Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

Su Qing'an and Sato Yuno, who were standing with Kanbaru Shuichi, were naturally on the opposite side of Kanbaru Village.

21. In Kambara Village, two people are going in opposite directions.

Surprisingly, Shenyuan Village was quite different from what Su Qing'an had imagined. He originally thought it was just a remote, backward mountain village, but in fact, it was not out of touch with the world and even had regular buses and trams running around.

There are even schools and slightly trendy cafes, and the villagers who come and go are not dressed in old-fashioned clothes. It is more like a modern town than an ancient village.

Their reactions upon seeing Shuichi Kambara were different from what Su Qing'an had imagined. Even the seemingly most mischievous children showed respect when they saw Shuichi Kambara.

Even elderly people nearing seventy would show politeness and reverence when they saw Shuichi Kanbara.

Is this village really as conservative and distorted as Kamihara Shuichi described?

No. If what Kanbaru Shuichi said is true, then this attitude actually made Su Qing'an feel a chill run down her spine.

He suddenly remembered what Shuichi Kanbara had said that day.

The villagers agreed to acknowledge the clan status of the Kambara family in exchange for the Kambara family bearing the curse.

The more secure the clan status of the Shinbara family, the more steadfast the villagers' faith in the ritual itself.

This strange sense of disconnect sent chills down Su Qing'an's spine for a moment, like the instinctive fear humans have of something.

"Miss, please get out of the car." While his thoughts were racing, the young man opened the car door neatly and gently, gesturing for Sato Yuno to get out. He bowed slightly, making a standard gesture of courtesy.

At this moment, Su Qing'an looked like an excellent butler trained in the British style. He was wearing a washed white shirt, a black tailcoat, crisp black trousers, and shiny black leather shoes. This was the standard attire of a British butler.

The butler originated in France, but the old-fashioned British court placed greater emphasis on etiquette, details, and vanity, strictly regulating the butler's professional philosophy and responsibilities according to court etiquette, which became the industry standard.

Su Qing'an has perfectly replicated the actions the old butler taught him; if he wanted to, he could be a world-class butler.

Just as Su Qing'an was already one of the world's top motorcyclists when he was escaping on a Kawasaki H2R, the strength of his soul essence and the exquisite control of his still water realm made his learning ability incredibly powerful.

Therefore, they were able to reach Shenyuan Village in a short period of time, because even the old butler felt that Su Qing'an's acting skills were no longer acting skills, but the true butler who could be cultivated from childhood through detailed education.

Yuno Sato nodded slightly and got out of the car.

Although her expression remained calm and composed, she felt a slight wavering in her heart as she looked at Su Qing'an.

Ordinary teenagers don't care about clothing at all. Even though the headmaster allows students to design their own uniforms, Su Qing'an only chose the most basic template, obviously finding it troublesome.

His current attire, coupled with his aloof and handsome face, makes him look like a cool and aloof butler straight out of a shoujo manga.

Actually, if he had to perform such etiquette with strangers, although he would do it diligently for the sake of the mission, Su Qing'an would still feel awkward.

But since the other person was Sato Yuno, the boy didn't think it mattered.

After all, they were sworn brothers, sworn brothers. Is there any relationship in this world stronger than that?

Those were relationships where you could entrust your life to someone with a smile in the trenches, so what's wrong with exchanging a salute?

For the boy, everything that remained in Changkong City was so precious, and every time he saw Sato Yuno, he would inexplicably think of the stray cats he used to feed in front of the coffee shop.

Or perhaps Sato Yuno was always meant to be a stray cat, but Su Qing'an went to great lengths to bring her back through the storm, braving wind and rain, and in doing so, severed her fate.

So whether it's that stray cat or that person, in that instant, they can entrust their lives to each other.

After all, if you really rescue a stray cat, why would you think it would be a bad thing to you? And the same goes for stray cats.

"Lord Kanbara, who is next to you?" The speaker was a pale-faced middle-aged man who looked at Sato Yuno, who was standing prettily next to Kanbara Shuichi, with a puzzled expression.

“Long time no see, Daigo,” Shuichi Kanbara replied, then patted Yuno Sato’s shoulder affectionately and smiled gently. “This is my daughter, Yuu Kanbara. I brought her back to see the village this time.”

The man, whom Shuichi Kanbara called Daigo, took a closer look at Yuno Sato. She was a girl with elegant manners and a beautiful appearance. Her raven-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her slender body, fair skin exposed to the air, and delicate features left a deep impression.

At this moment, the corners of her lips turned up slightly, revealing a faint smile as if she were embarrassed.

"Miss Shiyu, you've grown so much! As expected of Lord Kanbara's daughter, you have such an elegant figure."

Daigo praised without hesitation.

Since Shuichi Kambara's wife had never been to Kambara Village, the man, unable to compare their appearances, believed Kambara's story simply because of the girl's aura.

Essentially, Sato Yuno has no elegant temperament whatsoever. Given her ordinary family background, she couldn't have cultivated such a quality. Furthermore, she completely ignored the etiquette elective courses at St. Freya Academy.

Daigo's feeling was simply because Sato Yuno had changed her scent. This scent was mixed with a manipulative neurotoxin, which had a harmless effect but could create a false impression.

With this ability alone, if Sato Yuno were willing to become an assassin, she would definitely be at the world's top level.

Although this is somewhat of a waste of talent for a pseudo-hero.

“You made the right decision,” Daigo said earnestly.

Shuichi Kanbara understood his meaning. In Daigo's eyes, by bringing his daughter back to Kanbara Village, he had undoubtedly made the choice to sacrifice his daughter to a living doll.

But Daigo didn't know that the man's determination and his thoughts had long since gone completely against each other.

He spoke with a tone of relief and joy, and his previously somewhat restrained expression relaxed.

It is clear that Daigo's respect for Shuichi Kanbara is genuine, and his address of Shuichi Kanbara as "Sama Kanbara" is entirely from the heart.

"Then I won't bother you any longer. I look forward to your arrival, Lord Kambara, on the day of the festival three days from now." After saying that, the man gave a shy smile and turned to leave.

From beginning to end, Daigo never asked about Su Qing'an's identity, as if Su Qing'an being a butler was a matter of course presented to him, requiring no further questioning.

As Shuichi Kanbara watched his retreating figure, his gentle expression gradually hardened into a cold, steely hardness.

“Daigo was my childhood friend. Back then, we talked about everything under the sun. When we laughed heartily with open arms, it felt like we could encompass the whole world. Everything in those years was both very restrictive and very free,” the man said softly.

“He once said that when he grew up he would become an excellent lawyer and work with me to get rid of the bad habits in Kambara Village. At that time, we made a promise that we would change all of this in our own way.”

“…Three days from now, you might turn against each other.” Su Qing’an said after a moment of silence.

"This is something I was prepared for long ago. Ten years ago, when Daigo cried and others held me down so I could see my father enter the shrine, we were destined for this ending."

Even as he recalled the scene that nearly broke his spine, the man remained expressionless.

Daigo, you broke your promise.

It doesn't matter. Even a man leading a thousand troops will inevitably have times when he fights alone. As long as he never lowers the flag that symbolizes his will, Shuichi Kanbara has not yet been defeated!

He took the Divine Sword from the trunk and then handed Su Qing'an their suitcases full of equipment, saying:

"Let's go to the ancestral home in Kambara. We still need to discuss some details."

The thought of seeing his daughter, whom he hadn't seen for a while, brought a sense of anticipation and joy to Shuichi Kanbara's otherwise gloomy heart.

He smiled and led the two of them up the mountain.

The ancestral home of the Kanbara family and the shrine where the village worships day and night are both located on the mountain.

22. Do you know what it means to die for someone who understands you?

Kanhara ancestral home.

As you climb the ancient steps leading up the mountain and pass the red torii gate, you'll find the ancestral home of the Kanbara family behind these old buildings attached to the shrine.

The so-called torii gate represents the entrance to the divine realm, and it is used to distinguish the divine realm where the gods dwell from the secular world where humans live.

Its purpose is to remind visitors that stepping through the torii gate means entering the sacred realm, and that they should be careful in all their words and actions thereafter.

The Kambara family lives in this sacred realm, which is against the rules, but the villagers believe it is only natural for the Kambara clan, who serve the gods, to live here.

Along the way, the three could see men in suits patrolling back and forth. They were all under the command of Shuichi Kanbara. Since that day of the festival, no one from Kanbara Village had ever entered the shrine to worship.

One of the reasons is that Shuichi Kanbara indifferently stated that the people of Kanbara Village must not set foot in this place again, and if they do not heed his advice, he will use modern weapons if necessary.

The living dolls are essentially indifferent to the lives of the villagers, so such a threat is meaningful.

Shuichi Kanbara made this judgment.

However, the real reason that prompted the villagers to not set foot in the shrine for ten years was simply because it was an order from Shuichi Kanbara.

Shuichi Kanbara, who understood this, could only feel sorrow and growing hatred for that distorted belief.

"Welcome back, Mr. Kambara." The man guarding the gate glanced at Su Qing'an and Sato Yuno with a puzzled expression, but his absolute trust in Kambara Shuichi led him to simply greet them respectfully without saying anything more.

“Kitahara, don’t be so formal. I’ve told you so many times,” Kanbaru Shuichi said with a smile, patting the man’s shoulder. “By the way, how’s Yuu doing lately?”

"Mr. Kambara has given me a second life, so basic respect is necessary."

Kitahara Shin replied somewhat rigidly.

It can be seen that Kitahara Shin is not very old, probably around twenty-five years old. The man's face looks somewhat weathered, and there is a gloomy look between his brows.

His well-trained physique made the black suit look exceptionally sharp, and his bow tie was placed neatly and meticulously.

Judging from his answer, he is probably a person who pays attention to details and is rather rigid.

"Miss Yu is as obedient as ever, except that she asked Mr. Kambara when you would be back a few days ago."

"I see. I've put her through so much trouble all these years. If possible, I'll stay with her for the next few days."

Shuichi Kanbara was silent for a moment before speaking.

Even if he couldn't provide more evidence, Shuichi Kanbara desperately hoped that Schicksal would send out a more outstanding B-rank Valkyrie. However, Schicksal's mission was not charity, so the price was the vast majority of his shares and assets in the group he had built.

Even if the mission is a complete success, the glory of the Kanbara family in Kanagawa will be gone.

But for this man, the corporation or property is nothing more than a sharp blade used to cut through fate. If it can be exchanged for a stronger sword, he will never hesitate to give it up when the time comes.

Worldly matters, power, money.

For Shuichi Kanbara, who was born burdened with sorrow and destiny, none of this mattered.

That's why he was able to find almost the most reliable combination among the B-rank Valkyries.

Even without the Valkyrie Armor, she was enough to defeat most B-rank Su Qing'an and Sato Yuno, who was a pseudo-Herrscher.

It's fair to say that even Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya, the three main characters who will all become Herrschers in the future, are not as reliable as these two in the current timeline, even if we disregard their unstable combat power after going berserk.

“Mr. Kambara…” Kitahara Shin fell silent; he had witnessed that scene ten years ago.

That eerie and unpredictable living doll.

Just seeing it brought back his most terrifying memories. His emotions were amplified to the point of being out of control in an instant, and he immediately lost his ability to fight.

Among Shuichi Kanbara's subordinates who also witnessed this scene, he was one of the few who chose to stay by Kanbara's side.

There was no way around it. The ancients said that a meal's kindness should be repaid for a lifetime, but Kitahara Shin owed this man far more than just a meal's kindness.

When Kitahara Shin was still a boy, Kanbara Shuichi helped him out when he was in trouble.

Everyone has moments of foolishness, passion, and loyalty, right? Back then, Kitahara Shin was such a stupid and reckless fool, the kind of idiot who would be sold out and still help the seller count the money. In fact, he was indeed sold out.