Honkai Star Rail: I Can Hear Their Secrets

Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels.

Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff

******

Su Jinyan took out a handkerchief, wiping the blood from his hands, and slowly shook his head.

"No, there's no need for that," he replied. "This is my matter alone; I don't wish to involve you further. Just wait patiently for me to return."

Qingque gazed at him timidly and asked softly, "A-Yan, are you still the A-Yan I knew?"

Smiling, Su Jinyan gently ruffled Qingque's hair. "Little Que'er, don't overthink it," he reassured her. "If you find yourself with idle time, continue playing cards and having fun. Just wait obediently for me to come back."

"Don't testify for me; I don't want to involve you."

Qingque's small face hardened stubbornly. "Whether or not I testify is my decision, not yours," she insisted. "We've long been grasshoppers tied to the same string. If something happens to you, there's no escape for me either."

"If the Grand Diviner expels me, I won't even receive any severance pay. Would you support me?"

A hint of amusement played at Su Jinyan's lips. "I would indeed."

Tingyun raised an eyebrow.

Qingque's cheeks flushed inexplicably. "Wh-wh-what did you just say?!"

Su Jinyan deliberately lingered for a long time outside the Divination Commission's corridor. He was waiting—for both the Ten-Lords Commission's Judge and Ruoyue.

Before long, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Hey, Su Jinyan—"

Ruoyue panted as she caught up to him.

With keen interest, Su Jinyan asked, "I've just committed murder, aren't you afraid of me, Miss Ruoyue?"

A mix of emotions flickered across Ruoyue's eyes as she handed over the divination report. "Wouldn't you have purposely waited here for me otherwise? If you truly intend to confront the Seat of Divine Foresight...why not take this divination report with you instead?"

Smiling, Su Jinyan pushed it back. "Miss Ruoyue, I believe you possess great talent in divination. The only thing preventing you from becoming a diviner is an opportunity. If your dream is indeed to become one, that chance now lies before your eyes. In that case, the one who should infiltrate the Seat today is you, not me."

Ruoyue slowly yet resolutely accepted the divination report. "And what about you? What will happen to you?"

Su Jinyan shrugged. "Isn't it obvious? Having committed murder, I've transgressed against the ten unforgivable sins. Naturally, my place is within the Ten-Lords Commission."

Ruoyue's eyes filled with panic. "B-but..."

"No one who enters the Ten-Lords Commission as a criminal has ever emerged."

"Your entire life might be spent within The Shackling Prison. Is this truly worth it?"

There is a saying: Prefer losing gold and jade to entering The Shackling; Choose facing calamity over meeting the Judge.

Why isn't Mr. Su Jinyan at all fearful of the Judges? Could he genuinely possess such unwavering integrity?

Su Jinyan smiled. "Just because others couldn't leave doesn't mean I won't succeed."

"Moreover, the person I killed was actually a monstrous disciple of the Medicine King's secret teachings. What crime have I committed?"

"Miss Ruoyue, my words end here. If you truly wish not to betray my intentions,

then strive to become a diviner unlike those others,"

"and assist Lady Fu Xuan on my behalf."

As they spoke, a petite yan idol girl with brown hair and red eyes swiftly approached.

It seemed the efficiency of the Ten-Lords Commission was indeed commendable.

Su Jinyan crushed his phone, letting it disintegrate into flowing sand between his fingers.

"Miss Ruoyue, it's time for both of us to depart."

With graceful agility, the yan idol girl leaped directly in front of Su Jinyan.

Multiple chains materialized out of thin air, securely binding him.

"I am Judge Xueyi of Xianzhou Luofu's Ten-Lords Commission."

"Su Jinyan, your crimes are known to me.

"You have committed the grave offense of 'Slaying Your Kin' under the laws of the Ten-Lords Commission.

"Comply and return with me to the commission to avoid further suffering.

"If you wish to contest these charges, it must be done at the Ten-Lords Commission itself. Do you have anything to say?"

Smiling pleasantly, Su Jinyan replied, "Of course not, esteemed Judge."

"Although I believe myself innocent, I am willing to accompany you to the commission for my defense."

Xueyi's beautiful eyes remained unflinching. "Very well. Come along with me."

Seizing the opportunity, Su Jinyan struck up conversation: "I didn't expect the esteemed Judge to be so adorable.

"Have we met before somewhere?

"I really admire you, Judge. Could you share your contact information?"

Xueyi shook her head slightly, leading Su Jinyan forward. "We are strangers; I've never seen you before.

"Given the serious crime you've committed, there's no need to feign familiarity."

Su Jinyan chuckled softly, "Not quite, esteemed Judge. The one I killed was not an ordinary immortal cultivator.

"Shen Hai was a monstrous disciple, secretly trained by the Medicine King—an Abundance Remnant.

"Can their lives truly be considered equal?"

"Furthermore," Su Jinyan continued, "the desire for beauty is inherent in all hearts; you've truly captivated me.

"If I manage to escape this predicament, why don't you give me your contact information? What do you say?"

"...Silence!" Xueyi snapped, her usually composed yan idol form feeling flustered by Su Jinyan's chatter.

Any sinner convicted of crimes and tried by the Ten-Lords Commission ultimately faced imprisonment in The Shackling Prison. Unless pardoned by one of the ten lords, no prisoner could leave before their sentence was complete.

As Su Jinyan walked away, Ruoyue bowed deeply to his retreating figure.

Thank you, sir, for risking yourself within this scheme. I assure you, I will not disappoint.

At Luofu's Yu Realm Gate, a graceful young man with golden hair descended from a star ferry. With a coffin on his back and a paper umbrella over his shoulder, he moved alongside other travelers, stopping now and then.

His presence drew curious glances wherever he went.

"Next." The Sky-Faring Commission officer waved him forward.

The young man folded his umbrella, strolling leisurely toward the checkpoint.

"Name?"

"Luocha."

"Gender?"

"Male."

"You must be a foreigner, sir? May I ask why you're visiting Luofu?"

"I am a traveling merchant, here to establish business."

"What is that thing on your back?" The officer scrutinized him suspiciously.

"Oh, it's a coffin containing the deceased."

"I've been entrusted to return this individual to Xianzhou," Luocha explained calmly.

The officer nodded slightly. "May we take a look inside?"

Unfazed, Luocha produced the necessary documents. "Please see for yourself, sir."

"These are my entry permits, obtained with official approval."

"The departed deserve utmost respect; their remains must not be desecrated. I hope you understand."

Taking the documents, the officer gave them a cursory glance.

"Hmm, yes, you're right. Nevertheless, I must fulfill my duty and inspect the coffin briefly."

"Recently, someone at the Sky-Faring Commission was dismissed for incompetence," explained the harbor official. "Now, regulations have become much stricter across the board."

"As such, I must adhere strictly to protocol and inspect your coffin."

"Don't worry; I won't open it. Instead, I'll use this jade divination tablet to scan the coffin's exterior, checking if any living creatures are concealed within."

Luocha pondered briefly before setting down the coffin. "Of course, I have no objections."

The harbor official picked up the jade divination tablet and meticulously scanned around the coffin.

"No issues found. Before entry, please sign this document, sir."

"In this agreement, you pledge not to engage in activities beyond the scope of your visa permit, particularly any illegal research related to immortality."

Without hesitation, Luocha swiftly signed his name on the document.

Satisfied, the harbor official nodded and stamped the visa. "Wishing you successful business ventures in Luofu, sir. Next!"

Luocha hoisted the coffin onto his back again, ready to leave the Starskiff Jetty.

Just then, the harbor official received a text message from Yukong, the Director of the Sky-Faring Commission.

The content of the message roughly stated: From today onwards, all harbor officials in Luofu must strictly enforce border inspections and control the movement of goods, adhering to the highest standards without exception.

Once the last cargo of the day arrived at the port, Luofu would seal the Yu Realm Gate, strictly prohibiting any further entry or exit.

"Luocha, wait." The immigration officer's expression turned serious as they swiftly approached Luocha.

"My apologies, but I've just received orders to enforce the highest level of scrutiny at the border."

"Therefore, I must inspect the coffin now. Please cooperate."

Seeming to grasp the situation, Luocha calmly responded, "There are many people here."

"In deference to the departed, I hope you can conduct the inspection somewhere private to avoid disturbing their peace."

Respecting the beliefs and customs of outsiders was paramount on Xianzhou, so this request was not unreasonable. The immigration officer agreed and escorted Luocha to a secluded corner devoid of bystanders.

Moments later, the immigration officer returned to the Starskiff Jetty with a furrowed brow, preoccupied with thoughts that felt elusive, as if forgetting something crucial.

"If asked again, I'll simply say it contains business tools," Luocha murmured.

"I hope I haven't offended you..."

"But our relationship itself could be considered a transaction, couldn't it?"

Luocha gently patted the coffin, receiving only silence in response.

In the distance, Jingliu's figure flickered briefly before vanishing.

"She's gone; we should set off as well," Luocha murmured to herself.