"You can't go out."
When those words left Fang Li's mouth and reached Mumei's ears, she was somewhat surprised.
Almost by reflex, Mumei asked,
"Why?"
"I promised someone." Fang Li said bluntly, "As a condition for letting you stay on the Iron Fortress, you have to remain in this last car. You're not allowed to go anywhere."
"...Is that so?" The surprise gradually vanished from Mumei's face. "But I have to go over there. Don't stop me."
With that, Mumei forcefully twisted her shoulder free from Fang Li's grasp, then reached out again and grabbed the door handle.
However, in the next instant, Mumei stopped.
The hand that had been pressing on her shoulder a moment ago had somehow gripped a sharp dagger in reverse. It reached around from behind her and held the blade against her neck.
At the same time, an icy sensation rose in Mumei's heart.
She was very familiar with that feeling.
She had felt it from Fang Li more than once before.
That feeling conveyed only one message to Mumei.
Danger.
"I said, you can't go over there."
Standing behind Mumei, Fang Li held the dagger in a reverse grip, its sharp edge resting before her neck. His dark eyes had already transformed into Ice-Blue Demon Eyes.
In Fang Li's vision, crack-like Death Lines began to emerge.
Mumei's petite body in particular was covered in such Death Lines, which extended all the way toward her heart.
Naturally, Death Lines ran across Mumei's neck as well.
No matter what sort of creature it was, if its head was cut off at the neck, only exceptionally immortal beings could survive.
Mumei did not belong to that category.
As long as her head was severed, this adorable girl would die immediately.
Thus, at this moment, all Fang Li had to do was exert the slightest force, and the exceptionally cute girl before him would bid farewell to this world.
Ikoma was completely at a loss over this sudden development.
Mumei, on the other hand, felt extreme danger in her heart, yet there was not the slightest hint of fear on her childish, pretty face. There was not even any expression.
Still, Mumei spoke.
"There's a Kabane presence in this Hayajiro." Without turning around, Mumei said, "A Kabane must have snuck in."
"Is that so?" Fang Li's expression did not soften in the slightest. His Ice-Blue Demon Eyes stared at Mumei's back as he said, "But what does that have to do with you?"
"What do you mean, what does it have to do with me?" Mumei frowned. "If a Kabane has appeared, then it should be defeated."
In other words, Mumei wanted to rush into the cars ahead solely to defeat the Kabane, not because she was worried about the lives of the Aragane Station civilians aboard the Iron Fortress.
"You're acting just to defeat the Kabane, is that it?" Fang Li closed his eyes.
Anyone could figure out what kind of commotion and consequences Mumei would cause if she rushed into the cars ahead.
By then, the atmosphere that had only just eased would be completely shattered, and Mumei and Ikoma's position would only become even more disadvantageous.
Of course, that was not the most important issue.
The most important thing was that Fang Li, who knew the original story, knew exactly what the Kabane presence Mumei had sensed was.
Therefore, Fang Li knew that even if Mumei rushed into the cars ahead, she would not find that so-called Kabane. She would only give the Yotsuyu Clan's warriors an excuse to shoot them.
Naturally, Fang Li would not let Mumei do something so unnecessary.
"To be honest, I can leave whenever I want and stop caring about you. The only reason I'm still here is to repay you for helping me before."
Fang Li's expression was very calm. "If you think you don't need that, you can say so at any time. I've repaid most of what I owed you anyway. But I must tell you this: given the current situation, it seems I'm the only one who can provide you with blood. If you want to become a Kabane, then I won't stop you anymore."
After saying that, Fang Li opened his eyes again. However, the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception had already been deactivated, returning to their dark color.
Then Fang Li withdrew the dagger from Mumei's neck, turned around, and sat down against the wall.
Mumei's frown deepened. Then, as though she no longer wanted to think about such a complicated matter, she reached for the door handle once more.
But at that moment, Mumei suddenly realized something.
The Kabane presence she had sensed just moments ago had abruptly vanished.
"Huh?" Mumei froze.
Seeing this clearly, Fang Li smiled faintly without giving anything away. Then he closed his eyes and put on the appearance of being asleep.
Mumei turned around and happened to see that scene.
Immediately, she said with some dissatisfaction, "Did you already know it would turn out like this? Is that why you stopped me?"
Mumei's question received no answer.
Leaning against the wall, Fang Li merely breathed evenly, looking as though he had truly fallen asleep.
That sight only made Mumei grit her teeth in irritation.
Yet at that moment, Ikoma asked in confusion, "What exactly is going on now?"
Mumei immediately glared at Ikoma, startling him into taking several steps back.
This young-looking girl was extremely violent. If he made her unhappy, he would definitely get beaten black and blue.
Ikoma had no desire to become her punching bag.
"Hmph." Mumei snorted coldly, ignored Ikoma, and returned to the wall as well. Leaning against it, she closed her eyes and began to sleep.
Only Ikoma remained, staring at Fang Li and Mumei as they slept against opposite walls, unable to make heads or tails of the situation for a long while.
Time quietly passed.
The Iron Fortress continued speeding along the tracks, racing toward an unseen destination ahead.
Inside the last car of the Iron Fortress, Fang Li and the others remained as they had been from the start, each occupying a corner and sleeping against the walls without speaking another word.
Under those circumstances, the sun outside gradually set in the west, bringing evening upon them.
At a certain moment, all three people in the car opened their eyes at once.
Ikoma looked toward the door and said in a low voice, "Someone's coming."
A set of footsteps gradually became clearer.
After a while, a pleasant voice softly sounded from outside the door.
"Mr. Fang Li..."