Honkai, Survive

Fang Jie didn't quite catch what was said, but the Stellaron Spirit was definitely talking, right?

"Must have been sleep-talking. You were mumbling in your sleep just now... Poor thing, must have been a terrible nightmare."

Natasha, after settling Yae Sakura, replied.

"It's strange. Sampo's little trinket shouldn't have such potent effects, yet she hasn't woken up at all. She just looks like she's asleep."

That's what Natasha had initially thought, but then another Yae Sakura appeared.

Perhaps an alien falling asleep was also a kind of illness, not so simple.

Fang Jie suddenly leaned in, unceremoniously picking up the pen she used to scribble down medical advice like a child drawing—

What was he doing?

Fang Jie gazed deeply at the Stellaron Spirit.

She's so beautiful, especially when she's not opening her mouth. Quiet, serene, and lovely.

What a magnificent face! I must leave my mark upon it!

—'I send my thoughts like a mayfly across the heavens, a single grain of sand in the vast ocean. I lament the brevity of my life, and envy the endless flow of the Yangtze River. I wish to roam with celestial beings, and embrace the bright moon to find eternal peace. Knowing that it cannot be easily attained, I entrust my lingering feelings to the mournful wind.'

His brushstrokes were like soaring dragons and coiling snakes, a disaster of a python.

Natasha was stunned. By the time she wanted to stop him, it was too late.

"Guest, I can't just stand by and watch you treat a patient like this in my clinic."

Natasha couldn't just watch and reminded him.

"I'm truly sorry, but please understand, this is an unconventional method to wake a patient."

Fang Jie's hands didn't stop as he continued his poem, writing: "...mournful wind."

Natasha couldn't help but laugh. What kind of unconventional method was this?

Just as she was about to reprimand him, the Stellaron Spirit actually opened her eyes!

Fang Jie's expression was as usual, his tone gentle as he whispered in her ear, "Time to get up."

The Stellaron Spirit's eyes widened. She was momentarily stunned by the strange dream and the whisper before finally reacting.

"What... what are you drawing on my face?"

"Hehehehehe..."

Before things could get worse, Natasha pushed Fang Jie away. As a doctor, her authority in the clinic was absolute, and she shoved him with considerable force.

"Be quiet."

It was better not to let him speak. Natasha turned to the patient:

"Little sleepyhead, how are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

With that familiar motherly demeanor, the Stellaron Spirit didn't lash out and fight Fang Jie for three hundred rounds.

She still felt a bit dizzy, likely from waking up abruptly. She wasn't tied up, but rather resting on a bed somewhere— this suggested she wasn't in mortal danger, at most having been humiliated by Fang Jie.

As for the specifics, she'd have to ask the stranger in front of her.

"I had a strange dream."

"That's good. You were muttering strange things in your sleep and wouldn't wake up, I was starting to get worried."

Natasha reassured her, "Since you're awake, try moving around a bit. I'm Natasha, a doctor from the Underworld. You've been lying in my clinic all day."

Doctor, oh, right. It was her good friend Sampo. She'd accidentally triggered a treasure chest mimic after hitting him, and then she felt dizzy and passed out.

Where was Sampo?

Fang Jie was here!

Where was Dan Heng? Where was March 7th?

Thinking this, she politely said, "Hello, I'm Stelle. You can call me A-Xing."

"Hello... Heh heh, you're quite polite."

Natasha chuckled, subtly glancing at someone.

Speaking of which, it was strange. Natasha felt that his gaze wasn't that of a stranger, but rather a gaze that was familiar yet unfamiliar, filled with admiration and affection, a mix of kindness and mischief.

Had they met somewhere before?

She pondered, explaining the situation to the Stellaron Spirit, "Sampo went to clean up the mess he caused. I'll be taking care of you in his place for now. But judging by your appearance, your head and body seem fine, you're very healthy. If you don't need anything else, I'll go take care of other patients."

"Yes, yes, someone is chasing us. Is the Underworld safe?"

"Don't worry, the Silvermane Guards won't chase you down into the Underground. The surface and the Underground have been separated for many years. Even during the Underworld's most chaotic times, the Guards never came down."

Natasha's tone was gentle.

"Of course, I don't know the reasons behind the City Builder's lockdown order. Not long ago, they suddenly released strange signals, so perhaps the blockade has been lifted? If that's the case, you'll have helped the Underworld Fire achieve their greatest desire."

"Underworld Fire?"

"It's a civilian organization in the Underground. You can think of them as the Silvermane Guards of the Underworld— just a bit more humane."

The Stellaron Spirit didn't yet understand the weight in Natasha's words; she was just a beautiful girl Stellaron Spirit.

"Thank you, I need to go meet up with my companions."

"No need to thank me, healing the sick is a doctor's duty. As for your companions..."

Natasha, like the Stellaron Spirit, deliberately ignored Fang Jie and spoke about their whereabouts.

Thus, the Stellaron Spirit quickly confirmed at least two things:

First, Dan Heng had been taken away by Sampo.

Second, March 7th had abandoned her and gone out to wander the streets by herself.

As for Gepard... she wasn't too concerned about the blonde young man's situation at the moment.

Including Fang Jie, get away!

Regardless, Stelle decided to find her two companions first and then have a thorough discussion with them about why they had abandoned her.

Do you know what I went through when you weren't here? (crying)

Watching her leave the clinic with a determined stride, swinging her bat at Fang Jie as a show of defiance, Natasha couldn't help but chuckle. When Fang Jie looked over, she covered her mouth.

"She's such a lively young girl, innocent and straightforward. But you're quite mischievous too, not reminding her of anything."

Remind her of what? You didn't say anything either.

Fang Jie looked at the older woman with a subtle expression: "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Fang Jie. This is Yae Sakura, and this is Rin. She's a bit special. If it's possible, I hope Ms. Natasha can overlook her."

Rin remained indifferent, offering no objection.

"I understand. Then, Fang Jie, is it? Mr. Fang Jie, could you answer me—have we met somewhere before?"

Natasha was sure she wasn't mistaken; she had a good sense for people.

"The universe contains countless worlds, similar yet different. In these worlds, there are also countless people, similar yet different. The destinies of these people often trace paths that feel familiar, overlapping each other."

Fang Jie was mentally prepared for this kind of 'exposure' and didn't hide anything:

"You are not the person I haven't met yet. Your homeland was not as fortunate as hers."

"I see."

Natasha believed him. Why wouldn't she?

When the world was already bad enough, no matter what happened, belief or disbelief no longer mattered. One could only accept... even if it were just dreamlike ramblings, having dreams was a good thing.

She asked curiously, "Then, in other worlds, what kind of person am I?"

"Hmm, a mercenary with dreams who killed without mercy. Later, after earning enough money to realize her dream, she quit the organization, only for her dream to be shattered by a disaster. She returned to the organization to continue her work, adopted many children orphaned by that disaster, and was kicked out of her organization before a greater disaster ended. She chose to set an example for the children, and after peace returned, she had the potential to become the world's number one idol, especially with her memorable moments that always brought smiles."

Fang Jie briefly summarized the story of the "little island explosion crow," which didn't sound very specific or pleasant, filled with hardship.

"That's quite a story."

Natasha lowered her eyes, due to her insight and certain people's reminders:

"Mr. Fang Jie, can you tell me why you came to the Underworld? Someone told me to be careful of you. You can be trusted, but you can't be trusted."

Unbeknownst to Fang Jie, Sampo had talked about him quite a bit.

"Be careful of me? Trust, not trust?"

Fang Jie thought it was March 7th, and he mentally targeted her. After all, Dan Heng wasn't that type, and neither was the Stellaron Spirit; she was thick-skinned and didn't care about leverage.

He answered the question: "Probably because I still have leverage over March 7th, something I can mock her about forever. As for why I came to the Underworld, I wanted to see it. I've always wanted to come here."

Natasha wasn't looking for that answer. She hesitated for a moment and decided to get straight to the point: "Do you know that I am the leader of the Underworld Fire?"

"Yes, I do. You are in the stories I know."

Fang Jie treated her sincerely, looking directly into her eyes:

"In the story of the soon-to-be-perished Belobog, there are three forms of preservation: the first is the embodiment of the concept of preservation, Cocolia at Clipper Fort, who descends into despair through constant preservation; the second is rational preservation, the mechanical settlement, the unyielding and unwavering intelligent machine Svarog; and the third is you, Ms. Natasha, the leader of the Underworld Fire, maintaining the last order in this darkness. I believe you also represent a part of the true meaning of preservation, a person who moves towards preservation in despair."

"Sorry, I don't quite understand."

Natasha smiled, and she didn't deny the outsider's judgment that Belobog was nearing its end. The Underworld had long lost hope. She was merely providing 'terminal care' from a doctor's perspective, trying her best to sustain life. What kind of preservation was that?

Natasha continued to listen, wondering why Fang Jie was here. Was it for the Stellaron's transient visitor? Was he forced to this place due to the upper city's rejection?

Fang Jie didn't quite understand either. He was about destruction, not preservation philosophy.

But he thought, if people judge their situation as having to sacrifice a part to preserve another, and no matter what choice is made, a sacrifice is inevitable...

Those who choose altruism are worth helping.

"It's okay if you don't understand. I've always liked a saying: those who uphold noble ideals should receive better outcomes."

Fang Jie looked at Natasha and extended his right hand:

"Ms. Natasha, is there anything I can do for you?"

"You came to the Underworld... to help me? Because you know another me?"

Natasha looked at the outstretched hand, unable to fully accept this answer. It was too... based on personal preference.

Fang Jie indeed acted out of personal preference. There was no stronger reason than that: "It's not just you, at least not just you anymore. This concerns the dignity of adults."

"But I don't know what I should ask you to help me with..."

Natasha truly didn't know. After all, she had only just learned that outsiders had arrived in the Underworld. She hadn't even considered payment when deciding to treat these people:

"Why don't you look around the Underworld first? I'll take good care of your companions."

Ps: Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, friends. I continue to wish you all a good mood every day, because I am too (?o?o)??

Chapter Twenty-Nine: I Met You, Just As You Met Me.

Dear audience, the following content will be revealed by yours truly, Sampo! Presenting the freshest Observer Report on the Astral Express's Nameless Ones:

Let's see how the Nameless Ones have been behaving after arriving in the Underworld!

What is Mr. Dan Heng doing?

Oh, Mr. Dan Heng, burdened by a dark past, is blending into the Underworld. Transforming into a cool, aloof little azure dragon, he went to the boxing club to fight.

Let us wish him victory.

And what is our Ms. Stelle doing?

Oh, dear heavens, what a brutal game of hide-and-seek, chasing with a face full of the power of knowledge. The children are all laughing.

Let us wish her a fun time.

And then there's Ms. March 7th. Ms. March 7th, bridging the past and the future, the brutal game of hide-and-seek started with her and ended with her. Now, she's heading to the boxing club with Ms. Stelle, who is also full of the power of knowledge.

Let us wish her, well, fun too.

Wait, there's a master here!

It's Cleft. He went to Cleft. Mr. Fang Jie, after 'Entrusting Wife and Offering Child,' accepted Ms. Natasha's words, "But I don't know what I should ask you for, so feel free to look around," and freely walked towards Cleft.

What is he doing? Killing intent and fighting spirit surge within him. Oh, he coincidentally met Ms. Seele, who was waiting for him, to help guide him to Rivet Town. The direction is Rivet Town...

He's not pioneering; he's going to kill!