playing the violin just now?"

He began tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table, humming softly.

"Sounds like Air on the G String," March 7th said, impressed. "What else can you hear?"

"Patience, let her finish the piece," Venti replied, his tone playful.

What followed was a mesmerizing moment of music, recreated flawlessly by Venti's voice and gestures. The serene tune seemed to stretch time itself, drawing everyone into a state of peaceful introspection.

As the melody ended, Venti opened his eyes, his expression sheepish.

"Eavesdropping isn't very polite, little bard," he recited, mimicking Kafka's voice.

"Oh no, she noticed?" March 7th and Stelle stifled laughter, while Tingyun's fox ears drooped slightly in exasperation.

"Ahaha… You're not mad, are you?" Venti asked awkwardly.

"Not at all. Listening to such refined music has left me in a serene mood," Tingyun replied, though her wistful smile betrayed a hint of melancholy. "But as life often reminds us, just when you think you're nearing your goal, fate throws a trial in your path."

Though her tone carried a fragile sadness, Tingyun quickly masked it with her usual charm.

"That said, hearing such a performance makes the extra effort worthwhile."

"Ehe, you're making me blush!" Venti said, feigning shyness while clearly enjoying the praise.

Tingyun, ever astute, indulged him further, earning a goofy grin from the bard.

March 7th nudged Stelle, whispering, "Aren't you going to say something?"

But Stelle simply smiled. "It's fine. Let him have his moment."

Meanwhile, Welt observed the exchange with quiet contemplation. Beneath the surface of their lighthearted banter, a troubling thought lingered in his mind.

The Stellaron Hunters anticipated Venti's actions. If they foresaw our approach as well, what kind of trap are we walking into?

The brief interlude over, the group returned to business.

"So, does that mean Kafka's still at the Feathered Harbor?" March 7th asked, tilting her head.

"Not necessarily. The Divination Commission would normally track movements between the celestial domains by reviewing entry and exit records," Tingyun began, pausing with a meaningful look.

"Unfortunately, with the Stellaron's descent, everything has been thrown into chaos. Moreover, due to interference from an unknown source, the space surrounding the Xianzhou has been subjected to temporal distortions. Many gates are now misaligned."

Venti scratched his head awkwardly under his hat, but Tingyun didn't seem to notice and continued.

"For someone like Kafka, such chaos would be a perfect cover. While it might make escape harder, it also prevents us from reaching her. That's why our progress has stalled."

"Huh… I guess we've underestimated the heroes of this world," March 7th mused, stroking her smooth chin with mock understanding.

"Well, the Xianzhou does specialize in security. Compared to them, we're just amateurs," Stelle added dryly.

"Regardless, we made a promise to General Jing Yuan," Welt said, bringing the conversation to a close. "It's our duty to prove ourselves worthy of his trust."

He glanced out the window at the simulated night sky of the Luofu. Though artificial, the carefully constructed day-night cycle offered a semblance of normalcy. The team, however, had barely adjusted to the time difference after leaving Snail III.

"We've been at it all day," Welt continued. "Even March 7th looks exhausted. We'll rest tonight and resume tomorrow. Kafka will surely be laying low after our actions today. A rushed investigation will yield nothing, and we'll need to prepare for a tough fight."

"Finally, someone gets me! I feel like I've been dragged through mud all day," March 7th groaned, tugging Stelle by the arm.

"And we still haven't checked in with the Express! Come on, Stelle, let's video call Himeko. We can tell her and Dan Heng all about this place—they'll be so jealous!"

"Alright, alright," Stelle relented, unable to resist March's enthusiasm.

Tingyun chuckled softly before bidding them farewell. "Enjoy your rest, dear benefactors. I'll take my leave."

Welt watched her disappear into the crowd, feeling an unshakable unease. It was as if he had overlooked an important clue, but no matter how hard he thought, nothing surfaced.

Even Venti seemed unbothered, which Welt attributed to his own exhaustion from the day's events. He sighed, resolving to let it go for now.

Meanwhile, aboard the Astral Express.

Dan Heng stood by the observation window, his fingers lightly tracing the glass as he gazed at the magnificent sight of the Xianzhou Luofu. A faint smudge of his fingertips remained on the surface.

It wasn't until the scent of coffee reached him that he turned around to find Himeko approaching, a steaming mug in hand.

"You've been standing here for half an hour. It's rare to see you this distracted," she said, her voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.

"Are you worried about their safety? Or is it…" Himeko's gaze sharpened. "The person Kafka mentioned—are they the reason you're so unsettled?"

Dan Heng hesitated before giving a small nod. "That's part of it."

"Someone connected to what you're running from? And you think they pose a danger, even to Welt and Venti?"

"I'm not certain," Dan Heng admitted. "But this person… they're a threat. Not just to me, but to the Xianzhou, to March 7th, and Stelle."

His inner conflict was clear in his voice, his grip on the windowsill tightening.

"I trust Welt and Venti can handle themselves, but this… this is my burden to bear. If it ends up dragging everyone else into danger…"

Himeko sipped her coffee, her gaze distant yet firm. "You can't escape the past, Dan Heng. Whether you want to or not, it's tied to your path, woven into the fate you tread."

Dan Heng remained silent, her words striking a chord within him.

"The paths we walk may be invisible, but everything we see, hear, and experience becomes part of our baggage. They are both the weight we carry and the strength that keeps us moving forward. Running from them only deepens the loneliness."

"…You're saying I should confront it head-on?" Dan Heng murmured, almost to himself.

Himeko smiled gently. "I know words alone won't convince you—you're too strong-willed for that. But that stubbornness also isolates you from everything around you, and that's a heavy way to live."

"I understand… but what am I supposed to do?" He looked at his hands, his expression lost and uncertain.

"Do what you think is right," Himeko said simply. "You're still at an age where mistakes can be forgiven."

She raised her coffee in a small toast. "It's better than living with regret, don't you think?"

---

T/N: damn stelle is chill

Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.

Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.

If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.

Our time together may be brief, but it is not without meaning. The Shogun and I will continue to watch over this journey, steadfast and unwavering. Until we meet again, may your steps remain steady on the path you walk.

— Ei