Chapter 253: A Headless Blood Case!

The Liusheng family had grown sparse; Sato Yoshinosuke dodged and leaped freely among them, sensing their defenses had loosened, and thus made for the first-floor room still lit by lantern light. As he neared the front of the building, he saw no guards nearby, so he quietly approached and gently pushed the window, peering inside.

Inside the room, the lanterns burned bright; a stunningly beautiful woman lay tightly wrapped in quilts, while a young girl beside her held out clothes, passing them toward the quilted form—as if someone inside was hastily dressing.

This second daughter of the Liusheng family resembled a concubine servant from the Central Plains…

Sato Yoshinosuke recognized both women inside: the one dressing was Liushengxueji, the eldest daughter; the one attending her was the youngest, Liushengpiaoxu. But to Sato Yoshinosuke's eyes, Liushengxueji 's face was flushed—clearly she had just known carnal pleasure—and yet Gu Qing was nowhere to be seen in the room.

"What the hell are you spying on?"

A tiny voice came right beside Sato Yoshinosuke's ear.

To Sato Yoshinosuke, that voice was like a thunderclap. He whipped his head around—and saw a man standing beside him.

The sight sent chills up his spine. As a ninja unparalleled in stealth, the sudden presence of another person at his side was as terrifying as encountering a ghost. He instantly swept his hand—and several shuriken flew toward Gu Qing. At the same time, Sato Yoshinosuke leapt backward, putting distance between them.

But even as he fled, Sato Yoshinosuke felt Gu Qing clinging to him like a burr, shadowing his every move, utterly ignoring the flying shuriken. Wherever he darted, Gu Qing followed. Panicked, he leapt and twisted, dodging frantically—when suddenly his arm burned with pain. He looked down: his arm had been severed.

Beneath the starlight, Sato Yoshinosuke stared at Gu Qing—and saw his hands were empty, no weapon in sight.

"Gu Qing…"

Sato Yoshinosuke prepared to strike.

"Swoosh!"

A blade's wind passed by Sato Yoshinosuke's ear.

Only then did he realize—the blade's wind came from Gu Qing's flicking finger.

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!!!!!!"

Gu Qing flicked his fingers in rapid succession. In that instant, Sato Yoshinosuke had no chance to dodge—he felt six or seven swords encircling him completely, trapping him in place, as invisible sword qi traced his body's outline, striking the walls all around.

Was this meant as humiliation?

Sato Yoshinosuke stared at Gu Qing, then sneered—when suddenly "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…" a series of impacts exploded across his back. In an instant, he felt as if he'd been pierced by a thousand swords, turned into a honeycomb.

"You… this…"

As Sato Yoshinosuke collapsed, he looked at the wall—and a wild thought struck him: Could Gu Qing's sword qi have bounced back after striking the wall?

Gu Qing bent down, slashed with sword qi, and severed Sato Yoshinosuke's head.

"He seemed to have some last words."

Liushengxueji hastily fastened her clothes and stepped out with Piaoxu. They saw that in the brief moment she'd been dressing, Gu Qing had already killed Sato Yoshinosuke.

"His last words were mostly about what poison he'd used, trying to threaten me into sparing him."

Gu Qing said calmly.

During his frantic escape, Sato Yoshinosuke had already deployed poison; his standoff with Gu Qing had been a wait for the poison to take effect—but he never lived to see it.

"Are you poisoned?"

Xueji and Piaoxu asked urgently.

"No."

Gu Qing replied serenely: "Dust is dust—what poison could it be?"

With his internal energy, Gu Qing naturally repelled all potent toxins. Such petty poison tricks could never harm him.

The sky over Edo began to lighten. Outside, people had gathered. Xiao Lin Zheng stood guard before the Liusheng residence; he had seen no unusual activity all night. But when he overheard townsfolk gossiping at a distance, he rushed over—and saw bloodstains on the flagpole, and above it, a severed head: Sato Yoshinosuke.

He entered the house at night. His head hung on the pole by morning.

Sato Yoshinosuke went inside to investigate—and truly, he was dead.

Xiao Lin Zheng didn't know what had happened inside the Liusheng home last night. But one thing he knew clearly: Gu Qing now bore a new, headless blood case.

"Sato Yoshinosuke is dead too!"

Rikujō Danma no Kami was overjoyed. With all of Japan's top experts dead, Japan was now truly his domain.

The Daju was settled!

"So, we've come to bid you farewell."

Gu Qing said.

With all the valuable experts in Japan dead, Gu Qing had lost interest and prepared to leave.

"In Japan now, only remnants of the major factions still struggle. I trust you can eliminate them."

Gu Qing said: "And the pirates—you must clear them quickly. Don't force me to kill again."

!

Liushengdanmashou immediately pledged the Liusheng family's honor to guarantee the pirates would be eradicated.

With all matters of interest settled, Rikujō Danma no Kami realized he must part with his two daughters. Tears welled up as he gave them earnest advice—telling them what to watch for, what to avoid, once they reached the Great Ming.

"Duan Tianya is a man of Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis. After leaving Japan, he will head to the Iron-Fist Mountain Villa."

Rikujō Danma no Kami said: "But the Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis who rules the Iron-Fist Mountain Villa has great ambitions. Once you reach the Great Ming, it's best to keep your abilities hidden, lest he use you."

The upper echelons of Japan and the Great Ming maintained contact.

Xueji and Piaoxu nodded.

"What a pity."

Liushengshibingwei said to Duan: "I'd planned to take you hunting Xiao Lin Zheng today. In Japan now, only Xiao Lin Zheng still poses a threat to my family."

Xiao Lin Zheng was a disciple of the Iga School, carried the Illusion Sword legacy, and had been tutored by Sato Yoshinosuke. His future potential was limitless.

"All three men you mentioned are my master's defeated foes."

Duan said.

As long as he stayed by Gu Qing's side and learned from him, Duan Tianya was certain his future achievements would surpass Xiao Lin Zheng's.

Liushengshibingwei bade farewell to Gu Qing, Duan Tianya, and the others. Before parting, Xueji and Piaoxu urged Shibingwei to use his blade less recklessly. Shibingwei nodded solemnly, watching as Gu Qing, Xueji, Piaoxu, and Duan Tianya boarded the boat and drifted farther away.

Duan Tianya didn't look away until Japan vanished from sight. Then he turned his gaze toward the Great Ming and said to Gu Qing: "Master, when we return to the Great Ming, I must first go to the Iron-Fist Mountain Villa. I must report everything that happened in Japan to my adoptive father."

Duan Tianya was deeply loyal to the Iron-Fisted Divine Marquis.

Gu Qing smiled and asked: "Will you report the Yuan Gui Qi Gong?"

Duan Tianya fell silent.

(End of Chapter)