Chapter 126: Ying
Chapter 126: Ying
Yui Xuan Yue regarded the pale-faced Duty Traveler with a slight shake of his head. This old man had been digging his own grave from the start.
Talking about growing old alone, the Tsuchigumo clan was either dead or fled, leaving only him with knowledge of the forbidden jutsu.
Perhaps others would have believed him. Or perhaps they would have been delayed by him, allowing Ying and Tonbeni to escape.
But Yui Xuan Yue would not make such a mistake. The fact that Sasuke wasn't by his side was proof enough.
"Who are you?" Duty Traveler asked, his previous feigned frailty gone as he realized his plans had been seen through.
His aged eyes, though still cloudy, now blazed with a sharp light as he straightened, momentarily regaining the aura of one who could destroy an entire town with a single move.
Ying's existence had always been a secret to the outside world. Only Yui Xuan Yue, Tonbeni, and a branch of the Tsuchigumo clan, the reclusive mountain village, knew her true identity.
Duty Traveler feared that someone from within had leaked information.
Facing the Duty Traveler, who had transformed from a sickly cat to a formidable old tiger, Yui Xuan Yue remained calm.
"I told you, I'm a keen learner."
"Why is it that people in the ninja world never want to believe what others say?" Yui Xuan Yue mused, feeling that the world was still too dark and untrusting.
"If you won't talk, then so be it! Even if it costs my life, I won't let your plot succeed!" Duty Traveler declared, his attitude one of resolute sacrifice, as if he hadn't heard a word.
Though he didn't possess the forbidden jutsu 'Nu Fa Tian', he had a profound understanding of the Tsuchigumo clan's Fettering Technique.
Duty Traveler was about to make his move.
Yui Xuan Yue glanced at him.
In an instant, Duty Traveler froze, rooted to the spot.
"Now, we wait for Sasuke's move." Yui Xuan Yue stated calmly. Sasuke wasn't as unpredictable as Naruto, the number one surprise maker. A quiet wait was all that was needed.
"Tonbeni, where are we going?" Ying asked, still dazed from being suddenly grabbed and whisked away by Tonbeni. The rushing wind and swiftly changing surroundings finally registered, and she narrowed her eyes, confusion filling her voice.
"Miss Ying, we're heading to the Reclusive Mountain Village," Tonbeni replied as he continued to sprint at full speed.
"Have more enemies arrived?" Ying asked, her voice tinged with worry.
She had experienced similar situations several times since she was young, and each time, things eventually settled down without incident.
But this time felt different!
A sudden realization caused Ying's face to pale as she asked, "Where's Grandpa? Why isn't he with us?"
Tonbeni's expression darkened for a moment before he quickly recovered his composure. "Rest assured, Miss Ying. Duty Traveler will deal with the enemy and join us soon."
"But... Grandpa doesn't have the forbidden jutsu this time!" Ying said anxiously, remembering that the forbidden jutsu known as 'Nu Fa Tian' was now sealed within her.
"Tonbeni, let's go back! I want to help Grandpa!" Ying pleaded.
Tonbeni refused, "I'm sorry, Miss Ying. Duty Traveler's orders are to take you away."
With that, he quickened his pace, ignoring his fatigue.
As a descendant of Duty Traveler, Ying had inherited the 'Nu Fa Tian' forbidden jutsu, but she hadn't learned how to use it yet. Returning now would be futile and would only sever the Tsuchigumo clan's last hope of revival.
Tonbeni knew exactly what needed to be done.
"We're here!" Tonbeni exclaimed with relief as he spotted the cave tunnel ahead. He was about to gesture for Ying to enter first when suddenly—
The sound of raging thunder filled the air.
As Tonbeni looked forward again, his vision blurred, and a strange young boy appeared, blocking the passage.
"Miss Ying, please wait over there."
Tonbeni set Ying down, and despite her worried expression, he resolutely drew a pair of shuriken and charged at Sasuke, declaring, "For the glory of the Tsuchigumo clan! I must defeat you!"
A minute later...
"Tonbeni!"
As Ying cried out in a voice filled with tears, Sasuke grabbed the now-unconscious Tonbeni with one hand. He then approached Ying, who was powerless to resist, and picked her up as well. With a flash of his body, he quickly reunited with Yui Xuan Yue.
"Master Yui."
Soon, Sasuke returned to Yui Xuan Yue's side and set the two down.
"Grandpa!"
The conscious Ying immediately spotted the motionless Duty Traveler and rushed to his side, calling out and shaking his body, but the old man showed no response.
"Don't worry, your grandfather is just under a genjutsu."
As soon as Ying heard these words, her vision blurred, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself beside the masked man who had just spoken.
"We're here only to study the forbidden jutsu and won't harm your lives," the man continued, addressing Ying.
"Really?" Ying asked, her eyes filled with hope.
Yui Xuan Yue nodded. "Just cooperate with us for a while, and everything will be fine."
Understanding her current predicament, Ying hastily nodded in agreement.
For some reason, she felt inclined to trust the words of the man before her.
Perhaps it was because she didn't sense the usual greed and ruthlessness in him that was common in those who came to invade their home.
The situation was now under control.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Yui Xuan Yue refrained from waking Duty Traveler and Tonbeni. Instead, he led Ying to a vacant lot.
Amidst Ying's nervousness, worry, and embarrassment, Yui Xuan Yue gently pulled open her upper garment, exposing a portion of her back.
Despite her young age, Ying, with her brown curly hair and green eyes, was undoubtedly a beautiful girl.
But at this moment...
On her otherwise snow-white and alluring back, ugly, worm-like veins protruded, one after another.
At the center of these veins, where flesh and blood should have been, was a pitch-black bead, embedded in her flesh.
The bead was deeply embedded in her body, and together with the surrounding veins, it looked like a glaring stain on a beautiful painting, giving off an uncomfortable feeling.
This was the necessary vessel for unleashing the Nu Fa Tian forbidden jutsu.
Legend had it that the longer the Nu Fa Tian stored up energy, the more devastating its destructive range became. It was said to have once obliterated a town with a radius of several kilometers in an instant.
To unleash such immense power, it was obvious that the chakra capacity of a Tsuchigumo clan ninja was insufficient.
The key lay in the black bead before them.
Once the practitioner activated the Nu Fa Tian jutsu, the black bead would begin absorbing energy from nature frantically.
When it had absorbed a sufficient amount or when the practitioner chose to release it, the stored natural energy would explosively burst forth, obliterating everything within its range.
Although it was a one-time use.
The ability to merge natural energy without harming oneself was a feature worth Yui Xuan Yue's special trip.
Yui Xuan Yue reached out and placed his hand on the black bead embedded in Ying's back.
(Thanks to "Hun Ling" for the 100 reward; thanks to "Book Friend 20221020165854834" for the 600 reward!)
(End of Chapter)
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