The high-ranking members of the Araki clan nearly coughed up blood upon hearing this!

But they were unable to refute it, as this man had single-handedly annihilated the Araki family's guards, a force comparable to an army.

They finally understood why the old clan leader had said that they could use any means necessary to kill him!

A sense of dread washed over everyone.

Even Araki Go dared not act rashly, racking his brain for a countermeasure.

Just then, a single sentence from Araki Kamiko sent shockwaves of astonishment and fury through the entire Araki family.

"Master, my father has been killed…"

It wasn't the death of Araki Kamiko's father that enraged the Araki family, but the word 'master'!

That single word struck a deep nerve.

Who was Araki Kamiko? She was the pride of the Araki family, a national goddess of Japan, a handmaiden of the gods!

Although they knew that Araki Kamiko had betrayed the Emperor, knowing she had betrayed him was one thing, but hearing her call a Chinese man 'master' was another!

"Araki Kamiko, you shameless hussy! You have no honor!"

The most agitated of all was Hijikata Jūgorō, who unleashed a torrent of abuse at Araki Kamiko.

His vehemence stemmed from the fact that Araki Kamiko had always been the object of his fantasies.

Although he had married Araki Kamiko's sister, he always imagined his wife as Araki Kamiko after the lights were turned off.

"I'll kill you!"

Hijikata Jūgorō drew his katana and slashed at Chen Xiao and Araki Kamiko.

The force of the blade stirred a gale of wind within the conference room!

"Noisy!"

With a resounding slap, Chen Xiao sent Hijikata Jūgorō's head exploding into a mist of blood.

The sight left everyone dumbfounded.

Hijikata Jūgorō was the strongest fighter among them.

Yet this man from China had annihilated him with a single slap… His strength was terrifying; no wonder he had single-handedly destroyed the Araki family's guard.

Araki Go could even understand Araki Kamiko's choice now.

It was not shameful to acknowledge such a powerful figure as one's master.

Having come to this realization, Araki Go dropped to his knees before Chen Xiao with a thud.

"Great sir from China, I, Araki Go, am willing to follow you, begging only that you spare my life!"

Seeing Araki Go's actions, the other high-ranking members of the Araki clan exchanged glances… Before long, another person knelt before Chen Xiao.

"Sir, I am also willing to follow you!"

"Me too, I am willing to follow you, sir, I beg you to spare my life!"

"I am also willing to follow you, sir…"

Where one led, others followed, and soon the third and fourth came as well.

Like a contagion spread by Araki Go, the high-ranking members of the Araki family all knelt before Chen Xiao, groveling and begging for mercy.

"Heh, follow me?"

Chen Xiao chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "What makes you think I would accept you? What use would I have for you? Are you as beautiful as her?"

As he spoke, Chen Xiao pinched Araki Kamiko's chin, displaying her beauty to the others.

Hearing this, those kneeling before Chen Xiao were at a loss for words.

"Sir, what would you have us do?"

Araki Go asked timidly.

Chen Xiao yawned, saying with boredom, "I don't want you to do anything. You probably don't even know why I'm here."

"What is your purpose, sir?"

Araki Go inquired cautiously.

He thought that as long as there was a purpose, they would try their best to fulfill it.

"I'm here to kill you."

Chen Xiao spoke casually, as if killing them was as commonplace as eating and drinking.

He could never kill too many Japanese.

Just then, an angry voice roared from outside.

"Hmph, as a master from China, how can you utter such words, treating human lives as if they were mere grass? Do you think that's appropriate?"

Along with the voice, an old, wizened samurai strode in!

His movements were uncanny. He had been more than ten meters away, but in just two or three steps, he was already past Chen Xiao, standing in front of the Araki clan.

He held his katana horizontally, like a mother hen protecting her chicks!

The Araki clan members acted as if they had seen their savior, scrambling up from the ground.

"Master Takaharadera, you've finally arrived! If you had been a moment later, we would have all been killed by this cold-blooded monster!"

"What Chinese master? He's nothing but trash before Master Takaharadera!"

"Master Takaharadera, your disciple Hijikata Jūgorō was killed by this beast! You must avenge him!"

These people changed their faces faster than flipping a book. One moment they were kneeling before Chen Xiao, begging for mercy, and the next they wished that the old samurai would cut him down with a single stroke.

The old samurai who was protecting them was Takaharadera, renowned as the God of Swordsmanship in Japan.

His Suidan-ryū swordsmanship was unmatched in the Japanese swordsmanship world, even the grandmaster of swordsmanship, Kuraki Kazuo, had to admit defeat.

Chen Xiao looked at him with amusement, a smile playing on his lips. "Finally, someone who's somewhat worthy of my attention. Old man, I'll let you have the first three moves. Feel free to use your strongest techniques!"

"Arrogant brat, I'll make you pay!"

Takaharadera took a step forward and slashed!

This strike seemed ordinary, but the blade's light was like a sun-piercing rainbow, leaving only a flash of white in everyone's eyes!

This was the quintessential Ichizan of the Suidan-ryū swordsmanship!

Takaharadera had once used this strike to cut through a hundred-meter waterfall, and the name Suidan-ryū (Water Severing Style) originated from this feat!

"As expected of Master Takaharadera, that Chinese brat is doomed this time!"

Araki Go exclaimed sincerely, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Seeing the dazzling blade, Araki Kamiko's heart tightened.

Master, are you being too careless?

Although she had witnessed his strength several times, his opponent this time was Master Takaharadera!

If Master went all out, Master Takaharadera would naturally be no match, but Master was actually allowing him three moves… Master, can you really withstand it?

Araki Kamiko was deeply worried. She decided that if Master was defeated, she would immediately commit suicide.

Otherwise, she couldn't imagine how terrible her fate would be.

She had worked with Araki Go for many years and knew that he harbored desires for her, even though they were related by blood…

Takaharadera's blade was almost upon him, but Chen Xiao didn't dodge or evade, and didn't even circulate his spiritual energy to protect himself.

Bored, he wanted to test how much damage his physical body could withstand.

"Brat, you're courting death!"

Takaharadera naturally understood Chen Xiao's intent. Enduring his blade with his physical body was nothing short of seeking death!

In his opinion, Chen Xiao was already doomed, but he couldn't feel happy at all.

Because he felt that Chen Xiao's actions were a great humiliation to him.

He didn't realize that the real humiliation was yet to come…