5:10 p.m.
A flight from Jinling, China, landed at Tokyo International Airport.
As Ye Qiu disembarked, he hadn’t even left the airport when he noticed someone tailing him.
“It seems my whereabouts have been exposed.”
Ye Qiu slipped into a restroom and quietly altered his appearance, transforming from a young man into a hunched old man in an instant.
He successfully shook off his pursuers and left the airport.
He took a taxi straight to Amaterasu Shrine.
An hour later.
The car stopped on a bustling street.
Though it was dark, the area was brightly lit.
As soon as Ye Qiu got out, he saw an ancient, elegant complex standing at the heart of the busy street. At the entrance hung a sign with four characters:
Amaterasu Shrine!
The street was crowded with passersby.
Ye Qiu blended into the crowd, appearing to shop while actually observing the shrine’s security.
“One, two, three… forty-seven!”
There were forty-seven guards stationed and patrolling at the entrance, all with weak skills.
Ye Qiu also noticed twelve hidden sentries, each manned by two guards.
Among them, apart from one sniper, there were a few ninjas.
These posed no threat to Ye Qiu.
Just as he was about to act, the shrine’s main gate opened, and a dozen people emerged.
They wore tight black outfits, faces masked, revealing only their eyes, with two short swords slung diagonally across their backs.
Their auras were formidable.
… Special Ninjas!
Ye Qiu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Special Ninjas were comparable to Dragon List experts, and so many appearing at once showed the shrine’s deep resources.
After appearing, the Special Ninjas exchanged a few words in hushed tones, then dispersed, guarding the shrine’s perimeter.
Each was on high alert.
“Does Yoshida Shūichi know I’m here?”
Ye Qiu gave a cold snort, feeling a headache coming on.
With so many guards outside, it was clear the shrine’s interior would have even more, likely with stronger skills.
Otherwise, Amaterasu Shrine wouldn’t be Great East’s top power.
But this wasn’t what troubled Ye Qiu most.
Though these guards were skilled, with his current strength, eliminating them would be easy. His real concerns were Yoshida Shūichi and Miyamoto Musashi.
Great East’s martial world had the saying of “One God, Three Grandmasters.”
The three grandmasters were Qiyama Nange, former leader of Mizuki Sect, Yoshida Shūichi, High Priest of Amaterasu Shrine, and Abe Aoki of the Onmyoji family.
As for the “One God,” that was Great East’s Martial God, Miyamoto Musashi.
Miyamoto Musashi was the shrine’s president and ranked third on the God List, one rank above the Brahmin sect’s leader, Dragon Lady, showing how formidable he was.
Currently, Miyamoto Musashi was in seclusion, leaving Yoshida Shūichi in charge.
Yoshida Shūichi had easily captured Qiyama Nange, indicating his skills far surpassed hers.
“These guards are negligible. The real threats are Yoshida Shūichi and Miyamoto Musashi.”
“Yoshida Shūichi’s combat ability is probably around Xiao Jiu’s level. Even if he’s stronger, comparable to a God List expert, I can handle him.”
“The worry is if Miyamoto Musashi suddenly emerges from seclusion.”
“If he’s alerted, it’ll be trouble.”
“Plus, with Xiaoxue and Qiyama Nange in Yoshida Shūichi’s hands, I’ll have to be cautious in my actions.”
“Brute force won’t work. Strategy is better.”
“First, rescue Xiaoxue and Qiyama Nange, then deal with Yoshida Shūichi.”
With this in mind, Ye Qiu began formulating a plan.
The shrine’s security was tight. How could he infiltrate unnoticed?
Invisibility spell?
Earth escape?
Both were viable.
Ye Qiu circled the shrine and ended up at the back gate.
The back gate had the fewest guards, only a dozen, with just one Special Ninja.
Using his Heavenly Eye, Ye Qiu saw only five or six regular guards in the inner courtyard.
Seizing an opportunity, Ye Qiu used earth escape to enter the courtyard, emerging from a flowerbed when the guards weren’t looking.
He was about to draw a tracking talisman to locate Qianshan Xue and Qiyama Nange when his phone suddenly rang.
Beep beep beep—
“Damn, I forgot to silence it.”
At that moment, the courtyard guards all turned toward the flowerbed.
“Hide!”
Ye Qiu quickly turned invisible, his figure vanishing.
A sturdy paulownia tree with dense foliage grew in the flowerbed. Ye Qiu climbed it, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
The guards approached the flowerbed, inspected it, found nothing, and began muttering among themselves.
Though Ye Qiu didn’t understand Great East language, he could tell from their expressions they were puzzled, having clearly heard a phone ring but finding nothing.
After a while.
The guards dispersed.
As Ye Qiu was about to climb down, his phone rang again.
“Beep beep beep—”
Instantly, the guards spun around, staring at the paulownia tree, shouting sharply.
“Warui warui…”
(Great East language, meaning “Who’s there?”)
Ye Qiu swiftly plucked a few leaves and flung them.
Infused with inner energy, the leaves sliced like sharp blades, cutting the guards’ throats before they could react, killing them instantly.
Only then did Ye Qiu pull out his phone, seeing the call was from Diao Chan. Furious, he answered and said, “What the hell? You almost got me killed.”
“Ye Qiu, are you okay?” Diao Chan asked with concern.
“I’m fine for now,” Ye Qiu said, “What’s up?”
Diao Chan said, “Yoshida Shūichi lied to you. He’s not at Amaterasu Shrine.”
“I checked surveillance and found that after capturing Qiyama Nange, Yoshida Shūichi returned to the Yoshida family estate and hasn’t left.”
“Qianshan Xue was also taken to the Yoshida family.”
Ye Qiu asked, “So, Yoshida Shūichi is at home?”
“Yes,” Diao Chan confirmed.
“Do you know where Miyamoto Musashi is in seclusion?” Ye Qiu asked. He was most worried about him.
“I don’t know,” Diao Chan said, warning, “Ye Qiu, don’t go to Amaterasu Shrine. I suspect Yoshida Shūichi has set traps there, waiting for you…”
Swish swish swish!
At that moment, dozens of Special Ninjas appeared on the courtyard walls. Then, with a “bang,” the back gate was smashed open, and a large group of guards rushed in from outside.
