Bear School Astartes

The fleeting figure among the leaves hesitated for a moment, seemingly in doubt.

But in less than half a second, he readjusted his direction and landed from the towering canopy with a sound that wasn't particularly loud.

The soft, muddy ground didn't even bear noticeable footprints.

The ronin behind Lann merely marveled at the sight and paid no further attention.

The leader's encounters with this ninja had occurred twice in the past seven or eight days, despite not being frequent.

On the corner of Lann's retina, the progress bar representing the [Light Body Skill] spiked a small section.

Completion was not far away.

Lann looked at the wolf with an increasingly satisfied smile.

This silent ninja even shifted uneasily under such eager gazes.

But due to his master's orders, he still had to stay and deal with Lann, whom he considered a 'trouble.'

A warrior who fights relying on armor and solid steps actually hopes to learn the survival methods of a ninja... The wolf didn't understand.

"The situation hasn't been good lately?"

Lann looked at the wolf, raising his eyebrows.

This ninja, who maneuvered effortlessly through the dense branches, now appeared a bit bedraggled.

The dirt and tattered clothes were expected due to his environment, but the slash on his shoulder and that unnaturally moving arm... it didn't look good.

"I traveled far this time. The Lonely Shadow Group has more active members, and they are brimming with manpower."

It was the age-old issue, Iwami Country was using the strength of a small mountain country to resist the unified Grand Court of East Japan.

Although the people here in Iwami seem to have a generally higher quality, possibly due to water and soil, the other side can gather talents from all of East Japan.

Even if Iwami's conditions are special, they can't overcome such a vast gap by pitting talents against ordinary people.

"Still the same as before?"

"Yeah, the same is good."

Their conversation was very concise; the ninja should remain silent, and Lann had figured out a bit of his personality.

The wolf's hooklock shot upwards, gripping onto a tree trunk, then his body was drawn along like a kite being tugged.

Before his arm could touch the tree trunk, the wolf flicked his wrist mid-air, releasing the hooklock's fixed point.

The body began to fall, but before hitting the ground, he shot the hook again and caught another trunk within seconds.

Back and forth, his movement was limited to the area within Lann's sight.

This was the 'guidance' mode between the wolf and Lann, one just practicing without speaking, the other just watching without asking.

The wolf didn't know how to teach, and Lann figured the wolf probably wouldn't teach anyway.

So after establishing this mode during their first 'guidance,' both adapted well.

To be honest, if it weren't for Lann's strong dynamic vision and Mentos' continual analytical ability, anyone else would find it just amusing to watch.

For instance, the ronin behind Lann, even Kotaro subconsciously prepared his hands, ready to applaud.

The progress bar in the corner of Lann's retina bounced.

Finally, on the wolf's tenth throw of the hooklock, his body, descending lightly through the air, made no other moves.

Instead, he complied with gravity and landed gracefully.

On the ground, Lann crossed his arms, veins pulsing on his forehead, with sweat beading and rolling down.

The [Light Body Skill] analysis was complete, and Mentos had already transferred the parsed knowledge into Lann's brain, based on its underlying logic commands.

Lann's head began to ache again.

But after so much practice, he wouldn't have a severe reaction anymore.

"You are indeed perceptive, wolf."

The Demon Hunter pulled the corner of his mouth into an awkward smile amid the headache.

The ninja nodded slightly.

"Your eyes changed on my last hooklock throw, it seems you've grasped the basics in understanding... no problem, right?"

The wolf was already an extraordinarily gifted person. His talent among many others was like a standout bolt, a lone cliff on the sea horizon.

It's to a degree that seemed to bring boredom and loneliness.

But he truly hadn't seen learning progress like Lann's before!

The headache that Lann was feeling now seemed to him like it was due to some profound brain-related technology. Although incredible, this was the only explanation for the foreigner's learning ability.

"For once, you care about people, huh? I'm fine."

After a short time, the initial intense pain had subsided, and Lann sighed in relief, smiling.

The wolf remained composed throughout.

"You're strong; it would be a waste if something happened to you before the war."

After saying this, the ninja unhesitatingly threw his hooklock and swiftly moved towards the direction of Hirata Manor.

His body needed medicinal rest.

This 'guidance' lasted no more than two minutes, which was typical of Lann's meetings with the wolf.

Mentos' intelligent voice echoed in his mind.

"Sir, [Light Body Skill] analysis is complete, I estimate it will take about a day to draft a complete training plan."

Given the current computational limitations, a day was a conservative estimate.

Lann was mentally prepared for this.

"Start drafting, but allocate computational resources promptly when I establish a new mission temporarily."

"Understood, computation starting."

The biological smart brain began working, and Lann gently tapped his head, preparing to return to his work.

However, upon sweeping his gaze over, the Demon Hunter found the ronin behind him looked slightly unsettled.

Kotaro's sparse, comical handlebar mustache squirmed as he pursed his lips and sighed.

Seeing Lann looking over, he scratched his head and said.

"Sir, even such a formidable ninja returned injured... the Inner Mansion's offensive is fierce this time."

"In past wars, we didn't face such pressure around here, near Hirata Manor."

Lann's brow furrowed slightly; even as an outsider, he could perceive many things felt off.

The locals would feel this even more clearly.

However, orders from above hadn't changed, and the masters in the inner mansion seemed confident, leaving the subordinates anxious and unable to do anything.

Was Hirata Manor's defense system really okay?

Lann didn't know the form of ancient Japanese manor warfare, but from the atmosphere, he felt less optimistic.

The group continued walking, eventually reaching the Longquan River water drawing and worship site where Lann first descended from the mountain bamboo forest.

Kotaro requested that he stay a while, and Lann agreed.

Then the sleazy-looking short man took out several paper balloons from his arms.

He distributed them to Lann and the ronin behind them.

It seemed to be a kind of religious gift, as the ronin showed surprise mixed with astonishment when they received it.

It seemed they hadn't expected Kotaro to give them one as well.

Kotaro said these were Renqi Balloons made by his mother, and as long as the source water from Longquan River was placed inside and held in their palm, when they puncture the balloon while forming a prayerful gesture, letting the water sprinkle over them, it completed a blessing ritual.

Longquan River would bless everyone.

Whether the ronin previously looked down on him or were hostile towards him. But when praying for a peaceful and happy life, everyone should hold a Renqi Balloon.

Under Kotaro's guidance, Lann completed this blessing.

And he prayed in his heart that at least this time... not too many people would die.