Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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Jingliu stood next to the morning glory flower.

Her demeanor appeared somewhat unusual today.

To be precise, her state had been off for some time now.

An overwhelming fury at seeing her friend resurrected as an evil being.

The unspeakable sorrow of personally ending her beloved's life weighed heavily upon her. These repeated intense emotional fluctuations had brought her...to the brink of transforming into a Demonic Yin Being.

Perhaps tonight, she might have managed to endure it.

But as clouds drifted by and moonlight cascaded down, Jingliu, while strenuously suppressing her emotions, noticed with a glance that the morning glory at her feet had blossomed.

Emotions imbued within objects could alter their appearance, mirroring one's state of mind.

Unlike the joy felt when admiring the flower with Su Qing and Bai Heng, today's morning glory bloomed quietly. Compared to its stunning display last time, the gently swaying white petals now seemed somewhat cold.

The morning glory silently continued to bloom.

Jingliu crouched, cupping her hands delicately. Within them, a meticulously carved ice replica of the morning glory took shape, capturing every fine detail—a testament to her craftsmanship.

This act perhaps stemmed from a deep-seated desire, having lost so much already, to forever preserve these precious memories.

Jingliu gazed intently at the icy morning glory without blinking. The crystalline sculpture was breathtakingly beautiful and clear.

Yet gradually, Jingliu began feeling a loss of warmth, as if her entire body were sinking into an icy cavern, overwhelmed by negative emotions.

Her once pure red eyes started losing their vibrancy. Trembling uncontrollably, a surge of frenzied feelings engulfed her.

Black mist seemed to spread beneath her feet.

Finally, the chill moved from her body to her heart.

With a sharp crackle—

As the ice-carved moonflower shattered, Jingliu rose to her feet. She tore a strip of black fabric from her skirt and draped it over her eyes.

From this moment on, all other thoughts faded away.

Everything from the past—their shared experiences, the deaths of Su Qing and Bai Heng, the irreparable mistakes involving Yingxing and Dan Feng—had transformed into a hazy dream, forever out of reach.

[Qingque: Oh no! Now she's truly embraced the Demonic Yin Body!]

[Bronya: I feel like Su Qing's plea for her to "keep living" not only prevented Jingliu from seeking death but also became a kind of burden.]

[Bronya: Jingliu's heart may have died, yet she must honor her promise to live on.]

[Bronya: In such circumstances, embracing the Demonic Yin Body, allowing her heart to become cold, might be the only way to endure...]

[Stelle: But consider this—if she keeps living, perhaps someday there will still be a chance to reunite with Su Qing.]

[Bronya: Eh?! That's true!]

[March 7th: What strikes me is how conveniently timed that moonflower bloomed. Should we say it was perfectly timed or quite ill-timed?]

[Herta: Speculating here, the vitality aura from Su Qing on Jingliu likely triggered the moonflower's bloom.]

[Seele: At this moment, isn't it unnecessary to delve into such details... Wait, how did this suddenly become so plausible?!]

[March 7th: With Herta's observation, it feels like there's a strong sense of destiny at play!]

[March 7th: A thousand years ago, during their encounter with Abundance Emanator Shuhu, Jingliu first met Su Qing.]

[March 7th: In the end, Su Qing perished alongside Shuhu, and even later, as an Abundance Emanator himself, he died by Jingliu's blade.]

[March 7th: Until now, it remains the lingering essence of Abundance that causes the moonflower to bloom, coinciding with Jingliu embracing the Demonic Yin Body...]

[Bronya: Indeed, it does seem deeply fated!]

[Herta: As I've said, The Hunt and Abundance share a common origin, bound by intricate ties.]

[Herta: Ultimately, the traces of Abundance left on Xianzhou cannot be erased. Perhaps only when The Hunt truly hunts down Yaoshi will everything conclude.]

[Herta: Only time will tell if we'll live to see that day.]

[Qingque: It will come.?]

[Stelle: ?, LOL, even Qingque's wearing sunglasses now?!]

***

If the earlier part showcased Su Qing's simulation process, what followed in the stream was a postscript after his departure.

Viewers witnessed the individual fates of the High-Cloud Quintet following the Shuhu uprising.

First and foremost was Jingliu.

After succumbing to her Demonic Yin Body, she was imprisoned in The Shackling Prison.

[March 7th: Ah??]

[March 7th: Surely Jingliu isn't watching this stream with us from within The Shackling Prison, right?]

[Jingliu: Well, I did escape.]

[Seele: Impressive!!]

[Bronya: What a casual way to put it!]

Jingliu broke free from the Ten-Lords Commission.

Near the Starsea, tasked with pursuing her was Jing Yuan.

In terms of swordsmanship, Jing Yuan naturally couldn't match Jingliu.

Her swordplay had reached new heights, wielding blades forged from icy chill, like strands of moonlight in her hand. Neither Jing Yuan nor the group of cloud riders could effectively counter her.

Jing Yuan stumbled back but persisted in trying to persuade her, "Master, please stop. Su Qing wouldn't have wanted this."

Initially, Jingliu remained indifferent to all pleas.

However, upon hearing these key words, she finally reacted. Yet, despite the response, her dim red eyes still held little emotion. "Su Qing is no more."

With a long sigh, Jing Yuan could only swing his array blade...

In historical records of later generations, after succeeding as general, Jing Yuan led the Cloud Knights against Jingliu at Starsea. Ultimately, it was the Divine Monarch who defeated her.

Following this battle, Jingliu disappeared without a trace and was presumed dead for some time.

This account, however, was from Xianzhou's official history.

The live stream provided additional glimpses into Jingliu's subsequent journey.

Having reached a new pinnacle in swordsmanship, Jingliu transcended mortal victories and defeats. She upheld her promise to Su Qing; even amidst the darkness of demonic influence, she never once contemplated taking her own life.

Similarly, after wandering beyond the heavens, Jingliu continued pursuing the shared dream she had with Su Qing—to "cut down the moon," seeking a way to kill Yaoshi.

[Qingque: So did Jingliu eventually find a way?]

[Stelle: The story hasn't reached that point yet; I don't know.]

[Qingque: Alright then.]

[Silver Wolf: ?, Even though I understand Stelle meant we haven't seen it in the stream, why do I feel like something just broke through a barrier...]

Next came Dan Feng.

Dan Feng was also imprisoned within The Shackling Prison, with the Dragon-Locking Pin embedded in his body and coral-gold chains heavily binding him. Torchbearer Elders visited repeatedly, interrogating him about the secrets of dragon transformation and the location of his dragon heart.

Judges from the Netherworld Tribunal appeared before him as well, intending to sentence him to capital punishment for annihilation.

[Sushang: What does "capital punishment for annihilation" mean?]

[Herta: It means execution.]

[Sushang: Ohh! Got it!]

Throughout these encounters, Dan Feng remained silent.

Finally, Jing Yuan brought news of the negotiation's outcome. Dan Feng would be spared from capital punishment but instead sentenced to the penalty of Scale Shedding Rebirth.

After being forcibly stripped of his scales, he reincarnated as Dan Heng and was permanently banished from Luofu.

(Note: There was a bug earlier; here's a patch—either Dan Heng disguised himself or never arrived on the train at all.)

[Stelle: Wow! So that's how Dan Heng came to be!]

[Seele: Using "came" sounds odd. How should I interpret this...?]

[Fu Xuan: Compared to Dan Feng's crimes, reincarnation might indeed be considered a lighter punishment.]

[Herta: Reincarnation, light? That feels like more of a philosophical question.]

[Herta: For Torchbearer, becoming a new person through reincarnation—even with memories—wouldn't it essentially count as death from his previous life?]

[Stelle: Well, Dan Heng always insists he isn't the same person from his past life.]

[March 7th: Regardless, one faced a Demonic Yin Body, and the other endured reincarnation. Both outcomes seem unbearably tragic.]

***

The scene shifted, revealing Yingxing's subsequent fate.

Yingxing...

At least based on what unfolded before their eyes, his situation appeared even worse.

When Jingliu escaped from The Shackling Prison, she brought Yingxing along. Subsequently, wielding Dismay, she killed him over and over again.

"Remember this pain?" Jingliu said expressionlessly. "Get up; let me kill you once more."

[Stelle: Jingliu is truly channeling her inner torment here: "Pain, too much pain, Yingxing, killing you a thousand times wouldn't suffice!"]

[Jingliu: Excellent, very vivid.]

[Silver Wolf: Genuine approval from the source himself!]

[Silver Wolf: This explains part of why Blade went so berserk—I can only imagine being hacked to death that many times!]

[Sushang: But even when Jingliu was extremely angry before, she never went this far. Why is she so ruthless now?]

[Fu Xuan: Because she possesses the Demonic Yin Body.]

[Sushang: Uh, alright... The Demonic Yin Body suddenly seems like a very reasonable explanation.]

Death after death, rebirth upon rebirth, his body effortlessly restored itself each time.

Finally, having grasped some of Jingliu's sword techniques, Yingxing caught the blade just as it attempted to pierce him again and slowly rose to his feet.

Originally named Dismay, the sword had been flawless, its lacquer shimmering with a blood-like hue. Now, half of the blade lay shattered.

Jingliu discarded Dismay and departed without looking back. She no longer wished to wield a weapon forged by one who had desecrated Su Qing's body. To Jingliu, mundane swords were now utterly useless.

To transcend the supposed limits, to achieve breakthroughs where none have ventured before, her only path was to embody the sword herself, treating her own being as fuel for transformation.

[Firefly: Ohh, I get it now—why Blade's weapon looked on the verge of breaking.]

[Firefly: I always hesitated to ask, thinking maybe he couldn't afford a new one...]

[Stelle: Aww, Firefly is so adorable!]

[March 7th: Poor Yingxing, first tainted with Shuhu's flesh and blood, trapped between life and death, and now getting hacked at repeatedly.]

[Fu Xuan: The fate of Yingxing can only be described as both tragic and lamentable, yet also reprehensible.]

[Fu Xuan: Despite his exceptional talent and disdain for societal norms, he ultimately crossed the line, committing unforgivable sins.]

[Fu Xuan: One could say that Yingxing's madness was both his driving force, propelling him to strive higher, and the very cause that led him astray, resulting in his grave mistakes.]

[Qingque: Grand Diviner always provides such insightful summaries!]

Then, abruptly, the scene shifted.

From a fantasy setting, it transitioned to one brimming with futuristic technology—a highly advanced mecha appeared on screen.

And there, familiar to all, was Kafka employing her Word Spirit Technique: "Just listen, relax..."

"Join the Stellaron Hunters, and we will provide you with the death you desire."

[Firefly: Quick, look, look! That's me inside the mecha—I'm back on stage again?!]

[March 7th: Ha ha, calm down, calm down~]

[Seele: It's clear Firefly is quite thrilled.]

[Stelle: This transformation from Yingxing to Sharpblade Bro is remarkable.]

[Stelle: But wait, I just noticed something... How come all the Stellaron Hunters have such deep connections with Su Qing!?]

[Sparkle: Indeed, it's intriguing.]

[Firefly: Hold on, there's Elio too.]

[Silver Wolf: Ribbit! With Stelle mentioning it, I realized the same thing.]

[Silver Wolf: Elio, that scriptwriter hiding away, must have known about our ties to Su Qing long ago!]

[Silver Wolf: Is he secretly enjoying our predicament??]

[Kafka: (Laughs) Maybe, it's not entirely impossible.]

[Sparkle, Elio: Come on, let me see... Firefly likes someone... It's Su Qing. Kafka's important person... Also Su Qing. Silver Wolf's former teammate... Yet again, Su Qing. The reason Blade transformed into a Demonic Yin Body... How is it still Su Qing?!?]

[Seele: Hahahaha! Suddenly, I can visualize it all!]

[Bronya: It's somewhat amusing.?]

[Qingque: Ha ha, even Elio must be struggling to keep a straight face now.]

[Qingque: All that effort to find teammates when simply swaying Su Qing over would have been more effective!!]

Jingliu quietly observed everyone's conversation.

She found it somewhat intriguing. Initially, seeing how people empathized and felt sorrowful after reading her story was genuinely touching. Now, witnessing their playful banter and cheerful atmosphere, she realized this too was genuine.

[Jingliu doesn't find this sudden shift in mood too abrupt. On the contrary, she feels it's somewhat refreshing.]

[This sensation is akin to when watching a tragedy alone, one might remain immersed in sorrow for a long time. But with friends present, even if they share the sadness momentarily, it quickly turns back into laughter and conversation.]

[Additionally, Jingliu suddenly realizes that her current Demonic Yin Body seems considerably more stable than during the timeframe depicted in the stream.]

[She wonders what experiences since then have alleviated her symptoms.]

[And here she is now, alongside others, observing this simulated broadcast together...]

The subsequent moments involving each character flashed by, culminating with Jing Yuan.

In the courtyard, the seed planted years ago had grown into a towering tree.

Jing Yuan placed his hand on its trunk.

The ten-year pact had long passed, yet the only person present today—the only one able to attend—was him alone.

Just as he was feeling melancholic,

a voice came from behind him, "General, what brings you here?"

Jing Yuan turned around and said, "Please don't burden me with such honorifics; I certainly cannot live up to being called 'your lordship' by you."

After Teng Xiao composed himself, he smiled. "But as someone who has just assumed your new role, shouldn't you be diligently attending to matters at the Seat of Divine Foresight? What brings you here instead?"

"...Just reminiscing about old friends," Jing Yuan replied after a moment, his expression turning nostalgic. "Speaking of which, back then, Su Qing and I even joked that once he became a general, I would resign from my position and become a wandering Galaxy Ranger." He shook his head with a wry smile. "Little did I expect that, after all these twists and turns, it would ultimately fall on me to bear this responsibility."

[Stelle: Jing Yuan: Oops, jinxed myself too soon!]

Teng Xiao also felt profound regret and sorrow. "If only I had faced Shuhu back then, perhaps your dream could have come true."

Noticing the somber mood, Jing Yuan attempted to lighten the atmosphere with a jest. "It's not too late now. If you were to reclaim your position as general, I'd still happily become that carefree Galaxy Ranger."

Teng Xiao laughed heartily. "That won't happen. After much effort, I've found you to succeed me, and I'm already retired. At most, during my leisure time, I might occasionally lend you a hand."

Well then.

Jing Yuan shrugged.

The most esteemed position of general within Luofu now seemed like something everyone wanted to shed.

This wasn't particularly surprising.

Upon assuming his role as general, Jing Yuan's first task had been handling Dan Feng's issue after receiving letters from the dragon masters—a truly vexing affair.

At this thought, Jing Yuan turned once more and gently caressed the tree trunk with a sigh. "Being a general is indeed no easy feat..."

In the blink of an eye, eight hundred years passed by.

The scene faded, figures vanished and reappeared, yet it remained the same courtyard, the same spot.

"Being a general is indeed no easy feat..." The sentiment echoed, uttered by Jing Yuan, who lightly stroked the tree just as before, but with entirely different feelings.

Time marched on, bringing change amidst constancy.

Old friends and acquaintances scattered like windblown clouds, never to reunite. Long-standing foes, either dead or captured, left behind only memories.

Over these eight centuries, Jing Yuan had exerted every ounce of his energy, striving tirelessly to steer the colossal vessel that was Luofu through its course.

And now, he couldn't help but wonder:

Had he betrayed General Teng Xiao's trust? Had he fallen short of the responsibilities entrusted to him by his former comrades...?

"Sir! What brings you here!"

Lost in reminiscence, Jing Yuan momentarily felt disoriented. Turning back, he saw Yanqing approaching.

Jing Yuan lowered his hand from the tree and asked, "Have you finished your training for today?"

"Finished!" Yanqing exclaimed. "And as promised, you'll tell me about your past adventures!"

Smiling, Jing Yuan said, "Of course I keep my word. Yanqing, have you heard of the High-Cloud Quintet?"

"Absolutely!" Yanqing replied eagerly. "They're legendary figures on Xianzhou! General, aren't you one of them yourself?"

Jing Yuan nodded. "Then let's delve into something you don't know yet. As everyone is aware, despite their name, there were actually six members of the High-Cloud Quintet. Today, we shall speak about this sixth person..."

Yanqing was utterly perplexed. "General, you're joking again—since when has 'everyone' been aware of that?!"

Eight hundred years—a span considerable even by the standards of Xianzhou inhabitants—had passed. Su Xun, the High-Cloud Quintet, along with their genuine, sometimes inspiring or tragic pasts, had all become obscured within history books. Only their numerous legendary tales remained, passed down through generations.

Yet regardless of time's march, Luofu persisted. The brief century they spent together, marked by their remarkable achievements, left an indelible mark on Xianzhou's annals, becoming integral to its legacy.

As the scene shifted, Jing Yuan began recounting those stories of old to Yanqing in the courtyard.

Gradually, the image faded into darkness.

The simulation concluded.

[March 7th: (Feels like finishing a movie) Phew! It's over!]

[March 7th: This simulation showcased both friendship and romance. We got our sweet moments and some angst too. It felt so immersive, what a fulfilling experience!]

[Black Swan: Indeed, there were many protagonists this time, each with their own stories.]

[Qingque: Seeing that final scene, I can't help but echo the sentiment—being a general is truly no easy task.]

[Qingque: With comrades either dead, injured, or succumbing to demonic influence, carrying such burdens is what makes one a general.]

[Qingque: @Fu Xuan, Grand Diviner, after witnessing this, do you still aspire to become a general?]

[Fu Xuan: ...Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I? Absolutely.]

[Qingque: Impressive!]

[Stelle: Following this pattern, if Fu Xuan aims to be a general, he'd probably start by sacrificing Qingque first.]

[Qingque: Ah??? No way! I'm still young; I want to live for at least another eight hundred years!]

[Fu Xuan: @Qingque, rest assured.]

[Qingque: (Relieved) (Moved) I knew it, Grand Diviner—you have a kind heart and would never abandon me!]

[Fu Xuan: Qingque, once I become a general, I'll carry on your legacy and strive even harder, including your share.]

[Qingque: Ah??? No way!!]

[Sparkle: Laugh.]

[Stelle: Laugh.]

[Seele: Literally dying of laughter. ??]

[Silver Wolf: Actually, characters like Qingque who slack off often end up surviving until the end.]

[Qingque: Great! Then I'll definitely double down on slacking to increase my chances!]

[Fu Xuan: ...Maybe such a lazy subordinate should indeed be sacrificed as a stepping stone for my ascension to general?!]

[Qingque: Grand Diviner, you're so heartless. ??]

[March 7th: Laugh.]

[March 7th: Speaking of which, this simulation's aftermath is really hitting hard, especially after witnessing Jingliu personally ending Su Qing—it's just too painful...]

[March 7th: @Black Swan, can we switch to something more light-hearted next?]

[Stelle: Following protocol after each simulation, it should be...]

[Asta! Asta!]

[Silver Wolf: (catching on) (joining in) Asta! Asta!]

[Stelle: Without Asta, I'm going to cry!]

[Silver Wolf: Without Asta, I'm going to throw a fit!]

[March 7th: Are you both toddlers?!]

[Sparkle: Laugh.]

[Herta: This is intense. Wonder how Asta will react when she finds out about her newfound popularity.]

[Bronya: Being popular just because of being a substitute for the Saintess... I doubt she'll be thrilled about it!]

[Black Swan: Let me see...]

The scene flickered.

It shifted to the space station, specifically Su Qing's room.

Asta was reading one of Himeko's love letters.

[March 7th: ...What is she reading?]

[March 7th: (realizing) Aaaaaah?! Change the channel! Quickly, change the channel! I don't want to see this either! Why must there be drama everywhere?!]

[Stelle: Oh dear, March 7th can't handle much, can she?]

[Silver Wolf: Sigh, March 7th sure is picky.]

[March 7th: Is it about being picky?! Can we not jump straight into such explosive content? Give us something light and fun instead!]

[Black Swan: (laughs) Alright then, let's follow the timeline and return to this later.]

[Black Swan: Speaking of which, although the simulation has ended, perhaps the story of the High-Cloud Quintet is far from over.]

[March 7th: What do you mean by that?]

The scene changed again.

But this time, no one appeared on screen.

[Stelle: ?]

[March 7th: ?]

[Black Swan: Oh, my apologies—I forgot to adjust the camera angle.]

[The live stream's view then shifted downward.]

[The frame now shows Bailu with horns atop her head and a tail behind her.]

[Bailu: ???]

[Bailu: @Black Swan, what's the meaning of this? Are you targeting me? Picking on yours truly, ah?!]