My Honkai: Star Rail System Arrived Early

"Alright, I'll start working right away."

Ah, I wanted to chat with her a bit more, but the chat time was too short—I didn't even trigger any achievements.

This girl is a sturdy woolly sheep too!

Her mother is the Helmsman of the Ten Boats Office, Ji Yuan's direct superior. And most importantly, Ji Yuan had seen her mother's CG image in his past life. An image meant she was definitely an important figure. If the mother was like that, the daughter wouldn't be any less.

Picking up the documents, Ji Yuan began working diligently. He opened the unfinished files, filling in and approving them one by one. His expression was focused and serious.

Qingni patted her head at this point. She'd been so busy this morning that she'd completely forgotten what Tingyun had told her.

Forget it, I'll bring it up later when there's time. He's so busy right now, I really shouldn't disturb him.

Qingni thought to herself, then went off to handle her own tasks.

Ji Yuan kept at it until noon before his work finally came to a pause.

"I'll head to the cafeteria for lunch in a bit." Stretching his neck, Ji Yuan picked up his phone. A message from Yanqing appeared on the screen.

[Yanqing: Ji Yuan, sorry, sorry. The General assigned me a task today, so I can't come spar with you. Once I'm done, I'll treat you to a meal to make up for it.]

Ji Yuan replied immediately.

[No worries, I'm the one putting you out. Let's spar whenever you have time later.]

A few minutes after sending, the notification sound rang again.

[Yanqing: Deal!]

Ji Yuan put down his phone.

Well, it looks like today's plan to practice swordsmanship is on hold. Maybe I should take a walk outside and see if I can run into someone I recognize, to leech off their abilities.

"But I need to plan it out—stick to crowded places, never be alone. What if something happens?"

He plotted tonight's actions in his mind.

Before he could finish planning, though, Qingni appeared before him again.

Ji Yuan sorted his documents as he asked, "Miss Qingni, what's the matter?"

Qingni said to Ji Yuan, "Another batch of cargo from the Orion Trading Company has arrived at Flowing Cloud Ferry. The Trade Official says you're the freest right now, so the Helmsman wants you to go handle it."

The Helmsman was Qingni's mother, Yukong, but in the Ten Boats Office, she was always addressed by her title.

"More cargo?"

Hearing this, Ji Yuan's eyes widened.

What's going on today?

He instinctively sensed something off, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Who knows," Qingni shook her head, then offered Ji Yuan a word of comfort.

"But the Helmsman said that once this batch of cargo is through, you'll get a few days off."

"Alright then."

Ji Yuan nodded weakly.

Standing up, he immediately set off toward Flowing Cloud Ferry.

Arriving at the port, Ji Yuan saw countless goods piled up here. Compared to this, last night's cargo was nothing.

Following the official documents, he found the batch he was responsible for.

And standing in front of that batch of cargo was a bright-eyed, white-toothed Fox Folk girl.

It was Tingyun again.

PS: Starting the official updates today. There'll be another chapter late at night.

Chapter 6: The Buli Ren Modifier

"Miss Tingyun, I didn't expect it to be you again today."

Ji Yuan greeted Tingyun as he saw her.

At the same time, he looked around and immediately tensed up.

Is there any danger right now?

He could die at any moment, and so could Tingyun. Two people who could die at any moment—if a Reaper wanted to save trouble, would it just take them both out at once?

Careful. I have to be extremely careful.

Ji Yuan scanned his surroundings, especially toward the Cloud Knights, planning to seek their help immediately if anything happened.

Tingyun walked up to Ji Yuan and said with a smile, "Yeah, I'll have to trouble you with today's cargo again, Brother Ji Yuan."

What's with that expression now?

Nervous. Scared.

Am I some kind of horror?

Why does he look afraid when he sees me?

Tingyun thought it over—her own skills really weren't up to par. Ji Yuan was just a delicate-looking youth, but he could probably still take her in a fight.

I'm not going to eat you, so what are you afraid of?

Because she simply couldn't figure out Ji Yuan's behavior, Tingyun's heart was truly troubled.

What's the point of your chameleon act?

Last night, she'd even entertained the idea that Ji Yuan had some kind of Divination Commission trick up his sleeve: first planning to pursue her, then getting close, seeing she was dangerous, and pulling away instantly; finally, unable to bear worrying about her safety, he couldn't help but warn her.

But then she reconsidered—it still didn't seem likely. If he really had that kind of Divination Commission skill, would he be stuck as a Trade Official in the Ten Boats Office?

Unable to find any thread of logic, Tingyun wished she could just pin Ji Yuan against a wall and interrogate him properly.

On the surface, though, she made an inviting gesture and said to Ji Yuan, "Then I'll trouble you with the inspection, Brother Ji Yuan."

"Mm."

Ji Yuan watched as the inspecting Cloud Knights pried open one crate after another.

The space was too cramped; Ji Yuan and Tingyun had nowhere to stand. They grabbed a couple of sheets of paper, laid them down, and sat on a stack of already-inspected crates. Sitting side by side, Ji Yuan could glance at Tingyun's feet while looking down at the Cloud Knights' inspection.

Tingyun's feet were smaller than those of most girls her age—Ji Yuan even suspected she could dance in the palm of a hand. Pale, tender, and soft like a creamy snow cake. The back half was hidden by her shoes, leaving only the front exposed. Under the sunlight, they sparkled.

Sparkling little feet—how nice~

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

Tingyun also noticed that Ji Yuan's gaze kept lingering on her feet.

A faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

She still had some charm, after all.

If Ji Yuan didn't show any reaction soon, she really would start to panic.

So Tingyun leaned a little closer to Ji Yuan, and at the same time, shifted her foot toward him.

Come on, take a good look.

Ji Yuan quickly averted his gaze to the side.

Better to watch the Cloud Knights' inspection over there.

The Cloud Knights at Flowing Cloud Ferry had been inspecting for a full day and night by now, all exhausted. They opened the goods, checked that nothing was dangerous, and let it pass.

Ji Yuan understood they were tired, so he relaxed a bit too.

He continued chatting idly with Tingyun.

After a while longer, the system notification sound rang in Ji Yuan's ears again.

Ji Yuan's system was quite considerate—after meeting someone a second time, when it triggered an achievement, he could choose to ignore it and open it later when needed. But Tingyun's situation was unusual, so he didn't ignore her.

One system notification sounded.

Then another system notification sounded.

What's going on!?

Ji Yuan was a bit stunned.

How could two system notifications come at the same time?

Ji Yuan quickly opened them.

[You spent an afternoon with a corpse. Reward: Corpse Sewing Experience +1]

Tingyun is still a corpse.

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

Ignoring that, he opened the other system notification.

[You sat on a Buli Ren Legendary Reformer Legion Soldier for an afternoon, causing him humiliation. Reward: Physical Fitness +1]

Ji Yuan nearly jumped off the crate when he saw this.

What's going on!?

A Buli Ren Reformer?

The Buli Ren were one of the main forces of the Abundance Fiends, sworn enemies of the Celestial Ark Natives, locked in an endless blood feud.

How did they get inside the Ark?

All these goods had been inspected—no problems.

Wait, if the goods were fine, could the crates themselves be the problem?

Ji Yuan touched the crate beneath him, thinking.

To infiltrate the Ark and cause destruction, would the Buli Ren go so far as to transform themselves into crates?

If it were any other enemy, Ji Yuan wouldn't believe it. But these were Abundance Followers—tenacious in life, and utterly ruthless to both themselves and their foes. Transforming themselves into crates wasn't entirely out of the question.

Ji Yuan immediately wanted to tell the Cloud Knights about the Buli Ren invasion.

But as he took in the situation around him, his heart sank halfway.

The Cloud Knights are all exhausted now, and their formation is in disarray. Engaging in battle right now would be extremely dangerous.

"I can't expose them immediately. These Buli Ren are probably here to do something on the Xianzhou, or just cause some damage and leave. They won't reveal themselves easily before reaching their destination. I should wait until they leave, then notify the Cloud Knights to surround and wipe them out."

These Buli Ren wanting to destroy the Luofu is pure delusion—they can only cause some damage.

He waved his hand, signaling the Cloud Knights to stop the inspection.

At the same time, he looked at Tingyun and said, "Miss Tingyun, since the inspection here is done, would you like to join me for a meal?"

Saying it outright was impossible—the Buli Ren would hear, and that would expose everything.

Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Tingyun shook her head slightly and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

This guy really does have a thing for my feet.

After staring at my feet all afternoon, he invites me to eat.

"Sure, this little lady is naturally willing. However, I must escort these goods to Chang'le Sky first. The cargo ship can sail on its own, but someone still needs to handle the handover. Once that's done, I'll come find you."

Ji Yuan wanted to persuade her further, but Tingyun just smiled and jumped down from the crate.

Watching her leave like that, Ji Yuan couldn't help but grow anxious.

If the Cloud Knights tried to stop her, Tingyun would definitely be in serious danger.

As for stopping them at the destination, that was clearly unrealistic. If chaos erupted in Chang'le Sky, the consequences would be huge.

He had to intercept them midway.

For his own safety, he should stay here, notify the Cloud Knights, and watch them take down all these Buli Ren.

But if he did that, Tingyun would almost certainly be in a death trap.

Could he just sit by and let an innocent young woman die like that?