Ye Qiu felt a chilling killing intent, as if a venomous snake were watching him from the shadows, an unsettling sensation.
Like needles pricking his back.
His body tensed, quietly heightening his alertness while slowly moving toward the source of the killing intent.
Along the way.
Ye Qiu saw numerous corpses, all soldiers stationed on the uninhabited island.
Some were shot, others had their throats slit by blades, their deaths gruesome.
Among them was a very young soldier, barely twenty years old.
This soldier died with his eyes open, clutching a photograph tightly in his hand.
Ye Qiu pried open the soldier’s hand and found a picture of a kind-faced middle-aged woman, with five words written on the back.
“Mum, I love you!”
In an instant, Ye Qiu’s eyes welled up.
“Rest in peace. Once I’ve investigated this matter, I’ll bring you home.”
Ye Qiu reached out to close the soldier’s eyes, then stood, gritting his teeth, “No matter who did this, this debt will be paid in blood.”
With that, he pressed on.
Following the trail of blood, Ye Qiu moved forward, eventually reaching a dense forest on the island.
As he entered the forest, his pupils contracted slightly.
In the forest, on a large rock, sat two middle-aged men.
One fat, one thin, their appearances and attire almost identical.
Clearly twins.
Their hair was tied in small braids, with a small moustache under their noses, wearing loose kimonos, wooden clogs on their feet, and samurai swords resting across their knees.
Daito samurai!
Ye Qiu’s gaze turned cold; he sensed the killing intent emanating from these two.
At the same time.
In the August First Building, Elder Tang and the others saw the situation on the island through the camera on Ye Qiu’s chest.
“Hmph, I knew it was the Daito people behind this.”
“Those little devils killed so many of our soldiers; they clearly want to start a war with us.”
“Elder Tang, I suggest ordering Wei Donghai to lead the East China Sea troops to attack Daito!”
“…”
Voices clashed in the meeting room, a cacophony of opinions.
“Silence!”
Elder Tang sternly scanned the room, then said, “Although Daito people are on the island, it doesn’t mean they’re from the Daito military.”
“If this isn’t the work of their military, what justification do we have for war?”
“You must understand, once war breaks out, the international situation will become complicated.”
“I say we wait for Ye Qiu to investigate further.”
The God of War stared at the two Daito men on the screen, saying gravely, “These two are no ordinary men.”
All eyes turned to the God of War.
“What do you see, God of War?” Elder Ye asked.
The God of War replied, “These two Daito men are cultivators.”
A shock ran through the room.
Elder Ye, in particular, had deep worry in his eyes.
One old general said, “Ye Qiu went alone, and now there are two cultivators. What can he do?”
Another old general added, “Elder Tang, I suggest ordering Wei Donghai to send fighter jets to rescue Ye Qiu.”
Yet another general said, “Ye Qiu is so young; he’s surely no match for two cultivators.”
Elder Tang, also worried, glanced at Elder Ye and asked, “Elder Ye…”
Before Elder Tang could finish, Elder Ye said, “Let’s watch and see.”
No one in the room was more concerned for Ye Qiu’s safety than Elder Ye, his grandfather.
But Elder Ye also knew that even if Wei Donghai sent jets, they might not save Ye Qiu, as cultivators’ abilities far exceeded ordinary understanding.
Moreover, if the jets opened fire, Ye Qiu could be harmed.
The God of War activated the speaker on the table, contacting Wei Donghai, and ordered, “Wei Donghai, I command you to have the special forces brigade prepare to land on the island immediately.”
“All jets and warships are to enter combat readiness.”
“If Ye Qiu can’t hold on, the special forces must land at once. Remember, rescue Ye Qiu at all costs.”
“Even if it means losing the entire special forces brigade, ensure Ye Qiu’s safety!”
The old generals in the room were stunned.
Was it worth sacrificing an entire special forces brigade for one Ye Qiu?
Elder Tang added, “Wei Donghai, follow the God of War’s orders.”
“Yes, sir!” Wei Donghai responded loudly.
…
On the uninhabited island, in the dense forest.
While Ye Qiu observed the two Daito samurai, they were also watching him.
“Heh heh, another one here to die.”
The fatter Daito samurai let out a strange laugh.
To Ye Qiu’s surprise, the man spoke in Chinese.
“I’ll kill him,” said the thinner Daito samurai, standing up.
“No, brother, don’t steal this one. My hands are itching. When more come, I’ll let you have your fill.”
The fatter samurai leapt forward, landing in front of Ye Qiu, a mocking smile on his face, “Kid, how do you want to die?”
Ye Qiu countered, “Were the people on this island killed by you two?”
“Correct,” the Daito samurai laughed. “And now you’re about to be killed by me too.”
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Yamazaki Ichiro, and this is my brother, Yamazaki Jiro.”
“Kid, tell me, how do you want to die?”
Murderous intent flashed in Ye Qiu’s eyes as he retorted, “How do you want to die?”
Yamazaki Ichiro was stunned, then burst into laughter, “Brother, did you hear that? This kid’s asking how I want to die. Is he out of his mind?”
Yamazaki Jiro nodded slightly, “Not just mad, but seriously ill.”
Yamazaki Ichiro laughed, “Brother, want to bet? I can make this kid cry with one punch.”
“No way,” Yamazaki Jiro said expressionlessly. “One punch, and you’ll turn him to mush.”
“Hahaha…” Yamazaki Ichiro roared with laughter.
But then, Ye Qiu said, “Enough talk. Hit me here.”
Ye Qiu pointed to his chest.
Yamazaki Ichiro froze. What was this kid playing at?
Was he not afraid of death?
Or was he really insane?
“Why aren’t you moving?” Ye Qiu saw Yamazaki Ichiro standing still and smirked, “Coward!”
“You’re the bloody coward!” Yamazaki Ichiro roared in anger, swinging a fist at Ye Qiu’s chest.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his punch carried terrifying force.
Yet Ye Qiu seemed unfazed.
“Go to hell!”
Just as Yamazaki Ichiro’s fist was about to strike, Ye Qiu countered with a punch, meeting Yamazaki Ichiro’s fist head-on.
*Boom!*
Yamazaki Ichiro’s body exploded into pieces.
