Honkai Star Rail: I Became the World Tree — Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Dan Shu’s Choice

After purchasing the delicate sugar figurines, Anviel immediately claimed a skewer, happily nibbling on the sweet treat. Samuel stood quietly by her side, holding the assortment of shopping bags they had accumulated throughout the day.

He glanced over at Stelle. “Stelle, where is Welt? Didn’t he come with you? I haven’t seen him around.”

Stelle, who was currently occupied with frantically licking a deluxe sugar figurine, paused. A sticky ring of crystallized sugar coated her lips. She blinked, lowering the treat. “Mr. Yang is operating separately from us right now. We took on an undercover mission today, and he went to help transport supplies for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.”

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “He also mentioned wanting to discuss things with General Jing Yuan and the Master Diviner. He’s hoping to see if they can use this opportunity to wipe out the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus within the Alchemy Commission in one fell swoop.”

Samuel nodded, processing the information. “I see. You didn’t tell him about Dan Shu, then?”

Stelle froze. The sugar figurine hovered inches from her face. “I… completely forgot about that!”

March 7th gasped, her eyes widening in sudden realization. “That’s right! Why didn’t we just capture Dan Shu back there? She’s the leader! If we could catch her, wouldn’t the rest of the Disciples in the Alchemy Commission fall apart easily?” She grabbed Stelle’s arm, her energetic nature taking over. “Stelle! Let’s go back quickly! We need to see if Dan Shu is still there and drag her straight to General Jing Yuan!”

Stelle didn’t need to be told twice. She spun on her heel, ready to sprint.

Samuel simply watched the two girls dash off, an amused glint in his eyes, before turning to guide Anviel back toward the teleportation gate leading to the Source Continent.

Stelle and March 7th sprinted through the winding streets of Exalting Sanctum, finally skidding to a halt near the entrance of Little Yuer’s house.

They found Dan Shu kneeling by the door alongside the young girl. Her hands were covered in dark soil as she carefully planted the seed Samuel had given them into a ceramic pot. The scene was almost painfully domestic, a stark contrast to the dark reality of her identity.

March 7th planted her hands on her hips, her voice cutting through the quiet courtyard. “Dan Shu! You’ve got some nerve staying here! Aren’t you afraid the Cloud Knights will come and arrest you?”

Stelle stepped forward, her expression unusually serious. “Dan Shu, turn yourself in. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have harmed far too many people. You can’t keep going down this twisted path.” She tightened her fists. “When we first arrived on the Luofu, we encountered a Mara-Struck monster in Starskiff Haven. After defeating him, we found a letter on his body. It was because of your so-called ‘miracle’ elixirs that he lost his mind and fell into that state!”

Dan Shu did not flinch. She finished packing the soil around the seed, wiped her hands on a cloth, and slowly stood up. Her sightless eyes seemed to look right through them.

“What that little girl named Anviel said earlier did indeed shake my faith,” Dan Shu murmured, her voice carrying a heavy, quiet sorrow. “It woke me up, in a way. The elixirs of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have indeed caused many to fall into the abyss of the Mara-Struck.”

She turned her head slightly, the faint breeze catching her hair. “But, in the end, it was the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus that cured my eye ailment. This life of mine… it belongs to them.”

As her words faded into the quiet air, the shadows in the courtyard began to writhe. Heavy, dragging footsteps echoed against the stone pavement as a group of fully armored Mara-Struck Soldiers stepped out from the alleyways. They didn’t draw their weapons or lunge forward; instead, they formed a silent, imposing wall of corrupted flesh and steel between Dan Shu and the Trailblazers.

Dan Shu offered a faint, melancholic smile. “Stelle, March 7th… I am afraid I cannot go with you. Things have already reached the point of no return. I must finish this war with the Cloud Knights. It is the very last thing I will do for my faction.”

“How can a life belong to someone else?” Stelle argued, her golden eyes burning with frustration. “Your life is yours to decide! No one else gets to dictate your fate! Dan Shu, just come with us. If you surrender now, we’ll plead for mercy on your behalf. We’ll ask General Jing Yuan to give you a second chance.”

Dan Shu shook her head, the bitter smile lingering on her lips. A deep sincerity softened her features as she “looked” toward the two girls. “Fate truly loves to play its cruel tricks on us. If I hadn’t been born with this incurable eye ailment, I would likely just be a diligent, ordinary alchemist in the Alchemy Commission right now, wouldn’t I? Fate is simply unfair.”

Before Stelle could launch into another impassioned plea, Dan Shu raised a hand to stop her.

“Let me give you a piece of news, as a final courtesy,” Dan Shu said, her tone dropping into a serious, measured cadence. “The one who truly brought the Stellaron onto the Luofu wasn’t the Stellaron Hunters, nor was it our Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. It was Destruction.”

Stelle and March exchanged a sharp look.

“Not long ago,” Dan Shu continued, “Phantylia, an Emanator under the Aeon of Destruction, sought me out. She wanted me to plant the Stellaron directly into the Ambrosial Arbor to force its revival. Once successful, the resulting chaos would allow us to conquer the Luofu. She is currently disguised as a Foxian woman, though I do not know her specific alias. I only know that the identity she stole holds a significant status on the Luofu, someone deeply involved in commercial trade.”

Dan Shu let out a soft sigh, a sense of absolute finality settling over her posture. “This may be the last time we meet. I have one presumptuous request. Please… visit Little Yuer on my behalf when you have the time.”

She bowed her head slightly. “Goodbye, Stelle. Goodbye, March 7th. If there is a next life, I only hope to be born whole, without this curse upon my eyes. Perhaps then, we can meet again in the vast sea of stars and truly become friends.”

Turning away from the Trailblazers, Dan Shu knelt back down beside Little Yuer. She retrieved a clean handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the remaining mud from the young girl’s small hands.

“Yuer,” she whispered softly. “You told me you wanted to become an excellent alchemist. I hope that dream comes true for you.”

With those final words, Dan Shu stood and walked away, her silhouette disappearing down the winding street. Stelle and March instinctively moved to give chase, but the wall of Mara-Struck Soldiers immediately closed ranks, their gnarled weapons raised in warning. The two girls were forced to stand their ground, watching helplessly as the alchemist faded from view. Only when Dan Shu was completely out of sight did the corrupted soldiers slowly back away, retreating into the shadows to follow their master.

Little Yuer stood by the doorway, her small hands clasped tightly together in prayer. “May Lord Sacred Tree protect you, Sister Dan Shu,” she whispered.

Stelle and March walked over to the young girl, the heavy atmosphere still clinging to the courtyard.

Stelle crouched down to meet Yuer’s gaze. “Yuer, add my contact info to your jade abacus. If you ever run into any trouble, call me immediately.”

“Yeah!” March chimed in, trying to force a reassuring smile. “As long as we can help, we’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Little Yuer looked between them, her large eyes filled with determination. “Sister Stelle, Sister March… I actually have something I’d like your help with right now.”

Stelle tilted her head. “Oh? What is it?”

“I want to go find Lord Sacred Tree,” Yuer declared. “I want to become his believer, just like Sister Anviel.”

Stelle rubbed her chin, her expression turning complicated. “You want to go find Samuel… well, that might be a bit difficult. Mainly because Samuel isn’t exactly from our world. He’s a god from another universe entirely. To get to where he lives, you have to go through a specialized teleportation gate. There are very few people who can open one, and definitely none native to the Luofu.”

March nodded in agreement. “Yeah, we could technically take you there right now if you really wanted. But coming back would be a huge hassle. We’re only staying on the Luofu for a short while. Once this whole Stellaron mess is sorted out, the Astral Express is heading to our next stop. Besides, your parents would definitely freak out if you suddenly vanished to another dimension. How about you discuss it with them first?”

Little Yuer blinked, then slowly nodded, accepting the logic.

“Good,” Stelle said, patting the girl’s shoulder. “Talk to your folks. We still have a crisis to handle, so we need to get moving. Don’t forget to message us if anything happens.”

Watching Little Yuer wave goodbye, the two Trailblazers finally left the residential district. As soon as they were out of earshot, Stelle pulled out her phone and dialed Welt’s number.

“Mr. Yang!” Stelle said the moment the line connected. “Dan Shu is the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus! And she’s already heading straight for the Alchemy Commission!”

A beat of surprised silence came from the other end. Welt clearly hadn’t expected the cult’s leader to be hiding in such plain sight, deeply entrenched within one of the Luofu’s core departments.

“I see,” Welt’s calm, authoritative voice finally replied. “Make your way to the Alchemy Commission immediately. I am currently stationed here with the Master Diviner.”

Stelle and March quickly agreed. Hanging up, they hailed a commercial starskiff. The journey across the sprawling skyways of the Luofu took over two hours, the tension mounting with every passing mile as they approached the quarantined zone.

When they finally arrived at the Cloud Knight outpost bordering the Alchemy Commission, the atmosphere was grim.

Welt stood near a tactical map, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Beside him, Fu Xuan was pacing with her arms crossed, huffing in visible frustration.

Stelle waved her hand as they approached. “Mr. Yang! Master Diviner! We made it!”

March looked between the two senior figures, her energetic demeanor faltering slightly at their dark expressions. “Mr. Yang, Master Diviner… why do you both look so stressed?”

Fu Xuan stopped pacing and let out an irritated sigh. “These Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are proving to be exceptionally infuriating!”

Stelle and March exchanged a baffled look.

Sensing their confusion, Welt adjusted his glasses and explained. “We received your message regarding Dan Shu. The Master Diviner and I immediately mobilized a squad of Cloud Knights to intercept her at the border. Just as we had her cornered, she vanished into a dense cloud of medicinal smoke.”

“Medicinal smoke?” Stelle echoed.

Welt nodded grimly. “The Disciples have flooded their stronghold with it. The smoke contains highly concentrated alchemical drugs designed to forcibly induce the Mara-Struck condition in anyone who breathes it. The Cloud Knights were prepared for a physical battle, but this chemical warfare has completely halted our advance. We simply cannot charge in without losing our own men to the Mara.”

March crossed her arms, thinking it over. “Well, if it’s just smoke, can’t you just blow it away with some heavy fans or wind arts?”

Fu Xuan shook her head, the golden ornaments in her hair clinking. “It is not that simple. They are continuously dispersing the vapor through the Alchemy Commission’s massive subterranean furnaces. We can clear a small area, but the smoke is immediately replenished from below.”

March’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Then we just need to use way more force! Hey, why don’t we go get Venti? Isn’t he the literal Anemo Archon? Let him come over here and blow the whole place clean!”

Stelle snapped her fingers. “That’s actually a brilliant idea. Let’s go grab Venti. Back in Mondstadt, I heard Jean mention that the entire region used to be a frozen wasteland covered in ice and snow. It was Venti who stepped in and blew all the snow away. I’m pretty sure he even sliced the top off a mountain with the wind.”

March’s jaw dropped. “Wait, seriously? Venti is actually that powerful? How come I didn’t know that? He’s always whining about being super weak, claiming he’s the weakest among the Seven, that he just woke up and has zero divine power left!”

Stelle let out a dry, mocking laugh. “Heh, you actually believed his nonsense? Samuel has a saying: ‘In Mondstadt, even a stray dog on the side of the road will bark, May the Anemo Archon protect you.’ The faith people have in him is insane. Lumine told me that in Mondstadt, the standard greeting is literally a prayer to him.”

March looked utterly betrayed. “What?! Are you kidding me? Good grief, I’ve been played by that bard again! That hateful Venti! This is the second time!”

Stelle blinked. “Second time? He scammed you twice?”

March nodded indignantly, her hands balling into fists. “Yes! Not long ago, he tricked me into going to the Elven Forest. He claimed he found this massive hidden treasure guarded by terrifying orcs, and he was too weak to handle them alone. So, out of the goodness of my heart, I went to help him! We fought the orcs, beat them up, and guess what? Not a single shadow of a treasure chest! I made the whole trip for nothing. And now that I think about it, I didn’t even get to pick up the loot the orcs dropped because he snatched it all while I was distracted! Ugh! When I get back tonight, I am definitely going to make him pay!”

Fu Xuan, who had been listening to this bizarre exchange with growing bewilderment, finally interrupted. “Excuse me, but can this ‘Venti’ you speak of truly disperse the medicinal smoke?”

Stelle nodded confidently. “Absolutely. The guy is the God of Wind. A little colored smoke is nothing to him.”

Fu Xuan pondered this. Anemo Archon? I have never encountered such a title in the Luofu’s archives. However, if this individual truly commanded the very element of wind to such a degree, he was exactly what they needed. “Then I must trouble you two to invite this Anemo Archon to assist the Luofu. Once this crisis is resolved, the Divination Commission will offer a highly sufficient reward.”

At the word ‘reward’, Stelle’s posture instantly straightened. The chaotic trash-raccoon energy returned in full force. “Oh, you know, rewards aren’t really necessary! But, hypothetically speaking, Master Diviner… what exactly does this reward consist of? Cash? Rare materials?”

March slapped a hand over her own face. Stelle has completely fallen into the money pit.

Welt coughed politely. “Stelle. We Nameless do not seek compensation for our Trailblazing.”

Stelle nodded sagely, though her eyes still gleamed. “I know, I know. It’s just that my phone’s credit balance is looking a little tragic right now. I can’t even afford a basic candy figurine! I was just thinking of earning a little pocket change.”

Fu Xuan raised an elegant hand. “The Luofu never mistreats its benefactors. You Trailblazers may not seek compensation, but it is a matter of honor for the Luofu to provide it. We cannot let friends bleed for us in vain. That is our way. Please, do not refuse.”

Hearing Fu Xuan’s firm stance, Welt conceded with a nod. “It is the thought that counts. A symbolic gesture will suffice.”

Fu Xuan remained silent, though internally, she had already decided to authorize a tremendously generous payout for Welt, Stelle, and March 7th. These three outworlders had been running themselves ragged for the Luofu’s sake. Without their intervention, the Stellaron crisis would have already spiraled into an apocalyptic disaster.

Excusing themselves, Stelle and March found a secluded alleyway free of Cloud Knight patrols. Stelle summoned a portal, the shimmering gateway tearing through the fabric of space, and the two stepped through, leaving the heavy atmosphere of the Luofu behind.

They emerged onto the sun-drenched cobblestones of the Holy City Square on the Source Continent.

Stelle and March immediately stopped in their tracks, stunned by the sheer volume of people gathered around.

“Why is everyone hanging out here?” March asked, blinking in surprise.

The square was bustling with life. Near the fountain, Bronya, Seele, and Natasha were coordinating with fifty heavily armored Silvermane Guards, carefully taking inventory of the supplies they had scavenged that day. A few yards away, Herta, Screwllum, and Ruan Mei were huddled together, intensely debating some complex theory with a floating, mechanical talking bee.

Over by the General Store, Samuel and Zhongli were seated at a small wooden table, casually sipping tea and sharing a quiet laugh. The four youngest residents—Anviel, Hook, Bailu, and Clara—were running wildly across the grass, playing a chaotic game of tag with a flock of giggling little elves. On a nearby bench, Hu Tao, Furina, and Lumine were intensely focused on a portable gaming console, shouting instructions at each other. Clorinde stood near the transit gate, efficiently commanding a line of muscular soldiers preparing to return to Fontaine.

And sitting quietly beneath the massive, glowing canopy of the Irminsul tree was Nahida. A warm ray of sunset filtered through the crystalline leaves, illuminating the pages of the book resting on her lap: Records of the Three Kingdoms.

Stelle jogged over to the tea table. “Samuel! Why is the whole squad out here?”

Samuel took a slow sip from his porcelain cup. “It just so happens that everyone returned from their daily excursions at the same time. More, why are you two back so soon? Weren’t you off to apprehend Dan Shu?”

Stelle dramatically threw her hands up. “She slipped away! We tracked her to the Alchemy Commission and met up with Uncle Welt, but we hit a massive roadblock. So, we came back to call in the cavalry.”

Samuel chuckled, the sound rich and relaxed. “You certainly have a habit of calling for reinforcements quite frequently these past few days.”

Stelle grinned shamelessly. “Hey, why struggle when I can just use my overpowered connections? Hehe!”

Zhongli gently set his teacup down, his amber eyes calm and observant. “What manner of difficulty has halted your progress this time?”

“The decisive battle is about to start,” Stelle explained, leaning against the table. “But the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus flooded the battlefield with this toxic medicinal smoke. If the Cloud Knights breathe it in, they mutate into Mara-Struck monsters. So, we came back to drag Venti over there. He’s the Anemo Archon, right? A little wind should clear the smoke right up.”

Zhongli nodded thoughtfully. “Barbatos is indeed uniquely suited for such a task. Come to think of it, I find myself quite interested in observing the military tactics of these Cloud Knights. Witnessing a war in another world could be enlightening. May I accompany you?”

“Oh, absolutely! The more the merrier,” Stelle agreed instantly.

Samuel stood up, brushing a stray leaf from his coat. “I’ll come along to take a look as well. You two go find Venti first. He’s currently lounging in the tavern run by the elves.”

Stelle and March immediately bolted toward the elven district. It didn’t take long to locate the lively tavern. Pushing through the swinging wooden doors, they spotted Venti instantly.

The bard was sprawled dramatically across a velvet sofa, clutching a bottle of premium elven fruit wine. He was taking tiny, blissful sips, looking like a man without a single care in the multiverse.

March 7th marched right up to his table, her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at him. “Venti! You absolute scammer! You tricked me again!”

Venti peeked open one bright green eye. Seeing the furious pink-haired girl, he immediately sat up and waved his hands defensively. “Oh my~ March, I promise you, I really did see a treasure chest that day! A huge, glittering box of silver coins! It must be that we arrived too late, and those nasty orcs had already moved it away!”

March rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. “Do you honestly think I still believe a word that comes out of your mouth?”

Realizing his usual charm wasn’t going to save him this time, Venti dropped the act and clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Ah, March, please don’t be angry! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

March crossed her arms, looking down her nose at him. “If you want me to forgive you, you have to do something for me right now.”

Venti didn’t even hesitate. He didn’t ask what the task was, nor how dangerous it might be. After all, he really had used her as free muscle. He had been completely broke, craving wine, and figured he could mug some local orcs for cash. Realizing he was too weak to solo the camp, he had shamelessly dragged March along to do the heavy lifting. “Deal! I’ll help with whatever you need!”

March’s anger deflated slightly at his immediate surrender. “Fine. It’s a deal. Now get up and come with us.”

Venti happily grabbed his half-empty wine bottle and followed them toward the exit. Just as his hand touched the doorframe, a cold voice cut through the ambient noise of the tavern.

“You haven’t paid for your wine yet.”

Venti froze, slowly turning around with a sheepish grin. “Ah, Thasius, my good friend! We’re practically family at this point. Just put it on my tab! I’ll definitely come back and settle it later.”

The elven bartender, Thasius, stared at the bard with absolutely zero emotion. “No. Do you have any idea how many times you’ve ‘put it on your tab’? You dragged out your previous debts for weeks before finally paying them off. I am cutting you off. You must settle this bill on the spot.”

Venti patted his pockets, pulling out nothing but lint. He slowly turned his gaze toward March and Stelle, his eyes wide and pleading.

March stared at him in utter disbelief. “You seriously don’t have a single coin on you, do you?”

Venti rubbed the back of his head and offered a cheeky wink. “Ehe~”

“Don’t ‘Ehe’ me!” March groaned, rubbing her temples. Why does he go out drinking when he’s completely broke?! Knowing they desperately needed his wind powers, she aggressively dug into her coin pouch. “Boss, this young lady will cover his tab. How much?”

Thasius stated the amount. March slapped the copper coins onto the counter and grabbed Venti by the collar, dragging him out of the tavern. Venti, meanwhile, was practically glowing with happiness. Free drinks again today! Life was truly wonderful.

The trio returned to the Holy City Square, rejoining Samuel and Zhongli.

“Samuel, Mr. Zhongli, we’ve secured the bard. We’re ready to set off,” Stelle announced.

Just as Stelle opened the portal back to the Luofu, a dramatic voice called out from behind them.

“Wait just a moment!”

Furina, flanked by Lumine and Hu Tao, came sprinting over. Furina struck a theatrical pose, pointing a finger at Stelle. “Stelle! We overheard everything! A grand, decisive battle is about to unfold? We simply must go and join in the fun!”

Ever since the adrenaline-fueled clash at Everwinter Hill, the Hydro Archon had developed a severe addiction to the thrill of the spotlight.