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Chapter 230 - 207: White-haired as New, Overturning the Cup as Old Friends

Chapter 230: Chapter 207: White-haired as New, Overturning the Cup as Old Friends

At the critical moment, Li San threw his dagger to help Wu break the encirclement.

He could have chosen to throw the dagger at Watanabe Ryosuke, taking the chance to injure the opponent, but if he did, Wu would end up either dead or disabled.

Just then, Wu’s left arm was hanging down as his waist turned, seeming to be gathering power. Li San saw all these details—he discerned that Wu intended to block the blade with his left arm and then take the opportunity to close in on his adversary.

Watanabe Ryosuke’s blade was fast and sharp; using an arm to block would inevitably lead to amputation, and closing the distance might not be successful due to the severe pain slowing his movements. With only a slight change in blade direction and a dragging move, Watanabe could disembowel Wu.

Thus, Li San chose to throw the dagger; Wu had previously intercepted two of Watanabe Ryosuke’s strikes for him, and now it was his turn to intercept this strike for Wu.

Of course, he had two daggers. Throwing one to break Wu’s encirclement still left him with another to aim at Watanabe Ryosuke. However, Li San chose not to, since Watanabe also held a sheath in his left hand.

Previously, the first strike Watanabe executed with Iaido sword drawing technique, had a chilling intent, making Li San realize that their mental cultivation was on par. He himself had dodged assassination by twelve gunmen; it stood to reason that his opponent wouldn’t be felled by a single dagger.

Thus, Li San didn’t risk throwing the dagger for a sneak attack just to find himself empty-handed against his enemy.

Meanwhile, Wu caught the whirling dagger from the air in his right hand, blade pointing downward, using it to block the sword slashing toward his waist.

Clang!

The clear sound overshadowed the gunfire around them; the dagger in Wu’s hand trembled incessantly. His arm was numb, but he still tightly gripped the dagger, not letting it slip.

Defensively meeting force with force put Wu at a disadvantage, but he nevertheless managed to block the lethal strike and stepped back to release the force.

Watanabe Ryosuke’s expression was as calm as an ancient well, unperturbed about Wu surviving another escape from death beneath his sword.

He abruptly turned, throwing the sword sheath in his left hand like a javelin toward the charging Li San, and then, drawing his sword, he sprinted toward Li San!

Li San tilted his head to dodge the incoming sheath, and the next moment, a blade flashed before his eyes.

A beheading strike!

Li San paused, stepping back; the sharp halt followed by a quick movement was as if an invisible string were pulling him from behind, his center of gravity shifting effortlessly, even revealing a mastery similar to the mercury-like realm.

As the flicker of the sword in front ceased, ready to change course, Li San advanced with the dagger in his right hand.

Clang!

The instant the blades met, Li San twisted his wrist, rotating the dagger sideways, lifting it up then pulling back, quickly flipping it, positioning the dagger behind the long sword and pressing down.

Watanabe Ryosuke felt as though his strike, led and manipulated by his opponent, had veered off course like a racing car suddenly hitting a ramp, uncontrollably about to lift off the ground. His sword nearly flew out of his hand!

Tai Chi listening skill, Hua Jin!

The moment Li San’s dagger touched Watanabe Ryosuke’s long sword, he "listened" to the force on the blade and manipulated the force to not only neutralize it but also to throw his opponent’s blade trajectory into disarray.

The weapon was an extension of the body. Li San, as a master level martial artist of Tai Chi Fist, had long been able to incorporate the essence of Tai Chi Fist into weapon fighting. Holding twin blades, he was peerless in killing - truly the spirit of an Evil Spirit!

Had it been a weaker martial artist, this maneuver probably would have caused a complete loss of control over the blade but Watanabe Ryosuke’s swordsmanship was also master level, his control of the blade as natural as moving his own fingers.

Watanabe Ryosuke’s breathing deepened; with each inhale and exhale, he shook his hold on the sword, which vibrated and emitted a soft whine, as if breathing in unison with him.

The tip of the sword suddenly flipped upward, like an Evil Dragon raising its head, thrusting upward toward Li San.

Toshima Style, Dragon Stir!

Li San stepped back, pulling the dagger back with him, sliding next to the spine of the blade up to the tip, then rotating it back to the underside of the blade edge and forcefully lifting upward.

Almost simultaneously with Li San rotating his dagger, Watanabe Ryosuke also rotated his blade, the force changing as if a dragon was twisting its body.

Li San’s dagger responded to the changes in force, seamlessly alternating between flexibility and stiffness, intent on binding the dragon!

Their contest resembled Tai Chi Pushing Hands, testing each other’s force using weapons instead of hands, far more perilous than usual Pushing Hands.

However, with the disadvantage of using a shorter weapon against a longer one, especially since Li San was skilled with twin blades but now had only a single dagger, resembling fighting with one hand tied, he quickly fell into a disadvantageous position.

Zeng!

The dragon broke free from the restraint, and Watanabe Ryosuke’s long sword broke through Li San’s dagger, thrusting toward Li San’s chest!

Watanabe Ryosuke’s eyes sparkled, as though he could already see the scene of Li San impaled by his sword in the next second.

When he saw Li San throw a dagger earlier, he had immediately made his decision: turn and kill Li San!

Had Li San held both blades, he would have chosen to kill Wu first and then duel with Li San, but since his opponent was left with just one blade, he immediately switched targets, since in this state, Li San could only exert about 40% of his actual strength. Killing him would not be difficult.

Watanabe Ryosuke never underestimated Li San, but he did underestimate one person—Wu Li.

After three consecutive life-threatening slashes, he was only saved at the last moment by a dagger thrown by Li San. Despite the big ups and downs, even if Wu Li was a master, he should have at least paused, and the fear in his heart would have made his subsequent actions hesitant for a moment. That moment was what Watanabe Ryosuke needed to kill Li San.

However, Wu Li didn’t hesitate.

After blocking a strike from Watanabe Ryosuke and retreating two steps with his arms still numb, Wu Li hurried forward impatiently.

After achieving proficiency in martial arts, this was the first time he was pushed so hard, almost choosing to sacrifice an arm to fight for his life.

Being mysteriously threatened tonight, shot at without reason, and then chased and slashed three times made even a clay Bodhisattva angry, let alone Wu Li?

So he charged forward without hesitation.

When burdened with rage, how should one relieve it?

With a dagger!

Wu Li held the dagger in his right hand reversed, blade pointing upwards, forming a straight line with his arm, he fiercely stepped forward and thrust the dagger with Horse Form Cannon, and then charged forward.

With his arm extended straight like a gun barrel, the dagger being the bayonet, Wu Li charged with Horse Form like a cavalryman riding into battle with a lance.

Power like a cannon, form like a gun, unmatched in battle, thrust!

Watanabe Ryosuke was shocked, his normally placid mental state finally rippling. Even without looking back, he could feel the overwhelming aura behind him, as if it would completely pierce through his body!

Not daring to hesitate, Watanabe Ryosuke withdrew his sword, ready to turn around and defend.

However, just as he planned to withdraw his sword, Li San, who had been on the defensive, made his move.

The dagger in his hand struck at an incredible speed towards the approaching blade, impacting it at an angle and then clinging to it, the power flowing continuously, intending to entangle the opponent’s sword for a moment.

Wu Li and Li San moved almost simultaneously, as if they had agreed in advance, collaboratively setting a trap for Watanabe Ryosuke.

Ah.

A faint sigh that was almost imperceptible, Watanabe Ryosuke stepped back, his long sword moving like a dragon entering the water, skillfully breaking free from Li San’s dagger.

Since entering the scene, he had been advancing, and this was his first retreat.

The Toshima Style swordsmanship is used on battlefields with an emphasis on advance without retreat, pressing forward relentlessly, a retreat at this point meant a decline from the peak of his sword intent.

Faced with such well-coordinated opponents, Watanabe Ryosuke felt a desire to retreat.

Merely stepping back wasn’t enough to escape Wu Li’s unparalleled thrust. Watanabe Ryosuke twisted his waist, turned his hips and swung his arm, the long sword slashing horizontally like autumn water towards the approaching dagger of Wu Li.

Clang!

The edge of the sword precisely swept the tip of the dagger, the enormous power deflecting Wu Li’s thrust.

If Wu Li didn’t step sideways to unload the force, his wrist would definitely be injured, which Watanabe Ryosuke had precisely calculated when he chose to meet Wu Li’s dagger like that, aiming to force Wu Li back first, then find a way to retreat.

However, Wu Li surprised him once again, not stepping aside to unload the force but instead releasing his grip on the dagger.

In the moment he let go, Wu Li applied a clever force to the dagger, causing it to spin rapidly in the air, yet not being knocked away.

Previously facing Watanabe Ryosuke, Wu Li had learned from the disadvantage of not having a weapon, narrowly escaping death, and now he dared to release his weapon right in front of Watanabe Ryosuke, such an act seemed suicidal. Watanabe Ryosuke just needed to advance and strike twice, and Wu Li might again face a life-and-death decision.

Yet Wu Li let go of the dagger without any hesitation, just so he wouldn’t have to step back even half a step, so that he could strike faster at Watanabe Ryosuke next. And he trusted that Li San would not let him down.

Such a choice meant entrusting his life into Li San’s hands, just like earlier when Li San chose to throw his own dagger to Wu Li. If at that moment, Wu Li had only thought of defending himself with the sword and hadn’t counterattacked immediately, Li San might already be dead.

The two had had no communication from beginning to end, and had only met for the first time today, yet they seemed to understand each other very well, each action in perfect harmony.

When Li San saw Wu Li, even willing to lose an arm, choosing to close in for an attack, he understood the resolved look in Wu Li’s eyes and his fist intent to go forward even if it meant death, therefore he believed that once Wu Li got the sword, he would instantly counterattack. Hence, he could act in the first instance to coordinate with Wu Li and repel Watanabe Ryosuke.

And Wu Li, from Li San’s risky action of throwing the dagger to save him, understood Li San’s intentions and saw clearly his character, and thus at the moment chose to let go of the dagger, he trusted Li San would not let him down.

Having never met before, yet able to entrust one another with their lives.

Some people may know each other for a long time yet not truly understand each other; others might just meet by chance on the roadside, yet become close as confidants.

A lifetime as though newly acquainted, a quick alliance as good as old friends, none are greater than this.