- [Y/N]'s POV -
"I heard of the Scalegorge Waterscape is in the sea somewhere but I didn't expect the sea to be this vast in the Xianzhou. I guess you couldn't tell from looking at the Xianzhou ship outside huh," I said in awe as I stood on the terrace at the Alchemy Commission.
"Keep your focus Miss [Y/N], we are still in the middle of a fight," Jing Yuan warned me as I quickly focused my view towards the new wave of enemies coming towards us.
"What a shame, can't even take in the view in peace. This would have been a great time to take some pictures for my painting references," I swing my weapon at the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus knocking them down effortlessly.
We both continued to fight until all the enemies were down and looked around our surroundings to see if any more enemies would ambush us.
"What's our next move General Jing Yuan? I don't see any traces of the Stellaron Hunters here. We should have bought Diting to help guide us from using their scent."
"No worries, scouting the whole area is the safer plan than rushing ahead. It is possible that they could be hiding in the ocean on one of the islands. We should hurry as soon as possible."
Following Jing Yuan, we head to the skiff port to search the islands.
We passed many islands but didn't find anything noteworthy until we were ambushed again by more enemies from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
"They really are everywhere. I'll handle them so you can continue to find any clues, Jing Yuan!" I shouted as I fought them off.
"I wonder if it is because we are getting near the Dragonvista Rain Hall that they become more aggressive... have they already trespassed the sacred place?" Jing Yuan whispered in thought before realising he sensed something.
"I think I can sense a few presences nearby, let's hurry we are getting closer. I will let the Cloud Knights know our location to be our backup when we leave this island."
"Got it!"
With the Cloud Knight arriving they stood guard near the shore to keep watch as Jing Yuan and I followed deeper towards the island.
We began to hear fighting noises as we got closer to see what or who it could be. It was Blade and someone who looked exactly like Dan Heng except he had long hair with dragon horns fighting against a young boy.
"Is that really Dan Heng?" I was shocked and took closer note of his new appearance. It seems he gained new powers and his fighting style was not with his usual spear but instead with the force of controlling water.
"I should have known better that Yanqing would fight those two out of all people... It will be okay [Y/N] I don't think they seriously fight to the death... We will wait until the fight is over," Jing Yuan sighed as he reassured me.
Kafka noticed the two of us and waved and smiled to welcome us. We simply just nod back and continue to watch the fight.
It was pretty obvious that Yanqing was losing the fight as he was getting tired while Blade and Dan Heng kept their guard up not sweating one bit. Just as Jing Yuan explained, Yanqing truly had a strong will to not give up.
Kafka immediately stopped the fight. "All of you, listen to me — stop. Well, Bladie? Are you satisfied?"
We watched the three stop fighting as they all stood in silence before Dan Heng was the first to speak up.
"...What did you do?" Dan Heng asked Kafka.
"I'm just clearing the stage for the grand entrance — can't have you three misbehaving in front of the Luofu's hotshot general and the Astral Express' housekeeper," she replied.
The three suddenly looked at Jing Yuan and me when they heard Kafka say that with each one having their own expressions.
I simply waved to Dan Heng as I mouthed to him, "Are you okay?" In which he nodded back and smiled.
Jing Yuan laughed at Kafka's introduction.
"Jing Yuan..." Blade looked at Jing Yuan with a hint of distaste.
Yanqing had a surprised look as he was still kneeling on the ground after the fight trying to catch his breath. "General!"
"Many years have passed since the two of you departed the Xianzhou, and yet the circumstances of your return appear to be equally unhappy. If you still thought of me as a friend, you should've forewarned me." Jing Yuan began to speak.
It seemed that Jing Yuan personally knew Blade and Dan Heng as friends but it was clear this joyous reunion. Also, why did he lie to me by not knowing Dan Heng?
Blade kept his reply simple. "My task is complete."
"Mm, that it is." Jing Yuan nodded before looking at Kafka. "Thank you for assisting the Xianzhou in this small matter. Take this person away — I will pretend I didn't see anything this time."
Yanqing was shocked and confused at his statement. "General!? I..."
"Now is not the time." Yanqing was surprised at Jing Yuan's sudden loud and serious voice and simply looked down at his feet as Yanqing had no choice but to listen to him.
We watched as both Blade and Kafka took their leave. Who knows where they will go, will they stay hidden here in Xianzhou until things calm down?
"It has been a long time... old friend." Jing Yuan greeted Dan Heng.
"I'm not him," Dan Heng bluntly stated.
Jing Yuan simply smiled and apologised. "Mm... I'm sorry."
Dan Heng begins to come closer to me, signalling me to follow him to leave.
Jing Yuan noticed this and stopped him.
"You cannot leave yet — your Astral Express friends are waiting for you in Scalegorge Waterscape. Shall we go and see them together?"
Dan Heng had no other choice than to give up and listen to Jing Yuan. It was a silent ride as none of us talked as we reached our destination.
I tried to fill the heavy tension as I realised Da Heng was nervous. It was clear he worried about showing his new appearance to the others and whatever burden he was carrying. Jing Yuan and Dan Heng haven't explained anything to me yet so all I could do was wait until Dan Heng was comfortable enough to tell us when we grouped up with the others.
So I began to talk to Dan Heng about the fun things Welt, March, Caelus and I have done in Xianzhou. I also asked him about Himeko and Pom-Pom in which he explained they were doing well.
Dan Heng seems to know the place as we reach our destination and look at Jing Yuan in shock. "Caelus, March, Mr. Yang... You brought them here!?"
"Yes, they are waiting in the Dragonvista Rain Hall. Go, your friends are waiting for you," Jing Yuan explained.
Wherever we were, this place seemed to be an important place as Jing Yuan continued to explain to Dan Heng about the Xianzhou situation as we walked and stopped by the dead bodies of the monsters from the Antimatter Legion.
"Do you know something? When Dan Feng committed his great crime, the Ten-Lords Commission advocated strongly for him to be destroyed. The Vidyadhara, on the other hand, were split evenly in their favour and disfavour of the motion. Haha, the dragon transmutation inheritance was not intact, after all. The senior Vidyadhara hated you, yet did not dare to kill you." Jing Yuan casually explained.
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!!! 💃