When Lann and Iwami Yixin returned to Hirata Manor, everything on the surface seemed calm.
Vajra Mountain had already entered a state of isolation, and the flow of information was not smooth. The four of them had left no stone unturned on the mountain...
Madam Butterfly, being one of the few who knew Yixin had joined the fun, didn't ask much upon seeing the old fellow return looking revitalized.
In her view, this was the look of Iwami Yixin having satisfied his urge to fight.
The day when the celestial orbs' rift would open again was gradually approaching, and the Roaring Bear Head Necklace around Lann's neck would occasionally tremble.
He hadn't done much recently, only resting and studying within the mansion of Hirata Manor.
In his spare time, the wolf would spar with him under Butterfly's orders. This silent ninja's talent was also among the top tier.
Iwami Yixin had incidentally imparted some of his swordsmanship to him. His understanding was as astonishingly quick as Lann's.
Iwami Yixin seemed to recognize the demon hunter's posture as if ready to leave or journey afar, but as a warrior, he naturally wouldn't fuss at such a time.
So, during these few days, he only chatted casually with Lann about the customs and cultures of Iwami Country.
Size comparisons to the modern era, the White Snake Lord as large as an entire train. The rumored Canyon of Collapse and female warriors of the Snake Eye Race. Bodhisattva Valley at the base of the Iwami mountain range, and the monkeys within who wield swords and firearms...
This strange world has no shortage of strange phenomena.
Lann listened with amazement but had no desire to travel all the way to see for himself.
Each world is a massive spectacle that locals spend their lives exploring without fully witnessing. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI(F)ire.net
He's just a passerby, an outsider, and shouldn't be too greedy for these wonders even locals haven't seen.
Half a month later, the demon hunter officially expressed his intention to terminate his employment relationship with Yuzi Jiu Lang at Hirata Manor's mansion, and the long-expected Yuzi agreed formally.
Under the local ceremonial rituals, Lann transformed back into an unassociated traveler.
According to the foot soldiers patrolling near Longquan River, this man in Southern Barbarian Armor, with silver shoulder-length hair and otherworldly looks, appeared by the river's water-drawing spot that afternoon.
After clapping his hands and worshipping the river, he headed into the mountains.
At the time, there were rumors from woodcutters about strange sights in the mountain's bamboo forest. When people cautiously explored, they only found a small, unusual patch of ground as if swept by a small whirlwind. Nothing odd remained after that.
A Ming Country man, Southern Barbarian Swordsman, who shone bright as a meteor but disappeared in a flash — such an identity and power combination seemed to align well with the Iwami people's aesthetic taste.
Illustrations and chronicles about the demon hunter began to circulate faintly.
The era's trend is irreversible, and Iwami will eventually be besieged by the Inner Mansion.
This truth is clear to Iwami Yixin, the current lord of the country Iwami Genichiro, and even Hirata Manor's Yuzi Jiu Lang.
However, Yuzi Jiu Lang's foresight, intertwined with his fate, made his vision extend beyond a temporary one-country scope.
He must sever the noble identity called 'Yuzi' and break the chain of this curse.
A small person but already prepared to sacrifice his life for this goal.
Fortunately, along this journey, that taciturn ninja will never abandon his master.
He will fulfill his master's wishes with his blade, and if the wedge itself is insufficient, there's a more fitting, blood-red sword...
The Undying Slash [Severance] and the destiny on its blade are already being carried by someone else.
As the wolf entered the ruins of Immortal Peak Temple, which scattered bandits occupied, he rang the bell in the thirty-three-room hall, entering the illusionary corridors.
A dwarf-like figure with a black iron conical hat was the Chaos Wave Group ninja he met years ago at the Hirata Residence, sharing his experience dealing with the peculiar gate-keeping monkeys within the illusionary corridors.
These experiences were far more effective than the vague words of the monk in the illusory corridors.
After confirming the wolf received the Undying Slash and could harness certain supernatural abilities with ease, the Black Conical Hat Ninja heaved a sigh of relief, as if fulfilling someone's request.
He followed the wolf out of the illusory corridors and left the mountain-surrounded Iwami on his own, never to be seen again.
The pressure difference caused by the celestial orbs' rift stirred a layer of lake water on the marble floor of Da Gun Temple.
Lann stumbled a bit when he came out this time.
The 'temper' of the celestial orbs' rift is somewhat unpredictable; previously, he could bring back a packhorse from another world, loaded with gold coins and dragon bones, and exit smoothly.
But this time, alone, it felt like being tossed into a washing machine.
The demon hunter staggered like a drunkard, his steps jumbled and erratic due to temporary brain malfunction.
Even walking, he could turn an exclamation mark into a question mark.
Thankfully, this time he hadn't brought back any large, heavy, high-value items from another world, otherwise, he might not have managed to carry them.
"...For the sake of safely carrying my rewards in the future, I must hurry to get a magic pouch," he complained about his impoverished situation while dizzy.
Now, the work was quite high-end, being sent on assignments to other worlds under a conceptual deity.
The problem is, high-end work requires high-end 'equipment support'.
The more you earn, the more you spend.
Upon returning this time, Lann didn't see the Lady of the Lake. After resting for two minutes and regaining his composure, he confirmed this while surveying his surroundings.
Which is understandable; after all, a conceptual deity is likely quite busy.
A relatively stable process had formed since Lann first traveled to another world, confirming his safe return.
There's no need to watch him constantly.
Honestly, there was a bit of regret in this situation for Lann.
Not because he couldn't see the unclothed goddess, but simply because he missed the convenience of being instantly swept to the lake's edge by a wave.
On the beach of Black Seagull Island, he saw the boat he had arrived in.
Apparently, several months had passed, with lake crabs dried up to calcified husks in the sunlight on the boat.
The ominous clouds rolled over Vizima Lake, blocking the sunlight.
The lake water turned a dark hue and continued to cool.
This little boat seemed to have been cared for properly; Lann thought it might have been Miss Nymph, who always wanted to 'devour' him.
As a divine envoy of a conceptual deity, having to painstakingly drag this ordinary little fishing boat ashore... makes it seem like the gods and divine envoys in this world are quite grounded.
Lann flipped the small boat over with one hand, pushed it into the lake, and set sail for the dark waters.
The forty-minute water voyage wouldn't be any shorter just because Lann had learned a bit more Oriental martial arts.
In the village's small harbor, Lann sailed back with the fishing boat that had been missing for several months, amidst the fishermen's ghostly shocked expressions.
As usual, he made his way to the village's small tavern.
As he reached the tavern's door, he spotted a bright-coated, sleekly muscled beautiful mare in the stable.
The exquisite decoration on the saddle, with intricate stitching, made it clear this wasn't a fine steed meant for a village.
A charming yet girlishly lively female voice was casually chatting with Belengar inside the tavern.
Standing outside the tavern, Lann smacked his lips, feeling a bit troubled.