Entering Sakura Cycle Again

"Aren't you thinking something improper about that little sister just now?" Indeed, Feng Chen's expression was strange, a look that was half-smile, half-cry, easily frightening people.

"No, I just feel like she misunderstood something." I haven't known these three people for long. I just lost a bag full of food and saved them twice. Besides, if the System hadn't given me these missions, I probably wouldn't have bothered.

This time, Yae Sakura didn't speak, answering him with silence.

"Yae Sakura?" He knew Yae Sakura couldn't possibly die or faint from this level of distress. The only explanation was that she had fallen asleep.

"That's right, it's been a bit tiring today after all."

He knew they couldn't stay here any longer. The battleship named "Hyperion" had just landed. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, they had to get far away.

"Forgive me." He picked up Yae Sakura in a princess carry and used the Stigmata ability "Wind of Serenity" to quickly leave the scene.

Along the way, he noticed Yae Sakura frowning occasionally before relaxing. Perhaps she was having a nightmare or remembering something sad.

"System, what's wrong with her?"

"Just now, the Herrscher of Erosion began to seize control of her body again."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You didn't ask."

"Can I help her?"

"Yes, but this System advises you not to. Your consciousness is far from as powerful as Yae Sakura's or the Herrscher of Erosion's. If you fail after entering, you won't be able to get out."

"How long does this usually last?"

"The longer ones can last over a week, while the shorter ones might only need an hour."

Feng Chen hesitated for only a moment before making his decision.

"Let me in, I want to help her."

"Is this what it means to be human... Fine, whatever you want."

He activated the second Title he had turned off and found a relatively intact house. However, there wasn't much furniture inside. It was likely a newly built house, without even a bed. He placed Yae Sakura on a stable spot and placed his hand on her forehead.

The next second, both Feng Chen and Yae Sakura disappeared.

Although he hadn't seen Yae Sakura on the ship, Feng Chen clearly felt her enter the Sakura Cycle with him.

"System, why did I bring her with me?"

"She has no one to protect her outside. Because the Host entered the Sakura Cycle with her body, the Title has little effect on the outside world, and she would still be attacked by enemies."

"Couldn't you have given me another option?"

"There was one, but you've already entered."

So he had been tricked by the System again. More importantly, after entering, it seemed Yae Sakura had also returned to her original position – the shrine maiden of Yae Village.

"Do I still have to go to Yae Village... By the way, System, what time is it now?"

"It is now four years after Yae Sakura became the shrine maiden, and also the time Kallen Kaslana arrived at Yae Village."

"Then that's... the time we left?"

"It's three days after we left. Look at the shore."

Indeed, the small golden cross left on the shore when they departed was gone, likely taken by someone.

Feng Chen followed the route they had taken last time and arrived at Yae Village.

He was navigating purely by instinct. Since he had brought Yae Sakura in, he should be able to find her.

In a house in Yae Village, the village elder was "counseling" Yae Sakura, trying to make her agree to use Kallen as a sacrifice for the upcoming ritual.

They continuously pressured Yae Sakura with reasons like "silver hair is a symbol of demons" and "the monsters outside the village appeared only after this outsider arrived."

This scene reminded Yae Sakura of what happened four years ago.

"I won't live much longer anyway, so contributing to the village is a good thing."

Yae Sakura didn't speak. After the meeting dispersed, she walked back to her small hut.

Sitting outside the hut was Kallen, who was still recovering from her injuries. Her wounds had healed considerably, enough to fight ordinary Honkai Beasts without issue.

"Kallen, why are you out of bed and walking around?"

He tried to forcibly carry Kallen back to her bedding but found Kallen staring intently at a small cross.

"This is...?"

"An old friend of mine."

"Alright, hurry back and lie down, stop looking at it." He dragged Kallen back inside. Despite Kallen's resistance and struggles, it was useless.

"Is she Kallen Kaslana?"

Her silver hair and azure eyes were indeed very similar to Kiana Kaslana's, making it easy to guess their relationship.

"System, where is the Herrscher of Erosion now?"

"Host, please do not be anxious. When Yae Sakura reaches her most vulnerable moment, the Herrscher of Erosion will emerge."

"The most vulnerable moment... Kallen Kaslana's death?"

"No, Kallen Kaslana didn't die in Yae Village, she was executed by the Schicksal organization."

"This... were there many S-rank Valkyries five hundred years ago?"

"Not many, S-rank Valkyries are extremely rare."

"Then why execute her?"

"At the time, the people in Schicksal thought Kallen Kaslana had gone mad, simply because she fell in love with a Herrscher."

"Then System, can I go back five hundred years?"

"I'm very sorry, but no. Five hundred years is too far back. If the Host were to return to that time, they would likely fall into the 'river of time.' Even if they managed to get out, there's no guarantee of which time period the Host would end up in. If the Host returned to the previous civilization era, with the technology of that time, it wouldn't be difficult to discover that the Host is an undeveloped Herrscher."

The System didn't continue, because Feng Chen already understood the general idea. Returning five hundred years ago would be a near-death experience, and he couldn't guarantee that the outcome from five hundred years ago would be changed.

After all, humans are too complex. Even if Kallen hadn't betrayed Schicksal, there would still be short-sighted people within Schicksal who would want to eliminate Kallen.

"Who are you?!"

Yae Sakura walked out from inside the house and saw Feng Chen outside from a distance.

"Yo, Sakura."

This wasn't surprising at all. Yae Sakura already knew Feng Chen, and it was Feng Chen who brought Yae Sakura's body inside, so it was perfectly normal for her to see him.

"You need to leave quickly, this place is very dangerous!"

Trying to dissuade him was useless. Feng Chen had no intention of leaving now that he had arrived.

"As long as I can save her, I don't care if I die."

The reason why, you ask? It's probably because he wanted to experience the feeling of being a novel protagonist. Helping a girl overcome her trauma and then winning her over, doesn't that feel great? And in the end, reaping both fortune and fame, wouldn't that be wonderful?

Of course, none of the above is possible in the world of Honkai. It's only the first day, and he's already seen two yuri couples. Who knows if there are any women with normal orientations in this world.

No matter what Yae Sakura said, whether she hit him or scolded him, Feng Chen refused to leave.

"Alright, I have a way. I'll deal with this Herrscher of Erosion for you." Although he was a shut-in, he had a rather sunny smile that was quite infectious. This made Yae Sakura have to believe him, as there were no other options left.