Female Swordsman Training Dojo

"Um……"

A range of responses rang out in the cabin. Aside from a few of Hijikata Souji's closest confidants, most of the police officers were clearly reluctant to deal with the monsters, even though they were armed. But faced with those strangely shaped creatures, their years of experience and habit made them instinctively seek the help of the samurai.

Especially considering that Harunobu and Tachibana Nako just demonstrated their extraordinary fighting prowess.

Hijikata Souji's face darkened immediately, but before she could get angry, Harunobu had already opened the cargo hold door and walked out with Tachibana Nako.

"Miss Hijikata, I'm leaving the ship and these people in your care. As for these small fry outside... someone will take care of them."

As Harunobu spoke confidently, his clear voice resounded through the twilight sky.

"Everyone! Draw your swords!"

"Draw the knife!"

Unable to contain their rising fighting spirit, the Bracers roared and charged into the horde of monsters, with Hirako and Amu Hojo leading the charge. One was Susanoo, who had mastered Thunder Breathing to the highest level and had also mastered several sword techniques to the highest level; the other was a Nen-ryu master with her Nen power reaching 1000%.

Wherever it went, those deformed, demonic people didn't even have time to fight back before they were easily slaughtered.

Naturally, seeing this scene greatly boosted the morale of the guerrillas.

Originally, many of them were also afraid. After all, the fear of monsters is ingrained in the human mind and genes, especially when suddenly seeing such a large group of monsters, even more than themselves.

But escaping is impossible.

Even if they don't consider their reputation, they still have to consider the teacher training college... and Taira no Nobu's opinion.

The order to come here today came from the Master, and they are not only the Master's students, but also his wives. If they disobey the order and run away, leaving the Master to fight so many monsters alone, even if they survive, or even if Ping Qingxin dies here, they will only become widows bearing the names of cowards and traitors.

In that case, it's better to fight to the death for the Normal School here. Even if I die, I'll leave behind a good reputation. Besides, you might not even die in battle, and the Normal School is very strong!

However, such quick-thinking and intelligent individuals were in the minority; most simply followed the orders of Hira Yukiko, the instructor's deputy, and launched their attack. They didn't necessarily all trust Hira Yukiko, but they all trusted the instructor, believed their husbands wouldn't send them to their deaths, and had faith in Hira Harunobu's abilities!

Besides these people, the international students were even more direct. Their primary profession was spellcasting, specializing in exorcising demons and monsters; now they had only one thought:

fighting! Cool!

Because compared to real demons, mutated humans are significantly weaker. Moreover, this batch of mutated humans is even weaker than the shapeshifters of the Demon Dragon Society, roughly equivalent to half an ordinary-level demon. They can hold their own against ordinary disciples of the Azure Sky Pavilion, but against exchange students and personal disciples, they're complete noobs.

Harunobu, who was originally prepared to intervene, stopped interfering after discovering this, and instead looked into the distance. He was looking at the upscale residential area of ​​Asakusa Ward, the place that Shiranui Ran had discovered was where the Tongxin Association was preparing to revive the demonic dragon.

The situation is not good.

Shiranui Ran's plan didn't include any steps to successfully launch the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), and since no signal has been sent out for so long, will that fox mess things up again?

After witnessing the fox's buttocks, Harunobu developed a somewhat stereotypical impression of Shiranui Ran.

Never mind, things are all taken care of here anyway, let's just go over there.

Just as Harunobu had made up his mind and was about to leave, Nenko suddenly came over, stopped inside the cargo hold door, and called out, "Lord Ping, please come here for a moment."

Qingxin's heart stirred slightly. Thinking of Nianzi's special ability, she walked over and asked, "Did you see something again?"

Nenko was modified by the Tongxin Society and gained some of the abilities of the "piece" monsters. She can foresee the future, but if she tells the whole future she sees, she will die on the spot.

However, if you only skirt the rules, you can still survive.

Nianzi looked at Harunobu with a serious expression and said in a low voice, "Lord Taira, please think carefully about your reasons for wielding your sword. Also, please have a heart-to-heart talk with Mrs. Tachibana Nako—pfft!"

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Nenko collapsed softly, caught by Harunobu and handed over to Hijikata Souji who had rushed over.

"The reason for wielding the sword?" Harunobu scratched his head, then looked at Tachibana Nako. "Come to think of it, Nako, you've mastered your mind, haven't you? How did you do that?"

Naoko Tachibana smiled gently, her demeanor mild: "It's a long story, but for a teacher, it's probably about understanding what the Tennen Harushin-ryu swordsmanship is used for, right?"

"My mind extends from the Water Sword, based on the techniques of controlling water flow in the Shigure Soen style. Let's call it the Mind of Water. But this is my mind, and I only know the Water Sword. You must find your own way to learn the mind from the swordsmanship you have mastered."

Naoko's words seemed both straightforward and enigmatic; in any case, Harunobu didn't experience a flash of inspiration, nor did they resonate with his thoughts. The current situation didn't allow him to slack off any longer, so he could only memorize her words and head towards the Dragon Society's stronghold.

"May you have good fortune in battle." Tachibana Nako bowed slightly, and only after Harunobu's figure disappeared did she draw Chidori-maru and rush into the melee.

The waters of the Sumida River stirred, transforming into swifts that descended upon the battlefield. Or perhaps they precisely tore through...

Chapter 207

She transformed people's bodies, or shielded them from attacks by both bracers and ordinary people. In an instant, Tachibana Nako became the most dazzling presence on the chaotic battlefield.

From a distance, Tachibana Nako mouthed to Hira Sachiko and Hojo Amu who were looking over: "Hurry up and deal with these small fry, then go support the teacher training school!"

Yukiko and Amu exchanged a glance and raised their weapons.

Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap Flash - 15-hit combo!

No outflow, ultimate technique, tooth thrust, mental enhancement 1000%!

The lightning, flashing and twisting, and the straight, piercing fangs leaped across the entire battlefield, sending countless heads and corpses flying and falling.

The speed of the killing increased again.

The author says:

Author's Note: Tachibana Nako's true form will be revealed at the end of the volume, although I think everyone has probably guessed it by now. Finally, Happy Dragon Boat Festival again~ Please vote!

Chapter 193: An Unplanned Guest (3K3)

As Harunobu moved further away from the Sumida River, his mood worsened. The area covered by the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) was far larger than he had imagined, and along the way, the demonized humans had already committed numerous atrocities. Unfortunately, the Bracers could only control a limited area, and Taira no Yukiko and the others couldn't simply disperse their ordinary disciples to fight independently.

Harunobu could only kill as many mutated humans as possible along the way, leaving behind a trail of thunder that stretched almost across the entire Asakusa district, and an order for the survivors to escape to the Sumida River.

Of course, not every survivor deserves to be saved. Whether it's a bandit trying to take advantage of the situation to buy something for free, a mentally broken madman, or a Celestial Dragon still thinking of bullying others at this time, Harunobu treats them all the same.

A sword pointed at the head.

Standing on the roof of what appeared to be a brand-new Ford, Harunobu shook off the blood from Asauchi's body and stared indifferently at the headless corpse of Mr. Katsura Taro lying on the ground. The former prime minister's head lay at Harunobu's feet, still maintaining its imposing and dignified air, along with a well-hidden hint of impatience.

After all, he had just arrogantly ordered Qingxin to escort him home.

It was an honor for a mere samurai to serve him, the Minister of the Army, the Prime Minister, and the Imperial Duke (yes, Japan in this era had titles of nobility)!

But Qingxin wasn't going to tolerate this habit of his and killed him with a single sword strike. Then he sent away his few remaining bodyguards and the driver.

At this moment, Harunobu was somewhat surprised. Why was Katsura Taro's security force so weak? And why did he come here today, at this time? Although this was indeed an upscale residential area, Katsura Taro did not live in Asakusa Ward.

That's very suspicious.

After thinking for a moment, Harunobu picked up Katsura Taro's head, punctured the car's gas tank, and finally threw Katsura Taro and the bodies of several others into the car.

It's fucking hot!

Although this is not enough to completely destroy the evidence, it doesn't matter; we can trust the appetite of the demonized human.

Harunobu hung Katsura Taro's head on his belt and hurried toward the location where the demon dragon was about to revive.

Meanwhile, at the stronghold of the Tongxin Society.

Shiranui Ran, still wearing the white fox mask, was confronting someone. She held a straight-bladed ninja sword in each hand, her whole body tense, even her golden fur stood on end, clearly in a state of extreme vigilance and tension.

She couldn't afford to be careless. Any ninja caught off guard while in a state of stealth would be quite alert and tense if they were suddenly exposed; that was already a sign of a very good mindset. This was partly because she was mentally prepared to be caught, given that her opponent was that bastard red-haired slut.

Compared to the nervous Shiranui Ran, the people opposite her were much more relaxed.

A red-haired male Nue with bird-like eyes stood casually, his right hand, shrouded in black mist, holding a katana also shrouded in black mist, looking smugly at Shiranui Ran.

A rather lewd-looking kappa rubbed his withered fingers together, looking at Shiranui Ran and letting out a strange, chuckling laugh, as if he couldn't wait to make a move.

But Shiranui Ran didn't take those two good-for-nothings seriously; she only had her eyes on the fox demon with three fiery red tails facing her.

—She was tall and athletic, a red fox that was very similar to Shiranui Blue except for her fur color.

Unlike the masked Shiranui Ai, she openly revealed her alluring face. This face seemed to embody the term "vixen," every feature seemingly provoking others. From her large, bright phoenix eyes to her glossy red lips and her straight, smooth nose, every smile and gesture exuded a seductive allure that stirred desire within.

Unlike Shiranui Ran's conservative attire, the red-haired fox wore a magnificent bright red kimono, revealing her smooth, delicate shoulders and bare feet without stockings. The bright red nail polish on her ten exquisite toes was incredibly eye-catching, but upon closer inspection, it was discovered that they were completely hidden beneath the hem of her skirt.

These differences combined resulted in the fact that although the red-haired fox's physique was almost identical to that of Shiranui Ran, her overall demeanor was vastly different. She appeared more alluring, seductive, and more like a "fox spirit."

"Long time no see, Blue." The red-haired fox smiled, picked up his pipe, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of white smoke. "But you don't seem to have improved much. Your stealth techniques are still the same old ones."

Compared to the relaxed and carefree red fox, the golden fox, Shiranui Ran, was much more agitated: "Yakumo Kurenai! You traitor, how dare you show your face in front of me!"

"You're really being rude, Ran." The red-haired fox named Yakumo Red was already used to Ran's irritable accusations and smiled nonchalantly. "Traitor? I'm the head of the Yakumo family now. It's you who betrayed us by changing your surname to Ran, right?"

Shiranui Ran roared through gritted teeth, "Shut up! You betrayed your lord, committed countless evil deeds, and brought shame upon the Yakumo family name! You are not worthy of using the Yakumo family name!"

"Yes~yes~how about I change my name to Shiranui? Or should I just change it to Fuma? Anyway, Fuma Village is already finished."

Yakumo Kurenai's soft response made the angry Shiranui Ran feel like she had punched cotton. Instead of feeling victorious, she felt even more frustrated.

In the instant her emotions fluctuated, Nue and Kappa, who were positioned on either side of Yakumo Kurenai, launched a sneak attack.

The pitch-black mist suddenly expanded and contracted, forming the shape of Nue. He thrust out his black sword, simultaneously casting a spell to immobilize Shiranui Ai. The kappa was a step too slow, as he circled behind Shiranui Ai, stealthily extending his sharp claws to grab at the base of Shiranui Ai's two tails.

Even if Shiranui Ran hadn't been distracted for a moment, the instant she was controlled by Nue's magic was enough for the kappa to dig out Shiranui Ran's buttocks and turn her into a helpless cripple!

But the premise is that Shiranui Blue is really frozen in place.

The instant the kappa made its move, Shiranui Ran suddenly moved. Her magnificent golden fur glowed with a faint blue light, and she turned around with lightning speed, leaving an afterimage in the air.

Ninja Art: Storm Slash Technique!

The two ninja swords flipped and slashed, cutting the kappa into more than a dozen pieces as easily as chopping vegetables. Only then did the kappa finally land on the ground, and Nue realized something was wrong.

But the ninja sword was already aimed at his face.

He immediately threw the black sword in his hand at Shiranui Ran, and taking advantage of the opportunity when Shiranui Ran blocked, he turned into a cloud of black mist and floated back to the original position.

Shiranui Ran stopped her pursuit, shaking off the green kappa blood remaining on her ninja sword: "Looks like your helper isn't very good. Is it because even the Tongxin Society doesn't like traitors?"

"A helper?" Yakumo Kurenai tilted her head, surprisingly...

Chapter 208

However, she revealed a touch of naivety, asking, "You mean that experimental subject?"

Shiranui Ran's pupils suddenly contracted to a single point, and without hesitation, she slashed her twin swords at the source of the attack from behind. The faint sound of wind being cut suddenly intensified, rapidly approaching Shiranui Ran's vital area on her back.

clang!

The ninja sword clashed with the kappa's claws, producing a metallic clang. Shiranui Ran parted her red lips slightly and whispered, "Ninja Art: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The fireball that appeared out of thin air sent the kappa flying, then exploded violently. Several pieces of charred flesh were even blasted to Shiranui Ran's side, but Shiranui Ran didn't feel happy at all.

Because more kappa appeared from all directions.

Yakumo Red exhaled a string of smoke rings and said lazily, "Give up, Ran. You can't beat my new work in this state. Or do you want to break free?"

After a pause, seeing that Shiranui Ran still remained unmoved, Yakumo Kurenai shook her head: "You're not waiting for that samurai named Taira Harunobu, are you? That guy is quite ruthless, but he hasn't even mastered mind control. If he comes, he'll just be throwing his life away."

Shiranui Ran sneered, swung her ninja sword, and cut a kappa that charged at her in half at the waist. She then kicked the corpse back into the kappa horde. She had personally tested Taira no Shin's fighting prowess; he could easily kill these kappas. And once she had time to find the "talisman" of Yakumo Kurenai's barrier, her new toys would be finished.

A violent explosion rang out, and the kappa, severed at the waist, took a group of its companions with it. Amid the explosion, Yakumo Kurenai, biting her pipe, said, "Besides, that guy won't be able to come anyway. I've already arranged for a powerful figure that such a foolish samurai can't refuse to intercept him."

"Really? Can you tell me the name of that important person?" Shiranui Ran casually asked, as she had dealt with quite a few treacherous "important people" as Misaku-hime's personal ninja.

So, of course, Yakumo Kurenai wouldn't reveal Katsura Taro's name. She just smiled and shook her head: "Betraying a valuable ally is not my style. Ran, you should think about when to retreat. If you drag this out any longer, even you won't be able to leave."

The number of kappa increased significantly as they surrounded Shiranui Ran. Nue, having replenished its magic power, discarded the dried-up corpse in its hand and unleashed a large cloud of black mist, engulfing Shiranui Ran's surroundings. While this didn't completely block out Shiranui Ran's senses, it still weakened her. More importantly, it meant Shiranui Ran had to be wary of a potential sneak attack from Nue that could materialize at any moment.

Shiranui Ran focused her mind and her two fox ears stood straight up.

A pale blue light flickered again, illuminating the darkness and revealing her location. Immediately, impatient kappa pounced on her, only to be sliced ​​into pieces by a ninja sword.

Ninja Art: Wind Release: Listening to the Wind Technique!

With her hearing amplified by ninjutsu, Shiranui Ran easily dealt with the spawning kappa. What worried her, however, was that she couldn't detect Nue's movements at all.

With that useless person's magical skills, he shouldn't be at this level... but now that he's inside Yakumo Kurenai's barrier, it's hard to say.

While the impatient Shiranui Ran was trying to remain calm as she dealt with the kappa, Nue had already appeared behind her. A jet-black blade slowly materialized in mid-air, and Nue, still in its smoky form, excitedly aimed at Shiranui Ran's vest. He was normally unable to condense a solid weapon while maintaining a smoky form, and he couldn't even manipulate other matter while in smoky form.

But Yakumo Kurenai's barrier greatly increased his control, so... die!

Slowly, but still taking shape, the black blade pierced towards Shiranui Ran, who was only now realizing the sneak attack. A pale blue light surged instantly, but it was too late—*smack!*

Nue's head, still filled with a look of surprise, shot into the sky, and a waterfall of blood gushed from his solidified corpse. The smooth cut of his neck was soaked with blood before he fell into the dust.

"Miss Fox, why do you always seem to be getting the short end of the stick whenever I see you?"

The author says:

Author's Note: Good news: Yesterday I spent the whole day confirming that my blind date was a failure. The woman subtly rejected me in every way—my looks, height, and financial situation. It was a truly satisfying breakdown! Haha. Bad news: I'm going back to Dongguan today, and back to work tomorrow. Zero time spent writing. My drafts are running low again. Ugh.

Chapter 194: The Dragon's Resurrection