Bear School Astartes

”Tsk, defeated Yamai Diansan but didn’t deliver the killing blow... he’ll probably hold a grudge for a lifetime, won’t he?”

Butterfly blew out a puff of smoke, sighing.

Yet Iwami Yixin’s expression was much more relaxed, as if Lann’s recent diatribe against ’Bushido’ had not touched him at all.

”That young man has probably visited more places in his lifetime than the two of us old guys combined. Do you think he would care about the grudge of an Iwami General? I reckon he’ll forget most of it once he steps out that door. He’s about to leave—I have something to give him.”

The gaunt old man said, walking towards the Demon Hunter.

The old woman slightly opened her mouth, watching him pull out a scroll from his bosom.

”Hey, you’re not going to...”

Although Lann had already mastered the ultimate techniques of the [Iwami Style], does he really intend to give it to him now?

The Demon Hunter bent down to say a few words to Black Conical Hat Li; during the next journey to the Immortal Peak Temple, this former leader of the Chaos Wave Group would serve as an important guide.

Immediately, Lann felt a sharp, blade-like sensation creeping across his back.

This familiar feeling left no room for doubt.

”Lord Yixin.” The young man turned around and nodded towards the approaching old man.

”Thank you for not escalating the conflict. We worked well together.”

Iwami Yixin chuckled silently, ”You little rascal... deliberately exposing the secrets of the Immortal Peak Temple in front of us, just to spread the news that ’the temple has fallen into heresy’ among the commoners, so they wouldn’t go worship there anymore. Fighting someone as stubborn as Yamai Diansan is just right for that purpose. If you’d recklessly barged out of Hirata Manor, it would’ve caused more trouble instead.”

After laughing, the one-eyed old man’s expression suddenly turned stern.

”And you should be well aware... of the demons and monsters you might encounter at the Immortal Peak Temple, right? After all, they’ve been researching such things for some time now, likely with some impressive results.”

”Monsters,” Lann replied calmly.

”That temple is now filled with monsters. And fortunately, my work aligns perfectly with that.”

”Is that so? Before coming to East Japan, you were actually a person who made a living by hunting monsters? How interesting—I am quite intrigued by your methods of work.”

Iwami Yixin smiled with considerable interest.

”The ’immortality’ they are researching at Immortal Peak Temple has resulted in what’s known as [Parasite Possession]. It’s said to be a troublesome creature that cannot be killed even by decapitation or evisceration. Originally, I was going to recommend you search the temple for a wild longsword called [Undying Slash], which can destroy immortality. But since you make a living hunting monsters, you must have your own means, right? I’ll leave it at that.”

”But from this duel, you should also understand, Lann... going to the Immortal Peak Temple will be a sequence of battles after battles.”

”And battle is a large whirlpool woven from the desires and ambitions of those associated with it. A moment’s hesitation and you’ll be swallowed whole by the whirlpool...”

Lann methodically summed up.

”Which means... losing in battle.”

”Hahaha, exactly, remember that.” The old man laughed deeply. ”Lann... if you hesitate, you will be defeated!”

As he laughed, Iwami Yixin handed Lann a scroll.

The Demon Hunter received it with curiosity.

”[Iwami Mushin Style]? This is...”

”Another level beyond the ultimate techniques of [Iwami Style]. Haha, it sounds profound, but just from the thickness, you can tell it’s even simpler than [Iwami Style]. Take it, I personally dislike those monks too. Consider this a personal token of gratitude.”

Without being pretentious, Lann stored the not-so-thick scroll into the alchemy pouch at the back of his waist.

He called out to Black Conical Hat Li, and the two walked outside Hirata Manor.

Butterfly sauntered over to stand beside Iwami Yixin, who was gazing at Lann’s retreating figure.

”To give away [Mushin Style] so easily... you really don’t value the work of your lifetime, do you.”

”[Mushin Style] is just a concept, and if this concept bears fruit in someone of his caliber, I’d only find it interesting... I actually want to pass [Mushin Style] on a large scale, but unfortunately, ordinary folks just can’t grasp it.”

Butterfly couldn’t help but shake her head at this statement, expressing her inability to understand.

”You swordsmen and warriors have such peculiar thoughts. For us ninjas, a lifetime of ninjutsu crystallized won’t be shown without confirming an heir.”

”It’s normal that you don’t understand.”

The Sword Saint’s hand continuously caressed the hilt of his sword.

”He is quite similar to me, especially in his attitude towards swordsmanship, which is why I find this young man agreeable.”

”The foundation of his skills comes from the swordsmanship he learned in the Southern Barbarians. That style isn’t weak, but... it certainly isn’t suited for people like us.”

”If you’d ever crossed swords with him face to face, you’d feel it. Despite Lann performing detailed, logical analysis in battle, at his core, he’s a person deeply influenced by Eastern culture.”

”To him, or people like us. Swordsmanship is an art!”

”He pursues the perfect art of sword fighting, a pursuit that almost seems instinctual to him. He will go far down this path driven by instinct. I’ve almost reached the end of my path, and seeing such a young man, it’s natural for an old man to want to lend a helping hand.”

Lady Butterfly nodded dismissively; she was merely a ninja, lacking the strength of a warrior.

In her youth, she was frail; in her old age, lacking strength, relying only on ’passable’ Illusion Techniques to protect herself.

The life paths and goals of swordsmen and warriors she could understand but they were far from her.

But in one thing—she understood her old friend.

”Your ’Celestial Dog attire’ is in the room for you.”

A seemingly offhand remark from the old woman made the smile on Iwami Yixin’s aged face more evident.

Celestial Dog attire referred to a commoner’s cloth shirt, a raincoat draped over it, and a Celestial Dog mask.

It wasn’t special equipment, rather a disguise Iwami Yixin used for his ’private activities’ to conceal his identity.

The Sword Saint of this era cared not for empty talk, mindset, or theory; what mattered was whether one could kill, and how many were killed.

Fighting enemies was his pleasure, a way to maintain his touch.

The gaunt old man often wore this outfit while hunting proficient Inner Palace ninjas in Iwami Castle.

So emerged the legend of the ’Celestial Dog Swordsman.’

Lady Butterfly blew out a smoke ring at Iwami Yixin, clicking her tongue.

”Don’t look at me like that. ’Going to storm the Immortal Peak Temple for the blood debts of two friends’... if you were ten years younger, you’d probably knock Lann down, then rush excitedly up Vajra Mountain yourself, wouldn’t you?”

”Ah, men, swordsmen... always getting fired up over peculiar things in their heads.”

”Anyway, no one here can stop you. Go if you want to. But don’t push too hard; your sword may be sharp, but your body isn’t as robust as those young lads. Take it easy while cutting down!”