Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2416: Chapter 2417: Slap in the Face

Then Sa Tian introduced the others, and everyone treated Jiang Yichun and the others with great courtesy, showing that the Fusang people had a lot of respect for Zhongyuan culture.

When it came time to introduce a samurai, he arrogantly said, ”Zhongyuan culture is indeed admirable, but Zhongyuan people value literature more than martial arts, and even allow a woman to become an officer. How ridiculous.”

Sa Tian looked embarrassed, and the samurai shouted sternly, ”Translate my words exactly, or be careful of your head!”

From this person’s tone and the disdainful look he gave her, Bai Ruozhu guessed the situation about eighty to ninety percent correctly.

Lingzi once mentioned that the Fusang people revered the Samurai Path and Ninjutsu, and those who mastered both were quite formidable. She also mentioned Kyoto’s top samurai, Luzhi, was a master of both martial and ninja arts, well-respected by all.

She hadn’t expected to be looked down upon the first time she met this top samurai.

Sa Tian braced himself to translate amidst a reaction from those who seemed helpless toward Luzhi’s attitude, yet some had a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.

Perhaps because they often got bullied by this top samurai, seeing someone else get bullied made them secretly excited.

Bai Ruozhu stood up and said to Sa Tian: ”Tell him, Danliang Country has many experts skilled in both literature and martial arts. As a female officer, I’m considered relatively weak. But doesn’t your Samurai Path spirit teach you not to back down? Since the samurai looks down on me, I can only challenge him.”

As she spoke, she drew out her dagger, pointing it at Luzhi.

Sa Tian was taken aback. This was the gesture they used in Fusang when challenging an opponent. Why, despite him never having mentioned it, did this Bai official know about it?

Could it be that they had a lot of understanding of Fusang?

Jiang Yichun slightly furrowed his brow, wanting to stand up and fight in place of Bai Ruozhu, but Bai Ruozhu subtly gave him a look. After all, they looked down on women, didn’t they? If a woman won, that would be a blatant slap in the face.

Jiang Yichun was a bit worried, but seeing his lady’s firm, unyielding gaze, he only nodded slightly in agreement.

However, his hand had discreetly clasped two copper coins, ready to intervene at any time if Ruozhu was in danger.

Without need for translation from Sa Tian, Luzhi already understood Bai Ruozhu’s intention. His eyes flashed with a sinister look, but despite that, he burst into a mocking laughter and said, ”With my status, can anyone challenge me? Let my servant play with her.”

The people gasped upon hearing this. Who didn’t know that Luzhi’s servant, Xinye, was also an expert? Not only was his swordsmanship extremely proficient, but he was also a leading figure in the top Ninjutsu family. During familial strife, Luzhi saved his life, so he followed Luzhi willingly to repay the favor.

Servant Xinye stepped forward, drawing his samurai sword and aiming it at Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu understood his meaning well enough; to her, it didn’t matter. As long as she could awe them and bring honor back to Danliang, it was all the same who she fought with.

Besides, she wouldn’t want to completely embarrass the top samurai by actually defeating him.

Sa Tian awkwardly translated the words and finally advised, ”Bai master, Samurai Xinye is extremely formidable. You’d better not confront him.”

Bai Ruozhu smiled at him, ”It’s alright; I’ve always wanted to see your country’s experts firsthand, win or lose, exchanging knowledge is good.”

She looked at the samurai sword in Xinye’s hand, finding it interesting. She remembered ninjas using shuriken and hidden weapons. It’s said that ninjutsu originated from Zhongyuan’s ancient Yin Yang Techniques, with some connection to Magic Techniques.

The Samurai Path involved long swords, emphasizing attack and Swordsman Techniques, while ninjutsu focused on unpredictable change. She was curious how Fusang combined the two at that time.

Bai Ruozhu, holding a dagger, stepped into the arena as Xinye raised his long sword and approached, asking, ”If you didn’t bring a weapon, I can lend you a sword.”

Sa Tian translated, and Bai Ruozhu realized the other side underestimated her dagger, thinking she hadn’t brought a sword to the feast.

”This is my weapon,” Bai Ruozhu said.

After Sa Tian translated, Xinye said no more, nodded at Bai Ruozhu, and prepared for the duel.

His gaze was respectful, unlike the top samurai’s disregard of women, which gave Bai Ruozhu a good impression and made her take the contest more seriously.

Seriousness is a sign of respect for an opponent.

The two quickly moved, and the Fusang people whispered to each other, mostly about Bai Ruozhu’s dagger looking like a toy, thinking she would surely be at a disadvantage.

But after the first exchange, they fell silent.

Because Xinye moved with incredible speed, swinging his sword in a fluid motion that even ordinary samurai couldn’t block.

Bai Ruozhu seamlessly flipped and jumped, her toes tapping against his sword’s back, leaping to his rear, and the dagger stabbed strangely.

Seizing the upper hand immediately escalated the tension, with Fusang people on edge—their samurai couldn’t lose to a woman.

With the dagger against Xinye’s throat, Bai Ruozhu felt something odd; how could she have won so easily?

She couldn’t believe it herself. With a bang, ”Xinye” turned into a wooden puppet and dropped from the air.

Indeed a ninja technique!

Thankfully, Bai Ruozhu had been prepared, swiftly flipping aside and stabbing backward with the dagger.

Xinye’s sword tip met Bai Ruozhu’s dagger tip, and the two quickly disengaged. Xinye couldn’t help but praise, ”Cautious indeed.”

Then his sword swiftly swung again, sending an air-cleaving blade force.

Bai Ruozhu showed a slight smile. So you Fusang people use ninjutsu, huh? I also know Magic Techniques.

She wielded the dagger with one hand, forming seals with her free hand as Magic Techniques took form. With a clang, they blocked Xinye’s blade.

The crowd gasped in unison, some forgetting to keep their voices down, excitedly asking their companions, ”What was that just now? How did Xinye’s sword not cut through?”

Xinye’s solemn gaze intensified, unleashing another strike producing more than a dozen blade shadows glistening brilliantly.

More ninjutsu! Bai Ruozhu didn’t dare underestimate the attack, forming seals and swinging her dagger to block, her form ghostly as she circled to Xinye’s right.

Since his Sword Technique was about aggressive precision, she would use cunning.

She shifted her dagger’s edge, employing trial ground-learned Swordsman Techniques with fifty percent inner strength, aiming at Xinye’s sword hilt underside.

Xinye felt a sting in his palm, the samurai sword knocked from his grasp. He hurriedly sidestepped to catch it with his other hand.

Bai Ruozhu didn’t pursue or stop him. She genuinely wanted to slap that top samurai but bore responsibility, knowing when to stop was enough.

Xinye stepped back, deeply bowing in shame, ”I lost.”

This Bai Ruozhu understood, graciously folding her hands, ”Thank you for letting me win.”