My Honkai: Star Rail System Arrived Early

Tingyun looked at Ji Yuan, deliberately putting on a scared expression:

"Is this what a real battlefield is like? This little lady is quite fe..."

She trailed off mid-sentence.

She had intended to stir Ji Yuan's protective instincts, but the sight of Huohuo next to him, legs shaking uncontrollably, had already blocked that path for Tingyun.

When it came to looking scared, there was no way she, Tingyun, could outdo Huohuo.

Tingyun rubbed her forehead.

Just then, the noisy Cloud Knights suddenly stopped their commotion.

A tall, imposing 'youngster' in armor, with a handsome and resolute appearance, appeared on the command platform.

The 'youngster' didn't look old, but Ji Yuan knew he was incredibly ancient. His white hair was tied up in a high ponytail, his pupils were yellow, and he had a tear mole at the corner of his eye. A green band covered his throat, and beneath his shoulder guards were single-sided mountain pattern pauldrons and shoulder pieces, along with a lion-head shoulder pauldron. His chest was adorned with a cross-shaped breastplate, and a cape billowed behind him.

Ji Yuan knew that the man before him was the highest-ranking official of the Luofu Starfaring Vessel, one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou, the Luofu General Jing Yuan.

On the entire Celestial Ark, only Marshal Hua outranked him.

He had appeared here to rally everyone before their departure.

Yanqing was by Jing Yuan's side, looking at him with reverence as his disciple.

Everyone, the Orion Trading Company has broken their agreement with us and colluded with the Buli Ren behind our backs, attempting to sabotage the Luofu Starfaring Vessel. Fortunately, the trade official Ji Yuan of the Ten Ships Bureau and Miss Tingyun, the representative of the Resonant Flame trading company, identified their scheme, allowing the Luofu Starfaring Vessel to avoid losses.

As he spoke, his gaze shifted towards Ji Yuan and Tingyun.

Ji Yuan hadn't expected the General to mention him at the pre-war mobilization rally, and his expression was one of utter surprise.

Being watched by over ten thousand people was a sensation he had never experienced before.

Fortunately, Jing Yuan's next words managed to divert the crowd's attention away from Ji Yuan.

Chapter 36: The War Begins

"Since the Xianzhou set sail from its homeland, we have been in opposition to those Abundance Fiends. Although no actual damage was caused this time, we must still do what our Xianzhou is meant to do."

"Kill them! Leave not a single Abundance Fiend alive!"

His usually gentle face turned stern and murderous, his resolute voice reaching the ears of the Cloud Knights present.

Infected by Jing Yuan's words, the Cloud Knights also shouted in unison:

"Kill! Leave none alive!"

The scene was boisterous, igniting a sense of fervor.

Seeing the situation, Huohuo was also swept up in the emotion, involuntarily clenching her small fists and raising them high as she shouted.

After the crowd's cheers subsided, Jing Yuan lightly waved his cape.

"Then I shall await your good news aboard the Xianzhou."

He used to personally step onto the battlefield frequently, but now, with his advanced age, Jing Yuan had entrusted this campaign to the Cloud Knights' deputy general. Under the deputy general's command, the Cloud Knights and the sky-faring personnel began their preparations.

Ji Yuan and the others waited. Just then, Yanqing suddenly appeared before them.

"Brother Ji Yuan."

Yanqing greeted Ji Yuan.

"Yanqing, are you here to see us off?"

"Not exactly..." Yanqing scratched his head. "The General has also assigned me to the battlefield this time, and to protect you all as well."

"Oh, really?"

Upon hearing Yanqing's words, Ji Yuan's eyes lit up with excitement.

He had felt uneasy bringing Huohuo and Sushang along, but with Yanqing joining them, they were practically guaranteed to be safe.

Yanqing nodded. "Yes, after all, you are not Cloud Knights, nor are you in military service. By rights, you shouldn't be on the battlefield. However, because of Brother Ji Yuan's abilities, you were conscripted. Since that's the case, we Cloud Knights naturally have an obligation to protect you."

"Mm."

Ji Yuan nodded.

Yanqing then noticed Huohuo and Sushang standing beside Ji Yuan.

"Who are these two?"

"This is my sister, Sushang, who has also been assigned as a guard by the Cloud Knights for this mission. And this is my student, Huohuo, an apprentice judge from the Ten-Lords Commission, who is also here to experience a real battlefield."

"Student?"

Yanqing could easily understand Sushang's role, but Huohuo's identity left him somewhat bewildered.

Ji Yuan becoming a teacher—what had she learned from him?

"I've mastered a technique for controlling Suiyang, and Huohuo specifically came to me to learn it."

Ji Yuan quickly explained.

Hearing this, Yanqing exclaimed in admiration, "Controlling Suiyang? Brother, you're amazing!"

"Yes, yes, Teacher is truly amazing."

Huohuo nodded in agreement.

Ji Yuan felt a little embarrassed to be praised by these two people.

He knew his own abilities well. Not to mention Yanqing, if Huohuo changed her personality now, he wouldn't be a match for her even in a fight to the death.

Yes, Huohuo appeared timid and fearful now, but her talent was truly extraordinary. If she included her tail, her full power would surpass Ji Yuan's.

Seeing that they were about to praise him further, Ji Yuan quickly said, "Let's go, it's our turn. Let's hurry to the Star-skiff."

"Mhm."

Yanqing and the others immediately agreed with a nod.

Everyone boarded the Star-skiff in order.

Once everyone was on board, all the spacecraft began their journey.

The port was completely sealed off today, only allowing the Cloud Knights' fleet to depart. Ji Yuan's Star-skiff was at the very end. Seeing the dense formation of Star-skiffs flying together from behind, the scene was incredibly grand.

Ji Yuan and the others were seeing such a scene in the army for the first time, and their faces were filled with excitement.

"Set off! Watch me take down the enemy general's head on the battlefield!"

Yanqing shouted with a full dose of chuunibyou.

Ji Yuan quietly dodged to the side and then said to Yanqing in a cautious tone, "Yanqing, let me tell you, our main purpose this time is something else. We're not here to fight with the trading company."

Seeing that the surrounding Cloud Knights were all eager for a fight, Ji Yuan quickly poured cold water on them.

"We need to survive. Don't you dare charge to the front lines for me."

"I understand."

Yanqing was very obedient to Ji Yuan. After he finished speaking, Yanqing obediently stood aside and watched.

The Star-skiff accelerated rapidly and soon left the Luofu Starfaring Vessel, venturing into outer space.

Tingyun, Ji Yuan, and Sushang had all experienced plenty of interstellar travel, so they didn't react much. It was Huohuo's first time. After the initial excitement of departure, looking at the vast void, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

She quietly clutched Ji Yuan's sleeve.

"What? Are you seasick?"

Ji Yuan asked Huohuo.

"No, I'm not seasick, I'm just a little unaccustomed to the scene of outer space."

Huohuo said to Ji Yuan.

Tingyun was already sitting in her seat, picking up a nail file and filing her nails. Hearing Huohuo's words, she immediately said, "You'll get used to it after seeing it a few more times. How about after this matter is over, I take you, Huohuo, out a few more times?"

Seeing Huohuo constantly following Ji Yuan made Tingyun feel very uncomfortable. Huohuo was just underdeveloped; in fact, considering the ratio of Xianzhou natives to fox-kin, her age was closer to Ji Yuan's than hers.

If one day he became a lolicon, Tingyun would have nowhere to cry.

"Um, perhaps not."

Huohuo glanced at the dark cosmos and immediately shook her head.

Ji Yuan, on the other hand, looked outside with longing.

If he had the chance, he truly wished he could see more of the outside world. However, his current situation did not allow him to venture outside; he could only wait for protection within the Xianzhou.

Tingyun saw Ji Yuan's longing and fear of the universe, and she was also pondering why he was like this.

She couldn't figure it out, many things didn't make sense.

Damn it, this guy is so straightforward in some aspects, yet incredibly mysterious in others. It really makes one want to cut him open and take a good look.

Tingyun thought to herself.

After several days of travel, the fleet arrived at the location of the Orion Trading Company.

At this moment, the Luofu fleet discovered that the Orion Trading Company was well-prepared.

Aircraft, orbital cannons, and other armaments were all ready.

Seeing this, The Xianzhou people wasted no more words. The pilots steered their Star-skiffs towards them.

Since you colluded with the Abundance Fiends and still dare to resist, it proves that all of you are accomplices of the Abundance Fiends.

Annihilate them; they must all be annihilated.

The Xianzhou holds a zero-tolerance attitude towards Abundance Fiends.

The trading company had a considerable number of aircraft, but their combat experience was pitifully scarce.

As soon as the battle began, the advantages and disadvantages quickly became apparent.

Ji Yuan and the others watched from behind. In almost an instant, the first defensive line established by the trading company was broken through by the pilots.

Chapter 37: Ji Yuan: Huohuo Wants to Take Responsibility, She Must Pay the Price

In this vast sea of stars, pilots from the Ten Ships Bureau and guards from the Orion Trading Company engaged in combat. With the repeated fall of the trading company's ships, the dark starry sky was illuminated by brilliant flashes of light.

In the blink of an eye, numerous lives were lost.

However, it was primarily the fighter craft of the Orion Trading Company that crashed, with the Cloud Knights suffering negligible losses. Ji Yuan estimated the battle damage ratio to be roughly one hundred to one.

The combat capabilities of the two sides were truly on entirely different levels.

Tingyun watched, a flicker of pity in her eyes. She turned to look at Ji Yuan, who was standing nearby, and reached out to take his hand.

"I hope that after this, there will be fewer forces colluding with the Abundance Fiends."

"I suppose so."

Ji Yuan wasn't sure, but he wished for peace in the universe.

However, as long as the Abundance Fiends existed, this could never happen.

They would stop at nothing for immortality.

Huohuo, on the side, fearfully squeezed her eyes shut. Her tail, dissatisfied, shouted at her, "Huohuo, open your eyes for me. If you don't open them, then your coming here is meaningless."

"Yes, Huohuo, open your eyes for me." Ji Yuan said at this moment in a stern tone, "Only by knowing the cruelty of war can you better maintain peace. Huohuo, if you are afraid, then go and see more. In the future, find ways to apprehend those wicked individuals, so they can no longer harm the entire universe."

"But..." Huohuo slightly opened her eyes and saw a Star-skiff being surrounded by several of the trading company's airships, forced to detonate. She wanted to nervously close her eyes again.

However, just as she was about to cover her eyes with her hands again, she felt her hands being held.

Looking back, Ji Yuan stood behind her, firmly holding her hands down.

"Teacher..."

Huohuo let out a sorrowful cry.

Ji Yuan said nothing, continuing to tightly grip Huohuo's hands, forcing her gaze forward onto the battlefield.