Cherry blossoms fell as the afternoon sun filled the dojo, a sight that pulled Mei back into her memories of training in her family's swordsmanship. But this wasn't her home; she quickly snapped out of it.
"I am not very skilled in the Way of the Sword," Luo Hong said, watching her eyes clear. "Miss Mei, could you give me some pointers?"
"Oh?" Mei looked surprised. "Is there actually something Mr. Luo Hong isn't skilled at?" Setting aside his miracles, she had been stunned by his vast knowledge during their talk. Since she knew secrets came with a price, she had been careful not to ask too much—otherwise, she would have asked about her father long ago.
"Of course," Luo Hong nodded humbly. "In theory, I'm fine. I know a bit about the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style. But when it comes to practical application, I'm a complete novice. So, I ask for your guidance. And as for the 'tuition fee'..."
He raised a finger, as if having a sudden epiphany. "I will tell you about your father's current situation."
He gave her a warm smile, as if he were doing something completely ordinary. But for Mei—
"This... this tuition fee..." She bit her lip. Seeing his serious expression, she dropped her hesitation. "Then I shall accept Mr. Luo Hong's kindness."
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Luo Hong. I need to change. I wonder if there are any training uniforms in the dressing room?"
She was currently wearing her school uniform; while it was full of youthful energy, it wasn't suitable for guiding Luo Hong in the art of the sword.
"Of course there are," Luo Hong nodded. "The supplies here are quite well-stocked. However, if Coach Mei is going to change, I can't stay in these casual clothes either. That would be disrespectful."
He headed toward the men's dressing room on the far left, while the women's was on the far right.
"I'm hardly a coach yet..." Mei reached out to stop him, but as a clever girl, she realized Luo Hong was signaling that he had no intention of peeking. Given the miracles he'd performed, she knew he was essentially omnipotent. He didn't need to "peek"—if he wanted her in any position, she'd have no choice but to... Wait, what am I thinking?!
Blushing, the eldest daughter of the ME Corp rushed into the ladies' room. Inside, she found a crisp white training uniform, along with protective gear and a shinai (bamboo sword).
Rustle... She slowly removed her school clothes, revealing a proud and graceful figure with skin as fair as snow. Despite her heightened senses, she didn't feel the slightest trace of being watched.
Mr. Luo Hong truly is a gentleman! she thought.
But just as she was about to put on the uniform, she heard familiar voices outside.
"Luo Hong, do you dare to make a bet with us?"
That's... Bronya's voice?
"We bet on whether Hua still remembers us!"
That lively voice belongs to Miss Danzhu... but who is 'Hua'? Could it be the Class Monitor? How do they know her?
"If we lose, we are yours to do with as you wish. But if we win, you must grant us one wish."
That last, calm voice must be Miss Cangxuan. But why are they teaming up to bully Mr. Luo Hong?
A flash of confusion crossed Mei's eyes, but she quickly came to a conclusion: Mr. Luo Hong is just too kind!
She pushed open the door and saw Luo Hong surrounded by the three girls, looking very much like a victim of bullying. It triggered a painful memory of her own past. Stepping forward, she addressed Bronya coldly.
"Bronya, please do not bully Mr. Luo Hong!"
She wasn't close enough to the sisters to scold them, but she felt she could speak firmly to Bronya. To the shock of the trio, Mei stood protectively in front of Luo Hong. Even though she was a head shorter, her posture was valiant.
"M-Mei... Sister?" Bronya asked tentatively. "Have you been hypnotized by this guy?"
"Or a memory rewrite?" Danzhu, who clearly consumed too much "adult" media, suggested.
"Please wake up, Miss Mei," added Cangxuan, the expert at "Perceiving All Things," unable to fathom why Mei would side with Luo Hong.
"Everyone..." Mei looked at them with determination. "Thank you for your concern, but Mr. Luo Hong has done nothing disrespectful to me. He treats me with sincerity, and I shall return that sincerity."
For a split second, she had wondered if she was hypnotized. But then she realized—with the power Luo Hong possessed, why would he bother with something so tedious? It had to be a misunderstanding.
"Sincerity?" Bronya looked past Mei toward the "innocent" Luo Hong with a gaze full of resentment. "Lord... just what have you done to Bronya's Sister Mei?" she asked, gritting her teeth.
"Nothing at all," Luo Hong said, scratching his head like an honest man. "I was just chatting with Mei to pass the time. We were about to practice swordsmanship when you arrived."
"Yes, that's exactly right," Mei nodded. "Bronya, I know you're worried, but please don't be rude to Mr. Luo Hong. After all, our mission today was a success thanks to him."
She directed her last comment at the sisters as well. The trio fell silent for a moment, but internally, they were screaming: We paid a massive price for that success!
They glared at Luo Hong, but they couldn't exactly tell Mei the price was being "devoured" by this man. The more they thought about it, the angrier they got.