Xia Huanao and the other two followed Feng towards the front line where ninjas and samurai were clashing. As they walked, Xia Huanao asked Song, "Song, the battle ended so quickly. Are the samurai that fragile?"
Song led the way, replying, "I don't know why. Midway through the battle, a samurai dressed in ninja attire suddenly appeared. I don't know what he said to the samurai, but they started to fall into disarray."
Song chuckled as he spoke, clearly amused by how quickly and dramatically the day's battle had ended.
Xia Huanao laughed, "That's too much of a coincidence. I just tricked them, and then they fell for it. Are they giving me that much face?"
Mu Zhishui and Mei also hadn't expected that the deciding factor in the battle would indeed be a move made by Xia Huanao.
"Yes, if those samurai hadn't come to test us, you wouldn't have counterattacked, and they wouldn't have fallen for it," Mei said.
Song didn't understand what Mu Zhishui was saying, so he asked Mei to translate. Upon hearing Mei's translation, Song looked at Xia Huanao in surprise, "That's amazing! There's actually a way to win like that."
Following Song to the samurai dojo, Xia Huanao watched Feng giving a speech and commented, "He has such presence. Truly worthy of being the leader of the dojo. Zhishui, do you have that kind of aura?"
Mu Zhishui glanced at Xia Huanao, "I don't manage groups like this often. I've only ever managed students."
Mei looked at the spirited Feng and said, "Of course. Brother has been trained as the successor by our master since he was young. It's normal for him to have such presence."
Xia Huanao looked at Feng, then at himself, "I've dreamed of being a great hero since I was little. Why don't I have that kind of presence? This isn't logical."
Just then, Feng finished his speech and looked towards Xia Huanao, "Huo, you're here."
After a brief chat with Feng, Xia Huanao mentioned his intention to leave. Feng was surprised, "You're leaving already? It's only been a few days. Won't you stay a bit longer?"
Xia Huanao shook his head, "No, we've already stayed long enough. I want to see other parts of Manying. You also have a lot to deal with after just resolving the issue with the samurai. Since we all have things to do, let's choose the best option."
Feng nodded, "I understand. But can you leave tomorrow? There's a celebration feast tonight, and you're the main contributor. You can't miss it."
"Alright, I'll be there."
Feng and Xia Huanao parted ways to continue arranging matters at the samurai dojo. Xia Huanao, meanwhile, decided to see the differences between the two dojos.
Led by Song, Xia Huanao, Mu Zhishui, and Mei toured the dojo. Xia Huanao remarked as they walked, "Mei, there's a huge difference between your ninja dojo and this dojo."
Xia Huanao pointed at the eaves, "Look at these eaves. The carvings are so exquisite. You don't have the leisure to do such things, do you?"
Mei also looked at the elaborate carvings on the eaves, "Yes, we don't have the leisure to carve houses. We're already working hard just to make sure the houses don't collapse."
Xia Huanao sighed, "It's all ill-gotten gains from robbers. I hope you won't end up like the samurai." Mei snorted, "Of course not. We ninjas are a very disciplined organization."
...
That evening, in the main courtyard of the samurai dojo, a lively celebration was underway. This was the first time the ninjas had openly defeated the samurai, and they had eliminated all of them in one go. As the main contributor, Xia Huanao was surrounded by ninjas, drinking and toasting, and soon became a little dazed.
Seeing that Xia Huanao was starting to falter, Mu Zhishui approached him and said softly, "You can't hold it anymore, can you? Go and rest."
Xia Huanao's vision was starting to blur. He could even see four Mu Zhishuis. "You're right. I think I need to go lie down for a while. Feng, where should I rest?"
Due to the alcohol, Xia Huanao's speech was becoming slurred. Fortunately, Rotom's abilities were excellent, and it successfully translated Xia Huanao's words. Hearing Rotom's translation, Feng pointed inside, "The room at the very back, with a vase at the door, is your room."
Xia Huanao, hearing this, swayed and leaned against the wall as he entered the house. Seeing his unsteady gait, Mu Zhishui really wondered if Xia Huanao would just collapse and fall asleep on the ground.
"By the way, Feng, the direction he's heading seems to be where only he lives."
Feng nodded, "Yes, because Huo has done us a great favor, we specially chose a secluded place for him so as not to disturb him."
Although Mu Zhishui was full of doubts, he nodded and continued to celebrate with the ninjas.
Inside the house, Xia Huanao originally intended to walk in a straight line, but after only a few steps, he leaned against the wall, pushing himself along with the wall. Fortunately, the distance wasn't far, and Xia Huanao didn't fall, safely approaching his room.
Xia Huanao looked at his opened room door, "Feng is truly thoughtful. He even helped me open the door."
Xia Huanao turned to enter and tripped, falling onto the tatami mat. Xia Huanao's head hit the floor, and his already groggy, alcohol-addled mind became even more confused.
Shaking his head, he got up and saw a giant blue shell in his room. In his stupor, Xia Huanao mistook it for a large pillow and stumbled over to collapse onto the large shell.
Midnight passed. At 12:30 AM local time, Xia Huanao woke up, pressing his head, "Damn it, this is so hard. Who did this?"
This was a drunkard who had truly overindulged. If you find it too hard, why lie on it? Who mistook a large shell for a pillow and insisted on lying on it? Waking up and complaining about the hardness, you're quite shameless.
After waking up, Xia Huanao felt a bit uncomfortable. He climbed off the large shell and looked at it, "So where did this thing come from?"
He had slept for a long time and still didn't know where the shell came from...
After asking a few questions, Xia Huanao tapped his head with his wrist, "That's strange. Does Manying's sake also have such a strong after-effect? Don't they say this stuff isn't that potent? Why do I get so drunk and dizzy after just one drink?"
Yes, it's not that potent for people experienced in drinking, but don't you know your own limits, Xia Huanao? A person with virtually no alcohol tolerance trying to drink?
While he was still confused, Xia Huanao heard a noise coming from inside the shell. He was startled, thinking it was a monster.
"Huo, is that you? Can you please open the shell?"
Xia Huanao took a moment to react, then realized Mei seemed to be inside the large shell. Xia Huanao quickly reached out to open the large shell, but Xia Huanao, who was drunk, couldn't open it at all.
"Or, or should I find someone else to help?"
"No, you can't find anyone else!"
At Mei's pleading, Xia Huanao struggled for a long time before finally opening the large shell, revealing Mei's true form inside.
Mei was wearing a blue swimsuit and was curled up on the shell, looking at Xia Huanao. Xia Huanao was stunned by the sight, then pointed at Mei, "What, what are you doing?"
Mei stretched her body. Being shut in the shell for too long had made her limbs a bit numb. "Have you heard of the Conch Girl?"
Xia Huanao nodded, "Of course I have. Are you going to play the role of the Conch Girl?"
Mei emerged from the shell, "Yes. You've helped us so much, and you've shown me such great kindness. I should repay you."
Looking at Mei, who was only wearing her underwear and milling about in front of him, Xia Huanao found it hard to accept, "But, you don't need to be dressed like this. There are so many people around. What if someone sees you?"
Mei smiled, "Don't worry. This house is isolated. There's no one else around, so you can rest assured."
Xia Huanao covered his face. It was precisely because of this that it was troublesome. A man and a woman in a secluded place, this development wouldn't go well no matter how you looked at it.
Xia Huanao quickly recalled the plot of the Conch Girl, "Um, Mei, Mei, you're not really going to marry me and have children like the Conch Girl, are you? You've already tried to seduce me once before."
Mei blushed, "Of, of course not. It's just… what I said this morning…"
Xia Huanao froze. What had he said this morning? After a long pause, he remembered that he had said he wanted to slap the samurai who had come to lure the enemy.
Reacting, Xia Huanao looked at Mei, "So, you caught that samurai? Where is he?"
Mei looked beside Xia Huanao, "I didn't find the samurai, but that doesn't mean I can't fulfill your wish."
Xia Huanao realized. Mei wanted him to treat her as that samurai?
"This, this is not right. How can I slap a girl?"
Mei didn't say anything but turned around and knelt down, "Is this okay then?"
Xia Huanao really wanted to say no, but looking at Mei's posture, which suggested she would cry out if he refused, Xia Huanao decided to think of a way…
...
At eight o'clock the next morning, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui stood at the entrance of the former samurai dojo, now the headquarters of the ninja dojo. Feng, along with a group of ninjas, bid farewell to Xia Huanao. Xia Huanao waved to them, "I'm leaving now. You're welcome to visit me in Minglong Country!"
Feng waved goodbye to Xia Huanao, while Mei simply clasped her hands behind her back and smiled at him.
Leaving the ninja dojo, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui continued to wander in the mountains. Feng had pointed them in the closest direction towards Sakura Capital and told them that they would reach it in a few days by following that path.
Walking on the mountain path, Xia Huanao's hands gripped the straps of his backpack. Mu Zhishui asked, "Xia Huanao, what are you carrying in your backpack? Why are you suddenly so protective of it?"
Xia Huanao smiled, "It's nothing. There's nothing inside."