Yama Reborn

Let's turn back the clock a few hours.

The morning of July 16th.

While Chen Nuo lay in wait outside the Tokyo University laboratory, awaiting Bei Tiaojie.

***

In the morning, he found a random excuse to send his partner off to another location to handle some matters, and Longben drove alone to Xicheng Xun's residence.

At the roadside, Longben first carefully observed his surroundings, especially the intersection, to make sure there were no unfamiliar vehicles parked there waiting for something. He also used a police officer's perspective to survey the area and confirmed that nobody was tailing him.

Longben then got out of his car and pressed the doorbell at Xicheng Xun's home.

It took Xicheng Xun a long time to come out and open the door. The girl was dressed in home clothes, but she looked a bit haggard, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly showing signs of poor sleep.

Xicheng Xun, as usual, adopted her "top student" and "gentle girl" persona. "Ah, it's Uncle Longben." She bowed politely at the door. "Why are you here so early today?"

"Can I talk to you?" Longben frowned, studying Xicheng Xun. "Today, it's not about your mother's case."

"…" Xicheng Xun looked at Longben with some confusion but still nodded and stepped aside. "Please come in, then."

***

When they sat down in the living room, Longben quickly sensed something was amiss.

The room, though tidied and seemingly clean, set off alarms for someone with the seasoned intuition of a senior police officer.

He had been to Xicheng Xun's home before, but today, while sitting in the living room, there was a strange feeling: as if someone else had been in the house.

While Xicheng Xun went to the kitchen to make tea, Longben quickly made his judgment.

He smelled a faint trace of tobacco lingering on the sofa cushion.

This further solidified Longben's judgments and guesses over the past couple of days.

Once the tea was served, the two knelt face-to-face by the tea table in the living room.

Longben took a sip of the tea, exchanging a few pleasantries first.

Xicheng Xun was very composed, merely smiling gently and not rushing to speak.

"Xun, are you feeling better these days?"

"What?"

"You mentioned you were unwell, so you didn't go to school or to your part-time job."

Xicheng Xun smiled, seating herself properly and leaning slightly forward. "Thank you for your concern. I don't have any problems now."

Longben cut to the chase. "Then, have you had visitors these past few days?"

"…" Xicheng Xun looked at Longben, silent for a second, then nodded. "Yes."

"A relative? Or…"

"Are you asking this question as a police officer, Uncle Longben?"

Xicheng Xun's reply suddenly wasn't that of a docile girl anymore.

This counter-question surprised Longben. He gave the girl a look and frowned, saying, "Xun!"

"Alright," Xicheng Xun said slowly. "A friend."

"A friend?"

"Yes, a friend," Xicheng Xun said calmly. "A friend I knew previously with whom I shared a common interest. We've kept in touch through correspondence. He came to Tokyo for a vacation and stayed at my place for two days."

She paused and added, "He's already left now."

For some reason, Longben felt that when Xicheng Xun spoke the word "left," her tone carried a trace of subdued melancholy.

"So, this person…"

"Uncle Longben, this is my personal affair!" the girl retorted strongly again.

Longben was taken aback. Since he had entered, this girl, who always presented herself as the obedient type and had a demeanor as gentle as water, had now shown quite a noticeable resistance to his inquiries twice.

Longben fell silent for a while, then changed the subject, raising his hand to point at something in the living room next to the television.

"Xun, when did you start enjoying playing video games?"

It was a PlayStation console.

Xicheng Xun seemed to smile. "Can't I? It's quite normal for kids my age to enjoy playing games, isn't it?"

"But…"

"Uncle Longben!" Xicheng Xun suddenly sat up straight. "If you want to say something, just come out with it."

"Let's talk about the friend who stayed at your house these past few days," Longben decided to be direct. "I previously noticed outsiders tailing your house—and not just one person. There were also people parked by the roadside, staying there all day. And… I noticed you went out in the middle of the night."

"So, am I a prisoner?" Xicheng Xun answered coldly. "Mr. Longben, I have nothing to say about that friend of mine. All I can tell you is that he has nothing to do with the case involving my mother."

"Whether it's related or not should be for the police to decide! Hey! Xicheng Xun!" Longben's voice thundered with feigned authority.

Xicheng Xun just sat silently, looking straight up into Longben's eyes. Her gaze was gentle but without any hint of yielding.

After a stare-off, Longben sighed, "Xun, I watched you grow up since you were little. I even held you when your father was still alive! Your father was also a friend of mine… I promised him I'd look after you well."

"Yes!" Mentioning her father, Xicheng Xun softened greatly, speaking softly. "You have always looked after me. But regarding that friend of mine, I really don't want to bring him up. And he truly has nothing to do with the case involving my mother."

"Then, can you tell me why a friend of yours, who just came to Tokyo for a visit, would have people surveilling your house, watching over you? I get the feeling that those tailing you don't seem to be hostile, but rather… they seem more like bodyguards on a protective detail. Also, there's another thing…"

"Is your friend from a financial conglomerate or a wealthy family?"

Xicheng Xun looked up at Longben in surprise.

Longben spoke slowly, "I've checked the license plate number. That car belongs to..."

He named a company that was very famous in Tokyo.

At that moment, Longben's attitude was not that of a police officer. It looked more like the concerned posture of a parental figure towards their child.

Xicheng Xun was resistant to this attitude, but she didn't dislike it.

After pondering for a moment, the girl sighed, "Uncle Longben, these are really my personal affairs."

"The mother gets involved with the Truth Society, and the daughter gets tangled up with a rich man of unknown identity?" Longben said solemnly, "Xun! Is there really nothing you want to tell me?"

Xicheng Xun remained silent.

After an exchange of looks, Longben sighed, picked up the teacup in front of him, and finished it in one gulp before standing up to say goodbye.

"I'm not trying to be too controlling... but, Xun, you're a girl, and I want you to be safe."

Xicheng Xun gave Longben a complicated look. "Thank you, Uncle Longben. I will take care of myself."

***

Longben left Xicheng Xun's house but did not go far.

He drove his car to an intersection, found a place to turn, and stopped. Then he sat there quietly.

Instinctively, he felt that Xicheng Xun's reaction was off.

He felt as though he could uncover something.

***

In the morning, it was actually the quietest time in the neighborhood and when the fewest people were around.

The office workers had gone to work.

Kids went to school or kindergarten.

And the housewives were usually out shopping in the morning.

During this time, the streets were at their emptiest.

Longben sat in his car with the window cracked open, patiently smoking, quietly surveilling.

When it was almost noon...

Suddenly, two vans sped down the road in the distance.

What alerted Longben was that he quickly noticed these two vans were very old, but more importantly, they didn't have license plates!

The cars stopped in front of Xicheng Xun's house with no apparent attempt at concealment.

Several people quickly jumped out of the vehicles.

Longben's expression turned stern!

He subconsciously reached for his phone.

But just then, BANG! BANG! BANG!

Unbeknownst to him, two men had already positioned themselves next to Longben's car window and forcefully tapped on it.

Longben turned his head and saw a ferocious-faced man outside his car window smiling at him...

BANG!!

The glass was suddenly shattered by his fist!

Longben instinctively protected himself, but soon a hand reached in, grabbed him by the throat, and yanked him straight out of the car!

Longben felt himself slammed hard onto the ground, and as he struggled to get up, he was punched in the face!

Then someone crouched down and rifled through his clothes, pulling out the contents of his pockets.

Wallet, along with his police ID and badge.

"He's a cop!"

"...Keep him for now."

***

The iron gate of Xicheng Xun's courtyard was opened with a specialized tool on the lock; with a slight twist, the lock gave way.

The whole process took no more than five seconds.

Clearly, these people weren't doing this for the first time. They expertly opened the door, left one person outside, and the rest entered the courtyard one after another.

After opening their coats, they were all holding weapons—knives or daggers of some sort.

The ferocious-faced man gestured, and his subordinates dispersed, encircling the house from both sides of the yard.

Outside the door, one person first quietly pressed his ear against it, attempting to eavesdrop on any sounds inside.

The door was a thin wooden panel.

The eavesdropper turned his head, frowned at his companion, about to say something...

BOOM!!!

The door panel suddenly burst open!

Xicheng Xun burst through the door; a knee strike landed on the man's head!

The man was sent flying, and while in mid-air, blood spurted from his nose and mouth, and even several of his front teeth were sent flying!

Xicheng Xun landed, her right hand gripping a small Tachi upside down. With a backhanded sweep, a man next to her screamed as his leg was cleaved open, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his wound.

Taking the opportunity, Xicheng Xun rolled forward, her blade swinging toward the direction of the gate, attempting to break out!

Just as she was mere steps from the iron gate, Xicheng Xun suddenly heard the sound of a fierce wind behind her and could only clench her teeth, grab the hilt with both hands, tilt her head, and then backhand the blade behind her in a block!

With a muffled thud, Xicheng Xun's body shook. The powerful force made the girl stumble aside to divert the massive strength!

Looking back, Xicheng Xun saw a ferocious-faced man holding an iron rod, standing there with a vicious smile at her.

The iron rod flew out of the man's hand. Xicheng Xun dodged by tilting her head; the wind howled past her ear, but the iron gate was slammed shut by the rod!

Xicheng Xun inwardly sighed. Escape is hopeless. Her decision was swift and decisive: she immediately leaped up, trying to scale the wall!

But mid-air, she heard several SNAPS!

Iron wire nets shot through the air and came falling down!

Xicheng Xun gritted her teeth and swung her blade upward, but suddenly, her body shuddered; as the blade touched the wire net, Xicheng Xun screamed, her body falling from mid-air!

The wire net was electrified!

It was a net fired by a stun gun!

The electrified Xicheng Xun was unable to hold onto the Tachi in her hands and had to let go, then rolled away just in time as a series of thuds followed, and the iron rods hit the ground behind her!

The men in the courtyard all raised their weapons – swords, clubs, daggers – and advanced on the girl.

The ferocious-faced man, however, coldly laughed and stepped back, moving toward the iron gate and slowly bending over to pick up the iron rod from the ground.

The courtyard, not large to begin with – just a small single-family home – Xicheng Xun, with her nimble moves, dodged left and right. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth!

If I can't break out, then I have no choice but to retreat back into the house!

Xicheng Xun kicked an enemy in the abdomen, and before he could collapse backward to the ground, she rushed up, grabbed his clothes, and actually lifted him, swinging him like a human-shaped meat shield. After pushing back those around her, she dashed into the house!

"Get inside!" the ferocious-faced man, obviously their leader, gestured and shouted loudly.

By the time these men stormed into the living room, Xicheng Xun was already carrying her captive up the stairs to the second floor.

A few men chased after her, and immediately, the captive was thrown down. When the people below caught him, a fruit knife was sticking out of his chest!

"Vicious girl," the ferocious-faced man walked up, glanced at his dead subordinate with a hideous smile, and said, "I like a ruthless opponent! Charge up!"

Two subordinates rushed up, but after only two steps, one screamed and staggered back.

A chopstick was lodged in his face!

The ferocious-faced man, his expression dark as iron, turned around, grabbed the coffee table in the living room, lifted it, and then carried it in front of him as he strode up the stairs!

Holding the coffee table, the ferocious-faced man rushed to the second floor, only to see Xicheng Xun running into a room in a puff of smoke, quickly shutting the door behind her.

"Little girl, you can't escape!"

He grabbed a subordinate and pushed him forward; just as the man tried to ram the door, a blade suddenly pierced through the door, skewering his throat and nailing him to the door panel!

"Bastard!!"

The ferocious-faced man charged forward, dragging away the body of his subordinate and lifting an iron rod to smash it against the door panel.

With a loud BANG, the door panel shattered. His body incredibly strong, he twisted and squeezed himself through the broken door, treating the splintered wood as if it were mere paper!

Inside the bedroom, Xicheng Xun had already opened the window and leaped out from the second floor!

But as she was mid-air, an iron rod came flying from behind, landing squarely on Xicheng Xun's back.

When the girl landed, a mouthful of blood sprayed out. She rolled twice on the ground and felt like she couldn't catch her breath, a fierce pain erupting in her chest and abdomen.

Xicheng Xun gritted her teeth and rushed to the iron gate of the courtyard. She had just opened the door when the ferocious-faced man from the second floor also leaped down.

Xicheng Xun burst through the gate onto the street, first dodging a knife that slashed towards her face—it was the guy who had been waiting outside the door.

The girl sidestepped the blade and, moving in close to her attacker, threw an elbow into his chest. With a few CRUNCHES, his ribs were likely all broken.

Without waiting for him to fall, Xicheng Xun snatched the knife from his hand and started sprinting towards the intersection.

She hadn't run far when the ferocious-faced man caught up, his running speed clearly exceeding Xicheng Xun's.

Hearing the whistling of the wind from behind again, Xicheng Xun had no choice but to turn and swing her knife in defense.

With a BANG, she sliced a trash can in half!

But quickly, a fist landed on Xicheng Xun's shoulder. She staggered and fell to the ground, yet in that same motion, her knife skillfully slashed upwards.

The ferocious-faced man grunted, staggering back a few steps, a cut on his shoulder where the blade was even stuck!

Xicheng Xun, on the ground, struggled for a moment. As she got up, one of her shoulders drooped visibly, clearly dislocated by that punch.

With one arm hanging limp, her hair disheveled, her eyes coldly stared at her opponent through the tangled locks.

The ferocious-faced man gritted his teeth, pulled the knife from his shoulder, and gave Xicheng Xun a twisted smile.

"So you're an Ability User! No wonder you've assassinated so many of our people," he said, and swung the blade down at her!

Xicheng Xun retreated!

Another slash!

She backed away!

The attacker struck again. Xicheng Xun, now backed against the wall, quickly calculated the speed of his strikes and the range of his slashing blade.

Suddenly, she leaned back, sliding on the ground to dodge the blade, which nearly skimmed the tip of her nose!

Xicheng Xun had already slid under his feet, and from seemingly nowhere, she thrust a dagger into the man's calf!

The ferocious-faced man roared, retreating quickly, but Xicheng Xun had sprung up like a fish, taking a step to circle behind him, then leaped onto his back like a monkey!

The ferocious-faced man screamed and howled, then with a piercing shriek, he desperately tore at Xicheng Xun, finally grabbing her from his back and hurling her away!

Xicheng Xun was flung against the wall like a cannonball, hitting the ground with blood spraying from her mouth.

But that ferocious-faced man was already covered in blood!

Especially his eyes! One eye had been directly stabbed blind!

Xicheng Xun lay on the ground, watching this guy screaming and howling continuously, while the other members of the Truth Society had already charged out.

Xicheng Xun turned her head and sprinted away again!

She ran to the crossroads in one go when suddenly, a van came from a distance, directly hitting Xicheng Xun at the intersection and sending her flying!

The girl's body fell to the ground, tumbled a few times, and finally lay on her back, taking several long breaths.

This time, she couldn't stand up again.

The van door opened, and a person dressed in gray clothes jumped out. Cold-faced, he walked over to look at Xicheng Xun lying on the ground and gave her a light kick with his foot.

Xicheng Xun didn't move, only feebly staring at the man with her eyes.

"Quite a formidable one. You've taken down several of my men and even crippled one of my Ability Users," the man remarked.

He glanced again at the ferocious-faced man being supported by others as he hurried over.

"Trash."

The man in gray sneered, turned around, and got into the car. "Take her back."

***

The car jolted.

When Longben woke up, he found himself leaning against Xicheng Xun. Her face and body were covered in blood.

Both were bound with their hands tied behind their backs and had cloths stuffed in their mouths.

Longben struggled a few times but quickly received a couple of punches.

Xicheng Xun didn't move, just looked indifferently at the members of the Truth Society inside the car.

In the cramped van, the two sat in the last row.

Longben wanted to struggle again when suddenly, his hand was touched.

Turning his head to look at Xicheng Xun, she was giving him a complex look.

Xicheng Xun twisted her body and quickly traced a few times with her finger on Longben's palm.

('I have a plan. Jump out of the car. Find someone to save me!')

('XX Hotel, room XXX! Call for help!')

Xicheng Xun repeated these two sentences three times to ensure Longben fully understood, then retracted her hand.

Longben looked at the girl in shock.

Although I received the message, I can't comprehend at all what she means by 'having a plan' and 'jumping out of the car'...

A few seconds later, Longben witnessed the most unforgettable scene of his life!

...

The car's jolting lessened; seemingly, the vehicle slowed down due to road conditions...

All of a sudden, Xicheng Xun beside him took a deep breath, raising her arm high up!

The leather thongs that were bound around her wrists broke inch by inch!

Xicheng Xun smashed the car window with a punch. Then a member of the Truth Society sitting in the front turned to pounce on her, but she caught him by the neck with one hand and with a swift tug...

CRACK!

The man's neck rotated a full 360 degrees! He fell limp without making a sound!

Following that, Xicheng Xun grabbed Longben and shoved him out of the window!

Longben hit the ground, rolling several times, his face smeared with blood!

He struggled to get up and, though his hands were still bound, he ran as fast as he could!

The van braked sharply and stopped, rocking a few times. Xicheng Xun's head appeared from the car window, the cloth in her mouth already pulled off by herself. It seemed like she was struggling fiercely, but several arms were on her shoulders, dragging her back in...

"RUN!!!"

***

"Is this the whole story?"

In the hotel room, Chen Nuo looked at Longben lying on the bed, covered in blood.

Longben's breath was faint as he struggled to speak, "Hurry! No matter who you are... Xun said, you, you can save her... she..."

Chen Nuo's hand rested on Longben's forehead. "Okay, I got it," he said slowly. "Leave the rest to me; you can rest now."

With that, Chen Nuo turned to the two subordinates of Higashida Ichiro. "Take care of him... uh, don't send him to the hospital. You can manage that, right?"

"No problem!" A man in a black suit bowed. "We did some basic bandaging, and the president's private doctor is already on his way... the president himself is also on his way."

"Then, help me prepare a few things, quickly."

"At your command!"

"I don't care if you steal or buy, I need a knife, a leather jacket, a pair of gloves... and a motorcycle helmet. And a motorcycle. You have ten minutes."