Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Don't Raise Flags

This was Wangshu's first time seeing the Amber Palace up close. Lean on the railing, gaze upon immortal palaces far. A single step rides the clouds of mystic grottoes. Behold the Firmament's towering walls above — the heavenly ramparts stand apart from common peaks~

Perhaps it was the staggering wealth Cangcheng had accumulated, or perhaps this palace had been built in a particularly ancient era with no expense spared — the sheer opulence on display was so intricate and dazzling it bordered on overwhelming. It looked nothing like the current mainstream Xianzhou style of practical elegance, focused more on ambiance and heritage.

"Is your memory really that good, little Wangshu?"

Following behind little Jingliu and having recited the entire poem, Wangshu stepped into the palace. Ethereal music drifted through the air... Wait, why was there background music?

"Because I cheated."

Wangshu lowered his voice. He'd simply sent the poem to the group chat in advance, then read it off the screen while reciting.

Paying the admission fee was fine too — tickets weren't expensive — but seeing everyone else recite the poem, paying would've felt conspicuously out of place. Like announcing your cultural literacy had failed the bar.

He stopped in a shadowed corner behind a colonnade. Little Jingliu curiously followed, tracing his line of sight to the wall.

"What is it? Is there something special over there?"

Little Jingliu stared wide-eyed for a good while. Apart from exquisite relief carvings and polished stone, she found nothing.

Wangshu pointed at the miniature sound transmitter — or rather, the little speaker — his expression slightly bewildered. "So the background music is all just... speakers?"

He'd expected some kind of mystical acoustic design or magical effect.

"What else?"

Little Jingliu tilted her face up. She'd spotted the speaker too, but hadn't thought twice about it. The color scheme matched the architecture, and these transmitters were always placed discreetly — they didn't detract from the view.

"Shouldn't a building like this come with its own mysterious celestial music?"

Wangshu couldn't wrap his head around it. He was genuinely shaken. He'd subconsciously assumed the Amber Palace would have something special — after all, this was the Star Rail universe, not a normal-science setting.

Jingliu was quiet for a long time before remembering that little Wangshu was not only seventeen but also came from a backwater — inexperienced and easily impressed.

She rose on her tiptoes out of habit and patted his shoulder. "Trust in science."

The Amber Palace was magnificent overall. The Interastral Peace Corporation had invested generously in this crucial hub — the most important nexus between a key partner and the Xianzhou Alliance, a superpower boasting seven permanent Emanators. In other words, Cangcheng received lavish funding.

With the Xianzhou's enormous market, the IPC would earn it all back anyway.

Stepping inside the Amber Palace, the sight that greeted them wasn't some classical panorama — it was rows of shops...

From stalls selling traditional Xianzhou handicrafts, ancient texts, alchemical herbs, to stores displaying cutting-edge interstellar tech, trending fashion, even exotic treasures from across the worlds — everything imaginable. The crowds flowed like water, bustling yet orderly.

"A place where you need to recite poetry to get in... can really function as a shopping district?"

Wangshu was privately skeptical. The tonal clash felt too jarring.

But Jingliu was clearly used to it. As Cangcheng's landmark structure — spanning miles, rising hundreds of feet, looking like a mountain range from afar — the Amber Palace did double as a commercial hub.

What else would you expect from an IPC investment?

"Little Wangshu, over here! Over here!!"

Jingliu's clear voice rang out ahead. Wangshu hurried to catch up.

There stood little Jingliu in front of a particular shop, clutching her well-funded Jade Omen.

"Little Jingliu, didn't you... always say you didn't like fighting, that you hated swords and weapons and all that?"

Wangshu eyed the shop she'd stopped at. His gaze was momentarily drawn to the orderly, imposing array of blades, spears, staves, and halberds on the wall, but he quickly refocused.

"But you're going off to war. You should at least have some gear to keep you alive."

Jingliu mumbled softly. Saying this kind of thing no longer embarrassed her — her tone carried nothing but worry. After all, little Wangshu really was going to war...

She dragged him all the way to the back — the most expensive section.

"You need a set of armor... no, a full suit of plate. Since you're not a long-life species, you can't exactly sew your head back on if it comes off."

Little Jingliu fretted over this. The long-life species' battlefields were extraordinarily brutal — their tenacious vitality meant their weapons and combat methods were equally vicious and underhanded.

She vaguely remembered her father wielding a plain-looking greatsword. One swing, and the separation fire hidden within would instantly set everything before him ablaze.

But even that fire only caused effective damage to a long-life physique — it didn't one-shot anyone.

Wangshu: ...

"Weren't we supposed to be making memories? How did we circle right back to war talk?"

Wangshu said helplessly, though he kept pace, eyeing the rows of gleaming dark armor. He gave one a light tap — different sections clanged with satisfying resonance.

The temptation was a little strong. Although he knew that in the Star Rail universe, armor's practical value was limited.

Just like how a fully armored suit in a game didn't necessarily have higher defense than a JK skirt.

"Rather than dwelling on memories of the past that'll never change—" Little Jingliu's crimson eyes were earnest, her reasoning ironclad: "I'd rather look forward to the future."

"Stay put — I'm going to find the shop owner. A customer's been inside this long and nobody's come out to pitch? Honestly, how does someone this unmotivated run a shop in Cangcheng?"

Jingliu bustled off like a little adult, muttering nonstop. Or rather — Jingliu had always been a little adult. Living alone meant you had to know these things. You had to take initiative — ask, arrange, manage.

【Bright Future Chat Group】

Jingliu: "@Wangshu, @Asta, don't forget to practice your swordsmanship."

She trusted their discipline, but just in case it slipped their minds.

Xing: "By the way, why can't I find the training space module? Does it require a certain number of days in the group?"

Asta: "It's a sub-function of the Ability Card. But yes — don't forget to practice! @Wangshu"

Wangshu: "Reporting in! I genuinely might not have time today."

At Herta Space Station, Asta wiped sweat from her brow, sheathed her longsword, and nearly blacked out when she saw the group chat.

Asta: "Why?! Swordsmanship is like rowing upstream — stop and you drift backward! Wangshu, you absolutely cannot slack off!"

Asta: "Did something happen? You can tell us. Training is not something you can put on hold."

Wangshu: "Cangcheng seems to be going to war. I got conscripted."

Asta: "Oh — so you'll be training with the army? Sounds even worse, actually."

Asta: "Still, you probably don't need to worry about safety. I heard Senior Jingliu once created the Cloud Knights' undefeated legend. The Cangcheng battlefield shouldn't have anyone who can threaten your life."

Wangshu: "It's not that. My strength is solid with Senior's power. The thing is, little Jingliu is really upset. She's dragged me out for one last day of fun before it starts — happy times, making memories."

Jingliu: "..."

March 7th: "Oh, I know about this — whatever you do, don't plant a flag like 'when I come back, we'll get married.' I heard from people on the Luofu that anyone who raises that kind of flag rarely makes it home."

Jingliu: "..."