"As the inheritors of the Moon Star Sect, the best assassins have erged throughout the dynasties.
Yet in the last years of the previous dynasty, our sixth-generation Grandmaster left behind a puzzling saying—'One who wields the sword only for oneself cannot shatter delusions.'
Subsequently, the sixth-generation Grandmaster joined an assassination mission against the high-level officials of the Jin Dynasty but t his end together with the Jin's Batulu."
Bathed in the evening breeze filtering through the woods, everyone listened to Yu Yani recount:
"Logically speaking, it shouldn't have ended like that, our sect's movent technique is unparalleled in making escapes... no one should be able to catch us...
I didn't understand what he ant by those words until this ti when I went to sea with the fleet and saw many people who lacked strength, had no Martial Dao Realm, but were fearless in facing death due to courage and perseverance alone. I had never imagined that such people existed in the world."
"I suddenly realized..." Yu Yani looked at the steel sword in her hand and slowly said:
"Perhaps the sixth-generation Grandmaster wanted his successors not to be the blades in the hands of the powerful but to try... to wield their swords for the common folks of the world."
Everyone listened in silent agreent for a long while until Lu Yao solemnly said, "Master Yu, rest assured, I will kill all these malicious Izumo people!"
Yu Yani nodded and said, "With your Spirit Refining Stage plus the Plucking Star Movent Technique, this should not be difficult. When the ti cos, my disciple here will be of great help to you~"
"Certainly, certainly~" Lu Yao repeatedly bowed with his hands clasped.
"Master!" Li Pei clasped her master's arm sowhat shyly.
As night fell, everyone headed back to the courtyard, preparing to dine together.
Lu Yao casually asked, "Speaking of which, do we have any information on that Kotaro Komura?"
"You an the Izumo Ambassador?" Yu Yani replied coldly, "Ever since they dared to harm Peipei, I have been investigating. However, I can never ascertain his Martial Dao Cultivation."
"Martial Dao Cultivation?"
"Yes, it's known that he has achieved Spirit Refinent and Out-of-Body Technique, but his Martial Dao Cultivation remains a mystery. If he's Innate, then he would possess the might of the Golden Body Realm."
Yu Yani wore a grave expression: "This person is difficult to deal with, even the intent to kill can be sensed by him."
Lu Yao laughed, "I have a firearm that should be able to assassinate him."
~~~~~~~~~~
The Izumo Ambassador—Kotaro Komura, the very person occupying the thoughts of everyone there, was currently residing inside the Izumo Embassy in the capital city, staring blankly into the void.
His mind was not present, but rather two thousand kiloters away in Izumo Kyoto.
The Izumo Imperial Palace was nested right in the center of Kyoto, concealed behind thick stone walls, ancient trees, and within the moat.
At this mont, countless cabinet ministers were coming to see the supre ruler of Izumo—Emperor Kazuhito.
The ministers wore grim expressions, tension mingled with dejection and fear as they bowed and bent low before a peculiar man.
The man was dressed in a crisp military uniform, his face adorned with a golden mask.
This golden mask covered only the upper half of his face above the lips, its sharp beak protruding outward, starkly resembling the guise of a Tengu.
This man was none other than Emperor Kazuhito himself; he toyed with a humble rice ball in his hand and spoke indifferently:
"Like Gou Jian who slept on brushwood and tasted gall, I too can do the sa, and have indeed done so. Frugality in every respect, eating only a humble al each day, I've spared no effort to support your strategies. But... how do you repay for this?"
Upon hearing these words, the ministers bowed even lower, their faces revealing fear. One of them, in particular, was General Ito, who had previously suffered a significant defeat.
The next second, a pitch-black claw erged from the void behind the Emperor and grabbed General Ito, lifting him into the air like a sparrow.
"General Ito, you co and tell Us! Where has the navy that We painstakingly amassed gone!!!"
The voice that spoke resembled thunder, causing the entire Imperial Palace to tremble and sending chills down the spines of the courtiers present, who wished they could bury their heads into the ground.
The pitch-black claw tightened its grip, and nurous fine cracks appeared on General Ito's body, like a shattered porcelain vase.
He struggled to say sothing, but not a word could escape his lips.
A black fog rose around Emperor Kazuhito as he pointed to a docunt before him and said coldly:
"My ministers, the full support of the throne has been exchanged for this most humiliating treaty. Pri Minister Ito, you explain the contents of the 'ceasefire treaty'."
An elderly man in a suit, sporting a long beard, stood up and said:
"The Shun Dynasty demands our unconditional withdrawal of troops, compensation of one hundred thousand taels of silver, and the opening of four trade ports. And then there's also…"
Pri Minister Ito glanced at the Emperor's expression before continuing, "And then there's — the absurd demand for the Emperor to give homage. Of course, this is nothing but shaless extortion. The details of the treaty..."
"Enough! We have had our fill of this indignity!" roared Emperor Kazuhito:
"This is but a replica of the defeat treaties that the Shun Dynasty used to sign in the past! And now it has been turned against Us! What an humiliation this is!"
With that, he threw General Ito behind him, right into a gaping maw bristling with sharp teeth!
Behind the Emperor, there manifested an imnse shadow with wings, crouching to fit within the grand palace; were it to stand erect, it might have pierced through the roof.
The shadow's gaping maw chewed rcilessly, emitting a grating noise that was both ear-piercing and set one's teeth on edge, all amidst General Ito's pitiful screams.
At this mont, Kotaro Komura remained a straw man, sitting atop the shoulder of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, witnessing all of this.
He thought to himself, "The power of Spirit Refining Manifest Holiness can deeply interfere with the world! Emperor Kazuhito, bearing the faith of millions of Izumo citizens, indeed possesses a peerlessly strong 'heart reflection'. With such a mighty presence, Izumo is destined to dominate the world!"
As General Ito was devoured, the hair-raising aura around the Emperor receded, and his ministers breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the Emperor's emotions stabilize, the straw man harboring Kotaro Komura's spirit spoke up:
[Your Majesty need not worry. The Shun Dynasty is but a twilight giant, dood to perish at its own hands, even without our involvent.]
Emperor Kazuhito slightly raised his hand, indicating for him to continue.
[The Empress Dowager of the Shun Dynasty seeks to use the Power of Collective Will, but this woman who has ruled the nation for fifty years is too confident in herself, and she is about to taste the bitter fruit of her folly; furthermore, our mission to unearth the "Immortal Qin Ruins" is proceeding exceedingly well. We're on the verge of unlocking the outer defenses of the 'Great Vehicle Sect's Patriarch's Ruins' and will soon secure the secret treasure within."]
Emperor Kazuhito curled his lips into a smile, "It is good to have soone like you who has the throne's interests at heart. Please, exert your utmost effort!"
Kotaro Komura responded, [I pledge my utmost loyalty to Your Majesty!]
Pri Minister Ito also hurriedly reported his achievents: "I bring good news as well—Einheit is willing to aid our country and help us rebuild our navy! Your Majesty shall have a mightier fleet! You are destined to dominate the world!"
…
~~~~~~~~~
Back in the capital of the Shun Dynasty, clarity returned to Kotaro Komura's eyes—he was back.
He picked up several docunts from his desk, among them was Lu Yao's profile.
Continue reading on empire
"Firstly, take this opportunity at the martial contest to eliminate this Spirit Refining Genius who bears imnse enmity toward our nation..."
"Then, add a potent dicine to The Empress Dowager's longevity banquet!"
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