The One Who Can Subdue Dusk

Nian waved his hand generously, turned around, and looked at Hoshiguma and Maria again.

"But what brings you all here? Hoshiguma, are you preparing to play the second female lead in my new script?"

"Regarding this... Miss Nian, I still refuse, after all, I'm really not very good at this kind of thing."

Hoshiguma smiled and, after entering the room with Maria, she wasn't reserved at all. She turned around and sat cross-legged on the floor with Maria.

Maria, standing nearby, gently sat down on the ground, looking somewhat curious.

Do you... know each other?

I guess so.

Hoshiguma, on the other hand, was very open and generous.

Just recently, the Lungmen Guard Department suddenly received intelligence that an important person from Yan had entered Lungmen, and they were asked to make security preparations. Coincidentally, Hoshiguma was also dispatched to participate in that mission.

During that mission, Hoshiguma shielded Chen from an attack, sustaining injuries and requiring a temporary rest.

Upon learning of this, Nian enthusiastically brought a lot of gifts to visit Hoshiguma.

After a few drinks, the two found themselves getting along surprisingly well and gradually became acquainted.

Although they didn't interact much due to their identities and positions, they both remembered this warm-hearted friend.

Upon learning that Maria was currently lacking a suitable weapon, she immediately thought of Nian, this unique being.

Maria was somewhat moved by Hoshiguma's caring actions.

"Thanks."

She spoke, her gaze fixed on Hoshiguma's eyes, a hint of tenderness in her eyes.

"It's nothing... You've helped me a lot too."

Hoshiguma's smile became somewhat awkward under Maria's gaze.

She turned her head slightly away, avoiding Maria's gaze.

"I heard from Chen that you arrested several members of the Reunion Movement, right? And that time we cooperated with Rhodes Island, it was you who found Misha... And the explosion in the shopping district, you suppressed that too, right?"

"You've helped us so much, we should at least show our appreciation."

As Hoshiguma spoke, she and Nian skillfully set up the hot pot.

But since they were indoors, they couldn't use coal to burn fuel, so they turned to using Originium stoves instead.

"Huh? You've done so much? I didn't realize you were such a restless person."

Nian stood to the side, starting to cook the food Hoshiguma had brought, while curiously watching Maria.

She genuinely hadn't realized that Maria was such an active person.

After hearing Hoshiguma's explanation, she roughly understood why these two people had come to her.

"You want me to forge a suitable weapon for her, right?"

Nian smiled, neither agreeing nor refusing, but instead turned to look at Maria.

"And what are your thoughts?"

"If possible, I do need a weapon, but... I can't find a single shop in Lungmen that meets my requirements right now." Maria nodded.

Just like what she had just said to Chen.

An unsuitable weapon can be a major threat to a soldier's life on the battlefield, while a good weapon can be the best tool to help a soldier break through enemy lines.

Even now, Maria has never considered completely abandoning weapons to fight.

Moreover, due to her unique physical characteristics, she does indeed need a weapon that matches her abilities to unleash her full combat potential.

"Huh? Are they that hard to please?"

Nian nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

Admittedly, in this world, there are very few people who can surpass her on the path of forging; they are practically nonexistent.

The weapons she forges are absolutely among the best in the world.

But she rarely forged a weapon for any one person.

This is not only because the weapons she forged would disappear with her death at some point.

More than anything, she believed that weapons were like people.

"Only someone I know well, someone I trust, can I forge a weapon that suits her."

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of meat, dipped it in his condiment dish, and then swallowed it while it was still hot.

"If we were to forge it, it wouldn't be bad, but it probably wouldn't be considered a particularly powerful weapon."

"Even so, it's still selling much better than a typical store, which should be enough for you to do your best."

"So what are you planning to do? Do you want a good weapon, or are you just looking for something to get by?"

As he spoke, he kept looking at Maria.

This was not just a simple inquiry; more than that, she wanted to know more about Maria's thoughts.

Even if they bicker and tease each other on a daily basis, Xi is still his younger sister... She likes and cares about people, so naturally Nian wants to spend more time with her.

If it's someone she can truly entrust with her affairs... then she won't say much more.

As for the Yan...

Ha.

Their Sui Family didn't want to cause trouble, but they weren't so afraid of trouble that they had to be subservient to others!

They've already learned their lesson once, and they're definitely not going to make the same mistake twice!

If all else fails, ask your older siblings to talk to them and reason with them!

Let's see if they're more stubborn with their words, or if the eldest brother's fists are stronger.

Thinking about it, Nian smiled and took a sip of his drink, then turned to ask Maria for her answer.

But Maria didn't say much.

Amidst the questioning gazes of the two people, she slowly put down her own set of bowls and chopsticks, turned around, and went to stand in front of a mirror.

Amid their astonished gazes, she decisively reached her hand into the mirror!

After fiddling around for a bit, she withdrew her hand.

At the same time, he was also holding a head that Nian was familiar with...

"Is this also your guest?"

Maria turned her head and asked in confusion.

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Person Who Can Subdue Xi

I'm about to cry...

Nian stared in astonishment at her younger sister, who, in theory, should have remained motionless in her own painted world, but in reality, she was indeed secretly spying from within it.

Looking at the other person's face, which was being awkwardly held by Maria, pulled out of the mirror.

Seeing the flush on the other person's face, she made a clear judgment.

If this continues, Xi is really going to cry!

No... what kind of situation is this?

So you told me you'd be notified after seeing Maria, but you've been secretly watching this place the whole time?

Why are you acting like a child?

Nian rubbed his temples with a wry smile, then looked at Maria and Xi over there.

Maria had already pulled her hand away from the mirror world and was now cradling Xi's little head.

For some reason, this shy and withdrawn guy had been hiding in the mirror and spying on us the whole time.

Spying on someone is one thing, but to be caught by Maria and pulled out of the mirror...

But saying it was pulled out isn't entirely accurate.

At this moment, only Xi's upper body was visible outside the mirror, while her lower body remained hidden inside.

Her slightly red, puffed-up face had a touch of childlike innocence, and her chubby cheeks puffed out, giving her a somewhat comical appearance.

Despite her pride, she refused to ask her older sister for help, but the glances she occasionally gave revealed her current situation.

She wanted to speak, but stopped Maria.

Unfortunately, Nian was a rather incompetent older sister... Although she was called an older sister, their relationship was actually more like that of best friends, and they would often joke around.

Seeing Xi get thwarted by Maria, she was actually pleased.

So she didn't stop Maria, but instead watched her with a wicked smile.

"Woo!"

Xi's face really started to turn red.

Seeing that Nian's plea for help had gone unanswered, she turned her head and looked at Maria, who had a cold expression and seemed not to recognize her. As if giving up on herself, she decisively opened her mouth and bit Maria's hand hard!

Let me go!

Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, Maria didn't feel any pain after being bitten; instead, she felt as if the other person was sucking on her skin...

This made Maria tilt her head, a clear look of confusion on her face.

What is this girl doing?

"Waaah..."

Seeing that her bites were ineffective, Xi really wished she could disappear into the ground.

She lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, and let Maria pull her body out of the entire illusory world, then place her on the ground like a child.

After observing carefully for a while, Maria turned her head and looked at Nian.

Is it your relative?

"Huh?" Nian laughed, somewhat surprised. "How did you find out?"

"Even here, I still rarely see people with so many tattoos on their hands."

Maria nodded slightly in response.

But the answer is clearly not just that.

Maria could actually sense the other person's presence, but it was more a matter of aura.

From the moment she entered the room, she could sense that Nian and Leizi were not the only ones present... She could still feel the strange sensation Nian had given her from one other place.

However, she hadn't been able to determine the other party's origin before.

But after they sat down, Maria clearly felt the undisguised prying gazes falling on her.

Only then did she confirm the other person's existence.

As for why it can be determined that the two people are related...

This was thanks to the fact that both of them had tails and manes that looked like burning flames, as well as extremely eye-catching large tattoos on their arms that almost obscured the skin.

Even Chen, Maria appeared to be of the same race as them, did not have any tattoos on her.

Etc...

This... doesn't look like a tattoo?

After a few moments of hesitation, Maria gently took Xi's hand in hers.

Compared to Maria, Xi's hands are really very small.

Although the skin color of her arms was no longer discernible, the unique indigo hue was very eye-catching, and when placed in her palm, Maria could clearly feel a moist texture.

Upon closer inspection, one can also discover that the lines on the girl's hands emanate from her body and occasionally pulsate.

"That's amazing."

After a moment of silence, Maria shook her head and gently placed the other person's hand back.