Chapter 459: Feeling the Bottom

Lixiang's heart howled.

Ruby floated over again, circling Lixiang once, its gem light flickering curiously: "But speaking of that, Fujimura big sis, you really know nothing about Magic, the mysterious side, or anything? That's unreasonable—someone who can become a Master should have at least some talent."

Lixiang forced a bitter smile: "I'm really just an ordinary schoolgirl! My sister teaches English, and Uncle Emiya seems to know some weird techniques, but he's never told me about Magic or anything… Until tonight, I thought the most unscientific thing in the world was that the final exam papers were just too hard."

She felt she was even more wronged than Dou E.

Ruby was silent for a few seconds, then sighed in an old‑fashioned way: "Well… maybe that's your fate! The lucky one chosen by the Holy Grail! Though this luck looks a bit deadly~☆"

Lixiang wanted to cry but had no tears.

Can she refuse this "fate"?

Is it still possible to scrape off the mark on the back of her hand now?

Saber, hearing this, stepped forward, her emerald eyes fixed on Lixiang, and in her duty‑laden serious tone said: "Master need not worry excessively. Having become a Master, this is the responsibility you must bear. In the name of a Knight, I swear to do my utmost to protect you fully, and to win the Holy Grail and fulfill your wish."

Her gaze was firm, her words landed with weight, full of convincing power—if one ignores that what Lixiang most doesn't want right now is "responsibility."

Lixiang looked at Saber's delicate yet serious face, feeling the imposing aura on her like a blade freshly drawn, and also considered the combat power she might possess that could cleave monsters with a single sword…

(She seems… really seriously thinking about how to help me win the Holy Grail…)

(If I now say my wish is world peace so everyone stops fighting and goes home to sleep, would she believe it? Or think I'm teasing her?)

(What if she thinks I'm teasing her…)

Lixiang shivered, forcing an even stiffer smile, and nodded repeatedly at Saber: "O‑okay… Miss Saber, you're taking trouble… I, I'll do my best…"

She felt her future was bleak, not only having to face all kinds of supernatural foes, but also having to carefully placate this Knight King whose combat power is off the charts yet whose thoughts may be very straightforward, lest a slip anger him and get her "cleaned out"…

What on earth is this!

In another corner of Dongmu City, the red‑signed "Chinese Cuisine Mapo Tofu Specialty Shop" still had its lights on.

It was past normal business hours, and there were no other customers inside.

Sha Jin sat at a table by the wall, his body relaxed against the chair back, a inscrutable gentle smile on his face.

His slender fingers idly toyed with a golden chip, letting it flip and spin between his digits, producing a crisp clacking sound.

His gaze, scrutinizing, fell on the tall, silent, busy silhouette behind the counter—his new Master, Yan Feng Qili.

Being inexplicably pulled here by that golden light, his mind was flooded with the Holy Grail War Servant (Archer) identity data and that mysterious woman's promise/threat, then sensing the Contract Link with the man before him—the whole process was so fast it left him reeling.

But Sha Jin was Sha Jin after all; after a brief shock, he quickly shifted into mode—observing, analyzing, gathering information, looking for an opening and advantage.

This Yan Feng Qili…

Looks like an ordinary restaurant owner, quick in movement, taciturn, eyes lacking vitality.

But Sha Jin has seen too many people skilled at disguise.

This man carries a particular aura, a… silence that comes after seeing through many things.

(Interesting Master.)

(That voice said, "Win the Holy Grail, and you can see your family"... Hmph.)

(Let's feel the bottom first.)

"Master."

Sha Jin spoke, his voice relaxed as if just chatting, "The shop looks busy? Mapo tofu… is that the signature dish here?"

He tried to start a harmless topic while observing Yan Feng's reaction.

Yan Feng Qili did not answer immediately.

He cleaned the last cutting board, set it aside, then turned, ladling scorching, blood‑red broth from the massive pot onto a pre‑prepared bowl covered with minced meat, chilies and tender tofu.

He didn't even look at Sha Jin, simply and steadily placing that bowl of lava‑like Mapo tofu ramen onto the table before Sha Jin.

"Please, help yourself."

Yan Feng's voice was flat and even, like a synthesized machine.

Sha Jin's smile remained, but his eyes flickered slightly.

His gaze fell on the bowl before him.

The visual impact was intense.

Deep crimson, almost black oil broth, densely packed chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns like volcanic ash, covering everything.

The rich spiciness mingled with the toasted hot‑oil aroma, like a heavy punch striking the nose.

Just by looking, Sha Jin felt his throat already beginning to dry and tighten.

(Very spicy.)

(And he deliberately chose this bowl… testing something? My tolerance? Or… a show of force?)

Sha Jin made a quick judgment in his mind.

He didn't pick up his chopsticks; instead he lifted his eyes, looking again at Yan Feng Qili who had returned behind the counter, wiping an imagined stain with a white cloth.

The other still wore a blank expression, but Sha Jin could sense his attention had been on him all along, especially his reaction to the bowl of ramen.

(Interesting.)

(Is he trying to make me look foolish? Or… another purpose?)

Just as Sha Jin was about to say something, to probe further—

"Ding—"

The bell on the shop door rang.

A gray‑colored figure swayed and drifted in from outside.

It was a gray‑haired girl, her steps airy, eyes hollow, as if sleepwalking.

She walked straight to the counter, sat down two seats away from Sha Jin, never looking at anyone nor making a sound, like a soulless doll.

Sha Jin's gaze was instantly drawn there.

(Pioneer?)

(No, that's not right.)

He immediately rejected the first impression.

Although the hair color and build resembled the star on the Starry Sky Train, the feeling was completely different.

The gray‑haired girl before him bore a deeper numbness, as if she had completely lost interest in everything around her.

And the "star" on the train, though often expressionless, always held some stubbornness deep in his eyes.

Just as Sha Jin sized up the other party, Yan Feng Qili seemed to have anticipated it.

He didn't even glance at the gray‑haired girl, bent down, and retrieved from beneath the counter a pre‑prepared, equally terrifyingly red sea bowl, filled with noodles and toppings, except that the broth's color…

It seemed deeper than the bowl before Sha Jin, almost a dark red, with a surface floating a layer that looked like solidified chili oil.

He placed this "ultimate version" mapo tofu ramen bowl in front of the gray‑haired girl.

A Xing still showed little reaction, simply picking up the disposable chopsticks on the table, breaking them apart, then very naturally inserting the chopsticks into the dark‑red "lava", lifting a bite of noodles fully coated in red oil, Calm sending it into his mouth, chewing, swallowing.

His movements were steady, speed moderate, not a single brow furrowed, as if he were eating clear‑broth noodles.

Sha Jin: "……"

His smile showed a subtle stiffness for the first time.