This supernatural powerhouse from Jiuzhou apparently never expected things to be as terrifying as he imagined; he was actually scared out of his wits by the combined attack of the two.
At that very moment, Ye Ning made his move.
Charging forward against the gleaming blade-light, under the other man's horrified gaze, he shattered the blade-light with a single punch and closed in on them instantly.
"Fall back!"
The two Chunin changed color, spinning around to run.
They knew they had encountered a master, someone whose strength was far beyond anything they could compare to.
Their reactions were extremely fast, but Ye Ning was even faster.
He struck one ninja down with a single punch, then lunged at the other.
The remaining ninja had barely sprinted a dozen meters before Ye Ning caught up to him.
Gritting his teeth, the ninja formed hand seals, attempting to meet Ye Ning head-on.
As a result, Ye Ning brought his palm down, laden with terrifying true qi, and directly tore the ninja's seal-craft to shreds.
Without stopping, that palm landed squarely on the ninja, sending him flying sideways with his chest completely caved in.
Having slain the two of them, Ye Ning took out his phone and dialed Li Biao's number.
"Help me look up someone's address. His name is Kazuo Yamaguchi, and he's an Eastern Island bastard."
"Understood."
Li Biao responded immediately, without even asking what Ye Ning intended to do.
A smart subordinate only needed to execute orders.
Chapter 33: Vengeance Without Overnight Delay
Ye Ning had once said that if Kazuo Yamaguchi dared to move against him, he would wipe the man out.
Now that two Chunin had been sent to target him, Ye Ning naturally wouldn't hold back.
He was the kind of person who never delayed his vengeance past a single night; he always settled scores right on the spot.
Hanging up the phone, Ye Ning cast his gaze into the distance.
"You've been tailing me all this way, you can come out now, can't you?"
At Ye Ning's words, a young man with dyed blonde hair stepped out from the side.
Shrugging, he smiled and said, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not with them; I just sensed ninjas in action and followed along. If you hadn't been able to beat them just now, I would have stepped in to help."
"People from the Butcher's Blade?" Ye Ning asked.
The blonde man's expression stiffened, a look of surprise crossing his face.
"You know about the Butcher's Blade?" he asked in astonishment.
His name was Zhao Yu, and he was indeed a member of the Butcher's Blade, specifically the organization's person-in-charge in the Small City.
"My First Master said that if you run into busybodies down the mountain, they're bound to be from the Butcher's Blade," Ye Ning said.
Hearing that the other man belonged to the Butcher's Blade, he immediately relaxed his vigilance.
The Butcher's Blade had principles and wouldn't attack people lightly.
They were the protectors of Jiuzhou, and the blade of the Butcher's Blade was pointed solely at foreign enemies.
"Your First Master really knows us inside and out. That's right, I'm indeed the person-in-charge of the Butcher's Blade in the Small City. You can just call me Zhao Yu."
Zhao Yu said with a smile.
He was immensely strong, already a first-class martial artist.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have qualified to become the director of an entire city.
Yet, facing Ye Ning, he had an unfathomable feeling—that this person, younger than himself, might actually be stronger than he was.
"I'm going to kill Kazuo Yamaguchi. You aren't going to stop me, are you?" Ye Ning asked.
Zhao Yu shook his head. "Of course not. He dared to send ninjas to assassinate you; I'd be overjoyed if you killed him. In the grand land of Jiuzhou, we won't let Eastern Islanders run wild."
"Good to know."
Ye Ning said.
"Need any help? According to regulations, I'm cleared to make a move now," Zhao Yu said with a hint of excitement.
Glancing at Zhao Yu, Ye Ning shook his head. "No need. You're too weak. If I actually ran into a formidable enemy, I'd still have to look after you."
"A first-class martial artist is considered weak?" Zhao Yu asked in disbelief.
He stared intently at Ye Ning, wanting to know if he was saying this on purpose.
Yet, seeing the deadpan seriousness on Ye Ning's face, Zhao Yu was momentarily stunned. The guy wasn't just saying it to provoke him—he genuinely believed it.
Was he, a dignified first-class martial artist, really not worthy of teaming up with the other man?
The next moment, a hand clamped around his throat.
Zhao Yu's entire body went rigid. He hadn't even caught a glimpse of how Ye Ning had moved.
Staring at Ye Ning with horror-filled eyes, he finally understood why Ye Ning felt he wasn't worthy.
"Just what realm are you in?" Zhao Yu asked, terrified.
Ye Ning released his grip on the man's neck and turned to walk away.
Watching Ye Ning recede into the distance, Zhao Yu collected his expression, his eyes growing profound.
"At the very least, the Xiantian Realm. This matter needs to be reported upward." Muttering to himself, Zhao Yu also departed.
Yet he knew all too well that winds of change were about to sweep through the Small City.
If Kazuo Yamaguchi died, it was bound to unsettle a great many people.
Soon, Ye Ning received a reply from Li Biao, who provided him with an address.
However, Li Biao brought up another matter as well.
"Mr. Ye, someone wishes to see you. They're from the provincial capital."
"Not interested."
Ye Ning hung up the phone.
Who did the other party think he was? Just because they wanted to see him, he was supposed to come running eagerly? That was completely out of the question.
Number One Canal Mansion. Ye Ning had arrived.
This was Kazuo Yamaguchi's residence, where the couple owned a detached villa.
At that moment, their complexions were somewhat unsightly.
The two Chunin they had dispatched had reported nothing back, and despite contacting them repeatedly, there had been no response.
This left them with a sense of unease, suspecting in their hearts that something had gone awry.
Yet, they still dared not be entirely certain.
After all, two Chunin represented a formidable amount of strength.
"Could we have been careless? That Jiuzhou person might possess immense strength," Keiko Yamaguchi said with a hint of worry.
"Rest assured, two Eastern Island Chunin are more than enough to kill him. Our Great Eastern Island ninjutsu is invincible," Kazuo Yamaguchi said with absolute confidence.
Keiko Yamaguchi nodded. "Indeed. That Jiuzhou person dared to murder our son, so he must pay with his life."
"Let's hurry up and make another son," Kazuo Yamaguchi said.
Two flushes of red immediately bloomed across Keiko Yamaguchi's face as she moved to untie her clothes.
Right at that moment, a flash of silver light cut through the air, piercing straight through both of their skulls in quick succession.
They crashed to the ground, falling completely silent.
Amidst the darkness, a figure departed, vanishing from sight.
Shortly after Ye Ning left, Zhao Yu's figure arrived at the scene.
Taking in the grim spectacle before him, his gaze flickered.
"That fellow's methods are ruthless, but I like it. There's no need to be too polite with those little Japanese devils." Zhao Yu muttered to himself.
He poured some powder over the two corpses, causing their bodies and clothing to dissolve away together.
"Let's buy some time for now. Those two dead fellows were ninjas from the Kazama Family, and they won't let this rest. I just hope no Jonin steps in."
A Jonin was the equivalent of a Xiantian Martial Artist, someone who had surpassed first-class martial artists.
Once such an existence made a move, it would cause tremendous trouble.
Most importantly, guarding against a Jonin was no easy task.
"Before that happens, though, I reckon certain people are going to sit on pins and needles." With that, Zhao Yu sneered and turned to leave the premises.
By now, Ye Ning had already returned to the Lin Family residence. Upon opening the door, he found both Lin Xue and Su Qingqing sitting in the living room, clearly waiting up for him.
Seeing Ye Ning return, both women visibly relaxed.
"Where on earth did you go? Why are you coming back so late?" Su Qingqing asked, fixing Ye Ning with a sharp gaze.
"I went and killed a few people," Ye Ning replied calmly.
Su Qingqing: "..."
Lin Xue: "..."
Just moments ago, Su Qingqing had told Lin Xue that Ye Ning likely went looking for Han Ziyan, urging her to come back and interrogate him.
After all, no matter how indifferent one pretended to be, a woman couldn't simply leave her fiancé to run off after other women completely unchecked.
Lin Xue had reluctantly agreed, but insisted that Su Qingqing be the one to bring it up first.
As a result, Ye Ning had dropped such an explosive piece of news right in their laps.
"Who did you kill?" Lin Xue asked.
"Kazuo Yamaguchi—he's the father of Kenichi Yamaguchi. Plus two Chunin, meaning ninjas," Ye Ning said.
Su Qingqing immediately connected the dots, crying out in alarm: "You told me to leave first earlier because you sensed ninjas tailing us!"
"Yeah, why else?" Ye Ning retorted.
Su Qingqing was left speechless. She had assumed Ye Ning was off seeing another woman.
Instead, Ye Ning had actually gone out to commit murder.
The fact that she had wronged him with her suspicions instantly filled her with a sense of shame.
"Then why didn't you tell me? Am I just some kind of dead weight to you?" Su Qingqing demanded indignantly, even though she knew full well she was acting unreasonably.
"Aren't you?" Ye Ning countered.
Su Qingqing: "..."
Chapter 34: Pent-Up Frustration
Su Qingqing's face darkened, and she turned and stormed off.
She was primarily infuriated by Ye Ning; this fellow's words were simply too aggravating.
Seeing Su Qingqing storm off in anger, Lin Xue paused for a moment before letting out a wry chuckle.
"You could phrase things a bit more tactfully. Cousin was actually really worried about you just now," Lin Xue murmured by way of a reminder.
Ye Ning nodded. "I know. I was just reminding her so that next time she encounters a situation like this, she won't hesitate and will leave immediately, ensuring she doesn't get hurt."
A sudden wave of understanding washed over Lin Xue.
"How far have things gone between you and Han Ziyan?" Lin Xue asked abruptly.
Ye Ning fell silent.
No matter how straightforward he was, some things couldn't be spoken of right to someone's face.
Lin Xue understood, a trace of sourness stinging her heart.
With a small smile, she said, "I get it."
Glancing at the time, Lin Xue stuck out her tongue and said, "It's too late, time for bed."
She stood up from the sofa and headed toward her bedroom.
Then she stopped, turning her gaze back toward Ye Ning with an expression of supreme charm, tinged with a hint of shyness.
"How about we share a room tonight?"
Ye Ning was speechless, unable to stop himself from rolling his eyes.
"Don't think I can't tell your period has started."
"Haha."
Lin Xue happily returned to her own room.
She had done it purely on purpose, just to rile Ye Ning up.
Who told this fellow to establish a relationship with Han Ziyan first, anyway? She had known Ye Ning long before the other woman did.
Ye Ning gave a soft yawn and turned to enter his own room.
The room grew quiet. Su Qingqing sat fuming inside her own space, cursing Ye Ning under her breath.
This guy was simply too detestable—he actually had the nerve to call her dead weight.
Though deep down, she knew that under those circumstances, she truly hadn't been of any use at all.
...
Back at Kazuo Yamaguchi's villa, shortly before Zhao Yu departed.
Several figures arrived at the premises. Catching sight of the pool of liquid on the ground and registering the pungent odor lingering in the air, their expressions shifted slightly.
"Corpse-dissolving liquid. Kazuo Yamaguchi has been murdered." The leader—a tall man with a sinister gaze—fixed his eyes on the puddle on the floor, his face turning ashen.
"Lord Kazama, who could have killed Kazuo Yamaguchi?" a subordinate asked.
"Slap!"
Kazama Kuma struck him hard across the face.
"Baka! I came here with you, and even you didn't know—how am I supposed to know?"
The assaulted Eastern Islander wore an awkward expression. He had merely intended to suck up to Kazama Kuma and highlight his brilliance, without thinking it through, only to end up kissing the horse's hoof instead.
Kazama Kuma's gaze remained sinister as he coldly ordered, "Check the surveillance footage."
Before long, his subordinate returned.
"My lord, the surveillance system has been completely destroyed."
Kazama Kuma let out a cold hnh, putting on a mask of deep wisdom. "I guessed as much. It seems the person who killed Kazuo Yamaguchi is quite cunning."
His subordinate cursed inwardly: If you'd already guessed it, why'd you send the rest of us to check?
However, not a single person dared to voice these thoughts aloud.
"Find out who recently had a conflict with the Yamaguchi family, and we'll know who killed them."
"Understood."
A group of Eastern Islanders swung into action.
A flash of pity crossed Kazama Kuma's face, and he muttered under his breath, "Such a waste of Keiko Yamaguchi, right in her most alluring prime."
The group departed the scene.
Ye Ning had slept soundly. When he finally woke up, he found a body sprawled across him.
A glance around confirmed this was his own bedroom.
Staring at Su Qingqing, who was hugging him and sleeping soundly, Ye Ning was left utterly speechless.
How on earth had this woman ended up crawling into his room?
Surveying Su Qingqing's delicate, pretty features, Ye Ning gently planted a kiss on her lips.
Instantly, Su Qingqing snapped awake.
Finding a familiar face inches from her own, she let out a shriek.
Bang.
The bedroom door flew open, and Lin Xue stood there dumbfounded.
"Cousin, you two..."
Realizing something was amiss halfway through her sentence, she hastily pulled the door shut.
"Sorry to interrupt, carry on."
Su Qingqing: "..."
Carry on my foot! Could someone please explain to her how she had ended up in Ye Ning's bed in the first place?
Ye Ning let out a sigh. "If you've got feelings for me, you can just say so. Why bother sneaking into my room like a thief?"
Gritting her teeth, Su Qingqing glared at him. "The ghost has feelings for you! Did you sneak me in here on purpose?"
Annoyed, Ye Ning snapped, "Don't you go framing me! Cross the line again, and I won't be so polite."
"Hmph, it has to be you, otherwise how would I end up in your room? You serpent-demon!" Su Qingqing complained angrily.
"You're calling me a serpent-demon?" Ye Ning's eyes filled with a dangerous glint.
Su Qingqing instantly grew tense. What was this guy planning to do?
"What are you up to?"
"Naturally, doing what a serpent-demon is supposed to do."
Ye Ning chuckled wickedly.
The next instant, Su Qingqing felt herself being rolled over, a heavy, muscular frame pinning her beneath it.
Before she could cry out, her lips were sealed.
The temperature between them steadily climbed.
With her mind swimming in a daze, Su Qingqing felt herself losing control.
The barriers between them dwindled away piece by piece.
Right as Ye Ning was about to launch into a genuine campaign, however, a knock sounded at the bedroom door.
"Ye Ning, someone's here to see you! Hurry up and come out."
Ye Ning's face turned completely black, his eyes blazing with fury.
He was just this close! To be interrupted at a time like this made him want to commit murder.
Taking a deep, heavy breath, Ye Ning forcefully suppressed the raging fire within.
He climbed out of bed, dressed, and strode toward the door.
Su Qingqing let out a long breath, feeling like she had narrowly escaped a disaster.
A moment ago, she had been mere seconds away from being devoured.
Standing outside the bedroom door, Lin Xue saw Ye Ning's blackened expression followed by the scene inside the room. She froze for a second before whispering, "Did I... ruin something good?"
Ye Ning grabbed Lin Xue by the waist and pulled her close, whispering into her ear, "Once your period's over, you're paying for today's losses."
He gave Lin Xue's perky backside a mischievous squeeze, drawing a startled gasp from her lips.
Her heart leaped into her throat as two flushes of red bloomed across her cheeks.
"Where's the guest?" Ye Ning asked.
"In the living room, my father's entertaining him. You should head over first; I heard the visitor's got quite a background—probably some big shot from the provincial capital who's here to see you about something important," Lin Xue said.
Ye Ning's face darkened further. A big shot from the provincial capital? Wasn't that the exact fellow Li Biao had mentioned?
He had refused to go see the guy, yet the guy had come looking for him instead.
Letting out a cold hnh, he strode away.
Lin Xue felt a flicker of worry—not for Ye Ning, but for that fellow from the provincial capital.
Ye Ning was currently brimming with pent-up frustration. She just hoped the big shot from the provincial capital wouldn't run his mouth and say anything unpleasant, or else he definitely wouldn't meet a good end.
With a dark expression, Ye Ning entered the Lin Family living room.
Lin Muhua was conversing with a middle-aged man. Two bodyguards stood directly behind the man, radiating an unmistakable aura of martial prowess and blood-soaked experience characteristic of those accustomed to violence.
Ye Ning's brooding entrance instantly drew everyone's attention.
Chapter 35: Speak to Me on Your Knees
The man glanced sideways at Ye Ning and asked indifferently, "You must be Ye Ning?"
His posture reeked of arrogance, as if he completely failed to register Ye Ning as anything worthy of notice.
His two subordinates shared the same attitude, casting a look of utter disdain toward Ye Ning—the sort of look one might reserve for a bumpkin from the boondocks.
Just a city outside the provincial capital; how much capability could its underworld overlord possibly possess?
They figured he was probably so terrified at seeing them arrive that his wits had already abandoned him.
The middle-aged man thought this with inward smugness, his expression growing even more contemptuous.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm from the provincial capital, you..."
Bang.
Before he could finish his sentence, Ye Ning kicked him flying.
Following right behind, Ye Ning planted a boot squarely on the middle-aged man's head, stating coldly, "Who gave you permission to stand while talking to me? Get on your knees."
Lin Muhua stood dumbfounded. Ye Ning was simply too hot-tempered!
The other party was an underling of a provincial capital big shot, and beating him up like this meant things were going to be hard to smooth over.
Ye Ning had also sensed the man's attitude—the blatant contempt and disrespect implied he wasn't being taken seriously at all.
That being the case, there was naturally no need for him to be polite either.
The middle-aged man was dazed by the blow, his head pinned underfoot with zero chance of standing back up.
Noticing his two subordinates still standing there blankly, the man roared furiously, "What are you two just standing around for?! Make a move! Do you want to watch him beat me to death?"
Only then did the two recover their senses, charging straight toward him.
With a cold look in his eyes, Ye Ning kept his foot planted on the man's head while sweeping his other leg outward.
The man's two subordinates were sent airborne by the sweep, crashing heavily to the floor and convulsing.
Enduring excruciating pain, they reached inside their jackets, attempting to draw their handguns.
Ye Ning said coldly, "If you pull those guns out, all three of you die today."
Confronted by Ye Ning's glacial gaze, the two subordinates instantly froze, not daring to make a single further movement.
They had a gut feeling that if they dared draw their weapons, this man named Ye Ning would kill them on the spot without hesitation.
Swallowing hard, the pair kept their hands completely still.
Ye Ning lifted his foot from the man's head, prompting the fellow to scramble upward.
"On your knees," Ye Ning commanded coldly.
Trembling all over, the man dropped straight to his knees on the floor.
At that moment, a profound, bone-deep terror toward Ye Ning took root in his heart.
Watching this scene unfold, Lin Muhua's jaw dropped in utter astonishment.
"Speak. What are you looking for me for?" Ye Ning settled into a chair, looking down at the middle-aged man kneeling like a stray dog as he asked calmly.
Humiliation burned in the middle-aged man's chest, but with circumstances forcing his hand, there was nothing else he could do.