: I feel like after this episode ends, Yanqing's popularity is going to skyrocket!
--------------------------------
The delicate emotional acting convinced the audience.
The image of this young boy instantly became much more vivid.
After this part of the plot, at least later, no matter what kind of failures Yanqing encounters, people would no longer see him as a comedic relief character.
On screen, after hearing Yanqing's confession, Jiaoqiu smiled and said: "I didn't expect Yanqing to be so young yet already sound so old."
Yanqing gave a bitter smile, helpless under the foxians's teasing. Jiaoqiu didn't mind and instead turned his gaze to Yunli.
Since the atmosphere had already been set, Yunli didn't hold back.
"I, I don't have dreams as great as his." Yunli said softly: "The only reason I wanted to compete was because if I won, I could claim the sword my grandfather gave as the prize of the Luminary Wardance."
At this point, Yunli hesitated for a moment, but finally said with some sadness:
"My… my father was a craftsman of the Xianzhou Zhuming, but because of his foolishness, he fell under the power of a demonic sword."
"So, since I was a child I've understood that many people simply don't deserve to hold weapons. Allowing them to wield swords is cruelty to the innocent."
Compared to Yanqing, Yunli's story was short. But the audience could feel the clear love and hate contained within it.
Almost instantly in their minds, they imagined a grand drama: a father, a demonic sword, tragic deaths, and a childhood of harsh growth.
How difficult it must have been!
With Yunli's brief words, her previous rude actions of snatching swords now had a reasonable explanation.
She was not being unreasonable or arrogant. It was her painful childhood that made her truly believe that swords, as killing weapons, should not be in unworthy hands.
...
: Yunli's childhood was really that tragic?
: From the way she said it, she must have seen something with her own eyes… otherwise she wouldn't have such a strong obsession.
: If miHoYo really animated this part, it would be heart-wrenching…
: No way, that would be too depressing.
: So young, yet carrying so much burden. Sigh, not easy at all.
...
After the conversation ended, the atmosphere between everyone became much more harmonious.
Although Yanqing and Yunli would still bicker, it was no longer as sharp as before.
During this relaxed time, without realizing it, Yanqing had already led everyone to the Cloudford.
From here they could see even more clearly the massive body of the Skysplitter. Perfectly rendered special effects presented a spectacular scene.
Beneath the colossal fleet ship, the endlessly roaring conveyor systems of Cloudford kept moving.
Countless goods docked here were entirely handled by automatons, requiring no manpower to transport enormous loads.
As the camera pulled higher, the magnificent view of the Cloudford spread before the audience's eyes.
They could even see a few Cloud Knights speaking with a clerk beside a cargo crate.
At this moment, Jiaoqiu suddenly asked: "By the way, little brother Yanqing, in a fully automated place like Cloudford, is it common for people to be idle here?"
But Yanqing misunderstood, shook his head, and said:
"This place normally doesn't allow random entry. It's only because you're guests that I brought you here for a look."
"Is that so? Then I'll take my leave. May you two achieve your wishes tomorrow."
Jiaoqiu smiled and departed.
The conversation had been pleasant, yet Jiaoqiu suddenly left.
This left Yanqing rather puzzled. But he didn't think much of it, and prepared to take Yunli and March 7th back along a nearby path.
This path happened to cross with the group of Cloud Knights shown earlier.
To the audience, this didn't seem unusual, until the camera zoomed in on the "Cloud Knights," and their words were heard.
The audience was shocked.
"Shut up, Chiya! This ship isn't a beast-ship, it needs time to stabilize."
"You willingly put on the skin of a lowly creature, and now you say you can't manage? Do you know how many ships we need?"
"I'm trying, I'm researching!"
"Wait, someone's coming!"
"Harrzaaxi?! Who, who's there!"
The ones wearing Cloud Knight uniforms, along with the clerk who looked just like a Xianzhou native, were actually speaking in a strange accent.
Their words were filled with agitation and mania. Noticing someone approaching, they shouted warily.
The audience instantly realized: They're Borisin! Are they about to run into Yanqing and the others?
A wave of crisis surged in the audience's hearts.
With Jiaoqiu gone, Yanqing, Yunli, and March 7th, no matter how strong they might be shown as,
to the audience still seemed like children, hard to make one feel secure.
The camera instantly cut to their faces.
The three exchanged little, their expressions unchanged.
Only March 7th glanced briefly at Yanqing.
"Who are you?" Yanqing stepped forward, hands on hips, and asked.
The clerk and Cloud Knights exchanged glances, then the clerk said:
"Oh, a routine inspection. Why are unrelated people wandering around Cloudford? This is a restricted zone."
Another one dressed like a member of the Sky-Faring Commission said:
"Kids, didn't your parents tell you? Cloudford may be automated, but that doesn't mean you can just wander in."
"Ah, sorry about that." March 7th quickly waved her hands: "I'll take these little ones away right now."
But before she finished, Yanqing raised his head and looked expectantly at her: "Big sister, big sister! Let's go quickly, I want to, I want to go play at Scalegorge Waterscape!"
His cute tone, with the little pauses in between, would make anyone comment on how adorably clever he was.
March 7th thought she had reacted quickly enough, but Yanqing's sudden act caught her off guard.
"Eh? Scalegorge, Scalegorge Waterscape, uh… okay, okay, big sister will take you there right now."
Luckily, she managed to react and went along with Yanqing's act.
On screen, the danger had been smoothed over.
The audience was both impressed by the trio's sharpness, and also laughing at Yanqing's act.
...
: ??
: Wait, Yanqing suddenly became this cute?!
: These three are so sharp, they actually passed the test like that.
: March 7th really surprised me, I always thought our little March was silly.
: Damn, that was brilliant. Instead of pointing out something wrong, March went along instantly!
: Yanqing even acted cute on purpose to make it safer.
: Aiyo, that sudden contrast almost made me throw out my back!
: Too smart! That's exactly how a smart person should react when facing danger!
: A show with brains really is full of surprises!
: Hahaha, I can't even focus on the plot anymore. Once the scene ends, I'm going to replay that part with Yanqing and sister again and again!
: Damn, you "dream girls" are going way too far, Yanqing isn't even an adult yet!
: Open up! Cloud Knights!
...
The flawless cooperation of the three made the audience cheer in excitement.
March 7th, who always seemed silly and clumsy, didn't drag them down this time either.
Under the surprised gazes of the viewers, Yanqing and the others successfully escaped.
As they left, one of the disguised Cloud Knight marauders was extremely displeased.
"Chiya… you should have let me…"
"Shh, inspection's over. Everything's fine. Let's go."
The clerk shook his head, deliberately speaking loudly.
After finishing, he pretended to have completed the inspection and left with the others.
The camera shifted upward.
Yanqing and his two companions were actually hiding behind the railing on the second floor.
They didn't intervene, and once the area was confirmed safe, Yunli was the first to imitate Yanqing's earlier words.
It made Yanqing cry out in embarrassment.
Joking aside, Yunli wasn't just playing around.
She had also noticed something wrong with those three, and Jiaoqiu's questioning before leaving was actually a hint for them to stay alert.
"That pink-haired foxian wanted to say something but stopped. He must've already noticed something."
"But since he's unfamiliar with the place, before leaving he left us a silent warning." Yunli analyzed.
Only then did the audience realize Jiaoqiu's abrupt departure was a warning.
...
: Jiaoqiu realized it before leaving?
: Damn, it's over. I've been watching Honkai Star Rail for so many episodes for nothing, and I didn't even notice.
: As expected of a sly battlefield veteran with squinting eyes.
: A foxian with a hundred tricks up his sleeve…
: Damn, I feel like my IQ is lower than a child's.
: Don't be discouraged, even I did not know about it…
: Who are you? (The one above)
...
Afterward, the three analyzed the suspicious points.
First, Yanqing is a Luofu Xianzhou Cloud Knight and a general's student. Yet those people didn't even recognize him.
Not only that, when Yanqing deliberately said he wanted to go to Scalegorge Waterscape to play, they didn't react either.
Scalegorge Waterscape is a forbidden area, ordinary people are never allowed inside.
Yet those people showed no reaction.
These points completely exposed them.
The reason Yanqing didn't act immediately was for one important reason.
"Cloud Knights, Sky-Faring Commission, Artisans."
"All types accounted for."
"But every one of them was wearing official uniforms."
"Where did they get those clothes?"
Yanqing was asking, and also asking himself.
In Luofu, it's impossible for something as cliché as killing Cloud Knights or artisans and stealing uniforms to happen.
Because everyone is registered.
Logistics are strictly managed, outsiders cannot tamper with this. But even if he couldn't figure it out, it didn't matter.
They didn't arrest the suspicious group right away for this reason.
After a brief discussion, Yanqing and his companions quietly followed.
Luckily, the group hadn't gone far. Following their tracks, Yanqing witnessed an even more shocking sight.
One after another, foxians wearing various official Luofu uniforms gathered at the harbor.
Just like the previous group, they spoke with strange accents while conversing.
Though far away, a few key words reached Yanqing's ears.
"Lord Mok Tok."
"Restore glory."
"Hoolay."
Each word more terrifying than the last.
Both Yunli and Yanqing had been on battlefields before, so they immediately understood,
The people in front of them were true Borisin!
And at the time of the approaching martial ceremony, so many Borisin appearing right in Luofu's backyard!
Yet until now, there hadn't been any reports at all!
"Damn it!" Excited, Yanqing made too much noise and revealed their position.
A battle was unavoidable.
But the Borisin had no intention to fight; most boarded flying shuttles and fled.
Only the earlier trio who met Yanqing stayed behind to cover.
By now, Yanqing had no intention of wasting time.
With swift sword strikes and with Yunli or March 7th intervening, the battle was easily done.
They had wanted to capture some alive, but the three fought with suicidal determination, leaving only corpses.
Three wolf corpses lay on the ground.
The group searched separately, soon gathering with several identity tags.
"Official identities?!"
"Sky-Faring Commission, Artisans…"
"And even the Cloud Knights!"
Yanqing widened his eyes, his face filled with rare heaviness and shock.
Picking up a badge, he read the name softly: "Lu Jun? A defense officer of the patrol guard? …Wait!"
The screen flashed.
A brief memory of Yanqing appeared.
A week ago, he had met an officer named Lu Jun while escorting captured Borisin.
Yunli frowned deeply, adding: "Not only do they have official identities, they can even perfectly transform into foxians!"
Identity tags, uniforms, and clues… All of these laid out before the viewers.
The clever audience, like Yanqing and Yunli, grew somber. Because they knew what these clues meant.
...
: At first I thought it was a small issue… turns out it's such a huge deal!
: If they can obtain official legal identities, that can only mean one thing, someone high-ranking in Luofu is helping them!
: The Borisin are the Xianzhou's sworn enemies! Now they've infiltrated inside, and no one noticed?!
: Damn it! There's a traitor! And a very important one!
: This is inside-out collusion?!
...
Compared to external enemies, an infiltrator within one's own ranks is even more terrifying.