Kaslana's Way of Survival

"Let's just stay here for the night... By tomorrow, the drug's effects should have weakened. Then I'll try to see if I can circulate the Tai Xu Sword Qi, and the two of us can leave."

"Of course, if I can't..."

"Then we won't have to wait until tomorrow."

Directly cutting off Li Sushang's words, Kaino stood up, and immediately a clanking sound echoed through the Black Prison.

"Huh? Huh? Huh? You broke the shackles."

Watching Kaino standing there rubbing his wrists, Li Sushang was utterly astonished.

"So you could break them all along? Then why did you... Oh, right, you initially thought the Golden Sands Gang was the butler."

"...Right, and then I kept talking to you. Otherwise, I'd have gone to eat long ago—I've been starving for almost a day."

Kaino sighed, somewhat helpless. Then he stepped forward, lightly tapped the shackles on Li Sushang's hands, and urged the Wind Blade, instantly shattering them to pieces.

"Alright, wait here for a bit. I'll go find the antidote for you. Once you take it, hurry up and spar with that Old Eagle, and then we'll leave quickly."

"Ah, but why do we have to spar with him in the middle of the night? He might even be asleep."

Li Sushang stepped forward, looking a bit embarrassed. Then she puffed out her chest, speaking with considerable confidence: "And you don't need to find me an antidote. Without the shackles, I can beat him even without using True Qi! Besides, it's anyone's guess whether the Golden Sands Gang even has an antidote prepared."

Can she win without using Honkai energy?

Kaino raised an eyebrow. He had analyzed that Old Eagle earlier using the power of Reason, and he was probably around C-rank, just below a B-rank Valkyrie.

This Li Sushang is pretty confident, huh?

Thinking this, Kaino analyzed the Li Sushang before him again.

"Huh?"

Her physical fitness is impressive... Though it can't compare to the monstrous strength of the Kaslana, it's definitely not something ordinary training could achieve.

Especially while maintaining her figure without deformation.

And she looks about the same age as him—if she kept training, would she get even stronger?

But speaking of figure... Could this Tai Xu Sword Qi actually promote development in certain areas? Should he go back and try it on Theresa and Big Auntie?

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Kaino staring at her with a surprised expression, Li Sushang felt puzzled.

"Nothing, just thinking you're really naive. Let me guess—you haven't even prepared yourself to kill him, have you? Honestly, people who choose to be gangsters deserve to die."

Kaino shrugged.

"And you don't seriously think that Old Eagle will fight you one-on-one, do you? No way, no way, no way? Fighting him at night when there are fewer people is the best option. In broad daylight, who'd duel you? They'd just gang up on you."

"You, you, you... Ah, fine. That actually is a good idea, so I'll just go find him directly."

Though Kaino's sarcastic tone nearly left her speechless, Li Sushang ultimately agreed with his plan.

"Then I'll head to the kitchen to grab some food first. Li Sushang, you go find that Old Eagle on your own."

"I'll probably come find you after I've eaten. Be careful—don't let me show up and find you've already lost."

With that, Kaino slashed a Wind Blade to break the Black Prison's gate, grabbed the Nightlight he'd constructed for illumination, knocked out the two guards at the entrance with a jolt of electricity, and strode off.

He really was hungry, and he'd come here to eat—he hadn't lied to Li Sushang.

Now that he finally had a legitimate reason to leave, why stick around?

"Hey, you Raiken, wait for me... Why are you leaving on your own?"

Li Sushang failed to catch up to Kaino, sighed, and then slowly made her way out of the Black Prison.

...Actually, she was hungry too.

She'd been locked up for a whole day, for real.

Chapter 13: Slurping Noodles and the Sword Heart

"Slurp."

Kaino, covered by the Soundproof Cloth and Optical Camouflage Cloth, sat on the rooftop and slurped down the last mouthful of noodles from his bowl. Then he glanced at Li Sushang and the Golden Sands Gang leader, Old Eagle, still facing off in the courtyard, and silently set the bowl aside.

In the courtyard, Li Sushang and a middle-aged man with a fearsome face stood poised in a silent standoff. At Li Sushang's side, a golden sword was embedded in the ground, only the hilt visible.

That should be the sword she mentioned earlier—the one she handed over.

Kaino could sense Honkai energy flowing in a peculiar pattern within the man's body, so he figured both sides were ready to strike, just waiting for the right moment.

But they'd been standing off since he started eating his noodles, and now that he was done, they were still at it.

Though maybe that had to do with how fast he ate, it was still way too slow. If this were a sparring match at Schicksal, both sides would've charged and clashed immediately.

Then again, maybe that was one reason Shenzhou had once defeated Schicksal?

Besides that...

Is this girl Li Sushang a bit too straightforward?

Since you've already taken back your weapon, just cut him down. Why stick it in the ground and insist on a fair fight? You've been drugged, and you're still talking about fairness with him?

Kaino sighed helplessly, but he had no intention of interfering in their duel or secretly tipping off Li Sushang.

There are three reasons.

First, Kaino respected Li Sushang's personal wishes—since she wanted a one-on-one duel, he would let her have it.

Second, Kaino planned to carefully observe Li Sushang's fighting style. That way, even if he was ultimately refused permission to learn Tai Xu Sword Qi, he could still steal some techniques from her.

Third... though this wasn't very Kaslana-like, adding flowers to brocade was worse than delivering coals in a blizzard. Kaino didn't know whether Li Sushang or her master would be willing to teach him Tai Xu Sword Qi, nor whether they would tell him the Red Sparrow Immortal's whereabouts. But if Li Sushang was truly on the verge of death with no hope of recovery, and he saved her at that moment, she would owe him a massive debt of gratitude.

Fourth, if the above three conflicted, defer to the fifth.

Fifth, only three of the five were actually reasons, so saying "three reasons" was perfectly fine.

Thinking this, Kaino intended to take another bowl of noodles from the Imaginary Space, but his movement paused slightly.

Li Sushang moved.

Li Sushang assumed her stance, her gaze locked tightly onto the motionless Old Eagle standing across from her, striving to find a flaw in him.

In Shenzhou's one-on-one duels, unless one had absolute confidence in their own strength, both sides would inevitably stall for a while first, waiting for the other to reveal an opening before striking.

Logically, Li Sushang was a woman, and having taken the Qi-Suppressing Powder, she couldn't circulate Honkai energy—she should have been the one to break first.

But Li Sushang didn't think so.

The Tai Xu Sword Qi she cultivated comprised five essences—Heart, Spirit, Dual Forms, Will, Form, and Soul.

Among them, the Heart Essence was divided into four layers—Still Water, Dustless, Bright Mirror, and Tai Xu.

And this Heart Essence was precisely what Kaino coveted most—a technique that could rapidly absorb and use Honkai energy from the outside world. Li Sushang had only cultivated to the Dustless realm, so she still couldn't fully ignore the Qi-Suppressing Powder's effects to circulate Honkai energy.

However, the Heart Essence's function didn't stop there.

Heart Essence, as its name implied, was about cultivating the heart. Having reached the Dustless realm, Li Sushang could focus her attention entirely on the battle itself during a fight, undisturbed by anything else.

Thus, Li Sushang firmly believed that in a contest of endurance, the loser would definitely be her opponent!

Finally, almost imperceptibly, Old Eagle's stance trembled slightly.

An opening!

Li Sushang initiated with the starting form of Tai Xu's sword techniques, [Crescent Moon], closing in on Old Eagle at lightning speed. Then, using her hand as a sword, she followed up with a move from the Li family sword art, [Returning Swallows], striking toward Old Eagle.

Thanks to Li Sushang's superb physical condition and the exquisite [Crescent Moon] start, before Old Eagle could react, Li Sushang was already before him, and [Returning Swallows] slammed fiercely into his face.

This slap, carrying immense force, scattered Old Eagle's momentum completely, sending him staggering backward with blood streaming from the corner of his mouth.

Having landed her blow, Li Sushang didn't press the attack but instead adjusted her posture and steadied herself.

"That's the first slap."

Li Sushang looked at the rather disheveled Old Eagle, grinning.

"Watch out—here comes the second one!"

With those words, Li Sushang didn't bother competing to find openings again. Instead, she activated her movement technique and took the initiative to attack.

That brief exchange had already confirmed to Li Sushang that even without using True Qi, her martial skill was indeed superior to his.

Having confirmed this, Li Sushang had no more worries. She believed that victory in this duel would surely be hers.

...But she didn't know that after taking that slap, her opponent believed the same.

Seeing Li Sushang charge again, Old Eagle showed no panic. He completely abandoned defense of his limbs and body, focusing solely on protecting his face, and then rushed toward her as well.

From their earlier conversation and exchange, Old Eagle had already confirmed his guess. She was straightforward to a fault, even discarding her treasured sword for the sake of so-called fairness. Likewise, he believed that since she said she would hit his face, she would never attack other parts, even if they were wide open.

And that was exactly the case.

Li Sushang noticed Old Eagle's little trick but still stubbornly only aimed at his face.

What the hell... Good thing I'm upholding martial virtue—otherwise, I could've ended this by striking a vital point on your body!

But even so, I'll still win in the end!

After trading two or three blows with him in the air, Li Sushang retreated slightly. Then, [Crescent Moon] appeared again, and she shot toward Old Eagle at a speed far greater than her retreat.

Having exchanged several moves with Li Sushang, Old Eagle was beginning to falter. But unlike Li Sushang, though inferior in stamina and technique, he could still circulate True Qi.

With True Qi bolstering him, Old Eagle stubbornly guarded his face while launching a storm of attacks at Li Sushang. With True Qi's enhancement, if he landed even one hit on her, he could quickly end the fight.

But Li Sushang almost ignored his attacks. The defensive sword form [Weeping Willow] flowed continuously through her hands. No matter how frequent Old Eagle's strikes, they couldn't touch her.

The Dustless Sword Heart kept Li Sushang focused on the battle, ensuring she never faltered in defense against any of Old Eagle's attacks. But Old Eagle's True Qi was limited; if this continued, he would surely lose.

What's going on... Why is he fighting like this?

Though puzzled, Li Sushang's movements didn't stop. As they exchanged blows, they gradually shifted closer to where the Ancient Sword Xuanyuan was embedded in the ground.

Then, as if exhausted from stamina or a disruption in True Qi circulation, Old Eagle's stance wavered, and his facial defense momentarily opened up.

Seeing this glaring mistake, Li Sushang frowned slightly. But her movements didn't slow—the fastest and most precise opening strike among the five sword forms, [Instant Dust], was unleashed instantly.

Yet Old Eagle let the attack come at him, showing no intention of defending.

Li Sushang hesitated. At the same time, a voice rang in her mind.

"Let me think... You haven't even prepared yourself to kill him, have you?"

Back when Kaino had asked her, Li Sushang hadn't answered his question. Instead, she had pretended not to hear and acted as if nothing had happened.

But now, the same question was once again placed before Li Sushang. For a moment, only panic remained in her heart. And in the end, she truly did obtain the answer.

...What the hell, I've never even killed anyone before.

I just wanted to spar in martial arts, to test my sword.

Thinking this, Li Sushang gritted her teeth.

The Instant Dust she had already unleashed was forcibly withdrawn by Li Sushang. Ignoring the pain of halting the technique mid-strike, she changed her footwork, executing [Swallow Returns to Nest] to forcibly retreat.

And almost at the same time, a sword wind brushed past Li Sushang.

Li Sushang's eyes widened slightly as she stared in disbelief at Old Eagle before her.

The ancient sword? Xuanyuan, which had been thrust into the ground, was now gripped in Old Eagle's hand.

Old Eagle laughed excitedly, a cruel and ferocious laugh.

Chapter 14: Sword Heart Clear Mirror, Judgement of Shamash

A wave of lingering fear washed over Li Sushang's heart.

If she hadn't withdrawn her attack and retreated in time out of fear of killing, she would have certainly been cut down by Old Eagle's sword.

...But if she had already made up her mind to kill, and not held back the grudge of those two slaps, she would surely have slain Old Eagle here, whose skill was inferior to hers.

But thinking so much now is useless, isn't it?

Staring blankly at Old Eagle, who, having missed his strike, turned and lunged at her to swing his sword again, Li Sushang knew in her heart that she could no longer avoid it.

But the Dustless Sword Heart was calm and unruffled. In the moment before death, Li Sushang felt no despair, regret, or grief—only emptiness.

Li Sushang resignedly closed her eyes, sinking her consciousness into the Heart Lake.

Can't dodge it...