The metallic clang of weapons lasted for ten rounds. Hasegawa, unable to overcome his opponent, fell to the ground, gravely wounded.
He had given his all. Despite the deceptive nature of ninjutsu, he was no match for Ye Cangtian, who had pinned him down and battered him, leaving him on the brink of death, covered in wounds.
"Speak. How many people from the Shinobi Division have come, and what are their strengths?"
Ye Cangtian slowly approached Hasegawa. He hadn't taken the man's life yet, wanting to gather intelligence about the Shinobi Division's current situation.
Hasegawa glared at Ye Cangtian and spat defiantly, "I'll die if I speak, and I'll die if I don't. Why should I tell you anything!"
"It's not the same. One way leads to comfort, the other to agony. The choice is yours," Ye Cangtian said with a slight curve of his lips.
As he spoke, his hand pressed down on Hasegawa's wound, eliciting a wail of pain and causing cold sweat to pour down the ninja's face.
"You dare to humiliate an Eastern ninja like this! I guarantee your end will be ten thousand times more miserable."
Hasegawa, finally pushed to his limit, roared out his threat despite the pain.
*Crack!*
The moment Hasegawa finished speaking, a flash of silver light descended from above, severing his arm. He cried out in renewed agony.
Ye Cangtian's smile vanished, and he looked at Hasegawa coldly.
"I don't have time to waste with you."
"If you don't talk now, I'll turn you into a human log, smear you with honey, and let the ants and beasts have their way with you."
Upon hearing this, Hasegawa trembled. If it truly happened as Ye Cangtian described, it would be a fate far more agonizing than death itself. He wasn't afraid of dying, but he had no confidence in enduring endless torment.
Soon after.
Through Hasegawa's confession, Ye Cangtian gained some insight into the Eastern Shinobi Division. They had dispatched a total of three Chunin, over a dozen Genin, and dozens of Eastern samurai. Besides Hasegawa, the other two Chunin were Ozawa and Tumon. While their strength couldn't compare to the Bright Hall, the Dark Association, or the Hidden Squad, they were considered a formidable force within the ruins.
"You only sent three Chunin?"
Ye Cangtian couldn't help but ask, thinking that Chunin were equivalent to Xuan-level enforcers. While not weak, the risks were still significant if they aimed to reach the end.
"Three Chunin are more than enough," Hasegawa declared proudly.
The Eastern ninjas, relying on the deceptive nature of their ninjutsu, were quite arrogant. In their eyes, even if their combat power couldn't match the Earth-level experts of the Dark Association or the Red-robed Archbishops of the Bright Hall, their ninjutsu gave them a fighting chance. Moreover, their primary objective wasn't the Heart of the Ruins, but rather to instigate conflict among the various factions, exhausting their strength. This way, they could profit after the ruins. Achieving this was their secondary goal, which was to seize the Heart of the Ruins as much as possible. Of course, Hasegawa would never reveal these intentions to Ye Cangtian, even unto death.
Meanwhile, Ye Cangtian, observing Hasegawa's demeanor and sensing his reticence, pondered for a moment before inquiring about the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group. Hasegawa revealed nothing about the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group; to them, the group was merely a pawn and cannon fodder. Currently, the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group was led by Deputy Commander Black Belly, supported by three captains and over a hundred battle-hardened mercenaries…
"Alright, you can deal with yourself now," Ye Cangtian said indifferently after obtaining some information.
The next moment.
Hasegawa gave Ye Cangtian a final, deep look before picking up his katana from the ground and plunging it into his own abdomen. There was no escape. If he waited for Ye Cangtian to act, the suffering would be unimaginable; it was better to end it himself.
Following this…
Ye Cangtian, accompanied by Shangguan Yun and Zhang Liang, continued their search for the Dragon Squad and their companions. After a long search, traversing through dense, web-like forests and felling over a dozen tree demons and stone men, Ye Cangtian finally discovered the Dragon Squad's marker.
…
In the distant forest.
The remaining members of the Dragon Squad and the Pandora Mercenary Group had regrouped and were locked in a desperate struggle against tree demons and stone men. They bore various wounds, and many mercenaries lay dead in pools of blood; the battle was fierce. They had initially hoped to obtain some crystal stones, but this attracted the attention of the surrounding stone men. With the stone men and tree demons attacking in concert, they paid a heavy price.
"Misha, listen to me. Take the remaining brothers and retreat first. We'll cover your rear!"
Surrounded by six stone men and two tree demons that ceaselessly attacked with entwining vines and thrusts, Zhao Ziyang and the Dragon Squad's experts found themselves defenseless. Continuing the fight would only lead to greater losses; the best course of action now was to retreat.
Misha glanced at Zhao Ziyang, who was fighting valiantly, and shouted, "I won't! Wherever you are, I am! I won't abandon you!"
Misha was stubborn and refused to leave. She continued to issue orders to the Pandora mercenaries, telling those with weaker combat capabilities to fall back. Instead of retreating, she advanced, joining Zhao Ziyang's fight alone.
"You! Why are you adding to the chaos!"
Seeing Misha join the fray, Zhao Ziyang's face darkened. While he and the Dragon Squad should have been capable of handling these stone men, their existing injuries had put them on the defensive, making it impossible for him to pay attention to Misha.
"If we die, we die together!" Misha stated resolutely and paid him no further mind.
*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
Just then, a sound of applause echoed, startling Zhao Ziyang and the Dragon Squad. Their expressions immediately turned grim. If they were attacked now, they could very well perish here.
"Leader Misha, truly loyal and righteous."
"Zhao Ziyang, I think you should surrender."
The one who arrived was none other than Ye Cangtian, who had followed the marker. Hearing his voice, everyone rejoiced.
Zhao Ziyang had no time for Ye Cangtian's banter and retorted irritably, "Kid, stop with the sarcastic remarks and help us! Can't you see we're about to lose?"
"Haha, a man never says he can't!"
Ye Cangtian burst into laughter and immediately charged into the fray. He first made his way directly towards the two tree demons. While the tree demons' offensive capabilities were not strong, their restraining abilities were formidable. Once the threat of the tree demons was eliminated, the Dragon Squad and Zhao Ziyang could fight with their full might. After dispatching the tree demons, Ye Cangtian proceeded to help deal with the stone men one by one. With each stone man eliminated, the tide of the battle turned.
Before long, the crisis was completely resolved, and they obtained eight white crystal stones.
"Shangguan Yun? Zhang Liang?"
"Why are you with Ye Cangtian?"
After the crisis was averted, Zhao Ziyang and the others noticed the severely wounded Shangguan Yun and Zhang Liang and curiously inquired. They had left the marker specifically for the three of them. Now that all three had appeared together, Zhao Ziyang felt an unspoken relief.