"Gather."
The four elders met at the center of the arena.
"As soon as we enter, Third secure the West, Fourth the East, and Sixth take the South. I'll handle the North. Akiyoshi's group will back-up Fourth and I if necessary. Little Mizu's group, be ready to assist Third or Sixth."
Ariyoshi Miji coughed to reduce the tension. "First Brother, you're going to scare them if you talk like that."
"Mm. Danger is unlikely," Kondo agreed.
After they personally reviewed the current state of the challenge pit's enchantments, the results showed that there was a strong likelihood that nothing dangerous was present in the Dragon's Basin.
If one or more had truly infiltrated the basin without tripping any of the defensive formations while simultaneously preventing all the pillars from sending out a distress signal, then they were severely outmatched in terms of ability, and no amount of strategic planning would make up the gap.
In short, such a powerful opponent would have no need to hide or lie in ambush, waiting for them.
"Che, you two are going to ruin everything! This is a great opportunity for the sprouts to grow and learn how to handle su-che si-che-uations," Gao Diao lectured Third and Fourth with a [Wind Whisper].
Kaitou Daiki surveyed everyone with thinned eyelids and crackling lightning dancing around his body.
"One can never be too cautious."
Several of the disciples gulped nervously upon witnessing the fierce power emanating from the First Elder.
"And what should we do, First Elder?" Matsushita Hizumi inquired for them as Aoi Rin seemed she would live until the day she died without uttering another word.
"You six will stay in the center of our formation. If things turn for the worse, you all will evacuate immediately and deliver news to the sect."
Matsushita Hizumi frowned, unsatisfied with the role he was given.
Hanabi and Shizuka also appeared somewhat displeased. Even though they were considerably weak compared to the rest of this lineup, they still wanted to contribute. Instead, they were being guarded like babies whose purpose was to sit and watch.
Basically, their group was instructed to do nothing unless disaster struck in which they would be the first to flee. Their duty was somewhat lacking in glory and challenge compared to the others.
"Che, che, you shouldn't underestimate the importance of your task. If all is well, then it is true that you do not contribute much, but in the worst case scenario, your responsibility becomes the most important out of everyone here, your elders and master included. Why, just the other day—"
BOOM
The centermost tile of the arena interrupted the Sixth Elder by shattering apart, and a large hole appeared in its place.
The First Elder did not bother lifting the arena like Hirose Hide had when Kenja had entered the Dragon's Basin.
"Enough. We've wasted too much time. Let's go!"
Gao Diao was not happy about being interrupted, but he did not say anything.
The four elders hopped onto their weapons and dove into the tunnel with the disciples following behind.
Aoi Rin and Matsushita Hizumi lagged behind slightly.
As they descended deeper into the steep tunnel, spirit tools embedded on the side of the walls lit up with a soft azure glow, granting them vision as they flew.
Although those at the Nascent Soul and Core Crystallization were capable of seeing in ordinary darkness, no one would complain about having too much vision.
Hirose Hide peeked over at Shimizu Mizutani whose furrowed brows and slumped shoulders displayed her low spirits.
"Are you okay?"
Shimizu Mizutani and she were usually opponents who only showed a face of invincibility to one another. She was not accustomed to seeing this vulnerable side to her.
Shimizu Mizutani sighed before shrugging off her frown with a head shake. "I should ask you that. Have you given up on our fight? And what happened to your kanzashi?"
Hirose Hide was not sure how to respond.
Ever since she heard that there were not vital signs within the Dragon's Basin, her mind was filled with worry over Kitamura Bolo's fate.
Although their meeting was brief, she had developed good feelings towards this younger brother disciple. Her hair ornaments held sentimental value to her, so when she had exchanged them with Kenja for his ribbon, she felt that moment signaled the blossoming of their relationship…even though he mistakenly addressed her as 'aunt'.
And after witnessing the number of amazing feats he had accomplished inside which far exceeded the sum of achievements belonging to her and Sora Yu, she had already begun to romanticize about Kenja's heroic figure.
Over the past three days that she waited for him to exit the basin, she had fantasized several times about their future trysts.
Sometimes, she would teach him a new cultivation technique or martial arts skill. Other times, she would assist with forming his Sea or helping him establish his Foundation. And if she were feeling giddy, she would take him to explore the world beyond the Freezing Desert on her sword, just the two of them.
Hirose Hide felt she would definitely fall in love with any person who had done all these things for her, so Kenja was sure to become smitten with her!
While her desire to capture Kenja's heart was initially a wholly self-serving motive to enhance her future cultivation by nurturing a useful and loyal tool, she had not planned to keep herself from emotionally connecting with Kenja.
In this world of theirs, where might was right, and everything else was secondary, there were many who, in the deepest, darkest recesses of their hearts, secretly hoped to stumble across the meaningless and selfless myth that was love, even if it started from a selfish impulse.
Hirose Hide had found herself to be one such person.
With Hideaki Akiyoshi who remained indifferent and polite to their advances, the relationship would be a matter of convenience for both sides, and trust between them would be difficult to foster beyond their own interests.
In her view, Kenja was young and inexperienced. He had not become distrusting of others or twisted by the torments of life, and yet he was talented beyond belief to the extent that the pillars rained acknowledgments upon him.
Perhaps, if it were the two of them, it was possible to put the other first.
"I'm no longer interested in our fight. I've given my kanzashi to someone else."
Shimizu Mizutani was startled by this. "Was it Kitamura Bolo? You don't know him! And he's too young! Even now, his life and death aren't certain!"
'Young' was not pointing to his age but rather to his cultivation.
A Qi Flourishing was too far from becoming a Core Crystallization, and the danger entailed was enormous.
Disregarding the protection of a master like Fifth Elder Kazane, such a person would have less than a 1% chance of surviving to reach that stage. If one assumed the vigilant protection and constant nurturing of a Nascent Soul, then maybe a talented Qi Flourishing had a one-in-ten chance of forming their core…and this was being extremely optimistic.
Just take the present as an example: he might already be dead!
Hirose Hide glared at her in annoyance. She knew what Shimizu Mizutani meant.
"He's different. He's wise beyond his years and kind to his fellow disciples. He will definitely form a Nascent Soul and go beyond that," she claimed with conviction, ignoring the part regarding his current circumstances.
She would frequently reminisce over Kenja's words regarding the proper ethics of a spar that he shared with his brother and sister disciples.
They carried a clear and pure righteousness that she rarely thought about.
She was taught to look after herself, first and foremost, and that everything else came second. Everyone she knew operated in this manner, including her master, Sora Yu, the elders, vice elders, other Tributaries, junior brothers and sisters, everyone!
Everyone…except maybe Fifth Elder Kazane who seemed insistent on helping her disciple Aoi Rin beyond the usual responsibilities of a master.
She used to think the Fifth Elder was only maintaining her image as a good master and that she was too stubborn to admit she had picked up a waste of a disciple. But now, Hirose Hide was beginning to think differently.
In this world of gray, Kenja's teachings helped her perceive the black and white she had long forgotten. Her motives were no longer dominated by benefits and drawbacks, but they factored in right from wrong.
Reviewing the lecture from memory over and over again had caused her to see value in Kenja's noble and selfless actions.
As a result, her thoughts became incomparably smooth and comfortable, and her cultivation over the past three days experienced a rapid speed like never before. Her core resonated with her enlightened change, condensing and circulating qi several times more efficiently.
It was a strange but attractive feeling, one she wanted to explore as much as possible.
If she were to speak truthfully, it was this change that had made her wish to be a little more selfless towards Kenja and towards others. She had even begun making plans to redress the troubles she instigated with junior sisters and brothers in the past.
Just like how she had asked Shimizu Mizutani if she was fine, a display of caring she would never have shown before.
The Flowing River Sect was technically classified as a 'righteous' sect, but it was only now that Hirose Hide felt she had understood the benefits of being righteous.
Shimizu Mizutani rolled her eyes. "You sound like an infatuated mortal. This is probably that 'puppy love' phase that happens when one first falls for another. I pity you!"
Hirose Hide scoffed back at her, "I don't see what my business has to do with you! I suggest you take care of yourself before criticizing others. Or do you like the feeling of being snubbed?"
Female cultivators were aware and forewarned by older generations of the 'puppy love' phase. Mortals undergoing such a phase could feel its effects to upwards of one or two years, but for cultivators who were practiced and disciplined in patience, the duration could last ten or twenty-fold.
It was a potentially ruinous state for those cultivating as emotions ran high and were filled with extreme ups and downs. Instability was not conducive for cultivating.
Teachers and elders hoped that spreading prior knowledge regarding this evil affliction could reduce its detriments and frequency of occurrence amongst the younger generation.
Although Hirose Hide already had suspicions that she might be plagued by 'puppy love', she disliked being analyzed by her rival. Moreso, she disliked the thought that her newfound feelings were a temporary and easily pinpointed cliché.
"I wasn't snubbed!" Shimizu Mizutani stated with puffed cheeks and chest.
After glaring at one another for a breath, her cheeks deflated and she asked again, "So does that mean you're giving up on him? You sure you won't regret it?"
This time, Hirose Hide exhaled a peaceful but resolute sigh.
Hideaki Akiyoshi was handsome, intelligent and arguably the most-talented amongst the younger generation males within the Flowing River Sect. Plus, he had a good position and was at a suitable age.
If she could have secured such an excellent Dao companion, her future benefits would be immense.
But now, her priorities had shifted. She felt that her previous self was short-sighted and had focused on the wrong things.
"Even if we find that Kitamura Bolo has died, I won't go back to fighting with you over four-eyes. It was a mistake on my part to go after him in the first place."
While she said this, Hirose Hide really, really hoped nothing unfortunate had happened to Kitamura Bolo.
She liked him.
She was not smitten with him yet, and the fantasies in her head were purely hypothetical daydreams. Even if she were suffering from a so-called 'puppy love' phase that she wished would last forever, she was not an idiot like other mortals.
She had standards!
If Kitamura Bolo ended up being another Hideaki Akiyoshi or worse, she would instantly drop him from her mind and heart.
Out there, somewhere, she would find her real Kitamura Bolo.
As for her cultivation, if things did not work out with the dashing youth, she would follow Fifth Elder Kazane's advice and not rely on men for shortcuts.
Hirose Hide chuckled to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.
She really had changed the past few days in ways she never thought she would.
She could not tell whether she was becoming wiser or more foolish.
Was she maturing as a woman or regressing as a cultivator?
She could not be certain, but she knew one thing.
Hirose Hide liked herself more this way.
Shimizu Mizutani did not reply. Upon witnessing her old rival's smile, she looked ahead and fell deep into her own thoughts.