to refrain from drinking on her behalf."Wang Zheng was playing with words, and Su Tianran could absolutely believe that if he were to actually drink the apology wine as Wang Zheng had suggested today...Chapter 248: Mad Saber Appears!

"Who are you"

Riemon Ijima looked at the man standing in front of him with his back turned and showed a wary expression. As fellow experts, he could sense danger emanating from this person.

In this world, especially within Japan itself, there were not many people who could give Riemon such an impression.

The long katana caused a strange feeling of familiarity to arise in Riemon Ijima's heart.

Too familiar, far too familiar. The figure and the sword brought about an intense sense of familiarity for Riemon Ijima, yet at this moment he couldn't recall who the man standing before him was.

"Ijima-kun, it has been a long time."

The man with the katana turned around to face Riemon Ijima. A wave of emotions flashed in his eyes as he spoke with a cold voice.

"You are... " Confusion flickered across Riemon's eyes as he hesitantly said, "Are you... Junichi Mitsui"

"Mitsui, it is indeed you! You traitorous bastard, do you still have the nerve to show your face here!" Riemon Ijima suddenly became very agitated. His fists clenched tightly and his face turned red.

Mitsui Junichi glanced at this nominal disciple of his, speaking with no trace of emotion in his voice: "Yes, I am back."

"Then let me kill you myself! Let's see if you are still as great as the prodigy you once were or if I'm better than you now!" Riemon Ijima's face was covered with a wild smile.

But in the next second, his smile froze into place, replaced by utter astonishment.

This was because Riemon Ijima realized that he had no sword in his hand.

His long katana had been broken by Rain Swallow's sniper rifle at the hot springs! And without a long katana now, what chance did he have against the once renowned mad saber expert, Mitsui Junichi

Gazing at Inaba Ihata, Junichi Mitsui's eyes flickered with a mixture of pity and derision. According to Junichi, Inaba was several years younger than him and could be considered his junior, possessing extraordinary talent and exceptional aptitude that had always earned him the attention of his master and senior uncles within the dojo. However, due to Junichi’s fame at the time, he overshadowed Inaba completely.

Only after Junichi killed two of his senior uncles, openly defected from Kyouryuu-ryu, and became a target for everyone's condemnation and pursuit as a traitor did Inaba officially take over his position and become the prime focus of their cultivation efforts. Of course, such status and treatment directly contributed to his arrogant personality.

Junichi Mitsui’s right shoulder had been torn apart by Yung Chun War King Xie Pingan but was now almost completely healed after being treated personally by Wang Zheng. This hardly affected his strength at all. Now that he returned with Wang Zheng to the land that brought him both glory and shame, it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited.

Wang Zheng had once said they would return to Japan one day to wash away the disgrace of their hasty retreat on that day. It seemed like this day might finally have arrived.

"Without a sword, how can you fight with me" Junichi Mitsui asked mockingly: "Your suit is so dirty; it looks like you were in a dire situation just now. Were you forced to run away by sniper fire"

"Mitsui, you dog, you actually betrayed Japan for the Chinese!" Inaba Ihata finally understood and shouted furiously: "Dog! Dog!"

"At least the Chinese don't kill me." Junichi Mitsui's voice gradually turned cold: "From childhood to adulthood, I hate being called a dog the most."

"You betrayed Japan for the Chinese but still claim you're not a dog You are just a dog. Do you lick your Chinese master’s ass every day" Here, Inaba Ihata sneered twice and said: "A traitor is always a traitor; a dog is always a dog, destined to eat **!"

However, Junichi Mitsui didn’t argue with Inaba but simply stated: "If your mouth could be more virtuous, you might live longer."

"How long I live doesn't need your concern," Inaba Ihata sneered coldly.

“If I were you, I would leave this place as quickly as possible rather than spouting nonsense.” Junichi Mitsui waved his long sword and a leaf in the air was sliced into two pieces.

Inaba Ihata finally realized something but it was too late. The next moment, he was enveloped by an array of dazzling sword光芒!

Fighting a long sword with bare hands was destined to be a losing battle!

Several seconds later, Junichi Mitsui sheathed his longsword and stood in place holding the sword as he looked at Inaba Ihata rolling on the ground in pain. His eyes remained indifferent.

"This sword technique is... Fifth level You actually mastered the fifth level of Kyouryuu-ryu" Inaba Ihata, while groaning painfully, said in disbelief.

His right arm, which he used to grasp the knife, had been severed cleanly at the shoulder, causing a gush of blood that completely incapacitated this mad-sword technique genius who came to assassinate Wang Zheng. With his right hand severed, he would forever lose hope of climbing to the pinnacle of martial arts; the Mad Sword School would never let someone with disabilities become an heir, even if they were once very talented.

Riimoto Ijita had redefined the meaning of "tragedy" through his own actions.

Internally within the Mad Sword School, only a few people with extremely high悟性 (insight/understanding) could reach the fifth level of the mad sword technique. Those who attained this level now all held important positions in the school and were highly respected figures.

Riimoto Ijita had already reached the fourth level at a young age, capable of performing many ultimate moves with the mad sword technique, earning him recognition as a genius within the school. Yet he never would have imagined that his once unattainable genius senior師兄 (senior brother) was now even more powerful.

"Tell those old coots that I, Rinichiro Miito, am back."

After speaking, Rinichiro didn't spare a glance at Riimoto Ijita on the ground but left with his sword, disappearing down the long mountain path.

"Fifth level... fifth level..." Tragedy man Riimoto Ijita kept muttering this phrase while clutching his wound on the ground.

...

"What Miito Rinichiro is back" A few middle-aged men in kimonos sitting on the floor stared at the blood-soaked Riimoto Ijita with disbelief.

"Yes, and he even broke through to the fifth level of the mad sword technique." Riimoto Ijita gritted his teeth and said. Despite being bandaged, the pain from his severed arm was still excruciating!

"Fifth level" The faces of these middle-aged men showed even more disbelief; reaching the fifth level was extremely difficult with high demands on physical fitness and innate talent—few among them could achieve it.

It was truly hard for them to believe that someone who was a couple decades younger, Miito Rinichiro, had actually mastered the fifth level of the mad sword technique!

The reason why the Mad Sword School became renowned across all Japan was due to a mad sword technique passed down from over a hundred years ago. The complete technique consisted of six levels, brimming with domineering vigor and unrestrained madness. Anyone who could master the first four levels would already be exceptional, while reaching the fifth level required years of cultivation and an extraordinary aptitude.

The traitor Miito Rinichiro, who had betrayed his teachers and ancestors, reaching the fifth level was a great embarrassment to those in the Mad Sword School, causing widespread unease.

"Never thought Miito would side with the Chinese, such a dog! Since the government is asking us to cooperate, let's take this opportunity to eliminate this bastard." A middle-aged man with a beard said. His name was Miyano Kikan; if talking about seniority, he should be Rinichiro's uncle. He appeared around fifty years old with fierce eyes and thick calluses on his palms—clearly an expert in swordsmanship.

"Senior Brother, you are also at the fifth level, and so is Mitsu. Doesn't this feel a bit uncertain" asked another person.

"I'm not sure if I can definitely defeat Mitsu either, but at least I have the strength to give it my best shot," Kiyoharu Miyano pondered for a moment before saying: "To be safe, I need to ask Senior Uncle Shunichi Yamaki to take action. As long as he is willing to do so, everything will become simple."

"Senior Uncle Yamaki will act" said Inobe Date. "If this is the case, that's great! This time, Mitsu, this dog bastard, will finally die without a proper burial!"

"I'll go and ask Senior Uncle Yamaki right away," Kiyoharu Miyano stood up after saying so: "The rest of you prepare according to the government’s requirements for now. Whether we can succeed in this matter is related to whether Kyado-ryu can solidify its position within the Japanese martial arts world, I hope everyone will do their best!"

...

"Mr. Kawasaki, tell me, was it your idea to send Inobe Date to harass Ge Yan" Matsushima Mugen sat on a chair, cupping a cup of tea in both hands as he looked at the floating tea leaves, his expression unclear.

"Inobe is devoted to the country and this is his own decision," Kawasumi Hideo felt that what he said was true; it was Inobe Date who could not wait for personal glory and acted prematurely. He just went with the flow.

“However, Kawasaki, the matter at hand concerns Japan's resurgence, I hope you can consider carefully and do not place private grudges before national affairs.”

Matsushima Mugen’s tone was flat and calm; it was hard to tell what emotions lay behind his words, but a chill ran down Kawasumi Hideo’s spine.

"I don't mind if you want the Iga school to regain its former strength, but I hope that such strength is not built on the sacrifice of Japan's interests."

Matsushima Mugen's next sentence sent a chill down Kawasumi Hideo’s spine: "Otherwise, even the strongest martial arts sects are just like ants in the eyes of the government."

"Kawasaki, do as you see fit."

With that, Matsushima Mugen left without any expression on his face.

It was only after Matsushima Mugen had been gone for a long time that Kawasumi Hideo sat heavily in the chair, covered in sweat.

When Matsushima Mugen spoke just now, he felt an intense pressure akin to physical force; this great son of the Iga school even experienced palpitations because of it!uld let compliments go to his head," Zhang Miaomiao grumbled.Zhang Miaomiao knew that her parents both held high positions and had extremely high standards in their daily lives; those so-called young...