Chapter 148: Rouindō
Once again, Bai Wei embarked on a long journey, returning from Kyoto to Tokyo.
Once again, it took more than ten hours. He could have been faster, but he was significantly delayed along the way.
Because of the global climate change caused by the ash tide, as a typhoon passed by, there were torrential rains. Coupled with flash floods and landslides, many roads in various places were submerged. Yingzhou, this small place, had never experienced such severe weather before.
Even the main railway line was temporarily impassable, with even the train tracks being submerged.
He could only ride halfway and then cycle back, stumbling along the way, far from being swift and agile.
When he finally arrived near Edo, it was already a stormy night at six-thirty.
He has also read the invitation Yagyū Simozi received, so he was well aware of the location where it would take place.
Beyond the White Egret Garden, there were layers upon layers of people blocking the way. A large group of gangsters crowded the street, holding umbrellas and making it impossible to pass. The parked vehicles on the side of the road made it clear that they didn't want any bystanders around.
He stopped the motorcycle and walked towards the White Egret Garden.
[The event has been triggered]
...
The gate swung open, chilling winds poured in, cold rain fell, and lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Bai Wei took off his helmet and tossed it to the servant by the entrance. He picked up a warm towel hanging on the servant's arm and dried both his hands and cheeks. Then he removed his drenched coat and casually threw it aside.
The half buttoned shirt he was wearing still had stains of blood, but due to being soaked in rain for a long time, the bloodstains had faded and spread like faint red patterns.
He appeared calm and content, as if he had returned home.
He also casually picked up the tall glass beside him, leisurely opened a bottle of champagne for himself, poured a glass, and drank it down in one gulp.
The servant standing by was only glanced at by him, then approached voluntarily, taking the glass and used towel from his hand, purely out of instinct.
When he arrived, he resembled a ruffian crossing through a curtain of rain. However, as he stepped inside, within a short distance of just a dozen steps, he transformed into a polite and elegant guest.
No matter how much an ordinary person disguised themselves, they could never achieve the kind of inherent nobility and elegance that seemed to be etched into his very bones. It was as if the entire White Egret Courtyard had been elevated in its quality, and he appeared to be walking in a royal banquet instead of a blood-scented arena.
Snap... The power supply was restored.
The bright lights cascaded down like white torrents, illuminating the young man who was drenched halfway through.
He looked like a soaked chicken, but in no time, he managed to groom himself into an unattainable manner. The young nobleman, even if immersed in rainwater all night, remained a nobleman.
As a hundred people on the field fell silent, they gazed at him, and he deserved to be the center of attention as soon as he made his entrance.
This was only natural.
The protagonist of this feast was always him, even though he arrived late. When he finally made his appearance, he remained the protagonist.
Bai Wei could stay calm because he immediately noticed the vivid and bright exclamation mark, as well as the words floating above his sister's head.
[Breakthrough and Enlightenment]
Not only was she safe, but she also gained considerable benefits. Naturally, Bai Wei had no reason to get angry. Perhaps he should even be grateful for the experience points given by this group of people.
Indeed, with so many low-level opponents, it was only logical for her to want to separate herself from her big brother and have the experience all to herself.
Bai Wei walked straight ahead, and nobody dared to stop him. He strolled confidently to the center of the stage, his figure tall and upright, fixing his gaze upon the not-so-distant Sanada Ryoichi.
"I hurried on this journey, so I arrived a bit late."
"My younger sister seemed to be mischievous, so I apologized on her behalf."
He glanced at the scattered limbs all around and shook his head helplessly.
"If she has done anything wrong, I hope that the people present will..."
He smiled politely.
"Be still and quiet."
"Trash, oh trash."
Just two sentences, the young nobleman became a hooligan.
Before and after, he was completely different.
Sanada Ryoichi grinned, as he finally laid eyes on the young man he had longed for day and night. The confidence, grace, and nonchalance exuded by him perfectly matched all of his imaginations.
As long as he defeated this person, as long as he defeated him, he would be able to regain the lost dignity and continue climbing endlessly upwards.
This man was the final stepping stone.
Sanada didn't mind Yagyū Simozi and others now. His gaze and attention were completely drawn to the young man in the center of the stage, and his fierce fighting spirit could not be restrained.
"Haha, hahahaha!" he chuckled, pressing his forehead and burst into laughter. Then, he raised his hand, gripping tightly onto his suit and garments, and with a mighty pull, he tore off the blood-stained clothes, revealing his muscular physique.
However, the real focus lied on his back.
A gigantic wheel ablaze with fire, at the center of which was a human face. The face was furrowed with anger, spewing flames from its mouth, as if harboring endless resentment. The burning wheel tattoo was etched on his back, and as his muscles gradually tightened and relaxed, the wheel tattoo on his muscular stripes seemed to come alive, becoming vibrant and eye-catching.
He felt an inexhaustible strength surging through his entire body. Just as he had hoped, when confronted with an enemy, his power would continue to grow, his fighting spirit blazing. He would unleash and control that scorching flame.
"I thought you wouldn't come." Sanada grinned, revealing his crimson gums. "Come on, I've been waiting for a long time!"
His entire body and hands also started to turn red and scorching.
Above his head, there wasn't an exclamation mark, but rather a title.
[Bewitched Rouindō]
Wow!
Bai Wei wondered how persistent this person was towards him and had imagined so many things about him. They had just met and hadn't even exchanged a few words, yet they were already head over heels for him.
At least say a couple of lines of poetry, okay? A haiku will do too, you know.
Bai Wei had a lot of complaints in his heart. This was his first encounter with Sanada Ryoichi.
Even though Sanada Ryoichi had remembered his face, Bai Wei didn't have much recollection of this gangster leader. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left the invitation at home, and even forgotten about the existence of the invitation.
Sanada Ryoichi leaped forward like a shooting star. He had waited for too long. He swiftly grabbed a chair from the ground, originally meant for guests' training. It was made of smooth marble, weighing over a hundred kilograms. He effortlessly lifted it with one hand and hurled it towards the stage. If the stone hit the stage, it would surely shatter the glass on impact.
Bai Wei moved his feet and climbed up the stairs. He watched as the stage was shattered by the stone, calmly making his way to the second floor. At the same time, he took a quick glance at Yagyū Simozi.
She was still recovering her strength, and she had already sat down leaning against the wall.
The little girl knew it in her heart, that since her older brother had arrived, there was no role for her anymore. She could only wave her hand to encourage her big brother.
Sanada Ryoichi jumped straight to the second floor. He swung his fist and landed a punch on the face, the heavy blow compressing the air into a flattened shape. Bai Wei lowered his head, locking onto the opponent's joint position. He then kicked with a snap towards the knee and lower abdomen, followed by a vicious knee strike with his clenched fist.
Sanada Ryoichi took three steps back, patting the shoe print on his chest. He continued to swing his fists, roaring, "Where is your weapon? Draw your sword, draw it! I have waited for you for so long, don't disappoint me too much!"
Sanada Ryoichi may have imagined many things, such as Bai Wei taking relaxing baths to calm himself down and prepare for the upcoming battle.
In fact, he had never paid it any mind, almost forgetting about it altogether.
Bai Wei rode his motorcycle all the way to Kyoto, overcoming obstacles and defeating enemies along the way. He closed the RashoMon gate and even managed to slay hundreds of demons. Now, he had to hurry back through the stormy night to teach a lesson to a reckless troublemaker. Deep down, Bai Wei couldn't help but wish he didn't have to work overtime anymore.
Bai Wei still hadn't drawn his sword. The two of them exchanged punches face-to-face. He was at a disadvantage in terms of strength, but he managed to land a left hook on Sanada, sending him flying downstairs. Bai Wei took a moment to sit down, savoring a brief respite. He shook his right hand and soaked his palm in the nearby water basin, relieving the lingering heat on his skin.
He was assessing Sanada Ryoichi's condition, without a doubt, the earlier displays of power were not of human origin.
Even for warriors, it was impossible to enhance their bodies to a non-human level. Most of the time, it was achieved through the use of "qi".
However, Sanada's physical strength was constantly growing, and that power intertwined with his body, inseparable from each other.
Bai Wei chose not to unsheathe his sword because he wanted to observe more closely.
He saw that the other person was unarmed, yet he didn't unsheathe his sword because he didn't rely on weapons.
When Bai Wei was an emperor, he had no need for weapons, so he didn't possess any.
Throughout his life, Bai Wei mostly used weapons for convenience, never holding onto them out of reluctance or attachment.
His body used to be too weak, so he hesitated to use many techniques. The hidden injuries from the broken bone took a long time to heal. However, now, after extensive training and additional strengthening, he is able to use martial arts. He realized that punching someone with his fists is much more satisfying than using a sword to cut them.
Bai Wei, not only can he perform martial arts, but he has dedicated ten long years of his life to training.
At the age of eighteen, he had already ranked in the top twenty nationwide, indicating his skill level was undoubtedly high. As for his chosen martial arts style...
"Bai Wei. My martial arts are from Subjugate School."
The young man gracefully adjusted his sleeves and clenched his fists, splaying his open palms.
"Let's fight."
