Hearing Kazuma's words, Yamashita Qi Ren instinctively felt something was off; the other party seemed to be trying to stall for time.
However, while it looked like he alone was pressuring a group of people who dared not step forward, his advantage wasn't as great as it seemed.
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū was a sword style for fighting multiple opponents, but after entering the new era, from the founder's generation, it had incorporated more of the Kamiya-ryū "Life-Saving Sword" philosophy to adapt to modern competitive sports, rather than actual battlefield combat.
He took a deep breath, looking at the people surrounding him.
"Is it a deal?"
"It's a deal." Sato Kazuma nodded and gestured to the people behind him. Soon, someone brought him Jingxin's bent steel staff and a riot shield.
In fact, the rebels were also very confused at this point; how did it fast-forward directly to a samurai duel? However, Kazuma's constructive suggestion was better than them just standing around.
Taking the weapons, Kazuma tapped the steel staff against the shield, producing a dull sound.
Yamashita Qi Ren, on the other side, looked at Kazuma's foolish stance and almost wanted to laugh, but he didn't expose him. He raised the shield with his left shoulder forward, tightened his core, and slightly lowered his right hand, keeping the optimal position for power generation to allow for acceleration in every strike.
Kazuma steadied himself. Although many thoughts flashed through his mind and he had many ideas, he had also considered the possibility of being taken down by this guy directly.
So Kazuma directly charged forward with the staff and shield.
"Bang!"
It was an attack without suspense. Yamashita Qi Ren raised his shield and directly deflected Kazuma's descending staff.
Kazuma was almost thrown off balance by the immense force, but he still gripped the staff and shield in his hands with all his might.
But then, Kazuma felt a huge force emanating from the hand holding the shield.
Qi Ren didn't use his sword, but instead lifted his leg and stomped heavily on the shield.
Although the difference in physical fitness had decreased due to Kazuma's continuous collection of white light spots, it still existed, and the gap in skill and experience was even more fatal.
Kazuma only felt a huge force coming at him, and his legs couldn't support him, causing him to fall.
Just like those two times, he needed to get the first move to even commit suicide against this guy.
The opponent was simply too strong, too strong; he had no room to resist at all.
Kazuma, relying on his last sensation, twisted his body to the side, and the sword plunged into the spot where his head had just been.
However, his position had already been taken by the opponent. Yamashita Qi Ren straddled Sato Kazuma's waist, using his body weight to pin him down. Then, he let go of the sword, raised the shield, and was about to smash it down.
It's over… Kazuma looked at the shield getting closer and closer to him.
But this was also part of the plan. It was just that he would probably be smashed very badly and painfully later.
Kazuma's chest heaved as he accepted the reality of his powerlessness to resist.
But the next moment, the shield did not fall; instead, it immediately lifted.
"Hmm?"
Kazuma reacted instantly. He heard a gunshot.
"Bang!"
And immediately following that were people's shouts. Kazuma realized something and, without giving up, activated his hands and grabbed the waist of the person straddling him.
Qi Ren, who had intended to spring up, was suddenly grabbed by two forces, though not as strong as a werewolf's, still much greater than an ordinary person's. His leap failed, and the next moment, several people piled on top of him.
"Yarou!!"
Yamashita Qi Ren's roar erupted.
At this moment, several fierce-looking men were pressing down on him, repeatedly thrusting their weapons into his body.
He opened his mouth in anger, only able to think of biting Kazuma, who was closest to him, to suck his blood and gain strength.
But with that bite, a sensation like drinking overly hot boiling water filled his nose and mouth, making him stiffen all over.
Kazuma didn't notice his pierced skin. Instead, he looked past Qi Ren at the men around him.
"Well done! Little brother! You're so brave! To think of using yourself to restrain him!"
"Seriously, we're too useless. He's our enemy, yet we still need our savior to act."
"Quick! He's not dead yet! Stab him a few more times!"
Listening to the noisy voices, Kazuma scratched his head a little sheepishly.
Kazuma felt like he had made a mistake. From the beginning, he had treated these people as cowards who would obediently stand by if Qi Ren told them to. His plan to kill him only considered Keli and never them. In the end, everyone rushed forward and quickly took down this guy.
Yes, just like Keli's initial decision, if it were just the two of them, no matter how much they argued about not saving these people, they wouldn't have had this outcome.
Kazuma chuckled as he pushed Qi Ren's now breathless corpse off him.
It should be over now...
...
In Keli's direction, Keli walked around the residence, and some things were truly unbearable to look at.
This was even without these old Japanese people having any particularly perverted hobbies.
A girl, who looked like she hadn't even reached adulthood, was imprisoned. She had even basically lost the ability to speak. When Keli and his people rushed in, she would only make confused whimpering sounds and then instinctively lift her butt and spread her legs towards everyone.
A female corpse demon with severed limbs, placed in a container. When Keli and the others discussed taking her into the sunlight to cremate her, the female corpse demon actually cried and said thank you, and mentioned that she had an underage younger brother at home, hoping someone could go and check on him for her.
A man whose entire private parts were tattooed with various patterns, but he seemed to have no thoughts about being rescued, only blankly asking everyone if he could still live if he went back.
Scene after scene of tragedies filled with human malice made the men who had broken through these places with Keli tremble.
That's right, these were only considered not particularly perverted. In Keli's memory, some black-hearted gang leaders who were exposed before he came to this world, and some messages released from a certain American island, were much more shocking than this.
As for those who claimed to be innocent family members, Keli's assessment was that when everything they ate, drank, and used came from the blood and sweat of the dead, they were no longer innocent.
There were also some slaves in the plantation and initial processing facilities behind the mountain.
It took Keli about an hour to meet up with Kazuma. By this time, the enticing scent in the mountains had dissipated as corpse demons died one by one, leaving only a faint scent.
It was now afternoon. Keli learned that those old ghosts seemed to have called for reinforcements, and by his estimate, those things would be arriving soon.
However, according to those old ghosts, the branch members were all ordinary people, and because corpse demons couldn't survive without a supply of feed, they wouldn't leave the mountain.
So, without a doubt, the last remaining scent in the mountain at this moment was...
In a hidden cellar, Jingxin stroked the girl's hair.
"Shazi, it's alright. From what I understand, those people outside will leave soon.
You've suffered these past years."
"No, Jingxin. If I hadn't met you, I probably would have chosen to end my life fourteen years ago."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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