Chapter 246: The Bride-Snatching Ends, Then the Bridal Chamber

Gu Qing moved with great urgency, darting through the air and entering the room.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Black curtains hung from the room's windowsill, plunging the already dim chamber into utter darkness.

In that darkness, two blades of light emerged—one a kesa-giri, the other a reverse kesa-giri—slanting and swirling, slicing toward Gu Qing's body.

"Clang!"

In the dark, the blades crossed, colliding unexpectedly; both attackers cried out in alarm, when suddenly a scream pierced the air—the wall split open, moonlight spilled in, and Gu Qing swept Rikugawa Yuki-hime into his arms, leaping outward. In that fleeting moment, Gu Qing had already succeeded.

Under the moonlight, Rikugawa Yuki-hime stared blankly at Gu Qing.

The Rikugawa family had prepared extensively to prevent a bride-snatching, but Rikugawa Yuki-hime never imagined she'd be taken so easily.

"It was so dark—how did you find me?"

Rikugawa Yuki-hime frowned and asked.

One normally needs time to adjust to darkness; with black curtains draped everywhere, visibility vanished entirely—yet Gu Qing was unaffected, pinpointing her with perfect accuracy.

"I just opened my eyes."

Gu Qing pinched Rikugawa Yuki-hime's cheek.

Long ago, Gu Qing had used Good Deed Points to strengthen his liver, granting him night vision; later, in the Tianlong world, beyond recording the secrets of the Langhuan Jade Cave, every time he published martial scriptures or helped the Beggar's Sect grow wealthy, he received tangible Good Deed Points—and thus strengthened every organ in his body.

Now, Gu Qing could even discern his surroundings in darkness by listening to the echoes of his own voice.

Rikugawa Yuki-hime still clutched a dagger in her arms—she should have struck back by now—but Gu Qing's pinch sent a tingling numbness through her body. Gazing at his icy, jade-like face, calm and composed amid the Rikugawa family's assault, and sensing a faint, pleasant aroma clinging to him, she froze, forgetting to draw her dagger.

"Let's go wait on the rooftop."

Gu Qing spoke in Han Chinese, which Rikugawa Yuki-hime understood perfectly. As she rested in his arms, she felt his arm flick—suddenly she rose lightly, soaring higher than even the tallest pavilion in her home, and when she landed, the force dissipated gently, leaving no impact beneath her feet.

"Sister."

Rikugawa Piaoxu spotted Yuki-hime and called out at once, her expression complex.

"You're here too, Piaoxu."

Rikugawa Yuki-hime, unsettled, greeted Piaoxu, then turned her gaze toward her family's compound.

"God of Death's Single Slash!"

Before Rikugawa Tama-no-kami's blade reached, his aura struck—vast, surging, overwhelming, crushing toward Gu Qing like a tidal wave.

Gu Qing struck with one hand, condensing his true qi into a pillar over a zhang wide; it clashed with Rikugawa Tama-no-kami's blade aura. He rose effortlessly, spiraling upward, using the force of Rikugawa Tama-no-kami's attack to land lightly atop the pavilion beside Rikugawa Yuki-hime and Rikugawa Piaoxu, bowing with a smile toward Rikugawa Tama-no-kami.

Around the pavilion, Rikugawa family disciples surrounded them, all on guard.

Gu Qing held one girl in each arm, darting swiftly through the circle, carrying both women into the night.

"Father, let's go seize them in the inn!"

Rikugawa Jūbee leapt from the room, furious at seeing Gu Qing carry off his two sisters.

After Gu Qing left his calling card, the Rikugawa family easily identified which inn hosted the Han man—he was no mystery to them.

"He's already stolen the bride—what more is there to say?"

Rikugawa Tama-no-kami gazed toward the direction Gu Qing had vanished. Tonight's clash had revealed nothing of Gu Qing's true strength—but to enter the Rikugawa home, exit it, and calmly carry off two of their daughters? In Japan, such power was top-tier.

At least, Rikugawa Tama-no-kami knew he couldn't defeat him.

"Go guard the inn."

Rikugawa Tama-no-kami ordered: "I believe this man will speak with us by tomorrow." Still, he felt his face burn—these two daughters were his cherished little warm coats, always so filial; now, overnight, both had been stolen away, leaving him chilled to the bone.

If Yuki-hime had only managed to stab once…

Edo, the inn.

Duan Tianya sat quietly in his room, his mind uneasy.

Since being discovered by Iron Dan God Marquis, Duan Tianya had trained under him, coming to Japan to study under the Iga and learn supreme martial arts—but along the way, he'd seen Gu Qing, recognized his profound skill and mastery of Japanese techniques, and decided to learn from him first. Duan Tianya never imagined Gu Qing would snatch the daughter of the Iga's Grand Master.

Whether this succeeded or failed would directly affect Duan Tianya's mission.

"... e must value our mission above our lives."

Duan Tianya recalled the Iron Dan God Marquis's teachings, lost in thought.

"Shhhhh..."

The door slid open, cold wind rushing in. Duan Tianya looked up and saw Gu Qing entering with two girls—one tall, one small. The elder had a face like ice porcelain, eyes soft with light, pressed tightly against Gu Qing; the younger, like a budding flower, still undeveloped, stood blushing beside him.

"Master, who are these two...?"

!

Duan Tianya hesitated, asking.

"These are the two daughters of Rikugawa Tama-no-kami, Grand Master of the Shinkage-ryu."

Gu Qing introduced calmly: "The elder is Rikugawa Yuki-hime, the younger is Rikugawa Piaoxu..."

The bride-snatching had succeeded!

Duan Tianya understood at once, his gaze sweeping over Rikugawa Yuki-hime's face—her expression cold and aloof, her bearing steeped in classic Japanese elegance, stirring something deep within him.

"Tianya."

Gu Qing ordered: "Go stand guard outside the inn—keep the Rikugawa family out!"

Train a disciple for a thousand days, use him for one moment.

A disciple is meant for moments like this.

Duan Tianya was usually reserved, but now, seeing Rikugawa Yuki-hime, he was stunned—yet upon hearing Gu Qing's command, he nodded naturally, drawing his sword to leave—then froze.

"Master, you want me to stand alone against the Rikugawa family?"

Duan Tianya hesitated, asking.

If this were the Iron Dan God Marquis's order, he'd obey—but Gu Qing's command was absurd.

Gu Qing had angered the entire Rikugawa family and now expected him to hold the line—Duan Tianya had no idea if he could withstand them.

"Relax."

Gu Qing reassured him: "If real danger comes, I'll come out to protect you—but right now, I've got a wedding night to attend..."

The bride-snatching is over; now, the bridal chamber.

Duan Tianya didn't want to hear more. He drew his sword and left the inn. Before stepping out, he glanced sideways—Rikugawa Yuki-hime moved normally, not bound or captive—and stepped onto the street, where Rikugawa family members had already surrounded the inn. At their front stood a man in red robes, one eye, wielding a blade, glaring fiercely at the inn.

Duan Tianya gripped his sword, on guard.

"Don't worry—we have no intention of entering!"

Rikugawa Jūbee said coldly.

Duan Tianya fell silent—he didn't want to be out here either...

Let someone else take Wei Yan's job.

(End of Chapter)