Chapter 147: Confrontation

After dealing with the people from the League of Nether Ghosts, the crisis for the Sunao-gumi and Iwamoto Group was mostly resolved. Fang Jing did not plan to get involved in the next matters.

Old Man Wakabayashi, who stayed in the city, had probably received the news. He had no time to grieve but organized a full-scale counterattack for the Sunao-gumi and Iwamoto Group.

The hatred from losing a loved one could only be washed away with the blood of the enemy. There was naturally no need for Fang Jing to think about that.

Besides, he did not truly intend to become a thug for the Yakuza. He only considered that the League of Nether Ghosts had a grudge against him, so he took this opportunity to connect with the Sunao-gumi and Iwamoto Group to deal with these troublesome people.

He himself still had the identity of an ordinary good citizen, so he naturally cared about this aspect.

If he dealt with these people himself, it would inevitably leave traces that the police and government might discover. With the Sunao-gumi and Iwamoto Group helping him clean up afterward, he did not need to worry about that problem.

“After using the Ghost Gate Art this time, my head still feels the same stinging pain…”

He opened the two acupuncture points “Wind Gate” and “Jianjing” simultaneously and activated the Inner Ghost Gate. His body did not feel particularly uncomfortable, but his head throbbed with pain.

The first time he opened two “Inner Ghost Gates,” he had also experienced this situation.

“The impact isn’t too significant. It should be considered a kind of side effect. As long as my body gradually adapts…”

He paused to observe his condition and found that his attributes had returned to normal mode.

Since he had opened the “Inner Ghost Gate” more than five times in total, his Stamina Attribute had been reduced by 1 point.

Meanwhile, the previously closed “Baihui point” reopened after the Stamina Attribute was reduced by 1 point. Inside this “Inner Ghost Gate,” turbulent energy surged.

Thanks to this, Fang Jing fully understood how to use the “Inner Ghost Gate·Secret Essence Orifices.”

Every time he used it three times, one “Inner Ghost Gate” would naturally close, deducting 1 point from his Stamina Attribute, and the closed “Gate” would reopen.

“The Stamina Attribute could be regained by practicing combat skills. As long as he was careful, there was no need to worry about the limitations of the ‘Inner Ghost Gate’…”

However, he needed to find a way to accumulate more Stamina Attribute points. He had not realized before that this attribute was so special and had such remarkable effects.

While putting on his clothes, he checked the bullet wounds on his body. They had mostly healed by now, which was also due to the recovery effect of the “Yuan Armor” Fate Grade. For minor injuries like these, it had a certain self-healing and regenerative ability, although it wasn’t particularly strong.

“How are you, Nishizuka? Is everything alright with your body?”

Higashi Yuantai patted his shoulder with some concern. At first, he had been startled by the bloody scene Fang Jing created, but he quickly calmed down.

Higashi was mentally tough, calm, and intelligent, so he naturally recognized Fang Jing’s value.

The ghost-like demeanor Fang Jing displayed during the battle had truly terrified the members of the Sunao-gumi and the accompanying Iwamoto Group. After returning from Kurasaki Hospital, almost no one could look him directly in the eye. Only Higashi Yuantai seemed unaffected, his speech and behavior no different from before.

“I got grazed by a bullet, but it’s not a big deal.”

He replied calmly.

“It’s good that you’re fine.”

Higashi Yuantai had an indescribable expression on his face. He had personally witnessed Fang Jing “shake” the bullet embedded in his muscle out of his body. In response to Fang Jing’s remark, he could only offer a bitter smile.

In fact, he clearly understood how terrifying Fang Jing’s previous combat performance had been.

The League of Nether Ghosts had collapsed in less than four minutes, all slaughtered by Fang Jing. This did not mean that the League of Nether Ghosts, led by Da Cha, was too weak.

The real issue was that “Nishizuka Tsukasa’s” methods were too horrifying. When he fought, he transformed into a inhuman monster, killing the fully armed thugs as easily as slaughtering a flock of chickens.

Yet, every member of the true League of Nether Ghosts was a killing machine trained through brutal methods. They had undergone terrifying and horrifying specialized training from the Black Devourer Syndicate, passing bloody tests that completely erased their humanity. Each one was less like a living person and more like a demon.

But in front of Fang Jing, even the “demons” became dead ghosts.

“Kuki Muen set the duel location at an abandoned dam in the Kozutsugaru Gorge outside the southern district of the city. That place isn’t very populated. He probably chose such a remote location to prevent anyone from disrupting the duel…”

Kozutsugaru Gorge.

Fang Jing recalled that there was indeed such a place, and just as Higashi Yuantai said, it was a relatively secluded mountain gorge. A river flowed through the town area and went westward into the sea.

A dam had once been built near the gorge under government mobilization. Later, it was criticized by local residents who believed it would affect the local flora and fauna. The dam construction was forced to halt before completion.

“I remember that place is quite far from the city. How long would it take to drive there…?”

“The roads there aren’t easy to travel, especially when entering the mountain area. It would probably take a lot of time.”

“Enough talking. Let’s hurry on our way before discussing anything else.”

Sitting in the car, Fang Jing frowned tightly and spoke these words.

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Kozutsugaru Gorge.

Blue moonlight spilled from the sky. Two figures on the abandoned dam moved closer and closer.

“Senior Kume, it’s been a long time.”

Kuki Muen wore a gray trench coat. He was a tall man with a sharply defined face.

His nose was high and curved like an eagle’s beak, and he had a pair of blue eyes. His neatly styled black-gray hair covered his forehead.

Kuki was slightly taller than Kume Nansho. His hands hung at his sides as he cast a cold gaze toward his senior—Kume Nansho.

Kume Nansho appeared far less tall and sturdy than Kuki, but his spirit and energy were exceptionally high.

“You still have the nerve to call me senior…”

“Yes, because I have always respected you, senior.”

Kuki’s thick lips curled upward into a smile. However, it was clear that his eyes held not a trace of laughter.

“But I have no interest in the other weaklings of the Huanzang Style. The strong deserve respect anywhere.”

“Then what about the teacher? Don’t forget, without him, you would probably have died long ago.”

“I have always respected the teacher. That is why I killed him after surpassing him.”

Kuki Muen smiled coldly. “You always say I betrayed the Huanzang Style. But in ‘essence,’ you are the one who truly betrayed the style. Because from ancient times to the present, the Huanzang Style has been passed down through a single lineage. Only the strongest disciple, by killing his former teacher, is qualified to inherit the name of the Huanzang Style.”

“What kind of archaic era is that? Besides, the martial arts world has many absurd rules. These rules are no longer suited for the times…”

Kume only showed a look of hatred and said in a deep voice, “Don’t make any excuses for your atrocities. Because you, yourself, are a beast.”

“Even if you say that, don’t forget that the teacher also killed the previous predecessor of the Huanzang Style to obtain the Huanzang Style’s inheritance.”

“That wasn’t the teacher’s ‘intention.’ He was forced by the mentor who raised him to do it. From that day on, he believed that the so-called darkness of the Huanzang Style should end in his era.”

A bleak wind whistled from the other end of the dam. Both fell silent.

…Some matters were such that both sides held their own convictions, making it almost impossible to reach any consensus.

“Sakaki Tetsuhei, I can spare him. Clearly… you didn’t teach him the true Huanzang Style techniques.”

Kuki’s blue eyes suddenly narrowed into slits.

“Since he isn’t a true successor, not killing him isn’t a difficult matter.”

“Do you think I would thank you for that?”

Kume Nansho felt somewhat relieved inside. His muscles tensed completely, entering a state of readiness for battle.

Kuki did not speak. He just looked up at the sky where the clouds drifted apart. The moon was still faintly visible, but dawn was approaching.

“Senior, I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over the ‘Outer Demon Gate’s’ lower scroll, and I can spare your life.”

“Don’t dream.”

Kume Nansho shook his head.

“You will never get that thing…”

Amid the sounds of their confrontation, something in the air burst and scattered like lightning.

The muscles on both of their bodies rapidly bulged, emitting a “creaking” sound, as if something swelled and surged from within.

“Inner Ghost Gate, open!”

Almost simultaneously, both activated the “Inner Ghost Gate·Secret Essence Orifices,” causing Essence Qi like a tidal wave to surge from the Esoteric Energy Pores within their bodies.

“Roar!”

“Kill!”

The next second, Kume Nansho and Kuki roared fiercely. They lowered their shoulders and elbows, then threw a punch.

Their movements were perfectly standard, like mirror images of each other—one left, one right, identical and synchronized. Even their speed seemed precisely calculated, with their fists’ trajectories overlapping each other.

Bang!

Fist met fist. The opposing forces clashed like hammers smashing the air, as if an explosion of air burst out of nowhere.

The life-and-death battle had begun.