Star Rail: Can't I Just Peacefully Do Commissions? Chapter 45

If not for the battle of Shuhu, which decimated eight or nine out of ten elite soldiers and generals of the Luofu's Cloud Knights, and the loss of Tengxiao, an Emperor Bow among the Seven Arbiter-Generals, and Bai Heng, a genius of warships from the Celestial Ship Department, the Luofu would not still be recovering its vitality to this day.

Furthermore, Dan Feng later touched upon taboos and attempted to reincarnate Bai Heng, triggering the Abundance's Rebellion. Ying Xing was implicated and burdened with the Abundance curse, and Master Jingliu herself completely fell into Mara-struck…

The past glory, all faded in an instant…

After that, Jing Yuan, the Cloud Knight General, took over the position of Luofu General. Although he has been diligently managing the Luofu for over seven hundred years, attempting to restore its former prosperity, it is a pity that perhaps the Cloud-Piercer Five exhausted the Luofu's luck. For these hundreds of years, Jing Yuan has not seen anyone as stunningly brilliant as those individuals from back then.

Only Yan Qing, the disciple he has now taken in, possesses some of his master's swordsmanship talent. It's just a shame… he doesn't know if he will live to see him grow into the new Luofu Sword Master.

"A surprise force is not impossible, but… General Jing Yuan, business is business. Even brothers need to keep accounts clear."

"Although this Alliance Jade Omen is a heavy reward, the matter that the Luofu is about to face is no ordinary one. The Lord of Annihilation is just one aspect. If there is the slightest carelessness, the Luofu will be in danger of falling."

"I wonder what else Brother Shirou wants?"

"Two conditions."

"Speak freely."

"The first is that after the Astral Express contributes this time, the Xianzhou… at least the Luofu Xianzhou must truly regard the Astral Express as an ally. If the Astral Express has any requests in the future, the Luofu Xianzhou… forget it, at least you, Jing Yuan, must stand with the Express crew without asking for reasons or counting the cost."

"If Jing Yuan had not yet entered nirvana in his 0.7th life, this would be easy. If Jing Yuan unfortunately has already fallen into Mara-struck, then my disciple Yan Qing will also have to help me, his master, this one time."

"Very well, then the second is my personal request. I, Shirou Emiya, am known in life as 'Timely Rain,' always happy to help others in need, but I dislike being bound by morality or mission. Therefore… if there is a major event on your Xianzhou, you, Jing Yuan, must sincerely send me a commission letter, detailing all the inside information… especially regarding a certain major event that is about to be discussed with a certain blonde cosmic merchant. I, Shirou Emiya, must lend a hand!"

"I wonder who this blonde cosmic merchant is?"

"The second group that secretly infiltrated the Luofu."

As he spoke, Shirou Emiya deliberately raised his voice slightly, ensuring that an Old Man beside him could hear him clearly.

"A blonde foreign handsome man, wearing a robe similar to ceremonial attire, under the alias Luocha… Also, he has a rather awkward true name."

"Who???????"

Chapter 92: Xianzhou Joke.jpg (4/5)

Blonde foreigner, Ceremonial robe, Alias Luocha, Has an awkward true name!

Damn it, Void Archive?!

Wait…

Welt pondered for a moment. He knew Shirou Emiya had a somewhat mischievous personality and deliberately pointed this out. Just the Void Archive alone shouldn't warrant such seriousness.

Could it be?

"Otto? Otto from this timeline?!"

The Old Man looked at Shirou Emiya suspiciously, feeling inexplicably anxious. If it really was Otto from this timeline… then he would have to take out his Star of Eden magnifying glass to thoroughly examine this person's character, character, and character.

[Emotional Value from Welt +17]

Tsk, the Old Man's emotional threshold isn't as easily triggered as it used to be.

Shirou Emiya raised his eyebrows slightly, ignoring the Old Man's thoughts beside him, and continued to address Jing Yuan.

"On the Luofu, besides one member of the Lord of Annihilation, there are also the people of the Medicine Master's Legacy. General must be aware of this, but these two groups have already formed an alliance… which General might not be aware of."

"The Medicine Master's Legacy and the Lord of Annihilation have allied… It is indeed a bit tricky, but if it's only this, Jing Yuan would not be powerless to resist."

"What if there is another party that will tie your hands?"

"That blonde cosmic merchant?"

"Precisely."

"...Could he be a follower of Abundance?"

"You could say that. His homeland also has what they call demons, monsters, and Netherlings. He should have an intricate connection with Abundance, and therefore… he also opposes Abundance."

"If that's the case, then he should be an ally. Why would Brother Shirou say he would become a restraint for me, Jing Yuan?"

"He has a companion, and that person is enough to make you hesitate and unable to deal wholeheartedly with the Lord of Annihilation and the Medicine Master's Legacy."

Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan's eyes showed a hint of solemnity.

Someone who could make him, a Hunt Emissary and one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals, hesitate?

Could it be an Emissary of Abundance? Or perhaps an emissary from another faction?

However, the only group with a deep hatred for the Xianzhou is the Abundance's abominations. Even those madmen of the Antimatter Legion cannot be said to deliberately oppose the Xianzhou.

With one Lord of Annihilation already having infiltrated the Xianzhou, there shouldn't be a second one.

But if it were an Emissary of Abundance, according to Shirou Emiya, that blonde man should be someone who opposes Abundance. How could he be traveling with an Emissary of Abundance?

"Could it be an old acquaintance of Jing Yuan's?"

After much thought, a sharp glint suddenly appeared in Jing Yuan's pupils. He said solemnly, "If it's not an Emissary of Abundance, then anyone who can make me, Jing Yuan, hesitate must be from the Xianzhou, someone I know. Due to my identity, I cannot directly act against them. I wonder if my guess is correct?"

"The General of the Divine March is indeed exceptionally wise. That person is indeed your old acquaintance, and someone who cannot lift the Stone Fire Dream Body you wield."

"The person you speak of is definitely not Ying Xing, but you mentioning the Stone Fire Dream Body… could it be…"

Jing Yuan suddenly stood up, looking at Shirou Emiya with excitement, and then spoke, "Is it Dan Feng?!"

"No, Dan Feng is currently on our train."

"…Dan Feng has also returned? Wait, Ying Xing is here, and Dan Feng is also here… Could the person you mentioned be…"

"The former Luofu Sword Master, your teacher, Jing Yuan. A survivor of Cangcheng who fell to Mara seven hundred years ago, the 'Flawless Light' Jingliu."

Master…?

The moment Jing Yuan heard that name, the first thought that flashed through his mind was…

She's not dead yet?

As his teacher, Jingliu was already nearly a thousand years old when he was just a child. And now… he himself was on the verge of Mara-struck, preparing to report to the Ten Lords Bureau.

How was his teacher still out there, alive and kicking?

Master, you didn't specifically wait until your disciple was about to fall to Mara-struck just to come back and finish me off, did you?

"…I should just abdicate early and hand over the remaining affairs to Minister Fu."

Jing Yuan said, rubbing his forehead, a statement that would have made the Great Diviner ecstatic. It was a shame that the short Great Diviner wasn't present, otherwise, she would have undoubtedly been overjoyed.

"Hearing you say that, I suddenly remembered a Xianzhou joke. General Jing Yuan, would you like to hear it?"

"Oh? Tell me about it."

Upon hearing Shirou Emiya's words, Welt cast a sympathetic glance at Jing Yuan. This General of the Divine March had no idea what he was about to face.

"Ahem…"

Mr. Shirou Emiya cleared his throat twice, loosened his voice, and then, as if imitating someone's tone, said, "'Is Sword Master Yan Qing always this taciturn?' 'No, he was an outgoing person when he was learning swordsmanship.' 'Then why is he like this now?' 'Perhaps it's because the previous General fell to Mara-struck… alas.'"

"?????"

Jing Yuan's eyes widened instantly. He stared at the man before him, who had so casually produced such a chilling, hellish joke, in disbelief. How could he have fabricated such malicious content so easily?

"Also, 'Is Great Diviner Qingque always this serious?' 'Why is Senior Sushang always so cold and distant?' 'Qingni Helmsman…'"

"Stop, stop, stop! If you keep telling these jokes, I'm going to fall to Mara-struck right now!"

"So, what kind of experience does she, Fu Xuan, have to be a General? Think about it, if you retire, and then she messes something up with the Luofu, and you hear about it, you'll fall to Mara-struck on the spot. By the time Yan Qing finds you at 997, you'll have completely succumbed to Mara. Then, with tears in his eyes, he'll say, 'Allow this disciple to repay your teachings with this strike,' in a traditional move, and finally chop your brilliant head to pieces with one sword."

"Alright, alright, I'm not abdicating! I absolutely will not abdicate now!"

Jing Yuan cried out, clutching his head. The scenario described by the person before him felt all too real. The Luofu's strength was still slowly recovering. While Minister Fu was capable, she lacked experience in governing a region and was too upright and pure. She wasn't a suitable candidate to take over the Luofu at this moment, let alone the younger generation like Yan Qing who were still growing. Having them fully take over Xianzhou affairs would likely cause great chaos.

"That's more like it. We've just allied with you, and you're already planning to abandon ship. What does our life-and-death struggle on the Luofu even mean then?"

"Younger brother, I am now over eight hundred years old. In fact, I've already had premonitions of Mara-struck, but I've been suppressing it. If I continue to cling to this position of General, and one day fall to Mara-struck and become unrecognizable, who on the Luofu will be able to resist me, one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals who inherited the Divine Monarch's power?"

"Perhaps, you could let me try?"

"Try what? Are you saying you'll be the one to slay me, this monster who has fallen to Mara-struck?"

"I mean… let me try to resolve your… Mara-struck."

[Emotion Value from Jing Yuan +99].

Chapter 093: Jing Yuan, It's Time to Drop Some Gold! (5/5)

"Residual Damage," "Filth," "Wrath," "Other Transformation," "Unmarked."

The five symptoms of Mara-struck.

"Residual Damage" represents severe bodily harm caused by external forces. However, due to the exceptionally tenacious vitality of Celestials, they enter a long and agonizing self-healing phase. This pain can last for hundreds of years.

"Filth" occurs after a virus invades and achieves coexistence with the body. According to Xianzhou pharmacology, the cells of Xianzhou Celestials and Foxkin contain a large number of pluripotent stem cells. When the body is damaged, these cells actively transform into corresponding cells to meet the body's instinctive needs. Viruses, sometimes, can also become recognized by the body's functions, leading to pluripotent stem cells continuously transforming into this virus, thus coexisting with Xianzhou people long-term.

"Other Transformation" signifies the physical body beginning to mutate, losing the ability to control its form and maintain a human shape. This is the monstrous appearance with golden branches that Shirou Emiya and the others saw earlier. In such a state, they are already mortal enemies of the Hunt and abominations of Abundance.

Beyond these first three physical symptoms of Mara-struck, what truly troubles Xianzhou people are the latter two mental symptoms.

"Wrath" causes extreme joy and sorrow, emotional instability, irritability, and even aggression towards others.

"Unmarked" causes memory loss, making a person muddle-headed and uncontrollable, leading to them becoming estranged from loved ones, like a walking corpse.

According to some Xianzhou meditation therapies, the latter two are generally considered to be the accumulation of memories, making it impossible for the brains of long-lived beings to store such a vast amount of data. Even with deletion, residual emotions, no matter how small or weak, accumulated over hundreds of years can surface unconsciously during sleep, leading to Mara-struck.

Therefore, Xianzhou has "Pills of Severing Emotion and Desire" to suppress emotions, and "Dust-Washing Pills" to clear memories.

However, both of these are too contrary to human nature and are generally not accepted by Celestials.

"May I ask which symptom of Mara-struck you are currently experiencing, General?"

"I often feel agitated and angry, and sometimes when I'm reviewing official documents, I forget things that happened just a few hours ago."

Jing Yuan sighed softly.

"I've lived for over eight hundred years since my birth. By the average lifespan of a Xianzhou person, I'm considered quite old. Most Xianzhou people begin showing signs of Mara-sickness around the age of four hundred and fifty, and six hundred and fifty is like a death trial. While I don't mean to brag, the fact that I've managed to persist until today with few abnormalities is a testament to my exceptionally resilient will."

"So that's what it is, senile dementia."

"If it were only that, it would be easily treated. In reality, the most troublesome aspect of Mara-sickness isn't the symptoms, but rather... its irreversibility."

Shirou Emiya raised an eyebrow slightly at this. He immediately understood the implication. In fact, the five symptoms of Mara-sickness wouldn't be a problem in worlds with advanced medical technology, but... the constitution of Xianzhou people originated from the blessings of Yaoshi of Abundance. Even if there were congenital defects, any postnatal corrections would be forcibly expelled and replaced.

To use a game analogy, it's like the initial character settings are locked. Once a change occurs midway, it will be forcibly reverted to the initial settings.

Unless, as in some games, a 'consumable item' appears, granting you the 'permission' to modify the initial appearance again.

And that 'permission' is also solely in the hands of 'Yaoshi of Abundance.'

"I certainly don't have a method to cure the root cause, but I might have some ways to alleviate the symptoms."

After a moment of thought, Shirou Emiya said to Jing Yuan, "In my hometown, a group of alchemists once forcibly divided the brain's thinking processes into multiple equal parts to enhance its computational capabilities, thereby achieving parallel thought and calculation."

"Dividing thought, that sounds promising, but it only reallocates the thinking functions. The brain's original storage capacity remains unchanged."

"Then... how about trying something from Welt's hometown? It's called a Divine Key. It allows you to unleash immense power by burning memories."

"We also have pills that can make one forget their past on the Xianzhou, but I am unwilling to choose such a path."

"Hearing you both explain it, Mara-sickness is quite tricky."

A person's brain capacity is definitely limited. After Xianzhou people are born, many of their bodily functions are solidified, which prevents you from forcibly increasing the brain's capacity through any means. Furthermore, implanting external objects would be rejected by the body.

It's like a computer whose C drive space is fixed. You can't expand it, nor can you use external disks. The ultimate result will be a full C drive, until it can hold no more, causing the entire computer's functions to freeze.