Terrible News

Kaino reluctantly got dressed and struggled over to the washbasin to wash up. The icy water splashed across his face, instantly waking him up.

"So annoying."

After letting out a deep breath, Kaino's morning grumpiness finally eased a little. He conjured his toiletries and began his daily cleansing routine.

Was he getting lazier and lazier because he no longer had to get up early to make breakfast?

As he reflected on himself, Kaino brushed his teeth listlessly.

Speaking of breakfast, he probably did not need to make it himself here, right? He had barely entered a kitchen for years. At this point, he could only make noodles.

But since Li Sushang had said she had stayed here with her master for ten years, Cheng Lingshuang's cooking should be pretty good. Maybe he would even get to enjoy a proper meal.

After putting away his toiletries, Kaino slowly headed outside.

In the courtyard, Li Sushang was practicing with Xuanyuan Sword in hand. The forms of the Tai Xu Twenty-One Swords unfolded one after another beneath her blade. activate, Transform, guard, and Open shifted fluidly between one another, looking remarkably intricate.

"Oh, you're up, Raiken?"

After running through all the Sword Forms, Li Sushang stopped and turned to spot Kaino stepping outside.

"You got up way too late, didn't you? Luckily, Master is still cultivating her Sword Heart inside and hasn't come out yet. Otherwise, you'd definitely get scolded."

"Are you sure it's not that you all get up too early? The sun hasn't even fully risen yet."

Kaino looked toward the sun barely peeking over the horizon, utterly speechless.

Fifteen was exactly the age when a kid needed more sleep to grow, wasn't it?

"That's just how sects in Shenzhou work. You'll get used to it eventually. Since you've joined the Supreme Unrestrained Sect, you should at least follow the sect's rules."

"So what rules does the Supreme Unrestrained Sect have?"

Hearing that, Li Sushang lowered her head in thought, then smiled awkwardly.

"Actually, it seems there aren't any..."

"There may not be many other rules, but there is one you must remember—those who fall to demons must be executed."

A somewhat cold voice came from Cheng Lingshuang's room, cutting Li Sushang off.

"More precisely, that is a rule of the Tai Xu Lineage. But since you have joined my Supreme Unrestrained Sect, you must abide by it."

Kaino nodded, though he did not think much of it.

Falling to demons just meant being corrupted by Honkai energy. Without any effective means of treatment in this era, killing them outright really was the most effective solution.

It was not only responsibility toward those who had not been corrupted; it also lessened the suffering of those who had. As a Kaslana who had spent years fighting on the front lines against Honkai, Kaino had long memorized such things by heart.

Not to mention, the priest had already taken him to deal with quite a few people like that.

"Huh? Master, can you hear us?"

Li Sushang was rather surprised by Cheng Lingshuang's sudden interruption.

"It is nothing remarkable. Once you enter the Tai Xu Realm, you will be able to do it as well. Even without mentioning Tai Xu, if you train diligently enough, you can do it already."

"I'll prepare breakfast. You two should go see how Sixth Brother is doing. He should be awake by now. Also, disciples of the Tai Xu Unrestrained Sect must come out to begin cultivating at the Yin Hour every day. Kaino, you need to remember that."

After she finished speaking, the room fell silent.

"All right, let's go see how our Sixth Martial Uncle is doing."

As they headed toward the carriage, Kaino shrugged, poked Li Sushang's arm, and lowered his voice.

"By the way, let me ask you something. When exactly is the Yin Hour?"

"About one to two hours ago. It's already the Mao Hour now."

"...Don't you get tired from lack of sleep?"

Kaino sighed again.

What Kaslana did not love sleeping in?

"You'll get used to it. I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

Li Sushang said it as though it were only natural.

Kaino curled his lips.

After the two left the courtyard buildings, they saw a figure standing beside the crimson red horse, holding a red greatsword.

Having taken a C4 Bomb at close range, Ma Fei Ma had lost an arm and a leg. His hair was disheveled, his face covered in dust, and his clothes were torn to shreds. He looked like a beggar.

Yet even so, the man had not lost heart or lain in the carriage cursing fate. Instead, he used his remaining arm and leg to force himself upright, attempting to mount his horse.

Since one leg could not bear strength properly, he used the red greatsword as another point of support. Since he had no hand to maintain his balance, he slowly moved forward by leaning against the carriage wall.

Kaino began to wonder if he really had hit the man a little too hard.

It was not anything else. Now that he had joined the Supreme Unrestrained Sect, they were more or less related. Seeing the man in such a miserable state made him feel a little embarrassed.

If there was a next time, he would help the man change into better clothes. At least it would not be so painful to look at.

"It's you two."

Ma Fei Ma spotted them as well and spoke in a low voice.

There was no despair or deadened resignation on his face. On the contrary, Kaino could see a flame burning in his eyes, as though he was somewhat excited.

Was this guy a masochist?

Kaino could not help muttering inwardly.

"Ah, Martial Uncle Ma, you..."

Li Sushang could not bear to look and poked Kaino in the side.

"Uh, Martial Uncle, are you hungry? Master is making breakfast. Do you want some?"

Understanding her meaning, Kaino spoke up.

Ma Fei Ma fell silent for a moment.

"Master? You are Ling Shuang's disciple too?"

"Yeah. I became her disciple yesterday."

Kaino nodded.

"Then your Xuanyuan Sword..."

"I picked it up off the roadside."

Come on, even if they were loosely related, there was no need to tell him the truth. Li Sushang had spent ten years here before meeting him even once. After he left, there was no telling whether they would ever meet again in the rest of their lives.

Besides, Cheng Lingshuang had not specifically told them to take special care of Ma Fei Ma, had she?

All things considered, being a little polite was enough. There was no need to be overly courteous. No matter what, the fact remained that he had picked a fight and intended to kill Kaino.

"I want to see Ling Shuang."

After hearing Kaino's explanation, Ma Fei Ma merely nodded.

Did he actually believe that?

Kaino scratched his head and looked toward Li Sushang.

"Master should be in the kitchen. Let's go."

Bad News