“Who’s there?”
Yoshida Morikazu was startled, forgetting about touching Akiyama Nange, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Not a single figure in sight.
“Stop playing tricks, show yourself if you dare,” Yoshida Morikazu shouted.
Yet, still, no one appeared.
Akiyama Nange recognised the voice as Ye Qiu’s and hurriedly said, “Don’t worry about me, go save Yuki.”
Hearing her words, Yoshida Morikazu reacted, sneering, “It’s you, Ye Qiu, isn’t it?”
“Didn’t expect you to be so quick, finding this place already.”
“Since you’re hiding like a coward, I’ll make Akiyama Nange die right in front of you.”
With that, Yoshida Morikazu struck like lightning, reaching for Akiyama Nange’s throat.
“Whoosh!”
A streak of sword qi whistled towards him.
Swift as lightning.
Yoshida Morikazu was prepared. He didn’t actually intend to kill Akiyama Nange; this move was to force Ye Qiu out.
As the sword qi came, Yoshida Morikazu quickly retreated, then threw a punch towards the corner.
He had noticed the sword qi originated from there.
“Bang!”
His fist hit nothing but air.
Hm?
Yoshida Morikazu’s eyelid twitched, a look of surprise crossing his face.
How did he miss?
At that moment, he suddenly sensed a sharp sword qi from behind. He quickly ducked, and a blade of qi grazed past his scalp.
Yoshida Morikazu broke out in a cold sweat.
Turning, he saw a young man standing beside Akiyama Nange, his right arm around her waist.
“Ye Qiu!”
Yoshida Morikazu instantly recognised the young man, saying gravely, “How did you get in?”
Ye Qiu seemed not to hear Yoshida Morikazu, instead softly asking Akiyama Nange, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, he sealed my acupoints…”
Before Akiyama Nange could finish, Ye Qiu tapped her body a few times, unsealing her acupoints.
With a flick of his finger, Ye Qiu released a sword qi, cutting through the ropes, and Akiyama Nange was free.
“Thank you,” Akiyama Nange said gratefully.
“I’m sorry, I got you into this,” Ye Qiu said, full of remorse.
Yoshida Morikazu had targeted Akiyama Nange mainly to avenge his brother, Yoshida Chuuji, who had actually died at Ye Qiu’s hands.
“It’s not your fault. Even if Yoshida Chuuji hadn’t died, the Amaterasu Shrine wouldn’t have spared our Mizuki Sect,” Akiyama Nange said.
Only then did Ye Qiu notice the handprints on Akiyama Nange’s face, his anger flaring, “He hit you? Does it hurt?”
Akiyama Nange was about to say it didn’t hurt, but when she looked up and saw the deep concern in Ye Qiu’s eyes, for some reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of grievance. Two tears fell as she whispered, “It hurts.”
“I’m sorry for letting you suffer,” Ye Qiu said, pulling Akiyama Nange into his arms.
Seeing Ye Qiu ignore him and embrace Akiyama Nange, Yoshida Morikazu’s anger boiled over, “Akiyama Nange, I thought you were some chaste martyr, but you’re involved with this kid…”
“Shut up, stop spouting nonsense!” Akiyama Nange snapped.
Yoshida Morikazu’s face darkened, “Look at the two of you right now, am I spouting nonsense? Akiyama Nange, since the man you love is Ye Qiu, I’ll kill him right in front of you.”
Only then did Ye Qiu’s gaze fall on Yoshida Morikazu.
He quickly sized him up.
Yoshida Morikazu stood at 1.6 metres, his head small and pointed like a rat’s, with tiny eyes and a tuft of hair on his chin, looking every bit the sly rodent.
“You’re Yoshida Morikazu?” Ye Qiu asked.
Before Yoshida Morikazu could respond, Ye Qiu continued, “You’re even uglier than your brother.”
Damn it!
Yoshida Morikazu was furious.
As the high priest of the Amaterasu Shrine, it was the first time someone had called him ugly to his face.
Unbearable.
“Ye Qiu, since you’ve come here, don’t expect to leave alive. You’re done for,” Yoshida Morikazu’s face radiated murderous intent, ready to strike at any moment.
Ye Qiu laughed, “I’m done for?”
“Yoshida Morikazu, you don’t seem to grasp the situation, do you?”
“With Nange and me working together, do you think you’ll survive?”
Akiyama Nange’s face flushed slightly when Ye Qiu called her “Nange.”
How could this young man call me that?
I’m Chiyama Yuki’s master.
But…
I really like that name.
“What, you think you and Akiyama Nange can take me down together?” Yoshida Morikazu laughed loudly, “You should ask if Akiyama Nange can even muster a shred of inner strength right now.”
Ye Qiu turned to Akiyama Nange.
“That bastard made me take a secret pill. For three days, I can’t use my inner strength,” Akiyama Nange said.
If not for that, she would have fought back earlier.
Ye Qiu grabbed Akiyama Nange’s wrist.
Akiyama Nange’s face turned bright red. Before she could speak, she felt a surge of immense power flowing into her meridians.
“This is… true qi!”
Before Akiyama Nange could fully process her shock, she suddenly felt her inner strength rapidly recovering.
Ten seconds later.
Ye Qiu gave Akiyama Nange a look, then said to Yoshida Morikazu, “Even if Nange can’t use her inner strength, I can still take you down.”
Yoshida Morikazu was enraged, “Arrogant! I’m a Great East martial arts grandmaster. Crushing you is easier than crushing an ant!”
Ye Qiu then asked, “Where’s Chiyama Yuki?”
Yoshida Morikazu sneered sinisterly, “Chiyama Yuki is right here. After I kill you, I’ll kill her too…”
Boom!
Ye Qiu didn’t let Yoshida Morikazu finish, striking immediately.
He had asked about Chiyama Yuki’s whereabouts to confirm whether she was here.
Now that he knew, there was no need to waste more time.
Seeing Ye Qiu’s fist coming, Yoshida Morikazu sneered and threw a punch back.
As their fists were about to collide, Ye Qiu suddenly opened his hand, pointing a finger.
Whoosh!
Sword qi erupted.
Yoshida Morikazu, startled, shifted his fist to dodge the qi, but Ye Qiu followed with another sword qi aimed at his throat.
Yoshida Morikazu could only retreat while dodging.
Ye Qiu pressed forward, relentlessly unleashing sword qi, forcing Yoshida Morikazu back.
Yoshida Morikazu hadn’t expected Ye Qiu’s skills to be so formidable, not inferior to his own as a Great East martial arts grandmaster. Especially Ye Qiu’s Six Meridians Divine Sword, so mysterious, with qi hidden in the air, striking unexpectedly, impossible to guard against.
Yoshida Morikazu shed his underestimation, focusing entirely on Ye Qiu.
But at that moment, a delicate shout rang out, “Immovable Wisdom King Seal!”
Boom—
Yoshida Morikazu took a heavy blow to the back, sent flying across the room.
