While I was chanting a curse, the system said I was Xiao Yan?

The next morning, Tianyan changed into a clean kimono, straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror, and only after confirming that he looked formal enough did he push open the door and go out.

Yamada was already waiting outside the gate, holding a food box in his hands, looking somewhat flustered.

He has become Tianyan's assistant and will go to the vocational college with Tianyan to do some auxiliary work.

This was Tianyan's request; he didn't want to hear about yet another "punishment" incident while studying at the vocational college.

"Lord Tianyan, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? I had some prepared..."

Tianyan smiled and said, "This isn't your job, is it? Don't be nervous on your first day."

"Leave it there, I need to take care of something first."

He took the food box, placed it on the porch, clapped his hands, and walked out of the courtyard.

Yamada quickly followed, asking, "Where are you going?"

"Naoya there."

Yamada abruptly stopped, his expression shifting several times: "Lord Ten-Yan, what are you going to do...?"

"It's just a casual visit, don't worry about it."

Without turning his head, Tianyan said, "Since I'm leaving, I should at least say goodbye to my 'old rival'."

Yamada opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Tianyan's nonchalant expression, he swallowed his words and silently followed behind.

Zenji Naoya's residence is located on the east side of the family territory. It is a courtyard more than three times larger than Tianyan's. There are two meticulously pruned Podocarpus trees at the entrance, and the stone path is swept spotless.

Tianyan stood at the door, glanced at the two pine trees, and suddenly remembered things from his childhood.

Back then, Naoya wasn't so annoying yet, and the two of them would occasionally practice swordsmanship together.

Once, he accidentally chopped down Naoya's pine tree. Naoya chased him for half of the family territory, but in the end, Shinji happened to pass by, picked them both up with one hand each, and threw them into the pond.

"That was quite interesting back then," Tianyan muttered to himself, then stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

Before long, an old servant poked his head out from inside. When he saw that it was Tianyan, his expression changed visibly.

"Lord Tianyan?"

"I have come to visit Mr. Naoya. Please inform him of my arrival."

The old servant hesitated for a moment, then withdrew to announce his arrival. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the door reopened, and the old servant respectfully invited him in.

After passing through the front yard and around a screen wall, Tianyan was led into a side hall for receiving guests.

Zenji Naoya was already sitting there.

He was wearing a dark blue kimono, his hair was neatly combed, and he held a folding fan in his hand, his posture was very dignified.

The wounds on his face had completely healed, without even leaving a scar. The regenerative ability of a sorcerer is indeed unmatched by ordinary people.

When he saw Tenyan enter, Naoya did not get up, but simply raised his chin as a greeting.

"What a rare guest."

He said slowly in his signature Kansai accent, "My humble abode is truly honored by the presence of Mr. Tenyan."

Tianyan didn't mind. He sat down opposite Zhizai, took the tea offered by the old servant, and took a sip.

"Good tea."

"That's natural."

Naoya opened his folding fan and fanned himself slowly: "You didn't come to see me just for tea, did you?"

"Yes, something is indeed wrong."

Tianyan put down his teacup and looked into Zhiya's eyes: "I'm leaving."

Naoya paused for a moment while fanning himself, then resumed his normal hand gesture.

"I've heard about it. The vocational college, right? It seems like it would suit you quite well."

"So I've come to say goodbye."

Tianyan's tone was calm: "After all, we've had this 'friendship' for so many years, it wouldn't be right to leave without saying goodbye."

Naoya scoffed, "When did you become so polite?"

"It has always been like this."

Tianyan picked up his teacup and took another sip, then changed the subject: "But besides saying goodbye, there's something else I want to tell you today."

"What is it?"

Tianyan put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.

"Maki and Mayi."

Naoya stopped folding his folding fan.

"After I leave, their lives in the tribe will probably not be very easy."

Naoya didn't reply, he just looked at him.

"So I hope that during my absence, no one will cause them any trouble."

Tenyan's gaze fell on Naoya's face, and he added casually, "Especially those with 'ulterior motives'."

The side hall was quiet for a moment.

Naoya slowly closed his folding fan, a half-smile curving his lips.

"Is Lord Tianyan warning me?"

"It's not a warning," Tianyan shook his head, "it's a request."

"Please?"

Naoya laughed out loud, his laughter clearly laced with sarcasm: "You certainly have a unique way of asking people for favors."

He stood up, walked to the window, his back to Tianyan, and his voice drifted over slowly.

"But you've reminded me, those two little girls, one with no magical power and the other with trashy spells, anything can happen in this family, can't it?"

"You know better than I what a Zen temple is."

Naoya turned around, leaned against the window frame, and crossed his arms: "In a family where strength reigns supreme, it's perfectly normal for the weak to be bullied, ostracized, and forgotten."

Can you leave for a while, or for a lifetime? Can you protect them for a lifetime?

"No, at least not during the time I leave and then come back."

Tianyan stood up, looking directly at Zhizai: "So before I leave, I need to nip those 'possibilities' in the bud."

Naoya's smile froze on his face.

The air in the side hall suddenly became heavy.

Naoya stared at Tenyan for several seconds, his expression changing from surprise to annoyance, and then from annoyance to a kind of shameful anger that had been hit where it hurt.

"Zen Temple Heavenly Flame".

He pronounced the name slowly and deliberately: "Do you know what you are like right now? Like a stray dog ​​guarding its food."

Tianyan wasn't angry; instead, he smiled.

"A stray dog ​​is fine," he said. "It's better than someone who doesn't even know how to protect others."

Naoya's face darkened completely.

He slowly took something out from under the wide sleeves of his kimono.

Those were a pair of brass knuckles with spikes.

"After losing to you last time, I went back and thought a lot about it."

After putting it on, Naoya moved his fingers around, and the barbs on the brass rubbed against each other, making a metallic sound that made your teeth ache.

"I've figured it out. I know why I lost."

"Oh?"

"I'm still too honest compared to you."

Tianyan:?

Naoya: "I used to think that external things were evil, and that the projection spell was strong enough to make up for everything."

Although I still hold this view, I'm willing to use it when it comes to you.

He clenched his fist, the barbs on his brass knuckles slightly open, like the mouthparts of some carnivorous plant.

"You beat me last time with dirty tricks! This time..."

He beckoned to Tianyan with his finger, his smile carrying a hint of provocation and seriousness.

"Let me see what else you've got up your sleeve!"