The Gamer who traveled to Honkai: Star Rail

At the crossroads of Aurum Alley, March 7th studied the photo Pei Guang had sent, comparing it with the map marker indicating his and Stelle's location. She glanced around at her surroundings.

"Ah-ha! Found them~"

March 7th spotted the trio at a roadside table, indulging in food. As she approached, she pouted. "Hey! You guys are eating all the good stuff without me!"

Pei Guang grinned. "We waited! We just happened to be eating while waiting."

Stelle nodded. "That's right! March, you got here at the perfect time. We even saved a fresh drink for you."

Bailu swayed slightly, her tone oddly enthusiastic. "Yup! Here, this is Mung Bean Soda. Go ahead and drink it! The taste is... truly unforgettable. Ahem, don't worry, we all drank some already."

Pei Guang chimed in, smirking. "Yup, I had three whole bowls. Gotta say, it's got a kick to it."

At that moment, March 7th's inner detective instincts activated. She narrowed her eyes, carefully observing their expressions. "Are you guys... trying to set me up?"

Pei Guang maintained his serious demeanor. "Technically speaking, no. This is something worth experiencing. I promise, you won't find a more authentic taste anywhere else in the universe."

March 7th hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Since it's Ah Guang recommending it, I'll give it a shot!"

With that, she took a seat, grabbed the bowl, and took a big gulp.

The moment the juice entered her mouth, an intense, gut-wrenching flavor surged straight into her brain. Instantly, her body shuddered from the sheer impact.

For a brief second, she had the distinct sensation of witnessing her past lives flash before her eyes.

Her pupils dilated, losing focus. While her body continued swallowing on autopilot, her mind seemed to completely detach from reality.

In just a few gulps, she had finished the entire bowl. As she set it down, her soul seemed to finally return to her body.

"Wait... what just happened?"

Even as she regained clarity, she could still feel a residual tremor in her hands. Staring at the now-empty bowl, she felt an unfamiliar sense of dread.

Pei Guang leaned forward. "You just downed a full bowl of Mung Bean Soda. So? How was it?"

March 7th stared blankly at the sky, processing her emotions. "It felt... like I was reincarnated."

Pei Guang smirked. "Want another bowl?"

March 7th's pupils shrank in horror. "Absolutely not! Never again! Get me some normal food, quick! I think this stuff and I were never meant to be!"

Her brain might've wiped the exact taste from her memory, but her instincts screamed at her—this was a beverage she must never touch again.

With March 7th now part of the group, their little party was reunited once more.

As for Welt? He was still back on Earth, training Kevin. He never expected to end up encountering remnants of the previous civilization that had been invaded by Honkai. Sure, in this world, Honkai had been replaced by the Antimatter Legion, but the people were still the same.

He wasn't particularly familiar with most of them, but Kevin... now he was someone he felt compelled to personally put through the wringer. As for whether Welt had ulterior motives? Only he would know.

Back at Aurum Alley, the group ate while exchanging notes from their explorations.

Stelle had thoroughly mapped out areas within the Astral Sea Center, identifying key locations where Sky-Faring Commission employees tended to slack off. She had even scouted a few banks, carefully noting their security measures.

Not that she had any concrete plans... but the moment she saw those banks, an inexplicable, deep-seated impulse stirred within her.

In an open-world setting like this, everyone felt something upon seeing a bank.

And being raised by Pei Guang, Stelle was no exception. The sight of a bank triggered an instinct so deeply rooted in her DNA that she couldn't help but take special note of it.

March 7th, on the other hand, had taken a more peaceful approach. She had discovered a variety of specialty shops unique to Xianzhou, their sheer range of goods surprising even Pei Guang. He made sure to mark them down for future supply runs—who knew when they'd need a few extra items?

Compared to these two, Pei Guang's activities were... relatively normal.

He had just visited the Vidyadhara, roughed up a few Preceptors, and even personally dunked one's head into a garbage bin, letting them experience true immersion in organic waste. 

Nothing too special.

Although Aurum Alley had fewer people than before, the food was still top-notch. Pei Guang couldn't resist grabbing more, stuffing over a dozen portions into his storage space.

Bailu could only widen her eyes at his behavior, speechless. After all, she had promised to cover the expenses: as an important member of the Vidyadhara, she couldn't go back on her word.

"Wuuuuu!!!"

With every ten portions he took, Bailu felt her heart bleeding. She could sense that her precious savings were in grave danger.

Watching her pained expression, Pei Guang—who was still stuffing food into his storage—looked at her in confusion. "Huh? Bailu? What's wrong? Did you eat something too spicy? Why do you look like that?"

Bailu quickly shook her head. "What? N-No! Just a... just a trick of the light!"

March 7th and Stelle couldn't help but laugh at Bailu's suffering. They both knew exactly why she was in pain.

After indulging in a satisfying feast, Bailu decided to take Pei Guang and the others on a proper tour of Aurum Alley. Once a bustling night market in Luofu, it had declined over the years, but there were still plenty of delicious foods and fun things to see.

Just as they were enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, the sounds of hurried footsteps and loud conversations caught their attention.

A nervous passerby: "Something's happening at the docks!"

A curious onlooker: "Something happened? What is it?"

Another passerby: "The corporation's people are arguing with the dock workers!"

Yet another onlooker: "Let's go take a look!"