Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

After a long while, Furibas's gaze finally shifted and landed on Jing Ye. This man, whom he had never heard of before, was now displaying incredible strength, suppressing the renowned Raiden Mei to the point of being powerless to fight back.

Fulibas's eyes were filled with curiosity as she carefully examined Jing Ye, trying to find the answer in him.

Every time Jing Ye swung his longsword, the sharp aura and powerful strength made Fulibas's heart beat faster involuntarily.

She was deeply attracted by the powerful aura emanating from Jing Ye, yet she was filled with doubts about his identity and origins.

"Who exactly is he? And why does he possess such immense power?"

Fulibas kept asking himself these questions, his curiosity about Jingye burning like a raging fire.

Although Fulibas blushed, his gaze was fixed on Jing Ye, never leaving him for a moment.

She stared intently at Jing Ye's every move, every swing of his sword, every step he took, as if watching a magnificent dance.

Gradually, she discovered that Jing Ye's movements contained a unique charm. It was not a simple display of strength, but a deep-seated understanding and application of power.

With each swing of his sword, the trajectory of the blade through the air seemed to follow some mysterious rhythm, carrying an indescribable beauty.

The perfect fusion of power and skill captivated Furibas.

She slightly opened her mouth, her eyes filled with surprise:

"Is this the power that even Raiden Mei defeated...?"

Fulibas felt her curiosity about Jing Ye growing stronger. She was eager to know what this man had gone through to become so unique and powerful.

This stark contrast made Furibas's legs go weak, and he could barely stand. He could only instinctively grab Himeko beside him for support.

Himeko's eyes widened in disbelief.

Himeko stood beside Furibas, seemingly frozen in place.

Her eyes were fixed on Raiden Mei in the courtyard, her gaze filled with shock and disbelief.

In her memory, Raiden Mei was always gentle and quiet, exuding elegance in every gesture, and was also exceptionally talented, making her a formidable opponent among her peers in Izumo.

But now, is the person in front of her, who is being suppressed by Jing Ye and has no power to fight back, really the Raiden Mei she knows?

Himeko's lips trembled slightly, but she felt as if her throat was blocked by a wad of cotton.

Her heart was in turmoil, unable to accept the cruel reality before her. Especially seeing Raiden Mei defeated by Jing Ye, the man who had been considered a useless person who never wielded a knife for years, the huge contrast left her mind in chaos.

However, Himeko was not entirely unprepared.

In their previous interactions, she noticed something different about this young man from Jing Ye's words and actions.

Although everyone thought Jingye was someone with no talent for swordsmanship, Himeko had a feeling that beneath his calm exterior lay immense power.

However, she never expected that Jing Ye would be so powerful, powerful enough to defeat her most prized disciple—Raiden Mei.

Unlike the newbie Furibas, Himeko was able to perceive Keiya's strength more deeply.

Furibas may have been attracted by Jingye's powerful strength and fierce attacks, but Himeko could see through these appearances and see Jingye's grasp of the essence of swordsmanship.

Himeko's gaze was fixed on Jingye, who was wielding his long sword with a natural and effortless aura.

The trajectory of the blade as it traced through the air was smooth and natural, without the slightest hindrance, as if it had merged with heaven and earth.

Every movement is a perfect combination of power and skill, seemingly casual yet incredibly precise.

As a highly experienced expert, Himeko immediately sensed the profound and unfathomable power contained in Jingye's sword strike.

Every move he made, every change of strategy, was perfectly timed, making him unpredictable.

In Himeko's eyes, Kageya was like a master who performed iaido to the fullest.

Himeko couldn't help but sigh inwardly, no wonder Raiden Mei was defeated.

Faced with Jingye's overwhelming strength, even Raiden Mei, who possessed exceptional talent from Izumo Province, found it difficult to withstand him.

Jing Ye has reached a level beyond what ordinary people can imagine. His strength is not only reflected in his power and skills, but also in his profound understanding and unique insights.

A complex expression flashed in Himeko's eyes, a mixture of amazement at Jingye's strength and regret for Raiden Mei's defeat.

………………

Of course, what shocked Himeko the most was Raiden Mei's mother, who was being used as a "battleground" by Raiden Mei behind her.

She never imagined that Raiden Mei's mother would be involved in this fierce fight, even playing a role similar to that of a "ring".

But the scene before her eyes was completely different from what Himeko had imagined.

Raiden Mei's mother was pale, her eyes filled with terror and anger, and her body was trembling. She had completely lost her usual composure.

She was forced to be pinned down by her daughter, serving as the "arena" for this bizarre "sparring," and her entire being was mercilessly trampled upon.

"This... how is this possible?"

Himeko murmured to herself, her voice filled with shock and confusion.

Her pupils dilated instantly, and her face was filled with disbelief.

As Raiden Mei's teacher, Himeko often talks with Raiden Mei's mother.

In her memory, Raiden Mei's mother was always a dignified and elegant figure, exuding grace and composure in every gesture.

Whether attending important occasions or communicating privately with Himeko, she always displayed exceptional refinement and poise.

She simply couldn't reconcile the disheveled woman before her with the dignified and elegant Raiden Mei's mother from her memories.

Himeko suppressed her shock and focused her gaze on Jingye once again.

Upon closer observation, she discovered that every time Jingye made a move, it seemed like a normal attack and defense against Raiden Mei, but there was a hidden strategy behind it.

In Jingye's Iaijutsu, every movement seemed meticulously designed, and his swordplay guided Raiden Mei's parries and evasions.

Whenever Raiden Mei tries to retreat or change her position, Keiya's sword will block her path at just the right moment, forcing her to move closer to her mother behind her.

In this fierce confrontation, Raiden Mei, in a panic to avoid Keiya's sharp attacks, could only instinctively use her mother as her last line of defense.

The mother's body was used to cushion Jingye's attacks, thus creating this shocking "arena" scene.

Himeko felt a chill run down her spine. Jingye was able to manipulate the situation so skillfully in such a fierce battle, playing his opponent like a puppet.

Every movement he made, every exertion of force, seemed casual, yet was incredibly precise, as if everything was within his plan.

This mastery of the rhythm of battle and the ability to anticipate the opponent's psychology and actions has reached an unparalleled level.

"Just how powerful is Jing Ye, who can control the situation so effortlessly?"

Himeko was secretly shocked.

She originally thought that Jingye was just strong enough to suppress Raiden Mei, but now she truly realized that Jingye's strength was far more than that.

His superiority wasn't merely in strength and skill, but also in combat intelligence and strategy. In this duel, Jing Ye was like a director in complete control.

Raiden Mei and her mother were nothing more than pawns he manipulated at will.

At this moment, Raiden Mei's mind was in complete turmoil, and the overwhelming sense of panic made it clear that there was no way to escape.

She never expected that Himeko would suddenly bring Furibas and even arrange for her to be Furibas's master.

At this moment, her clothes were soaked with sweat and clung to her body, her hair was disheveled, and she looked quite disheveled, completely unprepared to face all of this.

Practicing Iaijutsu with Jingye while her mother was outside was already embarrassing enough, but now it was pushing her to the point of losing her composure.

Show her current disgraceful state to her new disciple whom she has never met, and to her mentor Himeko.

And this was with her mother present??

This is not a simple matter of 1+1+1. The panic and scalp-tingling caused by the cumulative effect of the three factors are so great that Raiden Mei feels like she can't breathe for a moment!

Raiden Mei was filled with panic, her mind churning with past premonitions.

Raiden Mei was filled with panic, her mind churning with past premonitions.

She thought that her mother's appearance alone was already an unbearable storm, but reality hit her like a hammer blow, shattering all her expectations.

She recalled how she used to sweat it out on the training field, working hard to improve her skills, and looking forward to the day when she could make her mother proud.

At that time, she was filled with hope for the future, imagining that in her mother's eyes, she would become a strong person who could stand alone and shine brightly.

However, at this moment, when her mother actually stood in front of her, what she saw was her wretched appearance, suppressed by Jing Ye without any power to fight back, and even dragging her mother into such a miserable situation as well.

Raiden Mei's hands trembled slightly as she looked at Jing Ye's ghostly figure. The long sword in his hand gleamed with a cold light, and each swing felt like a knife slashing into her heart.

She tried to focus and regain her former confidence and strength, but the panic in her heart kept surging like a tide, making it impossible for her to calm down.

But now that Himeko has appeared with her new disciple, the situation is really tricky.

Facing the gazes of Himeko and Furibas, Raiden Mei breathed heavily, her chest heaving, sweat pouring from her forehead and sliding down her cheeks.

Raiden Mei's gaze inadvertently swept towards Himeko and Furibas at the entrance of the courtyard. Seeing the shock and worry mixed in Himeko's eyes, Raiden Mei felt a strong sense of shame.

Himeko, her beloved teacher who had always taught her with great care, placed high hopes on her and devoted all her efforts to imparting her knowledge.

But now, he has lost his composure in front of her, disregarding her years of teachings, and has suffered a crushing defeat in this battle.

She seemed to see the disappointment in Himeko's eyes, which made her heart feel as if it were being burned by a raging fire.

"Himeko-sensei, I... I have failed your teachings."

She cried out silently in her heart, tears welling up in her eyes.

But when her gaze fell on Furibas, she felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe.

In this disheveled state, how can she become Fulibas's master, and how can she satisfy her yearning for power?

She had become a loser who couldn't even protect herself. Raiden Mei bit her lower lip, her heart filled with guilt towards Furibas.

She prayed silently that Furibas would not give up his pursuit of swordsmanship because of what he had seen today, but she also knew that she had probably disappointed this girl who was full of hope.

Amidst these chaotic thoughts, Raiden Mei recalled the moments she had spent with Himeko.

Those conversations that once seemed ordinary now felt like sharp needles, piercing her heart.

The expectations that Himeko and her mother had for her, and the promises she made to her mother and Himeko, all became incredibly heavy at this moment.

"This shouldn't be happening... How could it have turned out like this..."

Raiden Mei murmured softly, her voice filled with helplessness and fear.

She looked at Jing Ye, her eyes pleading for help, her hands unconsciously gripping the hem of her clothes with nervousness.

However, how could Jingye possibly stop his offensive? His gaze was icy, as if Raiden Mei and her mother were nothing more than insignificant ants.

The long sword still carried a sharp aura, drawing deadly arcs in the air. Each swing brought a gust of wind, causing Raiden Mei's hair to fly wildly.

There was no pity in Jing Ye's eyes. He seemed to be immersed in a realm that no one could understand, and the knife in his hand seemed to have become a part of his body, attacking purely on instinct.

A surge of intense despair welled up in Raiden Mei's heart, her voice trembling, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Jingye's attack once again.

She had to dodge to the side, stumbled, and almost fell to the ground.

At this moment, her hair was in a mess, with a few strands sticking to her sweaty cheeks, making her look extremely disheveled.

In her despair, Raiden Mei caught a glimpse of her mother, Himeko, and Furibas's surprised and doubtful eyes, and her guilt intensified.

She knew she had to do something; she couldn't just sit and wait to die.

So she took a deep breath, tried to steady her trembling hands, and gripped the knife tightly.

Despite being exhausted and ashamed to the point of exhaustion, she decided to muster her courage once again and face Jingye's death-like attack in order to protect her mother and regain her dignity.

Raiden Mei gripped her sword tightly, trying to gather her last bit of strength. But when she met her mother's worried and terrified gaze, caught a glimpse of the shock and disappointment in Himeko's eyes, and saw the curious and confused look in Furibas's eyes, her defenses crumbled.

Chapter 108 The Real Social Death

Himeko, her mother, and Furibas's gazes were like heavy mountains, making it hard for her to breathe.

In that instant, all the resentment, guilt, and despair surged into her heart like a tidal wave, completely overwhelming her.

Raiden Mei's body trembled violently, and the knife in her hand fell to the ground with a clang.

Immediately afterwards, her vision went black, her consciousness gradually faded, and she fell straight backward.

In the moments before she lost consciousness, she seemed to see a dazzling light burst forth from the blade in her hand. The blade's markings, as if brought to life, became increasingly vibrant and intricate, their light shimmering.

Jingye stopped what he was doing and looked coldly at Raiden Mei, who was lying unconscious on the ground, his eyes still showing no emotion.

The courtyard fell silent instantly, save for the sound of water flowing from the broken pipe, as if playing a mournful elegy for the fierce battle.

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