He Xi Qian Yu's gaze fell to the center of the alley.
At this moment, Jin Mu had been consumed by hunger.
His face was contorted, one eye turned into a scarlet Ukaku, and three hideous Kou-kaku burst from his waist, still stained with fresh blood—it was these that had just pierced Nishio Nishiki's body.
His greedy gaze turned to the unconscious Yongjin Hideyoshi nearby; his eyes held nothing but a craving for flesh and blood.
Dong Xiang stood in front of him, the eye not covered by her purple hair also burning with an ominous crimson.
"This is the hunger of a Ghoul…" Dong Xiang's voice carried a hint of pity and self-mockery, "Our destiny."
Before she finished speaking, a half-missing Ukaku suddenly unfurled behind her.
Due to long-term insufficient food intake, Dong Xiang's Kagune was not complete, but it was probably enough to deal with the out-of-control Jin Mu at this moment.
Jin Mu's body erupted with terrifying power, transforming into a bloody afterimage that lunged at Dong Xiang.
Dong Xiang's eyes sharpened, her Ukaku slightly vibrated, poised for action.
However, several scarlet, viscous tentacles preemptively burst through the air, wrapping around Jin Mu's body like living pythons, abruptly pulling him to a stop mid-air.
Dong Xiang suddenly turned her head.
In the shadows of the alley, the Slaughter's symbiotic tissue completely covered He Xi Qian Yu's body, outlining an oppressive silhouette.
He manipulated the tentacles, dragging the frantically struggling Jin Mu before him.
The latter's three Kou-kaku wildly slapped against the symbiotic's tough outer shell, emitting dull thuds, but failed to move it in the slightest.
"...Bugs…futile…" The Slaughter's cold whisper echoed deep within He Xi Qian Yu's consciousness, carrying undisguised contempt and mockery.
"Calm down, Jin Mu," He Xi Qian Yu's voice was low.
A dark red giant claw, accompanied by a shriek that tore through the air, fiercely struck the back of Jin Mu's neck.
"Ugh!"
Jin Mu's body trembled violently, the frantic crimson in his eyes instantly extinguished, and he slumped down, completely losing consciousness.
The alley immediately fell into a deathly silence.
...
"How…are you here?" Dong Xiang looked at He Xi Qian Yu, who had removed the symbiotic covering, with a question in her eyes.
He Xi Qian Yu pointed to the unconscious Nishio Nishiki, who was embedded in the alley wall.
"I warned him…" He pulled at the corner of his mouth helplessly, "But this guy's personality…you understand."
There was a strange sense of a doting father cleaning up his child's mess.
Dong Xiang understood and nodded.
She knew Nishio Nishiki's arrogance all too well.
Two scarlet tentacles once again extended from behind He Xi Qian Yu, carefully coiling around Nishio Nishiki and peeling him off the alley wall.
"What should we do with these three?" He Xi Qian Yu glanced at the three people sprawled on the ground and turned his gaze to Dong Xiang.
"Take them back to the Anteiku Coffee Shop first."
"Alright."
...
When they returned to the Anteiku Coffee Shop with the three unconscious individuals, the manager, Fangcun Gongshan, was already waiting under the dim light.
"Leave him to me," Fangcun Gongshan's gaze gently fell on Yongjin Hideyoshi, "I will treat his injuries."
"As for these two…" His gaze shifted to Jin Mu and Nishio Nishiki, "I'll leave them to you."
After Fangcun Gongshan left with Yongjin Hideyoshi, He Xi Qian Yu arranged Jin Mu and Nishio Nishiki side by side on the Anteiku Coffee Shop's sofa, even thoughtfully covering them with a thin blanket.
Looking at the two unconscious individuals on the sofa, a bold idea suddenly popped into his mind.
...
When Dong Xiang locked the Anteiku Coffee Shop door and turned back, the scene before her instantly froze her: Jin Mu and Nishio Nishiki were tightly embracing each other, curled up on the narrow sofa.
"What is this…?" She spoke in disbelief, her gaze sharply turning to He Xi Qian Yu, who was holding his phone and taking pictures.
"Oh…" He Xi Qian Yu nonchalantly put down his phone, stepped forward, and neatly separated the two, his expression unusually serious, "It's mainly to give Nishio Nishiki a profound lesson."
"What about him?" Dong Xiang rubbed her forehead, speechless, pointing at Jin Mu, "Can you…be a little more serious?"
"Who told him not to listen to advice? As for Jin Mu…" He Xi Qian Yu revealed a sly smile, "He won't remember."
Although Dong Xiang couldn't fully understand, seeing his self-righteous demeanor, she ultimately chose to remain silent.
"...Interesting…" The Slaughter's whisper carried a hint of amusement.
As soon as the words fell, Nishio Nishiki on the sofa let out a low groan, his eyelids fluttering.
"Ugh…where…is this…?" Nishio Nishiki struggled to open his eyes, the intense weakness making it difficult for him to speak.
"Anteiku Coffee Shop." A familiar voice sounded in his ear.
He laboriously turned his head and saw He Xi Qian Yu.
"Remember? You got beaten down by Jin Mu." He Xi Qian Yu said, handing him a package wrapped in oil paper.
Nishio Nishiki subconsciously took the package, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Jin Mu next to him.
"Then he…"
"Then he was knocked out by Qianyu, and this guy dragged both of you back." Dong Xiang added coldly from the side, "You should really be grateful to have such a good friend."
"Here." He Xi Qian Yu spread his hands, "That's how simple it is."
"...Thanks." Nishio Nishiki said in a low voice, his gaze complex as he looked at Jin Mu again, "I didn't expect this kid…"
"Let's not talk about that for now, Nishiki," He Xi Qian Yu's tone became unusually serious, "Do you know what you did?"
"What?" Nishio Nishiki was stunned by his friend's unprecedentedly grave attitude.
He Xi Qian Yu silently handed over his phone; the screen clearly displayed the intimate photo he had just taken.
The moment he saw the photo, Nishio Nishiki's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Who did this?!" His voice abruptly rose due to extreme shock and absurdity, even cracking.
"I just put you on the sofa," He Xi Qian Yu shook his head heavily, his eyes full of disappointment, "And in an instant, you… Nishiki, I never thought you were this kind of person, Kimi is so good to you…"
"You owe her an explanation!"
"Are you kidding me?! I was unconscious! How could I possibly with him…" Nishio Nishiki tried to retort.
"You can do such things in your subconscious," He Xi Qian Yu interrupted him with a pained expression and exaggerated tone, "Now that you're awake… I can't even imagine what worse things you'll do."
"Impossible! I'm devoted to Kimi…" Just as Nishio Nishiki was falling into self-doubt, the next second, he caught a glimpse of He Xi Qian Yu next to him, who was desperately trying to keep a straight face, his shoulders subtly shaking.
In a flash, Nishio Nishiki suddenly understood.
"He! Xi! Qian! Yu!!!" A furious roar instantly exploded in the Anteiku Coffee Shop.
Nishio Nishiki suddenly tried to push himself up from the sofa.
However, this violent movement instantly pulled at the wound pierced by Jin Mu's Kou-kaku.
His body abruptly stiffened, and he involuntarily gasped, falling back heavily into the sofa, in too much pain to speak, only able to clench his teeth tightly.
"See?" He Xi Qian Yu's voice slowly sounded, with a hint of teasing, "A patient should be self-aware and lie down and rest properly." He even leisurely crossed his arms, watching Nishio Nishiki wince in pain.
"You bastard!"
Hmm, it seemed his good brother was not convinced.