Just as the atmosphere between them was about to spill over with ambiguity, a clear voice suddenly cut in, "Hey! You two chatting so sweetly, are you treating me, a living person, like thin air? I'm still here!"
Following the voice, they saw Fu Shi standing with arms crossed, clearly having heard every word of their back-and-forth just now.
Her gaze flicked between the two before finally settling on Mei☆'s slightly flushed ears. She deliberately dragged out her tone with a teasing edge, "What's this? Got so caught up you forgot there's a real person standing right here? If I'd known, I would've stayed far away and let you and Fu Lin continue, maybe you'd really get to indulge your little hobby~"
Mei☆ wasn't particularly flustered. She just gave a faint smile at the words, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the hilt of the blade at her waist.
Fu Lin chuckled and smoothly shifted the topic, "Fu Shi, it's your turn next. Who's your opponent?"
Fu Shi snorted lightly through her nose, her tone carrying a casual hint of amusement, "Some guy called Boothill, a Galaxy Ranger. Funny fellow for a big man, if it's not 'baby,' it's 'meow.'"
Fu Lin rubbed the embroidery at the edge of his sleeve, his smile deepening but with a touch of seriousness in his voice, "'Baby'? 'Meow'? I've heard Stelle mention him, his Synesthetic Beacon was tampered with, that's why he talks like that. When you face him, you must not use your mind-reading on him."
"Oh?" Fu Shi's arms, folded across her chest, tightened slightly, her brows lifting in interest. "Now that you've said that, I'm even more curious."
Fu Lin's expression grew serious. He stepped forward, resting a firm hand on Fu Shi's shoulder, his tone leaving no room for argument, "I'm saying this for your own good. Don't mess around."
Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Fu Shi finally pouted and nodded, "Fine, fine, I get it. Let's drop it, time for the match anyway."
As she turned toward the arena, Owlbert immediately raised the announcer, his bright voice echoing across the venue, "Next match, Red side contestant, the 'Herrscher of Sentience,' Fu Shi! Blue side contestant, registered wanted criminal of the Interasteral Peace Company, the 'Galaxy Ranger,' Boothill!"
On stage, Boothill raised his gun toward Owlbert the moment he heard that, his tone both angry and exasperated, "You little cutie, baby! Every time I take the stage, you have to bring up that wanted nonsense! Keep yapping and one day I'll stew you!"
Owlbert instinctively hunched his neck, then realized his real body wasn't actually present. He grinned at Boothill, "You think I, Owlbert, scare that easy? Herrscher of Sentience, how about a deal, beat Boothill and hand him over to me. We'll split the bounty seventy-thirty!"
Boothill shifted his gaze to lock on Fu Shi, his tone dropping into seriousness, "So you're the one who's never lost a match here, the Herrscher of Sentience? Come on then. Quick fight, let me see what you're made of."
Fu Shi arched a brow. With a flick of her wrist, a spear appeared in her hand. The tip sparked against the ground as she spun it into a sharp flourish.
"I'm all about fairness. You've got a gun, so I'll use a gun too."
Boothill stared at the weapon and laughed, "You're right, baby! We both use guns, I love a fair duel!"
From the sidelines, Fu Lin covered his face, laughing helplessly beneath his fingers. He had actually hoped Boothill would nitpick like Kiana in the story and yell, "That's a spear, not a gun!"
In the ring, Fu Shi leveled her spear and kicked off the stage floor, her body darting forward like a scarlet hawk.
The spear cut through the air with a piercing whistle, aimed straight at Boothill's face.
"Holy, so fast!"
Boothill's pupils shrank, but he didn't panic. Twisting aside just as the spear tip brushed past, he drew his revolver in the same motion and fired at Fu Shi's back.
The bullet glimmered with silver light, but the instant it touched Fu Shi it stopped cold, clattering harmlessly to the ground as if it had hit an invisible wall.
"Meow! Bullets don't work?"
Fu Shi spun her spear back, brows lifting higher, "That's all you've got?"
With another flick, the spear spun in her hands and lashed out like a scarlet afterimage, the tip thrusting for Boothill's head.
The strike was so fast and precise that he barely managed to dodge half an inch. Even so, the shaft grazed his shoulder, the force ripping open a line in his jacket.
Glancing at the tear, Boothill quickly retreated several steps, firing as he went while complaining,
"Meow! Easy there, cutie, that's my favorite jacket!"
Fu Shi deflected the bullets with graceful spins, her spear flicking like a silver serpent, ringing sharp clashes into the air.
Smiling with scarlet-tinted eyes, she leapt again, spear tracing a crimson arc through the sky.
Boothill rolled desperately, his back brushing against the weapon's wind. As he tried to rise, he realized Fu Shi was already behind him, spear pressed against his lower back.
"Meow! Did I just lose?" He froze, grumbling in reluctant frustration.
But then, in a flash, he tossed his revolver upward. While Fu Shi's gaze shifted slightly, he spun and lashed a kick at her side, grinning through clenched teeth, "As if!"
The sudden strike forced Fu Shi back half a step. Boothill caught the falling revolver, flipped it neatly, and holstered it in one smooth motion.
"Baby, forget it, I'm done." Wiping sweat from his forehead, he no longer posed for battle. "Stelle was right. You're strong."
Fu Shi twirled her spear away and folded her arms, smiling with teasing red eyes, "Calling it quits already? Then why bother resisting just now?"
"Quit? No way!" Boothill waved dismissively.
"If it weren't for the Interasteral Peace Company breathing down my neck, I'd fight you to the bitter end today!"
Then, suddenly softening, he stepped closer with a grin, "But hey, we fought, so now we know each other. Even if it was short, we should have a proper farewell. There's a Du Teahouse on Aurum Alley, it's good tea! Bring the Astral Express crew, I'll treat you all."
At that, Fu Shi tapped her arm lightly, lips curling in a faint smile, "Tea? Sounds good."
Cheers and Owlbert's announcement filled the arena as Fu Shi and Boothill walked off side by side, greeted by Fu Lin and Mei☆.
Fu Lin stepped forward first, congratulating, "Congrats, another win."
Hands on her hips, Fu Shi replied with unhidden confidence,
"Of course. Piece of cake. Not one decent challenger yet. Tomorrow, once I beat that Yanqing kid, this championship will be mine."
No sooner had she said it than Boothill bristled, "Hey! Baby, I'm standing right here! So I don't even count as a 'decent challenger' to you?"
"Just telling it like it is." Fu Shi turned toward Fu Lin and Mei☆, her voice lighter, "By the way, this guy's treating us at Du's Teahouse. Want to come?"
Fu Lin chuckled and nodded decisively, "Of course, when someone's buying, how could we refuse?"
Together, they went to find the Astral Express crew at the rest area.
Unfortunately, since March 7th was still too weak to move, Dan Heng refused. Stelle had originally wanted to join, but upon hearing it was Du's Teahouse, she too declined.