However, Shun had miscalculated one thing. While Fu Hua was indeed the Red Kite Immortal, her current memories only dated from after the Second Honkai. So aside from being extremely self-disciplined, the present Fu Hua was essentially a modern person. Even disregarding amnesia, the Fu Hua from the far more advanced Previous Era wasn't some genuinely otherworldly ancient immortal who abstained from worldly affairs.
And for a modern person with ample food and no social needs how long might it take to leave the house once? Fu Hua's self-pickled spring eternal was probably enough to last her quite a while inside.
Time passed until two days after Shun had decided to wait for Fu Hua.
"Big brother, how about we come back next time? The books say immortals often wander the four directions maybe the immortal really isn't home." Seele truly regretted it. Why had she said anything extra two days ago? She should have just let Shun barge in to find her.
Though that would have been a bit rude, at least they wouldn't have wasted two full days waiting like this. In those two days, aside from the occasional red kite flying by, they hadn't seen so much as a single hair of the immortal.
"Seele, you don't understand. No one in this world knows the Red Kite Immortal at this point in time better than I do. It's impossible for her to be out wandering." Faced with Shun's declaration, Seele had no counterargument. After all, she knew nothing about the so-called Red Kite Immortal, while Shun clearly understood her the way he understood Kevin and Su.
"But big brother, you also have to consider whether your body can handle waiting out here forever!" Seele still refused to give up and continued persuading him.
"Seele, don't worry too much. Though I can't compare to those human-shaped Emperor-class Honkai beasts, my physical condition is still very good. Even if Himeko-neesan is the weakest, she's still an S-rank Valkyrie. But you're right we really shouldn't keep waiting like this."
In truth, for the current Shun, learning Taixu Sword Qi from Fu Hua was no longer a necessity. Originally, seeking out either Su or Fu Hua had been a choice between two. After graduating from Misteln's tutelage, Shun had felt his strength was still insufficient he needed another level-up to participate in the upcoming Third Honkai. But now he possessed Cosmic Juggernaut, and he wasn't an illiterate like Sirin. With his current power, before the later god-tier plotlines began, he was already essentially invincible.
The only real threat to him was the silly goose, but if he couldn't beat her, couldn't he just run? With Cosmic Juggernaut in hand, it was like having Settled Immortal Travel flee to the Imaginary space or Sea of Quanta, and who could kill him?
As the saying goes, heaven never seals all paths. As long as he wanted to leave, the road was right beneath his feet!
Shun stretched lazily, loosening his somewhat stiff muscles from standing so long, then called Seele and prepared to head down the mountain.
"Creak." With a sound, the temple door sealed in dust for days dramatically opened at this critical moment. Fu Hua, dressed in plain clothes, carrying a basket and pushing a bicycle, stepped over the threshold to head out.
"..." Six eyes met; the scene instantly became extremely awkward.
Shun never imagined such a theatrical moment would actually happen to him today. Wasn't this just too perfectly timed?
"I'm going out to buy groceries. May I ask if the two of you have business with me?" After a brief pause, Fu Hua reacted first and spoke.
With Fu Hua already outside, Shun naturally wouldn't pretend he hadn't seen her. His purpose had been to find Fu Hua from the start he couldn't possibly let this opportunity pass now that she was standing right in front of him.
"Shun has wandered half his life, regretting never having met a true master (Misteln: '?'). If you do not disdain me, Shun wishes to take you as my master." With a thud, Shun dropped to one knee almost instantly his movement was so fast that Fu Hua didn't even have time to react.
After a moment, Fu Hua came to her senses. Wow, wasn't this Lü Bu's line from Romance of the Three Kingdoms? This kid has ulterior motives... But taking him as a disciple?...
"Sir, please rise. Fu Hua is but a mere woman. From Sir Shun's fluid movements and abundant vitality, perhaps Fu Hua truly isn't your match." Since the Second Honkai, her body had been like a leaking bottle her strength constantly draining, like water seeping out. Daily training could only slow the decline.
In the end, Fu Hua estimated her power might drop to the A-rank Valkyrie standard set by Schicksal. The invincible Red Kite Immortal of old could never truly return.
Judging Shun's "momentum" ignoring combat experience and martial skill she felt they were roughly equal. Still, Shun's strength sparked some curiosity in Fu Hua.
A male with power that could rank in the current world? This truly puzzled her.
"It must be an innate Stigmata, right?" Fu Hua asked. Aside from that, she couldn't think of any other reason. According to records from before her amnesia, five hundred years ago, her only male disciple, Ma Yanqing, had reached a level comparable to Shun's only in middle age and Ma Yanqing had cultivated Taixu Sword Qi. Though males could only reach the Dustless realm, the improvement was still significant.
In contrast, Shun at only around twenty years old already possessed such strength. Truly remarkable.
"You could say that." Shun couldn't exactly lift his collar to show her, so he simply nodded in confirmation of her guess.
"Then you should leave. Innate Stigmata carry their own information I cannot teach you much. With the Stigmata's aid, your achievements will not be low." Fu Hua said as she began pushing her bicycle outward.
"But what if I say it's still not enough? After all, there's still the enemy called Honkai. My current strength is nothing more than a small fry in a Herrscher's eyes." Shun felt he needed to say something to prove his determination to Fu Hua. This line should do it.
"On burning earth, I made a vow to her and to all humanity humanity will surely defeat Honkai!"
Fu Hua turned back. It seemed this man carried a heavy past tied to Honkai. In that case, offering a bit of guidance wasn't out of the question after all, it would strengthen humanity's side. "Do you truly wish to take me as your master?"
"Red Kite Immortal, I did not lie." Shun declared with full energy.
For some reason, though Shun's words were ordinary, Fu Hua felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing them.
"Then... since that's the case, let's go back inside the temple first. Ah, and that young lady is...?" Fu Hua came to her senses and noticed Seele standing to the side.
"Seele, my little sister. But she's only accompanying me she's not here to become your disciple." Shun replied.
"I understand. Also, I am not your master." Fu Hua corrected.
"Got it, Master. I won't call you that again next time, Master." Shun understood that for someone like Fu Hua, shameless persistence was the best approach. Back then, Cheng Lixue's problem had been being too thin-skinned.
"Forget it call me whatever you want." Fu Hua decided she might as well offer Shun some guidance; at least that would make them master and disciple in name. Moreover, she had a vague feeling that she had once done something irreversible because someone called her "Master."
"Got it, Master!" Facing Fu Hua's tacit acceptance, Shun happily followed her through the gates of Fuyun Temple.