Confrontation

During the lunch break, as many students lined up to enter the cafeteria, Kubo Yamato asked Loxi, who was helping inside.

"Has he not returned yet?"

"No..."

Loxi shook his head, his expression betraying a hint of worry. Based on his understanding of Bai Ina, he had likely gone out to secure some money to leave as a token of gratitude to the dojo upon his departure.

Yet, having been gone for so long, it was inevitable that he felt a sense of unease.

"Is that so!"

Kubo Yamato smiled and shook his head, then looked at Loxi with a grin: "Don't worry, he..." He prepared to comfort Loxi, but before he could finish, his brow furrowed: "It seems he has returned."

"You..."

"This is..."

The voices of Zongcilang and Hijikata Yoshitoyo drifted in from outside the cafeteria. Hearing this, Loxi exchanged a glance with Kubo Yamato and hurried out. Kubo Yamato remained where he was, pondering for a moment before walking out of the cafeteria as well.

Stepping outside, they saw Zongcilang and Hijikata Yoshitoyo staring in horror at a blood-red figure walking slowly from the edge of the dojo. The figure's clothes were soaked through with blood, covered in dried, crusty stains.

With every step he took closer, a nauseating, pungent stench of blood drifted into everyone's nostrils. A bone-chilling killing intent enveloped the entire courtyard, making everyone present feel a shiver despite the midday sun.

"Yina!!!"

Seeing the figure wrapped in dried blood, Loxi's expression changed drastically. He felt not a shred of fear at Bai Ina's current appearance, only concern.

As Bai Ina slowly walked into the courtyard and saw this scene, the residual bloodthirsty killing intent in his eyes vanished in an instant. Warmth returned to the courtyard, causing Zongcilang and Hijikata Yoshitoyo to exhale in relief, though their eyes remained filled with a lingering wariness as they looked at him.

"Don't worry, it's not mine!"

Bai Ina tried to keep his tone as calm as possible, but the implication of his words sent a chill down the spines of Zongcilang and Hijikata Yoshitoyo, who were listening from the side. Judging by the extent to which his clothes were soaked, unless he had intentionally submerged himself in blood... it was certainly not something that could be splashed on him by killing a mere few people.

And Loxi's subsequent reaction made them completely rethink their perception of this boy, who had always been gentle, polite, and smiling.

"Oh, oh, that's good then!"

A saint-like smile returned to Loxi's face, but to Zongcilang and his companion, that smile was now blindingly jarring.

Perhaps others would fear Bai Ina for killing, but in Loxi's heart, anyone who harbored malice toward Bai Ina deserved to be killed by him—it was only right!

It was clear that even the kind-hearted, gentle, and domestic Loxi could become cold and ruthless when it concerned a certain someone.

After soothing Loxi, Bai Ina turned to look at Kubo Yamato, who had just stepped out of the cafeteria. "This is for the medical expenses, the broken gate, and the food costs," he said in a cold tone, tossing the blood-stained bundle he had been carrying without hesitation.

Kubo Yamato caught it expressionlessly, saying nothing, merely watching Bai Ina quietly.

Bai Ina met his gaze without fear. After a long moment, he turned to Loxi with a cold expression and said, "Let's go!"

"Mm!"

Loxi nodded without hesitation.

Having received his answer, Bai Ina turned and walked toward the exit of the dojo without a second thought, showing no intention of saying goodbye.

"You... would you like to have a duel with me?"

Just then, the silent Kubo Yamato spoke, and his words caused Bai Ina's body to pause.

"Teacher..."

Hijikata Yoshitoyo frowned, about to say something, but was pulled back by Zongcilang.

"What kind of duel?"

Bai Ina slowly turned around, looking at the pitch-black longsword at Kubo Yamato's waist.

Loxi, seeing this, frowned, his eyes filled with hostility as he looked at Kubo Yamato.

"A duel of swordsmanship, naturally!" Kubo Yamato's lips curled into a smirk. He looked at the battle-ready Bai Ina and chuckled: "Although I am not particularly proficient in the way of the sword, I believe a duel with me will be of some help to your growth!"

"And if I refuse?"

Kubo Yamato smiled, still as gentle as ever, but his words were overbearing: "Then I shall strike regardless!"

At these words, the fighting spirit on Bai Ina surged instantly. His entire body tensed, and in the next second, he lunged forward without even a word of warning.

Clang—

The longsword at Kubo Yamato's waist was unsheathed in an instant, parrying Bai Ina's strike with effortless ease.

"Is that all? If so, I am truly disappointed in your strength!"

Bai Ina's expression darkened. He dropped his stance, and as he did, he released the hilt in his right hand. The parried sword rotated downward due to gravity, landing perfectly in his left hand as if calculated.

"May Rain!"

With a cold shout, Bai Ina spun his body, swinging the sword in his left hand directly toward Kubo Yamato's abdomen.

A flash of surprise crossed Kubo Yamato's eyes. He had to admit, Bai Ina's technique of switching hands and changing the trajectory of his attack mid-duel was quite novel.

However, in the next moment, he recoiled, his body bending at an almost impossible angle, retracting his abdomen to dodge.

"Tornado Flash!"

The tornado-like slash arrived the moment Kubo Yamato regained his footing, instantly engulfing him.

"Teacher—"

Hijikata Yoshitoyo's expression shifted at the sight, and just as he moved to intervene, Zongcilang held him back. "Rest assured, Master will be fine." Despite his words, Zongcilang's gaze never once left the storm of slashes created by the Tornado Flash.

"Slash—"

Kubo Yamato's sharp cry erupted from within the storm of slashes, and immediately, a massive strike cut through the sky like the breaking dawn, shattering the darkness. It tore through the tempest of slashes, causing them to dissipate into nothingness...

However, the moment his figure emerged from the storm, Bai Ina was already suspended in mid-air before him, his body coiled, sword sheathed, and killing intent surging from his frame.

"Iai Slash—Flame Slash!"

The longsword slid from its scabbard in an instant. The intense friction between blade and scabbard sent sparks flying, and as the steel cleared the sheath, it was instantly engulfed in flames, turning a searing, fiery red.

Seeing this, Kubo Yamato's black sword was likewise covered in flames, though the fire upon his blade was an eerie, azure blue. The azure-black sword tore through the air as if teleporting, instantly blocking the strike Bai Ina had unleashed.

"BOOM—"

The moment the two swords collided, there was no sound of clashing metal, but rather a thunderous explosion...