Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [149]

With a few deft maneuvers, Chen Lin successfully lured every member of the Medicine King's Secret Tradition out of the basement.

Green Hibiscus had fled as if his life depended on it. Purple Chrysanthemum, after catching a glimpse of the hellish scene below, had run off retching. Blue Peach, though visibly nauseated, managed to bring Chen Lin the items he requested before leaving, unable to suppress her feelings for him. She even mentioned waiting for him at a teahouse nearby.

After inspecting the basement, Chen Lin confirmed that there were no surveillance devices. Everyone from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had evacuated in fear of becoming his next “meal.”

“Tch. And here I thought they were fearless maniacs.”

A faint, violet shimmer rippled through the air. The basement, which had appeared strewn with bloody remains and shattered cages, returned to its original state. Only the rancid stench lingered.

Chen Lin severed his psionic connection and announced, “You can speak now. They’re all gone.”

At his words, the “corpses” lying motionless on the ground began to stir, opening their eyes one by one.

“Are… are you really one of the General’s people?” a frail Cloud Knight asked hesitantly.

The others, weak from abuse or starvation, could barely lift their heads, but their wide, hopeful eyes fixed on Chen Lin as he crouched before them.

“Not exactly,” Chen Lin replied, his tone calm. “The General and I share a bond of brotherhood. I came to investigate the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, but I didn’t expect things to get this messy.” He pulled out a token bearing Jing Yuan’s insignia. “Do you recognize this?”

“That’s… that’s a Exalting Sanctum Military Mobilization Order!”

One of the more alert Cloud Knights immediately identified the token, dispelling any doubts.

This token was unmistakable—it bore unique anti-counterfeiting marks, easily verifiable by anyone familiar with it.

Besides, who would bother deceiving them? They were prisoners left to die. There was nothing to gain from lying to them.

Chen Lin distributed some candy from his pocket—high-energy treats he carried for emergencies. “Eat. Once you’re strong enough, I’ll take you to the Divination Commission. Especially the heavily injured ones… I’ve heard Xianzhouans have strong regenerative abilities, but with injuries like these… well, I hope they can still heal you.”

This was all Chen Lin could do for them. If someone else had taken on the task of infiltrating the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, they might have been forced to kill their own to maintain cover, further accelerating their descent into a Mara-struck.

Chen Lin respected these undercover operatives, much like those who infiltrated drug cartels back in his previous life. Their courage deserved admiration.

He had heard stories of such sacrifices—officers who killed their comrades to protect their cover, only to succumb to guilt and depression later. One particular case involved an officer who took his own life, leaving a note apologizing for taking his fellow agent’s life.

Who could endure such pain?

Without his psionic abilities and the support of his awakened power, Chen Lin might have been forced to abandon his mission and confront the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus directly, jeopardizing future operations.

The candy restored some of the prisoners’ strength, but the prolonged abuse and malnourishment had left their bodies in dire condition. Recovery would take time and care.

“Sir, thank you… If not for you, my children, my parents… I…”

One of the Cloud Knights, dressed in tattered rags with mangled limbs, fell to their knees and bowed deeply, tears streaming down their face. “I can never repay this kindness. If you ever need anything, I’ll gladly give my life for you!”

“If you want to repay me,” Chen Lin said, patting the knight’s shoulder, “then heal, return to your duties, and protect the people. Fulfill your responsibilities. That’s the best way to repay me.”

“Your righteousness…!”

The words moved the Cloud Knights to tears. They thought to themselves, No wonder the General would befriend someone like him. This noble heart truly embodies the ideals we swore to uphold when we joined the ranks.

Chen Lin walked to a corner of the room, where a Cloud Knight was being tended to by others. This particular knight, with sunken eye sockets and a bloodied face, had dried blood crusted around their eyes.

They had been blinded.

Sensing someone approaching, the knight instinctively flinched but quickly recalled that they had been rescued.

“Are… are you our savior?”

Hearing the high-pitched voice, Chen Lin realized this knight was a woman.

The harsh torture had left most of the captives unrecognizable, their features obscured by injuries and filth.

Chen Lin frowned. “Your eyes…”

“Oh, that? Those bastards said they needed human eyes for their alchemy, so they dug mine out,” she said with a forced smile, waving a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll grow back in a few months. It’s just a minor injury.”

Her casual tone and strained smile made Chen Lin’s heart ache.

After some questioning, he learned the reasons behind their capture.

Of the 19 survivors, four were Cloud Knight squad leaders, all with military ranks. They had infiltrated the organization to locate their missing comrades.

The initial trials to join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had been surprisingly easy—so easy that anyone could pass. After completing the trials, the squad leaders had hoped to blend in and begin their search. However, they were unexpectedly discovered, forced to drink a strange potion under the guise of “proving their sincerity,” and woke up imprisoned in the basement.

This led them to suspect they had been betrayed, though the true reason remained unclear.

As for the other Cloud Knights, their captures were attributed to various slip-ups: attempting to escape, being caught while relaying intelligence to the Divination Commission, or, in one absurd case, sleep-talking.

The ways they were exposed were as varied as they were tragic.

Chen Lin learned that this place had once held over fifty captives. Some were starved to death, others were taken by the Medicine King's Secret Tradition and never seen again. Many succumbed to torture and despair, taking their own lives, while others were killed by newcomers completing their trials.

He glanced at the rotting corpses still locked in their cages and let out a heavy sigh.

Perhaps this is simply their fate.

Saving even a few survivors was more than he had expected. Though he regretted the loss of so many Cloud Knights, he didn’t dwell on it. At least some lives had been spared, which was already a small miracle amidst such tragedy.

“Now, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. Follow these instructions, and don’t blow your cover…”

After the captives had rested briefly, Chen Lin instructed them to hide themselves in large sacks and lie motionless in a cart at the basement’s entrance. He couldn’t risk letting them leave on their own, as the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had eyes everywhere.

In their condition, they wouldn’t make it far without attracting attention, and being spotted by the organization’s spies would put them right back in danger—likely without a chance to fight back.

Thankfully, Chen Lin had prepared thoroughly. His act as a deranged cannibal had sent Green Hibiscus and the others fleeing in terror. Using that excuse, he requested bags and a cart to “dispose of the leftovers.”

Before leaving, Chen Lin left traces of psionic energy in the basement. These subtle distortions would mislead anyone who entered, making them perceive the room as still filled with gore and carnage, reeking of blood and decay.

As he pushed the cart down the road, he ran into Green Hibiscus, who froze at the sight of him.

“Brother Green Hibiscus, you’re here?” Chen Lin greeted him with a satisfied smile. “I’ve still got some leftovers if you’re hungry…”

Green Hibiscus paled as Chen Lin moved to open one of the sacks. He quickly waved his hands. “No, no, I just ate! I’m not hungry at all, haha…”

Though Green Hibiscus wasn’t human anymore, that didn’t mean he was willing to eat human flesh. He had nothing but respect—and fear—for this horrifying new ally.

“What a pity…” Chen Lin remarked, stopping his motion and asking, “So, how did my trial go?”

As he spoke, Chen Lin subtly released a psionic illusion, simulating the stench of blood emanating from his mouth. The effect made Green Hibiscus’s fear deepen.

“Very successful!” Green Hibiscus stammered. “Lord Purple Moonlight is extremely pleased and wants to meet you personally. Also… um… do you know how to, uh… dispose of your, er, leftovers?”

Chen Lin grinned. “Oh, that’s easy. I’ve got friends who specialize in this kind of thing. I can introduce you someday.”

“You’ve got connections in… that world?”

“Of course. You could say we’re a close-knit community, supporting one another. Naturally, we’re quite skilled at what we do.”

Green Hibiscus recalled that Chen Lin had spent time in prison, particularly among the most dangerous criminals. No wonder this guy is so extreme…

“Well, Brother Charlotte, I’ll leave you to it. With the Cloud Knights becoming more active lately, we’ve been under increased scrutiny. If you can help us handle this situation, it would be greatly appreciated. Lord Purple Moonlight even said this could count as an extra trial completed.”

“That’s wonderful. Thank you for putting in a good word for me,” Chen Lin said, clasping Green Hibiscus’s hand warmly. “If you ever need help, just let me know!”

“Sure, sure. Let’s meet at the courtyard later.”

“No problem! Are you sure you don’t want a taste? It’s delicious.”

“No, no, I’m good…”

Green Hibiscus fled, leaving Chen Lin behind with his cart. Only after putting considerable distance between them did he stop to catch his breath. Still, he couldn’t stop the queasiness in his stomach and crouched against a wall to vomit.

How could such a handsome guy turn out to be such a deranged monster…

The memory of the bloody scent from their conversation sent him retching again.

Later, when he went to check the basement, the scene within made him gag once more. The grotesque illusion was so overwhelming that he immediately abandoned any thoughts of cleaning it and decided to seal the room with bricks.

Meanwhile, Chen Lin changed disguises multiple times to ensure he wasn’t being followed. Eventually, he wheeled the cart into the Exalting Sanctum Cloud Knight garrison, identified himself, and presented Jing Yuan’s token.

After explaining the situation and revealing the battered survivors in the cart, the garrison was overcome with rage. The sight of their comrades, broken and emaciated, stirred a burning desire for vengeance. Many drew their swords, eager to storm the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus’s hideouts and exact retribution.

When someone suggested sending the injured to the Alchemy Commission for treatment, Chen Lin immediately stopped them.

“This is a sensitive matter. The survivors aren’t in critical condition yet. Have the garrison’s medics treat them in secret.”

At this point, the highest-ranking officer in the garrison—the Sentinel Commander—ceded authority to Chen Lin, recognizing the significance of Jing Yuan’s token. The commander, a seasoned veteran of interstellar campaigns, understood that this temporary superior likely had a grander plan in motion.

Under Chen Lin’s orders, the injured were moved to the medical wing, where a dozen guards were stationed to ensure no communication in or out. The garrison entered its highest state of readiness, prepared for anything.

While the injured were being treated, Chen Lin addressed a battalion of Cloud Knights assembled in the courtyard. His speech was passionate and inspiring, igniting a fierce determination among the soldiers.

“I know the Xianzhou faces numerous threats. Each of us must fulfill our duties without error. Trust in General Jing Yuan’s leadership, and follow orders without hesitation…”

“The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus didn’t resurface by coincidence. This cult, thought eradicated long ago, has been revived by conspirators to sow chaos. They harm the innocent and prey upon our comrades. Their twisted faith and false promises of immortality are nothing but lies!”

“But as long as the Xianzhou stands, we will not falter. Though eradicating such evil may take years, even lifetimes, we will not waver!”

“If someday one of us must stand alone, facing violence, temptation, or threats to join them… remember this: think of the comrades who have suffered and died to protect our nation. We will fight to the last breath!”

The courtyard fell silent, the air heavy with emotion.

Then, like a wave breaking against the shore, a roar of cheers erupted.

“We will not yield! We will not falter!”

The soldiers stomped their weapons in unison, their voices echoing for miles.

Inside the command center, the garrison officers were awestruck by the scene outside.

“What’s happening out there?” someone asked.

The Sentinel Commander, who had once commanded on countless battlefields, spoke with calm reverence.

“He wields words like weapons, forging an unyielding armor of conviction for these soldiers. Perhaps, from this moment on, they will no longer fear death.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Mark my words,” the commander said with certainty. “Give this man a unit to lead, and our orders will pale in comparison to his influence. With 140 years of experience, I can tell you this: under his command, there will be no cowards—only heroes who fight to the bitter end.”

The doubting officer fell silent, murmuring, “That’s… terrifying.”

---

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!