章節 263: Yuwu Expansion (5)

Yasushi watched Fenling, puzzled by his abrupt actions. Shouts rang out behind him, but he ignored them, ducking as Fenling's fist shot toward his face. Fenling let out a grunt, pressing on with his attempts to strike, his punches missing their mark.

Fenling swung a kick, trying to take Yasushi's feet out from under him, but Yasushi sidestepped, avoiding it cleanly.

"Hah! You're worth—" Fenling started, but his words broke off as Yasushi's fist connected with his face. Fenling stumbled backward, his body hitting the ground hard. His eyes stared upward, unfocused, as he lay sprawled on his back under the open sky.

"You should find a better pastime," Yasushi said, glancing at him. A group of Xinyi's staff rushed in, surrounding Fenling where he had fallen.

Yasushi turned to them. "He got over the wall. Probably wanted payback against Xinyi for earlier. I only knocked him down."

That was when the rest of his friends showed up beside him, but the moment they noticed Fenling, they let out heavy sighs. Xinyi walked over, crouched next to him, and frowned. "You're an idiot. What exactly did you think was going to happen if you came here?" she asked, her tone sharp and disbelieving.

Fenling's half-lidded eyes slowly focused on her. With a dazed grin, he mumbled, "Black lace…who's that supposed to impress?"

Xinyi froze for a moment before her face turned red. She got up, kicked him in the side, and marched away without a word. Catherine and Jingliu followed, neither sparing him a glance. Fenling wheezed from the kick, immediately regretting his comment, but his gaze found Yasushi — the only other guy who was always around Xinyi.

"Lucky bastard…" Fenling muttered before his head lolled, and he passed out cold.

The head maid, Nianqing, stood to the side, arms crossed. "This isn't the first time Fenling's pulled something like this. The first time was a few years ago, after Lady Xinyi and he had a shouting match."

"I see, but it sounds like he likes her," Yasushi remarked, looking over at Nianqing, who exhaled deeply.

"He does, but Lady Xinyi can't stand him. She has absolutely no interest in him. We've told him to stop chasing after her more times than I can count, but he doesn't seem to listen. She hasn't officially turned him down yet, but it's only a matter of time," she replied, hoisting Fenling like a sack of rice and heading out through the wide gates of the enormous home.

Yasushi stayed where he was for a moment, watching Nianqing leave. Then, with a small shrug, he turned around and went back inside the extravagant building. Thoughts circled his mind, but he decided not to voice them, knowing the answers would come to him through the right channels eventually.

+-+

Two days passed, and eventually, the two they had been waiting for arrived. They stood by the train station, watching as the train doors slid open, allowing four figures to step out onto the platform.

One of them was Guo Tianyu, someone they already knew. Beside him was a girl about his age, holding his hand. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders, her green eyes scanning the surroundings. She had slightly tanned skin and wore a white dress paired with a straw hat.

Next to them stood his maid, and the fourth was an older woman whose distinct appearance gave her away immediately — they already knew who she was as well.

"Glad you could make it, Guo Tianyu," Yasushi said, stepping forward. He extended his hand, and Guo Tianyu accepted it. The handshake lingered just long enough to convey mutual respect.

"Glad I could come and help," Guo Tianyu replied. Releasing Yasushi's hand, he gestured to the girl at his side. "This is Noelani Ewa, my fiancée."

Noelani bowed, her movements deliberate and measured as she spoke. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Noelani Ewa. I hope we all get along. Tianyu has told me a lot about you, and I appreciate how you've helped him find the right path."

Tianyu's face flushed red, his voice breaking as he stammered, "H-hey, come on now, d-don't tease me like that…" He glanced away, his embarrassment clear in his expression.

The group burst into laughter, the mood light and easy, before turning their focus to the last person. Yasushi stepped forward, his steps purposeful as he addressed her. "I didn't expect to see you here, Inari."

Inari, known for her connection to foxes, agriculture, and prosperity, had once been a pivotal figure in Yasushi's life. Years ago, during their high school trip to Kyoto, she had extended her help when he needed it most. She acknowledged him with a warm smile, her voice carrying familiarity. "It's nice to see you again. I hope you'll visit us sometime. As for why I'm here, I'm keeping watch while working on an alliance with the Chinese pantheon."

"An alliance?" Yasushi asked. "I thought everyone already had one. Nandini and Hakufubuki mentioned it before."

"On paper, yes," she replied. "It's supposed to inform the entire supernatural community that we've all agreed to it — a non-aggression pact, officially speaking. But not everyone has been approached to discuss the specifics. Things like trade arrangements, cultural exchanges, and ways to integrate more effectively haven't been sorted out yet. I was part of the group sent to negotiate with the Chinese pantheon, but Lady Amaterasu instructed me to prioritize you and your group before heading back to join them."

She turned and began walking, accompanied by a small group. "Come on. Show me what needs to be done. Once I've finished here, whether it takes a day or a week, I'll return to them." Her companions quickly fell into step behind her.

+-+

An hour passed as the group guided Inari's group through Yuwu, pointing out the significant places and sharing bits of local history. When they wrapped up the impromptu tour, they decided to head to a restaurant for an early lunch. They were led to a private table tucked in the back, offering them a quieter space for their meal.

"Your Chinese and Japanese are really good, Noelani. Did you practice with Guo Tianyu?" Xinyi asked as they started eating.

"Yes. He's helped me a lot these past few years, along with the others in our little town. I wouldn't have gotten this far without him. We also had help from the Hawaiian gods after learning about them, which sped things up," she said, pausing to take another bite. "This food is really good."

"I'm glad you like it. I kind of figured Tianyu let you try some Chinese dishes while you were in Hawaii," Xinyi replied.

"He did. He even helped book a few places, so it felt a little more special," Noelani said. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke, and that color spread to Guo Tianyu's face as he glanced away.

"Aww~ you two are so cute~" Yunxue teased, her voice drawing out the words with playful intent. Both of them turned crimson at her remark, while the group erupted in shared laughter at their expense.

"By the way, did you put a magical barrier around this town? I noticed something unusual as we got closer," Inari asked, looking at them with interest.

"Yes, I did," Nandini replied, her tone steady and measured. "I thought it necessary since certain troublemakers might come here and try to interfere with what's being built. That said, the main concern right now seems to be someone named Fenling and his antics."

"Fenling? Who's that? What's he done?" Inari asked, her expression shifting as she glanced around for clarity.

Nandini gave a brief rundown of what had occurred, recounting the most recent events. She explained that the group had been waiting for their arrival to gather their perspective on how to proceed. As Nandini finished, the three newcomers stood in silence for a moment, processing the information before exchanging looks, their thoughts already turning to the decisions that needed to be made.

"Is the plan to just... force him out? I know he's causing trouble and slowing everything down, but... couldn't we just talk to him?" Guo Tianyu glanced at the others, his tone uncertain.

"I think so too. Maybe we can reason with him? I'm not saying it'll work, but it's worth trying, isn't it?" Noelani asked, her voice carrying a note of hope.

"Go ahead if you want, but don't expect much. He's as stubborn as they come. And don't let your guard down either — he might lash out," Xinyi warned, her expression leaving no room for argument.

"Alright, we'll give it a shot after lunch," Tianyu replied. Nobody pushed back against the idea; it was clear he and Noelani weren't about to back down anyway.

The rest of lunch passed quietly. They ate, exchanged small talk, and poked fun at Tianyu and Noelani whenever the opportunity arose. Meanwhile, Inari sat silently, lost in thought. Whatever was on her mind, none of them dared to ask.

+-+

They stood in the same place as before, and to their surprise, Fenling was there, standing with his arms crossed and eyes closed like he had been expecting them.

"Hmph! You've come for our showdown!" Fenling declared, his tone serious yet theatrical, confusing everyone present.

Yasushi leaned closer to Xinyi and muttered, "Was this guy always such a chuunibyou? He's the same age as us, right?"

Xinyi pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a small groan. "Yeah, he is. He's just... always like this," she replied, her discomfort clear as she cringed at Fenling's dramatic display.

Guo Tianyu stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Uh, we're not here for a fight. We just wanted to talk about peacefully leaving this area so we can begin the reconstruction," he said, his tone more awkward than convincing.

Fenling puffed out his chest and placed his hands on his hips before opening his eyes. "I refuse! If you want me gone, you'll have to defeat me in combat! You'll have to take my life to make me leave!" His words came with a theatrical flair that only deepened the awkward silence that followed.

"He's lost his mind," Yunxue remarked, her voice cutting through the quiet as she tried to make sense of Fenling's behavior.

"Wait, we—" Noelani began, her voice strained, but her words were cut off as Fenling rushed forward, his fist ready to strike.

Guo Tianyu stepped in immediately, positioning himself between Fenling and Noelani, catching the blow with his arm. Fenling's strike reverberated through the contact, but Guo Tianyu held his ground, blocking another attack aimed directly at Noelani. Fenling showed no signs of stopping, his actions fueled by whatever scenario he had crafted in his mind, as though he were acting out a scene only he understood.

"Please, stop!" Noelani called out, desperation creeping into her voice. "Can't we just talk this out?"

Fenling ignored her completely, his attacks continuing as Guo Tianyu deflected each one with accuracy. The others stood rooted in place, watching the exchange with wide eyes, their disbelief obvious in their silence.

Noelani's pleas became more urgent, but Fenling refused to acknowledge her. Eventually, she let out a sharp breath, closing her eyes briefly as if making a decision. When she opened them, her expression had changed into something calmer.

"Tian, step aside," she said, her voice controlled. Guo Tianyu froze at her words, the command catching him off guard. Slowly, he moved out of the way, though his hesitation remained. Fenling stopped mid-step, thrown by the sudden change in Guo Tianyu's demeanor, though his stance remained tense.

"I will ask you one more time. Stop and speak to us like normal people," Noelani said, fixing Fenling with a determined look. Her tone carried the burden of someone done with patience.

Fenling scoffed, curling his lip as he jabbed a finger in her direction. "I don't take orders from women, and I certainly don't take them from foreigners. You won't change this place to suit your greed. This is my home, my land, and you'll have to kill me before I move!" His voice was rough, each word hurled like a challenge.

Noelani let out a slow breath and stepped closer, her expression unflinching. Fenling smirked as though daring her to make the next move, but his confidence faltered when her hand shot up and snatched his incoming fist without hesitation. The crisp snap of impact resounded as her other fist drove into his chin, leaving him momentarily frozen in shock.

Fenling's body lifted off the ground and hit the dirt a few paces away with a heavy thud. "I warned you nicely. Learn to listen, you annoying piece of shit!" Noelani roared, her voice piercing through the stillness with enough force to shake the surrounding air.

"What the…" Xinyi muttered, her voice low as she tried to process what had just happened.

Guo Tianyu, still red-faced, turned toward them and began explaining, the words coming out cautiously. "Noelani's usually kind and thoughtful, but she has this... other side to her. I found that out the hard way. Back when I was still acting arrogant, she tried to settle an argument with me calmly. I kept running my mouth, and, well, she reacted the same way you just saw. Except she knocked me out cold."

He rubbed the back of his neck, pausing briefly before continuing. "I was unconscious for a few days. When I woke up, I was in her house. It was... a turning point for me. That was when I really started to change." He glanced away, avoiding their eyes as he added, "Eventually, one thing led to another, and we started dating. The rest, as they say, is history. But... yeah, I think I'm into women like her. Confident and..." He trailed off, cutting himself short and clearly deciding not to elaborate further.

"R-right…" Xinyi mumbled, her expression a mix of unease and mild disbelief at his preferences.

Noelani leaned down, grabbed Fenling by the collar, and pulled him upright without pause. Her movements carried purpose as she turned back to the group, a faint smile playing on her face.

"Shall we take a look around this place and figure out what needs to be done?" she asked, her tone lighter now, almost inviting.

The shift in her demeanor, from calm and considerate to something harsher, left the others uncertain but intrigued. There was something magnetic about the contrast, as if both sides were equally true yet impossible to reconcile fully. Still, they nodded, falling in step behind her as they moved to explore this side of the town, free of Fenling's earlier interference.