Chapter 59: Yagyū Kojirō

“It’s good that you’re okay. Go change your clothes quickly, and be careful not to catch a cold.”

Seeing that the woman was unharmed, Lin Mu didn’t linger any longer. He got up and left.

The woman stared at Lin Mu’s retreating figure for a moment. A gentle breeze blew past, making her shiver suddenly. She glanced around and quickly hurried away at a trot.

As he passed through a small grove of trees, Lin Mu took advantage of nobody watching. His zhenqi surged fiercely from his dantian, racing rapidly through his meridians. Instantly, a cloud of mist steamed all over his body.

In the blink of an eye, his soaked clothes were completely dry. After carefully straightening his clothes, Lin Mu returned to the classroom.

However, just as he sat down, he heard Mo Anyao, sitting beside him, give a soft chuckle.

“A-Mu, you have a faint scent of perfume on you.”

Lin Mu froze slightly. He quickly lowered his head and sniffed himself. Sure enough, he detected a light fragrance. Yet, even he hadn’t noticed it without paying close attention. How had Mo Anyao managed to smell it?

“Anyao, your nose is incredible! How can you even smell that?”

He knew his five senses were far beyond normal human limits. Turning to look at Mo Anyao, Lin Mu wore an expression full of admiration.

“Of course! My dad has praised my nose since I was little.” Mo Anyao looked proud, her face smug as she gazed at Lin Mu. “That perfume on you is a bit special. It has the subtle scent of roses mixed with a refreshing fragrance like orchids. I feel like I’ve heard of this perfume before.”

Lin Mu stared blankly at Mo Anyao, his intent gaze making her hair stand on end.

“You’re amazing! You can distinguish the different scents inside? I didn’t smell anything at all!”

Ignoring his words, Mo Anyao thought hard but couldn’t recall where she’d encountered the perfume. Suddenly she snapped back to attention, looking at Lin Mu in astonishment.

“Hang on! This perfume smell… it’s not Song Yuru’s scent, nor Ye Zixi’s or Ling Xuanrong’s. It’s definitely not coming from Ji Qinglan either; she doesn’t wear perfume at all. Do you have another woman?”

Lin Mu instantly slumped onto his desk in defeat, his face a picture of tragic despair.

“What do you mean, ‘another woman’? You make me sound like some heartless, philandering scoundrel! I’m still a pure-hearted virgin boy, okay!”

“Pfft! You? A virgin? Are you trying to make me laugh my teeth out?” Mo Anyao shot Lin Mu a look of utter disdain. Sure, this guy was a bit better than others, but for so many beautiful girls to throw themselves at him? She really couldn’t see the appeal.

“I really am a virgin.”

Lin Mu felt like he couldn’t wash away this accusation even if he jumped into the Huangpu River. Anyone seeing the crowd of beauties surrounding him would never believe it was true.

The afternoon classes quickly came to an end. As four o’clock approached and he was just getting ready to head to the Stadium, Ye Zixi popped her head through the doorway.

“A-Mu, why aren’t you at the Stadium yet?”

“I was just about to go! Don’t be so anxious!” Lin Mu leisurely finished packing his textbooks, looking completely unhurried.

“Argh! How can you be so casual? I’m worried sick!” Ye Zixi, seeing Lin Mu’s infuriatingly calm attitude, was madder than a wet hen. That Yagyū Kojirō was truly formidable. If Lin Mu faced him with such carelessness, he might suffer greatly.

The two ambled their way towards the Stadium. By now, it was already packed with many students waiting. When Lin Mu and Ye Zixi entered, the place immediately burst into a loud commotion.

“Be careful.”

With so many people around, Ye Zixi couldn’t say much more. She could only offer a quiet reminder.

Lin didn’t speak. He just gave her a reassuring look before walking to the center of the arena. Facing Yagyū Kojirō, who sat cross-legged and motionless, Lin Mu offered a small smile.

“I am Lin Mu. Before we begin the challenge, I have a question. Why did you specifically challenge me? I haven’t really shown any remarkable abilities, have I?”

Hearing Lin Mu’s words, Yagyū Kojirō slowly opened his eyes. Pushing against the ground with the outsides of his feet, he rose effortlessly to his feet.

“Hello. I am a friend of Ken-kun. Last time he fought you, one of his Achilles tendons was severed. He still hasn’t fully recovered. Of course, I say this not to seek revenge for him.”

“On the martial path, true strength lies in the spirit. Having merely witnessed Ken-kun’s impressive skill, I wished to exchange a few moves with Ken-kun. To learn from each other.”

After delivering these calm and respectful words, Yagyū Kojirō gave a slight bow.

“So that’s why. I thought you were here for revenge. Since it’s for mutual practice, I won’t use heavy force.” Comprehension dawned on Lin Mu’s face. He smiled and returned the gesture with a cupped fist salute.

“Ken-kun need not hold back. I, Yagyū Kojirō, always give my all in every contest. It is a sign of respect for my opponent.” Yagyū Kojirō bowed once more, his tone utterly serious.

“Very well. If that is the case, I ask for your guidance!” Lin Mu also became serious. Yagyū Kojirō’s dedication to the martial way earned his respect.

“Begin!” Yagyū Kojirō dropped into his stance. His gaze instantly sharpened to a deadly point. Drawing in a sharp breath to his abdomen, his feet seemed to sprout wings. His hands cut through the air twice in blurs, launching himself at Lin Mu in the blink of an eye.

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed. It seems he truly had underestimated this Yagyū Kojirō. The man was indeed strong – significantly stronger than Ken.

Within a flicker of thought, Lin Mu shifted his feet slightly and twisted his body, effortlessly dodging Yagyū Kojirō’s first attack.

For the moment, Lin Mu had no intention to counter. He wanted to gauge Yagyū Kojirō’s true strength, to understand how he remained undefeated at Donghai University.

The surrounding students watched as Yagyū Kojirō relentlessly attacked at high speed, the air filled with the blur of his hands and the sharp whistling of cuts.

Lin Mu solely focused on evasion. To the untrained eye, Lin Mu seemed completely overwhelmed, utterly suppressed and incapable of fighting back.

However, if there were any true martial arts experts present, they would see that Lin Mu was actually serene and composed. He wasn’t exerting any real effort, simply dodging and weaving like it was a game.

After nearly ten minutes of furious attacks, Yagyū Kojirō hadn’t even managed to touch the hem of Lin Mu’s clothes. His own breath was becoming ragged. He abruptly halted his assault and retreated two steps.

“Ken-kun, why do you not strike? Do you look down on me?”

“My apologies. I merely wished to observe the karate form. It seems your training is commendable. Now, I will begin my offense. Yagyū-kun, be prepared.” Lin Mu offered a slight smile. His right hand traced a half-circle as he gestured forward.

“Excellent! Let me witness Ken-kun’s skill!” Yagyū Kojirō’s expression instantly became solemn. His focus intensified as he stared at Lin Mu, his eyes radiating sharp resolve.

Lin Mu’s smile vanished. His feet wove a complex pattern – seemingly slow but incredibly fast. His palm drifted casually towards Yagyū Kojirō’s chest. The Japanese martial artist immediately crossed his arms to block.

Unexpectedly, Lin Mu changed his movement mid-reach, suddenly striking towards Yagyū Kojirō’s head instead. The latter’s reflexes were equally quick. He ducked his neck and lifted his hands again to protect his head.

But Lin Mu had already changed his move for the third time. His other hand formed a loose fist and landed a light tap against Yagyū Kojirō’s chest.

The spectators thought Lin Mu’s motion looked feeble. They were stunned when that single punch landed on Yagyū Kojirō’s chest and sent him skidding backward across the floor for six or seven meters.

It might have appeared weak to outsiders, but Yagyū Kojirō suffered tremendously. The instant Lin Mu’s fist connected, he felt an overwhelming force erupt through his chest.

Pain exploded. He was flung backward. Only by using a specialized technique to dissipate the force throughout his body could he even remain standing. Without that skill, that single punch would have felled him permanently.

Lin Mu also glanced at Yagyū Kojirō in surprise. He had actually released a tiny surge of zhenqi in that strike. He hadn’t expected Yagyū Kojirō to withstand it entirely. Recalling the punch, Lin Mu realized some of the force hadn’t landed solely on Yagyū Kojirō – part of it had been deflected into the ground.

Yagyū Kojirō stared back at Lin Mu, equally shocked. He genuinely hadn’t anticipated Lin Mu’s immense strength. He had assumed their levels were comparable, at best. Yet, that one move starkly revealed the chasm between them.

Huaxia truly was teeming with hidden masters, he thought. Such an expert hiding anonymously on a university campus… he would need to be more cautious from now on, lest he encounter another unknown master like Lin Mu.

Despite this realization, Yagyū Kojirō had no intention of surrendering easily. Lin Mu’s formidable power instead ignited his fighting spirit, making him more eager than ever for a proper bout.

Suddenly, Yagyū Kojirō let out a fierce yell. He flung his arms backward to gain momentum, pivoted sharply on the spot, and in two explosive strides closed the six or seven-meter gap instantly. His hand blades sliced towards Lin Mu again.

Covering that distance in two steps spoke volumes of Yagyū Kojirō’s solid martial arts foundation. His entire musculature seemed perfectly honed.

The sheer ferocity and speed of his attack made him seem far more dangerous than Lin Mu from an outside perspective. This assault represented Yagyū Kojirō’s full power; every move generated razor-sharp gusts of wind.

Lin Mu remained in place. He calmly slapped aside Yagyū Kojirō’s hand blade strike, then spun his body, using the momentum to pivot smoothly behind Yagyū Kojirō.

In a blur, Lin Mu vanished from Yagyū Kojirō’s sight. His internal warning screamed Danger!. Without even turning his head, Yagyū Kojirō leaped into the air whipping his body around in a powerful mid-air spinning kick aimed straight behind him.

Yagyū Kojirō’s reflexes were truly exceptional. Unable to see Lin Mu? The only logical place was directly behind. Attack instantly without hesitation!

The power in a leg kick far exceeds that of the arms. This 360-degree spinning whip kick in mid-air generated a loud, sharp whistling sound as it cleaved through the air.