Honkai Star Rail: I Can Hear Their Secrets

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This night was destined to be sleepless.

As the Stellaron Hunter Blade invaded Xianzhou Luofu, countless members of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus perished or were injured. To compound matters, Lord Ravager coveted Luofu itself.

Behind the scenes, unseen forces fanned the flames, stirring public opinion and inciting conflict between the six divisions and the Ten-Lords Commission, as well as between the populace and the governing authority, aiming to plunge Luofu into utter chaos.

Yet, the ordinary citizens remained blissfully unaware of these machinations.

Within the Sky-Faring Commission, many had learned from Xianzhou's forum posts that Su Jinyan was indeed a cultivator of the Medicine King's secret teachings.

The man surnamed Yu, who initially refused to sign the petition, began to boast loudly.

"See? Didn't I tell you so?"

"If it's confirmed that Su Jinyan is truly connected to the Medicine King, all of you who signed have committed perjury."

"Not one of you will escape responsibility; facts prove I was right all along."

"Yu Qing, enough with your chatter. Can't you see everyone is already distressed?" Rockbright rebuked him.

"How else would you know I was right if I don't speak up?" Yu Qing replied smugly. In his eagerness to prove himself correct, he had forwarded the post about the Medicine King's secret teachings to every member of the Ming Huo Trading Company.

The traders fumed silently, unable to counter with any strong evidence against him and thus forced to endure his gloating.

Just then, Yukong hastily pushed open the Palace of Astrum's doors, returning to the Sky-Faring Commission, weary from her journey.

"It's late. Why haven't you all gone home yet?"

"The Luofu Jade Realm Gate has been sealed, and even trade routes will be closed. Hasn't Xikui given you time off?" Yukong asked, puzzled.

Xikui, Yukong's secretary, explained, "Lady Yukong, here's what happened..."

She recounted the series of events that transpired after Yukong left the Palace of Astrum.

Initially, members of the Ming Huo Trading Company had signed the petition out of trust in Tingyun and gratitude towards their savior. Now that Su Jinyan was confirmed as a cultivator by the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, they feared potential repercussions from the Ten-Lords Commission and concerns about their jobs being jeopardized.

Yukong sighed. "To think you'd fall for such a crude attempt at sowing discord."

"The reason I've been away for so long is because I accompanied the general to the Ten-Lords Commission to address this very issue."

"Xikui," she instructed, "send a letter to the Seat of Divine Foresight and inquire when they plan to release the announcement?"

"Yes, Lady Yukong," Xikui replied.

The man named Yu froze, a sense of unease creeping over him. What did Lady Yukong mean by this?

Shortly thereafter, Xikui received a response: "Lady Yukong, within five minutes, we will receive the official notification."

Five minutes later...

The Seat of Divine Foresight and the Ten-Lords Commission jointly posted a pinned announcement on Xianzhou's forum under the "[Luofu Chatter]" section:

The swift and severe crackdown on serious criminal activities was a crucial policy for Xianzhou Luofu at this stage, aimed at punishing crime and maintaining public order.

To safeguard social stability, protect the lives and property of the populace, and uphold the broader framework of development and security, based on the spirit of the Luofu Public Order Meeting and according to Xianzhou's laws such as "Ten Unforgivable Crimes," the following notice is hereby issued:

In recent years, the criminal organization known as the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus has taken root and caused turmoil within the Xianzhou Alliance.

Through the relentless efforts of our undercover operative Su Jinyan, who risked his life infiltrating the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus for an extended period,

we have resolutely fought against these criminal elements. Today, we finally obtained comprehensive evidence of their illegal activities and locations of hidden strongholds.

Upon receiving this information, the Seat of Divine Foresight promptly dispatched the Yanqing Guards with cloud-mounted elites to join forces with the Underworld Military Official in a coordinated operation against the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

This successful raid resulted in the capture of over a thousand cultivators from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Those who resisted were eliminated on the spot...

However, the leader of the Disciples, Dan Shu, managed to escape, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

Any information regarding Pillar Dan should be reported to the Ten-Lords Commission. Upon verification, substantial rewards will be provided.

We hereby commend our undercover operative Su Jinyan and grant him due recognition as per regulations, expressing gratitude for his contributions to the Xianzhou Alliance...

For those spreading unfounded rumors, severe penalties will be enforced.

Due to significant work-related errors, diviners Hui Xing, Mingyue, and Jingzhe of the Grand Diviner's Office have been demoted accordingly.

Diviner Qingque disseminated false rumors with grave consequences and is henceforth demoted to the position of Registrar, ineligible for promotion within five years.

Medical Practitioner Amethyst of the Alchemy Commission, owing to major work-related failures, has been relieved of their duties permanently barred from employment by any division.

(Appendix: List of 126 dismissed medical practitioners and assistants from the Alchemy Commission - Downloads: 36)

(Appendix: Bounty Notice for Pillar Dan, Leader of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus - Downloads: 1,120)

(Appendix: Video of "Black Rose," Elite Head of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Escaping During Realm-Keeping Commission Interrogation - Downloads: 114,514)

[Shangshang's Sole Account: Front row, claiming the first comment spot!]

[Invincible Swordsman123: Even the Stellaron Hunter was captured by Teacher—absolutely incredible.]

[Playing with Fate: Personally, I fully accept and strongly endorse this disciplinary action. Those spreading rumors deserve severe punishment.]

[Little Gui Guinevere: Plot twist, folks! Don't believe or spread false information. Tune in to live stream channel 6324 meow, attention to channel 6324, thank you meow~]

[Unfeeling Divination Machine: Isn't this disciplinary decision rather hasty? Specifically, regarding Qingque's penalty.]

[Snowy Coat: You'll have to ask what your disciple thinks about that.]

[Benefactor's Little Fox: My sincerest apologies for interrupting everyone, but have any of you seen my benefactor? (Su Jinyan.JPG)]

[Benefactor hasn't gone missing; just wanted to show him off to all of you.]

[Real Name User: Heard the Seat of Divine Foresight decided to reward Su Jinyan with a hundred fairy sparklers.]

[Holding Bright: The general is too stingy, but I must admit, sneaking out of the Alchemy Commission was indeed a wise move.]

[Jing Yuan, My Original Husband: Hey, upstairs, don't talk about my husband like that!]

[Silver Wolf: Large-scale turn-based strategic card game "Turmoil of the Three Kingdoms" set to launch next year—Click here to reserve beta access.]

[Diting + Howling Friend 2 (account banned): Bros, my original account got banned—quickly add my new one.]

[Yue Shi (account banned): Ha ha, made me laugh.]

[Everyone's concerned about some stranger, but have you considered how your economy might deteriorate further after Luofu's lockdown?]

["On My First Day Under Lockdown, I Fell Victim to Mara-Strike," "Calling for Reopening: What We Need is Freedom," "The Impact of Prolonged Lockdown on Mental Health"]

[Downpour Coat: So focused on slaying Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, we forgot about you.]

[Yue Shi123 (account banned): Why delete my post and ban my account? Wasn't what I said true?]

[Downpour Coat: That's enough already.]

[Fu Xuan's Dog: Everyone, remain calm; the Realm-Keeping Commission has already implemented measures.]

[Tomorrow, personnel from the Realm-Keeping Commission will distribute free protein rice and consumption vouchers at Exalting Sanctum Square. Please queue orderly with your jade divination tablets.]

[Diting + Howling Friend 3: Click here for Diting videos? Cute clips? High quality at low prices?]

After reading these announcements, members of the Ming Huo Trading Company collectively sighed with relief.

It seemed they had indeed made the wise choice. On the other hand, there was one clown who, despite being clearly wrong, stubbornly insisted on his stance.

Facing the mocking gazes of everyone around him, Yu Qing's face flushed red, but he braced himself and said, "Even if that's the case, I haven't done anything wrong. Everyone has the right to choose their path. Besides, with Luofu under lockdown now, none of us can achieve any performance—"

"Lady Yukong," interjected Yukong impatiently, "relieve Yu Qing of his duties."

As the branch director of the Sky-Faring Commission, when it came to dismissing employees, even Jing Yuan could not override her decision.

Xikui nodded gently. "Yes, Lady Yukong."

Immediately, she processed the removal of Yu Qing's position through his jade divination tablet. At the same time, Yu Qing received the notification on his own device.

Taken aback, Yu Qing felt incredulous. "Lady Yukong, you're dismissing me just for such a minor issue?"

Yukong's tone was stern. "Mr. Yu Qing, your ingratitude and repeated denigration of the Seat of Divine Foresight's esteemed contributors have severely tarnished the Sky-Faring Commission's reputation."

"The Sky-Faring Commission does not tolerate employees with unethical conduct. Please leave immediately."

Being dismissed due to misconduct affecting the commission's reputation meant he wouldn't even receive severance pay.

Furthermore, the other five commissions would likely reject him because of this stain on his record, effectively barring him from any public service role for the rest of his life.

This decision seemed even harder to accept than Tingyun's earlier one.

Yu Qing trembled uncontrollably, muttering through chattering teeth, "This is unfair; I want to apply for labor arbitration..."

Unmoved, Yukong replied, "That is your right."

"Xikui, please ask Chi Yan to escort him out," she continued. "Our Sky-Faring Commission welcomes no such guests."

Twenty minutes earlier, at the Divination Commission.

The library was dimly lit by candlelight. On a desk lay a black-and-white photograph of Qingque, accompanied by an incense burner emitting ethereal wisps and an array of fruits and flowers. The funeral scroll read:

In death, virtue lives on,

Though gone, presence remains,

Across: I love Imperial Jade Stronghold.

Outside the library, footsteps approached, along with the voices of Fu Xuan and Su Jinyan, growing louder still.

"Stop playing hero—don't take such dangerous risks alone again."

"Yes, yes, Lady Fu Xuan is right to scold me. From now on, I'll always listen to you; if you tell me to go east, I won't even consider west."

"Well then, avoid interacting with Tingyun. Look how her perfectly respectable position as Shuttle Envoy for the Sky-Faring Commission has been compromised due to your entanglements."

"Now she can only hide within the Divination Commission, afraid to venture out anywhere."

"Rest assured, Shizun, with me looking after Tingyun, she won't feel lonely."

"That's not what this venerable one meant! You insolent disciple!"

Shortly thereafter, Fu Xuan slowly pushed open the library doors.

Sensing someone intruding, Qingque, kneeling on a prayer mat, gradually turned her neck.

Her delicate figure seemed to mirror the grayish hue seen in the photograph.

"Who has come to pay respects to Qingque...?"

"Did you bring the Imperial Jade Stronghold?"

"Three players and one seat empty; call Tingyun over to join us..."

"Q-Q-Q... Qingque!" Fu Xuan swayed unsteadily, her mind disoriented.

Seeing Fu Xuan about to collapse, Su Jinyan hastily caught her in his arms.

"Shizun, Shizun! Don't die on me!" he cried sorrowfully, gently patting her delicate cheeks.

Excellent—no response. With his master in peril, it was only right for this disciple to fulfill his filial duty by administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Just as Su Jinyan prepared to lean in for a kiss, Fu Xuan conveniently regained consciousness.

"Qingque! What exactly do you intend to do? Have you finished your work for today?" Face flushed with embarrassment, Fu Xuan broke free from Su Jinyan's embrace, reprimanding him softly.

Qingque, overwhelmed with anguish, exclaimed, "I am already dead! It's all because of your choice, Grand Diviner!"

Feeling somewhat uneasy, Fu Xuan asked, "Qingque is...already dead? Then who is this Qingque that this venerable one sees?"

Su Jinyan swiftly stepped forward, supporting Fu Xuan and offering comfort, "Lady Fu Xuan, don't blame yourself too much. Qingque fell into Mara-Strike due to her own excessive late-night work," he reassured her. "It has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"It absolutely has nothing to do with you," Su Jinyan reassured her firmly.

Fu Xuan stammered, "This venerable one, this venerable one..."

"A-Yan, have you seen Qingque? The Qingque who was kneeling on that prayer cushion."

Qingque stiffly turned their neck towards them.

Su Jinyan silently sighed, his gaze filled with sorrow. "Shizun, it's time for you to rest. Qingque's death is not your fault."

Overwhelmed by these words, Fu Xuan suddenly fainted into Su Jinyan's arms.

Faint echoes of familiar voices reached her ears:

"Shizun, are you alright?! Shizun!"

"Grand Diviner, Grand Diviner!"

"What should we do? A-Yan, I think I might have gone too far; the Grand Diviner truly passed out."

"Don't panic. Keep kneeling there on the prayer cushion, I have an idea."

Fu Xuan's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she mentally debated whether to assign Qingque more work the next day.

Just as Fu Xuan was about to regain consciousness, Su Jinyan unhesitatingly pressed his lips against hers.

If not now, when else would be the perfect moment for CPR?

Fu Xuan's lips were incredibly soft and somewhat cool, reminiscent of kissing jelly.

"Mngh—" Fu Xuan's face flushed bright red, and her beautiful eyes, which had been about to open, swiftly closed again.

How utterly shameful! How dare this disobedient disciple treat this venerable one like this!

Fu Xuan dared not open her eyes, deciding it was best to feign ignorance. Opening them now would undoubtedly create an incredibly awkward atmosphere. Moreover, she wouldn't be able to face Qingque and Su Jinyan without embarrassment.

It seemed as though Su Jinyan had forgotten he was performing CPR, indulging deeply and passionately in the sweet fragrance of Fu Xuan's lips.

After what felt like an eternity, Fu Xuan abruptly opened her beautiful eyes and forcefully pushed away Su Jinyan.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, cheeks flushed cherry red, and her gaze appeared dazed, hazy like mist. Her lips parted gently, softly panting, seemingly still immersed in the blissful moment.

Su Jinyan's heart raced, barely managing to resist the urge to kiss her again. However, continuing at this point would change the nature of his actions.

He couldn't risk provoking Fu Xuan's anger once she regained full consciousness; she might unleash a flurry of attacks out of humiliation.

Until this moment, Fu Xuan had no prior experience with kissing, making this her first encounter. Consequently, she had been unconsciously holding her breath throughout. The reason she pushed Su Jinyan away was simply because she felt suffocated; otherwise, she might have continued pretending to be unconscious.

Su Jinyan let out a relieved sigh. "Seems my CPR really worked."

Fu Xuan's flushed face turned slightly redder as she asked, bewildered, "CPR? What do you mean by CPR?"

"A-Yan, did this venerable one faint just now? Did you see anything happen?" Fu Xuan queried.

Understanding her intent, Su Jinyan replied, "No, you seem perfectly fine now."

Fu Xuan's enchantingly beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she turned her ire towards Qingque. "Hmph, Qingque!"

Qingque knelt on a prayer cushion with her back to Fu Xuan, her delicate body stiffened, afraid even to breathe deeply.

Suddenly, she regretted pranking Fu Xuan tonight.

Will I be silenced by the Grand Diviner now?

Daring not to speak further, Qingque silently bowed in reverence to her own black-and-white obituary photo.

"Let us forever honor Qingque. To her family, she was a well-educated and courteous young woman."

"To her superiors, she was a diligent and uncomplaining subordinate."

"To her colleagues, she was an exemplary model within the Divination Commission."

Fu Xuan remained silent, thinking, If all diviners in the commission were like you, this venerable one might as well give up living, embrace Demonic Yin, and report directly to the Ten-Lords Commission.

Overwhelmed with anguish, Qingque continued, "Due to the Grand Diviner's erroneous promotion order, Qingque's life was tragically frozen on that fateful night."

Su Jinyan's expression grew solemn as he picked up three incense sticks and paid his respects to Qingque's portrait.

"Rest peacefully, Qingque," he said somberly.

Qingque blinked in confusion.

Grief-stricken, Su Jinyan declared, "Qingque, from now on, I will carry on your spirit of slacking off."

"I shall... uh, uphold the reputation of the Exalting Sanctum's... gambler?"

Qingque stared, bewildered.

"Gambling fiend," Su Jinyan continued.

Qingque blinked again, still perplexed.

"Gambling freak, yes, gambling freak." He paused before adding, "I'll carry on your legacy as the 'Exalting Sanctum Gambling Freak.'"

Fu Xuan remained silent, utterly speechless.

Unable to contain himself, Qingque blurted out, "Who's the Exalting Sanctum Gambling Freak?! That sounds absolutely terrible! And how could you forget the nickname you gave yourself?"

Su Jinyan was utterly shocked. "The dead are speaking!"

Indignant, Qingque yelled, "Who're you calling dead? I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much!"

Despite himself, Su Jinyan burst into laughter. "You really can't take a joke."

Qingque glared at him, speechless.

Su Jinyan then turned serious. "But Qingque, instead of resting at home this late at night, here you are."

"Why would you suddenly decide to pay respects to yourself in the library?"

"And if our esteemed Grand Diviner gets spooked and something untoward happens, be prepared for your punishment."

Qingque looked at him with a resentful expression. "Whose fault do you think it is?"

"Thanks to you, I've actually been promoted now."

"Not only did the Grand Diviner not reprimand me, but I've also become a diviner."

"What kind of situation is this, honestly?"

"Well, considering where things were headed, sooner or later, I'd fall victim to Mara-Strike anyway. Might as well pay my respects early, right?"

At Su Jinyan's prompting, Qingque proceeded to recount in detail everything that had transpired after he left.

Fu Xuan scolded her bluntly, "Hmph, Qingque, this venerable one only sought what was best for you."

"Most people would be overjoyed at a promotion; why do you act like it's the end of the world? Your family and friends—all of them hope for your advancement and increased income!"

Su Jinyan couldn't help but chuckle, "That's right, little Que'er, getting promoted with a raise is indeed a good thing."

Qingque puffed out her cheeks indignantly. "Wow, you still have the nerve to laugh!"

"A-Yan, don't you realize the efforts I made on your behalf behind the scenes?"

"I even took advantage of the Grand Diviner's absence to buy you a jade divination tablet."

Su Jinyan's expression turned serious as he solemnly declared, "The long-hidden criminal organization, Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, operating clandestinely within Luofu for millennia, has finally been exposed!

"By decree of the Seat of Divine Foresight and the Ten-Lords Commission, numerous individuals spreading rumors shall be investigated.

"Diviner Qingque, as a diviner, you failed to strive for progress, instead focusing solely on leisure and entertainment. Furthermore, you disseminated rumors, causing widespread anxiety.

"Now, in the name of the Seat of Divine Foresight and the Ten-Lords Commission, I impose the maximum penalty upon you.

"You are hereby demoted from your position as diviner and relegated to the lowest rank within the Divination Commission—Storekeeper."

"Qingque, Chief Treasurer, do you have any grievances?"

Fu Xuan blinked, puzzled.

This venerable one had finally found an opportunity to promote Qingque, only for her position to be revoked by a single decree from the Seat of Divine Foresight?

Qingque's cheeks flushed slightly. "That sounds...amazing!"

"A-Yan, as expected, you always find a way when it comes to these matters."

"I pondered all day without figuring out a solution, but you managed it effortlessly!"

A smile played at Su Jinyan's lips. "Give me the jade divination tablet. Before the Seat of Divine Foresight issues their announcement, I'll promptly notify them to make the necessary changes."

"In the future, feel free to relax and coast along; worry not about your wages, for I will support you."

Qingque's lips curved upward, eyes twinkling with delight. "Sounds great! Considering how hard I worked today, why don't you pamper me a bit then?" she teased. "Could you make me a cup of Immortal's Delight tea? I want it brewed by your own hands."

Fu Xuan cleared her throat softly, calling Su Jinyan closer. "A-Yan, come here, beside this venerable one."

Su Jinyan swiftly ran over and, following Fu Xuan's gesture, knelt down.

Fu Xuan's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered softly into his ear, "Impudent disciple."

"This venerable one will soon use the Cloud-Viewing Mirror to scan the visible star domain," Fu Xuan continued, her voice serious. "To ensure there are no black holes or other hazardous celestial bodies disrupting our course."

Su Jinyan understood at once. "Don't worry, Shizun, I'll add extra sugar to your cup."

Fu Xuan tugged on Su Jinyan's sleeve. "And..."

Su Jinyan caught her unspoken meaning. "Rest assured, tonight I'll stay late and accompany you while working overtime."

Only then did Fu Xuan nod with satisfaction.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, her expression turned solemn. "Ahem, don't misunderstand; this isn't a request from this venerable one," she hastened to clarify. "It is because you see how hard this venerable one works during office hours, so you voluntarily offer to share the workload."

In a deep voice, Su Jinyan responded, "Then, as a reward, I want Shizun to assist me in my cultivation."

A puzzled look crossed Fu Xuan's delicate features. "Assist you in cultivation?"

Su Jinyan's expression remained serious. "Firstly, I'm not a pervert. Secondly, I wish for Shizun to take those still-warm white stockings off your feet and place them over my face."

Fu Xuan fell silent.

Afraid Fu Xuan might misunderstand, Su Jinyan hastily added, "Or perhaps there's another approach you'd find more acceptable?"

"Does Shizun feel any chill on your delicate white feet? Allow me to warm them for you."

Fu Xuan's expression darkened slightly. "How exactly would you do that?"

Su Jinyan grinned broadly, his intentions unmistakable.

Suppressing the urge to kick him away, Fu Xuan gritted their teeth and said, "Can't you be a bit more restrained in the future? You're putting this venerable one in a difficult position—neither hitting nor sparing you seems right. Hitting you might only excite you further, yet not disciplining you leaves no consequence."

Gently grasping Fu Xuan's slender hand, Su Jinyan exclaimed, "Ah, Shizun! Please indulge yourself and whip me mercilessly; don't hold back just because I'm a fragile blossom~"

Fu Xuan remained speechless.

Qingque, visibly troubled, silently pleaded, Could you both lower your voices? Am I part of your peculiar interests now?

Sigh, A-Yan is becoming increasingly twisted—all thanks to the Grand Diviner indulging him.