The duel was spectacular. Although it couldn't change the plot, it taught the onlookers a lot. Bihua eventually stopped challenging, and the other Adventurers dispersed.
Three Bamboo said, "Old Crane, it seems Ashina Weiming Genichiro is indeed unbeatable. Why waste your time? Why not explore Ashina Castle together?"
White Crane Hermit shook his head. "Bihua winning is her skill. I haven't defeated Ashina Weiming Genichiro yet, and until then, I won't enter the official plot section."
Three Bamboo grumbled impatiently, "You haven't changed in decades; always so stubborn!"
White Crane Hermit had no interest in participating in or pushing the latest progress; he loved challenging limits! Although he couldn't be the first Adventurer to defeat Ashina Weiming Genichiro due to a lack of energy, observing Bihua's battle was immensely beneficial. He felt he could avoid many detours, and victory should be within reach.
Winning alone wasn't enough. As an Adventurer pursuing limits, White Crane Hermit wanted to go a step further based on his existing foundation. Although Bihua defeated Ashina Weiming Genichiro, she lost the battle due to an ambush by the Flying Kite Troop. If she could find a way to deal with them beforehand, would the outcome change? This was undoubtedly extremely difficult but not completely impossible.
White Crane Hermit wanted to give it a try next.
The adventure in Miracle City was still ongoing. The entire hall was filled with the clang of blades, the frantic firing of various firearms, and the roars of Zombies. Of course, there was no shortage of Adventurers' boos and cheers.
Nancilia faced this relaxed and lively atmosphere, feeling the genuine happiness of the Adventurers. This vigorous passion and vitality would not only propel Miracle City to prosperity but also become a force capable of shaking the Eternal Night Great Forest!
She couldn't help but feel a sense of great security and reassurance.
---
Soon after, Bihua challenged the Eastern Realm Secret Realm again. This time, she chose the official plot of the Ashina Chapter without hesitation.
When she awoke in Wolf's body, she first smelled a damp, decaying wood scent. As she opened her eyes, she found herself inside a temple with exotic characteristics.
Bihua sat up and scanned her surroundings. This was the interior of a dilapidated temple. The roof and walls were damaged in many places, and the wood had a dark, decaying brown hue, covered in smoke marks, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
The interior was dimly lit, with only a faint oil lamp providing illumination. The vicinity and the ground were filled with wooden sculptures in various poses, and these Buddha figures had distorted or no faces, resembling a group of hungry ghosts struggling in purgatory.
There was no divinity here—only terror and bizarre imagery.
At that moment, a gaunt, disheveled old man was concentrating on carving in the lamplight. When he noticed Bihua sit up, he spoke in a hoarse, low voice without raising his head. "You're awake. It seems your life wasn't meant to end..."
Bihua discovered that her severed left arm had been replaced by a seemingly crude prosthetic—the Shinobi Prosthetic used by other Adventurers. Excellent! She finally got the arm she had been thinking about!
This place was an inconspicuous abandoned temple outside Ashina Castle. Key figures inhabited this temple. The disheveled old man carving Buddha statues was called the Sculptor. He was the one who saved the Wolf and gave him the Shinobi Prosthetic.
According to hints from other Adventurers, two more people could be found in this dilapidated temple. She first discovered a graceful woman with a neat hime cut and a simple, elegant Eastern-style kimono at the temple entrance.
This person called herself Emma, a pharmacist. The Sculptor and her adoptive father were close friends, and she often visited to care for the not-so-healthy Sculptor, providing medicine for the Wolf and improving the healing gourd that automatically produced potions.
"This person is definitely not simple!" Bihua recognized her as the red umbrella woman who initially delivered the letter to the Wolf.
Although she was curious about Emma's background, other Adventurers had already tried. Excessive questioning and forcefully demanding information at this point would lead to a loss of plot synchronization. Reckless Adventurers even drew their swords to attack the Sculptor or Emma—actions far beyond the Wolf's normal behavior. Such actions would only cause the synchronization value to plummet and lead to a failed challenge and plot reset!
While the Miracle City plot Secret Realm was great, it was regrettable that the characters' fates couldn't be changed. However, according to circulating rumors, after clearing all plots in the future, the synchronization value requirement would decrease, allowing Adventurers to potentially change the plot's direction.
Bihua didn't think it was a big deal that the plot and fate couldn't be changed for now. After all, role-playing was about experiencing the character's life, and only by experiencing it authentically could one better understand the story.
After talking with Emma, Bihua wasn't in a hurry to save the Divine Child. To the right of this temple surrounded by a bamboo forest, there was a slope leading to the mountainside. In this open space, there was a merit box and a strange person.
This person wore a tattered mask, dirty armor, and a severely worn uchigatana. His face was full of wrinkles, and his eyes showed numbness.
"Are you the Ninja saved by the Sculptor? A Ninja's moves might be..."
This Samurai directly drew his sword. "Please, by all means, spar with me!"
Without a word, he struck straight at her.
Although Bihua was puzzled, she didn't hold back at all. With one strike, she deflected the opponent's weapon, and with the next, she pierced his heart and kicked the corpse away.
"What a strange man..."
Just as she sheathed Kusabimaru, she saw the Samurai she had pierced through the heart stand up again, and the wound on his chest healed rapidly.
"As expected, he can't die?"
The strange Samurai sighed and continued, "Excuse me, my name is Undying Hanbei... Your swordsmanship is quite decisive and clean. In Ashina, there aren't many masters who can injure me like this with just two strikes."
Bihua was wary yet curious. "What exactly are you?"
Undying Hanbei replied, "I have an Undying body, also known as the infested. Since I can't die, I can only stay here alone to pass the time."
Bihua exclaimed, "Can't die? That's impossible!"
Undying Hanbei chuckled self-deprecatingly but didn't explain, "You seem to be a very capable Ninja. If you need to practice your swordsmanship, please feel free to use my body..."
"This body can't die..."
"So you can cut me however you want..."
"Don't be polite; just use me. I'm already used to pain..."
Undying Hanbei stated, "I have only one humble request: if you find a way to eliminate the Undying, please be sure to try it on me."
He wants to die that much?
Bihua really didn't believe there was such a thing as an Undying body in this world. So she continued to fight Undying Hanbei, trying various methods to kill him, but no matter if it was piercing the heart, decapitation, or any other method, she truly couldn't kill him.
How could this be?
As she scratched her head in confusion, an Adventurer outside said, "Bihua Boss, you don't have to waste your effort; we've all tried. This strange man really can't be killed!"
"Time Traveler Boss is very interested in Undying Hanbei. He has learned about this person's past through a series of investigations."
Hearing this piqued Bihua's curiosity. Other Adventurers outside also became interested.
So this Adventurer introduced the story he had just heard: "According to Traveler Boss's investigation, Undying Hanbei was originally a poor person from other parts of Eastern Ying. He came to Ashina to escape war and famine. When he was about to starve to death, he met a passing monk."
"Seeing his pitiful state and strong will to live, this monk put a strange worm into his body. As a result, something unknown mutated, giving Hanbei powerful Undying abilities."
"With his Undying body, Hanbei honed some skills and became a wandering Samurai. Later, he met Tamura Yoshifumi, the general of the Inner Ministry."
"Yes, that's right—it's the opening plot, Tamura Yoshifumi, who dueled the Sword Saint Ashina Isshin."
"Tamura Yoshifumi discovered Hanbei's ability and greatly appreciated it. He not only provided him with generous treatment but also trained him to be his personal guard."
"This deeply moved Hanbei, who had wandered for half his life, and he swore to become a true Samurai."
---
"Everyone knows what happened later."
"Tamura Yoshifumi was killed by Sword Saint Ashina Isshin in the war."
"According to the customs of the Eastern Land, as a personal guard, Hanbei should commit seppuku when his master is killed to defend his honor and oath. However, this was impossible for Hanbei."
"He then challenged Ashina Isshin. The result was predictable—he was cut in half, but even so, he still didn't die. A few days later, his body repaired itself, and he came back to life."
---
"After this, Undying Hanbei wandered again."
"His Undying body became an even more complete curse. He was coveted multiple times by forces who desired Undying power, and several times his companions were implicated, leading to tragedies. All his friends and lovers died because of him."
"Therefore, at this moment, Undying Hanbei is alone."
"To avoid implicating others again, he came to this dilapidated temple to live in seclusion, wholeheartedly searching for a way to die."
---
While learning about Hanbei's story, Bihua continued to spar with and kill him repeatedly, but the result was undoubtedly ineffective. This guy really was completely Undying!
The Adventurers also discussed amongst themselves.
"That's amazing!"
"A strange worm can make a person Undying?"
"Where did the mysterious monk from back then come from?"
"Is there a way for us to find these monks?"
"How much mystery and strangeness is still hidden in this land?"
"The world of Ashina Country is definitely not simple!"
---
Bihua's curiosity about Undying Hanbei gradually turned into sympathy. The Undying that countless great figures in this world pursued had become an eternal torment and curse for him.
He wanted to follow Tamura and uphold the honor and dignity of a Samurai. He wanted to be with his loved ones and friends. Death was definitely a release!
"Sorry, I can't kill you right now either!" Bihua couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
Undying Hanbei said calmly, "I've already gotten used to it. If you need to test your sword in the future, please feel free to find me. This is the only value of this body..."
This person wasn't incapable of feeling pain; perhaps it was just that the pain could temporarily alleviate his guilt.
Bihua sighed with emotion. The exploration of Ashina Country had just begun. Even an inconspicuous minor character hid so many stories and tragic pasts.
This made the Adventurers sigh, once again deeply feeling the flesh and blood of the Secret Realm world, and becoming more curious about the entire Ashina Country's plot and various secrets.
No time to waste!
Bihua said goodbye to Undying Hanbei. She secretly made up her mind: if she could truly find a way to eliminate the Undying, she must come back and help him find release!
Bihua was not the only Adventurer with this idea. Even without knowing Hanbei's story, just witnessing this person's almost abnormal Undying ability was enough to motivate Adventurers strongly.
Why? Because of the spirit! The first Adventurer to kill Undying Hanbei had a relatively high chance of obtaining a named spirit.
This was a named spirit that could potentially grant people Undying abilities! Although the spirit ability might be modified due to the world's laws after being manifested from the Secret Realm, nonetheless, this would be a very precious, even priceless spirit, definitely worth striving for!
However, how to completely eliminate the Undying remained a mystery.
After leaving the dilapidated temple, Bihua began to move using the Shinobi Prosthetic. With the help of the flexible and freely controlled Ninja Grappling Hook, she finally experienced the exhilaration of wall-running, roof-hopping, and flying around as she wished.
"So cool and so free!"
"This feeling is simply too addictive!"
---
Bihua soon discovered Ashina Soldiers, and these soldiers were difficult to communicate with. They were full of hostility toward all invaders, especially Ninjas of unknown origin.
Just kill them! Nothing else to say!
Bihua fought fiercely with Ashina Weiming Genichiro over thirty times, and now her coordination with the character had reached a very deep level, leading to smooth movements and top-notch operational awareness.
Mere small soldiers? She didn't even consider them a challenge!
Bihua dispatched seven or eight small soldiers in a few moves. However, at this moment, she encountered her first strong enemy:
**[Samurai General: Kawarada Naomori]**
Tier 2 Two Stars...
Bihua judged that ordinary Ashina Soldier Samurai were Tier 1 Three Stars, Ashina Soldier Samurai leaders were Tier 1 Five Stars, and the Samurai General should be the most outstanding among them, belonging to the level of a military commander.
This Samurai General not only had Tier 2 Two Stars performance, but his swordsmanship was also honed through countless battles and was extremely exquisite.
Bihua didn't quite understand the opponent's swordsmanship style and completely missed the point in her first challenge. She actually capsized after a few rounds and was killed by a quick thrust from the opponent.
"A bit powerful!"
"Can't underestimate this guy!"
Bihua finally understood why hundreds of Adventurers had been tortured to death by this Samurai General. Even she was defeated due to lack of familiarity, let alone ordinary Adventurers.
Ashina Country was indeed full of masters.
However, Bihua was not convinced. An opponent of this level could only stop her once at most. The next time, he definitely wouldn't be so lucky.
While Bihua was queuing up and preparing, the discussion of several Adventurers caught her attention.
"Time Traveler Boss has discovered hidden content in Ashina Country!"
"This route can take us back to the world of three years ago through the Wolf's lost memories!"
Hearing this, Bihua was very surprised. She knew that the Wolf was missing a large chunk of memory, but she didn't expect this memory could be recovered in this way!
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