Chapter 317: The Immortals Cross the Sea

Countless dramas and films from Sakura Island had glorified, embellished, and elevated ninjas, who were also known as shadow dwellers. They gave them lofty and noble definitions. Still, none of those works of art could conceal the truth that they were merely assassins.

The person who had blocked the bus clearly had ill intentions. His presence alone betrayed hostility.

The man was clad in the typical attire of a ninja and had black cloth wrapped tightly around his head, leaving only his eyes exposed. Standing on the road ahead, he raised his left hand toward the speeding bus.

In the front seats of the bus, an elderly scientist shouted, "Be careful! There's someone up ahead!"

Jolted awake as if from a dream, the driver fumbled in panic and slammed the brakes.

The ninja was naturally well prepared. Wisps of water vapor unfurled from his left hand, seemingly intending to weave a wall of water in front of him.

Xi Lian, who had been gazing absently out the window, frowned slightly. She raised her delicate hand and pointed lightly toward the windshield. In an instant, the water wall forming before the ninja shattered into pieces.

His eyes widened with utter disbelief.

Screech—! Bang!

Unable to stop in time, the bus rammed into the figure, causing it to jolt from the impact. The black-clad man tumbled backward like a ragged sack. As he rolled several times along the ground, the cars behind the bus skidded to a stop, too.

"H-he suddenly jumped out and blocked the road!" the middle-aged driver cried out in alarm.

"Don't stop. Keep driving," Wang Sheng instructed calmly. "That is a fairly strong cultivator. A collision like that will hardly harm him."

The driver wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. From the rearview mirror, he caught sight of the ninja springing back up from the ground. Only then did he exhale in relief.

He stepped on the accelerator, but before the bus could move again, the ninja vaulted over the roof in a dramatic 1800° somersault and landed gracefully in front of the vehicle. He once again raised his left hand.

"I—"

"

Amitabha.

"

Huai Jing intoned the Buddha's name, and threads of Buddhist light converged in front of the bus. It condensed into a massive palm that swatted the man aside as effortlessly as playing badminton.

Wang Sheng glanced at Huai Jing with faint approval.

Huai Jing smiled as he cupped his hands together. "Excuse me, excuse me. I have picked up a few long-range skills over the years."

Zhou Yinglong was astonished. "Huai Jing, all this time, you've been this strong? I truly underestimated you."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Shi Qianzhang returned to his seat. "He

is

ranked eighty-second on the Heavenly Rankings. Most cultivators these days only pay attention to the very top names on the lists and often overlook other experts of this level."

Hao Ling and Zhou Yinglong exchanged glances in acknowledgement. They then sighed in unison.

The bus started again. After only a few minutes, just as it ascended a flyover, the ninja who had been flung away reappeared. He leaped from streetlight to streetlight, pursuing the bus with astonishing agility.

The driver's forehead was drenched in sweat, yet inside the vehicle, the passengers grew increasingly entertained.

"Let me deal with this hopping ninja." Shi Qianzhang casually grabbed two black talisman papers. Without even looking, he flicked them out the window.

Two blasts rang out, followed by the piercing cries of cranes. A black crane and a white crane manifested out of thin air, spreading their wings and soaring forward.

The ninja turned in shock and tried to evade, but the spirit cranes swiftly seized him. They then carried him off the flyover and cast him down.

"Your talisman arts have grown even more refined," Wang Sheng praised. He then earnestly reprimanded, "Your personal cultivation is still somewhat lagging, though. Devotion to the Dao is the true foundation. Right now, your priorities are reversed."

"Ah, you're right, Brother Sheng. I will redouble my efforts. Otherwise, Little Liu will keep bullying me." Shi Qianzhang, who had for once shown humility, laughed.

A few minutes passed.

"That guy is seriously persistent." Huai Jing chuckled. "Who wants to handle him this time?"

Xi Lian rolled her eyes. "How have you all turned this into a game?"

"Allow me," Hao Ling nervously volunteered. She withdrew a jade hairpin and extended it out the window.

By nature, Hao Ling disliked showing off. Unfortunately, her senior brother, Zhou Yinglong, had suffered grave injuries that delayed his cultivation for ten years, leaving his cultivation base low. Since he followed the Dao of the Sword, he had little opportunity to act here.

Before many others, especially Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan, Hao Ling could not allow the reputation of Wudang's Daoist lineage to be shamed. Hence, she summoned forth her own artifact.

The hairpin instantly transformed into a streak of flowing light and shot toward the ninja, who had just scrambled back up onto the flyover. A flash of radiance erupted, and the shadow dweller was hurled sideways, plunging once more in free fall.

The jade hairpin flew back into Hao Ling's palm. It was a fine artifact, capable of restraining foes and more than enough for her to protect herself with.

Zhou Yinglong stroked his chin as he muttered, "Do you think he'll return?"

By the window, Mu Wanxuan raised her hand lightly, signaling that she would demonstrate Daoist arts next.

A few more minutes passed.

As the bus waited at a red light, the black-clad figure appeared once more, dashing across the treetops beside the road and landing atop the bus.

The man drew a deep breath and, in heavily accented Hua Language, bellowed, "I am—"

Mu Wanxuan, still reading her comic book, snapped her fingers coolly. A black-and-white whirlwind suddenly erupted atop the bus, engulfing the man and spinning him dozens of times before hurling him into a nearby park.

The bus rolled forward steadily. The driver, now numb, drove on silently, shutting out the chaos around him.

"

Amitabha.

The Merciful Buddha cherishes all life. That Sakura Island cultivator is too obsessed. I, a humble monk, cannot bear to see him like this." Huai Jing sighed. His tone then shifted. "How about we break his legs next time he returns? This endless nuisance is intolerable."

Shi Qianzhang and Hao Ling spoke almost at the same time.

"Agreed!"

"That seems unwise."

Hao Ling softly reasoned, "We are on Sakura Island. We came to protect our Hua Republic scientists, not to engage their cultivators in combat."

"Does Sakura Island have an official department that handles incidents like this? If so, let's report this already," Wang Sheng instructed.

"Oh, oh! I know!" Shi Qianzhang grinned. "They have an office for cultivator affairs. I'll contact them. I suspect they'll turn a blind eye, though. They won't say it openly, but they would be delighted to see someone harass us and make our stay unpleasant."

"It's still better to follow the proper procedure. At the very least, it puts us in the right," Wang Sheng replied gently, then leaned back and closed his eyes.

After another half hour on the road, they finally reached their lodging, which was a rather grand international hotel. They had assumed the minor troubles along the way had ended, and that the shadow dweller, having realized the vast gap in power, would no longer disturb them.

However, outside the hotel, the ninja appeared once more, now covered in leaves and scratches. Panting heavily, he stood on a lamppost, furiously glaring at the bus. One look into his eyes was enough to tell that he was ruthless.

Wang Sheng frowned slightly, feeling nothing but disdain for the arrogant cultivator. "Senior Brother Zhou, I'd like you and the others to escort the four elders inside first."

"Understood," Zhou Yinglong replied.

Together with Hao Ling, the three Special Warfare Unit members, and two Special Investigation Unit liaisons, he led the scientists into the hotel.

Xi Lian, Mu Wanxuan, Huai Jing, and Shi Qianzhang positioned themselves around Wang Sheng, whose turn had come.

Wang Sheng formed a sword-finger gesture with his left hand and casually condensed a qi sword.

The black figure pushed himself off from the lamppost and lunged ferociously at Wang Sheng. He angrily shouted, "I am—"

Whoosh—

The qi sword sliced through the air, appearing instantly before the ninja. Wang Sheng then flicked his sword finger. Instead of exploding or piercing the man, the qi sword deftly hooked into the fabric at his back like a true longsword.

"Wait! Wait—"

Wait for what?

Wang Sheng snorted coldly.

He made the qi sword lift the man into the air, displaying his skillful use of his Sword-Controlling Art. With his left hand weaving lightly, the qi sword dragged the man back and forth through the sky, shaking him until he was dizzy.

Finally, Wang Sheng dispersed the qi sword. The ninja dropped like a salted fish, crashing onto the empty parking lot. He convulsed and vomited violently.

The growing crowd of onlookers recoiled in disgust.

After retching, the man lay trembling on the ground. Within moments, he began to sob.

Puzzled, Huai Jing scratched his head. "Is he crying?"

Xi Lian shook her head. "I've heard that life on Sakura Island is very pressuring. I didn't expect it to be the same even for their cultivators."

"Brother Sheng." Shi Qianzhang waved his phone. "Sakura Island informed me that they have already sent people to handle this matter. They also admitted they had arranged for someone to meet us at the airport, but that person neglected his duty. They are working to correct it."

Wang Sheng nodded lightly and turned to the hotel entrance.

Wait, someone was supposed to meet us at the airport, but neglected his duty?

From behind, the prone ninja weakly and tremblingly cried, "I am a senior clerk of Sakura Island's Ministry of Special Affairs... responsible for Hua Republic matters. Esteemed wielder of... heavenly tribulation... Sakura Island welcomes... you..."

Eh?

The five standing beside Wang Sheng fell silent.