He did not choose to pursue.
In the first encounter, he judged that the opponent did not use his full strength.
Using Byakugan, I peeked into its body and found that the strange Chakra was like an external battery, constantly providing power to the main body.
But the shortcomings are also obvious. Stop cooking when it is exhausted, or use another simpler method to directly destroy the battery.
So there is not much pressure.
Furthermore, his current duty is to protect it. What if the shrine is destroyed by another group of people just after he leaves?
shrine...
The shrine is brightly lit at the moment, but the atmosphere is more serious than usual. There is also a faint smell of blood.
Many guards began patrolling back and forth in case another enemy raid occurred during this period.
At this moment, Ashitaba was standing in front of the palace gate. His eyes were focused and looking straight ahead, and he unconsciously clenched the scabbard in his hand.
I don't know how long it took, but there was a strange noise from the roof, and Ashitaba and other guards were immediately alert.
They invariably put their hands on the hilts of their knives, ready to attack at any time.
After they saw the person clearly, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fujiwara Your Excellency! How is the situation outside?"
When Ashitaba saw that Ning Xue was back, he hurried forward. While asking, his eyes quickly swept around Ning Xue.
Ning Xue heard this and jumped to the ground before speaking slowly.
"Repelled."
He paused and continued.
"One of them was seriously injured by me, and the other three took the injured and retreated.
They are blessed with the power of Mōryō, their strength is not weak, and their cooperation is average."
Ning Xue told his record in a calm tone.
But the Ashitaba in front of him was shocked.
An enemy with the power of Mōryō? He was defeated by the person in front of him alone, and one of them was seriously injured?
Although he felt that the other party was very strong, such a record... for a guard from a small and remote country like him, it was simply appalling.
And judging from the observation just now, the other party didn't seem to be injured.
After the shock, worry followed.
The enemy has obviously not given up, and is able to use the power of Mōryō. The threat level is far higher than expected.
"Your Excellency is very brave... but I'm afraid the enemy will not give up if they retreat this time." Ashitaba said in a deep voice.
"I know." Ning Xue nodded, then took out a few scrolls from the small bag on his waist and handed them to Ashitaba.
"So some preparation is needed.
Please, please find a few people to take these scrolls to a nearby place with sufficient water sources, such as lakes, waterfalls, or large rivers.
Soak them in the water until the runes on the surface of the scroll glow slightly, then take them out and return them to me before dawn tomorrow."
Ashitaba took the scroll, took out one and looked at it carefully, and said with some confusion.
"Sir, is this...?"
"Just store some water. It might work wonders in a pinch."
Ning Xue After a brief explanation, he stopped talking.
Then he jumped to the roof and decided to keep vigil there tonight.
below.
Seeing Ning Xue suddenly jump to the roof, he could only swallow the words he had not asked yet.
After a moment, he sighed and looked at the bundles of scrolls in his hands. Although he didn't know their purpose, there should be some reason for them.
Thinking of this, he called over four less seriously injured guards and gave them instructions.
"You guys, take this and set off immediately to the lakes, waterfalls or rivers you can find nearby.
Remember to immerse the scroll completely in the water until the runes on the surface begin to glow, and then take it out carefully.
Be sure to bring it back before dawn."
"Yes, Master Ashitaba!" Although the guards looked confused, they still solemnly took the scroll and executed it quickly.
The perspective comes to Shion--
The lights in the hall flickered.
Shion did not go to bed. She sat alone by the couch, listening to the footsteps outside that were noisier than usual, and the clearly identifiable voice of Ashitaba giving orders outside.
These movements reminded her of the dangers in the outside world and her own responsibilities all the time.
She lowered her head and looked at the glazed bell in her palm. This was an amulet given to her by her mother when she was still alive.
The cold touch failed to soothe her soul, but instead constantly reminded her of her responsibility and destiny as a miko.
She recalled everything that happened today and felt deeply powerless.
The prophecy changed... because of that man.
But a greater disaster still comes as expected.
What can I do? Can I really change it? Or will everything still slide towards destruction in the end?
She curled up and was overwhelmed with thoughts, not knowing what to do.
In the end, she could only hold on to the bell tightly and put it against her chest, as if her mother was still there, soothing his heart full of struggle and fatigue, and slowly closed her eyes.
Meanwhile on the other side.
Yomi's face was as gloomy as water.
He looked at Gitai, who was being helped in by Shizuku and Setsuna. His left arm was severely injured and was unconscious. He glanced at the embarrassment that could not be completely concealed on the faces of Kusuna and Shizuku, and the anger in his chest was almost boiling.
"With the power given by Lord Mōryō, four people joined forces, but they were repelled by one person and were still damaged to this extent?"
His voice was very low, as if he was trying to suppress his anger.
"My subordinates are incompetent! That person... that person's Ice Release is extremely weird, and his tactics are tricky. Gitai He... was careless..."
Kusuna explained with difficulty, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Careless?" Yomi interrupted coldly. "Failure is failure, no excuses are needed."
He supported his weak body and tried his best to maintain his dignity. He walked to Gitai and leaned over to inspect the almost useless arm, frowning.
The injury was more serious than he expected, and the inside was completely damaged by the ice spikes. It would be difficult for the conventional Medical Ninjutsu to regain its combat power in a short period of time.
"Hmph..." Yomi snorted, suppressing his dissatisfaction with his subordinates' incompetence. Now was the time to hire people. If there were really stronger candidates, he would have abandoned them long ago.
"Hel him lie down." Yomi ordered.
Kusuna After hearing this, several people quickly followed the instructions.
For a moment, Yomi hung his hands above Gitai's arms, and his palms glowed with a green light that was not the ordinary Medical Ninjutsu, but a purple light full of evil aura.
"Dark Medical Technique!"
As he chanted in a low and obscure voice, purple Chakra seeped into the hideous wound on Gitai's arm like a living thing.
Soon, a heart-wrenching sound came.
Broken blood vessels, muscles, nerves and even bones began to squirm, regenerate and heal under the influence of this strange force.
However, the newborn arms were covered with strange purple lines and looked abnormal and fragile.
The whole process lasts about a quarter of an hour.
When Yomi stopped his hand, his face seemed to be a little pale. Although this Dark Medical Technique effect is strong, the burden on the user is not light.
"The arm has been saved for the time being, but it will take some time to fully recover."
Yomi glanced at Gitai indifferently, and glanced at the three Kusuna like knives.
"Let's record this defeat for the time being. The top priority is to complete the recovery of Lord Mōryō."
He walked back to the main seat and sat down, straightening his body which was even weaker due to Secret Technique, trying his best to maintain the majesty of the leader.
"The miko will definitely go to Land of Swamps.
Your mission remains unchanged, continue to harass and delay along the way, consume as much power as possible from that Ice Release ninja, and make arrangements at the final location.
If it fails again..."
He didn't say any more, but the chill in his eyes said it all.
"Yes! Thank you for your kindness! My subordinates will do their best and fight to the death to complete the mission!"
Kusuna The three of them knelt down on one knee and responded in unison, their backs soaked with cold sweat.
Yomi waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
When he was the only one left in the tent, he took out his handkerchief, covered his mouth and coughed violently.
"It seems... I don't have much time."