Business... actually got better than usual because of this?
Baiheng was busy off her feet, collecting money, handing over goods, and explaining the "extraordinary origins" of these items.
(What kind of situation is this...)
Baiheng mechanically completed transactions while complaining internally, (Customer traffic attracted by Jingliu's erhu playing... If Master knew about this, what would he think? Besides, I need to deliver these items to 'key figures' to collect data, not this kind of ordinary high-volume, low-margin sales!)
Just as she finished a transaction and caught her breath, a familiar and energetic female voice rang out in front of her stall, tinged with surprise:
"Bai... Miss Baiheng? Is that really you?"
Baiheng looked up, and what met her eyes was bright red hair and a cheerful smile
—it was Guinaifen!
"Miss Guinaifen?"
Baiheng was also surprised to run into this acquaintance, the street performer maiden, so coincidentally. "Long time no see."
Guinaifen was indeed stunned when she saw the white-haired fox-person maiden wearing round sunglasses in front of her.
When she previously met "Bai Heng," the other party usually wore that black eye patch, looking somewhat mysterious. This current look—stylish sunglasses and ordinary clothes—made her hesitate to confirm her identity.
"Wow! It really is Miss Bai Heng! I saw someone who looked like you from afar just now, but I didn't dare confirm it!"
Guinaifen said excitedly. Immediately, her attention was drawn to the dazzling array of "Herta" merchandise on the stall. "Are you... selling things? What are these? They look so unique!"
She picked up a Herta plushie with a "fiercely cute" expression and curiously squeezed it.
Just then, a seemingly spirited (?) maiden, dressed in Cloud Knights reserve uniform, who was following Guinaifen, also came closer, curiously examining the stall.
It was Sushang.
"Guinaifen, who is this?" Sushang asked.
"This is Miss Bai Heng. I had a small accident during a performance before, and Miss Bai Heng helped me out!"
Guinaifen introduced enthusiastically, then picked up the Herta plushie and marketed it to Sushang. "Sushang, look at this! The craftsmanship is so unique, and the expression is hilarious! How about hanging it on your sword sheath as decoration? It would definitely be distinctive!"
Sushang took the plushie, turned it over and examined it, a look of hesitation on her face. "Uh... it is quite unique... but hanging it on a sword sheath, wouldn't that be a little... undignified?"
"Oh, come on, that's called personality!"
Guinaifen urged. "Look at the material, the feel, it's definitely not ordinary stuff! Miss Bai Heng's items must be special! Buy one, buy one!"
Just as the two maidens were having a friendly discussion about whether "a plushie is suitable for decorating a weapon"—
Around the corner not far away, the mournful sound of the erhu paused slightly. Immediately, a few notes suddenly sharpened, carrying a sense of keenness, like Sword Qi slicing through the air.
This subtle change might be hard for ordinary people to notice, but for martial artists with keen senses, it was like an ice needle in the breeze, lightly pricking their senses.
"Hmm?"
Sushang instinctively shrank her neck, turning her head suspiciously toward Jingliu's direction. "Guinaifen, do you feel... suddenly cold?"
Guinaifen also stopped smiling and rubbed her arm: "It is a bit... strangely chilly. Odd, it was perfectly fine just now..."
Both of them shivered simultaneously and exchanged puzzled glances.
Meanwhile, Jingliu, the perpetrator, still lowered her gaze, concentrating on the erhu in her hands, as if the momentary shift in aura was merely the natural vibration of the strings.
Perspective shift.
Welt stood outside the Party Car door. Through the observation window, he could clearly see March 7th talking to a maiden whose back was turned to the door.
That maiden had a silhouette of pink hair extremely similar to March 7th's, but her attire was an unfamiliar black and red—this confirmed Danheng's previous report.
"She's here, alright..."
Welt adjusted his glasses, and the gaze behind the lenses sharpened.
Being mature and steady, he decided not to wait any longer and prepared to go straight in to confront this "uninvited guest."
However, just as his hand reached the door handle, a faint sound came from the corridor behind him.
Welt immediately turned back, alerted, only to see Xing standing motionless halfway down the corridor, facing him.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her grey hair slightly messy, and her breathing was steady and deep. She looked... like she had fallen asleep standing up?
(Sleepwalking?)
Welt frowned slightly, surprised internally.
He remembered clearly that he had just confirmed Xing was asleep in March 7th's room not long ago.
He immediately changed his priority, temporarily putting aside the "March 7th" inside the car, turning and walking softly toward Xing.
"Xing?"
After Welt approached, he lowered his voice and tentatively called out, "Why are you here? Can't you sleep?"
Xing gave no response, still maintaining her sleeping posture, only her chest rising slightly with her breath.
Just as Welt was considering whether to wake her up or try to guide her back to the room, an anomaly occurred!
Xing's right fist suddenly swung forward without warning, the movement swift and fierce, raising a brief whoosh of wind!
If that punch landed solid, it would definitely hurt.
Welt was startled, but fortunately, his extensive combat experience allowed him to instinctively shift sideways, narrowly dodging the straight punch.
He tried to reach out and hold Xing's arm, simultaneously shouting in a low voice, "Xing! Wake up!"
However, Xing's attack did not stop.
After her right arm was held by Welt, her joint twisted with an incredibly fluid, almost bizarre arc, as if limitless, and her elbow, like a heavy hammer, smashed toward Welt's face again!
(!)
Welt had to release her arm, taking a step back to widen the distance again.
His expression grew serious. Was it... some kind of unconscious combat instinct that had been activated?
Just as he stabilized his stance, Xing's attacks came pouring in continuously.
The maiden with closed eyes seemed to have transformed into a warrior in a dream, using both fists and feet. Although the movements lacked clear structure, the power and speed were undeniable, causing quite a bit of trouble in the narrow corridor.
Relying on his rich combat experience, Welt dodged and weaved, avoiding the blows repeatedly.
Watching Xing, whose eyes were closed but whose attacks were fierce, he quickly made a judgment:
(This can't go on. Xing's state is extremely abnormal. I must end this quickly and make her calm down.)
Spotting an opening, Welt flashed forward again, accurately cutting into Xing's blind spot. His palm, like a knife, pressed lightly but firmly against the back of her neck.
Xing's forward momentum suddenly halted, and her body slumped softly.
Welt quickly reached out to support her, preventing her from falling directly onto the floor.
Looking at Xing in his arms, still asleep but finally quiet, Welt sighed.
He carefully lifted Xing into a bridal carry and quickly walked toward March 7th's room, re-settling her on the bed.
Even after lying down, Xing's arm still unconsciously waved a few times before gradually calming down.
(Strange things tonight, one after another...)
After settling Xing, Welt returned to the entrance of the Party Car.
He took a deep breath, tidied his collar and scarf, which had become slightly disheveled from the recent "exchange," and looked inside through the observation window again—
"!"
This time, the car was empty.
The figure resembling March 7th had vanished, leaving only an untouched drink on the table.
Just as he was observing intently, the car door slid open from the inside with a "shua" sound.
March 7th, holding a cup of pink-blue specialty drink, ran right into him.
The pink-haired maiden clearly hadn't expected someone to be standing at the door; she jumped in surprise. After realizing it was Welt, a trace of panic flashed across her face.
"Mr. Yang?!"
March 7th instinctively looked back into the car before turning around, her tone carrying the guilt of being caught doing something wrong. "Y-you... what are you doing here?"
Welt, being someone who had weathered countless storms, instantly regained his usual calm demeanor. He adjusted his glasses and said naturally, "Nothing much, just couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd get a drink. And you, March, why are you still awake so late?"
"I was chatting with 'shut up' for a bit, and I was just about to go back to sleep."
March 7th blinked, seeming to accept the explanation. "Well, Mr. Yang, enjoy your drink. I'm heading back now!"
"Mhm, good night, March."
Welt watched March 7th's figure disappear down the corridor leading to the sleeping car before stepping into the now empty Party Car.
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