Chapter 56: Xiao Yu Takes Action

The ten great schools of the Sakura Nation all belonged to the ninja clans. Unlike some family powers whose estates were situated within cities, their headquarters were built deep within treacherous mountain valleys and dense forests, as if they wished to remain isolated from the world. This was also why ordinary people of the Sakura Nation rarely ever saw a ninja.

As night fell that day, Xiao Yu led Taisui, Lige, Liuhe, Fire Phoenix, and Taichang to a little-known mountain range. The six figures stood silently atop a peak, gazing down upon a maze-like mountain village below. This was the stronghold of the Two-Blade School.

Though it was already late into the night, the village below was still ablaze with lights. From their vantage point, Xiao Yu and his companions could faintly see shadows moving within the compound—these were the ninja patrols making their rounds.

Xiao Yu’s eyes narrowed as he observed the small village below. In the next instant, his figure flashed as he leaped from the mountain peak, his companions following closely behind. The six of them slipped into the compound without a sound.

Once inside, they did not bother to hide; instead, they advanced openly and boldly. It was not long before they encountered one of the patrolling squads.

“Kill!”

Xiao Yu spat out the command coldly. At his word, Taisui and the others charged forward. Instantly, the mountain village was filled with the sound of pitiful screams.

Inside the Two-Blade School’s council hall, an elderly man sat cross-legged with closed eyes, looking frail and ancient. Surrounding him were several other elderly men and a handful of ninjas clad in black warrior garb.

“Report, Grandmaster! We are under attack!” A ninja burst in from outside, panic written all over his face.

The old man’s eyes snapped open at the news, a sharp glint shooting forth from his gaze. The others behind him slowly rose, gripping their long blades tightly as they led the ninjas out of the hall. When they saw the carnage outside, their fury knew no bounds.

The Two-Blade School’s compound had already become a brutal battlefield. Under the onslaught of Taisui and his companions, the lesser ninjas stood no chance; they were slaughtered without even managing a counterattack. The village had turned into a living hell, corpses strewn everywhere.

“Kill!”

Just as one of the elderly men from the council hall stepped outside and saw the devastation, he drew his blade and charged forward, the others following suit.

“At last, some worthy opponents. Dealing with these petty weaklings is hardly a challenge,” Taisui grinned as he watched them approach, then flashed forward to engage an elder in combat.

Liuhe and the others each picked out a ninja king to face off against. As for the elite jonin who had just emerged, all their eyes fixed on Xiao Yu, who stood with hands clasped behind his back.

Xiao Yu was momentarily surprised, then shook his head with a wry smile. Clearly, these men were underestimating him. As the crowd surged toward him like a tide, Xiao Yu suddenly stamped his right foot, unleashing a powerful aura that swept over the field. The charging ninjas froze in place, their eyes vacant, and their tightly gripped blades clattered to the ground with crisp, ringing sounds.

The moment Xiao Yu released his aura, the elder who had been sitting in the council hall felt his heart tighten. He quickly rose and flashed outside, arriving in just a few steps.

“So you’ve really come, Xiao Yu, War King!” The elder’s gaze locked onto Xiao Yu as soon as he emerged, speaking as though he had expected this all along.

“It’s been a long time, Grandmaster Suzuki,” Xiao Yu replied calmly, looking at the master of the Two-Blade School who had lost to him years ago.

“Xiao Yu, I can’t believe you actually came to the Sakura Nation for a woman. Do you realize that this time, you face almost certain death?”

Suzuki eyed Xiao Yu, making no move to attack, speaking instead as if they were old friends reunited after many years. Meanwhile, the battle raged fiercely elsewhere.

“Since you know why I’m here, I’ll give you two choices: first, tell me where the woman you abducted is being held; second, I will slaughter everyone in the Two-Blade School and force it out of you!”

As Xiao Yu finished speaking, he stepped forward, his aura swelling with power.

Suzuki was instantly enraged. He was, after all, the master of one of the Sakura Nation’s top ten schools, a famed figure in their martial world. Who dared speak to him in such a manner? Even though the Two-Blade School had been reduced to the official government’s lackey, the high officials still treated him with respect.

Infuriated by the insult, Suzuki roared, “Arrogant fool! This is my domain—not your Yanxia! I may have lost to you before, but you are wounded now. Who knows who will emerge victorious!”

As soon as he finished, Suzuki’s right hand flicked, and the blade that had been resting in the council hall flew into his grasp.

With the sword in hand, Suzuki’s aura surged dramatically. His dark eyes locked onto Xiao Yu, and a murderous intent burst forth from him.

“Kill!”

With a loud shout, Suzuki dashed at Xiao Yu with his blade raised. Xiao Yu, however, remained calm, as if the charging Suzuki was a mere child rather than a master of martial arts.

Suzuki’s figure flickered rapidly, and in a blink he was before Xiao Yu, bringing his blade down in a domineering arc. But as the blade fell, Xiao Yu had already retreated, vanishing from his spot, leaving Suzuki striking nothing but air.

“It seems your sword-drawing technique has reached its peak. I didn’t expect you to progress so far in just a year,” came Xiao Yu’s faint voice from the side.

“I owe it to you. If I hadn’t lost to you before, I would never have gone into seclusion to master my sword-drawing to this level,” Suzuki replied, unfazed by Xiao Yu dodging his attack. If Xiao Yu could be defeated in a single blow, he would not be the War King of Yanxia.

“Heh. Turning grief and anger into strength—who would have thought you had such resolve.” Xiao Yu smiled lightly, then continued, “We have a saying in Yanxia: courtesy demands reciprocity. Since you’ve already attacked me, it’s only fair I return the favor.”

As soon as Xiao Yu finished speaking, a powerful aura erupted from him. Without anyone noticing, a pitch-black longsword had appeared in his hand, radiating a destructive energy that spread around him.