"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Countless faint yet razor-sharp whistles instantly rang out, as though countless invisible blades were slicing through the air.
The huge, lethal chunks of timber, heavy roof tiles, and sharp stones instantly stopped.
Less than a meter above the courtesan's head, they disintegrated into fingernail-sized fragments and powder that fluttered through the air.
Kirishima Bupai landed lightly a few steps in front of the courtesan, without a sound.
He casually shook his hand, as though flicking off dust that did not exist.
His dark blue coat remained as smooth as before, his silver hair drifting slightly in the airflow.
Dead silence!
The entire street fell deathly silent. Everyone stared blankly at the ash drifting down, then looked at the courtesan and her companions, unharmed on the ground...
Finally, their gazes settled on the silver-haired figure in the dark blue coat, as handsome as an iceberg.
The courtesan's chest heaved violently, and it took her quite a while to recover her senses.
As she looked at the figure standing before her, as steady as a mountain, the shock of surviving disaster and an indescribable gratitude instantly welled up within her.
Forcing her feelings down, the courtesan straightened her collar and hair ornaments, then bowed gracefully to Kirishima Bupai.
Her voice trembled slightly, yet remained elegant. "My name is Koinatsu, of the Kyogoku House... Thank you so very much for saving my life, sir!"
"Had you not come to our rescue, these innocent children and I would probably be..."
She raised her lovely head, her beautiful eyes full of sincere gratitude. "Might you honor me by coming to the house where I reside..."
"Please allow me to prepare some humble refreshments as a small token of thanks. We shall certainly entertain our benefactor with the finest sake and dishes."