Chapter 72: The Fourth Disciple

"Your Excellency!"

Hokushin Mei closed her eyes for a long moment, then opened them in confusion when she realized the miko hadn't taken the blade. She looked up at the miko with a puzzled expression.

"There's no need for such extremes..." The fox-eared miko's long ears drooped helplessly to either side, as if thoroughly resigned.

"If Your Excellency refuses to act, then I'll do it myself." Without hesitation, Hokushin Mei dramatically pulled open her outer robe, revealing...

Before the miko could process what was happening, Hokushin Mei gripped her tachi with both hands, preparing to slice open her abdomen in ritual suicide.

"Ah!"

With a sudden cry, Hokushin Mei thrust the broken blade toward her own chest. But in a flash, the fox-eared miko deflected the weapon from her grasp.

"Your Excellency..." Hokushin Mei stared at the miko, bewildered as to why her suicide attempt had been thwarted.

"Committing suicide after losing isn't glory! It's foolishness!" The Fox eared miko swiftly smacked Hokushin Mei's head, her expression impassive.

"But..."

Mei tried to protest, but the miko cut her off.

"How many endure unimaginable suffering just to survive? Your actions would be a waste of your life. Moreover... don't you want to become stronger?" The miko's gaze locked onto Mei, an idea suddenly forming.

"Stronger... I... could?" Mei's eyes widened, her entire being focused on the miko's words.

She didn't care about anything else, but the prospect of becoming stronger...

"Become my disciple!"

The miko's hand rested on Mei's head, her touch gentle as she spoke with detached calm.

This aligned perfectly with the main quest's requirement for an disciple. Mei's swordsmanship talent was exceptional, making her an ideal candidate for training.

Moreover, considering Mei's relationship with Yae Sakura, accepting her as an disciple posed no complications.

After all, Yae Sakura was the spiritual awakening figure for Mei.

Though this Mei wasn't the same as the original.

This way, she could complete the bounty mission while also fulfilling the main quest... and even... well, it was a three-in-one deal.

"Disciple..."

Hokushin Mei stood up, looking at the miko before her with genuine astonishment.

Someone like her actually wanted to take her as a disciple.

"Are you not afraid I might surpass you someday?"

"I look forward to that day." The fox-eared miko responded nonchalantly, almost eagerly. If Hokushin Mei truly reached the SSS-rank Valkyrie realm, the rewards after her apprenticeship would be truly bountiful.

Though this was merely wishful thinking; the miko didn't believe such progress could happen quickly.

"..."

Seeing the miko's indifferent expression, Hokushin Mei realized she had encountered a true master. Though the miko appeared to be around her own age, she felt the same sense of grandeur as when facing those magnanimous martial arts seniors.

"Rōnin... Hokushin Mei, I pay homage to my master!"

Without hesitation, Hokushin Mei sheathed her weapon and knelt before the miko, formally requesting apprenticeship.

As a martial arts fanatic, even possessed by Honkai, facing the opportunity to learn greater power, Hokushin Mei cared nothing for her former reputation... What did it matter to take a humble miko as her master?

"Rise! But first understand - I am a miko... Therefore... as my disciple, you must also learn the miko's path. Do you comprehend?"

"Miko? I accept."

Hokushin Mei paused momentarily before responding without reservation. To Mei, the chance to gain greater power made any status irrelevant.

"Excellent. Here we have no elaborate formalities - everything is kept simple... From today, you shall be my fourth disciple."

"Mei, have you noticed that you've changed since before?"

Having taken in Hokushin Mei, the miko prepared to eliminate the latent danger within her.

"Hm?" Hokushin Mei looked at the miko in confusion, not quite understanding.

"Think carefully. Haven't you become more bloodthirsty than before? Have you never considered why that might be?"

"Bloodthirsty... I think I might be a bit..." Hokushin Mei pondered for a moment and realized it was true. While her former self wouldn't show mercy to opponents, she wouldn't deliberately kill weaker individuals.

Now, even the weakest would be cut down without hesitation. Though... Hokushin Mei didn't mind this change at all.

"You must have noticed, haven't you? This newfound power you possess... I must warn you... This is no ordinary strength. It's the Honkai Source... You've been possessed by Honkai. While it may temporarily enhance your abilities, the corruption will gradually consume your body. Once it's fully taken hold, you'll become nothing more than a puppet of Honkai."

"Would you truly desire such power?"

Only Hokushin Mei could have endured this long without succumbing completely. Any ordinary person... after being exposed to Honkai for so long, would have already transformed into a monstrous abomination.

Yet here she stood, merely affected rather than consumed.

This proved Hokushin Mei's innate talent - she was a Valkyrie candidate capable of adapting and controlling Honkai's power.

"What kind of Honkai power is this? I thought I cultivated it myself..." Hokushin Mei found herself at a loss for words. She'd always believed this power stemmed from her own cultivation, despite its mysterious origins.

"Of course not... However, I will teach you how to transform this power into something that is entirely your own. It will no longer influence you."

In the Honkai World, the extraordinary power can only be Honkai energy...

There is no such thing as immortal power or demonic energy; even if they existed, they would be insignificant. The mainstream remains Honkai energy.

Although Honkai is evil to civilization, Valkyries who use Honkai's power to defeat Honkai have also emerged.

"Higokumaru..."

The fox-eared miko turned to look at the fox nearby.

"Big Sister."

Higokumaru instantly transformed into a fox-eared young girl less than half a meter tall, appearing beside the miko. Even in this form, she continued to hold Higokumaru's leash with her small hand.

Higokumaru's transformation left Hokushin Mei gaping in astonishment. She can actually change her form...

That massive fox just turned into such a small animal-eared girl in an instant?

"Higokumaru, help her suppress the Honkai Source within her." As the Herrscher of Corruption, this task was child's play for Higokumaru.

"Understood!" Higokumaru immediately took Higokumaru by the hand and flew to Hokushin Mei's front. She then placed her palm on Hokushin Mei's chest.