Chapter 55: Sister Himeko, Lend Me Some Money.
On the eve of the Astral Express's departure from an unknown planet…
A star skiff was launched from the Celestial Ark Yuque, carrying Su Xiaobai's belongings as it sailed into the sea of stars.
It was like the lantern that Su Xiaobai and the current Grand Diviner, Fu Xuan, had once released together.
The Celestial Ark held a memorial service in honor of Su Xiaobai, but unfortunately, not even his body was found. Only a star skiff containing some of his belongings was recovered…
It seemed many people had come to the funeral: his students, his colleagues, and two Generals of the Celestial Ark…
Jing Yuan and Commander Yueyu.
Fu Xuan stood at the very front, the Eye of Dharma already visible on her forehead.
"Big Brother… Fu Xuan will wait for you at the Divination Commission… will always wait for you…"
She whispered, and the sharp, intermittent pain in her forehead caused her eyes to fill with tears involuntarily.
"He reminds me very much of an old friend…"
Jing Yuan's voice.
He had been the same—always making unexpected yet reasonable moves. The Celestial Ark… owed him…
Jing Yuan recalled an old friend from the previous Abundance Followers war, his expression heavy with the weight of time.
The two figures seemed to share many similarities, slowly merging in his mind…
"I owe him my life…"
Commander Yueyu said from the side.
"Perhaps… I will have to repay it in the future…"
She looked at Fu Xuan's back, speaking softly, a trace of weariness in her heart.
It seemed it was time to rest…
The star skiff gradually turned into a black speck before everyone's eyes…
"Fu Qing, is the pain in your forehead alright?"
The departed are gone, but the living must continue this long life…
Whether in sorrow or in joy, they must walk with their own feet toward that end.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, General…"
Fu Xuan replied softly, though her voice lacked some of its usual liveliness, replaced instead by subtle restraint and composure.
Jing Yuan sighed lightly and said no more.
Fu Xuan, like a statue, stared in the direction the star skiff had disappeared…
[The pain of the Eye of Dharma on my forehead is not even one ten-thousandth of the pain Big Brother felt when leaving Fu Xuan…
Nor even one ten-thousandth of the bitter longing Fu Xuan feels for Big Brother's return…]
After the memorial service, the Celestial Ark continued flying across the sea of stars, a long journey as always.
Marshal Hua stood atop the Celestial Ark Xuling, her cold gaze seemingly able to pierce through the deep starry sky.
"Farewell, old friend…"
…
Meanwhile, Su Xiaobai's soul, slowly repaired by the system, gradually returned to its translucent shadow form.
Simulation ended. Settling simulation rewards…
[Reward: A Dharma Eye pendant, born from Fu Xuan's thoughts and blessings. Effect when used: Slightly increases charm and blocks one instance of damage for the host (this effect has a twenty-four-hour cooldown).]
[Reward: System upgrade. System intelligence increased. Simulation traits will automatically select the optimal combination for the host…]
[Reward: Self-selected world count +1]
[Permanent Trait: Precognition]
[Reward: Physical strength in reality increased…]
Su Xiaobai slowly awakened, as if from a dream. But the beautiful Dharma Eye hanging at his neck made him realize that what he had experienced was not a dream.
Little sister…
Su Xiaobai murmured, feeling his body significantly stronger.
His heart gradually relaxed as he sank beside the cube within his consciousness space.
[Do you wish to begin a simulation?]
[Yes.]
Su Xiaobai gradually fell in love with that world—full of warmth amid mystery, and love blooming amid crisis…
When would he truly be able to cross over in his physical body?
[After the final simulation ends, the host may choose whether to cross over in person.]
Hmm?
Su Xiaobai was slightly stunned. The increased system intelligence made its tone sound more human…
[Of course, with the host's current physical strength, it is insufficient to withstand the temporal storm caused by crossing over… Therefore, one more simulation is required.]
Then let's go. What are we waiting for?
This simulation does not consume a self-selection attempt. It is a trial simulation granted by the system to the host. Do not rush to refuse it. Upon completion, the rewards are: lifespan equivalent to a long-life species and physical strength equivalent to an ordinary Pathstrider…
[Of course, the host may also independently choose the simulation world, but the rewards will be random…]
Su Xiaobai was stunned. A lifespan like a long-life species, physical strength like a Pathstrider…
That was truly tempting.
However, this time the system did not allow him to choose traits. It was a "trial simulation"…
What does that mean?
[The world and identity of the host are designated by the system, and the traits include negative effects. Therefore, it is called a trial simulation…]
"What world?"
[The Astral Express's second departure point in the sea of stars, Himeko's hometown…]
"What about the identity and traits?"
[Identity: Himeko's childhood playmate who grew up and went astray…
You gradually fell into the abyss, breaking the gentle Himeko's heart. Finally, she—who had always taken care of you—stopped caring for you one day due to deep disappointment…]
[Trait: Mechanical Talent (extremely fast mastery of mechanical knowledge), Hand of God (the quality of mechanical objects you handle greatly improves; however, this will consume your lifespan…). Note: In this simulation, your lifespan is no different from that of an ordinary person…]
Hiss…
Su Xiaobai inhaled sharply. To make such a gentle and kind Himeko feel heartbroken…
What kind of evil had this negative character committed?
It truly lived up to its name as a trial simulation.
After thinking for a moment, Su Xiaobai decided to accept the simulation.
After all, a long life was what he had always sought.
"Begin simulation…"
[Received. Simulation about to begin. Please prepare, host!]
The cube stopped spinning. One of its squares slowly expanded, gradually enlarging from the size of a small window until it encompassed heaven and earth.
A red-haired figure slowly appeared…
Elegant. Intellectual. Mature.
Every movement exuded incomparable grace…
It was the navigator of the Train…
Madam Himeko.
Before Su Xiaobai could see clearly, his vision sank into darkness…
…
Second departure point of the Astral Express.
A planet unremarkable within the cosmos.
Himeko's hometown…
Fifteen-year-old Himeko had finished high school. Despite graduating with excellent grades, she had a serious disagreement with her family while completing her university application.
She wanted to study Interstellar Navigation Dynamics at Muirta Academy, but faced strong opposition from her family…
"If you really want to study that useless mechanical job, then don't ever step foot in this house again!"
"We worked so hard to raise you, and this is how you repay us?"
…
The red-haired girl ran out amid a torrent of curses, her eyes reddened, wandering aimlessly down the street.
She felt extremely upset but shed not a single tear, simply walking silently with her head lowered…
Since childhood, she had always behaved well and never caused much worry for her family. Much of her scholarship had even gone toward supplementing the household income.
Yet because she did not want to pursue what her family called a respectable and stable job, she was subjected to unbearable verbal abuse…
Disappointment, sorrow, grievance…
They enveloped her like a tide.
"Himeko!"
A voice called her.
She turned and looked at the blond teenager with a pierced ear behind her. Her eyes brightened slightly—it was her childhood friend, Su Xiaobai…
"Xiaobai… you…"
Busy with her studies, she had not seen him in a long time. Distressed, Himeko wanted to tell Su Xiaobai about her troubles…
But she was interrupted by the boy's urgent words.
"Himeko, help me! Himeko, my luck's been bad these past few days. I lost a lot. I owe loan sharks money. Only you can save me. Lend me some money, quickly!"
The teenager's eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol. It was obvious he had just returned from gambling all night at a casino…
Himeko froze, looking at the unstable, greasy-haired boy in front of her.
Didn't you promise me before that you wouldn't gamble again?
"I couldn't help it, hehe… Sister Himeko, you wouldn't just stand by and watch me die, right…?"
A flash of disgust appeared in Himeko's eyes. Su Xiaobai had borrowed money from her more than once and never repaid it…
And it was always for gambling, drinking, and debauchery…
"I don't have any money either…"
"Sister Himeko! Sister Himeko! Please save me. If I don't get the money, I… I'll be beaten to death…"
The boy shamelessly stepped forward and hugged Himeko's legs as if clinging to a lifeline…
"Smack!"
Disappointed, Himeko threw down her money pouch and forcefully shook off the boy's greasy hands.
She ran wildly toward the outskirts of the city…
Suddenly, she wanted to escape this place.
(Just to explain, my mental state hasn't been very good these past few days. The data hasn't been great, I've been a bit worn down, and I haven't felt well physically either, so I've been adjusting for a few days. I'll slowly resume updates later… After thinking carefully and considering the comments section, I finally chose Himeko…
She is reborn from fire, she smiles within the flames…
Her journey is destined to be solitary. This journey is inherently solitary, just like creation itself—it is also a form of Trailblaze…
May this journey ultimately reach the stars…)