A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 26

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Volume 34, Chapter 11: Mysterious Master.

What a formidable opponent! No wonder even Kisaki Sabei met his end here.
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he became increasingly worried about Kora Anna.
He was used to cherishing beautiful women, and although he didn't have any particular feelings for Kora Anna, whom he had only met once, he absolutely couldn't let such a beautiful young girl fall into the hands of a group of cruel and bloodthirsty ninjas.
He dared not hesitate any longer, nor did he have the heart to chase after the men in black. He continued straight along the bloodstains on the ground.
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the sounds of fighting suddenly came from the dense forest several dozen feet away. Ren Xiaoyao's figure blurred, and he unleashed his Flying Immortal Transformation, rushing over at an unprecedented speed.
From afar, he saw Kora Anna and two other Kirigakure Shigenryu ninjas surrounded by more than a dozen men in black. They were all disheveled, covered in blood, and formed a triangular formation back to back, desperately resisting their opponents' attacks.
Before Ren Xiaoyao could get close, the other two had already been cut down, falling to the ground with screams.
The men in black stopped their attack simultaneously, seemingly wanting to capture them alive, but Kora Anna suddenly turned her katana and plunged it fiercely into her own abdomen
—she was going to commit seppuku! By the time Ren Xiaoyao reacted, it was too late to help, and he watched helplessly as the gleaming blade was about to pierce Kora Anna's delicate body.
In a flash, a masked youth in white leaped down from the pine tree behind Kora Anna, snatched the katana, and then struck her on the back of the neck.
Kora Anna's eyes rolled back, and she immediately fainted, thankfully surviving.
The masked youth didn't linger, picked her up, and turned to leave. The men in black, whether intimidated by his amazing skills or already allies, stood still and did not give chase.
Unsure of the masked youth's origins, Ren Xiaoyao couldn't simply watch Kora Anna fall into his hands, yet he wasn't confident he could snatch her without harming her. He could only secretly follow, observing the masked youth's actions.
He quickly drew three conclusions: First, the masked youth possessed exceptional lightness skills, moving with incredible speed even while carrying Kora Anna; second, the masked youth's cultivation was not weak, at least on par with Shinguji Mina; third, the weapon in the masked youth's backpack was no less powerful than his Ice Soul Frost Sword, its chilling aura palpable even from a distance.
Just as Ren Xiaoyao attempted to close the distance to gather more precise information, a sudden gust of wind arose overhead, and the lush foliage not far ahead exploded, transforming into countless pine needles imbued with powerful energy, hurtling towards Ren Xiaoyao's face.
Anyone else would assume the enemy was hiding behind the treetops, using techniques like finger strikes and palm strikes to manipulate leaves and branches as the initial attack, while they themselves would follow up with their own. But Ren Xiaoyao knew this was all a ruse; the enemy's true location was on either side of him. Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts had now reached the level of a grandmaster; it was impossible for anyone to ambush him without alerting him. Therefore, the fact that this person could keep Ren Xiaoyao guessing was truly remarkable.
Sure enough, after he skillfully dodged the pine needles, a soft bell rang in his ear, followed by a dark figure silently attacking from the left. Ren Xiaoyao had no time to think about the masked youth; he coldly snorted, drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword with a "whoosh," and swung it directly at his opponent.
The blade's energy pierced the air with a sharp "whoosh," and the opponent's sword speed suddenly increased dramatically, becoming even faster than Ren Xiaoyao had anticipated. Before Ren Xiaoyao could unleash his full power, the blade clashed with the Ice Soul Frost Sword.
Initially, the finger strike, sharp as a blade, seemed capable of penetrating walls and easily piercing through Ren Xiaoyao's still-uncollected protective true energy, ascending from his arm and directly attacking his heart meridian.
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly channeled his energy to defend, but to his surprise, the finger strike miraculously vanished, turning into a bottomless abyss. No matter how much true energy he sent out, it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, leaving no trace.
Just as he was about to cough up blood in agony, his opponent suddenly launched a flying kick, aiming straight for his lower abdomen, swift as lightning, at an unpredictable angle, making it impossible to defend against.
Ren Xiaoyao cried out in alarm, realizing that his opponent had borrowed all his true energy. This kick was equivalent to him and Ren Xiaoyao kicking together; if he were hit, he would surely die. Moreover, it was unstoppable.
In desperation, he let out a cold shout, thrusting his Ice Soul Frost Sword forward. His left hand formed a blade with his fingers, unleashing the Eastern Peak Sword Palm, completely ignoring the incoming kick from below, aiming straight for his opponent's chest—a clearly suicidal move.
He knew perfectly well that with his innate supreme qi, he might survive this "hand chop" combining the power of both of them, but if his opponent struck his heart, there was no chance of survival.
His opponent paused, then suddenly sneered, his footwork unchanged as he continued kicking.
"Is he out of his mind?!" Ren Xiaoyao was horrified. He wasn't willing to be severely injured for the sake of a fearless opponent whose face he hadn't even seen clearly. In a haste, he rolled to the ground, taking advantage of the brief moment of his opponent's hesitation to dodge the attack in a split second.
Given Ren Xiaoyao's current status, it was truly embarrassing for him to resort to such a shameful move, resembling "dog eating shit." Fortunately, his footwork was exquisite; after retreating, he slightly pushed off with his toes, then stood up, making two consecutive turns and landing steadily a few feet away, at least not too badly.
Ren Xiaoyao turned around and finally saw his opponent's face clearly. This man was around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with a robust build, dark skin, and clearly defined features. His tall and imposing figure made him look like a marble statue, every muscle in his body brimming with power, exuding an imposing aura.
What was most striking was his face, which had at least a dozen crisscrossing scars. His left eye was covered by an eyepatch, suggesting he was blind. His spiky hair was adorned with countless small bells that jingled as he walked. His excessively high and hooked nose made his already sharp eyes even more unfathomable, sending chills down one's spine just by looking at him.
—It was fortunate that the sound was so loud, otherwise he couldn't have predicted his opponent's sneak attack.
Even more unbelievable was the samurai sword in his hand, radiating a chilling killing intent… no, it was more like a piece of iron than a samurai sword, because the dark hilt, where the blade should have been, was riddled with chips and cracks, countless tiny fissures scattered throughout the blade, some even extending to the spine.
From any angle, it was a broken, nearly destroyed piece of iron, yet it had withstood the full force of the Ice Soul Frost Sword unscathed. Ren Xiaoyao appeared calm and collected, but inwardly, a storm raged within him, and he was filled with despair—a master, this person was absolutely one in a million, a true master.
The man spoke first, his voice slow and sinister, each word deliberate: "Boy, are you injured?"
Ren Xiaoyao was startled and shouted, "Who are you? Why did you launch a sneak attack?"
The man's expression was blank as he coldly replied, "Tell me first, are you injured?"
Ren Xiaoyao wasn't sure of his intentions and casually answered, "So what if I am? So what if I'm not?"
The man unexpectedly grinned and said, "If you're injured, I'll let you have a chance, understand?"
"What, let me have a chance!?" Ren Xiaoyao was stunned.
"Yes, I'll let you stab me once, anywhere, anywhere."
"You..."
"As the name suggests, a generous gift of blood. Come on." The man's eyes swept over Ren Xiaoyao, sharp as a sword.
"Are you confused? Letting me stab you is no different from courting death!?" Ren Xiaoyao shouted.
"I'm here to fight you, not to die." The man's expression was surprisingly serious.
"Your martial arts are superb, there's no need for such tricks as deceiving me into making a move and then launching a sneak attack."
"A sneak attack? Hahaha, I will not make a move until you have finished your sword strike."
"Sorry, I never strike an unsuspecting opponent with my sword." Ren Xiaoyao felt he had encountered an incomprehensible madman—or more accurately, a martial arts fanatic with extraordinary cultivation.
"You have a kind heart, but in front of me, you'd better put away that high-sounding reason." The man tugged at his collar, revealing his muscular chest. "Stab, stab this way, and then we'll fight. Whether you kill or are killed, it's all a great pleasure."
"You...you consider fighting me a pleasure!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat.
"Fighting with whomever I want is a pleasure for me." The man raised his knife in his left hand, laughed to the sky, "Come on, neck or stomach, eyeballs or whatever, or just kill me with one sword."
"Do you know that your protective true qi can't withstand the edge of my sword at all?" Ren Xiaoyao frowned.
"I know." Three simple words, clearly nonchalant, yet without a trace of mockery.
"Do you know that if I strike your vital point with my sword, you will surely die?" An ordinary person would have already rushed forward, but Ren Xiaoyao, increasingly sensing his opponent's extraordinary nature, refrained from attacking rashly. He knew perfectly well that his opponent wasn't just arrogant or conceited, but possessed extremely strong self-confidence.
—If he couldn't overwhelm him with sheer force of will, any attack would be meaningless.
"I know." The answer was still a simple three words.
"Do you know…"
"No need to say more, attack!"

(Chapter 12, Volume 34, Trapped in a Dire Situation)

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, his grip on his sword tightening.
"Death? For us ninjas, dying by the sword is an unparalleled honor." The man also smiled slightly, his sharp eyes revealing no emotion.
"He… his confidence is even stronger than mine!" Ren Xiaoyao sensed something was wrong. In a duel between masters, confidence and fighting spirit are paramount; martial arts skills are secondary. If one cannot change the current situation and overwhelm the opponent with sheer force of will, even Ren Xiaoyao, with his unparalleled internal energy and swordsmanship, will become extremely passive.
"What, afraid to make a move!? Are you afraid you can't kill me in one strike, or are you afraid…?"
"It's been a long time since I've encountered such an interesting opponent. I don't want to take your life so quickly." Ren Xiaoyao looked up, his deep eyes gleaming, and spoke slowly, each word distinct.
Even before the two began fighting, the atmosphere was already tense.
No, to be precise, their contest had been ongoing since they met.
Of course, this wasn't a duel of martial arts, but a battle of wits and spirit.
"Why haven't you made a move yet? Are you afraid you can't kill me with one sword strike?" the other suddenly asked casually, "Or perhaps you don't want to lose psychologically first and insist on suppressing my momentum before you'll fight."
"He…he actually knows what I'm thinking!?" Ren Xiaoyao was startled.
"Aren't you surprised I guessed your thoughts?"
"You..." Ren Xiaoyao's expression changed drastically, a chill running down his spine.
He had lost. He had lost the psychological battle. Even now, he had no idea what his opponent was thinking, while his opponent knew exactly what he was thinking.
At this moment, verbal confrontation was meaningless. He had to act, he had to rely on a thunderous offensive to regain his confidence.
"Take this!" Ren Xiaoyao shouted, his Ice Soul Frost Sword transforming into a blue light, swiftly aiming for his opponent's vital chest. As he approached, he slammed his foot into the ground, his momentum suddenly increasing. His innate supreme qi circulated throughout his body, the rain of swords merging with the hissing sounds of swords, a sight both beautiful and terrifying.
He had used eighty percent of his power from the very beginning, something Ren Xiaoyao had never done before in his career. The words "earth-shattering" and "horrifying" would be the best way to describe it.
Faced with such a fierce and swift attack, one that even Shinguji Ryuken himself might not dare to refute, the man remained completely still, neither parrying nor attempting to dodge or retreat. "
He's tired of living!"
Ren Xiaoyao was shocked. He abruptly withdrew the force of his right hand, abruptly halting the momentum of the Ice Soul Frost Sword.
However, his attack was too fast and too fierce. By the time the sword had completely stopped, the gleaming blade was only half an inch from his opponent's brow.
Yes, half an inch. If Ren Xiaoyao had been even slightly slower, his opponent would have been cleaved in two.
The uncontrollable, chilling sword energy had already pierced the man's skin, and blood slowly seeped out, a horrifying sight.
Yet…
from beginning to end, he hadn't moved an inch, not even blinking, as if unaware that the weapon piercing him was a peerless divine weapon capable of cutting through iron like mud and severing hair with a breath.
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, and he staggered back two steps, staring at his opponent in disbelief, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
Good heavens, was the person standing before him even a person?
If so, he was a madman, a complete madman.
"Why did you suddenly stop? I don't need your mercy." The man extended his middle finger, wiped the blood from between his brows, and licked it. "Hahaha, the taste of blood is so wonderful, but compared to that, I prefer the feeling of fighting!" A seemingly ordinary slash came down, but combined with his footwork and sword force, it possessed an inescapable power, truly embodying the principle of great skill appearing clumsy.
Having suffered a crushing defeat in the battle of wits, Ren Xiaoyao would be too cowardly to dodge and retreat now in order to observe his opponent's true strength. He immediately raised his sword to fight back, using a move from the Fiery Sky-Piercing Sword technique called "Reflecting Rainbows and White Blades Splitting Light and Shadows," which split into three in the blink of an eye, stabbing three vulnerable spots on his left shoulder, ribs, and thigh!
With three sharp "thuds," each strike landed, instantly drawing blood from the man's clothes.
This was a sophisticated technique, employing two feints and one real strike, or even all three, intended to force the enemy into a defensive posture, thus gaining the upper hand. However, the man neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the blades
to reach him. Ren Xiaoyao hadn't expected such a direct hit; the force of his sword was weak, none of the strikes fatal, resulting in the loss of a brilliant move. Even worse, his strategy of using offense as defense had completely failed. The opponent's katana easily pierced his chest, but fortunately, his innate supreme qi generated a counterforce, and Ren Xiaoyao reacted quickly, realizing the danger and immediately dodging, only having his robe torn, thus avoiding a fatal blow to the chest.
"You can see through my swordplay!?" Ren Xiaoyao retreated several steps, stopping about three zhang away. "
What sword techniques? I only know that if I can block an attack, I'll block it; if I can't, I'll fight back and see who's tougher and faster!" The man laughed, then charged forward again. His katana emitted a roar like a dragon's cry from the abyss, initially barely audible, then transforming into a deafening howl like a torrential downpour.
Ren Xiaoyao's fighting spirit vanished. He could only muster all his strength to desperately defend against the opponent's relentless attacks, the shock in his heart indescribable.
He was no longer the naive young man he once was. He had mastered almost every martial arts master in the Central Plains, and after arriving in Japan, he had even defeated several sect leaders, and even... He even broke through the Shukaku Shield, which was hailed as "absolute defense," but he had never encountered anyone with a similar or even close style to the opponent before him.
If you had to describe his fighting style in three words, it would be "reckless"!
Almost every move he made was offensive, completely disregarding his own defense. The few times he did use pick-and-rolls were only to lure Ren Xiaoyao into a certain position to coordinate with his subsequent attack. And whenever Ren Xiaoyao retaliated, he would never dodge or evade, preferring to be hit himself rather than let his opponent suffer a fatal blow.
If it were a martial arts contest, Ren Xiaoyao would be happy to fight him head-on. Even if it were a sword fight, he would be able to guarantee that he would fall later than his opponent, thanks to his innate supreme internal energy and the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin technique. However, firstly, he was injured, and a direct clash of arm strength would put him at a disadvantage. Secondly, Gao Liangxing was in the hands of the masked youth, her fate unknown. If they fought to the death now, how could he get there to save her? Therefore, the more Ren Xiaoyao fought, the more passive and embarrassed he became. At first, he could still manage to exchange three or four blows out of ten, but now he could only manage one or two attacks at most.
He had to break free, regroup, and then launch a counterattack.
Having made up his mind, Ren Xiaoyao slightly lowered his head, ignoring the approaching blade, and used the Illusory Shadow Technique. His movements were elusive and unpredictable, his steps unsteady, so ethereal as to be impossible to grasp, as lifelike as a butterfly fluttering about, nimble and graceful, capturing the essence of the technique. The sound of the bells in his hair revealed the opponent's location, further facilitating his movements.
With this seemingly real yet elusive technique, the opponent's fierce and sharp blade strikes all missed their mark. The trees and flowers around Ren Xiaoyao were all affected by the gust of wind, some breaking, some uprooted, accompanied by clouds of dust flying everywhere.
Having avoided the opponent's direct attack, Ren Xiaoyao was about to seize the opportunity to retreat, intending to use the One Reed Crossing the River technique to escape, but just as he floated out of the blade net, a black shadow flashed before his eyes; the person had already overtaken him.
So fast! Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly turned around, only to see a dazzling flash of light.
This sudden turn of events was completely unexpected. Ren Xiaoyao had never anticipated that his lightness skill would be so superb. Shocked, he instinctively reacted, his right hand, gripping the sword, suddenly loosened its grip. Simultaneously, he channeled the power of the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm, causing the Ice Soul Frost Sword, which had slipped from his grasp, to trace several arcs in the air, suddenly forming a whirlwind-like halo of light, swirling with beautiful sword light, instantly protecting all his vital points.
But then, in a flash, his opponent appeared to Ren Xiaoyao's left, slashing with a samurai sword with a whoosh, aiming for his left ribs. If struck, even with internal energy protection, his ribs would likely be broken. Ren Xiaoyao had no time to rejoice at narrowly escaping death. He lightly touched the ground with his left foot, suddenly spinning around, barely avoiding the elbow strike, passing his opponent, and throwing himself into an open space not far away. Without pausing, the man pursued him like a shadow, his blade flashing, blocking two paths. Turning, moving, and striking—all his movements were fluid and extremely sharp.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The sounds of clashing energy rang out continuously, embers and embers flying everywhere. Before the man could even get close, he encountered three layers of invisible yet tangible sword energy, each layer hindering his advance until his momentum completely vanished. In the blink of an eye
, Ren Xiaoyao had cast aside all concerns, adopting a do-or-die strategy, meeting fire with fire. Therefore, before retreating, he secretly channeled his true energy, creating three layers of energy nets along his retreat route, forcing his opponent to prevent a sustained attack and creating conditions for his counterattack. (

Volume 34, Chapter 13: Mutual Injury)

The man had assumed that Ren Xiaoyao, having finally escaped his entanglement, would immediately flee, never expecting that his retreat was actually deliberate.
With Ren Xiaoyao's keen eyesight, he could easily discern that what appeared to be a formidable opponent was actually in an awkward position, his old strength waning and new strength yet to emerge. Seizing the opportunity, he unleashed a burst of azure light, transforming it into a rain of swords that swept across the sky, striking at his terrifying adversary.
The man laughed, remaining unmoved and instead darting forward with lightning speed. His katana unleashed hundreds of sharp blades, the fine, razor-sharp energy instantly colliding with the Ice Soul Frost Sword.
Both men were jolted violently, as if struck by lightning. Ren Xiaoyao was thrown against a large tree with a thud, while his opponent was blasted away, spitting blood.
He... he would rather be injured than yield an inch!
Ren Xiaoyao was startled again. Before he could catch his breath, the man pounced on him once more.
Didn't he know how to regulate his breathing, how to rest?
Suddenly, countless ninjas wielding katanas appeared before him, rushing towards him from all directions.
This was obviously an illusion, but it could also be inferred that the person was rapidly approaching him with an unusually high speed and agility.
Ren Xiaoyao was dumbfounded, not only because of the opponent's almost insane fighting style, but also because his current speed had exceeded and surpassed the limits of human physical ability. He couldn't use his eyes or ears to see or hear; he could only rely on his extraordinary senses to make instinctive reactions.
At this point, rescuing Kora Anna was impossible. If he didn't fight with all his might, with the determination to succeed or die trying, he himself might not survive.
The two fought with lightning speed, exchanging blows and countering each other's moves, becoming increasingly swift. Eventually, it became impossible to distinguish who was who. The blue light of the Ice Soul Frost Sword and the black light of the samurai sword intertwined in the air, sometimes rising, sometimes falling, sometimes dodging to the left, sometimes moving to the right. If someone were watching the battle, they would surely be dazzled.
Ren Xiaoyao's innate supreme internal energy was incredibly profound, seemingly inexhaustible regardless of the environment. Combined with his unparalleled lightness skill, he first secured an invincible position. Then, relying on his rich combat experience and extraordinary keen senses, he completely disregarded the limitations of sight, using only the sound of the bell to monitor his opponent's every move. Gradually, he reversed the disadvantage and gained a sliver of hope for victory.
A series of clanging sounds rang out as the Ice Soul Frost Sword, simplifying its complex attacks, launched a continuous barrage of strikes. Each move was as swift as lightning and as agile as flame, its angles and timing perfectly precise. Every strike targeted his opponent's strengths and weaknesses, sometimes seemingly attacking his strengths, sometimes seeking out his weaknesses, leaving his opponent scrambling and unable to defend.
"Clang!" The man was violently shaken and forced back. Ren Xiaoyao had completely blocked his moves, leaving him unable to continue. The powerful and fierce innate internal energy made him extremely uncomfortable, forcing him to retreat.
Ren Xiaoyao, not wanting to miss such a golden opportunity, unleashed his signature swift Meteor Thirteen Styles, launching a full-scale counterattack.
The figures blurred, blood spurting from the opponent's left shoulder as he staggered backward, his face drained of color, yet his hand holding the knife remained as steady as a rock, pointing it at Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao also staggered back three steps, outwardly appearing unharmed, but soon a bloodstain appeared on the right side of his chest, seeping a little blood, clearly indicating he had also been slashed.
The opponent suddenly stopped, throwing his head back and laughing loudly, causing the entire black pine forest to tremble.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill; by now, his opponent had already exchanged over a hundred blows with him. Even an ordinary master would have been exhausted, unable to sustain the attack without internal injuries, yet this opponent seemed completely unharmed, his laughter full of energy, showing no sign of fatigue. His skill was likely comparable to that of Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan.
The man glared fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao, his eyes burning with menace. "Good, good lad," he said coldly, "you've forced me to this point within a hundred moves. It seems I have no chance of winning without going all out."
What?! Had he been hiding his strength all along?
Ren Xiaoyao was still astonished when he suddenly saw the man rip off his blindfold.
—His eyes! His left eye was completely intact; he hadn't gone blind at all!
Then he casually tossed away the small bell that adorned his hair.
—This wasn't a peculiar fetish; he deliberately wore it to allow others to predict his location.
"Hahaha, now I can see your elusive movements clearly, while you…" The man took three steps forward, closing the distance to Ren Xiaoyao to two zhang, "and you, too, can only judge with your eyes. Let's see who's faster!" He swung his katana, slowly approaching. The imposing aura of his steps, coupled with his towering physique and sharp gaze, naturally exuded an irresistible presence.
Ren Xiaoyao's mental defenses crumbled instantly, and the confidence he had painstakingly built up vanished in an instant.
The man's words were like thunder, and with a roar, the samurai sword that had been hidden behind him appeared in front of him as if by magic. With extremely mysterious and strange techniques, he moved with the sword and struck at Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao cried out in alarm. His opponent truly knew how to seize opportunities. In terms of mood, he was utterly at a disadvantage, utterly disheartened and bewildered by the cruel reality. In terms of condition, he had been battling fiercely for days, both physically and mentally exhausted. His wrists, shoulders, back, waist, and legs—old and new injuries alike—all throbbed with pain. He could only muster about 60% of his full power.
There was no other way; he had to parry each attack as it came, he couldn't just sit and wait to die.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword traced an arc in the air, forming countless dazzling, dense rings of light that protected his vital points.
The man laughed loudly, "You're tired!" Without any apparent movement, he suddenly moved to Ren Xiaoyao's left side. Thousands of points of light, like a surging waterfall, rushed towards Ren Xiaoyao's face. The ear-piercing sound of the surging energy and the whistling of the blade filled Ren Xiaoyao's ears.
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm, his body swaying slightly as he sidestepped. With a sudden shout, he mustered his remaining strength and slashed towards the core of the light cluster. "Clang!" The light dissipated, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword struck the blade.
His opponent remained unmoved, while Ren Xiaoyao himself felt a numbness spreading through half his body.
Ren Xiaoyao inwardly cursed. Although his internal energy was inexhaustible, his long-standing injury had pushed his entire body to its limit. He could no longer overpower this detestable opponent with internal force. Helpless, he could only retreat hastily, turning offense into defense. He drew back his burning sword light and charged forward, desperately resisting his opponent's thunderous onslaught.
The person who removed the blindfold could only be described as "divinely unpredictable." Not only did each strike contain 30% more power than before, but he could also accurately predict Ren Xiaoyao's impending location—a feat achieved through the combined use of the three most powerful lightness skills of the time: Flying Immortal Transformation, Illusory Shadow Capture, and Crossing the River on a Reed. Although Ren Xiaoyao could only utilize six or seven tenths of his abilities, his speed was still unbelievably fast, a level of movement that ordinary masters couldn't even touch!
Ren Xiaoyao, on the other hand, had become accustomed to using the sound of a bell to judge his opponent's movements in previous battles. Now, despite possessing unparalleled keen senses, he couldn't quickly revert to his usual method of visual observation, immediately finding himself at his most passive position since the start of the battle.
Speed was usually his strength, and he never struggled against such fast attacks. However, a single misstep left him vulnerable, and he was mentally and psychologically inferior to his opponent. Despite his profound internal energy and countless exquisite techniques, he was forced to defend, utterly powerless to retaliate.
He regretted it all… he regretted that he had been so focused on saving Anna Kora that he hadn't given his all, allowing his opponent to seize the initiative. Even now, as a master-level expert, no longer the naive young man he once was, turning the tide against such a formidable opponent was incredibly difficult.
At the height of the battle, the man roared, unleashing a torrent of blade light like a raging tide towards Ren Xiaoyao—his signature, reckless attack.
Ren Xiaoyao dared not retreat, nor did he have the will to defend. In a haste, he mustered all his strength, his numb hands regaining feeling instantly. With a shout, he unleashed his fastest and most powerful move—"Once You've Seen the Ocean, No Water Is Worth It"—attacking his opponent with sword and man as one, a desperate, suicidal attack.
Once atop Mount Hua, Ren Qiaocui used this sword to break the final move of the Dog-Beating Stick Technique—"No Dogs Under Heaven"—earning the heartfelt admiration of Xiong Lei, the third-ranked among the eight great masters of the Central Plains martial arts world.
Half a year ago on Chiwei Island, Ren Xiaoyao used it to instantly kill Qiu Feng, the former number one assassin in the world, whose name was now synonymous with "one-hit kill" in the martial arts world.
Now, he wields it again, not to kill, but to force his opponent back and regain the initiative he had long lost.
It wasn't that he didn't want to kill, but that he knew he couldn't.
The sword's light flashed like thunder and lightning, leaving no room for the opponent to retreat. Ren Xiaoyao tumbled, leaping above his opponent, his right hand wielding the sword like the wind, unleashing "Stars Fill the Sky" to strike directly in mid-air, while his left hand spread its five fingers wide, using "Only I Am Free and Unfettered" to support from the side, attacking his opponent with all his might from a superior position.
The man sneered, his katana transforming into a bolt of lightning, shooting skyward and completely ignoring Ren Xiaoyao's fierce attack. If both remained in their original stances, he would surely die at Ren Xiaoyao's hands. But his katana would pierce through the double defense of sword light and palm wind, going straight for Ren Xiaoyao's face.
A life for a life?!
Ren Xiaoyao once again experienced his madness.
Of course, he had to admit that this was arguably the only way for the opponent to turn the tide.
He certainly wouldn't risk his life, but he had to fight!
Ren Xiaoyao reversed his internal energy, his feet stomping backward, and suddenly rose more than ten feet into the air before the swords clashed. Then, he spun rapidly through the air like a windmill, soaring into the sky. After his eight leaps and bounds had ended, he turned sharply downward, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword, like a bolt of lightning, thrust at his opponent with the most precise angle, astonishing speed, and unstoppable momentum. At the same time, he shouted, "Hahaha, you've fallen for my trap! Die!"
In reality, however, he had no other choice but to bluff, deliberately putting on a show to cover up his disheveled state and to psychologically pressure his opponent. Little did he know that the man was a veteran of countless battles. In terms of pure combat experience, he not only far surpassed Ren Xiaoyao, but no one in the entire Japanese martial arts world could rival him. How could he be easily swayed by Ren Xiaoyao's empty words? He laughed heartily, his face turning incredibly cold, his eyes gleaming with a powerful, almost tangible confidence. His body, like a proud pine or ancient cypress rising to the sky, suddenly sprang up from the spot, his samurai sword meeting the attack head-on with a powerful and profound force, its momentum overwhelming.
The hissing sound of the clashing energy, like a sudden storm, swept through the forest.
Swords clashed, and time seemed to stand still.
The two froze in mid-air for a moment, then erupted with a deafening roar.
"Boom!" The energy surged wildly, scattering in all directions.
The man's body trembled violently, blood gushing from his mouth, as he staggered backward.
Ren Xiaoyao let out a miserable groan, his face turning pale. His body flew backward uncontrollably, nearly falling as he landed.
In the contest of internal energy, he had, after all, won.
"Now that things have come to this, he should give up," Ren Xiaoyao thought to himself, relieved. If this hadn't been a life-or-death struggle, but rather a regular martial arts contest, he would have already lost.
You must understand that the opponent used a dark, grizzled samurai sword to withstand nearly a hundred moves from the Ice Soul Frost Sword, which could cut through iron like mud, and even blocked his all-out attack in the end. Putting aside everything else, his skill in wielding the weapon alone was beyond his reach. Moreover...
"Hahaha, exhilarating, exhilarating, today's fight was truly exhilarating!" The man laughed loudly, completely ignoring his injuries. "Come on, come on, let's continue fighting!"
"What!? You want to fight again." Ren Xiaoyao was slightly taken aback. Although he and the man hadn't fought for long, every move he made was done with all his might. While his innate supreme qi was inexhaustible, the muscles in his hands and feet were already nearing their limit. The opponent's strength was even greater than his, and the burden on all aspects was naturally greater. To say that the opponent's physical condition was better than his was absolutely a lie.
"Fight! Why wouldn't I fight? I haven't encountered a worthy opponent like you for three whole years. Don't even think about letting me stop until we've decided the victor." The man grinned, his eyes blazing with divine light. He raised his katana and slashed through the air, producing a sound that seemed capable of shaking trees and chilling the soul.
"If you really do that, you'll only end up killing each other." Ren Xiaoyao increasingly felt the terror of his opponent, having no confidence that he could win if he continued fighting.
"On the battlefield, it's only a matter of life and death. The idea of mutual destruction doesn't exist for me." As soon as the man finished speaking, he slightly bent his right leg, then suddenly straightened it, using the momentum to leap forward, actually pouncing on Ren Xiaoyao. A series of sword shadows surged from his chest, his moves strange and precise, making them completely unpredictable.
Ren Xiaoyao, caught off guard by the sudden attack, had no time to prepare a defense and decided to meet fire with fire. He raised his longsword, ignoring the samurai sword aimed at his chest, and unleashed three swift thrusts, targeting the man's head, chest, and abdomen—since his opponent habitually used a mutually destructive tactic, he would use the same method against him.
The man shouted "Good!" and his samurai sword swept out, his inner force deflecting the three swords with a hissing sound. Then, he thrust upwards with lightning speed, aiming for Ren Xiaoyao's throat.
Ren Xiaoyao used his Illusionary Shadow Technique to dodge the attack, and was about to counter with his own sword when the samurai sword, carrying a chilling aura, struck him. He was startled.
The opponent's seemingly casual move was actually a precise assessment of his position, executed with ferocity and precision, its timing flawless, leaving absolutely no chance to dodge.
Without hesitation, Ren Xiaoyao swung his sword to meet the attack. His movements appeared casual, but in reality, they were the culmination of his entire inner strength, their power spreading several feet and creating a fierce wind.
Anyone else would have withdrawn to defend themselves, never wanting to fight Ren Xiaoyao, who possessed such formidable internal energy. But for that man, a direct confrontation was commonplace.
"Clang!" The two clashed, passing each other. The man's hand split open, and he was thrown aside like a kite with a broken string. Ren Xiaoyao collapsed to the ground with a thud, utterly exhausted, spitting out another mouthful of blood. (

Volume 35, Chapter 1: Entering a Trap)

Turning the corner, what came into view was not the small house mentioned by Shinguji Mina, but a building with a base of blue bricks, gray tiles, and white stone slabs, topped with pine wood (similar to an inn in the Central Plains).
Horses were tethered to large wooden stakes at the entrance of the room; a rough glance suggested at least thirty or forty. Peering through the half-open door, nearly a hundred people were crammed inside.
Some were dressed as ninjas, others as samurai, all with frosty faces and serious expressions.
Strangely, many of them preferred to stand rather than sit at the empty tables further away, as if afraid of being separated from their companions.
"Didn't you say there was a small shop here? How come…" Lin Yuxiu began, but then caught sight of the frosty faces of Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun, and the others. Her delicate body trembled involuntarily, and she fell silent, too frightened to speak further.
"Fukuchi-ryu, Bizen-ryu, Yoshitsune-ryu, Hojo-ryu, Nakagawa-ryu… just looking from this side, there are eight or nine schools, and half of it is blocked by a wall…" Kurosaki Masayoshi stammered, his voice trembling.
"They...they...they're coming for us!?" Even the usually jovial Nangong Fengzi felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the dark mass of people behind the gate.
"Hahaha, looks like we're quite influential, huh? We've actually gotten over a dozen sects to gather together, and they've even built this place to wait here." Ren Xiaoyao sensed something was wrong, but feigned nonchalance. "So, should we lure them out and deal with them all at once, or..."
"Let's go in. Staying outside won't prevent us from getting ganged up on. Talking inside might offer some room for negotiation." Shinguji Mina smiled radiantly, even more composed than Ren Xiaoyao.
"Okay!" Ren Xiaoyao was infected by her fearless spirit, instantly regaining his usual confidence.
The group parked their horses and carriages and entered the treacherous place.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—" As soon as Ren Xiaoyao stepped across the threshold, everyone stood up simultaneously. Over two hundred pairs of eyes turned to him, their gazes flashing with a bloodthirsty, eerie light, like hungry wolves spotting a flock of sheep.
Ren Xiaoyao, seemingly oblivious, strolled slowly toward the largest round table in the center, saying as he walked, "Two servings of salmon sashimi, two sukiyaki hot pots, three servings of tempura, three servings of fried dough rolls, four servings of eel sushi, five plates of shrimp rolls, and ten catties of sake." His tone was melodious and clear, displaying composure and leisure.
"Salmon sashimi—no; sukiyaki—no; tempura—no; fried dough rolls—no; eel sushi—no; shrimp rolls—no; sake—no." Amidst the casual reply, a beautiful young woman, seemingly the proprietress, emerged from the back room. She wore a clean peasant's outfit, a loosely draped gray cloth jacket with a straight collar, yet it couldn't conceal her proudly voluptuous figure. The front of the jacket was open like a lotus leaf, revealing most of her slender, white neck; her sleeves were rolled up a few times, revealing her jade-like wrists swaying to the music. This utterly rustic village attire, on her, was more alluring than gauze robes or brocade veils.
"What a formidable woman! I didn't even notice her presence before she spoke!" Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill. His ability to sense and communicate with others was near perfection; he could hear every subtle sound within a ten-foot radius, even the crawling of insects and ants, except for the proprietress, who was the only exception.
"What exactly do you have in this shop?" Mina Shinguji interjected.
"Water and rice balls." The proprietress's eyes darted around, her mischievous smile carrying an indescribable allure.
"What kind of shop is this if all you have!" Yi Tianhan slammed his hand on the table.
Everyone's expression immediately changed. At the table closest to Ren Xiaoyao and his group, the veins on the arms of five or six ninjas were bulging, and most of them had their hands on the samurai swords at their waists.
"It's already good enough to get rice balls and water in a place like this." A detached voice sounded from outside the door. Everyone turned to look, and saw a black-clad man, thin as a bamboo pole but with unusually broad shoulders, push open the door and walk in. He had a black bamboo pole slung across his back, and a worn-out bamboo hat was pulled low under his eyebrows, revealing only half of his left eye, which stared at the proprietress like a cone. "Two pots of water, two pounds of rice, quick!"
"Understood, coming right away." Before she finished speaking, the proprietress had already disappeared, leaving only the kitchen curtain fluttering slightly.
Taking advantage of the moment the one-armed man entered and drew everyone's attention, Ren Xiaoyao had already made a rough assessment of the strength of the various factions inside the room. There were seventeen tables in total. Apart from their table, the two empty ones to the left and right, and the one-armed man's table, all the others were packed full. It seemed that each faction occupied one table, meaning there were fourteen factions in total.
Among these fourteen factions, there were quite a few experts. In addition to the fourteen sect leaders sitting in different attire, there were at least thirty Jonin. Among them, the purple-robed old man at the first table on the east side, the long-haired woman at the third table on the west side, the tall and thin young man at the fifth table, the one-armed samurai at the second table on the south side, and the burly man with a bushy beard at the first table on the north side were the most eye-catching. This was not only because they led the largest number of ninjas and sat in the main seats, but more importantly, each of them had restrained their energy, their temples were bulging, and their eyes were as cold as blades. Their cultivation was definitely no less than that of Nakai Kazuya and Araki Ryohiko, whom he had met before.
However, what worried Ren Xiaoyao most was not them, but the waiter serving tea and water and the five people sitting around the three small tea tables in the corner of the room.
The waiter was tall and thin with a long face, his nose covered with red spots, and his eyes occasionally rolled back, giving him a somewhat hanged look. He walked with a swaying gait, which didn't seem fake at all, but in the eyes of an expert like Ren Xiaoyao, it was certain that his lower body skills were no less than those of Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan.
Two petite women sat in the southwest corner. The one on the left wore a lake-green, narrow-sleeved top, over which was a peacock-blue, pointed-collar blouse. The sleeves were short, covering her shoulders, and the hem of the blouse only reached her waist. Two pieces of the blouse were fastened to a small gold butterfly at her chest, which accentuated her delicate, budding breasts, which were almost full enough to be grasped in one hand. She wore a bright green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a wide belt of the same color that was tightly wrapped around her waist, imitating a man's apron, creating a very attractive, slender curve. Her waist was narrow and thin, yet still fleshy.
Another girl wore a veiled hat, with the veil hanging down to her chest. Although the veil was divided in two to facilitate eating and seeing, the veil was layered and remained still, seemingly three or four layers deep. In addition, she sat upright with her chest out, making it difficult to see her face clearly. Only her fair and smooth skin, which was visible through the gaps in the veil, was like a rosy blush on smooth ivory. Her delicate nose was straight and small, and even through the layers of white veil, one could see her eyelashes fluttering, showing how thick they were.
Judging solely from the curves of their shoulders and waists, Ren Xiaoyao deduced that they were no more than twenty years old. However, having traveled extensively, he had become accustomed to Japanese women skilled in maintaining their youthful appearance, who, despite being in their forties or fifties, looked no different from young girls with drooping hair. Therefore, he dared not make a judgment based on his previous standards. Even martial arts masters like Long Feiyun and Shinguji Mina dared not speak rashly, yet the two women chatted quietly with great interest, occasionally letting out silvery laughter, completely disregarding the numerous experts in the room.
Sitting to the north were a man and a woman dressed in fine clothes, with samurai swords hanging at their waists. Judging from their attire, they were likely husband and wife.
The man was handsome, but his hooked nose gave him a sinister air, making him appear arrogant and selfish. His temples were gray, and horizontal lines etched his forehead, suggesting a difficult past. His eyes, however, were like those of a lecherous rogue, fixed intently on the beautiful woman beside him.
The woman was in her early thirties, slender and fair-skinned, with the delicate beauty of a Japanese woman. She wore a pale purple silk robe, a simple shawl draped over her shoulders for warmth, and an apricot-yellow silk skirt. Her face carried a melancholy expression, as if deliberately avoiding the man's gaze. They
resembled a couple in appearance but not in spirit; it was obvious they were faking it. Ren Xiaoyao, who had a general idea of the martial arts skills of all the "guests" in the room, couldn't discern their true abilities.
Seated at a table by the window on the east side was a middle-aged man, about the same age as Meng Fei, but unusually tall and robust. His forehead was slightly hunched, his hair flowed down his shoulders, and his face was cold and stern. His features were distinctive: a prominent, hooked nose, and deeply sunken eyes with dull, lifeless, dark gray pupils—he was blind.
Normally, such a partially disabled person shouldn't have aroused Ren Xiaoyao's suspicion. However, even though the man was several feet away, when Ren Xiaoyao's gaze turned to him, the man seemed to have premonition, turning his head to "stare" at Ren Xiaoyao with his completely blind eyes. He seemed to possess a different way of judging others' actions—a skill that, in the current martial arts world of the Central Plains, was unmatched. Putting everything else aside
, Ren Xiaoyao estimated that he had less than a 20% chance of winning against these five people in a fight!

Volume 35, Chapter 2: Surrounded by Enemies.

Ren Xiaoyao began to regret entering the room, and even more so, choosing the table in the very center.
The current situation was one of being surrounded by powerful enemies, a force far greater than when Juesha had single-handedly ambushed Long Yinxiao outside the Qiande Treasure Vault half a year ago.
Now, forget about instructing Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan to be more careful in their attacks to avoid being spotted by Zhen Gongji Mina; even if the four top experts fought with all their might, protecting the women and getting them out of here would be a struggle.
The best course of action would have been to stay put, but defending against the combined attack of over a hundred Jonin and Chunin from four directions was extremely difficult. Even if the five of them had reached the Grandmaster level, Zhen Gongji Mina, Long Feiyun, and Lin Yuxiu were also formidable fighters. Ensuring everyone's safety and escaping unscathed was a slim chance.
If he had sat in a corner, only needing to deal with enemies from two directions—no, even three—he wouldn't be in this state of panic.
It seems a direct confrontation is absolutely out of the question. The only hope is to create conflict among the many opponents through words, thus dividing their forces, and possibly resolving this enormous crisis.
"What would you like, sirs?" The beautiful young woman disguised as the proprietress handed the water and rice balls to the waiter, instructing him to take them to the table of the man in black wearing a straw hat, and walked over with a beaming smile.
"Bring whatever you have, thirteen servings." At this crucial moment, Mina Shinguji displayed the qualities of a ninja, slightly easing the tension among the group.
"Thirteen servings? Heh, I'm afraid you won't be able to finish." The proprietress's words were ambiguous.
"Stop talking so much nonsense!" Yi Tianhan's anger flared, and he slapped her with his backhand.
"Oh dear, don't take your bad mood out on me!" The proprietress deftly dodged, but Yi Tianhan's Heaven-Defying Palm was no ordinary technique. With a resounding "boom," it blasted a large hole in the thatched roof of the hut, sending dust and debris flying everywhere, filling the hall with a thick haze.
"Swish—swish—swish—" The sounds of weapons being drawn rang out incessantly. As the smoke cleared, almost all the standing ninjas were holding swords.
Tensions were high, and a great battle was imminent.
"Everyone, don't be nervous, don't be nervous." The proprietress waved the pink silk gauze in her hand, pacing back and forth, her eyes flashing seductively. "We're all here to eat, why draw your knives at the drop of a hat?"
Of course, no one listened to her. The old man in purple robes at the first table on the east side said calmly, "You are all renowned figures in the martial arts world, how come your disciples are all so timid, getting nervous at the slightest sound?"
The tall, thin young man at the fifth table coldly said, "Shibata Junkei, are you old, have failing eyesight, or..." "You only know how to criticize others, but don't you know how to look at yourselves?"
Shibata Junkei's eyes flashed with a strange light, then quickly concealed it. He swept his gaze over the people around him. "Who drew their weapon just now? Step forward and let the young master of the Bizen-ryu school, Shimizu Muneharu, identify them."
Seven ninjas at his table had drawn their swords, but not one of them was willing to step forward. Nangong Fengzi had just started to laugh when suddenly she saw a flash of silver light. The seven ninjas now held seven gleaming silver knives, each with a bloodied severed hand protruding from its tip—the hand they had used to draw their swords.
Shibata Junkei laughed, a smug laugh: "How about that? I don't have any cowardly disciples here."
Shimizu Muneharu was startled and said fiercely, "Good, good, you Fukuchi-ryu are ruthless enough."
The one-armed samurai at the second table from the south said coldly, "If he wasn't ruthless, he wouldn't be called the Mino Belly Serpent."
"Hmph, always talking about others. How much better are you, 'Sand-Brown Scorpion' Nagano Yorimori?" The long-haired woman at the third table from the west stretched lazily, her face full of disdain. "
Hojo Tomohide, don't think that just because your Hojo-ryu and Senichi-ryu have formed an alliance, the Bizen-ryu is afraid." Nagano Yorimori slammed his hand on the table and stood up, shouting in a deep voice.
"Not afraid? Fine, then let's have a match." The middle-aged man with long hair at the next table suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with lightning, showing unfathomable qi.
"A match it is, Master Tokugawa, we are all from Shikoku, I'll help you." The burly man with a thick beard at the first table on the north side glanced at the two men with a half-smile, saying,
"Trying to get something for nothing? Don't forget about the Bizen-ryu." Shibata Junkei chuckled. "
It seems there's still some conflict between them. With a little provocation, it won't be difficult to incite them to fight each other." Ren Xiaoyao's mind stirred slightly, and he was about to launch into a tirade when he suddenly heard a cold, sinister voice behind him, "Hey, we agreed to join forces to capture the man first, and then discuss the ownership of the gold. What's this? You're already turning on each other before we've even made a move. Did you never intend to cooperate, or are you just not giving me any face?" The words were strangely cold and indifferent, spoken like a taut steel wire, devoid of emotion, and even sounding inhuman.
Ren Xiaoyao looked in the direction of the voice and saw a small, unremarkable old man sitting at a dilapidated, inconspicuous low table in the corner. The man was dressed in a gray cloth robe, thin as a rake, and equally unremarkable. He had five long wisps of beard, graying temples, and faint horizontal lines on his forehead, as if etched with the marks of a difficult past.
Ren Xiaoyao had noticed him before, but his appearance was completely unrelated to the word "master." But now, looking at him again, he felt that the old man's gaze was as cold as ice and snow, seemingly devoid of any human emotion. His demeanor seemed leisurely and nonchalant, yet there was an indescribable, eerie, and strange aura about him.
What a hidden master!
Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill in his heart, but what happened next shocked him even more.
The moment the old man finished speaking, the entire place fell silent. The previously noisy crowd fell silent, and even the once arrogant sect leaders and masters were as frightened as mice before a cat, not daring to breathe.
"Why aren't you talking? Keep arguing, keep arguing, keep arguing until you all kill each other, letting your opponents get the benefit." The old man saw through Ren Xiaoyao's intentions.
Lin Yuxiu was timid to begin with, and now, looking at the silent ninjas and hearing the old man's cold words, a chill ran down her spine. She cried out and threw herself into Ren Xiaoyao's arms, sobbing, "Big brother, I...I'm scared..." She opened her eyes weakly, tears streaming down her face.
Her martial arts skills were personally taught by Dugu Yu, second only to Zhen Gongji Mina and Long Feiyun, yet she was so frightened. Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, Su Hanbi, and others were also affected by her, their faces pale and silent.
"It's alright, with your big brother here, no one will touch a hair on your head." Ren Xiaoyao spoke sweetly, but inwardly he was groaning. He had finally found a weakness in his opponent, a chance to escape his predicament, only to have the old man's simple words completely extinguish his hope of instigating internal strife.
The ninjas of the Fourteen Sects! The ninjas of the Fourteen Sects!
With just one order from the old man, he would face a fierce attack from all sides by the ninjas of the Fourteen Sects. Even with his extraordinary abilities, Ren Xiaoyao would likely be unable to avoid being hacked to pieces.
The proprietress, the shop assistant, the fake couple, the mysterious girl, the blind man with exceptionally keen senses, and the black-clad man with a bamboo cane slung over his shoulder—these eight were already enough of a headache for him. Add to that the unassuming old man and the almost infuriating Fourteen Sect leaders—there were so many masters in the Japanese martial arts world.
What to do!? What to do!?
Ren Xiaoyao repeatedly questioned himself, but couldn't come up with a perfect solution. Stealing a glance at Long Feiyun, he saw her brows furrowed, looking utterly helpless, and his anxiety grew.
At this point, outsmarting her was absolutely impossible; the only way was—to fight her head-on!
Yes, fight her head-on!
Capture the leader before the enemy can act, seize the old man first.
Ren Xiaoyao made up his mind, preparing to gather his strength for a swift and unexpected attack, but his clothes were grabbed by Shinguji Mina, and her gentle voice echoed in his ear: "Old Master Yoshihiro, you're over seventy years old. Why aren't you enjoying your retirement in Kyoto? What are you doing getting involved in this mess in Nara? If I remember correctly, you own a vast estate in Inabayama Castle. A mere thirty thousand taels of gold shouldn't be a concern for you, right?"
The old man stroked his beard and laughed: "Hahaha, you are indeed the daughter of Shinguji Ryuugen. I have been living in seclusion for years..." "Ten years have passed, and your appearance has changed drastically. I didn't expect you to recognize me at a glance."
Shinguji Mina said coldly, "Yoshihiro Michiyuki, founder of the Seiki Ninja-ryu, was a formidable figure in Kanto thirty years ago, known in the martial arts world as the 'Dragon of Echigo.' He once challenged the Seven Great Sects single-handedly, defeating six of their leaders in succession. Even my father's mentor, Suzuki Hirofumi, fell to your 'Dragonfly Cutter.' Fortunately, the then-leader of the Seven Great Sects was Kishimoto Masashi, the former head of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, a legendary figure in the Japanese martial arts world, and the 'Saint of Ninjutsu,' otherwise…"
"Otherwise, the Japanese martial arts world would already be ruled by my Shiki Ninja School." Yoshihiro Michiyuki interrupted him sharply, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Now that Kishimoto Masashi is dead, and your father is holed up in Hueco Mundo, too afraid to come out, I've returned to the martial world. Who in the world can stand against me? If it weren't for the huge favor I owed Kubo Kousuke back then, I would have already stormed into Seireitei to find Kishimoto Masashi's disciples and grand-disciples. I wouldn't bother fighting you." (

Chapter 35, Volume 3: The Madman Returns)

Ren Xiaoyao realized that Shinguji Mina's intention in stopping him was clear. Yoshihiro Michiyuki's ability to single-handedly defeat the leaders of six major sects and utter arrogant words in public demonstrated his exceptional strength. Even if he caught him off guard and launched a sneak attack, he would be unable to subdue him within a few moves, let alone achieve the desired preemptive advantage.
The strategy of capturing the leader to capture the thief was no longer viable. Was there no other way but to fight head-on?
Shibata Junkei grinned, his expression sinister. "Since everyone is following the old man's orders, why not act now to avoid any unforeseen complications? What do you all think?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, as if Ren Xiaoyao and his companions were already fish on a chopping block.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Deng Lei, never before treated with such contempt, were all filled with rage and about to strike when Yoshihiro Tomoyuki calmly said, "Our fourteen factions are indeed acting in unison, but we don't know what the five sitting in the corner are planning. How about we join forces to take them down, and then we'll talk about dividing the gold?"
What? They're not in cahoots!
Ren Xiaoyao's heart stirred slightly, as if he saw a glimmer of hope.
But the five men simply buried their heads in their food, not answering a word, all adopting an attitude of indifference.
Yoshihiro Tomoyuki's face turned cold, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, and he said in a deep voice, "What, are my questions not worth answering?"
The five men seemed not to hear him, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.
Ren Xiaoyao, ever the astute, seized the opportunity to sneer, "Hmph, all that talk about being invincible under heaven? It's all just boasting. Aside from shameless scoundrels greedy for gold and silver, true masters don't even consider you a threat."
The entire arena erupted in uproar. The fourteen ninja factions clamored, especially the seven or eight members of the Shiki-ryu faction, who launched into a tirade of curses.
Decades ago, under the leadership of Yoshihiro Tomoyuki, the Shiki-ryu faction had enjoyed a period of great power, its prestige rivaling that of the Seven Great Sects. However, after Yoshihiro Tomoyuki's defeat and subsequent seclusion, the Shiki-ryu, with its nearly a thousand followers, never recovered, utterly relegated to a third-rate sect, subjected to the scorn and ridicule of the world. Finally, Yoshihiro Tomoyuki returned to the scene, effortlessly subduing the fourteen factions, making them obedient and subservient. These subordinates, too, had become arrogant and self-important. With a little instigation from Ren Xiaoyao, they drew their swords without a second thought, ready to charge and strike if not for the table.
The five remained motionless, some eating, others drinking.
At this point, Ren Xiaoyao was also beginning to feel confused. He had initially thought these five, along with the shop owner and waiter, were all part of the Fourteenth Sect, but now it seemed they had no connection whatsoever. Moreover, judging from their attitude—no, the attitude of these seven—it seemed they wanted the Fourteenth Sect to fight them first, then reap the benefits. But whether these seven were in pairs, each with their own agenda, or had formed an alliance like the Fourteenth Sect, remained unknown.
Ji Hongtong, presumably having considered this as well, glanced at them with a cunning look and sat down again, resuming his previous indifferent expression. Seeing him like this, none of the disciples dared to move again, and they all sheathed their swords.
The noisy hall fell silent once more, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
At this point, although many things remained perplexing, the overall situation was quite clear—Ren Xiaoyao and his group, the Fourteen Factions Alliance, and possibly these seven mysterious figures—at least three parties were vying for power in the room. Any careless word uttered by any of them could lead to annihilation.
Time ticked by, and apart from the proprietress "busy" in the back room and the wiping and cleaning staff, everyone else seemed frozen in place.
Just then, outside the door… Suddenly, a soft footstep sounded, followed by the creaking of the door. An elderly man with white hair, beard, and eyebrows entered. His body was hunched, his frame thin and frail, and his brow and forehead were etched with deep, sorrowful wrinkles, giving him a weathered and near-death appearance.
Supporting him was a slender, beautiful young woman with delicate features and a small, oval face, perhaps smaller than Ren Xiaoyao's palm. She was extremely slim, her hair styled in a playful yet alluring updo. Her breasts were high and full, her waist smooth and supple, exuding an indescribable charm that captivated anyone who saw her.
Shimizu Muneharu, a notorious lecher, was immediately aroused by the sight of the young woman with flowing hair, her ample bosom and slender waist, her exquisite figure and alluring beauty. Completely forgetting the tense situation around him, he approached with malicious intent, leering, "Little sister, beautiful? Coming out of town with your grandfather for a stroll? Oh dear, it's not safe outside these days. If you run into bad guys, all three of you will lose your lives. Come with me, I'll treat you well." His mind already wandering, he reached out to touch her ample breasts.
The young woman, her face pale with fright, didn't even try to dodge, and was about to be caught red-handed.
Ren Xiaoyao, enraged by Shimizu Muneharu's blatant harassment, grabbed a chopstick, intending to smash his shameless hand, but was stopped by Shinguji Mina.
Almost simultaneously, a red shadow flashed through the doorway. Before anyone could see clearly, Shimizu Muneharu let out a strange cry and staggered back several feet, clutching his manhood and groaning in pain.
Who was this powerful person? The crowd wondered in unison.
When the person finally appeared, everyone burst into laughter.
It was a little girl of about seven or eight years old, with rosy cheeks and a very cute appearance. Her delicate little hands gripped a small samurai sword, about a foot long, with a pulley attached to the front of the scabbard, which she was pushing forward with a creaking sound. She was short, less than half a meter tall, and her eyes were fixed straight ahead, completely unaware of what lay ahead. As she rushed into the hall, she tripped on the threshold and flew backward, her head hitting Shimizu Muneharu's manhood squarely.
Shimizu Muneharu failed to capture the young girl, but instead ended up in this state at the hands of a little girl. His face flushed and paled in turns, looking utterly humiliated. In his shame and anger, he vented his fury on the little girl, violently raising his hand to strike
. This palm strike contained all his power; if it landed, it would instantly kill her.
For ninjas, bullying the elderly and young was a grave taboo. Not only did the thirteen sect leaders frown secretly, but many disciples also showed disdain. However, since they were cooperating, no one was willing to intervene, lest they damage their harmony.
"Boom!" The palm strike landed solidly on his chest, producing a muffled thunderous boom, but there was no expected scene of flying flesh and blood. This was because he had struck Ren Xiaoyao, while the innocent little girl had already been pushed and shoved by Ren Xiaoyao to safety.
"You...how could you..." Shimizu Muneharu accidentally struck Ren Xiaoyao's vital point on the chest, but the latter seemed completely oblivious, much to Shimizu Muneharu's surprise. "How come you're completely unharmed...not even a little bit hurt?"
Ren Xiaoyao's face showed disdain, and he coldly said, "Hmph, you think you can hurt someone with such a palm technique?"
Shimizu Muneharu knew that all self-defense techniques relied entirely on the gathering of true qi. Once he spoke, the true qi would dissipate. Before he could stop speaking, he threw another punch, this time hitting Ren Xiaoyao's lower abdomen with a bang.
Ren Xiaoyao sneered slightly: "Don't waste your energy. Practice for ten years before trying again."
With hundreds of eyes watching all around, Shimizu Muneharu was not about to give up. His palms struck like the wind, delivering four heavy blows in succession. Although they all hit his opponent, Ren Xiaoyao just smiled and took them, as if they didn't hurt at all. The force that could split rocks and shatter stone was like a gentle breeze and soft silk caressing his body under the protection of his innate supreme qi.
The Bizen school is renowned for its physical prowess, and Shimizu Muneharu's nickname, "One Punch to Sever a Mountain," while somewhat exaggerated, still ranks among the top in the Japanese martial arts world. Now, he has unleashed four punches, all of which have been in vain, leaving everyone shocked. Shibata Junkei, who had previously been forced to have his disciples sever their own wrists because of a single remark from Shimizu Muneharu, harbored deep resentment. Seeing him make such a fool of himself, he immediately shouted, "What a 'One Punch to Sever a Mountain'! So what did four punches sever?"
Fortunately, Shimizu Muneharu's face was naturally dark, so even though it was flushed red, it wasn't too glaring.
"Feiyun, take good care of this little girl. Don't let anyone hurt her." Ren Xiaoyao turned around gracefully, walked to the old man, and said gently, "It's not safe here. You and
your granddaughter should go further away." The old man looked at him gratefully, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something, but suddenly he bent over and coughed violently. The little girl supporting him patted his back and explained, "Grandpa's old ailment has flared up. He needs hot tea. This is the only shop for miles around, so..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "Boss lady, boil some water, quick!" He had only intervened as a last resort. The two opposing sides could suddenly attack, and the longer the old man and the girl stayed, the more disadvantageous it would be for him.
"Boiling water? Give me a pot too!" Suddenly, a soft, deep, and very pleasant male voice rang out from outside the door. Ren Xiaoyao looked closely and couldn't help but gasp. The person walking towards the inn was none other than the masked youth who had kidnapped Kora Anna yesterday and the "madman" who had fought him and almost killed him!

Volume 35, Chapter 4: The Situation Reversed.

Upon seeing this person, Ren Xiaoyao's face immediately darkened. He knew that the reason why the hundreds of enemies in the room had not taken action was because the three forces were wary of each other and had formed a kind of temporary "tacit understanding" in the face of mutual stalemate. Once this "tacit understanding" was broken, they would face a storm of attacks.
Just now, to save the little girl, he endured several heavy blows from Shimizu Muneharu. On the surface, it appeared he was using his superior protective skills to intimidate everyone, but in reality, it was a blatant provocation against both sides—"Right under your noses, I, this young master, am brazenly 'acting chivalrously.' I don't care
about a mere Bizen-ryu, or even if everyone came at me together." Yoshihiro Motoyuki, being cunning and shrewd, certainly wouldn't act easily over such a trivial matter, but the attitudes of the others were uncertain. After all, they were all sect leaders, and allies of the Bizen-ryu. Such a blatant provocation could easily incite public outrage. If even one person took the lead, it would be like a spark falling into oil. The situation spiraled out of control—Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts prowess was already widely known in the Japanese martial arts world, so there was no need to elaborate. His ability to break through absolute defenses and single-handedly force Aoki Toshishi to admit defeat meant that none of the hundred-plus ninjas present dared to easily touch him. This was why Ren Xiaoyao dared to risk his life to save the little girl who had caused such a disaster.
However, things didn't go as planned. Just then, the "madman" who showed no fear of Ren Xiaoyao, but rather whom Ren Xiaoyao greatly feared, appeared. Given his ruthless and bloodthirsty nature, he was certain that upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao, he would immediately draw his sword and attack, regardless of who was sitting around.
Before he could even... Ren Xiaoyao snapped out of his astonishment. The "madman" was already laughing heartily, stepping over the threshold amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, and walking straight towards Ren Xiaoyao.
What to do!? What to do!?
If he made a move, everyone would attack him en masse. Not only would he be doomed, but his companions would also be finished.
Should he strike first? No, even if he were in good condition, he wouldn't be able to defeat his opponent within two or three moves, let alone with the masked youth accompanying him, who was also a master. Even if Long Feiyun, who was almost telepathically connected to him, helped in time, it would be a pipe dream to resolve the imminent crisis before everyone attacked!
Five zhang... four zhang... three zhang...
The "madman" drew closer, and Ren Xiaoyao's entire back was soaked with sweat. His trembling right hand gripped the Ice Soul Frost Sword, but he couldn't pull it out.
"Little Sword—" A melodious, bell-like voice suddenly rang out behind him. Then, as if touched by something, a red shadow flashed onto the "madman's" shoulder with incredible speed.
When Ren Xiaoyao looked closely, he almost dropped his jaw in shock.
The red shadow was none other than the little girl he had saved earlier.
The speed at which she leaped past and the slight sensation of her stepping on his shoulder for leverage were impossible without seven or eight years of dedicated practice in lightness skill.
The little girl looked no more than seven or eight years old. Had she started practicing martial arts in the womb?!
"Little Sword, someone bullied me," the little girl pouted, pointing at Shimizu Muneharu.
The "madman" didn't even turn his head, only glancing at the girl out of the corner of his eye: "Hmph, deal with this trash yourself, why tell me?" Shimizu Muneharu's martial arts were indeed insignificant compared to his own; after all, he was a sect leader. To say that this little girl could "deal with" him was a gross exaggeration.
The entire hall erupted in laughter. Everyone thought the "madman" was spouting nonsense, but Ren Xiaoyao, who had fought him to the death, knew perfectly well that the "madman" never lied.
If he said the little girl could, then the little girl definitely could!
Good heavens, what sect or school did the opponent belong to? Why was even a little girl a hidden master?
The little girl blinked her large, pure eyes, like spring water, and said sweetly, "I originally wanted to teach him a lesson, but big brother pushed me away first."
"Madman" grinned, "It's him, huh! You bastards of the Bizen-ryu school, come and kowtow to thank me! If this kid hadn't acted quickly, your sect leader would be meeting the King of Hell long ago."
Shimizu Muneharu, young and impetuous, couldn't bear such humiliation and was furious, his hair standing on end.
Ren Xiaoyao, wanting the Fourteen Sects and "Madman" to fight first, quietly withdrew.
Shimizu Muneharu, without restraint, roared and pounced on the little girl. His palm strike was powerful and swift; even before she got close, a chilling aura was already palpable.
The little girl giggled, mimicking Ren Xiaoyao's tone, "Hmph, you think you can hurt someone with such a palm technique?" As she spoke, her hands were busy; in a flash of red, her small katana was already drawn. Her attacks were completely devoid of any set moves or techniques, resembling the brawling of children, yet somehow flawless.
Her movements were undeniably fast, but someone was even faster—who?
The girl with the downturned hair, the girl supporting the old man!
In a flash, a pure silver finger guard appeared on her right index finger, its needle-like tip gleaming with a dazzling cold light.
"Ah!" Shimizu Muneharu screamed, clutching his cheek and staggering backward, blood trickling from his fingertip.
One move, just one move, and the girl with the downturned hair easily broke through his whistling palm strike, leaving a short, inch-long scar on Shimizu Muneharu's dark face.
"So fast, so fast!" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat.
"You... what are you trying to steal? Little Sword already said this person is for me." The little girl looked unhappy.
The girl with drooping temples smiled sweetly and said leisurely, "Hmph, serves him right for trying to flirt with me!"
"Alright, alright, we're here on important business today, stop fooling around." The old man straightened up, his expression changing drastically. His previous frail and hunched appearance was gone, replaced by the aura of a martial arts master.
Ren Xiaoyao was dumbfounded. If the little girl's martial arts skills were something he had overlooked, the old man and the girl with drooping temples' cultivation levels had truly deceived his keen senses!
"Everyone who's supposed to be here is here, let's get down to business." The masked youth swept his eyes across the hall and said coldly.
"What's the rush? It's not time to make a move yet." "Madman" strolled to an empty table, glanced at Ren Xiaoyao with a smile, and sat down casually.
“Hey, we agreed you had to finish this within half an hour, you…” The girl with the downturned hair seemed a little dissatisfied.
“Hahaha, dealing with them will take more than half a cup of tea.” The “madman” looked at them with disdain.
The members of the Fourteen Factions, having heard this group’s unrestrained conversation and seeing them completely disregarded, were already resentful. Being openly treated as trash, they immediately started clamoring, “What did you say? Say it again if you dare!” “You want to die, huh? Watch me teach you a lesson!” “Everyone, attack together and tear them to pieces!”
“Hehe, the vicious dogs are starting to bark.” The little girl covered her mouth and giggled.
These words were like adding fuel to the fire. The expressions of the thirteen sect leaders who had been sitting upright all changed. Shibata Junkei's eyes burned with murderous intent, Nagano Narimori suddenly stood up, and the veins on Tokugawa Takatoyo's thin, bony hands were bulging. The burly man with a thick beard at the first table in the north gripped his katana tightly... A great battle was about to break out!
Hojo Tomohide suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "None of you can move! Whoever moves will die!"
Shibata Junkei shouted: "What are you afraid of? They are at most thirteen people, while we have fourteen sects..."
Hojo Tomohide ignored him and turned to Yoshihiro Nobuyuki: "Old man, look..."
Yoshihiro Nobuyuki also ignored him, looking at the white-haired old man with a sinister smile: "Not bad, this feint and diversion is quite well done."
The white-haired old man said calmly: "Thirty years ago, you tricked me, and thirty years later, it's time to pay back."
Yoshihiro Nobuyuki's face hardened. "It's rare that such a trivial matter..." "I've remembered for thirty years."
The white-haired old man stroked his beard and laughed, "Likewise, you've hated Kishimoto Masashi for thirty years, to the point that you can't even recognize me."
Yoshihiro Michiyuki slowly shook his head, "Alas, it's my fault for being careless and not recognizing you as old and frail as you are now, otherwise I would have made my move long ago, why wait until now?"
The white-haired old man focused his eyes, "Things have come to this, and you still want to fight."
Yoshihiro Michiyuki smiled bitterly, "No, it's not time for the final battle yet." After saying that, he stood up and walked straight towards the door. The Shiki-ryu ninjas obediently followed behind, and in the blink of an eye, they were all gone.
The thirteen ninjas had always followed Yoshihiro Michiyuki's lead, but who knew that he would be the first to run away, they couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.
Shimizu Muneharu, clutching his blood-soaked cheek, roared, "The old ghost is gone! What do we have to fear now? Let's... let's go side by side! Let's tear these guys to pieces!"
Silence fell over the entire area; no one responded. Shimizu Muneharu grew increasingly agitated: "What are you afraid of... what are you all afraid of? They're either seventy or eighty-year-old men or teenage girls. What's there to be afraid of?"
Hearing the truth in his words, the sect leaders began to stir with excitement.
Only Hojo Tomohide remained seated, a sorrowful expression on his face seemingly pitying his ignorance. "Stop hitting him, stop. The wound on your face is 'Heepy Flower.' If you get hit again, even a god won't come back."
Shimizu Muneharu's body trembled violently, his expression changed drastically, and his pupils widened as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world: "Heepy... Beepy Flower! You mean I... I was hit by the Hokushin Ittō-ryū's secret technique 'Two Strikes to Kill'? This woman, the one who hurt me... the woman who hurt me is... is the Goguryō... Goguryō 13th Division 2nd Division... 2nd Division Vice... Vice Captain" "Nagasa...Sao-Aya Soi-Fong!"

Volume 35, Chapter 5: Unexpected.

Hojo Tomohide's face was deathly pale, his lips trembling as he said, "If...if I'm not mistaken...if I'm not wrong, that masked...masked youth is...is the 10th Division...Captain Hitsugaya...Toshiro, the little girl is...is the 11th Division Lieutenant...Kusashi Yachiru, the white-haired old...old man is the 1st Division...Captain Yamamoto Genryu...Saishigekuni, and lastly...the last one is the 11th...11th Division...Captain...Kenpachi Zaraki, known in the martial arts world as 'The Thousand-Man Slayer Battosai'." Shimizu Muneharu shuddered and stumbled back several steps. "
Kenpachi Zaraki... Kenpachi Zaraki, the one who holds the title of 'Kenpachi,' the strongest ninja ever bestowed upon him by the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, the only one in the world besides Shinguji Ryuken who Aoki Toshishi was unwilling to fight head-on..." Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
What? This madman is actually a member of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school!
Ren Xiaoyao was greatly shocked and looked at Shinguji Mina with astonishment.
Shinguji Mina smiled sweetly, gesturing for him to sit quietly and not worry about what was to come.
The burly, bearded man at the first table on the north side suddenly stood up and shouted, "Hojo Tomohide, Shimizu Muneharu, what are you two afraid of! Even if they are all members of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, there are only a dozen or so of them at most.
They are no match for us. Even if we fought, we would still have ten against one and still have some to spare. Besides..." Hojo Tomohide interrupted, "Stop. It's come to this. We have no chance of winning."
The burly man suddenly sneered, "Hmph, you're afraid of the enemy like tigers, but I don't believe in such things. Just watch how we, the Seto-ryu, deal with Hokushin..."
"You really want to fight? You're really not afraid of death?" The man in black carrying a bamboo pole slowly approached. His tattered hat was pulled low under his eyebrows, revealing only half of his left eye, which stared at the burly man like a cone.
"Hmph, I always keep my word!" The burly man's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and his disciples quickly surrounded him, instantly trapping the man in black in the middle.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Koya Soi Fon, Hitsugaya Toshiro, and the others exchanged smiles, showing no intention of helping. Kusajishi Yachiru even pulled out a handful of food from his pocket and began to chew it with relish.
"Stop! Your impulsiveness will kill us all!" Hojo Tomohide cried out urgently.
"Have you forgotten who I am? Have you forgotten what kind of martial arts I practice?"
Hojo Tomohide sighed softly. "I know you, Kambara Yasuo, are a fearless person, and I also know that since your loss to Kora Miyuki, you have won every battle against the masters of the seven major schools of Kansai for the past four years. Last month, you even killed Suzuki-ryu Jonin Negi Yoshin with a single move."
Kambara Yasuo sneered, "The person I killed in one move wasn't just Negi Yoshin."
A single strike to kill—what a ruthless and vicious sword technique.
"But I guarantee you can't kill a member of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style in a single move." Two voices rang out simultaneously, one from Hojo Tomohide, the other from the man in black.
Touyi suddenly flew up, landing on a nearby table. Sunlight streaming in from the window illuminated the man in black's face—a face crisscrossed with the marks of a butcher's chopping block, a cross-shaped scar above his right eye that almost completely sealed it shut like an iron yoke, yet only made the cold glint in his other eye appear even more intense.
Hojo Tomohide's pupils dilated sharply, her back drenched in cold sweat, for she remembered who this man was.
Abarai Renji, the vice-captain of the Sixth Division—"Snake Tail King" Abarai Renji.
Kanbara Yasuo shouted, abruptly drawing his sword.
His method was perfectly correct and standard, and his speed was fast enough, yet still slower than Abarai Renji's backhand, bony, protruding hand, as he reached behind his shoulder to pull away the black bamboo pole.
Before Yasuo Kambara's sword could even reach his opponent's chest, Renji Abarai's bamboo pole—or rather, a bamboo sword with a blade embedded at one end—was already at his brow.
Yasuo Kambara retreated in shock, his speed still astonishing.
Renji Abarai didn't move at all; he simply slashed downwards with his bamboo sword, striking Yasuo Kambara's wrist with
a clang as the katana fell to the ground.
Yasuo Kambara seemed to have suddenly plummeted from a high building into an abyss of no return.
In that instant, all the weaknesses he had tried so hard to conceal were suddenly exposed: his arrogance, his pride, his supposedly perfected techniques, which were riddled with flaws… even the torn areas on his collar and cuffs were now clearly visible.
But no one wanted to look at him anymore, because he had lost, lost in a single move.
Kambara Yasuo slowly bent down, picking up the sword that had been knocked to the ground. He retreated step by step, his eyes fixed on Abarai Renji's bamboo sword—his hand trembled, his eyes filled with despair and fear, as if he knew that with each step back he was closer to death.
Abarai Renji stared at Kambara Yasuo expressionlessly, seemingly indifferent to his life or death.
But Kambara Yasuo continued to retreat, and his men retreated as well. The remaining twelve ninja clans watched with trepidation, fearing that their enemy would turn on them.
Shibata Junkei suddenly shouted, "Gentlemen, charge forward! If we don't fight now, we'll all die!" The Fukuchi clan, heeding his command, rushed towards the blind man sitting by the table, while Shibata Junkei himself stood at the very back. His nickname "The Viper of Mino" wasn't given lightly. He usually appeared as a kind and benevolent old man, seemingly righteous, but when faced with a life-or-death situation, he only cared about his own survival, utterly disregarding the lives of his subordinates. This time, leading the charge to "fight it out," he had already made two plans: if they won, he would lead the charge and receive the greatest credit; if they lost, he would rely on his men to hold off the many masters of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū while he fled.
This plan was undeniably shrewd, but it overlooked a crucial point: those present weren't just from the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, but also included Ren Xiaoyao and his group. The fourteen factions had already assessed the enemy's strength beforehand. Without Yoshihiro Tomoyuki's presence in the center, they couldn't even handle this group of Central Plains people, let alone the Thirteen Guardians of the Palace.
Only the Fukuchi-ryu faction made the move, and in the blink of an eye, cries of pain and clanging filled the air as the leading ninjas were struck on the wrists, each withdrawing their weapons.
Ren Xiaoyao watched this unfold and couldn't help but secretly applaud.
It turned out that every ninja had been wounded at the "Taiyuan acupoint" on their wrist. This point, located at the sharp bone at the back of the hand, rendered the hand completely powerless after being stabbed. The black-clad man's attack techniques varied, but the points of attack were all identical. Moreover, despite being struck with a sword, the wounds appeared as if struck by a sword tip, leaving only a small red dot. From the moment they cried out in pain until they collapsed to the ground, not a single drop of blood splattered.
The black-clad man strolled forward unhurriedly. When a Fukuchi-ryu ninja stepped forward to block his way, his katana trembled, and with a clang, a weapon fell to the ground, leaving the remaining twelve factions dumbfounded.
Seeing the situation was dire, Shibata Shunkei turned and fled, swiftly heading towards the window. The man in black was blocked by the others and couldn't give chase. Ren Xiaoyao was about to "lend a hand" when his sleeve was tugged by Shinguji Mina.
"Don't worry, he can't escape," Shinguji Mina smiled sweetly. Shibata Shunkei had already leaped over several tables and was less than a few feet from the window.
"Whoosh—" A gust of wind suddenly rose, and everyone saw the curtain in the back hall sway. Then, Shibata Shunkei was lifted up like a chick by an eagle, groaning "Ouch!"
Only Ren Xiaoyao, Meng Fei, and the others clearly saw that the proprietress leaped out from the back room, blocking Shibata Junkei's path with ghostly speed, almost invisible to the naked eye. She feinted, tricking Shibata Junkei into making the first move, then turned and changed her footwork, circling around him in a very narrow space. With her left hand, she restrained his wrist, rendering him unable to exert force, and with her right hand, she grabbed his neck, instantly subduing the previously arrogant and boastful Shibata Junkei.
"Second Division... Second Division Captain, 'Flash God' - Shihōin... Yoruichi, Ninth Division Captain... 'Hotaru Flying Locust' Tōsen Kaname!" Hojō Tomohide cried out, his face ashen.
"Master Hojo has a good eye. I wonder if he recognizes us?" The man and woman, dressed in fine clothes and with samurai swords at their waists, who were sitting on the north side, stood up at the same time. The man spoke, but his eyes remained fixed on the beautiful woman in front of him, as if admiring a flawless work of art. The woman snorted and turned her head away resentfully.
"The captain of the 8th Division... Kyoraku Shunsui, the vice-captain Ise... Ise Nanao..." Hojo Tomohide trembled incessantly, "The two... the two ladies in the southwest corner... should be the vice-captain of the 5th Division... Hinamori Momo, the vice-captain of the 10th Division... Matsumoto Rangiku, and the shopkeeper is... is the vice-captain of the 7th Division, Iba Tetsuo'e, and half of the captains and vice-captains of the 13th Division of the Imperial Guard... half of them are gathered here!"

Volume 35, Chapter 6: The Mantis Stalks Behind

These words caused an uproar. The Hokushin Ittō-ryū was renowned for its unparalleled skill in Japan. Even the third or fourth seat of any of the 13 Guardian Squads far surpassed the strength of the sect leaders or masters of ordinary sects. "Super-Class A missions," demanding over 100,000 ryo and requiring the entire sect to mobilize for many large sects, were typically handled by only one squad at most from the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. The gathering of six captains and seven vice-captains like today was an unprecedented event.
"You...you weren't...you weren't supposed to protect Hueco Mundo, were you? How...how did you come here? Shinguji Ryūken clearly said...clearly said he was going to...protect the Third Prince, Yukimitsu, why..." Tokugawa Takatoyo was stunned, sitting there dumbfounded, trembling all over, unable to even finish a question.
"Of course, we must guard Hueco Mundo, but since the young lady has entered the area within twenty miles of Nara Castle, she has returned to the territory of our Hokushin Itto-ryu..." Abarai Renji's face hardened, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he said coldly, "Hmph, anyone who dares to make a move here will pay the price!"
"Renji, don't scare them. After all, they've traveled hundreds of miles and finally gathered here. Even if we don't fulfill our duties as hosts, we should at least show some consideration for each other as fellow ninjas." Shihouin Yoruichi threw Shibata Junkei into the corner, clapped her hands, and smiled leisurely.
"We demolished the small shop, built a room, with tables, chairs, water, and food, and even made me work as a waiter for half a day. How could we treat them unfairly?" Iba Tetsuowei said calmly.
"What!? This room...this room was built by you!? Then...then..." Nagano Yorimori trembled violently, his back turned cold, and his mind went blank. "Then the civilians who were fleeing everywhere, the government troops who took detours, and the kind old woman who gave directions were also...arranged by you!?"
"That's right. Otherwise, why would you abandon a large number of your troops and the traps you had already set up, and guard this 'only room on the only road to Nara where travelers would rest,' waiting for us to come from Hueco Mundo to stage a show of trapping us like turtles in a jar?" Yoruichi Shihouin said smugly.
“On the surface, it appears that our Hokushin Itto-ryu has tightened its defenses and is fully protecting Hueco Mundo, with all members of the 13th Division who were on missions outside being recalled. In reality, the newly established Covert Mobile Force is still lurking in every corner inside and outside Nara Castle,” Tosen Kaname interjected. “As soon as you entered Obsidian Forest, the news reached the sect leader, and all subsequent actions are under our close surveillance.”
"Don't be fooled by the verbal sparring between Shimizu Muneharu, the young master of the Bizen-ryu school, and old man Shibata. They've actually been secretly working together, planning to launch a surprise attack after capturing the young lady and steal everyone's bonuses. 'Sand Brown Scorpion' Nagano Yorimori is quite formidable. On the surface, he appears independent and never forms cliques. When he argues with Hojo Tomohide, he even needs Kambara Yasuo's 'righteous' help. Yet, behind the scenes, he's won over several factions. Of course, Hojo Tomohide is no pushover either. On one hand, she's allied with Tokugawa Takatoyo's Senichi-no-Mikoto school, while on the other hand, she's secretly joined forces with the Yoshitsune-ryu and Nakagawa-ryu schools, planning to turn around and swallow the Senichi-no-Mikoto school once things are settled..."
"Don't listen to their nonsense!" Almost simultaneously, Shimizu Muneharu, Shibata Junkei, Nagano Yorimori, and others shouted in unison, then stopped speaking and looked at each other in dismay—Tōsen Kaname's words were clearly true.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill run down his spine. What a masterful Shinguji Ryuugen! What a masterful Hokushin Ittō-ryū! Putting aside the thirteen exceptionally skilled captains and vice-captains before him, his brilliant strategy of feigning weakness and his ability to track their every move without the knowledge of the fourteen sects alone was enough to earn him the title of the leader of the seven major sects. Of course, it also far exceeded their comprehensive assessment of his strength when they came to Fusang. Fortunately, Shinguji Ryuugen did not mistreat Hua Shijun as Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan had anticipated. Otherwise, if they had actually tried to snatch him away... they probably wouldn't have survived to return to the Central Plains.
"Hehe, speaking of which, I really have to thank everyone here." Matsumoto Rangiku glanced around and said with a smile, "Since Hinamori, Yoruichi, Nanao, and I graduated, it's been over ten years since we've gone on a mission together. It's a rare treat to get together today, so it would be a shame not to have a good fight."
"Fight...really...really fight." Hojo Tomohide was stunned for a long time, his lips moving, barely managing to utter these words. His face wasn't just ugly, it was extremely ugly.
Under normal circumstances, such a result might have made the members of the Thirteen Schools proud—a group of insignificant second-rate schools uniting to fight against thirteen captains and vice-captains of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. It would be a great source of pride wherever it was told, and might even become something to boast about to others in the martial arts world in the future...
But at this moment, in this situation, all that filled everyone's hearts was fear, endless fear.
Since Kishimoto Masashi, the former leader of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and the "Saint of Ninjutsu," retired from the martial world more than twenty years ago, and his successor Kato Taka lost to Shinguji Ryuugen, who had just returned from the Central Plains, in the competition for the leadership of the seven major sects, the Hokushin Ittō-ryu has become the absolute authority in the Japanese martial arts world. The Thirteen Guardians of the Palace, established by Shinguji Ryuugen, have become renowned far and wide, and are hailed as the epitome of "bravery and loyalty."
Over the past two decades, countless treacherous and arrogant individuals have tried to shake the authority of the Hokushin Ittō-ryu through all sorts of despicable means, but none of them have met a good end. Those who were lucky suffered minor injuries and learned a lesson, while those who were unlucky never left the gates of Hueco Mundo—of course, there were also quite a few who met their maker before even entering the gates.
Even a fool could see the situation clearly. The enemy had not only deployed their newly formed covert mobile force, but also mobilized half of the elite members of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions. Their intentions went far beyond simply escorting Mina Shinguji and her group back safely; they wanted to make an example of them, wiping out the thirteen factions and teaching all those who, under Iga Valley's instigation, dared to oppose the Hokushin Ittō-ryū a lesson—a bloody lesson!
"You…you're pushing your luck! At worst…at worst, I…I'll personally go to Shinguji's door to apologize." Shibata Junkei forced himself to stand, winking at Shimizu Muneharu as he spoke.
"You think you can see the sect leader? Dream on," Kyōraku Shunsui said coldly.
"It's not a dream, it's a ghost story." Yoruichi Shihōin giggled. "The rest of the Fourteen Factions are all lying in ambush behind a small hill in the northwest, numbering about seven hundred. Although they don't have many experts, they're more than enough to surround the houses. Yoshihiro Tomoyuki is cunning and scheming. He wants us to wipe out these useless Thirteen Factions for him, so he definitely didn't go back to inform them. And Shibata, that old devil, is afraid of death, so he had Shimizu Muneharu, who had fireworks in his pocket, send a signal to summon his subordinates to rescue him. Am I right?"
"You...you..." Shibata Junkei's face twisted, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.
"What do you mean 'you'? Call for help if you want, this captain won't stop you." Yoruichi Shihouin chuckled and stepped aside, looking at Muneharu Shimizu. "You lecherous brat, hurry up and send the signal! The only man left who dared to flirt with Soi Fon is dead. If you don't get help soon, you'll be reduced to ashes."
"No, no! Leave this bastard to me, I'm going to teach him a lesson!" Yachiru Kusashi swayed and jumped onto Muneharu Shimizu's shoulder, grabbing his hair and yelling.
"Get down, get down, you're dead!" Muneharu Shimizu was furious. He reached out to grab Yachiru Kusashi, but he couldn't get close to her. Despite his martial arts skills, he couldn't shake off the little girl.
"No, no, I won't! Unless you give me konpeito (Yachiru's favorite, a sweet made by dissolving rock sugar in water, boiling it until dry, and adding wheat flour; characterized by small lumps around the edges)." Yachiru stuck out her tongue and jumped back and forth on Shimizu Muneharu's shoulder, dodging countless heavy blows. Shimizu
Muneharu was both shocked and furious, yet he couldn't do anything to her. Having already been injured by Soi Fong in one move, he knew he would be doomed if they fought. In desperation, he went berserk, screaming hysterically, "Get out! Get out! All of you get out of here! I'm the best in the world! I'm not afraid of anyone!"
"Huh, what's this?" Kusajika Yachiru jumped around, suddenly noticing a short, vermilion tube about the size of a thumb in Shimizu Muneharu's arms. She picked it up and curiously played with it, but her finger accidentally touched the pull ring. Instantly, a sharp whistle emanated from the tube, shooting straight out of the window and wailing incessantly in the air. Moments
later, thunderous hooves and billowing dust came from the northwest, as eighty or ninety swift horses galloped in like the wind, followed by six or seven hundred ninjas in various attire, each wielding a sharp blade, their imposing presence like a thousand troops. As the riders approached, they split their horses into four groups, and the ninjas behind them turned in turn, flanking the building from the southeast, northwest, and south, instantly surrounding the entire building like an iron barrel.

Volume 35, Chapter 7: The Battle of Humans and Beasts.

Looking out at the dense crowd of people, Shimizu Muneharu suddenly burst into maniacal laughter: "Hahaha! Hahaha! Aren't you Hokushin Itto-ryu supposed to be amazing? Aren't you the Thirteen Guardians supposed to be powerful? If you have the guts, then make your move! There are over a thousand ninjas from our Thirteen Sects Alliance outside. Anyone who wants to die, step forward!"
Kyoraku Shunsui turned and glanced around, frowning. "See? The Seiki-ryu ninjas are mixed in too. It seems
Yoshihiro Tomoyuki is intentionally using the Thirteen Sects to hold us off while he..."
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stroked his beard and smiled: "Don't worry, the Sect Master has made all the arrangements. The defenses of Hueco Mundo are enough to hold us until we return. There won't be any openings for Iga Valley to exploit."
Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes gleamed, and he said coldly, "So we can have a good fight today, hahaha—Sect Master Ren, we didn't have a good fight last night. How about we have a contest today and see who kills more?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled... Without a word, Mina Shinguji interjected, "What, you've fought with Xiaoyao before?"
Kenpachi Zaraki grinned, "Yes, we fought over a hundred times in the Obsidian Forest. Even though this kid was injured, he still forced me to take off my hood. His martial arts skills are probably unmatched in the Thirteenth Division. No wonder he was able to escort Miss safely all the way here. Even Aoki Toshishi, whom the sect leader feared the most, admitted that he was no match for him."
Ren Xiaoyao cupped his hands and said, "Not at all, not at all. Captain Zaraki's swordsmanship is the most rare skill in Xiaoyao's life."
The two of them praised each other, completely ignoring the murderous ninjas outside the window. The other captains and vice-captains either talked to themselves or simply found seats. None of them paid any attention to Shimizu Muneharu.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei were all top-notch experts who had experienced countless battles, so they were naturally fearless. Seeing that they were talking and laughing at each other so calmly, the women also relaxed.
Shimizu Muneharu, having made a fool of himself, turned pale and then flushed, his bloody wound making him look utterly wretched. To make matters worse, Kusashi Yachiru, after playing with his fireworks, was pushing his wheeled katana around him, yelling and screaming as he ran, treating him like a wooden puppet.
"Gentlemen, now that reinforcements have arrived, what do we have to fear? Let's wipe out all the Hokushin Itto-ryu members and show our fellow martial artists the might of the Thirteen Factions Alliance!" Shibata Junkei and Nagano Yorimori exchanged glances and stood up simultaneously. With over a thousand people outside backing them up, their courage swelled considerably.
"Sect Leader Shibata, Sect Leader Nagano, let's talk this out. Please don't resort to violence," Hojo Tomohide tried to smooth things over.
"Hmph, I've had enough of this humiliation. Now it's time to get my revenge." Shibata Junkei chuckled sinisterly. "Tosen Kaname, Shihouin Yoruichi, you two just wait. I won't let you get away with this." "
Captain Yamamoto, when I and I arrived here to make arrangements, I think we heard the lady mention that the sect leader sent fourteen people to greet you. Now it seems one is missing. I wonder..." Shihouin Yoruichi turned around lightly, glancing at the window with a smile. "I wonder if the one outside providing support is Captain Ichimaru Gin of the Third Division, Captain Aizen Sousuke of the Fifth Division, or Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the Sixth Division."
"Captain Ichimaru and Captain Aizen are responsible for the personal protection of the Third Prince. Captain Kuchiki, Captain Ukitake, Captain Unohana, Captain Masahirahara, and the other six vice-captains are guarding the perimeter of Hueco Mundo."
"Oh, so the one responsible for meeting us can only be..." Shihouin Yoruichi's beautiful eyes sparkled.
Halfway through their conversation, a loud shout suddenly rang out from afar. It sounded like a tiger's roar but wasn't quite, like a lion's roar but wasn't quite, more like a person's shout. Upon hearing this cry, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"Seventh Division Captain Komamura Sajin welcomes the young lady and Master Ren's entourage back to Nara." With this resounding roar, a hundred beasts roared in unison from all around—lions, tigers, leopards, jackals, elephants, monkeys, gorillas… too many to distinguish. Then, with a cacophony of hooves, thousands of wild beasts rushed out of the forest, heading straight for the room.
"Beast… Beast King Komamura Sajin!" Shimizu Muneharu exclaimed in shock, rushing to the window. A strange scene immediately appeared before his eyes: rolling yellow sand and billowing dust filled the sky, as hundreds of wild beasts galloped in all directions across the serene green plain. They were clearly well-trained; they didn't fight or bite each other, but ran in groups, east or west, without any disorder. Gradually, they approached and formed a large circle, trapping the more than a thousand ninjas from the thirteen factions in the center.
The horses tied outside the huts and the ninjas' mounts, having witnessed so many ferocious beasts, were all terrified, their legs buckling and they knelt on the ground. Only Ren Xiaoyao's Wind and Fire Lightning Steed, brought from the Central Plains, remained standing.
The ninjas from the thirteen factions were all well-trained, but seeing countless wild beasts and smelling the stench in their nostrils, even the bravest of them were frozen in fear. They might not be afraid of ten or eight lions or tigers, but there were hundreds or thousands around them. If they really went berserk, how could human strength withstand them? So, it was hard not to be afraid.
Suddenly, a long roar rang out, and the herd parted to both sides. Seven or eight tigers and leopards escorted an elephant forward. On the elephant's back sat a tall, imposing, and burly man. His face, though slightly long and narrow, was sharply defined. All his clothing was made of animal hide, and his bronze skin gleamed with a dazzling light. Without a doubt, this was the "Beast King" Shimizu Muneharu had spoken of, Komamura Sajin, the captain of the Seventh Division.
Komamura Sajin clapped his hands, and hundreds of beasts obediently crouched down, forming a dense circle. Looking around, all one could see were tiny, gleaming green eyes. The thirteen sect leaders in the room, though they had seen many large-scale battles, couldn't help but tremble with fear at this sight. Especially Shimizu Muneharu, Shibata Junkei, and Nagano Yorimori, whose faces turned almost a deep liver color.
"How about it, still want to fight?" Yoruichi Shihouin giggled. "The beasts outside have been carefully trained by Captain Komamura, unlike ordinary lions and tigers. Whichever sect leader can charge into the formation and hold out for a hundred or so can lead their disciples to safety. The Thirteen Guardians will not stop them."
"Is that true?" Yasuo Kanbara blurted out.
"Don't worry, Yoruichi-nee never lies." Soi Fon Koya said coldly.
"Alright, I'll go!" Yasuo Kanbara drew his katana with a "whoosh" and walked towards the gate without looking back. In his opinion, with Komamura Sajin commanding the beasts, none of the ninjas outside would be of any use, and those inside the room were no match for the Hokushin Itto-ryu. Staying here was a death sentence anyway, so he might as well go out and fight.
"If you can't hold out, come back. It would be a laughing stock if the sect leader were to die at the hands of beasts." Renji Abarai glanced at Yasuo Kanbara, seemingly convinced that he wouldn't make it past a hundred.
A sense of humiliation at being scorned washed over Kambara Yasuo. He let out a shout and charged into the pack of beasts.
The crouching beasts, hearing the shout, remained unmoved until Komamura Sajin raised his hand to signal them, at which point they stood up.
Kambara Yasuo leaped over the ninjas, using his lightness skill to burst into the pack.
"One, two, three, four..."
Tigers, jackals, leopards, lions, apes, black bears... all sorts of ferocious beasts pounced, grabbing and biting.
When Yasuo Kambara saw the way the beasts were pouncing, he knew he was facing a danger he had never encountered before. He could only grit his teeth and endure it for as long as possible. When two tigers pounced from the left and right at the same time, he shifted his body and swiftly reached out with his left hand, grabbing the neck of the tiger on the left and throwing it away with force. This knocked over several jackals in succession. His right hand wielded his samurai sword in a series of circles and sweeps, slashing at the other tiger. Just as it was about to strike, the tiger turned around in mid-air and easily dodged. Then it opened its mouth and bit down fiercely. If he hadn't dodged quickly, his entire arm would have been torn off.
"Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen..."
"Whoosh—" A black bear raised its paw and struck, creating a whooshing sound. Kanbara Yasuo didn't want to block it head-on, but his retreat was blocked by a cheetah on the left, two giant apes on the right, and tigers and jackals surging from behind, leaving him no room to retreat. Helpless, he could only grip his sword with both hands and slash with all his might, trying to force his way forward and carve a bloody path.
"Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four..."
The giant ape roared and its fan-sized paw slammed out, only to be struck squarely by the samurai sword.
"Useless, they're wearing iron fist gloves." Komamura Sajin sneered.
Before his words even finished, a sharp clang rang out. The giant ape didn't flinch, but Kanbara Yasuo was thrown back by the impact. A lion and a tiger pounced from behind, growling and howling, biting hard at Kanbara Yasuo's thigh.
Kanbara Yasuo had no way to dodge. In a haste, he parried with his sword, managing to deflect the lion and tiger's attack, but his wrist was nearly torn open by a cheetah that pounced from the side.
"Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four..."
Kanbara Yasuo felt the pain in his wrist and tried to withdraw his attack to defend himself, but the back of his sword was caught in the tiger's bite, and he couldn't pull it away. He had no choice but to abandon the attack and fight with both hands.
"Forty-one, forty-two, forty-three, forty-four..."
The beasts' attacks were relentless, leaving no chance for him to form hand seals or unleash his ninjutsu. Without his weapon and with limited physical strength, Yasuo Kambara could hardly withstand the bites of their sharp teeth and claws. In a moment of inspiration, he grabbed a jackal from beside him and wielded it with incredible speed, protecting his vital points and barely managing to endure ten more blows.
"Fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four..."
The beasts surged in from all directions. Yasuo Kambara raised the jackal and slammed it against a cheetah charging towards him.
Both the jackal and the cheetah were enraged, biting indiscriminately. One jackal's face was torn to the bone, while the other's neck was bleeding profusely. Seeing the blood, the beasts swarmed even more fiercely, tearing the jackal in Yasuo Kambara's hands to shreds, leaving only a wolf's head in his left hand and a wolf's rump still attached to its tail in his right.
The situation immediately became critical. He tried to catch the wolves again, but one of them turned and bit him. If he hadn't pulled back quickly, his left hand would have been bitten off. At the same time, two more hungry wolves pounced on him from the right.

Volume 35, Chapter 8: Righteousness and Loyalty

"Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three, sixty-four..."
Yasuo Kambara exerted all his strength, fighting against the sharp claws and teeth of the beasts. He commanded the elephants, monkeys, and gorillas to retreat, focusing his attack on the tigers, jackals, cheetahs, and lions. They were well-trained, agile, and cunning. Several of Yasuo Kambara's powerful moves were dodged by his evasive maneuvers. His own hands and feet were bitten repeatedly, his clothes were torn, and he was bleeding profusely. He was on the verge of death.
"Seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three, seventy-four..." When he reached seventy-seven, Yasuo Kambara finally collapsed to the ground with a thud. A jackal seized the opportunity, opening its blood-red maw to bite at his neck. Knowing he could only withstand this attack, not the next, Yasuo simply gave up resisting. Just as his
head was about to be ripped off, Komamura Sajin suddenly roared. The beasts immediately stopped and retreated.
The bloodlust of beasts, especially jackals, is well-known. The mere smell of blood causes them to lose their reason, and even with training, it's difficult to stop them in such a situation. Yet, after Komamura Sajin's roar, the beasts retreated like cats, obediently lying down, not even glancing at Yasuo.
The title of "King of Beasts" was indeed well-deserved.
"You...why did you stop? Let me die...let me die!" Covered in blood, Yasuo Kanbara staggered to his feet, his face filled with grief. He had thought himself a master of martial arts, capable of commanding the thirteen sects, but in the end, he hadn't even been able to defeat a mere vice-captain of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions, let alone a bunch of beasts.
"Die? Hmph! A ninja has a ninja's way of dying." Komamura Sajin said coldly, his eyes expressionless.
"You want me to commit seppuku!?" Yasuo Kanbara's heart skipped a beat.
"Not just you, but also the other twelve sect leaders sitting here." Soi Fong's phoenix eyes flashed coldly.
“According to the rules of the ninja way, unauthorized intrusion into another sect's territory is a capital offense, punishable by death, and moreover…” Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he slowly said, word by word, “According to the alliance established by the Seven Great Sects, by attacking our sect’s disciples, you have become enemies of the Seven Great Sects. The consequences are self-evident.”
“Sister, sister.” Lin Yuxiu tugged at Shinguji Mina’s sleeve, asking cautiously, “Um… what exactly are the consequences Grandpa Yamamoto mentioned?”
“Annihilation of the sect!” Shinguji Mina’s cherry lips parted slightly as she slowly uttered two words.
“Ah, this… this is too ruthless.” Lin Yuxiu exclaimed in astonishment.
"Bullying the weak and relying on the strong are two major taboos in the Japanese martial arts world, let alone having the sect leaders lead the charge, with the entire sect mobilized, and uniting to surround and intercept them with a hundred times the manpower." Shinguji Mina shrugged slightly and said calmly, "If it were just a hundred or so people in the room, it would be fine, but... look at the nearly a thousand people outside, all of them are elite subordinates selected by the Fourteen Sects Alliance. Hokushin Ittō-ryū has become the number one school in the martial arts world. If this matter is left unattended, and the wicked and arrogant run rampant, how will we be able to lead the Seven Great Sects and rule the Japanese martial arts world in the future?"
"Really... really, do we have to kill them all?" Nangong Fengyi asked with difficulty. Her heart was the kindest, and she couldn't bear to see a tragedy happen.
"The sect leader means... only punish the ringleaders." Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni said slowly.
"Yes, as long as each sect leader commits seppuku, all your subordinates can leave safely, and today's events will be treated as if nothing happened." Shihōin Yoruichi still had that charming demeanor. Shibata Junkei, Nagano Narimori, Tokugawa Takatoyo, Hojo Tomohide, and the others exchanged bewildered glances. They had considered the consequences of their actions beforehand, but on one hand, Shinguji Ryuken had ordered the Thirteen Guardians to hold fast to Hueco Mundo, ignoring his daughter's fate; on the other hand, Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts were too strong, and without a united front, they had no chance of victory. Coupled with Yoshihiro Nobuyuki's repeated instigations, they finally dared to risk everything and unite against Shinguji Mina and her group.
The unexpected appearance of the Thirteen Guardians forced them to unleash their hidden final strength, but in doing so, they violated the greatest taboo in the ninja world—Shinguji Mina was right, this alone was enough to annihilate... It was fair that they were from the thirteen factions; the other side only asked for their leader's life, and even that he should die a glorious death by seppuku—that was already considered merciful.
Regret, annoyance, and shame washed over them like a tidal wave.
They regretted being blinded by greed, risking everything for a mere 30,000 taels of silver, rushing to Nara only to get nothing; they were annoyed that their seemingly flawless plan had failed because of the appearance of the Thirteen Guardians; they were annoyed that despite their diligent training in ninjutsu and their hard work, they were still no match for true masters…
Faced with this one-sided situation, they had no choice but to die.
"Captain Yamamoto, you are a senior figure in the ninjutsu world and the second-in-command of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Forgive me for asking, but were those words really spoken by the head of Shinguji?" Hojo Tomohide asked in a deep voice.
"I understand the sect leader's meaning. Rest assured, I, along with all the captains and vice-captains present, guarantee in the name of the Thirteen Guardians of the Palace that after you all set off, we will immediately welcome Miss back to the city and will not cause any trouble to the brothers of the Thirteenth...Fourteenth Sect." Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's expression turned solemn as he met the other's suspicious gaze.
"Alright, alright, in that case, I have nothing more to worry about." Hojo Tomohide drew his katana, slowly turning the blade. "Everyone, I'll take my leave first." He suddenly thrust it down.
"Clang—" A point of light flashed, hitting the tip of the blade. Hojo Tomohide's hand trembled violently, and the katana flew out of his hand, embedding itself in the wall. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an ordinary, unremarkable bamboo chopstick.
"If you have this skill, why didn't you use it last night?" Kenpachi Zaraki looked at Ren Xiaoyao and grinned.
"Using it won't hurt you, why waste your energy?" Ren Xiaoyao returned the smile, cupping his hands to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and saying, "Captain Yamamoto, could you spare the thirteen sect leaders present for my sake?"
"What!? What did you say!?" Soi Fon was stunned upon hearing this. "Spare them? Do you know that if we hadn't arranged everything beforehand, Miss would have already..."
"With Xiaoyao here, I'm sure I can go back alive." Mina Shinguji looked at Ren Xiaoyao with affection, her pretty face showing a look of infatuation. "In your eyes, perhaps he's just a young master from the Central Plains, but in my heart, he alone is worth a thousand troops. No matter how terrifying the opponent is, he can ensure my safety." "
Wow, big brother is that amazing." Yachiru Kusaji blinked her innocent big eyes, "whoosh," and jumped onto Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder, clapping her hands and saying, "No wonder even Koken praised him so highly."
"Hehe, I may not possess the ability to take on a thousand men single-handedly, but to say that someone is bullying the weak and has dared to provoke me is... haha, that's an exaggeration and a gross underestimation of the strength of the Central Plains martial arts world." Ren Xiaoyao bowed again to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, and said solemnly, "Therefore, the ninjas of the Thirteen Sects Alliance have not violated the rules of the martial arts world, so there is no question of punishment. I urge Captain Yamamoto to reconsider his decision."
These words not only gave the Hokushin Ittō-ryū a way out but also concealed the fact that the Thirteen Sects Alliance had bullied the weak, and even shifted all the responsibility onto himself, which was extremely clever.
"Does Sect Leader Ren really intend to protect them?" Genryusai Shigekuni asked doubtfully. The mature and worldly-wise man couldn't imagine that a young man who seemed so confident and skilled in martial arts, who should have been arrogant and overbearing, could have such a broad mind, so easily letting go of the opponent who had just threatened to take his life.
"Yes, we have a saying in the Central Plains: 'No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes; to err is human, to forgive divine.' The thirteen sect leaders present are all respected figures in the martial arts world, not heinous villains. I believe their actions towards Mina are entirely due to being deceived and misled by Igaya, not out of their own volition. Your sect holds a leading position in the martial arts world, and your every action is a model for other sects to emulate. If you could show kindness and compassion and give the brothers of the thirteen sects a chance to recognize their mistakes and reform themselves, you would not only uphold the reputation and honor of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū." "It can also point out a clear path for other sects that have been manipulated by Iga Valley and are trying to go against the righteous path of the martial arts world. Why not? Am I right, Captain Shihouin?"
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Shihouin Yoruichi exchanged a glance, both thinking, "The sect leader wanted to kill the leaders of the thirteen sects, but it was out of consideration for the sect's reputation that he had no choice but to do so. Now that Ren Xiaoyao has been persuaded, there is no issue of punishment. Besides, judging from the 'victim' Miss's' intentions, she obviously doesn't want to pursue the matter."
So they said, "Alright, since Sect Leader Ren has spoken, let's give him face and set off—welcome Miss back to the palace!" "

Volume 35, Chapter 9: Tender Feelings

Amidst the grateful cries of the thirteen factions, Ren Xiaoyao and his group, escorted by fourteen captains and deputy captains, left the room and headed towards Nara Castle.
Along the way, everyone chatted and laughed, the previous tense atmosphere completely transformed. Especially the most playful Lin Yuxiu, Nangong Fengzi, and Shui Furong, who, upon meeting the equally fun-loving Kusanagi Yachiru, were like fish in water, incredibly happy. The four chased and played, jumping and skipping, adding much joy to the otherwise monotonous journey.
Ren Xiaoyao wasn't idle either..." Yoruichi Kaede, Soi Fon Koya, Nanao Ise, and the others bombarded him with questions about his background, martial arts style, purpose of his trip to Japan, and even the opponents he encountered and how he defeated them. They practically covered everything, even information already widely known, insisting he recount it personally.
This relentless, interrogation, almost like a criminal interrogation, would infuriate anyone. Yet, they laughed as they questioned him, occasionally glancing at Mina Shinguji, clearly supporting Shinguji Ryuu's actions. Having ascertained his future son-in-law's background, Ren Xiaoyao had no choice but to answer honestly.
Having finally dealt with them, Ren Xiaoyao pulled Hitsugaya Toshiro aside and inquired about Anna Kora.
As the youngest Jonin in the Japanese martial arts world before Mina Shinguji, Hitsugaya Toshiro was twenty-six this year, in the prime of his life. He was handsome and dashing, with an elegant and refined demeanor. His broad shoulders and long legs made him stand as straight as a spear, and his tiger-like eyes shone brightly beneath his forehead, exuding a captivating charm and heroic spirit. His only flaw was… It was that baby face, still bearing a hint of childishness.
If Ren Xiaoyao hadn't witnessed him demonstrate his martial arts, he would never have believed that this scholarly-looking young man, with the air of a noble scion, could be a captain-level member of the Thirteen Guards of the Imperial Palace.
But Hitsugaya Toshiro's reaction was even more unexpected. The moment Ren Xiaoyao mentioned Kora Anna, his still-childish face flushed crimson, and he stammered, "She...she's fine. She lives in the room in the west of the city. There's nothing between us...there's nothing between us. Don't misunderstand...don't misunderstand!" Ren
Xiaoyao was taken aback upon hearing this. It goes without saying that Toshiro Hitsugaya was a precocious child, possessing exceptional martial arts skills and a prominent position. His handsome physique, bright eyes, and baby-faced appearance alone would make him incredibly attractive to girls. How could he act like a clueless thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, becoming shy and awkward when talking about girls?
Matsumoto Rangiku, standing beside him, chuckled, "Master Ren, please don't be offended. Don't be fooled by our captain's age; he's well past the coming-of-age ceremony (fifteen years old, the legal age for marriage and children). He's only ever known martial arts. He doesn't even know how to interact with girls, let alone marry or have children. Aside from the female ninjas of our Gotei 13, he blushes even when he sees a lady's maid, let alone talk about her behind her back." "
Exactly, exactly! You have such a huge palace, with over a dozen rooms, yet you dare not let Miss Kora stay here. You insist on placing her in an inn in the city, and you even sneak out of the palace to visit her, afraid of being seen. What are you afraid of?" Yoruichi Shihouin couldn't help but laugh. "Sect
Master... Sect Master ordered a state of emergency inside and outside Hueco Mundo, and all members of the Thirteen Divisions were put on standby. How could I... how could I let an outsider stay at my place?" Toshihiro Hitsugaya blushed and argued.
"Oh my, that sounds so nice." Soi Fon Koya covered her mouth and laughed, "The Kirigakure Jigen-ryu sent out fifty ninjas to protect the young lady, but they were ambushed by the Fourteen Sects Alliance in the Obsidian Forest. Even the leader, the Jonin 'Hidden Blade' Sabei Kagaki, was killed on the spot. Fortunately, Kenpachi and you were there, otherwise even this little girl's life would have been hard to save." "I refuse to believe it! If you report the truth to the sect leader, he won't let her stay."
"I..."
"What do you mean, 'I'? Are you expecting this poor, lonely girl to wait outside alone for her mother who might never arrive in Nara?" Yoruichi Shihouin adopted the air of an elder lecturing a junior, "scolding" her, "Listen to your elder sister, send her to the palace as soon as you get back to the city. If it's inconvenient for you, just leave her to me."
"I...I'll go get her?" Toshiro Hitsugaya suddenly blurted out, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
"Nonsense, you saved her, so of course you go." Yoruichi Shihouin straightened her face, trying hard to appear serious, but in the end, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Men and women... there's a difference between men and women. I think Rangiku should go."
"Hey, you already touched her when you brought her back, what's there to be shy about?" Kyoraku Shunsui, though over forty, had a rather "disrespectful old man" air
about him. The 13th Division had many missions and rarely had the chance to get together. Hitsugaya Toshiro was the youngest brother in everyone's eyes. He was already twenty-six or twenty-seven and still unmarried. Countless beautiful girls from the sect had been introduced to him, but he spent all his time practicing martial arts and wouldn't even give them a second glance. It was rare for him to rescue a beautiful girl this time, so how could they not take the opportunity to play matchmaker? That's why they teamed up and teased him, insisting that Hitsugaya Toshiro go pick her up himself.
"No, I... I can't..." Hitsugaya Toshiro still refused.
"Heavens, what are you so afraid of? It's just picking up a young lady." Yoruichi Shihouin slapped her forehead, her face full of sighs. "The captain of the 10th Division going in person is giving her a lot of face. Do you expect the sect leader to go too?"
"Brother Hitsugaya likes Miss Kora, that's why he's thinking of her in every way, right?" Ren Xiaoyao patted Toshiro Hitsugaya's shoulder and smiled meaningfully.
"Yes, yes, otherwise, Brother Toshiro would have gone long ago. Who cares if you're a girl or not, pretty or not? He'd just treat it as a short escort mission, the sooner the better, right?" Yachiru Kusashika jumped up and landed on Toshiro Hitsugaya's shoulder.
Toshiro Hitsugaya blushed and didn't dare to answer.
"Hahaha, you've finally seen the light, kid! That's rare indeed." Komamura Sajin, riding his tiger, rode forward, stroking his beard and laughing. "How about we escort the young lady back to the palace first, then accompany you to pick up Miss Kora? Speaking of which, besides Kenpachi, Rangiku, and Yoruichi, none of us have met our wives yet."
"Don't...don't talk nonsense! I do like her, but..." Hitsugaya Toshiro was flustered and at a loss.
"If you love someone, just say it boldly, otherwise fate will slip through your fingers." Ren Xiaoyao, filled with emotion, his eyes flashing with a light, then quickly dimmed, gazing tenderly at Shinguji Mina.
Thinking of their journey from first meeting to acquaintance, from acquaintance to love, and that heartfelt and tender confession in Ichimaru Town, Mina Shinguji blushed and shyly hid in the carriage. The members of the Thirteenth Division watched in amazement. Like Toshiro Hitsugaya, Mina Shinguji had never interacted with outsiders, let alone experienced romantic love, except for her constant practice of swordsmanship and ninjutsu. Yet, after a trip, she had returned to find her heart captured by Ren Xiaoyao. The "romantic thief" truly lived up to his name.
"Fate...slipped away..." Toshiro Hitsugaya murmured repeatedly, lost in thought.
"The Song Dynasty is a land of etiquette. Master Ren must know how to win a young lady's heart without making our captain feel he's damaging her 'reputation,'" Rangiku Matsumoto asked with a smile.
Japan is a barbarian land where marriage is traditionally casual. Usually, as long as the two families are of equal social standing, there's no need for a matchmaker. The man sends a retainer to explain his intentions, discuss the details of the marriage, and then takes the chosen girl away – that's considered marriage. This is especially true for the
free-spirited people of the martial world. However, in recent years, trade between the two countries has become less frequent, and many books promoting Confucian culture from the Song Dynasty have reached Japan. Shinguji Ryūken, who has always admired Central Plains culture, strongly encourages his disciples to study it. Hitsugaya Tōshirō, as the captain, naturally had to "set an example," but unexpectedly, despite reading many classic texts, he learned nothing but the complex and complicated Confucian etiquette, believing that one shouldn't casually associate with girls.
"Simple, just call that girl out and make him fall for you in one go. That way, it'll become a classic tale of a hero saving a beauty and a beauty admiring a hero." Ren Xiaoyao's words, though tinged with a playful and eccentric tone, possessed an undeniable and convincing power. "Brother Hitsugaya is renowned throughout Japan and is undoubtedly one of the best among the younger generation. If you value Miss Kora, her family will be overjoyed."
"That's right! This way, we can not only fulfill Toshiro's lifelong wish but also firmly tie the rise and fall of the Kirigakure Jigenryu to us. We'll have no choice but to do everything in our power to help the Third Prince reclaim the Crown Prince position that rightfully belongs to him. What could be better!" Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni suddenly turned around, his face becoming extremely solemn.

Volume 35, Chapter 10:

"What! Reclaim the Crown Prince's position?" Kurosaki Masayoshi, sitting in the carriage, was startled. "Wasn't the Third Prince only seeking refuge in Hueco Mundo?"
"You are all trustworthy people, so I have no need to hide anything," Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni said in a deep voice. "The sect leader, out of compassion for the common people, did not want to provoke war. Therefore, he asked Captain Kuchiki's uncle, the Shogun Kuchiki Shikiyasu, to intercede on his behalf, hoping to exchange the Third Prince's becoming a monk for his safety. Crown Prince Kiriko firmly refused and even declared that if the Hokushin Ittō-ryū refused to hand over the prince, he would wipe out Hueco Mundo as well."
"Outrageous! Fujiwara no Michitaka and the others are too arrogant!" Kurosaki Masayoshi grew angrier as he listened.
"The imperial military power is entirely in the hands of General Kuchiki Shikiyasu. Although Fujiwara no Michitaka can reclaim it under the guise of the Emperor, half of the generals and local lords are either affiliated with or closely related to the Seven Great Sects. It's absolutely impossible to use the imperial army for a campaign against them. Therefore, we can only resort to methods found in the martial arts world, using Iga Valley and its henchmen to deal with us," Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni said slowly. "In about half a month, it will be the sect leader's fiftieth birthday. At that time, martial arts practitioners from all walks of life will gather at Hueco Mundo, and an earth-shattering ninja war will be inevitable."
"Let them fight then. Are we afraid?" Yoruichi Shihouin sneered.
“Indeed, Hueco Mundo is our territory. We have an absolute advantage in terms of timing and location. With the strong support of the other six major factions, it seems we even have the people in our grasp. But let’s not forget that there are more than a hundred other factions coming to offer their congratulations, including powerful sects like the Kirigakure Jigen-ryu and the Tochigi Matsumoto-ryu. Although many of them have expressed their willingness to obey their sect leader’s orders, however…” Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni frowned, his eyes brightening as he continued, “Fujiwara no Michitaka is cunning and will stop at nothing to coerce or bribe him. Moreover, they have the support of the Imperial Court, making them morally ‘legitimate.’ If these factions, under the pressure of Iga Valley’s intimidation, unite and suddenly rebel…” "Water puts us at a disadvantage. Besides, under the orders of Prince Kiriko and Fujiwara no Michitaka, Kubo Kousuke and his henchmen are searching everywhere for evil masters. They've even summoned that old devil Yoshihiro Nobuyuki. If we don't 'take care' of these major sects, we might be won over by Igagaya and lose control of the situation. We might even be overthrown by them, and then it would be too late to recover."
Everyone agreed with this, and they kept arguing, forcing Hitsugaya Toshiro to personally go and pick up Kora Anna. Matsumoto Rangiku, in particular, shouted that if the members of the 10th Division couldn't see the future captain's wife, they wouldn't let the captain in. This made Hitsugaya Toshiro blush with embarrassment, and he didn't dare to say a word.
Finally, Shui Furong dragged Nangong Fengzi into the conversation. She knew Gao Liang Anna was quite beautiful, and Ren Xiaoyao had even "bullied" her outside the sushi restaurant. She couldn't wait for Hitsugaya Toshiro to "possess" her, otherwise, if Ren Xiaoyao suddenly got the urge, she'd have another sister to share his affections with.
"Stop arguing, I'll go... I'll go." Hitsugaya Toshiro finally agreed after being coaxed by everyone, his face still flushed, making everyone want to laugh.
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
After crossing a mountain, a town with green mountains and clear waters, lush with trees, came into view in the distance. This was Nara Castle, the holy land of the Japanese martial arts world and home to the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school.
As one of the wealthiest cities in the Kansai region, Nara ruled Japan for 74 years, from 710 AD when Empress Genmei established it as the capital until the death of Emperor Kōnin in 784 AD, when it was known as Heian-kyō. It consisted of the Kii Mountains, known as the "Roof of the Kinki Region," and the plains extending to the north. The eastern part was mountainous and difficult to attack, while the western part had fertile land and abundant water and grass. The inner city was built entirely in imitation of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty, with a strong Chinese style.
Unlike the city-building methods common in the Central Plains, the castles of Fusang were purely fortresses built on hills, utilizing natural defenses for stationing troops and for military defense. The cities centered around these castles were called castle towns, where ordinary people lived, usually with only a single layer of fencing for basic protection.
Nara had a population of 300,000. While not comparable to Bianliang, Hangzhou, or Xunfeng City with their million inhabitants, it was still a large city comparable to those of the Song Dynasty. Rivers, markets, streets, houses, bridges, and wharves intertwined to create a unique Fusang atmosphere. Surrounded by lush trees, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, and occasionally roaming with deer, it was a truly remarkable sight.
Mina Shinguji explained, “Nara is one of the oldest cities in Japan, and the capital and Buddhist center of the Heian period, known as the ‘City of Temples and Shrines.’ Among its most famous are the Seven Great Temples of Nara—Yakushi-ji, Daian-ji, Gangō-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, and Horyu-ji. To the east of the city are also the Kasuga Shrine and the Temōyama Hitohata Shrine, centers of spring festivals. During the spring festival, these places are always packed with people and incredibly lively.”
She paused, then continued, “Of course, since my father became the head of the Seven Great Sects and built Hueco Mundo on the summit of Mount Kii, it has also become a sacred place for ninjutsu in the Japanese martial arts world. Every year, countless ninjas and ronin come to learn and seek advancement. Those who perform exceptionally well are selected for the reserve force, and after several years of rigorous training, they become members of the Thirteen Guard Squads…”
Before the word "member" could be uttered, a commotion erupted ahead. People, young and old, scattered to the sides. Amidst the swirling dust and debris, a dark gray figure rapidly approached, accompanied by urgent shouts: "Stop! Don't run!" "Grab him! Grab him!"
"It's the Tenth Division's commanders, Tomita Shigenari and Tozawa Moriyasu." Ise Nanao, with her exceptional hearing, instantly recognized the two voices. "They should be at the palace compound. Why have they abandoned their posts and come here?"
"It was me... I sent them to Ito's quarters to protect Miss Kora," Hitsugaya Toshiro said, his expression suddenly changing. He roared and charged forward.
"Be careful. The opponent is using the Seiki-ryu's signature technique, 'Flying Kick Technique.' If I'm not mistaken, he's a Jonin." Kyoraku Shunsui's eyes gleamed. Even from a distance of several meters and amidst the dust, he knew exactly what kind of movement technique the opponent was using—a feat that even Ren Xiaoyao would admire.
As the smoke cleared, a ninja dressed in black, his face completely covered by a black cloth, appeared before everyone's eyes. The insignia of the Seiki-ryu school was embroidered on the hem of his clothing, and he was holding the unconscious Anna Kora hostage.
Upon seeing Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Kyoraku Shunsui, and their group, the ninja's first reaction was to flee—yes, to turn and run. Only a fool would fight seven captains and seven vice-captains head-on. One moment he was rapidly closing in, the next he had already gracefully shifted to the side, instantly covering more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) and rushing towards the alley on the left.
His speed was undeniably fast, but someone was faster!
Who!? Ren Xiaoyao?
No, Ren Xiaoyao was watching with a smile, not making a move at all.
So it could only be Hitsugaya Toshiro, the first and only one to meet him.
In a flash, Hitsugaya Toshiro was blocking the alley entrance, cutting off the Seiki-ryu ninja's path.
The Shiki-ryu ninja reacted swiftly, his toes wobbling slightly as he leaped backward, attempting to escape to the right. However, he hadn't taken two steps before Hitsugaya Toshiro reappeared before him.
This back-and-forth continued until Ren Xiaoyao and the others arrived, and Tomita Shigenari and Tozawa Moriyasu had also blocked their path. The Shiki-ryu ninja had nowhere to advance or retreat, and neither left nor right was an option. He could only grab Kora Anna by the neck, drag her to a corner, draw his short sword, and press it against her chest to threaten Hitsugaya Toshiro.
Kora Anna, who had been unconscious, only slowly awoke because he had grabbed her. She opened her eyes, trying to call for help, but could only manage low moans of "Ah...ah...ho..."
"Release Miss Kora, or you'll regret it," Hitsugaya Toshiro shouted, pointing his halberd.
"Release her? Hmph! Dream on. What will I do if I release her?" the Shiki-ryu ninja said coldly.
"Release Miss Kora, and I guarantee your safe departure with the honor of the 10th Division Captain of the 13th Division of the Imperial Guard." Hitsugaya Toshiro remained relatively calm, not letting the other party lead him by the nose.
"Hahaha, I won't leave until I get this little girl." The Seki-ryu ninja tightened his right hand, his tone extremely resolute. Under his deliberate manipulation, Kora Anna's delicate brows furrowed, her face contorted in pain, beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. She wanted to scream but couldn't make a sound, her fair and smooth face flushed red.
"Do you think you can escape from us with Miss Kora?!" Yoruichi Shihouin shouted sternly.
"That's right, the sect leader wants to use her to threaten Kora Miyuki into submission and gain control of the Kirigakure Shigenryu. If I fail the mission, I'll surely die when I get back." The Shikiryu ninja glanced around and laughed, "Oh, more than half of the thirteen guards are here. As long as I can leave Nara alive, I'll be famous throughout the land."
"Do you think you have a chance of winning?" Matsumoto Rangiku shouted.
"Yes, of course I do! Kora Anna is in my hands. If any of you dare to touch her, I'll kill her!"
"You...you dare!"
"Hahaha, what wouldn't I dare? In terms of numbers, our Shikiryu is certainly no match for the Hokushin Ittōryu, but every one of our disciples is a desperate man. Since I'm here, there's nothing I wouldn't dare to do." The Shikiryu ninja grinned, adopting a "dead pig doesn't fear boiling water" attitude, clearly not taking anyone present seriously.
"Idiot, help them, otherwise..." Shui Furong tugged at Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve and whispered.
"Don't worry, I've seen Captain Hitsugaya take action. With his strength, he should be more than capable of dealing with this person." Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, seemingly confident.
"You really... really want to hurt Anna?" Hitsugaya Toshiro said slowly, each word distinct, his form of address unconsciously changing from "Miss Kora" to "Anna.
" "So what if I hurt her? So what if I kill her? Do you want revenge?"
"No, not revenge, but to uphold justice and eliminate you, you treacherous scoundrel who aids and abets evil." Hitsugaya Toshiro slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over his opponent again, sharp and cold as a sword, seemingly able to pierce through the depths of his heart.

Volume 35, Chapter 11: Sitting Alone Under the Frosty Sky

"You, Hitsugaya Toshiro? Hmph, I, Nagao Hiroyasu, am not to be trifled with. No matter how powerful your sword, Hyōrinmaru, it won't be able to kill me before I strangle this little girl." The Seki-ryū ninja smiled sinisterly, appearing fearless. "Unless the Hokushin Ittō-ryū wants to break with the Kirigakure Jigen-ryū right now, it's best not to act rashly. Otherwise, if Takara Miyuki finds out that your ryū killed her daughter, what will the consequences be..."
"Letting you take Takara-san away will still lead to a falling
out with the Kirigakure Jigen-ryū." Shihōin Yoruichi said coldly. "Sister is right." Matsumoto Rangiku held her sword, staring fiercely at Nagao Hiroyasu. "Anyway, we can't protect our allies. If we let the Seki-ryū people escape under our noses, wouldn't the Gotei 13 lose all face!"
"Rangiku, put your sword away!" Hitsugaya Toshiro roared.
"Captain..."
"Put it back!"
"Yes, sir." Matsumoto Rangiku dared not disobey and obediently sheathed her sword.
"Haha, your captain is indeed sensible." Nagao Hiroyasu grinned.
"I told Rangiku to put away her weapon not to let you go, but to take your life myself!" Hitsugaya Toshiro stared intently at his opponent, his right hand gripping the sword at his waist.
"You... think it over, don't regret it!" Kora Anna, who was Nagao Hiroyasu's greatest asset, was now completely useless, and he panicked.
"Regret? Why should I regret it?" Hitsugaya Toshiro sneered, his tiger eyes flashing with a sharp light.
The entire street fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as if even the breaths of the crowd had temporarily ceased.
The battle was imminent, an arrow already on a bowstring, poised to be released—Hitsugaya Toshiro hadn't even made a move
yet, but the tension of their confrontation, the heavy atmosphere of their locked eyes, was enough to chill anyone to the bone. Ren Xiaoyao, with his exceptional eyesight, naturally knew that Hitsugaya Toshiro was now determined to fight. When he did strike, it would be a devastating blow. He focused intently on Toshiro's right hand gripping his sword, his mind reaching a state of crystal clarity, even more so than when facing an opponent, afraid of missing any exciting moment.
Nagao Yutaka, however, was terrified, his eyes filled with fear, his fingers trembling as he gripped Kora Anna's hand.
Hitsugaya Toshiro composed himself, banishing all distracting thoughts from his mind. His feet began to move under the watchful eyes of the crowd, but not to advance on his opponent; instead… he retreated!
Retreated!? Yes, Hitsugaya Toshiro was slowly retreating, the distance between him and Nagao Hiroyasu increasing from two zhang to three zhang, then four zhang…
“Splash!” Hitsugaya Toshiro, focused only on retreating, completely unaware of the puddle behind him, stepped into it, making a soft, but not loud, sound.
Just as everyone was wondering why Hitsugaya Toshiro would make such an obvious mistake, he suddenly stopped, all the hair on his body standing on end, his appearance becoming extremely imposing, his tongue like thunder, his aura soaring: “Sit upon the Frosty Heaven! Hyōrinmaru!” His right hand, gripping the sword, suddenly trembled, and the weapon was drawn from its sheath.
A chilling killing intent instantly spread and surged, even Ren Xiaoyao, with his courage, couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
Just when everyone thought Hitsugaya Toshiro would quickly rush forward and attack with all his might, the treasured sword “Hyōrinmaru,” gleaming with a cold light, was sheathed again, returning to its original sheath with a “clang.”
The drawing, raising, and sheathing of his sword were all completed in an instant. If it weren't for the fact that most of the people present were top-tier experts, they wouldn't have been able to see his movements at all, and might even have thought that Hitsugaya Toshiro hadn't done anything at all.
In fact, aside from drawing and sheathing his sword, he hadn't done anything meaningful, as if his earlier statement about personally taking Nagao Yuyasu's life was just a joke.
A joke? Was it really a joke?
Of course not, because as he sheathed his sword, a small red dot appeared on the center of Nagao Yuyasu's neck, quickly expanding into a pool of blood. His imposing body lay supine, lifeless.
Su Hanbi, Lin Yuxiu, Nangong Fengyi, and others exchanged bewildered glances. Even Meng Fei and Deng Lei were stunned. It wasn't unusual for a captain of the 13th Division of the Imperial Guard to kill an opponent in the blink of an eye, but what was difficult was that Hitsugaya Toshiro and Nagao Yuyasu were a full seven zhang apart; how could he possibly kill him in a single, swift strike?
"Idiot, I...I'm not dreaming, am I?" Shui Furong pushed Ren Xiaoyao, her voice trembling.
"Yeah, at this distance, it's simply...it's impossible to injure an enemy with sword energy." Even Long Feiyun looked on in disbelief, her face full of astonishment.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled without answering, praising, "What a brilliant move, 'Sitting in Frosty Heaven,' I admire you! With this alone, you deserve to be the captain of the Tenth Division!"
"You idiot..." Shui Furong reached out to grab Ren Xiaoyao's ear.
"Captain Hitsugaya didn't use sword energy to kill Nagao Yuta, but rather the puddles by the roadside," Yi Tianhan explained slowly, holding his disciple's jade arm. "When Hyōrinmaru was drawn, it deliberately passed through the puddle. The water droplets stirred up by the blade circulated with his internal energy, forming a thin layer of ice at the tip of the blade, which then shot out. Nagao Yuta's entire focus was on Hyōrinmaru, so of course he didn't notice the rapidly approaching ice shards, which is why he died on the spot."
"The ice shards cut through the skin, directly severing the blood vessels, and then melted upon contact with heat, leaving no trace. That's why you thought Nagao Yuta was killed by sword energy," Fu Longyuan stroked his long beard and added. "No matter how strong a person's internal energy is, the energy they can generate can only reach a maximum distance of three zhang. For someone like Xiaoyao, whose innate supreme qi can reach five zhang is already an extreme feat of human ability. Seven zhang... I'm afraid only the 'Heavenly Sword Qi' of the Dali Duan style can match it."
"Oh, it's just condensing water into ice, then it's not too difficult," Shui Furong said, seemingly enlightened.
"Don't underestimate this tiny piece of thin ice. To make it as thin as paper yet as hard as iron, enough to pierce a throat in one stroke, is no easy feat," Yi Tianhan shook his head.
"Is that so? But I don't think it's too difficult. First, put some water in your palm, then channel your inner energy, making the true qi emanating from your palm several times colder than ice, and the water will naturally condense into ice," Shui Furong said sweetly.
"You used your hands, while Captain Hitsugaya used the tip of a blade, and the difference between condensing and releasing the energy was only a moment. You can imagine how great the difference is." Yi Tianhan showed a rare expression of appreciation and praised, "To have such internal strength before the age of thirty, among the young masters I have seen, apart from the Sect Leader and Zhen Gong... Ren Qiaocui, there is no one else who can compare to him." He called Ren Xiaoyao "Sect Leader" to pretend to be an elder of the Tianji Sect to conceal his identity, but he almost blurted out the name of Zhen Gongji Longxuan. Fortunately, Fu Longyuan pushed him away. Everyone was also busy watching Hitsugaya Toshiro frantically comforting Kora Anna, and most of them did not notice this small oversight. Only Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was standing at the back, twitched his eyebrows and glanced at Yi Tianhan, then calmed down as before.
"Alright, this matter is settled. Let's escort Miss back to the palace." Yoruichi Shihouin waved her hand, signaling Shigeaki Tomita and Moriaki Tozawa to lead the way, guiding everyone forward.
Toshi Hitsugaya helped the still-shaken Anna Takara into the carriage. Su Hanbi was about to go in to check on her when Ren Xiaoyao grabbed her arm. "The future couple is inside whispering sweet nothings. What are you going to do?"
Su Hanbi paused, her pretty face suddenly flushing red. She was thinking about the night she and Ren Xiaoyao were making love at Inoue Takehiko's house, only to be caught by Long Feiyun.
Ren Xiaoyao loved her shy and bashful demeanor. He couldn't help but touch Su Hanbi's right little finger with his index finger and wink, indicating that he would "find" her when they returned that night. This made Su Hanbi tremble slightly, her heart filled with a mixture of shyness and joy. Her beautiful eyes shone with an undisguised, genuine, and passionate light, her expression as captivating as could be.
Shinguji Mina, hailed as the most beautiful woman in the Japanese martial arts world, was already a household name long before becoming the youngest Jonin in the ninjutsu world. In her birthplace, Nara, she was instantly recognized, drawing countless onlookers. Soon, the roadsides were packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of her.
Having endured many hardships, Shinguji Mina finally returned to the territory of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school. In high spirits, she rode her horse at the center of the procession, waving to the crowds. Ren Xiaoyao rode alongside her, his incomparably handsome face, elegant bearing, and regal aura emanating from every part of his body leaving everyone in awe. With the fourteen captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13 flanking them, it was as if they were welcoming a victorious hero returning from a tumultuous journey, far from the image of someone who had stumbled and fallen while fleeing.
After traveling for about half an hour, there was still no sign of the Void Night Palace, and Ren Xiaoyao couldn't help but wonder.
Seeing his doubts, Yoruichi Shihōin chuckled and said, "Master Ren, don't be impatient. Hueco Mundo is built on the summit of Mount Kii. It's just a short walk from the south gate."
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback: "On the summit?"
Mina Shinguji chimed in, "Yes, Hueco Mundo was converted from the palace where the Emperor lived during the Heian period. It's strategically located, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the scenery is extremely beautiful. It's both a fortress that can serve as a stronghold and a natural scenic spot. Not to mention, just climbing from the foot of the mountain is a long and arduous journey for an ordinary person."
Yi Tianhan suddenly interjected, "Master, weren't you entrusted by Abbot Xiaoming to go to Tōshōdai-ji Temple to find some Buddhist scriptures brought by the eminent monk Jianzhen when he traveled to Japan? Since Hueco Mundo is on the summit, it might not be very convenient to travel there."
Fu Longyuan immediately chimed in as if he had agreed beforehand, "Yes, we don't understand Buddhist scriptures. Only you can find them yourself. I think we should stay in the city first and then visit Abbot Shinguji at another time."
Having honed their martial arts skills for thirty years, their sole aim was to avenge Shinguji Ryuugen. However, after listening to Shinguji Mina's account of her parents' relationship and her various observations during their journey through the martial world, they increasingly felt that Shinguji Ryuugen wasn't the tyrannical and capricious villain they had imagined. Furthermore, many questions remained about his true "relationship" with Hanashi-kun. Entering Xuye Palace now might lead to an encounter before the truth was fully revealed, and no one could predict what might happen. Therefore, they decided to postpone their entry and wait for Ren Xiaoyao to uncover the truth before deciding whether to take action.
Lin Yuxiu, innocent and naive, naturally couldn't understand the hidden meanings in Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's words. Instead, she got along very well with Shinguji Mina and couldn't bear to part ways. She said in a coquettish voice, "Big brother, about the scriptures..."
Long Feiyun interrupted, "The scriptures are a small matter. Nara Castle is beautiful, with elegant scenery and many scenic spots. We rarely come to Japan, so it would be a waste not to explore it to our heart's content. Staying at Hueco Mundo is certainly nice, but going up and down every day is too troublesome." "It would be better to bother you again in a while."
Yoruichi Shihōin smiled and said, "Alright, in that case, I'll have someone reserve rooms for you all at the city palace. Although the environment there isn't as nice as Hueco Mundo, it's still the best accommodation in Nara Castle, and it's only a street away from Tōshōdai-ji Temple, making it convenient for Master Ren to find the scriptures. However..." She paused, her voice softening, "This morning before leaving, the sect leader repeatedly instructed that Master Ren must accompany Miss to the palace no matter what."

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