Why Am I the One Being Pursued?

Why Am I the One Being Pursued?

Author: Uesugi Rina

Synopsis:

After transmigrating into the world of Honkai: Star Rail, he unlocked a useless system unique to Cat Travelers. The more good deeds he did, the more corresponding Moral Acclaim he earned, which could be used to draw different abilities and skills.

Bai Jun, who had died suddenly from overwork in his previous life, had thought he could finally live the peaceful life he wanted. Yet he discovered that this system was apparently far from simple.

"Beautiful Youth, Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire, Favor of the Sun, Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, Platonsanks's Lightning..."

Oh my, where the hell did this bring me? Is this still a Cat Traveler's system?

Looking at the hidden system of a prestigious university graduate, Bai Jun felt his ideal peaceful and wonderful life gradually drifting away from him.

No. As a qualified corporate slave, as long as he learned to proactively avoid all kinds of trouble and refrained from pursuing cute girls, perhaps he could still preserve his peaceful life.

Yet as time passed, he suddenly realized that there seemed to be just a little too many girls actively coming up to him.

"Wait, why am I the one being pursued?"

PS: I'm bad at writing synopses. Please proceed to the main text.

Sky-Splitting Star, Blazing Heavenly Fire

Call Me the Luofu's Great Benefactor!

Luofu, Exalting Sanctum.

It had started raining.

The first rain after the start of spring soaked the dry air and dust. Beneath rolling thunder, droplets fell upon the brick tiles of the Earth-Balance Commission' Public Office, blooming into patches of spray. The fine rain fell sparsely against the eaves like severed threads, producing a soft patter.

Outside was a hazy sheet of water, while the sky remained a dull, leaden gray. It was so dim that it seemed as though a curtain had been drawn shut. Through the windows, only blurry mist and drizzling rain could be seen.

In weather like this, unless they had something urgent to do, people would rather spend the entire day at home watching the rain outside than step through their doors. Thus, the usually bustling Exalting Sanctum was noticeably quieter than usual, whether on its main roads or in its streets and alleys.

Only within the small Public Office situated in the center of Exalting Sanctum was there a lively scene of its own.

"Ah, my dear older sister, you want me to find Di Ting for you in this heavy rain? Fine, fine, I got it. Just wait for news." The experienced Earth-Balance Commission clerk frowned and hung up the work Jade Omen after only a moment.

"My dear Foxkin brother, I'm just a lowly errand runner in the Earth-Balance Commission. I can't even settle my own marriage prospects, so please stop pestering me to find you a partner... What? You want me to introduce you to Miss Tingyun? Are you serious?" The new clerk looked exhausted, clearly worn down by these annoying and trivial matters and people.

"Huh? Ten skewers of Qiongshi Roasted Bird and a cup of Soda Mung Bean Milk? This is the Earth-Balance Commission' Exalting Sanctum office! Not Aurum Alley delivery, damn it!" The hot-tempered clerk had just hung up the Jade Omen when he realized he had cursed again. Thinking of how his full-attendance bonus would be deducted if someone reported him, he immediately regretted it and slapped his own mouth.

The Earth-Balance Commission was the Xianzhou's administrative agency and the institution its residents came into contact with most often. Matters such as population census, resource allocation, ecological governance, calendar calculation, and timekeeping all fell under its planning. Of course, that was just the flattering way to put it. In reality, it was an agency for handling miscellaneous chores, which was why it was normally the busiest of Luofu's Six Commissions.

That was right. This was one of Luofu's Six Commissions, the office of the Earth-Balance Commission.

However, unlike the luxurious and imposing General Affairs Department at the Starcruiser Sea Hub, this was merely a branch responsible for Exalting Sanctum. It occupied only a small Public Office, and the clerks usually had to work outside. Otherwise, this tiny place would be rather crowded.

But in such cold and quiet weather, ordinary clerks could no longer go out, and taking leave was impossible. They could only stay obediently in the Public Office and battle the endlessly ringing Jade Omens, making the already cramped office seem even more bloated and muddy.

Yet in a corner of the Public Office, that cool silver figure stood in stark contrast to the surrounding restlessness and mess.

He was a young man who looked quite youthful, tall and slender. His silver hair complemented his azure eyes perfectly. He was exceptionally handsome, with skin as fair as fine snow. His long curled lashes looked almost feminine, yet his delicate chin carried none of that weak, overly powdered air.

He could absolutely be described as a Beautiful Youth. If ten were a perfect score, he would probably earn an eight or nine. It was just that those lovely azure eyes of his were always half-lidded and listless. On an ordinary person, that expression would only earn a scornful "dead fish eyes," but set against his looks, it did not detract from him at all. Instead, it gave him a different sort of charm.

Moreover, his presence was remarkably faint. If one did not look carefully, it was easy to overlook him even while he sat there.

At that moment, he was lazily reclining against a soft chair, comfortably narrowing his eyes. There was no work, no calls, and no one urging him on. He was simply singing the praises of a leisurely life to his heart's content.

The occasional gust raised by passersby in the hallway brushed over the half-floating tea stem in his cup, cooling the steaming tea by several degrees. Just as he was calmly slacking off, somewhat hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the corridor and stopped right in front of his desk.

"Qing Yan, why are you slacking off again? But perfect timing. Come handle this gentleman's trouble." It sounded as though Jing Yan had merely happened upon him slacking, but her footsteps had headed straight for him from the start, without any attempt at concealment.

"...Understood."

Bai Jun helplessly lowered the newspaper covering his face and directed his perpetually listless gaze at his superior, Pure Ink Steward Jing Yan, as well as the client beside her.

The client was a plump merchant. His shiny round face always wore a smile like the Maitreya Buddha's. Upon seeing Bai Jun, he somewhat nervously pushed up his black round-framed glasses, whose lenses occasionally flashed with a shrewd glint.

Bai Jun sat up straight, put on a flawless professional smile, and took a wooden sign from behind his chair before placing it on the desk. It bore only two words—

Open for Business

"I can't be bothered to lecture you. There's an assignment around Aurum Alley, so hurry and go with this client." Pure Ink Steward Jing Yan was already used to this sight. After hastily handing the client over to him, she turned around and went off to handle other matters.

With no other choice, Bai Jun took a briefcase from the cabinet. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to bring his saber after all and headed alone with the client toward the entrance of the Public Office.

It was still raining outside, and puddles deep enough to cover the soles of their shoes had already accumulated at the door.

"What heavy rain." Bai Jun stretched a hand beyond the eaves. The cold, damp sensation made him knit his brows as he looked worriedly toward the distant Aurum Alley.

Sighing inwardly, Bai Jun slightly rolled up his trouser legs and pulled two umbrellas from the standard umbrella stand of the Public Office. He kept one for himself and handed the other to the client.

Then, the two of them went out beneath their oiled-paper umbrellas.

As they walked and chatted, Bai Jun learned that the man was an Outworlder who had only recently come to Exalting Sanctum to conduct business. As a civilization operating aboard starships, the Xianzhou had always encouraged exchange and trade with outsiders. Merchants came here continuously from every corner of the stars, earning the place its reputation for a river of goods and clouds of rare treasures. There was nothing strange about that.

The man had opened an interior design company here. He had intended to earn a profit through distinctive decorative styles, but unexpected things began happening.

First, no one had visited the shop for nearly a month. Then, at night, the ceiling would always produce the sound of marbles colliding. It seemed as though someone paced back and forth in the hallway, while something appeared to be cutting through the empty room next door.

The bedroom door lock would tremble lightly. The bathroom faucet was tightly shut, yet it still dripped without pause. From beneath the bed came the faint sound of what seemed to be a ball rolling around...

It was like he had seen a ghost! These strange occurrences had left him so unsettled that he had not dared return for several days.

Fortunately, a friend living on Luofu had given him some advice, saying that the Xianzhou had always believed in feng shui and auspicious divination. It was probably an issue with the house itself.

Having no other choice, he had commissioned the Earth-Balance Commission to inspect it with the mindset of giving it a try.

Bai Jun frowned as he listened, wondering why the man had not gone to the Ten Lords Bureau or the Divination Bureau for something like this. Why had he come to the Earth-Balance Commission instead?

In Bai Jun's view, it ultimately came down to the Ten Lords Bureau and Divination Bureau charging for consultations, while the Earth-Balance Commission was free, wasn't it?

Sigh, how unreliable. Why did the Earth-Balance Commission send me a clerk like this? Who knows what use he has besides being good-looking... Oh well, it's free anyway. Might as well use him.

Just as expected...

The client's sudden inner thoughts seemed to confirm Bai Jun's guess. Bai Jun curled his lips, thinking that he had been right after all.

Still, the fact that the man had dared badmouth him in his heart made Bai Jun slightly displeased. He would remember this grudge for now.

Before long, they arrived at the company the client had mentioned. Though he called it a company, it was really just a slightly larger small shop. The building had a temple-like brick-and-wood structure, upturned eaves, carved lattice windows, and ingenious design. Even its modest signboard was carefully arranged—new, bright, appropriately placed, and elegant.

As expected of a wealthy merchant from elsewhere. At the very least, the exterior decoration was quite impressive.

"Here it is." As he spoke, the client walked to the entrance and unlocked the front door.

Bai Jun put away his umbrella and hurried beneath the eaves, brushing the raindrops from his clothes and shaking the mud clinging to his shoes before cautiously following him inside.

The room was no less exquisite than its exterior. Though small, it had everything it needed. Bai Jun looked around and murmured, "Not bad as a new home."

The client's lips moved slightly, as though he had not heard Bai Jun's quiet muttering. "Mr. Qing Yan..."

Bai Jun raised a hand to interrupt him. "No need. Qing Yan is only a nickname given to me by my loose-tongued colleagues. Just call me Bai Jun."

"Then, Mr. Bai, what do you... see?"

Bai Jun took out a compass from his briefcase and turned around the room three times in each direction. He formed a hand seal with one hand and muttered under his breath.

The client stood beside him, looking utterly dumbfounded. He had only intended to try his luck with the Earth-Balance Commission' free service. He had never expected to actually summon a feng shui master! Weren't feng shui masters supposed to be bald old Daoists with messy beards who loved spouting nonsense? Why did this one look so young?

"Your friend was right. Your company can't stay open because there's a problem with this building." After a while, Bai Jun said, "Look at this room. There are no windows on the east side, so it lacks yang energy. The north side hangs open, making it difficult to gather wealth. The south side faces another office building directly, which means enemies meeting face-to-face. Most deadly of all, there's a market to the west... Tsk."

"A-a market? What's wrong with that?"

"The killing intent is too heavy."

"Oh, that makes sense, it makes sense! As expected of a master!" The client was completely convinced. He moved closer to Bai Jun and stared at the compass, which was completely blank. Its surface was like a mirror, reflecting a face twisted with worry.

"As the saying goes, the qi fields of Heaven, Earth, and all things are interconnected. When qi fields harmonize, it is auspicious. When they clash, it is inauspicious. This room is unfavorable in all four directions, and the Five Elements restrain it completely. It can practically be called a haunted house. Stay here too long, and not only will business suffer—its owner may even..."

"Master, Master, you have to save me!"

Hearing this, Bai Jun rubbed the corner of his lips with his thumb. His expression remained calm and composed, yet a hint of foxlike cunning unconsciously appeared in it.

"Don't panic, don't panic. You're the first client I've received today. It seems we are fated. Today, I'll give you some complimentary after-sales service. Move out within three days, and I'll tell you somewhere else to go. I'll handle this house for you."

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

The man left, grateful beyond measure.

Bai Jun watched his departing back, his dull half-lidded eyes slowly widening in surprise.

Noble Moral Acclaim +10

You have accumulated 100 points of Noble Moral Acclaim. Begin the draw?

Yes/No

Yet when Bai Jun saw the familiar system screen before him, he was not particularly happy. Instead, his expression turned strange.

Seriously? This actually counted as Noble Moral Acclaim?

I'm starting to wonder who exactly set your system's utterly chaotic standards for judging morality. Lord of Joy?

Although he complained inwardly, his body honestly tapped the Yes button.

Then, a panel composed of countless items and skills began spinning before his eyes, while the roulette-like text changed without pause.

In the end, the pointer slowly landed on a pair of black-and-white dual pistols with gilded barrels.

Congratulations. You have obtained the item: Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire.

PS:

Universal Disclaimer.

This novel has a lighthearted and cheerful tone. The protagonist is not a plot-driven character and is not a native.

I will try my best to match the original characterizations, though some settings may be altered. The system in this story only serves as a lubricant; this is not a trend-chasing novel, and the pacing starts slowly.

Finally, this is a new author's new book. Please support it~

Not Slacking Off

Bai Jun, male, was a transmigrator.

Although he very much wanted to introduce his previous life with the words of a certain office worker, it was too troublesome, so he decided against it.

He knew that he was someone with no connection to meaning or the value of survival. He never smoked, drank only lightly, and had barely touched games since starting work. His original plan had been to work until his thirties, accumulate enough wealth, then escape that dull and tedious life while he still had some strength left and go sing the praises of life in some city with low prices.

Instead, he died before accomplishing anything. After only two years of work, he suddenly perished, and when he opened his eyes again, he had arrived on the Xianzhou.

Though he lived on Luofu, he was not a proper native Luofu man of the old Xianzhou Lan-banner lineage.

In truth, the place he had first transmigrated to was Zhuming. There, he happened to be picked up by an old man named Huai Yan, and afterward, he became entangled in quite a few ill-fated relationships. Sigh, there was no need to say more. In short, it had taken him several years to escape Zhuming. Though he later spent some time on Yaoqing, he eventually made his way to Luofu. Come to think of it, it had been nearly four years since he left Zhuming, hadn't it?

He had now lived on Luofu for nearly three years, and his work as an ordinary Earth-Balance Commission clerk had become second nature—easy and comfortable.

Bai Jun was someone content with what he had. He neither obsessed over victory, defeat, and troubles, nor did he ever make enemies that would keep him awake at night. He was already quite satisfied with his current stable life.

As for his cheat, he had not originally possessed one. But after arriving on Luofu, one morning, a system had inexplicably appeared. It sounded like a good thing, but this system was different from what he had imagined. It was somewhat absurd.

System — Noble Moral Acclaim

Current Abilities: Beautiful Youth, Favor of the Sun, Mind Catcher, Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire

Simply put, it was a system that awarded points for doing good deeds, and once he accumulated one hundred points, he could draw a prize.

It sounded like a simple mechanic where helping an old lady cross the street or catching a robber would earn him a huge pile of points.

But in reality, its moral value judgment was incredibly bizarre—so bizarre that it could not be evaluated with common sense at all.

Once, he had saved an old woman with a heart condition who had fainted in an alley. Yet even such a good deed did not increase his moral value at all. Several days later, he discovered that the old woman had been a con artist. After he saved her, she had gone to the hospital and scammed several more people.

Come to think of it, perhaps he should be grateful that the system had not deducted his moral value instead?

Furthermore, deliberate and affected kindness only felt hypocritical. Since that was the case, he simply let the system's moral value do as it pleased.

Fortunately, the Earth-Balance Commission' work itself involved helping the public. Through everyday work, he could always accumulate enough moral value for a draw. Ah, he was earning moral value without even lifting a finger.

The system's prize pool could not merely be called all-encompassing—it had everything. There were all sorts of things one could never imagine but could somehow draw, though the odds of getting anything good were extremely low...

The draw screen was a panel formed by countless items and skills spinning before his eyes, its roulette-like text changing constantly. Yet even if he stared fixedly at the words, trying to seize a good skill was futile.

First, the words on the panel changed too quickly. The naked eye could only barely catch them through fleeting memory, making it difficult to rely on eyesight and reaction speed alone.

Second, when the rapidly changing text stopped, it did not all stop at once. Instead, it settled one word at a time with a certain delay. Thus, no matter how quick his reactions or sharp his eyes were, they were useless. It all depended entirely on intangible luck.

The system never issued missions. There were no attribute windows or dialogue boxes either. It resembled an online game interface from more than a decade ago, somewhat crude and simplistic.