Outside, chaos had erupted in the middle level.
Watching from above, Luo Li's gaze sharpened slightly.
No one had touched any mechanism.
And yet—
The traps had activated.
There was only one explanation.
The master of the Thousand-Gated Void Vessel had returned.
The next instant, the ground beneath his feet split apart.
He did not resist.
Without changing expression, Luo Li allowed himself to fall as the pavilion's interior shifted like a living creature awakening.
He landed lightly within the martial hall below.
The pirates nearly jumped out of their skins at the sight of someone suddenly descending from above.
They stared at him warily, nerves taut.
"You… are you the master of this place?"
One treasure hoarder finally dared to ask.
Luo Li merely glanced at them, offering no reply.
Instead, he examined the warrior automatons that had also locked onto him as a target.
Clearly—
The pavilion had entered indiscriminate annihilation mode.
Otherwise, he would not have been dropped here as well.
The pirate leader quickly realized Luo Li was in the same predicament.
If he weren't, the automatons wouldn't be targeting him too.
"Forget him! Break out!"
The three kairagi roared, combining forces to cleave one of the warrior statues in half. Sword energy slashed across the training ground, carving deep marks into the floor.
Seeing their strength, the others rallied.
They held off the remaining automatons while deflecting projectiles rising from hidden mechanisms in the floor.
They were almost through—
"Trying to leave? It's not that simple."
As they gathered strength to unleash a coordinated strike on the sealed passage, Luo Li casually flicked his fingers.
In an instant—
Every weapon they held shattered.
Invisible spatial fractures sliced cleanly through steel. Broken blades clattered to the ground.
Silence.
Then fury.
"You bastard! What did you do?!"
Dozens of murderous gazes locked onto him.
Luo Li remained calm.
"Better to wait for the owner to return and speak properly. Perhaps she'll show mercy. If you damage the pavilion further… there will be no turning back."
His well-meaning advice only enraged them further.
Without weapons, what were they supposed to do? Punch their way out?
"Kill him first!"
One man charged with a broken blade.
Before Luo Li could even move—
Lightning and arrow rain descended from above.
The attacker was riddled through instantly. A bolt of lightning followed, erasing his final breath.
Luo Li was about to speak—
Then he felt it.
A familiar aura.
It had entered the pavilion.
He lifted his gaze upward.
Outside the Pavilion
A streak of dark light cut across the sky above the sea.
Guangdai.
Recalling Kujou Sara's stunned expression earlier, a faint smile lingered on her lips as she flew.
Speaking of him after so long—
Of the glory of yokai five centuries ago—
Had lightened her mood.
She had remained at the tengu settlement for over two hours before finally returning.
But that fleeting warmth vanished the moment she saw the boats.
More than a dozen small vessels bobbed outside her domain.
Her expression turned icy.
Without hesitation, she activated the barrier.
All defensive systems engaged.
All exits sealed.
Intruders would be eliminated.
They had entered while she was away.
Their intentions were obvious.
She had long since stopped showing mercy to the greedy.
Her good mood evaporated completely as she stepped into the pavilion.
The barrier accepted her without resistance.
Like Luo Li, she passed through the courtyard and into the proper pathways.
But then—
Her heart tightened.
There were traces of intrusion in the upper levels.
"That's impossible."
Only those she personally acknowledged could access the core directly.
Others would be forced through the lower mechanisms.
And anyone she acknowledged—
Would never enter unannounced.
A flicker of panic crossed her face.
She spread her wings instantly, soaring through corridors and past ancient trees to the highest level.
Her breath caught.
Her chamber door stood open.
The corridor outside was fractured.
"That bow…!"
She flashed to the doorway, heart pounding.
If that bow were gone—
Or destroyed—
She did not know what she might do.
She would make the culprit suffer beyond death.
Her gaze snapped to the table.
The ancient bow.
Still there.
Intact.
Relief flooded her chest.
She approached, inspecting it carefully.
Unharmed.
Only its angle had shifted.
Someone had touched it.
"Where did they go?"
Her brows furrowed.
The room was otherwise untouched.
No plunder.
No destruction.
Just that single disturbance.
Her expression hardened.
"Whoever entered today… will never leave."
Her eyes gleamed with killing intent.
If anyone had harmed the one thing that connected her to her teacher—
She would eradicate not only them—
But everyone tied to them.
There were no exceptions.
No one—
Touched her reverse scale.