Chapter 221: Xue Jing is an 'Anomaly' and Fights with Otogi Rizuka Five Seconds After Meeting (4K)

Chapter 221: Xue Jing is an 'Anomaly' and Fights with Otogi Rizuka Five Seconds After Meeting (4K)



In a certain dojo in Yuan City, Otogi Rizuka knelt, facing a low table with two cups of pale green tea.

Seated across from him was a middle-aged man with his legs crossed.

This man had an odd air about him. His appearance was unremarkable, neither handsome nor ugly, and his build was average—not too tall, not too short. His attire was plain, neither fashionable nor out-of-date.

Such a nondescript individual, one who would hardly draw attention if thrown into a crowd, exuded an eerie sense of strangeness that sent shivers down one's spine.

There was something distorted and discordant about him, like an African elephant wandering onto an Arctic glacier or a dish of stargazing pie in the middle of a lavish banquet—a jarring contrast that felt utterly out of place.

This blatant dissonance would irritate anyone who laid eyes on him, like a thorn embedded in the flesh, prompting an instinctive loathing that made one want to pluck him out of existence.

Yet, Otogi Rizuka seemed oblivious to this reaction. His androgynous, beautiful features showed no hint of disgust as he gestured politely and said with a smile:

"Mr. Fox, please, have some tea. This is a Gyokuro tea from my homeland."

The man addressed as Mr. Fox didn't touch the tea before him but instead surveyed their surroundings with a bobbing head, his curiosity evident as he spoke:

"Your family is one of the six major conglomerates in the Far East, yet your dwelling is so humble. Why is that?"

His voice was peculiar, carrying a hint of an accent that made it sound like two people speaking at once, their voices overlapping—a blend of deep and sharp tones.

Otogi Rizuka offered a faint smile and explained, "The so-called conglomerates weren't always as they are now. My ancestors, during the Edo period, were merely part of the 'Otogi group'—entertainers and conversationalists for a minor noble family. They were lowly folks who weren't even entitled to a surname until the Meiji Restoration, when all citizens were allowed to take last names, and thus, I bear the name Otogi."

"One of my family's principles is to never forget the origins of our surname, to always remember our humble beginnings and refrain from arrogance."

"When one is in a foreign land, having a place to call home is already a blessing. How could I ask for more?"

Mr. Fox gave him a meaningful glance, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Your Chinese is good, but it's a bit too formal and not colloquial enough. It lacks the natural flow of everyday speech."

"I'm still learning," Otogi Rizuka humbly acknowledged.

Mr. Fox stroked his chin, his gaze fixed on Otogi Rizuka, his expression strange. "I've met quite a few people from the Far East within the organization, but you're the first one who seems so... normal."

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Otogi Rizuka arched an eyebrow.

Mr. Fox shook his head. "I'm just stating an observation. There are no truly normal people in our organization. Even those who appear normal on the surface are just putting on an act."

"Mr. Fox, your words confuse me," Otogi Rizuka said with a smile.

"Enough of that," Mr. Fox said. "I came here to ask a favor of you." With that, he picked up the cup of Gyokuro tea and took a sip.

"Please, go ahead," Otogi Rizuka invited.

Mr. Fox drained the cup, smacked his lips, and said, "You know Xue Jing, don't you?"

He paused suddenly, as if receiving some sort of information, and then added, "Oh, right. You're about to meet him very soon."

Otogi Rizuka narrowed his eyes.

"I hope you'll lose to him," Mr. Fox continued nonchalantly. "Make it look as natural as possible, as if you truly lost to him."

"Why?" Otogi Rizuka asked.

Mr. Fox held up a finger and explained, "This person is a magnet for an extremely diverse range of 'anomalies.' He will continuously get entangled in countless causes and effects. If allowed to grow and develop, he will inevitably bring great turmoil to the entire world one day."

"In our line of work, we refer to such individuals as 'anomalies.'"

He pointed at Otogi Rizuka and added, "But as of now, he hasn't had enough time to mature... and you, you're too strong."

"I need you to become his bait, to offer yourself as nourishment to aid in his further growth."

"In return, I'll tell you three things you want to know."

Mr. Fox paused briefly before continuing, "Anything you desire to know."

Otogi Rizuka didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a sip of tea, set the cup back on the table, and then placed his hands on his thighs, his posture straight and graceful.

He shook his head and said, "I refuse."

Mr. Fox's expression remained unchanged. "Oh?"

"Mr. Fox, forgive me for being blunt, but you're insulting the martial arts."

Otogi Rizuka's expression gradually turned cold.

"Disregarding personal biases, facing each other squarely, pushing both sides to their limits, burning with intensity, and giving it your all to defeat your opponent or be defeated yourself—I believe this is the necessary respect owed to a true martial artist."

"What you're asking of me is tantamount to forcing me to insult him, to insult myself, and to insult the martial arts."

"I demand that you apologize immediately."

Mr. Fox was taken aback, letting out a bemused laugh. "What an interesting little brat."

"Never mind, this will do as well."

"If he's an anomaly, then tribulations are to be expected. That extremely martial king back then also..."

He stood up and looked at Otogi Rizuka.

"My request for an apology was indeed untimely... You are indeed a member of the organization."

As he spoke, Mr. Fox's figure vanished from the dojo.

Otogi Rizuka remained seated, unperturbed by Mr. Fox's sudden disappearance. Instead, he furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

At that moment, the sliding door to the room opened, and a solemn and resolute young man walked in. He spoke in the language of the Far East.

"Young Master, who was that man just now?"

Otogi Rizuka snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the young man, replying in the same language: "He's known as Fox Mianzi."

"Fox sleeps on the defeated bricks, and the rabbit runs on the desolate platform, all once part of a place of song and dance... This is an ancient saying from Zhuxia, describing the impermanence of the world's affairs. And that man is a madman who wants to plunge all worldly matters into chaos and impermanence."

The young man, named Taiping, replied with a confused "...I see."

Otogi Rizuka smiled and asked, "Taiping, has Xue Jun replied to me yet?"

He thought of what Fox Mianzi had said earlier, 'You're about to meet him very soon.'

Fox Mianzi's words had never been wrong, so if he said that, then Xue Jing must have agreed to meet with him.

Sure enough, Taiping nodded and said, "The Galaxy Club has replied. They said that this afternoon, Lord Xue Jing will come to visit."

Anticipation flashed across Otogi Rizuka's face. "Oh? That's wonderful."

...

At 3 p.m., Xue Jing boarded a suspended high-speed monorail and arrived at one of Yuan City's so-called wealthy districts, Area A3.

Following the address indicated on his ring, he soon located a dojo with a sizable area and a distinct Japanese style.

Xue Jing glanced at the dojo's signboard.

"Wakamiya Dojo... This must be the place."

"Let's go in and take a look... Hmm? What's wrong?"

He turned to look at Cat, who was perched on his shoulder, and asked, puzzled.

Cat's fur was standing on end, as if she'd been electrocuted, making her look fluffier than usual. Her two front paws unsheathed silver-white Snake-Slayer Claws, which glinted in the sunlight, pricking Xue Jing's shoulder painfully.

"I don't know... I seem to have smelled a strange scent, and then this happened."

Cat was also puzzled, her gaze sweeping warily around their surroundings.

"This feeling is similar to when we first entered Yuan City and were on the plane... I thought it was because we had entered the Dragon Sect's base, but now it seems that's not the case."

She stepped on Xue Jing's head with one paw, standing taller to scan the crowd.

"Aron, there's definitely something strange here, or something strange has been here. It's scary..."

Xue Jing reached out to pat her head, smoothing down her fur. "Don't worry, I'm here."

At that moment, a young man standing at the entrance of the Wakamiya Dojo spotted Xue Jing and lit up. He hurried over.

"...Are you Mr. Xue Jing?"

He bowed his head and spoke in awkward, oddly accented Chinese.

Xue Jing looked at him and nodded. "Yes."

The young man bowed to him. "I am Wakamiya Taiping. Please call me Taiping, Mr. Xue Jing. Please come with me. Our young master has been expecting you for a long time..."

Wakamiya Taiping gestured for Xue Jing to follow and led the way.

Xue Jing stroked Cat and followed behind him, entering the Wakamiya Dojo.

The dojo, both in appearance and interior decor, was thoroughly Japanese. Sliding doors were ubiquitous, and the courtyard featured a 'Deer Startled by a Bamboo Water Pipe' bridge, creating a Zen-like atmosphere that calmed the mind.

They didn't encounter anyone else in the dojo, and the entire place was so quiet it bordered on desolation.

Following Wakamiya Taiping, Xue Jing navigated through the solid wood corridors, turning several times before arriving at the largest room in the dojo.

Wakamiya Taiping knelt and sat on the ground, slowly pushing open the sliding door, and bowed respectfully as he said, "Young Master, Mr. Xue Jing is here."

A gentle, androgynous voice came from within the room, "Please come in."

Xue Jing stepped forward, took off his shoes, and entered.

In the center of the spotlessly clean room, with floors so polished they almost gleamed, a figure knelt with their back to Xue Jing, their waist-length black hair in a sleek, smooth ponytail, covering most of their silhouette.

Even upon seeing the person, with Xue Jing's sharp eyes, he still couldn't immediately discern whether the person before him was male or female.

This feeling intensified as Otogi Rizuka turned around.

With features that were both masculine and feminine, possessing male characteristics yet adorned with a delicate, feminine beauty, Otogi exuded a charm that transcended gender, leaving Xue Jing unsure whether to address them as mister or miss.

"Mr. Xue, it's been a long time."

Otogi stood up, a gentle smile on their face.

They extended a hand, the skin impossibly smooth, not at all like that of a martial artist, and spoke in fluent Chinese, "I am Otogi Rizuka... Please call me Rizuka."

Xue Jing shook their hand, puzzled, and asked, "Why did you look for me? Do you want to fight me early?"

Facing such directness, Otogi's eyes lit up, "Mr. Xue is indeed straightforward. Although that wasn't my original intention in inviting you here, if Mr. Xue wishes, then why not... let's begin now?"

Anticipation laced Otogi's tone.

"Start fighting five seconds after meeting?"

Xue Jing had come here with the purpose of trying to obtain the [Unbreakable Blade] early, so he had no objections.

He thought to himself that this Otogi Rizuka was indeed as rumored, a martial arts fanatic.

"Now that's interesting."

Xue Jing smiled and said, "Then let's begin."

Cat jumped down from Xue Jing's shoulder and sat nearby.

Otogi glanced at her, their gaze lingering momentarily on the platinum ring on her tail before returning to Xue Jing.

A passionate, almost coquettish smile played on their face as they spoke, "Mr. Xue... be careful."

As the words left their mouth, Xue Jing subconsciously took a step back, his body tilting to the left.

A hand, like a chopping blade, slashed through the air where Xue Jing had just dodged, without any warning.

"Swish!"

Transparent sword energy trailed from the hand blade's path, slicing the sliding door behind Xue Jing into two pieces, the momentum carrying it forward.

In just that first exchange, Xue Jing immediately realized that this person before him was different from any opponent he had faced before.

It wasn't a matter of strength... if it were, then the pure-blooded dragon species and Jiao Hongyuan would surpass Otogi Rizuka.

But they lacked something that Otogi possessed.

"Pure, passionate, infinite potential..."

He was—enjoying himself.

Xue Jing inexplicably recalled a saying.

'Those who work hard at cultivation won't beat those who enjoy it.'

'Those who enjoy it won't beat those who are obsessed with it.'

As the sage said: Those who understand it are inferior to those who love it, and those who love it are inferior to those who delight in it.

The person before him was someone Xue Jing had never encountered before, someone who truly enjoyed martial arts and combat.

Even though he himself liked to practice martial arts and fight, his motivation was ultimately to obtain the benefits that came from them, rather than the arts and combat themselves.

But Otogi was different; they genuinely enjoyed the act of practicing and fighting for its own sake, purely and simply relishing in it.

"Interesting."

A smile played on Xue Jing's face as he used his strong mental willpower to forcefully sever and cast aside the pragmatic thought of 'defeating Otogi Rizuka and obtaining the [Unbreakable Blade]'.

Facing such an opponent, he, too, felt a rare enthusiasm and wanted to engage in a pure battle.

His qi surged, his body transforming into that of a true dragon, a dragon's roar resonating through the dojo.

"Thunder Flame Cauldron!"

His unmatched fist swung out, carrying almost true dragon power, exploding with a ring of qi that blasted towards Otogi.

Sensing the might of this attack, Otogi's face lit up with joy, and they immediately extended their right hand, palm facing up, and struck upwards.

"Plain Morning Style: Overcast Sky Shatter!"

...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end