I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

Is it called amber because its eyes are amber in color?

"Lord Amber, we will do everything we can to ensure your safety on this journey. We only hope that we can be honest with each other and trust each other."

"Iris continued."

"Regarding this route..."

As Ayame spoke, the girl Amber listened intently, as if she wanted to memorize everything so that she could reach the shrine on her own even if something went wrong with the escort.

After saying that, she glanced at Lu Ban again.

Is there something on my face?

Lu Ban was curious.

Amber hesitated, then placed her hand in front of her and tugged at her collar.

"Your clothes, the collar..."

Lu Ban looked down and saw that it was the collar that had come loose earlier because the warm air outside was too stuffy.

He straightened his collar and saw Amber finally relax.

Is this guy a perfectionist?

Lu Ban immediately sat up straighter.

After watching the girl in red and white leave, the two did not get up immediately.

"Is this the strongest priestess of our time? If she could become the high priestess, perhaps the sea would truly be a little calmer."

"Iris said with some emotion."

"Go back and pack your things, we're leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

Lu Ban followed Changpu back to the mercenaries' residence.

That was a villa provided by Amber's family, where there were several mercenaries. Lu Ban learned from their conversation that these mercenaries were of a very different background. There were former soldiers, martial artists who had practiced martial arts, and even priests who had been expelled from the shrine. If you changed their perspective, these people would be pirates. However, mercenaries are paid to do things and usually have a good official status. Because they are willing to take risks, they are more familiar with many complex waters than the magistrates.

That night, Lu Ban was deeply moved to finally have a normal meal on the island and ate three large bowls of food.

While his companions were all drinking and reveling, Lu Ban decided to go out for some fresh air.

The villa is large and lush with vegetation. Under the cool, bright moonlight, you can see cherry blossoms falling in the wind. The fallen cherry blossoms at night take on a faint purple hue, making them even more enchanting.

Lu Ban looked at the flowers for a while, did some stretching exercises, and then heard some strange noises.

whoosh-

thump——

He followed the sound and saw a spacious courtyard.

It was less of a courtyard and more of a training ground or archery range.

Several targets were hanging on one side, and a girl stood on the wooden floor at a distance.

Amber stood there, wearing a dress that bound her chest, white socks, and holding a longbow.

She stared intently into the void ahead, her gaze not on the target, but as if she were gazing at something far more distant.

After a long pause that seemed like a still image, Amber slowly raised the arrow in her hand and, with a graceful, dance-like movement, drew back the bowstring.

If you shoot arrows like that, you're guaranteed to hit the target.

Upon seeing this posture, Lu Ban was filled with such emotion.

Another long wait ensued. Just as Lu Ban was wondering if he should leave, Amber released the taut bowstring.

Without any suspense, and in a dull and tedious manner, the arrow buzzed and struck the very center of the target, precisely splitting the previous arrow in two.

Amber held the arrow-releasing posture for a while longer before finally relaxing.

"Awaited."

She looked at Lu Ban to one side.

Chapter 328 Seeing the World

The spring breeze is gentle, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at night, the moonlight is pleasant, and the courtyard is secluded and mysterious.

It should have been a perfect setting for couples to whisper sweet nothings to each other under the moon.

But in this archery training ground, Lu Ban always felt that something was wrong.

"You shot very accurately."

Lu Ban offered a compliment, but then felt that it was a bit of a waste of words. He had witnessed the power of the high priestess, who could shoot an arrow a thousand miles away while sitting at the Kazushima Shrine. Compared to that, archery now seemed like child's play.

"Thank you."

Amber glanced at Lu Ban, then stood still, bow in hand, but neither shot an arrow nor put it back.

"The core of archery lies in the mind; if the mind is not calm, one cannot hit the target."

She spoke, her tone indifferent, as if she were reciting some kind of waka poem.

"My heart was already affected before that arrow, so I won't shoot now."

"?"

Lu Ban was somewhat confused. Was this implying that his appearance had disrupted his practice?

Should I leave?

"No, it's not your fault. It's just that I'm not mature enough yet. A true priestess should be able to be single-minded and eliminate all distractions, which is to say, 'remove external things.' Only by removing external things and entering a state of unity of mind and spirit can one possibly 'see the world.'"

Amber seemed to be talking more than she had in the afternoon, perhaps because she was meeting strangers alone.

"To transcend external things? To see the world?"

Lu Ban definitely wouldn't understand these things, and he figured even legitimate mercenaries probably wouldn't understand either. Even if everyone did understand, it wouldn't hurt for him to act like a fool and ask for more information.

"The training of a shrine maiden is divided into three stages: examining oneself, eliminating external things, and seeing the world. Examining oneself means being able to feel all of one's own state through training and control oneself. Eliminating external things means being able to eliminate distracting thoughts and maintain inner peace even when there is interference from outsiders. One can remain calm even in a bustling city. Therefore, one can see the world."

When Amber spoke of these things, Lu Ban wondered if it was just his imagination, but her eyes seemed to brighten up a bit.

"Then what does it mean to see the world?"

Lu Ban continued.

"To see the world, to be able to see anything in any place in the world, at this time, one no longer uses the physical eyes, but the eyes of the heart. In this state, one is the domain of the priestess. If any place on this sea is attacked by filth, the purifying fire will follow."

When the priestess was mentioned, Kohaku's emotions became slightly more apparent.

“Then I think you can try going to crowded places when you are practicing, which may make your practice more effective.”

Lu Ban suggested.

"The more people there are for this kind of self-cultivation activity, the better. Ideally, it should be in the market, watching two middle-aged women arguing and cursing each other's ancestors. You just stand there, enter a meditative state, and the training effect will definitely be very good."

"A wet market? Ancestors... for eighteen generations?"

Amber looked slightly puzzled.

"You haven't left this house before, have you?"

Lu Ban recalled that most of these witches and the like lived in seclusion and some had never even seen the outside world.

"I have no need to go out."

That's the only explanation Amber could offer.

"Time for spiritual practice is precious and should not be wasted on pleasure."

"That's true."

Lu Ban sighed.

After all, the person standing in front of him was not just a top student or a genius, but the hope of the world was focused on her as the next high priestess. If his strength was lacking in the slightest, it could lead to the deaths of countless people. He could not be careless.

"But this trip to He Island will allow you to experience the outside world, which is quite nice."

Lu Ban joked.

"What I want to do is arrive at the island, not just travel."

Amber spoke earnestly.

Just as the two were chatting under the moonlight, the grass near Lu's feet suddenly swayed.

Almost instantly, Amber raised her bow and drew the string, and the arrow shot out, flying straight toward the clump of grass.

thump——

The wooden arrow pierced straight into the ground with a force that even Lu Ban himself couldn't match. The wind stirred up by the arrow blew up the grass, revealing what lay beneath.

That was a dog.

"???"

Lu Ban looked at the dog and felt it looked somewhat familiar.

It looks almost exactly like the one I keep at home.

"Leica?"

Lu Ban tentatively called out.

"Ow!"

The dog ran over and frantically rubbed against Lu Ban's trouser leg.

"It really is you... Wait, what are you doing here?"

Lu Ban rubbed Leica's round head.

This isn't some island nation, but rather a foreign land, a place called Hejima.

However, upon closer reflection, since Lyca's true form is a hound capable of traveling through time to hunt down the Chosen Ones, it's entirely possible that she could follow Lu Ban's scent to reach He Island.

In other words, if it was there to hunt down Lu Ban, then Lu Ban might already be dead.

"what is this?"

Amber's nostrils twitched slightly; she remained wary of Laika, the dog possessing a peculiar quality, resembling something filthy.