Breaking the Deadlock

"If you can't kill me, you want to kill these guys? Are you trying to... frame me?"

Wang Xun's voice echoed above the smoke-filled ruins.

"So, this is what you really wanted."

The other assassins' expressions changed drastically.

They never expected that Wang Xun's strength would be so formidable.

With a single strike, they could severely injure their comrades.

If they continue fighting, forget about completing their mission; they'll probably all perish here.

One of them glanced at the person next to Ayakawa Hiko, exchanged a look, and then made a decision.

"Withdraw!"

The lead assassin gave a low shout.

The group instantly changed targets, unleashing several Bakudō at Wang Xun simultaneously, but Wang Xun dodged them with his Shunpo.

Then two plumes of Sekienton in mid-air, the thick smoke instantly obscuring visibility.

"Want to leave?"

Wang Xun's eyes narrowed, and he abruptly stopped just as he was about to move his toes.

The chanting behind them rose up along with the fluctuations of Reiatsu.

The person who had been silently following behind Ayakawa Hiko made a move.

This person was none other than Tsunayashiro Tokinada's planted agent among them.

His eyes flashed with a cold light, and his body instantly erupted with an undisguised, chilling killing intent.

As the chant ended, the Heat Hadō of energy shot directly at Ayakawa Hiko and the others who were slumped to the ground.

"Hadō #54: Haien!"

A cold, low growl sounded.

At the same time, several Bakudō emerged from the smoke again, interfering with Wang Xun's movement.

A ring of flame flashed, Ayakawa Hiko and the others had no time to react before their bodies were instantly severely injured.

Having landed a successful blow, the man dared not linger and turned to flee.

But just as he took a step, an extremely sharp slash came hurtling through the air.

A silver glint pierced through the smoke and dust, heading straight for his back!

The assassin was horrified and hastily turned to block, but was still struck hard in the shoulder by the slash.

With a soft splatter, blood splattered, and the sound of bones shattering was clearly audible.

The assassin screamed in agony as half of his shoulder was nearly severed, the excruciating pain causing his body to convulse.

Knowing he was no match for Wang Xun, he endured his injuries and, using the Hainawa of the Bakudō #4: Hainawa thrown by his companion as a guide, scurried awkwardly into the dense forest.

The group staggered away and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Wang Xun's gaze swept into the depths of the dark, dense forest, and he instantly made a judgment in his mind.

He did not choose to pursue.

The opponent dared to set up such a deadly trap; they might have a backup plan. A hasty pursuit would only lead to falling into an even deeper ambush.

More importantly, Ayakawa Hiko and the others are the only witnesses. Once he leaves, there's no guarantee they won't be silenced.

When they die, all the blame will undoubtedly be smeared on him.

That's their real goal.

With this thought in mind, Wang Xun decisively stopped and turned to look at the people who were slumped on the ground.

At this moment Ayakawa Hiko and the others were barely breathing, their bodies covered with Reishi burns caused by the Kidō.

Without timely treatment, they may not survive long.

Wang Xun strode forward, squatted down, and immediately gathered a gentle and stable Kaidō Reiatsu at his fingertips, slowly injecting it into the bodies of the group.

Wang Xun frowned deeply; the injuries of the group were quite serious.

Fortunately, his knowledge of the Kaidō is profound enough.

It's not too late to save their lives.

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the ruins were a mess, and the pungent smell of gunpowder and blood permeated the silent mountain forest.

In the shadows of the nearby woods, Nagano Masayasu watched all this unfold, his eyes brimming with extreme tension.

Although the plan was exposed, Ayakawa Hiko and the others were seriously injured and their lives were hanging by a thread.

The overall strategy hasn't completely collapsed yet.

As long as Ayakawa Hiko and the others don't survive, he can still follow the original plan and pin the blame on Wang Xun.

Nagano Masayasu took a deep breath, slowly emerged from the shadows, and walked step by step toward the center of the ruins.

He suppressed his shock, anger, and panic, quickly putting on a perfectly measured expression of astonishment and bewilderment.

"I live nearby and came here to chop wood. Excuse me, Soul Reaper, what happened here?"

Wang Xun glanced back at Nagano Masayasu but said nothing.

He crouched down, gently pressing his fingertips on Ayakawa Hiko's shoulder, and slowly Kaidō gentle yet steady Reiatsu into the other's body.

Ayakawa Hiko trembled, and his previously unfocused gaze sharpened slightly.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, and a hoarse sound escaped his throat.

As the excruciating pain in his body subsided and a glimmer of life returned, his fear of death was eased.

Yes, I heard before that Wang Xun Kaidō at the Fourth Division.

Regret, shame, lingering fear... a complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.

Previously, they had done many evil deeds in order to isolate and ostracize Wang Xun.

Those who think they've climbed to a high position treat them merely as disposable commodities.

In the end, it was the very person they most wanted to eliminate who saved their lives.

Ayakawa Hiko's lips trembled slightly, and finally he uttered two words in a trembling voice.

"Thanks..."

However, Wang Xun had no time to pay attention to his emotions, his brows furrowed tightly.

The injuries to the others were more severe than he had imagined, but keeping them alive would not be difficult.

After he's treated, he still needs to be sent to the Fourth Division for proper treatment.

Nagano quietly stepped forward.

His gaze was fixed on the Kaidō Reiatsu flowing from Wang Xun's palm, and on the gradually stabilizing auras of the others, his heart suddenly sank.

He had assumed that these people were critically injured and wouldn't last much longer.

But why would this person Kaidō?

Judging from Wang Xun's superb technique, he was clearly trying to pull the person back from the brink of death.

A flicker of fear crossed Nagano Masayasu's eyes. He quietly slipped his right hand behind his back and drew a dagger from there.

Now that things have come to this, it seems he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands and silence them.

He walked behind Wang Xun, his heart pounding like a drum, and tremblingly raised his arm.

Then it fell heavily.

However, Wang Xun didn't even raise his head. With a casual flick of his left hand, he precisely grabbed Nagano Masayasu's wrist.

His strength wasn't great, yet it held her firmly like an iron clamp.

What are you trying to do?

Nagano Masayasu turned deathly pale, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He could clearly feel that the Reiatsu emanating from Wang Xun was rising at an alarming rate.

The Reiatsu spread out like a tide, startling countless birds in the mountains and forests.

This is the signal sent by Wang Xun.

Nagano Masayasu's face turned completely ashen.

It's over.

Everything is over.

Wang Xun stood up, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Nagano's pale face.

After casually knocking him unconscious and using a Bakudō to restrain him, Wang Xun turned around and continued to stabilize the injuries of the others.

A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance.

"There's an unusual Reiatsu fluctuation over there!"

"Be on guard!"

Several members Soul Reaper the Tenth Division, responsible for patrolling and reconnaissance, have arrived.

Ayakawa Hiko lay on the ground, glanced at Nagano Masayasu's face, and was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, so ashamed that he could hardly lift his head.

Not long after.

The members of the Tenth Division quickly arrived, cordoned off the scene, and recorded the situation.

They saw the traces of the Kidō on the ground, and the gravely injured, dying noblemen.

Everyone's expression became extremely solemn.

The news from here was relayed back to Seireitei at top speed.