The Plane of Euthymia is a pocket dimension created by Ei.
Not even Luo Qing, with all his hacks, had a way to leave this place.
His freedom was entirely dependent on Ei’s whims.
And right now…
She didn’t seem in the best mood.
Luo Qing sat cross-legged on the ground.
In front of him, Ei held a light novel in both hands, her eyes slightly red as if she were on the verge of bursting into tears.
He glanced at the cover.
Ah, it’s The Stoic Samurai Falls for the Wild Heiress.
That tear-jerker Yae Miko had recommended.
Feeling bored, Luo Qing took out two of his copper coins (originally three) and started tossing them in the air, thinking he might as well do a fortune-telling to predict when Ei would start crying. If she did, he’d lend her a broad shoulder to cry on and let her sob her heart out in his arms.
But even after a long wait…
Ei’s eyes were like a dam about to overflow—filled with tears, but none spilled.
Luo Qing was getting bored out of his mind in the Plane of Euthymia.
Any time he tried to disturb this bookworm, she’d immediately point her naginata at his throat and command him to stay quiet—like a bristling, purple-haired kitten.
It seemed that to leave the Plane of Euthymia, he would have to wait for Ei to finish the book in her hands.
Noticing the dilapidated katanas stuck in the ground beneath the shattered torii gates around the platform, Luo Qing, seeing that Ei was preoccupied with her novel and ignoring him, walked over to the broken katanas and casually pulled out two of them, gripping one in each hand.
Among the rewards he’d received from the system, he had learned both Thunder Breathing and Water Breathing techniques, and even a dual-blade manual known as Niten Ichi-ryū.
He hadn’t drawn any new weapons in a long time, so he had never tested these katana techniques.
Now, he finally had a place to practice without worrying about being seen by others.
Holding a katana in each hand, Luo Qing took a deep breath, recalling the secrets of the Thunder Breathing and Water Breathing techniques.
“First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.”
“First Form: Water Surface Slash.”
He executed the two breathing techniques in succession. Despite being in the Plane of Euthymia where he couldn’t use elemental energy, faint traces of lightning and water appeared on the katanas he held.
This display caught the attention of Ei, who had been engrossed in her light novel.
As the master of the Plane of Euthymia, she could sense even the faintest fluctuations of elemental energy within it.
Despite sealing off all elemental powers here, how could Luo Qing’s blades still channel such forces?
“Where did you learn that sword technique?”
She asked, her voice cool.
“Why don’t you wipe those tears off your face before asking me questions?”
Luo Qing replied cheekily.
“…”
【Frustration Value from Ei +1】
What nerve, daring to criticize me!
Despite her annoyance, Ei still covered her face with the book and discreetly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
She couldn’t help it—the novel was just too heart-wrenching.
Folding the corner of the page she was on, Ei rose to her feet and walked over to Luo Qing.
“Show me that sword technique again.”
She hadn’t detected any Vision on Luo Qing, yet he had still managed to wield elemental power with his blades. That meant the techniques he used could draw in surrounding elements without needing a Vision.
Most of the sword and blade techniques practiced in Inazuma had descended from her teachings, then developed by later generations. Since the Cataclysm, the most profound sword arts required elemental assistance, and only those with Visions could master them.
Even she, the god of Inazuma, had never devised a way for non-Vision wielders to manipulate elements with advanced sword techniques.
But now, Luo Qing had done just that.
“Do you want to see it?” Luo Qing grinned.
“If you promise to let me go, I’ll show it to you again.”
“Hmph.”
Ei didn’t bother responding with words. She simply raised her naginata, its blade resting threateningly against Luo Qing’s throat.
“…”
“Alright, alright. If you really want to see it that badly…”
Luo Qing sighed, feeling exasperated. Why does this woman always put a blade to my throat at the slightest provocation?
Can’t we just talk this out calmly?
Intimidated by her imposing presence, Luo Qing had no choice but to pick up the katanas again and focus his breathing.
“Ei, watch closely. I’m only showing this once!”
“First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.”
“First Form: Water Surface Slash.”
This time, with the dual-blade style, Luo Qing performed the full repertoire of Thunder Breathing and Water Breathing techniques.
As the difficulty of the techniques increased, the lightning and water that coated his blades grew more intense, ebbing and flowing with each slash in the Plane of Euthymia.
Soon, Luo Qing finished his demonstration.
“Amazing…”
There was a hint of admiration in Ei’s eyes.
Throughout the performance, she had been closely monitoring the elemental flow around Luo Qing.
Even without a Vision, he could manipulate the surrounding elements by using a specialized breathing technique, channeling them through his body, and releasing them with his strikes.
He could even briefly command these elements, using them to empower his attacks.
If such a technique could be taught, it would represent a major breakthrough for the swordsmanship of Inazuma.
“Who taught you this swordsmanship?” Ei asked, still astonished.
Luo Qing kept a straight face. “I created it myself. Want me to teach you?”
“…”
“Come on, we can discuss this civilly. There’s no need to keep pointing a blade at me!”
Seeing Ei lower her weapon, Luo Qing finally relaxed.
One day, when he had grown strong enough to surpass this shut-in woman, he swore he would put his spear to her throat.
And then he’d ask if she thought his spear was fast enough.
“Your sword technique doesn’t rely on a Vision, yet it can control elemental power. If it could be widely taught, it would elevate Inazuma’s swordsmanship to a new level.”
Ei pointed at the katanas Luo Qing held.
“Are you suggesting I should go teach them?”
Luo Qing chuckled, testing her reaction. “But haven’t you already retreated into the Plane of Euthymia, leaving Inazuma’s affairs to the Shogun? Why suddenly the interest in Inazuma’s swordsmanship?”
“I…”
“I was merely curious. Whether you teach them or not is none of my concern.”
Ei turned away, returning to her reading spot and reopening her book to the page she had marked. She began to read once more, as if their conversation had never happened.
“What do you think of those light novels?”
Luo Qing put down the katanas and walked up to Ei, observing her focused expression. There was a cute, almost dazed look about her when she was reading.
When she didn’t respond, he continued his line of baiting.
“After all, it was your old friend who popularized these novels. Aren’t you curious to visit Yae Publishing House in person?”
“And there are plenty more delicious sweets like these dumplings and milk tea available in Hanamizaka. Don’t you want to try them for yourself…?”
After a long silence, clearly annoyed by his pestering, Ei waved her hand and expelled Luo Qing from the Plane of Euthymia.
“Annoying man, interrupting my reading!”
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