“Lord Longhai, your martial prowess and unyielding will are truly admirable. I, Tian Zhongji, am deeply impressed.”
Tian Zhongji sheathed his blade and bowed. “Might I ask—have you ever killed a fellow human in the wild?”
“In the wilderness, to be honest, things are far more chaotic and dangerous than you could imagine.”
Gu Sanqiu spoke slowly. “In the wild, killing humans or beasts—what difference does it make? Everyone is fighting to survive, consuming the lives and value of others in the process.”
“Living in the safety of civilized society, you naturally cannot endure the killing intent and battle aura I exude—even if the Shinyu Style places considerable emphasis on cultivating mental resolve.”
“Lord, you can see that much?”
“I can. And I also noticed you were holding back. If you combined your spiritual blade intent with your physical blade energy, the destructive power on both the body and spirit of your opponent would be far greater.”
“Well… it’s not that I was keeping secrets. I simply haven’t reached that level yet,” Tian Zhongji admitted with a sheepish smile. “Among the successive leaders of the Shinyu Style, I’m considered one of the less gifted ones. To put it modestly, I’ve only come this far through sheer hard work.”
“There’s no shame in stating the truth. Honesty has its merits,” Gu Sanqiu replied, scrutinizing him. “I understand what the Tenryou Commission is trying to do, and frankly, I have no interest in getting involved. But I’ll give you a word of advice.”
“Please, Lord, I’m all ears.”
“You just sparred with me. You’ve experienced my strength firsthand—correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Tian Zhongji replied, though he wasn’t sure where the conversation was going.
“Tell me, do you think, if I truly intended to do something to Inazuma City, I would need any sort of preparation?”
Gu Sanqiu’s tone grew colder. “I could pick any place, any time, and start killing. In a rush, who do you think could stop me—aside from the Shogun herself?”
Tian Zhongji froze, his entire body going cold.
There was no exaggeration in those words.
If Gu Sanqiu truly wanted to, without the military already mobilized, the only one who could stop him might indeed be the Raiden Shogun herself.
But what would happen if the Shogun did intervene?
That would prove the complete incompetence of the Tri-Commission, creating an unprecedented political storm.
“Surely, Lord, you wouldn’t actually do such a thing?” Tian Zhongji asked cautiously. The fact that Gu Sanqiu had brought this up meant he must have at least considered the possibility. After all, no normal person would entertain thoughts of destabilizing society for no reason.
“I wouldn’t,” Gu Sanqiu replied firmly. “You’ve felt my strength, so you have a direct understanding. That’s why I used this example.”
“My point is simple. If I wanted to do something excessive, I wouldn’t wait for the Tenryou Commission to send you to assess my threat level. I would have acted already. Understand?”
“I have no interest in their operations, nor in committing crimes. Whether they believe me or not, this is my stance.”
“If I wanted to wreak havoc, I’d have done it long ago. You can tell them that when you return.”
Tian Zhongji shook his head vehemently. “No, sir. If I were to say that, the Tenryou Commission would surely send people to forcefully bring you in for questioning.”
In Tian Zhongji’s eyes, Gu Sanqiu was no longer just a subject of investigation but a martial arts master worthy of protection—a potential leader who could revolutionize the stagnant world of samurai.
His swordsmanship, attitude, and determination might be the key to revitalizing the warrior class.
“If that’s the case, then figure it out yourself. Consider it a favor from me.”
Gu Sanqiu paused, then shook his head.
“Actually, given the state of your Shinyu Style, I’ll withdraw the favor. Instead, you’re allowed to train here for three days, free of charge. During this time, you can ask me anything about martial arts techniques.”
Tian Zhongji froze, taken aback by Gu Sanqiu’s bluntness.
But it was his own loose tongue that caused this. If he hadn’t vented about the sorry state of his dojo, he might have walked away with a proper favor from a powerful figure.
Still, training here for three days?
Now that was something he liked.
As for the dojo’s mundane affairs?
To hell with them! Tian Zhongji finally had a valid excuse to relax for three days—and under the tutelage of such a formidable master, no less!
It was perfect.
“Then I’ll take my leave for now.”
Tian Zhongji bowed with a smile. “Before I go, I need to gather my useless subordinates. They’re probably still lost in the maze.”
“There’s no need to worry. My subordinates routinely patrol the area. They’ll escort anyone who can’t find their way out.”
—
“Let me tell you, the girls in Hanamizaka… their skin just isn’t as delicate as it should be.”
“Last time, I attended a banquet with a noble. I had the chance to see a famed dancer in the inner city. That face, that figure, that skin—it was so flawless it looked like it could drip water. Truly a beauty to rival the legendary femme fatales of Liyue’s ancient tales.”
Outside, Arataki Itto and his crew stared at one of Tian Zhongji’s disciples with drooling expressions, utterly captivated by his bragging. Their minds were clearly wandering to less-than-innocent places.
“Well, since you’ve enjoyed some of our food, we’re friends now. Next time you visit the Shinyu Style dojo, just mention my name—Nora Kanzaburo.”
Kanzaburo chuckled, flashing a mischievous grin every man would understand—a grin capable of corrupting even the most innocent youths.
“Of course, they might not compare to the inner-city dancers, but they’ll still give you something to feast your eyes on.”
“Kanzaburo! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Tian Zhongji’s thunderous roar fell like divine punishment, instantly startling Kanzaburo into leaping to his feet and assuming the perfect dojo stance—better than anything he managed during training.
Kanzaburo had been too engrossed in his bragging, and his companions equally lost in listening, to notice that Gu Sanqiu and Tian Zhongji had been standing nearby for quite some time.
“Answer me! What were you doing?”
“M-Master, I was just describing the sights of the inner city to our new friends,” Kanzaburo stammered.
“The inner city isn’t sealed off. They’re all Inazumans—do you think they wouldn’t know what it looks like? Since when are you some official Shogunate tour guide?”
“And consider what you were describing. If I hadn’t stopped you, would you have moved on to discussing… other parts of women’s anatomy next?”
Tian Zhongji turned to Gu Sanqiu and bowed deeply. “I apologize, Lord Longhai. It was my failure to discipline my subordinates that caused trouble for yours.”
Lord?
Kanzaburo froze. How had his master started addressing this man as “Lord” in such a short time?
What had happened?
Was this “Lord Longhai” ridiculously strong?
“It’s fine,” Gu Sanqiu said calmly. “These guys aren’t highly educated and lack perspective. Being distracted by such things is only natural.”
“They’re young. Having common interests like this is normal. It’s a simple desire—nothing more.”
Kanzaburo immediately decided that Gu Sanqiu was truly worthy of the title “Lord.”
Look at him! Now look at you, Master!
Tian Zhongji shot a sharp glare at his disciple. Can’t you see he’s giving you an out?
Wait until we get back—I’m going to work you to the bone.
—
This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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