The heavy scent of blood mingled with the damp aroma of earth, hanging thick in the mountain forest. Uesugi Kazuya stood beside a thick cedar tree, his gaze landing coldly on Zhu Erba, who had just regained consciousness and was struggling to stand. Though he felt nothing but extreme loathing for this bandit leader, the current situation was a chaotic mess, and he had no choice but to suppress his temper. Uesugi’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the butt of his gun. The "tap-tap" sound was piercingly clear in the silent woods, carrying an unsettling, chilling quality.
He leaned down slightly, moving close to Zhu Erba, and lowered his voice, every word wrapped in a threat. "No nonsense. We are safe for the moment, but the 'Netherworld' group won't let this go. They’ll be on our trail soon enough." At the mention of "Netherworld," Uesugi’s eyelids twitched imperceptibly; a glimmer of dread flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ferocity. He paused, straightened up, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked down at Zhu Erba. "Zhu-san, you swore that you would fulfill all my conditions. I hope you aren't lying to me." A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of Uesugi’s mouth like a pale moon in a frigid night. "Otherwise, while 'Netherworld's' methods are terrifying, mine are absolutely capable of making you wish you were dead." He emphasized the word "methods," making the threat in the air so thick it felt as if it might crystallize into frost.
As Zhu Erba …
Chapter 329