The crazy, bloodthirsty impulse Nameless had just now was forcefully suppressed by this bizarre and awkward reality, leaving her with nothing but question marks in her mind and an unprecedented sense of frustration.
"You... you guy—how did you do that?!"
Nameless's voice was full of a thick nasal tone and an incredulous accusation, completely stunned.
"Kids shouldn't worry about it, hurry up and get off me."
Seeing that Nameless still intended to bite his shoulder, Naruto playfully tapped her on the head.
"Blood—I want blood—"
One second, Nameless was holding her head in distress, the next, she was again driven by the Kabane's instincts, her amber eyes turning bloodthirsty and crimson.
At the same time, Nameless's aura also became increasingly weak.
"What you need isn't blood, but vitality."
Naruto placed one hand over Nameless's flat stomach, using Yang Release to transmit a wisp of his abundant life force to her.
Just a wisp was enough to revive Nameless on the spot, making her as energetic as if she had been injected with a stimulant.
"Strange, I'm not hungry anymore."
The blood red in her eyes quickly receded, and Nameless spread her hands, checking them left and right, then excitedly untied her kimono sash, pulling the kimono down to below her shoulders, exposing her back for Naruto to see.
"Weirdo, quickly help me check my back, is there anything unusual?"
Naruto looked at Nameless's slender, pale shoulders and her smooth, porcelain-like back, shaking his head and saying, "There's nothing unusual."
"It's... it's amazing!"
Nameless turned around, excitedly grabbed Naruto's hands, and blinked her eyes as she asked, "Weirdo, how did you do it? Is it Western magic or Eastern Daoist techniques? Not only am I not hungry now, I don't have any bloodthirsty impulses, and I'm full of inexhaustible energy. I feel—I feel—"
"Like you've been injected with a stimulant?"
"Yes, exactly, like I've been injected with a stimulant!"
Nameless pulled out her Steam Gun, her finger on the trigger, spinning the gun, looking both murderous and adorable.
"I can't wait to leave the Kōtetsujō, rush into Aragane Station, and kill a few hundred more Kabane!"
Naruto gave Nameless a merciless chop to the head, admonishing her in an annoyed tone, "Don't let your imagination run wild, get some good rest."
"Also, my name is Uzumaki Naruto, not Weirdo. You can just call me by my name—Naruto."
"I can't sleep."
Nameless puffed out her cheeks, rubbed the top of her head where Naruto had chopped her, her glass-like eyes darting mischievously, then she stood up with a grin, hands behind her head, "Naruto, you're not sleepy either, are you? Why don't we go for a walk? It's so boring and stuffy in here."
"Alright."
Naruto couldn't refuse Nameless, so he had to agree to her request.
At the same time.
The Kōtetsujō emitted a heavy, rhythmic roar on the tracks outside the station.
The tail inspection carriage was filled with the dull scent of mixed oil, rust, and steam, with only a few dim gas lamps providing limited light.
As the protagonist, Sheng Ju, although he hadn't met Nameless, still miraculously escaped death and, with the help of his good friend Choujin, successfully boarded the Kōtetsujō.
At this moment, he was in the tail inspection carriage, engrossed in adjusting his specialized 'Piercing Gun,' attempting to more securely install the blade made from Kabane heart membrane, sweat dampening his forehead.
Suddenly, a cold, sharp gaze, like a tangible blade, pierced the back of his neck.
Sheng Ju stiffened abruptly, a chill instantly shooting up his spine.
He instinctively raised his hand to cover his neck—that spot had been bitten by a Kabane!
Beneath his skin, several fiery yellow blood vessels were uncontrollably and clearly emerging, like lava beneath rock layers, emitting an ominous glow under the dim lamplight!
"Are you Sheng Ju?!"
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi's cold voice, suppressing extreme anger and killing intent, echoed behind him, with a texture like metal scraping.
Sheng Ju's heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible hand, and he slowly turned around.
He saw Jiu Zhi Lai Xi, his right shoulder bandaged, standing in the shadows of the carriage connection, his left hand already firmly grasping the Steam Gun at his waist.
Although the muzzle hadn't yet been raised, his taut posture and hawk-like sharp gaze had already locked onto the undeniable 'monster' characteristic on Sheng Ju's neck—a Kabane!
Beside Jiu Zhi Lai Xi was Haruka, who was temporarily being escorted.
Several samurai who heard the commotion also quickly gathered, their faces showing fear and hostility, their Steam Guns aimed at Sheng Ju.
"No—no, it's not! Lord Lai Xi!"
Sheng Ju's face was pale, his voice trembling with fear and despair.
He futilely clutched his glowing neck veins, "I'm not a Kabane! I... I can control it! I'm human! I've always been protecting everyone!"
"My Piercing Gun—look at my Piercing Gun! I'm only doing this to kill Kabane—"
Sheng Ju raised the Steam Piercing Gun he was adjusting as if grasping a lifeline.
However.
His actions only triggered the surrounding guard team, who nervously gripped their triggers.
As soon as Jiu Zhi Lai Xi gave the order, they would open fire, turning Sheng Ju into a sieve with their Steam Guns.
"Shut up!"
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi interrupted sharply, his voice slightly trembling with anger.
"I saw that fiery yellow-red light clearly! That's the light of a Kabane's heart! You've been infected! You're no longer human! You're just a monster in human skin! A ticking time bomb lurking among us!"
Sheng Ju was struck by lightning, he stumbled back a step, hitting the cold carriage wall.
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi's words were like a cold dagger, accurately piercing his deepest fears and self-reproach.
He looked at the samurai around him, who were staring at him with fear and hostility, and a huge sense of despair almost overwhelmed him.
"I didn't—I really didn't—"
Sheng Ju's defense was pale and powerless, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Enough!"
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, his eyes now only showing cold duty and a nearly cruel 'mercy.'
He pulled out a heavy, gray-white conical cloth bag with a pull ring from his Pregnant—a suicide bag!
With a 'clunk,'
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi forcefully threw the suicide bag at Sheng Ju's feet. It was unclear what was inside the suicide bag, but it made a heavy sound as it hit the Kōtetsujō's iron plate.
"Pick it up."
Jiu Zhi Lai Xi's voice was unquestionable, and the muzzle slowly rose, pointing at Sheng Ju's heart.
"As a human—no, as a former human! Pick it up! End yourself with dignity, like a man!"
"Before you completely turn into a monster and harm Lord Ayame and others! This is your last way to prove you're human!"
The suicide bag lay silently at Sheng Ju's feet, like a heavy tombstone.
The surrounding samurai held their breath, the atmosphere so oppressive it was suffocating.