JingHeng

JingHeng is the slash ship between Jing Yuan and Dan Heng from the Honkai: Star Rail fandom.

Canon
Several centuries before the start of Honkai: Star Rail, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng (then known as Dan Feng, his previous life) were members of an illustrious group of Xianzhou heroes known as the High-Cloud Quintet that consisted of themselves, Yingxing, Baiheng, and Jingliu. ''As the most famous legend in Xianzhou history, the five heroes of the High-Cloud Quintet gathered to fight together. Their feats were almost endless: Driving out the borisin invading Thalassa. Destroying the alliance between the Houyhnhnms and the wingweavers in the Abundance Axis. Even rescuing the Xianzhou Yuque and defeating the living planet Ketu Mirage, preserving the eyes of the Alliance that gaze out to the stars…''

''However, all their achievements were no match for the cruelty of time. The High-Cloud Quintet fell apart after less than a hundred short years.''

- Jing Yuan’s 4th Character Story

Also mentioned in his 3rd character story, after proving his merit as a Cloud Knight, his master, Jingliu, invited him as a part of her team that became known as the High Cloud Quintet that would go on to make history.

During this time, Dan Feng was shown to have become very close to his fellow Quintet members with them seeing his softer, more human side - he would often drink with them - as well as witnessing his more brutal mien when on the battlefield. Jing Yuan was no exception to this: On the other hand, the Cloud Knight Lieutenant who used to chat and laugh with the dragon contained his languid indolence, holding his devastator glaive in hand as he stood with his men to repel the borisin pawns attacking from the battlefield's wings...

- Dan Heng IL, Character Story Part ll

However, as many of his voicelines and other tidbits indicate, the group fell apart and was possibly disbanded due to an event known as the Sedition of the Imbibitor Lunae, a (currently) unknown sin committed by Dan Feng that was the wedge that splintered the group. During the war against Shuhu, former Emanator of Yaoshi, Baiheng died to protect Dan Feng and Jingliu. It is strongly suggested Dan Feng and Yingxing researched something forbidden in a Mirage Echo in 1.2 and the Imbibitor Lunae's character story 3 tells of a ceremony gone wrong in the Scalegorge Waterscape.

The entire array of events conclude with Jingliu and Yingxing going mad with Mara, and Dan Feng ultimately paying for his crimes by undergoing a forced molten rebirth that ended his life but gave way to Dan Heng’s existence. Though it’s unknown how interconnected these tragedies are, or how they panned out, what’s clear is that they still affect Jing Yuan and Dan Heng to the present day. During this period, Jing Yuan and Dan Feng's relationship became extremely strained as he was forced to act as a liaison between the Luofu, Vidyadhara, and Dan Feng, but he did what he could to protect Dan Feng despite the mounting pressure from the Alliance and Vidyadhara, and was even accused of acting out of personal interests to protect his dear friend. ''He dreamed of the white-haired Cloud Knight Lieutenant coming to visit him and bringing him news of the Lieutenant's negotiations. The Vidyadhara did not permit him to die, nor did they permit him to be sent away. He did not speak.''

- Dan Heng IL, Character Story: Part IV

As circumstances would prove, this would be extremely hard on Jing Yuan as he became extremely anguished by Dan Feng's fate, his suffering, and the fatal consequences of his sin. During "The Ichor of Two Dragons" animation, when Jing Yuan read Dan Feng's sentence, his eyes were concealed and his voice was laden with emotion to the point of what fans interpret as being near tears. Given the fact this reminiscence was remembered in the segment where Dan Heng was drowning, in a dark ocean full of air bubbles, many fans have noted how the presence of the bubbles looked as though Jing Yuan was crying which they believe was intentional and symbolic of his inner turmoil. It would also appear significant that Dan Heng only remembered Jing Yuan's sadness, while recalling everyone else's hostility from the twilight days of Dan Feng's life.

After this sentence, Jing Yuan's first act as a newly invested general involved commuting Dan Heng's sentence to exile so he could be freed of his suffering, an act which enraged the Preceptors who wanted to retain him for their own purposes, likely to replace Dan Feng as the High Elder due to his lineage. To the Esteemed Six Charioteers of the Luofu:

''With the great calamity quelled, the voracious enemy subdued, and the treacherous rebels expelled, the Luofu has once again returned to peace. What a joyous day this is.''

''My people have suffered much in this crisis. The wounded include 12 Preceptors, 253 Pearlkeepers, and 116 alchemists and healers. There are 1285 who have completely perished in this disaster, and over 3000 are still missing.''

''While we lament these losses, we dared not forget our duty. Since the time of the High Elder Yubie, the Vidyadhara of the Luofu have shouldered the duty of keeping watch over the Ambrosial Arbor. However, when the disaster struck and the seals were loosened, all the elites of my people could not return it to its previous form. Therefore, we beseech the Six Charioteers to ask the Ten-Lords Commission to return the sinner Dan Feng to us, let him restore the seals, and mete out his punishment at a later time.''

Yours respectfully,

Suguang, Vidyadhara Preceptor

...

...

"General, the Vidyadhara's letter of appeal is here" — Qingzu.

"They gave this to the Six Charioteers and not to the Ten-Lords Commission, probably knowing that the Commission would never reply to them, thus deciding to appeal to the Six Charioteers instead. I didn't anticipate my first problem as the general would be something completely unrelated to military affairs..."

- An Appeal from the Vidyadhara, part 1 To the Esteemed General Jing Yuan:

''I was alarmed to learn that you had signed an exile order to permanently cast out the sinner Dan Feng from the Luofu. Wherefore do you place the reputation of the Luofu's Vidyadhara with this order, general?''

''According to the deal between the Alliance and Caelorum Venti of the Yaoqing, the sinner Dan Feng was to be spared from death and instead suffer the punishment of molting rebirth. After that, according to Vidyadhara customs, Dan Feng should have been regarded as a new being and his sins forgiven. However, the Ten-Lords Commission detained him under the guise of educating the young man, while keeping him prisoner in truth. We have endured this for so long due to the truly astounding nature of his sin. Were he not to suffer for some days within the Shackling Prison, the multitudes of Luofu residents would not be appeased in their anger.''

''However, general, you have arbitrarily terminated his sentence and decided to exile Dan Feng. Was this a consensus reached after a discussion with the Six Charioteers? And was this sent to the marshal to be confirmed? If your action stemmed from your past friendship with Dan Feng, then we regret to inform you that we cannot accept such a sentimental gesture. Us Preceptors will appeal to the Alliance and inform the other four High Elders, and we will seek to have you retract this order.''

Yours respectfully,

Shaoying, Vidyadhara Preceptor

...

...

''"The Vidyadhara handed us thousands of letters of appeal during the past few centuries... and this one has the harshest wording. They are running out of patience." — Qingzu''

"The exile was approved by the Ten-Lords Commission. Since Dan Feng had already been reborn and his sins are to be forgotten, why won't the Preceptors allow him to leave this troubled place...? Interesting."

- An Appeal from the Vidyadhara, part 2

Currently, a readable known as "Vidyadhara Elegy: Insight on "Six Charioteers Adjudicating the Imbibitor Lunae " not only gives insight on what the fallout entailed, but dramatizes the personal tragedy that both Jing Yuan and Dan Heng underwent from the perspective of outsiders. (Editor: After the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae was quelled, some Vidyadhara individuals still worshiped Dan Feng in secrecy, creating various literary works and dramas remixing the whole narrative of the sedition from the perspective of supporters.

''The Luofu's Six Charioteers let most of these plays go, but "Six Charioteers Adjudicating the Imbibitor Lunae" was very influential at the time, even prompting some Vidyadhara individuals to form groups against the Alliance. The Seat of Divine Foresight was forced to ban performances of this play and strictly prohibited publication of its libretto.''

''But nowadays, the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae and its aftershocks have long subsided. This editor believes that "Six Charioteers Adjudicating the Imbibitor Lunae" is worthy of reexamination and reinterpretation as an artifact of its time, and so I've compiled the only fragments remaining of this libretto for the benefit of the dear reader.) The trembling general, rage undying, half chastising, half sighing:''

"Three disasters the Luofu purged, standing alone against the mara scourge."

"Surviving odds so difficult, how on earth could you revolt?"

"I beseech you please to change your mind, lest you lose the will of all mankind!"

Hearing this, Imbibitor Lunae turned his head, his lustrous eyes glowed as he said:

"Beseech me not so piteously, m'Lord, if my life's long, then yours will be short."

"Once out of this hall I tumble, Divine Foresight's where my spear will rumble."

"Cause trouble, and your golden age will be perturbed."

"Make mischief, and your peace will be disturbed."

"For millennia your excellencies have ruled the Luofu in domination, but in one fell swoop I've cut short your immortality!"

His retort left the general shocked and pained: "How will peace ever be maintained?"

Imbibitor Lunae chanted up to the sky, his sonorous song like whale's cry:

"Draw thy bow and shoot down the morning star, scorch my eyes and dip my soul in tar;"

"Plunge down the ancients into dark violence, and rid yourself of those with loyalty and valiance."

"Forcing the people into tranquility; this is how peace is kept in perpetuity!" One particular reading of the Vidyadhara play was that it was Dan Feng who had influenced Jing Yuan's "way of the ruler" and insisted on the lonely way of the king to teach Jing Yuan how to survive alone politically while Dan Feng and the rest of the Quintet is gone. What's additionally interesting is that, according to Echoes of Antiquity: A Grand Overview of Traditional Xianzhou Folk Culture, Vidyadhara elegies "are said to represent the most tragic aspects of Xianzhou culture" and "Vidyadhara players tend to sing about loves lost and pyrrhic victories." The Vidyadhara Chunfen gifts the Trailblazer a readable: one of which is of an epic adventure tale with a tragic outcome (the Dragontooth Aria which shows the futility of worldly achievements) and the other of a love story between a Vidyadhara and a Xianzhou Native (in Fateful Rebirth).

Given how the in-game fanfiction known as "Untouchable Lovers " (which is based on yet another work Xianzhou Sword Tales) is explicitly about the author's inspiration to create a dramatized lover's tale between Dan Feng and Jing Yuan that also states to make the trailblazer feel "as if [their] first love has been stolen away from you," this seems to also insinuate that outsiders viewed Dan Feng and Jing Yuan's relationship through a romantic light.

Topclouded Towerthrust
During the Astral Express’ third Trailblaze mission following their successes in the Herta Space Station and Jarilo-VI, just as the crew was about to disembark for another planet, they instead were drawn into a Stellaron Crisis aboard the Xianzhou Luofu by the Stellaron Hunters. Due to his troubled past with the Alliance, Dan Heng elected to stay behind aboard the Express with Himeko while Welt, March 7th, and Caelus/Stelle went aboard.

However, when it became clear that one of the Stellaron Hunters causing a ruckus was none other than Blade—a former fellow HCQ member—hellbent on chasing Dan Heng to the ends of the universe, he became alarmed and decided to disembark to help protect his friends from the ghost of his past. Along the way, he meets the mysterious IPC merchant, Luocha, and Sushang, a young Cloud Knight. Together, they discover a chain of events that reveals the true extent of their Stellaron Crisis. Eventually, Dan Heng’s perils with the makeshift group lead them to the next act of the Trailblaze Mission in his race to protect his friends.

Upon arriving at the Alchemy Commission, Dan Heng leaves without bidding his newfound companions farewell, wanting to find them before danger does. Encountering several “Vidyadhara Mirage Echoes” that allows him to hear shades of the past, he then takes a starskiff vessel to the Scalegorge Waterscape. It’s there that Dan Heng encounters Blade and Kafka, getting into an altercation with the former that forces him to reveal his true identity as a Vidyadhara, the former High Elder, as well as Yanqing’s involvement.

Once he and Blade defeated Yanqing, Jing Yuan makes his first appearance and it appeared as if he had collaborated with the Stellaron Hunters in part due to Elio’s script and the overall efforts against Nanook the Destruction. However as Jing Yuan states that he’s remorseful how his “old friends’” departure and reunion in the Xianzhou are under such unhappy circumstances, and that if they’d seen him as a friend, they might’ve informed him earlier, it may be that he simply foresaw and took the opportunity to coordinate and had not deliberately driven Dan Heng to Luofu all along. After acknowledging that the Stellaron Hunters’ involvement is largely complete, Kafka ushers Ren away at Jing Yuan's request.

Now alone with Dan Heng, Jing Yuan greets him as an “old friend” despite the distanced reception, with Dan Heng pointedly reminding the general that he’s not who he appears to be, to which Jing Yuan replies with a wistful apology. Jing Yuan then brings up the possibility of venturing to Scalegorge Waterscape together, which Dan Heng ultimately agrees. In the Scalegorge Waterscape, the only Mirage Echo recognized by Dan Heng was of a younger General Jing Yuan, who had taken at least one of the Ten Lords to pressure the Vidyadhara elders. It is unknown if at this point it is Dan Feng or the already reborn Dan Heng.

A topic of contention that frequently arises between the two is how often Dan Heng asserts to Jing Yuan that Dan Feng is gone and that the man the general once knew is no more. Despite these assertions, Jing Yuan often gently reminds Dan Heng that it’s difficult an expectation on a philosophical level because “if words alone were enough to change the heart, the world would be without quarrel". Jing Yuan as a human being is no exception to this regarding his old bonds with Dan Feng.

Segueing into the next matter, Jing Yuan offers Dan Heng atonement for Dan Feng’s sins and promised to let go of his own sentiments if Dan Heng can accomplish a certain task for him. In order for him to revoke Dan Feng’s banishment edict, Dan Heng would have to do something for him in return to reverse the public relations consequences of Dan Feng’s sin. It seemed Jing Yuan was intending to recreate of Dan Heng's image as a hero in order to push a scenario where he could revoke the exile sentence. Yet, in promising to stop seeing Dan Heng as his former incarnation, Jing Yuan goes on a tangent about how he must do difficult things as general, and act for the greater good, insinuating that he doesn’t want to truly let go of the past or of Dan Feng and is personally conflicted at having to make such a request of Dan Heng.

After informing Dan Heng that his Astral Express friends are waiting for him in the Dragonvista Rainhall, they travel there by starskiff, reuniting with the Astral Express representatives and Fu Xuan. Learning of Phantylia’s nefarious endgame, the Astral Crew decides on their next course of action. Though Jing Yuan assured Dan Heng it is his own choice even if they decide to decline, Dan Heng and the others agree to take on the Lord Ravager for the Luofu’s sake.

Resonating with his past life, Dan Heng unlocks a portion of Dan Feng’s power and parts the waters of the sea over the Waterscape in a fantastic display of power, with Jing Yuan watching on. With the way cleared, Jing Yuan gives a final order to Lady Fu Xuan to relay what might become of him should he perish and to seal off the delve in the event it occurs. As they proceed into the Palace, Dan Heng begins recollecting important details from his past, to which Jing Yuan asks, “Do you remember now?”

Exploring further and unsealing the Three Talons locks to advance further, they finally come upon the Roots of the Ambrosial Arbor and begin their battle with Phanthylia with Jing Yuan requesting that Dan Heng “watch his back”. When utilizing Dan Heng’s support for the first time—Cloudhymn Roar—Jing Yuan will shout, beset, “Dan Heng… you take it from here!”

Near the climax of the battle, Phantylia declares her desire to turn the team into her Voidrangers and starts with Jing Yuan. Subjecting the general to her power, flooding him with her malice, Jing Yuan unleashes his final gambit to attack her with the Lightning Lord and shouts at Dan Heng to do the same. Leaping with his Cloud-Piercer, the pair coordinate an attack that severs her connection to the Arbor with enormous risk to Jing Yuan’s well-being. After Dan Heng strikes Jing Yuan with his spear, her hold on him is also released and Jing Yuan plummets to the ground, utterly spent.

Dan Heng sprints and catches Jing Yuan in his arms, safely lowering him to the ground while remaining fiercely protective of the general even as the Astral Express crew approaches. While Phantylia dismisses her loss as a mere inconvenience, Dan Heng hovers protectively despite Jing Yuan’s gesture to let him stand, scoffing at her arrogance.

After Phantylia disappears, Jing Yuan becomes weary but teasing as he faces Dan Heng and prods at how the pair can still coordinate their efforts, his voice noticeably softer. When Welt confirms that Phantylia won’t be a threat again anytime soon, Jing Yuan remarks how exhausted he is and swoons again. Because of how the POV from his eyes is angled on Dan Heng (who appears visibly worried), and how the other begins to angle towards him, it can be assumed that Dan Heng catches Jing Yuan again before he collapsed on the ground.

Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead
Following the end of the ordeal with the Arbor and the battle with Phantylia, the Astral Exress Crew are summoned to the Seat of Divine Foresight where they encounter Qingzu and Fu Xuan acting as temporary Arbiter-General in Jing Yuan's stead while he recuperates from his wounds. There, Fu Xuan expresses her weariness and exasperation at the immense workload she’s struggling with in the wake of disaster, but how she’s managing expertly despite that difficulty. After going over the goings-on, she personally commends the Nameless and informs them of the Luofu’s decision to acknowledge them as the Alliance’s allies in their struggle against Nanook and other conflicts that might arise. Inviting them to a Soul-Soothing Ceremony in Tingyun and the other fallen’s honor, and collating a final report, she amusingly mentions that Jing Yuan committed many violations she must deal with, many of which had to with Dan Heng.

After this, the Trailblazer, Welt, and March are dispatched to prepare for the Soul-Soothing Ceremony, with Dan Heng absent due to his wariness about being seen around the Luofu as well as his own desire to meet with Bailu and make some final amends.

Following the ceremony, Jing Yuan pulls the Nameless aside and personally requests their presence at the Seat of Divine Foresight to bid them farewell among other matters. Once there, he reiterates the Luofu’s gratitude and the elevation of their status because of their actions. As a token of friendship, he gifts them a jade abacus that matches one half which he keeps, informing them that it’s a tangible symbol of the Cloud Knights’ oath of their camaraderie and that, if squeezed enough, they’ll come running to their aid but warns them not to use it frivolously. Jing Yuan also tells them of the history of this particular kind of jade abacus, how the Alliance made a similar tablet to inscribe their covenant. That even if “the world may crumble and heavens may fall, but this oath will never be broken,” tantamount of the friendship extant between the Nameless and Luofu, and Jing Yuan personally.

Then, Jing Yuan addresses Dan Heng personally, stating that he is personally authorized to decree that the banishment edict has been redacted and Dan Heng’s name cleared, and that Dan Heng's free to come and go from the Luofu. However, he also warns Dan Heng that Dan Feng’s actions still have far-reaching consequences, and those still vengeful towards his predecessor’s actions may still harm him if he’s not careful, and that Jing Yuan may not be able to guarantee his safety—something he hopes Dan Heng can understand, his voice softening as he says so.

With zeal, Jing Yuan then goes on to say that the issuing of gifts is starting to make his wounds feel better and that such an occasion calls for a line or two of poetry. Yet, he doesn’t and decides that he might another time. Jing Yuan then hopes that their long voyage ahead is smooth and untrammeled, and wishes them well on their journey before departing.

The Dragon Returns Home
In Dan Heng’s companion quest, he first asks the Trailblazer to accompany him to meet with Bailu. Convening at Synwood Pavilion, they encounter Dan Heng speaking with one of Bailu’s maids who expresses concern over Dan Heng’s presence in the Luofu, mentioning how the Preceptors are either anxious for him to assume his role as High Elder, or pass it all on to Bailu which threatens great upheaval if he does so. After she leaves them, Dan Heng reaffirms his conviction to reseal the Arbor and consult with Bailu on what more he can do to fully assuage Dan Feng’s crimes.

Along the way, both Nameless face other Vidyadhara opining that Dan Heng should leave, among other discouraging remarks.

Upon finding their ferryman and journeying to the Alchemy Commission, one of the people they encounter straight away is Jing Yuan. He cheerfully greets the two of them, commenting that the wind and waves are restless that day, asking what brought them there. Dan Heng disgruntingly asks if Jing Yuan is there to dissuade them, too, and he instead replies with how he’s been recovering in the Alchemy Commission under Bailu’s charge and that their paths crossed coincidentally. He goes on to comment that he’s aware of the various factions vying for control. Dan Heng remarks that injury hasn’t dulled Jing Yuan’s perception, and he smiles quietly at Dan Heng’s observation.

Jing Yuan goes on to say that their meeting is a gift from fate, offering to help them out. He says that as long as the Vidyadhara’s affairs don’t interfere with the Luofu, that he’s fine with whatever it is they decide for the High Elder succession. He continues—as a friend—that the presence of both Bailu and Dan Heng on the Luofu will continue to cause internal discord, but firmly states that it’s neither of their faults. Jing Yuan then says that it’s getting late, aware of Dan Heng’s intention to reseal the Arbor, and laughs—joking that he should be taking his recovery more seriously before bidding them both farewell.

After reuniting with Huanxi to continue on their way, Dan Heng and the Trailblazer are confronted by assassins hellbent on killing Dan Heng. Soundly defeating them, they then proceed to Dragonvista Rainhall to meet Bailu. From there, the trio proceeds to the Ambrosial Arbor to begin their work. As Bailu and Dan Heng speak, a startling truth is learned: that part of Dan Feng’s sin was misuse of the Transmutation Arcanum that created a draconic abomination, and subsequently, created Bailu who became the next High Elder despite the incompleteness of the ritual.

Working together, Bailu and Dan Heng combine their powers to seal the Ambrosial Arbor successfully, but after, are faced with another threat that doesn’t identify themselves. Urging the Trailblazer to help him protect Bailu, they manage to defeat them together. They then encounter a Vidyadhara Mirage Echo that mistakes Dan Heng for Dan Feng, accusing him of the crime of summoning the draconic abomination that was responsible for many casualties. He goes on to say that Dan Feng was supposed to free the Vidyadhara from the cycle of rebirth, a possible hint to the true nature of Dan Feng’s sin aside from the draconic abomination. Using the Mirage Echoes as a means of escape, the trio then makes their way from Scalegorge Waterscape.

Confronted by another mirage that rambles about how Dan Feng’s abomination likely contained the genetics of another race, they instead skirt around her and continue on. Then, confronted by another mirage echo, they hear it out before rushing towards the entrance of the Waterscape, close to exiting. When reunited with Huanxi, she outs herself as a traitor and attacks the three of them.

In the second round of Huanxi’s ambush on them, Jing Yuan makes a surprise appearance when his ‘Prana Extipated’ intervenes and he announces himself with, “Ah! Am I too late?!” Bailu then demands to know if he brought reinforcements, to which Jing Yuan scoffs indulgently and replies, “Reinforcements? I am the reinforcement,” and enters the fray. Following the successful battle, Jing Yuan demands to know if Huanxi truly thought no one knew of the Preceptors’ scheming and scolds her for how attacking Bailu destroys what little prestige they have remaining. Huanxi sneers that Jing Yuan shouldn’t bring up false charges, but Jing Yuan rebuts by saying the Cloud Knights will be arriving soon and that she should save it for the Ten-Lords’ judges.

Following the battle, Bailu muses how the Preceptors will truly stop at nothing to usurp her, seeing her as weak and defective. Jing Yuan consoles her by saying not every Vidyadhara harbor evil intentions, promising to ensure her protection, and if she feels uneasy in the Alchemy Commission, that he will do whatever he can to see her relocated somewhere safe. Assured of her safety, Bailu then informs Jing Yuan that she’d like to talk more with Dan Heng and he acquiesces, saying he’ll wait for them at the ferry.

Afterwords, Dan Heng and Bailu have an emotional conversation between the two of them, culminating to them forging a friendship and deciding to return to the Alchemy Commission. Upon disembarking, Dan Heng and Jing Yuan strike up another conversation, Dan Heng concluding that his duties are largely complete. From here, the Trailblazer can interject three different dialogue options while Jing Yuan will reply in kind:


 * Dan Heng belongs to the Astral Express.
 * "Hahahaha, I do not seek to take Dan Heng away from you."
 * You should stay... but remember to write to us.
 * "You're... asking him to stay here?"
 * (Wait for Dan Heng's response.)

Regardless of what option the player chooses, Dan Heng will then reply with, "As a Nameless, the Express still needs me." Jing Yuan will then say, softly, "Ah... that is a pity." Following the mission, Jing Yuan's NPC will remain and, if prompted, will state how he should probably refrain from violating the healers' orders any longer and how weariness is creeping up on him, and that he should lie down. He'll then bid the two farewell, marking the official end of Dan Heng's character quest.

After the companion mission, the Trailblazer receives texts from Dan Heng which announces he is making short stops to the Luofu.

Clouds Leave No Trace
Aboard the Express, the Trailblazer discovers A Letter of Unknown Origin—a letter intended for Dan Heng from Jingliu. In it, she commands Dan Heng for his feats in sealing the Ambrosial Arbor and saving the Luofu and assumes that it jogged his memories of the past and they should reunite with the other surviving Quintet members to reminisce and drink like the old days. Confused, the Trailblazer (unknowing of the letter’s sender) asks Pom-Pom about it. They both speculate who the sender could be, the Trailblazer wondering:


 * Friends... Jing Yuan...?
 * (Unlikely. If the general sent the letter, he would've signed it).

The other option is Blade, but as they’re enemies, the Trailblazer eliminates that option, too, before deciding to simply take it to Dan Heng in the Archives.

Upon giving it to Dan Heng, he similarly wonders about the identity of the sender, thinking of how he’d disappoint said sender because, in truth, his memories only return in fragments and are not necessarily enough to tie to any one person from his past. Regardless, he decides to hang on to the letter so he can further study it. Once alone, he invokes Cloudhymn magic on the letter that reveals the same vendetta: Of five people, three must pay a price. Confused given how this is the same mantra Blade speaks of, despite the letter not being from him, Dan Heng elects to go to the Seat of Divine Foresight and ask Jing Yuan about the Stellaron Hunters.

Once there, he meets Yanqing who is speaking to Jingliu, whom he doesn’t recognize. Dan Heng approaches Yanqing first and asks after Jing Yuan’s whereabouts due to his absence. While Yanqing asks if Dan Heng is there over any injuries possibly sustained, he dismisses it and asks for Jing Yuan again. Qingzu interrupts and informs Dan Heng that the general isn’t present, but that he wanted to ask if Dan Heng recognizes Jingliu, only for him to say that he doesn’t. Dan Heng is given two different dialogues:


 * I think so.
 * Dan Heng: I can't say that I know her, but she does look a little familiar. Is she a guest of the general's?
 * No…
 * Dan Heng: ...No. If the general isn't available, I'll come back another day.

Qingzu then explains that the woman in Jingliu, once Dan Feng’s closest companion and Jing Yuan’s master. Qingzu proceeds to explain who Jingliu is, how she became notorious, and the terms of clemency he granted her that involve one day of free rein aboard the Luofu under supervision. Jing Yuan also stated that she’s to be supervised by Yanqing and possibly Qingzu, but given the way it’s worded, the dialogue implies that Jing Yuan also wanted Dan Heng to keep an eye on her, too. Jingliu and Dan Heng finally meet and converse, and they speak on past matters that Dan Heng doesn’t remember, like what became of Dan Feng in the Shackling Prison. She then reiterates the terms of her surrender being a day of of freedom before she’d begin to atone for her sins, meet with old friends, and fulfill old promises. She also states how Jing Yuan heard Dan Heng was coming and agreed to her request, his trust in Dan Heng was presumably the reason the general agreed at all.

The scene then cuts to Jing Yuan and Luocha at Scalegorge Waterscape where Jing Yuan hosts an impromptu trial for the merchant. Jing Yuan and Luocha recount the latter’s crimes since coming aboard the Luofu, expounding on all the misdeeds that Luocha performed while aboard. At one point, Luocha teases: Seeing that you sense something is amiss, are you looking to defend me and clear my name of suspicion? This is a clear jab towards Jing Yuan and the enormous extent he went to secure Dan Heng’s freedom which outraged many like the Preceptors. They then proceed to speak in confidence about Jingliu before the scene changes again.

Back at the Seat of Divine foresight, Jingliu reasserts that Dan Heng will accompany her and Yanqing and that she wants to see and enjoy as much as possible. Though indecisive, Yanqing suggests heading to Stargazer Navalia first, which becomes the first place in their itinerary. Once there, Jingliu asks Dan Heng about Baiheng and Dan Heng struggles to remember her. Because Jingliu never got to properly say goodbye to Baiheng, she decides to perform the Foxian soul-soothing ceremony. She recounts how Baiheng came to be known as the “Starskiff Killer” and the circumstances that led to her fame, beginning the process of producing a new starskiff. They continue to reminisce on Baiheng and her close relationship with Dan Feng and the others, and how the grief of her passing made him do the unthinkable in bringing her back to life with Yingxing. Before releasing the starskiff, she imparts a flagon that Yingxing made, and they then proceed on to the Artisanship Commission.

Once there, they decide to clear the area onerrun with monsters that Jingliu wants to do with Dan Heng through the old contests they used to engage in together. After the finish and reunite with Yanqing, then going on a tangent regarding the history of the Cloud-Piercer and Yingxing. From there, they then head to the Alchemy Commission. It briefly cuts to Scalegorge Waterscape to Luocha and Jing Yuan speaking on the Abundance, Blade making his appearance.

Upon arriving in the Alchemy Commission, Jingliu decides that she wants a check-up from Bailu. Bailu notes how extremely unusual her condition is and how frigid she is to the touch. Upon finding that her medicine box has been stolen, Jingliu and Dan Heng slay several abominations and retrieve it for her. Bailu prescribes a medication to help, astonished that Jingliu is mara-struck despite how little symptoms she exhibits. Bidding her farewell, Jingliu, Dan Heng, and Yanqing then proceed to Scalegorge Waterscape.

The next phase is described as: Past friends reunite in the Scalegorge Waterscape. It is as Jing Yuan said, "Raising old nets only darkens the water — an exercise in unhappiness." But someone ought to end the grudges lingering from an era past, which was what Jing Yuan said to Dan Heng in particular. Jing Yuan orders Yanqing and the present Cloud Knights gathered to escort Luocha away as what’s to come doesn’t concern him. Jingliu addresses those present, going hers, Dan Feng, and Yingxing’s sins and further addressing those extant in the present day, saying that their bonds of friendship are over.

Jingliu addresses Jing Yuan, and he mentions how the initial plan for her has changed, much to her chagrin. Jingliu readies herself to meet her fate, Jing Yuan promising to see it through. However, they’re interrupted by Blade who demands that Jingliu face him and attempt to kill him despite how she asserts that she cannot kill him. A violent battle between them ensues that Jing Yuan and Dan Heng watch silently in the wings of the statue, and a cutscene of the past plays that includes art of the Quintet that shows Jing Yuan next to Dan Feng as they include in drinks together. The battle ends with Blade returning to his feet and lamenting the sin he committed.

Dan Heng finally bids farewell to everyone present from Yanqing, Jingliu, Blade, and finally Jing Yuan. To Jing Yuan, they say:


 * Jing Yuan: She's gone.
 * Jing Yuan: All this must have seemed like a silly performance to someone newly reborn... but I am unable to prevent my old friends from taking sides against one another.
 * Should I be responsible for Dan Feng's actions?
 * Jing Yuan: Who you are is a question that only you can find the answer to...
 * Jing Yuan: ...even if the Preceptors's interference denied you a true rebirth…
 * I have to go.
 * Jing Yuan: Yes, it has been a long day for you, Dan Heng.

Following the quest’s conclusion and everyone leaving with Dan Heng returning to the Express, Jing Yuan messages the Trailblazer regarding his and Dan Heng’s experience during the mission:


 * Jing Yuan: (Trailblazer), is everything alright on the Express?
 * (Trailblazer): Seems fine, are you feeling alright?
 * Jing Yuan: Haha, nothing too serious. After a few days cooped up in the apothecary, my injuries have healed to the point of being negligible.
 * Jing Yuan: It must've been because that fight was close to the Ambrosial Arbor, so my body's healing speed exceeded all expectations.
 * (Trailblazer): What made you think of us, General?
 * Jing Yuan: The Express Crew are my friends who went through life and death with me. Isn't it normal to think about my friends?
 * Jing Yuan: By the way, (Trailblazer), perhaps you've already heard from Dan Heng about some recent events.
 * Jing Yuan: My mentor has returned to the Luofu, gathering old friends to settle past grudges. She sent an anonymous letter to the Express to invite Dan Heng, which is quite... abrupt. I hope it hasn't caused any disturbance to everyone.
 * (Trailblazer): No worries, we have weathered worse storms
 * (Trailblazer): Your mentor is something else to be able to move on the Express unnoticed. After I found the letter, I only told Pom-Pom and Dan Heng, no one else.
 * (Trailblazer): Your mentor is something else to be able to leave the letter on the Express unnoticed.
 * (Trailblazer): I only told the conductor and Dan Heng, no one else. Pom-Pom seems a little worried...
 * Jing Yuan: Please relay my apology to the conductor for the rudeness of my mentor.
 * (Trailblazer): Dan Heng looked really serious after I received the letter. Is he okay?
 * Jing Yuan: Dan Heng accepted the invitation. I admire his courage in facing the karma of his past life and understand his determination in this life. I will do my best to defuse the hostility that the Luofu has toward him.
 * Jing Yuan: The matters regarding Dan Heng should come to a temporary conclusion. However, it seems the Alliance's situation is about to change again.
 * Jing Yuan: I hear the Express will be journeying far again. I hope for your peace and safety.
 * (Trailblazer): Same to you, General!
 * (Trailblazer): Dan Heng, I, and everyone else on the Express will definitely come back to visit!
 * Jing Yuan: Alright, I have a little something for everyone, consider it an apology for the troubles.
 * Jing Yuan: If you require any aid or need a place to dock the Express, the Luofu will forever welcome your contingent.

Miscellany
Coming as a great source of amusement among fans, as things like fan clubs, literature clubs, and fanfiction writing groups are canon within Honkai: Star Rail, a member of the creative group known as the Mellow-Golden-Mayor Immersia Club is fixated on a work of fiction known as Xianzhou Sword Tale. What’s notable is that the story has many allusions to the High-Cloud Quintet, altering the names of members to amusing pseudonyms that are nonetheless obvious to those reading.

A fan of the group created fanfiction based on a fictionalized Dan Heng and Jing Yuan titled ‘Untouchable Lovers’. It is located north of Central Starskiff Haven. “Dear Mellow-Golden-Mayor Immersia Club: I love the group portraits you built into Xianzhou Sword Tale, especially when they include those two male characters, Jim Yan and Denn Fang—they keep me up at night… So, I’ve been writing my own fanfiction during the nights, ‘Untouchable Lovers’—and I hope you’ll leave comments on it!” 

After that, a dramatic tale of love, hate, life, and death twists and turns over the next forty pages. In the end, the two male protagonists die poetically yet tragically in each other’s embrace. You don’t understand why, but [you] feel shocked, as if your first love has been stolen away from you. You put back this manuscript and leave it with the box on the side of the road. In the Aurum Alley event, it's discovered that a person who seems to be the same author as 'Untouchable Lovers' may have written a follow-up to their fanfiction. "'Dear Mellow-Golden-Mayor Immersia Club, 'The First Battle,' which is the latest chapter of 'Xianzhou Sword Tale' is amazing! In my opinion, the war between the borisin and alliance should be next, causing drastic changes in the lives of the protagonists... I hope the story will progress this way.' What follows is a long essay of the predicted plot that consists of almost two-hundred thousand words, full of twists and turns and surprises. At the end of the story, the protagonists are expected to die one after the other and then be brought back to life by the Paths... You have no idea whether the Immersia Club adopted the ideas in the essay that is worthy of winning the Interastral Peace Media annual award."Before the battle with Phantylia, Jing Yuan will ask Dan Heng to "Guard his back" if the player has him as their on-field character. This seems to not occur if the player has anyone else as their on-field character.

In the Honkai: Star Rail EP, Samudrartha, which is Dan Heng's theme song, near the end shows the footage of Jing Yuan watching on while Dan Heng splits the waters of the Scalegorge Waterscape, a cutscene shown in the Trailblaze Mission, and again when he and the Nameless faced off against Phantylia. Jing Yuan is also the one who eventually gives the Trailblazer the Samudrartha cd and it does not escape eagle-eyed fans that Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae's character trailer was strangely centered solely on Phantylia, who had hurt Jing Yuan.

During the 1.3 livestream, Sushang's Eng VA asked how Dan Heng could still be alive if Dan Feng's sin was so great. Owlbert replied by saying that only one person aboard the Luofu would be willing to risk the Xianzhou's reputation like that and pull the strings, declaring it was Jing Yuan. In the CN and JP livestream, the lines are similar, implying political favoritism and accusing Jing Yuan essentially of corruption. Dan Heng's Eng and JP VA diverted the matter by saying that it wasn't Jing Yuan's fault and went on to explain how it was completely Dan Feng's fault, this conversation protecting Jing Yuan from blame for interfering with the Sedition's consequences by doing what he could to protect Dan Feng/Heng.

In Dan Heng's Imbibitor Lunae character trailer, Dan Heng says a line that's the exact same as Jing Yuan's "Battle Begins: Weakness Break" line. This appears to be consistent across almost all dubs and some subs like Japanese, Chinese, German, and more. It roughly translates to, "You are full of flaws (openings)." The line is also Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae's enhanced skill II and the Japanese line sukidarake was noted by fans to resemble suki-darakeda すきだらけだ (love you/it so much) which is a slang confession competition and amusingly the puns recreate one when using the two characters in the same team.

Quotes
"I understand the one I wished to trace… exists now only in memory. But, it’s probably what’s best for him."

- Jing Yuan, About: Dan Heng.

"In the hearts of many, Dan Feng may be Long’s embodiment, (to some) a hero … (to some) a villain … but never a (mortal) person who loves, hates, and sorrows."

- Jing Yuan, Dan Heng IL Introduction 2 (CN translation)

"Sometimes the general treats me as a friend from the old days. Unfortunately, I am unable to return the sentiment."

- Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae, About: Jing Yuan

"*Sigh* Raising old nets only darkens the water—an exercise in unhappiness. Perhaps it is your visage, the horns on your head, or the unmistakable air of the high elder that makes the separation nigh impossible for me. [...] You did, but to what effect? If words alone were enough to change the heart, this world be without quarrel. If you wish to rid me of the illusion of Dan Feng, you must do something for me."

- Jing Yuan, to Dan Heng.

"It is as I said: here we stand, so different from one another. Dan Feng is no more, now there is only Dan Heng. But I… I am the general of the Luofu. There are things that I wish I did not have to do, and yet I must."

- Jing Yuan, to Dan Heng.

"From birth, all that ever lay before him was but a lightless dungeon. To this darkness, irrelevant sins bound him… irrelevant memories engulfed him. He writhed, gasping for breath with every fiber of his being, attempting to clasp a sliver of light in this fathomless ocean. Until the day the general stepped into the lightless depths of this prison, he beheld a radiance shining brighter than the sun – the gaze of a young man."

- Brighter Than the Sun lightcone, Dan Heng IL’s official lightcone

"Dan Feng, guilty of unpardonable sin, in light of past merit, the sentence shall be commuted to molting rebirth… and eternal banishment."

- Jing Yuan reading Dan Feng’s sentence, The Ichor of Two Dragons animation

"My past enemies are either dead or captured, and my past friends are scattered to the winds. Now that I think about it, I am indeed an old man…"

- Jing Yuan, About: Self.

Fanon
Although a relatively rarer pairing before the release of 1.2, what drew many fans to this ship is the inherent tragedy that comes from losing someone you love, especially when losing that person to death despite them being reborn completely wiped of their memory. Although seen as a subject of speculation, it was confirmed in various parts of 1.2 that Jing Yuan acted in ways that were not necessarily legal to ensure Dan Feng’s (and later Dan Heng’s) protection after the sedition occurred.

It is confirmed that Jing Yuan was present multiple times in the Shackling Prison both during Dan Feng's imprisonment (from the Imbibitor Lunae's character stories) and after Dan Heng’s forced rebirth (from the Mirage Echo in 1.2) and the lightcone story suggests Jing Yuan was the first to bring Dan Heng light for the first time in the new life. Considering how Jing Yuan is present in Dan Heng's light cone, Brighter Than the Sun, some fans have noted that the description shifted to Jing Yuan's perspective, a rarity unseen in any other lightcone, with Jing Yuan describing Dan Heng's eyes as brighter than the sun.

Some fans speculate the feelings may even have been mutual, give the lightcone sharing perspectives, as the previous lines of the lightcone from Dan Heng's POV describes Dan Heng's endless search for a shard of light in the horrible conditions he was born into. Fans believe Jing Yuan's appearance is significant as a turning point, as a figure of hope, and others have noted that Jing Yuan seeing Dan Heng in such a way is more significant because Jing Yuan is often seen as the Luofu's sun, a shining beacon of light, and yet to a person like that he still holds Dan Heng in such a cherished regard.

The most notable conclusion from the above is that Jing Yuan truly saw Dan Heng as himself, not as Dan Feng, something which was previously in doubt through 1.2 - as indicated by the Imbibitor Lunae's character stories, towards the end of life Dan Feng had lost the will to live. Some CN fans speculate that would have given Dan Feng "dead eyes", in contrast to Dan Heng's ones full of the will to live. It is strongly speculated by CN fans with the mention of 除鳞 (descaling), in addition to the animation short's quick cut of Dan Feng crucified, that there were multiple horrible tortures that broke the proud Dan Feng's spirit. In addition, the animated lightcone of Brighter Than the Sun was speculated to be from the eyes of Jing Yuan entering the cell - he is drawn to the injuries on Dan Heng's chest. Western fans speculate, based on Yukong's claims that the Xianzhou Luofu does not apply torture, that it could be something ended by Jing Yuan in his tenure as Governor.

Another aspect of the ship that appeals to many shippers is the way people have interpreted the timeless loyalty Jing Yuan has and acts as a general despite them, choosing duty and the happiness of others over his own. During 1.2, it was implied that he saw an opportunity to coordinate events that led to Dan Heng’s revelation of his true form, paralleling the Stellaron Hunters' plans, in order to resolve the Stellaron Crisis and reawakening of the Ambrosial Arbor for his own people.

Several times during the Trailblaze Mission, Jing Yuan was characterized as someone who longs for the past, referring to Dan Heng as his old friend and not denying that he misses his friend. His feelings fans interpret as romantic, but he still pushes them aside in favor of duty and consideration of Dan Heng. He is particularly careful to address Dan Heng by his name throughout the time they fight alongside each other.

Throughout the mission, it’s been observed that Jing Yuan became more soft-spoken around Dan Heng, voice bordering on nostalgic and affectionate with his expressions noticeably softer, often bringing up the past and standing close to him in their interactions with each other and the other Astral Express Crewmen. Jing Yuan would also use softer body language unfitting of his high status, such as head tilts and softer smiles rather than his previous more formal engagements over hologram. This is in a sharp contrast to his reception of Blade.

With their past history, many fans enjoy the idea of shipping Jing Yuan with Dan Feng when they were active in the High-Cloud Quintet. Although the subject of Jing Yuan’s age at the time of their very first meeting is hotly debated and unclear, many universally like the idea of Jing Yuan having a reverential regard of the High Elder at first that blossoms into friendship and later love over time as they get to know each other. Some fans view them as the starry-eyed junior and his oblivious senior that he admires. As Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae's character stories suggest, the actual relationship eventually became a very close, equal one and Jing Yuan constantly talked and laughed with the High Elder Dan Feng as if the other was a human being and not a god on a pedestal. He would often openly use Dan Feng's name, rather than title - something which other Quintet members such as Baiheng did not (in the animated short), with Jingliu referring to him as the cold High Elder (in her character stories), and even how Blade presently addresses Dan Heng by title. Chinese fans analyzing the Fateful Rebirth aria are convinced based on such evidences, the affections theoretically could be mutual.

Given the implied and mysterious period that was the Sedition of Imbibtor Lunae that no doubt resulted from or was directly responsible for the dissolution of the High-Cloud Quintet, many like the idea of angst resulting in Dan Feng’s imprisonment and Jing Yuan acting as a liaison to ensure his security and eventual release, which was recently confirmed to be true. Some fans believe it was particularly cruel of the Luofu to force Jing Yuan to read the sentence in the animation short, with other fans believing Jing Yuan had insisted to do it himself so that Dan Feng would be spared hearing such words from another.

Otherwise, there are many more that adore the idea of Jing Yuan struggling with past feelings for Dan Feng and the conflict that arises from the reborn Dan Heng wanting to assert himself as his own person, a contention that arose several times during 1.2. Further still, shippers also like the idea of Jing Yuan moving on from the past and falling in love with Dan Heng as his own person, and them falling in love naturally despite the past baggage that Jing Yuan is encumbered by. Fans were delighted by 1.3 and the newly open possibilities.

One of Jing Yuan's most persistent desires were that if he was not the general, he wishes to leave his role behind and become a space-faring traveler. Twice, he mentions either joining the Nameless (like Baiheng) or the Galaxy Rangers, two roles that would allow him to travel the worlds and do good. Because of this, many shippers enjoy the idea of Jing Yuan retiring and joining the Nameless, satisfying a childhood dream and bonding with Dan Heng as his own person in a slow-burn romance.

One phenomena that many shippers are in support of is the idea of Jing Yuan and Dan Heng being parents to Bailu and Yan Qing. Funnily enough, Qingzu has an in-game story she tells about a skeptical backstory of Yan Qing actually being a Vidyadhara but having his ears nibbled off; as Jing Yuan's student whom he has a blatantly paternal regard for, he also holds a deep admiration for Dan Heng and wants to befriend him, according to his companion lines in the Express. Bailu, meanwhile, is now widely believed to be as close as the Vidyadhara can come to creating offspring, having become the new High Elder thanks to Dan Feng's genetic input that resulted in her creation; Jing Yuan is known to have a fatherly dynamic with her and often visited her, this is further evidenced in her companion lines and how Jing Yuan came to save her and Dan Heng in the latter's companion quest. Because of this, many shippers are endeared by them being a family given the foundation canon has already given.

Currently, the ship has ~310 fics on AO3, is the 8th most popular ship, and is rivaled by RenHeng, JingRen, and Jingluo.

Fandom

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Trivia

 * Prior to the game’s official release, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng were featured in three promotional campaigns and holiday events together:
 * The Star Rail Countdown
 * Lunar New Year 2023
 * White Day 2023
 * Since the game's release, Dan Heng and Jing Yuan have been featured in the following holiday events:
 * Mid-Autumn Festival
 * Jing Yuan and Dan Heng have been featured in several advertising campaigns together:
 * A merchandise campaign in PASH that features both of their 5* Light Cones.
 * A dedicated ad spot by MiHoYo (that many fans have joked resembles a shippy edit you could find on places like TikTok).
 * Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's Chinese VA's singing the KFC theme alongside March 7th's and Pom-Pom's . They also featured in full-sized aesthetics within some of the franchise's restaurants.
 * They featured together in the recent AppleLive to debut the iPhone 15 Pro.
 * The had a prominent spot in Hoyoverse's Tokyo Game Show 2023 spot.
 * Possibly MHY-sponsored or -approved billboards where Jing Yuan and Dan Feng stood together.
 * Another ad that featured scenes from 1.2.
 * Them together in featured ads on Weibo.
 * A Japanese interactive ad.
 * Hong Kong miniature buses.
 * In yet another ad, MHY featured a fan song from the quest "Letter to a Dim Star" that is noted to be one of the most romantic in-game.
 * In 1.2, the starskiff webgame features icon frames in complementary colors. Jing Yuan's is azure green, while Dan Heng's fans remarked reminded them of Jing Yuan's iconic colors . Chinese fans remarked both Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's palettes are the five noble colors of the phoenix.
 * A common theme among Hoyoverse ships are two characters sharing color palettes when placed through an inversion filter. Jing Yuan and Dan Heng both experienced this phenomenon . They also share similar aesthetic motifs in their outfits.
 * As two of the first characters to ever receive dedicated animations, it has been noticed by fans that Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's animations both contain segments that mirror each other with themes of moving forward and leaving the past behind. In Jing Yuan's, it was when he utilized the Lightning Lord in a final strike against Jingliu. For Dan Heng, it was when he was embattled with Dan Feng, but he does not strike down Dan Feng and accepts the past as they are adorned by parting rain . Chinese fans also noticed Jing Yuan's character trailer is called 天地为枰 (heaven and earth is akin to a chessboard) while Dan Heng's animation short is called 玄黄 from 天地玄黄 (heaven and earth is formed from chaos, from the Thousand Characters text) which give the pair chaos/order theming. In Chinese mythology, everything of creation traces back to chaos.
 * In the Star Rail Countdown artwork, it’s been noted that Jing Yuan and Dan Heng’s color schemes mirror each other; Dan Heng has a sea-green color scheme with gold accents while Jing Yuan’s is gold with green undertones; they bear contrasting orbs with Jing Yuan’s being green to match Dan Heng while Dan Heng’s is gold like the former’s eyes, their eyes also complementing each other. In the animated reels on Instagram, the music utilized for both complements each other; the track that played on Jing Yuan's was "Anthropic Domain" while Dan Heng's was "Divine Camaraderie".
 * As Jing Yuan's art features a "5" while Dan Heng's has a "2", indicating the days until the game's release, and some have made note of Chinese slang wherein "520" phonetically resembles "Wo Ai Ni" or "I love you" as Jing Yuan's was posted on the 20th day.Chess.pngionally, Jing Yuan's launch story was posted exactly on May 20 on the official instagram, showing a chibi version of him smiling and holding a Starchess piece, with two pieces on the board. There are three pieces by the side with different markings: a baseball bat (Trailblazer), a flower (March 7), and a maple leaf (Dan Heng). Judging by the pieces details on the side, and the pieces on the board Jing Yuan is setting, the baseball ball piece is furthest away and the maple leaf is closest (implied to have been held in his hand).


 * In May 2023 in a special event held in Shanghai Xuhui district, the city's cultural development funds were used to create the Astral Express. At the checkin area Jing Yuan was placed in a setup with Yanqing. Behind Jing Yuan is a maple leaf, a fountain shaped after Hongshan pig dragon jade which is the oldest known depiction of the dragon and a direct correlation to the dragon that follows the Imbibitor Lunae, and another rock behind the fountain shaped like a different style of Hongshan pig dragon jade carving. Together, with Jing Yuan's placement, forms a heart. A lotus pond is before the fountain. By Jing Yuan's side is a scroll, fitting for his phoenix motif as phoenixes were often seen depicting delivering scrolls to the next heir to the throne in ancient times. This foreshadows Jing Yuan would help the next true heir to the High Elder's seat, Dan Heng. The Xiangqi arrangement by the side are in shades of brilliant red and blue, likely to also parallel the crimson phoenix and the azure dragon. The Hongshan pig dragon jades are worn on Imbibitor Lunae's waist and a variant two-headed dragon design is on Dan Heng's normal form's thigh. The monument, present in the garden behind the Palace of Astrum, is also where Jing Yuan's demo trailer took place.
 * As Jing Yuan shares a friendship with Bailu, the Vidyadhara High Elder that replaced Dan Feng, fans speculate that this closeness might’ve resulted from Jing Yuan’s guilt over Dan Feng’s fate and not wanting Bailu to fall into similarly unfortunate circumstances.
 * According to Chinese speakers, the name of 'Untouchable Lovers' is 凤求凰, or a Tale of the Phoenix Seeking Its Other Half . The novel in-game is called 凤求凤 and while its real world counterpart is named for a male and female phoenix, 凤求凤 is for two male phoenixes, based on a famous ancient love story intended for the guqin, implying the same-sex nature of this romantic relationship.
 * In addition, the Chinese chess board in Jing Yuan's splash art is an ancient endgame called "丹凤朝阳" 丹凤 pronounced as Dan Feng, the same with 丹枫 朝, which means 阳 is the sun, Danfeng Chaoyang translating to "[a] phoenix flies towards the sun", further connects the two men.
 * Unity lock.webp the game quest known as Poetic Genius Ingenium, there is an item known as a Unity Lock that features two phoenixes (or fenghuang) on its face. Although not directly linked to Jing Yuan or Dan Heng and focuses on the love story of the Vidyadhara Cong and the Xianzhou Native Jingzhai, the imagery suggests a connection to the two men due to the phoenix imagery attributed to them in 'Untouchable Lovers', or Phoenix Seeking Phoenix. The lock itself bears the description, "If those who love each other are bound by the Unity Lock, they will be united forever." Because of the symbolism and romantic nature of the item, fans have deduced that it might be allegorical to Jing Yuan, Dan Feng, and their past relationship. It is notably recommended to "not love a Xianzhou Native, for though she may look young, her soul has aged" and that "her heart will flutter for no other".
 * The Calling Jade and the Oath: JH pendant.png jade abaci that were shared between the Nameless and Jing Yuan, gifted by the latter, at the end of the 1.3 Trailblaze Mission are noted to look like lions without further scrutiny, However, further study reveals they look nothing like lions, but when placed together, look like a stylized Hongshan jade pendant in the form of abstract fenghuang phoenix.
 * Its description reads: One half of the jade abacus of allying oath gifted to you by Jing Yuan. Hold on to the jade abacus and send out information, and the other half will immediately receive it. No matter the distance, the Luofu Cloud Knights will surely arrive at your side and carry out your request.
 * According to some native speakers, the verse that Jing Yuan describes their oath - 天地荒灭 不渝此誓 (the heaven and earth may come to an end, but this oath of mine will endure) - seems to be an idiom play. 天地荒灭 may come from 天荒地老 which means extremely long experience of time (from 李贺《致酒行》); this expression is commonly used as a love manifesto by people. 不渝此誓 possibly comes from 至死不渝, which is a idiom/set phrase (from 《礼记·中庸》)，and it is also commonly used in showing enduring love. The closest inspiration seems to be that of the Yuefu poem, By Heaven! by Shang Ye regarding a love that will last past the crumbling of the heavens and earth. Because of how Jing Yuan came to spontaneously aid Bailu and Dan Heng in his story quest, and the established symbology behind the Phoenix Seeking Phoenix in-game fiction, many believe that the Express' half of the jade abacus is intended solely for Dan Heng and that its connotations may be romantic in nature.Abacus.png
 * In the Aurum Alley event, it is shown that a couple that had broken up were in a disagreement over the return of jade abacus and other gifts. It would seem jade abacus in Luofu are indeed used as courting gifts particularly for anniversaries.
 * Additionally, it's been noted that in Dan Heng's Imbibitor Lunae design, the sarong-like waist wrapping he wears around his waist resembles the tail feathers of the fenghuang, further bolstering his phoenix/fenghuang imagery.
 * The popular Japanese gaming magazine known as Famitsu released detailed analyses of Star Rail characters that include Dan Heng and Jing Yuan. From this, many fans immediately noticed the parallels and ties that the pair share.
 * One of the most prominent is that Dan Heng's coat of his 4* appearance bears the following script, a verse from Su Shi's Song of Pilgrimage : 浮名浮利， 虚苦劳神. 叹隙中驹， 石中火，梦中身. which translates to (roughly): Why toil with pain, For wealth and fame in vain? Time flies as a steed white, Passes a gap in flight. Like a spark in the dark, Or a dream of moonbeam. It is notable that Jing Yuan's basic attack, Glistening Light (or 石火流光), is an abbreviation of this verse, that translates to "Sparks struck from stone, Soul in a Dream" or Like a spark in the dark, Or a dream of moonbeam. Given how this verse bears connections to sparks and moonbeams, and how Jing Yuan's Type/element is Lightning while Dan Feng's title was Imbibitor Lunae, this further connects the two men and possibly in a romantic light and directly correlates to the dream motifs in the Cloudcry Songbook arias. Su Shi's poem also features in Dan Heng's fansong commissioned by Hoyoverse.
 * What's more, this same site summarizes the poem as "express[ing] the author’s feelings when he was drinking to the moon, revealing his feelings that life is short and soulmates are hard to find, and expressing his desire to get rid of the world’s troubles and retire from the world." Given the fact that Jing Yuan is constantly prodded to retire by Fu Xuan, and in Yanqing's "Something to Share" line that reveals Jing Yuan never actually wanted to become Arbiter-General, this poem bears strong implications to be a reflection of Jing Yuan's own desires. In 1.3, the theme is echoed for Dan Heng in that "the dragon returns home, but its house is gone".
 * Both men bear many strong symbolic parallels to each other, many of which are inherent to their Chinese cultural coding.
 * Jing Yuan's namesake is based on Cao Huan, a Chinese emperor from the Three Kingdoms period. As a theorist has noted, Chinese emperors were known to have close connections with dragons. In Jing Yuan's case, this could be symbolic of his special closeness with Dan Feng.
 * Aside from the name of his basic attack, Jing Yuan's weapon also bears some dragon/moon names. Its formal name is that of a Yanyuedao, or a Reclining Moon Blade . The weapon itself, the Guan Dao, was created by a man known as General Guan Yu whose weapon was called "Green Dragon Crescent Blade ", both of which parallel Dan Feng, the Moon Drinker who was also known as the "Azure Dragon".
 * Jing Yuan and Dan Feng bear pertinent allusions to lions and dragons, respectively. Not only are they the two animals known for being the stars of auspicious traditional dances at festivals (such as New Year's), but also are two powerful symbols known for bringing good tidings. The lion represents power, majesty, and courage, while the dragon symbolizes power, dignity, luck, strength, and success.
 * Because of 'Untouchable Lovers' (or, Phoenix Seeking Phoenix as it's called in the Chinese translation), Jing Yuan and Dan Feng also bear allusions to phoenixes, or Fenghuang. According to Chinese myth and folklore, the Fenghuang as a male and female pair sometimes represent the Emperor and Empress.
 * Side by side, Dan Heng and Jing Yuan's "Countdown to Star Rail" artwork displays a Yin-Yang motif. Given Jing Yuan's many allusions to the sun and Dan Heng/Feng's to the moon, they also can count as a Sun-Moon pair.
 * Fans have also attributed them to a dragon-phoenix pair. In the Final Closed Beta Trailer, Jing Yuan is shown in the Palace of Astrum with a phoenix/fenghuang backdrop while Dan Heng has had Mid-Autumn Festival art with a dragon in the background . In Chinese culture, the Dragon-Phoenix coupling/symbolism is said to be representative of complementary, wedded bliss between spouses . Though often otherwise followed by yang symbolism, Jing Yuan notably bears some yin traits (constantly portrayed as sleeping and depicted with a gentle nature) and his Lightning Lord stacks are called "somnus corpus" or Dream Body. Meanwhile Dan Heng is often followed by yin symbolism, but bears yang trait personality and fierce determination.
 * Eagle-eyed Chinese fans also noted how the finches that constantly accompany Jing Yuan resembled Dan Heng, with Jing Yuan having received a kiss from one in his animated lightcone. As phoenixes are known as "king(s) of birds," this may be another, subtle nod to Jing Yuan's phoenix symbology.
 * Both Jing Yuan and Dan Heng's lightcone involved phases of the day "Before Dawn" and "Brighter than the Sun". Fans noticed how PASH magazine chose to feature Jing Yuan's lightcone as well in parallel to Dan Heng's.
 * Dan Heng's representative flower in his Imbibitor Lunae form are shown to be that of a lotus. Meanwhile, Jing Yuan's office is confirmed to have potted lotuses present to the great amusement of Korean fans.
 * In the developer's video, Express Travel Notes: Next Stop, Yi County, the speaker had several images of Dan Heng and Jing Yuan present throughout the backdrop.
 * Chinese fans noticed that Jing Yuan was the only one among the Quintet who appears to consistently call Dan Feng by name instead of his title, another testimony to their close relationship. Baiheng used his title in the animated short, Jingliu referred to Dan Feng by his title in her character stories, and Blade today insists on calling Dan Heng by title still. Jing Yuan later extends that same gesture to Dan Heng, who had hated to be seen as his previous life and yet whenever Jing Yuan referred to Dan Feng, he still used the former High Elder's name instead of title.
 * F4-4pYOaIAAawGY.jpg magazine recently published an article that centered around the events of 1.2 with two captions, in particular, that detailed what happened in some key moments :
 * PASH JH.jpg same article featured another portion that was dedicated to the pair that reads as follows: "Then Dan Heng who finally arrived as if following their trail along with Jing Yuan, stepped into the sealed realm of scalegorge waterscape" [...] "But Jing Yuan is thinking(planning) on using that connection to inflict a lethal wound on Phantylia, and Dan Heng who sensed that deliver a blow that managed to destroy Phantylia's body" [...] "Dan heng understood Jing Yuan’s intention and delivered a stunning blow(/brilliant hit). Looking at his figure, memories of (being with) an old friend from days gone by flashes through (resurfaces on) Jing Yuan's mind."
 * Dan Heng's (top): "There are occasions when he can feel [a] gaze full of affection from the person who was close to him in his previous life. And Dan Heng holds mixed feelings about it."
 * Jing Yuan's (bottom): "General Jing Yuan, who, in Dan Heng's previous life holds the title of Luofu's High Cloud Quintet together with him. Reuniting with his old friend led him to show sad(/bittersweet) expression."
 * In addition, where it mentions "reuniting with an old friend" in the original Japanese indicates a singular article, which means it refered to Dan Heng alone despite Blade also being present in this scene.
 * The Kanji used for "affectionate" is the same characters in Chinese for "qing ai" which is usually used together as "qing ai de", meaning beloved, to the amusement of Chinese fans on Lofter
 * According to some eagle-eyed fans, close scrutiny of Dan Heng IL and Jing Yuan's 5* Light Cones seem to be connected to each other.
 * In "An Appeal from the Vidyadhara", the Chinese translation seems to indicate that there was mutual affection present in Dan Feng and Jing Yuan's relationship.
 * In a short video where Dan Heng retold stories with Mr. Xiyan, it's been noted that a small, teal finch in a cage with the door open may be a nod to Jing Yuan's deed that saved Dan Heng . Jing Yuan was also among the audience watching him.
 * During the cutscene in the climax of the battle with Phantylia, when Dan Heng hurled his spear into Jing Yuan to sever his connection to her, keen fans have noticed that Dan Heng imbued it with his Reverse Scale technique that created a protective aura around Jing Yuan and likely minimized the damage he sustained . It's also interpreted as an act of trust because the Reverse Scale, in Chinese myth, is a dragon's most vulnerable spot and can cause them to go berserk if tampered with.
 * Because some fans have noted that Dan Heng might represent the finches in Jing Yuan's Light Cone, due to similar eye markings, the way one of those finches pecked Jing Yuan on the lips has been interpreted as a subtle romantic nod between Dan Heng and himself.
 * The "Dreams From a Past Life" aria from the Cloudcry Songbook has also been interpreted as posibly being a reference to Jing Yuan and Dan Feng.