Xia Clan - Guest Quarters
Rien sipped his tea calmly, seated near the window as morning sunlight fell across the room.
"This clan provides excellent guest service," he murmured, appreciating the aroma.
Behind him, Kuto struggled violently with a hanfu, arms tangled like a confused octopus.
Rien sighed.
"Why don't you just wear your normal shirt and jeans?"
Kuto puffed his cheeks, still fighting the cloth.
"Because Miss Lan will LOVE this look! I'll look like a cultured prince!"
Rien turned his eyes back to the window.
Outside, Miss Yin was instructing her disciples with her usual sharp gaze.
"Kuto, I'll be back."
Before Kuto could reply, Rien vanished-tea cup included.
Kuto blinked.
"...Okay?"
Then immediately went back to wrestling with the hanfu like a lost panda.
Rien & Miss Yin
Rien appeared behind Miss Yin silently, clearing his throat to announce himself.
"Good morning, Miss Yin."
Her silky black hair shifted as she turned.
"Yes?"
Her scent was sweet-roses with a hint of authority.
Rien bowed slightly.
"About the barrier I broke yesterday-my apologies. I did promise to make a new one, stronger and harder than the old one."
Miss Yin frowned lightly.
"There's no way you broke that barrier. It was forged with divine essence. Maybe it simply... malfunctioned."
Rien smiled faintly.
"If that helps you sleep, feel free to believe that. But still-may I rebuild it?"
She hesitated... then nodded.
"Fine. Show me what you can do."
They walked to the destroyed barrier's location.
Rien raised his hand.
A new invisible wall instantly snapped into existence, covering the whole clan like a divine dome.
Miss Yin touched it-her palm met a solid surface.
She gasped.
"Incredible... You can CREATE barriers?"
Rien nodded like it was nothing.
"Told you."
Miss Yin unleashed her full cosmic energy and punched the barrier.
No sound. No ripple. Not even dust.
She stared at her fist in disbelief.
"This... this is stronger than the old one! HOW!?"
Rien leaned close and whispered:
"That's a secret."
She stepped back, cheeks slightly warm.
"I'd love to see what else you're capable of."
Rien: small polite smile
She: walking away with curiosity burning in her eyes
Back in the Room
Rien teleported into the room again.
Kuto had FINALLY managed to wear the hanfu and looked surprisingly good.
Rien nodded.
"Finally wore it."
Kuto twirled in front of a mirror.
"Do you think Miss Lan will like it?"
Rien stared at him blankly.
"...Did you say something?"
Kuto groaned and stormed out.
"You are IMPOSSIBLE."
Rien leaned back on the chair, closing his eyes with a peaceful smile.
Kuto's Love Mission
Kuto strutted through the clan halls like a self-declared prince.
He saw Zhong.
"Brother! Where is Miss Lan's room?"
Zhong squinted suspiciously.
"Why do you seek Miss Lan?"
Kuto waved his hand dramatically.
"None of your business. Just tell me."
Zhong pointed stiffly.
"Straight, then right."
Kuto smirked.
"Perfect. I'm coming, my QUEEN."
He walked away, cheeks red, eyes dreamy.
In the Master's Court
Miss Yin stood before her aging father.
Her voice firm:
"Father, we must declare war. There is no other path."
The old master coughed, voice weak.
"I do not have the strength to lead a war... and my time is almost over."
Her eyes trembled.
"Don't say that..."
He placed his hand on her head, smiling faintly.
"Yin... I trust you. From now on, the clan follows your decisions."
Moments later, he closed his eyes... forever.
Yin clenched her fists, tears falling silently.
"I promise... I'll win this war for you."
Next Day - Ceremony
The whole Xia Clan bowed as Yin was announced the new Clan Master.
Rien watched her from the crowd.
"Are you sure you can win this war?" he asked calmly.
Instantly every elder circled Rien with killing intent.
But Yin raised her hand sharply.
"Stand down."
She stepped forward.
"My clan believes in me. I can give my life for them."
Rien met her gaze.
"Trust and victory are different. Without power, trust means nothing on a battlefield."
The room went silent.
Miss Yin clenched her jaw.
"Then do you have a plan?"
Rien smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Clan Hall - Strategy Meeting
Elders filled the hall.
Yin sat on her throne.
Rien stood at the center.
"Our disadvantage is numbers," Rien began.
"So we don't fight head-on. We split the forces into two."
An elder slammed the table.
"Splitting? Suicide!"
Rien stared at him - perfectly calm.
"Only if you're stupid."
The elder sat down immediately.
Rien continued:
"Liu clan will focus everything on Miss Yin. She is the new ruler. So team one - with her - will take the pressure."
Yin raised a brow.
"And team two?"
Rien pointed at Lan's name on the plan.
"Led by Lan. They'll flank and crush the distracted Liu forces. A clean sweep."
An elder asked nervously:
"And if the enemy harms Miss Yin?"
Rien looked at the elder and gave a calm smile.
"I'll be in Miss Yin's team, along with the other powerful cultivators of the Xia Clan." Rien said.
The elder pointed at Rien with an aggressive glare. "There is no chance you can stand alone against 57 Xu Sheng and 5 Xu Di cultivators! Those are the highest levels any man can reach!"
Rien smiled softly, then turned to Miss Yin.
"The threat isn't as big as we think. We just need to use our full strength. And I'll support you completely in this war-if you want."
Miss Yin glanced at the elders, then nodded.
"Okay... I understand."
Rien clapped his hands lightly.
"Then let's declare war."
He walked out of the hall with quiet confidence.
Beside them, Kuto kept striking silly poses in his hanfu.
"How do I look, Miss Lan? Handsome? Noble? Legendary?" he asked, eyes sparkling.
Miss Lan gave him the deadest deadpan look possible before turning away.
"Don't disturb me," she said, annoyed-but the tiny blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Kuto tried stepping closer, chest puffed out in confidence...
But his foot got tangled in his long hanfu.
He tripped... flew forward... and landed right on top of Lan, knocking her onto the bed.
Kuto's eyes lit up as if the heavens had opened.
"Woah... this feels like a dream come true..."
Before he could even finish, Lan exploded.
She shoved him off and kicked him right in the stomach.
Kuto flew back and slammed into the door.
"Idiot!" she snapped, face red, before storming toward the stairs.
Kuto lay on the floor clutching his stomach.
"Ouch... but totally worth it..." he muttered with a goofy grin.