Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [148]

Green Hibiscus was ecstatic. Recruiting such a promising new member for the division was a massive achievement. This success could catapult him into an influential position within the organization.

After all, anyone he brought in who made significant contributions would inevitably bring glory to their recruiter.

The youth, who seemed to be the epitome of wickedness, was exactly the kind of person who’d thrive in the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus—bold, ruthless, and unrestrained. Given time, his achievements were practically guaranteed.

Green Hibiscus had heard that members who made substantial contributions to the organization were often allocated rare alchemical materials that others would help them gather. That meant he wouldn’t have to risk exposing himself for future missions.

To Green Hibiscus, the Xianzhou people had taken the wrong path. They failed to recognize the Demonic Yin form as the ultimate destination for immortality, leading to the so-called “immortal Xianzhou” rarely producing anyone who could live past a thousand years.

Is that what they call immortality? What a joke.

He felt fortunate to have joined the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Particularly after they solved the problem of the Demonic Yin form leading to madness, Green Hibiscus knew they were on the right path. Those who rejected the Merciful Medicus were nothing more than ignorant heretics.

Rumor had it that the organization was planning something major soon. While he didn’t yet know the details, he had already laid the groundwork with the new blood he had contributed over the years. When the time came, all he had to do was put in some extra effort, and once the Xianzhou returned to the faith of the Merciful Medicus, he could easily see himself becoming an officer within the Six Commissions.

Instead of the soulless existence he had lived before, pursuing the true immortal path was his ultimate dream.

To shed his frail mortal body and evolve into the perfect form—this was the pinnacle of existence.

As his excitement grew, Green Hibiscus contacted his superior, the head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus in Exalting Sanctum, the leader known by the codename Purple Moonlight.

Purple Moonlight, upon hearing Green Hibiscus’s story and the newcomer’s background, was intrigued.

This youth, who had carried dozens of murders on his back and evaded capture until arriving on the Xianzhou, clearly had potential. His skills in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance were impressive.

The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus didn’t lack bad people—they lacked people who were thoroughly, irredeemably bad.

Paving the path to immortality inevitably required the blood of others. Most were hesitant to dirty their hands, but having someone like this ruthless youth in their ranks would simplify matters and accelerate the organization’s expansion.

If this recruit could lead by example and gather alchemical materials with authority, others would naturally rally around him.

Not only would Green Hibiscus be credited for this, but even Purple Moonlight would gain recognition.

“Proceed with the tests. Once he passes, I’ll meet him personally. I’ll report your contributions to the Chief. Well done!”
“Thank you, Lord Purple Moonlight, for your guidance!”
“We’re all brothers and sisters in the organization. No need to be so formal.”

Elated, Green Hibiscus pocketed his phone and decided to make use of the remaining time while the scripture was being copied. Perhaps he could recruit another potential member.

Just as he was about to stand, the courtyard door creaked open. Chen Lin, his golden hair shining and his expression serene, stood in the doorway, glancing around.

Spotting Green Hibiscus, he waved.

Puzzled, Green Hibiscus walked over. Without wasting time, Chen Lin pointed inside the courtyard, his expression alight with fervor, and said, “It’s done.”

“So quickly?!” Green Hibiscus exclaimed, rushing into the courtyard.

Inside, he found Blue Peach standing by the stone table, her clothes disheveled and her face flushed, frozen in place.

Understanding dawned on him immediately. This brother works fast—what a veteran of the underworld! He’s already claimed the woman he wanted.

What Green Hibiscus didn’t know was that Blue Peach’s memory had been completely altered by Chen Lin. Her mind was now filled with tropes from old romantic dramas, with the roles of the male and female leads swapped to her and the disguised Chen Lin.

It appeared as though everything had happened between them, but in reality, nothing had.

Chen Lin had also used his psionic abilities to drastically boost her affection for him. Her memories now included fabricated incidents: rescuing her gravely ill parents, saving her from robbers, and a whirlwind romance culminating in her falling for a domineering yet tender-hearted hero.

Blue Peach was now the first person Chen Lin had fully brainwashed, her memories rewritten from childhood onward. Any inconsistencies in her new memories would be glossed over by her subconscious mind.

Green Hibiscus inspected the scripture Chen Lin had copied on the stone table.

“It’s truly done, and so quickly! The handwriting is neat, though perhaps lacking in finesse… but considering you’re not a native Xianzhouan, this level of effort shows your dedication,” Green Hibiscus said with genuine praise.

Chen Lin, ever the actor, ensured his handwriting appeared clumsy and riddled with mistakes. The result looked amateurish yet oddly clean, perfectly fitting his foreigner persona.

“What’s this?” Chen Lin laughed arrogantly. “The more I read this divine scripture, the more profound it becomes. I’ve already memorized it!”

“Is that so?”

Rather than argue, Chen Lin activated his psionic vision and began reciting directly from the scroll Green Hibiscus held.

“Merciful Medicus, nurturer of the Great Tree. Cultivators united, ascend to bliss. The Thousand-Handed Merciful Medicus travels through realms with the Cultivators…”

Minutes later, Green Hibiscus could no longer suppress his delight.

While Chen Lin’s pronunciation was awkward, and he mangled several obscure characters, the fact remained: he had memorized the scripture!

“Brother Charlotte, your affinity for the immortal path is extraordinary. I’ve seen countless trial participants, but you’re the first to recite our foundational scripture immediately after copying it. If the Chief hears of this, I’m sure you’ll be rewarded with power beyond immortality!”

“Brother Green Hibiscus, I owe you a great debt for leading me here. In your Xianzhou tongue, this is akin to a debt of rebirth. If you ever have an enemy, I’ll gladly kill them and their entire family for you,” Chen Lin said, his smile menacing.

“No need for such extremes!”

Green Hibiscus forced a laugh, uneasy at how unhinged Chen Lin seemed. This man’s worldview was utterly broken, his thirst for blood evident. But such a monstrous figure was precisely what the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus needed to flourish.

“Well said! From now on, we’re brothers,” Green Hibiscus said, eager to keep Chen Lin engaged. “You’ve passed the first step of the trial. Only one step remains before you’re officially one of us.”

“Tell me. I’ll complete it no matter what,” Chen Lin said confidently.

The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus tailored trials to each recruit, though all involved copying the scripture to test patience. For the second step, tasks varied—Blue Peach’s trial, for example, involved stealing a letter from outside the Divine Foresight Office.

“I’m certain you’ll succeed, Brother Charlotte. Follow me to the next trial location—it’s not far,” Green Hibiscus said.

He led Chen Lin to another residence nearby. Unlocking the door, Green Hibiscus guided him down into a dimly lit basement.

The space was crudely constructed, with walls patched with plaster and a cement floor. Flickering lamps hung sporadically, casting faint, uneven light.

The moment Chen Lin stepped inside, he sensed multiple unfamiliar presences.

“Take a look inside, Brother Charlotte,” Green Hibiscus said with an odd expression, pushing the door open.

The sight that greeted Chen Lin made his heart lurch.

The basement was poorly ventilated, and a wave of heat hit him as the door opened. The stench of rot and sourness was overwhelming, mingled with the faint metallic tang of blood.

Weak moans echoed alongside the clatter of chains.

Inside, he saw more than a dozen people locked in cages.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Chen Lin asked, pinching his nose and frowning as he suppressed the turmoil within.

Green Hibiscus, standing by the door and also assaulted by the foul stench, quickly explained. He worried that Chen Lin might assume he was about to be locked in alongside the others.

“Brother, don’t be alarmed. These people are Cloud Knights—spies sent to infiltrate us. Fortunately, they were discovered by the higher-ups and detained here temporarily.”

“Cloud Knights, you say…” Chen Lin muttered, stepping further inside and crouching by one of the cages to take a closer look.

The so-called “Cloud Knights” didn’t look the part. These men and women were battered, many covered in wounds, and some had long since succumbed to their injuries. The corpses, in various stages of decay, reeked of rot.

The survivors were little more than skin and bones, their skeletal figures crawling feebly on the ground. Yet their eyes burned with hatred as they glared at Green Hibiscus and Chen Lin, their silent rage palpable.

If these truly were Cloud Knights, then the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus wasn’t just a den of madmen—it was a hive of superlative lunacy. Not that Chen Lin needed further confirmation.

Jing Yuan had warned him before his investigation that many Cloud Knights sent to infiltrate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus often went missing within days, their fates unknown.

Now, it seemed the infiltrators had been discovered and “dealt with.”

So, this is where they ended up…

Chen Lin took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Green Hibiscus mistook his reaction for fear of the prisoners’ supposed identities.

“Brother, surely you’re not afraid?”

“Afraid? I’m thrilled!”

Chen Lin’s previously calm expression twisted into one of manic glee. Letting out a sinister laugh, he clenched his teeth and snarled, “Those bastards made me rot in prison for years. If I didn’t obey their every word, they’d starve me. Sometimes, they even locked me in pitch-black cells. Who would’ve thought the mighty Cloud Knights would end up like this?!”

In truth, Chen Lin was furious. But he knew he couldn’t act rashly.

If he exposed himself now by killing Green Hibiscus and rescuing the captives, it would jeopardize the lives of future undercover Cloud Knights and perhaps even lead to their deaths.

The Xianzhou wasn’t his home, but he deeply respected those who dared to infiltrate such dangerous organizations—just like the undercover agents who risked everything to bring down drug cartels.

These people deserved admiration, not senseless sacrifice.

“Hahaha! That’s the spirit!” Green Hibiscus exclaimed, gesturing grandly. “Brother, pick two of them to kill. This trial will be complete, and you’ll prove your sincerity to the division. What do you say?”

Green Hibiscus carefully observed Chen Lin’s expression, but he couldn’t discern much. The only thing clear was that Chen Lin was livid.

It didn’t matter who Chen Lin’s anger was directed at—once he killed the Cloud Knights, he would have no choice but to align himself with the organization. This was the essence of a “blood oath.”

“One or two? That’s not enough!” Chen Lin replied darkly, his voice chilling. “I’ll take care of all of them! Kekekeke!”

Before Green Hibiscus could respond, Chen Lin lunged forward, kicking open a cage. Grabbing one of the skeletal prisoners by the collar, he slammed his palm into their chest with terrifying force.

The prisoner’s body convulsed, blood oozing from their skin, and their eyes rolled back as they fell lifelessly to the ground.

“I’ll kill! Kill! KILL!!”

One. Two. Three… Fourteen.

In less than two minutes, the basement was littered with corpses. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and death.

Green Hibiscus stood frozen, horrified by Chen Lin’s unrelenting slaughter. He dared not intervene—legend had it that once someone entered a killing frenzy, anyone could be mistaken for an enemy.

Just as he thought the massacre was over, Chen Lin’s voice rang out, filled with maniacal glee.

“Ah! Blood! So much blood! It’s wonderful! Bring me a knife—I want to taste how Xianzhou people compare to others. I wonder if their blood tastes any different!”

What the hell?!

Green Hibiscus’s face paled. He realized he’d recruited a complete psychopath.

Before he could react further, a blood-soaked hand clamped onto his shoulder. Chen Lin leaned in, his tone eerily calm.

“Brother Green Hibiscus, care to join me? My cooking is excellent. I used to eat like this all the time.”

“N-no, no thank you!”

Green Hibiscus stumbled backward, retreating several steps. “Brother Charlotte, take your time! I-I’ll go inform Lord Purple Moonlight that you’ve not only completed the trial but exceeded expectations!”

Without waiting for a response, Green Hibiscus bolted out of the basement, retching as he fled.

Outside, Purple Chrysanthemum and Blue Peach exchanged confused glances.

“What happened? He was fine when he went in…”

Curious, the two entered the basement. Moments later, they fled in terror, their faces pale.

From within, Chen Lin’s voice echoed ominously.

“Bring me knives. And some bags. I’ll take care of the leftovers for you. Kekekeke!”

Green Hibiscus… what have you recruited?!

—

T/N: Kekekeke!

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!