Daidao (Part 1)

"This presence feels a little familiar!" Yizhe quietly took two steps back.

The wind and snow gradually parted, revealing a warrior in blue standing in the field. With one hand resting on his sword, he looked down on everyone with an arrogant air.

"Brat, you were the one openly brawling in the streets last night, and now it's you again. Don't you know that fighting is forbidden within the city? You have no respect for the Land of Iron!" the blue-clad warrior shouted coldly.

"Lord Daidao, these people are the ones provoking the laws of the Land of Iron!" As though he had found someone to rely on, Miyamoto scrambled over to the blue-clad warrior and pointed at Yizhe's group of three, repeatedly denouncing them.

His name is Daidao? Yizhe silently committed the name to memory.

"Get lost!" Daidao, the blue-clad warrior, shot Miyamoto a cold glare. "You were involved in this matter as well! Once I've taken these people down, I'll settle accounts with you!"

Hearing that, Miyamoto could only turn and leave resentfully. He knew Daidao's temperament all too well. He was famously stubborn throughout the Land of Iron. If Miyamoto refused to listen, he would surely suffer for it.

Before leaving, he did not forget to sneak several more glances at Tsunade's chest.

Only after Miyamoto and his men had left did Daidao turn his attention back to Yizhe's group. With a cold expression, he said arrogantly, "Will you surrender willingly, or shall I make a move myself?"

"Sir, we..."

"We won't surrender!"

Sensing the overwhelming aura around Daidao, Yizhe knew he was no match for this man. Whether he resisted or not, the outcome would be the same. He chose to let the matter go, hoping to suffer a little less.

After all, a street brawl should not bring too severe a punishment!

However, just as he was about to speak and make peace, Tsunade's teasing voice came from behind him.

"You crazy woman! Are you trying to get me killed?!" Yizhe's head grew hot at her words, and he turned to roar at Tsunade.

From breakfast until now, he had been holding in a bellyful of anger. At last, he could no longer endure it and exploded!

"What? You dare..."

"My lady, calm down!" Shizune hurriedly grabbed hold of Tsunade, who was flying into a rage.

"Let go! Let go of me! I'm going to cripple him!" Tsunade struggled as she shouted.

After venting, Yizhe finally calmed down. Seeing Tsunade's furious expression, he could not help but feel a wave of lingering fear.

Others might not know, but he had personally witnessed Jiraiya's miserable state!

"If you want to hit me, at least give me a reason! It's not like I'm a masochist!" Yizhe's tone weakened considerably as he began to back down, hoping to soothe Tsunade's anger.

Seeing that he had indirectly agreed, Tsunade's anger indeed subsided somewhat. She said bitterly, "With me here, what are you afraid of!"

"As long as you still have a breath left in you, I won't let you die!"

"Besides, if you don't challenge the strong, how will you grow quickly? How will you protect us in the future?"

Listening to Tsunade's twisted logic, Yizhe was completely speechless. The ones who need protecting are Shizune and me, right?

Still, he did not dare say that aloud.

"So, have you made up your minds? Will you fight me and be dragged back, or will you come with me willingly and accept your punishment?" Daidao suddenly cut in.

He had arrogantly watched the three argue from the side without taking advantage of the opportunity to attack. By now, he had grown impatient from waiting!

"Please instruct me!" Because of Tsunade, Yizhe had no choice but to face him head-on.

He quickly composed himself and stared solemnly at Daidao, taking a defensive stance. He only hoped he could hold out for a few more moves.

Smack!

His vision blurred, and someone suddenly appeared before him. Daidao's scabbard had already struck his waist with a dull thud!

"Hiss—" He sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

What incredible speed! Yizhe was alarmed by Daidao's speed. He had only sensed a gust of wind before his waist was struck.

No, I need to keep moving! I'm slower than him. There's no way I can defend myself while standing still! He immediately judged the situation.

With that in mind, he exerted force through his feet, used the Body Flicker Technique to break away, and began circling Daidao.

Although his reaction had been swift, the moment he started moving, Daidao's scabbard struck him again.

"Useless! At my speed, you have no chance of dodging my sword!" Daidao said coldly.

He slowly closed his eyes, not even intending to watch the youth circling him as he prepared to attack.

"You're too arrogant!" Daidao's disregard completely ignited Yizhe's anger.

The instant Daidao fully shut his eyes, Yizhe roared and launched an elbow strike at Daidao's back.

Smack!

Yizhe's heart sank halfway. The blow he had been certain would land had missed.

Daidao did not even turn around. He simply blocked Yizhe's elbow strike with his scabbard behind his back.

"Hmph!" Yizhe snorted and leaped backward again, then resumed circling Daidao.

"I told you it was useless!" Daidao kept his eyes closed and spoke calmly.

"My lady, is that warrior really that powerful?" Shizune asked worriedly from the side. She had also seen Yizhe's sneak attack fail.

"He isn't just powerful. He's extremely powerful!" Tsunade stared intently at the field and answered seriously.

Smack! Smack! ...

No matter how Yizhe tried to ambush him, he could not so much as touch a corner of Daidao's clothes. This warrior was far, far stronger than him!

"I've had enough fun. It's time to end this!" Daidao said softly with his eyes closed.

"What!" Daidao's words made Yizhe's heart tighten.

An icy aura suddenly radiated from Daidao's body. It was exactly the same aura as the warrior Yizhe had encountered that night!

Only then did he realize that Daidao was the warrior who had stopped him from pursuing someone that night!

And now, every tiny movement Daidao made as he drew his sword seemed to be clearly imprinted in Yizhe's eyes, while Yizhe himself felt as if he had stopped moving.

No! He suddenly realized that it was not that he had stopped moving. Daidao was simply too fast!

So fast that he had created the illusion that Yizhe himself had become motionless!

"Draw!"

Daidao's low voice exploded beside Yizhe's ear. Though they were nearly ten feet apart, Yizhe felt as if Daidao were standing right next to him, the distance impossibly close!

Then, he saw a flash of light from Daidao's scabbard. No other colors remained in his vision as it was completely filled by that dazzling brilliance.

Bang!

A powerful force struck him as he ran. Pain exploded in his chest, and he was sent flying!

"Cough, cough, cough!" Yizhe struggled up from the snow, coughing violently and gasping for air.

Daidao's savage blow had nearly knocked the breath out of him!

"Are you all right?" Shizune jogged over and asked with concern.

"I'm fine. He didn't intend to kill me. He used the flat of the blade!" As he spoke, Yizhe pulled open his clothes.

Shizune clearly saw a bright red mark on Yizhe's chest.

"Shizune, hurry and treat me. My breastbone hurts badly. I think the bone might be fractured!" he said through gritted teeth.

"Okay, I'll treat you right away!"

Shizune nodded, rolled up her sleeves, placed both hands on Yizhe's chest, and gathered chakra as she prepared to begin treatment.

Mystical Palm Technique

Soon, he felt a warm, gentle energy flow into the injured area, and an indescribable sense of comfort rose through his body.

His injury was healing!

"Princess Tsunade, won't you come down and offer me a few pointers?" Daidao opened his eyes in the field and looked at her with fighting spirit blazing in his gaze. Then he deliberately said disdainfully, "Or are you afraid to fight and preparing to return with me to accept punishment?"

"From the very beginning, I was your target, wasn't I?"

Tsunade curled her lips into a smile and answered with great interest, no longer paying attention to Yizhe and Shizune beside her.

There'll be a plot twist in the next chapter, and it feels especially awful →_→ Even I can barely stand it. The transition feels way too forced, but I can't think of a better turning point right now T_T It's driving me crazy. If I really put it out there, I'm afraid it'll poison you all to death T_T I'll keep thinking and see how to handle it properly →_→