Rōran, in the clearing outside the palace.
Shiya emerged from underground, covered in dirt, but an indescribable excitement burned in his eyes. He had just spent nearly two hours traveling underground, reaching almost a hundred meters at his deepest. He had moved faster than he could run on the surface, without being detected by anyone's senses the entire time.
"Your Majesty-"
He knelt on one knee before Toyotomi Yinglang, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"I... I never imagined I could move so freely underground."
Toyotomi Yinglang stood on the steps, looking down at him, a faint smile curling his lips.
"Freely?"
He repeated the word and shook his head.
"No, Shiya. That isn't freedom."
"It's an advantage."
He descended the steps and came up to Shiya.
"Do you know what makes the Earth Travel Technique terrifying?"
Shiya paused, considered for a moment, then answered cautiously.
"I... can launch surprise attacks from beneath the enemy's feet, making them almost impossible to guard against."
"That's only one part of it."
Toyotomi Yinglang raised a finger.
"The most terrifying thing about the Earth Travel Technique is this-as long as you stay underground, attacking you is harder than attacking a fish beneath the ice."
Shiya's pupils contracted slightly.
"A fish beneath the ice..."
"Yes."
Toyotomi Yinglang nodded.
"Have you seen a frozen lake in winter? The ice might only be a foot thick, but catching a fish beneath it is next to impossible. You can't see it, but it can sense the vibrations of your footsteps."
"And you're safer underground than a fish beneath the ice."
He paused, a dark gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Because you can choose how deep you go."
"Ten meters, fifty meters, a hundred meters, or even deeper."
"To hit you, the enemy first has to penetrate thick