"Now, it's time to go back. If a child can't throw a punch to protect his mother when she needs it, what right does he have to call himself her child?"
Igor turned and patted Jing Yuan on the shoulder. "Farewell, Jing Yuan… No, considering my age, we probably won't meet again."
Jing Yuan looked at the smile on Igor's face, unsure if it was a bitter one or a jest.
"May you win, Igor."
"And may you win too, Jing Yuan! If there's a chance, I really hope we can fight again!"
The next moment, Igor restrained the fire in his eyes. "I'm coming back, Mom. I won all the boxing matches. But this time, I can't win."
[Why isn't the Xianzhou sending support?]
[At this point in time, Jing Yuan hasn't become General yet, so there's only one possibility—the Swarm Disaster must have left them overwhelmed.]
[Uh… okay, let's just say the timing isn't great.]
[The world of Honkai: Star Rail is so vast, there are countless planets like Jarilo-VI, they can't save them all.]
[I can tell both of them are in a lot of pain—one because his homeland gets no help, the other because he can't help his friend.]
[Why does this feel kinda stabby?]
[No need to feel—it IS stabbing you.]
— —
"To make friends through martial arts—that's the founding purpose of the Luminary Wardance. But back then, I was just a Cloud Knight guardsman. I couldn't change anything, only watch his despairing back as he left, unable to say even a word of comfort."
Jing Yuan took a deep breath. "He left just like that. Time passed in a hurry… In the blink of an eye, three hundred years vanished."
Time rewinds to four hundred years ago.
At this moment, Jing Yuan has already become the General of the Xianzhou Luofu. He is inside the Seat of Divine Foresight.
An officer double-checked, "Apologies, General. What was the name of the world you just mentioned?"
"For this edition of the Luminary Wardance, send an invitation letter to that world called Jarilo-VI. I hope his descendants will respond."
"General, the star charts from the Sky-Faring Commission show…" The officer pointed at the star map. "This world has already gone dark."
Jing Yuan's expression sank. He fell silent.
"General?"
"Send the invitation anyway. Consider it a wish that won't come true."
[I finally understand what deafening silence means.]
[Jing Yuan's heart must be shattered—the High-Cloud Quintet scattered, and even Igor's planet is gone.]
[Jing Yuan must feel terrible inside.]
[Jing Yuan has to be full of regret. He waited so long to finally offer help, but it's already too late.]
[Three hundred years—if not for the Eternal Freeze, Jarilo-VI would've been gone long ago.]
— —
Luka suddenly realized. "So that's the origin of the comms invitation we received?"
"Mm." Jing Yuan took out a photo. "Before Igor left, he gave me a small memento."
The camera zoomed in for a close-up: a youthful Jing Yuan smiling sincerely from the heart, completely without guile.
And Igor, with his head of red hair, burning with passion.
[The photo's preserved so well—Jing Yuan must have treasured it dearly.]
[Seven hundred years, huh.]
[Both of them were smiling so happily back then.]
Jing Yuan gazed at the photo, as if his memories returned to seven hundred years ago. "This is the photo we took right before parting. Even though he carried heavy disappointment that day, he still tried his best to smile.
And now, I want to give his descendants a gift in return. Seven hundred years ago, I didn't have the chance to help his homeland. Now, it's not too late for everything."
— —
Several days later.
Jarilo-VI, Belobog.
Bronya makes a rare appearance, standing beside her are Seele, Pela, Gepard, Svarog, and Luka.
Even more importantly, there's the figure of Yukong.
[From this moment on, Jarilo-VI has completely shaken off the shadow of the IPC.]
[Jarilo-VI should be considered part of the Xianzhou Alliance now.]
[Here we go again with the old friends reunion—I'm about to cry to death.]
— —
"I've heard the story of Belobog before. The people here, even in their most desperate moments, still held fast to the will of Preservation, unyieldingly resisting fate until dawn arrived.
Only when I personally set foot on this land of heroes and felt the undying ice and snow burn my skin like raging flames… did I realize how weighty this will of Preservation truly is, and how great the people struggling on this land are.
From today onward, the Xianzhou Luofu will fight alongside you until the Eternal Freeze turns to spring winds, and the frozen earth becomes fertile fields."
Yukong's impassioned speech drew thunderous applause from below.
Some time later, at the Belobog History and Culture Museum.
Jing Yuan stood alone before the portrait of himself and Igor.
"Old friend, you once said you envied the long-life species' existence. Because we live long enough to have more time to grow, make amends for mistakes, and change the future.
You were wrong, Igor. 'The important thing is always the next punch.' For our world, the important thing is always the future.
People aren't born into this world from nothing. Every one of us comes from the world that existed before we were born.
Humanity is like a giant tree, closely intertwined and constantly growing. People shape history, history forges heroes, heroes inspire the future, and the future gives birth to new people.
Old friend, your shout from back then has finally received an answer. Luka is that answer.
He's not just a child—he's as ancient as your civilization. He is the embodiment of Jarilo-VI.
I should have realized sooner: a civilization capable of giving birth to you could never be so easily destroyed."
Jing Yuan looked at Igor in the photo, unconsciously curling up the corners of his mouth.
Igor's voice echoed in his ears.
"Jing Yuan, get ready to take this next punch!"
"Bring it on!"
"…"
[If only I could buy osmanthus wine and carry it with me—but in the end, it's never like the joys of youth!]
[Igor, your old friend has finally come.]
[Inheritance is what matters most—Igor's unyielding belief has been passed down perfectly.]
[Another wave of Jing Yuan characterization. Sigh, I really feel like this character is getting more and more fleshed out.]
[Yeah, the stabbing hurts better.]
[????]
[You sick or something? How is Jing Yuan stabby?]
[Jing Yuan's debuff stack is too high. I'm scared he'll tell Yanqing, 'This is the final lesson!']
[Nooooo!!!!]
[What turned you all into this? Is it Hoyoverse?]
[Stab Jing Yuan? Probably not, right.]
At this moment, in Belobog's arena.
Luka slowly walked toward Gepard. "Mr. Gepard, are you ready? I'm here to return the 'victory' you lent me!"
Gepard merely gave a faint smile.
Just when it seemed the whole drama was about to end, Stelle 's phone received a text message.
— —
At this moment aboard the Skysplitter, Stelle bid a proper farewell to Carmella.
Just then, she received a message from Yanqing. At first she thought March 7th had caused trouble and immediately clarified she wasn't March 7th's guardian.
But Yanqing seemed to have other intentions.
With March 7th and Dan Heng both participating, how could Stelle miss out on the fun?
…
Not long after.
Stelle met up with the group at a starskiff dock.
After some discussion, Yanqing said the Luminary Wardance had concluded perfectly, and the generals from Yaoqing and Zhuming were heading back.
Little rascal March 7th raised her hand—she was worried the two generals would get thirsty, so she specially bought a ton of Luofu specialty soda bean juice. Super authentic.
Stelle gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of you! Not only coming back empty-handed, but empty-stomached too!"
March 7th shot Stelle a look that said figure it out yourself.
Then Dan Heng chimed in, "Miss Himeko and Mr. Welt have already set sail back from the Stellaron zone in Kingaru Deep. They'll arrive at the Xianzhou Luofu today. If the timing works out, we should be able to meet them at the starskiff harbor."
"Let me go find a dance troupe—make the welcome ceremony grand."
"Sigh." Dan Heng was helpless. "There's still some time before they arrive. For now, focus on seeing off the Xianzhou guests."
"Mr. Dan Heng is right." Yanqing glanced at the time. "By the transfer schedule, Yaoqing's guests should be arriving soon."
Before he finished speaking.
"Well, if it isn't our Luofu defending champion, little brother Yanqing?" Feixiao stepped into frame, scanning around. "Oh, the Astral Express friends are here too."
Moze stood silently beside her like a humanoid robot.
Except for Stelle, the other three all performed a farewell bow.
Only Stelle stood with hands on hips. "Too bad I didn't get to spar with the General."
Feixiao gave a helpless smile. "The Marshal issued strict orders—no scratching my itch to fight on stage. But seeing a capable ally and not being able to spar is a shame for me too.
Tell you what—in a few days, I'll have someone deliver a challenge letter to the Astral Express."
"Great! I'll do my best to learn from you!"
[Hahahaha, I'm fucking dying of laughter.]
[As expected of the abstract king.]
[Will she get beaten to death by Feixiao? Pretty brutal.]
[No worries, she'll probably get turned into hero fragments.]
— —
After bantering nonsense with Stelle for a bit, March 7th immediately pulled out a full bag of soda bean juice.
When done, she didn't forget to remind them, "Please don't be shy—drink it when you're thirsty on the road!"
Right then.
"Miss March, you're too kind, hahahaha!"
Jiaoqiu smiled, though he wasn't looking at the group at all.
"We've known each other on the Xianzhou Luofu for just a few days, but we've already become friends who'd risk our lives for each other. My mommy—I mean, the sentiment of reluctance at parting is there, but as the saying goes…
If there were no partings, how would we cherish the moments we spend together? If there were no partings, how would we feel the joy of reunion? Miss March, please don't be sad. Parting only links together all the little details we overlooked when we met…"
Stelle scratched their head. "Dr. Jiaoqiu, actually… we're right here."
[Hahaha, that laugh just wiped out all my merits.]
[How is this both tear-jerking and hilarious at the same time?]
[Jiaoqiu's eyes still aren't healed, huh.]
[Crying while laughing.]
— —
"So that's how it is?" Jiaoqiu smiled wryly. "Hahaha, sorry everyone."
Then he turned the wrong way again. "I just haven't gotten used to it yet. Though my eyes are inconvenient, my ears are sharp! I can locate by sound!"
[This is seriously Hoyoverse's hell-level dad joke.]
[Hoyoverse is insane—my merits are definitely getting deducted today.]
After more back-and-forth, with the starskiff arriving, the Yaoqing trio took a group photo with Stelle's party, then happily boarded with their soda bean juice.
But right before the hatch closed, Feixiao took out one cup and casually stuck a straw in it.
[Hope the General is okay.]
[If Hoolay knew Feixiao was defeated by a cup of beverage, would he crawl out of his grave in rage?]
[Probably yes.]
— —
After seeing off the Feixiao trio, the next guests arrived soon after.
Not long later, the guests from the Zhuming Xianzhou arrived at the port.
Huaiyan brought Yunli before the group. "It's little brother Yanqing, and the Astral Express guests. Sorry to keep you waiting."
The other three still performed the farewell bow.
And Stelle still stood with hands on hips. "Too bad I didn't get to spar with the General."
[Why does this feel familiar?]
[I definitely saw this scene just now with Feixiao—the lines didn't even change.]
[As expected of the Trailblazer! Hahaha.]
[Consecutive freakout!]
"Oh? You want to test my skills?" Huaiyan grew curious about Stelle. He rolled up his sleeves. "Hahaha, it's rare to see such a reckless young person. One sentence pulled this old man back to those days when my blood could still boil—truly refreshing!"
[Hahaha, reckless!]
[I'm cracking up over here.]
[Interesting, very interesting!]
…
After some teasing, Huaiyan steered the topic toward Yunli.
Yunli cleared her throat twice. "Ahem, March is my disciple. Before leaving, I have to give a few words of advice."
"Hehe, Master Yunli!"
"Speaking of which, March, you didn't participate in the Luminary Wardance, did you?"
"Uh, yeah, I really didn't."
Yunli said that since her disciple didn't fully achieve the initial goal, it doesn't count as graduation—so she still needs to train diligently.
Stelle clapped in agreement and promised to supervise March 7th twice as hard.
March 7th immediately countered, "Master Yunli, aren't you regretting not joining the Luminary Wardance?"
Yunli shook her head. She felt that if she had really competed and beaten Yanqing, it would've been discourteous.
The next moment, Yanqing suddenly brought out the treasured sword that Huaiyan had offered as a prize.
"But regarding that sword, Yanqing brought it over, hoping at this moment of parting…"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Stelle blinked. "Holy crap, Yanqing who treasures his sword like his life—you actually…"
March 7th unconsciously clasped her hands to her chest. "Could it be, Master Yanqing, you're giving the sword to Master Yunli?"
"Really? This sword is proof of your victory in the Luminary Wardance. Thinking back to when I took your sword before, I feel kinda bad about it." Yunli bowed her head in shame.
Huaiyan praised Yanqing endlessly. "Good, good lad! This old man didn't misjudge you."
At this moment, Yanqing turned into a crooked-mouth dragon king.
"Miss Yunli is joking. This is something Yanqing earned defending the ring. Thinking that you two are about to part and won't see each other for a long time, I figured I'd bring it over for you to touch—comfort for the regret."