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Allen quietly gazed at the sun.
The sun disc climbed little by little in the sky.
Climbing.
In his dark gray pupils.
Flames ignited.
—Only by igniting the fire in one's heart can a person constantly drive themselves forward.
With the progress of the Great Teleportation plan, Allen had advanced another step.
So, next...
Bang!
A dull thud of a body hitting the ground from the junior dojo beside him.
That was the 'sound' of rules breaking.
A smile curved his lips. He looked to his side with an enigmatic expression.
Reida's back had already disappeared. The door to the Direct Instruction Dojo was slightly ajar, suggesting Reida would be out again soon.
In the current situation, Reida was letting him handle the aftermath.
Although the old woman had deliberated for a long time at the junior dojo's entrance, the moment she saw a certain possibility, her decisiveness in acting on that possibility was as direct as ever.
Through the crack in the door beside him, various pieces of information drifted out with the draft, firmly captured by his Sense Flow.
The dojo raid was over.
He shook his head.
Reida, the authority figure of the Water God Style Main Dojo, judging that Eris, the dojo raider, was almost done beating everyone up, dropped a phrase only he could hear: "From this day forward, Eris Boreas Greyrat shall be the Chief Disciple of the Water God Style Advanced Dojo."
Then she turned and left.
Was this appointment legitimate?
No.
First, the name was not right. Eris wasn't even an apprentice of the Water God Style Main Dojo yet; she was just a troublesome outsider who came to raid the dojo.
Second, the words weren't smooth. Eris clearly used Sword God Style techniques. To say she should be the chief disciple of the Water God Style Dojo—even if Eris was currently on a roll and nobody dared to defy her, what about later? After today, when everyone recovers, will anyone still obey?
It was clearly leaving him to personally implement this matter and the things they had just discussed.
The question was, who in the Water God Style Dojo had the authority to secretly appoint a chief disciple of the junior dojo? And for someone who was a troublesome outsider who came to challenge them?
The hidden meaning was self-evident.
—Allen, after all, you are already a part of the Water God Style Dojo. And the future of the Water God Style Dojo will ultimately be left to you to manage.
And suffer from the headache yourself, after all, this is a mess you stirred up.
As for the proposal to reclaim the Sword Sanctuary in exchange for gaining fame—just by saying it, she should lead him through the entire process?
That certainly wouldn't do.
Do it yourself.
Allen even imagined Reida's tone.
She wanted to tie him firmly to the Water God Style's ship, without any chance of backing out.
Recalling the 'plans' for the next few days, Allen rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
It wasn't entirely a good thing...
At that instant, Isolte's perpetually smiling eyes and Reida's intentionally spread elopement 'rumor' couldn't help but resurface in his mind.
Isolte was, after all, an unmarried maiden. With this rumor out, she couldn't marry anyone but Allen.
Either Isolte would remain focused on swordsmanship, inheriting the Water God title in the future. Perhaps, with luck, when she was older, she might take a commoner husband of humble origin, who had no influence in the dojo, and live out the rest of her life not so 'perfectly.'
Or Allen, you inherit the Water God title, and marry Isolte, securely and properly.
Choose.
Ginger, damn it, the older the spicier...
Completely outmaneuvered.
Allen glanced at the Direct Instruction Dojo again. Reida was standing by the window, blowing on a letter in her hand. It seemed she had just written a letter to Sinos.
Alright, alright.
You've done well, Master~
He sighed, ignoring whether Reida was watching him. He reached out and performed a dojo salute to Reida.
He twisted, reached out, and turned the doorknob.
Click.
He pushed the door open.
Scorching sunlight streamed into the dojo.
What greeted him were twenty-odd apprentices, contorted and sprawling on the ground.
Writhing and crawling.
They heard the sound of the door opening and all looked up at him.
But they couldn't get up for a while.
Eris stood amidst the group, her face visibly scraped. The wooden sword in her hand had already been replaced with another; the previous one had broken during the sparring.
Isolte and the others, who were outside the crowd, turned to look at him.
Allen raised a hand, stopping Isolte's attempt to explain to him. "You worked hard, Isolte," indicating that he understood the situation in the dojo.
Then.
Thump, thump, thump.
He walked into the center of the dojo, meeting everyone's gaze.
He first patted Eris's head, amidst her highly raised, almost tail-wagging, triumphant smile.
He then stood with his hand on his sword, surveying the room.
"I'm back, everyone."
He paused slightly, seeing that no one was making any noise. Even Faltz was standing quietly to the side, his face grim.
Clearly, the Advanced Water God Style swordsmen of the junior dojo were still in shock and disarray from being individually defeated by Eris.
He nodded in satisfaction.
What 'filial piety'... no, what 'collegial camaraderie,' shaking hands and talking, a very lively reunion scene—that wasn't what he wanted to see.
Because cordiality wasn't the way to establish oneself in the Water God Style Dojo.
Awe was.
The current reaction was just right.
"I stood outside the door for a while just now. Do you know why I didn't come in?"
He first looked at Faltz. The latter, meeting his gaze, subconsciously shifted his eyes away, avoiding eye contact.
Allen then looked at the others. The other apprentices, who had just managed to get up, also dodged his gaze.
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid you'd think I was watching from the sidelines and couldn't fight freely."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid that my presence watching from the sidelines would make you subconsciously feel that my existence made it difficult for you to act, making you unable to focus, which led to your defeat."
"You are all very proud, so I didn't want to give you an excuse for your defeat."
Allen rubbed the hilt of his sword, his expression unwavering, but his voice gradually grew clearer, gradually rising.
"Because truly proud people disdain to find external excuses to cover up their incompetence!"
"I want you to remain proud!"
"Even now that you've been defeated!"
"I want you to remain proud!"
"Even though I know exactly what you're all like!"
"But!"
"Something has already happened! Just now!"
"I want to ask you, this feeling of fire burning in your hearts, is it exhilarating or not?"
"The feedback you feel from the sword hilt in your hands! Is it completely new? Do you still have the desire to swing it!"
Allen raked his gaze over every apprentice's face. "Look up!"
Whoosh, all the apprentices simultaneously looked up, staring fixedly at Allen.
The earlier decadence and dejection on their faces seemed to be burned away by Allen's words, turning into ash that scattered in the air.
"Excellent! It seems you all understand."
"Remember the feeling of defeat!"
"Keep moving forward!"
"Understand?"
Silence fell over the arena.
Allen narrowed his eyes, and roared!
"Understand?!!"
What responded to him was a perfectly synchronized, unified voice!
"Understood!!!"
Allen swept his gaze around, noticing that the eyes of these noble children, who had somewhat weak resilience to pressure, had brightened again after being thoroughly defeated. He then nodded.
"Excellent, sit."
The nobles all sought their zabuton cushions, obediently sitting on the ground. Faltz, meanwhile, rubbed his face. His expression suggested he wanted to say something to Allen, but then, seeing Allen's impassive look, he simply took the zabuton that symbolized the dojo chief and had a different design from the others, and obediently placed it before Allen.
He turned, sat cross-legged on the floor, and watched Allen.
The latter did not sit down. After everyone had taken their seats, he looked at Eris, who stood with her arms crossed, her chin held high, 'very obediently' by his side.
He began.
"Alright, everyone's here. I have a few announcements to make."
Before bewildered looks could fully form, Allen's voice immediately sounded. He extended his index finger, holding it before him.
"First, I hear some of you want to challenge me? I've already left the Water God Style junior dojo, so technically, I shouldn't be engaging in challenges with you."
"However, there's an opportunity now."
"Tomorrow, at 6 PM, right here, a commendation ceremony will be held."
"The old rules apply, just like four years ago. I'll be the one challenged, ten matches, stopping short of serious injury."
"It will be a banquet format, with both dojos serving as venues. You may bring your relatives to watch, no limit on numbers."
As his words fell, silence fell over the dojo. Everyone looked somewhat dazed, but then, they quickly reacted, erupting into a clamor.
"A commendation ceremony for becoming a Water King??"
"Senior Brother Allen is indeed a Water King already, but why isn't Her Majesty Reida making this announcement?"
"Who announces it doesn't matter, does it? Is there a difference?"
"That's true. But the news is actually true, terrifying. The youngest Water King in the history of the Water God Style Main Dojo??"
"It's so astonishing..."
"Why are you surprised? Isn't Senior Brother Allen's genius obvious to everyone?"
"True."
"This banquet has no guest limit?"
"Does this mean I can invite the young lady of the Letos family I'm pursuing to come and watch?"
"Watch you get beaten up?"
"Um... we'll watch you get beaten up."
"?"
Allen struck the air beside him with his palm.
Everyone instantly quieted down.
Allen surveyed the surroundings and continued, extending his middle finger.
"Second."
He opened his palm, gesturing for everyone to look at Eris beside him.
"I, Allen Boreas Greyrat, as a Water King, naturally possess the qualification of Full Transmission. Eris's Water God Style comes from me. Without a doubt, she belongs to the legitimate lineage of the Water God Style Main Dojo. Does anyone object to this?"
No one objected.
Allen swept his gaze around, seeing everyone look at him with understanding.
Eris's strength just now was plain for all to see. Leaving aside the Sword God Style and North God Style, even an Intermediate Water God Style practitioner could contend with them. Moreover, her application of some techniques was very skilled.
If she wasn't the legitimate lineage of the Water God Style, then what was?
Allen nodded, glancing at Faltz, who was licking his lips, staring fixedly at the chief disciple's cushion under Allen, his expression inexplicable.
Allen had quickly established deterrence after entering the dojo, then placed himself and everyone present on 'equal footing' to evoke a sense of honor. Finally, through the fact of being a Water King, he further elevated his status, forcibly blurring the apprentices' perception of his and Reida's authority.
Until now, he could finally lay out his map.
He extended his thumb.
"Third."
"At this point, the matches have already exceeded ten, and all were victories."
"Eris Boreas Greyrat is the new Chief Disciple of the Water God Style Junior Dojo."
"Who agrees?"
"Who objects?"
This time, everyone froze. They all looked at Faltz, whose face was grim. His facial muscles twitched for a moment. He glanced at Eris but said nothing.
Allen nodded, waving his hand.
Battle aura stirred a gentle breeze, precisely sending the zabuton beside him to Eris's back.
"Sit."
Eris didn't even think. She plopped down onto the zabuton.
However, even knowing Eris was stronger and had just been personally defeated by her, many apprentices still looked at the zabuton under her.
They still hadn't fully reacted to the scene before them.
"Disagree?" Allen's voice sounded.
Before anyone could react, he continued.
"There's no time."
"Two months from now, the five-year Sword Sanctuary ownership challenge will begin. This time, we will take back what belongs to the Water God Style Dojo."
Everyone froze at his words, then erupted in a clamor. Even Isolte, who had been quietly watching her 'eloped husband's' entire performance with a smile, was somewhat bewildered.
Allen again struck the air with his palm to quell the commotion. This time, it was a fierce gust of wind.
Whoosh!
The wind made Allen's clothes flap loudly.
The apprentices all looked at Allen's palm. In an instant, they realized this was a Voiceless Sword of Light technique.
They had just seen it, and all of them had, more or less, lost to this technique.
"Dojo disciple challenge match."
"The Water God Style Dojo's Saint rank will be Isolte. The King rank will be me. As for the third candidate, that will be Eris."
"The previous matches proved that none of you have the strength to counter the Voiceless Sword of Light..."
As he spoke, he raised his palm. The next instant, in a frame-skipping manner, it suddenly appeared beside him.
Hovering quietly in front of Eris's face.
Allen tilted his head, looking at Eris.
The latter, with crimson eyes, looked up at Allen.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
"No need!"
"Oh?"
Eris reached out a finger and pointed at the spot where Allen's palm landed, saying without hesitation.
"Voiceless Sword of Light, too slow! I can see it perfectly clear! Big Brother means to 'strike' right here!"
Allen retracted his hand and looked at the apprentices again.
"This is the reason. She can represent the Water God Style Main Dojo, using Intermediate Water God Style strength, to defeat Advanced Sword God Style, because she can fully judge the trajectory of the Voiceless Sword of Light's strike, but none of you can."
"If the chief disciple of the Water God Style Main Dojo's Advanced Dojo can't even handle the Voiceless Sword of Light, then there's no need for them to hold that title."
He extended his finger, pointing to the zabuton under Eris.
"However, you are all still welcome to challenge her within these two months. If you can defeat Eris, you can naturally reclaim the chief disciple's position."
"And that will naturally prove that you have the strength to represent the Water God Style Main Dojo as Advanced Swordsmen and participate in the challenge two months from now."
"Understand?"
Silence in the dojo for an instant.
Then a deafening response echoed.
"Understood!"
Allen nodded, then turned to look at the dojo's entrance.
Everyone's gazes also followed his movement.
At some point, Reida was already standing at the dojo entrance.
She quietly scanned everyone in the dojo, then nodded.
And twisted to leave.
Seemingly noncommittal about Allen's 'decision,' but this was clearly an act of endorsing Allen's words, making everyone understand her meaning.
—Allen's meaning was her meaning.
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