Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

"Hey, Uncle Yang, do you think what little miracle doctor Bailu said is true? Honestly, her vibe feels so out of place compared to the other Xianzhou people."

After saying their goodbyes to Bailu, March 7th turned toward Welt and lowered her voice.

Welt adjusted his glasses thoughtfully before responding.

"I can't say for sure, but Miss Tingyun mentioned her before. It seems they were acquainted. If that's the case, we might be able to obtain some breakthrough evidence from her.

"As for her 'vibe,' Bailu is a member of the Vidyadhara, the dragon lineage. According to historical records, her people are not originally from the Xianzhou—they're an outsider race."

Welt's knowledge of the Vidyadhara was admittedly limited. After all, this was his first visit to the Xianzhou, and most of his information had come from Dan Heng.

Still, judging by the way passersby addressed Bailu with such reverence, it wasn't hard to deduce her esteemed status.

Given that, it seemed unlikely she would deceive them—not because they were above being tricked, but because she didn't seem the type to manipulate others without entangling herself in the process.

Though she had appeared earnest, much of what she shared came across as hearsay. For the Trailblazers, observing her actions was likely the safest course of action.

By contrast, Welt's concerns turned toward Kafka.

For Yukong, this was an overt gambit to force her opponent's hand. But for the Stellaron Hunters—forewarned of countless possibilities—was it plausible they were unprepared for such contingencies?

If Kafka's capture was also part of her plan, Welt would have to reevaluate the true objectives of the Stellaron Hunters.

With the detour over, the group refocused on their search for the Diviner mentioned by Fu Xuan.

Changlott Heaven was relatively peaceful for now, though the people moving about wore expressions of urgency. Those dressed in the attire of the Department of Balance often whispered with Alchemy Commission members, their faces tinged with concern.

"The dimensional fold has been sealed. Quickly, relocate the patients evacuated from the other realms and stabilize their conditions," a female Alchemy Commission physician ordered with a furrowed brow.

"Remember, limit physical contact during the process to avoid any of your personnel being affected by the unknown corruption."

"Yes, yes! The Department of Balance has already deployed every available person—there's not a single one left! But what about you from the Alchemy Commission? Why are there only a few of you here?"

Her counterpart, a bearded man from the Department of Balance, replied with visible frustration.

The physician retorted immediately, "Stop misusing idioms. What's so good about 'leaving not a single one behind'?"

Her sharp response left the man more exasperated than ever. Relenting, he waved his hand.

"Alright, alright, Auntie, let's not quibble about phrasing at a time like this! Just focus on treating the patients!"

As the pair bickered, they caught sight of the group and immediately stopped. The bearded man's eyes lit up as he recognized them and hurried over.

"Oh, esteemed guests! Please wait a moment!"

"Hmm? What is it?"

March 7th turned toward him curiously. This man wasn't one for beating around the bush and got straight to the point.

"It's fortunate that you and your companions stepped in earlier to assist the people of Changlott Heaven—and even the dragon lady herself."

He greeted them with a respectful bow. Then, noticing Venti in his bard attire, his expression grew even more deferential.

"This must be the miraculous healer who suppressed the Mara aberrations—Master Venti, correct? It is an honor to meet you!"

"Ha?"

Venti's expression turned incredulous as his companions struggled to contain their laughter.

Though the official appeared completely sincere, the title of "master" felt so incongruous that Venti couldn't help but feel like he'd accidentally officiated a dubious blessing instead of saving lives.

"Haha, I suppose it's true. You and your companions acted decisively during that critical moment, and I saw it all with my own eyes," the man continued, stroking his beard with a grin.

"Moreover, I've heard from my friends at the Department of Maritime Affairs that the general invited esteemed guests from the Astral Express to address the troubles plaguing the Xianzhou Luofu. Just recently, the Cloud Knights even issued a proclamation requesting all six commissions to cooperate with your endeavors."

"See? I told you General Jing Yuan is a stand-up guy! Look at that sincerity!" March 7th beamed, clearly pleased.

Though she hadn't held a grudge over the morning's misunderstanding, it had left a lingering discomfort. Hearing these reassurances helped her feel more at ease.

"The general has great faith in you. Might I ask if you have a moment to spare? If so, the Department of Balance would like to invite you to our offices to discuss the pressing matters in Changlott Heaven…"

The man's request prompted the Trailblazers to exchange glances before agreeing to split into two teams.

March 7th and Welt would visit the Department of Balance, while Venti and Stelle continued the search for the Diviner before regrouping at the Divination Commission.

Before they could take a few steps, Stelle's phone buzzed with a new notification from an unknown sender.

The message was sparse, devoid of any profile picture or username, and consisted of a few short texts accompanied by an image.

???: Greetings. The Diviner sent me to wait for you here.

???: I calculated that you should've finished your meal and met with the Department of Balance official by now.

???: However, I am preoccupied at the moment. Please do me the favor of taking a few extra steps to find me.

Note: Avoid accompanying the Department of Balance official; the Diviner has other arrangements for this matter.

"This must be from that Qingque person, right? And this picture—are we supposed to rendezvous with her here? She's like a kidnapper from the movies!"

March 7th peeked at Stelle's phone and clicked her tongue in amazement.

"So, are we still splitting up?"

Venti shrugged. "Uncle Yang?"

Stelle instinctively looked to Welt for direction. After a moment's thought, he decided to show the message to the Balance official, Da Hao.

The man didn't appear troubled by the contents; instead, he nodded knowingly.

"The Diviner's foresight is unparalleled. If another arrangement has been made, then I won't delay you further. Please, follow that path—turn left up the stairs, then right, and continue straight. You'll reach your destination."

Before parting, Welt offered a polite word about checking in later, which Da Hao accepted with a pleased expression.

Following the instructions, the group quickly arrived at the indicated location.

However, instead of the empty space shown in the photo, the area was packed with groups sitting around tables engrossed in games.

It didn't take long for the Trailblazers to spot Qingque, the young Diviner Fu Xuan had mentioned. She stood out immediately, her petite frame at one of the tables, deeply immersed in a round of Emperor's Celestial Jade.

Her southern tablemate, however, was clearly running out of patience.

"Hurry up, Qingque! If you don't play your turn soon, we'll all be sitting here until we turn to ash!"

Her western tablemate was more relaxed but couldn't resist a quip.

"I heard the Divination Commission had its realm attacked. If you're still here playing cards, you must have nerves of steel."

"Steel nerves, my foot! Even if the heavens fell, the Diviner would handle it. She may be short, but her capabilities are sky-high."

Qingque rolled her eyes at them both, finally making her move.

"And for the record, I'm not just playing around. I was ordered to wait here for some important guests. Since I arrived early, I figured I'd pass the time with a couple of games. It's called multitasking, alright?"

"Sure, sure. But were you hiding cards earlier?"

"Where's the proof? I don't cheat when it comes to Celestial Jade! Don't go falsely accusing me!"

The lively chatter at the table contrasted with the Trailblazers standing nearby, exchanging bewildered glances.

"So, this is just a gambling den? What happened to the urgent trouble? I nearly ran myself breathless getting here!"

March 7th huffed and glared at Qingque, who mistook her for an overenthusiastic observer and grumbled dismissively.

"What do you mean, just gambling? These games are hard work, okay! Sis, I don't like your tone. What kind of draw is this, anyway…"

Qingque glanced over her shoulder mid-sentence, catching sight of the Trailblazers. Her expression froze.

"You wouldn't want Fu Xuan to find out you were playing cards, would you, Miss Qingque?"

Stelle delivered her threat with practiced ease.

"Aha… I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I was just about to go find you all—hey, pung!"

Qingque split her attention between answering and making a play on her hand.

"I didn't expect such a commotion around that bard over there. The square was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and the best spots got taken over by the Balance folks… eat!"

"I figured if I tried to meet you all in such chaos, you'd never hear me shouting over the crowd. It'd be embarrassing for the Divination Commission… oh, my turn again? Kong!"

The clack of Celestial Jade tiles echoed as Qingque made her play. Satisfied, she sat back down with a dramatic sigh.

"It would've been a shame to tarnish our Commission's dignity, especially with you meeting the dragon lady at the time. What's a humble little Diviner like me supposed to do in such grand company? Anyway, I used my free time to indulge in some good old-fashioned Xianzhou culture—Emperor's Celestial Jade. Now… one last move… win!"

Qingque slapped her winning tiles onto the table, her grin smug as her tablemates groaned. Rising from her seat, she adopted a more proper demeanor.

"Now that my heart's desire is fulfilled, I can move on without regrets. Ladies and gentlemen, let's proceed!"

Before they left, Qingque made a quick detour to a nearby tea stand. She bought a round of drinks for the group and even got one for Fu Xuan.

"My deepest apologies for keeping you waiting. Allow me to offer this tea as a token of my gratitude for your patience."

"It wasn't too long," Welt replied diplomatically. "Watching you play was quite lively—this Celestial Jade seems like an interesting game."

His genuine interest made Qingque light up with delight.

"Ah, you have a sharp eye, sir! If you're interested, I'd be happy to teach you. I promise it's fun and easy to learn!"

She looked at the group, her gaze full of admiration.

"Once you know the rules, you can teach your companions. It'll pass the time, strengthen bonds, and even improve your mood—it's practically life-extending!"

"You make a good argument," Welt said with a small nod.

"Ahem! Uncle Yang, we're here for official business, remember?" March 7th interjected, hands on her hips. She glared at Venti, who was nodding along too enthusiastically.

"You too! Stop acting so impressed. People will think you're learning something profound!"

"Aw, come on! If we all learned, we could have a four-player game—it'd be so much fun!" Venti protested, rubbing his cheek where March had pinched him.

"Absolutely not! You'd get addicted and forget our mission! And Stelle, say something to back me up!"

March 7th turned to Stelle, only to notice her gazing at something in the distance with wide eyes.

"What's that?" Stelle murmured.

"Oh, that's Jianmu," Qingque answered, following Stelle's gaze. She adopted her best tour guide tone.

"Once the pride of the Xianzhou Luofu, it's an ancient tree believed to be a remnant from when the ships roamed the cosmos. Don't let its withered appearance fool you—in its prime, it was said to 'reach the firmament and drape the stars.'"

"Huh? What does that mean?" March 7th tilted her head, clearly lost.

"It means the tree was so tall it could touch the sky, and its branches could hang the stars," Welt explained patiently, though he made a mental note to have a word with Himeko later. He couldn't have March growing up too clueless.

"How big is that, exactly? As big as the train? No, the Space Station? Maybe bigger…"

March 7th's attempts to gauge the tree's size led to increasing confusion.

"Hanging stars? This tree wouldn't even fit on an entire ship! It's even bigger than the World Tree we saw on Snail III or the one in Belobog!"

"That's called hyperbole! Stop nitpicking stories for realism!"

Qingque defended herself instinctively but soon deflated.

"Anyway, it's just a legend. I pass by that thing every day on my way to work, and it hasn't even grown a flower."

"Oh? Is that so?" Venti's tone was teasing, his gaze lingering on the tree. "To me, it doesn't seem lifeless at all—it feels as though something alive is growing inside, waiting for its moment."

Qingque's curiosity was piqued, but before she could press him further, they arrived at the Divination Commission.

Venti, however, let his focus drift back to the Jianmu, listening intently to its faint, beckoning whispers.

The ancient tree—

Deep within its core, something new was stirring, yearning for wholeness, as though it sought to merge with him.

---

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨