The Heavenly Knight

Chapter 8 - Promise

Kenzou Arata planned to take the two bound bandit knights to Tsukihara Village.

Their horses were in the forest, so they didn’t have to go to the trouble of sharing the horses with the two bandits, whose hands and feet were already bound.

“You little demon! Have you ever studied the basics even once or twice?” Koumei Hisen asked Shinra Kazan.

“No way!” Shinra Kazan replied briefly, shaking his head at the same time.

Shinra Kazan understood why Koumei Hisen would ask him that—Koumei Hisen had sensed Shinra Kazan’s Blood Cell when he stroked his hair.

“That means Masaki Raikou is very lucky to have a student like you. If only you had joined no sect yet, I would gladly take you as my student!” said Koumei Hisen.

***

Koumei Hisen is a free knight. He has joined no sect.

Sometimes Koumei Hisen is very kind and never kills his opponents, as with those two highwaymen.

However, at other times his temperament changes drastically, and if he fights while in a bad mood, he will certainly kill his enemies without a second thought.

Not a single knight knew where Koumei Hisen had learned his drunken fighting style; he simply appeared out of nowhere as the Drunken God Knight in the Tsukigawa Kingdom.

Regardless, it’s certain that Koumei Hisen’s violence is always purposeful. Known initially as the Drunken God Knight, he rose to prominence as one of the Five Strongest Knights.

A challenge match was underway between two prominent White Sect factions, with Koumei Hisen in his mid-40s. The challenge aimed to prove their knights were worthy of the Top 10.

Koumei Hisen showed up and ruined all the plans then. The appearance of Koumei Hisen mid-battle frustrated the leading knights from both sects.

Both knights simultaneously attacked Koumei Hisen, who had not yet demonstrated his signature “drunken” fighting style.

Koumei Hisen simply didn’t want the knights to hurt each other over something trivial, which is why he didn’t immediately use his “drunken” technique.

Although he tried to explain while fending off the two knights’ attacks, they refused to listen to anything Koumei Hisen had to say.

Perhaps Koumei Hisen thought the match between the two sects was unimportant, but for the sects, it was extremely important—especially since it involved their pride and reputation.

Those two knights injured Koumei Hisen. With his patience exhausted, Koumei Hisen resorted to his “drunken” technique, incapacitating both knights in a matter of moves.

Seeing those two formidable knights defeated in such a short time, one of the 10 knights present finally stepped in and attacked Koumei Hisen.

Unfortunately, Koumei Hisen defeated this knight, who they said was among the 10 strongest.

The knight felt ashamed, and they eventually removed him from the Top 10 Knights list;

Shinra Kazan actually also wanted to meet one of the five strongest Knights, but he never succeeded because meeting them wasn’t as easy as he thought.

Kenzou Arata felt relieved when he heard Koumei Hisen wanted to take Shinra Kazan as a disciple, as Kenzou believed Shinra would be a better fit for Koumei.

However, he remembered Haruki had entrusted Shinra to him, so it would be wrong to let Shinra join and become Koumei Hisen’s disciple without Haruki’s prior consent.

***

“I’d be happy if Senior Koumei would teach the Young Master, but perhaps he could train with us for another five or ten years before that happens.”

“Later, once the Young Master has mastered martial arts, he can seek Senior Koumei himself,” said Kenzou Arata.

“I’m not sure he’ll be able to find me by then,” said Koumei Hisen, shaking his head.

Koumei Hisen was the type of person who didn’t like to stay in one place; the longest he’d ever stayed anywhere was just three days, and that was only to buy liquor for his next journey.

Shinra Kazan could only manage a wry smile. He actually wanted to tag along and become Koumei Hisen’s student, but there was no way Kenzou Arata would let that happen.

“Here’s what you do! Just like your teacher said earlier, keep practicing for another five or ten years. Then, when you’re ready to set out on a journey to find me, head east.”

“If we’re meant to be together, we’ll meet along the way,” said Koumei Hisen, and then he pulled two objects from under his shirt.

“This is the only ring my mother left behind. Take it with you in case you ever want to find me. So that I don’t forget you, this ring will be our promise.”

“As a token of my regret that you cannot yet become my student, please accept this Rain Dew Pill!”

“Later, once you’ve successfully attained one circle of Ki, take this pill—it will quickly allow you to increase your Ki to two circles!” said Koumei.

Shinra Kazan knew that the Rain Dew Pills were useful for increasing Ki by one Circle, while there were only four pills inside the cloth pouch.

The pill is only useful for knights at the Lower Tier; for knights at the Middle Tier, it will no longer be effective because their bodies process nutrients differently.

“Thank you, Grandpa!” replied Shinra Kazan, then carefully put the pill away.

“I’m going to head out now. I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again someday. Goodbye, everyone!” said Koumei Hisen.

He then leaped into the air and flew away using his highly advanced body-lightening technique.

In just two breaths, Koumei Hisen had already vanished. Shinra Kazan guessed that Koumei Hisen likely possessed 50 circles of Ki, or perhaps even more.

“All right, Kanezawa’s student, can we take these two to Tsukihara Village now?” asked Kenzou Arata.

“Yes, Master!”

“In that case, let’s set out so we don’t get caught in the dark!”

Kenzou Arata and Shinra Kazan immediately mounted their horses and set off together, as they securely tied the two bandits to the horses, ensuring they wouldn’t fall off along the way.

***

Tsukihara Village is no small village; its area is almost the same as that of Kasen City, though the villagers’ homes aren’t as densely packed as those in Kasen City.

Kenzou Arata and his group arrived in Tsukihara Village just as the sun was setting; their arrival drew everyone’s attention to Kenzou Arata and his group.

The focus of attention, however, was not Kenzou Arata, but two people who were bound back to each other.

“Daigo, my student! Go to the inn; I’ll catch up with you after I hand these two bandits over to the village chief!” said Kenzou Arata, then he lifted Shinra Kazan onto Daigo Renji’s horse.

“Yes, Master! In that case, we’ll go ahead!” said Daigo Renji. Then he, along with Kanezawa Mitsunari and Shinra Kazan, headed toward the inn, which was still at the edge of the village.

After the three of them had gone far away, Kenzou Arata immediately went to see the head of Tsukihara Village.

Kenzou Arata knew the village head because his sect wasn’t too far from the village—in fact, it was still within the boundaries of the village.