With a graceful bow toward Hokuto, Yanagi Shizuku slightly parted her rosy lips and said softly,"Three days from now will be my first time descending the mountain for a trial. I wish to ask you, senior brother, to be our iron seal."
The moment her words fell, three options suddenly popped up before Hokuto.
Option 1: Immediately respond, "A trivial matter, of course I'll help."Reward: Primordial Spirit Energy Physique (Earth-grade, mid-rank)
Option 2: Ask, "Junior sister, what kind of trial mission did you receive?"Reward: Silent Extinction Claw (Mystic-grade, high-rank)
Option 3: Say, "I'm far too busy with studies. Farewell!"Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1
The moment Hokuto saw the reward for Option 1—an Earth-grade mid-rank cultivation physique—his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Without even glancing at the content of Option 2, he instantly chose Option 3 and replied,
"Apologies, junior sister. These days your senior brother is overwhelmed with studies. And you heard it just now—Hall Master Teirei has summoned me for a game of Go. That man is an absolute chess fanatic. Once he starts, I won't be released for four or five days at the very least. So, please, ask someone else more capable."
He cupped his hands in farewell. "I take my leave!"
Turning sharply on his heel, Hokuto walked away.
[Task complete. Reward: Medical Arts +1]
"Senior brother Hokuto, since when has Hall Master Teirei ever played Go with you for more than a single day? I—"
The little junior who had been running errands was about to expose him, so Hokuto hurriedly clapped a hand over the boy's mouth and dragged him off toward Blueheart Pavilion.
"Mmfff! Mmfff!"
Dragged helplessly, the junior's eyes filled with a cocktail of suffering, confusion, resentment—and a desperate longing.
Such a beautiful junior sister! Let me look a little longer!
But alas, his strength was no match for Hokuto's. He could only be dragged away like a sack.
I… was rejected?
Yanagi Shizuku froze in place, watching Hokuto's hasty escape. Her heart unexpectedly began to race.
So this is what it feels like to be rejected? All my life, no one has ever dared reject me. This senior brother… is different. No, wait—this isn't the time to be thinking about such things!
Snapping back to her senses, Shizuku dashed forward in pursuit, calling,"Senior brother Hokuto, please don't go so fast! I haven't finished speaking yet—senior brother~!"
But to her astonishment, though Hokuto appeared to be walking at a normal pace, he somehow moved faster than her sprinting steps. No matter how she chased, she couldn't catch him.
Just as Hokuto was about to vanish from sight, Shizuku suddenly spotted a familiar figure in green robes approaching. Quickly, she shouted,"Akiyo! Stop that senior brother! Don't let him leave!"
Fujino Akiyo had come with Shizuku earlier, but unlike her patient companion, she had soon grown bored and slipped away using a water-escape technique to wander. Now she had just returned, only to hear Shizuku's urgent cry to block the very man walking toward her.
At once, Akiyo's mind filled in the blanks: clearly her senior sister had been bullied or harassed by this shameless man!
"You scoundrel! What did you do to my sister Shizuku!?"
With a ringing clang, Akiyo drew her treasured White Rainbow Sword and thrust straight at Hokuto.
As expected of a junior sister worth an Earth-grade reward… even escaping is this hard!
Dodging sideways just in time, Hokuto narrowly avoided the strike. Seeing her prepare to stab again, he cried out,"Wait! This is a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding, my foot!" Akiyo retorted, pouring her energy into her sword technique for another thrust—
Only for Shizuku's voice to cut through:"Akiyo, stop! Senior brother Hokuto didn't do anything to me."
Akiyo faltered mid-strike, realization dawning that she might have misunderstood. She looked toward Shizuku with a dazed expression.
Hokuto seized the opening and dragged his suffocating junior along, trying to flee again. But before he got two steps, Shizuku's voice called after him once more:
"Senior brother Hokuto, at least let me finish my words! You can reject me after I'm done!"
By now, the commotion had drawn a crowd of Blueheart disciples. Hearing Shizuku's plaintive, almost tearful voice, their blood boiled with righteous indignation. One after another, they stepped forward to block Hokuto's escape, their eyes blazing with anger.
Oh heavens, why me?
Seeing no way out, Hokuto felt as though he might split apart in despair. Where were all these gallant "heroes" when he actually needed help?
With a sigh, he released his near-suffocated junior and turned back toward Shizuku.
Seeing him finally stop, Shizuku quickly approached and bowed once more. "I truly apologize for troubling you, but this trial is of utmost importance to me. I sincerely hope you'll help us."
Her earnest tone left the crowd stunned. Some of the senior disciples were even more baffled.
Since when was Hokuto so famous?
They all knew him, of course—he'd been a registered disciple for five years now. But that was only because no master wanted to take him in. To them, Hokuto was little more than a perpetual outer disciple. And yet, here was this beautiful junior sister begging him so sincerely.
Even Hokuto himself felt his resolve waver at her tone. But then he remembered the terrifying Earth-grade reward hanging over this choice, and he hardened his heart again.
"Junior sister, forgive me," he said firmly, "but I have pressing matters of my own. I truly cannot spare myself."
Before Shizuku could respond, Akiyo stepped forward, eyes sharp."Senior brother, such a flimsy excuse—are you sure you're not simply afraid?"
The crowd's attention shifted from Shizuku to Akiyo—and in an instant, thoughts were filled with She's beautiful too!
Her beauty was different from Shizuku's. Akiyo resembled a charming girl next door: willow brows, a delicate nose slightly upturned, skin like white jade, lips fresh as morning blossoms. She wore no cosmetics, only a string of pearls around her neck that glowed faintly, lending her an even more exquisite aura.
Just as Hokuto took in this sight, three more options appeared before his eyes:
Option 1: Reply at once, "Afraid? You must be joking."Reward: Universe-in-Sleeve Technique (Earth-grade, low-rank)
Option 2: Say, "I know you're trying to provoke me, but it won't work."Reward: Sun-and-Moon Twin Blades (Mystic-grade, mid-rank)
Option 3: Answer honestly, "Yes."Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1
Damn it! Another Earth-grade reward!? This is insane. Today I've run into both a Hidden Dragon and a Young Phoenix at the same time—are they trying to kill me!?
Without hesitation, Hokuto chose Option 3 and nodded toward Akiyo."Yes."
[Task complete. Reward: Spirit +1]
"You—!"
Akiyo froze. She had prepared countless arguments to counter whatever excuse Hokuto might use to deny his fear. Yet she hadn't expected him to just openly admit it in front of everyone!
"Humph!"
Pouting in frustration, Akiyo turned back to Shizuku and muttered,"Let's go, sister. If he refuses to be our iron seal, there are plenty of others who will."
But Shizuku shook her head gently."No, Akiyo. We were the ones who intruded on him. He has his own reasons. We cannot be angry with him for refusing."
"…Fine, I understand," Akiyo mumbled, still pouting.
Seeing Shizuku's gracious attitude, Hokuto finally breathed a sigh of relief. At last, it's over. Time to slip away before anything else happens.
But just as the crowd realized the drama was ending and began to disperse, a figure suddenly descended from the sky, landing squarely between Hokuto and Shizuku.
(End of Chapter)