Facing Wonweek's question, Sunday shook his head, indicating that now was not the time.
Just like that, the group went straight back to the ship.
Screwllum had already left ahead of them, and standing beside Himeko now was Yukong.
Himeko tactfully asked Stelle and March 7th to step aside first, leaving space for Tingyun and Yukong.
Old acquaintances meeting again. But for a moment, neither of them knew how to open their mouths.
In the end, it was Tingyun who spoke softly, "Lady Yukong…"
Yukong looking at Tingyun replied: "Actually, I've imagined this scene over and over again, afraid I would lose composure in front of you, and I even thought through every sentence I wanted to say."
Yukong shook her head, casting aside the grief in her eyes, and simply smiled: "I've come to take you home, Tingyun."
"Madam Yukong, I wasn't expecting it to be you. What a wonderful surprise!" Tingyun said with a smile.
The two had already formed a bond since Tingyun was young.
Yukong never hid how much she cherished Tingyun. Her coming personally meant exactly that.
Although most people still didn't know the truth of the Tingyun's incident, Tingyun herself had already become the focal point of shifting tides.
As an elder, simply standing by Tingyun's side at this moment was already the greatest help Tingyun could receive.
After the both of them spoke for some time, Yukong spoke about the topic she was here for.
However… the road home wasn't as simple as Yukong had imagined.
When she suggested taking Tingyun back to the Xianzhou,
The Foxian girl, who had always been so clever and smooth in her impression, quietly said:"...Do I really have to go back to the Luofu?"
Yukong froze: "...Why? You don't want to?"
Tingyun looked at Yukong with the same gentle gaze as always, but her words slowly flowed out:
"Despite Phantylia's ruthlessness, she spared me when I should have been eliminated. And why did Miss Ruan Mei, who has no ties to the Xianzhou, go out of her way to save me?"
"It seems as if I've become a pawn in someone else's game."
After Tingyun finished speaking, Yukong opened her mouth, but fell silent on the spot.
Yes. A sharp-minded woman like Tingyun, how could she fail to guess her own value?
Ruan Mei, an Emanator of the Erudition…
Before saving Tingyun, she had no connection to the Xianzhou, so why would she specifically act before the Xianzhou even arrived, to save Tingyun?
Was it because she had a kind heart? Not necessarily.
Just like the great battle Yukong experienced back then, the lives of people were always held in the hands of the higher-ups, and the lives of those figures were held in the hands of even greater Emanators.
A single thought gives life, a single thought ends it.
Phantylia erased Tingyun because Tingyun had no use to Her.
And Ruan Mei? Naturally, she acted for her own wishes and goals.
But what those goals were and how she would benefit from saving Tingyun. It was simply that no one knew.
Neither she nor Tingyun would mistake Ruan Mei's intervention as a pure act of kindness from the genius.
In this world, pure goodwill exists, But it absolutely never appears on the bodies of geniuses.
In the end, Yukong could only say quietly:
"...There are people within the Alliance who also believe that the suspect is now on the Yuque."
...
: Yuque? Luocha and Jingliu?
: Ruan Mei acting, what is she trying to do… cooperating with the Alliance to share the Aeon of Propagation's fragment Luocha delivered?
: But then what is Ruan Mei's true objective?
: Interesting… From the perspective of Yukong and Tingyun, the Honkai Star Rail universe is truly shrouded in fog.
: Ruan Mei and the others are undoubtedly big figures, how could Tingyun possibly understand their thoughts?
: So… that's why Tingyun doesn't want to return to Luofu?
: She doesn't want to be a pawn?
...
The guesses continued to fly.
But clearly, everyone underestimated Tingyun's resolve.
After receiving Yukong's confirmation, Tingyun spoke solemnly:
"If that's the case, it's all the more reason for me not to return to the Luofu and complicate things. I might as well take advantage of this situation."
Yukong didn't understand: "Take advantage of the situation? What do you mean?"
Tingyun explained: "Right now, the marks of Ruin inside me maintain a delicate balance. Moreover... they were created by Phantylia herself."
"If possible, please inform the general and arrange for me to meet with the marshal. Maybe this body of mine can help the Alliance get one step closer to the Xianzhou's enemies."
At that moment, the audience felt a stab of pain.
Tingyun's words sounded like she had accepted death, yet she refused to simply concede, so she offered herself as a piece in the game.
Even if the opponent was someone she once never dared imagine to fight against.
Yukong sighed: "When Ruan Mei visited the Luofu earlier, she mentioned what happened to you. This coincided with when the message sent by the Astral Express arrived."
"The Arbiter-Generals concluded that Phantylia did not intend for you to survive. If utilized strategically, this could give the Alliance an element of surprise."
"If we follow this plan, we must keep your "resurrection" hidden. But before making any decisions, I want to know what you think. If you wish to go home..."
"I'll support you, no matter what others may say."
Yukong genuinely did not want Tingyun to be caught up in all this again.
She hoped Tingyun, like herself, would simply retire… live the rest of her life peacefully.
But Tingyun shook her head: "I've come to see myself clearly in this dream journey. Perhaps it's what people call a blessing in disguise."
"Madam Yukong, do you remember? Perhaps that was just an ordinary flight for you. But for a certain child..."
"That was her first experience with the "sky.""
"That flight was a turning point in my life."
"As I grew up, even though I lacked the talent to pilot the starskiff and wasn't much of a warrior, I still chose to travel around with the merchant guild."
"But after this entire ordeal, I've also learned that while these merchant principles may apply to humans, they falter in the face of the gods."
Yukong tried again: "But this shouldn't fall on your shoulders to begin with. You are simply an innocent survivor in this war."
"Madam Yukong, you were once a "survivor" in the war too, weren't you?" Tingyun's counter rendered Yukong speechless.
Then, the little foxian before her spoke to herself: "In a hazy dream, I vaguely remember someone telling me that the inescapable price of survival is often more adversity, but..."
"Madam Yukong, the gods use humans as pawns in their cosmic game, sacrificing countless innocent souls..."
"Have you ever thought about making THEM pay?"
When Tingyun spoke the final sentence, the audience fell silent.
Not just because the line sounded unbelievably cool. But because of the resolve behind it, from someone seen as 'not strong.' Before this, she was someone whose life could end at any moment.
"Thanks to the "favor" of the Lord Ravager, I've become a player in this game."
"Remember, it's often the unassuming pawns - the lone traveler or the worm that subdues the dragon - that leave even the best strategists helpless."
"So now, I'll become a cunning speck of dust and make those masterminds behind the curtains…"
"Sneeze a few times."
...
: This is more like it, this is what people should be like!
: Tingyun's words were perfect! This shift in mentality was written so well!
: The lone Traveler! A worm that subdues the dragon! Our little foxian has spirit!
: Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Tingyun's revival, from questioning her heart, to confusion, to determination, this whole emotional arc was written so well! Her character is completely alive now!
: MiHoYo's ability to write characters is getting more and more outrageous! They only used a little screen time to portray Tingyun after her resurrection!
: I'm already looking forward to Tingyun's performance in front of the Marshal. This is definitely going to be an important story in the future!
: In chess, once a pawn reaches the other end of the board, they can become the queen or anything they want!
: We nameless pawns, how could we possibly turn the board around?!
: Make big moves! Make big moves!
: Yukong must be shocked. She wanted to comfort Tingyun, but instead she was the one comforted!
: As a survivor of another war, Yukong chose to retreat, and rebuild the Xianzhou. But Tingyun, another survivor, chose to strike back, instead of retreating!
: This contrast… sends chills down my spine!
: Tingyun's side is basically done now. In this episode, the only ones left to appear are Sunday and that mysterious Wonweek!
...
The comments flew wildly across the screen.
There was no doubt Tingyun would skyrocket in popularity after this episode.
And while Yukong and Tingyun finished their conversation, the scene shifted.
On the other side, the rest of them who had temporarily retreated split into two groups.
Sunday and Wonweek wanted to go somewhere, and naturally, Welt insisted on following closely.
When the three arrived at the Dream-Boundary, they saw Robin standing at the rooftop railing, appreciating the distant scenery.
"How did you know she'd be here?" Welt asked.
Sunday shook his head. "I didn't know. I just had a few guesses and took a chance. Looks like I have lucky moments too."
Welt was surprised. "You? Relying on luck?"
Sunday replied calmly, "I'm trying to change too."
Welt said nothing more. He nodded and knowingly stepped aside, leaving space for Sunday and Robin.
"You're not afraid I'll escape right here and now?" Sunday asked.
"I believe you're someone with both the ability and the willingness to make use of everything. But that absolutely doesn't include Miss Robin."
Welt ended his words there, raising his eyebrows slightly before walking a bit farther away.
The audience didn't expect it.
Right after Tingyun's scene, they were now about to see this pair of siblings collide.
Instantly, they became excited.
However, just as Welt was preparing to take Wonweek away to leave Sunday some space, Wonweek instead crossed his arms and shouted, "I'm not going! Why should I?!"
What do you mean? The audience was stunned.
You want to see Robin too? She and her brother are reuniting, what are you doing there as a third wheel?
Yet what surprised them even more was Sunday didn't ask Wonweek to leave. Instead, he explained to Welt, "Let him stay. He won't get in the way."
"I actually need Wonweek to be there. She shouldn't be seen talking to a fugitive no matter the circumstances."
Welt glanced back and forth between Wonweek and Sunday.
Carrying some doubt, Welt left first.
Sunday took a deep breath, exchanged a look with Wonweek, and walked toward Robin.
As he reached Robin and greeted her, she turned around.
On her delicate, beautiful face, there was no extra emotion. She smiled politely: "It's nice to meet you, Miss. May I know your name?"
From Robin's perspective, the one standing before her was a female Intellitron.
Yet at that moment, around the Intellitron, a subtle, hardly noticeable tuning-like aura fluctuated.
It was unclear whether that tuning belonged to Wonweek… or to Sunday himself.
"My name is... Wonweek. I'm a member of the Nightingale Family."
Sunday hesitated slightly as he spoke.
This moment made many audience members who shipped the siblings scream that MiHoYo knew exactly how to write emotional torment.
This kind of "siblings meeting but unable to show their true selves" scenario placed on these two, it was painful yet addictive!
On screen, Sunday walked to Robin's side and asked, "Miss Robin. You must be very busy. What brings you here to Dream's Edge?"
Robin spoke softly. "I'm taking a break. I wanted to find a quiet place to relax, ideally somewhere where I could see the stars. Before I knew it, I'd walked all the way here."
Sunday said quietly, "Well, perhaps the dreamscape is not so different from reality."
"When we look up into the night sky, the stars aren't really there. The glimmering lights we see are merely the images of stars from long ago."
"So, have we ever truly seen a real sky full of stars?"
"You're very philosophical, Miss Wonweek. You remind me of someone I know."
"Do you work nearby?"
As Sunday looked up, lost in his own world, he failed entirely to notice that what he said carried the unmistakable flavor of his own unique way of speaking.
Next to him, Robin heard these words, and the natural smile on her face faded.
She closed her eyes, opened them again, closed them, opened them.
As if trying to confirm something. But the figure before her was still that same Intellitron.
Countless audience stared at the screen like they were waiting for something to happen.
The comments scrolled nonstop.
...
: Recognize him! She must definitely recognize him!
: Robin blinked twice, she must be thinking, Why does this Intellitron sound exactly like my brother?!
: Wuuwuuwuu! Please let them recognize each other here!
: After this, the siblings might not get another chance to meet!
: Robin's blinking, that uncertainty, it's hitting me right in the heart!
: MiHoYo please stop writing such painful yet addictive scenes! I'm seriously going to die!
: My god! This whole segment is nothing but details!