The construction site of medieval East Japan was quite a sight to behold for Lann.
A group of men wearing nothing but loincloths, sweating profusely in the dust-laden worksite was truly unsettling for him.
But such ugly and dangerous labor was the norm in ancient times. Insisting on wearing clothes could increase the risk of death from heatstroke.
Kotaro trotted over and called the 'mountain of flesh' from the construction site.
The Tairou Soldier bounced along behind Kotaro, his corpulent body bouncing rhythmically.
The simple, honest smile on the face exhibiting Tang Family symptoms was a far cry from the panic and helplessness of the night when the bandits invaded.
It was clear that even while on labor duty, he felt it was better than working with the bandits.
He indeed was a simple man who came out from a monastery.
When the two of them stood before Lann, the Tairou Soldier cast a shadow like a mountain, enveloping Lann beneath it.
But contrary to his imposing physique, his head was lowered, and his hands fidgeted with the rope of his loincloth's waist, sometimes pinching the waistband, sometimes releasing it. In the time it took to catch a breath, those hands had moved several times.
Like a schoolboy unsure of what to say when meeting a stranger.
"This is the Tairou Soldier you knocked out that night... Don't just stand there; speak up."
Kotaro gave a slight bow to Lann during the first half of the sentence and then lightly kicked the Tairou Soldier at his side with the latter part.
The Tairou Soldier now wore a troubled expression, struggling to remember how exactly he was instructed to speak previously.
"Bene, benefactor! May I return... to the Immortal Peak Temple? In the future, I will surely, surely pray day and night for you?"
He stumbled over his words, which should have been a definite vow to Lann. However, each sentence ended with a tentative glance at Kotaro beside him.
Ultimately turning a proper vow into a question.
It's like giving an answer that wasn't memorized well enough.
Lann scratched his head at what he heard.
"Enough, you don't need to memorize it... You didn't kill anyone that night, and all the labor you've done can offset the things you broke. If you want to return to the monastery, you can leave with Kotaro later."
"With your destructive power, don't get easily convinced and abducted again. Stay put in the monastery."
The giant figure suddenly braced both hands on his knees, bringing his face close to Lann's, his wide-set eyes and small eye sockets gleaming with pure delight.
"Really? You forgive me! I can go back to the monastery! Thank you! You not only knocked me out that night avoiding harm, but you also let me return to the monastery now!"
"You... you are truly a good person!"
As he spoke, the gigantic Tairou Soldier began to weep, leaning on his knees.
Kotaro patted his shoulder from the side, able to reach it only when Tairou Soldier was in that position.
"Lann is certainly a good person! You must pray day and night from now on; those are not just empty words!"
"Of, of course! I will recite prayers for you at the Immortal Peak Temple!"
For such promises, Lann waved them off casually.
"I told you there's no need; I am not a believer of Buddhism."
Once Lann intervened, the Tairou Soldier was promptly released from amongst the captives.
As Kotaro indicated, many in Hirata Manor believe in the Immortal Peak Temple, so the process of extracting the Tairou Soldier went smoothly.
By the afternoon, Kotaro was ready to set off for the Immortal Peak Temple, likely arriving by noon the next day.
For the Life Star rituals, timing is crucial. Some even alter their names during the ceremonies to ensure perfect alignment with their birth timings and celestial signs.
This is all to precisely seek the blessing of their 'Life Star.'
When Kotaro's mother sought a place in the ceremony, calculations were made, and during the ritual, he would temporarily be known as 'Immortal Cloud.'
After completing this matter, Kotaro pulled the Tairou Soldier to thank Lann once again before departing.
Lann felt quite good too, as helping others and receiving gratitude brings an undeniable joy.
Upon ambling back to the Hirate family's inner residence, he spotted Lord Yuzi's personal Ninja—Wolf unhooking his grapple, soaring onto the roof of the inner estate's courtyard.
Seemingly just back from busyness outside.
Lann's nostrils picked up an uncommon scent, instinctively twitching slightly.
"It's that kind of pill, and other powders, from judging the components... a detoxifier? Was he injured?"
Lann's expertise in Alchemy and herbology was unparalleled; he could detect the properties of most herbs with a mere sniff.
For a Ninja of Wolf's caliber, ordinary forest poisons and insects wouldn't affect him; anything capable of poisoning him... would indeed be another Ninja!
The young man's eyebrows slightly furrowed, sensing that something was about to unfold.
As Lann rushed straight to the inner residence of Lord Yuzi, after announcement, he indeed saw Wolf half-kneeling, reporting something with his head down in front of Lord Yuzi.
The Demon Hunter's unhidden footsteps were first noticed by Wolf, who automatically paused his report.
Before his master could determine whether this intelligence should be heard by a third party, the Ninja would not make decisions on his own.
Yuzi Jiu Lang, who had been quietly troubled, looked up upon the sudden cessation of Wolf's report and saw Lann sitting cross-legged.
The young man first smiled apologetically at Lord Yuzi.
"Sorry to come unannounced, but... Wolf was poisoned, right? Is there an urgent situation?"
Lann estimated that it would take more than half a month until the celestial sphere alignment tore apart, and if anything happened to Hirata Manor during this period... he'd truly be in for a headache.
The young Lord Yuzi was remarkably composed, with clear brows knitted tightly, he nodded slightly.
"This matter is indeed infuriating. Lann, please listen in. This issue might require joint efforts from the entire manor's guards to curb."
Upon receiving approval from Lord Yuzi, Wolf slightly turned his half-kneeling body toward Lann.
With a calm steady voice, he began a succinct report.
"On the same day we repelled the bandits from Hirata Manor, seven children within the estate, all under eight years old, vanished."
With the first word uttered, Lann's previously composed lips twitched sharply.
Those amber cat eyes narrowed slightly. Somehow, Lord Yuzi suddenly felt the room grow a little colder.
Wolf raised his head, glanced at Lann with a frown, and then continued his steady narration.
"At that time, amidst the turmoil, we assumed it was due to the bandits' massacre. So, we recorded the names of these seven children in the death and injury registry and left it at that. However, after the bandit scattering, not only did the child disappearances within Hirata Manor continue, but surrounding villages also started experiencing such incidents frequently. Panic spread among the farmers, and after various village chiefs could no longer suppress it, it was reported to Lord Yuzi."
"Thus, Lord Yuzi dispatched me to investigate, as you can see..."
Wolf lifted the hem of his orange cloak towards Lann, revealing a bandage wrapped around his lower back coated with powder.
The scent of this powder was the detoxification medicine Lann detected.
"I encountered unfamiliar Ninjas; they were abducting children, their purpose unclear."
After Wolf finished his calm recount, Lann's hand started to unconsciously clench and unclench.
The studded gloves made an ear-piercing 'creak' sound, the noise of leather being rubbed and gripped tightly.