Chapter 67: Take One Strike
Kitsune Saiguu even gave him a little warning beforehand.
"When you meet someone who looks exactly like the Electro Archon, don't be too surprised. That person is the Archon's younger sister. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this, okay?"
Perhaps after only this brief interaction, both Makoto and Kitsune Saiguu were already certain that Yuxie wouldn't leak this information.
"Ei!"
Kitsune Saiguu's melodic voice echoed across the training ground, and Ei slowly opened her eyes.
What greeted her were not only two familiar figures but also a strange young man.
"Training so hard, Ei," Kitsune Saiguu said with a smile as she approached Ei.
"Other than training, I can't think of anything else to do," Ei replied indifferently. "What brings you here?"
Kitsune Saiguu pushed Yuxie forward. "Let me introduce you. This is Yuxie. Can he join the Okuzumeshuu?"
Ei began to scrutinize Yuxie.
Her violet eyes seemed to peer right through him, sharp and piercing, as if she could see everything about him.
"Wait, wait a second. You haven't asked for my opinion from the start?" Yuxie suddenly spoke up.
This made Kitsune Saiguu realize that she hadn't considered this fully. She had assumed that most people wouldn't refuse the opportunity to join the Okuzumeshuu.
Joining the Okuzumeshuu was an honor for the people of Inazuma. Becoming a personal guard for the Electro Archon was something that would bring glory to one's family.
But Yuxie was from Liyue. Kitsune Saiguu thought maybe she had been a bit presumptuous.
"Do you not want to join?" Kitsune Saiguu asked Yuxie.
"It's not that I don't want to, I'd actually like to give it a try," Yuxie replied with a light smile.
"Then why did you say that earlier?" Kitsune Saiguu seemed confused by Yuxie.
"I was just expressing my thoughts," Yuxie said, awkwardly smiling.
Seeing this, Ei furrowed her brows slightly.
Very few people dared to speak like this in front of the revered Electro Archon.
Usually, people wouldn't even speak up in such an atmosphere.
But this fifteen-year-old boy seemed relaxed and at ease, showing some guts.
"To join the Okuzumeshuu, you just need to pass a trial and have no issues with your background check," Ei said, her gaze still on Yuxie.
Yuxie fell silent for a moment.
The trial Ei mentioned didn't seem too difficult, but the background check would be a problem for him.
His life had just begun—if they really investigated, wouldn't it be a blank slate?
This didn't sound like "no issues."
"Is there another way?" Yuxie asked, probing.
This question made Ei's gaze shift slightly, her interest in the boy seeming to grow.
"There is," she said. "Take one strike from me. If you can handle it, you pass. If you can't, then you can leave."
This test was easier said than done.
She was someone who could slice open a canyon with a single slash. Even if this was just a spar, even a slightly restrained blow from her wouldn't be something an ordinary person could handle.
"Alright, I'll go with this test," Yuxie said after thinking for a moment.
"Follow me," Ei said calmly, turning and walking toward the side.
Yuxie glanced at Kitsune Saiguu for a moment, then followed Ei.
Kitsune Saiguu watched the scene with some helplessness.
This situation was a bit beyond her expectations.
Although she knew Ei had things under control and didn't worry about any accidents, she still found it a bit strange.
It felt like Ei was taking this fifteen-year-old boy a little too seriously today.
"Makoto, don't you think Ei is taking Yuxie a bit too seriously?" Kitsune Saiguu asked.
"Perhaps a little, but even I feel that this child, Yuxie, is not an ordinary person," Makoto said slowly. "You must have thought the same thing from the start, right?"
Indeed, from the moment Kitsune Saiguu first met Yuxie, she had felt that he was unusual, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what made him so.
Ei walked a little further, then stopped and turned around to face Yuxie.
"There are plenty of weapons over there. Pick one that suits you. When you're ready, just let me know."
A faint light flickered in Yuxie's hand, and the sword Cloud Cutter appeared in his grasp.
"I'm ready."
Ei frowned slightly and swung her naginata.
Immediately, an invisible pressure spread outward.
Yuxie took a deep breath and drew Cloud Cutter.
A system notification flashed in his mind.
[Skill: Master of All Weapons (Basic)]
To catch Ei's strike with only basic-level skill would probably be a bit difficult.
But how would he know unless he tried?
Ei began to move forward slowly.
With every step she took, Yuxie could feel the mounting pressure.
It wasn't that Ei was intentionally exerting this pressure; it was simply the result of her walking toward him.
Finally, she struck.
The naginata came down in a vertical slice, cutting through the air.
Yuxie didn't dodge or retreat, instead focusing intently on Ei's movements.
Every subtle action of Ei seemed to split apart in his vision, and he saw details that ordinary people wouldn't notice.
[Skill "Master of All Weapons" has upgraded to Elite level.]
"Ping—" A sharp buzzing sound rang out.
Cloud Cutter was horizontally blocking in front of Yuxie, stopping Ei's naginata.
Ei was a bit surprised.
She had expected that the young man in front of her might be able to block her strike when she holding back, but she hadn't anticipated it would be in this way.
Though it appeared to be a simple block, she noticed that the young man had used some method of force dispersal during the block—something she didn't recognize—nullifying the force of her blow.
It wasn't from any known martial school, but it was remarkably effective.
"Qualified," Ei said, sheathing her naginata. "Go report to the first division of the Okuzumeshuu tomorrow."
Actually, there wasn't really another method of joining Okuzumeshuu. The "take a strike and join" method was something Ei had just made up.
But it was certainly an efficient way to test someone. The fact that Yuxie could block her strike meant he had the necessary strength, so there was no need to go through all the formalities.
As for the background check… For martial artists, their skills reflected their character, and Ei didn't believe she'd make a wrong judgment.
Moreover, this person was brought by Kitsune Saiguu.
Yuxie sheathed Cloud Cutter, but for a moment, his mind was clouded with thoughts.
Was joining Okuzumeshuu the starting point of his life?
The Cataclysm in Khaenriah, the invasion of the Abyss… What would happen next?
He turned to look at Kitsune Saiguu and Makoto.
If he remembered correctly, both Kitsune Saiguu and Makoto had perished in that disaster.
"Staring at me like that, are you hoping this sister will give you some praise?" Kitsune Saiguu walked over to Yuxie with a smile. "Alright, alright, I'll give you some praise. You did great. You didn't disappoint me."
At Kitsune Saiguu's teasing, Yuxie felt a little helpless.
He was almost certain that the personality of Yae Miko had been greatly influenced by Kitsune Saiguu herself…
At that moment, Makoto walked over to stand beside Ei.
"Ei, what do you think of this child, Yuxie?"
"Has talent. If he fully develops his potential, he will surely become great in time."
"It's rare to hear you say such high praise of someone."
"I'm just speaking the truth," Ei paused, "But he is still just a mortal. He has limits. He cannot touch eternity."
Hearing Ei's words, Makoto sighed slightly.
"You really do bring up that topic all the time. How about focusing on something else for once? Like cooking."
"No, sister. You know I can't cook."
End of chapter
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