Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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Jingliu learned of Su Qing and Bai Heng's deaths simultaneously.

While the battle against the activated star constellations was arduous, its outcome proved successful. With Shuhu preoccupied on the main battlefield, Teng Xiao personally leading forces here, and one of Luofu's sharpest swords engaged, victory was assured.

Once Rahu the World-Devourer was repelled, as long as no complications arose with Shuhu, this would become Luofu's least devastating encounter with Abundance's invasion.

Immediately after the battle, Teng Xiao reorganized his troops to support another front. En route, a Cloud Knight hastily approached and whispered something in his ear. Initially, surprise lit up Teng Xiao's face, as if he'd heard news of a significant triumph. However, as the messenger continued, his expression darkened.

Teng Xiao waved for the messenger to withdraw first.

He knew this news needed to be conveyed to Jingliu immediately.

[March 7th: Woe, I can't bear thinking about how distraught Jingliu will be upon hearing this...]

Jingliu was wiping her sword clean. Adorning her attire were knots personally tied by Su Qing and a tassel on Fragmentary, both pristine despite the bloodshed around her. Yet after such a fierce battle, she had slain countless evil beings.

After millennia of combating these creatures, it seemed to have become second nature. By wiping away the blood from her blade, she cleansed herself of the slaughter, maintaining her composure amidst combat.

As Jingliu polished her sword, thoughts of Su Qing involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Now, not just this gesture but Su Qing himself had become her anchor post-battle.

How was he faring? Was everything going smoothly?

The fight against Shuhu must have been arduous; she wished fervently that the star ferry could fly even faster.

"Shuhu is dead, but Su Qing and Bai Heng made the ultimate sacrifice."

Jingliu's hand stilled, mid-wipe. She looked at Teng Xiao with confusion, struggling to comprehend the meaning behind his words. The initial part was clear enough, but the latter...

Sighing inwardly, Teng Xiao repeated the sentence once more.

Jingliu set down her sword, silent and unresponsive as she struggled to comprehend the meaning behind these words.

For her, this brief sentence contained an overwhelming amount of information, exceeding her capacity to understand.

Teng Xiao knew it would be difficult for Jingliu to accept. In truth, Su Qing's death had deeply shaken him as well.

Everyone within Luofu understood that Su Qing was personally groomed by Teng Xiao to be his successor; the general held immense trust in him. Otherwise, Teng Xiao never would have entrusted the Divine Monarch to him on the eve of battle.

In hindsight, Su Qing did not betray that trust—he even surpassed expectations. However...

Suppressing his emotions, Teng Xiao reminded himself that while the outcome of this battle was decided, the war was far from over. As a competent general, he still had countless responsibilities, leaving no time for grief.

After Teng Xiao departed, Jingliu remained lost in thought for a moment before stepping onto the deck. She scanned her surroundings, taking in the vast array of star ferries traversing the starry expanse and gazing upon her fellow Cloud Knights.

The Rahu the World-Devourer had been repelled, and Shuhu eradicated.

As one of Luofu's sharpest swords—

No, now perhaps the only sharpest sword remaining...

For a moment, Jingliu found herself at a loss for what to do next.

[Qingque: Feels like losing one's life purpose and goals all of a sudden...]

The war had ended. In response to Abundance's invasion, Luofu achieved a miraculous victory. Not only were casualties lower than ever before, but they also accomplished the extraordinary feat of eliminating Shuhu—an achievement monumental enough to warrant special mention in the annals of the Xianzhou Alliance.

Undoubtedly, Su Qing played the greatest role in this triumph. Along with Bai Heng and all the soldiers who participated in the battle, he received immense honors.

Generals from other Xianzhous expressed their respects, and even the marshal personally offered condolences. Yet Jingliu scarcely remembered those days; it felt as if, in a daze, she blinked and suddenly found herself at the funeral.

Before the burial, Bai Heng lay peacefully, his pallid face making him seem merely asleep.

During his struggle against Shuhu, Su Qing was tainted by the aura of the black hole. His right arm and half of his shoulder had been annihilated.

There they lay, side by side.

Jingliu stood there, watching for a long time, as if her voice had abandoned her.

After the funeral, someone approached to offer comforting words. Jingliu, suddenly jolted back to reality, fled the scene as though escaping a nightmare.

She had only a few close friends—just these handful...

And now, two were gone in an instant, including those she held dearest.

Losing both Su Qing and Bai Heng at once left Jingliu bereft. She didn't know how to express or escape this overwhelming grief.

Should she weep like a little girl? Sob uncontrollably?

In the days that followed, Jingliu shut herself away, refusing visitors and isolating from everyone.

Night fell.

Jingliu stepped into the small courtyard. The tree they had planted together was now taller than the eaves of the house. In the center, the stone table remained unchanged.

Gently caressing its surface, Jingliu recalled the joyful gatherings when they would sit around, sharing stories and laughter. She remembered their last meeting vividly.

As they divided sweets among themselves, Su Qing nonchalantly claimed double portions, eliciting smiles from all present. Jingliu could still picture herself savoring soft osmanthus cakes while watching Su Qing engage in lively conversation and Bai Heng playfully teasing.

Even then, she had smiled. As the sword leader, she didn't fully grasp the happiness of ordinary people. Yet during those moments, she truly felt traces of joy.

Jingliu walked through the courtyard.

On the night they thwarted the Fertile Alliance's pact, the group brimmed with lofty aspirations and high spirits. They shared their dreams over cups of wine, each moment filled with pure bliss.

Jingliu gazed up at the moonlit sky.

It was here that she confessed her feelings to Su Qing after practicing swordplay together, her cheeks flushed pink. For the first and last time, her heart found its belonging as she fell in love with someone.

Now, nothing could be more sorrowful than this despair.

Jingliu entered the neighboring courtyard.

Once, she, Su Qing, and Bai Heng had admired the moonflower here together.

Much time had passed since then, yet the moonflower remained quietly poised, awaiting bloom. The presence of the other two gradually faded away, leaving Jingliu alone, standing dazed amidst the emptiness.

She couldn't bring herself to cry. Even finding ways to alleviate this grief seemed elusive.

[Viewers with low emotional resilience might not be able to continue watching.]

[Bailu sniffled, feeling her nose grow tinglingly sore, as if on the verge of tears.]

[How long is a person's life, and how many ups and downs do they experience?]

[Yet there are always certain moments that leave the deepest imprints, shaping an individual profoundly.]

[Only by understanding these past experiences can one truly grasp a person's essence.]

[Initially, viewers perceived Jingliu as straightforward, with formidable offensive capabilities.]

[Now, they realized Su Qing and Bai Heng were irreplaceable figures in Jingliu's life, carrying immense weight.]

[Jingliu's directness towards Su Qing was simply an honest expression of her thoughts.]

[Looking back now, those moments of candor seem like the last opportunities she had.]

[If Jingliu had hesitated even slightly, delaying just a bit...]

[It would have been akin to missing the brief bloom of this moonflower, forever losing such beauty and never witnessing it again.]

[By seizing these fleeting times, Jingliu etched herself into Su Qing's memory, and vice versa, creating unparalleled cherished memories.]

Ultimately,

Jingliu managed to compose herself.

At least, she believed she did.

Once, Jingliu had pointed her sword at the night sky, vowing to seize the stars, and Su Qing supported her ambition wholeheartedly.

Now, Su Qing fulfilled his promise.

He reached for the stars first, taking the initial step ahead.

Bai Heng had also departed.

Together, perhaps they wouldn't have felt lonely.

Their quest for vengeance against The Hunt would not cease until death itself.

Yet at times, Jingliu couldn't help but think that dying might be a form of release.

But regardless, she was still alive.

Even if just for them, Jingliu must continue walking down this path.

In this manner, Jingliu managed to pull herself together with great effort.

Then came the news...

She heard about Bai Heng being resurrected as an evil creature.

[Seele: (gasps sharply) Sss...]

[March 7th feels like she can't breathe.]

[Stelle: Aaahh, how could this happen...]

[Qingque: After enduring such loss and barely managing to recover, Jingliu now faces this devastating revelation...]

[Himeko and Kafka remain silent.]

[Himeko, who previously clashed intensely with Jingliu, now finds herself deeply saddened by her experiences.]

[How should I put it?]

[Just imagining herself in Jingliu's place, even slightly, causes unbearable pain in Himeko's heart.]

[Kafka had already experienced losing Su Qing once.]

[If after Su Qing's death, his body were to be desecrated...]

[Just imagining it filled Kafka with uncontrollable rage.]

[Firefly, like Clara before her, began to weep.]

[As for Silver Wolf...]

[While feeling sorrow for Jingliu, Silver Wolf also pondered:]

[Why are everyone's emotions so intense and heavy...?]

***

The news arrived hastily and abruptly.

Upon hearing this, unlike her previous disbelief, Jingliu now felt utterly incredulous.

"Yingxing and Dan Feng resurrected Bai Heng as the Dragon of Misfortune?"

This information was extraordinarily complex and hard to fathom, overwhelming Jingliu's thoughts.

The message reached her swiftly, but by then, much of Scalegorge Waterscape had been devastated. Jingliu immediately rushed to the scene.

From afar, she spotted the writhing Dragon of Misfortune in the sky.

Is that...Bai Heng?

Has Bai Heng truly been transformed into an Abundant Evil...?

Jingliu felt her blood surge; after battling evil creatures for millennia, this was the first time she experienced such dizziness and disorientation.

Beside her, Jing Yuan seemed to say something, but Jingliu couldn't process a single word.

Alongside disbelief, there was anger.

Jingliu rarely felt fury, yet now it coursed through her intensely.

As they approached further, despite the distance, Jingliu immediately recognized the figure ascending into the sky—it was Su Qing.

A wave of instinctive joy washed over her; he was alive. But why... Seeing the colossal tree continuously rising beneath him, Jingliu considered a grim possibility.

The news had been rushed, with the Dragon of Misfortune drawing most attention, leading her to believe only Bai Heng had been resurrected as an evil creature. Yet now, it appeared that Su Qing might have suffered the same fate...

Blood surged to Jingliu's head, her hand holding the sword trembled uncontrollably, causing its fragmented tip to quiver lightly. She hastened her pace, though even her steps faltered.

[Seele: I can genuinely feel Jingliu's rage.]

[Fu Xuan: Jingliu must now harbor murderous intent towards Yingxing and Dan Feng.]

[Bronya: No one could bear this!]

[Bronya: Her best friend, her closest lover and confidante, resurrected as an evil creature.]

[Bronya: It's just unbearable!!]

[Qingque: Indeed, considering Jingliu didn't faint from fury on the spot is already remarkable...]

***

Jingliu arrived at the scene.

She saw Dan Feng step forward, approaching Su Qing.

In her state, she had no interest in discerning what Dan Feng intended to do.

Once wasn't enough; does she want another attempt?!

Her anger knew no bounds!

They were once inseparable friends through life and death.

Yet now, Jingliu felt an overwhelming urge to kill Yingxing and Dan Feng on the spot.

Within Scalegorge Waterscape, the situation was dire:

Bai Heng transformed into the Dragon of Misfortune, lying dormant; Su Qing suspectedly became the Abundance Emanator; Yingxing and Dan Feng stood pale-faced; And Jingliu, consumed by uncontrollable rage.

Standing nearby, Jing Yuan, known for his strategic prowess, felt deeply powerless at this moment.

[Qingque: Wow, General Jing Yuan is here too!]

[Fu Xuan: Earlier, Jing Yuan tried to intervene with Jingliu, but she wouldn't listen to reason.]

[March 7th: Suddenly feeling really bad for Jing Yuan!]

[Stelle: Indeed...]

[Stelle: He must be utterly bewildered right now.]

[Stelle: Two best friends fell in battle, and then two other close brothers secretly resurrected them as evil beings without telling him. Now even his master has turned against them.]

[March 7th: The worst part is, there's nothing he can do amidst this situation!]

[Fu Xuan: True enough. Jing Yuan cannot possibly defend Yingxing and Dan Feng; he knows right from wrong. Even trying to stop Jingliu would likely put him at risk of being attacked himself.]

[Stelle: It feels like everyone else is caught up in some intricate plot, while Jing Yuan remains completely detached... unable to participate or make any difference!]

Su Qing gazed at Jingliu. Concerned about the outcome on the other battlefield, seeing Jingliu unharmed brought him considerable relief.

Unfortunately.

Given his current state, there was no way to properly greet her now.

Their eyes met.

Jingliu's gaze flickered, as if holding a multitude of unspoken words. She yearned to step forward, embrace Su Qing, and express her longing and sorrow.

However, Jingliu's perception unmistakably conveyed that Su Qing's entire being was brimming with the power of Abundance.

This force surged overwhelmingly; it could not be mistaken.

Among all the evil creatures Jingliu had encountered, only Shuhu from Cang City could compare to this energy. Now, she even suspected that standing before her might be an Abundance Emanator in human form.

As they locked gazes, Jingliu looked away first.

Her voice trembled slightly. "...You're not Su Qing."

Su Qing gazed at her, gradually breaking into a smile. "Yes, I'm not."

Neither the authorities nor Jingliu were willing or able to acknowledge that the hero who vanquished Shuhu and saved Luofu had become an Emanator-level evil creature.

Jingliu understood that Su Qing, too, did not wish to perish bearing this identity.

But his demeanor, that smile, their tacit understanding—every detail, Jingliu recognized them intimately.

It was him! This unmistakably was him!

Su Qing still retained his rationality and memories!

Gripping Fragmentary, Jingliu's inner turmoil intensified; she found it increasingly difficult to act.

As close confidants, they shared an unparalleled understanding.

Su Qing hadn't spoken immediately because he too was hesitating. He didn't want Jingliu to strike, hoping instead for a moment longer to see if the general would arrive.

But now, time had run out.

The vitality surging within him relentlessly washed through his body. Su Qing felt himself growing stronger by the second, rapidly approaching the point of losing control.

He knew he must speak up: "Jingliu, kill me."

This was their shared responsibility.

Priorities dictated their actions. Despite the multitude of words unspoken and the overwhelming sorrow and reluctance between them, emotions could not cloud their judgment of the situation at hand.

Though they were experiencing the pain of separation and impending loss, delaying this decision would only lead to more tragedy.

Jingliu bowed her head, her sword trembling, as was her entire body and heart.

After several tense seconds,

she finally took a step forward, standing before Su Qing.

With a swift motion, Jingliu thrust the sword directly into Su Qing's heart.

[This strike, piercing not just Su Qing but seemingly the hearts of the viewers as well.]

[Although everyone witnessed Jingliu's previous experiences, no one truly knows what she felt in that moment.]

However, the power of a blade does not correlate with sadness; if anything, it might inversely affect its potency.

Fragmentary, razor-sharp, did indeed pierce Su Qing's heart accurately.

Yet, it proved futile.

Despite Su Qing suppressing his vitality and the power of Abundance, they relentlessly continued to mend his body.

The sword remained lodged within him, piercing his heart. So, he simply created another heart elsewhere-or several hearts.

This was akin to how ordinary wounds heal without conscious control.

With Yaoshi's blessing, Su Qing possessed exceptional regenerative abilities.

Just as Shuhu had endured the combined attack from the Divine Monarch and Dan Feng, being drawn by the black hole and subsequently assaulted multiple times by the Divine Monarch-yet still not entirely perishing, leaving behind a fragment of flesh imbued with divine consciousness-Jingliu realized it wasn't enough.

In this moment of extreme sorrow, her swordsmanship unexpectedly made a breakthrough.

Overwhelmed by emotion, everything seemed to blur into an unreal dream.

Jingliu felt her physical form surpass its limits, beginning to disintegrate. It was as if countless taut strings bound her limbs and bones, slicing through her final vestiges of consciousness one thread at a time.

In that instant, she grasped the very sword she had once yearned for in her dreams-a blade capable of breaking all shackles.

Releasing Dismay, Jingliu materialized a solid ice sword in her hand, faintly glowing like a sliver of moonlight.

As though fate were playing a cruel joke, her first strike after mastering her swordsmanship pierced towards the person she loved most.

Jingliu swung the sword again, once more impaling Su Qing's heart.

Even as it pierced him, the wound was not immediately fatal.

However, the spreading chill within his body hindered any chance of recovery. Despite Su Qing's strenuous efforts to resist, the rate of decline finally surpassed that of healing.

Su Qing felt a sense of relief.

With Jingliu's swordsmanship advancing further, she could now end his life.

"Su Qing..."

In truth, following their unspoken understanding, Jingliu should have said no more and simply concluded this moment. Yet, after fulfilling her duty as sword leader, she couldn't help herself.

The bone-chilling cold radiated from her hand, causing pain in both Su Qing's heart and hers.

Jingliu truly couldn't restrain herself, calling out his name, unsure what else to say next. She recalled the evil dragon slumbering atop the giant tree.

"She... Bai Heng," Jingliu began.

Su Qing responded, "She has been freed."

"That's good," Jingliu murmured somberly.

Bai Heng appeared serene, suggesting she hadn't endured much suffering in her final moments.

The chill spread once more, leaving only a brief span before vitality would fade entirely, enough time for farewells.

What should be said? Expressions of love, sorrow, or reluctance...

Ultimately, Su Qing spoke first, "Jingliu, promise me, live on."

Given the current situation, Su Qing knew even Jingliu might find it unbearable.

As the sword leader, Jingliu wouldn't seek suicide, but she might willingly allow herself to be injured or even killed by enemies during battle.

Jingliu lowered her head, body trembling, unable to speak. Just as Su Qing anticipated, this was something she couldn't promise.

Jingliu's sword pierced his heart, yet Su Qing gently brushed aside strands of her hair.

His gaze remained tender, but his tone was resolute as he repeated, "Promise me, survive."

"I..." Jingliu looked up at him, and despite his newfound Abundance, there was such familiarity in Su Qing's eyes.

Several times, Jingliu choked back sobs, nearly on the verge of tears. Finally, she managed to say, "I promise you."

A chill spread throughout Su Qing's body, freezing his life force.

Su Qing cast one last glance at Jingliu, his eyes filled with reluctance, affection, and sorrow. He softly caressed her cheek, offering her final comfort. At the touch, he felt dampness at his fingertips.

Moments later, his vitality dissipated completely.

Su Qing transformed into a gentle spring breeze, a trail of petals, droplets of dew, fading away from the world.

He had likely been the shortest-lived Abundance Emanator in history.

Jingliu released her ice sword, wanting to embrace Su Qing, only to find it futile; her arms held nothing but emptiness.

She collapsed onto the ground, then buried her face and clung tightly to the fading essence of his presence.

The extinguished life force of Su Qing gave rise to countless plants and flowers blooming across the earth.

All present fell into a prolonged silence.

The chat also fell silent, with no messages for a long while.

Then unexpectedly,

[The one crying the hardest turned out to be Bailu.]

[Bailu: ?????]

[Unconsciously shedding tears, Bailu began to sob and eventually wailed uncontrollably, her face now streaked with tear tracks.]

[She couldn't understand why she felt such anguish or immense sadness.]

[At her young age, she didn't grasp matters of love, hate, and emotional entanglements. Yet witnessing Jingliu's farewell to Su Qing triggered an unstoppable flow of tears.]

[Bailu's weeping affected March 7th as well.]

[March 7th: AAAAAAAH!! Why did you make me watch this?! I didn't want to see this! I just wanted some ship moments, a taste of sweetness, a hint of romance!?!]

[March 7th: But now, Bai Heng! Su Qing! Jingliu!! Why?! Whyyyyyy?!]

[Without notice, two streams of tears silently traced down Jingliu's cool cheeks.]

[Intense sorrow was followed by extreme anger, then overwhelming grief and pain.]

[Re-experiencing this memory, the emotions remained profoundly impactful.]

[Himeko: ...]

[Kafka: ...]

[Silver Wolf: ? Aren't you two going to say something?]

[Kafka: @Silver Wolf, what about you then?]

[Actually, Silver Wolf didn't know what to say either.]

[Pleadingly, they're love rivals, remember?]

[Even if it's deeply distressing, who would openly admit to sobbing uncontrollably while watching their rival's story...]

[Firefly: ??? Aaahh, exactly! Why must this happen?! So heartbreaking!!]

[Someone really did tear up!]

[Firefly: I even think not appearing might be for the best; if I had gone through such an ordeal myself, I doubt I could have endured it. :(?]

[And there's such a plausible explanation behind it too!!]

[Silver Wolf: ...Alright, watching it does indeed feel quite painful.]

[Kafka: The anguish bystanders experience likely pales in comparison to just a fraction of what Jingliu truly felt.]

[Himeko: Indeed.]

[Sparkle: The Joyous Simulation]

[Stelle: There's nothing joyful about this at all, aaaaaahhhhhh!!!]

[Fu Xuan: ...Alas, this venerable one never anticipated that "Su Xun," one of the High-Cloud Quintet, a legendary figure from Xianzhou's past, concealed such a tale.]

[Fu Xuan: Indeed, each line in history books and brief footnote often encapsulate tumultuous and fraught lives.]

[Qingque: Grand Diviner, you're as composed as ever! Didn't it make you cry??]

Adhering to her principle that tears must fully fall before counting as crying, Fu Xuan replied with a simple "no."

Just as Kafka mentioned, observers can only grasp a fraction of the emotions experienced by those directly involved.

Given Fu Xuan's temperament, naturally, she wouldn't burst into tears like Bailu or little March.

However, these observations hold true from a distance.

When Fu Xuan herself lived through such experiences, everything would inevitably change...

***

Another night arrived since that fateful day.

Under the tranquil moonlight, Jingliu stood in the courtyard, the morning glory gently swaying beside her.

Something seemed off about Jingliu today.