Yama Reborn

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Two: Domoto Hideno Stirring Trouble

After escaping from prison, Xicheng Xun began to transform into a butcher lurking in the shadows.

Her first target was a well-known lawyer. This lawyer, during multiple television interviews, had argued that the government lacked the authority to declare the Truth Society illegal and disband it. He often defended the organization in the name of human rights, asserting that the subway sarin attack was merely an act of individual cult members, unrelated to the organization, and that the government had no right to strip citizens of their freedom of belief, and so on. Furthermore, a resolution from the renowned Lawyers' Association opposed designating the Truth Society as an illegal organization. He, too, was one of its key members.

Two weeks after Xicheng Xun's escape, the renowned lawyer died in his home, electrocuted.

Afterward, Xicheng Xun successively hunted down several key figures of the Truth Society. However, how could a mere girl like her contend with an enormous organization that could even influence the Japanese government?

In his previous life, when Chen Nuo encountered Xicheng Xun during a trip to Japan, she had already become a woman who radiated darkness from within, deeply entrenched in anti-government beliefs, and completely disillusioned with the world and its ways. By then, Xicheng Xun had already delved into the Underground World and occasionally took on commissioned work to make a living.

After meeting Yama, Xicheng Xun quickly joined the Yama Team. She had two conditions: first, to be trained by Chen Nuo and learn every combat skill available to her. Second, she would serve the Yama Team but refused all overseas missions, remaining only in Japan to accept commissions for the Yama Team. Besides these commissions, she continued her relentless pursuit of the Truth Society's key members. This relentless pursuit continued until 2018, when the Sect Hierarch of the Truth Society was sentenced to death.

In his past life, members of the infamous Yama Team were well-known throughout the Underground World. Among them, Xicheng Xun, codenamed "Lan Mei," held a particularly special status. Her combat ability was not the strongest within the Yama Team. However, many felt that this woman, in terms of temperament and character, most closely resembled Yama himself. She was sharp-tongued, cynical, outwardly calm but inwardly indifferent, and maintained an emotional distance from everyone. She scorned life—including her own. She had repeatedly expressed her world-weariness to Chen Nuo: she was utterly disappointed with the world. To her, it seemed foolish, chaotic, and rotten to the core. Moreover, she only took orders from Yama himself. Not even "Fox," the one responsible for coordinating the overall strategy within the Yama Organization, could command her.

It could be said that ever since that night in July 2001, the once darkly mischievous girl, who stood strong against adversity, clung to positive goals, aspired to be admitted to prestigious schools, and fought hard for a better life, had been erased from this world. What remained was only a world-weary, disillusioned specter.

There was an even more ironic matter concerning Xicheng Xun's mother, Rin Nishikawa. In his previous life, this woman was alive right up until Chen Yanluo's death. Frightened by the police's pursuit, she fled and went into hiding in Osaka. In reality, the police investigation into the Truth Society was merely standard procedure, and they had stumbled upon her; she was not a core target. With high-ranking officials constantly maneuvering in their approach to the Truth Society, the police investigation into Rin Nishikawa soon fizzled out.

However, this woman remained in Osaka, never returning. She found a job there, becoming a dance hostess in the red-light district. In her past life, even after learning about her daughter's troubles, she didn't return to Tokyo to see her daughter—not when Xicheng Xun was in danger, rescued, hospitalized for emergency treatment, or later sentenced to prison. From beginning to end, this woman chose to remain in hiding and never once showed her face.

After Chen Nuo got to know Xicheng Xun, Xicheng Xun actually went to Osaka secretly to see Rin Nishikawa. By that time, Rin Nishikawa was older; having lost her former beauty, she could no longer make a living in the red-light district and was living in destitution. Xicheng Xun would visit this woman in Osaka periodically. Each time, she would secretly watch her from a distance, and before leaving, she would leave some money at her residence. This woman had a severe drinking problem and lived in poverty, yet she remained alive, like a rat in a hole—filthy and pitiable, but arousing no sympathy.

Xicheng Xun emerged from the restroom with a noticeable swelling on her nose. This made the young girl look somewhat comical. Facing Chen Nuo's scrutiny, Xicheng Xun glared at him fiercely, then turned and went upstairs to her room.

Checking the time, Chen Nuo lay on the sofa and let out a breath. In that case, things should have changed, right?

In his previous life, the night before last, Zaochuan, the minor leader, hadn't died, which exposed Xicheng Xun's identity. In this life... I personally killed that Zaochuan, and I wouldn't have made any mistakes.

To prevent any accidents, Chen Nuo had stayed with the girl for three days. Up until tonight, the Truth Society hadn't come looking. So, her identity likely hasn't been exposed, and they won't come anymore.

As for Xicheng Xun, her actions were driven by the search for her mother. As long as he told her Rin Nishikawa's whereabouts, she would no longer target the Truth Society. Then... there shouldn't be any more accidents.

As for exterminating the Truth Society... Chen Yanluo hadn't considered that.

What a joke! A massive organization, a behemoth even the Japanese government hadn't managed to dismantle.

Eradicate it?

The Truth Society's organization spanned all of Japan! Excluding ordinary followers, there were thousands of key leaders. This wasn't something that could be solved by stealthily killing a few people. Chen Nuo had no plans to do such a foolish thing.

His goal was to change Xicheng Xun's life—to restore this young girl's life to its proper, normal trajectory: to live diligently, study hard for university, and lead a happy, normal life. He would watch over her for three days, and then leave a sum of money before he left. Later, he would send someone to Osaka to either bring back Rin Nishikawa, who was hiding like a rat, or simply let her continue living in Osaka. In any case, by removing Xicheng Xun's motivation to search for her mother, she would then live peacefully and avoid taking any more foolish risks.

As for the Truth Society... let the Japanese government deal with that headache.

It was close to nine o'clock in the evening.

DING-DONG...

The doorbell rang.

Chen Nuo, sitting in the living room watching TV, raised an eyebrow. He stood up and glanced towards the door. Without needing to look, his spiritual power told him that the person outside was not one of Domoto Hideno's men stationed nearby.

A middle-aged man in a jacket, with a somewhat fierce appearance and a gloomy expression, stood at the door.

Xicheng Xun quickly came down from upstairs. Standing on the staircase, she and Chen Nuo exchanged a glance.

"He's not one of mine," Chen Nuo spoke first, shaking his head. "Without my orders, my people wouldn't come to disturb you."

"..." Xicheng Xun bit her lip.

"Go ahead and open the door," Chen Nuo shrugged. "It's obvious from outside that the lights are on; we can't pretend nobody's home."

"...Aren't you afraid I'll scream? Or take the chance to tell others that I've been kidnapped by you in my own home?"

"You're not an idiot," Chen Nuo laughed.

Taking a deep breath, Xicheng Xun walked out to the yard and opened the gate.

Outside, Officer Domoto saw Xicheng Xun and visibly relaxed a bit.

"Uncle Domoto?" A perfectly innocent, girlish smile appeared on Xicheng Xun's face. "What brings you here? Is something wrong?"

Officer Domoto scrutinized the young girl's face, as if searching for any sign of abnormality.

"I went to the convenience store where you work; the manager said you took today off," Officer Domoto frowned. "Did something happen at home? Or... has your mother returned?"

"Not at all," Xicheng Xun shook her head. "I just wasn't feeling well today."

"...Oh." Officer Domoto furrowed his brows again as he looked at Xicheng Xun. "Are you sure there's nothing else? You can tell me if there is."

As he spoke, Officer Domoto lowered his hand in front of him and discreetly made a gesture.

Xicheng Xun noticed the gesture, but her expression remained unchanged. Still smiling, she bowed politely. "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle! And for coming all this way to check on me! But really, nothing is wrong. I just feel a little unwell. Perhaps I've been working too hard and caught a slight cold. I truly appreciate your concern!"

Only then did Officer Domoto visibly relax, though his gaze drifted past Xicheng Xun toward the house door behind her. The door was open, allowing a view of the living room's interior. Xicheng Xun didn't obstruct his view; instead, she readily stepped aside, offering Officer Domoto an even clearer look. This action completely dispelled Officer Domoto's suspicions.

"Alright then, Xun, since you're sick, you should rest well at home. However... if you encounter any trouble or problems, you can call me."

"Yes! I'm sorry to have troubled you."

The young girl bowed in gratitude, then calmly saw Officer Domoto out. She even stepped a couple of paces out of the gate to wave goodbye before retreating with a smile and closing the gate.

After walking more than a dozen steps, Officer Domoto suddenly stopped, frowning as he noticed a sedan parked at the intersection. There was someone inside, sitting there smoking. The car was unfamiliar; Officer Domoto was certain he hadn't seen it in the neighborhood before. Officer Domoto deliberately walked past the car, confirming that the driver was also a stranger.

Back inside, Chen Nuo looked at Xicheng Xun with a smile. "I thought you'd take the chance to call for help, considering it was a cop who knocked on the door."

"I'm not a fool. I have secrets I can't let the police know. Besides... Uncle Domoto was alone; he'd be no match for you," Xicheng Xun shook her head. "Getting him involved would only endanger him."

Officer Domoto circled the vicinity. Over an hour later, he casually looped back to the intersection and saw the sedan was still parked there. He concealed himself behind a lamppost and observed it carefully. Suddenly, a thought struck him. From the sedan's parking spot, the driver had a direct view of Xicheng Xun's front gate. It was the perfect vantage point for observing Xicheng Xun's house.

Officer Domoto's eyes narrowed. Something's... not right.

As Chen Nuo was preparing to take a bath, his phone rang. He frowned—he had bought this phone after arriving in Tokyo, and only Domoto Hideno's men knew the number.

Picking up the call, he answered, "Hello?"

"Sir, I'm truly sorry for disturbing your rest at this late hour."

To his surprise, the voice on the other end was Domoto Hideno himself.

Chen Nuo furrowed his brows. "Is there a problem?"

"Indeed, there is a problem," Domoto Hideno's voice sounded grave. "It's a rather troublesome matter at the company. I had intended to report it to you today, but since you didn't contact me... I had no choice but to take the liberty of calling you this evening."

Company matters? Chen Nuo had no interest in Domoto Hideno's company accounts or revenue. Such things could be handled later by having Captain send someone to audit the books.

"Is it that critical?"

"Yes... Otherwise, I wouldn't dare disturb you so late. There are certain things that would be best reported to you in person."

He had been about to refuse, but then a thought struck him... In the future, this would all be his enterprise.

"Alright, I'll go to the company tomorrow then."

"Ah... I was wondering if you might have some time tonight, sir? This matter requires a decision by tomorrow for implementation. So, ideally, I could report to you tonight and hear your guidance."

Chen Nuo suddenly chuckled. "Is it that urgent?"

"...Yes! Please forgive me."

Interesting. Chen Nuo stroked his chin. Is that old fox Domoto Hideno trying to pull something again? When he wasn't in Japan, there were no problems. Now that he'd arrived, an urgent matter suddenly cropped up? Could it really be such a coincidence? Besides, what matter could be so urgent that it had to be reported tonight? Couldn't it wait one night?

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!