“I’ve long heard of Lord Yukong’s illustrious reputation,” Chen Lin said with a shake of his head. “But this time, I’ve come in a personal capacity to look for a few friends—there are no political matters involved. That said, I’ve heard along the way about some troubles on the Xianzhou. Might I trouble you to offer some assistance?”
The abruptness of his words made Yukong pause. She had already been informed by Tingyun that Chen Lin could speak fluent Xianzhou without the aid of a cognitive translator, but she hadn’t expected his words to flow so smoothly, devoid of any accent.
What caught her attention even more was how he had emphasized that he wasn’t visiting in his capacity as a governor, but rather as a private individual—a statement that seemed almost clairvoyantly aimed at dispelling her suspicions.
Her gaze grew heavy with doubt, a flash of mistrust that didn’t escape Chen Lin’s sharp eyes.
A brief silence followed.
“I understand your point, esteemed guest,” Yukong replied carefully. “But regarding your friends… As far as I know, the only recent arrivals through the Jade Gate have been from the Astral Express. Could it be that you’re connected to them?”
Chen Lin glanced at her with a knowing smile. “Why dance around the issue, Lord Yukong? I think you already know I’m a passenger on the Astral Express.”
“And what makes you so sure?”
“Well,” he began with an easy chuckle, “your initial gaze toward me wasn’t exactly welcoming. It only turned more cautious when we discussed the Mara-Struck. Besides, I’d think the Sky-Faring Commission would already be aware of my friends’ arrival. They’re not exactly subtle when solving problems.”
He continued without hesitation, his tone light yet pointed. “The Xianzhou has always been rigorous in its management—oversights are unlikely. I also heard that every merchant or visitor to Luofu is meticulously recorded. Yet here I am, without any notes or records of my entry. As the chief of the Sky-Faring Commission, I doubt you’d overlook something as conspicuous as the Astral Express docking unannounced.”
Yukong nodded slightly. “You are astute, Mr. Chen. Yes, I’ve met your friends and spoken with them. However, their intention to assist with the Stellaron crisis does not align with the Xianzhou’s principles. This is our internal matter, and we do not require the involvement of external parties.”
Her tone was firm but not aggressive, reflecting the Xianzhou’s long-standing policy of handling its own affairs without external interference.
Chen Lin wasn’t surprised by her stance. The Xianzhou’s insistence on independence mirrored the ethos of many sovereign entities. Belobog had been a different matter entirely; he had deliberately escalated tensions there to unearth potential conflicts.
“Eight millennia of traversing the stars,” Yukong said calmly, “have exposed the Xianzhou to countless crises. Though this disaster is grave, we have the capacity to address it ourselves. Outside assistance is unnecessary.”
“This has been your tradition, and I respect that,” Chen Lin replied with a nod. “As I’ve mentioned, I’m here purely to locate my missing friends. If the Xianzhou can resolve its crisis independently, that would be ideal. Consider my presence a mere sightseeing trip—a chance to explore your vibrant culture.”
“You are quite the pragmatist…” Yukong said, though her voice betrayed a hint of curiosity.
She hesitated briefly before adding, “Your friends were far less reserved when we spoke. They passionately argued the dangers of the Stellaron and pushed to be involved.”
“That’s not pragmatism,” Chen Lin corrected. “It’s mutual respect. There’s a saying where I’m from: ‘Set aside the urge to help; respect others’ autonomy.’ When someone is in need, you ask if they require help. If the answer is no, then you don’t insist.”
Yukong’s lips twitched, a trace of discomfort crossing her face. Why does it feel like he’s reprimanding me… yet I can’t pinpoint where he’s wrong?
“We’ve determined that the Jade Gate’s breach was caused by the Stellaron hunter known as ‘Silver Wolf.’ But how did the Astral Express become aware of the Xianzhou’s crisis? The Star Skiff Haven has been sealed for days, with no one entering or leaving. How did you know?”
“How would I know?” Chen Lin shrugged. “I’ve been busy awakening myself. Since the Xianzhou is aware of the Interstellar Rift Empire, you must also know that its outlying territories are still in the process of awakening. My role is to guide that awakening, which has consumed all my attention until now. This state has lasted for days; I only just came to.”
His calm demeanor made it hard for Yukong to discern any lies.
“And what brought you here?”
“Miss Himeko mentioned it,” Chen Lin replied matter-of-factly. “She said that after disembarking, the other passengers quickly lost contact. She entrusted me to find them.”
Like hell I’m going to admit Silver Wolf came to me after hacking your systems, Chen Lin thought. The Xianzhou would hunt me down as a spy faster than I could explain myself.
“Honestly, I’m still trying to make sense of things. I recall the Express’s next destination wasn’t supposed to be the Xianzhou. Yet when I woke up, it was docked at the port, and I was tasked with locating my friends.”
He shrugged again, adding, “If my friends have caused any unpleasantness for you, Lord Yukong, I apologize on their behalf.”
After studying his expression and finding no obvious deceit, Yukong eased slightly. “Your friends have already left after the Sky-Faring Commission verified they were unrelated to the Stellaron hunters. As for their current whereabouts, I am unsure. Luofu is chaotic at the moment, with crises both large and small looming. Given the Astral Express’s reputation, we decided not to monitor their movements.”
“So, they’ve disappeared?”
“Luofu remains sealed—no one can leave. Your friends are still here somewhere.”
“Then might I trouble you to grant me some leeway in searching for them?”
“No… you cannot leave!” Yukong said suddenly, her tone sharp.
“Oh?”
Chen Lin narrowed his eyes, his tone shifting subtly. “Before I arrived, my friends Asta and Herta spoke highly of the Xianzhou’s openness. And now that I’m here, I see they weren’t exaggerating—your hospitality is unparalleled. It seems you’d rather I stayed forever.”
“Esteemed benefactor, please don’t take offense!” Tingyun, who had been quietly standing to the side, suddenly stepped forward, her expression turning anxious. “Lord Yukong, please reconsider…”
Asta? The wealthy heiress of the Intergalactic Peace Corporation, with resources beyond imagination.
Herta? The genius ranked 83rd in the Genius Society, with connections that spanned the stars and even direct encounters with Aeons.
And then there was the Interstellar Rift Empire, capable of broadcasting signals across the galaxy simultaneously—a feat no known technology could replicate.
Tingyun, who frequently traveled between planets with merchant groups, understood better than most the vast technological disparities. This nation was anything but simple.
Realizing her misstep, Yukong’s expression stiffened. A hint of regret flickered in her eyes as she forced a strained smile. “My words were ill-chosen. I beg your forgiveness, esteemed guest.”
Chen Lin, noticing her conflicted demeanor, pointed at himself. “Is it my intervention in curing the Mara-Struck that troubles you? Saving lives is paramount; such lapses in speech are understandable.”
Seeing he wasn’t angry, Yukong finally spoke her mind.
“Sigh… I do have an unusual request.”
—
T/N: lmaooo you thought he’d be one of those MC’s that would help any civilization that resembles his home? keep dreaming he may be a bit more fond but if you treat him like that it aint gonna matter that you resemble his home
This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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