At dawn, a day later, Kanoru stood opposite Asuna's elder brother, Yun Feng.
Yun Feng said, "My sister claims I can't defeat you, but we must fight to see the truth."
Kanoru nodded, unconcerned with winning or losing. He was more interested in experiencing the difference between Warlock combat and Samurai techniques. From what he had observed, Samurai fought like warriors, while Warlocks wielded magic.
"Let's start," Kanoru said.
Yun Feng performed an incantation, murmuring under his breath while weaving hand signs. He exhaled, releasing a dense cloud that engulfed the battlefield.
Outside the field, the woman who had accompanied Yun Feng to the Evergreen Pavilion stood with Asuna and Mika. She remarked, "I doubt my lord will lose."
Asuna merely glanced at her.
The woman continued, "Lord Yun Feng already has four middle-rank talisman spells stored in his spiritual space. He only needs to combine three to ascend to higher-rank Warlock."
Asuna watched as the cloud dissipated, revealing a mini tornado forming around Kanoru. He stood still, both hands guiding his sword in a rapid dance, creating a vortex of wind so fast that the blade disappeared from sight.
Asuna stated, "It doesn't matter. If my brother doesn't understand true power, he will lose."
As the tornado faded, Kanoru's sword reappeared in his right hand. With a single swing, he unleashed a wind blade toward Yun Feng.
Spotting the attack, Yun Feng slammed both palms onto the ground, conjuring a yellow cloud wall that blocked the wind blade. As both vanished, two fire-cloud serpents shot toward Kanoru.
Without hesitation, Kanoru swung his sword, releasing two wind blades that tore through the fiery serpents.
As he fought Yun Feng, Kanoru realized that without his understanding of the wind's nature, he would have already lost. Warlocks, with their talisman spells, inflicted greater damage and attacked from a distance.
Kanoru stood in place, effortlessly destroying every attack Yun Feng sent his way. Realizing none of his spells could even make Kanoru move, Yun Feng ended the fight.
"Looks like my sister was right. Brother-in-law, I admit defeat."
By addressing Kanoru as brother-in-law, Yun Feng fully acknowledged his loss. He now understood that Kanoru's talent rivaled those of the Great Sects and Millennial Families. It was clear why his sister had agreed to marry Kanoru, even without love between them.
Kanoru replied, "Brother-in-law if you had comprehended any of the five powers, I would have lost."
Yun Feng sighed. "Our family has no inheritance that explains how to understand them."
Kanoru observed, "All your spells use clouds as their foundation."
"Yes," Yun Feng confirmed. "Our inheritance relies on clouds to form talisman spells."
Kanoru continued, "Then you should be able to comprehend the power of wind. Clouds are more compatible with wind than any of the five elemental powers."
Yun Feng shook his head. "I've tried for years, but in our land, only the five elemental powers can be comprehended."
"No, that's wrong," Kanoru corrected. "I can still feel the power of wind here. It's suppressed, but it exists."
Kanoru, drawing from the scientific knowledge of his past life, knew that clouds formed from water vapor and moved with the wind. To harness their full potential, one had to comprehend fire, water, and wind—three forces that, when mastered together, led to understanding the power of the world itself.
Yun Feng hesitated. "Really?"
"Yes," Kanoru affirmed.
Asuna added, "Brother, I can also sense the power of wind."
Having advanced to the second realm of wind power under the training of her uncle and Kanoru, she continued, "Brother, Kanoru can help you understand it."
Noticing Asuna's gaze shift toward him, Kanoru nodded. "Yes, brother-in-law, I can help you."
"How?" Yun Feng asked.
Kanoru glanced at the soldiers, who had been watching the fight and were now listening intently.
Noticing this, Yun Feng said, "You all can leave." He then turned to the woman beside Asuna. "Tong, take the soldiers, divide them into teams, and send them around Ren County to gather information on the attackers of the Evergreen Sect."
Tong nodded and left with the soldiers. Once they were gone, Yun Feng turned his attention back to Kanoru.
"Do you practice any of the five styles?" Kanoru asked.
"I used to, but I stopped ten years ago," Yun Feng admitted.
Kanoru nodded. "In this land, the power of wind is suppressed. To understand it, you must first be proficient in the five sword styles and master at least one."
Asuna interjected, "But we learned the power of wind through a different method."
Kanoru understood she was referring to cutting the Black Kanji tree with an axe. However, that method required a solid foundation in the five sword styles. In his training group, only two others besides him had comprehended the power of wind within a month—and both had already mastered one or two styles.
"That method won't work here," Kanoru explained. "He needs to be proficient in all five sword styles and master at least one first."
Yun Feng nodded. "Then let's begin."
Kanoru said, "First, we need wooden swords." Teaching a novice with sharp metal blades was dangerous for both the student and the teacher.
"I'll have a servant make some," Yun Feng said before walking off to arrange it.
Kanoru watched Yun Feng leave, then turned to Asuna and Mika. "Let's train. It's been two weeks since we last practiced together."
Asuna and Mika nodded, unsheathing their swords before lunging at Kanoru. Alone, neither could match him, so they fought together. They sparred relentlessly for hours without a break, stopping only when a servant arrived to summon them for breakfast.
Sweating, they returned to their rooms to change before heading to the dining hall, where Yun Feng was already waiting. Halfway through their meal, a servant entered, announcing Bai Yue's arrival.
Asuna asked the servant to bring her in. When Bai Yue entered, Kanoru immediately noticed the dark circles under her eyes, their redness, and her pale complexion. She looked exhausted—her usual smile absent.
"Elder Cousin, will you come with us to investigate Evergreen Valley?" Bai Yue asked.
Yun Feng frowned. "I thought the valley was burned, leaving no clues behind."
"We have a method to uncover traces of the attackers."
"Alright, I'll go."
Bai Yue nodded. "Then I'll take my leave."
Asuna stood. "Cousin, wait and have some food."
"I have work to do," Bai Yue replied, turning and walking away.
The four exchanged glances before Asuna said, "I'll check on her." She hurried after Bai Yue, Mika following close behind.
Kanoru and Yun Feng remained, staring at each other for a moment before resuming their meal.