Facing the simmering anger of the three girls, Luo Hong felt incredibly smug. His "accidental" kindness toward Mei was paying off brilliantly. He decided to turn up the "innocence" act.
"Ahem..." he cleared his throat humbly. "Miss Mei, I only did a small part. The success belongs to your hard work on the front lines."
The trio's eyes narrowed. Shameless! So shameless!
"Mr. Luo Hong is too modest," Mei insisted. "Without your intel and the help of Miss Cangxuan and Danzhu from the inside, we would have faced many more struggles. Major Himeko surely would have been injured. In fact, after the mission, she asked Bronya to thank you."
Mei looked over at Bronya.
"Uh... yes, that did happen," Bronya said, her gray eyes flashing with suppressed frustration. "Major Himeko wanted Bronya to thank you. Otherwise, she might have been controlled by the Xuanyuan Sword."
Actually, she definitely would have been, Bronya thought. Having seen the original "plot" while in Luo Hong's arms, she knew Himeko would have needed a month of bed rest. So the gratitude was genuine. But... why did she have to be the one to deliver the message?
She remembered how every time she was about to pass out from exhaustion, Luo Hong would "refresh" her status, claiming he couldn't let her "payment" go to waste. It was the ultimate mental torture.
"I see," Luo Hong nodded warmly to Bronya. "Please tell her that if she ever visits my territory, I will help her restore her health so she no longer suffers from the Artificial Stigma."
"Fine..." Bronya muttered, forced to be polite in front of Mei. "Bronya will tell her."
If sacrificing her body meant Himeko's health was restored, it wasn't a bad deal, Bronya reasoned. Besides, without the "deal," Luo Hong would probably play with her body anyway. At least the "transaction" served as a fig leaf for her dignity.
"Alright then," Luo Hong said. "If you're finished, feel free to wander around. I'm going to practice with Miss Mei. Afterward, I have to tell her about her father."
He intentionally left this "opening" for the fish to bite.
"Aha!" Danzhu bit the hook immediately, looking triumphant. "Finally showed your fox tail, haven't you?"
"Hm?" Luo Hong looked innocent. "Danzhu, what do you mean?"
"What do I mean?" Danzhu ignored him and turned to Mei. "Miss Mei, don't be fooled! Asking this guy for secrets always comes with a heavy price. He hasn't mentioned it yet because he's waiting for you to get the info first, then he'll demand his 'payment'!"
She looked at Luo Hong defiantly, waiting for him to get flustered.
"He already mentioned it," Mei said calmly. "Practicing swordsmanship with me is the price Mr. Luo Hong asked for."
She didn't give the stunned Danzhu a chance to speak. "Miss Danzhu, I know you care, but Mr. Luo Hong is very kind to me. Please don't worry. I don't know what kind of 'price' you paid to misunderstand his character so much, but weren't you and Miss Cangxuan brought back to life by him? Isn't it only natural that the price for that would be heavy?"
Mei glanced at the three of them.
"Now, now," Luo Hong stepped in as the peacemaker. "Coach Mei, let's begin. They're just joking with me. No need to take it seriously."
"Sigh..."
With a soft sigh, Mei looked at Luo Hong and said, "Mr. Luo Hong, you are just too kind."
"Oftentimes, it is the repeated endurance of the victim that turns someone who was just joking into a true bully. So, Mr. Luo Hong, you cannot let them continue down this wrong path."
As she finished her sentence, she felt the surrounding air fall silent.
They must be awestruck by my logical argument, she thought.
However— Danzhu: "→→!" Bronya: ( )! Cangxuan: "←←!"
The three girls exchanged glances, realizing there was no reasoning with Mei anymore. Miss Mei has been completely brainwashed by Luo Hong!
To be honest, even Luo Hong felt a tiny pang in what remained of his conscience.
"We'll be taking our leave then." Seeing that Mei was a lost cause, the rational Cangxuan decided to retreat. "Danzhu, Bronya, let's go explore outside for a bit."
In her mind, Mei would only realize Luo Hong's true colors once she actually suffered a loss. But looking at Luo Hong's current method of "conquest," she suspected that even if Mei were "eaten" by him, she would go willingly.
Why is this guy suddenly playing the "Pure Love" route?
As they were leaving, Bronya hesitated. "Sister Mei... is your sword practice... 'proper'?"
Though Bronya knew the situation was beyond repair—unless she revealed the truth using herself as a direct example—she still held a sliver of hope that Luo Hong might slip up.
"Hm?" Mei blinked, then her face flushed a deep pink. "Bronya, what are you talking about? Mr. Luo Hong and I are obviously doing proper sword practice. Don't let your imagination run wild!"
"Really?" Bronya turned a suspicious gaze toward Luo Hong, her face etched with disbelief.
"Really," Luo Hong replied with a warm smile. "I'm just asking for Miss Mei's guidance in my spare time."
"Hmph!" With a light huff, Bronya turned to leave with the sisters, muttering bitterly under her breath, "Targeting her interests like that... how cunning!"