Chapter 53: Dual Blades, the Grand Duke Severely Wounded

A voice with a clumsy accent suddenly echoed through the air, startling Taishui. At that moment, he could not sense a single soul nearby, which meant the speaker was undoubtedly a master.

“Who’s speaking? Show yourself!” Taishui spun on the spot, trying to locate the source of the voice, but soon gave up, for he could never feel even the faintest trace of the person’s presence.

Just then, a surge of danger welled up behind him. He whirled around instantly. A man clad in black samurai garb approached from the distance, his steps measured and deliberate. At his waist hung a long katana.

“Who are you?” Taishui frowned, his face grave. He could not explain it, but the aura this man exuded filled him with dread. Few could inspire such terror in him; meeting one was rare indeed.

“Dual Blade Style. Honda Muramasa,” the man introduced himself.

“I don’t care what style you use—one blade or two. Just tell me why you’re here,” Taishui replied carelessly, uninterested in the man’s identity.

“It’s simple. I came to take her away.”

Honda Muramasa pointed solemnly at Ye Shihan, who leaned beside a stone mill.

“You’ve got nerve, daring to lay a hand on my sister-in-law. Looks like your country will stop at nothing to deal with my brother, even stooping to abducting his kin for leverage!” Taishui’s fury erupted at the words. He snatched the katana beside him and charged at Honda Muramasa.

Honda Muramasa’s gaze sharpened. He reached for the blade at his waist, then with a shout drew it in one swift motion.

The instant the blade left its sheath, a wild surge of energy rippled outward. At the same moment, Taishui’s attack arrived.

As Taishui’s katana came crashing down, Honda Muramasa responded in kind, swinging his own blade.

A tremendous collision erupted, the gusts from both swords meeting head-on. Violent energy swept out in all directions, forcing Taishui back step after step—over ten paces—before he finally regained his footing.

In contrast, Honda Muramasa stood unmoved, his right hand still poised over his katana as though he’d never drawn it at all.

“So this is the sword-drawing technique of the Dual Blade Style?” Taishui regarded Honda Muramasa with utmost seriousness.

Honda Muramasa remained impassive, ignoring Taishui’s words.

“If you wish to take my sister-in-law, you’ll have to step over my corpse first,” Taishui declared, his expression grim.

“Very well. To witness the ultimate sword-drawing technique of the Dual Blade Style before your death—you may die without regret,” Honda Muramasa replied coldly.

“Then show me!” Taishui roared, raising his katana overhead. A ferocious power burst from within him. Under this force, the katana he held aloft gradually took on a blood-red hue, and soon a massive crimson sword shadow materialized above him.

“Foolish.”

Honda Muramasa sneered, utterly dismissive of Taishui’s display of strength. To him, Taishui was already as good as dead.

Seeing Taishui’s attack nearing completion, Honda Muramasa wasted no more time. He drew his blade with a sudden motion, vanishing from sight in an instant, leaving only a storm of sword energy in his wake.

Gradually, the airborne sword energy grew denser and denser. Trees and stones alike were ravaged wherever the blade energy swept through, leaving devastation in its path. The torrent of blades closed in around Taishui, who could no longer count the wounds slashed across his body—he was already drenched in blood.

Enduring the agony, Taishui clenched his teeth and held on. At last, he gathered the strength for his most powerful strike. The crimson sword shadow above his head became solid, fully formed.

“Ah! Slash!”

With a furious roar, Taishui brought his katana crashing down. The sword shadow’s assault obliterated the storm of blade energy. As the katana struck the earth, a tremendous explosion shook the ground, sending sand and stones flying. Within a kilometer radius, all was reduced to ruin.

After a long moment, Honda Muramasa’s vanished figure gradually reappeared not far from Taishui. He looked battered, his black samurai garb torn to shreds, and the katana in his hand reduced to a broken hilt.

Yet compared to Honda Muramasa, Taishui’s condition was even more tragic. His entire body was lacerated, covered in countless wounds. Having unleashed an attack that exceeded his limits, his hands, still clutching the katana, trembled—bones shattered. If not for his extraordinary will, he would have collapsed long ago.

“Damn you! You dare wound me—I’ll kill you!”

Honda Muramasa, seeing Taishui on the verge of collapse, flew into a rage. He drew a small dagger from his breast and charged swiftly at Taishui.

At this point, Taishui was completely spent, powerless to resist or evade. He could only watch as Honda Muramasa came to kill him.

Despite his injuries, Honda Muramasa’s speed remained extraordinary. In the blink of an eye, he was before Taishui. As the cold dagger plunged toward his heart, Taishui slowly closed his eyes, his face contorted in bitter unwillingness.

“Stop!”

Just then, a thunderous shout rang out. Two powerful sword auras burst forth from behind Taishui, striking straight at Honda Muramasa.

Honda Muramasa was shocked. He hadn’t expected an interloper to appear at such a critical moment. With little strength left, and seeing those overwhelming sword energies, he immediately withdrew. Yet even so, one of the sword auras struck his chest, leaving a long scar.

As Honda Muramasa retreated, a dark figure appeared before Taishui. The newcomer wielded a longsword, his face grim and murderous, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Honda Muramasa.

This was one of the Twelve Heavenly Guardians—Liuhe.