I'll kill you after I finish this game!

This analogy was hilarious to Sojiro; he could tell that Esther was very attached to Reiji.

The idea of ​​treating other swords as wicked women seducing their masters and forbidding Raiji from touching them is actually quite amusing.

"Laugh, laugh, laugh! Sooner or later you'll meet a wife who can keep you in check!"

Reiji rolled his eyes at Mibu Sojiro's smile and cursed him that if he were to get married, he would definitely be the one being pushed around and the one being the bottom, absolutely!

"Hmm, how could I, who aspires to be the world's greatest swordsman, be entangled in matters of the heart? Besides, back in the countryside, I was often mocked for having a baby face, so how could any woman possibly like me?"

Mibu Sojiro nonchalantly stated that he had no interest in this; all he wanted was to become the world's greatest swordsman, and women would only hinder his speed in drawing his sword.

His exquisitely handsome face, which even women envied, caused Sojiro a lot of trouble; at the very least, he wanted to be seen as a strong man.

Although he is indeed not interested in women, Sojiro is surprisingly concerned about his male side.

but......

"Um!?"

Mibu Sojiro's smile vanished abruptly, as if he had discovered something amiss. His eyes sharpened like knives, and he stared at an empty direction, shouting fiercely, "Come out here—!!"

Even though there was no one there, Mibu Sojiro had already raised his sword and pointed it precisely in a direction where no one was.

There was nothing but yellow sand ahead, but judging from the looks in Reiji and Esther's eyes, as well as the wary and hostile gaze of Mibu Soujiro, there was indeed a hidden presence there.

"You can continue to hide, but I will treat you as someone I want to cut off. I won't say it a third time. Come out!"

Quiet, chilling words, dripping with pressure, came from Mibu Sojiro's mouth, and the one who responded to him was...

The space in front of them began to fluctuate and distort like a phantom mist, and then a tall woman appeared.

She was around twenty years old, but her appearance could be described as that of a young girl. She slowly walked out of the illusionary mist.

The other person was dressed in a loose martial arts uniform with dark and red colors intertwined. Her long hair was tied into a braid at the back, and the long belt around her waist highlighted her amazing chest.

The pants had slits on both sides, revealing the smooth, white sides of her thighs, giving her a wild and untamed look.

With her elegant appearance and slender figure, she could be described as a very charming beauty, but that's not the most important thing.

Mibu Sojiro sensed the power beneath this woman's outward appearance, as well as a twisted quality that defied convention; this woman was no ordinary person.

"It seems you possess twisted supernatural abilities. How did you manage to get this close before I noticed you?"

Mibu Sojiro looked at the tall woman, his hand still on the hilt of his sword, and sized her up, confirming that she must be a martial artist skilled in taijutsu.

"It's nothing, I'm just good at squeezing through gaps, and I came here because I smelled a nice fragrance. I'm really sorry if I scared you."

The woman politely apologized to the three people in front of her, explaining that it was understandable that they would be wary if her actions of getting close to others were discovered.

Seeing that the woman was completely unharmed and had managed to cross this vast and dangerous desert, Sojiro naturally concluded that she was very strong.

Moreover, the opponent's ability just now was indeed quite convenient here.

It's not just a superpower; it also involves using advanced stealth techniques. If someone approaches using assassination skills, they'll claim they have no malicious intent.

Mibu Sojiro felt that this person must have something wrong with his head, and he also understood a certain meaning from the other person's words.

"Heh, you mean you went easy on us, right? Let's not comment on that for now. What do you want to do here?"

Mibu Sojiro was always ready to fight anyone who underestimated him, after all, in this era, samurai, or rather swordsmen, were such bloodthirsty beings.

Upon hearing this, the girl scratched the back of her head somewhat shyly, like a boy. Looking at the fragrant shark meat that Razer was grilling, her empty stomach began to protest, so she said with a slightly flushed face:

"Um... could you let me eat on credit?"

"...Huh!?"

Mibu Sojiro looked at the beautiful girl in front of him who was becoming somewhat shy, and his mind was a little confused by her answer.

So after all that, you've come begging because you're hungry?

Having the ability to cross such a dangerous desert, and considering that the monsters' flesh isn't inedible, why did you come all this way just to beg for food?!

Mibu Sojiro felt a strange sense of destiny for the first time upon meeting the girl in front of him.

Lei Zhe watched this scene with a look of great interest in his eyes.

I just said that Mibu Sojiro would eventually have a wife to keep him in check.

And here it is, right now! It can be said that she is the most suitable woman for Mibu Sojiro in terms of marriage and compatibility.

Soujiro, just wait and you'll be the one getting taken advantage of like a submissive bottom!

Lei Zhe thought this with ill intent.

P.S.: Please vote and recommend!

Three Three~~~.jpg

Chapter Seventy-One: The Moon-Gazing Woman, Mary's Confusion

"Wow, I'm finally alive!"

Sitting in front of the campfire, next to Mibu Soujiro, the girl Kujou Shiori touched her slightly protruding belly, looking satisfied and happy.

Although there are many creatures in this desert that are more troublesome than monsters, some of them have incredibly succulent and tender flesh.

Moreover, as a martial artist, Jiuding Zizhi could also feel that eating the flesh of these creatures could strengthen her physique.

However, as a daughter of a martial arts family, she couldn't cook. She couldn't even eat the food she made on the way, and only came over after smelling the aroma.

After getting this free meal, I can say I had a really good and satisfying meal.

"Young man, you're really good at cooking and grilling meat." The woman looked at Lei Zhe with a cheerful expression and introduced herself, "Let's get to know each other formally. I'm Jiu Ding, Jiu Ding Zi Zhi. Nice to meet you."

Without being careless or discouraged, they gave their names.

If possible, the woman still wanted to stay with this group for the time being, since having a good cook meant she wouldn't have to worry about going hungry.

"Nine ingots...that's really rare."

When Mibu Sojiro heard the girl's surname in her self-introduction, he raised an eyebrow, as if he recognized the surname and was surprised.

Upon seeing the woman in person for the first time, Mibu Sojiro finally began to take her seriously.

Because everyone knows the other party's surname and given name, which is almost a rival to the infamous Xiong Yue clan.

Because the Jiuding clan is responsible for guarding the imperial city, their territory is located near the city walls, making them virtually impregnable.

A shield, a barrier, protecting the royal family and the capital.

Therefore, they are also known as the Lock of the Imperial Capital. This is the mission of the clan. They are nominally the strongest in the Divine Land and also the private army of the royal family.

This also means the strength of an individual's skills and style.

However, most of them never had the chance to display their power, so Jiuding's existence became a legend. If Jiuding were to start fighting, it would mean a crisis for the capital.

They generally cannot challenge others at will, nor can they accept or be challenged.

With such a legend right before his eyes, Mibu Munejiro felt a strong urge to cut it down.

“Kujiro Shiori? Just call me Taiichi. This is my sister, Esther, and the other is my temporary samurai, Mibu Soujiro.” Reiji also introduced himself with a smile.

"Your younger sister is so cute, just like a little animal."

Jiuding Zizhi is, after all, a girl, and it's natural that she'd be attracted to cute things. Esther is the kind of person who is so exquisitely cute that words can't describe her.

Of course, it wasn't just a simple interest in Esther's cuteness, but also a sharp aura that seemed to have no end, which made Shiori even more curious.

Esther looked at Jiuding Zizhi with her large, crystal-clear eyes. This woman gave her a sense of illusion and unreality, like a thick fog.

Or perhaps there are too many of them, making it feel strange.

Meanwhile, Mibu Sojiro was giving Kujou Shiori a strange look, looking her up and down. Kujou Shiori, being looked at like that, gave a perfectly appropriate 'shy' smile, but her eyes were full of amusement.

Her gaze, too, held a scrutinizing quality as she looked at the baby-faced samurai youth, and she said teasingly:

"Little brother, are you mesmerized by your big sister? Your adorable appearance is just my type~~"

"...I'm really captivated. I thought she was the legendary moldy one, but it seems Miss Jiuding is quite strong. If I can't see you in the final imperial duel, please be sure to spar with me during this time."

Mibu Sojiro didn't blush at being teased. Instead, he looked at Kujou Shiori with a serious expression, confirming in his heart that this rare creature could be cut down.

If the other party can survive and reach the imperial duel, all the better. If not, then he can be the one to kill this powerful woman.

"You actually called my older sister a moldy mushroom."

Kujiro's expression also became slightly unhappy, and he looked at Mibu Sojiro with a hint of inquiry in his eyes, because when the man in front of him faced him, it was as if he was being held at knifepoint.

She was actually quite eager to try out the challenge from her opponent.

Because there is no crisis, Jiuding cannot be mobilized at will, and as the eldest daughter of the Jiuding family, Jiuding Zizhi also occupies a superior position in the environment where everyone is a genius.

But being powerful without any rivals would be too boring, so she appeared here.

"It seems that Jiuding's presence here is also due to his interest in the imperial martial arts competition, right?"

Lei Zhe assessed Jiu Ding Zi Zhi's current strength. While her physical abilities were indeed extraordinary, it still felt insufficient.

The character Jiuding Zizhi gives the impression of being both dignified and rude; both bold and gentle; both steady and conservative; and both unrestrained and free-spirited.

In short, he is a complex of contradictions, perhaps because he is too emotional.

Mibu Soujiro wants to cut down everything and become the strongest swordsman, while Kujou Shiori's "desire" is the abstract concept of "multiple possibilities".

The reason for having such expectations and a contradictory personality is because of the perceptions and definitions others have of me.

They inherently abhor being someone else's appendage or decoration, so they constantly seek to overturn others' views and opinions of them, frequently changing the roles they play in pursuit of endless possibilities.

The leapfrog connection between the concepts of "being judged" and "becoming an ornament" is a prime example of brilliant logic and broad thinking.

This is inherently a complex yearning for self, with a slight element of external perception. However, due to her rebellious nature, as long as Jiuding Zizhi continues to change in this ever-changing way, no one will ever be able to understand her true heart.

The superpowers born from responding to the desires of others are also extraordinary skills that allow one to manipulate oneself.

Jiuding Zizhi can use her abilities to summon and reflect things that do not exist in this world.

The superpower that ignores the laws of physics, when used by Shiori, can even transcend the crystal walls and manifest herself in parallel worlds.

"Of course, after all, as a 'Nine Ingots', there aren't many opportunities to make a big scene in a reasonable and legal way. This Suspended City is the best place for me."

A joyful and happy smile spread across Jiu Ding Zi Zhi's delicate and pretty face. She was not some pampered young lady who stayed at home all the time, nor did she like to stay cooped up at home.

With her passion for martial arts and her complex desires, she seeks a pleasant transformation within herself.

Being able to fight on behalf of Jiuding in a reasonable way and cause a big scene would be the best thing for her.