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ArabicHonkai Star Rail: My Death Feeds Their Madness — Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Wait for My Return
After a week of exhaustive deliberations and complex jade abacus calculations by the Divination Commission, combined with the strategic insights provided by the Xianzhou Yuque, the final conclusion was formally presented to the Marshal.
Maintain the current course and take the initiative to strike.
Following the grueling special training regimens led by Kagashi, a significant portion of the Cloud Knights had undergone a complete transformation. Their combat proficiency and tactical coordination far exceeded what they once were. The Xianzhou Cangcheng was fully mobilized and prepared for war; the military brass deemed it impossible for their forces to be easily surrounded by the Abominations of Abundance.
But that was merely the public statement issued to maintain morale.
Only those holding the military rank of Cloud Knight Vanguard or higher knew the daunting truth hidden within the classified reports: the probability of Shuhu appearing on the battlefield was nearly ninety percent.
The Xianzhou Luofu, currently the closest ship to the Cangcheng, was already on high alert, prepared to dispatch its own Cloud Knights for immediate support at a moment’s notice. When the Yaoqing Xianzhou learned of the potential large-scale coalition of Abominations gathering in the dark, it went a step further, aggressively shifting its entire massive hull toward the Cangcheng’s flight path.
The Yaoqing was widely known as the Alliance’s sharpest arrow. Its people were fierce, martial, and had always stood at the absolute forefront of the Hunt’s eternal expedition against the Abominations, focusing on military dominance over economic development. Changing their course would result in almost no societal loss for the Yaoqing. As long as the voyage proceeded smoothly, in about five months, their fleet could escort the Cangcheng from half a light-year away, forming an impenetrable blockade.
Once the overarching combat strategy was finalized, the military command decided to dispatch a specialized Cloud Knights expeditionary force to set out three days ahead of the main fleet. Their objective was brutal and straightforward: eliminate any Abominations of Abundance attempting to form a coalition before the Cangcheng entered the dangerous star sector.
General Tengxiao would remain stationed on the Cangcheng, holding the main defensive line and staying on high alert for the arrival of Shuhu.
Thus, one of the heaviest burdens of this war fell directly onto Kagashi’s shoulders.
According to the latest deep-space intelligence, there were six massive, swarming groups of Abominations of Abundance occupying the star sectors surrounding the system the Cangcheng would enter in six months. It was reported that the native civilizations of these worlds had already been completely overrun and consumed by the Abominations.
Kagashi’s mission was to lead his forces and entirely wipe out the Abominations entrenched in two of those worlds.
This journey involved bloody, grinding battles on the scale of entire planetary civilizations and was destined to be exceptionally perilous. This grim reality was the exact result produced by the Divination Commission’s highest-tier predictions.
But just as Lord Kagashi had said—Home is right behind us; there is no way back for anyone.
Not to mention mere peril; even if they were marching into a great calamity, the Cloud Knights would set out with the absolute conviction of not fearing death, armed with the determination to hunt down every last one of the Abominations.
The mission was urgent. All departing Cloud Knights were given only two days to rest and reorganize their affairs. Half a day of that precious time could be spent returning home to bid farewell to their loved ones. After all, there was no telling if this departure would be a final goodbye.
When Kagashi arrived at his family residence, he found that there were guests visiting in the living room—familiar faces.
“Yu Huai?”
It was not just him; his young daughter, Jingliu, was also sitting quietly by his side.
“Good evening, Guard Kagashi,” Jingliu greeted him politely, her small face looking a bit constrained as she sat perfectly straight.
“Yes, good evening.”
Kagashi nodded slightly, his calm gaze returning to Yu Huai.
Before he could speak, Qiu Zhiyan walked out from the kitchen, bringing a fresh plate of sliced fruit over to the table. When she saw Kagashi standing in the doorway, she was first startled, and then an unnatural, forced smile appeared on her face.
“How do you have time to come back today?”
Beneath that fragile smile was a deep, pooling worry that was inconvenient to show because of the guests’ presence. Kagashi had not changed into his casual clothes. Returning home clad in his heavy, silver Cloud Knights battle armor… as a former member of the Cloud Knights herself, Qiu Zhiyan understood exactly what this meant.
He was going to war.
“There are important matters in the army. For at least the next six months, I won’t have time to come back,” Kagashi said as tactfully as possible, maintaining his gentle composure to soften the blow.
Qiu Zhiyan’s eyes flickered slightly. She wasn’t surprised.
The other father and daughter were both stunned, clearly not expecting Kagashi to announce such a heavy military deployment right in front of them.
“What a coincidence. In a few days, Hui Yu and I are to serve as representatives on a diplomatic mission to Pier Point. It will take about five months before we return to the Cangcheng,” Yu Huai said, quickly taking up the conversation to ease the sudden tension.
A diplomatic mission to the Interastral Peace Corporation headquarters for exchange. Kagashi quickly ran through the Alliance star charts in his mind, confirming that the civilian diplomatic route wouldn’t pass through the dangerous star sector his forces were targeting. He felt slightly relieved.
“I wish you and your wife a smooth journey.”
“Haha, thank you for the kind words. Actually, I have an impolite request for this visit.” Yu Huai’s tone shifted, becoming solemn as he looked at the older woman. “For this mission, could I trouble Aunt Qiu to look after Jingliu for a while?”
Qiu Zhiyan nodded without a second of hesitation. “Of course.”
This child was handsome, exceptionally well-behaved, and sensible, making her quite lovable to have around the house.
Jingliu looked up at her father, then turned her clear eyes to Qiu Zhiyan, and said obediently, “Jingliu will be good.”
Yu Huai smiled and gently patted his daughter’s head. “Father and Mother will be back soon. Don’t be too lax with your sword studies, and you must help your Grandmother Qiu with whatever you can, do you understand?”
“Mhm,” Jingliu nodded earnestly.
Yu Huai turned back to Qiu Zhiyan and gave a deep, respectful bow. “I’m troubling you.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Qiu Zhiyan smiled warmly.
“Lord Kagashi, thank you also for the care you showed this child during the pilgrimage.”
“No need for such words between friends,” Kagashi said, waving his hand dismissively.
After seeing off Yu Huai and his daughter into the evening streets, the house suddenly became quiet. The ambient noise of the Cangcheng felt very far away.
Qiu Zhiyan didn’t ask her questions immediately.
“Mother, I want to eat the Yangchun noodles you make.” Returning to the quiet haven of his home, Kagashi finally shed the stern, unyielding aura of a military commander.
“Hehe… alright,” Qiu Zhiyan smiled softly and stepped back into the kitchen.
Before long, a bowl of steaming Yangchun noodles was served, the rich aroma filling the small dining room.
Qiu Zhiyan sat opposite him, quietly watching her son use his chopsticks. She waited until he had eaten half the bowl before finally asking softly, “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Is it really six months?”
“That’s just a conservative estimate. It might be longer.”
Qiu Zhiyan was silent for a long moment, her fingers gently rubbing the grain of the wooden tabletop. “What did the Divination Commission say?”
“Dangerous,” Kagashi answered evenly. He didn’t hide the truth from her.
Qiu Zhiyan fell silent again, her eyes lowering as she became unable to hide the heavy worry settling over her features.
“Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit unsettled, as if something big is about to happen.”
Kagashi knew exactly what his mother wanted to say. She had experienced this exact same premonition back during that terrible battle at the Yuque.
“If any accidents occur in this battle, both the Yaoqing and Luofu Cloud Knights will support us immediately, and besides…”
He set down his chopsticks and looked up, meeting his mother’s worried eyes.
“I must go.”
He didn’t say empty things like ‘please don’t worry’ to his mother. To a veteran of the Cloud Knights, such hollow comforts were meaningless.
Qiu Zhiyan stared at him, slightly dazed. In the blood of the Kagashi Family descendants, there had never been a single drop of cowardice.
“Promise me, come back alive.”
“But Mother must also promise me,” Kagashi said, his voice quiet but firm. “Wait for my return.”
Qiu Zhiyan was taken aback for a second, before a kind, knowing smile appeared on her face. She understood exactly why her son phrased it that way.
“Alright, I promise you.”
The next day, long before the artificial dawn of the Cangcheng illuminated the sky, Kagashi finished his final preparations.
Standing by the front door, he took a step back, straightened his posture, and gave his mother a flawless, formal military salute. Then, he turned and pushed the door open, stepping out into the cold morning air.
Qiu Zhiyan stood by the window, watching his star skiff take flight until it completely disappeared into the upper atmosphere. Her gaze did not move from that empty patch of sky for a long time.
High above the civilian ports, in the military staging grounds, ten thousand warships were ready to depart.
The Cloud Knights stood in perfectly orderly formations across the massive boarding platforms, as silent as the grave. The first rays of morning light pierced through the artificial clouds and fell upon their silver armor, reflecting a chilling, metallic coldness across the entire assembly.
Kagashi ascended the high command platform. His calm gaze swept over the countless determined faces below, his voice amplified to echo throughout the colossal port.
“This journey is dangerous. The world we are going to has already had its civilization completely destroyed by the Borisin.”
“If we do not wipe them out now, when the Cangcheng sails into that star sector, there is a high probability we will face a fully formed Abomination coalition.”
“Once the flames of war spread to the Cangcheng, our family and friends will all be exposed to a fatal threat.”
“Comrades, today we set out on this Hunt expedition for only one thing—”
“To protect the home behind us, to protect everyone on the Xianzhou, and to protect those we care about.”
Kagashi’s voice suddenly rose, ringing out with the heavy, obvious weight of clashing metal and stone.
“Do you dare to follow me into this danger?”
“We dare!”
Ten thousand people shouted in absolute unison, their combined voices shaking the very foundations of the starry sky.
“Are you willing to fight for the Cangcheng?”
“We are!”
“Very well. Keep this oath in your hearts: We are the Cloud Knights, like clouds covering the sky, we protect the Xianzhou!”
Countless Cloud Knights erupted in a deafening roar that shook the heavens.
“We are the Cloud Knights, like clouds covering the sky, we protect the Xianzhou!!!”
“The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights are ever-victorious!”
“The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights are ever-victorious!”
Every single face was filled with unbreakable determination, and every eye burned with a fierce fighting spirit that entirely defied the concept of death.
Kagashi turned around abruptly, his cape snapping in the wind.
“All units, board the ships! Depart!”