Honkai Star Rail: My Chat Group is Full of Broken Timelines — Chapter 30

Chapter 30: A Path Revealed, A Guard for Tingyun

The thought of flipping it for a small fortune did cross his mind, a fleeting, mischievous impulse. But this was a gift from Tingyun. The idea was dismissed as soon as it formed, a flicker of avarice extinguished by genuine affection. Besides, in a way, he truly was a fan of Robin; that part wasn’t an act at all.

Kazuki clutched the box to his chest as if it were a fragile treasure. “Thank you, Sister Tingyun,” he said, his voice brimming with a sincerity that was impossible to fake.

His cautious, almost reverent handling of the gift drew a light, musical laugh from Tingyun. With a crisp snap, her folding fan unfurled, concealing the lower half of her face. She leaned close, her breath warm against his ear, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial, alluring whisper.

“So, since you’re such a devoted fan, are you interested in coming with me to Penacony to meet this grand superstar in person? I’ve done my research; she’s every bit as pure and full of positive energy as they say. A meeting would surely be worth the trip.”

“Haha, I think I’ll have to pass,” Kazuki replied, waving a hand in helpless refusal.

‘Ah, Sister Tingyun, if only you knew,’he thought with a wry internal smile.’I’ve met Miss Robin more times than I can count… just not this world’s Miss Robin.’ If he were to actually meet the version from this reality, he honestly wouldn’t have the first clue how to act.

“Could it be?” Tingyun snapped her fan shut, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in mock surprise. “Has our dear Kazuki’s admiration for Robin cooled?”

“Not at all. There’s no reason to stop being a fan,” Kazuki said with a serious expression, spreading his hands. “It’s just… there’s no need to make a special trip just to see her. Besides, where would I even find the time or the connections to arrange such a meeting?”

“That’s true,” Tingyun conceded, nodding as her tone grew more thoughtful. “Robin’s commercial appearances are rare these days. She dedicates most of her time to visiting war-torn planets, using her influence to bring aid and comfort to the children there. It’s difficult to even get in touch with her. But she is, in all seriousness, an idol worth looking up to. To be honest, after looking into her, I’ve become something of a fan myself.”

She had initially started researching Robin because of Kazuki’s interest, but in learning about the singer’s character and deeds, she had developed her own genuine admiration. It had been a very natural progression.

“In that case, Sister Tingyun, why don’t you use this songwriting opportunity yourself?” Kazuki steered the conversation back. The chance had practically fallen into his lap by accident, and he felt it wasn’t right for him to keep it.

“Perhaps I will. The next time the Merchant Guild passes through Penacony, it might just come in handy,” Tingyun agreed with a pleasant smile before her expression shifted, her gaze turning more focused. “Speaking of which, Kazuki, you were sitting here looking utterly dejected just now. What exactly happened?”

Kazuki was taken aback for a moment. He’d been so caught up in their banter that he’d almost forgotten the gloom that had been clinging to him just moments before she arrived. Of course, she had noticed. Tingyun’s perception was as sharp as a finely honed blade.

“It’s fine to tell you.”

He knew Tingyun was trustworthy and wouldn’t immediately run to Yukong with the news. So, he laid it all out: his desire to travel to the Herta Space Station and the frustrating dead-end he’d hit, lacking both a viable route and a ship to take him there.

“Going to the Herta Space Station…” Tingyun murmured, gently tapping her folded fan against her palm. Her eyes flickered, the subtle movement betraying the rapid calculations happening behind them.

After a moment of silence, she looked up, a bright smile blooming in her eyes. “Kazuki, I have some good news for you.”

“What good news?” A jolt went through his heart, a sudden premonition that his luck was about to change.

“Our Winged Flame Merchant Guild’s next route has just been finalized.”

Tingyun paused, deliberately drawing out the suspense as she watched the eager anticipation build on Kazuki’s face. Only then did she continue, “Not only will we be passing by Penacony, but our final destination is the Herta Space Station.”

She let the words sink in. “Midway through our last voyage, we came into possession of a Curio. I’m not sure how the Space Station found out, but to get in touch with that ‘Genius Society,’ we’ve specially planned a new route. In fact, this entire route was planned specifically for this purpose.”

“Really?!” Kazuki exclaimed, his voice sharp with surprise and relief. It was truly a light at the end of the tunnel. Just when he was despairing over having no way forward, a private transport had appeared as if from nowhere.

“When have I ever lied to you?” Tingyun’s smile was triumphant. “And you have an Exit Permit now, don’t you? Not everyone in our merchant group is from the Sky-Faring Commission. If you want to hitch a ride, I can make the arrangements to bring you along. And I won’t breathe a word of it to Sister Yukong.”

“Yes! Absolutely!” Kazuki agreed without a shred of hesitation. “Whatever the conditions are, I’ll agree to them!” He trusted Tingyun wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

“Conditions…” Tingyun drew the word out, and seeing the flicker of nervousness on his face, she couldn’t suppress a light laugh. “It’s nothing too difficult. I heard that you’ve become quite strong recently, Kazuki—strong enough to defeat the General’s prized disciple?”

“Uh… I wouldn’t say I beat him,” Kazuki mumbled, scratching his head in embarrassment.

He recalled his last spar with Yanqing. His tactics had been… unorthodox, to say the least. Since it was only a practice match, Yanqing had held back his killing intent, and Kazuki’s underhanded methods had eventually flustered the young prodigy so much that Jing Yuan had declared Kazuki the winner, if only to end the spectacle. Seeing the fruits of his hard work over the past few months, even Jing Yuan had given him a nod of acknowledgement.

“In short, you’re stronger than most Cloud Knights now, correct?” Tingyun waved her hand, dismissing the finer details. “It just so happens that I find myself in need of a capable guard for my interstellar travels. Why don’t you consider it a form of practical training and serve as my personal guard on the way to the Herta Space Station?”

“Of course I can!” Kazuki agreed instantly. He understood immediately. The Winged Flame Merchant Guild was a formidable force. If a threat ever got past their fleet and Cloud Knight escort to reach Tingyun’s side, the entire convoy would already be lost. The “guard” position was a pretense, a kindness designed to let him accept her help without feeling indebted or like a freeloader.

“Then it’s a deal.” Tingyun smiled, her eyes curving into lovely crescents. “Our departure isn’t far off, so just wait for my signal. And don’t worry, I promise I won’t tell Sister Yukong.”

“Sister Tingyun, thank you so much for this,” Kazuki said, his voice thick with gratitude.

“Mm-hmm. When the time comes, I’ll be relying on you, my dear guard, to protect this little lady!”

With her final words, Tingyun’s tone turned playful again, and she punctuated the jest with a deliberate, charming wink before turning to leave.

“Sister Tingyun… you really are something else,” Kazuki said to her retreating back, a helpless smile on his face. Tingyun truly was like a caring older sister to him. Around him, she rarely put on the full, famously sly and charming persona she was known for—the one he remembered from the game. But that final, playful wink… for a fleeting moment, it felt like he was seeing that very character come to life.