Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

Before him stood Raiden Mei, her hair disheveled and tears streaming down her face. Her once fierce and swift figure was now nowhere to be found.

Jingye gently stroked Raiden Mei's hair, as if whispering his love for her as if it were entwined in his heart.

"Mei, don't go..."

"You come here every day, isn't that what you want to do..."

Jingye deliberately used the most hateful and vicious language to trample on Raiden Mei's dignity and her past gentle protection of him.

Raiden Mei, who calls herself his master, and her actions of blocking all the ridicule and dissatisfaction from others, as well as her daily visits to show concern, are all described by Jingye as "temptation and seduction".

It was as if Jingye could never see what Raiden Mei was truly doing for him; he only saw Raiden Mei's stunning beauty.

"You...you despicable...uh..."

Seeing that Raiden Mei had regained some strength during the night's journey, Jingye smiled and pressed her neck.

Who would have thought that the "Thunder Queen," who was usually respected and revered by everyone, would be unable to struggle against Jing Ye, who was considered a piece of trash by everyone?

Raiden Mei's snow-white neck was held firmly by Jingye, as if he were controlling a defeated prisoner, and he lifted her hair.

Immediately afterward, another dose of medicine was injected into Raiden Mei's shoulder.

The brutal needle stung Raiden Mei, but it was clearly not enough to describe the pain in her heart. She swallowed back the broken tears from the corners of her eyes, along with the curses and grievances she couldn't finish saying.

The renewed fatigue and drowsiness gradually overwhelmed the pain that Raiden Mei was feeling all over her body, and she once again fell into that hazy, chaotic state.

However, the tears still clearly visible in Raiden Mei's eyes reflected that she could sense everything Jingye did.

To Raiden Mei's surprise, the dosage of the drug that Jingye gave her this time was still insufficient.

It was as if she was being deliberately kept awake, maintaining the last shred of consciousness to prevent her from falling into a deep sleep.

Confusion resurfaced in Raiden Mei's eyes, but she was soon too tired to resist or even question Keiya. She could only blankly watch Keiya use her to practice Iaijutsu.

However, in Raiden Mei's trembling eyes, she seemed to vaguely realize how wrong her original idea that she had failed to completely knock her unconscious was due to Jingye's misjudgment.

Raiden Mei's eyes flashed with anger as she suspected that Jingye's actions were brewing some kind of humiliation.

But now she can only silently endure it.

As time went by, Raiden Mei's constant tears had made the room completely damp, and after a while, the effects of her medicine wore off again.

Raiden Mei regained her chance to speak, but Keiya, seemingly tireless, continued contacting Iaijutsu all night long.

"Wait... when it really comes time... when it's time to go to the battlefield... uh..."

"Really... I can't... keep going like this..."

At this moment, Raiden Mei didn't even have time to hate or be angry at Jing Ye, because as the rooster crowed at dawn, the time for her to go to the battlefield had truly arrived.

The sound of war drums could be heard from the horizon, but Raiden Mei, whom everyone in Izumo had been eagerly anticipating, did not appear before them.

Because Keiya was practicing Iaijutsu with Raiden Mei, repeatedly drawing and sheathing his sword.

For the much-anticipated "Thunder Queen," this was a crucial formal battle, and also the first major, full-scale conflict between Izumo and Takamagahara.

But Raiden Mei, one of the strongest fighters, didn't appear on the battlefield? How ridiculous is that?

Despite her burning anxiety, Raiden Mei was unable to escape Jingye's grasp.

After drugging Raiden Mei, Jingye even went out of his way to find a good place, a place no one knew about.

In this house that no one can find, Raiden Mei, whom everyone is looking forward to, is controlled like a toy.

Raiden Mei's anger and sadness, and her disappointment in Keiya, were no longer worth dwelling on at this moment. She was even willing to lower her tone when speaking to Keiya.

"I really... I need to go to the battlefield..."

"Let me go first... uh... I'll talk to you properly when I get back... uh?!!"

"You...how could you?!"

Jing Ye suddenly practiced his sword-drawing slash even more fiercely, as if he had only heard half of what someone had said after searching for some keywords!

Raiden Mei had already compromised, indicating that as long as she was allowed to go to the battlefield, all of Jingye's humiliation and transgressions would be forgiven...

But Jing Ye seemed to be provoked, and knocked her to the ground even more!

Let alone sending her to the battlefield, it seems Jing Ye is determined to prevent her from leaving even a step!

Now that Jingye has used his brutal Iaijutsu, what difference would it make if he didn't let Raiden Mei go, or even if he actually made her stand on the battlefield?

After being brutally attacked with Iaijutsu, even the strongest and most dazzling person in the past is now too bruised to lift a sword.

Raiden Mei's beautiful legs were trembling just lying there, let alone standing on the battlefield.

Raiden Mei could already hear the shouts of people searching for her outside. Clearly, the warriors of Izumo were very anxious because they couldn't find her!

Raiden Mei's heart was filled with anxiety, and a few tears welled up in her eyes, but Jingye seemed to ignore them and stuck another needle into her shoulder.

Overwhelmed by renewed drowsiness and exhaustion, the last glimmer of hope in Raiden Mei's eyes vanished.

Because she heard the war drums gradually fading away, and the people outside no longer calling out Raiden Mei's name.

Although Raiden Mei is a rising star that everyone is looking forward to, the war drums will not stay for her for long.

Because of the eight million gods of Takamagahara, those vicious demons will not wait for Raiden Mei's arrival.

The demons' lust for slaughtering the people did not remain obedient just because Raiden Mei was not present, and thus the Izumo Kingdom's campaign proceeded as scheduled.

The village returned to peace after the grand farewell ceremony, but in the distance, one could almost hear the sounds of clashing swords and the brutal bloodshed of war.

Raiden Mei, however, was stuck in this unknown little house, possessing martial arts skills honed over a decade but with nowhere to use them.

Raiden Mei's eagerness to enter the battlefield extinguished, leaving behind countless sorrows.

Because if she doesn't join the war, it won't just be a situation where "Raiden Mei loses her debut".

She didn't show up, much to everyone's dismay.

The higher they were once praised, the more ruthless they will be when they are belittled.

Although Raiden Mei hasn't experienced it yet, she has a vague idea of ​​what will happen.

Raiden Mei's name, and the reputation of the Raiden clan, will all be stigmatized because of her act of "desertion".

Even if this "desertion" is because of Jing Ye... will others believe it?

Raiden Mei, who is known as the "Queen of Lightning" and crushes all her peers, will be pinned down and unable to escape by Jingye, who is regarded as a piece of trash by everyone.

Raiden Mei didn't care how much her reputation was slandered, nor did she care about not being able to go to the battlefield to test her strength and the wasted potential of her martial prowess.

However, the Raiden clan raised her for over a decade, and the villagers helped her for over a decade; Raiden Mei cannot fail to repay these debts of gratitude.

But what about her? Forced to stay here and become a "deserter," bringing shame upon her family...

Realizing the terrible consequences of her outburst, Raiden Mei was filled with panic over the potential damage to her family's reputation!

And the shame and indignation she felt for betraying her family's kindness in raising her, which had already been seen as "desertion"!

Jingye stared intently as the hope in her eyes gradually turned into hatred and anger, and he became even more delighted as he practiced the Iaijutsu technique.

Yes, that's the kind of expression he wants to see!

Seeing that expression of utter despair, where he was so angry he was on the verge of collapse, yet couldn't even cry!

The more intense the despair and anger that Raiden Mei displayed, the happier he became!

Of course, all of this was just for the sake of the "Blade of the Soul" stats, all of this was to infuse Raiden Mei's sword with enough power.

Jingye is a great philanthropist. How could he allow Raiden Mei to suffer such pain and torment just to satisfy his own selfish desires, and cause Raiden Mei's heart to be so wounded?

Jingye pinched Raiden Mei's tear-streaked cheeks as if savoring a delicious treat, forcing her to look at him instead of her face!

At the same time, it also allows Raiden Mei to clearly see just how powerless and ridiculous she truly is.

"Could anyone have imagined that the 'Thunder Queen,' who is invincible, is so fragile?"

"Mei, where's that fierce energy you had when you swung your sword?"

"Where did you go, with that same bull-like spirit that you used to take down everyone else?"

"Why aren't you moving now? Why are you lying there without resisting at all? Do you not want to move?"

"They're just...as cute as toys!"

With Jingye's mocking words, Raiden Mei's dignity, which was respected by everyone, was completely trampled underfoot.

Raiden Mei clearly had no idea that Keiya viewed her this way, and she looked particularly pathetic and ridiculous when she was used as a contact for Iaijutsu.

What stung Raiden Mei the most was the last sarcastic remark that Jingye uttered—

"Heh... the so-called Queen of Thunder is nothing but a deserter who dares not step onto the battlefield."

No matter how much Jingye mocked her disheveled and ugly state at this moment, Raiden Mei gritted her teeth and endured it, because she was indeed being suppressed by Jingye.

However, the label of "deserter," which is related to her family, deeply wounded Raiden Mei's heart!

The knives placed to one side of the room, though still sheathed, gleamed with a reddish light as if they were burning!

Although Raiden Mei was still unable to break free from the drug's control, her anger gradually accumulated, surging in her eyes like a blazing fire!

Jing Ye's gaze naturally fell on the red-glowing knife placed to the side. That was the real reason he did this, so how could he not know what was going on?

Therefore, to make the emotions infused into the "Sword Spirit" entry even stronger, Jing Ye pinched Raiden Mei's chin and sneered:

"My dear Mei, this is all for your own good..."

"Once you wake up, you'll know how terrifying the battlefield is."

"You'll come back and thank me yourself then..."

Jingye emphasized the legitimacy of his actions while practicing Iaijutsu fiercely, leaving Raiden Mei's fair skin battered and bruised.

What Jingye says is one thing, whether Raiden Mei listens or not is another.

In Raiden Mei's mind, this was nothing more than a false excuse, and the resentment in her eyes grew even stronger.

She was so vicious that she almost swallowed Jing Ye whole. I wonder what kind of revenge she will take on Jing Ye when she regains her freedom?

Unfortunately, Jingye will not give Raiden Mei such an opportunity at the moment.

Even though the grand farewell ceremony had ended, and the war drums and numerous warriors had marched off to the battlefield, Jingye still showed no intention of letting Raiden Mei go. Whenever he noticed that Raiden Mei's medicinal effects were waning, he would administer an injection.

The war between Izumo and Takamagahara has already begun. What difference is there between letting Raiden Mei go now and not stopping her in the first place?

Therefore, only after this confrontation is completely over and the first direct clash between Izumo and Takamagahara comes to a temporary end will Keiya release Raiden Mei.

This also means that... Jingye and Raiden Mei have a long time to practice Iaijutsu together.

Chapter Ninety-Four: The Collapse of the Underworld

[Your and Raiden Mei's iaido slash practice has continued for countless days and nights.]

[While you and Raiden Mei continued practicing, the knife inside the house was also being imbued with twisted emotions.]

The effects of the "Blade & Soul" entry allow you to pour all the anger, hatred, sadness, and shame accumulated in Raiden Mei's heart, as well as the coldness she feels, into it.

[This house no longer needs candlelight; the gleaming red blade in its sheath is enough to illuminate the house, allowing you to clearly see Raiden Mei's beautiful face.]

[Also, let Raiden Mei clearly see your Iai Slash, and how you treated her in this and that way.]

Previously, Raiden Mei could use the darkness of night to evade confronting your actions, but now, in the light, she has no choice but to see everything you've done.

This also caused Raiden Mei's many negative emotions to further illuminate the sword.

Raiden Mei didn't know where the light source in the house came from, nor how the knife could become as bright as a candle flame.

[Under your control, Raiden Mei can only focus on hating your despicable acts.]

[Raiden Mei has witnessed the cold light that bursts forth like a shooting star in the darkness; the flash of incandescent light is the retraction of your Iai Slash every time it is finished.]

Your posture is as upright as a pine tree, the long sword in your hand gleaming with a cold light. Each time you draw your sword and swing it, the movements may seem simple, but they contain immense power.

Your gaze is focused and unwavering, as if the entire world has vanished, leaving only the sword in your hand and your unwavering pursuit of Iaijutsu.

[Faced with your Iaijutsu, Raiden Mei initially appeared ashen-faced and heartless, but later became immersed in it, carefully sensing the changes within.]

Although Raiden Mei's face was flushed and red from sweat, it didn't mean she had actually fallen into your sword-drawing practice.

After several days of practice, Raiden Mei is now in no way inferior; her long purple hair dances freely with her movements.