Chapter 248

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji and Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu changed into Han-style skirt attire and walked the streets of Edo with Gu Qing.

Edo is the Tokyo of later generations. *World of the Ultimate* is somewhat fictionalized; the Emperor of the Great Ming is still Zhu Houzhao, while Japan has already reached the era of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The population of Edo city is not small, but it is currently a time of chaos, sorrowful and mournful, showing no prosperity. The common people here saw Gu Qing, Yagyu Yanagi Xueji, and Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu all wearing Ming attire, with a bearing completely different from that of Japan, and naturally felt awe in their hearts, silently giving way.

As for Duan Tianya, he was currently following Gu Qing from afar.

"Look at that Great Snowy Mountain."

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji pointed at Mount Fuji and said: "My sister and I have practiced sword arts there since we were young. The Yagyu family's 'Snow Drifting in the Human World' also has to be practiced there to be mastered."

"Snow Drifting in the Human World" and "God-Slaying One-Blade Slash" are both unique skills of the Yagyu family.

"Another day, my sister and I will demonstrate it for Husband to see."

Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu followed by his side and said: "This 'Snow Drifting in the Human World' is very beautiful when performed."

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji glanced at Rikugawa Piaoxu, always feeling that her twelve-year-old sister liked to show off when she was around Gu Qing. However, Yanagi Xueji was used to yielding and didn't say anything. Seeing Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu take over the conversation, she held Gu Qing's hand and walked quickly forward, introducing the various sights of Edo.

"Inside there is the palace of the Tokugawa Shogun."

Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu pointed at the palace from afar and introduced it to Gu Qing.

"It's a pity he is not worthy, otherwise we could have had a duel before the throne."

Gu Qing gazed for a moment and then withdrew his gaze.

"Is Nemuri Kyoshiro also not worthy of dueling you before the throne?"

On this street, a person suddenly walked out. He had a lean face, a sword hanging at his waist, and stood with his hands bound. When he looked at Gu Qing, he performed a Han-style bow and said in Chinese: "I am Iga Musashi!"

There are four great masters in Japan today: Yagyu Tajima-no-Kami of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Nemuri Kyoshiro who knows the Phantom Sword, and another who is the head of the three great upper-ninjas of Japan, Sato Kichinosuke, who never appeared in the TV series. As for Iga Musashi, he is the master of Duan Tianya in the Iga school in the TV series.

Gu Qing assessed Iga Musashi for two moments and replied: "Nemuri Kyoshiro is probably worthy."

What is not worthy is "before the throne."

Iga Musashi's face stiffened. He stared at Gu Qing and asked: "How does your martial arts compare to the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou?"

This Iga Musashi is on good terms with the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou and is willing to teach Duan Tianya the martial arts of the Iga school. Even after Duan Tianya killed Yagyu Jubei, he directly shielded him. The main reason for this is a letter from the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou.

And in the current martial arts world of the Central Plains, the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou is known to all as number one.

"I don't know."

Gu Qing said: "I haven't encountered him."

Before obtaining the complete "Diamond Indestructible Divine Art," Gu Qing did not intend to provoke the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou, fearing it would affect the inheritance of the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art.

Iga Musashi sneered and said: "Then you are truly arrogant enough."

This insult to the throne was an insult to the face of Japan. Iga Musashi shook his hand, and a young man immediately walked out from behind him, holding a sword in his hand, and walked to the center.

"Kobayashi Masashi of the Iga school!"

This young man in black loudly challenged Duan Tianya.

Gu Qing's challenge letter to Nemuri Kyoshiro had already spread throughout Edo city. A Central Plains person coming to challenge Japan's number one swordsman was naturally blown out of proportion, linking this battle to the face of Japan.

Iga Musashi had also come because of this. Hearing Gu Qing insult the throne, he knew this battle was of great importance, so he simply let his disciple make a move to test him first.

"Are you the leader of the Iga school?"

Duan Tianya was shocked in his heart when he heard Iga Musashi, knowing that this was the master the Iron-Tie Dan Shen Hou had told him to worship. But now that they had met, they were actually going to cross swords; this was very different from Duan Tianya's plan.

"Indeed." After Iga Musashi nodded, he stood to one side, letting Kobayashi Masashi step out, sword in hand, facing Duan Tianya from afar.

This Kobayashi Masashi is the friend Duan Tianya had in Japan in the original plot, and he also witnessed Duan Tianya's romance and growth in Japan. In the future, during the Giant Whale Gang plot, Kobayashi Masashi also gave Duan Tianya considerable help.

Duan Tianya felt that fate was playing tricks on him. His plan to go to Japan to learn superior martial arts had changed again and again. The master he was once going to worship had now become an opponent. However, since the other party had come to his door, Duan Tianya could not refuse the battle, so he naturally drew his sword and faced him from afar.

"Please!"

"Please!"

After the two exchanged courtesies, with a sudden sound, sword and blade collided.

Duan Tianya slashed repeatedly, crisp and sharp. As for the Iga school where Kobayashi Masashi belonged, they were ninja-born, flashing, turning, and rolling on the ground. Between moves, he could even mix in a few shuriken. Duan Tianya had systematically learned about Japanese methods by Gu Qing's side. Even though the worlds were different, the subtlety of the moves was similar, though the power was different. Coupled with the move changes made by Gu Qing's martial arts realm, Duan Tianya made many strange moves during the battle, causing Kobayashi Masashi to flee repeatedly.

Iga Musashi stared at Duan Tianya, seeing that although he was clearly using Japanese sword arts, every move and style seemed familiar yet different. Upon careful consideration, it made a lot of sense, which made Iga Musashi narrow his eyes, feeling that a battle with Gu Qing would be very tricky.

Gu Qing watched with great interest, seeing the two sides hacking at each other, and suddenly asked: "Is this Kobayashi Masashi a lower-ninja or a middle-ninja?"

Ninjas are divided into lower-ninjas, middle-ninjas, and upper-ninjas. This Iga Musashi is an upper-ninja.

!

"He is a lower-ninja!"

Seeing that Kobayashi was about to fail, Iga Musashi spoke up to save face: "He is also the disciple under my tutelage who has been initiated for the shortest time, has the shallowest internal energy, and is usually the least promising."

"..."

Kobayashi Masashi's face turned red upon hearing this, and he swung his sword to fight Duan Tianya for his life.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang!!!!"

In four consecutive moves, Kobayashi Masashi risked his life. There was a huge opening in his chest. As long as Duan Tianya flicked his blade, he would suffer a shallow wound, while Kobayashi Masashi would surely have his intestines pierced and stomach ripped. However, facing such an obvious opening, Duan Tianya did not make a decisive move, but instead collided several times, intending to distance himself from Kobayashi Masashi.

Kobayashi Masashi was risking his life, while Duan Tianya was yielding. Everyone around who knew martial arts could see it clearly, feeling that the Central Plains, as a superior nation, indeed had a different demeanor.

"Hah!"

Kobayashi Masashi made another life-risking slash.

"Enough!"

A soft shout suddenly came from the crowd. A streak of sword light shimmered, suddenly wedging itself between the two swords. With a light flick, Duan Tianya and Kobayashi Masashi were naturally separated. Standing between the two was a person with a rugged face, disheveled hair, a sword scabbard hanging at his waist, and an uninhibited air about him. He spoke coldly: "This duel is a matter between me and Gu Qing; it has nothing to do with Japan, and nothing to do with your face. You don't need to intervene!"

The person who arrived was none other than Nemuri Kyoshiro, who possessed the Phantom Sword!

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji and Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu immediately looked at Gu Qing, seeing Gu Qing's eyebrows slightly knit, as if he were pondering Nemuri Kyoshiro's sword.

"Husband, how is it?"

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji asked in a low voice.

"When I was at your house earlier and talking to your father, I said I had an eighty percent chance of winning. Now it seems that eighty percent belongs to him."

Gu Qing sighed.

How could that be?

Yagyu Yanagi Xueji and Yagyu Rikugawa Piaoxu were greatly surprised to see Gu Qing's despondent appearance. They had followed Gu Qing for a few days and had already seen his incredible attainments in sword arts; even Yagyu Tajima-no-Kami often asked Gu Qing for advice.

"The remaining ninety-two percent is ours!"

Gu Qing said.

Nemuri Kyoshiro's sword move seemed to show off in front of everyone, but to Gu Qing, it had already exposed his bottom line.

(End of chapter)