Honkai Star Rail : Shadows of Nihility

The faint hum of glyphs echoed through the dense underbrush as Wei Longshen crouched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Xue Ren's fortress. The hidden service tunnel he had scouted in the shard's map lay ahead, its entrance obscured by vines and roots. But Wei's sharp eyes weren't focused on his immediate path—they were locked on the faint flicker of lanterns moving along the fortress walls and the convoy of carriages disappearing through the main gates.

The sigil of the Ten-Lords Commission gleamed faintly on one of the carriages. It was unmistakable, and its presence sent a ripple of tension through Wei's frame. But it wasn't the carriage that held his attention—it was the figure that had stepped out, her stance exuding an air of authority even at this distance.

Xueyi.

The Judge of the Ten-Lords Commission moved with precision, her flowing robes trailing behind her as she ascended the steps to the fortress's gates. Her reputation was as fierce as it was uncompromising. She was a paragon of justice in the Xianzhou Alliance, her actions bound by the strict codes of the Ten-Lords. Yet here she was, stepping into Xue Ren's shadow.

Wei's sharp eyes narrowed. The void stirred within him, its whispers cold and probing. Was Xueyi complicit in Xue Ren's schemes, or was her presence here part of something deeper? The question lingered as Wei watched her disappear into the fortress, the gates sealing shut behind her.

Wei moved with purpose, the dense forest swallowing him as he descended toward the hidden tunnel. The void's whispers were sharp, urging caution but also pressing him forward. Xueyi's presence had changed everything. If she was here willingly, the Ten-Lords Commission's reach extended deeper into corruption than he had imagined. But if she wasn't—if she was here under false pretenses—then Xue Ren's influence was even more dangerous than Wei had thought.

The service tunnel was exactly as the shard had described—a narrow entrance hidden beneath layers of vegetation. Wei cleared the vines with his blade, the sharp edge slicing through the dense foliage with ease. The faint glow of glyphs marked the tunnel's edges, their energy pulsing faintly in the darkness. Wei stepped inside, the cool air wrapping around him like a shroud.

The tunnel was silent, save for the faint drip of water echoing through the narrow passage. Wei's steps were deliberate, his sharp eyes scanning every corner for traps or signs of movement. The void stirred within him, its whispers sharpening his focus as he moved deeper into the labyrinth.

The tunnel opened into a wide chamber, its walls etched with glyphs that pulsed faintly in time with the hum of machinery. A console stood at its center, its surface glowing faintly as streams of data flowed across it. Wei approached cautiously, the void guiding his steps as he placed the shard into the console.

The glyphs flared to life, revealing a map of the fortress's interior. Patrol routes, energy grids, and hidden passages flickered across the screen, each detail painting a clearer picture of Xue Ren's defenses. Wei's sharp eyes scanned the data, his mind piecing together the best route to the upper levels.

But as he worked, the console shifted, revealing a new layer of information. Lines of text scrolled across the screen, their contents encrypted but familiar. Wei's breath caught as he recognized the markings—fragments of communications from the Moonlit Veil, buried within the fortress's systems. Xue Ren hadn't just dismantled the Veil—he had integrated its remnants into his empire.

The void stirred sharply, its whispers cold and furious. Wei's grip on the console tightened as the weight of the betrayal settled over him once more. Xue Ren's actions had destroyed more than just an organization—they had shattered a legacy, leaving only fragments behind.

Wei retrieved the shard and turned toward the exit, his sharp eyes scanning the chamber for any signs of movement. The void's whispers urged caution, but the faint echo of footsteps reached his ears before he could move. His body tensed, his blade ready as he melted into the shadows.

The footsteps grew louder, their rhythm deliberate and unhurried. Wei's sharp eyes locked onto the entrance as a figure appeared, their armor gleaming faintly in the glyph's light. They moved with precision, their posture exuding confidence.

But it wasn't Xue Ren's forces that had arrived—it was Xueyi.

Wei's sharp eyes narrowed as he studied her, his blade poised but hidden in the shadows. She moved toward the console, her gaze fixed on the glowing glyphs as she began working. Her movements were deliberate, her hands tracing the console's surface as if she knew exactly what she was looking for.

The void whispered faintly, its tone sharp and insistent. Wei watched her carefully, his mind racing. If Xueyi was here, then the Ten-Lords Commission's involvement in Xue Ren's network was undeniable. But her actions didn't align with someone complicit in corruption—she wasn't destroying evidence or erasing data. She was searching.

Wei stepped forward, his blade glinting faintly in the glyph's light as he revealed himself. "Looking for something, Judge?"

Xueyi turned sharply, her hand moving to the hilt of her blade. Her sharp eyes locked onto Wei, narrowing slightly as recognition flickered across her face. "You."

Her voice was cold, laced with both caution and accusation. "Shadow Fang. Or should I say, fugitive?"

Wei's blade remained steady, his voice calm. "Depends on who you ask."

Xueyi's grip on her weapon tightened. "You have no idea what you've done, do you? The chaos you've unleashed?"

Wei's sharp eyes didn't waver. "I know exactly what I'm doing. The question is, do you?"

The tension between them was palpable, the void's whispers a steady hum in Wei's mind. Xueyi's presence here raised more questions than answers, and the path forward was anything but clear. But one thing was certain: the hunt continued, and the truth lay just beyond the stronghold's gates.