The immediate aftermath of the impossible beast gathering had been a masterclass in awkward, stunned silence.
Facing the pale, sweat-drenched Patriarch and the bewildered First Elder, Yoriichi had simply offered a polite, shallow bow.
"I apologize for the sudden disturbance," he stated, his voice as smooth and untroubled as a tranquil pond. "I was merely testing the acoustic resonance of the bamboo. I did not anticipate the local wildlife to be so... appreciative."
Xiao Zhan had stared at the youth for a long, agonizing moment before letting out a profound, exhausted sigh. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just... be cautious, Xiao Ning. If the city guards or the commoners had seen this, they would have completely misunderstood the situation just as we did. It would create a terrifying ruckus in the city."
Standing slightly behind the Patriarch, Teacher Ruo Lin had not uttered a single word of reprimand. Instead, she had looked at Yoriichi's stoic face, her eyes filled with a complex mixture of awe and profound realization, and offered him a single, deeply respectful nod. It was an acknowledgment not between a teacher and a student, but between two true martial artists.
Two days had passed since that surreal phenomenon.
Within the Xiao Clan estate, the atmosphere surrounding Yoriichi had fundamentally shifted. The Jia Nan Academy senior students, who had previously viewed him merely as a handsome, stoic 'C' rank recruit, no longer dared to underestimate him.
Whenever Yoriichi walked past the guest pavilions, the whispering ceased entirely. The seniors looked at him with a palpable mixture of awe, deep respect, and a lingering, instinctual fear.
They didn't understand him. And in the world of cultivation, the unknown was the most terrifying weapon of all.
Now, on the final night before the grand departure, the moon hung high and full over Wu Tan City.
Yoriichi stood quietly beside the very same secluded hot spring in the back mountains, his dark robes shifting gently in the cool night breeze. His Katana rested securely at his waist. He was not cultivating, nor was he playing his flute.
He was waiting.
Early this morning, a plain, unmarked envelope had been slipped under the door of his courtyard. It was a hastily written letter from Jia Lie Ao. The young master of the rival clan had respectfully requested one final, clandestine meeting with their "Boss" before he left the city.
Yoriichi had accepted, setting the location and the time.
Rustle. Snap.
The faint sound of breaking twigs echoed from the dense treeline. Yoriichi did not turn his head, his Transparent World vision having already tracked the seven distinct auras approaching through the darkness for the last ten minutes.
Seven youths emerged from the shadows of the pine trees, their breathing heavily suppressed, wearing dark, uncrested clothes to avoid detection by the Xiao Clan's perimeter guards. They were now the elite young masters of the Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans—the same brats that Yoriichi had trained them harshly for a week
"Master Yoriichi," Jia Lie Ao spoke first, stepping into the moonlight. He has a solemn, slightly melancholic expression and immediately cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
The other six youths mirrored the gesture in perfect, disciplined synchronization. Among them were also the two Jia Lie disciples and the single Ao Ba disciple who had successfully passed the Jia Nan Academy assessment.
Yoriichi greeted them calmly, returning a brief nod. "To what do I owe this midnight incursion?"
Jia Lie Ao straightened up, a nervous but genuine smile breaking across his face. He gestured to the youths behind him.
Without a word, the disciples quickly moved forward. They unrolled a large, finely woven bamboo mat onto the soft grass near the spring. From their spatial rings and heavy packs, they began producing a surprising array of items. There were lacquered boxes filled with roasted spirit-pheasant, delicate sweet pastries from the capital, spiced meat, roasted mushrooms and tofu, and two elegant jade jugs.
Yoriichi's crimson eyes widened marginally in genuine surprise. It was a clandestine, impromptu banquet.
"We know you leave for the academy tomorrow morning, Boss," Jia Lie Ao explained, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "In the past month, you beat the arrogance out of us, broke our bones, and forced us to actually understand the weight of our Dou Qi. You treated us like disciples when our own elders just treated us like pampered pets."
The Ao Ba youth nodded eagerly. "We couldn't let our Boss to leave Wu Tan City without a proper send-off. Please, sit with us."
Yoriichi looked at the earnest faces of the seven youths. These were the sworn enemies of his clan, the boys he was supposed to hate by birthright. Yet, here they were, risking a severe beating by sneaking into hostile territory just to share a meal with him.
A faint, warm smile touched Yoriichi's lips. "Very well."
He stepped forward and seated himself cross-legged at the head of the mat. The tension immediately evaporated, and the youths eagerly took their places around the feast.
The mood rapidly returned to the lively, boisterous normality of youth. They began eating, laughing, and recounting the terrifying, grueling days of training where Yoriichi had also chased them across the rooftops. Yoriichi listened quietly, occasionally joining the chat with a dry, perfectly timed comment that sent the youths into fits of laughter.
"Here, Boss," one of the Jia Lie disciples said, pouring a cup of clear, fragrant liquid from the jade jug and offering it to Yoriichi with both hands.