What's that got to do with you?

"You can't go out."

When those words left Fang Li's mouth and reached Mumei's ears, she was somewhat surprised.

Almost reflexively, 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 and go nowhere."

"...Is that so?" The surprise on Mumei's face gradually faded. "But I have to go over there. Don't stop me."

With that, Mumei twisted her shoulder forcefully, shaking off Fang Li's hand, and reached out again to grip the door handle of the car.

Yet, the next instant, Mumei stopped.

Because the hand that had been pressing her shoulder a second ago had somehow reversed its grip on a sharp dagger, extending from behind her and resting against her neck.

At the same time, a chill surged within Mumei's heart.

That feeling was familiar to Mumei.

She had sensed it from Fang Li more than once before.

That feeling only conveyed one message to Mumei.

Danger.

"I said you can't go over there."

Standing behind Mumei, holding the dagger in a reverse grip with its sharp blade pressed against her neck, Fang Li's pitch-black eyes had already transformed into Ice-Blue Demon Eyes.

In Fang Li's vision, crack-like Death Lines began to emerge.

Especially on Mumei's small body, such Death Lines were branded everywhere, spreading toward her heart.

Naturally, Death Lines also ran across Mumei's neck.

No matter what kind of creature it was, if you cut off its head along the neck, only special beings with extreme immortality could survive.

Mumei did not fall into that category of special existence.

If her head were severed, this adorable girl would lose her life instantly.

So, at this moment, with just a slight push from Fang Li, the unusually cute girl before him would bid farewell to this world.

Ikoma was completely at a loss, stunned by this sudden development.

As for Mumei, even though she felt extreme danger within, her childish face showed not a trace of fear, nor even any expression.

But Mumei still spoke.

"There's the scent of a Kabane on this Hayajiro," Mumei said without turning her head. "A Kabane must have snuck in."

"Is that so?" Fang Li's expression remained equally unyielding, his Ice-Blue Demon Eyes fixed on 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 appears, we should defeat it."

In other words, Mumei wanted to charge into the front cars just to defeat the Kabane, not out of concern for the lives of the Aragane Station civilians on the Iron Fortress.

"You only act to defeat Kabane, is that it?" Fang Li closed his eyes.

If Mumei rushed into the front cars like this, the commotion and consequences it would cause were obvious even thinking with one's knees.

At that point, the hard-won easing of tension would be completely shattered, only making Mumei and Ikoma's position even more precarious.

Of course, that wasn't the most important issue.

The most important issue was that Fang Li, familiar with the original story, knew exactly what the Kabane scent Mumei had just sensed really meant.

So Fang Li knew that even if Mumei charged into the front cars, she wouldn't find that so-called Kabane. It would only give the Yotsuyu Clan's samurai an excuse to shoot them.

With such an unnecessary act, Fang Li naturally wouldn't let Mumei do it.

"To be honest with you, I can leave anytime and not care about you. I'm still here now only to repay the favor of your help earlier."

Fang Li's expression was very calm. "If you think it's unnecessary, you can say so anytime. I've already repaid most of the debt I owe you. But I must tell you that, 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."

With that, Fang Li reopened his eyes, but his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception had already been deactivated, returning to their pitch-black hue.

Then, Fang Li withdrew the dagger from Mumei's neck, turned around, and sat down directly against the wall.

Mumei's frown deepened, but she seemed unwilling to think about such complicated issues any longer. She reached for the door handle again.

But at that moment, Mumei suddenly realized.

The Kabane scent she had just sensed had abruptly vanished.

"Huh?" Mumei stood there dumbfounded.

Seeing this clearly, Fang Li gave a faint, imperceptible smile, then closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Mumei turned around and happened to see this.

So, Mumei said somewhat discontentedly, "Did you already know this would happen, is that why you stopped me?"

Mumei's accusation received no answer.

Leaning against the wall, Fang Li only let out steady breaths, looking as if he had truly fallen asleep.

This expression of hers only made Mumei grind her teeth in frustration.

Just then, Ikoma, completely oblivious, asked, "What exactly is going on now?"

Mumei immediately glared at Ikoma, startling him so much that he stumbled back several steps.

This seemingly young girl was extremely violent; once she got upset, she would definitely beat someone black and blue.

So Ikoma had no desire to become her punching bag.

"Hmph." Mumei snorted coldly, ignoring Ikoma, and returned to the wall, leaning against it, closing her eyes to sleep.

Only Ikoma remained, staring at Fang Li and Mumei, who were sitting opposite each other, leaning against the wall and fast asleep, utterly baffled.

Time slipped by quietly.

The Iron Fortress continued to race along the railway tracks, charging forward toward an endless horizon.

In the last car of the Iron Fortress, Fang Li and his group had, as before, each taken a corner, leaning against the wall to sleep, without exchanging any further words.

Under these circumstances, the sun outside the train gradually sank toward the west, ushering in the evening.

At a certain moment, the three people in the car opened their eyes simultaneously.

Ikoma looked toward the door and said in a low voice, "Someone's coming."

The sound of footsteps began to grow clearer.

A moment later, from outside the door, a pleasant voice rang out softly.

"Mr. Fang Li..."

(Requesting collections! Requesting recommendations! Requesting clicks!)