Just as Ren Kai stepped out of his cabin, shouting erupted from the deck.
"Hurry! Quickly—go get Mr. Ban!"
Uncle Fu stood in the lookout tower, staring at the numerous small boats approaching in the distance. The sight had nearly scared him senseless.
A guard sprinted into the ship's interior and happened to run straight into Ren Kai as he stepped out.
"Advisor Ban, this is bad! There are a lot of ronin coming!"
The guard shouted anxiously.
"Oh? No need to panic. I'll handle it."
Ren Kai looked at the guard's flustered reaction with calm indifference.
How many could there be?
A hundred thousand?
Would that even be enough for him to kill?
He walked onto the deck as if strolling through a garden. Mingyun quickly hurried over to him, looking slightly anxious.
"Mr. Ban, there are over a hundred ronin this time…"
"I wonder if…"
Mingyun was clearly nervous. The last attack had only involved a dozen bandits.
"Relax, Young Master Mingyun."
"This is nothing."
Ren Kai crossed his arms over his chest confidently and glanced around the deck.
Everyone else looked terrified.
If he hadn't obtained Madara's template, he would probably be just as frightened.
Seeing Ren Kai so calm, the others gradually steadied themselves.
Several small speedboats were racing across the sea toward the Feiyun Commerce Guild's ship.
One of them stood out.
On it stood a samurai wearing fiery red armor.
Within moments, the merchant ship was surrounded.
"This is the Feiyun Commerce Guild ship."
"They dared refuse the toll and got eight of my men killed."
A one-eyed samurai stood beside the red-armored warrior, complaining bitterly.
"Attack."
The red-armored samurai stared coldly at the merchant ship.
"Damn it."
"We should've killed that guy last time, no matter the cost."
The guard captain clenched his teeth.
He hadn't expected the ronin who attacked them previously to return with such a large force—led by someone who clearly possessed a Vision.
"Please… Advisor Ban."
After regaining his composure, Uncle Fu approached Ren Kai and began directing the guards and workers to prepare for defense.
"Have you ever seen my full power?"
Ren Kai slipped fully into character, delivering the line he had prepared.
Mingyun blinked in confusion.
What did that mean?
"No…"
"I haven't."
"May I see it now?"
He replied awkwardly, curiosity winning out.
"You may."
The moment Ren Kai finished speaking—
He leapt.
The jump carried him ten meters into the air.
He came crashing down onto one of the small boats, instantly crushing it beneath his feet.
Then he stood calmly on the surface of the water.
Drawing his sword, he infused it with chakra.
Arc after arc of chakra blade energy slashed through the ronin who had fallen into the sea.
Immediately after, he dashed around the Feiyun Commerce Guild ship.
Wherever he passed—
No enemy survived.
Within seconds, every boat had been destroyed.
Only the red-armored samurai's vessel remained.
Ren Kai stood at the bow of that ship.
He slowly returned his sword to its sheath and crossed his arms again.
His presence was overwhelming.
The one-eyed samurai and the remaining ronin trembled in fear.
What kind of monster was this?
"Advisor Ban must be an adeptus!"
"He's unbelievably powerful!"
Uncle Fu shouted in shock.
At once, the entire crew of the Feiyun Commerce Guild erupted into cheers.
At that moment—
The red-armored samurai suddenly drew his blade.
Flames surged within the sheath.
In an instant, he unleashed a blazing Iaido strike toward Ren Kai.
But before the blade could reach him—
It struck something.
A blue skeletal structure formed entirely of energy.
"What an ugly display."
"Can you no longer dance?"
Ren Kai spoke calmly.
The first stage of Susanoo had appeared around him.
He had wanted to try activating Susanoo for a long time.
If he didn't test it now, who knew when he'd get another chance?
However, the moment he activated it, intense pain surged through his body.
This was only the first stage.
In the next second, Susanoo's skeletal arm slammed downward.
The ship shattered instantly.
All the ronin aboard were annihilated.
Ren Kai immediately canceled Susanoo.
The pain was unbearable.
If he kept it active any longer, he might not be able to maintain his composure.
"Advisor Ban is incredible!"
The guard captain shouted excitedly, his voice cracking.
That power could only belong to someone at the level of the adepti.
Ren Kai stood on the water's surface.
With a light jump, he returned to the Feiyun Commerce Guild ship.
Once again, he crossed his arms over his chest.
As far as Ren Kai was concerned—
If you're going to look cool, you might as well go all the way.
Maybe it would even increase his role-playing progress.
Sure enough, he felt his body grow stronger again.
"Advisor Ban!"
"Can you teach me your immortal arts?"
Mingyun ran up to him, staring with admiration.
That scene had been unbelievably cool.
"Perhaps someday."
"But Young Master Mingyun… you've already passed the age for cultivation."
Ren Kai lowered his arms.
He figured that was enough showing off.
He couldn't reveal the method of extracting chakra yet.
First, he couldn't guarantee anyone else could succeed.
Second, it might cause a huge disturbance—and possibly attract the attention of the Heavenly Principles.
"Ah…"
"I always wanted to train in martial arts and become a wandering hero who punished evil."
"But I'm the only son in my family."
Mingyun sighed with regret.
For the sake of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, he had sacrificed his youth and dreams.
"Every person walks a different path."
Ren Kai spoke calmly.
In truth, he was a little envious.
After all, Mingyun belonged to the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
But then he thought about Xingqiu.
Writing novels secretly.
Practicing chivalry secretly.
Every life had regrets.
The scenery simply changed depending on the road you chose.
The crew now felt as if they had narrowly escaped death.
They all rushed forward to thank Ren Kai.
This time, Ren Kai put aside half of Madara's arrogance and spoke with a gentler tone while chatting with them.
"We owe everything to Advisor Ban today."
"And since Mr. Ban has officially joined the Feiyun Commerce Guild…"
"We must celebrate!"
"Tell the cooks to prepare more food and give everyone a feast tonight!"
Mingyun understood the importance of morale.
Otherwise, he would never have expanded the guild's trade all the way to Inazuma.
Thinking about how his bold decision had successfully recruited Mr. Ban, he felt extremely satisfied.
"Wait… what's that?"
"A fox?"
"Huh? A pink fox!"
"Catch it! When did it get on the ship?"
One of the workers suddenly noticed something on the roof of the ship.
"Sigh… this is trouble."
The pink fox Yae Miko had heard the noise outside and immediately ran out of the cabin.
She climbed onto the roof of the ship to watch the excitement.
"It's a yokai!"
"It spoke!"
A nearby worker heard her clearly.
"Sigh… Little Yae."
"Get over here."
Ren Kai covered his forehead helplessly.
This fox was incredibly mischievous.
Not only had she run to the most obvious spot—
She had even started talking.
Completely ignoring everything he told her earlier.
"Lord Ban, I'm coming!"
The pink fox leapt down from the ship's roof.
She landed neatly on Ren Kai's shoulder.