The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 145 Encountering Ninja Again

After killing the sniper, Lei Tao still had the parachuted Japanese pilot in mind. He knew that if the pilot were rescued by the Japanese or colluded with other enemies, it would pose a huge threat to his own side. Taking advantage of a break in the battle, he gave a few words to the soldiers who had just arrived and quickly headed in the general direction where the pilot might have landed.

Lei Tao darted through the forest at high speed, like a cheetah stalking the jungle. He paused periodically, warily observing his surroundings. Finally, he discovered some broken grass and branches, following them to the area where the pilot had parachuted. However, all he saw was the shattered parachute and bloodstains on the ground; the pilot was nowhere to be seen.

Lei Tao frowned, a sense of unease welling up within him. He squatted down, carefully examining the footprints and the surroundings. From the depth and spacing of the footprints, he determined that the pilot had been injured and taken away. The group was numerous, and their movements were disorganized, unlike those of a regular army. "Could it be the local bandits?" Lei Tao wondered.

He stood up and continued following the footprints. Along the way, he came across a small stream. Without hesitation, Lei Tao used rocks and trees along the streamside to easily cross the stream with a few leaps and continued on his way.

Meanwhile, the Japanese pilot, carried by the bandits, continued to struggle. He swung his body back and forth on the bamboo pole, trying to throw the bandits off balance. He nearly caused them to fall into the ravine with him, and one of the bandits, unable to resist, lashed his thighs with his horsewhip, cursing, "Damn it, you little devil! If you keep moving, I'll cut off your legs!" The pilot simply gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and refused to give up his struggle.

Lei Tao followed the trail, gradually approaching the bandits' path. He heard a commotion ahead, and approached with increased caution. He climbed a large tree, observing from above. He saw the bandits carrying the pilot along a path. Lei Tao was overjoyed; he had finally found him. He silently calculated the number of bandits and their weapons, debating whether to snipe or capture the Japanese pilot.

Just as Lei Tao was about to act, several dark figures suddenly darted through the woods like ghosts. It turned out to be the ninjas who had escaped earlier. Having learned that a Japanese pilot had parachuted and disappeared, they anticipated a fierce battle among various factions, so they quietly followed, hoping to take advantage of the chaos.

The ninjas were nimble, leaping from branch to branch at breakneck speed. Their target wasn't just the Japanese pilots; they could also potentially harm Lei Tao. The leading ninja gestured to his companions, then dispersed, forming a circle that slowly closed in on the bandits and Lei Tao.

Lei Tao sensed the shift in the atmosphere around him, and a chill ran down his spine. He knew that on this treacherous battlefield, any negligence could be fatal, and now a new danger was quietly approaching, requiring decisive action. A flicker of determination flashed in his deep eyes, and he immediately decided to focus on dealing with these Japanese ninjas first, and then deal with the Japanese pilot...

He quickly pulled several stun grenades from the Bagua spinning top's space, and with practiced, steady fingers, he pulled the safety pin. Lei Tao narrowed his eyes slightly. With his keen foresight of enemy movements and precise perception of the battlefield, he quickly mapped out the trajectory of the ninjas' impending encirclement. He took a deep breath, exerted force, and like a powerful catapult, his arm hurled the stun grenades swiftly in the direction of the ninjas.

The stun grenades arced through the air, landing precisely in the ninja's path. Immediately afterwards, several resounding explosions shook the heavens and earth. Intense light and piercing sound waves erupted like a surging tide. The ninjas were caught off guard by the sudden attack, and the tight encirclement was instantly disrupted and broken. Those ninjas closest to the stun grenades were blinded by the bright light, their ears ringing, and their bodies swayed uncontrollably. Some even covered their ears in agony and collapsed to the ground.

Lei Tao, quick-witted and swift-handed, seized this fleeting opportunity and charged at the ninjas like an arrow from a bow. He unleashed his Shinyou sword technique, a style that could counter ninjas to a certain degree—a style he excelled at! He gripped the electric-shock-powered broadsword tightly, its blade gleaming with a chilling light. The essence of the Shinyou sword technique lay in speed, precision, and ruthlessness, and Lei Tao's movements were nimble and his footwork brisk. A ninja, bracing himself, lunged at Lei Tao, brandishing his katana. Undeterred, Lei Tao met the blow. With a roar, he raised his sword high and brought it down with a powerful, electric blow, like a mountain crushing an egg. The ninja frantically drew his sword to block, but Lei Tao's incredible force sent his arm trembling. Lei Tao swiftly spun, his blade slicing past the ninja's sword, sending up a shower of dazzling sparks. He then backhanded a slash into the ninja's abdomen. Unable to dodge, the blade pierced his chest mercilessly... Lei Tao then kicked the ninja away, unsheathing his broadsword. With the swiftness of a cheetah, he charged at the ninjas. He took a deep breath, silently reciting the key points of the Xinyou sword technique, a technique originally developed by General Qi Jiguang and specifically designed to defeat the enemy. Lei Tao gripped the electric-shock-equipped broadsword tightly, its blade flashing with a dangerous cold light. His movements were steady and agile, his footwork swift, like a dragon emerging from the sea. A ninja, despite his discomfort, charged at Lei Tao, brandishing his katana. Lei Tao's gaze was sharp, his deliberate composure unhurried. He lowered his shoulders and elbows, sweeping his broadsword upward with unwavering force and electricity—a move perfectly embodied in the Xinyou sword technique's "sword-lifting" style. The ninja held his sword horizontally to block, but Lei Tao's powerful force numbed his arm, nearly causing the blade to slip from his grasp. Taking advantage of the momentum, Lei Tao leaned forward, slicing his broadsword in the air in a semicircle, like a crescent moon, slicing toward the ninja's neck. This was the "moon-slashing" style. The ninja, startled, quickly dodged to the side. Although he avoided the vital blow, the blade still lacerated his shoulder, drawing blood.