306: Chapter 47 On the Brink 306: Chapter 47 On the Brink At the uppermost part of the First Tier Great Waterfall, the water leaping 150 meters carved a Zen curve through the air, returning to the streams of Dahe Island.
Located on the west side, atop a pine tree, two ninjas were observing the situation below with binoculars.
“Yamaoka, what made you become a ninja?” The stocky ninja in black and white attire asked after confirming that the situation was normal.
The ninja beside him, dressed in brown attire, was called Yamaoka, who had until recently been working under Zuiyan.
“…” Yamaoka did not respond.
The black and white clad ninja paused, then spoke apologetically, “I’m truly sorry, Controller-san.
I was used to calling you that; please forgive me.” He blamed himself inwardly, It’s so rude!
Even when speaking to a junior, one should not use their real name once they’ve been given a ninja name.
It’s like saying someone’s childhood nickname in a public setting, which is behavior that could get someone ostracized from the village.
“Ah, no!” The controller’s voice sounded as if waking from a dream.
“It’s not like that, Jihai-san.
I, I am…” Jihai, the black and white clad ninja, noticed his companion’s abdominal muscles tense up.
“Too nervous?” “Yes.” Just as expected, he was a newcomer who had received his ninja name today.
Jihai pulled out a mint candy—it wasn’t a special supply from the Ninja Army, just a cheap candy from a convenience store.
“Eating this should help.” “Thank you, truly.”
Yamaoka, with the candy in his mouth, felt a slight relief from his ninja stomachache.
Just seconds ago, Jihai-san had asked him something.
“Ah yes, the reason I became a ninja, that, I loved watching ninja cartoons when I was a kid, then I also wanted to contribute to the country.
So, when I was secretly told I had the talent…” Jihai picked up where he left off.
“Which means, it came naturally.” Yamaoka chewed on those words, nodding involuntarily.
Jihai chuckled softly.
And here I thought it was because of an enemy.
You’re nervous because of Crush-san, right?”
The mention of that ninja name made Yamaoka’s breath halt for a moment.
Why was he, who belonged to Zuiyan-san, suffering from stomachaches here every day?
It must be, indubitably, connected to the conversations among ninjas.
It had been three days ago, namely, the day when Shiyu went on an unauthorized attack at the shrine…
Three days ago, underground in Weiyuan City.
Yamaoka, holding a stack of documents, stood at the edge of the tea room door, not even daring to breathe.
Yamaoka was a ninja at the Thousand Refinement Level, although he had yet to receive an official ninja name, but he had practiced the Impermanence Skill in the Divine Communication Realm.
The place he was currently at was located underground in the giant city of Weiyuan, the ultra-confidential meeting tea room.
The tatami mats made a perfect square, representing the quintessential style of Zero Island.
There were no extra decorations in the tea room, only calligraphy that read “All things are transient” hung on the wall directly facing the entrance.
What a wabi-sabi atmosphere.
Most people, upon arriving here, would be influenced by the mysterious aura and would be compelled to sit quietly and perhaps participate in Zen meditation.
But Yamaoka’s heart could not find peace, because the ninja sitting in the room, dressed in black and red attire, exuded an atmosphere that completely overshadowed the Zen spirit.
How could one describe this ninja…
One could summarize him in one glance as…
Usually, a robust man taller than 2 meters is enough to make ordinary people look up.
But this ninja, his height exceeding 4 meters, his silhouette looked as broad as two sumo wrestlers combined, his arms, thighs, neck, face, every visible part was muscled from intense training.
He was practically a mountain of muscle!
Yamaoka had a premonition, even if this ninja used no supernatural powers, regular firearms probably couldn’t even harm his body.
No, it wasn’t a premonition, but a deep conviction from within his heart that this man could definitely do it.
For he was the strongest of the Martial Arts Faction, the Ninja Army Leader, Crush!
Crush, sitting there, nearly filled half the space of the tea room.
The Zuiyan sitting opposite him was already diminutive, and in comparison, they looked like an adult next to a rag doll.
The massive ninja Crush was making tea, his mere act of lifting his arm stirred a breeze in the tea room, causing Yamaoka’s ninja headband to flutter.
Crush, holding the tea bowl with his fingers following the etiquette of tea ceremony, placed it on Zuiyan’s right hand side.
“Please, Master,” he said, his voice booming as if someone had used a bass cannon.
In a situation where they were equals, Zuiyan should first modestly refuse, then allow Crush to persuade, and finally accept the tea.
The ritual of initial refusal followed by acceptance encapsulates the profound Zen in the tea ceremony.
“I accept it.” However, the diminutive ninja accepted it directly, because the giant across from him was serving tea in the capacity of a disciple.
To refuse in this context would be truly humiliating for the other party.
The intricacies of etiquette in the ninja workplace are indeed complicated!
Zuiyan, following the tea ceremony etiquette, rotated the tea utensil in his hand.
like someone completely unfamiliar with the tea ceremony, pulled out a large plastic bottle.
“Gulug, gulug, gulug.” Blue liquid trickled from the corner of his mouth—it was an energy drink!
Yamaoka inwardly screamed.
This man, drinking from a plastic bottle in the tea room and making coarse noises like a sportsman!
For an ordinary ninja, this situation was no longer a matter for expelling from the village or cutting off a finger—it required seppuku!
Zuiyan remained composed, lifting the tea bowl to his lips for a sip.
After drinking thrice, leaving a little in the bottom of the bowl, he set down the tea bowl.
“It’s always the same, you don’t like tea ceremony, do you?”
“I truly don’t like drinking tea,” Crush said loudly and brashly, “I’ll be meticulous with you and colleagues, but I won’t bother with these rituals for myself.”