Bear School Astartes

The Pot People, who had never experienced such a situation, were left bewildered by Lann's words.

During this process, Lann also learned his name was Chun Chang.

In the end, Chun Chang set the price of the "Floating Boat" at two scales, totaling three with "God Devourer."

The price was halved compared to before. Lann only needed to catch two large carp in the tributary beneath the cliff in the inner courtyard of Hirata Manor to make up for it.

Lann felt that although he desired the treasured carp scales, he wasn't in a hurry, as if he had plenty of time to collect them. That's why it was so easy to negotiate.

This feeling, Lann had sensed with the Female Warlocks.

He guessed that this guy might also be a long-living species. Who knows what use he had for collecting these scales.

...Could it be that he wants to stick them to his body? Squid turning into carp?

As Lann navigated the boat along the Longquan River, he shook his head and laughed silently at the thought.

-----------------

"Master Lann, you're back? Lady Butterfly wants you to go to the inner residence directly upon your return."

Now, the leader of the guards at the gate of Hirata Manor had become Kotaro.

Although he had fought all night and his mother had been killed by bandits last night, the reward of finally becoming a lower-ranked warrior still motivated him to work diligently and cautiously.

After all, this was already the best outcome he and his mother could have imagined in their anticipated lifetime.

"Thanks, Kotaro."

As Lann walked inside, he waved his hand to thank Kotaro.

And now the lower-ranked warrior was immediately bowing ninety degrees, trembling with fear towards Lann.

"You're too kind, I don't deserve it!"

The Demon Hunter frowned as he walked past.

The friendship and communication they had built over the past ten days disappeared after a reclassification of status.

Even though he knew it wasn't Kotaro's fault but rather the deeply ingrained hierarchy system of East Japan that created this social atmosphere.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a sense of "lamenting his misfortune and angering at his lack of ambition" towards Kotaro.

Lann walked all the way into the inner courtyard, where the wolf silently appeared in front of him just as he arrived.

"Go to the Hidden Buddhist Hall, someone wants to see you."

Lann frowned at his sudden appearance.

"If you're here, who's watching over His Highness? Butterfly? Then who wants to see me?"

The wolf's expression and tone remained unchanged.

"Just go."

After speaking, the short Ninja swung his hook and vanished to an unknown location.

The house where the Hidden Buddhist Hall was located was one of the few preserved in the inner courtyard.

Lann lifted the tatami that concealed the entrance and made his way down.

The door of the Buddhist Hall wasn't closed, and from the entrance, Lann could see Owl, bound before the statue of the Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara.

In front of him was a tall, skinny old man.

Dressed in loose yukata, he was about the same height as Lann and Nogami Genji, around six feet three inches.

But through the loose yukata, his muscular build was faintly visible. Like Nogami Genji, beneath his relaxed skin was still taut, powerful, and unusual muscle.

However, this old man seemed to be much older than Nogami Genji, probably over seventy.

But none of this was the reason Lann stood at the entrance without going in.

The Demon Hunter stood at the Buddhist Hall's doorway, just needing to move a bit to step inside.

But at this moment, he frowned, and his boot with the external armor plate lifted and fell on that line.

"Killing intent intimidation... But this feeling is so sharp, it's like... a sword."

The old man had his back to the door, but even just stepping slightly past the threshold, Lann felt a chilling sensation of a blade grazing his cheek.

Unconsciously, within Lann's body, both of his hearts started to race, and his hair stood on end one by one.

This was a sign of entering combat mode.

The demon hunter hesitated at the doorway for less than five seconds, then slightly squinted his eyes and stepped directly into the Buddhist Hall.

The sound of boots hitting the ground was undisguised.

The Owl, with broken limbs, lifted its head, and the old man with his back to the door turned halfway with a slight rotation.

"Indeed, you are something else, warrior of the Ming Country."

The one who spoke was the tall, thin old man, whom Lann now saw from the front.

Sparse hair tied in a chonmage, one clear and sharp eye. The voice was inevitably aged, yet still loud and hearty.

He looked Lann up and down.

Looking at his muscles, bones, armor, and sword on his back... the more he looked, the more interested the smile on the old man's face became.

"I originally wanted to meet you early on. A person from the Ming Country, learning Southern Barbarian Swordsmanship, and coming to Iwami to find a job chopping people, that sounds very interesting. Just in time, an old friend caused this mess over here..."

"Hey, Yixin, saying that really makes me lose face."

In Owl's eyes, a flicker of expected understanding passed.

In Iwami Country, possessing an aura that could make him feel a terrifying sharpness, besides the legendary "Sword Saint"—Iwami Yixin, there was no one else.

Now, Owl and Yixin were chatting and laughing. If it weren't for the giant ninja having its limbs broken, it seemed nothing like the relationship between a traitor and a betrayed.

"Caught Owl should just keep its mouth shut."

Iwami Yixin did not turn to look at Owl, only jesting like an old friend with a laugh.

"Butterfly promised to teach you the 'Iwami Style'? Perfect, I'll teach you myself."

"That would truly be an honor."

Lann showed no excess emotion.

Although being personally taught by the founder of "Iwami Style" was a good thing, the aura he emitted just before Lann stepped into the Buddhist Hall... it wasn't the kind for teaching, it seemed he wanted to kill!

Iwami Yixin chuckled with amusement.

"Oh? Did you notice earlier? I thought Southern Barbarian martial arts paid little attention to things like 'momentum' and 'spirit.'

"You're joking, Lord Yixin," Lann's steps were steady, and his voice was calm.

"In any martial art, it's impossible to ignore 'momentum.' Even when practicing 'blind fighting,' one must feel the 'sound momentum,' right? Southern Barbarian martial arts are no different."

"Haha! Well said! Martial arts have commonalities, as in the end, they are just techniques created for killing! Here, take this!"

The skinny old man laughed heartily, pulling a thread-bound book from his bosom and tossing it to Lann, who was by his side.

The demon hunter nimbly raised his hand, catching the thread-bound book.

As he opened it, the three large words "Iwami Style" were displayed boldly on the cover.

Looking further inside, the simple and straightforward text accompanied by stick-figure-like diagrams of techniques.

Compared to that book "Lonely Shadow Group Ninja Technique Manual" that even ghosts couldn't understand... Is this really the famous "Iwami Style"?

Lann suspiciously raised his eyes, his gaze shifting back and forth between the book and the old man.

"Don't look at me like that, 'Iwami Style' isn't something that requires secrecy and complexity. The Iwami people all practice this swordsmanship; the only difference is their level of mastery. If it's too complex, it can't be widely practiced."