The Shadow Guard answers only to the Kazekage.They are the personal guards directly under the command of the Wind Shadow [Kazekage].Even ordinary members of the Shadow Guard need only give Elder Chiyo a slight bow.
Yet just moments ago, Li Fan had noticed something surprising in this woman's movements—It seemed she had wanted to kneel fully on both knees in salute!But at the very instant her knees began to bend, she seemed to recall something. She forced herself not to kneel, switching instead to a deep bow.
Even if he might one day become Kazekage, that was merely a possibility—not yet decided.And even if he truly became Kazekage, there was no reason for Shadow Guard members to kneel on both knees before him. At most, a single knee would suffice.
After watching the beauty before him bow deeply, holding the posture without moving or speaking,Li Fan instantly thought—this woman might have something wrong in her head.
He could feel the crowd around him growing larger.Many of the windows, previously shut tight, now had slivers open.Behind those slivers, he could faintly see curious eyes watching him.
Seeing the scene,Li Fan—who hated nothing more than being treated like a monkey on display—suddenly felt like… a monkey on display.His mouth twitched.
The woman, oblivious to the whispers around them, remained bent at a perfect ninety degrees, as still as a statue.Gritting his teeth, Li Fan abruptly grabbed her slender left hand, neatly resting on her waist, yanked her through the doorway, and shut it behind them!
The onlookers saw this and began chattering even more.Soon, rumors spread through the crowd—Li Fan would be the next Kazekage.
After all, the Shadow Guard was mysterious.But residents of Sunagakure [Hidden Sand Village] had lived there for decades—long enough for the existence of the Shadow Guard to no longer be a complete secret.
However, the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance had not reached civilians or most genin.
Li Fan closed the door and was about to speak when—
Bang!
He instantly guessed what might have happened.Turning around, he found his suspicion correct.
The woman was kneeling on both knees, forehead pressed to the floor, gloved hands flat against the ground—performing a formal kowtow of great reverence.
Her voice, gentle, firm, and faintly fervent, rose from her bowed position:"The deputy commander of the Shadow Guard, jōnin Hongyue [Red Moon], pays respects to Lord Li Fan."
Li Fan, halfway into a step forward, froze.The name Hongyue was familiar—he had seen it recently in the system's list.No wonder he had no prior impression of her—she was the deputy commander of the Shadow Guard, meaning their prior "meeting" had been entirely one-sided.
A mix of embarrassment and satisfaction welled up inside him.Embarrassment, because he hadn't expected a favorability rating of just over eighty to make the deputy commander act like this.Satisfaction, because—well—Li Fan was a man.Society might claim equality, but in reality, the subtle distinctions between superior and subordinate were everywhere, especially once you'd been knocked around by life.
Seeing such profound respect from a beauty of her rank, Li Fan couldn't help feeling a spark of pride. That was only human nature.
All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.In reality, his foot only hovered for half a second before he strode quickly forward.
Li Fan might never have faced this situation in real life, but he'd seen it often enough in fiction to know exactly how to handle it.He walked briskly to Hongyue, bent down, and hurriedly helped her up.
"Commander Hongyue, please—get up. I'm just an ordinary jōnin. How could I possibly deserve this?"
At the same time, a thought flitted through his mind—her arm's really springy.Even through cloth and bandages, he could feel the softness of her skin.When he'd grabbed her hand earlier to pull her inside, he'd let go too quickly to notice.
Hongyue had no idea what he was thinking.Even if she had, with her favorability level now at eighty, she probably wouldn't have cared.
Watching Li Fan's movements, her once-cold heart suddenly softened.A strange sweetness rose within her, tightening her throat, a faint trace of emotion crossing her face.
Li Fan, noticing she still hadn't moved after he'd helped her up—and was simply staring at him—felt awkward.This wasn't following the "script."Normally, she should have said something by now.
Though her mask hid her expression, her red-tinged eyes told him she was deeply moved.Li Fan forced a smile—was a favorability score over eighty really this intense?
He glanced at the chair beside him."Master Hongyue, please, have a seat."
"No, no, Lord Li Fan, please don't call me that—I can't bear it! Just call me Hongyue, or anything you wish!"
Her voice, unlike before, now carried panic rather than calm.
Li Fan quickly adapted. After thinking for half a second, he nodded."Alright then—I'll boldly call you Red Moon."
Hongyue obediently sat down, legs together, hands neatly on her lap, her slender waist perfectly straight.
Li Fan poured her a glass of water, handing it over with both hands out of habit.
Seeing this, Hongyue hurriedly stood, bent down, and respectfully accepted the cup with both hands.
"Uh… why not take off your mask?"
"My apologies, Lord Li Fan! I'm used to keeping my mask and coat on when anyone else is present. I'll remove them immediately!"
To her, it was as if she had just received an imperial edict from a sovereign—no, her reaction was even more exaggerated than the most loyal minister of old.
She reached to remove the mask, then paused to glance at her right hand—still holding the cup.Realizing this, she quickly set the water down, then removed the mask with both hands before shrugging off her windbreaker.
"Wait, I didn't mean—ah, never mind."
Li Fan gave a weak wave. She was already halfway through, and besides, she was only removing outer layers.
After the coat came off, Hongyue removed her gloves, then unwound the white bandages from her arms.
Throughout, Li Fan watched her hurried movements—his gaze growing brighter with each layer removed.
It wasn't for any lewd reason—it was simply that with each layer gone, her presence, once muted by windbreaker, coat, and bandages, grew more striking.
Hongyue was like a ruby buried deep in the desert, hidden under layers of yellow sand.No matter how beautiful, such a gem would remain unknown to the world—Until, by a one-in-a-billion chance, it was uncovered, dazzling all who beheld it.