NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: Chapter 14
There were no surprises in the end.
At about five or six o'clock in the morning, under the first ray of sunlight of the day, the swamp demon could not resist any longer. It turned to ashes and disappeared completely, leaving no trace behind.
-Just vanished? -Kanroji Mitsuri asked, blinking sleepily.
-I thought it would at least put up a bit more of a fight.
Seeing the demon, who had been fighting all night, reduced to ashes without offering any resistance in front of the sun, Mitsuri rubbed his eyes curiously.
The night before, Lin Cheng had taken his own somewhat torn cloak and put it on Mitsuri for warmth. She ended up sleeping on Lin Cheng's shoulder while he kept watch.
In the distance, two guards who had watched all night watched in awe. The scene of the demon disintegrating under the sun was something most people would never be able to witness in their lives.
-Perhaps," said Lin Cheng smiling at Mitsuri's curious look. Perhaps, seeing the sun, he deeply regretted his sins.
He didn't know if the swamp demon felt remorse the moment he disappeared, but Lin Cheng was sure that before he died he hated him deeply. Unlike other demons in the original play who redeemed themselves in their last moments, this one had no confessions or remembrances.
-Really? -Mitsuri asked with a beaming smile, "If he repented of his crimes, it would be a good thing.
The incident with the swamp demon did not cause too much of a stir in Sakura Town. Although it was briefly mentioned by some, outside the town it became little more than a legend. To Lin Cheng, this was irrelevant.
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Life went on in an ordinary, if not quite so simple, fashion.
Lin Cheng and Kanroji Mitsuri became engaged without major complications. Mitsuri was now his fiancée, and two months after the Cherry Blossom Festival, Lin Cheng moved with her to Sakura Town. There, he opened a small private school that soon gained popularity, thanks to the good reputation he had built up as a teacher in his former village.
Lin Cheng also decided to teach Mitsuri martial arts so that he could protect himself. With eight times the muscle density of the average person, Mitsuri turned out to be a born martial artist.
Lin Cheng taught him Bajiquan, a national martial art based on explosive and powerful movements. Her natural strength, combined with this technique, made her stand out even more.
-All right, Mitsuri, that's enough for now," said Lin Cheng as he looked at his fiancée, drenched in sweat. Get some rest and then we'll continue. Martial arts requires you to advance step by step; don't rush.
-Okay, I'm a little tired," Mitsuri replied, smiling. He sat down on a clean rock and took out a gigantic lunch box.
Lin Cheng, meanwhile, pondered. Although his income as a teacher was decent, supporting Mitsuri and meeting his growing food needs was beginning to be a challenge.
-Mitsuri, what do you think? -Lin Cheng asked, breaking the silence. Do you think we could make money if I opened a martial arts gym?
-A martial arts gym? -Mitsuri pondered. I'm not sure, but I think it could be very profitable. There's a dojo in Sakura Town and I know their teachers are doing quite well.
-Then it's worth a try," Lin Cheng replied seriously. We've been eating more lately, and this is not something we can avoid, but I need to find another source of income.
Mitsuri fretted at this and put down his lunch box.
-Have I been eating too much? I can eat less if I need to....
Lin Cheng let out a laugh.
-Don't worry, Mitsuri. In my land there is a saying, "Eating well is a blessing." Besides, how could you practice martial arts without eating enough?
With those words, Mitsuri regained his cheerfulness.
-Then, if we open a gym, we can eat as much as we want! -he exclaimed enthusiastically.
Lin Cheng smiled. If one thing was clear, it was that Mitsuri always found reasons to be happy.