Bear School Astartes

The site where the extermination meeting took place just now is actually a relatively high platform.

On this platform, people could even look down at the rooftops of the buildings below.

This kind of situation is quite common in a place like Iwami, where the height differences are obvious.

The main goal for the three now is to fight their way to the Lotus King Courtyard—the Thirty-Three Room Hall located deep inside the Immortal Peak Temple.

The location of Black Conical Hat Li's signal whistle is also on the way.

When the three of them reached the location guided by the signal, they immediately understood why Black Conical Hat Li went missing during the extermination process just now.

Outside a half-open door of a Buddhist hall, a short and plump ninja was slumped at the entrance.

Though the blood had stopped flowing thanks to the special Iwami pills, the coagulated blood stains on his body were shocking enough.

His body was covered in ferocious cuts from sharp weapons, dense and hideous.

Lann hurried to his side, slightly out of breath, crouching down to look at the ninja with a frown.

"How are you feeling?"

Although he had been identified as a child kidnapper... when someone was desperate enough to redeem themselves, it always stirred some emotion.

The black iron conical hat drooped powerlessly as his thin arm waved slightly.

"Nothing to worry about; I took the pill, and these flesh wounds will heal soon."

His voice wasn't 'nothing to worry about' at all. Weak and weary, he couldn't help but draw out the words toward the end.

"These wounds... iron claws?"

"Yes, iron claws."

Black Conical Hat Li laboriously lifted his head and smiled at the Demon Hunter.

"Though it took some effort, I finally... found your 'friend'."

He went to find... Kotaro?

Lann stood with his mouth slightly open, unable to speak for a long time.

"I didn't ask you to..."

"Yes, you didn't ask," Black Conical Hat Li nodded. "But nobody asked you to come to Immortal Peak Temple, right?"

"It's strange, isn't it? Don't know why... maybe out of redemption or compensation? Anyway, seeing you makes me want to help you even if it's just a little."

"To be honest," Black Conical Hat Li smiled bitterly and pointed at himself, "a ninja like me can only help you a little."

"Alright, go see him one last time, even if it's just to say goodbye... Remember what I told you, 'he's just a shell enduring pain now.'"

"Be decisive, Lann."

As he said this, Black Conical Hat Li's skinny, bony hand gently patted Lann's arm.

The Demon Hunter took a firm look at the deformed man beneath the black iron conical hat, silently nodded, and stood up to walk towards the half-open wooden door.

Watching Lann slowly sink into the darkness, Iwami Yixin wasn't anxious; on the contrary, he was rather curious about Black Conical Hat Li.

"A former kidnapper turned into this state today, experience is indeed a miraculous thing."

Beneath the tengu mask, the old man had a smile on the corner of his mouth.

Black Conical Hat Li weakly nodded.

"Witnessing a brilliant character, one can't help but yearn to get close, to protect... This time, I acted on impulse, didn't I? Haha, truly not a qualified ninja."

Iwami Yixin didn't follow the self-mockery with ridicule, merely looked into the dark Buddhist hall and said softly.

"Being swayed by emotion certainly doesn't make for a good ninja. But now... you've become 'human' again, Black Conical Hat."

Not mentioning the dialogue outside the Buddhist hall, upon entering, the first thing Lann saw were several bizarre 'human' corpses.

Calling them 'human,' these entities had their bones and muscles brutally restructured for quadrupedal movement.

Their bodies were wrapped in bandages, with two rows on their backs resembling ribs that exploded outward, iron hooks like centipede antennae.

It felt like the bandages were only meant to hold this mix of flesh and blood together, preventing them from scattering.

On their limbs were strapped, or rather embedded in the flesh, long iron claws.

It was as if they were... artificial centipedes.

The Hundred Legs Clan.

Lann could easily associate these entities' images with the intelligence provided by Black Conical Hat Li.

All these Hundred Legs Clan members were already dead.

Looks like it was killed by the Black Conical Hat's airborne ninja strike, meaning their movement posture on all fours has actually turned their backs into a weak point.

There are many charred scorch marks on the ground. Black Conical Hat didn't have such tools, it seems the Centipede Tribe can spray fire.

The Buddhist hall has an inner and outer room. Through the gap in the wooden door, you can see a huge bonfire burning within a fence.

In East Japan's Buddhist terminology, that is called 'Homa'.

The ash produced from burning is called 'Homa Ash', which is rumored to be an ash capable of exorcising evil.

And next to the Homa, a centipede significantly larger than those dead ones on the ground is wandering unknowingly.

Although its face is wrapped in bandages, with eyes bulging nervously and a greatly changed physique, Lann still recognizes... that's Kotaro's face.

Now he should be called 'Immortal Cloud', a name temporarily changed to accurately seek protection from his Life Star.

Thanks to the repeated reminders from Black Conical Hat Li, Lann didn't waste much time because of Kotaro's appearance.

He quietly drew his katana, the ninjas' [Silent Breathing Technique] allowed him to make no sound even wearing heavy armor while in stealth mode.

No sound of wind, no sound of breathing, and no... hesitation.

If Kotaro were to stand up now, he'd likely reach two meters three.

He always wished he had a large physique.

Lann suddenly grabbed his hind leg from behind, the immense force and suddenness causing Kotaro not to make any effective struggle.

He immediately lost balance and was dragged right in front of Lann.

The katana plunged vertically into the heart, causing blood to splatter from the narrow blade opening.

"Puff!"

It was clear that Kotaro, transformed into a centipede, was affected by the power of immortality. After being stabbed through the heart, he almost instantly recovered.

His limbs, embedded with iron claws, frantically clawed at the floor, leaving menacing and chaotic scratch marks on the wooden floor.

However, already occupying an advantageous position and having both strength and weight advantages, Lann did not relinquish his advantageous position.

He pressed down hard with his foot, the body Kotaro originally lifted slightly with his limbs was pressed down again with a "bang".

The pitted katana didn't pause, after drawing from the heart it left a white Qi Blade trace in the air.

"Crack!"

Kotaro was beheaded.

Beheaded decisively and neatly by his former leader, his former friend.

Just like the warriors' most pursued assistance in seppuku.

The bandaged head rolled away, the body beneath his feet quickly became limp and powerless after convulsing neurotically.

Lann pursed his lips, flicking the blood off the blade. When shaking his head, ready to leave, he suddenly turned back and pulled something from the bandages on Kotaro's chest.

It seems that the Star Offering Ceremony involves a convention of writing down your wishes and placing it on your body.

Under the glow of the Homa Fire, Lann looked at the items in his hand.

A cloth strip, the handwriting scribbled and crooked. It's clear the writer can't write, just copied someone's writing. Only handwritten words show sincerity.

"Bless my mother to ascend to paradise, bless me... bless Lord Lann from illness and disaster."

This was Kotaro's prayer before the ceremony.

He wasn't just intending to say a few words for Lann, he wrote the prayer into the clothes he was to wear at the ceremony.

There's also a note.

Perhaps for fear that the reader's memory might be poor and careless, it repeatedly wrote the same message.

"Remember to chant and pray when you return, remember to chant and pray when you return..."

This is a reminder from the yet unnamed Tairou Soldier to himself.

Two people who received help from Lann never neglected their promise to Lann.

Even if Lann refused or didn't care, they still fulfilled their promise on their own.

Demon Hunter calmly nodded and threw the note and cloth into the Homa Fire before him.

For this materialist, he clasped his hands towards the bonfire and closed his eyes.

"Blessed by Buddha, may you ascend to paradise, then..."

Then, Lann drew his blade. The grip was so tight that his knuckles turned white.

They will fight all the way to the Sanjusangendo, and in front of those thousands of statues of Thousand-armed Guanyin... chop down the Immortal Peak Master and his insects!