A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 20

Volume 28, Chapter 7:

Yi Tianhan unleashed his full power, his palms sweeping like a whirlwind, their force vast and powerful. He unleashed over a dozen attacks in an instant, each possessing the strength to shatter stone, striking at Fu Longyuan from all directions.
Fu Longyuan's tiger-like eyes gleamed, his beard and hair fluttering, his demeanor as fierce as a war god descended from heaven. His imposing aura alone was enough to make onlookers feel suffocated.
The sounds of clashing energies echoed incessantly, adding to the perilous nature of the battle. The two masters advanced and retreated, locked in a relentless and fierce fight.
Suddenly, Fu Longyuan roared to the sky, his dragon scales hissing as his sword flashed, its sharp edge gleaming with a chilling light. A complex sword technique sealed off three axe points on Yi Tianhan's upper body, its direction ruthless, its internal force sharp and powerful. The overwhelming aura surged towards the opponent like a chilling, icy torrent, like ten thousand shooting stars swirling and circling, its trajectory unpredictable. Wherever the sword light touched, it resembled a cloud of silver smoke, as if a god had descended, controlling the clouds and manipulating the air, its killing intent unmistakable.
This move, "Sacred Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens," was the final killing move of the Nine Dragon Control Techniques, the culmination of Fu Longyuan's lifelong cultivation!
Yi Tianhan's figure remained perfectly still, his expression calm and composed, showing no sign of rage or rage, yet his depth was unfathomable. He allowed the dragon's reverse scale to burst forth, heading straight for his center. Just as he was about to be struck squarely, his right palm suddenly slashed out, followed by his left palm in quick succession. The palm shadows rose and fell like waves across the vast sky, the pure and incomparably refined internal energy scattering and splashing, reaching the supreme realm of "Heavenly Thunder Without Error."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing energy were incessant.
The two peerless techniques clashed for the first time, producing a thunderous explosion that sent chills down one's spine.
Long Feiyun and Shao Qingwei could not withstand the powerful impact, feeling stinging pain all over their bodies and unable to open their eyes. They had no choice but to retreat far away, leaving only Ren Xiaoyao and Deng Lei still able to hold on.
"Boom—" The figures suddenly separated, and Fu Longyuan staggered backward, finally standing still after nine steps.
Yi Tianhan also swayed backward, but although he did not stagger back even a step, blood spilled from the corner of his lips.
Fu Longyuan raised the Dragon's Reverse Scale, pointing it at Yi Tianhan. The killing intent in the world seemed to be instantly absorbed into the sword, emitting a hissing sound as the energy pierced the air. He laughed loudly, "Old ghost Yi, trying to be tough, huh? I'll teach you to be proud and suffer for it."
Yi Tianhan's left hand hung down, while he wiped the blood from his mouth with the other. His eyes flashed with divine light as he stared fiercely at Fu Longyuan and smiled, "I was afraid you would lose too badly, so I took the Holy Dragon's Nine Heavens Severing blow head-on... Hmph, if you don't have any other moves, you'd better admit defeat to avoid hurting our fellow disciples."
Fu Longyuan coldly said, "I should be the one saying that!"
Yi Tianhan's tiger eyes flashed with sharp light. He slowly raised his hands, his ten fingers first spreading wide, then slowly closing. True energy flowed like water through the thousands of rivers and streams in his body's meridians, converging into a torrent. Instantly, it generated a wild surge like the condensation of mountains and rivers. Although he did not make any moves, the enormous and sharp energy still penetrated through his palms.
Just as he was gathering his strength, Fu Longyuan coldly snorted, took half a step forward, his own clothes fluttering even without wind, forcing his opponent's sleeves to rustle.
Everyone stared intently at the cliff top.
A storm was brewing.
The decisive battle was about to begin.
"Dragon-Slaying Moon!" Fu Longyuan roared to the sky, his voice echoing in all directions.
His figure moved naturally, rising and falling with his true energy, rapidly approaching Yi Tianhan. Instantly, countless starlight appeared before him, each seemingly attacking him, yet each remaining still like water, like the starry sky, changing yet possessing an unchanging quality.
Fu Longyuan's swordsmanship had reached a state of communion with heaven and man, incomparable to what it was twenty years ago. This "Dragon-Slaying Moon" technique, created with ten years of painstaking effort, was even more powerful than the "Sacred Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens."
The dragon's reverse scale drew a perfect semi-circle in the void, like a crescent moon, slashing down overhead.
Yi Tianhan's expression changed drastically. His loosely clenched right fist suddenly unleashed a burst of power, his five fingers swiftly opening as the profound internal force accumulated and sublimated in his palm erupted violently, striking directly at the peak of Fu Longyuan's sword energy. From stillness to motion, without any warning, it was like a flash of thunder, shaking heaven and earth.
The single sword and two palms clashed in mid-air, the astonishingly surging and turbulent aura flowing and rolling, like a torrential downpour, a flash flood, shaking the cliff top and sending dust and mud flying, spreading outward from the two of them, the force extremely fierce.
The onlookers retreated one after another, no longer able to see the situation in the arena, only the "whoosh whoosh whoosh" of the air that shook the entire arena still lingering in their ears.
Deng Lei's figure retreated violently, staggering back several steps before barely managing to stand still.
In the past, Ren Xiaoyao would probably have been unable to even open his eyes. But his innate supreme qi was extraordinary; even when directly confronting the combined impact of two peerless masters, he remained unfazed.
Suddenly, the pressure vanished, and the cliff top fell into a deathly silence. Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan stood frozen, their four palms pressed together, their dragon scales deeply embedded in the ground.
The duel they had agreed to twenty years ago had now turned into a contest of cultivation, the culmination of decades of life-or-death training between the two brothers.
Their inner strength was incredibly profound; their minds were both serene and detached, completely oblivious to others and self, unaffected by any external influences. At this moment, the slightest mistake by either of them would not only lead to immediate qi deviation but also allow the opponent's palm strike to come immediately upon them—there would be no chance of survival.
Ren Xiaoyao had already grasped the profound depths of internal energy and knew its perils. This kind of fighting was no longer a friendly spar, but a life-or-death struggle. The loser would certainly die on the spot, and even the winner would likely not live for more than a few days.
Seconds passed by, and soon it was noon. Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan were sweating profusely, and it seemed as if steam was rising from their heads, dissipating in the wind.
Nangong Fengyi hurriedly stepped forward, approaching Ren Xiaoyao and whispering, "Xiaoyao, look... look at these two seniors... if this continues, they'll both be severely injured. We... we have to find a way to separate them."
Ren Xiaoyao slowly nodded, channeling his innate supreme qi. His robes fluttered without wind, his back straightened, his eyebrows and beard bristled, his form becoming imposing and unstoppable. Just as he was about to take a step forward, Long Feiyun grabbed him, saying in a deep voice, "Absolutely not! Although your internal strength has greatly improved, you still can't withstand the combined, equally profound power of these two seniors from the same school."
Su Hanbi added, "Yes, there are still hidden dangers in your innate supreme qi. If your adoptive father and senior uncle were to activate it together, it would be difficult to control, and the consequences would be unimaginable."
Shui Furong's pretty face flushed red, and she stamped her foot, saying, "Besides this fool, who else can separate Master and the others? No, it really won't work! If this continues, they'll both be exhausted and severely injured." As she spoke, she suddenly burst into tears.
Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth, straightened his chest, and stepped forward.
His steps were extremely slow, each step leaving a deep footprint on the ground, clearly showing that his entire body was already filled with true strength, intending to use his palms to break the stalemate.
Shui Furong was deeply moved and exclaimed, "Fool, be careful!"
Ren Xiaoyao was completely focused on Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's four palms, paying no attention to what he was saying. Seeing that he ignored her, Shui Furong was quite annoyed. Thinking of the danger that Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi had mentioned earlier, she secretly thought, "Fool, for my sake, he will definitely risk his life to break this stalemate. What if something happens to him?"
Thinking of this, Shui Furong could no longer care about anything else and leaped after him, intending to stop Ren Xiaoyao.
But Ren Xiaoyao's palms struck down like lightning at the point of Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's clash before she could reach them.
Shui Furong cried out urgently, "Ah, you..." In her haste, she didn't consider the consequences and actually reached out to grab his shoulder.
Ren Xiaoyao stepped forward with his left foot, straightened his right leg, and stood in a bow stance. He channeled his true power into both palms, unleashing a boundless and rounded energy. With palms facing outward, thumbs pointing upward, and backs of his hands pressed together, he suddenly thrust his power into the space between Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's four opposing palms. He lifted them upward with all his might, forcefully separating the four palms by a line, and seized the opportunity to slip between them. With a "snap," his left palm caught Yi Tianhan's two palms, and his right palm caught Fu Longyuan's two palms.
The combined power of two unparalleled masters was relentlessly pouring towards each other, an unstoppable onslaught aimed entirely at Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao's innate supreme qi was not yet fully developed, so he naturally couldn't withstand their combined attack. However, Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan had been locked in a fierce battle for a long time and were now at their limit. Ren Xiaoyao, exerting all his strength, should be able to hold on.
But unexpectedly, at this very moment, Shui Furong's jade palm struck Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder!
Ren Xiaoyao's entire focus was on his two palms, leaving his back extremely vulnerable. His body, already unbalanced, was further weakened by Shui Furong's sudden twist, causing him to fall backward.
Caught off guard, Ren Xiaoyao's true energy was suddenly depleted, and the dam formed by his innate supreme qi collapsed. Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's long-accumulated palm power surged forth like a flood, unstoppable, rushing out of the breach.
The river burst its banks, surging forth like a celestial waterfall—the force was astonishing.
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's palm strikes were one fierce and powerful, the other gentle and subtle.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao felt two opposing palm forces, one cold and one hot, attacking from the left and right. He couldn't help but shiver, and his entire body immediately felt as if it were on fire.
At this moment, even Ren Xiaoyao's iron body couldn't withstand it.

(Volume 28, Chapter 8: Another Divine Skill )

Ren Xiaoyao was helpless and could only desperately use his Supreme Heavenly Qi to block the surging true energy.
Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi were horrified.
If Ren Xiaoyao had fallen backward, he might have only suffered serious injuries, but he refused to yield and insisted on stubbornly enduring.
This might ensure his temporary safety, but in a short while, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and his own internal energy would all backfire, completely destroying his internal organs.
Who else could save Ren Xiaoyao?
Dugu Yu? No, not even him. The combined power of these three is unmatched. No one in the world can withstand it.
Absolutely not!
Are we just going to watch Ren Xiaoyao, who has just mastered his divine skills, perish here?
Are we really going to witness the tragedy of "the master died before achieving his goal, leaving heroes to weep with sorrow"?
In a flash, a man in white flew over, his left palm yang and his right palm yin, his hands forming a circle, like embracing Tai Chi, pressing down on the point where Ren Xiaoyao's hands overlapped with the four palms of Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan. Then, he slowly closed them, heavy as a mountain, and the incomparably powerful force instantly formed a vortex. Large circles, small circles, horizontal circles, vertical circles, straight circles, and diagonal circles followed one after another. Under his divine skill, the three people's incomparably powerful internal energy completely separated from Ren Xiaoyao's body and poured into the man in white.
The man in white spun around seven or eight times, like a spinning top or a spinning spindle, then shouted and pushed forward with his palm. With a deafening crash, the half-cut cliff face in front of him collapsed, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
Who was he? What kind of martial arts did he use? Long Feiyun stared in disbelief, almost unable to believe her eyes. The man in white had withstood the internal force of three peerless masters unscathed, even managing to force them back. Was such profound skill a ghost? A god?
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao cried out in a mixture of joy, surprise, and astonishment, "Master!"
The man in white was none other than Ren Xiaoyao's mentor, the seventh-ranked of the eight great masters of the Central Plains martial arts world, the Silver Wing Iron Palm who had lived in seclusion on Coconut Island for twenty years—Meng Fei!
Meng Fei patted Ren Xiaoyao on the shoulder and laughed, "Good lad, you've got some skills! You've only been away from the island for two years and your cultivation is already so profound. You even managed to withstand the combined attack of Brother Yi and Brother Fu."
Yi Tianhan was exhausted, his whole body was limp, and he was covered in cold sweat. With Shui Furong's help, he barely managed to stand up, but he still cursed under his breath, "Meng Fei, we brothers were having a good fight. Who asked you to meddle?"
Meng Fei chuckled, "Who cares about your lives? I only care about my disciple."
Yi Tianhan was taken aback, "Disciple?" He and Fu Longyuan were completely focused on their internal energy battle and were oblivious to their surroundings. They hadn't even noticed that Ren Xiaoyao had tried to intervene.
Long Feiyun quickly recounted the whole story. Instead of thanking her, Yi Tianhan angrily said, "I haven't even decided who's the winner with Fu boy yet, what are you interfering for? Now look what's happened, the twenty-year agreement..."
Shui Furong stamped her foot and said, "Master, if it weren't for that fool's help, you and your uncle would have been dead long ago, both of you injured."
Long Feiyun echoed, "Yes, the two seniors' skills are evenly matched. To determine who is better, they would have to fight to the death. If there is any mistake that results in someone's death, how will one person deal with Zhen Gongsi Longxuan in the future?"
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan were shocked and said in unison, "Alright, we'll decide what to do after we rescue the person in charge." They had used their best skills but still couldn't defeat each other. They knew that what Long Feiyun said was true, so they had no choice but to postpone the duel.
Ren Xiaoyao asked, "Master, why are you here? I sent someone back with a message just ten days ago. According to the schedule, he should still be on his way."
Meng Fei patted Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder and chuckled, "Do you think your master doesn't know anything just because he's staying on Coconut Island? To tell you the truth, half a year ago, I sent you, Xiao, Xi, and Peng to the Central Plains to closely monitor your every move. They sent a message by carrier pigeon saying that you hadn't returned from your voyage for a long time, and that your wives were urgently gathering manpower after returning to Wenzhou. I guessed that something might have happened, so I sailed east alone. Coincidentally, I ran into the messenger you sent on the way. I arrived this morning and learned that Brother Yi and Brother Fu were having a martial arts competition at Guanchao Cliff, so I flew over and happened to witness the two of them clashing with their ultimate moves. Xiaoyao stepped forward to parry and almost injured himself, so he helped him out.
" Ren Xiaoyao pressed, "What martial arts did Master use just now to effortlessly resolve my predicament?"
Meng Fei focused his eyes and laughed heartily, "Hahaha, Master's self-created Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force isn't bad, is it?" Ren
Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "Nine...Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force! What kind of martial art is that?"
Meng Fei leaned forward and smiled, "This is a peerless martial art that Master was inspired by the Hunyuan Wuji, and with the painstaking guidance of the four senior masters of Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua, and Hua, meticulously researched and developed."
Yi Tianhan sarcastically said, "Peerless martial art? You're just bragging, Meng boy. Do you think I don't know your own capabilities?"
Shui Furong pointed to the collapsed mountain wall and said smugly, "Master, look, this is what Master Meng did."
Yi Tianhan exclaimed in surprise, "No...impossible, absolutely impossible. I would never believe that Meng boy has such ability."
Meng Fei stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Indeed, I don't have the ability to collapse mountain walls. The current situation is the result of the combined efforts of you, Brother Fu, and Xiaoyao."
Long Feiyun exclaimed, "Master Meng, you...you really can transfer their internal energy."
Meng Fei nodded slowly, his expression solemn. "That's right, this is the greatest effect of the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force. If the opponent's internal strength is superior to the user's, then the user can only redirect their force elsewhere. If the user's cultivation is deeper, the user can reverse the opponent's moves, causing them to backfire." Su
Hanbi exclaimed, "Xiaoyao has mastered the Innate Supreme Qi, his power increases by leaps and bounds every day, and his internal strength is so profound that even his adoptive father admits he is inferior. Coupled with the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force created by Master Meng, wouldn't he be... wouldn't he be invincible!"
Meng Fei shook his head and sighed softly, "Hehe, we haven't wasted twenty years of our lives. Did Ghost Netherworld God, Hatred Heaven, and their gang of scoundrels just waste their time? There are always stronger hands among the strong, and one mountain is always higher than another. The path of martial arts has no limits, so who dares to claim to be invincible?"
Ren Xiaoyao murmured, "'The ultimate swordsmanship seeks only defeat.' Mastering the eighteen forms of the Soaring Sky Sword Technique will surely achieve that!" Meng Fei was taken aback and asked urgently, "Xiaoyao, what did you say? The Lingxiao Sword Technique? "
He suddenly caught sight of the Ice Soul Frost Sword hanging at his disciple's waist, and his shock deepened.
Ren Xiaoyao, unfazed, respectfully replied, "Yes, disciple learned it from the bottom of Yunwu Valley..."
Upon hearing that Ren Qiaocui had succumbed to his injuries and perished in the valley, Meng Fei was immediately overcome with tears. Learning that Ren Xiaoyao had personally buried his father, Meng Fei felt a deep sense of relief. When Ren Xiaoyao spoke of his mastery of the Lingxiao Sword Technique, having already grasped the sixteenth move, "Having seen the ocean, other waters are insignificant," Meng Fei sighed deeply, looking up to the heavens.
It was fate, truly fate.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword, which Ren Qiaocui relied upon to dominate the world, and the unparalleled martial arts he had created with his life's work and utmost effort, had, after many twists and turns, finally been passed down to his son!
Ren Xiaoyao noticed Meng Fei's unusual expression and hurriedly asked, "Master, Senior Dugu said that Hero Ren is your sworn brother. Is that true? If so, why have you never mentioned it to me?"
Meng Fei recalled the past, his eyes reddening, and he almost blurted out, "Silly child, Ren Qiaocui is your biological father!" Suddenly remembering Mei Ruoxue's repeated instructions not to tell Xiaoyao about his origins, he quickly changed his words, "That's right, Ren Qiaocui is indeed my elder brother. The reason I never said anything was because he was killed by the Ghost Netherworld God, and Master was powerless to avenge him... Now it's all right. Master created the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, and after passing it on to you, you will be able to rival the Ghost Netherworld God. This revenge for killing my father... killing my brother depends on... depends on you..." As he spoke, he was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Lin Yuxiu clapped her hands and said, "Alright, all three seniors have been found. The mission entrusted by my
grandfather has been successfully completed." Yi Tianhan coldly said, "Hmph, I can't interfere with Meng Fei's affairs. Anyway, Fu and I will only return to the Central Plains after rescuing Shi Jun. Go tell Dugu Yu to lead the heroes of the Central Plains to hold out for now... Ah, no need. With Xiaoyao here, it's not our turn to go back. We can handle the Asura Sect and Juesha."
Ren Xiaoyao showed a humble expression and solemnly said, "There's no time to lose. Let's set off immediately and return to the Central Plains."
As soon as he finished speaking... Suddenly, Zhou Dating rushed up the cliff and shouted from afar, "Master, an urgent message has arrived from the Wenzhou branch! The front lines... the situation at the front..."
Ren Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Don't rush, speak slowly."
Zhou Dating took a few quick breaths and said, "Huff, huff, huff, "The Liaobei Prince Yelü Xian has rebelled, personally leading an army of 200,000 to directly attack Shangjing. Yelü Xiuge returned to rescue, and the Yang family army took advantage of the situation to pursue and defeat the Liao army, killing more than 30,000 enemies. Li Deming learned that our navy was heading north and took the initiative to send envoys to negotiate peace. The border..." "The predicament will resolve itself without a fight."
Upon hearing this, everyone was overjoyed. Ren Xiaoyao happily said, "Haha, it seems we don't need to rush north. We can stay on Chiwei Island for a few more days."
Shui Furong eagerly said, "In that case, why don't we go to Japan with Master and Uncle-Master? After dealing with that damned Hokushin Ittō-ryū, we can return to the Central Plains."
Nangong Fengyi hesitated, "Third Sister's idea is not bad, but I'm afraid the Liao Dynasty is ambitious and still harbors the desire to destroy our Song Dynasty. They will soon launch another invasion."
Long Feiyun smiled and said, "Don't worry, the Liao Dynasty will be able to overcome this internal strife ." "Chaos will surely deplete our strength, and it will take at least a year or two to recover. We can set sail with peace of mind. Once the matter in Fusang is settled, we can return to the Central Plains together with the three seniors. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Ren Xiaoyao pondered, "What if the Asura Sect and the Absolute Killing Sect launch a full-scale invasion?"
Zhou Dating hurriedly interjected, "Sect Leader, there's something I forgot to mention. Alliance Leader Liu has already returned to Mount Tai."
Ren Xiaoyao was moved and said, "Is that true?!" After the battle at the Heavenly Extreme Sect's headquarters, Liu Yuxu disappeared without a trace. Xiao Xingchen had searched everywhere but to no avail. Unexpectedly, good news came at this time.
Zhou Dating respectfully said, "According to Alliance Leader Liu, he has been secretly following the members of the Absolute Killers. A month ago, he finally found an opportunity to assassinate Hentian and knock him off a cliff. The Absolute Killers are leaderless, so they probably won't dare to make any rash moves in the short term."
Everyone looked at each other and smiled. If the Absolute Killers were to leave, the Asura Sect alone would find it difficult to deal with them. They shouldn't even think about causing trouble in the Central Plains martial arts world, where Dugu Yu and Liu Yuxu were in charge, and all the heroes were working together to resist external threats.
Ren Xiaoyao's tiger eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he decisively said, "Alright, let's rest on the island for a few days first, and then go to sea with the two seniors to go to Fusang!"

Volume 28, Chapter 9:

On the night Fei Yun lost her virginity, Fu Longyuan held a grand banquet to entertain Yi Tianhan, Meng Fei, Ren Xiaoyao, Deng Lei, and the five women Long Fei Yun, Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu.
Ren Xiaoyao was unharmed and successfully mastered the Innate Supreme Qi, making rapid progress in his martial arts. The twenty-year agreement between Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan was also temporarily resolved. In addition, the two major bandit leaders of Chiwei Island were brought to justice. Everyone was in high spirits, laughing and enjoying themselves immensely, eating large bowls of wine and large chunks of meat.
Since they were all from the martial arts world, there was no need to worry about seating arrangements or etiquette. Ren Xiaoyao embraced the two beauties, Lin Yuxiu and Nangong Fengzi, and flirted with Nangong Fengyi and Long Feiyun without restraint. He relied entirely on Shui Furong and Su Hanbi to serve him drinks and food. The scene was indescribably idyllic.
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan knew he was a womanizer, so they were not surprised. Meng Fei, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. As the saying goes, like father, like son. Ren Xiaoyao's luck with women was even greater than that of Ren Qiaocui. What was even more remarkable was that the six beauties did not fight over him or act coquettishly. This ability to mediate was truly rare in the world.
Little did they know, Ren Xiaoyao had swallowed his pride and enlisted the help of Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, Ye Zhi Qiu, Liu Qian Yun, and Meng Ru Yan to stage a carefully crafted performance, ultimately persuading Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu to reconcile and become sworn sisters. Long Feiyun, skilled in both literature and martial arts, possessed exceptional intelligence, earning the respect of all the women, thus preventing any quarrel. As for the gentle Su Hanbi, Nangong Fengyi and the others had no objections, but Shui Furong became jealous. Fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao quickly reassured her that his injuries were not yet fully healed and only Su Hanbi could treat him; angering her would be tantamount to cutting off his own lifeline. Only then did Shui Furong calm down.
The atmosphere at the banquet was extremely lively, with over thirty jars of liquor consumed in two hours.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei, all with impressive drinking capacities, eventually became unsteady and visibly drunk. Although Ren Xiaoyao also enjoyed drinking, he only ate the food, instead relentlessly chugging Long Feiyun's drinks. The women, of course, understood his intentions and giggled as they offered him toasts repeatedly. Even though Long Feiyun was usually impervious to alcohol, she had to appease the seniors and Ren Xiaoyao while also not wanting to offend her sisters, and soon she was completely tipsy.
Ren Xiaoyao gave a signal, and Nangong Fengyi and Su Hanbi immediately helped him back to his room. Ren Xiaoyao raised his cup to toast Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei in turn, then excused himself, saying he was too drunk, and took his leave.
Of course, he didn't return to Xiangqiu Pavilion, but rather to Shuiyue Pavilion, where Long Feiyun had been placed earlier.
Thinking of soon being able to enjoy her company, Ren Xiaoyao's heart pounded with nervous excitement and secret joy.
The bed curtains were lowered, and a faint fragrance wafted from the bed.
Ren Xiaoyao trembled as he approached, as if returning to the night of his first love.
He remembered spending the night at the Mianyue Tower on the banks of the Qinhuai River, in the room of Shu Xiaohuan, a famous courtesan known as "Orchid in a Secluded Valley." Back then, he was just a naive young man, completely ignorant of matters between men and women, and it was only through Shu Xiaohuan's "guidance" that he experienced a night of passionate lovemaking.
Now, Ren Xiaoyao, a womanizer with countless conquests, why did he still feel this way?
Perhaps it was because of Long Feiyun's ethereal, otherworldly beauty after she reverted to her female attire; perhaps it was because of their numerous passionate encounters, yet he had always been unable to penetrate her; perhaps it was because of the imperial decree that made Long Feiyun his first legitimate wife.
Ren Xiaoyao lifted the bed curtains and saw Long Feiyun asleep, her starry eyes half-closed, her beautiful hair cascading over the pillow, her snow-white bare arms and half-full chest exposed beneath the covers—her allure was irresistible.
Ren Xiaoyao was almost certain that Long Feiyun was only wearing a thin undergarment like a bodice. He secretly praised Nangong Fengyi for being efficient, removing her outer garment so quickly that he didn't have to do it himself.
As Ren Xiaoyao was fastening his belt, Long Feiyun suddenly opened her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Is the dignified Grand Master Ren, the Champion Marquis, really so impatient?"
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "You...you're not drunk!"
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes rose with a hazy, gentle glow, like the soft moonlight or a misty haze. She gently shook her head and said softly, "Father raised me like a boy, so how could I not practice drinking? The banquets during festivals are much bigger than tonight's. You think you can get me drunk and take advantage of me? No way!"
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback. "Then...then why..."
Long Feiyun closed her beautiful eyes and breathed for a moment, then half-opened them and gave him a charming look. She said sweetly, "You have to keep your word. Since you want my body, what can I say? I'll just have to let you have your way."
Ren Xiaoyao's index finger twitched. He chuckled and said, "My beloved wife is so open-minded, I, your husband... " "You're welcome."
Long Feiyun blushed under Ren Xiaoyao's burning gaze, murmuring, "When you're with Fengyi, Fengzi, Furong, Xiuxiu, and Hanbi, do you also flirt so unrestrainedly?"
Ren Xiaoyao, captivated by Long Feiyun's alluring eyes, answered irrelevantly, "I promise, tonight I'll make you the happiest woman in the world." His hands slipped inside Long Feiyun's undergarments, playfully beginning their movements.
Long Feiyun couldn't withstand his caresses; her delicate body trembled instantly, her face flushed, her body burning, and she couldn't suppress a moan: "Xiaoyao...don't do this, be gentle...no...don't stop."
Ren Xiaoyao reached out and grabbed her undergarments, leering, "Baby, will you stop or not!" With a gentle flick of her little finger, Long Feiyun's undergarment slipped down, instantly revealing half of her soft skin. Her breasts were like jade, her skin as smooth as cream, fragrant and warm.
Ren Xiaoyao could hardly believe his eyes. Could there be such a perfect body in the world? Every inch of her skin, every pore, every protrusion, every indentation was so perfect. Her exquisite, delicate breasts, their perfectly hemispherical shape, their ivory-white skin, their delicate, rounded, crimson nipples, and their slightly trembling, captivating posture all made the lustful Ren Xiaoyao's heart flutter.
Long Feiyun's full breasts were not only tender and beautiful, but also perfectly formed, a gem among gems in terms of color, shape, and elasticity. The smooth, conical breasts were not only crystal clear and white, with a smooth and fine texture, but also very firm and even in shape. Even a light touch could bring an incomparably beautiful tremor; the dazzling, firm nipples exuded an irresistible charm. Her alluring charm and mature allure were like a pair of delicious, juicy fruits waiting to be picked, making Ren Xiaoyao involuntarily think of newly ripened cherries in a forest, wishing he could taste them immediately.
Long Feiyun, infinitely shy, called out softly, "Xiaoyao..." Her bright eyes, filled with boundless affection, fixed on Ren Xiaoyao's, truly exuding a hundred charms and a thousand allurees. Her red lips and white teeth, contrasting beautifully, released a gentle fragrance with each movement, her delicate body tightly... She nestled into Ren Xiaoyao's arms.
Holding her soft, warm body, Ren Xiaoyao felt an overwhelming allure from Long Feiyun's fiery, youthful, and healthy form. He could no longer resist, and leaned down to kiss her soft, red lips as she gasped and cried wildly, attempting to force his way in. Long Feiyun instinctively bit her lip in shyness, trying to stop him. Ren Xiaoyao chuckled inwardly, pinching her delicate nose with his left hand while his right hand caressed her smooth, silky back.
"Mmm...mmm..." Long Feiyun's breathing became increasingly rapid, her chest heaving, desperately trying to pull her mouth away. A sobbing sound escaped her throat, a result of the intense stimulation and difficulty breathing.
Ren Xiaoyao's mouth finally left hers, and the oxygen-deprived fish gasped for breath, her firm breasts trembling. Ren Xiaoyao released his left hand, and before Long Feiyun could react, he sealed her luscious lips again with his own, his tongue passionately enveloping the shy, hesitant tongue of the young girl, unleashing a lewd and wild kiss. He sucked, finding her mouth fragrant and her tongue smooth and tender, an indescribable eroticism.
Long Feiyun moaned softly, a mixture of protest and pleasure, a thrill she had never experienced before slowly growing and spreading throughout her body and limbs. A tempting blush gradually appeared on her originally snow-white and translucent body, as if inviting someone to pluck it, making her body even more alluring. Even her soft moans began to sound more like enjoyment.
Ren Xiaoyao's large hands caressed Long Feiyun's... His fingers gently and slowly kneaded her soft, jade-like breasts, feeling the firm yet incredibly supple and elastic flesh against his skin, a sensation that made his blood boil.
Gazing at Long Feiyun's beautiful, flushed cheeks, Ren Xiaoyao's desire intensified. His fingers gradually closed, gently caressing the peaks of her proud breasts with two fingers, circling and kneading until he found the delicate, pert nipple, gently and skillfully rubbing and pinching it.
Long Feiyun gritted her teeth, panting softly, a strange sensation emanating from her nipple... The sensation sent shivers down her spine, like being gnawed by insects. Her entire body convulsed and trembled violently. Her smooth, naked, snow-white body clung tightly to Ren Xiaoyao's thighs, and her heart felt a strange, shameful stimulation.
Ren Xiaoyao's hand moved from her chest to her side, then to Long Feiyun's slender waist, and then slid down from her waist. Using her skillful palm, he played with the protruding part from her lower abdomen to the bottom of her thighs with his middle finger, as if he were caressing it without any affectation, and then pinched and rubbed the most sensitive part with his thumb.
"I can't take it anymore, ah...ah..." Long Feiyun's breathing became increasingly rapid, her moans like a dream. Her body felt hot and weak, her breasts swelled, and a tingling, itchy sensation rose throughout her body. A burning desire, both painful and pleasurable, began to rise in her eyes.
Ren Xiaoyao couldn't resist cupping Long Feiyun's round, plump buttocks, covering her entrance with his mouth, and sucking away. Long Feiyun was struck dumb; two crystal tears welled up in her tightly closed eyes—tears of overwhelming, sweet joy.
Ren Xiaoyao lifted Long Feiyun's entire body, and Long Feiyun... With a joyful cry, her hair rippled like waves as she tightly embraced Ren Xiaoyao. This intense sense of conquest excited him from the bottom of his heart…

Volume 28, Chapter 10: The Alluring Taste.

Unconsciously, Long Feiyun began to sway her hips back and forth, actively cooperating with Ren Xiaoyao's thrusts. After a brief period of pain, she
naturally felt pleasure, which was why she was twisting her body… []
As the storm subsided, Ren Xiaoyao let out a sigh of relief, slowly turning to the side to avoid crushing Long Feiyun, but his hands still tightly embraced her.
Long Feiyun's limbs… She clung to him tightly, her beautiful eyes closed, her face sweet and innocent. Her breaths, once rapid, slowly grew longer, the soft moans
lingering . Her chest still heaved, unable to calm down.
Their lower bodies slowly separated, a few thick, milky-white strands still connecting them. Long Feiyun let out a soft breath, turned around, and nestled into Wen Yuan's arms. Her
small hands caressed his back, her face resting against his chest, her eyes closed, a satisfied smile on her face.
Ren Xiaoyao gently pressed Long Feiyun's shoulders, lifting her delicate cheek, and kissed her tenderly, his heart filled with sweetness, savoring the
afterglow of their passion. The
hazy moonlight streaming in through the window revealed glimpses of Long Feiyun's curvaceous figure. Her breasts were high and firm, her legs long and slender, her waist so delicate it
could be encircled by a single hand. Her beautiful eyes were like pools of crystal-clear water, clear and captivating. Her oval face, with its soft, delicate features, paired with bright red
lips, a straight, elegant nose, and a graceful, upturned chin, exuded a gentle charm and captivating allure, like a fairy descended from heaven, untouched by
the world's mortal realm.
Ren Xiaoyao, his heart pounding, pressed his cheek against Long Feiyun's and whispered, "Feiyun, I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Long Feiyun opened her bright, sparkling eyes and hugged him tightly, her expression a mixture of satisfaction and sweetness after a passionate encounter. She whispered, "
I never imagined there could be such a moving experience between a man and a woman. No wonder Fengyi and Fengzi are always so obsessed with you."
These few words of deep affection and allure were more effective than any aphrodisiac, immediately igniting another storm.
From then on, the two were completely intertwined, without a trace of separation.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The next day, everyone gathered at the Nine Dragons Pavilion to discuss their journey to Japan.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Ren Xiaoyao, the four masters, could easily handle Zhen Gongji Longxuan, but the Beichen Yidao School was the number one
sect in Japan, and its strength was certainly not weak. If it were a sect like the Four Great Families or the Five Great Sword Sects, it would be manageable, but if it were a sect like the Beggars' Sect or the Tianji Sect, with tens of thousands of followers spread throughout the country, the
situation would be far from dire.
Everyone knew that Long Feiyun was well-versed in the history of the martial arts world, and all eyes turned to her.
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes brightened, and she sighed softly, "To be honest, my knowledge is limited to the information gathered within our sect's intelligence network. I only have a slight understanding of the situations in Liao, Western Xia,
Tibet , Dali, and Tibet. As for Japan... sigh, I only know that there are about forty or fifty ninja schools in Japan. Among them, the Hokushin
Itto-ryu, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Kamiya Kashin-ryu, Jikishin-kage-ryu, Kyoshin Akechi-ryu, Shinto Munen-ryu, and Oniwaban have the most followers and the highest status, collectively known as the Seven Great Schools
of Japan . The people of Japan are all fond of martial arts. Anyone who joins a ninja school can obtain the exclusive title of samurai. Of course, they must also follow a specific
code of conduct called—Samurai... yes, Bushido!"
Lin Yuxiu seemed to understand and interjected, "Isn't that just the sect's rules?"
Long Feiyun shook her head. "No, compared to sect rules, Bushido is much stricter. First, one must uphold virtues such as righteousness, forbearance, courage, courtesy, sincerity, honor, and
loyalty ; second, one must adhere to the principles of martial prowess and public service. The most important part is somewhat similar to our... well, how should I put it, it should be '
If the lord commands the subject to die, the subject must die.'"
Nangong Fengyi asked in astonishment, "Similar?"
Long Feiyun said solemnly, "Yes, a samurai's first principle is to obey his lord. If the lord commands you to commit seppuku, you must commit seppuku without a single
complaint ."
Su Hanbi exclaimed, "If we go to rescue Auntie, we will definitely have to fight the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. According to Sister Long, won't we be facing hundreds of
desperate men ?"
Long Feiyun smiled bitterly, "It's not just that. The seven major sects of Fusang are all connected and share weal and woe." "Unless we finish this quickly, we'll have to face the entire Japanese martial
arts world .
" Yi Tianhan coldly replied, "Hmph, the more warriors from the Seven Great Sects come, the better. I'm afraid we won't have enough to kill."
Fu Longyuan glared and said irritably, "Old ghost Yi, we can sacrifice everything for our lord. We can't let Brother Meng, Xiaoyao, and
those beautiful young ladies, Hanbi and Furong, die in a foreign land."
Yi Tianhan retorted, "What do you mean by 'die in a foreign land'? You think we can't handle the Seven Great Sects of Japan? You're joking! Now that the war in the Northwest is over,
Xiaoyao can mobilize the Tianji Army's navy to advance eastward at any time and lend us a hand. Let alone the Seven Great Sects, wiping out the entire Japanese martial arts world is a piece of cake!"
Shui Furong clapped her hands and said, "Good! Let the Japanese barbarians see the martial arts of our Central Plains!" "The profoundness of the universe."
Nangong Fengyi said softly, "Let's not. If we cause conflict between the two countries, Xiaoyao can't afford to suffer the consequences."
Nangong Fengzi chuckled, "What's there to be afraid of? Didn't you hear Sister Long say that when His Majesty learned that the Liao and Western Xia were invading the border, his first reaction was to order
Brother to lead the army north? Now, the entire Song Dynasty regards him as a hero. Does His Majesty really want to destroy the Great Wall and punish the pillar of the nation?"
Shui Furong chimed in, "That's right, that's right! As long as we take back Auntie from Long Xuan of Zhen Gong Temple, Master and Uncle will be willing to return to the Central Plains. At that time, they will join forces with the heroes
to wipe out the Asura Sect and Juesha, and then sweep away the barbarians in all directions... Wow, maybe the fool's achievements will be recorded in history forever."
The women became more and more excited as they talked, and the sweet and melodious voices of orioles echoed in the Nine Dragons Pavilion.
Suddenly, Lin Yuxiu timidly blurted out, "Big brother,
what's the difference between our actions of mobilizing a large army to wipe out the Seven Great Sects of Fusang for no reason and those of the Asura Sect and the Absolute Kill? It's true that Shinguji Ryuuxuan kidnapped Senior Hua, but at most this is just a grudge between the Hokushin Ittō-ryū and the Palm Sword Unparalleled Sect .
To provoke conflict between the martial arts worlds of the two countries, and even a bloody battle, is really... really not worth it."
Everyone looked at each other, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation.
Bystanders see things more clearly than those involved; they had been considering things from Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's perspective, treating themselves as victims. Therefore, they had been confident in their actions, whether
it was mobilizing the navy or fighting the Seven Great Sects, without considering the serious consequences such as excessive killing and the deterioration of relations between the two countries
. Lin Yuxiu's words were like a thunderclap, waking them up and making them return to their own positions to reconsider the entire operation.
Long Feiyun pondered and said, "Xiuxiu is quite right. Unless absolutely necessary, it is not advisable to use the navy."
Fu Longyuan's tiger eyes gleamed, and he said solemnly, "With the experts here and those I have recruited over the past twenty years, dealing with the Beichen Yidao School should be more than enough.
As long as we finish this quickly, rescue Shijun, and leave Fusang immediately, the other six sects will likely be too late to intervene."
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly laughed and said, "In my opinion, we don't need to mobilize so many people. Senior Yi, Senior Fu, Master, Fengyi, Fengzi, Furong, Xiuxiu,
Feiyun, Hanbi, plus a few boatmen and helmsmen are enough to handle it."
Upon hearing this, Fu Longyuan was taken aback at first, then said with exaggerated gestures and expressions, "Xiaoyao, I know that if your innate supreme qi can be perfected,
even the Ghost Netherworld God Lord would be ashamed of his inner strength. Add to that the Lingxiao Sword Technique and the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, and you'll be virtually unmatched in the world. But you can't be too confident, after all..."
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly explained, "Senior Fu, you've misunderstood. I... I didn't mean that. I just wanted to remind everyone that dealing with the Beichen
One-Sword Style requires strategy, not brute force. Having more people is actually not advantageous."
Long Feiyun tentatively asked, "Hey, you wouldn't have already..." "Have you figured out your strategy?"
Ren Xiaoyao laughed. "I wouldn't dare call it a strategy, but I have two methods in mind."
Yi Tianhan, knowing his exceptional intelligence, eagerly asked, "What methods? Tell me."
Ren Xiaoyao said seriously, "First, we'll openly confront Shinguji Ryuuxuan and have a duel like we did twenty years ago. If he loses, we'll return
Senior —both seniors have not only mastered their sect's unique skills but have also created their own extraordinary moves, so victory shouldn't be difficult. Second, we'll find a way to stall him while I infiltrate the Hokushin
Ittō-ryū school alone to rescue Senior Hua. Then, as Senior Fu instructed, we'll immediately leave Fusang, without..." "Give them a chance to retaliate."
Long Feiyun was deeply moved and overjoyed, saying, "Great idea! It can avoid large-scale conflict, reduce casualties, and solve the problem in the shortest time.
It's killing two birds with one stone."
Ren Xiaoyao continued, "No matter which method I use, more people will be a burden, so..."
Before Ren Xiaoyao could finish speaking, Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan said in unison, "Okay, let's do it this way!"
Deng Lei, who had been sitting in the corner and hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly blurted out, "If you don't mind that this old man's martial arts are too weak, please take me with you."

Volume 28, Chapter 11: Mysterious Figure

Who would despise his low martial arts skills? Who would dare to claim low martial arts skills?
Outside the thatched hut, he faced the heavenly thunder without flinching, even threatening to ruin Yi Tianhan's lifelong reputation.
In the ensuing standoff, he instantly knocked down Peng Suifeng, who was preparing to return to report, stunning everyone present.
Such cultivation was probably beyond the reach of even Tang Yunhe, the current leader
of the Tang Clan. His arrival not only brought several top-tier masters comparable to Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Ren Xiaoyao, but also added a unique individual skilled in divination and the Five Elements
.
Whether or not to agree to his request was irrelevant, yet no one nodded in agreement.
Because everyone simultaneously harbored the same question…
Deng Lei was definitely not Deng Lei; who was he?
Long Feiyun might know the answer, but seemed bound by some agreement, remaining silent throughout.
Meng Fei's expression was also somewhat strange; from the moment Deng Lei spoke, he stared intently at him, his gaze
lingering .
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan both frowned, clearly racking their brains.
Deng Lei, seemingly growing impatient, said casually, "Hey, hey, are you willing or not? If you have objections, I'm too lazy to
waste go back to Wenzhou and continue being your local tyrant."
Ren Xiaoyao quickly smiled obsequiously, "We are more than grateful for Senior Deng's help. But... hehe, I think everyone is very curious, you old..."
Deng Lei waved his hand to interrupt, slightly annoyed, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask. I won't answer even if you do."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then looked at each other.
Deng Lei's body trembled slightly, intense emotions flashing in his eyes. He forced a dry smile and sighed softly, "I'm different from you. I have a past I can't bear
to recall The pain and sorrow of that time still tear my heart apart when I think about it. So I beg you, please don't ask anymore, don't rub salt into
my wounds." With that, he stood up and strode away from Jiulongzhai.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Night had fallen, and the moon hung high in the sky. At the top
of the Tide-Watching Cliff, two dark figures stood facing each other.
The hazy moonlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating their faces, making them vaguely recognizable.
The one on the left was Deng Lei, and the one on the right was none other than—Meng Fei.
The crashing waves and the sound of the tide pounding against the cliffs rose and fell, but they couldn't drown out their conversation .
Meng Fei sighed deeply, lamenting, "Twenty years, I've waited for you for twenty whole years, yet I never imagined we'd
meet again . Fate is so cruel."
Deng Lei said calmly, "Oh, I thought you'd already met your maker."
Meng Fei chuckled, "If you can't even weather these little storms, then you've wasted your reputation among the martial arts world..."
Deng Lei interrupted, "I told you not to mention my name again!"
Meng Fei waved his hand, "Alright, alright, I won't. Ask yourself honestly, have you been more than loyal?"
Deng Lei Rolling his eyes, he coldly said, "What, have I offended you?"
Meng Fei feigned anger, "Your appearance has changed so much that I didn't recognize you at first, but I don't look much different from before, do I? Why don't you greet me privately when you see me?
I have to force you to reveal your identity."
Deng Lei solemnly replied, "Because I don't want anyone to know my true identity, including you."
Meng Fei was taken aback, "Why?"
Deng Lei smiled bitterly, "Compared to the me who once roamed the martial world and dominated the scene, does the current Deng Lei have the face to show his face to anyone?"
Meng Fei remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "You're not planning to live out the rest of your life in anonymity, are you?" Meng Fei asked .
Deng Lei retorted fiercely, "The day Ghost King is beheaded will be the day I regain my true name and restore my prestige." Meng Fei exclaimed in surprise, "You...you want to take revenge on your own!" Deng Lei said arrogantly, "What, you don't believe me? You created the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force with the help of the Four Sages of Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua on Coconut Island . Have I wasted all these years in Wenzhou?" Meng Fei laughed, "I heard you built a few thatched huts outside the city and leisurely became a gang leader." Deng Lei said mysteriously, "Little Hidden..." " Hidden in the mountains, a true hermit hides in the city. I only play around occasionally in my spare time. Do you really think I can forget my blood feud and willingly mingle with thugs?" His tiger-like eyes blazed with murderous intent, and he said coldly, "Hmph, don't let me run into the Ghostly Netherworld Lord, or I'll make sure he doesn't see the sun rise the next day." Meng Fei was moved and said, "It seems you have a lot of confidence in yourself." Deng Lei smiled happily, "That's right, I've never believed in myself more than I do now." Meng Fei said in a deep voice, "Don't blame me for not reminding you, no matter how powerful your ultimate move is, it must be unexpected and sudden." "Only by launching an attack can its full power be unleashed. In words..." Deng Lei continued, "In other words, the world must not know that I am still alive, otherwise all our efforts will be in vain." Meng Fei nodded and said in a deep voice, "The way of hidden weapons lies in surprise. If the opponent knows that you are... cough cough, then they will definitely be careful at all times. It's not so bad against ordinary experts, but if you are facing a demon of the level of Ghost Netherworld Lord or Hatred Heaven, the chance of victory will be extremely slim." Deng Lei smiled bitterly, "That's true, but don't worry, who would recognize me now that I look like this?" "Come out." Meng Fei glared at him, annoyed. "At least Miss Long already knows." Deng Lei sighed. "Sigh, she is Long Yin Xiao's daughter after all. Her insight is extraordinary. I only used one move, 'Going South by Heading North,' and she saw through it. You tell me, since thirty years ago, only the two of us know this move. Let alone a young girl in her prime, she may not even have met Long Yin Xiao. How could she... I think it's 99% just a guess." Meng Fei retorted sarcastically, "A guess? Heh, this morning Xiao Yao told me that when she first met Miss Long, she learned about her lineage, martial arts style, and so on." He had been completely . "Tell me, tell me...sigh, whatever you do, I have to shut her up, otherwise Xiaoyao will definitely use this to question her about her past, and I really don't know how to answer." Deng Lei said calmly, "Do you think I'm a child who doesn't understand such a simple principle? Don't worry, since Miss Long has seen through my true identity, she naturally knows how powerful I am. If I don't tell her, she definitely won't dare to say anything." Meng Fei exclaimed in surprise, "That's ruthless! Threatening such a young girl!" Deng Lei waved his hands repeatedly, forcing a smile, "Oh dear..." "How could I dare? She's Xiaoyao's capable assistant. How could I possibly do this? I simply told her that due to certain special reasons, I could only help Xiaoyao secretly, hoping she wouldn't reveal it. Miss Long is truly understanding; she neither told her sisters nor showed any unusual behavior along the way. I believe continuing to keep it a secret shouldn't be a problem." Meng Fei sighed and murmured, "Alright, one of us will be in the open, and the other in the shadows, together supporting Xiaoyao and fulfilling the vow ." Volume 28, Chapter 12: Journey to a Foreign Land

Three days later, the group set sail.
Fu Longyuan entrusted all affairs of Chiwei Island to Shao Qingwei, selecting only two interpreters fluent in Japanese, while the helmsman and boatmen were chosen from among the more than one hundred members of the Tianji Sect, the most skilled in boat handling.
The ship itself was a large multi-story vessel meticulously built by Fu Longyuan's artisans over several years. It had three decks, each surrounded by parapets half a person's height. The first deck was enclosed by wooden planks forming a battle platform. Both the parapets and the battle platform had numerous sword holes and spear holes, allowing for both long-range attacks and close-range defense. The bow was covered with a board with cross-shaped grooves. The area around the grooves was filled with sharp blades and spikes, and it was also equipped with catapults, large crossbows, and other defensive weapons. Combined with its extremely high speed, it could move freely and easily even when facing enemy ships many times its size at sea.
Fu Longyuan had been planning the trip to Fusang for twenty years, and all preparations were meticulously planned. Navigation tools such as nautical charts and compasses were readily available, and even the conditions of islands and reefs along the route were thoroughly investigated.
For the first ten days or so, the sea was calm, and the ship sailed steadily. Everyone often looked out of the cabin, enjoying the boundless expanse of sea and sky, a sight that filled them with joy.
As they ventured deeper into the ocean, the wind and waves gradually intensified. Fortunately, the ship was constructed of thick cedar wood, making it exceptionally sturdy. Although its high center of gravity caused it to toss and turn, there was no risk of capsizing. Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Ren Xiaoyao, Shui Furong, and Su Hanbi, having lived at sea for a long time, were naturally unafraid of the storms. Long Feiyun, Nangong Fengyi, and Nangong Fengzi had navigated the ship back and forth many times to rescue Ren Xiaoyao, and had become accustomed to it. Only Lin Yuxiu, the youngest and weakest, caught a cold, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, looking haggard, and even losing her appetite. Ren Xiaoyao was heartbroken to see her like this, and stayed by her side without eating or drinking. The women, unwilling to see their lover go hungry, and knowing his word was law, could only stay by her side tirelessly, hoping for her speedy recovery.
Fortunately, there was the quick-witted and kind-hearted Su Hanbi. After two doses of medicine, Lin Yuxiu's symptoms immediately subsided. After a few more doses of tonic soup, the once innocent, lively, and charming Lin Yuxiu was back to her usual chattering self. The women all praised Su Hanbi's miraculous medical skills, and from then on, they would go to her for any headaches or fevers. Their sisterly bond deepened. Seeing them get along harmoniously and help each other, not only Ren Xiaoyao felt immensely pleased, but Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and others also felt deeply gratified.
Regarding the question of his birth, Ren Xiaoyao asked Meng Fei more than once. Meng Fei had long promised Mei Ruoxue that he would never reveal his background to Ren Xiaoyao. Therefore, he insisted that he was an orphan she had adopted, and that he truly did not know his parents' names.
Ren Xiaoyao refused to believe it and insisted that Meng Fei give a proper explanation. Meng Fei had already foreseen this back on Coconut Island; he already knew seven or eight stories like the posthumous children of martial arts heroes or those separated from their parents during wartime. Who would have thought that Ren Xiaoyao would call Long Feiyun to listen in, forcing him to remain silent?
Meng Fei racked his brains, spending a lot of time and effort, finally managing to evade the question, but Ren Xiaoyao suddenly asked about the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant. The Nine Dragon Jade Pendant was a token given to Ren Fei by Long Yinxiao years ago, with the promise that "if each of us has a son, we will become brothers; if each of us has a daughter, we will become sisters; if one has a son and the other a daughter, we will be forever united in marriage." Meng Fei naturally knew the whole story, but should he tell him or not? If one were to bring up Ren Qiaocui, it would be difficult to explain why the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant would be carried by his disciple. If one didn't say anything, it would seem like an attempt to cover something up.
After all, as Ren Qiaocui's sworn brother, who was as close as a brother, how could he not know this? Meng Fei had no idea that Long Yinxiao's death was so sudden that there was no time to tell his daughter and son-in-law. Ren Xiaoyao had only asked casually, without any intention of probing. It was his strange reaction and expression after hearing the question that aroused their suspicion. They tried to force out the truth of the matter.
Meng Fei, being a seasoned veteran, immediately saw through the deception. While secretly realizing he had been tricked, his mind raced, and he came up with a seemingly perfect explanation. He told Ren Xiaoyao that Ren Qiaocui did indeed have a posthumous child, and the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant was the only thing he left for the child. However, due to his negligence, the child was snatched away by the Ghostly Lord. In his despair, he passed through a famine-stricken village and rescued Ren Xiaoyao from a dying woman. Because he was grieving the loss of his elder brother's child, he raised Ren Xiaoyao as his own, and naturally passed on the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant to him.
Although the explanation was quite reasonable, there were still loopholes. The problem was that Ren Xiaoyao had personally seen the Ghostly Lord's two disciples and even confronted them directly. The inscription at the bottom of the valley, "I have no regrets in life, only my wife and children. I hope someone with a destiny will pass on this tragic message, and I urge you not to worry about it," still echoed in his mind, so he no longer doubted it.
On the contrary, because of Meng Fei's fabricated story, Ren Xiaoyao mistook Chen Yixi for Ren Qiaocui's posthumous child who had been taken away by the Ghostly Lord. He was filled with emotion and regret, thinking that Ren Qiaocui was a hero who was invincible in the world, but his son had been turned into a wicked little devil by the Ghostly Lord.
Back then, Mei Ruoxue insisted on keeping Ren Xiaoyao from learning about his origins, fearing that her son, upon growing up, would recklessly fight against the Asura Sect and the Absolute Killer Sect to avenge his father and mother's murder, ultimately losing his life in vain. Perhaps she never imagined that Ren Xiaoyao would now possess five supreme martial arts techniques: Innate Supreme Qi, Lingxiao Sword Art, Xiaoyao Wuji Palm, Flying Immortal Transformation, and Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force. Furthermore, he would become the leader of the Tianji Sect, be granted the title of Champion Marquis, command 100,000 troops, and hold key military and political positions throughout the Northwest. Even if he did know his true identity and vowed revenge, there would be nothing to worry about. Meng Fei, overly doting on Ren Xiaoyao and somewhat rigid in his beliefs, concocted a story to keep his disciple in the dark. While this temporarily spared Ren Xiaoyao from questioning his origins, the resulting misunderstanding nearly sent him to his death years later.
Life at sea is inherently monotonous, but Ren Xiaoyao finds it quite delightful. Aside from the six women by his side, enjoying romantic nights and the pleasures of love, even during the day, he's always busy with "things." Cultivating his innate supreme internal energy goes without saying; when encountering difficulties, he consults several senior practitioners, and in his spare time, he learns a few phrases of Japanese from the interpreter. Of course, he also accompanies Lin Yuxiu fishing, "teases" Nangong Fengzi, deliberately makes Shui Furong jealous, flirts with Long Feiyun, composes poems with Nangong Fengyi, and takes advantage of Su Hanbi under the guise of treating her illness.
Cultivating internal energy requires utmost care to avoid distractions; at best, progress is hindered, at worst, one suffers a qi deviation.
Ren Xiaoyao, however, was an anomaly. The more he indulged in pleasure with the women the day before, the more remarkable his cultivation progressed the next day. After several dozen days, not only could his innate true energy circulate freely, completely eliminating the hidden danger of internal energy backlash, but he also thoroughly integrated it into his palm techniques, sword moves, and lightness skills. The most obvious effect was in his "Flying Immortal Transformation," where he had originally only reached the sixth level, "Soaring to the Clouds," but now he easily reached the eighth level, "Soaring High." The power of his "Xiaoyao Wuji Palm" and "Lingxiao Sword Technique" also increased day by day, truly surpassing his master.
Even more incredible was that Meng Fei's "Nine Revolutions Returning to the Origin Force," created over more than a decade, was mastered by him in less than a month. Now, in one-on-one combat, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei were no match for him. Given time, he would likely be able to directly confront the Ghostly Netherworld God Lord without a doubt.
After several months of sailing, Fusang was in sight, and their thrilling journey to a foreign land began.

Volume 28, Chapter 13: The Great Naval Battle

It was nearly midnight, and the surrounding sea was shrouded in mist, making it difficult to distinguish between rain and fog.
Ren Xiaoyao was chatting with Su Hanbi and Shui Furong, their hands clasped together. Long Feiyun and Nangong Fengyi were discussing something near the cabin door. The others were either drinking and sipping tea or having late-night snacks in small groups. The boatmen and helmsmen had mostly returned to their rooms and were sound asleep.
Suddenly, Lin Yuxiu's exclamation came from the stern!
Without thinking, Ren Xiaoyao rushed over at top speed. The moment he arrived, he froze, stunned. Long Feiyun, Nangong Fengyi, Su Hanbi, Shui Furong, and the others arrived one after another, all equally dumbfounded.
In the distance, seven or eight warships flying black flags were engaged in a fierce battle with a large ocean-going vessel. The ship was constructed of iron, wood, and camphor wood, with iron spikes at both the bow and stern. Bamboo rafts with arrow slits and gun ports were erected on both sides for firing arrows and firearms. This ship was well-suited for charging into battle and was unafraid of direct collisions with the enemy. Oars were mounted on both sides to increase its maneuverability and speed, but unfortunately, the crew seemed insufficient, greatly hindering its operations.
With the sound of clappers, the catapults and crossbows on the warships unleashed a deadly barrage. Boulders and rockets, weaving a net of light and shadow, rained down on the large ship like a storm, catching the sailors completely off guard. Some were crushed to pieces by the boulders, others pierced through the chest and abdomen by the rockets; in the blink of an eye, most were dead.
The large ship, seemingly determined to fight to the death, abruptly changed direction and charged towards the enemy vessel.
"Boom!" The iron-cast bow slammed into the approaching enemy ship, smashing its hull and sending splinters flying. It veered sideways, colliding with another unfortunate friendly ship that had just arrived at that moment, producing a deafening roar. Both ships simultaneously tilted and sank.
A dozen burly boatmen screamed as they fell into the water, instantly swallowed by the relentless waves.
With a fierce roar from the gun-wielding man at the bow, the large ship used the wind to make a sharp turn, heading west against the current. A burning enemy ship, coming head-on, had no chance to avoid it and was struck squarely, listing and sinking.
The remaining three warships suddenly became aggressive, taking advantage of the large ship's slightly slower momentum, hoisting their sails and accelerating desperately, like tigers released from their cages, using their light and agile characteristics to quickly close the distance.
The large ship was not to be outdone, charging head-on, and smashing the nearest warship to pieces with a loud bang.
Even from a distance of several dozen feet, Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun could still clearly hear the sounds of bones breaking and flesh tearing, and the shrill screams of agony. Although they had personally experienced the battle of Xunfeng, this was the first time they had witnessed such a terrifying naval battle. Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, Lin Yuxiu, and Su Hanbi, needless to say, were all terrified.
Just then, two enormous grappling hooks shot out from the two other warships in the center, firmly attaching themselves to the large ship. Then, a dozen masked warriors, each wielding a sharp blade, leaped aboard using the iron chains connecting the grappling hooks.
Long Feiyun frowned and said, "Huh, so they're not pirates."
Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a cold smile as he said calmly, "Of course, how could pirates have such light-footed skills?"
Lin Yuxiu interjected, "Big brother, which side should we help?"
Ren Xiaoyao said calmly, "Don't rush, we'll decide later."
A melee ensued at the bow, with both sides wielding narrow, long samurai swords. Although only a few people remained on the large ship, their martial arts skills were formidable. Despite being surrounded by the black-clad warriors, they fought desperately, managing to fight to a standstill.
The leading black-clad warrior strode to the upwind position, and under the cover of night, unleashed a large cloud of lime powder, which, carried by the sea breeze, swept towards his stubbornly resisting opponent. Caught off guard, everyone's eyes were stung by lime, instantly blinding them. The black-clad warriors seized the opportunity to slaughter them, screams and groans echoing through the air.
Lin Yuxiu tugged at Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve, annoyed, "It's all your fault! What do we do now?"
Ren Xiaoyao lowered his head, silent. He had intended to observe the situation before deciding whether to intervene, but in the blink of an eye, everyone on the ship had been wiped out.
Long Feiyun said in a deep voice, "We're here to rescue Senior Hua; we shouldn't interfere in other countries' affairs." Judging from the ship's materials and construction, and the quality of the black-clad warriors, neither side was ordinary. They were in a foreign land, about to face the formidable Beichen Yidao-ryu; it was truly unwise to invite further trouble.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly looked up, declaring, "No, there are still survivors on board!"
Before he finished speaking, a loud bang resounded, and the entire cabin exploded. Two figures leaped into the air like shooting stars, performing several graceful backflips before hurtling towards the bow of the ship.
Ren Xiaoyao stared intently, only then recognizing the figure as an elderly man in a long white robe. He gripped a dagger tightly in his left hand and held a boy of about eight or nine years old in his right. Upon landing, he was immediately surrounded by a group of warriors. While
the old man's martial arts were undoubtedly formidable, fighting with only one hand prevented him from unleashing his full power. Furthermore, being distracted by protecting the boy, he could barely use his lightness skill, leaving him in a passive, defensive position.
The warriors were truly ruthless, attacking from all four directions, their gleaming blades aimed at the boy as if determined to kill him. The old man struggled to defend himself, constantly on the run, and was quickly covered in wounds, yet he still clung tightly to the boy, refusing to retreat an inch.
Seeing over a dozen adults bullying an old man and a child like this, how could Ren Xiaoyao stand idly by? His blood boiled with righteous indignation, and disregarding Long Feiyun's objections, he urgently ordered the ship to speed up and rush to their rescue.
The white-robed old man was covered in blood, his white robe almost completely stained crimson. The warriors shouted in unison, attacking with increasing ferocity, seemingly about to cut him down before the ship.
Suddenly, the white-robed old man roared fiercely, his hair and beard bristling, and with a few swift strokes, he severed the arms of the two most aggressive warriors in two. The wounded warriors groaned and fell backward, and the rest immediately filled in, completely unfazed by the white-robed old man's seemingly insane attacks.
Anyone with even a slight skill in martial arts could see that the white-robed elder was at his last gasp, his sudden burst of power solely due to a burst of ferocity. Unless a miraculous event occurred that allowed him to defeat all the warriors, he would be exhausted within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, dying a gruesome death under a hail of blades. The eight- or nine-year-old boy in his arms would naturally not escape either.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats, fearing they wouldn't be able to reach him in time.
Only Ren Xiaoyao remained confident and calm, seemingly oblivious to the possibility of failure.
Ten zhang, nine zhang… the distance between the two boats was closing.
Ren Xiaoyao gathered his true energy, his clothes fluttering without wind, his eyes gleaming with divine light, like a god descending to earth. A vortex of innate supreme qi swirled and rolled around him.
The situation was critical, and there was no time to wait. Ren Xiaoyao roared to the sky, his figure leaping up with a "whoosh!" His feet seemed to create clouds, like an arrow released from a bow, like a rainbow spanning the heavens. In eight leaps and bounds, he traversed a distance of sixteen or seventeen zhang in an instant—this was the eighth level of his newly mastered Flying Immortal Transformation—Soaring Upwards.
The onlookers were dazzled; if they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed such lightness skill existed in the world.
The white-robed elder, having exhausted all his strength, blocked seven attacks in a row. Finally, his tiger's mouth burst open, his weapon was knocked away, and he fell into the sea with a "plop." The warriors laughed loudly, raising their swords to strike. The white-robed elder, without hesitation, tightly embraced the child, using his own flesh and blood to block the blades.
Nangong Fengzi and Lin Yuxiu cried out in horror.
At this critical moment of life and death, a blue light flashed across the sky!
In the blink of an eye, all the dozen or so samurai swords aimed at the white-robed elder were broken in two.
Ren Xiaoyao, his robes fluttering, descended from the sky, standing like a god before the white-robed elder and the boy.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword and the Soaring Sky Sword Technique, fused with innate supreme qi, were indeed invincible.
The warriors had never seen such profound and enduring internal energy, nor such a divine weapon capable of cutting through iron like mud; they were terrified
and retreated hastily. Ren Xiaoyao's tiger-like eyes burned as he slowly swept his gaze over the warriors, speaking in broken Japanese, he sharply questioned, "Who are you? Why are you chasing them?"
The warrior leader, staring at the remaining half of his broken blade, felt a chill run down his spine and stammered, "Who we are is none of your business... and who... who are you?" His words were tinged with trembling fear.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, arrogantly declaring, "You lot are not worthy to ask my name."
The warriors exchanged glances, then suddenly shouted and charged at Ren Xiaoyao. Although they all wielded broken blades, the dozen or so men attacked simultaneously, their training excellent and their coordination tight. Even the old Ren Xiaoyao, with his Ice Soul Frost Sword, would have struggled to cope. But now…
Ren Xiaoyao's tiger-like eyes flashed with a sharp light. He took a half-step forward, his sleeves fluttering slightly, unleashing a powerful and overwhelming innate aura that swept across the warriors like a wall, causing them to stumble and fall.
The warrior leader gasped, barely managing to regain his footing, and whispered, "They are traitors from Iga Valley. We are acting under orders. Please do not interfere." Knowing his martial arts were far inferior to Ren Xiaoyao's, his tone softened considerably.
Ren Xiaoyao, with only a superficial understanding of the Japanese language, failed to grasp the samurai leader's meaning. He decided to first take the old man in white and the child back to the ship so Su Hanbi could treat them, and then question them after summoning an interpreter. He sheathed his sword, took the two men's arms, took a deep breath, and prepared to leap into the air.
The samurai leader shouted and tried to stop him, but Ren Xiaoyao kicked him, sending him and his sword flying several feet away. The others, fearing his prowess, dared not move.
Ren Xiaoyao gathered his energy, his toes barely touching the ground, and he leaped into the air with the old man in white and the child.
At this moment, the distance between the two ships had closed considerably. Although Ren Xiaoyao carried an extra hundred pounds of weight, his exceptional lightness skill should allow him to reach their destination easily.
However, just as he leaped, a crossbow bolt silently shot from afar, piercing the boy's face.
The crossbow bolts were incredibly powerful, fast, and difficult to block, especially since Ren Xiaoyao was holding someone in his arms and his feet were planted firmly on the ground, leaving him no room to maneuver. Despite his unparalleled martial arts skills, he was powerless to stop them.

In the critical moment

, Ren Xiaoyao knew he was powerless to stop them and could only hope that Long Feiyun, watching from the bow of the ship, would intervene in time. Long Feiyun's archery skills could indeed help him, but the situation was sudden, and no one was prepared. The women had complete faith in him and never expected that Ren Xiaoyao, whose skills were still developing, would encounter such a predicament.
Suddenly, the white-robed old man roared, broke free from Ren Xiaoyao's left arm, and with his last ounce of strength, lunged forward, shielding the boy with his chest from the devastating blow.
Ren Xiaoyao tried to intervene, but it was too late!
The arrow pierced the white-robed old man's flesh and blood.
Swift as lightning, powerful as thunder, it sprayed blood before exiting through his back. The arrow's force shattered the white-robed elder's internal organs, causing him to cough up blood that splattered all over Ren Xiaoyao's face and body.
"Old man!" Ren Xiaoyao cried out, reaching for the elder's arm, but the elder shook his head, casting a concerned and hopeful glance at the boy before plunging into the sea, swallowed by the churning waves in the blink of an eye.
"Hanbi, quickly check if he's injured anywhere." Ren Xiaoyao carried the boy back to the ship, handing him over to Su Hanbi. A surge of endless emotion and guilt welled up within him. The elder had risked his life to save the boy, and he, so close, was powerless to help. This unwavering loyalty, this disregard for life and death, even the despicable act of sneak attack, and the immense shame of killing someone right before his eyes—all these had to be repaid with blood!
"Feiyun, today I'm going to unleash my killing spree. Don't stop me," Ren Xiaoyao said fiercely, hastily wiping the blood from his face.
"Big brother, look!" Lin Yuxiu pointed into the distance and exclaimed sweetly.
Ren Xiaoyao looked in the direction of her voice and saw two large warships speeding towards them on the distant sea. Their shape resembled the falcon ships of the Central Plains, with floating platforms on either side, like the wings of a sea falcon. They traversed the waves as if on flat ground, like seagulls soaring on the water. However, their imposing presence was like that of a Mengchong warship, and their bows were fitted with iron horns, allowing them to ram enemy ships in battle, like plowing the land. Banners fluttered at the bows, and nearly a hundred black-clad warriors stood on the platforms. Even the helmsmen were top-notch experts. Just watching them cut through the waves, fearless of the raging storm, one could feel their unparalleled domineering aura.
"What is this? The Japanese navy?" Long Feiyun asked in surprise. The enemy was well-equipped and highly trained; no one would believe they were just an ordinary martial arts organization.
“No, the sea hawk was built privately by a retainer appointed by the Grand Councilor, and all the samurai on board are from Iga Valley,” the boy said timidly, speaking fluent Chinese.
“Little brother, how come you speak our Song language?” Su Hanbi asked softly with a sweet smile, afraid of frightening the boy, while giving Ren Xiaoyao a wink to indicate that the boy was alright.
“It was… Father who taught me,” the boy replied, head bowed.
“Why are they chasing you?” Ren Xiaoyao asked.
“I… I don’t know, Father asked Uncle Takahashi to take me away,” the boy said tremblingly.
Ren Xiaoyao was about to ask more when a loud shout came from afar: “Hey, hand over the child!” The speaker was a tall, thin man holding a crossbow; his face was obscured by the distance.
Long Feiyun said loudly, "You've already killed over a dozen people, isn't that enough?"
The tall, thin man laughed loudly and said coldly, "What we want is that boy... Hmph, you've seen what happened to Takahashi Hirose, haven't you? If you don't want to die, hand him over immediately."
Su Hanbi had lived on Chiwei Island for a long time and was most proficient in Japanese. When she told Ren Xiaoyao the meaning of these words, the latter was furious. He slammed his hand on the side of the ship and shouted sharply, "Feiyun, gather the brothers in the sect and prepare for battle!"
Long Feiyun hesitated and said, "Iga Valley is a well-known assassination organization in Japan. Although its power may not be comparable to Juesha, it has nearly a thousand followers and many experts. Moreover, it has the Japanese royal family backing it up. Even the Seven Great Sects dare not provoke it without authorization. I think we should avoid its sharp edge for now."
"What are you afraid of? Let's fight! With us here, what is there to fear from Iga Valley?" Deng Lei's hoarse voice came from behind. Before long, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Meng Fei also arrived one after another.
"Xiaoyao, do you know, back then when I led you to escape the Central Plains, we were pursued by the Asura Sect and the Absolute Killers." Meng Fei patted his disciple's shoulder, looked up at the sky, his eyes glistening with tears, and said with deep emotion, "Back then, our plight was so similar to this child's."
"That's right, since they want to wipe us out, let them see the profoundness of Central Plains martial arts!" Deng Lei shouted, his expression almost identical to Meng Fei's.
"Hahaha, alright, the strongest one is for this old man." Yi Tianhan, the most warlike of them all, couldn't help but show his wild joy and laughed heartily.
The Tianji Sect members were indeed well-trained. In the blink of an eye, the two auxiliary sails used for acceleration had risen, and then, about three feet above the waterline on the left and right sides, eight wooden oars, each over ten feet long, extended out, four oars per group, with a ten-foot gap between each group, and they paddled into the surging sea.
The drums sounded, first striking four times, then gradually and steadily, their echoes reverberating across the lake under the starlit night. The warship sped off at full speed, heading towards the two enemy sea hawks. This was a far cry from its previous reliance on the mainsail alone; it truly lived up to the description of "still as a virgin, swift as a rabbit."
Simultaneously, shields were erected on both sides to deflect incoming arrows.
The defenses in front were completely worry-free; the five top masters—Ren Xiaoyao, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei—were no match for a mere hundred or so crossbow bolts.
The enemy clearly hadn't expected such a desperate fight. In their haste, they rushed to the bow, and under the command of the tall, thin man, each wielding a crossbow, they unleashed a dense barrage of arrows at the warship. The sea was windy, and only about 50-60% of the shots hit, but these either struck the shields erected on the hull or were deflected by the force of the attack, posing no real threat.
Having never considered a large-scale naval battle, the carefree members of the Tianji Sect had few remaining besides those who steered the boats. Furthermore, Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan, concerned with their status, disdained the use of large machinery like catapults and crossbows. Therefore, they were forced to employ the "primitive" tactic of hand-to-hand combat from their ships.
The drumbeats grew increasingly rapid and impassioned. Four groups of sixteen oars, in rhythm with the drumbeats, powerfully propelled the boats into the river, increasing their speed dramatically. Several warships, already sunk or collapsed, were quickly overwhelmed. The large ship where the boy and the white-clad elder had been standing was rammed and instantly shattered, sending over a dozen black-clad warriors into the water.
The tall, thin man, named Fukuyama Jun, held a high position in Iga Valley and was in charge of this operation. He had just shot and killed the white-clad elder, Takahashi Hirose, from two hundred paces away, right under Ren Xiaoyao's nose, demonstrating his considerable skill. Clearly, he had already guessed Ren Xiaoyao's tactics. While ordering the fleet to retreat, he calmly directed his warriors to launch a full-scale attack, trying every possible way to prevent the warship from getting closer.
Suddenly, Fukuyama Jun felt a sense of foreboding. Although Ren Xiaoyao was still dozens of feet away and the fog obscured his movements, Fukuyama Jun keenly sensed that Ren Xiaoyao was targeting him, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow at the bow.
Even with his years of ninjutsu training, he felt a chill run down his spine, knowing he was outmatched in terms of momentum and wouldn't gain the upper hand even if they exchanged arrows. He quickly leaped from the command platform and landed on the lower deck, protected by the arrow guards on both sides.
The arrow guards on the Sea Falcon ship were made of thick, sturdy wood, covered with raw cowhide, coated with a thick layer of gunpowder, and had arrow holes for the ship's soldiers to fire at the enemy. Naturally, they also blocked Ren Xiaoyao's view. However, when Fukuyama Jun landed on the deck, he still felt the handsome man's attention fixed on him like a persistent ghost. Just
as Fukuyama Jun sensed something was wrong, a strange noise came from the guards ahead.
Unbelievable things happened right before his eyes. A powerful arrow, whistling through the air, pierced the protective railing in an instant, hurtling towards his neck with immense force and perfect accuracy. This was no longer a battle between two ships; it was a one-on-one duel with Ren Xiaoyao. Although he was surrounded by many samurai, none of them could get a chance to intervene.
Fukuyama Jun didn't have time to ponder how Ren Xiaoyao's archery skills could be so incredibly accurate. He could only hastily retreat and swing his sword to meet the attack. With a "clang," the samurai sword struck the incoming arrow, but instead of deflecting it as intended, it broke into several pieces, the arrowhead shattering. Fukuyama Jun's
whole body trembled violently, his hand split open, his weapon flew from his grasp, and he stumbled several steps backward. If he hadn't been leaning against the deck, he probably wouldn't have been able to stand up at all. Knowing that this arrow was the culmination of Ren Xiaoyao's entire power, his reckless attempt to deflect it was tantamount to directly clashing with innate supreme qi, inevitably resulting in severe injury.
Even worse, just as Fukuyama Jun was inwardly cursing, a second arrow silently pierced the wall and arrived. Despite clearly understanding the arrow's trajectory, he was powerless to resist, allowing the arrow to pierce his chest and kill him instantly!

Volume 29, Chapter 2: Showing Off

Seeing their leader shot dead from dozens of feet away, the samurai were terrified. However, as disciples of Iga Valley, if they failed to complete their mission, even if they escaped unscathed, they would have to commit seppuku upon returning. Therefore, everyone was determined to fight to the death, resolved to kill the boy hiding on the enemy ship no matter what.
Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a disdainful sneer as he said in a deep voice, "Feiyun, Hanbi, take good care of this child." With a slight sway of his toes, he soared into the air, leaping towards the enemy ship like a roc spreading its wings.
At a height of nearly ten feet above the sea, he had a clear view of the battle. The five warships that had been previously destroyed had already sunk completely. The large ships, broken in two by the impact, were now
ablaze under the barrage of rockets, the flames quickly spreading into a raging inferno, billowing thick smoke. Although they were still clinging to life, their destruction was inevitable. Crossbow bolts, boulders, and rockets rained down from the sky. Under Long Feiyun's command, the warships darted through the waves, successfully dodging a volley of arrows and stones. However, their sidewalls were ignited by subsequent oil bombs, creating a slightly chaotic situation.
"Boom!" A dozen or so boulders were hurled from the front. Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan used their swords to deflect five or six of them. Meng Fei used the Hunyuan Wuji technique to move the two largest boulders aside. Deng Lei and Long Feiyun were not to be outdone. They used hidden weapons to forcibly destroy the boulders and wielded the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword to slash and cut, also "dealing with" many of them.
Only the last boulder, obscured by thick smoke, hit the bow side of the ship. Instantly, wood chips flew everywhere, and the entire ship tilted to the left. Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Su Hanbi all turned pale. Lin Yuxiu, the least timid of them all, burst into tears in Long Feiyun's arms.
With eight leaps and bounds, soaring upwards, Ren Xiaoyao's handsome figure landed on the deck of the Sea Falcon ship. A dozen samurai swords, gleaming with cold light, immediately came at him. Ren Xiaoyao, wanting to test his newly mastered Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, neither dodged nor evaded, not even drawing his Ice Soul Frost Sword, allowing the enemy's blade to attack him.
The warriors were overjoyed at this sight, shouting in unison that they would chop him into mincemeat.
However, just as the samurai swords were about to strike, a powerful and unstoppable force suddenly surged from Ren Xiaoyao's body, instantly repelling the warriors' true energy channeled into their blades. The samurai swords naturally changed direction, tracing a beautiful arc perfectly in harmony with the laws of nature, and pierced directly into the user's chest.
This was the first time the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force had been formally used in combat. Not only were the hundred-odd warriors nearby stunned, but even Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan on the opposite ship were dumbfounded. The most astonishing figure was Meng Fei, the creator of the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force. He had cultivated diligently on Coconut Island for over a decade, yet still needed to rely on palm strikes to deflect his opponent's force. Ren Xiaoyao, having practiced for less than three months, could achieve such miraculous results without lifting a hand or moving a foot, relying solely on his protective inner strength. Truly, the student had surpassed the master.
Watching their comrades die tragically, who among them dared to attack Ren Xiaoyao with their weapons? Wherever Ren Xiaoyao charged, the warriors retreated, each wielding their weapons like a whirlwind, protecting their vital points, not daring to make a single move—their stance was like mice before a cat.
Ren Xiaoyao was furious at his opponent's ruthless actions, sparing neither the old nor the young. He attacked without mercy, his moves, though seemingly simple, were all renowned martial arts techniques: Dragon Claw Hand, Arhat Fist, Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, Shadowless Leg... Though "stolen" from the martial arts tournament, they possessed only the form, lacking the substance. However, fueled by his innate supreme qi, their power was undiminished, and their speed and agility were even greater.
They dared not attack, only defending. Even a Jonin from Iga Valley would likely not last three moves, let alone these low-ranking samurai on a mission. Wherever Ren Xiaoyao went, it was like a tiger among sheep, slaughtering at will. The agonizing screams of bones breaking and flesh tearing, mixed with the heart-wrenching cries of pain, were chilling and deafening.
Ren Xiaoyao leaped onto the platform of the second-floor cabin. The dozens of warriors there, busy launching rockets and boulders, were completely oblivious to the commotion on the deck. With a shout, they charged forward, only to be swatted away by Ren Xiaoyao in the blink of an eye, scattering in all directions.
Another sea hawk ship, seemingly determined to fight to the death, tightened its sails and rammed into the main ship.
Seeing the situation was dire, Meng Fei leaped into the air, performing several somersaults before landing at the bow. His Xiaoyao Wuji Palm technique, powerful and unleashed, caused the hands of seven or eight enemies around him to crack, weapons falling from their hands as they scattered. Meng Fei swiftly moved towards the ship's side, intending to kill the helmsman and stop the sea hawk ship's advance.
A warrior leader with a small mustache seemed to see through his intentions and led his warriors forward to block him. Meng Fei used his full strength to kill several men in succession, but this left him surrounded by ten times his number of stubborn enemies. He wanted to rely on his lightness skill to escape, but the warrior leader's swordsmanship was ruthless, his attacks relentless, and his defenses were extremely tight. The remaining warriors were also very brave, and even with his Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, it would be difficult to kill them all in a short time.
The distance between the two ships was getting closer and closer. Just as Long Feiyun was about to order the sails to be furled and retreat, Yi Tianhan and Deng Lei let out a long roar and rushed onto the enemy ship at the same time. Before even landing, Yi Tianhan unleashed a Heavenly Thunder Without Fear, his highly condensed true energy crashing down like a meteorite, its earth-shattering power erupting violently. Within a two-zhang radius of the bow, the true energy trembled incessantly, rumbling and booming, as if the heavens themselves had undergone a cataclysmic change, darkening the sky and followed by a deluge of thunder. The terrifying energy surged and reverberated, instantly engulfing the helmsman and his dozen or so guards in a terrifying attack. Before they could even scream, they were reduced to piles of minced meat.
Deng Lei was even more formidable. With a flick of his sleeves, over ten kinds of deadly poisonous hidden weapons, large and small, including caltrops, mosquito needles, heart-piercing darts, soul-snatching darts, and heart-chasing arrows, shot out continuously. Some flew diagonally, some slashed horizontally, each with a different direction. At first glance, they seemed chaotic, but every single one hit its target.
The samurai were dead and wounded, their cries of agony echoing, but spurred on by the so-called "Bushido" spirit, they still surged forward like a tidal wave. Deng Lei's goal was to destroy the mast; he had no time to entangle with them. He took out a few crimson pills from his pocket, aimed at his target, and threw them with all his might.
With a series of loud "pops," countless projectiles exploded, sending up clouds of colorful poisonous mist that drifted towards the warriors. These were extremely rare Thunderfire Heart-Eating Bullets, containing saltpeter, gunpowder, and more than ten kinds of deadly poisons. Once detonated, everything within a radius of several feet was affected. Even those who could skillfully dodge the immense power of the gunpowder explosion could not escape the corrosive effects of the poisonous smoke and miasma.
The warriors were either blown to pieces, covered in wounds, or coughed incessantly, dizzy and disoriented, trampling and jostling each other in chaos. Deng Lei leaped onto the high platform, a throwing knife flashing from his hand. It instantly transformed into a blindingly bright light, so intense that it was impossible for anyone to look directly at it. With a thunderous explosion, the thick mast, as thick as a bowl
, snapped instantly. The sturdy oilcloth sail, along with several securing ropes, crashed down with a deafening roar, smashing several warriors who couldn't dodge in time, leaving them bleeding from the head. Without a helmsman and without sails, the sea hawk immediately tilted and began spinning in place, the waves it stirred up splashing all over the warriors. Although well-trained, they lacked experience in naval warfare, and suddenly felt dizzy and unsteady, their already chaotic formation becoming even more disorganized. Yi Tianhan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei, seasoned veterans, were unaffected, charging in and routing their opponents, who fled in disarray, crying out for their doom. The samurai were either killed instantly, severely injured, or fell into the sea in haste. The Iga Valley followers, who had been so fierce and clamoring "Hand over the people if you don't want to die," were wiped out in the blink of an eye.
The three turned to look. The battle on Ren Xiaoyao's side was over. Unlike Yi Tianhan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei's ruthless slaughter, apart from the dozens of samurai who had foolishly rushed up to stop them and were all killed, the others who had surrendered voluntarily knelt in seven or eight rows on the bow deck, each holding up their samurai swords and kowtowing and begging for mercy. Ren Xiaoyao, on the other hand, sat on the gunwale, legs crossed, a straw he had gotten from somewhere dangling from his mouth, smiling and waving at the women. It was unclear whether he was boasting or showing off.
As the two ships drew closer, Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi, along with the little boy, came to the bow of the sea falcon ship. Ren Xiaoyao turned to the warriors and said in a deep voice, "Speak! Why did you pursue him and that old man?"
The warriors exchanged glances, none of them answering.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with murderous intent, his tone as cold as ice, and he said coldly, "What, you won't speak?" A haughty smile appeared on his lips as he slowly drew the Ice Soul Frost Sword.
A blue light flashed, dazzling and brilliant, overshadowing the moonlight, starlight, and firelight.
The warriors had never seen such a magnificent and powerful weapon before, and they were all dumbfounded.
Ren Xiaoyao deliberately loosened his grip, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword immediately sank more than two feet into the deck, reaching the hilt.
A chorus of exclamations arose from all around.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, exuding a heroic and unrestrained spirit, and declared loudly, "Now? You may all speak."
The warriors' faces showed fear. Just when everyone thought their psychological defenses had completely collapsed, dozens of warriors suddenly turned their blades around, plunging them into their left ribs, then flipping the blades upwards and pulling them horizontally to their right groins. With blood spurting out, the warriors collapsed to the ground with thuds, lifeless. This sudden and

bloody turn of events in Volume Twenty-Nine, Chapter Three

, even with Ren Xiaoyao's unparalleled speed of reaction, was too late to stop them. He could only watch helplessly as dozens of living men became corpses, unable to utter a single word.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei had roamed the martial world for decades and seen all sorts of storms, but they were still deeply shocked by the scene of a large number of warriors committing suicide with their swords. Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun had personally experienced battles and remained unfazed by the tens of thousands of corpses lying under Xunfeng City, but now that only a few dozen people had died, they inexplicably felt nauseous and felt goosebumps all over their bodies if they looked at them any longer.
Nangong Fengyi trembled and said, "This...this is the so-called Bushido spirit?"
Long Feiyun said solemnly, "That's right. If the mission fails, one commits seppuku to prove one's integrity with one's death."
Ren Xiaoyao's face showed a thoughtful expression, and he smiled bitterly, "The people of Iga Valley are all fearless. If the entire Hokushin Itto-ryu had such courage, then..."
Long Feiyun said lightly, "What, are you afraid?"
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly and said proudly, "That day, I single-handedly defended the drawbridge with my sword, facing 400,000 wolves and tigers of Liao troops without retreating. The mere seven major sects of Fusang...hmph, this sect leader doesn't even consider them a threat."
Yi Tianhan pondered, "What should we do with the ship and the corpses?"
Deng Lei said decisively, "Burn them, so as not to leave any traces. Anyway, no one was left alive. Once the fire is lit, no one will ever know that we did it."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded slowly.
The group returned to the cabin and began to ask the boy why he was being chased.
The boy claimed to be Kurosaki Masayoshi, the son of the late Left Minister Kurosaki Hideyasu. Kurosaki Hideyasu disagreed with Fujiwara no Michitaka, the Grand Councilor who controlled the court, and was also involved in the matter of deposing the Crown Prince. As a result, Fujiwara no Michitaka accused him of plotting a rebellion and executed his entire family. Kurosaki Masayoshi secretly fled under the protection of his retainer, Takahashi Hirose. However, he was discovered by Fujiwara no Michitaka as soon as he left Kyoto and was pursued by Iga Valley samurai all the way to the sea.
Su Hanbi felt great pity and pulled Kurosaki Masayoshi into her arms, gently stroking his forehead and softly saying, "Little brother, you don't need to be afraid with us here. Even if the entire Iga Valley comes out, they won't be able to hurt you in the slightest." Kurosaki
Masayoshi nodded obediently and said happily, "Yes, I saw it all just now. Big brother and the uncles' martial arts are so powerful! The samurai of Iga Valley are no match for you."
Yi Tianhan laughed heartily and said arrogantly, "Don't even mention mere samurai. Even if it were the sect leader of Iga Valley, I wouldn't take him seriously."
Long Feiyun said solemnly, "The disciples of various ninjutsu schools in Japan are divided into four ranks: Jonin, Chunin, Genin, and the lowest-ranking samurai. After joining a school, they study for three years before receiving the samurai rank. Only one Genin is selected from every ten samurai, and one Chunin is selected from every twenty Genin through a competition."
Lin Yuxiu asked sweetly, "What about Jonin?"
Long Feiyun's bright eyes A strange light shone from him as he explained, “Becoming a Jonin is the ultimate dream of every samurai… no, it should be said that it is the grand ambition of every Japanese person. The title of Jonin is not just a name or a rank, but an honor, a supreme honor. Becoming a Jonin is extremely difficult. Not only do you need more than twenty years of training experience, thirty consecutive victories in duels, and the completion of fifty missions, but you also have to pass a rigorous examination. As for the specific method, I don’t know.”
Kurosaki Masayoshi interjected, “There are three ways. First, pass the examination in the presence of three Jonin, including the sect leader; second, get the recommendation of six Jonin and the approval of all the Jonin in the sect; third, kill the current Jonin in the presence of two hundred fellow disciples. Uncle Takahashi was originally a Jonin of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school. If it weren’t for protecting me, he wouldn’t have been killed by Fukuyama Jun.” As he spoke, his eyes reddened, and he looked like he was about to shed tears.
Nangong Fengzi blinked her large, beautiful eyes and said in a sweet voice, "Fukuyama Jun, ah, that tall, thin man who was shot to death by Brother Xiaoyao, was he... was he also a Jonin?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi shook his head and said, "There are only nine Jonin in Iga Valley, how could it be his turn?"
Everyone was shocked. Fukuyama Jun shot Takahashi Hirose to death from dozens of feet away. Although Ren Xiaoyao used the same method against him and sent him to meet the King of Hell, his skill of spreading his arrows from a hundred paces away was rare even in the Central Plains. Such a skilled archer could only be ranked as a Chunin. It seems that the Japanese martial arts world is indeed full of hidden talents.
Shui Furong leaned forward and asked, "Zhengliang, what are your plans for the future? Should we send someone to take you to the Central Plains?"
Kurosaki Zhengliang pondered for a moment and pleaded, "Could you send me to Nara?"
Long Feiyun made an excuse, "You mean the capital of your country two hundred years ago—Heijō-kyō?"
Kurosaki Zhengliang nodded and said, "Yes, my father's good friend, Uncle Shinguji Ryūken, lives in the Hueco M?bius Palace in the west of Nara. As long as I find him, I will be safe."
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan exchanged a glance and said in unison, "The head of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, Shinguji Ryūhū?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi replied, "Yes, the Hueco Mundo is the headquarters of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Only members of the sect are allowed to enter. Uncle Shinguji arranged for me to stay there, guaranteeing that the other side won't dare to make any rash moves."
Ren Xiaoyao's mind stirred slightly, and he gave Long Feiyun a wink. The latter immediately picked up Kurosaki Masayoshi with a smile and said softly, "Fujiwara no Michitaka controls the government, and Iga Valley is full of powerful martial artists. Although the Hokushin Ittō-ryū is a renowned sect in the martial arts world, it may not be able to protect you completely."
Kurosaki Masayoshi puffed out his chest and said confidently, "The Hokushin Ittō-ryū, the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, and the Kamiya..." The Living Heart School is the strongest among the seven major schools, known as the Three Absolute Schools. The thirteen Jonin under Uncle Shinmiya are all exceptional individuals, their strength surpassing that of some minor school leaders. As for Iga Valley, besides its leader Kubo Kousuke, vice-leader Mutou Ran, and the Five Beauties (Hasegawa Izumi, Oishi Ayaka, Yoshizawa Akiho, Kusano Mizuki, and Haneda Yuuka) among the nine Jonin, the others are simply incomparable.
"Are the Five Beauties all women?" Shui Furong asked urgently.
Kurosaki Masayoshi replied, "Yes, they are all over forty, but they look like young girls in their prime."
Su Hanbi exclaimed in astonishment, "This...how is this possible? Even with the secret to eternal youth..." "...
Kurosaki Masayoshi stomped his foot and said fiercely, "They've all practiced superior seduction and sedation techniques. If a man can't resist their allure and has sex with them, his own essence will be completely drained. That's why they never age... Hmm, in your Chinese language, it's called 'beautiful as a peach blossom, venomous as a snake!'"
Shui Furong glared at Ren Xiaoyao, seemingly intentionally, and said coldly, "Men, which one isn't lustful? Especially when someone throws themselves at them. It's hard to remain unmoved."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled awkwardly and said softly, "Masayoshi, have you ever considered what would happen if someone in the Hokushin Ittō-ryū couldn't resist and fell for the Five Beauties' tricks?" "If you let them into Hueco Mundo, you'll be in danger."
Kurosaki Masayoshi asserted, "No, Uncle Shinguji is the head of the Seven Great Sects. Even if Kubo Kosuke had the guts, he wouldn't dare send anyone to cause trouble in Hueco Mundo."
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. Shui Furong asked with difficulty, "You mean that all the Seven Great Sects are subservient to Shinguji Ryuugen?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi casually replied, "Not only that, but all forty-seven ninjutsu schools in the country follow the Hokushin Ittō-ryū as their master."
Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan's expressions changed drastically. According to Kurosaki Masayoshi, Shinguji Ryuugen not only controlled the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, but could also freely mobilize the Seven Great Sects and even any martial artist in the Japanese martial arts world. It seemed that rescuing the emperor was not just a simple competition, and it might really provoke a conflict between the martial arts worlds of the two countries.
Long Feiyun tentatively asked, "Have you personally witnessed the True Palace Master using ninjutsu?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi shook his head and said, "Of course! Last year, Uncle Long Xuan came to the Imperial... Left Minister's Mansion to visit Father, and he exchanged a few blows with... Father's personal guard. I saw it clearly."
Long Feiyun pointed at Ren Xiaoyao and asked with a smile, "Then, in your opinion, who is more skilled, the True Palace Master or the older brother who saved you?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi answered without hesitation, "My brother is far inferior!"

Ren Xiaoyao

was stunned upon hearing this and said awkwardly, "In what way is he inferior?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi bluntly said, "Uncle Long Xuan can suddenly disappear before my eyes with his Five Elements Escape Technique, and I can't find him no matter how hard I look, but my older brother
can only fly away to a distance, and I can see him if I look carefully."
Everyone smiled at each other. The Five Elements Escape Technique is the foundation of Japanese ninjutsu and is usually used for escape. For example, Metal Release uses metal to reflect light and damage the opponent's
eyes ; Wood Release uses climbing, jumping, and various disguises to confuse the opponent; Fire Release uses flames and smoke to create a wide-ranging visual obstruction. All
ninjas are qualified to learn these techniques, but their offensive power and skill levels vary. Kurosaki Masayoshi was only nine years old; how could he understand the intricacies of these techniques?
To him, Shinguji Ryuugen's Five Elements Release techniques from Fusang were no different from those used by ordinary ninjas, leading him to mistakenly believe that Ren Xiaoyao
was far inferior . Otherwise, how could someone with eight leaps and bounds, capable of traversing dozens of feet in an instant, lose to a mere Five Elements Release technique?
Kurosaki Masayoshi stammered, "Big brother, you and the other uncles and sisters probably have other important matters to attend to and don't have time to take me to Nara, right?"
Long Feiyun chuckled, "How could that be? We're just here for sightseeing, to enjoy the exotic scenery. Nara is the former capital of Japan, so it must
have . Going there won't hurt."
Ren Xiaoyao readily agreed, "It's fate that we met here. Don't worry, big brother will make sure you get safely into the hands of the head of Shinguji Temple." With Kurosaki
Masayoshi's help, the group could legitimately join the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school, and even gain the trust of Shinguji Ryūgen, taking the opportunity to enter Hueco Mundo and secretly gather
information about Hanashi-kun. Why not?
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Several days later, the group landed in Tottori. Walking along the coastline lined with white sand and green pines, and looking at the various people around them wearing wooden clogs and kimonos,
they felt a strong sense of exoticism.
Unexpectedly, besides them, there were quite a few Song people speaking Chinese, and even several shops run by Tingyuxuan along the street. It turned out that
Tottori was Japan's largest trading port, a hub for merchants from all over the world, where all industries flourished. Naturally, Tingyuxuan, which controlled the economic lifeline of the Song Dynasty and was incredibly wealthy, was indispensable.
Several years ago, Nangong Bubai had sent his capable subordinates eastward in four merchant ships to exchange silk, tea, and porcelain from the Central Plains for Japanese specialties.
Over time they simply opened shops, serving as transit points for trade between the two countries.
To avoid revealing their whereabouts, the group did not disclose their identities, nor did they dine at a Han Chinese restaurant. Instead, they followed Kurosaki Masayoshi to the most famous local restaurant
to sample authentic Japanese cuisine.
While the dishes were being served, Kurosaki Masayoshi explained, "Washoku, also known as Japanese cuisine, originated from the Japanese royal family three hundred years ago. It gradually spread to the common people and
developed into a variety of unique dishes. The staple food is mainly rice and noodles, while the side dishes are mostly fresh seafood such as fish and shrimp, paired with our unique sake
. I guarantee you'll never forget it."
Shui Furong chimed in, "The preparation of Japanese cuisine requires fresh ingredients, exquisite knife skills, and artistic presentation. It emphasizes the
harmonious unity of color, aroma, taste, and presentation, especially valuing not only the taste but also the visual enjoyment. Washoku requires natural colors, delicious flavors, diverse shapes, and exquisite tableware.
The ingredients and cooking methods emphasize seasonality, and there are many kinds of food, with each region having its own local flavors."
As she spoke, sashimi, sushi, tempura, sukiyaki, stone-grilled dishes, and yakitori were served one after another.
Sashimi, or raw fish slices, mainly uses sea bream, flounder, plaice, and sea bass as ingredients. The slices are uniformly thin and long, and the dish is garnished with shredded daikon
radish , seaweed, and perilla flowers, making it both beautiful and elegant. The "Kaiseki Sashimi" ordered by Kurosaki Masayoshi is a masterpiece among sashimi,
made with thinly sliced pufferfish after removing the toxins, using the fattyest part of the belly, resulting in a particularly delicious flavor.
Sushi, also known as Four Delights Rice, is a representative Japanese dish. To make sushi, vinegar, sugar, salt, and cooking wine are added to the rice, along with seaweed and
wasabi . The rice is then shaped into small balls and topped with various raw fish slices, small fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc. This is called "nigiri sushi." Rice is spread on top of sushi...
Top with raw fish slices, seaweed, etc., roll it up into a cylindrical shape, and you have "rolled sushi".
Tempura is a mixed fried food. It is made by mixing flour, eggs, and water to form a batter. Fish, shrimp, and vegetables are coated in the batter and deep-fried until golden brown. It is eaten
with a dipping sauce of soy sauce and grated radish . It is tender, delicious, and fragrant but not greasy.
Sukiyaki is similar to hot pot in the Central Plains. It is made by simmering thinly sliced beef with seafood, vegetables, etc., and then
eating it with a dipping sauce made of raw egg, soy sauce, and sugar.
Stone-grilled and yakitori are both grilled dishes. The difference is that stone-grilled beef is grilled on hot stones and eaten with fresh soy sauce, while yakitori is made by skewering sliced chicken
on thin bamboo skewers, dipping it in a sauce made of soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, etc., and then grilling it over a fire.
Kurosaki Masayoshi, adopting the demeanor of a host, introduced each dish in turn, then smiled and said, “When eating sushi, the flavors should progress from mild to strong. Start with the raw fish and then
savor the sushi ; this allows you to better appreciate its taste. We Japanese believe in eating cold dishes cold and hot dishes hot. Even in the royal family, we eat
quite casually, unlike your aristocratic families in Central China who have complex etiquette rules, where even meals are governed by seniority and hierarchy.”
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Kurosaki Masayoshi was delighted and continued, “Japanese cuisine is extremely particular about form and color, using exquisite serving dishes to complement the food. The presentation is breathtaking
, each dish like a meticulously detailed ink painting from Central China, with ample white space, making it almost too beautiful to eat. Yet, it is all served cold,
never relying on aroma to entice. Like our geisha, they are aloof and haughty, keeping people at a distance, their inherent pride exceptional. Between visual appeal and culinary beauty
, they create a unique atmosphere that allows the diner to appreciate the Japanese…” Sang's culinary culture has a refreshing yet hazy feel.
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun exchanged a glance, their eyes showing slight surprise. Initially, they had only assumed Kurosaki Masayoshi was a pampered
son , never expecting him to be so knowledgeable about the Japanese martial arts world. Now, seeing that his understanding of his native cuisine even
surpassed that of the aristocratic Nangong Fengyi's familiarity with Zhejiang cuisine, coupled with his leisurely demeanor and eloquent commentary when introducing the dishes, it was hard to believe he was a
child under ten years old. Perhaps the claim of being the orphan of the Left Minister Kurosaki Hideyasu was a fabricated identity, a trick to lure everyone to Nara so that he could meet Shinguji Ryuugen—
Kurosaki Masayoshi's ultimate goal.
Noticing the strange expressions on their faces, Kurosaki Masayoshi explained, seemingly intentionally, "These are all things my father said when he hosted the Korean envoys. I don't know
if they're true or not; I'm sorry for making you all laugh." "
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun, being so clever, would not easily dismiss their suspicions about Kurosaki Masayoshi's true identity. Just as they were about to try to extract information,
two . The first one appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, with a voluptuous figure. She wore a purple-gold phoenix robe and an apricot-gold coin skirt, her hair styled in a hundred-treasure flower bun. The front of her long skirt
swept the ground, and the back trailed more than a foot behind, with red and yellow ribbons hanging down. Her head, neck, hands, waist, and feet were adorned with various ornaments made of gemstones, jade, and shells, which
jingled as she swept through the air. Her beautiful, watery eyes exuded a foxy charm, and although her demeanor was graceful, her gaze was frivolous and seductive." She seemed indiscriminate, readily
accepting anyone who caught her eye.
Behind her stood a graceful woman, her skin as white as snow, her eyebrows delicately arched, her cheeks rosy with spring-like radiance. She looked no more than twenty years old. Dressed in a black samurai outfit
that accentuated her beautiful figure, she appeared outwardly radiant and aloof, but her beauty was entirely different from Nangong Fengyi's ethereal, otherworldly aura. She
possessed a foxy charm and a subtle wildness that emanated from her very bones, possessing an immense allure and seduction power over men. When she met your gaze, you
felt she transformed into another person; the bewitching heat in her eyes drew you in like a magnet. It was as if she were testing a man's willpower, reminding one of her unrestrained
demeanor—seductive, alluring, and enchanting, seemingly encouraging one to make love with her, arousing extreme desire.
All attention was drawn to them. The two women, seeing the fiery gazes from the diners, were not offended at all. Instead, they put their hands behind their backs, making
their breasts appear even more prominent, and moved seductively to the next table, their captivating gazes sweeping across the hall, undoubtedly causing countless men's hearts to flutter.
Ren Xiaoyao keenly sensed that the two women were unusual. He deliberately feigned a confused and infatuated appearance, staring intently at them, while secretly gathering his inner energy
to probe their true intentions. On the left, Shui Furong, consumed by jealousy, reached out and pinched Ren Xiaoyao hard in the ribs, causing him to almost cry out in pain.
Ren Xiaoyao turned around sheepishly, about to offer an explanation, when he suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Looking closely, he saw it was Kurosaki Masayoshi. He shrank
back , lowered his head, and remained silent. He dipped his index finger in some wine and wrote nine striking characters on the table: "Kusano Mizuki, Haneda Yuuka."

(Volume 29, Chapter 5: Foreign Beauties)

Ren Xiaoyao was slightly startled. Kuusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka were the five beauties of Igagaya that Kurosaki Masayoshi had mentioned. He immediately used his telepathic communication skills and asked in a deep
voice , "Did they come to see you?" "[]
Kurosaki Masayoshi shook his head, looking deep in thought. The two sea hawks and five warships were either sunk or burned, and not a single samurai on board
survived. Fearing that the lack of news from Fukuyama Jun in Iga Valley would arouse suspicion, the group specially set sail north to land in Tottori, hundreds of miles away. Even if Kubo Kousuke was
clever, he couldn't have foreseen this and sent Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka to intercept them in advance.
Ren Xiaoyao patted Kurosaki Masayoshi to comfort him and said, "Eat in peace, they won't recognize you." Long Feiyun, with her meticulous mind, had specially
disguised Kurosaki Masayoshi before leaving the ship , and she hadn't expected it to come in handy so soon.
Kurosaki Masayoshi felt somewhat relieved by her composed demeanor, but couldn't bring himself to describe the dishes, only focusing on eating and drinking. Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and
Deng Lei were engrossed in enjoying the Japanese cuisine and didn't seem to care much, except for the always "brave and combative" Yi Tianhan, who slammed his palm on the table.
Meng Fei quickly caught it with his Hunyuan Wuji technique, lowering his voice to say, "Brother Yi, don't act rashly."
Yi Tianhan retorted angrily, "Hmph, even if Ghost Netherworld God and Hentian himself came, I wouldn't need to swallow my anger. If you don't dare to act, I will!" "He's
fiercely independent and hates evil like poison. For decades, he's been unyielding and stubborn. Asking him to suppress his anger in front of two women is
worse .
Having said all that, backing down now would be beneath Yi Tianhan's dignity. Ren Xiaoyao lowered his voice and said, 'If we're going to do this, let's go all the way and
take down Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka together!'
Yi Tianhan smiled confidently and said arrogantly, 'No need. You all guard them; I'll go.'
Fu Longyuan pondered, 'The Five Beauties are skilled in escape techniques. If they escape, the consequences will be unimaginable. I think it's best if we brothers go together, with Brother Meng,
Mr. Deng and Xiaoyao providing backup.'" "He valued his status and, even though he was determined to kill Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka to silence them, he was unwilling to use numbers against the few. Just as
everyone was about to make their move, a large group of samurai suddenly entered through the door. They walked up to Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka, bowed respectfully, and stood
on either side with their heads bowed."
Ren Xiaoyao, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Deng Lei, and the others exchanged bewildered glances. This group of samurai numbered thirty or forty. Even if they launched a sudden attack, it was difficult
to guarantee that they could all be killed. Besides, the place where they were eating was in a bustling city. If they couldn't finish the fight quickly, it would attract the attention of the authorities, making things even more difficult.
Everyone turned their gaze to Ren Xiaoyao, waiting for him to make a decision.
Ren Xiaoyao shook his head, indicating that they should hold off on their attack and observe the situation.
Kurosaki Masayoshi looked surprised and muttered, "Strange, why has even the Shinsengumi of the Hanzo Sect been mobilized?"
Long Feiyun asked in astonishment, "Hanzo Sect? Shinsengumi? Are they also a ninja sect affiliated with the Japanese royal family?
" Kurosaki Masayoshi lowered his voice and said, "No, the Hanzo Sect is a branch of the Iga Valley, and it is also the most mysterious martial arts organization in the Japanese martial arts world. Kubo Kousuke has been in charge of the Iga
Valley for more than ten years and has never used it lightly." The Hanzomon is divided into three major factions: the Red News Team, the Shogiban, and the Shinsengumi. The Red News Team is responsible for intelligence gathering, the Shogiban
for analysis, and the Shinsengumi for assassinations. "It's said to be the most mysterious martial arts organization, yet he knows it inside and out."
Kurosaki Masayoshi paused, then continued, "To join the Shinsengumi, one must relinquish their ninja title. So, on the surface, Shinsengumi members all appear to be samurai, but in
reality , each one's strength rivals that of a Chunin, even surpassing the Royal Guard."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, saying softly, "Heh, your life seems quite precious, even..."
Kurosaki Masayoshi shook his head, resolutely stating, "I guarantee they're not here to kill me."
Ren Xiaoyao asked in surprise, "Oh? How so?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi leaned forward, saying, "At first, when I saw Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka, I thought it was a leak, and Kubo Kousuke had sent them to hunt me down.
I never expected the Shinsengumi to appear here." Although the Shinsengumi belonged to Iga Valley and were subject to the control of the Five Beauties, every member of the Shinsengumi had to abide by
the rules of the Hanzo Sect. Any violation would result in expulsion from Iga Valley or, more seriously, seppuku.
Ren Xiaoyao asked with a smile, "Could it be that the rules forbid harming you?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi replied, "Yes, the first rule is: all members of the Hanzo Sect must not use their blades on virgins. Therefore, the Shinsengumi's trip here is definitely
not ."
Just then, a samurai stumbled into the shop and whispered something to Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka. Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka's expressions
changed drastically. They didn't even have time to taste the sashimi and sushi that had just been served. They threw down silver ingots and led the samurai away.
Long Feiyun chuckled, "Hahaha, just as Masayoshi said, Iga Valley's target is someone else."
Yi Tianhan's tiger eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said coldly, "Everyone, please eat first. I'll go and see ."
Fu Longyuan quickly grabbed his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "This is Japan, not the Central Plains. We need to get down to business; there's no time for unnecessary trouble." Yi
Tianhan's body trembled violently, and he fell silent.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
After a satisfying meal, the group returned to the dock. After properly settling the ship and collecting necessary items, they immediately headed to Nara.
They left the dock via the western main road, lined with shops and houses, but returned via the eastern road. The eastern side was a cluster of general stores and a gathering place for
the . On both sides of the street stood many ragged, emaciated commoners. Some had set up large pots to cook the thinnest porridge; some
huddled in corners, groaning weakly; some simply dragged their wives and children, crying and begging from passersby.
Nangong Fengyi sighed softly, "Alas, I never imagined that even in the prosperous and bustling city of Tottori, there would be such impoverished people." “The conflict between the rich and the poor can never be eliminated, ”
Long Feiyun said with deep feeling. “Hangzhou, Bianjing, and even Xunfeng City, where is there a lack of…”
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, “Stop talking, give them some silver.”
Long Feiyun murmured, “This is Fusang, it’s best not to interfere…”
Ren Xiaoyao turned around like a whirlwind, his face solemn, “All people under heaven are one family. Whether it’s Fusang or the Great Song, they should all be treated equally.”
Long Feiyun nodded with deep understanding. Just as she reached into her bosom, a woman’s voice, gentle and pure like a fairy, suddenly rang out behind her: “Xiangtai, distribute
these rice balls to the people.” Everyone
turned to look, and saw a beautifully crafted sedan chair parked ten feet away. Four expressionless black-clad warriors stood on either side.
A corner of lifted, revealing a slender, elegant hand carrying a food basket. The fingers were long and graceful, the movements light and graceful, and the fair, rosy skin
more dazzling than any pearl or jade.
The warrior hesitated, saying, "Miss, these are eel rice balls specially made for you by Madam. How can you just give them away like this…?"
A gentle, clear voice came from inside the sedan chair: "Take them, quickly." These three simple words, spoken softly, possessed an irresistible
charm.
The warrior dared not disobey, obediently taking the basket and distributing the rice balls to the beggars around.
The beggars were moved to tears, kowtowing repeatedly around the sedan chair in gratitude.
Nangong Fengzi exclaimed in astonishment, "A few rice balls, is such a show necessary?"
Kurosaki Masayoshi laughed, “Sister, you don’t know this, but in our Japan, the social hierarchy is very strict. Eel rice balls are a food exclusively for nobles. Ordinary people
rarely even see them, let alone eat them.” Nangong
Fengzi suddenly realized, “I see… Ah, so the woman sitting in the sedan chair is a noblewoman.”
Kurosaki Masayoshi nodded, “That’s right, and not just any noblewoman.” "
As they were speaking, a gentle breeze blew by, lifting the sedan curtain. Ren Xiaoyao focused his gaze and looked ahead, clearly seeing
a graceful young woman in warrior attire sitting inside. She wore a bamboo hat and two layers of light veils. While others might not know what lay beneath, Ren Xiaoyao, having mastered the
Innate Supreme Qi, possessed extraordinary abilities. With a single glance, he saw without obstruction a pair of bright, deep, and captivating eyes behind the veils, and even
glimpsed her celestial beauty. Her eyebrows were delicate and arched, her cheeks rosy, and her soft, black hair
flowed advanced age." She looked no older than twenty, with two bright red lips like dewy flower petals, and two
dimples on her jade cheeks that seemed to smile endlessly. Her naturally shy and charming demeanor was captivating, making it impossible not to be mesmerized. [
Ren Xiaoyao was instantly mesmerized, completely unaware of the jealous gaze of Shui Furong beside him.

Volume 29, Chapter 6: A Glimpse of Beauty

. Long Feiyun quietly nudged Ren Xiaoyao with her elbow. He immediately understood, feigning careful observation, deep thought, and profound understanding, and said with emotion
, "Their divine light is restrained, their steps are steady, and there's a hidden killing intent in their every move. If I'm not mistaken, the four sedan chair bearers are all top-tier experts."] "
This wasn't just empty talk. After mastering the Innate Supreme Qi, his perception and spiritual awareness of internal energy channels far surpassed what he used to have. Unless it was someone
at the level of , anyone slightly inferior could be seen through at a glance. []
Shui Furong glared at him irritably and said coldly, "Where's the girl in the sedan chair?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, feigning seriousness, and said, "As for other things, I dare not say, but at least she's better than you, Furong."
Shui Furong's almond-shaped eyes widened in anger, and she was about to explode when Yi Tianhan pondered, "Xiaoyao is not wrong. This girl is indeed a hidden
master . Not to mention you, even Fei Yun might not be able to match her."
Shui Furong pouted defiantly, her face full of disdain, and said arrogantly, "Hmph, I don't believe it."
Fu Longyuan said calmly, "It's the truth, you can't deny it."
Meng Fei and Deng Lei exchanged a smile and nodded in agreement.
Shui Furong became even angrier, but hearing her master, her uncle, and several seniors all so certain, she knew that what Ren Xiaoyao said was true. She had been raised by Yi Tianhan
, and had learned his stubborn and unyielding nature perfectly. Since she couldn't beat him in martial arts, she could only compete in generosity.
Shui Furong abruptly stopped, snatched the silver pouch from Nangong Fengzi's hand, strode forward, and without even glancing at it, pulled out a fifty-tael silver note and
waved it in front of the begging mother and daughter, saying in broken Japanese, "Auntie, take this, buy some food for the child."
The woman was taken aback, looked up at Shui Furong, her eyes showing not gratitude but rather astonishment. Shui Furong assumed she was just dazzled
by the amount , and smiled as she placed the silver note in the woman's hand.
The woman hesitated for a moment, then used the silver note to wrap the rice ball she had just received, and staggered away with her child in her arms. Seeing her run towards the port
market beautiful eyes immediately brightened, she smiled sweetly, and happily raised her head, whether to show off her intelligence to Ren Xiaoyao or to demonstrate
her power to the woman in the sedan chair was unclear.
Unexpectedly, the woman stopped at the corner and handed the rice ball along with the silver note to an elderly man with white hair at the street corner. The old man, his eyes brimming with tears, tremblingly
took the rice ball and wolfed it down, swallowing it along with the silver note in the blink of an eye.
Everyone looked at each other, stunned. Prices in Japan were much lower than in the Song Dynasty; fifty taels of silver would be enough for an ordinary person for more than ten years
. Why did she eat it?
Kurosaki Masayoshi explained with a smile, “In Japan, we can only use gold, silver, or copper coins to buy and sell goods. Although your country’s silver notes are accepted in the Liao,
Western Xia , Dali, and Tibet, they are no different from ordinary paper in the eyes of our people. I suppose that aunt thought that what Sister Shui gave her was
the oil paper used to wrap the rice ball, so she…”
Shui Furong’s attempt to show off backfired, turning pale and then red. The most playful Nangong Fengzi and Lin Yuxiu were already laughing so hard
they were breathless .
Ren Xiaoyao was about to say a few words to help Shui Furong out of her predicament when the woman's delicate, unassuming voice, seemingly devoid of
any , why are you making fun of her?" She spoke fluent Mandarin, her pronunciation and rhyme sounding even more accurate than Kurosaki Masayoshi's.
Ren Xiaoyao's curiosity was piqued, but before he could even try to engage the beautiful Japanese woman in conversation, four samurai had already lifted
the sedan chair and quickly headed out of the alley.
Ren Xiaoyao called out urgently, "Miss, wait..." His words were cut short when his ear was suddenly grabbed; he knew without a doubt it was Shui Furong.
Shui Furong looked so angry she almost vomited blood. She grumbled, "Hmph, you ignored me when I made a fool of myself, all your attention was
on You stupid idiot, you stinking idiot!" Her small, white hands pounded frantically against Ren Xiaoyao's chest. She was unaware that Ren Xiaoyao possessed the ability to see through veils and
gaze directly at a young girl's beautiful face; she wasn't sure if he was lustful, otherwise he would have used his extraordinary slap.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed and pulled Shui Furong into his arms. Shui Furong tried desperately to break free, but he held her slender waist tightly, making her
unable .
Shui Furong wanted to curse but couldn't; her cherry lips were already sealed. Ren Xiaoyao forced open her pearly teeth, his tongue probing into her moist, fragrant mouth,
giving her a passionate kiss in front of all the women.
The women blushed, but had to admit they also longed to be "bullied" like this by Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao released Shui Furong and whispered something in her ear. Shui Furong's cheeks immediately flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly, her earlier anger completely forgotten
.
She certainly didn't know that at this moment, Ren Xiaoyao's mind was filled with the fleeting glimpse he had just caught when the sedan curtain was lifted.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
After settling the ship, the group split into two to head to Nara. One group consisted of Ren Xiaoyao, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, Deng Lei, Kurosaki Masayoshi, and
the women ; the other group consisted of the accompanying members of the Tianji Sect and their interpreter.
Although they had important business to attend to, they couldn't resist enjoying the unique scenery of the foreign land along the way.
Having arrived in Tottori, they naturally had to visit the Tottori Sand Dunes, one of Japan's most famous scenic wonders, located in eastern Tottori Prefecture.
Despite his young age, Kurosaki Masayoshi described the scenery with great expertise: "The Tottori Sand Dunes stretch from Mount Shichi in the east to Cape Keita in the west, about
thirty li and five li wide. They are
a natural masterpiece created over thousands of years by volcanic ash that accumulated on the mud and sand that fell onto the Chiyo River and was blown by the sea winds and waves."
The group looked in the direction he pointed and saw the magnificent sand dunes, ever-changing and endless. The sand curtains that slid down like an avalanche,
the various patterns blown by the sea winds, and the undulating hills and depressions together painted a beautiful and moving picture.
Ren Xiaoyao looked around and suddenly asked, "Zhengliang, is the scenery here unique in Japan?"
Kurosaki Zhengliang nodded and said, "That's right. The Tottori Sand Dunes are one of the ten most famous scenic spots in Japan, attracting a large number of tourists. Even royalty and nobles make
time to come here every year."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "Why isn't there a single person around?"
Long Feiyun pointed to the surrounding sand and said with a serious expression, "Yes, look, there are still footprints on the ground. Obviously, there were many
people here not long ago."
Kurosaki Zhengliang was suddenly startled and murmured, "Could it be... that Igagani has seen through my... my identity and is planning... planning to ambush me here
?"
Long Feiyun shook her head and said, "Impossible. First, my disguise is flawless; it's not so easy for the other party to identify me. Second, if they wanted to lure
us into a trap, they wouldn't need to be so obvious and arouse our suspicion for no reason. Third, with Igagani's strength..."
"Wait!" Ren Xiaoyao abruptly waved his hand, interrupting Long Feiyun. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he were gathering his inner strength to investigate the surrounding situation. After a moment,
he turned his gaze to a sand dune thirty feet to the southwest. He took a deep breath and pondered, "There's a fight behind that dune!" He swayed slightly with his feet
and charged forward at lightning speed.
Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei exchanged glances and followed closely behind. Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi flanked Kurosaki
Masayoshi, while Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong,
and Lin Yuxiu cautiously remained in place.
Ren Xiaoyao was the first to leap onto the sand dune. Even though he was mentally prepared, he still froze in shock when he looked down. A
large circular was densely packed with samurai, surrounding four black-clad ninjas... or rather, the four black-clad palanquin bearers he had seen near the docks earlier
, locked in fierce combat. The purple palanquin carrying the noblewoman fluent in Chinese was parked on the left side of the circular area, its curtains moving without wind, vaguely revealing her slender and alluring figure. If
it were ordinary samurai, Ren Xiaoyao would have no reason to worry, but all of the dozen or so samurai were members of the Shinsengumi, with the two beauties, Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka , providing
support.
Kurosaki Masayoshi was right after all; every samurai in the Shinsengumi was as strong as a Chunin. Although the four black-clad palanquin bearers were top-notch fighters,
they could only form a defensive formation under the attack of enemies several times their number, with no chance to fight back. In the blink of an eye, two people had been injured by the enemy, and the situation was becoming increasingly
passive .
Ren Xiaoyao had always disliked bullying the weak and taking advantage of the crowd, and besides, he could also save the damsel in distress while doing his chivalrous deed, so why not? Ren Xiaoyao
secretly gathered his strength, reached for the Ice Soul Frost Sword, and planned to launch a sudden attack with overwhelming force to take down the leaders, Hisano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka, first
.
The sword had barely been drawn half an inch when his wrist was pressed down. Then a deep, reassuring voice sounded in his ear: "These four are using the Hokushin Itto-ryu
style . Let them fight like dogs with the Iga Valley followers. Don't interfere!"
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback and pondered, "Senior, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Fu Longyuan arrived shortly after and asserted, "Hmph, we've been thinking about dealing with Shinguji Ryuugen all the time. We've never
forgotten !"
Having said that, Ren Xiaoyao couldn't disobey the two seniors, so he sheathed his sword and continued to observe.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, three sedan chair carriers had fallen to the ground dead. The remaining one, seemingly insane, charged into the crowd like a madman, stabbing the nearest
samurai in the chest with his blade, only to be hacked to pieces himself. The samurai swarmed forward, completely surrounding the palanquin.
Kusano Mizuki stepped forward slowly, coldly saying, "Miss Shinguji, even now you still insist on maintaining the airs of a noble lady and refuse to come out?" The noblewoman, with a

silvery

laugh, extended her slender hand to lift the palanquin curtain and slowly walked onto the circular platform. Her movements were graceful and languid, emphasizing her alluring
curves, utterly captivating.
The Shinsengumi members, all samurai of exceptional self-control, were all breathless at the sight of her breathtaking beauty. The noblewoman spoke in
what was arguably the most captivating voice of the world: "The Hokushin Ittō-ryū and Igaya have no enmity whatsoever. I never imagined you would resort to such ruthlessness. Does Kubo Kōsuke
fear not angering my father, not fearing the wrath of the Seven Great Clans?" Though her words were a rebuke, they still nearly made the samurai's souls leave their bodies.
Yuuka Haneda, confident in her seductive skills, was utterly outmatched by the other woman's natural charm, which was entirely unpretentious and emanated from her own being. Enraged,
she pointed her finger shouted, "Mina Shinguji, don't think that just because our friends in the martial world call you 'Ninja Shadow Heroine' out of respect for Ryuugen Shinguji, you can flaunt yourself here.
Hmph, let me tell you the truth, apart from your father, none of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū members are worthy of our attention."
Mina Shinguji replied calmly, "Oh, so you don't care about the Gotei 13, led by our
thirteen ?"
Yuuka Haneda's expression changed slightly, and her voice faltered. The Gotei 13 were renowned throughout Japan, the strongest fighting organization among all ninjutsu schools. Not only was
the Hokushin Ittō-ryū proud of them, but every citizen of Japan regarded them as a source of spiritual hope and reliance. The First Division Captain, and concurrently the Captain-Commander of the 13th Division of the Gotei 13,
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, though over sixty, remains remarkably vigorous. He is Shinguji Ryuken's right-hand man, and his martial arts skills are on par with the leaders of the other six major sects.
The Second Division Captain, Yato Shigeaki, is an expert in assassination and sneak attacks, even Yoshizaki Sojiro, the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi, admits his inferiority. The Third Division Captain, Ichimaru Gin, is known for his
cunning and unpredictable attacks, leaving opponents defenseless. The Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu, is a master physician, unmatched in Japan. The Fifth Division
Captain, Aizen Sousuke, Shinguji Ryuken's most trusted disciple and trusted general, has inherited all of his martial arts skills and has visited twenty-seven
ninjutsu schools throughout Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu without encountering a worthy opponent. The Sixth Division Captain, Kuchiki Byakuya, is the eldest son of the Kuchiki family, the head of the four great noble families of Japan, and is known as the most handsome man in Japan, rarely
engaging in combat They are all ruthless and deadly; Komamura Sajin, the captain of the 7th Division, is skilled in animal taming and can control lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, and more; Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the 8th Division, pioneered the dual-sword combo
technique and is an absolute master; Tosen Kaname, the captain of the 9th Division, is blind but possesses unparalleled skill in identifying weapons by sound; Hitsugaya Toshiro, the captain of the 10th Division
, is the youngest Jonin in history, and his strength is undeniable; Zaraki Kenpachi, the captain of the 11th Division, is a battle maniac who, eight years ago,
hacked the former captain of the 11th Division to death in front of nearly a thousand Hokushin Itto-ryu disciples, directly advancing from samurai to Jonin; Urahara Kisuke, the captain of the 12th Division, is a super genius whose
ability to create mechanisms and develop machinery is unmatched among the seven major schools; Ukitake Jushiro, the captain of the 13th Division, is chronically ill but can still issue
orders , influencing the entire Hokushin Itto-ryu's movements. While the Five Beauties of Iga Valley possessed superb ninjutsu and exceptional seductive skills, none of them were confident of victory in a one-on-one fight.
Kusano Mizuki shrugged slightly, striking a seductive pose that could captivate any man, and said calmly, "That's right, we certainly don't dare to easily provoke
the Gotei 13. But right now you're all alone and helpless. Even if you die at the Tottori Sand Dunes, no one will know it was Iga Valley who did it."
Shinguji Mina said leisurely, "So, even if I kill you all, no one will know it was me?"
Haneda Yuuka's eyes suddenly sharpened like blades as she stared at Shinguji Mina, saying, "Hahaha, Iga Valley never does anything without certainty
. We've already thoroughly investigated your strength. To tell you the truth, today's operation was carefully planned and meticulously prepared, ensuring
nothing goes wrong ."
Kusano Mizuki continued, "Your martial arts were personally taught by Shinguji Ryuken. You've already
mastered " "Compared to Hitsugaya Toshiro, the youngest Jonin in the history of the Japanese martial arts world, she's probably not much worse. As a woman, she's quite remarkable."
Haneda Yuuka, intent on crushing Shinguji Mina's fighting spirit, chuckled sinisterly, "Undeniably, your talent far surpasses your peers. What others take ten or
twenty years to master, you've mastered in three to five years. So, at the tender age of nineteen, you're proficient in the four great esoteric arts: metal, wood, water, and fire. But alas
, you're naturally clean and can't stand the filth and dirt, so you've always disdained studying earth-escape techniques..."
Shinguji Mina shrugged slightly, seemingly casually saying, "So you chose the Tottori Sand Dunes as your ambush location, believing that even if I lost, I would
n't be able to escape, right?"
Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka simultaneously drew their swords, pointing them at Shinguji Mina, and said coldly, "Good that you know. Considering you're pragmatic and know when to advance and retreat, we..."
"I don't want to force you, just commit seppuku yourself!"
Shinguji Mina sighed softly. "I have a few words to say, perhaps they will change your mind after hearing them."
Kusano Mizuki scoffed without any attempt to hide her coldness. "Trying to persuade us to spare your life? Dream on!"
Shinguji Mina looked at her through the veil and said calmly, "This time I came to Tottori on my father's orders. Before leaving, I passed the exam and became
the captain of the newly formed Hokushin Ichiryu Hidden Mobile Force. The youngest Jonin in history is no longer Hitsugaya Toshiro, but me—Shinguji Mina!"
Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka exchanged disbelieving glances, their expressions changing slightly. Shinguji Mina stepped forward, adopting a composed
demeanor , and continued, “ After the death of Minister Kurosaki Hideyasu, Father predicted that Igagaya would turn its attention to the Hokushin Ittō
-ryū. He originally intended to send Captain Kuchiki, Captain Kyōraku, and Captain Zaraki to carry out this mission together, but I insisted on meeting the masters of Igagaya, which is why I came south alone. Father was worried about my
safety but couldn't bear to go against his daughter's wishes, so he lent me his prized weapon.”
Upon hearing this, the samurai retreated in unison. Kusano Mizuki's face showed fear, and she stammered, “You…you brought…you brought Ryūjin Jakka
!?” "
Mina Shinguji smiled without speaking, her smooth, white, and delicate hand slowly reaching towards her waist, her movements soft and weak, seemingly self-pitying.
Ren Xiaoyao, watching from the hilltop, was greatly surprised. Normally, even experts like Mizuki Hisano and Yuuka Haneda, despite their fear of powerful weapons,
wouldn't be so afraid. Fu Longyuan, noticing his doubt, said softly, 'Ryujin Jakka is different from ordinary weapons. It doesn't rely on sharpness or
weight to defeat the enemy. Back then, Yi Laogui and I didn't understand its mysteries and suffered greatly from our first exchange.'
Ren Xiaoyao remained skeptical, intently observing Mina Shinguji's every move.
Her movements were light, gentle, and slow, as if she were embroidering rather than engaged in a life-or-death struggle. However,
the moment , her speed suddenly increased tenfold!
'Whoosh—Boom!'" "The Flowing Blade Like Fire was suddenly drawn, bringing not only a chilling killing intent and a compelling sword wind, but also a dazzling, captivating light
... no, it should be described as a raging inferno.
A flame? That's right, Ren Xiaoyao could see it clearly. The light emanating from the blade of the Flowing Blade Like Fire was a highly concentrated flame, seemingly intent on
burning to ashes!
Ren Xiaoyao, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei exchanged bewildered glances, unable to believe what they were witnessing. If it were the Ghostly Netherworld Lord, known for his fierce internal energy, or Ren Xiaoyao, who had already
mastered supreme innate qi, they might have been able to forcibly gather their true energy, causing the surrounding air temperature to suddenly rise, giving the opponent the illusion of being in a sea of fire
and heat. Even the 'Chess Saint' Qi Wendong's self-created Finger Flicking Flame could only create a few fleeting flashes of light when attacking the enemy. But Mina Shinguji neither made
a move nor gathered her strength; she simply flicked her wrist and effortlessly unleashed a sky full of flames. It was simply unbelievable."
“There is a saying in the Japanese martial arts world: ‘When the Ryujin Jakka dances in the sky, all things in the universe turn to dust.’ This refers to the treasure of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school,
the first of the seven secret swords of Hueco Mundo—Ryujin Jakka.” Kurosaki Masayoshi’s childish voice rang out from behind. “This sword is made entirely of
Soul Hunting Stone, which comes from Mount Fuji and has been soaked in lava for millions of years. It is extremely rare and unique. It has extremely high heat, like a branding iron. In addition, it has been soaked in a vat of wax for many years. When
the sword is drawn, the blade rubs against the phosphorus powder that was placed in the scabbard beforehand and ignites flames.” "
The Hokushin Itto-ryu style is known for its fire-based ninjutsu. The seven-character mantra in its key techniques, 'Instantaneous unity of mind, energy, and strength,' complements
the Ryujin Jakka . This is why Uncle Longxuan was able to defeat
Kato Taka, the leader of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style, who possessed one of the three great divine weapons, the 'Kusanagi Sword,' and was known as the 'Peerless Batkensai,' four times in the once-every-five-years Ninjutsu Tournament. He also served as the head of the seven major sects for twenty consecutive years."

In Chapter 8 of Volume 29

, Ren Xiaoyao looked puzzled and muttered, "The Ryujin Jakka is indeed terrifying, but a true master can completely
deflect . Why..."
Fu Longyuan interjected, "If this sword were wielded by Shinguji Ryuxuan, the raging flames would envelop the entire sword, making the blade and flames one, invincible, and impossible
to be blocked by external force." As she spoke
, Mina Shinguji's clothes billowed, her sword flashed, and a chilling killing intent filled the air as she charged towards Mizuki Kusano and Yuuka Haneda
. Despite the distance, the two women felt a burning pain on their faces. Before they could duck and retreat, the force suddenly dispersed,
slid like waves across the aura that rose above their faces, and they felt as if they were in a sea of fire and heat. Their throats were dry, their ears were ringing, and they felt indescribably tired and uncomfortable. Mizuki Kusano
had been a Jinnin for over ten years, and she was no ordinary person . Knowing she couldn't afford to let her opponent gain the upper hand, she let out a sharp cry and charged forward with her blade, transforming into a swirling blur of blades
, dodging left and right, rushing towards Shinguji Mina. Her unpredictable and agile footwork made it impossible for her opponent to predict her next move.
Haneda Yuuka's eyes flashed with divine light, and her footwork was strange, moving only a few feet apart, making it seem as if she wasn't attacking in a straight line, but
constantly changing angles and directions to avoid the barrage of blades, yet it also seemed as if she was advancing in a straight line at high speed. The indescribable feeling was quite
a headache ; one can only imagine how it felt for Shinguji Mina, who was facing her head-on.
The Shinsengumi members shouted in unison, rushing forward to help. Their strength was inferior to that of Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka; knowing they couldn't escape the blade's
flames , each was prepared to die, displaying extraordinary ferocity. Shinguji Mina let out a sharp cry, leaping into the air, reaching the peak of her power
.
Her Ryujin Jakka cleaved through the air like lightning, the blade's flames flashing... He swiftly moved through the space where he was facing off against Kusano Mizuki, aiming for her chest with incredible speed and
power, his blade becoming one with hers.
Kusano Mizuki used the secret technique of Iga Valley to slash away the blade's flames, but the ensuing force forced her to flail her clothes and
struggle . By the time she realized what was truly attacking, the blade of Ryujin Jakka was already less than a foot away from her chest.
In haste, Kusano Mizuki parried, using less than thirty percent of her usual strength. "Clang!" "The twin swords clashed, an irresistible force piercing through
the blades. Kusano Mizuki felt as if struck by lightning, unable to maintain her balance and staggering backward. Such a heavy loss in a single exchange was a first for her in decades
, demonstrating that Shinguji Mina was no mere expert with her divine weapon; her strategy, tactics, and even her own cultivation were not to be underestimated. Shinguji Mina raised her hand, unleashing a blade of flame that forced
Haneda Yuuka to stumble backward. Then, with a somersault in mid-air, she landed between two burly men who had just arrived on the battlefield. Her body moved with her sword, her power flowing to the tip, and the Ryujin Jakka
slashed down with lightning speed, sending the two men spinning and flying, unable to rise again. The Shinsengumi members were all hardened warriors, ruthless and eager for battle. They knew that failure to complete
the mission meant certain death upon their return. Far from being afraid, their ferocity was ignited, and they charged forward without hesitation. Shinguji Mina coldly snorted, and the Ryujin Jakka..."
Hundreds of thousands of blades flashed, moving with ghostly grace amidst the fierce attacks of the samurai. Wherever the blade struck, someone fell and died. Those struck, regardless of the location of their wound,
died instantly, their internal organs shattered by the force of the blade. Those with weaker attacks were even burned alive by the flames, screaming and writhing on the ground.
When Kusano Mizuki regained her breath, only eight or nine samurai remained, struggling to hold on. A surge of fervor welled up within her.
Her blade trembled, transforming into three points of light, striking towards Shinguji Mina in a triangular formation. Simultaneously, she moved with incredible speed and agility, shifting her position
behind Shinguji Mina in an instant. Her attack moved from her left side to her thick back in a flash, swift as a ghost, seemingly real yet illusory—this was Igagaya's signature technique, "Slashing Wave of the Void."
Haneda Yuuka's swordsmanship suddenly changed. A swirling, sand-like wave of blades surged towards Shinguji Mina. This move, "Thousand Kill Water Surge," appeared to be a single strike, but
it was composed of more than ten continuous swirling waves. Each wave, its timing, and its angle of attack were subtly altered, sending out swirling blade energy that converged into a sharp
blade aura , its power boundless. The onlookers gasped, almost unable to breathe.
The others also launched their attacks simultaneously, and in an instant, blades flashed and shadows danced, all frantically attacking Shinguji Mina at the core.
Through the heavy veil, Shinguji Mina's beautiful eyes were vaguely visible, seemingly oblivious to the danger she was in. Suddenly, a smile filled with immense
confidence , and her slender and alluring body descended from the air to the ground, unleashing a "Wind-Facing One-Slash" at Haneda Yuuka, who was coming to intercept her. The flowing blade, like fire, slashed into
the air, causing all the surrounding air to gather at the blade's edge, creating a pillar of flame that swept down upon the enemies.
Having learned her lesson, Kusano Mizuki dared not force a block, and could only helplessly spun around to dodge. Shinguji Mina relentlessly pursued, and a
series of clanging sounds rang out. Ryujin Jakka simplified her complex attacks, slashing at Kusano Mizuki one after another with lightning speed, each strike precise in angle and timing,
targeting Kusano Mizuki's strengths and weaknesses, sometimes seemingly attacking her powerful points, sometimes seeking out her weaknesses. The
clanging of weapons was incessant. Kusano Mizuki kept spinning away, while Shinguji Mina, like a leech, relentlessly attacked
her, giving her no chance to breathe. Kusano Mizuki cried out for help. Although she knew Shinguji Mina intended to use hit-and-run tactics to deplete her true energy
, she couldn't regain the initiative and could only parry her moves, being led by the nose. She was even more puzzled. Haneda Yuuka and the Shinsengumi samurai
were right beside her, yet they couldn't hinder Shinguji Mina's sharp attacks in the slightest.
Masters like Ren Xiaoyao, Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei clearly saw that she relied on her ghostly, elusive, and unpredictable movements to weave through
the gaps between weapons. The Shinsengumi samurai not only couldn't help, but instead became a burden, hindering Hisano Mizuki's evasive maneuvers.
Yi Tianhan pondered, "This woman's Shadow Clone Technique is a true inheritance from Shinguji Ryuugen. To us, she may still appear as the same person, only moving
a little faster. But to those with less skill, it seems as if her clones are everywhere, making it impossible to discern her true form."
Fu Longyuan chimed in, "The three great lightness skills of the Central Plains martial arts world are: Flying Immortal Transformation, which emphasizes leaping through the air; Crossing the River on a Reed, which emphasizes dodging and shifting; and Illusionary Shadow
, which is known for its speed and agility. They are like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own strengths. The Shadow Clone Technique, as a secret technique of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, is about using its unparalleled speed
combined with unique ninjutsu to confuse the opponent's vision, creating the illusion that there are enemies everywhere. It is truly a unique and wonderful approach."
Ren Xiaoyao became even more curious, watching the situation on the field intently.
Under the relentless onslaught of Mina Shinguji, like a raging torrent, Mizuki Kusano could only retreat and parry. Of course, as a Jonin, she wasn't defeated; she
was simply avoiding the onslaught and waiting for a chance to counterattack. At this critical moment, Mizuki Kusano suddenly stood firm, her heart brimming with killing intent. Her blade transformed into a rainbow, flashing forward like lightning
. This move was clearly unexpected by Mina Shinguji; she hadn't anticipated that Mizuki Kusano could reverse her inner energy, shifting her movements with lightning speed, her stance changing instantly,
her steps halting abruptly. Most impressively, this strike was
a suicidal attack, completely ignoring the raging flames before her, the blade aimed directly at her throat. Yuuka Haneda and the Shinsengumi samurai simultaneously attacked her back, chest, and ribs.
In this critical situation, Mina Shinguji spun rapidly, her robes fluttering, sending several swords sliding aside, striking empty air. Blood
splattered as the blade flashed like fire, tearing open the skin and tearing her clothes on her right shoulder. Shinguji Mina, narrowly missing Kou Zhong's throat,
retreated two zhang away, returning to the stalemate.
A sharp pain spread throughout Kusano Mizuki's body from her wound. Fortunately, Shinguji Mina, in avoiding the blade, hadn't been able to unleash her full power in time, so it was only a superficial injury.
Although the Five Beauties of Igagaya were famous for their seductive arts, each of them possessed considerable skill. Kusano Mizuki, despite being outnumbered, was attacked and enraged
. She suddenly leaped forward, wielding her blade in a fierce sweep, a flash of yellow light aimed at Shinguji Mina's chest—swift and terrifying.
As Mina Shinguji saw Kusano Mizuki's narrow, long samurai sword hurtling through the air, its movements ever-changing within a space of about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), each transformation seemingly
endless, both real and illusory, making it difficult to fathom. A strange, pulling, and dragging force was also present, making her feel that if she forcibly blocked it, she would fall into
an unpredictable and dangerous situation.
Mina Shinguji decisively feinted an attack and retreated.
Ren Xiaoyao saw this clearly and couldn't help but inwardly cry out in alarm. In terms of strength, Mina Shinguji was no match for Kusano Mizuki or Haneda Yuuka. Therefore, her ability to overwhelm Kusano
Mizuki was entirely due to the raging flames of Ryujin Jakka and her unpredictable, agile movements that blocked and confused Haneda Yuuka and the Shinsengumi samurai. While it appeared she was outnumbered
, in reality, it was no different from a single attack on Kusano Mizuki. Kusano Mizuki was overly wary of Ryujin Jakka, and initially, her opponent gained the upper hand,
leaving her constantly restrained and trapped in a passive, defensive situation from which it was difficult to reverse the decline. []
Shinguji Mina's retreat at this moment was tantamount to destroying all her previous efforts. Not only did Kusano Mizuki gain a respite, but it also gave Haneda Yuuka and the
Shinsengumi samurai an opening to reorganize their strategy. Ultimately, it was Shinguji Mina's underestimation of her opponent and lack of experience that led to this. If she had gritted her teeth
and persevered through Kusano Mizuki's all-out counterattack, completely crushing her fighting spirit, then turning the advantage into victory would have been only a matter of time.
Kusano Mizumo launched a full-scale counterattack, her blade weaving a net of sword energy, closing in on Shinguji Mina from a superior position. The swordplay
was breathtaking , the wind howling, showcasing the exceptional skill of a Jonin. Even more deadly was that every change in her technique rendered Shinguji Mina's pre-planned countermeasures
futile, leaving her feeling utterly defeated. Her swordsmanship had truly reached its pinnacle, a state of divine mastery. (

Volume 29, Chapter 9: Serving the Lord Reappears)

Seeing the changes in her opponent's swordplay and footwork, Shinguji Mina couldn't even predict from which angle the two princesses would attack. Long Feiyun, Shui
Furong, and the others secretly worried for her, but Ren Xiaoyao remained confident, knowing that Shinguji Mina wasn't using her full strength and still had
reserves .
Faced with such a formidable foe, Mina Shinguji was not afraid at all; instead, a powerful fighting spirit arose within her. Her phoenix eyes, usually brimming with autumn water
, suddenly flashed with an unprecedented brilliance as she stared intently at her opponent. When the enemy's blade was only three feet away, and a surging killing intent rushed towards her, she suddenly let out a sharp cry, swiftly advancing and
unleashing a series of fiery slashes. Layers upon layers of flames, countless in number, combined with her Shadow Clone Technique, created a truly dazzling and wondrous spectacle.
"Clang!" The two blades clashed. Yuuka Haneda grunted, staggered back as Mina Shinguji swept her and her sword away. Mizuki Kusano seized the opportunity to dart
behind Mina Shinguji, countless points of light flashing like butterflies chasing flowers as she slashed towards her back, with an air of doom and death
.
Mina Shinguji reacted swiftly, abruptly reversing her body, her footwork shifting dramatically, her figure spinning to evade the sharp blade
. Her feet moved like clouds, darting past the narrow space beside Mizuki Kusano.
Mizuki Kusano, however, was not about to give up. With a slight sway of her toes, she raised her sword in pursuit, her body moving like an arrow, incredibly fast. Her katana, gleaming with a cold light,
attacked Mina Shinguji's lower body, a chilling aura sweeping away several feet in front of her. Her subsequent moves were equally ingenious.
Seeing Mizuki Kusano's fierce attacks and swift pursuit, giving her no chance to breathe, Mina Shinguji gathered her inner energy again. Taking advantage of the lingering momentum from her previous leap
, she unleashed the Hokushin Itto-ryu's unique ninjutsu, "Hidden Shadow Secret Technique." Two gusts of wind shot downwards; the first stopped her fall, lifting her
body several feet higher, soaring like a bird in flight, a masterful feat that allowed her to once again evade her opponent's fierce attack.
Kusano Mizuki's sword attacks missed one after another, causing her expression to change slightly. She coldly shouted, "Sky-Slicing Extreme Wave!" Countless sword lights swept through the air, and she and her sword became one
, rushing towards Shinguji Mina. Before the swords even arrived, the chilling sword energy had already completely enveloped and locked her in place. At this moment, Haneda Yuuka also arrived, and her first move was
the killing move "Leaf Whirlwind". The two Jonin attacked together, their twin swords flanking from both sides. Amidst the swirling killing intent, countless dazzling lights darted about. Their two ultimate techniques
complemented , mitigating weaknesses and amplifying their offensive power. Their swordplay grew faster and faster, their coordination flawless.
Shinguji Mina stood frozen in place, watching as the twin swords were just inches away from her chest and ribs. She gripped her swords with both hands, advancing instead of retreating. With her agile and graceful movements
, she moved freely through the flashing blades. As Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka's momentum faded, Ryujin Jakka unleashed hundreds of raging flames, engulfing the Shinsengumi samurai who
had arrived sword and all. The technique was exquisite, the angles and directions calculated with absolute precision, truly unbelievable.
The Shinsengumi samurai, enraged by the flames, were forced to retreat.
Kusano Mizuki, furious, was about to order them to use their "Water Wall" technique to force their way forward when Shinguji Mina had already appeared behind her. Her Ryujin Jakka, seemingly alive
and possessing its own senses, sought out its opponent, slashing towards Kusano Mizuki's back in a graceful, perfectly symmetrical arc. Her body was entirely
driven by the blade, flowing naturally and fluidly, like a bird in flight or a fish swimming—a flawless and breathtaking display. Ren Xiaoyao, watching with perfect understanding, almost applauded. He was naturally fond
of martial arts and loved learning all kinds of extraordinary techniques. After mastering the Innate Supreme Qi, his knowledge of all martial arts far surpassed what he had before;
he was familiar with all kinds of fist techniques, palm techniques, staff techniques, and hidden weapons. The sword is the king of weapons, with magnificent and ever-changing moves, making it most worthy of exploration.
However,
martial arts world has no skilled swordsmen. The only one that can be found is Ding Songqiang, the Beggar Clan's law enforcement elder, nicknamed "King of Swords." He still uses a heavy and rigid nine-ringed gold-backed broadsword. How can he compare to the graceful foreign girl, Shinguji Mina, who uses the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style of Ryūjin Jakka? Her movements
are yet the power of her moves is not diminished in the slightest. She is even better than Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka. In addition, her graceful figure and beautiful and elegant body
are simply breathtaking.
Shinguji Mina pressed forward relentlessly, her Ryujin Jakka movements flowing smoothly and flawlessly. The raging flames rippled across the sky like waves, surging forth like a tide.
The three of them were enveloped in a hazy mist of steam. Hisano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka, fearing their skin would be burned by the flames, hurriedly increased their internal energy to protect themselves. Naturally, the energy they used to fight the enemy
was reduced accordingly, making it even more difficult to withstand Shinguji Mina's lightning-fast attacks.
Long Feiyun murmured, "At most ten moves, and the outcome will be decided. The Beichen One-Sword Style truly lives up to its reputation."
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao staring intently, Shui Furong felt a surge of jealousy and said irritably, "Hmph, she's just relying on her weapon. If she didn't have that strange, fire-breathing
sword, she would have been hacked to pieces long ago."
Yi Tianhan focused his energy in his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense, and said in a deep voice, "This woman's swordsmanship, lightness skill, and ninjutsu are all on par with Shinguji Ryuugen in the past. Her
only deficiency is practical combat experience. Therefore, her judgment of Kusano Mizuki and Haneda Yuuka's strategies and tactics is often flawed, leading to..." She inadvertently missed many
opportunities to defeat her enemies. The greatest effect of Ryujin Jakka is to constantly create opportunities for Shinguji Mina until she seizes them.
Fu Longyuan argued, "That's right. With Shinguji Mina's skill level, she could fight either of the two princesses to a draw in a one-on-one fight, but the results
wouldn't be significant. Now, facing two opponents alone, it's a golden opportunity to learn from their mistakes and improve herself." The Shinsengumi samurai lacked skill, and Sano Mizuki and Haneda
Yuuka cherished their appearances. This fiery technique could both injure the enemy and protect herself, making it perfect for dealing with them.
Meng Fei stroked his beard and laughed, "It's a pity the outcome is about to be decided, and we'll never see such a beautiful move again." Deng
Lei said casually, "After sending Zhengliang to the Void Palace, are you afraid there won't be a chance?"
Shui Furong pushed Ren Xiaoyao and scolded him, "Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Are you staring blankly, plotting how to trick him into bed?"
Ren Xiaoyao didn't move, his gaze fixed on the front, and he murmured, "No...no..."
Lin Yuxiu asked in surprise, "Big brother, what's wrong?"
Ren Xiaoyao showed a thoughtful expression and pondered, "Although the True Palace..." The temple girl clearly had the upper hand, but I always felt... I always felt something
was off ... Hmm, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what was off.
A red light suddenly appeared before Haneda Yuuka's eyes, like a raging fire dragon, magnificent in its momentum and incredibly fast. Before she could dodge, it was too
late . Shinguji Mina let out a silvery laugh, her right hand still gripping the sword, while her left hand shot out, using some unknown technique,
piercing through the dense web of blades and striking Haneda Yuuka's left wrist. At the same time, the heat from Ryujin Jakka penetrated the blade, directly impacting her heart.
Haneda Yuuka cried out, half her arm instantly going numb. Knowing that continuing to fight would be tantamount to suicide, she had no choice but to gather her strength and flip backward,
flying far away to neutralize her opponent's fierce true energy.
Shinsengumi samurai rushed to the rescue from all directions, shouting for help. Shinguji Mina used her Shadow Clone Technique, instantly passing through the crowd and relentlessly pursuing Haneda
Yuuka.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized, "This is bad, a trap!"
Sure enough, Haneda Yuuka made a mid-air maneuver, using the Earth Release technique "Sand Binding Coffin" to launch herself back, whipping up a cloud of yellow sand that rained down on Shinguji
Mina.
Kusano Mizuki then launched a surprise attack, displaying the unpredictable and ruthless nature of the Iga Valley's secret ninjutsu. Her inner energy seemed inexhaustible, fueling a terrifying barrage of deadly attacks
that shifted erratically from left to right, attacking from above and below. The unpredictable changes were unbelievable to those who did not witness it firsthand. The two women, wary of Ryujin Jakka, had planned to have the Shinsengumi samurai ambush them first, and therefore
had not used their full strength. Seeing the critical situation, they could no longer afford to hold back and unleashed their ultimate techniques.
As Yi Tianhan said, Shinguji Mina lacked experience. Although she was skilled in ninjutsu and had sharp eyes, she still made a mistake in judgment. Of course, she also
couldn't have guessed that Haneda Yuuka could recover so quickly after taking a hit, nor could she have imagined that he could turn his retreat into an advance. What was even more troublesome was that Haneda
Yuuka's simple slash had created a broad wall of energy that pressed forward, preventing her from advancing rashly. The most threatening thing was that the blade shot out a
round of energy that instantly broke through the flames and, like an iron pillar, pierced straight towards her chest.
Nangong Fengzi said softly, "Brother Xiaoyao, is this the strange thing you mentioned?"
Ren Xiaoyao slowly shook his head, remaining silent.
Amidst a flurry of sword shadows, Mina Shinguji moved like a phantom, darting left and right with lightning speed. Although the encirclement was constantly shrinking and her movement
was severely restricted by the relentless attacks of Mizuki Kusano and Yuuka Haneda, she managed to hold her ground in a small area, using meticulous and precise techniques to deal with
the sword strikes coming from all directions.
"Whoosh!" Yuuka Haneda attacked from the left, using a simple move that left Mina Shinguji feeling unable to dodge, forcing her to
retaliate with her sword.
The Ryujin Jakka's blazing light intensified, deflecting the enemy's blade, the clattering sound piercing everyone's ears. []
Yuuka Haneda was forced back three steps, and Mina Shinguji was also thrown backward, her shock indescribable.
The power increased, far surpassing the previous one, causing her blood to surge. If his next strike were to increase in the same proportion, it would be strange if she didn't suffer a defeat.
Before Mina Shinguji could catch her breath, the sound of blades slicing through the air came again from behind. Her mind raced; she knew that if she didn't find a way to change the situation, she would be
completely in a defensive and passive position. Her treasured sword danced like a whirlwind, seemingly aimed at Mizuki Kusano on her left, but suddenly shifted to the side like a crab, now facing
Yuuka Haneda attacking from the right. Her flowing blade blazed with intense light, pointing diagonally at her enemy.
Yuuka Haneda was caught off guard, feeling the blade's energy rushing towards her head with the force of a thousand troops charging. Her initial momentum vanished, and she hesitated, unsure whether to
advance or retreat. Through the heavy veil, a faint smile could be seen on Mina Shinguji's breathtakingly beautiful face. Her lithe body moved forward with
lightning unpredictable and elusive movements to bypass the approaching Kusano Mizuki. Her Ryujin Jakka, accompanied by a burst of flames, slashed towards Kusano Mizuki
with the speed of lightning—the ultimate technique of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū—Hidden Shadow One-Slash!
Anyone with even a basic understanding of martial arts could see that Kusano Mizuki could not withstand Mina Shinguji's all-out attack. The best
opportunity to win since the start of the battle was right before her eyes!
In this situation, everyone's expressions differed. Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and Zhen Gongji Longxuan harbored deep hatred for each other and wished for the entire Beichen Yidaoliu to die
. However, Zhen Gongji Mina was a delicate young lady, and their consciences couldn't bear to see her perish like this. They were truly torn. Meng Fei and Deng Lei,
purely from a martial arts perspective, hoped that the two sides would fight for a long time so that they could fully understand the secrets of Japanese martial arts. Long Feiyun, Su Hanbi, Nangong Fengyi,
Nangong Fengzi, and Lin Yuxiu naturally hoped that the kind-hearted Zhen Gongji Mina would win. As for Shui Furong, she was extremely jealous. She was afraid that Zhen Gongji Mina would win and make Ren
Xiaoyao like her more, but she was also worried that Zhen Gongji Mina would be in danger and Ren Xiaoyao would come to her rescue. She stood awkwardly on the hilltop, her pretty face flushed red.
Ren Xiaoyao, still focused on the situation, suddenly changed his expression and exclaimed, "Not good! There's someone under the sand!"
Two loud explosions followed, and the sand dune in front of Shinguji Mina suddenly burst open. A figure, accompanied by a powerful and suffocating surge of
inner energy, raised his katana and charged towards Shinguji Mina like
a raging torrent. He was completely shrouded in an earthen-yellow robe, only his eyes visible, like a ghost blending into the sand dune. His astonishing speed made Shinguji Mina feel as if she were in a dream. Strangely, the constantly flashing lights before her eyes
blinded her, rendering her completely unable to react.
What a perfect trap, a flawless trap!
First, he used Kusano Mizuki, Haneda Yuuka, and the Shinsengumi samurai to probe Shinguji Mina's strength. Then, when she thought victory was imminent and
launched , he struck suddenly, aiming for a fatal blow!
Kurosaki Masayoshi exclaimed, "Shinsengumi leader, the Thousand Ninja Slash—Togashi Yoshihiro!"
Just as everyone's breath caught in their throats, Shinguji Mina slightly parted her lips, exhaling a burst of energy. Using this momentum, she retreated rapidly, extending
the time . Then, her samurai uniform seemed to expand as if infused with energy, leaving her only in a white undergarment. Her jade-like arms and legs were fully exposed to everyone's eyes, their exquisite
lines breathtakingly beautiful.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!" The samurai uniform slipped from Shinguji Mina's shoulders, meeting Togashi Yoshihiro's fierce attack, instantly turning to dust. Shinguji Mina
seized the opportunity to leap into the air, avoiding this thunderous blow. Before the women could cheer, three ninja shuriken suddenly shot out from Togashi Yoshihiro's sleeve. Shinguji Mina
turned hastily, but her strength was insufficient; she only managed to avoid a shuriken to her chest, one to each shoulder, and her bamboo hat was also knocked off.
Upon seeing the girl's true face, Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan both paled and exclaimed in unison, "Junior Sister!"

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