Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [166]

As the officially designated reception venue of the Xianzhou Luofu, the inn boasted a reputation that preceded it.

It wasn’t known for luxury or grandeur but for its impeccable security measures.

The first three floors catered to regular guests, while the exclusive fourth floor was strictly reserved for high-profile Luofu officials. To ensure their safety and comfort, the two areas were entirely separated. Only two heavily guarded elevators provided access to the fourth floor. The stairway doors could not be opened from below—entry was controlled solely by buttons located on the inside, allowing only downward egress.

The Cloud Knights and the Sky-Faring Commission were quick to respond. Qingzu, a strategist whom Chen Lin had met twice before, awaited at the Liuyun Port. Meanwhile, the operator of the sky shuttle was none other than Tingyun, who had previously welcomed Chen Lin.

“Ah, my savior and esteemed guests, we meet again!” Tingyun, handing control of the sky shuttle back to the staff, approached with a cheerful smile. She even feigned wiping tears from her eyes. “I was beginning to think my savior had grown tired of me! So many days have passed without a word...”

Hearing this, March 7th gave Chen Lin a sly look and leaned closer to whisper, “Chen Lin, did you charm that foxy lady?”

“Don’t listen to her nonsense—I didn’t, I swear!” Chen Lin quickly denied it.

After Chen Lin explained his earlier encounters with Tingyun, everyone realized it was merely a playful joke.

“I am Qingzu, the strategist of the Cloud Knights General, here to escort you to the Cloud Knights’ headquarters,” Qingzu introduced herself with a professional demeanor. “Tingyun, the reception envoy from the Sky-Faring Commission, will be responsible for arranging your daily needs. Should you require additional expenses or services, please consult her.”

“Thank you for your kindness,” Welt nodded politely. “We’ll leave the arrangements to Miss Tingyun.”

“Of course!” Tingyun smiled and covered her face with her fan. “You’re all friends of my savior—I’ll do my utmost to ensure you’re well cared for. After all, a humble envoy like me couldn’t possibly bear the guilt of poor hospitality aboard the Xianzhou.”

She closed her fan with a snap and added, “I’ve traveled across many star systems with trade caravans, but it’s been a while since I returned to the Xianzhou. I still remember all the finest cuisine and entertainment. When you’re free, allow me to show you around and immerse you in Xianzhou’s culture.”

March 7th’s eyes lit up. “What kind of special dishes do you have?”

“Oh, plenty!” Tingyun started listing them off on her fingers. “Sweet, sour, spicy, salty—meat, vegetarian—you name it, we’ve got it.”

Before she could continue, Qingzu interjected, “This isn’t the place for casual chatter. The General is waiting for us at the headquarters.”

“Oh dear,” Tingyun smacked her forehead. “I got carried away. My apologies! Please, follow me. Let’s first get you to the inn to freshen up and rest.”

The inn wasn’t far from the port; a short stroll through a couple of streets brought them to their destination.

Tingyun had already arranged everything, securing keycards in advance. All that was needed was for the group to register their information using their jade tablets.

“Fresh clothes will be delivered shortly, and meals are available at the inn. Qingzu and I won’t intrude on your private quarters, so we’ll wait downstairs. Don’t rush—keeping us idle for a bit longer is no problem,” Tingyun joked with a wink.

Qingzu raised an eyebrow. “?”

Settling in the inn’s lounge, Tingyun and Qingzu ordered some tea and snacks, waiting patiently for the others to rest.

As the group stepped into the elevator, Stelle suddenly asked, “Have we met Miss Tingyun before? Why did she say it was good to see us again?”

“No idea.” March 7th shrugged. “When we went to the Palace of Astrum, the only person I remember was that stern lady in charge.”

She mimicked a cold expression and tone, saying, “This is a Xianzhou internal matter. There is no need for the Astral Express crew to interfere. Accommodations have been arranged in the Palace of Astrum. Unless necessary, do not leave the premises without permission—any consequences will be your own responsibility.”

“That fox lady was so fierce that all my attention was on her,” March 7th sighed.

It was evident that she held a grudge against Yukong.

And who could blame her? After being coaxed into coming to the Xianzhou by Kafka, their initial attempt to assist was met with outright rejection and an attempt at soft detention. Anyone would find such treatment frustrating.

Chen Lin, meanwhile, had been quiet for most of the journey. He was preoccupied with calculations for optimizing constructions back on Jarilo-VI, occasionally muttering a word or two as he focused on his tasks.

No one could have guessed that Chen Lin’s extraordinary and absurd construction abilities allowed him to remotely manage developments on Jarilo-VI even from the Xianzhou.

Hearing the two girls chat, Chen Lin finally finished his work and chimed in, “You really haven’t met Tingyun before?”

Stelle shook her head. “Nope.”

March 7th added, “Not that I recall. Though, she’s pleasant to be around—pretty, polite, and easygoing. In storybooks, people like her are usually dangerous. What’s the phrase... a smiling tiger?”

Stelle tilted her head. “Doesn’t that make Lin dangerous too?”

“Chen Lin is an exception!” March 7th made an X gesture across her chest.

“Hmm...” Welt stroked his chin thoughtfully. “When we disembarked, the port was under attack. After rescuing several Cloud Knights, we were escorted to meet Yukong. It’s possible Tingyun overheard us during that time, perhaps while stationed at a nearby post.

“Foxian women on the Xianzhou are typically attractive, but one as refined as Tingyun is a rarity. If we had met her, we’d likely remember. Perhaps I was too focused on observing Yukong’s expressions and weighing her words, neglecting my surroundings.”

Welt frowned. Time had passed since then, and he wasn’t someone who paid much attention to women. His personality was methodical and composed, prioritizing duty over trivial matters.

The Astral Express journeyed onward, its crew united under Welt’s care. Protecting the younger members of the crew—especially Stelle and March 7th—was his priority. Neither he nor Himeko would allow harm to come to them.

Upon arriving at the Xianzhou, Welt’s initial goal had been to quickly establish contact with its leadership, clarifying the Express’ peaceful intentions and avoiding any unnecessary hostility. However, the chain of events that followed cast suspicion on their arrival, complicating matters.

Welt understood Yukong’s cautious approach; her decisions were logical and prudent. Yet, his responsibility lay in shielding Stelle and March 7th. With Chen Lin preoccupied with his awakening—his room aglow with radiant starlight—Welt had to ensure the two girls remained safe.

Even now, he remained uncertain about the Xianzhou’s progress in investigating the Stellaron. If they found no leads, would the Astral Express become a scapegoat?

Welt would never joke about the safety of the younger crew members. At that moment, he even overheard a staff member report to Yukong about tracking the Stellaron Hunter’s escape route, asking if they should seal off a particular airspace. This gave Welt the idea to prove their innocence.

Risking their safety by relying on others’ integrity was foolish. Besides, Welt wasn’t boasting—if he wanted to leave the Xianzhou with March 7th and Stelle, no one in the Sky-Faring Commission could stop him.

Careful consideration of consequences was necessary. After drafting a detailed plan, Welt dismantled a wall in the room Yukong had used to detain them. After incapacitating the guards, he led the two girls to investigate the clues, hoping to catch the Stellaron Hunter and clear the Astral Express of suspicion.

They followed the clues Kafka left behind, as if she was toying with them, leading them on a wild chase until they finally reunited with Chen Lin and Fu Xuan today.

Have we met Tingyun before? Who can remember such details...

“Uncle Yang’s analysis makes sense,” Chen Lin nodded. “Tingyun mentioned she often works field operations. Perhaps she happened to be in the office writing a report and overheard you.”

Stelle’s question reminded Chen Lin of something. When Tingyun first met him, she recognized March 7th, Welt, and Stelle, using this to deduce Chen Lin’s connection to the Astral Express crew. That ultimately led her to bring him to the Palace of Astrum.

So that’s why Yukong looked so annoyed when we first met her... Uncle Yang had literally punched a hole in their dormitory wall. No wonder.

Thinking about it, Chen Lin felt Welt’s actions were reasonable. He wouldn’t entrust his or his friends’ lives to strangers either. If it were him, he might’ve gone further, setting fire to the dormitory to cover his tracks and mislead investigations.

The elevator reached the fourth floor. After swiping their cards to unlock the door, they were greeted by a long corridor.

The entire floor had been remodeled into a single expansive suite. The elevator emerged in the center, flanked by living rooms, kitchens, pools, and other facilities on either side.

Chen Lin’s room was in the right living area, which was technically on the “four-and-a-halfth” floor due to a circular staircase leading to an upper level for spatial continuity.

When Stelle saw the staircase, her eyes sparkled. “I want a room upstairs!”

March 7th quickly claimed the upper room, saying it offered a better view.

Ultimately, Welt stepped in to ensure Chen Lin could rest properly. He overruled their protests, assigning rooms on the lower floor to avoid the entire suite devolving into chaos.

Chen Lin shot Welt a grateful look.

The last thing he wanted was a repeat of his time aboard the Astral Express, waking up to find someone had climbed into his bed. Not only that—they’d cling to his arm in their sleep, licking it like a gourmet feast. It was a bit unnerving.

“This place is spacious,” Welt remarked. “It could house dozens of people. The bathrooms are plentiful, so let’s freshen up. Meeting Luofu’s General in our current state would be disrespectful.”

He divided the space, ensuring privacy with soundproof rooms and thoughtful design. The large living area had smaller lounges and bathrooms attached—truly user-friendly.

“We need to wash our clothes too. Look, there’s even a company-provided washing machine!” March 7th discovered the temporary outfits the staff had prepared. “Let’s start a load. By the time we’re done showering and drying our hair, our clothes should be ready.”

With tasks delegated, the group dispersed. Chen Lin headed upstairs, shutting the stairwell door behind him.

Returning to the living room, Chen Lin noticed some food in convenient containers steaming on the dining table.

I didn’t order food...

He frowned, then heard faint noises from the bathroom near the balcony. The ventilation fan was running.

Someone’s here?

Glancing at the sofa, he saw a familiar skirt lying there—one unmistakably part of the Sky-Faring Commission uniform.

It must be Qingque.

Before Chen Lin could call out, the bathroom door swung open. A pair of long, pale legs stepped out, followed by a carefree tune.

“Lah~ la~ lah lah lah... wah!!”

The girl, radiating steam and wrapped in only her undergarments, froze mid-step when she saw Chen Lin’s eyes on her. Startled, she leapt back several paces.

“Oh, it’s just you, Chen Lin.” Qingque sighed in relief, realizing it was her friend. Embarrassed but trying to remain casual, she explained, “I forgot I had no money after giving you my card earlier. I didn’t eat all day and remembered you said I could grab something from the inn. I got a bit sweaty, so I borrowed the landlady’s bathroom to freshen up…”

Having been seen, Qingque decided to own the situation. Awkwardness would only make it worse. With feigned composure, she started slipping on her outer skirt right in front of him.

“Um, Chen Lin? Why are you staring at me?”

“Why?” Chen Lin was about to remind her of her state but sighed instead. “You really don’t treat me as an outsider.”

It was no wonder—aside from her undergarments, Qingque wasn’t wearing much, and she didn’t even hesitate to put on her skirt in his presence.

“Oh, come on, it’s no big deal,” Qingque said nonchalantly, though her flushed ears betrayed her embarrassment. “You washed and ironed this outfit for me last night. If I treated you as an outsider after that, I’d be the unreasonable one.”

Despite her confident words, her bashfulness was evident, especially as she tiptoed barefoot to playfully pat Chen Lin’s shoulder with her warm, damp hands.

“Whoa, Chen Lin, are you blushing? Is our friendship... evolving?” she teased.

Feeling a mix of exasperation and amusement, Chen Lin decided to let her off the hook. “Fine, yes, I’m blushing.”

“Alright, alright, let’s drop it.” Qingque skipped over to slip on her shoes. “This place is amazing—not only is the food free, but it looks delicious. Come eat! I need to head back to work soon, but dinner’s on me tonight.”

“You might not be going back to work,” Chen Lin suddenly remarked.

Qingque froze. “Not going back? You’re not suggesting they’d demand I pay for using the bathroom, are you?”

Shrinking slightly, she added, “If it’s you, though... I wouldn’t mind. But how am I supposed to explain missing work?”

Seeing her dramatic reaction, Chen Lin flicked her forehead lightly. “What nonsense are you thinking? Something’s up at the Sky-Faring Commission. I was just with the Master Diviner—she’s busy dealing with internal issues. As a library clerk, you barely do anything beyond opening and closing doors. There’s no point in showing up now.”

Instead of contacting her superiors, Qingque gleefully powered off her phone and tossed it aside. “Yay! Day off!”

“...”

“Try this jade nectar phoenix egg,” she said, picking up a delicacy from the table. “I’ve been searching for it for ages—always sold out. Can’t believe they have it here.”

---

T/N: oh my...

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!