Chapter 337: A Smooth Path to Heaven

Chapter 337: The Heavenly Path

Edo Castle, the Arashi Group.

A high-specification private elevator ascended directly upward.

Through the window of the car, looking down, one could see the entire city shrinking rapidly in size.

Countless houses, tiny as models on a sand table, with densely packed human ants moving in and out.

This year's heavy snow came neither early nor late, but its intensity far surpassed previous years.

Yet even in such harsh weather, the duty of reporting for work remained an inescapable fate for ordinary people.

"Whirr."

A robust, healthy horse circled the skyscraper in mid-air, its plow trailing behind, tilling the endless snow and wind.

"Opening up the wilderness, creating a prosperous era."

Eight large characters gradually appeared after the plow.

This was the founding principle of the Arashi Group, and the key to their rapid rise in the defeated Wa region.

"Ding."

The ascending elevator halted, and the doors on either side silently slid open, revealing a towering figure squeezing out.

Arashi Ryo's gaze pierced through the silent corridor, fixating on the tightly closed metal door at the end.

The flickering cold light seemed to pierce through the door, meeting the distant figure of an old man seated on a chair.

"Huang Tianmen, Huang Qiong Long."

Arashi Ryo smiled to himself, "My dear sect, my dear master."

As the words fell, the door suddenly opened on its own.

A passage lined with various cold weapons was revealed, along with five figures seated high on a platform.

Thud.

The sound of liquid rushing and Arashi Ryo's footsteps intertwined.

"Ryo, you're finally back."

The dry voice came from Huang Qiong Long, "Where have you been these past few days? I've been worried about you."

"It was Dehua Capital's Hiroshi Tokugawa who summoned the other three companies to discuss how to deal with the Empire's New Policies."

Arashi Ryo knelt on one knee, speaking solemnly, "They're afraid."

"The weak eke out a living like flies and dogs, boasting of their schemes. The strong cut through with a single blade, sweeping all before them."

Huang Qiong Long's tone was gentle, "Actually, you don't need to do these things for them. As long as I, your master, am here, the Arashi Group will never fall."

"Of course I understand. I'm just playing along with them."

Huang Qiong Long said with relief, "It's good that you know what's important."

"Arashi Ryo, do you know about the news of Xia Hu's death?"

A sharp female voice rang out from the platform, questioning Arashi Ryo without courtesy.

"In response to Mo Yun's words, I know."

Arashi Ryo replied calmly, "I've already sent someone to investigate. The accident came from a Tian Shi who infiltrated the Wa region from Longhu Mountain. If it weren't for him, Xia Hu would have brought the person back by now."

"Since you know, why didn't you report it immediately? Do you think we're trapped in this room, and you can fool us?"

"Of course not. If I wanted to fool you, I wouldn't have let Xia Hu handle this. Xia Hu is my most trusted brother. His death pains me more than anyone else."

Arashi Ryo's voice dimmed, "I didn't return immediately to report because Hiroshi Tokugawa cut off our external communication channels for secrecy. By the time I got the news, it was too late."

Huang Mouyun's nearly androgynous body suddenly lurched forward, the pipes behind him tightening with a series of clanks.

"Five full days—you've been at Dehua Capital? Haven't you been anywhere else?!”

"Yes. Jin-yiwei thousand-commander Su Ce came to me."

Arashi Ryo spoke bluntly, looking up at Huang Qiong Long seated in the center.

"What did Su Ce want from you?"

Huang Qiong Long's lips curled into a slight smile, as if he had expected Arashi Ryo's answer.

"He gave me a month to kill you and the other masters, or he would uproot the Arashi Group entirely."

"Su Ce is still as domineering as ever."

Huang Qiong Long's eyes narrowed slightly, asking with a smile, "So you agreed?"

"I had no other choice but to play along and delay as much as possible."

"The snipe and the clam fight, and the fisherman profits. Su Ce's plan is quite clever."

Huang Qiong Long sneered, continuing, "You've done well, Ryo. What do you plan to do next? A month isn't long. When the time comes, if you can't deliver what Su Ce wants, he won't show mercy."

"That's why I stayed at Dehua Capital for so long, trying to persuade them to join forces with me to kill Su Ce."

Arashi Ryo's answer was resolute, without hesitation.

"They agreed?"

"They're considering it. After all, this would hinder the Empire's New Policies. But they haven't made a final decision, especially that useless fool, Toyotomi Yuzuru. His courage is too small."

"Plotting to kill a Jin-yiwei commander—that's too risky. Their hesitation is understandable."

Huang Qiong Long's smile was gratified, "But I'm glad you're so honest. For so many years, we've trained ten personal disciples. Now it seems only you are truly loyal."

Ten personal disciples? Just a bunch of organ cultivated bodies.

But it won't be long before it's my turn.

Arashi Ryo concealed the restless glint in his eyes, "The sect's bond, the grace of passing on the art—I, Huang Lie, will never forget. It is my duty to share your burdens. Master, rest assured, I will deal with Su Ce."

"A tiger's death doesn't topple the mountain, let alone Su Ce, who is merely old, not yet at death's door. To kill him with just the two of you is nothing short of a fantasy."

Huang Qiong Long laughed, "But you needn't worry. As long as my injuries recover, Su Ce won't dare trouble you again."

Arashi Ryo understood, "So, Master, you mean to continue targeting that Yanjun?"

"Exactly."

Huang Qiong Long nodded, "This Yanjun's real name is Li Jun, a nobody black gang member on the streets of Chengdu Prefecture a year ago. In such a short time, he's risen to become a Wu Six."

"Such an exaggerated rate of advancement is unparalleled among other lone martial artists. It shows how deeply the Wu sequence genes favor him. Such a person is invaluable!"

Huang Qiong Long's eyes gleamed, greed evident on his face.

"As long as we capture him and use his path to continue ours, we'll surely forge a Heavenly Path! Of course, you'll have your share, Ryo."

Arashi Ryo feigned concern, "But Su Ce..."

"Those who practice martial arts, above the Dou Dao sequence, below the Dou Fo sequence. Between heaven and earth, they must also contend with the hearts of Confucian and Daoist practitioners. If even a martial artist of the sect's top three can't provoke him, what's the point of unlocking genes or creating a self-body god?"

The voice boomed like a thunderous bell, deafening.

Arashi Ryo's face showed just the right amount of passionate fervor, speaking loudly, "I understand."

Leaving behind Huang Tianmen's chaotic era, Huang Shili returns once more to that elevator.

The swift plunge of weightlessness makes him feel as though he is falling from the heavens to the earth.

Returning from a realm of beautiful illusion to a world where death lurks in every shadow.

This urgency, Huang Shili savors it like honey.

Click~~.

An archaic, rudimentary communication device slides from his sleeve into his palm.

He presses the device to his ear, gazing silently at the howling wind and snow beyond the window.

After a moment, the other end of the transmission remains mute and still.

Yet Huang Shili knows the other party hears his voice.

"Qingxiu, if you can resolve the hidden peril within my body, I shall aid you."

Until the transmission cuts, no voice stirs from the other side.

But silence, already, suffices to answer all.

The compartment door slides open, and Huang Shili strides forth.

Behind him, a handwritten character for "kill" on the elevator's glass window dissolves swiftly into the frigid air.