Beatrice Schwire had repeatedly warned Flandre not to step into this area casually. After all, there were many undocumented outsiders here, and no one knew if someone among them would harbor malicious intent toward her. However, since she was already here, Flandre had no intention of turning back. Instead, she walked while curiously observing this "lawless land" within the city of Lungmen.
Behind her, seven or eight people were quietly tailing her.
"Is it her?"
"That's her, alright. The boss said those people from the Schwire Family are too unscrupulous, messing with us businessmen like this. It just so happens we saw that woman interacting very intimately with this kid earlier; their relationship is definitely unusual. As long as we catch her, we can make that woman stop what she's doing." The man stared at Flandre walking ahead and spoke viciously.
"Isn't this going too far? After all, she's just a child!" someone hesitated slightly.
"What's wrong with her being a child? Besides, she ran into the Slums on her own. If we don't act, others will. Look around, several people are eyeing her. Coming here dressed like that, it's impossible not to stand out."
Although Flandre sensed hostility, there was too much of it around for her to pay any mind to the people behind her. Before she had gone far, she suddenly heard a voice calling out to her repeatedly.
"Little sister, come here quickly! Hurry over!"
She turned to look and saw a purple-haired rabbit girl standing at a nearby alley entrance, waving at her with an anxious expression. After Flandre walked over, the other girl grabbed her.
"Come with me quickly, I'll lead you out!"
"Why go out?" Flandre asked curiously while being pulled along.
"Didn't the adults in your family tell you not to come to the Slums alone dressed so nicely! Lots of people are watching you. Stay close to me; I know a small path that can take you directly back to the city. You'll be safe there." The other girl spoke in a low voice as they walked, fearing that being too loud would attract attention.
"Then why don't I just walk back the way I came?" Flandre suggested that if there was danger ahead, she could just turn around. Why waste time taking a detour?
"Haven't you noticed? You have at least three teams of tails behind you. I recognize two of them; they're from local gangs. A tender little thing like you would definitely be sold off somewhere else if they caught you."
While complaining, the girl led Flandre through the Slums, making many twists and turns and occasionally passing directly through some houses. It was clear that she was very familiar with the terrain of this area. This made things difficult for the pursuers behind them. They might have been equally familiar with the area, but precisely because they were familiar, they didn't dare to barge into random houses. Because the two in front were very cunning; several of the places they passed through were the territories of other gangs. Once they got close, they might be mistaken for trying to start a gang conflict. Even if they weren't misidentified, an extra competitor would emerge.
In less than ten minutes, under the girl's guidance, Flandre arrived at a passage.
"Phew, this is far enough. Just walk all the way to the end of this path, and you'll be back in the city once you exit. Remember, never come to the Slums casually again." Stopping at the entrance of an alley, the girl pointed down the path.
"What about you?" Flandre looked at her.
"I'll be fine! I'll slip away from here in a bit; those guys won't find me." The person pointed to a small hole nearby.
After hearing this, Flandre looked up towards a spot not far away. "Is she telling the truth, Sister Lin?"
"This girl is right; leaving from here indeed leads back to the city. But how did you end up running into the Slums?" The person Flandre called Sister Lin walked out from the darkness nearby.
"Eek!" Seeing her, the girl was startled.
Lin Yuxia nodded to Flandre, then looked at the girl. "I didn't expect to find such a pure and kind person in the Slums. I happen to need an assistant; do you want to come work for me?" Lin Yuxia said, looking at the little Cautus.
The girl hesitated for a moment and then shook her head. "Forget it, I'm just a nobody. I helped this sister only because I thought she shouldn't be here."
Lin Yuxia looked at her with surprise. "You're quite interesting. How about this: you helped this child, so I can't leave without thanking you. My name is Lin Yuxia. If you encounter trouble or danger you can't handle, you can go to the candy store in the Link District, find the owner, and give my name to seek protection. Remember my name, Lin Yuxia."
The girl nodded and prepared to leave, but was then grabbed by Flandre. Under the young girl's confused gaze, Flandre said, "My sister said one must repay kindness. I don't have anything else, so take this money and buy yourself something good to eat!"
She pulled out a handful of cash and stuffed it into the girl's hands, frightening her so much she stepped back repeatedly. Lin Yuxia, watching this from nearby, showed a strange smile. This one had been with Beatrice for too long and had no concept of money. She reached out and patted Flandre's shoulder, then said:
"Just give her two bills; that's appropriate for her status. Any more and she'll be in danger."
Flandre didn't understand why having more money would be dangerous, but she knew this Sister Lin, who appeared at Madam Fumizuki's tea party, must know Beatrice and Ch'en, so she listened and handed over two bills. Looking at the bills in front of her, the girl swallowed and bowed to Flandre.
"Thank you!"
After saying that, she dove into the small hole without looking back.
"My name is Flandre, Flandre Scarlet. It was nice meeting you!" Flandre went to the hole and shouted inside.
"I don't have a name. If you must call me something, call me Rope!" The girl inside replied a long while after Flandre finished speaking.
"Rope?" Flandre tilted her head; it was a strange name.
After the girl left, Flandre stood up. "Sister Lin, I'm leaving now!" She said goodbye to Lin Yuxia, who was smiling at her, and prepared to depart. Just then, a flurry of footsteps approached.
"Here! It's her!"
Hearing the voice, Flandre turned around to face the newcomers. Dozens of people ran over holding weapons. Upon seeing Lin Yuxia nearby, some of those who followed recognized her identity; their faces changed, and they turned tail and ran back immediately. Those who didn't recognize her surrounded the two of them in the center.
Facing this situation, Lin Yuxia looked at Flandre. "I've ended up in trouble along with you, sister. How are you going to thank me, little one?"
Flandre thought for a moment and realized she really didn't have anything on her to use as a thank-you gift. After all, the person in front of her wasn't lacking for money. What did she have that the other person didn't? Suddenly, she had a flash of inspiration.
"If Sister Lin doesn't mind, come to my house with me in a bit. I have some very impressive videos I can show you."
Hearing Flandre's words, Lin Yuxia raised an eyebrow. She had originally just wanted to tease her to make Flandre less nervous, but she didn't expect the girl to actually offer something. Although she had no concept of what Flandre meant by "impressive," she was free anyway. It just so happened that there was quite a commotion at the Guard Department last night; several members of the Schwire Family were arrested, and she heard it was Beatrice herself who did it. So she had already planned to find her to ask what she was up to.
After agreeing, she looked at the people surrounding them. "I'll give you five seconds to leave, otherwise, face the consequences. Five..." Lin Yuxia spread her long fingers and began to count down.
But the people remaining here basically didn't recognize her, so no one gave her any face. Someone even swung a club at her. In the next second, Lin Yuxia was seen making a vigorous forward step and a palm strike, hitting the man's neck. He rolled his eyes and collapsed on the spot. Seeing this, the others also swung their weapons and closed in.
"Flandre, just stand still. Leave these people to me."
Lin Yuxia's hands danced up and down, her body as graceful as a swimming dragon, weaving through the crowd like a butterfly through flowers. By the time she stopped, all those people were lying on the ground.
"Done!" Lin Yuxia clapped her hands and said with satisfaction.
"Aren't they enemies? Why didn't you kill them?" Flandre looked at Lin Yuxia and asked in confusion. After all, these people had raised weapons against them; in Flandre's eyes, they were enemies. Enemies could be killed. In Flandre's view, with Lin Yuxia's strength, killing these people would be easy, yet she not only didn't do it but also went to the trouble of knocking them all unconscious.
Hearing Flandre's words, Lin Yuxia's expression stiffened. What kind of education did this child receive? Talking about killing at the drop of a hat—she was even more ruthless than a mafia princess like herself.
"Flandre, not everyone's sins are punishable by death! Besides, according to the laws of Yan, killing is a bad act. As people of Yan, we naturally have to follow Yan's rules."
Flandre originally wanted to say that if she couldn't bring herself to do it, she could do it for her. But after hearing Lin Yuxia's words, she let go of that thought. "Alright then!" Flandre sighed with regret.
"Come, I'll take you home!" Lin Yuxia led Flandre toward the other side of the passage... back in Gensokyo.
"Is that a mouse spirit?" someone asked.
"Probably. Her appearance is very similar to Nazrin from the Nameless Hill. She also seems to be someone Flandre met over there." After observing Lin Yuxia on the screen, Marisa nodded and spoke.