"You interrupted me halfway through my session? Then don't blame me for breaking all your ribs!"
Before Cheng Xiaoyu finished speaking, he kicked out a second time, and the air let out a sharp roar.
Kast's two-hundred-pound body smashed through the stained-glass window, cutting a bloody arc under the neon lights.
More than twenty armed thugs froze in place…
They had seen the brutality of New World pirates, but they had never seen such elegant violence.
Cheng Xiaoyu hadn't even unbuttoned the emerald cufflink on his collar before he pressed their boss to the ground and rubbed him.
Just then, a graceful figure appeared before everyone.
She wore a Marine Justice cloak, was tall, had delicate features, and a beauty mark on her chin.
Coupled with a pair of long, straight legs beneath her ultra-short denim hot pants, she looked exceptionally charming…
It was Navy Vice Admiral Tōtō!
"Kast, long time no see." Tōtō's voice was clear and pleasant.
Kast slowly raised his head, and his face instantly turned pale when he saw Tōtō.
"Tō… Tōtō Vice Admiral!? Why are you here?"
Tōtō chuckled, "After leaving the Marine, you actually became a mafia boss. It seems you're doing quite well."
Kast quickly waved his hands, his face full of fawning smiles: "Oh, no… we were just messing around."
Cheng Xiaoyu certainly recognized the beautiful woman in front of him, but he wondered: Why was she here? Was she here to arrest him? The Marine shouldn't be that fast, right?
Cheng Xiaoyu didn't want to bother with her and turned to go back to his room to rest.
"Stop!" Tōtō spoke out.
Cheng Xiaoyu stopped, asking impatiently, "Do you need something?"
Tōtō's gaze fell on Cheng Xiaoyu, carrying a hint of scrutiny: "You are Cheng Xiaoyu, aren't you?"
A person's name, a tree's shadow!
When the surrounding people heard the three words "Cheng Xiaoyu," they all gasped, looking at Cheng Xiaoyu with shock and fear.
Cheng Xiaoyu's name had been resounding across the sea recently, and his bounty was constantly multiplying.
Although most people didn't know what earth-shattering deeds he had done, this did not prevent his reputation from spreading rapidly.
Cheng Xiaoyu's mouth curved slightly upward, showing an indifferent expression: "Coming for me? But, what can you, a mere Vice Admiral, do to me?"
Tōtō drew the sword from her waist, its blade glinting with a cold light: "Of course, to capture you!"
Cheng Xiaoyu chuckled, "How about this, you fight my shadow first. If you win, I'll go with you, whatever you want to do!"
"If you lose, stay with me tonight."
"Your shadow?" Tōtō was slightly startled.
"Come out, Kuina."
As soon as Cheng Xiaoyu finished speaking, a girl in a kimono, holding a long sword, slowly emerged from his shadow.
"She is a swordsman like you, but she still needs actual combat to improve her strength," Cheng Xiaoyu explained.
As Cheng Xiaoyu's strength improved, Kuina's strength also rapidly increased, and her current combat power rating had reached S+!
That's roughly the level of an elite Vice Admiral, but she still needs actual combat to further refine her skills.
Tōtō looked at the girl who emerged from the shadow, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but then her fighting spirit soared: "Okay, I agree."
"Don't back out if you lose." Cheng Xiaoyu looked at Tōtō playfully, a wicked smile curving his lips.
Tōtō snorted lightly, her eyes sharp: "I, Tōtō, always keep my word."
"Good!" Cheng Xiaoyu snapped his fingers, "Kuina, don't disappoint me this time!"
"Of course not!" Kuina's voice was as cold as ice and snow.
Cheng Xiaoyu scanned the onlookers, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes: "All of you, scram! If anyone dares to peek, they will be killed without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, everyone scattered like birds and beasts, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Kast, clutching his stomach, also scrambled away from the scene.
He knew that Cheng Xiaoyu wasn't joking; if he really angered him, his life might be in danger.
In the backyard, the moonlight was like water.
Cheng Xiaoyu leaned against a large tree, watching the two in the arena with great interest.
Kuina and Tōtō stood facing each other, the atmosphere tense.
"Begin." Cheng Xiaoyu said lightly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Tōtō launched her attack first.
Her figure flashed, appearing like a ghost in front of Kuina, the sword in her hand turning into a cold light, heading straight for Kuina's throat.
Kuina reacted quickly, dodging the attack by sidestepping, then flicked her shadow blade back, forcing Tōtō to retreat.
The two went back and forth, swords clashing, moving too fast for the naked eye to catch.
Initially, Kuina was clearly at a disadvantage. Tōtō's swordsmanship was exquisite, and her attacks were continuous like a tide.
Kuina could only passively defend, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.
But as the battle deepened, Kuina gradually adapted to Tōtō's rhythm and began to show her true strength.
Tōtō's attacks became increasingly difficult to land, and she was forced to retreat repeatedly by Kuina's shadow blade.
"Phantom Sword Dance!"
Kuina let out a soft cry, and the wado ichimonji in her hand transformed into countless afterimages, engulfing Tōtō.
Tōtō's expression changed, and she quickly parried the attacks.
"Clang, clang, clang…"
The sound of metal clashing was incessant, and sparks flew.
Although Tōtō blocked most of the attacks, she was still cut on her arms and thighs by a few afterimages, and blood flowed from the wounds.
"Damn it!" Tōtō cursed under her breath, not expecting to be pushed to such a state by a shadow samurai.
But she did not give up; instead, it ignited her fighting spirit.
"Pink Slash!" Tōtō cried out, a pink light glowing on her blade, and a massive slash cleaved towards Kuina.
Kuina's expression was serious; she could feel the extraordinary power of this strike.
"Flowing Heart: Absolute!"
Kuina's figure disappeared from where she stood, and in the instant Tōtō was stunned, Kuina had already arrived behind her.
In a flash, the shadow of wado ichimonji was pressed against Tōtō's neck.
She lost.
"Tōtō Vice Admiral, I've long heard that your geisha skills are renowned throughout the four seas!" Cheng Xiaoyu said with a smile.
Tōtō gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with unwillingness.
But she was someone who honored her bets; since she lost, she could only accept reality.
"I will fulfill my promise." Tōtō's voice trembled slightly.
She didn't expect to lose even to Cheng Xiaoyu's shadow…
Cheng Xiaoyu smiled contentedly and reached out to help Tōtō up.
"Let's go, we'll go back to the room." Cheng Xiaoyu put his arm around Tōtō's waist and walked towards the room.
Tōtō's body trembled slightly, but she did not resist.
She knew that tonight, she would become Cheng Xiaoyu's captive.