Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

By the power of Tapisserie Éternelle, this story is granted two bonus chapters—rejoice in this reward!

---

Dan Heng didn't head straight for the surface. Instead, he returned to his quarters on the Astral Express.

Judging by the system clock, it was clear that even if he departed now, it would already be late when he arrived.

Besides—

He glanced at his phone, where the message he'd attempted to send earlier displayed as failed to deliver.

"…The message isn't going through. But it's not network restrictions; everything else is functioning normally."

If the group had gone without Welt, perhaps it wouldn't have seemed so strange. But with him present, it was inconceivable that they would have failed to check in.

Clearly, someone was intentionally severing the flow of information between them.

Was this the work of Silver Wolf, the Stellaron Hunter?

After pondering the possibilities, Dan Heng could only arrive at this conclusion.

"Rest for the night and head out tomorrow," he decided.

Dan Heng didn't believe that rushing down would change anything. Whoever was behind this disruption clearly wanted to prevent a simple reunion.

By controlling the flow of information, they could provoke impatience, luring him into an ambush or some other trap. For the Stellaron Hunters, who already held the upper hand, this would be an easy feat.

To avoid blindly charging into their plans, the best option was to remain still and act only when ready.

Besides, having just returned from Snail III, Dan Heng's body still needed a brief reprieve. Especially if he might need to rely on that power—

His gaze hardened as it fell upon the Ebon Spear leaning against the wall.

I won't hesitate again.

With this firm resolve, Dan Heng gradually fell asleep.

This time, he dreamed of the place where he had once been imprisoned.

The Xianzhou Luofu—Dimensional Warden's Prison.

A pitch-black, lightless underground water prison, holding only the vilest of criminals whose actions had shaken the very foundations of Xianzhou's order.

Darkness engulfed the senses like a swirling vortex, broken only by the occasional sound of water droplets falling.

The purpose of this oppressive atmosphere was singular: punishment.

To magnify the weakness within and crush the spirits of those confined.

As someone who had once "spent some time" there, Dan Heng knew all too well the nature of such torment.

Within the Warden's Prison, there was only one moment when light could be seen—

Click.

A stark, blinding floodlight descended.

Standing beneath its glow was a young man with a mane of unruly white hair, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze cold and merciless.

Beside him stood a boy who watched not Dan Heng, but the man behind him.

This figure wore a black, high-collared coat, with bloodstained bandages wrapped around his arms and legs. His disheveled black hair covered one eye, and his aura teetered between madness and despair.

As the man passed Dan Heng, their eyes met—a crimson gaze filled with murderous intent and self-destruction.

A being of sharp contradictions, his presence felt as if it could shatter at any moment.

He didn't speak to Dan Heng, merely continued forward as though being escorted for interrogation.

"You remember me, don't you?"

The white-haired man spoke, his voice cold and detached.

"I do."

The black-haired man's tone was equally lifeless, devoid of emotion, like a machine.

He lifted his head, revealing a face drained of all color under the harsh light. His crimson eyes burned with an eerie intensity, like ghostly flames.

His gaze shifted back to Dan Heng, growing fiercer and more deranged.

"Five lives. Three prices to pay..."

"And you—are one of them."

In the next moment, the man broke free of his restraints, lunging toward Dan Heng like a bloodthirsty beast.

But before he could strike, the haunting sound of a lyre echoed through the darkness, rousing Dan Heng from his dream.

Dan Heng sat up in bed, pressing a hand to his forehead. His back was drenched in cold sweat.

After a moment to steady his breathing, he checked the time.

Several hours had passed.

Still, no messages had come through. Regardless, he knew—it was time to go.

The Express would only remain docked for seven standard days. To ensure the mission's success, they couldn't afford delays.

After requesting Pom-Pom's assistance to transport him to the Luofu, Dan Heng was greeted by a refreshing breeze that carried away some of his unease.

The wind soon transformed into a trail of cyan light, leading him forward.

"Venti's marker, no doubt…"

Without hesitation, Dan Heng followed the trail.

Judging by the surrounding structures, the group had landed near the Starskiff Haven, though the aftermath of battle was evident.

The ground was littered with shattered armor pieces, evidence of an intense skirmish. Yellowed and withered ginkgo leaves were scattered across the area as well.

"…A conflict between the Cloud Knights and the Alchemy Commission?"

He muttered to himself. From the traces left behind, it was clear the team had encountered the clash upon arrival.

The presence of the Trailblazers seemed to have tipped the scales in favor of the Cloud Knights, minimizing their losses and allowing them to quickly suppress the opposition.

For the Alchemy Commission, however, the Trailblazers were an unwelcome interference.

But could it really have been mere coincidence?

Back on the Astral Express, Kafka's earlier message had mentioned that Elio had foreseen the destruction of the Xianzhou Luofu.

Was this where the divergence began?

Dan Heng stood in silent contemplation for a moment before resuming his journey.

This was clearly a battlefield, and his mere presence on the Xianzhou as an exiled criminal already violated the law. If spotted by anyone clearing the area, it would only lead to unnecessary conflict.

Following the cyan wind markers left behind, he traversed through the logistical storage bays, drawing closer to the exit leading to the ferry terminal.

It was here that he encountered two unfamiliar figures.

"This way's blocked, and that way's no good either... How am I supposed to solve this?"

A young girl with twin tails, clad in the uniform of a female Cloud Knight, stood before a sealed gate, arms crossed in frustration.

Beside her stood a tall, golden-haired man with striking features, his refined aura rivaling even the pure elegance of a knight from Yilia's Silverbranch.

"Miss Sushang, perhaps I could assist?"

"No, no! It's not that I don't trust you, but the Cloud Knights have strict rules about keeping gate mechanisms secret. No peeking, alright? Stand back!"

The girl, identified as Sushang, shook her head vigorously, her wide, puppy-like eyes pleading for understanding.

Seeing her earnestness, the golden-haired man dressed as a merchant relented with a resigned smile, stepping back to lean against a nearby crate.

His attention shifted as he noticed Dan Heng approaching. His gaze was warm and inviting, lacking any hostility.

"Oh? It seems we're not the only ones stuck here. Greetings, traveler. My name is Luocha, a humble itinerant merchant. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

Dan Heng remained silent, his lack of response interpreted as reluctance to engage with strangers. However, Luocha's demeanor remained composed as he turned to caution the young Cloud Knight.

"Ahem. Miss Sushang—"

"Don't rush me! I'm almost there!" Sushang huffed, clearly engrossed in her battle with the gate's mechanism. She fiddled with the locks, mumbling to herself about where she might have learned the techniques before.

A calm, clear voice broke through her muttering:

"Retrace your steps, reverse the prior move. Fill the gap, and then balance."

Following the guidance instinctively, Sushang twisted a mechanism, and with a resounding click, the gate swung open.

"Wait... I did it? I did it!"

Sushang cheered, momentarily too ecstatic to question how she had understood such cryptic instructions. She had been stuck here for hours, unable to progress further.

However, as the realization dawned, she instinctively jumped back, raising her hands defensively.

"Wait! Who are you? When did you get so close? You scared me!"

Dan Heng's expression remained stoic, and he didn't seem inclined to answer.

Luocha shook his head with a small chuckle, clearly amused by Sushang's antics.

But Sushang's sharp eyes soon caught something familiar in Dan Heng's movements—his stance with the spear and the subtle precision of his footwork.

"Wait a second… That posture, and those words earlier... Are you a Cloud Knight too?"

Her eyes lit up, her previous wariness dissolving in an instant. She now regarded him as if meeting a fellow comrade.

"Name's Sushang! I just transferred here from the Xianzhou Yaoqing. Got deployed straightaway to help evacuate civilians here."

She puffed out her chest proudly but then scratched her head with a sheepish grin.

"As you can see… I got stuck trying to open this giant thing. But hey, you showed up just in time! Let's get moving!"

Dan Heng shook his head silently, indicating that he wasn't a Cloud Knight.

Her round eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wait, what? You don't talk much, huh? Like a human clam... But I definitely heard you just now!"

Even Luocha couldn't help but laugh at her incredulous expression.

Dan Heng sighed, breaking his silence at last.

"My name is Dan Heng. I'm traveling here to meet my companions. I only helped open the gate to clear the path, not to stay."

"No way! The Starskiff Haven has already evacuated. If your friends haven't moved, they're probably waiting for you in the safe zone ahead!"

Sushang's stubbornness emerged, perhaps stemming from her sense of duty.

"And don't worry. If we don't find them there, I'll help you look!"

Her unwavering determination left Dan Heng with little choice but to follow.

As they moved forward, the weather took a turn for the worse. The simulated sky of the Xianzhou darkened, heavy clouds gathering ominously overhead.

"Yikes, this feels like one of those 'bad things are about to happen' setups," Sushang muttered, quickening her pace.

Meanwhile, Dan Heng couldn't shake the growing sense of unease.

---

Elsewhere, near the bustling port.

Despite the dim skies and thickening fog, the Luofu's residents carried on as usual. The simulated weather patterns were an integral part of life here, replicating everything from sunny days to storms.

At the port, Tan Tan, a sensor technician, yawned as he made his way to his post. Working odd hours wasn't unusual in his line of work—missing a critical reading could cost lives.

As he adjusted to the morning's haze, his bleary eyes caught a faint silhouette beneath the bridge.

What's that...?

He squinted, trying to make out the shape. Moving closer, his heart jolted as realization hit—it was a person hanging from the bridge.

Before he could act, a Starskiff zoomed past, its hull colliding with the figure and sending it crashing into a wall with a sickening thud.

Screams erupted as pedestrians turned toward the commotion. A woman stumbled out of the Starskiff, trembling as she glimpsed the grisly scene.

"AAAAAHHHH!"

Tan Tan's legs nearly gave out beneath him, but the piercing scream spurred him forward. He ran to the bridge's edge and peered down.

What he saw stole his breath.

Pinned against the wall like a macabre insect was the body of a foxian woman. Her abdomen was impaled by the Starskiff's sharp prow, her lifeless form slumped grotesquely.

Dark red blood spattered the area, staining the misty air with its metallic tang.

He knew her. Everyone in the port knew her.

It was Tingyun, the famed receptionist of the Starskiff Haven.

And she was dead.

---

T/N: oop