"What? Guinaifen has been kidnapped?"
After resolving the matter with that pair of quarreling master and disciple, Stelle had teleported back to the Skysplitter. She originally planned to spend a relaxing afternoon with March 7th, but suddenly encountered this incident.
"What did you say, Stelle?"
The bathroom door opened. March 7th walked out wrapped in a bath towel while drying her hair: "This time you better not say there's no shadow when there's no shadow."
Stelle waved her small hand: "Relaxation paused. I'm going to pick up Little Guizi!"
March 7th: "Huh?"
On the other side.
"What? Little Guizi / Sister Guinaifen has been kidnapped?!"
At the dining table, Jing Yuan and Bailu slapped the table in unison. They abandoned their meal and rushed outside: "Gathering paused. I'm going to pick up Little Guizi! ×2"
Jingliu sat motionless in her original spot: ?
After all, she didn't know who Guinaifen was.
"Oh right, I almost forgot about you."
At the doorway, Jing Yuan suddenly smacked his forehead. His arm stretched more than ten meters to grab Jingliu over: "Master, help me out. My friend is in trouble!"
Jingliu was stunned for a moment and, unusually, did not find an excuse to torment Jing Yuan.
Although eight hundred years had passed, the tacit understanding from their Cloud Quintet days still remained — when there were no enemies, friends were the greatest enemies; but if an enemy existed, that enemy would have to prepare to face the most despairing alliance in history.
Bailu rubbed her eyes: "Ah? Did I see wrong just now? Old Jing, how did your arm suddenly get longer?"
Jing Yuan waved his hand indifferently: "Don't mind those details. In chapter one hundred and two I already said I'm an Elation Emanator. What's wrong with having some anime character abilities? Besides, I was originally an anime character."
Bailu: "?? Old Jing, what are you talking about?"
[Mysterious Narrator of the Honkai: Star Rail World: It's normal for Bailu not to understand. After all, breaking the fourth wall is Elation's specialty, just like Aha in the Simulated Universe.]
On the other side.
—["The next match will be between the recently risen dark horse swordsman Yanqing and the similarly newly risen dark horse contestant Skott!"]
Owlbert stood on the commentary platform, hyping up the match atmosphere: "Both sides are newly risen dark horse contestants. Which side will obtain victory? It's truly something to look forward to!"
Yanqing stepped onto the arena and gazed from afar at the man opposite him. He remembered this person. During that "meeting through martial arts" competition at the restaurant back then, he had been knocked off the stage by this guy.
But that day's defeat had not left any psychological trauma on Yanqing. Instead, it made his will to become stronger burn even hotter.
Therefore, Yanqing felt that facing this person on the arena once again today was an arrangement of fate.
And he was already prepared. Winning this battle would allow him to advance to the final…
Buzz—!
At this moment, the phone in Yanqing's pocket suddenly vibrated. He took it out and looked — it was a message that made his heart tremble:
Guinaifen has been kidnapped!
At this time?!
—["Now, I declare this match officially begins!"]
At this moment, Owlbert on the commentary platform officially announced the start of the match.
"I forfeit!"
Almost at the same time, Yanqing shouted "Match abandoned. I'm going to pick up Little Guizi!" and then ran off the arena without looking back, still holding his sheathed treasured sword.
Owlbert: ???
Skott: ???
Audience at the scene: ???
...
On the other side.
"Hah——! So comfortable~"
In the sickroom, Qingque looked with satisfaction at the flushed Huohuo beneath her feet and laughed evilly: "Now you know how powerful I am? Hehehehehe~ If you dare oppose this General again in the future, be careful — this General will punish you!"
Huohuo flew into a rage: "Shameless scoundrel! What were you groping randomly just now? This old lady is going to kill you!"
Qingque was not afraid at all: "Come on, let's see if your tail is faster or my Divine Sovereign is faster."
Ring ring ring—
At this moment, Huohuo's phone suddenly rang. The caller ID was "Jing Yuan." She glared fiercely at Qingque, then answered irritably: "Hello? Speak quickly if you have something to say."
"Huohuo, are the Wrath and Lust Heliobuses with you? I need them urgently!" Jing Yuan asked.
Huohuo glanced at her tail: "I swallowed both of them. They haven't been fully refined yet. What's wrong?"
"Perfect! I'll come find you right away. A friend of mine has been kidnapped and I need to exchange these two Heliobuses for her."
"What?" Huohuo frowned slightly: "Isn't this nonsense? How can you make a deal with kidnappers?"
"Wait, I'll go requisition a military mechanical bird right now. Find an opportunity and shoot that kidnapper dead!"
Qingque also leaned over: "Old Jing? Do you need me to bring the Divine Sovereign along too?"
"Mm… Come, come. No need to let it go to waste."
On the other side.
"Dan! Heng! Again, again! You secretly drew manga of me behind my back again. You're never going to stop, huh?!"
"Was it you I drew? Don't be so narcissistic. It just looks a bit like you, that's all!"
Clang clang clang—! (Fighting sound effects)
Suddenly, Dan Heng's phone rang. Stelle's voice came from the other side: "Dan Heng, my friend is in danger! Come help quickly! Come to Stargazer Navalia!"
Dan Heng: "Received. Coming right away."
When handling emergencies, Dan Heng was still very reliable. He casually stuffed the phone into his pocket, turned direction, and ran toward Stargazer Navalia.
Blade, radiating murderous intent, chased after him from behind.
While the two were chasing and fleeing, Huaiyan, who happened to be passing by, caught sight of the scene. His eyes immediately widened: "Yinxing! My disciple! Don't run! Come at your Master!"
Thus Huaiyan also joined the chase.
...
The scale of people being called in was developing in a strange direction.
At the beginning, the message was only sent to Jing Yuan, Bailu, Yanqing, and Stelle — the four people closest to Guinaifen. But as everyone began showing off their connections, more and more people joined this rescue operation.
On Jing Yuan's side: including but not limited to Qingque, Huohuo, the Sushang trio, Fu Xuan, Jingliu, Bailu.
On Stelle's side: including but not limited to the Astral Express crew, the Zhuming master-disciple group, the Belobog group, the Penacony group, the Genius Society group...
And the mastermind behind all this — Cirrus possessing the person named Argenti — still knew nothing about it.
Cirrus only knew that Guinaifen was an ordinary Xianzhou wage slave who worked herself to exhaustion every day for a living. She had no background, but happened to have a good relationship with Jing Yuan, making her a suitable hostage.
In its plan, even if something went slightly wrong, it had ways to fix it — with the four Heliobuses Jealousy, Sloth, Arrogance, and Gluttony as backup, it would be foolproof.
At this moment, the five stood by a railing at Stargazer Navalia. Below was an endless abyss. If one fell from here, unless you could fly, death was certain.
The Gluttony Heliobus asked while munching: "Lord Cirrus, is it okay for us to kidnap so openly like this? (munch munch munch)"
Before Cirrus could respond, the Arrogance Heliobus sneered disdainfully: "Tch, what could go wrong? It's just breaking the law, right? Come and catch me if you have the ability?"
"We are fragments of Lord Celenova!"
The Gluttony Heliobus asked while eating potato chips: "Then… will we really win?"