Beside the young man in white, a step behind, stood an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles.
The old man had a gloomy expression and only one ear.
If Leo were here, he would surely recognize this man as Bennett, who had failed to attack Kihachi McGuire that day and had his ear cut off by him.
The young man in white in front of Bennett was named Reece Hojo, a third-generation direct descendant of the Hojo Clan and the clan’s chosen successor.
“Maniwa, I didn’t expect you to arrive first,” Reece said with a smile as he quickened his pace upon seeing Maniwa in the pavilion.
Reece’s gaze towards Maniwa held a subtle hint of possessiveness.
“Reece, is Maniwa all you see? Didn’t you notice me, Samson?” Samson pouted slightly, his eyes carrying a hint of resentment.
Reece’s face stiffened momentarily, cursing inwardly at the effeminate man.
“Hehe, Samson, what are you talking about?” Reece forced a smile.
Although he found this effeminate man disgusting, he didn’t show it on his face.
Samson’s gaze shifted to Bennett, and his eyes sparkled.
“Reece, your Hojo Clan members are quite unique. Is having only one ear the new trend?” Samson laughed.
Samson’s words made Bennett’s face even gloomier.
Having his ear cut off by Leo was the greatest humiliation of his life.
Samson’s mockery made Reece’s eyelid twitch, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.
Although their families appeared peaceful on the surface, they often clashed in private.
“Miss Samson, my other ear was cut off by that kid from Atraria!”
“We Hojo Clan ninjas have always turned shame into motivation. Thanks to the injury that kid gave me, I am now an upper-level Earth Ninja.”
Bennett touched the spot where his ear had been cut off, a sharp glint in his eyes.
At the same time, Bennett released his ninja aura.
Around his body, invisible wind blades swirled, a powerful aura that only an upper-level Earth Ninja could possess.
Samson and Maniwa’s expressions changed slightly.
An upper-level Earth Ninja was second only to a Heaven Ninja among ninjas. Their strength was several times greater than that of a mid-level Earth Ninja, the gap between them like a chasm.
The Mason family and Koken family combined had fewer than ten upper-level Earth Ninjas.
“The next time I see that kid, I will not only cut off his ears but also his hands and feet, making him wish for death over life!”
A cruel and bloodthirsty glint flashed in Bennett’s eyes.
Bennett looked at a stone lantern in the courtyard. An invisible wind blade shot out from his body, shattering the stone lantern into pieces.
Seeing this, Samson’s eyes narrowed.
He knew this was Bennett indirectly responding to his earlier mockery.
“Sorry, Miss Samson, for destroying your garden lantern,” Reece said to Samson.
Although Samson was male, he liked to be addressed as “Miss Samson.”
“Reece, it’s okay. It was Samson who was being rude earlier,” Samson smiled gracefully, as if he didn’t mind at all.
Then he turned his gaze towards the lake.
Two people had just stepped onto the red bridge and were walking towards them.
“It seems our last guests have arrived,” Samson said with a smile.
Among the two approaching people, the one leading was tall and strong, standing at six feet three inches.
He wore a blue samurai kimono with a blue axe strapped to his back.
This was Theodore Ratliff of the Tanner family, an important third-generation direct descendant like Maniwa and the others.
The elderly man behind him was rather small in stature, with sharp glints occasionally flashing in his small eyes.
“Sorry for being late,” Theodore Ratliff said upon seeing Maniwa and the others already there.
“You’re not late. Theodore Ratliff is becoming more manly,” Samson said with a coquettish smile as he sized up the tall and strong Theodore Ratliff.
Theodore Ratliff’s face darkened. Being praised for manliness by a man made him feel disgusted.
“Please take your seats,” Samson said.
Samson, Maniwa, Reece, and Theodore Ratliff each took a seat at the wooden table in the pavilion.
“Miss Samson, let’s get straight to the point,” Reece said directly to Samson.
“Reece is playing dumb. The reason I invited everyone here is obviously for the interests of our four families and the development of our great Orientia ninjutsu,” Samson said with a coquettish smile.
This statement made Maniwa and the other two’s expressions change slightly.
“Maniwa, your Koken family has long known that the kid from Atraria possesses Yin-Yang Mystic Art, right?”
“And the Atraria martial arts sect Seven Stars Sword Sect he belongs to is a treasure trove for cultivation. You haven’t shared this information with us. That’s not right.”
Samson teased Maniwa with a smile.
Maniwa glanced at Samson but said nothing.
“Miss Samson, let’s get to the main point,” Theodore Ratliff said gruffly.
“Alright. We four families have gathered in this city of Atraria for obvious reasons.”
“The Atraria person holds Yin-Yang Mystic Art. Yin-Yang Mystic Art is crucial for the development of our great Orientia ninjutsu.”
“Moreover, Seven Stars Sword Sect is rich in spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivation and home to many Spirit Medicines. There must be something extraordinary about it.”
Samson’s face no longer held its coquettish expression but instead shone with determination as he looked at Maniwa and the others. “I believe our families are all coveting it.”
Samson’s straightforwardness made Maniwa and the other two exchange glances and nod slowly.
“Miss Samson, you want to discuss how to distribute the benefits, right?” Reece looked at Samson decisively. “I’ll say this: no matter what, my Hojo Clan must obtain Yin-Yang Mystic Art.”
“Reece, do you realize that what you just said is exactly what I feared?” Samson’s voice turned cold. “The main purpose of this gathering is to ensure our unity and avoid internal conflict!”
After speaking, Samson’s eyes flashed with cold light as he looked at Maniwa, Theodore Ratliff, and Reece.
The three’s expressions changed slightly and became serious.
In their country, their families were only superficially peaceful but constantly engaged in covert battles.
After all, defeating another family would grant them immense wealth and status.