Lou Heng knelt beside Ishin. The last rays of sunlight were already beginning to fade as night crept in. Dirt and rain-soaked grass pressed against Ishin’s cheek, cold and unyielding. His broken left arm twitched with every shallow breath, each spasm lighting his nerves on fire. Blood had crusted over his right eye, sealing it shut. His chakra was empty—no qi left to draw from.

  He had tried anyway. Reaching, searching for strength, for anything that could give him back a shred of control.

  But nothing came.

  I’m helpless.

  “Are you going to kill me?” Ishin wheezed, his voice a dry rasp. Even speaking hurt—his lips were torn from the Sun Tiger’s claws.

  “I wouldn’t have bothered saving you from the Sun Tiger if I was only going to do that,” Lou Heng replied coolly.

  The Anji Elder placed two fingers on Ishin’s forehead.

  A scream burst from Ishin’s throat as his broken arm realigned with a jolt of raw agony. The pain was no less than when the bones had first broken. Moments later, flesh along his right arm began to knit together—each thread of healing felt like a hundred razors carving into his skin.

  Ishin clenched his jaw to stifle another scream.

  I know what’s next...

  When Lou Heng’s healing turned to Ishin’s face, it was worse than either limb. The wounds closed slowly, nerve by nerve, and Ishin nearly blacked out from the pain.

  It felt like hours passed, though he knew it could only have been moments.

  “Good enough,” Lou Heng said, finally withdrawing his fingers. “Apologies about the scars. I’m not the best at healing, unfortunately—but at least you look like a warrior now.”

  Ishin glanced down at the gash in his sleeve. A pale red scar stretched across his forearm. Slowly, he raised his right hand to his face, fingers trembling as they brushed the ridges of newly formed scars. The skin felt raw, tender—but no longer bleeding.

  The pain in his arms had dulled to a heavy ache. Bruised instead of mangled.

  He wiped away the blood crusting his right eye and blinked until vision returned.

  Panting, Ishin looked up to see Lou Heng still watching him with that same glint of curiosity in his eye.

  “Your master. Where is she?”

  Ishin took a slow, deep breath, then pointed east.

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  “Tyrant’s Rest. Some people in dark clothes attacked us. From what they said, I think they were assassins.”

  Lou Heng stroked his silver beard. “Interesting. Is she still alive?”

  “Of course she is!” Ishin snapped, too fast.

  The elder's gaze sharpened. “I thought you two looked similar. You’re Ro Akira’s son, I take it?”

  There was no point in denying it. Compared to most others in the Nine Striped Hills, he and Akira shared a rare trait—dark brown hair instead of black. And his outburst had been far too personal for a mere disciple.

  “Yes.”

  “You left your mother to die.”

  The words stabbed deeper than any wound.

  Ishin wanted to argue. To scream that his mother had forced him to flee.

  But he didn’t.

  No more lies. Not to myself.

  “Yes,” he admitted quietly.

  To his surprise, Lou Heng didn’t scold him. Instead, he asked, “Do you know who they were? Or who sent them?”

  Ishin slowly pushed himself to his feet, legs trembling beneath him. “They didn’t say, Elder Lou Heng.”

  He bowed low, every movement aching.

  “Thank you for saving me.”

  Lou Heng waved a hand dismissively. “It would’ve been bad karma to let Ro Akira’s disciple die when I could help.” He scratched his chin. “Even more so for her son.”

  He looked eastward.

  “The question now is, what will you do?”

  “I didn’t see how the battle ended,” Lou Heng continued, “but it was still raging before I chose to follow you. Were you planning to keep running, just to make sure you escaped?”

  “I wouldn’t do something so cowardly,” Ishin said, forcing his voice to remain steady.

  Even if the accusation makes my blood boil.

  He paused, collecting himself. “She told me to head to Yellow Dome City. She said to meet her there in twenty days.”

  Sharing that much with a powerful elder from a rival tribe might have been reckless. But Ishin had no better options. If Lou Heng wanted him dead, he wouldn’t have stopped the Sun Tiger.

  “Only Ro Akira would make such a bold promise,” Lou Heng laughed. “I truly hope she survives. I’d enjoy testing my skills against her.”

  He regarded Ishin with a curious glint.

  “I can respect your confidence in her.”

  “She’s strong,” Ishin said simply.

  “She is,” Lou Heng agreed. “But tell me—do you even know where Yellow Dome City is?”

  “I… don’t.” Another bitter truth. “Only that it’s west of here.”

  “West is a vast direction.” The elder seemed amused. Then an idea lit his expression. “Fortunately for you, I’ve been there before.”

  “You have?”

  Ishin had never met anyone from the Nine Striped Hills who had actually traveled to Yellow Dome City.

  “Yes. About a decade ago. I went looking for new artistic inspiration. Sadly, the city disappointed me.” Lou Heng smirked. “Still, that means I can guide you.”

  He added, as though it were an afterthought, “And protect you from any more predators.”

  Ishin bowed his head. “I appreciate the offer, Elder. But may I ask—why? Why help me this much?”

  “I’ve heard the Heavens smile on charity,” Lou Heng mused. “But mainly... if your mother does arrive, I intend to challenge her to a duel. Consider my protection of you a down payment.”

  That, at least, Ishin believed.