NOVEL WEB Chapter 22: Am I Awake?
Wende found a large bowl and poured the entire pot of ham fried rice into it, then carried the bowl back to the inn room.
Seeing that Dan Heng had somehow returned to his seat, Wende’s eye twitched.
“You little rascal.”
“Wende! The god of food has arrived! Awesome!”
March 7th cheered as she looked at the bowl of fried rice, which was both visually and aromatically appealing.
“Hey! There’s plenty of rice! Don’t fight over it!”
“Anyone who just threw up, go brush your teeth before coming to eat!”
Stelle, feeling wronged, held her head and then turned back to the room to brush her teeth.
It’s strange; why does it feel like Wende is becoming more like a parent to her?
While brushing her teeth, Stelle muttered inwardly.
“Mm! As expected, Wende’s cooking! We’re getting spoiled!”
March, enjoying the fried rice, said with satisfaction.
“Mm, it’s good…”
Bronya said quietly, simply eating the rice in a reserved manner, one bite at a time.
In comparison, Dan Heng ate very slowly, though his gaze frequently drifted towards the window.
Seeing Dan Heng’s gaze, Wende immediately understood what was happening but chose not to address it. He just served himself a bowl of rice and began to eat slowly.
………………
Outside the window at that moment,
A member of Wildfire was frowning, holding her stomach and struggling.
“So fragrant… These people from the upper district are really extravagant…”
The Wildfire member pulled out a piece of black bread from her pocket, nibbling it while repeatedly telling herself, “You’re eating fried rice, you’re eating fried rice!”
She wanted to eat it too… No! She didn’t want to eat it! She was here to monitor these people!
………………
“Wende… Wende….”
In the hotel room, Wende lay on the bed, his brow furrowed, as if he was having a terrible nightmare.
“Wende… remember, falling into darkness is the fate of the long life species”
Watching his "master" who had begun to transform while lying on the bed, Wende’s eyes were filled with tears.
“Foolish boy… Take care of your body, you’re as thin as a stick now. How will you survive in this universe in the future? Cough, cough…”
The master, who had begun to show symptoms of being mara struck, suddenly started coughing. The still young “Wende” wanted to step forward to give the master a needle, but was rejected by the old man.
“It’s useless… With your little skills, you can’t stop the mara from taking me. Besides, if acupuncture was truly effective against the mara, I wouldn’t have reached… this state…”
“Master… Master!”
Seeing the yellow spots suddenly appear on his master’s body, drifting like pollen from a tree, Wende panicked and shouted at the old man in front of him.
“Boy! Remember! Don’t believe in the Sanctus Medicus! Don’t believe in immortality! It will only bring you eternal torment! Ahhhh!!!”
The master’s symptoms suddenly became severe, with branches born from the abundance constantly growing from his body. The man’s voice became increasingly painful and loud, finally ending in a silent roar.
“Master…”
“Wende, boy! Quickly! I’m losing control!! Quickly use what I taught you, you must!!!”
The branches grew wildly on the master’s body, causing him immense physical and mental pain. As he lifted his head to look at Wende, only “rage” and “killing intent” remained in his eyes.
“Ahhhh!!!!”
The monster, resembling the master, roared and charged at “Wende.”
“Master… May you rest in peace…”
Wende’s hand flashed with lightning, and a lightning needle appeared on hus master’s forehead.
“Thud…”
The mara-struck’s eyes showed their last clarity, and Wende saw the relief in them…
………………
“Our job is to cure diseases and save people. If someone comes to ask you how to prolong life or achieve immortality, just knock them out, got it?”
The white-haired “master” earnestly reminded the then young “Wende.”
“Master, why not let them achieve immortality? Isn’t immortality a good thing?”
The young Wende looked confused.
“Oh, you truly are a fool!”
The master, with a look of disappointment, patted Wende on the head.
“Honestly, you’re still young. Some things can’t be judged by their surface. Some things may appear good, but there are bad aspects within them; and bad things aren’t necessarily all bad, as there can be good within them too.”
Seeing Wende’s bewildered expression, the master shook his head.
“Forget it, what’s the use of talking to a kid like you about this? Quickly memorize the medical book. If you memorize it well, I’ll reward you with our hometown cuisine. If not, I’ll treat you to bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat!”
Watching Wende run back to his room holding his head, the master’s eyes showed a trace of loneliness.
“Foolish boy… you’ll understand the horrors of immortality later. As for me…”
The master looked bitterly at the sprouting buds in his hand; he didn’t have much time left…
………………
“Wende…”
“Master! I’m here…”
Wende knelt on the ground, listening to his mara-stricken master’s final “advice.”
“Boy… immortality is a punishment, even for you… Remember, don’t let them… don’t…”
“Master… Master!!”
Wende knelt, watching the murky eyes of the master lose their last bit of brilliance… and remain unclosed for a long time…
……………………
In Wende’s Room
“Master… Master… Master!!”
Wende suddenly opened his eyes, slowly sitting up from the bed, his chest heaving as he gasped heavily. The bedding beneath him was soaked with sweat.
“Is this… a dream?”
“Am I… awake?”
Wend inserted a lightning needle into the well points on his fingers, and the sharp pain from the blood dripping from his fingertips instantly cleared his confused mind.
Bang!
Dan Heng, holding a spear, burst through the door, and seeing Wend sitting on the bed with blood-stained hands, quickly moved to his side.
“What happened? Did someone attack you just now?”
Wende weakly waved his hand.
“I’m… fine, just had a nightmare.”
Wende’s face looked quite pale as he explained, wondering why this nightmare felt so real.
“Is that so…”
Hearing Wende’s explanation, Dan Heng visibly relaxed. He had heard Wende’s scream from the next room and then felt a familiar presence.
However… this familiar presence disappeared without a trace the moment he entered.
“It’s good that you’re fine. I’ll head back now.”
“Mm, good night.”
Watching Dan Heng leave, Wende fell into deep thought again.
The dream was so vivid that he had trouble distinguishing his identity…
Was he the “Wende” who had crossed over, or the personal disciple of the Immortal Doctor “Wende?”
It felt as if he had experienced it firsthand, watching his closest person fall into the demonic shadow, and the only choice he had was to “liberate” him…
This feeling of helplessness left Wende breathless.
What suffocated him even more were the chaotic “memories”…
His mind was filled with fragments of living and learning with his “master.” He knew their favorite soup, his favorite dish was white-cut chicken… He even remembered how the old man often used bamboo sticks to hit his backside…
“Could this be because of the Light Cone, or…”
Wende didn’t dare to continue thinking. If it were just the influence of the Light Cone, he could blame it on the system. But if not…
“Forget it, don’t think about it. There’s a lot to do tomorrow. Just treat it as a nightmare…”
He got up, exchanged his bedsheets with the innkeeper, and, under the innkeeper’s strange expression, returned to his room with the new sheets.
March 7th and Stelle’s room was tightly closed; they were probably sound asleep.
Dan Heng’s door was also firmly closed, but through the crack, a faint light could be seen inside.
After glancing at his friend’s rooms, Wende returned to his own room.
He laid the new bedding on the bed and spent the night awake…
As the popularity of "Honkai Star Rail" continued to rise, the character of Wende began to gain recognition, with some even creating a family tree for the trailblazer.
Kafka: Biological Mother!
Himeko: Adoptive Mother!
Wend: Foster Father!
Some even made fan creations like Wende with Kafka in his arms, Himeko, Wende, and Kafka taking care of Stelle together, etc.
However, these were still mild! You can never know how creative AC site users’ imaginations can be!
Wende in bride’s dress.jpg
【Ah!!! My eyes!!!!! It seems like they’re fine?】
【Oh no, why do I like this?】
【Anything intense will only harm you!!】
【But… I’m not repulsed by it…..】
【Modders get on this ASAP!!!!】
Of course, aside from these absurd fan creations, there were also serious strategy guides.
For example, entering Wende on the AC site will show the following content:
“Wende Team Composition and Light Cone”
“Zero Cycle Wend Training Guide”
"Wend, Natasha, Clara, March 7th Unkillable Team"