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Section 813, Chapter 804: Life and Death as Usual

Bando tightened his grip on Musashi for a full ten seconds, until his strong body began to weaken, until both Musashi and his own bones were cracking, before slowly releasing his hold on Musashi.

When he let go, Miyamoto Musashi made no sound.

"Ahhh..." Although there weren't many people in the stands, gasps of surprise could be heard. This was too unexpected! Yohei Bando, a modern-day serial killer, had only studied martial arts for a year and a half before killing Miyamoto Musashi, the number one ranked martial artist in ancient Japan and a peerless swordsman.

"This...this..." Tokugawa Mitsunari couldn't believe the result at all. His whole body trembled. He couldn't tell whether he was excited about Bando's success or angry that Musashi, whom he had painstakingly revived, had lost so easily. In short, his emotions were very complicated!

The Japanese government's special agents were devastated. Not only was the mission not completed, but Musashi, a "national treasure," had been killed. If word got out, radicals who idolized Bando would become even more arrogant, and everyone's secrecy would have to be even more difficult in the future!

"Isn't it too late to silence them now?" The panicked special agents began glancing at Hanon and the others...

But they forgot to observe the two people in the ring, namely Bando and Musashi.

What's there to observe? If Bando wins, he'll either be overjoyed or remain expressionless as always. Musashi? Musashi was either strangled to unconsciousness or simply strangled to death. If anyone should be sad, it'll be Tokugawa Mitsunari who's sad. Why are they getting involved?

However, that wasn't the case. In the arena, a weary Bando shakily stood up, seemingly sensing something amiss. He raised his hand, reaching for Musashi on the ground… Suddenly! Bando's eyes widened. He realized something, quickly withdrew his hand, and then lashed it out again. This time, instead of slowly reaching for Musashi, he lashed out with a swift and powerful "whip"—

"Boom!" The arena floor, covered with sand, exploded. Musashi was no longer in the same spot. A figure moved in the dazzling dust. After a few shouts, when the dust settled, Bando Yohei and Miyamoto Musashi were seen standing facing each other. Musashi had picked up the famous sword "Kuni-Tora" that he had thrown away earlier, while Bando held a belt from his martial arts uniform.

"You're a strange guy, your abilities are quite interesting~" Musashi was in high spirits, showing no sign that he had just been strangled by Bando in an extremely fierce and firm manner.

"We're both strange in this respect, aren't we?" Bando glanced at Musashi, then at the sash in his hand, and sighed, "Your feigned death was too convincing; even I, a medical student, couldn't see through it. As for how you bound me later..."

"Of all the martial arts techniques, this is the binding method," Musashi laughed. "But it doesn't seem to work on you."

It turned out that Musashi had only been feigning death. Realizing he couldn't escape Bando's strangulation, he entered a very realistic state of tortoise breathing, storing up a breath deep in his abdomen, waiting for Bando to exhaust himself and release him. Later, Bando discovered this secret, but before Bando could finish him off, Musashi had already recovered his breath and counterattacked, binding Bando with his own sash.

Bando is exceptionally gifted; there is probably no rope in the world that can truly bind him. With a few quick movements of his joints, he regained his freedom. However, this little bit of freedom was enough, as Musashi had already retrieved his weapon.

After having some fun with Bando, Miyamoto Musashi, wielding a sword, descended a second time.

"A spectacular duel." Retsu Kaioh's expression was solemn, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't realized that Musashi was faking his death at all. It seemed that talking about "a hundred kinds of martial arts" was one thing, but actually doing it was another. Musashi, who had been on the battlefield, had honed his skills in all aspects far beyond what Retsu Kaioh, a martial artist who grew up in a peaceful era, could imagine. And if it wasn't Bando who was bound by the "binding spell" but himself, Retsu Kaioh couldn't think of any way to break free from these constraints!

In other words, if Retsu Kaioh and Musashi were to clash now, he would have already lost the battle.

"Challenging Musashi... perhaps I was too hasty," Retsukai concluded painfully to himself.

But those words only lingered in his mind; his companions around him were not focused on them. Katsumi Oji, too, wore a solemn expression, but it was for Musashi holding the sword: "Musashi has finally picked up his katana; this is the real him."

Katsumi's words represented the general opinion of the Japanese present: Miyamoto Musashi wielding a samurai sword was the real Miyamoto Musashi, an unparalleled swordsman!

"Let's stop this frolicking." Musashi's belt was now in Bando's hands, and "Kunatora" could no longer be hung by his side, so he held the sword at his waist with one hand and reached out with the other to grasp the hilt: "Although I can continue to spar with you bare-handed, I want to try what it feels like to slash someone with such a special physique as you."

"It's Iai! Musashi's Iai!" Miyamoto Musashi gripped his sword and executed an Iai, the sheer force of his opening move sweeping across the entire area. Even the most apathetic and martial arts-illiterate special agents were thrilled and relieved: "Great! As long as Miyamoto Musashi draws his sword, Bando Yohei will have no chance of survival. The problem that has plagued us for over twenty years is finally about to be solved!"

The atmosphere in the arena was eerie. Everyone was excited, but while warriors like Tokugawa and Retsu Kaiou awaited Musashi's strikes, the special agents awaited his kill. If they had anything in common, it was probably that they all assumed Musashi's sword strikes were unstoppable, and that Bando was simply easy prey...

Only two people did not maintain this mindset. One was Eiichi, who was not interested in the battle between Bando and Musashi, but was only interested in dissecting the two of them... The other was naturally Kanon, who was still leaning on the fence at the edge of the arena, and suddenly spoke up to Retsu Kaioh and Katsumi Guji, saying, "Want to make a bet?"

"A bet? What kind of bet?"

"Let's bet on whether Bando can withstand Musashi's sword strike without dying." Hanon said softly, "Everyone treats him like a dead man, they really underestimate him. What do you say? If Musashi can't kill Bando with one sword strike, I hope you two won't get carried away and challenge Miyamoto Musashi... In any case, that guy is always a dangerous person."

Kanon made this bet partly because she had confidence in Bando, and partly for the good of Retsu Kaioh and Katsumi, fearing that the two of them would go to their deaths if they went to Musashi—they were both treasures of the martial arts world, top-level strongmen, but they were still quite far behind Miyamoto Musashi!

After hearing Kanon's explanation, Retsukai-ou remained silent, seemingly unwilling to participate in the bet. Katsumi Goji was even more blunt: "Miss Kanon, simply surviving one of Musashi's sword strikes is far too lenient a condition..." Having witnessed the clash between Bando and Musashi, the martial artists all acknowledged Bando's strength. They, however, hadn't seen Musashi's true power. If Musashi wasn't that strong, or if he showed mercy and held back, wouldn't they have forfeited their right to challenge him?

"I see..." Hanon pondered for a moment, realizing that the terms of the bet were too favorable to her, so she changed her mind: "How about this, I bet Bando can withstand three sword strikes from Musashi without dying. If Musashi ends the battle before he can deliver three sword strikes, and Bando does not die, then I will lose and will not stop you from challenging Musashi in the future."

Hehehe, even so, if Hanon really loses the bet, she naturally won't try to persuade the two of them in the future. With her connections, relationships, and family background, she has a hundred ways to stop Retsukai-oh and Katsumi!

Of course, it would be best if we could win the bet. Both Retsu Kaioh and Guji Katsumi are men of integrity, and their self-discipline would save Kanon a lot of trouble.

“…Alright.” After a brief conversation with Keji, Lie finally nodded and accepted the bet.

Now, let's see the final battle between Bando and Musashi.

"Oh dear, I hope I won't get killed." Facing Musashi's iaido stance, Bando Yohei remained calm, truly embodying the spirit of accepting life and death as normal, his concern not being for his own life: "My research isn't finished yet..."

"Whoosh—" A flash of cold light appeared, and Miyamoto Musashi swung his sword!

Author's Note: This is today's serving. That's all for now.

Section 814, Chapter 805: I'm losing money, you're making a profit.

The Iaijutsu in Japanese Kendo literally means drawing your sword, slashing, and finishing the job in one strike—it's that simple.

But once you delve deeper into things in the world, there are very few simple things, and the same is true for Iaijutsu. Leaving aside the art of drawing and sheathing the sword, after the sword is drawn, should it be an upward slash or a downward slash? Should it be a forward thrust or a reverse parry? How much force should be used to strike? Where should the sword be aimed to injure the enemy? The intricate calculations and choices involved may require a supercomputer.

It's not that Miyamoto Musashi's Iaijutsu is a panacea, a cure-all that can solve every problem—even sword saints have to abide by basic principles! The laws of physics cannot be ignored. Musashi's strength lies in his ability to adapt to different situations and unleash his strongest attack, not in the fact that his sword, once drawn, is like a long-range guided missile, capable of cleaving an opponent in two from over 10,000 kilometers away in Times Square, New York…

When Musashi drew his sword, the distance between him and Bando was already quite far. This was partly because Musashi was going to pick up the "Kuni-Tiger" sword he had thrown away, and partly because Bando had been slowly retreating. Bando wasn't stupid; of course, he would feel danger and fear when facing Miyamoto Musashi, and subconsciously wanted to stay away from this menacing figure.

Therefore, after Musashi drew his sword, he used an upward thrust, and Musashi himself took a large step forward, the blade advancing at lightning speed along with his body. At the same time, Bando Yohei's retreat suddenly accelerated as he began to flee with all his might—

"Pfft." It was a very soft sound, the sound of a sharp blade piercing a human body. Bando was never known for his speed, and Miyamoto Musashi's iaido was not something that could be easily avoided.

Moreover, the soft sound was not because Bando retreated in time, causing only the tip of Musashi's sword to pierce the muscle—the long, famous sword "Kuni-Tora" was halfway into Bando's body! It was simply because Miyamoto Musashi's swordsmanship was too high, like a butcher carving up an ox, effortless. This thrust went straight along the texture of Bando's muscles, encountering no resistance at all.

"It's done!" The special agents were about to cheer when they saw Bando's retreat continue, even quickening his pace: "Huh!"

Even Musashi's eyes flashed, surprised that Bando could still move.

Moreover, Bando was not only retreating with his feet, but also making corresponding hand movements, which were even more confusing—he raised his hand and struck the lower end of Musashi's sword blade hard, applying an upward force. As a result, "Kuni-Tora" began to slash upward again, tearing apart the wound on Bando's body. What was originally a small cut was extended three times over by this push!

Blood splattered high, drawing patterns on the sand covering the arena floor, resembling a work of art.

Many artists are seen as madmen or eccentrics by the world. Could it be that Bando also went mad? Was he committing suicide?

it's not true.

Although deliberately accelerating Musashi's upward thrust worsened his own injury, this meant Musashi's attack could only reach the bottom of the thrust, without altering its horizontal slash or disturbing internal organs. Bando only suffered a simple laceration, not a fatal one. Simultaneously, coordinating his footwork, Bando dodged just before Musashi's upward thrust reached his chest, pulling the "Kuni-Tiger" blade out of his body!

“Oh, I see…” Musashi smiled: “A very resolute and decisive judgment. You are a remarkable samurai, Bando.”

"I find Musashi quite annoying in this respect," Kanon suddenly said from the stands.

"Huh? Why?" Retsukai-oh didn't react, but Katsumi was excited. After all, as a Japanese martial artist, he would definitely be very sensitive to hearing that the Sea Emperor of the Chinese martial arts world looked down on his own Sword Saint.

"He always acts like he's playing with a child." Hanon shrugged. "Especially since he doesn't mean to do it, it's even more annoying."

Miyamoto Musashi was that kind of person. If he struck you and you died, he wouldn't care. If you dodged, he'd casually praise you, then strike again, saying, "Try this move again." He was practically making fun of his opponent. Since Musashi was so strong, he was always on the offensive while his opponent defended, making him invincible. It's like a wealthy tycoon who makes a fortune but then says, "Yes, yes, you invested in my products. You made money, I lost money, I'm so broke I have to take the bus." Isn't that annoying?

Look, Musashi has just delivered a blow and praised Bando, but what is Bando doing? He's busy checking his wound!

"Fortunately, the upward slash didn't hit his heart." Bando had a long wound from his abdomen to his chest, but because he treated it properly, it wasn't fatal... His abdomen was the first place he was hit by the sword, and the wound was the deepest, with the risk of his intestines spilling out. Fortunately, Bando had the Musashi sash that Musashi used to bind him, so he took it and tightly wrapped it around his waist to tighten the wound.

After watching Bando finish his work with great interest, Musashi asked again, "Bando, did you just move your spine?"

Miyamoto Musashi's attack points were extremely tricky; the tip of his blade pierced the center of the human body, which was also the most difficult place to dodge. There were no fatal internal organs behind the center of the human body, but if the blade pierced the spine, it would still be fatal. "Kuni-Tora" initially penetrated nearly half of Bando's body, but it did not touch the spine, which Musashi found quite strange.

"Yes." Bando didn't say a word more. He was adjusting his breathing, recovering his strength, and guarding against Musashi's second sword.

"Heh, you're quite the prodigy, Bando." Musashi put away his smile and sheathed his sword. He wasn't giving up, but rather preparing to launch a new Iaijutsu: "The next strike will be a sweeping attack."

"Oh dear, what a dangerous expert." Bando, unusually emotional, let out a heavy sigh.

He did manage to save himself thanks to his exceptionally flexible joints, but avoiding Musashi's blade required more than just talent. He quickly retreated, raised his hand to push the blade away, and shifted his spine. All his movements were executed in one smooth motion. He was bold, meticulous, and had a bit of luck. Even after giving it his all, he only barely managed to avoid being cut down by Musashi's blade.

Now Musashi is about to unleash his second sword strike, after learning more about Bando.

What should we do?

There was no time for Bando to think, Musashi's second strike arrived in an instant!

This time, Musashi and Bando were closer than during the first sword strike. Musashi drew his sword faster, at a more difficult angle, and with greater force. His sweeping motion was like an autumn wind sweeping across the land, leaving barren grass behind and reaping all life along the way.

"Drink!" At that moment, with no way to avoid it, Bando Yohei roared, pushing his right hand with his left hand to block Musashi's sword with his own body!

Alas, Bando never expected his muscles to block Musashi's sword; he expected his bones! If Musashi's sword got stuck in his bones, wouldn't he have a chance to survive?

No… Miyamoto Musashi’s slash was fast, accurate, steady, and ruthless. It swept across with a “whoosh” without making a sound of cutting through muscle or hitting bone. It was like a strong wind blowing by. The blade cut through the muscle along the texture of the muscle and then passed through the bone along the joint. Then blood spurted high into the air, and a hand flew out with it—Bando’s right hand was severed!

But Musashi's swordplay didn't stop; the blade that reaped lives continued to sweep across, slicing towards Bando's waist.

When the knife was about to strike him, Bando started dancing, the "circle dance".

Musashi's slash was delayed for a moment by Bando's arm, giving Bando a chance to counter the attack. He even borrowed a little force from Musashi's slash, the potential energy of the blade being transferred to Bando's bones, which in turn caused his muscles to rotate...

"This is!" Retsu Kaioh in the stands jumped up: "Power dissipation?"

Author's Note: ...I'm practically a snail, I'm disgusted with myself...

Section 815, Chapter 806: Exterminate the Enemy

Rewind to an hour earlier, to the fighters' lounge at the Tokyo Dome underground arena.

"You're such a silly goose..."

"Ye Huayin?"

"It's me." After greeting Bando, Kanon leaned lazily against the wall: "I should be the one who's surprised that you would challenge Miyamoto Musashi."

"...This is a path that was never chosen." Bando replied quietly after a few moments of silence.

“I guessed so.” Recalling the group of heavily armed police officers outside the door guarding against Bando’s escape, as well as Bando Yohei’s dark past and special identity, Kanon could roughly guess why he was here: “Then why don’t you run away? These people outside can’t stop me, and they probably can’t stop you either. Could it be that after being a death row inmate for decades, you finally couldn’t stand the loneliness and were ready to accept your fate?”

Bando shook his head: "They said that the person I fought was Miyamoto Musashi. This is a rare opportunity to observe a legendary figure up close."

"Hey, hey, observation is fine, but this legend is the one who's going to kill you, and he really does have the ability to do it!" Facing Bando, Kanon felt like a "the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is," well, she really didn't have a penis... ptooey, she wasn't a eunuch!

"In short, Miyamoto Musashi is no ordinary man; you are no match for him."

“I know, but I just want to try… I’ll consider it a sacrifice for science.” Yohei Bando said calmly, “I might not even die. If necessary, I’ll admit defeat.”