Being the "housekeeper" of the Astral Express, you enjoy assisting your crewmates with whatever they needed. Stocking up needed materials, helping Pom-Pom with cleaning, being Himeko's number one fan and fighting head-on against enemies. With the ne...
Dan Heng listened silently and I tried my best to understand between the lines and the context. This really showed how much of a burden Dan Heng was carrying when he joined the Astral Express and why he avoided visiting Xianzhou in the beginning.
"The Vidyadhara were under great pressure. In order to placate the Ten-Lords and Sky-Faring Commissions, they performed an exuviation charm on Dan Feng against his will. Still, they ensured that the charm contained a flaw, thinking that this would fool the Ten-Lords Commission. Hmph, the senior Vidyadhara were sure of their scheme, but you cannot hide fire with paper."
It seems quite sad as I learn about Dan Heng's past, no it was more correct to say that it was Dan Feng that Jing Yuan was talking about. Dan Heng was innocent and simply took Dan Feng's punishment once Dan Feng reincarnated into the Dan Heng I know now.
We reached the top of the stairs that led us to a statue that looked similar to Dan Heng's new appearance and tall stone walls surrounding it with murals on them.
"Look, your friends are taking the fight to the Legion as we speak..." Jing Yuan points out as we see Fu Xuan and the rest of the Astral Express crew in the middle of a fight.
"We need to help them, let's go," Dan Heng ordered as we immediately stepped alongside the group to assist them.
We helped the group out as we all attacked the enemies, they had yet to realise Dan Heng's new appearance as they were busy fighting the enemies.
After the fight, Fu Xuan updated Jing Yuan about Phantylia's plan to use the power from the Ambrosial Arbor to turn the Luofu into a "hell of undying abominations."
Jing Yuan nodded understanding the report from Fu Xuan before turning towards Welt, March and Caelus with a smile. "Mm, that is clear to me now. Friends of the Astral Express, I have brought someone with me whom I think you'll be eager to see."
Hiding behind Jing Yuan, Dan Heng walked towards the three as he waited for their reactions.
March and Caelus were clearly shocked.
"Huh? I—Is that... Dan Heng!? You...Y—You are Dan Heng, right? What's with the horns...?" March being the first one to speak asked him.
"It's a long story, March. It's me," Dan Heng explained with a heavy breath, he was clearly worried about their reactions.
"So... you do have secret strength!?" March joked as she tried to lighten the mood.
Jing Yuan interrupted the moment. He begins to explain the situation with Phantylia and being the general of the Luofu he asks us, the Astral Express for our help in defeating Phatylia while noting that Dan Heng will have an important role.
"Even if the crisis on the Luofu had nothing to do with the Stellaron, I would be willing to help... but I can't speak for the other members of my crew," Welt looked over to the rest of us.
"Explore, understand, establish, and connect... As the crew of the Express, that's the trailblaze creed we follow. Still, when the journey gets tough, those words can feel far-off.
Fear, risk, enemies, and death are the obstacles we face in pursuit of the creed. That's why the Nameless who are able to stay the course number few indeed. Whether our destination lies before us or behind us, the decision is ours to make. Here, as on the Express, every vote counts."
I nodded towards Welt's perfect response in agreement. But the important part was waiting for Dan Heng's opinion as this must be an important decision for him.
Seeing March and Caelus nod to each other, they walk up to Dan Heng with their hands out to him.
March 7th looked over to him. "Dan Heng...?"
Dan Heng took a few seconds to think before joining his hands with the two.
"Thank you, Dan Heng," Jing Yuan thanked.
"How am I still one of the Nameless? I stand here at the mercy of others without true freedom to speak... but as a descendant of the Vidyadhara, I will fulfill my duty to the Luofu," Dan Heng stated.
We listen to Jin Yuan's plan of betting on Dan Heng's ability to access the memories of the high elder. We all looked towards the tall Vidyadhara statue in the middle.
"Under the direction of the high elder, the Vidyadhara guided the waters of the ancient sea to flood the Scalegorge Waterscape delve and contain the Arbor. To commemorate this magnificent feat and sacrifice, the Alliance erected the Dragonvista Rain Monument — a Vidyadhara statue."
March looked at the statue in awe. "It looks so much like Dan Heng... I wonder if... The statue... is that... Dan Heng's brother!?"
Jing Yuan laughed at her. "Ha, I see why you might think so. These events occurred a long time ago, yet successive generations of high elders have not differed greatly in their appearance... that is, until the current generation. The most recent successor did not inherit the same level of power, and their appearance is that of a child.
Do you understand, Dan Heng? Since Dan Feng perished, the Luofu Vidyadhara have no longer had an individual capable of performing such feats. But you, who once kept watch over the Arbor, should be able to open a way through to that great tree. What happens next, is in your hands."
The Astral Express finally grouped up as I caught up with Welt explaining to him what I did to help with Jing Yuan. We continued to talk as we watched Dan Heng talk to March and Caelus from afar. But it seemed his talk with Caelus didn't go well as Caelus was silent the entire time and Dan Heng looked a bit saddened from this.
After catching up with everyone, we looked over to Dan Heng who was walking over to the sea. With one hand, Dan Heng pointed to the sea as both the land and water began to shake tremendously from his power.
It was an incredible sight to behold, as we saw the sea begin to split into two showing the large underwater structure of the ancient Vidyadhara ruins out in the open.
Jing Yuan explained to Fu Xuan how he would go along with us to fight Phantylia and didn't want the Cloud Knights to follow with him.
We all began to walk down towards the ruins, taking great caution as we were almost near the end of defeating Phantylia and restoring the peace back to the Luofu.
I think we deserve a good rest after everything is done.
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Author's note: I got him! 🐉 Dan Heng IL is finally here after losing my 50/50 with Welt but now I have the complete Astral Express crew so I ain't mad 💖 Welt is my favourite from the standard character so this is a great day for me.
also got lucky with his weapon and I usually never like pulling from the weapon banner on hsr since I have terrible weapon luck from genshin.
he is such a strong character and his attack animations are so pretty. good luck to those pulling him!!! 💃
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