Chapter 25
Zixu activated the Silence Fruit coursing through his body, his eyes narrowing as an invisible force spread outward from him.
"Soundproof barrier."
A wave of absolute silence rippled from Zixu as its center, swallowing all sound within its range. The lively singing, the frantic dancing, and the carefree laughter of the festival vanished in an instant—leaving only two voices behind.
One belonged to Zixu. The other...
"Hey, bro! Would you like some ramen? It's freshly made, smells so good—"
The ramen shop owner's smile remained unchanged, his expression warm and welcoming, but... something about it felt wrong.
It was the kind of smile that had been fixed in place for centuries, like a lifeless mask carved onto an ancient mural or the eerie expressions of terracotta warriors staring at you in a museum. At first glance, it appeared normal, but the longer you looked, the more unnatural it became—like something pretending to be human.
Yet, within that stiff, rehearsed expression, Zixu sensed something different.
A struggle.
As if the ramen vendor was fighting against an unseen force. His words faltered, breaking apart like a glitching hologram, repeating in a choppy, unnatural manner—
"Gr— Green rice balls... dim sum... Yuanxiao... t—top brand... c-chicken soup is delicious... s—sand is not tasty... pour oil... chrysanthemum..."