After reflecting deeply, Hokuto once again analyzed the mission. He realized the moment he had been most likely to succeed was the very first time Ō An had come to find him. If, at that time, he hadn't been so naïve—thinking a couple of tips on flirting would be enough—then he should have treated it the way he had with Hayashi Kyoka, appealing directly to the other's interests and offering the most suitable condition.
Another thing Hokuto now understood was that he had overestimated the lower limits of cultivators in this world. To think that someone would go so far as to try to kill a fellow disciple just to impress a girl—such a thing was unthinkable to him as someone from the modern world. Their moral outlook, their reverence for law… it was worlds apart from his own.
Of course, besides these after-the-fact realizations, Hokuto's most important takeaway was—
Cherish life, stay away from pretty junior sisters!
Never again did he want to encounter such seemingly simple yet Yellow-rank Mid-tier options. Wasn't it far safer to quietly accumulate attribute points?
Putting aside these thoughts, Hokuto stepped forward into the Ranshin Pavilion.
Night. Suikyō Hall, by the banks of Lake Fusen.
A lilting sound of the biwa drifted over the water—sometimes heavy and resonant, sometimes fluid and bright, sometimes sorrowful and laden with unspoken longing. Though the moods shifted constantly, together they blended into perfect harmony.
"Who dares make my dear Jin suffer such grievances?"
At the sight of the newcomer, Yanagi Kojin quickly set down her biwa and rose to bow."Protector U."
From the shadows, U Manbun nodded. "Kojin, your playing has improved greatly. But precisely because it has, it becomes easier for others to hear your true feelings through the music. Tell me—who dares bully my Suikyō Hall's most beloved disciple?"
Kojin shook her head at once and answered softly, "No one has bullied me."
Hearing that, U Manbun sighed in disappointment."Ah… my little Kojin has truly grown up. She has worries in her heart and won't even confide in her Protector."
"I haven't! Truly, Protector, no one has bullied me. It's just…"
"Just what?" U Manbun pressed further.
"…It's just that I met someone who… caught this disciple's attention."
"Oh? And who might this be?" U Manbun's curiosity immediately sharpened.
"Ah—! I… I just remembered I haven't finished today's assignments. Forgive me, Protector, I must go!"
Kojin clutched her biwa and fled in a rush.
Watching her vanish into the night, U Manbun's lips curled in a faint smile. The "someone" Kojin spoke of now piqued her own curiosity greatly.
'Well… as a Protector I shouldn't meddle too much in my disciples' little secrets. But if it's about keeping our precious Kojin from being deceived… better to check.'
The next day, U Manbun quickly discovered that Kojin had gone to Ranshin Hall. Through Hō Akiyo, she learned of a certain name—Hokuto.
"Hokuto…" she murmured aloud, a trace of puzzlement crossing her face. 'No impression at all.'
She had assumed that someone Kojin would hold in such regard must be one of the sect's young elites, already accomplished despite their age. But this Hokuto… she couldn't even recall his existence.
Her curiosity only deepened. She went straight to the Disciplinary Hall, where the disciples' records were kept.
"Protector U? What rare wind blows you here today?"
A rather short man, Riku Kōhei, greeted her warmly.
"So it's Old Riku on duty today? All the better. I need to look at a disciple's record."
"No problem at all. Just give me the name. Which disciple has drawn the personal attention of Protector U?"
"The disciple is called Hokuto."
"Hokuto?" Riku Kōhei's expression froze in surprise.
"You know him?" U Manbun asked, noticing his reaction.
"Not personally. But Protector Kyo once came here asking for his file as well."
"Kyo Bunkei of Mokugo Hall?"
"That's right." Riku Kōhei nodded. "If I recall correctly, about a year ago he came specifically to look up Hokuto's record."
'Now this is getting interesting…'
Her curiosity fully aflame, U Manbun urged, "Then quickly, Old Riku, fetch me this disciple's file."
"Very well, just wait a moment."
He disappeared into the archive room, and about ten minutes later returned with a folder in hand. He passed it to her.
"Much obliged." U Manbun opened it and began reading carefully.
'This is…'
When she finished, she found the record almost absurd. Hokuto wasn't even a proper disciple—he had remained only a registered disciple for five whole years. What kind of lack of ambition was that?
And yet, there was a peculiar highlight: in those five years, every time he had served as an iron-seal for new disciples' trial tasks, he had never once failed.
Of course, plenty of iron-seals in the sect had similar records. After all, beginner trial tasks weren't too difficult. Only when larger unforeseen changes occurred was their true ability tested. So it wasn't strange for strong disciples to maintain perfect records.
But for someone like Hokuto—a "bottom-of-the-barrel" registered disciple—to have such a record?
'How odd… surely Hall Master Chō isn't so muddle-headed as to let such an interesting fellow remain just a registered disciple?'
Seeing her shifting expressions, Riku Kōhei chuckled."Protector Kyo looked the same when he read the file—utterly baffled. That's why I remembered Hokuto so clearly."
'So Protector Kyo beat me to it, did he?'
Handing the file back, U Manbun waved a hand. "Thank you, Old Riku. Next time dinner's on me."
She left the Disciplinary Hall, her mind abuzz with thoughts.
Meanwhile, Riku Kōhei looked at the file in his hands and shook his head with a smile. "Protector U reacted exactly the same as Protector Kyo…"
'Ugh, today's haul wasn't great. Only five options triggered. Looks like I'll need to head down the mountain for a trial soon. Can't keep scraping wool off the Kishin Sect forever.'
As dusk settled, Hokuto finished his "daily mountain patrol" and returned to Ranshin Hall. But as he approached his hut, he noticed a woman of striking elegance standing at the door.
'Just as one small problem left, another big one shows up… things have been way too lively these past few days.'
Hokuto instinctively stepped back two paces, ready to pretend he hadn't come home at all—
But then a melodious voice called out:"Hokuto, where do you think you're going?"
Hokuto froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned and bowed."Disciple suddenly recalled a chess endgame I hadn't solved, and so I was on my way back to the Chess Pavilion."
"Is that so? Strange—I could've sworn you were about to run away the moment you saw me."
U Manbun walked toward him as she spoke.
"How could that be? You must be mistaken." Hokuto smiled politely and bowed again.
"Not even blushing when you lie. Your mental composure is impressive."
With that, U Manbun smiled slyly and asked:"Do you know who I am?"
(End of Chapter)