Chapter 657: Chapter 326: The Past Is Hard to Erase

The Female Sword Saint placed the long sword onto the table, the invisible sword qi slicing through the utensils in that person’s hand, preventing him from even daring to glance that way again.

After dinner, Li Ang gave a look, signaling as agreed to return to the room behind the building and then come out to act, walking with the three towards his room.

At the door, he found Andasu and Meluna following him, with no intention of returning to their own rooms.

"Alright, come in."

He was sure it was pointless to disentangle things here, so he might as well let them in directly.

"Hey, they’re going in to discuss serious matters, right?" Lindson asked, staring at the backs of the three.

"Of course, what else could it be? It must be." One participant replied through clenched teeth.

The workers’ dormitory brought back memories for Li Ang from a long-gone era, not of Nebis’ memories, but childhood memories on Earth and some university memories. The setup here was somewhat similar, though the beds were grounded as it was a single room.

Li Ang pulled out a chair and sat down: "Make yourselves comfortable, we’ve got to wait here until dark."

Even with spiritual driving, the daylight was still bright. If someone looked from outside the casting range or from a far distance, they might see Li Ang casting spells, so he planned to act at night.

After the two sat down, silence momentarily filled the air.

Li Ang had anticipated this. As long as "issues" weren’t presented, those two were the type to speak less. To prevent the atmosphere from solidifying, he would have to speak first.

"Meluna, since you’re here, let’s talk."

Hearing Li Ang’s call, the black-haired young girl shuddered. Her previously lowered head slightly lifted, eyes peeking through her falling black hair, tentatively observing Li Ang. Seeing his calm expression, she timidly lifted her head.

This was really unlike that "this sword will surely kill you" End Sword Saint. Li Ang’s internal change reflected on his face as his expression softened.

Meluna raised her hands, seemingly unsure of what to do, recalled something, and crossed them on her chest: "I’ll listen to you carefully."

"..."

Li Ang stared at her without speaking, met with Meluna’s bewildered gaze.

"No, this pose of yours, are you trying to act delicate or stand out? It’s neither, it’s all mixed up, what are you doing?" Li Ang was puzzled.

"She said so, be a lady."

"A lady... I see, it’s Meimei, right? Did she tell you to pose like this to listen to me?"

Li Ang pulled her hands down to her legs.

Hands crossed, resting on clasped legs, to exhibit a gentle, tender side, reducing aggressiveness—Li Ang guessed that little one came up with this idea.

"Yes, I remembered."

The woman in front, once she understood that most of her life had been spent on the ruins of a destroyed civilization, knew where these behaviors originated.

In the past, after letting down her guard, she often lay as if a salted fish, doing whatever felt comfortable, with arms and legs splayed wide without hesitation.

She even came out bare-chested the first time she bathed, but those were past events.

"Alright, sit properly, I want to talk about things inside the factory."

This was the first time in days Li Ang talked to Meluna properly, feeling his seriousness, Meluna finally wore an expression of careful attention, as serious as when she thought about swordsmanship.

"I know you’re here to protect me because there is much imperial influence here, including my ’old friends’ and their accomplices. If they all attack me, I won’t be able to defend myself, so I have to say, thank you."

Li Ang finished, Meluna opened her mouth, and Li Ang waited as she slowly organized her words.

After pondering for a while, the young girl awkwardly said, "You used to say, the relationship is different, so don’t say this."

Ah, that indeed happened.

Li Ang remembered it was when they began sleeping cuddled together, during a meal at a snack-focused restaurant.

Next to them was a seemingly awkward couple on a date. The man busily prepared condiments, rolled pancakes, and mixed dipping sauces for the woman. In the end, the woman’s stiff thank you made the man’s expression freeze instantly.

When the dishes came to their own table, Li Ang had to take care of the salted fish he’d brought, but his starting point was completely different. If he hadn’t, this one would probably grab with her hands, making a mess all over her face.

After he finished, Meluna imitated and thanked him, startling him.

"Wow, what’s up with you today? Where’d you learn that thank you from?"

In her case, Li Ang had waited too long for a thank you.

"You were watching the people beside us, you told me to observe others."

"Observe, yes, but they’re in a different situation. Still, well, it’s alright I suppose. We’re already behaving like this, it’s your first time saying it, and I find it odd."

"What’s wrong with them? Why do you feel odd?"

"The woman’s attitude shows their relationship is somewhat stiff, while we’re past the point of needing to say such things."

"What’s different?"

"Very different, we naturally bathe and sleep together... hey, let’s not talk about this outside, eat this."

Li Ang fed the black-haired girl a wrap of small pieces of vegetables and tender meat, just the right size for her mouth.

Sighing, Li Ang snapped out of his memories, looking at the now threadbare-clothed Meluna: "Did you remember again?"

"I’ll remember everything, so..."

"Let’s talk about what’s in front of us first."