Chapter 80: The Battle's End

Hearing these words, Anpei Harumizuka couldn't help but flare up with anger. He was just about to speak when Tojo, standing nearby, interrupted him.

“Rest assured, Senior Xuanyuan. We are here merely to take the princess away. We have no intention of making trouble. Now that the matter is settled, we will leave immediately.”

Moments ago, Tojo had displayed his peak strength, yet now he stood before Xuanyuan Huangdao with such humility that Anpei Harumizuka cast a look of disdain at him.

“Though our positions differ, we are both people of Sakura Nation. If you trust me, listen this once. The man before us is someone we cannot afford to offend. Even if we joined forces, we would not withstand a single strike from him,” Tojo whispered to Anpei Harumizuka. Without another word, he vanished in a flash, leaving the mountain summit behind with swift leaps.

Watching Tojo leave so abruptly, Anpei Harumizuka frowned. As a peak master in his domain, he could sense Xuanyuan Huangdao’s formidable power. His mission was simply to retrieve Yamamoto Yoshiko. So, without further delay, he flashed to her side and lifted her up.

Just as Anpei Harumizuka was about to depart, Xiao Yu’s icy voice rang out.

“Anpei Harumizuka, my journey to Sakura Nation is inevitable. The humiliation of today—I will repay it to your Onmyoji Bureau, one by one!”

Anpei Harumizuka trembled at Xiao Yu’s words. He turned to look at Xiao Yu and replied coolly, “I’ll be waiting.”

With that, he vanished from the mountain summit with Yamamoto Yoshiko in his arms. The sole surviving Ninja Emperor of the Royal Ninja Corps hurriedly followed.

Once the group from Sakura Nation had left, only Xiao Yu and his companions remained atop the mountain, aside from the traces left by the battle.

“Don’t let today’s events weigh on your mind, boy. Both of them are your equals, and you, wounded as you are, managed to push them to such lengths—that’s already remarkable,” Xuanyuan Huangdao said, turning with a gentle smile to Xiao Yu.

“I know. You don’t need to tell me, old man. If I hadn’t been injured, even if I couldn’t defeat them, I’d have taken a chunk out of them,” Xiao Yu replied, glancing at Xuanyuan Huangdao. He shifted slightly, but a sharp pain immediately shot through his body, making him grimace.

At that moment, Taishui and the others who had been thrown aside by Tojo came to Xiao Yu’s side, helping him up.

“Old wounds compounded with new ones. You’d best rest for a while. Ever since you resigned, you haven’t had a moment’s peace,” Xuanyuan Huangdao remarked, shaking his head as he watched Xiao Yu. He then took a porcelain bottle from his pocket and handed it to him.

“This is Jade Dew Pill, especially for internal injuries. Far more effective than the Returning Essence Pill from that old medicine man,” he said.

Xiao Yu took the bottle without a hint of courtesy, poured a pill into his palm, and sniffed it.

“Xuanyuan old man, you’re suddenly so generous? This Jade Dew Pill is a treasured elixir of your Xuanyuan clan, and you’re just giving it to me?” Xiao Yu teased, grinning at him.

His words made Xuanyuan Huangdao bristle, his beard quivering with indignation. He had offered him a priceless elixir out of goodwill, yet Xiao Yu showed no gratitude.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Yu laughed and tossed the pill into his mouth. It dissolved instantly, sending a gentle medicinal warmth throughout his body, soothing his organs.

Soon, the Jade Dew Pill’s power was absorbed, and his injured organs began to recover under its nourishment.

Still, Xiao Yu remained weak, unable even to stand without support, leaning on Taishui and White Tiger.

“Elixir indeed. Xuanyuan old man, don’t be so stingy—why not give me a few more?” Xiao Yu joked.

“Get lost! If it weren’t for your upcoming trip to Sakura Nation, I wouldn’t have given you even one. This pill is worth its weight in gold!” Xuanyuan Huangdao scolded.

“Tsk, the mighty patriarch of the Xuanyuan clan, leader of the Dragon Squad, and yet so miserly,” Xiao Yu muttered, though Xuanyuan Huangdao heard every word.

“You rascal. There’s no dealing with you. Here, these are the only two left on me—don’t be too greedy,” Xuanyuan Huangdao said with a helpless smile, tossing two more porcelain bottles to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu caught them and finally showed a satisfied smile.

“Well, now that all is settled, I’ll take my leave. Age makes me drowsy—I can’t keep up with you youngsters. Take care and recover well. This old man will be off,” Xuanyuan Huangdao said.

He sheathed his sword and stepped forward, instantly appearing hundreds of feet away.

“Big brother, what realm is the Xuanyuan patriarch at? Why does his aura feel so elusive and unfathomable?” Lige murmured, watching Xuanyuan Huangdao disappear.

“That old fox reached the rank of Innate Martial King ten years ago. Who knows, after another decade, he may have attained Martial Emperor. Someone whom the Xuanyuan Sword acknowledges as master could hardly be ordinary,” Xiao Yu replied, gazing after Xuanyuan Huangdao with a hint of longing in his eyes. He himself was only at the divine level, still a long way from the Innate Martial Emperor rank. Many believed Xiao Yu to be the foremost warrior in Yanxia, but was that really the case?

Of course not. The reason so many held him in such esteem was because his feats were widely celebrated, elevating his status. Not only was Xuanyuan Huangdao’s strength far beyond Xiao Yu’s, but even the three Masters of the Law Hall rivaled him in power.

Not to mention those reclusive sages, tired of the turmoil of the martial world, hidden away in mountains as carefree hermits. The saying “Yanxia is a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers” was no idle boast.

Xiao Yu’s prowess was owed to the guidance of a hidden master, which brought him to his current level.

“Let’s go. After such a fierce battle, the Law Hall’s people will likely arrive soon,” Xiao Yu said calmly.

Taishui and the others nodded. Following Xiao Yu’s instructions, Liuhe hoisted the unconscious Ye Xuemei, and the group quickly left the scene.

No sooner had they departed than, from the distant void, two black figures sped swiftly toward the mountain.