Bear School Astartes

"Are you saying that the kids were turned into some kind of 'immortality medicine' by the 'monk' you mentioned? That kind of thing sounds so ridiculously fake!"

Lann frowned as he spoke.

Black Conical Hat Li shook his head to refute.

"The children weren't used to make medicine... They were part of an attempt."

"An attempt to see if mortals can create the 'power of immortality.' And... 'immortality' is a real thing! It's not something ridiculously fake!"

The Demon Hunter's eyes narrowed slightly as Black Conical Hat Li continued.

"Immortal Peak Master was the first in the temple to gain the power of immortality. Once you've seen him, you'll know... he's truly an 'undead'."

"Perhaps having a living 'undead' right in front of them drove the monks mad with desire? Hence, they began continuous attempts."

"Wait, did you say 'Immortal Peak Master'?"

Lann interrupted Black Conical Hat Li, looking stunned.

"Is that the undead's religious title, or...?"

"That's not his religious title, he's the preaching master of Immortal Peak Temple, hence he's called Immortal Peak Master."

So it's indeed that Immortal Peak Temple!?

Suddenly, a sleazy but sincere face flashed through Lann's mind, along with the face of the foolish Tang Family member shouting blessings for him.

"Are you kidding me? Even though I've only been in Iwami Country for a few days, I know Immortal Peak Temple is a famous Esoteric Buddhist monastery throughout East Japan! If it was oppressing tenants or evading taxes, that's one thing. But abducting children... are they insane?"

Black Conical Hat Li calmly looked at the inexplicably agitated foreign warrior, seemingly understanding something.

The short ninja sighed and shook his head.

"Insane? They've been insane for a long time. Yes, they're one of the most renowned groups of Esoteric Buddhism, but if you've really looked into Immortal Peak Temple recently, you'll know..."

"Just how many pious believers have gone up the mountain to pray, never to return?"

The mountain wind howled, but the chill it brought did not compare to the information Black Conical Hat Li revealed.

The ground was covered with blood and severed limbs, but the information about the 'Buddhist Pure Land,' the 'Esoteric Buddhist monastery,' was even more cruel and insane than the mess on the ground.

"When Immortal Peak Master announced a few years ago that he would try to understand the power of immortality, the monks inside the temple grew more and more obsessed. The power of immortality, throughout history, who could remain calm in the presence of such a thing?"

"To understand 'immortality', one must first cross 'death'. They need to observe the death of people, then extract experiences and knowledge from it."

"Over half a year has passed, and those believers who went up the mountain have been kept by them as 'material' to acquire knowledge. As for the children... they are the 'test subjects' of practicing the knowledge."

"But you know, using unknown knowledge on those kids, they can't survive either."

Black Conical Hat Li lowered his head, and in Lann's eyes, he could only see that black iron conical hat swaying back and forth.

"The monks have long stopped worshipping Buddha, the morning and evening rituals... They are pursuing the 'Way'! As if possessed, they seek the 'Way of Immortality'!"

The Demon Hunter's mouth twitched, calmly but urgently asking.

"How quickly do they act against the believers? What about those attending the Life Star offering ceremony? When do they act?"

The black conical hat lifted, and the tubby ninja's lips quivered, seemingly unsure of how to speak. In the end, only a sigh was left.

Life Star offering ceremony?

That really was... the most suffering group.

After seeking the 'Life Star', the person holding the ceremony will be turned into... centipede!

"It's just afternoon now, if they set off from here, taking into account the journey. Then by the next night..."

Black Conical Hat Li pursed his lips.

"They'll already not be human."

Black Conical Hat Li tried hard to avoid speaking too explicitly.

Lann's mouth slightly opened, his palms supporting his forehead.

Including the journey, it's just a day and a half.

And it's half a day's journey to Hirata Manor from here, meaning that...

Kotaro, and that Tairou Soldiers whose name isn't even confirmed yet, are already, are already dead?!

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

Lann brought Black Conical Hat Li back to Hirata Manor to meet with Iwami Yixin in the inner residence room.

At this time, Yuzi Jiu Lang and his personal ninja, Lady Butterfly, and Wolf were all present.

Due to the matter concerning the children across the territory, Yamai Diansan, currently responsible for Hirata Manor's defense, was also there listening to the side.

Black Conical Hat Li was in the middle of the room, took off his iconic black iron conical hat, placing it beside him, revealing his misshapen figure and face.

Lann sat back against the wall by the door, head lowered, silver hair falling down to cover his face.

As Iwami Yixin and Wolf entered the room, both instinctively tightened their grips on the sword sheath, their thumbs slightly pushing open the hilt of their Samurai Sword at the waist.

After their sharp eyes scanned a circle, they focused on Lann, slowly moving their hands away from the sword sheath.

Yuzi Jiu Lang was puzzled, but Butterfly and Yamai Diansan seemed thoughtful as they watched the two's actions.

"Heh," Lady Butterfly chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I can't believe I've gotten so old."

As the lord of the Hirate family, Yixin naturally took the main seat. After he sat down, the rest started to find their positions.

For Yuzi Jiu Lang, it was somewhat puzzling that Yamai Diansan, the samurai general of Iwami Castle with increasing authority in Hirata Manor, did not comment on Lann's obviously improper way of sitting today.

In the past, such behavior on someone else would have been enough to provoke him.

Coming from the family of the Seven Spears of Iwami, it's natural to have an air of pride and a desire to discipline subordinates.

"Then, are you the culprit for abducting the children?"

With Iwami Yixin silent in the main seat, Yuzi Jiu Lang naturally took up the role of questioning.

Black Conical Hat Li looked calm, unabashedly nodding.

Then, he spilled all the intelligence about Immortal Peak Temple.

Everyone's expressions varied, Yuzi was clearly not expecting that the renowned temple in East Japan would have such a mad and filthy side, and that it had reached a level of uncontrollability.

Because of the ninja profession, Wolf and Butterfly showed no reaction. Ninjas are not meant to express personal opinions.

The mocking expression on Yixin's lips was evident.

Whereas Yamai Diansan, loyal to the current lord of the country, was initially shocked, then forced down the shock with a firm expression.

"Complete nonsense! Immortal Peak Temple has always supported Iwami Country, even contributed during the war to rob the country!"

"Moreover, kidnapping believers to use them as materials for pursuing immortality... Immortal Peak Temple is big and prosperous, relying entirely on offerings for maintenance. Without these believers, how would they have food?"

"If they truly did this, I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to research that absurd 'power of immortality' before starving their own monks to death first! Slandering the masters of Immortal Peak Temple... you're probably an Inner Mansion ninja sent to sow discord!"