The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

Bailu's face lit up with excitement: as part of the Vidyadhara, she didn't have parents or family. From the moment of their emergence, Vidyadhara hatchlings were taught by a mentor who would guide them in mastering the cloudhymn magic, an intrinsic ability of their race.

But for Bailu, her early memories were filled with Preceptors ordering her around and physicians at the Alchemy Commission using her to heal others. And yet, what was the result? 

The very people who once demanded so much of her now sought to kill her, while the physicians who taught her how to heal and save lives became Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

She didn't know how long she had tolerated all this, but then came Pei Guang, someone who had only been by her side for a few days yet had taught her so much—through his words and actions—about the meaning of choice and purpose.

Throughout their journey, he would always lend a helping hand to those in need. He did it so naturally that neither he, Stelle, nor March 7th seemed to realize it. But Bailu saw it clearly.

Even for something as minor as a verbal reward, he had been willing to help Banxia find her partner and even teach a lesson to that scumbag.

All her life, Bailu had lacked friends due to her status as a High Elder. Pei Guang was the first to ignore her title, respect her choices, and even guide her as a true friend.

And for that, she wanted to repay him! How? By taking him to Aurum Alley to enjoy the most delicious snacks the city had to offer!

Thinking of the food, she licked her lips in excitement. Though she carried the heavy responsibility of fostering the prosperity of the Vidyadhara, eating was still her top priority!

With Bailu leading the way, the two headed toward Aurum Alley. It wasn't far, so they arrived after a short walk.

As soon as they entered the alley, Bailu dashed forward in excitement. Ever since she asked Pei Guang for help earlier, she hadn't eaten a thing, and now her appetite was roaring. She felt like she could devour two entire oxen!

Bailu checked the time—it was already evening by the Xianzhou system clock. "Hurry, hurry! If we're too slow, all the snacks will be sold out!"

Pei Guang followed her and finally took in the full view of Aurum Alley. Based on Bailu's enthusiasm, he had imagined it would be a lively, bustling street. But instead, the place seemed eerily quiet.

Looking around, he saw only a handful of people loitering outside a few open shops. The alley itself felt gloomy, and the few pedestrians wore expressions weighed down by worry or sadness—likely lingering effects of the recent Stellaron crisis or maybe just the alley's unique atmosphere.

Seeing this scene, Pei Guang felt a sense of unease. He had the distinct feeling that something was going to happen here.

Standing at the crossroads of Aurum Alley, Bailu proudly placed her hands on her hips and began her introduction. "This is Aurum Alley! Its claim to fame is the sheer variety of delicious food here. Especially at Spices Supreme—you won't find similar dishes anywhere else in Luofu. Today, it's my treat! Eat to your heart's content!"

Pei Guang grinned. "Then I won't hold back!"

Bailu: "Why are you being so polite? You're my good friend! But before we hit that restaurant, let's grab a little something to fill our stomachs first. You pick something you'd like to eat—I'll order it for you."

Pei Guang: "Let's walk around and see. It's hard to decide what to eat without looking first."

Bailu: "You order, I'll pay! And don't even think about arguing. This is my… uh… mission reward for you!"

Pei Guang: "Oh? This mission reward of yours is certainly creative! Then I won't hold back."

Even though the small map gave a precise location, Pei Guang carefully took a picture of his exact surroundings and sent it to the group. A seasoned player like him knew maps could sometimes fail to account for elevation differences, and he preferred to be thorough.

After sending the picture, he followed Bailu to a small food stall. A few locals were sitting at nearby tables, leisurely enjoying their snacks.

As soon as Pei Guang approached, the stall owner, Tall Auntie, greeted him warmly. "Oh my, you must be a visitor from beyond the stars, right?"

Pei Guang nodded. "That obvious, huh? How can you tell?"

Tall Auntie chuckled. "I've been running this stall for hundreds of years. I can tell who's local and who's not at a glance. Let me ask, how are you finding Aurum Alley so far?"

Pei Guang thought for a moment and replied honestly. "Enjoyable? Not really. This place hasn't left much of an impression on me yet, and I haven't picked up any interesting quests either. I'm just here with a friend."

Tall Auntie laughed and continued, "Well, I'll have to treat you properly, then! By the way, don't mind me asking—do you know about the Interastral Peace Corporation? What's their reputation out there?"

Pei Guang raised an eyebrow. "The IPC? Not really. I've met a few people who work for them, and they're decent, but let's be honest—monopoly groups like that are rarely great as a whole."

Tall Auntie sighed. "I see… Oh, look at me chatting away. Go ahead and take a look at the menu. Pick anything you like—it's on the house."

Pei Guang: "On the house?"

Tall Auntie: "Of course! Don't be shy. Pick whatever catches your eye."

Pei Guang: "Alright, then I'll take a Mung Bean Soda, please."

Tall Auntie handed over a steaming cup with a smile. "Here you go—freshly made today. I guarantee it's the best."

Pei Guang: "Thanks a lot."

Tall Auntie waved it off. "Don't mention it. Guests are like family here. If you enjoy the taste, just remember to come back sometime. Though… ah, never mind."

Pei Guang noticed the momentary sadness on her face as he took a big sip of the Mung Bean Soda. Surprisingly, the taste wasn't bad. It was fresh and carried a unique blend of flavors that made it oddly satisfying.

Just then, he heard Stelle's voice.

"Ah Guang? What are you drinking that's so good?"

Pei Guang grinned and downed the rest of the soy milk in one gulp. "This is Mung Bean Soda, a specialty drink here. How can I describe it… It's familiar yet creative, with layers of flavor that swirl in your mouth and stomach. It feels like… ascending to the heavens."

Pei Guang had experienced this drink—or something similar—before. Back in his world, it had a reputation for being an acquired taste, but as a player, he had learned to embrace even the most unique culinary challenges. Players ate everything—anything edible was worth a try.

Hearing his description, Stelle's eyes lit up. "I'll have one too!"

Pei Guang: "Make it a large one for her. It's on me!"

Tall Auntie: "Got it!"

Tall Auntie quickly prepared a large bowl of mung bean soda, filling it generously. In her mind, if Pei Guang could enjoy the taste so readily, surely his companion would appreciate it too.

As for Stelle, she had never tasted anything like mung bean soda before. Seeing Pei Guang drink it with such evident delight made her curious enough to order a big bowl for herself.

Without hesitation, she took a large sip.

The moment the drink entered her mouth, Stelle's eyes widened. Her expression became a mixture of shock and misery as the sour, pungent flavor hit her. The intense smell and taste left Stelle utterly confused and at a loss for words.

She couldn't understand why Pei Guang would trick her like this! 

She glanced at him, hoping for an explanation, but when she saw him calmly ordering another bowl as if it was the most natural thing in the world, her expression turned serious. Watching him drink with such ease and confidence made Stelle start to doubt herself.

"Maybe there's something wrong with my taste buds," she thought. Determined, she mimicked Pei Guang and began to sip slowly, trying to truly savor the flavor.

While the smell remained overpowering and the taste sharp, as Stelle continued to drink, she started to notice a certain appeal—something unique and strangely addictive about it.

Meanwhile, Bailu, who had been waiting for quite some time, noticed that Pei Guang still hadn't joined her. Curious, she walked over to see what was taking so long.

"Ah Guang! What's going on? Haven't you picked something yet?"

When Bailu approached and saw Pei Guang and Stelle holding two massive bowls of Mung Bean Soda and drinking them without hesitation, her expression froze.

If it had been one of those slightly less authentic, sweetened mung bean drinks sold elsewhere, she might have enjoyed it.

But Tall Auntie's one? That was the real deal—the traditional recipe, with its uniquely pungent and sour flavor that defied simple description.

Yet here were Pei Guang and Stelle, enthusiastically downing bowl after bowl like it was the best thing they'd ever tasted. Bailu instinctively rubbed her eyes, convinced she must have been seeing things.

Hearing Bailu's voice, Pei Guang finished his bowl in one long gulp and turned to her. "You're here? Let me tell you, this mung bean soda is incredible. Want a big bowl for yourself, Bailu?"

"Ughhhh!" Bailu inhaled sharply and immediately waved her hands. "No, no, no! This is way too good for me to handle!"

Meanwhile, Stelle had just finished her own large bowl. For a moment, she felt as if the Stellaron itself was reaching out to her from another dimension. But Bailu's voice pulled her back to reality.

She turned to Tall Auntie. "Please, I'll take another bowl!"

With another large bowl in hand, Stelle smiled and looked at Bailu. "Bailu! This is one of Ah Guang's recommended local delicacies—authentic Luofu flavor! It's so unique; you have to try it!"

"Absolutely not!" Bailu shrieked, backing away in horror. 

"Keep that stuff away from me!!!"