Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [139]

The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke over the Xianzhou, Qingque stirred awake.

The skies of the Xianzhou, engineered by the joint efforts of the Taibu Division and the Divination Commission, created an environment perfectly suited for habitation. A faint fruit aroma lingered in the air, crisp and refreshing, quickly clearing Qingque’s mind as she surveyed her unfamiliar surroundings.

“Wait… what?!”

Panic flared briefly in her chest. This wasn’t her home—she was in a hotel or guesthouse.

Her last memory was of drinking with Chen Lin at a restaurant the night before. She remembered clinking glasses and agreeing to a toast, but the moment she downed her drink, her memory had cut off abruptly.

Just as her thoughts began spiraling, a lazy voice called out from the living area.

“You’re awake. Stop dawdling; you’re probably close to being late for work. If you don’t want Big Sis to catch you, you’d better freshen up, eat breakfast, and head out.”

“Chen Lin!!”

Peering through the open door, Qingque saw him lounging in a chair in the living area, casually scrolling through his phone. Relief washed over her.

She trusted him entirely—not because of naivety but because her instincts told her Chen Lin was trustworthy. And even if something unexpected had happened, she found herself oddly indifferent to the idea.

Still, his presence meant she was likely in his lodging.

Qingque stumbled out of bed, catching sight of the modest breakfast spread on the table. There were two bags of snacks and a bottle of water—incidentally, the exact items she would often buy on her way to work.

“Oh, one more thing,” Chen Lin said, gesturing toward the door across from her room. “Don’t use that bathroom. Use the one across from my room instead.”

“Why? Are the bathrooms in these fancy rooms different?” Qingque asked, confused.

Chen Lin simply gave her a mischievous look, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

After a few seconds, he grinned and teased, “Why don’t you open the door and find out?”

Qingque immediately caught on and flatly refused. “No, I won’t!”

While this was her first time drinking herself into a blackout, Qingque wasn’t stupid. From her surroundings and what little she remembered, she deduced that Chen Lin had taken care of her all night.

She knew exactly how much trouble a drunk person could cause.

After freshening up and getting ready, Qingque emerged from the room looking reinvigorated. Chen Lin pushed the breakfast closer to her.

“Here, the landlady recommended this. I don’t really know what’s good around here, but it tastes pretty decent… Oh, and I got you a spray to clear out any lingering alcohol smell. Use it before you head to work.”

“Thanks!” Qingque replied cheerfully, grabbing the food and digging in without hesitation.

“So, what’s your plan for today?” she asked between bites, guzzling half the bottle of water in one go. “Want me to clock in and then sneak out to show you around?”

“No need. I’ll just wander around on my own. Unless the Divination Commission or Taibu Division needs me, I don’t have anything urgent to do.” Chen Lin’s tone was relaxed.

Then, with a playful grin, he added, “Honestly, I thought you’d wake up and come yelling at me. You’re handling this awfully well… Don’t tell me you’re planning to write an essay later to backstab me!”

Qingque chuckled, unbothered. “Eh, who cares? Nothing happened anyway. Why overthink it?” She shrugged, nibbling on a pastry. “I mean, look at me. I’m just a broke civil servant—nothing special to offer. Four seasons, steady work, just enough to live comfortably but not luxuriously. Can’t imagine anyone taking an interest in me.”

Her tone shifted slightly as she added, “But seriously, this is my highest level of trust—reserved only for my closest friends and confidants!”

“Well, thanks for that…” Chen Lin said, chuckling.

In a matter of minutes, Qingque polished off her breakfast, intending to chat a bit more. However, a glance at her timepiece made her pale.

“Crap! I’m going to be late! If Big Sis catches me, I can kiss my free time goodbye… The bill’s on me; here’s my salary card. The password’s six zeroes. Settle it yourself!”

Before Chen Lin could respond, she slapped the card on the table and bolted out the door. Her hurried footsteps echoed down the hall until they faded into the distance.

He sighed, shaking his head. Qingque’s personality was just like that—carefree and impulsive. Slipping the card into his pocket, Chen Lin decided he’d return it to her later and headed out for a stroll.

Stepping out of his room, Chen Lin nearly bumped into a familiar face.

Standing before him was Tingyun, the Taixuan Alliance’s foxian envoy assigned to guide him. Her playful smile and elegant demeanor were accentuated by her fluttering skirt and the soft sway of her bushy tail.

“Good morning, my savior,” she greeted, opening her folding fan with a flourish. “Judging by your refreshed appearance, I take it the accommodations arranged by the General were to your satisfaction?”

“My brother was overly generous,” Chen Lin replied with a faint smile. “The room’s huge, and it feels a bit lonely staying here by myself.”

Tingyun giggled softly. “You won’t feel lonely for long. In fact, one of the reasons I’m here is to deliver some good news.”

“Oh?”

“After a thorough search by the Cloud Knights yesterday, we’ve located your companions. They were last seen near the Xinghai Port.”

The Xianzhou, a vast and mobile celestial vessel, housed countless regions. The name Xinghai Port didn’t ring any bells for Chen Lin, though it sounded like a harbor.

Noticing his confusion, Tingyun explained, “Xinghai Port is near Aurum Alley, within the jurisdiction of the Artisanship Commission. It’s primarily used for star skiff research and maintenance, along with other artisanal projects.”

Chen Lin nodded in understanding, recalling what Tingyun had mentioned the day before about the Xianzhou’s advanced star skiffs—living vessels cultivated from specially modified seeds by the combined efforts of the Artisanship Commission, Alchemy Commission, and Divination Commission.

“Unfortunately…” Tingyun’s tone turned somber. “Due to disruptions from stellaron energy, many ports have been displaced, and the Artisanship Commission is in near-total disarray. Strange phenomena linked to the Mara Plague have also emerged, with entire areas sealed off. The Cloud Knights have been dispatched repeatedly, but many return injured—or worse, not at all. It’s said that numerous Xianzhou natives have succumbed to Mara there.”

Her expression grew serious. “Forgive my boldness, but Xinghai Port is rife with danger.”

Chen Lin frowned.

If this were anywhere else, he might have used his psionic abilities to locate his friends. However, the Xianzhou’s environment, saturated with stellaron energy, interfered with his psychic powers, much like radio signal jamming.

Moreover, he knew the Divination Commission could monitor energy fluctuations throughout the Xianzhou. The last thing he wanted was to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Still, Chen Lin trusted his companions. March 7 might be a bit scatterbrained, and Stelle a little abstract in her thinking, but with someone as reliable as Welt around, they’d manage just fine.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Danger always resolves itself eventually. I don’t mind waiting a few days.”

Tingyun nodded, her cheerful demeanor returning. “In that case, my second task today is to act as your guide. Allow me to show you the still-accessible areas of the Xianzhou and treat you to the promised Immortal Bliss Tea!”

Chen Lin chuckled. “Lead the way.”

"Sure, I’d love to try some Xianzhou specialties," Chen Lin replied with a nod. "Since Miss Tingyun is so experienced in trade, perhaps you can recommend some local products that would make good gifts for my friends."

After sealing the trade agreement with Jing Yuan, Chen Lin unlocked a new [Instant Trade] interface. Through it, he could monitor Jarilo-VI’s resource stockpiles and even transfer goods like ores or other commodities instantly to designated locations.

He hadn’t yet tested whether the system allowed him to send items purchased on the Xianzhou back to Jarilo-VI. If it did, the functionality might have applications beyond trade.

As they walked, Tingyun, strolling gracefully slightly behind him, suddenly asked, “Savior, do you know Miss Qingque from the Divination Commission?”

“Huh? Yeah, I know her,” Chen Lin answered without hesitation.

“I saw her earlier when I came upstairs. She seemed to be in quite a rush—too busy to even notice me when I tried to say hello.” Tingyun tilted her head, feigning a thoughtful expression. “It’s rare to see Miss Qingque in such a hurry.”

“Apparently, she was supposed to deliver something to me yesterday but didn’t make it for some reason. She kept apologizing, begging me not to tell Big Sis,” Chen Lin said with a helpless shrug.

“Hohoho…” Tingyun chuckled. “That does sound like her. Despite appearances, Miss Qingque is very clever. If she were interested in promotions, no one in the Divination Commission could compete with her.”

As Tingyun spoke, her eyes briefly flicked to Chen Lin’s pocket before returning to his face.

“Oh? Are you two close?”

“Eh, we run into each other occasionally. I guess you could say we’re friends,” Chen Lin replied casually. “Although, from what I’ve heard, she has quite the reputation.”

Tingyun’s lips curved into an amused smile. “That’s putting it lightly. Back when she was still a student, she had a knack for scoring just one point above the passing grade in every subject—not a single point more or less.”

So Qingque was a grade-controller, huh? Chen Lin thought, stifling a laugh.

“One of my colleagues attended school with her,” Tingyun continued. “Apparently, many of their instructors tried to have serious talks with her, but she never wavered. Quite a few of them were so frustrated they fell ill. Ordinary students couldn’t pull that off.”

Their conversation carried them down the bustling streets of Xingcha Sea. Soon, they arrived at the storefront of the famed Immortal Bliss Tea shop.

“Still as crowded as ever,” Tingyun said, glancing at the long line of customers spilling out of the entrance. She turned to Chen Lin with an apologetic smile. “Please find a spot to rest while I queue for us. I won’t be long.”

Even early in the morning, the shop was packed. Despite the overwhelming crowd, the shop’s numerous staff members worked efficiently, fulfilling orders at a rapid pace.

Seeing a jewelry store nearby, Chen Lin called out to Tingyun before wandering over to browse.

The shop was filled with an assortment of accessories: some extravagant and glittering with gold, others colorful and uniquely designed, and still others crafted from gemstones polished to a pristine, translucent sheen.

Chen Lin considered picking out something suitable for Bronya and Seele. Not because he wanted to test the [Instant Trade] feature by sending the gifts through it—he understood well enough that gifts carried more meaning when delivered in person than through a parcel.

Having some experience in choosing gifts, it didn’t take him long to select two items: a silver-gray hairpin and a bracelet.

Just as he was about to ask a clerk for the prices, he heard commotion from outside.

Frowning, Chen Lin walked to the entrance and looked out.

Down the street, a disturbance had erupted. Crowds of panicked citizens scattered in every direction, their faces filled with terror.

Nearby Cloud Knights on patrol quickly sprang into action, rushing toward the source of the chaos. Some stayed behind to guide the frightened populace to safety, attempting to maintain order amidst the growing unrest.

Chen Lin stood in stunned silence.

What’s going on here?

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T/N: i may have messed up location names in the recent previous chapters :3c let me know where so I can fix it

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!