Chapter 11: Heated Battle

On the battlefield of Araki and Maozhi Hua Baqianliu.

Endless flashes of swords filled the heavens and earth, bewildering countless squad members' eyes.

Besides the commander Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo, who had already taken position on the high platform and, from the relatively intact rooftops surrounding the battlefield, silently watched Araki and Maozhi Hua fight, as well as the captains of his Guardian Court Thirteen Squad, there were also Death Squad members of the Thirteenth Squad who noticed the desperate duel of Araki and Maozhi Hua Baqianliu.

However, faced with the crisscrossing sword aura of Araki and Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, the members of the Guardian Court Thirteenth Squad wore troubled expressions and helplessly remained where they stood.

"Damn! Where on earth did this monster come from? It can even fight the captain Maozhi Hua, known as 'Sword Eight', to this extent?!"

"Damn it! Our strength is utterly insignificant compared to the two fighting on the battlefield! In this battle, there is no place for us to intervene…"

The first‑generation members of the Guardian Court Thirteenth Squad, watching the two duel amid the ruins before their eyes, had cold sweat covering their foreheads.

As members of the Guardian Court Thirteenth Squad, they bear the responsibility of protecting the Jingling Court, and logically should intervene when a fight breaks out within the Jingling Court!

But the two fighting right before their eyes have already far surpassed the level they can meddle with; even a casually swung slash could instantly slay them like monsters!

"Aren't they getting tired?!"

A squad member, watching the sky‑filled sword flashes, furrowed his brows.

The two constantly dueling seemed like two tireless beasts; the spiritual pressure radiating from their battle alone made their chests feel suffocated and heads dizzy! Consequently, the Death Squad members dared not approach the two combatants and could only watch silently from the periphery.

"Damn! Neither retreat nor advance! What exactly should we do?!"

Among them, a squad member drawn by Maozhi Hua and Araki said helplessly.

By duty they should intervene, but the spiritual pressure is so overwhelming that they cannot get close; if they pretend they saw nothing and withdraw, it seems to violate squad regulations, leaving the squad members at a loss...

"Forget it! We can't earn much in a month, why risk our lives?! Just wait here!"

"The battle is so fierce it even startled us; it's impossible that the captains didn't notice!"

"Even the captains didn't intervene; I think we should just let them keep fighting."

In response, a more perceptive squad member said.

As long as he is content to slack off and never thinks about promotion, the squad regulations are just empty air to him.

On the other side, the battle between Araki and Maozhi Hua Baqianliu gradually entered a feverish stage.

"Ding~"

"Sizzle~"

Another crisp metallic clash rang out as Araki and Maozhi Hua Baqianliu's blades struck each other, flaring a burst of dazzling fire.

"Go for it~"

Facing another close‑range Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, Araki's arm opposite the blade instantly bulged with blue veins. With absolute strength advantage, Araki forcefully spun his sword to meet Maozhi Hua Baqianliu's incoming slash.

He treated his sword like a fly‑swatter, flinging Maozhi Hua Baqianliu away...

"Pa~"

Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, light as a swallow, hovered briefly in the air, steadied her balance, and lightly landed on the ruins some ten meters away from Araki.

"No technique, all strength!"

Maozhi Hua stood on the nearby ruins, gazing at her hand that trembled slightly after grappling with Araki, her fine brows slightly furrowed.

This distance is not far for either Araki or Maozhi Hua Baqianliu; their sword pressure can easily breach it, so it is not an effective safe distance!

But it is enough for both to catch their breath, recover some stamina, and contemplate their next tactics.

"Looks like Old Shan and the other squad captains have already arrived~"

Araki, gripping his Soul‑Cutting Blade, glanced toward a nearby rooftop...

Araki immediately spotted the 'Bald' among the crowd, his most revered master, Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo.

Cough cough, of course the current Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo, compared to his later incarnation, has no hair on his head at all, resembling the bald master Saitama's image, and is still considerably stronger...

At least the present Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo is only slightly balding; there's still some hair at the back of his skull...

"Hm?!"

Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo, who had been watching Araki, suddenly felt something; he seemed to realize that his prodigiously talented, sword‑path gifted yet rebellious disciple was being internally denigrated again.

"Where are you looking?! Don't forget! Your opponent now is me..."

At the moment Araki's gaze briefly crossed Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo's, Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, standing not far from Araki, suddenly felt a hint of displeasure.

"Do you have idle thoughts to look at others while fighting me? What a fickle man."

Maozhi Hua Baqianliu's eyes locked onto Araki, as if intending to slice him apart with her gaze.

"No! I only do this to focus more on fighting you, so I specifically observe whether any external force around could threaten our battle."

Hearing this, Araki withdrew his gaze from Shanben Yuanliuzhai Zhongguo and the Guardian Court Thirteen Squad captains behind him, and, facing Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, gave a faint smile.

"Slick talk."

Maozhi Hua Baqianliu's expression grew colder after hearing Araki, and her jade hand gripping the Soul‑Cutting Blade tightened even more.

"Eh?!"

Araki looked at the ice‑cold Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, raising an eyebrow.

Indeed, for a woman like Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, all words are meaningless; only by directly defeating her through force can one succeed, nothing else...

"Alright, the warm‑up ends here; it's time for us to get serious."

Maozhi Hua Baqianliu said, holding the sword with one hand, she placed the blade of her Soul‑Cutting Blade horizontally before her, while the other hand, without a sword, gently brushed the blade; the sharp edge instantly sliced her own pale palm, blood spilling from it, and as she brushed the blade, the keen edge was coated with a thick crimson.

"Eh? I still want to play a bit longer~"

Araki watched the serious Maozhi Hua Baqianliu, his words dripping with flippancy, yet his eyes were heavy with gravity. The frivolous façade was merely a ruse to lull the enemy; if one's true heart becomes as frivolous as the exterior, death is truly near...

"Boom!"

Maozhi Hua Baqianliu gave no reply to Araki.

At this moment, the burgeoning spiritual pressure from her body was already the best recovery.

"Seems we really must get serious now."

Araki dropped his flippant expression, his gaze becoming razor‑sharp. The spiritual pressure within him poured out incessantly as if it cost nothing. Araki knew what method Maozhi Hua Baqianliu would employ, and he was ready to take it seriously...

What comes next is the real battle.

On the other side...

"Huh?!"

On the roof of a house not far away, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, who had been continuously watching Aramaki and Momo Hinamori, after seeing the actions of Momo Hinamori and Aramaki, his usually calm eyes flashed a gleam.

(End of chapter)