Long Xiao disabled Matsushita Beast Heart and turned his gaze to Watanabe Kenji.
Watanabe Kenji had not taken Long Xiao seriously at first. He was a famous Karate master in the island nation, and while not the best, he believed he had no equal in China.
Matsushita Beast Heart stood to the side, the fear Long Xiao instilled in him spreading through his mind.
The Nine Chrysanthemum Sect was developing rapidly in the island nation, infiltrating all walks of life. The island nation's businesses had been establishing themselves in the East Sea for some time, and from the beginning, the Onmyoji of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect were involved.
Initially, their actions were clandestine, with no conflict with the Xuanxue community of the East Sea. In recent years, the people they sent had grown increasingly powerful, believing there were no opponents in the East Sea, and had become gradually more arrogant.
As more schools, factories, and public welfare institutions from the island nation were built in the East Sea, the Onmyoji began to incorporate various Feng Shui formations, openly attempting to seize the fortune of the East Sea.
Matsushita Beast Heart, who specifically served Iiguchi Pharmaceuticals, considered himself powerful. It was only when he encountered Long Xiao that he realized the depth of Chinese Xuanxue was unfathomable.
The Nine Chrysanthemum Sect's entry into China had been met with indifference, not because they were outmatched, but because they were disdained.
Seeing Long Xiao looking at him, Watanabe Kenji smiled and said, "Long Xiao, are you pleased with yourself for defeating Matsushita Beast Heart? The incompetence of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect doesn't prove your prowess."
Matsushita Beast Heart felt a pang of resentment at Watanabe Kenji's disparagement of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect, but he dared not act out. The old man Watanabe Kenji was known for his cruelty, and this was not the time to provoke him.
Watanabe Kenji, less than 1.5 meters tall, wore traditional island nation attire. He looked up at Long Xiao with a face full of mockery, as if he were immensely powerful, looking down on a weakling.
Long Xiao looked down and said, "Xuanxue and martial arts are two different things. You are a Karate master, not a master of empty talk. Words are useless; only action can reveal true strength."
Watanabe Kenji nodded and said, "Very well, let's act, and see if Karate is superior, or if this Chinese martial art is."
Watanabe Kenji struck a classic Karate starting pose and charged at Long Xiao with a shout.
His hand chopped through the air, aimed at Long Xiao's face with both speed and immense power.
But in Long Xiao's eyes, Watanabe Kenji's Karate was like a child's play.
Chinese martial arts were profound and vast. Cultivating physical strength and attacking with explosive power from the muscles was an external martial art.
Even when cultivated to its peak, external martial arts could not compare to internal martial arts focused on Qi cultivation, unless one also practiced Qi while training external arts.
Karate's strength was relative to external martial arts. Long Xiao had not practiced external martial arts, nor did he possess strong muscles. His movements relied on the Qi circulation in his dantian.
Long Xiao shifted his weight with a slight movement, evading Watanabe Kenji's strike. He smiled at Watanabe Kenji without speaking.
Having missed his strike, Watanabe Kenji launched into a rapid series of attacks.
Long Xiao did not retaliate, constantly maneuvering to dodge Watanabe Kenji's onslaught. This was his first encounter with Karate, and Long Xiao wanted to understand its strengths.
Any martial art with a long lineage must possess significant advantages; otherwise, it would not have endured.
After hundreds of attacks, Watanabe Kenji hadn't even touched Long Xiao's clothes. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
This was too embarrassing. It was clear that Long Xiao was toying with him, yet he couldn't stop attacking, as stopping would be admitting defeat.
"Why aren't you fighting back? Are you scared?" Watanabe Kenji shouted.
Long Xiao chuckled, dodged a few more attacks, and said, "You don't understand martial arts. I'm afraid of injuring you."
For a martial artist, there was no greater humiliation than being told they didn't understand martial arts. Watanabe Kenji's face turned red. He roared and accelerated his charge towards Long Xiao, intent on fighting to the death.
Long Xiao had a basic understanding of Karate techniques. Seeing Watanabe Kenji charging at him, he lost his patience and delivered a sidekick to Watanabe Kenji's chest.
With a bang, Watanabe Kenji was sent flying over ten meters, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Watanabe Kenji staggered to his feet, groaning, and roared, "All of you, attack! Kill him!"
The dozen or so samurai watching drew their swords and charged at Long Xiao.
Long Xiao's introductory-level "Chīmèi Xiāoyáo Bù" (Demonic Spirits Free-roaming Steps) moved three times faster than ordinary footwork. These samurai couldn't even perceive how Long Xiao was moving, let alone land a blow.
A chorus of screams followed as the samurai's swords were disarmed, and they were sent flying backward.
This was Long Xiao's first encounter with Watanabe Kenji. He hadn't detected any Qi emanating from him. He had assumed Watanabe Kenji had achieved internal Qi containment, but it turned out he hadn't even established a dantian and possessed very little Qi internally.
He had hoped to find a true master for a good fight, which left Long Xiao greatly disappointed.
Approaching Watanabe Kenji, Long Xiao kicked the fallen man on the ground and asked, "Where are my medicinal herbs and my people?"
"I... I won't tell you," Watanabe Kenji said, glaring at Long Xiao through gritted teeth.
"You won't tell me, huh? I'll take you to find Iiguchi Gorō. If he doesn't tell me either, I'll slaughter all of you islanders."
"We are foreign guests. We have friendly relations with Hua Dao. You wouldn't dare kill me," Watanabe Kenji stated righteously.
Long Xiao moved his foot to Watanabe Kenji's arm and applied slight pressure with his toe. With a crack, Watanabe Kenji's arm was broken.
"You're mistaken. We are not friendly."
A cry of pain erupted again. Long Xiao kicked Watanabe Kenji aside and turned towards Matsushita Beast Heart, who was standing nearby.
"You captured my people and took my medicine. Should you not return them to me?" Long Xiao asked coldly.
Matsushita Beast Heart sighed and said, "Alright, I'll return them. I hope you won't kill us."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "I am a doctor. A doctor's heart is benevolent. I do not kill the innocent indiscriminately."
Zhang Eryong, his two companions, and the vehicle carrying the medicinal herbs were hidden in a warehouse behind the factory building.
Matsushita Beast Heart told Long Xiao that Iiguchi Gorō had nothing to do with this matter; it was Watanabe Kenji who had privately enlisted his help.
As they neared the warehouse entrance, Long Xiao suddenly asked, "You Onmyoji have quite a few people in the East Sea, don't you?"
Matsushita Beast Heart had lost his air of superiority. In front of Long Xiao, he could no longer act arrogant, and his confidence had completely vanished.
"About twenty or so. Most are of similar strength to me, with only five possessing greater power."
"What is your goal in establishing yourselves in the East Sea?" Long Xiao inquired further.
Matsushita Beast Heart told Long Xiao that their influence extended beyond the East Sea; they had also set up operations in other Chinese cities.
"Actually, we are also helpless. Our country faces many disasters. If we don't leave soon, we will face extinction as a people."
Long Xiao could understand Matsushita Beast Heart's explanation. He nodded and said, "You are not wrong, but you have chosen the wrong path and the wrong opponent."
Pushing open the door, several samurai looked at Long Xiao and Matsushita Beast Heart. Matsushita Beast Heart said, "Let them leave."
These samurai were Watanabe Kenji's subordinates, and Matsushita Beast Heart's words had no effect.
Long Xiao stepped forward. The samurai were sent flying by his wave, not even getting a chance to draw their swords.