"Duke Kashchey…"
"Miss Ch'en, if you came here to ask why Talulah has become the way she is now, then you're wasting your time."
"…"
"In truth, Miss Ch'en, even I would like to understand what exactly goes on in that girl's mind."
"…I apologize for disturbing you."
Sensing Kashchey's dismissive tone, Ch'en could only end the conversation with visible reluctance.
She couldn't press him any further—doing so would risk straining the fragile ties between Ursus and Yan.
As Ch'en turned to leave, frustration flickering in her eyes, Kashchey maintained his impeccable, almost gentlemanly smile.
'Talulah… what a troublesome little sister.'
His gaze lingered briefly on the weapon hanging at Ch'en's waist—
the Chi Xiao, the dragon-slaying sword of Yan.
Kashchey had never liked having anyone carry something capable of truly harming him so casually in his presence.
'Sigh… why does everyone insist on believing that Talulah's founding of the Reunion Movement has something to do with me?'
Kashchey thought bitterly to himself.
He certainly did not want that rumor spreading any further.
After all, Talulah's so-called Reunion was far too conspicuous—
and far too easy to hate.
Throughout history, there had been many who dreamed of freeing the Infected.
Unfortunately, those who sought to improve the living conditions of the Infected rarely met a good end.
Those who stood for the Infected did not only face the exploitation of those who profited from their suffering—
they also had to battle against entrenched prejudice, centuries of cultural disdain,
and the very curse of Oripathy itself.
'Talulah is racing headlong down a path that leads only to death…'
The Duke of Kashchey closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair under the wary gazes of the Shadow Guard guards and the Censorate official Leizi.
This vessel was already old. His stamina wasn't what it used to be.
It required… proper rest.
'If you continue to waste your own life so carelessly,' he mused silently,
'then when your final moments come, I won't hesitate to claim your body for myself.'
After all, wastefulness was a sin in his eyes.
---
"I have to admit, the art galleries in Lungmen are surprisingly decent."
Zhu Jiuyin stepped out of the gallery alongside Dusk.
"…Definitely better than a certain boring art gallery I've been to before," Dusk muttered, shooting her companion a disapproving glare.
"…Didn't I show you my private collection afterwards? Can you please stop bringing that up already?"
Zhu Jiuyin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
In truth, most of the exhibitions in the art museum within Kashchey's duchy consisted of Kashchey's own works—
though not by the Duke's own design.
Kashchey was not nearly that vain.
It was simply that his reputation within Ursus was immense,
and thus, anything he created naturally drew public admiration.
Much like fans buying their idol's merchandise,
the people of Ursus adored Kashchey's works for the name alone.
Over time, through market demand, the gallery in his domain had become what it was—a shrine to his image.
"Hehe~ You looked pretty pleased with yourself back then," Dusk teased, smirking.
Just as she was about to deliver another jab, Dusk suddenly stiffened, sensing a familiar, irritating presence.
'Ugh, seriously!? Doesn't that woman have anything better to do?'
"What's wrong?"
Zhu Jiuyin tilted her head, noticing Dusk's expression darken like a brewing storm.
He had long grown used to his painter friend's mercurial moods.
"…It's my annoying sister."
After a brief hesitation, Dusk finally told Zhu Jiuyin the truth.
There was no point in hiding it—Nian was already swaggering toward them, plain as day.
"Well, well! What a coincidence—fancy meeting you here, little sister."
Nian exclaimed with feigned surprise, striding closer with open arms as if to welcome Dusk with a long-awaited hug.
"If you dare touch me with those filthy hands of yours, you're dead."
Dusk's sharp, threatening glare was enough to make Nian freeze mid-step.
Feeling the killing intent rolling off her sister like a storm, Nian awkwardly lowered her arms.
It was clear Dusk was in no mood today, and provoking her any further was… unwise.
"Heh, after all these years, your temper's still as bad as ever," Nian said lightly. "But aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
Nian stopped a few paces away, keeping a respectful distance.
'Strange… that friend of hers—he doesn't feel like a person at all,' she thought, her violet eyes narrowing slightly.
The one standing protectively behind Dusk, smiling politely, gave off a peculiar aura.
To Nian—holder of the Authority of Forging—that presence felt like something carefully crafted, refined, and tempered.
'A construct? No… a forged being. But I don't recall anyone like this within Yan's borders.'
"…Mind your own business, Nian."
Dusk's tone was sharp. The two stood in the middle of a bustling street—
not the place for a fight.
If they had been in some remote wilderness, she wouldn't have minded crossing blades with her irritating sister.
But considering Zhu Jiuyin's true identity, the last thing Dusk wanted was to draw attention.
"Oh, come now, can't an older sister care about her little one?" Nian smiled slyly.
"I only wanted to meet your friend. There's no need to be so defensive… may I know your name, sir?"
She ignored Dusk's darkening expression and turned her full attention to Zhu Jiuyin.
For some reason, she could sense a faint undercurrent of malice from him—
the instinctive unease of a predator sensing something that could threaten its life.
'So this is the infamous sister Dusk keeps complaining about—Nian, huh?'
Kashchey had never met her in person.
The world was vast, and finding any specific being upon it was no easy feat.
Still, Dusk had mentioned her sister often enough for him to have a vivid impression.
---
"I have this good-for-nothing sister who spends all day lazing around, doing absolutely nothing, and whose brain is made entirely of chili peppers."
"I really can't stand her. She's always bothering everyone, never letting anyone have peace."
"Not everyone's like her, bursting with endless energy every second of the day."
"She's far too obsessed with the mortal world…"
At the time, Zhu Jiuyin had been trying to cheer Dusk up after one of her prized paintings had been destroyed—and to atone for having ahem borrowed one of her works without permission.
He had even brought along some fine aged wine from his personal collection as an offering.
Dusk, perhaps under the influence of that same sister she despised so much, occasionally indulged in a drink or two—usually just a sip.
But that night, her emotions had gotten the better of her, and she drank it all, every last drop.
Zhu Jiuyin could only sit there quietly, sipping tea, as the drunken giant beast rambled and muttered incoherently while hugging her pet Free.
The next morning, Dusk, thoroughly sober and mortified, promptly threw him out.
'So… even Feranmuts of Legend can get drunk,' he thought wryly as he landed outside.
---
Now, Zhu Jiuyin glanced at Dusk again.
She gave him a look of reluctant surrender—she just wanted to get this over with.
"It's an honor to meet you," Zhu Jiuyin said calmly. "My name is Zhu Jiuyin, a wandering… physician."
"The pleasure's mine," Nian replied smoothly. "I'm Nian—a… film director."
She extended her hand with a practiced smile.
Zhu Jiuyin mirrored the gesture but stopped just short of touching her, maintaining only the illusion of a handshake.
After all, the senses of the Feranmuts were incredibly sharp—
and Kashchey had no intention of revealing his disguise so easily.