It was, of course, Lu Zheng who acted. As the drones zoomed towards Lin Wan and the others, Lu Zheng spotted them instantly, raised his hand, and unleashed two blasts of sword energy, exploding the drones mid-air. As for the van? A soul-suppressing spell from the *Mysterious Art of Derivation* knocked everyone inside unconscious.
Watching the police swarm in and drag the people from the van away, Lu Zheng continued to follow Lin Wan’s taxi. Just two blocks later, they reached the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department without further incident. Whether the threat was truly gone or the enemy couldn’t regroup in time was unclear.
As Lin Wan, Hong Liang, and Jiaotiano got out of the taxi and were hurriedly escorted inside by a team of police officers, Lu Zheng didn’t follow. Surely, even in Japan, no one would dare cause trouble inside the police headquarters… right? Rubbing his chin, Lu Zheng recalled a certain anime plot, blinked, and suddenly felt less confident.
“Never mind, that’s just anime. This is reality. Can’t compare the two!” Lu Zheng shook his head, then quietly reappeared in a secluded spot. One perk of being abroad was the lack of outdoor surveillance, making it impossible to spot his unusual abilities.
Avoiding the earlier trouble spot, Lu Zheng arrived at Ginza, Tokyo’s most famous commercial district. It was the city’s bustling heart, filled with trendy young people and luxury fashion brands. The streets were alive with traffic and crowds. The incident a few blocks away hadn’t affected this place at all. It remained a dazzling, indulgent world of neon lights.
“Other than the unrecognisable names, it feels a lot like Haicheng’s South City Middle Road,” Lu Zheng remarked, his eyes lingering on the fashionable women passing by. It was already evening, and the sea breeze from the Pacific carried a slight chill, but the teenage girls seemed oblivious, dressed lightly. *No wonder those old stories about strict winter training camps circulated back home. The Japanese are just built differently!*
“I just remembered, what’s that place called?” Lu Zheng scratched his head. “The one that pops up all over social media, where just its name makes you want to click?” It had been a while since he’d browsed short videos online, and the name felt rusty. *Something-town?*
*Ding!* Snapping his fingers, Lu Zheng laughed. “Haha, got it! Shinjuku Kabukicho!”
His voice was a bit loud, drawing stares from the crowd. “Tch, pervert!” someone muttered. “Mate, you’re in the wrong place. Kabukicho’s not here, this is Ginza.” Another added, “You going there? Alone? Wanna team up? It’s easy to get ripped off if you’re not familiar.”
Lu Zheng fled in embarrassment. The Japanese pronunciation of Kabukicho was completely different from Chinese, so why were there so many Chinese people here? Unbelievable! He ducked into a nearby mall, found a milk tea shop, pulled out some yen, and bought a drink. Where did the yen come from? Don’t ask. It’s complicated.
Sipping his milk tea, Lu Zheng wandered the mall, soon receiving a call from Lin Wan. “Done?” he asked.
“Not yet,” Lin Wan replied. “We delivered the evidence, but because of the fight, we need to assist with statements.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
“It’ll probably be midnight by the time I’m done,” Lin Wan continued. “Don’t wait for me. Grab some food and check into a hotel.”
“Can you come over tonight?”
“Yeah,” Lin Wan said. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“Great!” Lu Zheng hung up, searched for nearby hotels on his phone, and booked one with good reviews near Shinjuku. Lu Zheng: (◔◡◔)
After reserving a room, he went for a stroll. Without thinking much, he wandered into an area buzzing with vibrant nightlife. Since he was already there, he figured he might as well check it out. With a turn, he stepped into the world-famous nightlife district.
“Good grief!” Lu Zheng muttered, rubbing his chin. He observed with an artistic eye from a broad perspective and a technical eye for details. He had to admit, Japan had a certain flair in this particular field. Along the way, beautiful girls approached him. Some gave up when they realised he was Chinese and couldn’t understand them, while others grew more enthusiastic, pointing at nearby clubs and pulling out phones to translate on the spot.
“Thanks! Thanks!” Lu Zheng smiled, politely declining as he moved on. *What’s this nonsense? I’m just here to look around, broaden my horizons. You think I’d actually go into a club and flirt?* He was a gentleman, after all. This was all just a happy accident!
Laughing off another dolled-up girl in a skimpy outfit, Lu Zheng got a call from Lin Wan. “I’m done. Brother Hong went to the hotel booked by the branch. I’m coming to you. Where are you?”
The blaring music and lively crowd noise carried through the phone. Before Lu Zheng could speak, Lin Wan said, enunciating each word, “Ka! Bu! Ki! Cho!”
Lu Zheng was stunned. “How’d you know?”
“Tch! What kind of music is that? You think I’m deaf?” Lin Wan snapped.
Lu Zheng blinked. Amid the electronic music filling the street, there were faint, suggestive sounds that could make anyone blush. Turning, he saw they came from speakers at a club entrance, next to a sign featuring a stunning girl, lit up brightly. “Hiss…” Lu Zheng sucked in a breath.
“What are you doing?” Lin Wan sounded shocked at his gasp.
“Strolling!” Lu Zheng replied quickly.
“Kabukicho?” she confirmed.
“Yeah,” Lu Zheng admitted honestly.
Lin Wan huffed, then said, “I’m getting a taxi now. Wait for me somewhere easy to find.”
“Should I head back to the hotel?”
“No need. You’re already there, so just look around.”
“I’ve seen enough, actually.”
“…” Lin Wan paused. Lu Zheng teased, “What, Officer Lin wants to come critique the place too?”
“You’re asking for it! Back to the hotel!”
Lu Zheng burst out laughing, quickly apologising. “Come on, as long as we skip the sketchy clubs, it’s fine. There are legit ones too. It’s a rare trip, and it’s got character.”
“Hmph! Wait there!”
Lu Zheng didn’t make Lin Wan hunt for a landmark. He went to Kabukicho’s entrance and waited until she arrived.
