Chapter 265: Flash of the Blade

As Rumi came out of the kitchen, she immediately spotted Kuang Dao sitting on the sofa, and she couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

At the same time, Kuang Dao also noticed her. “Oh, it’s you.”

Kazumi asked, “Rumi, do you know him?”

Walking closer to Kazumi, Rumi whispered, “He’s the person I told you about—the one I met at the park entrance.”

Afterward, Rumi bowed respectfully to Kuang Dao and said, “Hello, sir. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Kuang Dao asked, “Are you Lei Yin’s—no, Gennai Masashi’s disciple?”

Rumi replied, “He’s my senior. He’s been teaching me swordsmanship.”

Realization dawned on Kuang Dao’s face as he smirked and said, “No wonder you were so bold last time, claiming your senior might not lose to me. So that guy is your senior, huh?”

Hearing the tone suggesting he knew Lei Yin, Rumi asked, “Sir, are you acquainted with my senior?”

Kuang Dao replied casually, “Not exactly. I’ve only fought him a few times. Today, I’m here to challenge him again.”

Rumi was startled, and her expression immediately turned to one of worry. She knew this man’s swordsmanship was profoundly deep. Although she didn’t think her senior would necessarily lose, she feared he might get hurt during the duel.

After some thought, Rumi hesitated and said, “Sir, do you really have to challenge my senior?”

“Of course. What do you think I came here for?”

“Will you be using bamboo swords?”

“You expect two grown men to duel with flimsy bamboo swords?” Kuang Dao burst into laughter.

The more Rumi listened, the more uneasy she felt. She hurriedly asked, “Then what will you be using for the duel?”

Kuang Dao was about to reply when Lei Yin appeared, walking out of his room with a bag in hand. He coughed lightly and said, “Old Kuang, let’s go.”

“You’re such a hassle,” Kuang Dao muttered as he stood up.

Lei Yin turned to Rumi and Kazumi and said, “I’m heading out with this guy. I might not be back tonight, so don’t wait for me.”

Suddenly, Rumi grabbed his hand. “Senpai, I want to come with you.”

Lei Yin shook his head. “No, I don’t want any distractions during the duel.”

“I promise I won’t interrupt. Please, let me come with you?” Rumi’s unease grew stronger, sensing this was no ordinary sparring match.

Lei Yin knew that if she watched the fight, it wouldn’t happen as planned. As Kuang Dao had just said, they wouldn’t be using something as harmless as bamboo swords to decide the outcome.

He had fought Kuang Dao numerous times before, and neither of them had ever held back in their duels, continuing until a clear winner emerged. The intensity of their matches was no different from life-and-death combat. If Rumi were to witness this, she would undoubtedly try to stop them.

In a firm tone, Lei Yin said, “Rumi, it’s not that I don’t want you to come. It’s just that your presence would distract me. Don’t worry—I’ll be fine.”

Seeing his resolve, Rumi knew she couldn’t change his mind. Overcome with worry and helplessness, she suddenly hugged him tightly.

After a moment, she looked up at him with tearful eyes and pleaded, “Senpai, please don’t get hurt. I’ll be here waiting for you to come back. You have to promise me you’ll return safely, okay?”

Lei Yin sighed in exasperation. “You’re overreacting. It’s just a sparring match, not a fight to the death. Why are you crying?”

But Rumi was serious. “I want you to promise me you’ll come back safe and sound tonight.”

Scratching his head, Lei Yin replied, “Fine, I promise. Now let go—he’s about to lose his patience.”

Rumi glanced at Kuang Dao, who was indeed glaring at them. Blushing, she quickly released Lei Yin.

As Lei Yin prepared to leave, Kazumi suddenly held his hand. “Brother, be careful.”

Seeing the same concern in her eyes, Lei Yin couldn’t help but smile. He squeezed her hand briefly before turning and heading for the door.

As they left the apartment, Kuang Dao said with a smirk, “Looks like you’ve got trouble, old man.”

Lei Yin shot him a glare before heading to the roadside to hail a taxi.

The two took a car to the outskirts, arriving at a large forest that had yet to be developed.

After getting out, Kuang Dao surveyed the woods, soon revealing a look of satisfaction.

Leaning against a tree trunk with a faint smile, Lei Yin watched as Kuang Dao meticulously examined the surroundings while pacing.

For experts of their caliber, even the smallest variable could determine the outcome of a duel. Weather and environment were critical factors. If it had been Lei Yin’s first time here, he would have done the same, so he didn’t rush Kuang Dao.

After a while, Kuang Dao turned back and said, “Let’s begin.”

Lei Yin glanced at him, then pulled out two sheathed, thick-bladed long blade from the bag he was carrying.

Kuang Dao caught the blade Lei Yin tossed his way and unsheathed it.

Under the sunlight, the blade reflected a distinctive metallic luster.

Though the sheath was an ordinary leather one, and the blade appeared plain, Kuang Dao examined the blade carefully and remarked, “This is a fine blade.”

“That’s stating the obvious,” Lei Yin replied indifferently.

Under normal circumstances, Kuang Dao would have retorted with curses, but not this time.

Instead, his eyes shone with a light Lei Yin hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Kuang Dao casually tossed the sheath onto the ground, gripping the blade in his right hand. He pointed its tip at Lei Yin, motionless.

Lei Yin remained still as well, his blade still in its sheath.

Compared to Kuang Dao’s rising, surging momentum, Lei Yin resembled a silent, lifeless statue.

Blades, like swords, were tools of death.

However, while blade techniques were easy to learn, they were difficult to master. Swordsmanship, on the other hand, was far more intricate and profound. The sword symbolized nobility and elegance.

Even in Kuang Dao’s era, renowned masters of blade techniques had long disappeared from the martial world.

Yet, both chose to wield blades instead of the graceful and noble sword.

When Kuang Dao’s aura reached its peak, everything around them seemed to fall into silence. The air grew heavy with an indescribable sense of oppression.

Unlike the state Lei Yin was in months ago when he first took over this body, months of training and the week of preparation before this fight had brought him close to his peak state. Though not fully recovered, it was enough to face Kuang Dao, who also hadn’t returned to his prime.

A single leaf.

A lone leaf detached from a branch, floating down between them.

It was like a drop of water hitting a calm surface, causing ripples imperceptible to ordinary people.

But Kuang Dao noticed it. So, he moved.

One strike. A simple, unadorned strike cleaved toward the still and silent “statue.”

One strike. Equally simple and unadorned, Lei Yin’s blade flew from its ordinary leather sheath like a gentle breeze, countering Kuang Dao’s blow.

His blade had been unsheathed.

The flash of the blade was like snow.

The two blades met, not with the clash of steel, but with a flurry of endless flashes of light.

But as quickly as the flashes appeared, they vanished.

Though the forest remained eerily quiet, birds startled by the exchange flew off in every direction.

※※※

It wasn’t like the exaggerated duels described in martial arts novels, where thousands of moves were exchanged.

Before long, the two separated, each leaping backward.

Both were gasping for air and drenched in sweat, but Kuang Dao remained unscathed.

Lei Yin, on the other hand, though similarly out of breath and sweaty, had multiple slashes on his clothing.

It was clear—Kuang Dao had won.

Yet, his eyes were filled with dissatisfaction.

He glared fiercely at Lei Yin, whose calm expression showed no hint of emotion. Kuang Dao remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he slowly walked over, picked up the discarded sheath, and slid his blade back in.

After another glance at Lei Yin, Kuang Dao suddenly threw the sheathed blade toward him and shouted, “I lost. Do what you will.”

Catching the blade effortlessly, Lei Yin’s eyes flashed with a faint smile.

Casually tossing both blades back onto the bag, Lei Yin pulled out his phone.

“Hello, Mingyu?

“Tonight, have Lawyer Wang Bo, Miss Huang Yin, Director Roy, Manager Zhao, and the new department heads gather at China Tower for dinner. I’ll be introducing a new supervisor to everyone.

“By the way, is the office I asked you to prepare for the new supervisor ready yet?”

“Very well, we’ll head to China Town in a moment. See you there.”

Hearing Lei Yin deliberately speak so loudly on the phone, Kuang Dao nearly exploded with rage, wanting nothing more than to fight him again.

After ending the call, Lei Yin turned to Kuang Dao with a faint smile and said, “Let’s go. We’re heading to China Town now.”

Clenching his teeth, Kuang Dao growled, “Damn it, one day I’ll smash your annoying mouth to pieces!”

Lei Yin replied calmly, “To be fair, in terms of talent, I’m not inferior to you. Before I was struck by lightning, I had already reached the pinnacle of blade mastery five years ahead of you. Most importantly, I’ve lived far longer than you. Calling me ‘senior’ wouldn’t be out of place. So, losing to me is only natural. Let it go.”

Hearing Lei Yin’s “well-meaning” words of comfort, Kuang Dao’s anger flared uncontrollably. Unable to hold back, he lashed out with a kick.

Having anticipated this move, Lei Yin effortlessly dodged it with a slight shift.

“You bastard! I’m going to fight you to the death today!” Kuang Dao roared, rushing forward with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Lei Yin’s eyes glimmered with excitement. As Kuang Dao charged, Lei Yin casually tossed his phone onto the grass and engaged him in a bare-knuckle brawl.

※※※

Around 10 PM, Naoko was watching TV absentmindedly.

Noticing her behavior, Aiko asked curiously, “Sister, why aren’t you resting? Don’t you usually go to bed by now?”

Naoko replied, “I’m waiting for…” Before she could finish, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Hearing the bell, Naoko immediately stood up and rushed to open the door.

When she opened it, she saw him as expected, and her face lit up with a smile.

As Lei Yin walked into the living room, Aiko caught a strong whiff of alcohol. Turning her head, she saw her sister helping a heavily intoxicated Lei Yin inside.

“So it’s Gennai. Why is he here? Ugh, he reeks of alcohol,” Aiko muttered. It was her first time seeing him this drunk.

“He called me earlier and said he’d be coming over, but I didn’t expect him to be in this state. Lei, be careful,” Naoko said as she helped the nearly drunk Lei Yin to her room.

“It’s rare to see him like this,” Aiko murmured to herself. Knowing her sister would take care of him, she ignored them and continued watching TV. After more than a year of living together, she was used to him coming and going in the house.

After wetting a towel with hot water and wringing it out, Naoko returned to her room to find him already asleep.

She gently placed the warm towel on his forehead and covered him with a blanket.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of their breathing.

Naoko gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, her eyes filled with tenderness.

With a soft smile, she turned off the bedside lamp and lay down beside him.

In the darkness, she studied the contours of his face, her lips curling into a smile as she hugged his arm.

When Lei Yin woke up, his head was pounding.

Damn it, it had been a long time since he’d had a hangover like this.

After a while, he managed to open his eyes and sit up slowly.

Seeing the familiar furnishings around him, he realized he was in Naoko’s room.

Last night, after dining with the senior staff at China Town, Kuang Dao had gotten carried away, challenging all the men present to a drinking contest to see who would pass out first.

Everyone, already a bit drunk, foolishly went along with it.

Lei Yin hadn’t drunk so freely in years and ended up going overboard. He couldn’t even remember how he left China Town.

Just then, the door opened, and an elegant woman entered the room.

“You’re awake?” Naoko smiled as she approached him.

Seeing her gentle smile illuminated by the morning light, Lei Yin felt a wave of emotion.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck and inhaling her soothing fragrance.

“Lei,” Naoko whispered, her heart brimming with unspoken joy as she hugged his waist tightly in return.

In the quiet morning, the two of them held each other, savoring the moment in peaceful intimacy.