Tokyo Fall Guys beats up the supernatural

Page 173

Dou Tang remained silent for a moment before finally asking the question that had been troubling him for a long time: "Lu Zizhen, you seem to have other expectations of me, other unusual expectations. What are they?"

For a long time, what Lu Zizhen did for him has gone far beyond the boundaries of normal friendship. Even ordinary couples probably wouldn't go to this extent. In Dou Tang's view, Lu Zizhen seems to regard him as something extremely important to her, perhaps even more important than herself.

Lu Zizhen smiled faintly: "I won't tell you."

Dou Tang rolled his eyes.

Lu Zizhen tossed him a set of keys and said, "The stuff is in my car downstairs. You can leave the car here for now. I have some things to do outside."

Dou Tang took the key and nodded.

"So, will you come two nights from now?"

Lu Zizhen glanced at the exorcists in the conference room who had stopped their discussion and were looking at her with strange eyes, then smiled and narrowed her eyes.

Turning to Dou Tang, he put his hands behind his back and said, "Of course I will. That's the battle that will make you famous throughout Tokyo. I will definitely come."

Dou Tang followed her downstairs. Lu Zizhen left, and Dou Tang found the safes in the passenger seat of a blue sports car parked on the street.

There are six safes in total, each representing a part of Taira no Masakado's body. Only after these parts are reassembled by Taira no Masakado can he return to his full power as an evil spirit.

Todoroki wants to kill the powerful Taira no Masakado in order to announce his existence to the extraordinary world of Tokyo.

Dou Tang took the safe upstairs and returned to the conference room. When Shen Qianlong saw this, he asked, "Are you sure you want to hand this over directly to Taira no Masakado?"

Dou Tang casually tossed the safe onto the table, nodded, and said, "Only in this way can it be considered a complete victory."

He also noticed the worry in everyone's eyes, and pointed to Ejima Iya, who was watching anime on his phone, and said, "If I fail, isn't there still Honotengu?"

When Ejima Izai heard someone call his name, he looked up and waved. He was probably the most relaxed person there. Perhaps he didn't even know what tension was. As someone who had helped hundreds and thousands of souls pass on and become a bone tengu, it was unnecessary for him to worry about certain things. He would just adjust himself to prepare for changing everything.

Aida Yue made a palm with one hand, looking somewhat like a monk, and nodded slightly, saying, "If Mr. Ren is confident, then go ahead and do it."

Dou Tang nodded and then said, "Let's continue. Let's organize all the current intelligence. Gentlemen, the campaign against Taira no Masakado is just around the corner."

Taira no Masakado has been forced into a corner by Dou Tang and others, leaving him no choice but to fight.

This battle was inevitable, and the henchmen of the Kubinashi clan left behind by Taira no Masakado in Tokyo had no chance of participating in the battle. From the moment the duel was agreed upon, the battle belonged to the exorcists and the demons, not ordinary people.

First, we have roughly figured out the number of monsters on Taira no Masakado's side. Taira no Masakado, who was able to raise a team in Tokyo, is indeed capable. There are more than a dozen monsters with human forms and nearly twenty beast-like monsters. But strangely, apart from Taira no Masakado, there is no information about any evil spirits. It seems that Taira no Masakado is very resistant to the existence of vengeful spirits.

It sounds like Taira no Masakado sees himself as a modern-day Shuten-dōji, and the Shinkawa sewage treatment plant becomes his empire.

Currently, there are no fewer than one hundred missing persons cases that are said to be related to Taira no Masakado, some of which are related to the Kubinashi, and others are related to the monsters under his command.

The fate of those who went missing needs no further explanation.

The atmosphere in the conference room gradually became lively, with everyone eagerly sharing their information. Whether it was the legend of Taira no Masakado or the events surrounding him, everything gradually unfolded clearly before Dou Tang, like sprinkling water droplets onto a spider web so fine it was almost invisible. The droplets clung to the silk, revealing the complete outline of the web.

Taira no Masakado, a legend of the Heian period, has been a figure in Japanese beliefs for a thousand years. Legend has it that he had six identical clones, and that he was invulnerable to swords and spears, except for the vital points between his forehead and eyebrows.

Over time, the legend of Taira no Masakado was gradually demonized and then deified by later generations. As time passed, such a rebel has become an important part of folk beliefs.

But those are the legendary Taira no Masakado. No matter how legendary the legends make his past, Taira no Masakado today has to face the challenges of the new era.

Chapter 90 Who told you to surrender? Beat them!

Taira no Masakado had two generals. Unlike Kagami, who rose to power through the crown, these two generals possessed immense strength. Before Taira no Masakado appeared, they were already famous monsters in Tokyo.

Mao Liang, who has already fought Dou Tang, and Lun Ru Dao, who has never appeared before.

According to Dou Tang's description, Mao Liang's skill in close combat is probably beyond the reach of the other exorcists present, so the best course of action is to deal with Mao Liang before facing Taira no Masakado.

The information about Moro was obtained through Nurarihyon, and it turned out that Nurarihyon, as a great yokai who was able to protect himself in Tokyo with a neutral stance for decades, was extremely capable.

This time, Nurarihyon was half-forced and half-willing to board Dou Tang's pirate ship, providing all the information Dou Tang needed.

The day after the challenge, on the evening of the second day, after finishing a day of meetings, Toudou went to the Kashima Shinden Jikishin-ryu Dojo in Edogawa Ward.

Nurarihyon didn't have any information about Moro's "immortality," but based on Nurarihyon's speculation, the secret to Moro's immortality might be hidden in her own dojo.

When Dou Tang arrived at the dojo, it was getting dark. The disciples and other people who were originally practicing in the dojo had all left, but the door was still open and not closed.

Dou Tang walked directly into the dojo. The dojo was located near the sea, in the suburbs of Edogawa Ward. It covered a large area and had a quiet interior.

Walking through the dojo, only Dou Tang's footsteps echoed along the long wooden corridor; there wasn't even a sound of voice, as if he were the only person in the entire dojo.

But a signal has already clearly appeared in my perception: the signal of the crown.

The path in the middle of Doutang and Fengyuan courtyard is paved with pebbles. After passing a pond and glancing at the listless carp in it, we arrived at the largest training ground.

The indoor dojo and the courtyard are separated by several paper doors and wooden walkways.

The corridor separated them, and Dou Tang slowly reached out and pulled the paper door open to both sides.

The real training ground appeared before Dou Tang.

The temple was somewhat dimly lit, with candlesticks about the height of a person placed around it, their flames adding to the solemn and mysterious atmosphere.

The room features a tatami floor, a dark red wooden dome, weapon racks displaying various weapons around the perimeter, and a calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall directly in front.

"Straight Heart Shadow Stream"

Below the calligraphy and painting is a table with an altar on it, and a woman in a kimono kneeling on the ground in front of the altar.

The master of the Shikishin-Ying-ryu Dojo, Yamada Nagayoshi, or rather, the yokai Nagayoshi.

A naginata lay before her, its blade gleaming, lying horizontally on the ground, within her reach.

Dou Tang looked around. It was extremely quiet. Apart from Mao Liang and himself, there was no one else there.

Dou Tang drew the sword from his back. The longsword hummed as it was drawn from its sheath, and the familiar feel of holding it countless times made Dou Tang feel extremely comfortable.

"It seems you've been waiting for me all this time," Dou Tang said, stepping forward.

Mao Liang nodded slightly as a greeting and said, "I already know about your duel with Taira no Masakado, so I understand that if you want to face him with peace of mind, you must first deal with this troublesome person like me."

"Mr. Ren, your confidence is frightening. Are you so sure that you can kill me without affecting the duel later?"

Mao Liang raised his head, sighed, and said, "I really don't want to duel with you. Your appearance as a jelly bean is too shocking. Even if I were a monster, I would find it extremely troublesome."

Sounds like... this guy wants to surrender?

"You don't dare to fight me?" Dou Tang raised one eyebrow.

“It’s not that I’m afraid,” Mao Liang shook his head, “it’s that I don’t want to. There’s absolutely no need for us to fight to the death.”

Dou Tang reached out and gestured: "Crown."

Upon hearing this, Mao Liang sighed again, and a golden light rose from above his head, gradually solidifying into a peculiar crown decorated with swords and knives. The unusual patterns on the crown made Dou Tang take a second look.

"Mr. Ren really is the legendary BOSS... such immense power, and that Fall Guy-like pose..."

Dou Tang shook his head and said, "I have never regarded myself as any BOSS. Mao Liang, in my opinion, I am just an ordinary participant struggling in the game."

I don't believe you for a second...

Mao Liang's expression turned strange, and then he said, "Then, if I give you the crown, will you spare my life?"

Dou Tang pondered for a moment, then took out a clone candy from his pocket and said, "Given that you have already pledged allegiance to Taira no Masakado once, if you want to surrender, then eat this."

Even so, he still did not go forward, maintaining a distance of several meters, being very cautious.

Mao Liang's face darkened, and she said, "Can't we not eat? I promise I won't take the initiative to attack again, and I'll live my life honestly, is that not okay?"

"Do you mean I should believe in the sincerity of an enemy I fought to the death with who suddenly surrenders without a fight?"

Maolang scratched his head: "You, uh, this..."

She shook her head helplessly, picked up the naginata from the ground with one hand, stood up, straightened her back, and said seriously, "How about this? Let's have another fight! If I can last until you turn into a jelly bean, then I don't have to eat it; otherwise, I'll eat it, okay?"

"Please, think about me too! It's dangerous to suddenly ask me to eat weird things that a strange man offers me!"

Dou Tang sneered, "Those ordinary people who were tricked into eating the precious jade pills and got injured thought the same thing, Mao Lang, why don't you think about them?"

For Mao Liang, who was straightforward, such accusations of double standards were like stabbing her in the back. She turned her head away embarrassedly and said, "That kind of thing was Taira no Masakado's idea... How would I know that a famous general in history would do such a thing?"

Dou Tang put away the candy and continued to mock, "It sounds like you actually think of yourself as a victim? A law-abiding monster who was deceived by Taira no Masakado?"

Mao Liang snorted and shook his head, saying, "Don't joke around. I went there for the great cause he mentioned, but now that he's about to fall, there's no need for me to waste my time."

“Abiding by the law? I may be straightforward and a person of my word, but my contempt for ordinary people is also real, Mr. Ren. People in this world are not as simple as black and white.”

She raised the naginata with both hands, its sharp blade pointing at Dou Tang.

"Alright, shall we begin? Although I surrender, I really want to witness your magnificent and unpredictable swordsmanship once more."

Dou Tang flicked his wrist, raised his sword, and said while gathering his momentum, "Well said. If you really surrendered without resistance, it would be too boring."

Chapter 91 Another Battle Against Rue

The candlelight cast flickering shadows on the wall, like ripples on a clear blue sea.

A gentle breeze blew through the dojo. Dou Tang stood with his back to the hall door. Dusk had fallen and the moon was not yet bright, so he stood in complete darkness.

The platform behind Mao Liang was lit with candles, so her back emitted a dim yellow light, like a pale yellow paint spreading in the air.

She lightly flicked her naginata, the tip gleaming coldly, reflecting the faint candlelight.

“Mr. Ren, I’m really curious where you learned your swordsmanship. Even I, who have been immersed in martial arts for many years, find it difficult to master.”

Dou Tang lightly raised his longsword and laughed, "Troublesome? It's clearly because we haven't fought before, isn't it?"

Instead, Mao Liang smiled and nodded very frankly.

"Well said. I did lose last time. I made the mistake of underestimating my opponent."

"But this time, you won't have a chance to get close to me!"

With a loud shout, her long legs, encased in tabi socks, suddenly jerked forward, propelling her like an arrow. The cold light of her long sword transformed into a streak of cold star that streaked across the air, aiming straight for Dou Tang's face.

This time, she held the knife with unusual steadiness, intending to use this strike to once again savor Dou Tang's bizarre swordsmanship, which could almost be called "the first among the first."

In the concept of Japanese Kendo, there is a "three-first" principle: first first, first first, and last first.

The so-called "three priorities" refer to the principles and guidelines regarding timing in battle. In battle, "first" is an "opportunity" that must be obtained through continuous struggle. Therefore, the essence of the three priorities is a classification method of seizing the initiative.

The first of the three "firsts" refers to "preemptive attack," which means seeing through the enemy's offensive tactics and launching an attack before the enemy turns their thoughts into actions. This implies control and weighing of all the enemy's intentions and is the highest level of tactics among the three "firsts."

The phrase "first before the first" refers to the act of anticipating the enemy's attack but not striking back. Instead, it involves dodging the attack and seizing the opening revealed by the enemy's attack. This is also known as "first before the first attack."

The "after that" refers to the situation where the enemy has already attacked, and one should parry and block before seeking a way to attack. This is the worst strategy among the three "firsts".

In Mao Liang's view, Dou Tang's skills had clearly reached the level of the most outstanding.

He could accurately see the direction and moves of the enemy's attack, but he was in no hurry to counter them. He would always seize the gaps in the moves to block or dodge before launching an attack. The difference between being first and being last lies in whether the person being attacked can see through the opponent's moves in advance. Dou Tang was clearly able to see through the enemy's moves.

When two opponents who have the initiative clash, it is a process of mutual probing and deciphering. They see through each other's moves the moment the enemy strikes, and then come up with a countermeasure. This cycle repeats until one of them reveals a flaw that can change the course of the battle.

Facing Mao Liang's direct thrust, Dou Tang grinned and raised his hand to meet it. He held the longsword upside down in his right hand and sheathed it behind his arm, while unsheathing the sword with his left hand as he advanced.

The cold star pierced the air with a resounding thud, like the hissing of a snake. The strong wind that came towards him made Dou Tang's eyes sharpen, and a smile with a hint of excitement appeared on his lips.

"it is good!"

He shouted, and to Mo Liang, it didn't sound like Japanese.

The sharp, narrow naginata transformed into a snake's bite, swift as lightning, as Dou Tang charged forward as if he were about to let the long blade pierce through his skull.

But just as the naginata was close enough to pierce his forehead with a single stroke, Dou Tang's legs suddenly lost all strength, and he collapsed. The long blade of the naginata only severed a few strands of his hair.

As the naginata slid downwards, Dou Tang raised his right hand upwards, his right arm and palm outwards, rubbing the blade of the sword against the naginata's hilt, producing a series of grating sounds, and at the same time, he moved closer to Mo Liang.

As Dou Tang leaned forward, he used the strength of his right hand to lift the naginata upwards, and then used the scabbard in his left hand to strike at Mao Liang's hand holding the knife.

Mao Liang was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised that Dou Tang had changed his tactics in an instant, using his real weapon as a small shield to block, and using the scabbard as a hammer, striking Mao Liang's hand with the iron decoration at the end of the scabbard.

Xi, then, is that the fighting style Dou Tang is using at this moment is not the one he has seen before, but a brand new two-handed fighting style, in which the scabbard and the sword can be switched at will.

Mao Liang decisively released his forward hand, while simultaneously lashing his back hand backward, deflecting Dou Tang's attack as he retreated.

But at this point, she was already holding the knife with one hand.

Without the support of the forehand, the tip of the naginata drooped to the ground, and Dou Tang used the momentum to rise up.

Mao Liang wouldn't let him get close. With a single twist of her hand, she turned the naginata so that the blade was facing upwards. Then, she suddenly raised her toes and kicked the hilt of the hilt. The hilt made a soft "clang!" sound. Using the force of her foot, she lifted it up and swung a blade of light from below, aiming for Dou Tang's chest!

Seeing this, Dou Tang rolled to the side, and a flash of light appeared in front of his chest, leaving a shallow mark on his chest, but not even completely cutting through his clothes.

But his quick turn allowed Mo Liang to pull back his naginata and hold it in his hand again.

The two exchanged blows for only two and a half moves, and Mao Liang had already had two opportunities to injure Dou Tang, but failed to succeed either time.

Mao Liang lightly shook the handle of his knife and laughed, "Mr. Ren, getting close to me won't be as easy as it was that day."

Seeing this, Dou Tang pursed his lips slightly, and gripped the longsword that was upside down back to its normal position, as if he were holding two swords at the same time.

His eyes brightened slightly, an invisible aura gradually rose, his shoulders straightened slightly, and he looked at Maolang.