Chapter 134: Warning

The woman in white gave a cold smile and beckoned with her hand. Using her inner energy, she drew the short sword out from the tree trunk. Gripping the weapon, she swayed her body, ready to pounce on Phoenix. Yet, the moment she moved, Phoenix’s body seemed pulled by a mysterious force; she floated horizontally in mid-air, then shot off to the side like a magical flying carpet. Her speed stunned the woman in white. By the time the woman reached the spot where Phoenix had fallen, a white shadow flickered through the thicket and vanished along with her.

The woman in white leaped in pursuit, moving with incredible speed. However, she hadn't gone far when a sudden, thunderous rustling erupted; countless birds in the forest swarmed together to block her path. She frowned, raised her sword, but ultimately lowered it. She remembered her master’s words: people are filthy and may be killed, but animals are pure and must never be wantonly slaughtered. Except for humans.

After a brief pause, the woman returned to the site of the fierce battle. The thick forest had been decimated, leaving a clearing over two thousand square meters wide. Stumps several meters high and severed tree trunks were scattered everywhere.

Miraculously, the moon appeared, and the starlight across the sky grew brighter. The woman in white stood atop a large tree, her sleeves dancing in the wind, looking truly like a celestial being.

"Come out," she said faintly. Although her voice was soft, it reached the ears of everyone hiding in the shadows.

Iga Muramasa emerged from the woods with a grim face, followed by several ninjas. Koga Tanida also stepped out from the opposite side, looking equally displeased. Both men were in a complex state of mind; a massive battle had occurred, yet neither had managed to swallow the other, and in the end, they had only succeeded in drawing out someone from the Shuiyue Sect. They were now anxious to see how this woman would handle the situation, and having witnessed her skills, they were filled with awe.

Of course, they were equally shocked by Phoenix’s abilities. However, her Xiang Yu blade had betrayed her identity. Once they realized who she was, their surprise turned to dread. As one of the most mysterious assassins in the underworld, Phoenix’s reputation chilled them to the bone. They had already lost men to her blade, and every year, Phoenix had business in Japan that inevitably involved disciples from their two ninja clans.

Having signed a ceasefire agreement only that morning, Koga Tanida and Iga Muramasa found themselves face to face once more. Both had to confront two facts: first, that this war was ignited by Phoenix, and second, that they both had to answer to this woman in white.

There was no choice; the strength she had displayed was too shocking and terrifying. In the face of such power, they could only submit. Furthermore, the ninja clans had always been controlled and led by the Shuiyue Sect. Even though no one from the sect had appeared for over a hundred years, it did not mean the clans could cast off those women.

"I am the head disciple of the Shuiyue Sect, Yukimiko Mizuta. I assume you have heard of our sect?" The woman looked down at the crowd. If they were not fellow descendants of the Yamato people, she would not have bothered with them. She viewed them as commoners—the way every disciple of the Shuiyue Sect was raised.

"Yes," Iga Muramasa and Koga Tanida nodded in unison, not knowing what else to say. They knew exactly why Yukimiko was here, but dared not ask. Besides, did it even need asking?

"Very well, that makes things simple. I am here on behalf of the Sect Leader to deliver a message. The ninja clans have been declining, long past their former glory. The Shuiyue Sect has never asked you to do anything for us, but we do not wish to see the clans perish in your infighting. This incident was clearly provoked by someone behind the scenes, yet you fought so fiercely. The Sect Leader is deeply pained. She hopes that from this day forward, you will stop bickering. Instead of fighting each other, you should focus on mastering Ninjutsu. Otherwise, this national art of the Great Japanese Empire will die by your hands, making you sinners—and in turn, making us in the Shuiyue Sect sinners as well. Do you understand?" the woman said slowly.

The ninjas looked at one another and nodded in agreement.

The woman in white drifted away, but before leaving, she dropped one final word: Whoever continues to fight will be a sinner against the Yamato people, and sinners must die.

***

Though Long Fei was away, his home remained lively. Ye Qian and Yang Danni were both staying in his residence, each treating it as her own. Ye Wentian had originally forbidden Ye Qian from staying there, but he couldn't overcome Qi Yufei's support and eventually compromised. Compared to Qi Yufei's happiness, everything else had to give way.

Whether Ye Qian lived at Long Fei’s house seemed to have nothing to do with Qi Yufei’s happiness, but if Ye Wentian didn't allow it, Ye Qian would be unhappy, which in turn would make Qi Yufei unhappy—and without happiness, there was no joy. Thus, he compromised.

The two women left early and returned late each day. While both missed Long Fei terribly, they would never admit it aloud. With Long Fei gone, they had no object to compete for; instead, they had become close friends, smiling at each other daily. Yang Danni would even cook for Ye Qian, who would enthusiastically join in to help, her cooking skills improving over the few days.

It was like two people playing table tennis: they could be good friends before the match, but once on the court, there was no room for concessions—to yield meant to lose. Of course, the analogy was imperfect; Long Fei was not a ping-pong ball, but Ye Qian and Yang Danni were fighting over him, and in the battlefield of love, neither could afford to lose.

As Long Fei emerged from Pudong Airport, Gouzi and Tie Niu arrived in their conspicuous off-road vehicle. Getting into the car, Gouzi immediately urged Tie Niu, "Drive fast, let's get to our place. I have something to report to Brother Fei, don't delay our business."

Upon hearing this, Tie Niu nodded with serious, earnest intent. The car sped off, while Tie Niu kept his eyes fixed on the road, watching vigilantly for any signs of being followed.

Gouzi was growing smarter, knowing how to use Long Fei as a pretext. He understood Tie Niu’s personality well: as long as it involved Long Fei, Tie Niu would be two hundred percent serious and eager to help, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.

Long Fei smiled and asked, "Well? Have you looked into what I asked?"

"Brother Fei, you know me—that little task was a piece of cake. But the situation is complex, so I’m still investigating parts of it," Gouzi said with a sycophantic grin.

Long Fei frowned. "You mean you haven't fully figured it out yet?"

Seeing Long Fei was serious, Gouzi stopped smiling and said cautiously, "Brother Fei, twenty years have passed. Many things have changed, and it’s hard to trace. But don't worry, I’ve found the truth about many things, including Ye Wentian and Qi Yufei. Oh, and more importantly, that great battle in Yanjing twenty years ago also involved the Old Man."

Long Fei was shocked, but soon calmed down. If that were true, it matched his original suspicions. He nodded and said, "Alright. Tie Niu, drive faster. We'll eat at your place this noon; I have to go to class in the afternoon."

Tie Niu grunted and suddenly accelerated. Despite his hulking size and honest nature, he wasn't a dull brute. While not as monstrous as Long Fei, he had a great talent for driving. In Long Fei’s words, with professional training, Tie Niu could easily compete with Hong Kong’s underground car god, Wu Zhaoming.

To Long Fei’s surprise, Tie Niu stopped the car at the entrance of a village and smiled honestly, "Brother Fei, we're here."

Long Fei was stunned. "You live in this dilapidated village?"

Figures ranked on the world’s assassin list living in such a place? Looking at the low, flat-roofed houses nearby, Long Fei frowned, feeling a trace of doubt and guilt. He lived in a luxury apartment while his brothers lived in such a place. He couldn't understand it—if they were short on money, they could have asked him. Could they be broke? They drove luxury off-roaders and could waltz into the servers of the world’s major banks; how could they be broke?

Seeming to sense Long Fei’s confusion, Tie Niu grinned. "Brother Fei, don't think this place is bad. Compared to the bridge tunnels we lived in as wandering children, this is quite good. Even the places our foster father arranged for us weren't as good as this."

Gouzi laughed. "Brother Fei, I know what you’re thinking. We are truly satisfied. Besides, there’s a reason I live in this village."

"Oh? What reason?" Long Fei asked calmly.

Gouzi explained, "Look, Shanghai has been developed quite a bit. There aren't many places left that haven't been bought by developers. Why do you think that is?"

"Why?" Long Fei chuckled. Gouzi loved to use his brain; with him looking out for Tie Niu, the big guy wouldn't be taken advantage of. Though Tie Niu seemed simple, he was shrewd with strangers or enemies. Combined with his terrifying skills, few could get the better of him. Long Fei’s worry was just a product of the deep, brotherly bond they had shared since childhood.

"Because this village is chaotic. They say the people living here are 'stubborn nails'—they have no shame. No matter which official comes, they won't reason with you; they simply won't move, and they won't sell the land. I’ve heard many officials who tried to persuade them got beaten up. And you can’t even find anyone to complain to, because it wasn't the residents who did it, but the local drifters. They’d throw a burlap sack over your head, give you a brutal beating, and by the time you crawled out, they’d be long gone," Gouzi explained.

"I see. This place must be home to many drifters. If I’m not mistaken, there are probably plenty of wanted fugitives hiding here. That must be useful for gathering information, haha," Long Fei analyzed with a smile.

Gouzi gave a thumbs up, fawning, "Brother Fei is always smarter than us, hehe."

"Stop with the flattery. I don't get these people—do they not want to live in the city center? Why insist on huddling in this village growing vegetables?" Long Fei shook his head; it seemed every place had its share of people who clung to the past.

"That's true, that's true. But Brother Fei, you don't understand. Don't look at how run-down this village is; these locals are quite wealthy. Aside from having a poor reputation, they live no worse than those in high-end neighborhoods," Gouzi said mysteriously.

Long Fei was genuinely curious. Could selling vegetables make someone a billionaire? If so, he’d be selling vegetables too.

"Oh? Is that so? How do they make their money?"

Gouzi laughed. "There’s a small gang in this village formed by a wanted criminal. Since they’ve all committed crimes, they’re complete desperadoes. Even the Green Gang, the largest mafia in Shanghai, doesn't want to provoke them.

"They usually run black-market gambling and prostitution with the residents. You wouldn't believe the energy these guys have—take the bathhouses, for instance. The girls there are top-tier, and they can even get students from legitimate schools. So on weekends, the village is packed. Plenty of big bosses drive in to have fun.

"There are also a few large underground casinos in the village. The environment isn't great, but it’s safe; ordinary police don't dare to check them. As for drugs, they sell stuff like ice, too. I’m not entirely sure about the details, but Dabing knows."

"Who is Dabing? Are you close with him?" Long Fei’s interest was piqued.

Tie Niu smiled honestly and cut in, "Brother Fei, I know Dabing. He’s the leader of the gang Gouzi mentioned. He’s actually quite righteous. A few days ago, when they saw us driving this car, they thought we were rich and tried to extort us while we were sleeping, hehe—"

"And then you beat them up, so they obediently invited you to drink and asked you to join them, right?" Long Fei guessed.

Tie Niu’s eyes went wide, filled with disbelief. "Brother Fei, you’re god-like! How did you know?"

Long Fei laughed. "Isn't that how most gangsters are? If they can't win, they resort to underhanded tactics. If the opponent is too strong, the best way is to become friends. I imagine they couldn't possibly be your match, so they had to suck up to you. I bet they gave you a pretty high position, too, didn't they?"

"Gouzi, look, listen—Brother Fei is amazing, isn't he? You thought you were the only one who could predict things, but Brother Fei is much better than you," Tie Niu patted Gouzi’s shoulder, making the latter wince.

This damn Tie Niu always had such heavy hands. He knew Gouzi was best at taking hits, so he always struck with such force.

"Yes, yes, I can’t compare to Brother Fei, of course. Brother Fei, you guessed it perfectly. We didn't join their 'Wind and Cloud Association,' but Dabing treats us quite well. He’s been inviting us to drink almost every night this week," Gouzi said. He didn't have much emotional attachment to Dabing; there were very few people in this world he truly cared for.

Long Fei chuckled. "Drinking with you guys? Isn't that just asking for death?"

"Not really. I pretend to be drunk occasionally, but Tie Niu never gets drunk," Gouzi laughed.

"I don't know how to pretend, Brother Fei. Gouzi always tells me to act drunk, and I don't get it—if I'm not drunk, why pretend?" Tie Niu complained.

"Brother Fei, tell me, why is Tie Niu’s brain so slow? We’re staying in a place like this just to make gathering information easier. Besides, since you’re in Shanghai, you should know what’s going on, just in case something happens," Gouzi said with foresight.

Long Fei nodded, feeling a touch of warmth. Only someone like Gouzi truly understood him. "Alright, enough talk. Lead the way to your place; let’s have a drink. I really do have to head back to school this afternoon."

Leading Long Fei into the village, they encountered many tattooed, shirtless or half-shirtless thugs who greeted Gouzi and Tie Niu. Tie Niu just smiled honestly at everyone, while Gouzi was much more enthusiastic—he was a natural for the underworld, able to get along with people from all walks of life.

They bought some braised dishes, beef, and other snacks at a stall, then headed to their rental. It was a private courtyard; Gouzi had rented the entire two-story building. He had also bought a wolfhound from somewhere, which glared at Long Fei from a distance with extreme hostility.

Long Fei noticed the courtyard was too small for the off-road vehicle, which was why they parked at the village entrance.

"Aren't you worried about leaving your car at the village entrance?" Long Fei asked with a smile.

Gouzi replied, "Dabing passed the word: no one is allowed to touch our car. Even though it’s unguarded, Dabing knows everything that happens in and out of the village twenty-four hours a day. That guy was a scout in the army, so he knows a thing or two about setting up secret lookouts."

Hearing this, Long Fei became quite interested in this 'Dabing.' The three sat down in the living room, placing the food on the coffee table. The house was messy, with bottles and cigarette butts everywhere. Long Fei lit a cigarette and smiled. "How about you call this Dabing over for a drink? Let me take a look at him. If he’s truly a talent, maybe we can use him in the future. What do you think?"