Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Goemon felt the breeze, a smile playing on his lips, and drew his sword.

Sword Drawing Technique!

Ancient sword-drawing technique, also known as "Iaijutsu," is a killing technique where the sword is sheathed and poised for attack. Although Inazuma's style, which is out of step with all other sword styles, leans more towards performance skills in modern times, Goemon has always liked its sharpness and ferocity. After all, who wasn't a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur) in their youth?

Countless exceptionally talented young people have emerged in the past five years, making this year's Hyakunin Ikkuri a once-in-a-century talent pool. His reputation pales in comparison to figures like Shen Liang, Kujo Sara, Tatalia, and Kamisato Ayaka. Many have actually forgotten that he is Inazuma's number one swordsman.

He was once young and impetuous, and when drunk, he set out wine bottles, teapots, and cherry blossoms on the table, boasting of his talent to the shogun who was in charge of the Heavenly Territory. He claimed that with a single iaido strike, he could scatter flower petals while the branches remained unmoved. Everyone knows that the White Heron Princess of the Kamisato family was a prodigy at the age of fourteen, but few know that he had already completed his sword training at fourteen, venturing into the martial world and finding no equal. Only then did he temper his nature and become an instructor in the Kujo family.

"I really miss my youth!" Goemon laughed heartily!

Suddenly, a gust of wind arose! The instant Goemon lay prone, he pushed off with both feet, shattering the floor tiles, and his body practically soared into the air! The light from the unsheathed katana was like a silver rainbow, so fast that it was impossible to see it clearly.

This is Iaijutsu, the most explosive and visually stunning strike in the Inatsuma Tachi technique. The blade accumulates immense power in the time it glides past the inner sheath, and the tearing sound at the moment of release is a sonic boom. That is the pinnacle of Iaijutsu. Goemon thought he wouldn't need to go this far, but Yonomiya truly forced him into a corner… truly…

I'm so happy.

He actually knew that Naganohara Yoshimiya was a holder of the Eye of God, not through intelligence, but through battle. Battles between warriors often reveal subtle clues that others miss—unspoken understandings between them.

But the shogunate, that godlike place, allows high-ranking officials, noble families, and aristocratic families to possess the Eye of God, so why can't ordinary people? He once personally seized the Eye of God from a fellow disciple for the Eye Hunting Order, but that feeling was not very satisfying. He acted solely for the sake of the shogunate, but he couldn't distinguish between right and wrong.

Let's not bother distinguishing these things. What real difference is there between mortals and gods? Why be jealous of gold? Even ordinary iron can be forged into a divine sword that can topple kingdoms.

The clear sound of swords echoed throughout the castle tower at that moment.

cut!

Goemon's movements were so rapid, almost as if he were being torn apart by the air. For a mortal to achieve such near-godlike speed was simply unbelievable. Each step he took shattered the ground, demonstrating its immense weight, and his sword roared along with him. A black and silver arc, spanning a thirty-meter path, hurtled towards Yonomiya—an arc of light over ten meters long, a force of nature, a thunderous roar!

That was the most dazzling sword ever seen in the uprising of a hundred men, that was the dragon-like intent of the number one swordsman of Inazuma, that was the roar forged from ordinary iron.

Faced with such terrifying pressure, Xiaogong stared intently at his opponent, and drew his bowstring just before the sword was about to strike.

As the metal clashed, Xiao Gong was struck head-on and sent flying. From the moment Goemon finished speaking until the end of the battle, only a few seconds had passed. Before the referee in the arena could react, Shen Liang activated a teleportation screen, flashed over, and caught the little girl. Then, the two of them fell to the ground together, landing on their buttocks like wild geese falling on sand.

Xiao Gong coughed a few times with difficulty, then clung to Shen Liang's shoulder, tears welling in his eyes, and whispered between gasps of pain, "Healing, Liangzi-ge, I need treatment! I'm bleeding all over the place!"

"You weren't seriously injured; you were just knocked down," Shen Liang said helplessly, activating the Transformation Moon to alleviate her pain as much as possible.

Yonomiya finally realized what was happening. Her breastplate had taken the brunt of the blow, but Goemon's final strike wasn't a direct cut; instead, he used the flat of his blade to deflect her. Perhaps he had considered that using the blade would be too dangerous, and even if Yae no Miko managed to save her, it would leave Yonomiya with a long scar.

"But hitting me with the flat of the knife hurts even more!" Yomiya cried, grabbing the boy's sleeve and shaking it violently. "Ryoko-nii, you have to stand up for me! Waaah, Yomiya-neechan's chest is all flattened..."

"It's okay, actually you're already old enough, Sister Xiaogong."

"Ugh, Ryoko-nii, you're still being a pervert with me at a time like this!"

"Where did I act like a hooligan? Sister Xiaogong, if you put the breast wrap down, I think there's no need for you to grow anymore. If you continue like this, Ayaka and the others will treat you as an enemy."

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that Xiaogong's progress instantly jumped from 87% to 89%.

This little girl!

As the smoke cleared, Goemon, still standing on the arena, looked down at the long arrow embedded in his breastplate, three feet deep in his flesh. Yonomiya's final counterattack before defeat had hit him, which was to be expected; both men were risking injury, neither dodging nor evading, embodying the essence of battle.

But just as he ultimately chose the blade, Souji also chose his breastplate. No one aimed for vital organs, no one fought with the intent to kill, it was a thoroughly enjoyable battle.

Upright.

It reminds me of many years ago.

Many years ago, in the era before the Eye Hunting Order, he and his fellow disciples would practice swordplay in the courtyard of the Sword Sect, sweating profusely. The bluestone slabs would splash yesterday's rainwater as they were stepped on, and the sound of wooden swords clashing under the eaves would be crisp. The afternoon sun was warm, and the sky was as clean and blue as if it had been washed by water.

Goemon stood on the stage, watching the boy and girl below hugging and laughing, comforting each other. His rough face, covered with scars, chuckled softly.

In the first game, the Raven Feather team won.

In the next match, Ayaka Kamisato will face Goemon.

Following Shen Liang's advice, Ayaka Kamisato dared not underestimate this injured mortal who lacked the Eye of God, and proceeded with a steady and methodical approach. As a Genshin Impact, her physical abilities were not bad, and her mastery of the Kamisato-ryu Katana Technique allowed her to hold off Goemon for a while.

Just as Goemon was about to launch a counterattack due to his worsening injuries, Ayaka Kamisato seized the opportunity. After a head-on attack, she used her quick footwork to move to Goemon's side, where he was caught off guard, and unleashed a "Kamisato Style: Frost Kill." The combined impact of her blades in a flash finally knocked the burly man down. Then, with the blade at Goemon's neck, he could only shake his head and admit defeat.

In the third match, Ayaka Kamisato faced off against Masahito Kujo.

Kujo Masahito is the eldest brother of the current generation of young people in the Kujo family. Unlike Kujo Sara, who is an adopted daughter, he is a true member of the main Kujo family and has served in the military for a longer period than Kujo Sara.

Despite this, he was still willing to help his sister reach the top. After Kujo Takayuki's death, the Kujo family did not fall apart, but instead, Kujo Sara, an adopted daughter, became the meidai (family head). Neither Kujo Masahito nor Kujo Kamaji of the main family objected to this, and the power grab that many people imagined never happened.

They truly regarded Kujo Sara as their own sister, and if Kujo Sara was the best choice for head of the family, they would have no objections.

So when faced with the daughter of the Kamisato family, Kujo Masahito could only sigh and then decide to give it his all!

Although his younger sister and Ayaka Kamisato seemed to be childhood best friends, Kujo Masahito knew all too well that his sister would never allow personal feelings to exist during the competition. In fact, ever since Ayaka Kamisato brought in Shen Liang, Kujo Sara's fighting spirit had become even more pronounced!

Kujo Masahito knew that she had longed to fight Shen Liang for a long time.

But it wasn't for the sake of avenging Kujo Takayuki's father, nor for the glory bestowed upon him by the Thunder God.

But...

So, I'm sorry, Princess White Heron, but for my sister's sake, I must make her personally face the Western Kingdom's Peerless Warrior!

……

Even Ayaka Kamisato never expected that her usually kind and steady older brother, Masahito Kujo, would act so domineeringly and ruthlessly!

The Kujo family's martial arts are no less advanced than the Kamisato family's. Moreover, Kujo Masahito has served in the military for many years, is intimately familiar with military killing techniques, and has been through countless battles. Without the ability to use elemental powers, Kamisato Ayaka's combat strength is actually not much different from Kujo Masahito's, perhaps with only a slight advantage.

But Kujo Masahito was relentlessly attacking!

To better counter Ayaka Kamisato's katana, Masahito Kujo chose a spear. Subduing a spear with a single katana is already extremely difficult, but instead of relying on his advantage to defend, Masahito took the initiative! He was determined to defeat this seemingly delicate girl!

"I'm sorry, Princess Bailu, but Shaluo asked me to help her win. This child has never asked me for anything since she was little, and as her older brother, I can't let her down!"

With a fierce aura, Kujo Masahito unleashed his full fighting power!

At this moment, Ayaka Kamisato could barely hold her sword, her palms bleeding from the impact! The katana is inherently a weapon that is not good at defense, and although her katana-style footwork was ghostly and swift, the spear's offensive and defensive tactics were overwhelming her, making it hard for her to breathe.

Finally, under Kujo Masahiro's relentless and frenzied attack, Kamisato Ayaka was ultimately outmaneuvered, her sword hilt knocked away by the spear in a single exchange. Just as Kamisato Ayaka was about to dodge the spear and sidestep Kujo Masahiro to receive the sword from behind and continue the fight, Kujo Masahiro, without turning his head, half-crouched down, slid the spear shaft from his right hand to his left, and before his body could even turn, the spearhead had already been drawn 180 degrees!

A sudden, vicious, and ruthless counterattack!

Ayaka Kamisato reacted incredibly quickly, almost instantly dodging the thrust and reaching for the spearhead. But a human arm couldn't match the spear's speed; before the little egret could even twist its grip on the wooden shaft, the spearhead had already touched her breastplate.

Kujo Masahito was covered in cuts and lacerations because he hadn't dodged Ayaka Kamisato's attacks, but he still wore a bright smile because he knew he had won.

Ayaka Kamisato remained silent for a while, then finally smiled faintly and shook her head.

“According to the rules of the Hundred-Man Uprising, Ayaka Kamisato hasn’t actually lost yet. Because the Hundred-Man Uprising is settled by one side surrendering or becoming completely incapacitated, Kujo Masahito didn’t actually thrust his spear, so he couldn’t pose a fatal threat,” Yae Miko interjected. “What Kujo Masahito was actually following wasn’t the rules of the Hundred-Man Uprising, but rather…”

"The rules for martial arts sparring," Coral Palace Xin Hai said softly, "to make friends through martial arts, and to stop when the point is reached."

This scene left the audience speechless.

Having grown accustomed to life-or-death matches and to seeing players carried off the field with serious injuries and disabilities, Kujo Masahito's shot felt clean and refreshing, like something from another era.

On the stage, the two put away their weapons.

"Brother Masahito, aren't you afraid that Ayaka will deny it?" Ayaka Kamisato chuckled.

"After fighting for so long, Miss Ayaka, you had so many opportunities to inflict more serious injuries on me, but you held back, only trying to hurt my limbs to reduce my immediate fighting ability." Kujo Masahito scratched his head, first looking at Kujo Sara's expression in the distance, and then said with a slightly naive smile, "How could I really continue fighting... You and Sara are good friends, if I hurt you and left some scars that wouldn't heal, Sara would be heartbroken. You're a girl, not like us rough men."

Ayaka Kamisato thought to herself, "I'm really not afraid of getting hurt. I have a boyfriend who's practically a miracle worker when it comes to injuries." But she still turned around nonchalantly, looked at Ryosuke, touched her face with her fan, and gave an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, Ryosuke, Ayaka admits defeat. It's up to you now."

"I have long heard of Princess Bailu's noble character, and seeing her today, I can confirm that she lives up to her reputation." Coral Palace Xin Hai was somewhat moved by this scene, and then looked at Shen Li Hua Dai, smiling and saying, "Miss Hua Dai has raised a fine daughter. It seems that we will become very good friends."

Kaori blinked her beautiful eyes and smiled gently, "If Ayaka could act as boldly as you and pursue her own happiness... well, then I, as her mother, would have so much less to worry about."

"Hehe, Miss Linghua is still young. In fact, before this year, Xinhai and Linghua are quite similar now."

"You're not young anymore. Ayaka and Miss Kokomi seem to be the same age, right?" Kayo Kamisato jokingly sold out her daughter, "Miss Kokomi will have to give Ayaka a lot of guidance in the future. We're both daughters of Inazuma, so how about you help each other out?"

"I wonder what kind of guidance Miss Hua Dai is referring to?" Xin Hai asked with an innocent expression.

"Huh? Doesn't Xin Hai know how to instruct me?"

"Hmm... but Xin Hai possesses the Divine Eye of Water, while Miss Ling Hua possesses Ice, right? This... it seems that Xin Hai's methods are not very convenient for Miss Ling Hua to learn."

"Ah...uh...is that so? You young people...is this how you young people play...?"

Be careful, the sea doesn't understand anything.jpg

Chapter 255 Hehe, Ryoko is just like a little kitten, hehehe.

Under the complex gazes of countless Shogunate officials from various observation decks, the Fubuki Squad leader, hands in his pockets, stepped onto the arena using his teleportation ability.

Few people in the shogunate liked Shen Liang, or rather, apart from the younger generation, the remaining high-ranking officials and nobles would not like such a highly unpredictable and infamous hero from the Western Kingdom.

After all, the truce between Narukami Island and Umiji Island had only lasted a year, and the heroes of the West were the enemies of the East. Many people were even angry and puzzled by the friendly gestures of the Tenryo and She-gun officials towards Shen Liang. In their view, even with the truce, such behavior was tantamount to aiding the enemy or even treason.

But Shen Liang stood on the land of Mingshen Island, and was even about to seize the Jade Dragon Flag. Just like Coral Palace Liuge twenty years ago, he would slap them hard in the face.

But humans are ultimately visual creatures. Looking at the handsome young man with long black hair on the stage, whose exquisite face surpasses even that of the White Heron Princess of the Kamisato family or the Black Tengu of the Kujo family, any hostility would be greatly reduced. Even if there were words of hatred or insults, one would subconsciously not want to say them vulgarly in front of this radiant person.

Shen Liang himself didn't know how much unnecessary conflict his face had saved him after he shrunk.

"I surrender."

Just as Shen Liang was waiting for the referee to announce the start of the match, his older brother, Kujo Masahito, decisively raised his hands and loudly surrendered.

Shen Liang looked up at the burly man, who was over two meters tall including his helmet. The man's shadow completely enveloped him. Kujo Masahito's large face under his helmet revealed a kind smile. He said, "I struggled so much against the little girl from the Kamisato family. How could I possibly be a match for His Highness the Regent? It would be too embarrassing to be defeated in seconds by such a cute child like you. Let's just forget about it."

He has a really loud voice, and he didn't hold back at all when he said these words. Since it wasn't a private conversation between the contestants, Yae no Miko maliciously broadcast these words.

Everyone saw Shen Liang's expression visibly darken, and this amusing scene made many nobles and officials burst into laughter.