Chapter 60: Unexpected Harvest
Ryuji ignored the samurai he had knocked over with a single slap, turned his head, and said softly to Tanjiro, who was sitting on the ground, "Are you hurt from the fall?"
His eyes were full of gentleness. He hadn't expected to encounter the protagonist on this trip... Tanjiro shook his head, "I'm fine, thank you, big brother."
Kocho Kanae ran over, pulling Shinobu Kocho along, and helped check on Tanjiro.
"Teacher, don't worry, he's fine, just a bit thin and weak."
Ryuji's eyes lowered. Thin and weak... "You bastard, how dare you hit me? Do you know who I am? I am a samurai of the Ishikawa Family, a high-class citizen!"
Saki shakily propped himself up, shaking his somewhat groggy head, his eyes venomously locking onto that tall figure.
He had been hit; he had actually been hit by an outsider!
The thought felt absurd to him, followed by an uncontrollable rage.
On this street, in this town, someone actually dared to lay a hand on him?
Out of the corner of his eye, Saki caught a glimpse of the joyful faces of the surrounding people, and the gloom in his eyes deepened.
These low-class people actually dared to watch the show?
Once he dealt with this outsider, he would slaughter the whole town!
His voice was distorted by anger as he pointed at Ryuji, roaring with spit flying everywhere:
"You low-class person, how dare you strike a samurai? Get on your knees and apologize!"
His expression suddenly became serious: "Otherwise, die."
Ryuji raised an eyebrow at him, his heart unruffled, even feeling a bit like laughing.
A thing like a samurai, which should be thrown into a pit, actually dared to bring it up?
The surname Ishikawa, he seemed to have heard it somewhere before; it sounded familiar.
Forget it, it was probably just a swordsman's name he heard somewhere.
Ryuji scanned Saki from head to toe. He was well-built with a steady gait, clearly a trained fighter... Most importantly, he was very skilled with his three lines as a bit-part character.
Stating his background, threatening, and demanding a kneeling apology.
The whole routine was a classic among classics, a textbook-level bit-part character.
However, having encountered the protagonist... Ryuji glanced at Tanjiro, who was protected behind Kocho Sisters.
His luck really is terrible!
"Are you scared? Then get on your knees and apologize!"
Saki looked at the silent Ryuji and said arrogantly, "Otherwise, you'll learn just how big the gap is between a samurai and an ordinary person!"
"Apologize? How big is the gap for an ordinary person?"
Ryuji's lips curled into a smirk as he beckoned, "Come, I've also studied martial arts for a few years. Let me see what you've got."
Saki's face darkened, and he whispered, "You asked for this!"
He moved his feet and rushed quickly toward Ryuji. He was fast—faster than an ordinary person... no, even some novice swordsmen might not be as fast as him.
He really did have some skill.
But that was it... Saki looked at the motionless Ryuji, a cruel smile in his eyes.
"Is that it?"
Saki was annoyed. What did he mean, 'Is that'... His vision went black, and he only felt something pressing down on his face.
What was it?
Was it a hand?
Before he could react, he was lifted off the ground, and that damn outsider's voice reached his ears:
"In your next life, remember to keep your eyes peeled."
Ryuji's voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
He pressed down with his right hand, which was gripping Saki, and slammed him violently onto the ground!
Bang!
With a muffled thud, Saki didn't even groan before falling into a sleep like a baby's.
Young people are so lucky; they can fall asleep the moment their head hits the ground.
Ryuji looked at the unconscious Saki and shook his head. Killing someone in the street was still wrong... The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Tanjiro's eyes were wide and round, his small body trembling slightly from shock.
So powerful!
He knocked that samurai down with just one move... He sniffed lightly and smelled a clean, clear scent, as righteous as the sun.
He's a good person.
Tanjiro was absolutely certain in his heart.
After a brief silence, suppressed cheers erupted from the surrounding people.
"Well hit!"
"This bully should have been taught a lesson a long time ago!"
"That was so satisfying! Relying on the Ishikawa Family's power, he's been lording it over the town for a long time!"
Amidst the praise, there was also worry.
"Young man, you should leave quickly! The Ishikawa Family is not to be trifled with!"
"Yeah, now that you've hit him, they definitely won't let you off!"
Ryuji listened to these discussions and understood that this guy was truly despised by everyone.
Shinobu Kocho was looking at Saki on the ground with an unsatisfied expression. She whispered to her sister:
"Sister, Teacher was too lenient. Scum like this should be beaten to death on the spot!"
If her sister hadn't been holding her back, she would have wanted to go up and give him a few more kicks.
Kocho Kanae nodded gently, a hint of agreement flashing in her gentle eyes:
"Shinobu is right, but killing someone in the street is still wrong. We should take him somewhere deserted..."
Tanjiro shuddered upon hearing the words of the two beautiful sisters beside him. If he hadn't smelled that they were both good people... "Thank you all for your concern."
Ryuji nodded to the surrounding people and said with a smile:
"I appreciate everyone's kindness, and we'll be leaving now..."
He didn't leave immediately, but turned and walked slowly toward Tanjiro.
Tanjiro nervously gripped the corner of his clothes and looked up at the tall figure.
Ryuji reached out his large hand and gently rubbed that head of Red Hair; it felt surprisingly good.
"Selling charcoal to support your family at such a young age is very impressive."
His voice was gentle, carrying a hint of praise: "You're a responsible man."
Tanjiro's cheeks turned slightly red.
He could smell that the scent from the other person had become much softer, like the warm sun in winter.
"Thank you... big brother."
Ryuji looked at the charcoal on the ground, took some money from his robe, and said, "I'll buy some of this charcoal."
Tanjiro's eyes lowered slightly. He was very smart and knew this was just an excuse... "Big brother, why...?"
Ryuji stuffed the money into Tanjiro's hand and laughed, "Because I like the look of you. Alright, I must go."
Ryuji straightened up and picked up the unconscious Saki with one hand as if he were carrying a tattered sack.
He turned back and explained to the crowd, "Don't worry, everyone. This fellow has also committed crimes in other towns. I happen to know the officials there, so I'll escort him over to ensure he receives his due punishment."
This reason was perfectly logical; it both explained his action of taking Saki away and reassured the people.
Sure enough, the villagers breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and thanked him one after another.
Shinobu Kocho and Kocho Kanae glanced at each other. Other towns? Connections?
How come they didn't know about this?
However, the two tacitly refrained from asking further and silently followed Ryuji.
The three of them quickly left the town and entered the secluded mountain forest.
Ryuji said softly to Kocho Sisters, "I'm going to deal with this person. I won't go too far..."
Regardless of their reaction, he disappeared with a few leaps.
He threw Saki onto the ground. His Observation Haki swept through the surroundings, and after confirming no one was around, he crouched down and looked at the unconscious Saki with no emotion in his eyes.
Leaving such a scourge alive would only bring endless trouble to that small town.
Crack.
A crisp sound of bone snapping rang out in the silent forest. Saki's body twitched once, and then there was no more sound.
[Ding! Detected that the host has killed a Pirate. military merit points +50.]
"Good, he really was a bully."
Ryuji casually dragged the corpse deep into the woods, preparing to find a hidden spot to bury it.
While dragging the body, he felt as if there was some hard object in the other's robes.
"An unexpected harvest?"
Following the principle of not wasting anything, he reached in and felt around.
What he pulled out wasn't coins, but several pitch-black metal pieces. Looking at those familiar metal pieces, Ryuji's lips curled up:
"What a surprise indeed..."
Rubbing the four-cornered metal pieces in his hand, he whispered, "Shuriken, Ninja, Ishikawa Family..."
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