The power of the Frost Knight was gradually fading, and my consciousness was becoming increasingly blurry.

"What a strange feeling, painful but also happy... and refreshing!"

Was it a special reaction caused by the Magic Sword?

This sensation was different from the berserkness at that time. It was a feeling of complete liberation, like a person who had been constipated for years suddenly taking a leap from a towering cliff... ahem, I mean, it was that kind of feeling.

"Die! Die! Everyone, just die!"

I was on the verge of madness, feeling that everything in front of me was extremely ugly. I almost wanted to tear the Frost Knight apart!

Crimson claw marks danced in the air, like a sharp sword cutting through the gaps between spaces, intending to destroy everything.

"What is going on?"

Lan hurriedly emerged from the basement and was completely stunned when she saw my current state.

"Paroni?"

My clothes were tightly stretched on my body, and the grayish hue of my skin made my veins appear blood-red like magma. Even my mouth was filled with beast-like fangs.

The atmosphere around us was filled with a bloody red color. The crimson moonlight enveloped the entire city, and even the long-lasting snow season had been cleared away, turning this place into a bloody slaughterhouse in an instant.

"Stop, please, if this continues!"

The temperature suddenly began to rise continuously, conflicting with the cold air around the Frost Knight, even surpassing it.

It was close, the situation was becoming dire, especially since I was about to lose consciousness.

I couldn't collapse like this. If I fell now... Lan... Yukari and the others would be killed!

Repeatedly saying this in my mind, at the same time, the air I was breathing started to thin out, and an unnamed fear arose in my heart.

"I can still do it..."

"Paroni!!!" (In unison)

...

A dark purple rune slowly rose beneath my feet, and a warm sensation immediately filled my mouth, gradually dispelling the darkness deep within my heart.

Was this some kind of meditation ability? When I saw that the one casting the spell was Yukari, who was behind everyone else, my heart couldn't help but feel a bit calmer.

Did I do something excessive?

The blood-red stripes on my arms deepened, or was it just my imagination?

"Ugh..."

A warmth spread on my leg. Unexpectedly, a warm little hand was touching my thigh. My heart suddenly jumped in surprise, and in that moment, my brain naturally thought that the hand touching my thigh must be... Yukari-sempai?!

"Yukari sister?"

Incredible. In that instance, wait, no, Yukari-sempai was sitting on my left side, but this hand that came from my right side...

As I turned my head, I saw Qiu Caolan looking at me with a mischievous smile on her face. However, her smile had a slightly wicked meaning to it.

Qiu Caolan pretended to be angry and smiled at me.

"You, you..."

Suddenly, this little brat's fingernails harshly pinched my thigh!

"Ouch! That hurts!"

This moment of pain made my calf tremble slightly!

Furrowing my brows tightly, I endured the pain without saying a word.

"Senior Qiu Caolan, are you purposely trying to hurt me and make me look bad?"

Forget it, a real man doesn't fight with women. This insignificant little matter is not worth my attention.

Although my leg is a bit sore, I continue to eat my own food as if nothing happened.

Seeing that I don't take her seriously at all, Lan becomes a bit unhappy and withdraws her little hand with annoyance.

We finish our dinner relaxed and happily, despite the minor incident. It doesn't affect the atmosphere at the dining table at all. Besides, it might be Lan's way of getting back at me. Only the two of us know about it, no one else does.

After dinner, I prepare to leave with everyone else.

But before leaving, Qiu Caolan suddenly stops me.

"Lan, is there something you want to talk about?"

Looking at Qiu Caolan in front of me, I can't help but feel a little suspicious. Could she be planning to tell Yukari about what happened in the basement?

Then Qiu Caolan smiles at me and says to my sister.

"When we were upstairs with that armored guy just now, didn't you ask me where I learned my abilities from?"

I nod. Yukari's words immediately spark my interest.

"Do you want to learn?"

Yukari looks at me, still smiling.

"Yukari, are you being serious?"

When she says this, I'm overjoyed. I only casually asked about it earlier upstairs, even though I really wanted to learn. But before I could say anything, Yukari grabs my head.

Now that she says this to me again, naturally I'm excited.

"Of course, I'm serious! Do you think I'm trying to deceive you?"

Yukari teases me.

"Do you want to learn?"

"I want to learn, of course I want to!" I quickly nod.

"If you want to learn, I can take you there! In fact, I used to pay for classes at that martial arts hall, but I haven't been there for a long time. You can continue where I left off!" Yukari says.

"Really?"

Hearing this, I'm genuinely excited.

To let me learn martial arts without spending money, where else can I find such a good opportunity?

Yukari only smiles and doesn't say anything.

However, Lan speaks up at this time.

"Yukari, I appreciate your kindness to my disciple, but I don't think now is the right time. It wouldn't be a good idea to pursue enlightenment. Besides, I've already taught him enough techniques to protect against dark energy."

Lan says this, clearly indicating that she doesn't want me to learn martial arts.

"Lan, it won't hold him back!"

I reassure Lan with determination.

"No, since Ancestor entrusted you to me, it's my responsibility to take care of you seriously."

Lan's tone is firm.

"Lan, I want to pursue enlightenment, you saw it..."

My own tone is equally determined. I've always listened to Lan, but when I fought against her and others, I always used brute force to resist them.

When it comes to the art of combat technique, I tend to lean towards using force to suppress.

"No, I don't need someone to interfere in my affairs!"

Lan frowned and was already somewhat displeased.

"Lan...what's wrong with you?"

"This matter is not up for discussion."

Lan, with the authority of a mother or a true elder sister, spoke to me sternly.

Looking at Lan's serious expression, my face was also filled with conflict and unease. I knew she had my best interests at heart, but I really wanted to practice the Zen path of the Western Alliance.

I have been interested in these types of movies since I was little. I should be given a chance to try it out!

"Qiu Caolan, don't get so worked up. Actually, it's not a bad thing for a boy to learn Zen!" Yukari sister tried to persuade her in a tentative manner.

"Zen not only strengthens the body and protects the ones we care about, but it also helps alleviate depression. As long as it's not used in bad ways, I think it should be encouraged. Moreover, Brother Paroni just arrived among us and has much to learn. If he practices Magic Sword with you and learns Zen with me, he can handle it." Lan had no words to refute this.

"But..."

"Don't you want to help Paroni break through the barrier of Magic Sword?"

"I...um!"

Although Lan disagreed with Yukari sister in her heart, since it was spoken by her, Lan naturally couldn't casually argue back.

"Well, think about it for now. I'm just giving you an opinion. As for what to do, it's up to Brother Paroni himself, isn't it?" Yukari sister said.

"I still hope you can listen more to Brother Paroni's own thoughts."

"I understand, Yukari. We'll be leaving now!" Lan agreed.

"Yes, it's time to set off."

Then, Lan and I left this wasteland together. As we left, I couldn't help but look back at the direction of my hometown.

Yukari sister was looking at me with a mischievous smile.

"Hehe, we're lucky this time. We managed to collect a sample of the Frost Rage Giant, which is quite an achievement."

"....Yes....indeed!"

I quickly averted my gaze and followed behind Lan, continuing forward.

Along the way, Lan didn't even look at me or acknowledge my presence.

I knew she must be very displeased with how I talked to her just now, but I really wanted to suppress this madness.

This, perhaps only Yukari sister knows better than anyone else.

Back when Magic Sword was triggered during the night of my enrollment and nearly killed many people during the invasion of the Beast Tribe, she wouldn't be unaware of this.

Though the mission was completed successfully, when we returned to Imperial City, we didn't feel the slightest bit of excitement.

Even though we have already returned to our dormitory, Lan still ignored me. I tried to find a way to talk to her, to make her laugh, but Lan completely disregarded my attempts.

It's my fault for only knowing how to tell cold jokes...I'm truly at a loss.

However, since there's a chance to learn Zen, I still want to continue fighting for it.

"Lan, I really want to go and learn. For such a long time, I have always listened to you, can you give me a chance this time and let me take the lead? I really want to give it a try," I said to Lan sincerely.

As I finished speaking, she seemed completely unaware of what I meant.

Lan's already dim complexion now seemed even darker.

"Why don't I agree to you learning? Do you know why?" Lan said with a firm tone.

"Lan, why?" Before I could say anything else, Lan interrupted.

"Alright, I have already given you the answer, stop talking about it," Lan said reluctantly.

Seeing my sister's reluctant attitude, a hint of bitterness welled up in my heart.

"Okay, I understand," I said helplessly.

Nighttime.

I lay on the bed, constantly thinking about the man who spoke to me, and at the same time, thinking about Yukari's words about learning Zen.

This night was destined to be sleepless.