Kanzaki Sakurazō maintained his sword-drawing stance and adjusted his breathing.
His intuition told him that the white-clad woman with the naginata in front of him was dangerous, and if he didn't go all out, he would probably be hacked to death.
Xue Ji's eyes remained expressionless, as if Demon Blade Musashi were already a dead man in her eyes. She took three steps in two, and her three-meter-long naginata, without any fancy moves, swung straight down.
"As far as I know, there are only two types of people who can master the basic techniques of the Niten Ichi-ryū Style to a high level: one is the headmaster, and the other is the inheritor of the style. I wonder which category you belong to?"
Kanzaki Sakurazō dodged with Godspeed. Before he could even catch his breath, the three-meter-long naginata swung horizontally. He could only rely on instinct to move backward and dodge. The naginata blade grazed his breastplate, sparks flying everywhere.
"Her naginata swings are too fast."
Kanzaki Sakurazō breathed slightly, as he needed to adjust his breathing rhythm to use the Godspeed, a process that took 5 seconds, while the opponent's naginata slash interval was 3 seconds.
In other words, if the opponent swings two swords, even with Godspeed, you can only dodge one of them 100% of the time. You'll have to move to avoid the other one, but that's undoubtedly a gambler's move, and you'll get hit by the opponent's naginata sooner or later.
Judging from your voice, you must be quite young.
Xue Ji's naginata is wide and powerful. Her opponent's maximum Godspeed is two meters, while her naginata has a range of three meters. As long as she can suppress her opponent from a distance, the opponent will not be able to get close enough to deal damage.
"We can preliminarily rule out the possibility of him being the head of the establishment, so which Niten Ichi-ryū School are you the successor to?"
Kanzaki Sakurazō struggled to maintain his drawn sword stance, constantly dodging. In one misstep, his red breastplate was ripped open, exposing his undergarments. Fortunately, he wasn't seriously injured.
"This can't go on."
Kanzaki Sakurazō but hasn't replied. His intention is clear: to use the basic rapid slashes of the naginata technique to wear down his stamina, and then finish him off with a single blow once his stamina is depleted.
"The kendo uniform from the Niten Ichi-ryū Headquarters?"
Xue Ji narrowed her eyes, her naginata slashing continuously. Her opponent was undoubtedly a successor-level figure, and with the main hall's kendo uniform on display, she said, "Could you be the successor of the Niten Ichi-ryū main hall, Kanzaki Sakurazō?"
"That's right, it is I."
Kanzaki Sakurazō dodged with Godspeed.
Xue Ji's gaze darkened slightly, her slashing motion paused for a moment, then became even more ferocious. "A mere branch school heir dares to wear the main school's kendo uniform and impersonate the young master Kanzaki! How laughable!"
Xue Ji knew very well that there was a 99% chance the other party was impersonating the young master Kanzaki, for a very simple reason.
First, Kanzaki is an eighth-dan kendo master, while his opponent is only a beginner second-dan kendo master.
Secondly, there is the precedent of Exalted Emperor impersonating the young master of Kanzaki.
Thirdly, the young master Kanzaki and the Exalted Emperor were complete strangers. Even if they knew each other in private, he would never dare to openly help the Exalted Emperor, as this would provoke a war between the Kanzaki Clan and the Yugong Family!
Of course, there's also a 1% chance it's Kanzaki's son.
However, since the young master Kanzaki dared to help Exalted Emperor, he has already become an enemy of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, the Yugong Family, and even the entire Kyoto. It would be just as reasonable and just as righteous to execute him on the spot.
but--
"If you promise to stop helping Exalted Emperor," Xue Ji's naginata swings slowed, "I can spare your life."
"Impossible!"
Kanzaki Sakurazō resolutely refused. If he couldn't help Exalted Emperor enter the building to seek refuge, his best friend A Sui, would commit suicide, and he absolutely could not allow such a tragedy to happen.
"You choose the path to hell when there's a way to heaven!" Xue Ji's eyes turned cold, and the speed of her naginata's slashes increased several times over. "Don't blame me for not warning you!"
Kanzaki Sakurazō Godspeed dodged again, but his stamina was already mostly depleted. The naginata slashed across his shoulder armor, injuring his flesh.
"It hurts."
Kanzaki Sakurazō a muffled groan, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes in pain. He had been well protected by his family since childhood and had never been injured, even while practicing swordsmanship.
Although it was just a superficial injury, it really hurt to the bone.
We must find a way to take her down in close quarters!
Kanzaki Sakurazō hugged his shoulder with one hand, enduring the pain and frantically adjusting his breathing. The maximum distance of the Godspeed was two meters. To get close to his opponent, he would have to use the Godspeed twice in a row!
However, after using Godspeed, it takes 5 seconds to adjust one's breathing before using Godspeed again, which is simply not enough time.
The sharp tip of the naginata descended from the sky.
"What to do?"
Kanzaki Sakurazō a panic, his mind racing. Suddenly, he remembered a quote from Oda Kenshin: "Young Master, in the future, when you encounter problems, you might as well try to trust your instincts."
"Then trust your instincts."
Kanzaki Sakurazō her teeth, and with Godspeed, she suddenly lunged forward, her naginata slamming into her right shoulder. Her face drained of color, and she cried out in pain, "Ouch!"
"Um?"
Seeing her opponent catch the sword with his bare hands, Xue Ji wondered what he was up to. But when she saw him grip the naginata with both hands, her pupils dilated in shock. "This madman is going to restrict my movements until I can use Godspeed a second time."
How could I possibly let you succeed?
Xue Ji gripped the hilt of the sword tightly with both hands and shook it violently.
Kanzaki Sakurazō clung to the blade, refusing to let go.
Three seconds left.
"Don't even think about it!"
Seeing that shaking didn't work, Xue Ji decided to go all out and pressed down hard on the naginata, the blade slicing through the muscle with a soft thud.
"Two seconds left."
Kanzaki Sakurazō to one knee with a thud, his hands resisting the naginata, the tearing pain in his shoulder muscles shooting straight to the top of his head. "I should have listened to my teacher and built up my trapezius muscles."
"Damn it." A look of panic flashed in Xue Ji's eyes. No matter how she shook or slashed, her opponent wouldn't let go.
" Niten Ichi-ryū, Second Form!" Kanzaki Sakurazō a deep breath, gripped his twin swords with both hands, and shot out like an arrow, " Godspeed!"
"What?"
Xue Ji's pupils dilated.
"The First Form of the Niten Ichi-ryū."
Kanzaki Sakurazō crouched down, drew his red sword, and with all his might, swung the back of the blade horizontally in a " Empty Clarity Slash!"
The powerful force swept through her limbs and bones, and Xue Ji was sent flying backward uncontrollably.
"It's a success."
Kanzaki Sakurazō sheathed his sword, panting heavily.
" Snow Woman!"
Yukyo Amamiya, who had been watching the Yugong Youjing speed and caught Xue Ji, his face full of panic, "Where are you hurt?"
"Your Highness, I... I'm alright." Xue Ji steadied herself, coughing up a mouthful of blood, her face pale.
"How dare you injure my subordinate?" Yugong Youjing glared at Demon Blade Musashi, his eyes bloodshot and his chest pounding with rage. "I'll kill you!"
"Calm down, Your Highness." Xue Ji wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, still retaining some composure, and said, "It's almost midnight, Su Hang could appear at any moment. You must take your team to guard against his sneak attack."
Yugong Youjing's anger remained unabated. Xue Ji had served him for eighteen years and had long become his closest confidante. Anyone who dared to harm Xue Ji would be made to wish for death.
" Zashiki."
"I am here, young master." Zashiki stepped forward, sword in hand.
Yugong Youjing pressed his palm against the Zashiki close to his ear, and gritted his teeth, "Use the most agonizing method of execution, I want to watch that Demon Blade Musashi bleed dry, bit by bit."
"Yes, sir."