Xiang Peng appeared from the other side of the door about ten minutes after going in. Seeing as how she managed to complete the test within this short fra of ti, I assud the real Gatekeeper wasn't that hard. She seed to have defeated the Gatekeeper with minimal effort, as she didn't appear to be sweaty or disheveled at all. As expected of an Ancestral Mage.
"Heya, I'm back," she said with a flirtarious wink. "You two miss ? Sure you did."
I was too lazy to correct her, so I just ignored her question and instead asked my own.
"How was the Gatekeeper?"
"Huh? Why ask ? You've already fought it for yourself earlier, no?"
No...but I couldn't tell her that, obviously.
"I'm asking for your thoughts on the fight. Was it difficult for you?" I continued, making sure not to make it look like I hadn't fought at all.
Xiang Peng, despite her playful and quite frankly, irritating deanor, was in fact an extrely perceptive girl deep down. I could see it in her eyes, which was why I chose my words and actions carefully around her if I had sothing to hide - which I did, in this case.
"Well, it was pretty easy, honestly. Not to brag, but I didn't even break a sweat - quite literally," she replied. It seed she was still confused as to why I was so eager to get her thoughts on the matter, but she didn't pry since she knew that I wouldn't answer her even if she did anyway. We've been travelling together for a while now, after all.
"As I thought. The Gatekeepers of these lower floors are re child's play," I muttered.
"Master, shall I go now?" i Gui asked quietly, pointing at the door.
I nodded, and she scanned her library card just like Xiang Peng and I had done before her. Opening the door in one swift motion, she entered the portal.
After she was gone, Xiang Peng spoke.
"Hey, Xuan Kai...are you hiding sothing from ?" she asked. Her tone was gentle but firm, unlike her usual playful self. I could tell - she was being serious. She almost sounded...sad?
"Hiding sothing? What do you an?" I asked right back, feigning ignorance as usual. My acting skills at this point were nearly perfected.
"...Never mind then," she said, turning away. "And here I was, thinking I've actually made real friends for the first ti..."
She was murmuring quietly, but I heard it. I heard it, but...I didn't know how to respond. I may have mastered the art of acting and feigning ignorance, but I still had a long way to go when it ca to human relationships and conversing with others. After a long, uncomfortable silence, I finally decided to speak up.
"Are you...lonely?"
Xiang Peng, surprised to hear these words coming out of my mouth, chuckled. "Lonely? No. Not really. I guess...if I was younger, I would've said yes. But by this point, I'm used to it. Being alone, I an."
"...Are you though?"
She tilted her head, and looked in the eyes. They were tainted red, a sign that she had been crying inaudibly just now. "What do you an?"
"If you were already used to being alone, as you say, then why co with us to Shanghai at all? If you travelled by yourself, you could've reached here a lot sooner, and not get yourself tangled in my problems," I said calmly. "You're a liar, Xiang Peng. Face the reality."
"W-Wha- that's rich, coming from you!" she exclaid angrily. "How much have you hid from the other girls and I?! How much of the things you say out of your mouth is true?!"
That's right...let it all out.
"I don't an lying to other people, Xiang Peng," I responded, as nonchalant as ever, completely unaffected by her emotional outburst. "I an...you are lying to yourself."
I didn't realize it before, but...now I know. Xiang Peng has a dark past, just like myself. There's probably a reason she volunteered to co to Shenzhen - the excuse she told about her being part of the Magic Capital's defense team or whatever had many loopholes that I never really cared about exploiting.
Now, I know why. Her story was made-up.
I don't doubt that she's part of the defense squad. She certainly has the capabilities to be on it - as a leader, even. However, at the sa ti, I find it extrely difficult to believe that the defense corps would just send out one of their best units to dangerous territory without even ascertaining just how dire the situation was at the ti. That would be nothing but suicide. And yet, Xiang Peng still ca.
No - she hadn't been ordered to co to Shenzhen to help fight back the Midnight Syndicate.
No...she'd chosen to go there herself.
Why? The reason was simple.
To escape. Escape from her ho. The ho of her dark past. And after eting us, she finally saw a ray of salvation. A chance to finally break free from the horrible chains that bound her - an opportunity to make genuine friends.
"L-Lying to myself?" she echoed hesitantly.
"I think there is one misconception you have on what the term 'friend' ans, Xiang Peng," I continued, not giving her any ti to think. "If you think friends don't have any secrets between them, you're completely and utterly wrong. Even the closest of buddies; hell, even lovers have their own secrets they keep away from the other."
Xiang Peng seed to be shocked hearing this.
As I thought...whatever her past was, it definitely has sothing to do with her old 'friends'. Sothing severely traumatic must have happened, causing her to beco disillusioned with the concept of 'friends'.
"Look...humans are fundantally selfish creatures. Yes, they interact with others. Yes, they form closely-knitted relationships. But no matter how deep these bonds grow, they cannot alter human nature," I explained with a deep sigh. "In the end, there are no groups of friends in the world who know absolutely everything about each other. Everyone has a part of their life, a side to their personality, that they wish to hide. For so people, this may be so minimal that it's practically nonexistent. But for others, this could be so great to the point that they have split personalities."
She could do nothing but remain silent at my deep speech.
"So - chin up," I continued. "All the other girls and I are here. You chose to travel with us, and now you know my secrets. Even if you wanted to get away, I wouldn't let you. Xiang Peng...you're not alone anymore. So stop. Stop lying to yourself."
She stared into my eyes, and truth to be told, it made feel extrely awkward. She didn't seem to feel that way at all though - instead, she looked at like I was so kind of savior, lighting the way to salvation for her.
Hm? Why am I feeling reminiscent of the ti when I gave Lan Xiao Su a similar talking-to? Well...I guess it's kinda similar. I guess I just have a knack to talking to people. Never thought I would be the philosophical type, but oh well.
...I can only imagine what soone would've thought if they ca up the stairs right about now, though. My speech was really deep, after all.
"Now then..." I began. "Tell - what is your greatest wish?"
"My greatest wish..." Xiang Peng echoed, looking downwards at her shoes. "I..."
"Go on, say it."
"I...don't want to be alone anymore. That's my greatest wish."
I smirked. "Good news for you then, I guess. Unbeknownst to you, your wish had already been granted from the mont you chose to co along with us."
"Xuan Kai..." Xiang Peng murmured, before suddenly pulling into a hug. "Ahahaha! Xuan Kai, you're so adorable!"
"H-Huh?! Hey, let go-!" I tried pulling away, but couldn't. My face was thoroughly stuffed into her generous cleavage, as I could do nothing but take in her rose-like scent.
"Heehee, you're all mine now!"
It was at that mont that the door swung open.
"...Master? What is going on here?"
Faced with i Gui's deadpan glare and flat tone, I tried to respond, claiming I was innocent, but alas, I couldn't even do that. Xiang Peng, sensing my resistance, only hugged even tighter, practically rubbing my face into her breasts.
"U-Urgh...c-can't...breathe..." I coughed, tapping Xiang Peng lightly on the shoulder three tis to signal that I was running out of breath.
After what seed like an eternity, she finally let go, and I imdiately took a deep breath in and out, to avoid dying from lack of oxygen.
"God...Xiang Peng..." I muttered. "You're a real damn piece of work, you know that?"
"Hey, it's not my fault you looked so cool there," Xiang Peng shrugged in response. "You were like so kind of dashing prince on a white horse! Ah...every teenage girl's dream..."
I don't see how I resemble a prince on a white horse in any way, but I suppose I will never understand a girl's heart. Especially not ones similar to in age, like Xiang Peng or any of the other girls around ...minus Obsidia and Flaria, of course.
"...Whatever. Just...don't suddenly hug like that," I spat in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah...but you can't say you didn't like it, can you?" Xiang Peng winked, smirking suggestively.
I sighed. I was pretty irritated by the usual Xiang Peng, that had now returned, but...it would be a lie if I said I wasn't a bit glad as well.
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