Chapter 105 Hidden in the Mist and Concealed by the Moon

Before the laughter subsided, a sudden burst of shouts and fighting sounds, mixed with the crisp clash of weapons, came from the distant lake.

Shi Potian's expression changed, and he blurted out, "It's Sarutobi Sun and Moon!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small boat spinning in the middle of the lake a hundred meters to their left. Swords clashed on the boat, and several people could be vaguely seen fighting. The small boat was heavily drafted and clearly overburdened, threatening to capsize at any moment.

There was another large ship nearby, with a group of people standing on it, who were clearly there to provide support.

Sarutobi Higetsu's angry shouts came from afar, spoken in Japanese, with a rapid tone that no one could understand.

"What's he doing here?" Qu Feiyan's eyes widened. "Didn't he go back to Fuzhou with Chief Escort Zheng and the others?"

Previously, when Sarutobi Riyue wanted to go to Kaifeng, Shi Potian was unwilling. Qu Feiyan then let him go to Fuzhou with the chief镖头 (chief镖头, a high-ranking bodyguard), so that he could have more experts to help him along the way.

But unexpectedly, he followed us to Dongting Lake.

Before Shi Potian could think any further, he casually waved his hand, and the wine gourd that Long Kui had given him earlier, which was placed inside the boat window, flew into his hand with a "whoosh".

The next moment, he lightly touched the ground with his feet, and his entire body shot off the ship's side like an arrow! While still in mid-air, he tossed the gourd into the lake, lightly touching it with his toes—

The gourd seemed to be alive, skimming across the water's surface as it sped away, carrying him through the waves, leaving only a trail of white waves behind!

On the lake, his clothes fluttered as he walked on gourds, his movements extremely graceful and his speed astonishing, covering dozens of feet in the blink of an eye.

Qu Feiyan's eyes nearly popped out of her head: "Wow! This guy can do that too! Take me with you next time!"

Longkui's eyes gleamed with admiration as she murmured, "Such superb lightness skill, such ingenious technique."

Mr. and Mrs. Lin Zhennan were deeply shocked: "Ping'er is simply a celestial being."

Qu Feiyan clapped her hands and shouted, "Go, little brother! Beat those bad guys from Japan to a pulp!"

Lin Zhennan's expression was grave. He said to the boatman in a deep voice, "Let's move closer."

The boatman responded by rowing the oars.

The fighting on the small boat had reached a fever pitch.

Like a cornered beast, Sarutobi Higetsu fought desperately, wielding a samurai sword of unknown origin, parrying attacks from all sides. He was surrounded by five men, all dressed as ordinary fishermen, but their Japanese swords revealed them to be Japanese samurai, their swordsmanship ruthless and their teamwork impeccable.

These people clearly knew Sarutobi Hiugetsu very well. Despite his high level of martial arts, he was at a loss and was about to attempt another escape by jumping into the lake.

"Sarutobi Sun and Moon!" someone shouted fiercely in Japanese. "You can't escape now! Hand over that thing, and I'll spare your life!"

Sarutobi Hijiki gritted his teeth and cursed, "A lackey of the Kirigakure clan! Don't even think about it!"

He forced back two men on his left with a single slash, but another man slashed his right shoulder, causing blood to splatter.

The small boat rocked violently, and a wave crashed over it, causing two more people to lose their footing. Taking advantage of the situation, Sarutobi Hiyori swept his sword across, forcing back the three who were close behind. He staggered and nearly fell into the lake.

Just then, a clear, cold female voice rang out: "Stop."

The attacking samurai paused in unison, sheathed their swords and retreated, but still surrounded Sarutobi Higetsu.

A person slowly walked out of the cabin of the large ship.

She was a woman dressed in unusual clothes, with long, flowing hair, skin as white as snow, and a cinnabar mole between her brows, possessing a beauty that was both aloof and eerie. She stood barefoot on the deck, a string of silver bells tied around her ankles, jingling crisply with each step. A short sword was tucked diagonally at her waist, its scabbard inlaid with tiny gemstones that glittered in the sunlight.

She looked coldly at Sarutobi Higetsu as if he were a caged beast, and said in broken Chinese, "Sarutobi Higetsu, long time no see."

Sarutobi Hijiki's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Kirigakure Tsukiso! You actually followed us here too!"

The mist-hidden moon chuckled softly, but the laughter was utterly devoid of any real joy, sending chills down the spines of the flying monkeys and the sun.

"You betrayed your lord, stole the secret treasure, and fled to the Tang Kingdom. We've been searching for you for ages." She slowly drew a short sword from her waist. The blade gleamed, reflecting her stunning beauty. "Today, it's time to settle things."

Sarutobi Higetsu gritted his teeth, his hand gripping the sword trembling slightly. He looked around; five Japanese experts were watching him intently, a group of people were still on the large ship, and Kirigakure Tsukiso was preparing to take action personally. He was afraid he would have to jump into the lake to escape again today.

"Sarutobi Higetsu, you escaped by jumping into the sea last time. Try jumping into the lake this time and see if you can escape."

But then they saw several people floating on the water nearby, each holding a corner of a fishing net.

Sarutobi Sun Moon's eyes were practically bulging with rage. "That wretched woman, the mist-hidden moon, she really came prepared this time, she's not giving him a single chance to survive."

The reason they deliberately delayed showing themselves was because they had someone go into the water and set up fishing nets around them. These nets were specially designed by the Kirigakure family to deal with martial arts masters; they couldn't be torn by hand or cut by knife.

"Even if I, Sarutobi Higetsu, die, I'll drag you down with me!" he roared, and was about to leap onto the ship to fight Kirigakure Gekko to the death.

"Feed—!"

A clear voice suddenly came from the lake.

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

A young man appeared, riding the waves and the wind, his clothes fluttering, and in the blink of an eye, he was near the small boat.

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

A young man appeared, riding the waves and the wind, his clothes fluttering, and in the blink of an eye, he was near the small boat.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Sarutobi Higetsu's spirits lifted, and he exclaimed with great joy, "My lord!"

The surrounding Japanese samurai gasped in astonishment. Was this person a deity? How could he possibly walk on water like this? There was no way in the world that he possessed such incredible lightness skill.

Upon getting closer, they discovered that the person was standing on a gourd, which was even more alarming. It turned out that he was not a deity, but a master of light-body skills from the Tang Dynasty who had arrived on a gourd.

It's astonishing that someone could master lightness skills to this extent.

Shi Potian lightly leaped onto the small boat without the boat swaying at all. With another wave of his hand, the gourd "whooshed" from the water and jumped into his hand again.

The surrounding Japanese warriors' eyelids twitched again.

He glanced at Hijiri Sarutobi, who was covered in blood, then at the Japanese warriors around him, and finally his gaze settled on the face of Kirigakure Gekko on the large ship.

Shi Potian thought to himself, "This woman is really beautiful, but her face is too pale and she's so cold. She doesn't seem like someone to be trifled with."

"Who are you?" Wuyin Yuezang frowned slightly, sizing up the uninvited guest.

Shi Potian said, "I am Lin Pingzhi, the young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Fuwei Escort Agency. Yuanfei Riyue is an acquaintance of mine. Why do you want to kill him?"

Wu Yin Yue Cang laughed, his laughter clear and melodious like silver bells, for it finally carried a hint of emotion: "So you are Lin Pingzhi. Lately, your legend has been all over the martial world."

"Seeing is believing. The young镖头 is indeed charismatic, like a celestial being descended to earth. The Tang Kingdom has many unparalleled talents, which is truly enviable."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Shi Potian with a hint of admiration: "However, this is an internal matter of Fusang and has nothing to do with the martial arts world of Tang. Young Master Lin, please do not interfere."

Shi Potian shook his head: "Senbi Riyue has acknowledged me as his lord. Although I haven't accepted it, I can't just abandon him."

"He came to Dongting Lake to follow me, and that's why he fell into your encirclement. I can't just watch him get killed by you."

A strange light flashed in Wuyin Yuecang's eyes, and he said coldly:

"Does the young master镖头 (bodyguard/escort) intend to make an enemy of the entire Japanese martial arts world?"