Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Chinese Ninja

It is said that ghosts and monsters bring a chilling wind, yet the person behind me exudes the presence of the living. But I wondered, what living person could possess such inhuman strength? When I turned my head and saw a figure shrouded completely in black standing five meters away, I was puzzled. Why hadn’t I noticed him when I passed by earlier? Now, he gave off the same air of mystery as a Japanese shadow ninja, and it was clear he could vanish at will. Just as I was about to speak, he beat me to it.

His voice didn’t sound Japanese at all; it was more like the accent of someone from Shandong. He introduced himself as Jiang Luyu, from the Jiang Group, one of the top three conglomerates in K City. He said he had studied in Japan since childhood and developed a passion for ninjutsu. While in Japan, he apprenticed under Sasaki, a renowned ninja master, and mastered the art. After passing rigorous tests, he attained the rank of Human Ninja, stirring up waves in the Japanese ninjutsu world and surpassing all other experts at his level.

Speaking of Sasaki, I remembered hearing about him—one of Japan’s ten greatest Celestial Ninjas, a top-tier master whose chosen disciples cared nothing for nationality or status. Since Sasaki had selected Jiang Luyu, it meant he truly had potential.

I was also familiar with the ninja hierarchy. The supreme rank, Infinite Ninja, had not appeared in centuries. Beneath that were several Celestial Ninjas—more than fifty now—and even Sasaki, the closest to the Infinite rank, was still far from achieving it. It was said that reaching Infinite Ninja in one’s lifetime was virtually impossible.

Looking at Jiang Luyu’s youthful figure and attire, he couldn't have been more than twenty-five. To reach the rank of Human Ninja at such a young age showed that Sasaki had a good eye.

I said, “You didn’t lure me here just to introduce yourself, did you?”

My words interrupted Jiang Luyu’s self-introduction. I couldn’t help but wonder if, during ninja duels in Japan, they always recited these formalities at the start—if so, their opponents might die of boredom before a blow was struck.

Jiang Luyu scratched his head awkwardly and replied, “The reason I brought you here is because we ninjas possess unique abilities others don’t. I could sense you’re not ordinary. I wanted to bring you here to make friends.”

“To make friends?”

I laughed. I had never seen anyone attempt friendship in such a way. It was obvious he’d brought me to this abandoned factory to test my strength.

Since he wished to spar, I didn’t bother with further words and said simply, “No need to beat around the bush. If you want to test yourself, just say so—I won’t refuse.”

As soon as I spoke, Jiang Luyu exclaimed, “Forgive me!” Then, a flash of silver gleamed as he drew a katana from his waist and lunged at me.

Facing this lowly Human Ninja, a faint smile curled at my lips. Was he not asking for humiliation? During the year I’d lived as a demon corpse, Uncle Ma and Old Mao had told me many things I hadn’t known before, including the ninja hierarchy.

Uncle Mao said that ninjas originated in ancient Japan, first known as shadow warriors, later renamed during the shogunate era. The highest rank is Infinite Ninja, followed by Celestial, Earth, Human, Upper, Middle, and Lower Ninja. Each level is strictly demarcated. Legend has it only one person has ever reached the Infinite rank, who died over four centuries ago. Now, Infinite Ninja is a chasm no one can cross.

Even among Celestial Ninjas, there are only ten worldwide, with Sasaki—Jiang Luyu’s master—being the most renowned. Uncle Ma once said, “At their peak, Infinite Ninjas could rival the Demon Ancestor General Chen. But ninjutsu is not as easily mastered as legends would have it, requiring tremendous luck and coincidence.”

If Infinite Ninja was equivalent to General Chen, then Celestial Ninja would match the first generation of demon corpse kings. That would make Jiang Luyu, as a Human Ninja, equivalent to a third-generation demon corpse.

For a third-generation to challenge a first-generation king—was this not a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly overestimating himself? I couldn’t help but sigh at Jiang Luyu’s ignorance.

The katana gleamed under the moonlight as it thrust toward me. I didn’t dodge. With two fingers, I caught the blade mid-air. Jiang Luyu froze, then vanished in a blur—classic ninja stealth.

Stealth is one of the basic techniques taught to entry-level Lower Ninjas; the higher the rank, the better the concealment. Though I’d heard of ninja stealth, I’d never learned how to counter it, and for a moment, I was at a loss.

I tossed the katana aside and scanned my surroundings, missing the fact that the blade was slowly rising from the ground, drifting around to my right.

I could no longer sense Jiang Luyu, but when my gaze landed on the katana, something clicked in my mind. With a spinning back kick, I knocked the katana—now only twenty centimeters away—out of reach. This time, I didn’t toss it aside but stabbed it deep into the earth, pinning it underfoot. Unless I was killed, Jiang Luyu would never reclaim his weapon.

Deprived of his katana, Jiang Luyu could only attack me barehanded. But we demon corpses have extraordinarily keen senses of smell. If he came within two meters, I could track him by his scent alone.

Perhaps realizing this, Jiang Luyu dared not approach. Growing impatient, I unfurled great wings from my back and soared ten meters into the air.

A Human Ninja’s greatest regret is not having wings; only Celestial Ninjas and above can levitate, and only Infinite Ninjas can cloak themselves while airborne.

Watching the movements on the ground, I recalled something my ancient martial arts teacher once said: “You cannot see the unseen with your eyes alone; only by observing with your heart can you be truly perceptive.”

This made me think of those cinematic tricks to counter Japanese stealth—don’t rely on sight, but on intuition.

Slowly, I descended from the sky, hovering above the katana’s hilt, attuning every sense to the whisper of the wind.

Half an hour passed before a faint, fishy breeze brushed past my nose. Instantly, I lashed out with a kick toward the empty air on my left. Before Jiang Luyu could utter a word, my blow sent him tumbling ten meters back, his form forced into the open.

As I drew the katana and moved to help him up, I heard someone approaching. I tossed the sword back to Jiang Luyu and urged him to leave at once, hiding myself behind a tree. If we were discovered in such a place, we’d surely be accused of thievery, and there’d be no way to explain ourselves.

Just as I ducked behind the tree, a resplendent golden business card whirled through the air, embedding itself in the trunk beside me like a dart.

…