Chapter 335

Pirate King.

"Oh? Is this woman finally going to draw her sword in front of people?"

The sea wind carried a salty, damp smell across the deck; the ember of Ke Luoke Da'er's cigar in his mouth flickered uncertainly in the dim cabin. On the sky, Huang Quan was surrounded by several burly men, but her long blade remained sheathed.

— But someone is waiting for her to draw her blade.

Mi Huo Ke crossed his arms, his hawk-like eyes slightly narrowing, his back straightening involuntarily a fraction, and he attentively and carefully kept his eyes on every move of Huang Quan.

However, until Xing and Liuying came to the rescue, Huang Quan still had no intention of drawing her blade.

Ke Luoke Da'er couldn't help but snort: "Looks like she's going to disappoint you again, huh?"

"It doesn't matter; she will surely draw her blade one day." Mi Huo Ke calmly shook his head. Although he had always longed for Huang Quan to display the swordsmanship he expected and admired, waiting with an ordinary mind is also a swordsman's cultivation.

He didn't know exactly what mission Huang Quan bore, nor why she sought strength, but there was no doubt that to reach her current height, she must have stepped over countless corpses.

"Hey, Ying Yan." Ke Luoke Da'er blew a smoke ring: "How does this woman's sword compare to that of the one called Jing Liu? Is she worth your such attention?"

Huang Quan always gave him the impression of not being fully awake, a bit dazed. Frankly speaking… if it weren't for Ying Yan later saying she had slashed Xing with a blade, her strength not to be underestimated, he would have found it hard to equate this forgetful, directionally challenged miss with the four words "peerless powerhouse".

"I know Jing Liu's mission and her purpose in growing stronger, and I can see what's in her sword… killing intent, hatred, and the desire for revenge… too much, too much…"

Mi Huo Ke let out a soft sigh, placing his hand on the hilt of his black blade: "But I have yet to see Miss Huang Quan draw her sword… By the time I reacted, Xing had already been slashed by her in his dream."

"Too fast, so fast that I hadn't even gotten a clear look at her…… 'answer'."

—

"How come everyone's an acquaintance?!"

"Liuying looked puzzled at Xing: 'Eh? What does "all" mean…?'"

""Oh, look, look! I didn't lie! Misha is in danger!" the clockwork kid exclaimed, bells ringing loudly, "Tick-tock! Please, my gray friend! Help Misha!""

"Xing nodded: 'My bat's already too late!'"

""The bat's efficiency is too low… No! I mean, we can't solve problems with such brutality…" Liuying instantly realized her misspoken words and hurriedly corrected herself."

The clockwork kid said he could use a technique called 【Clockwork Trick】 to let good emotions return to people's hearts, so everyone could reconcile as before! But since no one can see him, he himself is also helpless in this situation.

""Okay, gray friend! I have a feeling you'll definitely learn the Clockwork Trick, after all you're special enough to see me! So I beg you, close your eyes—"

"Xing suddenly felt a tingling all over, like an electric shock; according to the clockwork kid's words, they are now 'of one mind and body', and they just need to find the angry gang leader and infuse good emotions into him to succeed."

—

Kobayashi's dragon maid.

In Kobayashi's living room, the three were curled up on the sofa, Kanna's little feet dangling in the air, gently swaying; reflected in her blue pupils was the clockwork kid bouncing around in the sky.

"Adjust emotions at will? That would mean a person could be angry one second and happy or sad the next? Impossible…" Thor shook his head, thinking it over, only finding it absurd: '... Even psychic magic couldn't be that precise…'

Kobayashi pushed up his glasses: 'Being able to see cartoon characters invisible to others in a dream is already absurd enough. Everyone gets to Pinokangni through the dream pool; if we could casually alter someone's emotions, wouldn't we be able to run rampant in Pinokangni?'

Whenever encountering a troublesome opponent, just alter their emotions, turning hatred into joy, instantly turning swords into jade and silk; this ability is probably even stronger than Zhigengniao's 【Harmony】 resonance.

While the three were discussing, Xing in the sky had already approached the leader of the black-clad people.

All that was seen: she stretched out her hand, like winding a spring, slightly twisting it a few times in midair; the black-clad leader, who had been cursing a moment ago, suddenly fell silent.

"This… this… couldn't be? Is it really that simple?" Thor's dragon eyes widened: "Don't you need to chant like Miss Zhigengniao does? Or recite a prayer or something?"

In fact, it wasn't that complicated.

Because something unbelievable had happened right before their eyes—the black-clad people's ferocious expression gradually softened like being erased by an eraser, finally revealing a dazed smile; this hint of a smile even spread from the corners of his mouth, eventually turning into a hearty laugh like a volcanic eruption.

—

"... Hahahaha!"

The gang leader laughed so hard he doubled over, tears about to burst out. This sudden change frightened the underlings nearby quite a bit.

""The clockwork kid was both excited and confused: 'You succeeded! But how did he become like this?'"

"Xing scratched his head: 'I don't know… did I do that?'"

""Probably… yes? Otherwise, why would he suddenly start laughing? But… oh, his appearance is truly frightening—just like a truly moody stone boss."

The gang leader laughed for a full half-minute before barely stopping, then enthusiastically greeted Huang Quan: 'Oh, hi! Everyone! Please forgive my rudeness, welcome to the Land of Dreams, Pinokangni!' After saying that, he looked at his subordinates behind him and sternly said: 'Men! Form ranks! Give our honored guests a proper welcome!'

""Ah? Yes, yes…!"" Although the underlings were also bewildered, since the leader said so, there must be his deeper meaning.

""Ready—go!""

With the leader's command, the just‑fierce underlings all bowed toward Huang Quan and Xing: 'Welcome to the Land of Dreams, Pinokangni!'

""No need for formalities, rise.""

Xing waved his hand, exchanged a couple of casual greetings, then sent the group on their way.

—

Demon Slayer.

In the courtyard of the Butterfly Estate, Zenitsu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke were helping Aoi and the others hang laundry; when they saw the wonderful effect displayed by the Clockwork Trick in the sky, Zenitsu's anguished voice suddenly echoed throughout the Butterfly Estate.

"Aaah! Why am I not a person of Pinokangni?! I can clearly see the clockwork kid too!" Zenitsu clung to his head and wailed, 'Xing has completely failed to put this ability to good use!'