Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 247

Chapter 247: Tingyun: I Won’t Pretend Anymore

March 7th, standing nearby, suddenly gasped and pointed to the sky in the distance.

“Uh, guys? Look at that!”

Everyone immediately followed her gaze.

They saw that in the center of the Xianzhou Luofu, the Ambrosial Arbor, which had long withered and only its main trunk remained, suddenly erupted with a pillar of sickly, vibrant green light!

[Inorin’s Note: The Ambrosial Arbor (Jianmu) is a massive, divine tree on the Luofu, a gift from the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi. It was sealed and “killed” long ago to stop the spread of immortality and Mara.]

Immediately after, tender green branches and leaves visibly grew back on the withered trunk at a speed visible to the naked eye!

But that wasn’t all!

Those new branches and leaves seemed to have been injected with hormones, spreading wildly at an unbelievable speed.

Vines as thick as star skiffs burst from the trunk.

In an instant, they covered the entire outline of the dead Arbor and continued to grow upwards, an uncontrolled cancerous growth, almost breaking through the Luofu’s sky-faring platform!

Countless emerald green vines, dripping with a golden sap, hung down from the Arbor, spreading to every corner of the Luofu like grasping tentacles.

This bizarre, terrifying sight left everyone stunned.

“This… this could it be…”

Fu Xuan looked at the wildly growing Ambrosial Arbor, utterly shocked. Her calculations, her Matrix, none of it had predicted this.

She suddenly turned to look at Orion.

“Is that the Stellaron’s doing?”

“It should be.”

Orion withdrew his gaze and nodded, a look of calm certainty on his face. “It seems the Stellaron is right there, at its roots.”

“How are you so sure…?” Fu Xuan retorted, annoyed by his calmness.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt her cheeks burning.

Did she even need to ask?

With such an absurd, reality-defying situation unfolding, what else could it be but the Stellaron?

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Orion turned his head and smiled at Fu Xuan, a teasing, victorious smile.

“Master Diviner, it seems my ‘intuition’ is quite accurate.”

“Get ready to concede. I’m going to seal the Stellaron.”

With that, he pulled Stelle and March 7th, who hadn’t yet recovered from their shock, called Welt, and strode away.

Leaving Fu Xuan alone, standing rooted to the spot, her face alternating between green and pale.

Wait…

That… that hateful guy!

She stamped her foot in anger.

But within the fury in her chest, there was also a hint of… relief?… joy?… that even she couldn’t understand.

No, how could that be?

Is it because… he spoke so much with me?

No! What am I thinking!

The most important thing now is the Stellaron!

Fu Xuan shook her head, casting aside those jumbled, unprofessional thoughts, and immediately rushed towards the Ambrosial Arbor.

She hadn’t lost the bet yet!

…

To reach the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, one must pass through the Artisanship Commission and, finally, the Alchemy Commission.

As Orion and his group had just left the Divination Commission, they saw a familiar figure already waiting at the Star Skiff Landing.

It was Tingyun.

“Esteemed benefactors.”

Tingyun greeted them with her perfect, practiced smile.

Welt looked at her, remembering what had happened before, and asked:

“Miss Tingyun, was it you who contacted General Jing Yuan earlier?”

“Oh, right!” March 7th slapped her forehead. “You said you were going to get reinforcements to help clear our names! Thank you, Miss Tingyun!”

Hearing this, Tingyun’s smile grew wider.

“It was merely a small effort, nothing to mention. It brings this humble one great joy to be of assistance to you, esteemed benefactors.”

Then, she looked at Orion and asked, her voice full of concern:

“By the way, may I ask where the benefactor is headed? And why the rush? That light… is it the Arbor?”

Orion looked at her, not speaking.

He just quietly stared at her.

Tingyun felt a chill under his gaze, her smile almost faltering.

This man… though handsome, but…

His eyes are too terrifying. It feels like he’s looking through me.

“Benefactor Orion, is there… something on my face?”

She half-covered her lips with her fan and asked softly.

“Nothing.”

“We are going to the Ambrosial Arbor roots. You saw it, right?”

Tingyun followed his gaze to the Arbor, still growing wildly in the distance, her face showing the perfect mask of surprise and worry:

“The rebirth of the Arbor is truly bizarre. Are you, esteemed benefactors, going to such a dangerous place?”

“We are going to seal the Stellaron!”

Stelle and March 7th said in unison, full of vigor.

“You are familiar with the Xianzhou.” Orion looked at her, his voice a calm command. “Lead the way.”

Hearing this, Tingyun quickly waved her hands, trying to dissuade them.

“Benefactors, you absolutely must not! It is extremely dangerous beneath the Arbor, and now with such an anomaly, going rashly would likely…”

“No, we are Trailblazers. We must go!”

“This…”

She feigned persuasion for a few more sentences, and seeing that their minds were made up, she could only sigh helplessly and agree.

“Since the benefactors are so insistent, this humble one can only accompany you, even at the risk of her life.”

However, the moment she lowered her head and turned, a cold, triumphant smile flashed in her charming fox eyes.

Astral Express…

Heh heh, truly a bunch of fools who don’t know their place.

Perfect. I don’t even need to bother leading you there; you’re walking straight to your doom yourselves.

Straight into the heart of my trap.

Then, I shall be the one to personally bring about your destruction!

…

Under Tingyun’s guidance, the group quickly rushed towards the Ambrosial Arbor.

Their destination was the Alchemy Commission, the only path to the Arbor’s roots.

As soon as they arrived at the commission’s entrance, everyone felt an ominous aura washing over them.

The entire Alchemy Commission was shrouded in a thick, unyielding, eerie mist.

It was a sickly green-white, and it smelled sweet, like rotting flowers.

Within the mist, twisted, lurching figures could be vaguely seen, appearing and disappearing. Occasional non-human roars sent shivers down their spines.

At the entrance, a small squad of Cloud Knights vanguard was on high alert, forming a defensive perimeter.

But they were clearly at a loss regarding the scene before them, not daring to step a single pace into the mist.

“This place… has already undergone an anomaly.”

Tingyun’s face showed a grave expression. “It seems traitors from The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have appeared within the Alchemy Commission, and they created this poisonous mist.”

She looked at the Cloud Knights squad. “These mists have a deadly corrosive effect on Xianzhou natives. Cloud Knights, once they enter, will quickly fall into the Mara-Struck state, losing their sanity.”

At this moment, Fu Xuan’s team had not yet arrived.

March 7th looked at the churning, sickly mist, feeling her scalp tingle.

She hesitated and tugged at Orion’s sleeve.

“Should we… really go in now? Should we wait for Fu Xuan and the others to arrive first?”

“Go! Of course, we go!” Stelle, however, was full of fighting spirit. “Have you forgotten the bet? We can’t let Orion lose to that short Master Diviner!”

Welt looked at the mist before them and also felt that this journey was too risky.

But then he looked at Orion beside him, suddenly remembering the scene when he slew Asat Pramad. His worries lessened a little.

He thought for a moment, then left the final decision to Orion:

“Orion, what’s your opinion?”

Orion’s gaze pierced through the mist.

His Emanator of Finality power could see the “lines” of the future. This mist… it was a trap, but it was also the correct path.

Since Phantylia has already prepared the stage for us, I have no reason not to make an appearance.

Orion turned his head, a confident smile on his face.

He only said one word:

“Up.”

The few of them no longer hesitated and stepped into the mist.

Tingyun followed closely behind, walking at the very end of the group, a cold smile on her face.

Inside the Alchemy Commission, three huge, ancient alchemy furnaces stood in a triangular formation, their dragon-mouthed spouts continuously spewing out the thick white-green mist.

Visibility was extremely low.

Suddenly, several figures stumbled out of the fog.

They were still wearing the robes of Alchemy Commission alchemists, but their bodies were already twisted. Branches grew from their backs, and their eyes were blood-red. They were completely reduced to Mara-Struck beings who knew only slaughter.

“Watch out!” March 7th had just raised her bow.

Orion and Stelle had already charged forward, one from the left and one from the right.

A black sword flashed. Orion didn’t even seem to move; he just appeared, and the head of a Mara-Struck being flew into the air.

On the other side, Stelle’s baseball bat, wreathed in golden light, smashed another Mara-Struck being’s knee to pieces.

The monster wailed and fell to its knees, then was immediately struck in the head by Stelle’s bat, shattering it.

The battle ended extremely quickly, almost in the blink of an eye.

March 7th’s arrow was still suspended on the bowstring. She lowered it with some helplessness:

“You two are too fast, aren’t you?”

Afterward, Orion walked to the nearest alchemy furnace.

He looked at the complex machinery, then activated his Mystic Eyes. He saw the “line of death” on the main core.

He raised his simple blade and tapped it.

The furnace fire instantly extinguished, and the mist spewing from that furnace also stopped.

The group advanced quickly. The Mara-Struck beings they encountered along the way—failed experiments and corrupted alchemists—were easily dealt with by Orion and Stelle.

Soon, the fires of all three alchemy furnaces were extinguished.

The thick mist covering the Alchemy Commission also quickly dispersed, revealing its full, horrifying appearance.

And in the deepest part of the Alchemy Commission, a woman’s figure stood silently.

“…Extinguished.”

“However, it doesn’t matter anymore; what was destined to come, has finally arrived.”

The woman turned around. She was wearing the robes of an Alchemy Commission Alchemist Chief, her eyes tightly closed. It was Dan Shu.

“Is that you? Dan Shu?”

Tingyun spoke, feigning surprise.

“Miss Tingyun…” Dan Shu faced the approaching group, “And the Trailblazers from outside this realm.”

March 7th: “You’re the leader of The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?”

Stelle: “You chief culprit, surrender at once!”

“Chief culprit?” Dan Shu snorted, her voice rising with fanatical zeal. “What we do is merely follow the path of the Xianzhou ancestors, to restore the Luofu to the glory of ‘Abundance’! What crime is there in that?”

“Once upon a time, the Ambrosial Arbor’s profound roots protected the Luofu! Our people traversed the star seas, and everyone could attain enlightenment—what a magnificent era that was! Now look, what has the Xianzhou become? Willingly driven by that demonic bow, Lan, even forcing us to abandon eternal life!”

Dan Shu’s expression gradually became frenzied:

“But now, we still have a chance! As long as the Arbor is reborn, as long as the Medicus is welcomed back…”

She wanted to continue speaking.

“Are you done talking?”

Orion, however, impatiently interrupted her.

Before his words faded, Orion’s figure had already vanished from his original spot!

Dan Shu’s face changed; she had completely not expected the other party to directly attack without a word!

She hastily tried to resist, raising a hand full of corrosive elixir…

However, the black sword was faster than her movements!

“Pfft!”

Dan Shu lowered her head, looking at the black sword piercing through her chest, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

“Bang!”

With another dull thud, Stelle’s baseball bat followed closely, smashing heavily onto the back of her head.

Dan Shu’s body went limp; before she could utter a single word, she turned into ashes and completely dissipated.

“…”

The scene was quiet for a moment.

“Hey! You two!” March 7th finally couldn’t help but complain. “You didn’t even give her a chance to say her last words, did you?”

“Villains die from talking too much.”

Stelle retrieved her bat, slung it over her shoulder, and said righteously.

“Just defeat her, why listen to her ramble so much.”

Just then, Tingyun, who had been following behind them, suddenly took a few steps forward.

And at this moment, footsteps were heard from nearby.

“Damn it, still a step too late!”

Fu Xuan arrived late with a squad of Cloud Knights; she saw the already-dealt-with Dan Shu, her face full of vexation.

“But, there’s still a chance, the Stellaron is still ahead…”

Her words stopped abruptly halfway through.

Fu Xuan’s gaze fell on Tingyun, her brows slightly furrowed.

What was that merchant girl doing…

Tingyun walked directly in front of Orion, a smile on her face.

“Benefactor Orion…”

She spoke softly, then made a move that everyone found completely unexpected.

She suddenly leaned closer, as if wanting to say something to Orion’s ear.

The next second, under the shocked gazes of Stelle and March 7th…

Tingyun’s red lips, without warning, kissed Orion’s face.

Chu.

It was a light, cold, fleeting touch.

Orion’s body instantly stiffened. He immediately recoiled backward, creating distance, his eyes narrowed.

“What are you doing!”

“Why are you suddenly acting crazy at a time like this!”

Stelle and March 7th both exploded simultaneously, shielding Orion from both sides, glaring angrily at Tingyun.

“Heh heh…”

Tingyun wiped the corner of her mouth, her smile no longer as charming as before, but rather sinister and triumphant.

“Orion… alas, I couldn’t have you.”

Orion looked at her, his eyes cold.

“What exactly do you want to do?”

“Of course, it’s…” Tingyun said seductively, “to win the benefactor’s favor.”

“After all, how could a humble one not be moved by such an excellent man as the benefactor?”

“What did you say?!”

March 7th immediately bristled, her pink hair almost standing on end.

Stelle was also enraged, her golden eyes full of hostility. “Stay away from Orion! He wouldn’t like someone like you!”

The two girls simultaneously took a step forward, glaring angrily at Tingyun.

Tingyun looked at their reactions, covering her mouth with a light chuckle:

“Oh my, it seems the benefactor has quite a few protectors around him.”

Orion stared at her, silent for two seconds, then sneered:

“Stop acting. You can’t keep it up, can you?”

“You are not Tingyun.”

“What?!”

Stelle and March 7th were both stunned, looking at the “Tingyun” before them in surprise.

“Orion, what are you saying? How can she not be Tingyun?” March 7th asked anxiously.

Stelle vigilantly stared at Tingyun. “Are you saying she’s been lying to us all along?”

Welt’s expression became grave: “Orion, what exactly is this?”

Fu Xuan and the Cloud Knights also stopped, their gazes all focused on Tingyun.

Tingyun suddenly laughed.

“Heh he-heh… heh heh heh heh…”

Her laughter was no longer as charming as before. It became deep, arrogant, a divine indifference looking down on ants.

“This is truly beyond my expectation. I thought my disguise was flawless, but I didn’t expect to be seen through by you.”

“As expected of… the man He favors.”

“But, there’s nothing for it now, I just have to…”

Before she finished speaking, her head tilted, and a sickening CRACK echoed through the chamber as her neck twisted at an inhuman angle.

Then, she collapsed straight to the ground, a puppet with its strings cut.

A ball of dark, destructive flame rose from within her body, and then Tingyun’s body… simply lay there, lifeless.

A new, powerful woman’s voice emerged from the flames:

“Esteemed ‘benefactors,’ allow me to reintroduce myself…”

“I… am the Lord Ravager, Phantylia.”

Hearing this, March 7th and Stelle were even more shocked than before.

“She’s actually… the Lord Ravager?!”

But very quickly, March 7th reacted; she pointed at the flames and shouted angrily:

“Aha! No wonder I thought you were so strange the whole way! So you’re the Lord Ravager!”

Stelle: “I always felt something was off about you!”

The two girls exchanged glances, seeing the same thought in each other’s eyes.

Excellent!

Now they could justifiably beat up that bad woman!

However, Phantylia merely chuckled, summoned a few Voidrangers from rifts in the air to cover her escape, and her true form—the ball of flame—flew towards the Ambrosial Arbor.

“Hmph! Good thing she ran fast! Otherwise, I’d shoot her down with an arrow!” March 7th fumed, lowering her bow.