Chapter 173: Ah Wei's Not Dead
Is it strange for Hokusinn Kichyō to be targeted?
Of course not.
Bai Wei is well aware that besides being the legitimate daughter of the Hokusinn family, she is also a demi-god.
Half of the White Snake God's divine aura resides within her, and they are connected as a whole. This is actually a treasure that those unknown monsters acquired but she took away from them.
Being targeted was completely expected.
The wooden sword in Hokusinn Kichyō's hand appears dull compared to an actual sharp sword.
She was truly helpless as there was no real decorative sword for her to practice with in the entire dojo, leaving her only able to dodge left and right.
She could call for help, but every time she tried to make a sound, it would disrupt her breathing.
Unfortunately, the opponent's attacks were too cunning and treacherous, always finding the right moment when her breathing was disrupted.
The other eight people were all knocked unconscious by her, and there was no one else to sound the alarm and notify the people outside.
The dojo had turned into a fierce battleground.
Blood splattered from Hokusinn Kichyō's shoulder as she gritted her teeth in pain, throwing away the wooden sword in her hand. She then quickly rushed forward, forcefully colliding her shoulder with the center of the chest of the knife-wielding attacker, causing them to lose balance. At the same time, she clasped onto their wrist, attempting to take away the knife.
Mugen Shinmyō-ryū · Sword Taken.
This move was stolen from Yagyū Simozi's repertoire.
Masters of Shinmyō-ryū were fearless even when going out without a sword. The technique of Sword Taken allowed them to seize their opponent's weapon at any time, unless it was an expert in the fast and ultimate Iaijutsu. Once in close quarters, they could easily take away anyone's beloved sword with this skill.
She even managed to snatch the Tengu Cut from Yagyū Simozi's hands. She was already very familiar with the technique and targeted the wrist joint!
But despite grasping the opponent's wrist, she couldn't budge them.
She was even reversed and had her hands held down. At the same time, a sweep kick caused her to lose balance, followed by a back throw.
She was thrown five meters away, her back slamming against the wooden board, making a loud and crisp sound.
Hokusinn Kichyō quickly rolled back up, evading the incoming blade attacks. She grabbed two wooden swords from the ground, her expression becoming as calm as water.
This person is actually skilled in close-quarters combat as well.
She breathed heavily, sweat pouring down like rain. The back of her body was drenched in cold sweat, and the cloth wrapping beneath her tight sports bra was soaked.
Facing an opponent with a knife was surprisingly tricky when she didn't have a real sword in her hand. If she had a weapon, she was confident she could win.
She made a mistake, thinking that the opponent only relied on the sharpness of the sword, but it wasn't the case. This person was also a top-tier swordsman, deliberately hiding their true strength.
She couldn't retreat, not because she couldn't escape.
She realized she had no choice. When the assailant lowered his knife and placed it against the neck of an unconscious teacher, she knew that even if he couldn't kill her, he wouldn't leave empty-handed.
Everyone here is a hostage.
Killing one Hokusinn Kichyo is difficult, but there are people everywhere waiting to be slaughtered here.
Hokusinn Kichyo stood firm, her eyes blazing with determination. Destined to inherit the name of Hokusinn, she couldn't escape alone, as it was her responsibility.
There's only one way out – defeat him!
Fortunately, the opponent didn't have a gun. There was still some chance.
She stared at the assailant's knife. It wasn't necessary to seize a real blade; even a wooden one would suffice. As long as she could strike a vital point, it could cause internal bleeding or unconsciousness.
She stepped forward, swinging the wooden sword, and the assailant followed suit. They exchanged positions, attacking each other. After a few consecutive exchanges, the wooden sword had several deep cuts. Although it was of good quality, it was still too weak against a sharp, sword-charged steel blade.
Within a few brief encounters, one wooden sword had already broken, but luckily there were wooden swords scattered all around.
She quickly switched hands and searched for the next spare wooden sword while simultaneously pulling the battlefield away from the hostages. She feared that someone would be grabbed as a shield in the next moment, which would leave her completely at a disadvantage.
Changing the battlefield position, Hokusinn Kichyo swiftly switched three wooden swords in her hands. She once again backed into the wall, landing in the exact same spot as when she initially started. After a swift dodge, she circled back to her starting point. If it weren't for the additional short knife in her hand, it would seem as though she hadn't moved at all.
Simultaneously, a smear of blood spread across her back.
A wound at least seven centimeters long opened up on her back, but it wasn't deep. She had been injured while lowering her head to dodge a vertical slash. Unexpectedly, it had been a two-stage attack. Even though she managed to evade lying down, she still ended up with another wound on her back. The pain twitched her nerves, causing her eyes to unconsciously twitch and beads of sweat to drip from her forehead.
She smelled the scent of blood.
Getting injured was common, and she wasn't afraid of it. What made her tense was the assailant's intense aura of killing intent.
It seemed like a sword that had been honed by severing countless heads.
Strictly speaking, Hokusinn Itto-ryu is not considered an ancient school. Although its swordsmanship is primarily focused on practical combat, it constantly evolves and adapts.
True ancient swordsmanship, with the purpose of killing, cannot be taught to ordinary disciples. It is only employed without restraint in life-and-death battles like the Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament.
Hokusinn Kichyō suddenly remembered Yagyū Simozi. If she were here, with her swordsmanship, she would surely be able to find a flaw. Once she lost her real blade, she would be completely at a disadvantage. In the end, it was her low level of swordsmanship.
However, fortunately, she still had a trump card to play.
Breathe, breathe deeply.
Awaken the dormant power within her body.
Golden light flickered deep in Hokusinn Kichyō's eyes, and white scales quietly reappeared on her neck and arms, appearing and disappearing.
She grasped the wooden sword, and her strength gushed out like flowing water.
The assailant gripped the real sword, then raised his hand. His fingers caressed the blade before letting it hang down. He began to move sideways, his footsteps rhythmic, his actions deceptive, and even seemed to be intertwined with multiple images. His breathing became clear, and behind the mask, it was as if a malevolent demon was breathing, selecting its prey. The bloodstains on his blade were a deep crimson. Footsteps, quivering blade, breathing, and blood - these elements formed an airtight cage of killing intent.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, all sound and movement ceased, leaving only a blade pointing towards Hokusinn Kichyō.
Thunk--!
The assailant stomped on the floor menacingly and took a step forward.
In an instant, Hokusinn Kichyō swiftly swung her sword, and the surging energy transformed into a white torrent.
But the sword missed its mark!
Her face turned pale, and she muttered, "Oh no."
It was a feint!
No, that's not it, she had misjudged...
The all-pervading killing intent gave Hokusinn Kichyō the illusion of a sword thrusting through her heart. Therefore, when the assailant took the first step, she had already preemptively swung her sword. This meant that she couldn't make a calm judgment. The fear brought by the killing intent prevented rational thinking. Once confronted with this blade, the only way to resist the fear was to swing her own sword. However, once that swing missed, she would be completely defenseless.
Being defenseless meant she couldn't block this attack.
The ancient style of the murder sword had only one goal: to kill. If struck by this blade, one would either die or be left maimed.
Hokusinn Kichyō's strength was temporarily exhausted, weakness engulfing every cell. Her fingertips tingled, and she forced out the last bit of her power, choosing to attack fiercely.
At this moment, she suddenly noticed someone standing up in the corner.
...There's another one?
Hokusinn Kichyō widened her eyes, then sighed bitterly. She realized that today, she might not be able to escape this calamity.
However, what happened next was beyond her expectations. A wooden sword flew towards them and struck the assailant's blade with precision.
With a loud clang, his blade was deflected from its trajectory, and he was pushed to the side by the force. He stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance.
"I can't watch this anymore..."
A real sword has pushed you to this point.
Sword Taken is ineffective, is there no other way to take the sword?
Kichyō raised her eyes and looked at the figure who stood up and walked directly towards her. The familiar voice left her speechless.
She opened her mouth and said, "...Honey?"
Bai Wei turned his head. "Hmm? Something's not right. Who are you calling?"
Hokusinn Kichyō was dumbfounded. "It's really you, you, you... How did you end up here?"
Bai Wei took off his mask, his expression equally complex. "Don't ask me how I got here. I was blinded by a demon called money."
He picked up a wooden sword, threw the mask aside, and took off his protective gear. He stretched his shoulders. "Sit down and take a break. Your fingertips are pale. After exerting so much energy, if you don't rest for a short period of time, be careful of low blood pressure."
The thug stared at Bai Wei and said in a low voice, "Who are you?"
Bai Wei said casually, "Just a passerby from the Ming Country."
The other person aimed the knife at Bai Wei and said, "It's none of your business."
"It does concern you."
"What's it to me?"
"Yeah, what I do, what does it have to do with you?"
Bai Wei stared at the top of the opponent's head. At this point, why isn't the HP bar showing?
