A quiet noon settled over the room, a warm breeze slipping gently through the open window, stirring the still air like a silent whisper.
Rien sat in his chair, a calm smile resting on his lips, eyes closed as if listening to something beyond the world.
"You're looking good," he said softly.
The door creaked as Kuto stepped in, his movements heavy—one leg bound in plaster. He gave an exaggerated nod before letting out a tired sigh.
"Good enough to walk… barely," Kuto muttered, dropping onto his bed.
Rien turned his head slightly, casting him a flat, unamused glance.
"You should work on your cosmic energy. Weakness like that invites death," Rien said calmly.
Kuto rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a faint pout.
"Not everyone is a monster like you."
A faint smile touched Rien's lips as he rose to his feet and walked toward him.
"My power isn't something I gained," he said quietly. "It's something I was given… an authority."
Kuto shifted, his arms tightening as a sharp crack echoed from his bones.
"Ouch… that still hurts," he winced.
Rien lowered his gaze to his own hands, expression serene.
"Pain… is something existence itself rejects," he murmured.
A strange stillness followed.
Kuto blinked, then looked down at his hand—his expression shifting in surprise.
"The pain… it's gone."
He lifted his arm, moving it up and down, testing it— smooth, effortless, as if nothing had ever been broken.
Kuto looked at his hand, his face lighting up with pure joy.
"That's great. Now I can actually move it," he said happily, immediately starting to tear off the plaster like a man who had waited his whole life for this moment.
The door slid open.
Lan Xia walked in, holding two neatly folded hanfu. Her expression? Already disappointed.
"Hello, idiots," she said flatly. "There's a clan meeting. Wear these—and try not to embarrass the entire bloodline."
Rien rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"A meeting… how interesting."
He took the hanfu from her with a calm smile.
Lan Xia glanced at both of them, her eyes sharp enough to cut steel.
"I mean it. Don't do anything reckless."
She didn't wait for a reply and walked out.
Rien placed the hanfu on the bed before turning toward the door.
"I need to go somewhere. I'll be back in a minute."
And just like that, he left.
The corridor was quiet.
Rien walked calmly, his steps steady, his expression unreadable.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Rien Kinohutsu."
Xu Yi appeared behind him gracefully.
Rien glanced at her with a soft smile, not stopping.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Xu Yi."
Xu Yi smiled faintly.
"I hope you're prepared for the meeting."
Rien placed his hands behind his back, letting out a quiet sigh.
"I don't prepare for time. Time prepares for me."
Xu Yi paused… then nodded like that somehow made sense.
"You're always confusing," she said softly, "but… strangely attractive."
She turned and walked down another corridor, clearly choosing peace over understanding.
Rien continued forward before stopping at the kitchen entrance.
"Yueying… where are you?" he asked softly.
Every chef froze.
Yueying quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Good afternoon, Master."
Rien leaned slightly closer—just enough to lower his voice, not enough to start rumors.
"Are they safe?"
Yueying smiled confidently.
"Everything is safe, Master. You don't need to worry."
Rien nodded, gently ruffling her hair.
"Good."
He turned and left.
The moment he was gone, the entire kitchen exploded into whispers.
"You're definitely special to Master Rien," one girl said, clearly jealous.
Yueying smiled proudly.
"That's a secret. Now stop gossiping and get back to work before I make you regret breathing."
After some time, the clan court was filled.
Voices overlapped, tension hung in the air.
"We have to do something about this," one elder said seriously.
Kuto looked around, completely lost.
"What's happening?" he whispered.
Rien leaned slightly toward him.
"They're discussing conflicts between empires. It might affect us."
Kuto frowned.
"That's not our problem. Why do we care?"
Rien looked at him calmly.
"When you walk into a garden full of flowers… which one do you pick?"
Kuto frowned slightly.
"…The beautiful one?"
Rien nodded faintly.
"Exactly. No one reaches for the withered ones."
He glanced ahead, his voice quiet but sharp.
"And right now… we are one of the beautiful flowers."
Miss Yin stepped forward, her presence silencing the room instantly.
"We must keep a close watch on the Shen Empire and others," she said firmly.
"We are already in conflict. Carelessness is not an option."
Everyone bowed respectfully before leaving.
Kuto looked around again.
"…Is the meeting over?"
Rien continued greeting people calmly.
"You arrived two hours late."
"Oh."
Miss Yin turned toward them.
"I want both of you to go to the Shen Empire and investigate."
Kuto stood up so fast it looked like panic activated his legs.
"Wait—there's a war going on, we're enemies, and you're sending us?!"
Before he could continue—
THWACK.
Lan Xia smacked his head so hard he immediately collapsed.
"You're going with Rien," she said coldly. "Why are you acting like you have responsibilities?"
Kuto was unconscious.
Peace returned.
Rien bowed slightly.
"We'll leave tomorrow."
With a simple gesture, Kuto's unconscious body lifted into the air.
Rien walked away calmly… dragging him like it was completely normal.
Lan Xia watched them leave, rubbing her temple.
"This duo makes no sense. One is the wisest man in existence… and the other is the biggest idiot alive."
Miss Yin smiled softly.
"And that," she said, "is exactly why they work."
She glanced toward the exit.
"One stands above existence… and the other represents it."
Rien walked out of the clan hall with calm steps.
"You don't need to act anymore," he said quietly.
Kuto opened his eyes, still floating in the air.
"We're leaving tomorrow?" he asked.
Rien nodded, his hands behind his back.
"That's right," he said softly.
Kuto rolled his eyes.
"Why do these things always happen to us?" he muttered.
Rien smiled before stepping into the room and casually tossing him onto the bed.
"Let's get ready for tomorrow," he said calmly. "A great adventure is waiting for us."