Chapter 404
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 404: Me and Honesty Are Sworn Enemies!
Bai Wei stood still, unwilling to greet anyone proactively. Revealing his current identity was out of the question.
When he saw Michelle, a small relief washed over him—she definitely wouldn’t recognize him.
If emperors could lead rebellions in the guise of mentors, then Bai Wei could shed the devil’s mask and appear as just an ordinary man from the Ming Country.
But evasion was futile.
He decided the best strategy was to keep his mouth shut.
Bai Wei scanned his surroundings, calculating the distances. It aligned with the sculpture’s descriptions. Landing carefully, he fixed his gaze on Michelle and the person beside her.
“Guan Ling,” Bai Wei muttered, recalling their correspondence—letters exchanged once a month, always at the start. “You’re also in Hokkaido?”
Yagyū Simozi hesitated, conflicted about whether to respond.
Bai Wei pressed on. “Have you seen my little sister, Yagyū Simozi?”
Hearing this, Yagyū Simozi’s heart jumped. Her brother was looking for her.
But how did he know she was here?
Never mind that—she dashed forward, taking three steps in two strides, and threw herself into Bai Wei’s arms.
“Brother!” she cried.
Bai Wei froze for a moment before recognition dawned. “Simozi?”
“It’s me.”
“But… I see now,” Bai Wei murmured, piecing it together. “So, half here and half there.”
A soul swap. This wasn’t their first encounter. It all made sense now. No wonder Demon Cat Yumeko had said that arriving in Hokkaido would naturally lead him to her.
He made a mental note to sacrifice that cat to the heavens later.
Gently ruffling his sister’s hair, Bai Wei sighed. “I have such complicated feelings right now.”
Yagyū Simozi mirrored his sigh. “Same here.”
She reluctantly released her hold. Though she wanted to cling to him longer, Michelle’s watchful gaze reminded her that this body wasn’t hers to hold.
Michelle, unable to understand the Yingzhou language, pieced together the interaction through Simozi’s words and the tone of the exchange.
“Are you two siblings?” Michelle asked cautiously.
“Yes,” Simozi explained. “This is my older brother. But… my current self isn’t really me. It’s complicated.”
Bai Wei gestured toward the side and commanded, “Go fetch Hatsurai Wagaizuma.”
The big orange tabby bolted away and returned moments later, Hatsurai Wagaizuma in tow. She spotted the ancient dragon’s corpse from a distance and, instead of fear, her curiosity flared. She circled the dragon’s massive head, patting its scales.
“How much could we sell this for as a specimen?” she mused aloud.
Bai Wei considered the thought. It was practical—he always utilized what he could. Selling the dragon’s remains to the dragon tribe could fund a grand piano for Sakurai Shiru.
“Brother, you’re not seriously thinking about eating it, are you? It’s been dead for years!” Simozi chided.
“People from the Ming Country don’t eat everything, you know,” Bai Wei grumbled. “At least steam it first, then dip it in clear soup—er…”
Michelle interjected, “People from the Ming Country have impressive appetites. Is there anything they don’t eat?”
Bai Wei shot back in fluent Europa, “And Europeans still can’t use chopsticks?”
Michelle was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly shifted the subject. “Your brother is amazing,” she said to Simozi. “He speaks three languages fluently!”
“Of course!” Simozi beamed with pride. “My brother is the best in the world!”
Michelle, skeptical, thought to herself, Maybe not. Definitely not as amazing as Mr. Devil.
Bai Wei, sensing the comparison, kept silent. It wasn’t a battle he could win—how could anyone beat themselves?
Hatsurai Wagaizuma approached, curious. “You have two sisters?”
“One,” Bai Wei clarified. “This one is… half of her.”
He didn’t elaborate.
Then, Bai Wei addressed the group. “I suggest you stay here. The dragon’s corpse will ward off intruders with its lingering aura.”
“Would your sister agree?” Hatsurai asked.
“She doesn’t have to agree,” Bai Wei replied firmly. “It’s too dangerous further inside.”
Hatsurai sighed. “Fine. I guess I’m just a bystander. It seems I won’t get a chance to contribute after all.”
“You could sing for my sister,” Bai Wei teased. “She’s your fan.”
The suggestion bolstered Hatsurai’s confidence. “Oh? A fan? Well, that’s my specialty!”
Her attention shifted to Michelle. “And who’s this girl? Do you know her?”
“She’s from Europa,” Bai Wei replied evasively, avoiding specifics.
Michelle narrowed her eyes. “Do you know me, sir?”
Bai Wei hesitated, then sighed. “…Yes.”
Her curiosity deepened. “How did you know me? Are you famous?”
Michelle quickly dismissed the idea. “No, I’m just a country girl.”
Bai Wei remained silent, weighing his options. He couldn’t outright lie, but telling the full truth was equally impossible.
Caught between honesty and self-preservation, Bai Wei’s silence felt damning.
Michelle, however, wasn’t ready to let it go. She stepped closer, her voice laced with curiosity and suspicion.
“Tell me, sir,” she pressed, “how do you know me?”
For the first time, Bai Wei regretted ever crossing paths with honesty.
