One of the most useful, yet often ignored, techniques related to the art of Senjutsu is the ability to read life energy, making it impossible for others to hide their presence, or even their feelings, from my eyes.
There are many ways to train this particular technique, some safer than others, but none of them are as efficient as having a breakthrough in the middle of a life-and-death situation where a single mistake means a painful and slow death.
Of course, I am wise enough to leave the more stupid and dangerous paths to powers to the MCs with plot armor, so Kuroka and I have been playing Old Maid for the last two hours. Trying to read the micro-changes in her otherwise always mischievous smile is easier said than done.
After losing twenty times in a row, I am almost grateful to be interrupted by someone knocking on the door.
The first word that comes to my head after opening the door is "fluffy."
"Greetings, my apologies for arriving without any notice," Kunou bows in a respectful manner.
There is no second word; I am currently a bit lost.
What is the Holy Maiden of the Kitsune Clan doing here?
Ignoring Kuroka laughing in the background while muttering something about winning a bet or Yasaka owing her money, I warmly smile at the girl.
"It is never a problem to welcome you, Junior Sister," I reply, inviting her to enter the room. "How can this Young Master help you?"
In a show of wisdom beyond her years, Kunou immediately hides behind me, using my body as a meat shield to protect herself from whatever the nekoshou is planning to do. And for one, I can hardly blame the girl for that since Kuroka's predatory smile reminds me of that time when I made the mistake of asking Revive where do babies come from at the tender age of four.
"After carefully pondering about your offer, I decided that you are trustworthy enough to offer me some pointers for my Senjutsu, especially the techniques focused on injecting life force into plant life," she explains with as much dignity as she can muster, which isn't a lot since she is still hiding behind me, carefully drinking the blueberry tea Kuroka prepare for her.
Oh, the holy book described situations like this one. She either has a crush on me or the Chinese MC sent her here in order to make me lower my guard and then steal all my things, including my hot catgirl.
"Junior Sister, do you happen to know a handsome young man with heavenly-defying spear techniques?"
"What?"
Puppy crush it is.
Now I don't have to worry about my possible assasination...unless there are bodyguards nearby waiting to kick my ass if I get overly familiar with their Holy Maiden.
Kuroka shakes her head after I subtly gaze at her for confirmation.
No bodyguards then, which means that spending time with the little Holy Maiden, who obviously has a crush on me and isn't planning my downfall, wouldn't be dangerous at all. Since my family has decided that trading with the West Youkai Faction is a positive development, I may as well butter them up a bit by helping their beloved mistress with her bottleneck. I also want to pat her fluffy tails, and I am not ashamed of admitting that in the safety of my own peerless mind where no self righteous powerful jerk can hear me.
"Nothing, this Young Master is simply excited to have the opportunity to teach Junior Sister about Senjutsu!" My boisterous laugh resounds across the room. "By the time we are done, you will be second to none in all Japan."
Which is technically true since both I and Kuroka live in the Underworld.
"That's natural, I am Yasaka's child after all," Kunou nods with utter seriousness. "You may start the lesson after reading this letter from Mom."
As expected from the Leader of the Kitsune Sect, her calligraphy is impeccable.
Yasaka's letter is so packed with flowery language that not even I am unsure whether she is wishing me the best of luck in the tournament or cursing fate for the hardships it inflicts upon her. In all honesty, it kind of reminds me of what my father said when I first told him about my intentions of becoming the greatest cultivator in history.
The part about avoiding any kind of drink or food since it could be poisoned is clear enough. Although the warning is appreciated, it is somewhat late for it given that Kuroka and I have already been attacked thrice since we arrived at Kyoto.
My unapparelled prodigious mind concluded that to be a scheme made by an enemy Young Master to assure a spot at the finals, being ignorant of the MC that is fated to kick their ass with a legendary weapon that comes from nowhere, which is pretty respectable all things considered. That or Youkai were being racist jerks.
Cleaning all those ashes off the wooden floor after killing the assassins had been a nightmare, but it could have been worse. Unlike the Ars Goetia and those members of the church that are opposed to the idea of peace between the biblical factions, the Youkai actually give nice tools to their subordinates, making looting their corpses a much more enjoyable experience. Kuroka really loves her brand-new set of shuriken even if she doesn't know how to throw them.
If only all attempts on my life were this nice.
"I like that attitude," I don't miss my chance of scratching her soft ears. "A proper cultivator is always filial and confident in his own talent."
She doesn't seem to mind my hands too much and preens at the compliment.
It feels nice to meet someone besides Valerie who is happy to be petted like this; playing with the Dhampir's hair is a two-way thing as she enjoys playing with my hair — not that I mind too much as my peerless locks are the result of her having fun. While Valerie's beautiful silky hair is no way inferior to Kunou's fluffiness, the feeling of Kunou's well-groomed fur is something that my fingers won't forget for a long time.
"So, before we start with Senjutsu, what is your song like?" I ask, remembering that she came to me for advice.
"What does a song have to do with anything?" She tilts her head.
Oh dear, this is way more serious than I first expected.
"Junior Sister, the song of the world is the foundation on which an individual builds his cultivation upon. It is the Dao that defines your being," I explain with utter seriousness in order to transmit how important this lesson is for her future. "For example, mine is the song of the fire that dances following the whistle of the wind. For my song, life is born into this world in order to struggle violently against itself until it goes back to be nothing, waiting to be born once again and repeat the cycle."
At this point, my foundation is already good enough for a breakthrough, but the only thing that keeps me from reaching the Middle Stage of the Aureous Core Realm is my lack of combat experience. By the time this tournament is over, I should be ready to face the dangerous lightning tribulation.
"Then wouldn't my song be about Senjutsu itself?"
I shake my head, but don't blame her for such a basic mistake. That misunderstanding seems to be quite common among the Youkai, probably because their bloodlines are related to the Senjutsu arts as a whole.
"Dear Kunou, Senjutsu is but an application of the song. Senjutsu is the act of connecting with the world in order for you to realize that you aren't the sole singing voice in it. Alas, without a song of your own, you would be swallowed by the will of the world, which shall then force you to follow its fate. In order to master Senjutsu, you first need to master yourself and understand how your voice interacts with the one of the universe."
My own understanding of the universe may be still lacking, but someday it will allow me to go against the Heavens' will and come back victorious.
"That isn't what mother told me about Senjutsu," the naive girl mutters, conflicted by the truth in my words.
I wish I could help her more, but this is a path she needs to walk on her own, for Dao that could be taught is not true Dao.
At worst, this turmoil will lead her to develop a devil in her heart, but I'm confident it will not come to that — and if it does, then I can always feed her some high-quality pills. The best part of belonging to a wealthy clan and having a peerless alchemist as my wife is that throwing pills at my problems is a very reasonable course of action.
"He has been learning Senjutsu for only about two years," Kuroka chimes in from nowhere.
To my confusion, these random words seem to resonate with Kunou who stares at me with a new fire in her eyes.
"Meaning that he is a genius." Now, I'm not sure if having a thirteen-year-old girl looking at me like that is a good or a bad thing…probably bad if Yasaka is anywhere close to see this. "So, following that logic, my song would be about the mischievous fire that plays pranks on people."
Oh, that is a good one. Fire-related Daos are great.
Before I can congratulate her for this new insight in her own Dao, Kuroka nods in a sagely manner.
"Kunou-chan, you are choosing fire as your foundation. Isn't that nice?"
"I guess? It just fits; I am a Kitsune." The Kitsune nods slowly, realizing that something is off.
"Now you only need to find a powerful teacher with an affinity toward fire who is willing to offer you some more advice." Kuroka practically purrs these words and points at me with her tails.
"That…would be convenient."
Kunou is starting to get flustered, but my Dao companion doesn't stop her attack and she moves toward the Holy Maiden, swaying her hips seductively until she is close enough to caress her cheeks with her tails.
"A handsome and powerful teacher, with a status not lower than yours, who is more than happy to spend time at your side." The lasciviousness in her voice makes me raise an eyebrow. "His powerful arms would wrap your body after a hard and sweaty private training session and the only thing separating the two of you would be those tails of yours that he would shower with praise."
She practically says the last line between fake moans.
"They are pretty beautiful tails," I admit.
Maybe I should get myself a fluffy mystical pet like some Young Masters do. Probably a panda; those creatures are one of the most terrifying and majestic demonic beasts the world has to offer.
"I-I think it is getting a bit late," Kunou is already at the door as she excuses herself. "Thanks for your help, Senior Brother."
We both watch the Kitsune literally running away with her tails between her legs.
It is an amusing sight, to say the least.
"Was that necessary?" I ask Kuroka after the girl is too far away to hear us anymore.
"Absolutely. And you are only grumpy because you wanted to keep playing with her fur."
She isn't wrong, but she can't prove anything as long as I remain silent.