"Lord Yae Guji, and Uncle Wang, are you discussing the match Shin'go had with Tsumon's disciple a few days ago?"
A young villager with a middle part walked by, overheard Uncle Wang and the others, and immediately joined them.
"I saw that match with my own eyes. No one knows the details of that match better than I do!"
"At first, when I heard that brat Shin'go was going to challenge the Kyoumei Shiratsu style, I thought it was a joke. But the moment Shin'go drew his sword, wow, his entire demeanor changed..."
"That swordsmanship, those movements, were so fluid and powerful! Tsumon's disciple was actually quite strong, but he was no match at all!"
"He defeated his opponent in just a few rounds. After winning, he even exclaimed, 'Great swordsmanship! I haven't felt this exhilarated in a long time!'"
The middle-parted youth's spittle flew everywhere as he spoke, accompanying his gestures, vividly portraying the scene. With such eloquence, it was a shame he wasn't a storyteller.
"Heh heh, anything else? We heard that Shin'go's temperament has changed a bit recently, right?"
Yae Miko crossed her arms and looked at the middle-parted youth with a smile.
"You mean he's become more diligent? Before, he'd do nothing all day but lie around and bask in the sun. But yesterday, I saw him helping the village chief chop trees. He finished in an afternoon what would take others three days, and he even kicked down Uncle Kin's melon tree with one foot, tsk tsk..."
As he spoke, the middle-parted youth glanced at Uncle Kin, who was eating a melon beside him.
The middle-parted youth didn't understand why Uncle Kin was so tolerant of Shin'go. Even though the melon tree was kicked down, he just smiled and didn't seem angry at all.
Uncle Wang: Firstly, it's because of Shin'go's mother. Secondly, I can't beat him. Lastly, it's still because of his mother...
"But, strangely, when the village chief offered him tofu, he shouted, 'What is this stuff? Get away from me!' and ran off instantly..."
The middle-parted youth suddenly remembered something and added this at the opportune moment.
"Lord Yae Guji, I finally found you, pant, pant... I found my brother, he's over by the waterfall, and I got the salt. Hurry, come with me!"
Just then, Kajiwara Yohei ran over, panting, his face covered in sweat.
"Although I'd like to hear more interesting stories, since the person has been found, let's go!"
Yae Miko nodded and asked Kajiwara Yohei to lead the way.
Watching the receding figures of Lord Yae Miko, Kajiwara Yohei, and the others, the middle-parted youth sighed slightly to Uncle Wang:
"Shin'go seems quite spirited lately. But for some reason, Yohei looks dejected. Aren't they about to take on disciples soon? Perhaps it's due to a sudden sense of responsibility? Yohei has grown up too!"
"I hope so, alas..."
Uncle Wang didn't hold much hope.
...........
Feng Yi and Yae Miko followed Kajiwara Yohei to the side of a turbulent waterfall and found Shin'go meditating and cultivating under the waterfall, fiercely and wildly.
If one listened carefully, they could still hear Shin'go muttering to himself.
"Hoo... Hahaha, how is it? Do... do you feel it? Do you feel... a man's... spirit!"
Feng Yi was stunned. Had Itto logged in from another account? Or had this guy gradually become Arataki-like?
"Founding a school... Heh! Superficial... A man, born between heaven and earth, how could... his ambitions be so... ridiculous!"
"Waaah... Please spare me... Spare me, don't, don't talk about spirit... The temperature... I can barely feel the temperature..."
"I... I can't take it anymore, I... I'm dying!"
"Yohei... Yohei! Save me... Save me!"
Shin'go, sitting under the waterfall, seemed to be suffering from a split personality, laughing maniacally at one moment and begging for mercy at the next. He didn't seem quite right.
"Hmm? Who... is here?"
Shin'go heard the footsteps of Feng Yi and the others. His entire demeanor changed drastically, and with sharp eyes, he emerged from under the waterfall and walked towards them.
"Don't, don't come any closer!"
Facing his brother, whose aura had changed dramatically and was now completely unfamiliar, Kajiwara Yohei instinctively took a step back and plopped onto the ground.
"Oh dear, how pitiful, Yohei. Your brother's aura is already very weak. He's using his last bit of strength to desperately call out to you for help. What should you do?"
"Waaah... I, I don't know what to do..."
"In my opinion, Shin'go seems to hold great resentment towards you. What is going on here?"
"I don't know, I don't know anything!"
"You don't know? Shouldn't you be clearer than anyone else why your brother has become like this?"
Yae Miko gave Kajiwara Yohei several chances, but the young man kept playing dumb, still clinging to some unrealistic fantasies even at this stage.
Yae Miko's patience was wearing thin.
"Yohei, think carefully before you speak. This is a matter of life and death!"
"Waaah! Th-this..."
"Someone so close to you, acting so strangely. You should have noticed it immediately. Yet, after five days, you only now remember to find me. Do you still think you can explain this away?"
Yae Miko's previous cheerful demeanor vanished, and she looked sternly at Kajiwara Yohei, reprimanding him softly.
"I..."
Kajiwara Yohei lowered his head, his gaze evasive. He dared not face Lord Yae Guji, nor his approaching brother.
"Fine, it's alright if you refuse to tell the truth. However, after Shin'go dies, you'll be next! Even if you run to the ends of the earth, it will follow closely behind you. After all... it was you two who summoned it!"
Yae Miko waved her hand, speaking the most terrifying words in the calmest tone, which made Kajiwara Yohei's legs go weak.
"Aaaahhhh— I'll tell you, I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything! My brother and I made a wish with a spell, we wished, Lord Yae Guji, please save us..."
"It's that 'True Spirit Investigation Notes' that's been very popular recently. It's said that you can make wishes by chanting spells at midnight. My brother and I drew the formation according to the book, stood barefoot inside it, and after chanting the spells, several lights really appeared around the formation..."
Kajiwara Yohei was terrified, his mental defenses crumbled, and he poured out the entire sequence of events like a string of beans.
Feng Yi watched Shin'go, who was walking closer with his sword drawn, ready to fight. With a single command, he was immobilized on the spot.
Fighting is so tiring, so he didn't plan to do it himself.
Fighting was something that should be left to the professionals.
Feng Yi had already sent him a telepathic message in advance. He estimated that the other person should be arriving soon...