Volume 5 Chapter 22 Touma Yukinojo Assassination Plan Conclusion： Metropolitan Area Great Barrier
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──Well then,” Naoshi said, glancing briefly at the fallen Mouyon before turning his eyes to the remaining enemies.
A woman named Lingyin, who seemed sure her zombie kyonshi wouldn’t be defeated, stood frozen in shock. Her confident beauty, with striking red eyeshadow, was now shadowed by a blank expression.
”──!”
Catching Naoshi’s gaze, she quickly pulled out a throwing weapon and aimed it at Suzuri, who still lay on the ground. But Naoshi’s reflexes were faster.
”Gah!?” she gasped as Naoshi kicked the weapon away and grabbed her chin with his left hand.
”Raise your hands and stay quiet. If you try anything, I’ll break you,” Naoshi warned calmly.
Though Lingyin wasn’t slow—she was more than just a sorcerer; she probably knew hand-to-hand combat well—Naoshi could tell she was tired from the fierce fight. His senses were still sharp, and her movements looked sluggish.
”Ugh…” she groaned but obeyed, raising her hands. Naoshi didn’t lower his guard; he subtly spread his awareness around, which allowed him to free Yukinojo’s hand unnoticed. The struggle sounds had already stopped. Soon, Ako would arrive to help Suzuri.
”What’s your target? And who are your companions?”
”…Deathworms,” Lingyin spat, her tone full of contempt.
Naoshi chuckled and shrugged. Lingyin scowled but went on.
”You think I’ll talk? How naive──ah, ah, ah, ah!?” Her words broke into a scream. She twitched and jerked like a fish out of water, clearly in pain and not by choice.
”Even though you’re a lowly assassin, I have to admire your ambition,” Naoshi said coldly, pressing his palm against her abdomen at the dantian while kneading his spirit power. “For your own sake, it’s better to stay quiet.”
”Grrr…! Did you call me a killer!?” she snarled.
”That’s the truth, isn’t it? I don’t know about the yakuza or the Triads, but you’re just a disposable pawn getting paid well,” Naoshi replied.
”That’s impossible…” she started, then stopped herself. It wasn’t Naoshi who interrupted—she just decided to stay silent.
(Such a naive woman…) Naoshi thought, enjoying the control.
”If that’s not true, then what is it? Some surprise from Beijing? If it’s family, that’s one thing, but you don’t do this with someone you barely know.”
”Step-brother, the situation is under control,” a voice said—it was his step-sister.
Without looking away from Lingyin, who glared at him with hatred, Naoshi answered.
”Good job. Please take care of Suzuri-chan. She’s badly hurt, so don’t move her head if possible. What about the others?”
”Understood. A stretcher is on its way. All the Chinese agents here were puppets, but I’ll explain more later.”
”Got it.”
As Ako spoke, Lingyin’s eyes flickered, clearly aware there were more conspirators involved.
”Ah, aaaaaah────!” Lingyin screamed.
”You’re overreacting. No need to shout with that annoying voice,” Naoshi said with a chuckle as he pressed reiki into her dantian. What looked like torture was really just a forced exchange of energy meant to weaken her.
”Isn’t spiritual training your specialty? Your self-proclaimed genius Taoist title is embarrassing,” Naoshi taunted.
”You… aaah! Guh, ugh…!!” Lingyin writhed in pain.
The difference in their spiritual power and the electric charge in Naoshi’s reiki made it unbearable. He pushed energy far beyond what she could handle.
”So, what’s your goal? And who’s helping you?”
”Who… would talk… aaaaah! Ugh…!” she whimpered, tears welling as she tried to resist. Her limbs flailed weakly against Naoshi’s body.
”Stubborn, aren’t you?” he sighed, a strange satisfaction settling in.
”Nao-san, good work.”
”Hey, Yuki-kun. How’s it going?” Naoshi heard his friend’s voice behind him but kept his eyes on Lingyin.
”All smooth, thanks to you, Nao-san.”
”Well, gotta earn my keep for food and lodging. So, what now?”
”…Touma, Yukinojo.”
Lingyin suddenly went still after groaning. Naoshi tensed when he saw Yukinojo’s reflection in her wide eyes and felt the pressure behind him. The strongest exorcist in Japan, who had already shown his power, visibly relaxed.
”This involves foreign forces. The Bureau of Onmyō can’t handle it alone. We need to understand the whole situation ourselves.”
”Well, that’s how it goes.”
Naoshi gave a wry smile, thinking of whoever was stuck with this mess.
”Sorry to bother you when you’re tired, but hold on until we’re ready to question her. We’ll prepare a room.”
”Sure, no problem.”
”Thank you.”
”Oh, and if it’s alright, I’d like to talk to her alone for a bit. I’ll make it easier for her to open up later.”
Yukinojo’s troubled expression in Lingyin’s eyes didn’t hide the meaning.
”I believe the authorities will prepare the right experts…”
”But those officials have their own problems. I don’t understand their ways.”
”For me, Nao-san’s reputation matters too.”
Naoshi turned to his friend with a genuine smile.
”Thanks for saying that, Yuki-kun. But making girls cry is nothing new. One more won’t change anything.”
After a moment of silence, Yukinojo finally gave in.
”Understood. I’ll guide you.”
”Thanks. Let’s have a thorough talk.”
Lingyin, realizing her fate, let out a strained voice with a weak smile.
* * *
”What are you two doing here, just waiting around?” Naoshi asked as he stepped out of the room.
After a long discussion with Lingyin—who had finally opened up a bit—Naoshi had handed her over to the investigators. Now, outside the quiet room, he found Ako and Yukinojo standing side by side, waiting.
”We’re also here to secure the area,” Yukinojo said with a short nod.
”Step-brother,” Ako added gently, “Suzuri-san didn’t show any signs of danger. She’ll be taken in for observation tonight, just in case.”
”Good,” Naoshi replied, his eyes softening. “What about Shiun-san?”
”I already contacted her,” Yukinojo said. “She has ties to this case, one way or another.”
”Thanks,” Naoshi said as he accepted a paper cup from Ako. Warm steam rose from the coffee, and he took a slow sip.
”So, Nao-san,” Yukinojo asked, tilting his head, “did you learn anything new?”
”Yeah,” he said, lowering the cup slightly. “Turns out that girl seriously believed she could take down Yuki-kun.”
”She was strong,” Yukinojo said after a pause, “but still…”
It was reckless. No matter how skilled she was, going up against Yukito was beyond bold.
”And that’s just the surface,” Naoshi added, his tone dropping.
”What do you mean?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
”They probably kept the real plan hidden from the lower members—or maybe the plan was made with leaks in mind—but Yuki-kun’s assassination? That was only the opening act.”
He paused for a moment, the weight of the words hanging heavy in the air. Even as he spoke, part of him questioned if it could truly be done.
”The real target is the Great Barrier over the capital region. Their goal is to throw Kanto into chaos.”
Notes:
• Mouyon – Male. A martial arts master and former resident of Kowloon Walled City. His appearance is that of a middle-aged man with a large build and a dull-headed nature. He is a corpse (Kyonshi) with cloudy white eyes, later pierced by a black spot. His relationship is one of rivalry with Naoshi, driven by a command to kill him. His combat style involves Tiger Claw (Fujau) and Shadowless Kick, utilizing his trained fingers and log-like thighs.
• Lingyin – Female. A genius Taoist who controls Zhang. Her appearance is fierce, and she is quick to anger. She is the mastermind behind Zhang’s actions and plays a key role in the assassination plan.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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