Chapter 339: Contact

Chapter 339: The Meeting

"Uncle Zou, why don't we just go find Uncle Li directly? You said he's in the Yamato District too, right?"

"You little brat, I already told you—from now on, you call me Que Uncle, and pay attention to the ceremony!"

"Alright then, Uncle Zou."

"..., your Uncle Li is indeed in the Yamato District, but it's not time for us to meet him yet."

"Why not?"

"This is all because of you! You had to transform into this appearance—if Li Jun saw me, he'd punch me to death!"

"I think I look fine now, at least I don't have to worry about someone stabbing me with a flying sword again."

"Actually, Xiao Hua, you don't need to do all this. With your Uncle Li and Uncle Zou here, no one will dare point a broken sword at you again."

"Don't worry, Que Uncle, this is my own willing choice. When we meet Uncle, I'll explain it to him myself."

Zou Si Jiu, wearing the 'Hall Above Que' face, fell silent, letting out a soft, pained sigh before lifting his hand to pull open the wooden lattice door of the shop in front of him.

Hot air and bustling voices spilled out from the open doorway, instantly blowing away the snow and chill clinging to his body.

In the cramped shops common to the Yamato District, steaming hot pots of sukiyaki were everywhere.

The milky broth in the sand pots rolled and bubbled endlessly, tofu and mushrooms floating up and down, their fragrance intoxicating, making one's mouth water.

Clean and tidy waiters in aprons carried thin slices of marbled beef, weaving through the narrow gaps.

Perhaps because the weather was unusually cold this year, this sukiyaki restaurant was particularly bustling.

Not only were tatami mats packed with people, but even the wooden counter was crowded with diners, groups of three or two huddled together, eyes full of anticipation as they stared at the bubbling pots.

Even Zou Si Jiu, clad in a white ritual robe, entered the shop without causing a stir.

Zou Si Jiu surveyed the packed little shop and struggled to squeeze to a table, smiling as he asked the man burying his head in eating: "Sir, mind if we share a seat?"

The man didn't look up, grabbing a slice of beef from the pot, gently rolling it in a bowl of egg wash, and stuffing it into his mouth, muttering vaguely to indicate Zou Si Jiu should help himself.

Zou Si Jiu didn't hesitate, kneeling on his knees opposite the man, picked up his chopsticks and began to feast.

One pot, two people, eating in silence.

The noisy voices around them had nothing to do with this secluded corner.

The two ate with swift precision, until the empty plates piled up like mountains on the table, and only then did they stop, their foreheads dripping with sweat.

The man sitting across from him took out a mechanical cicada from his pocket and placed it on the table before speaking: "Que, you're late. You're a quarter of an hour behind schedule."

"I ran into a con artist pretending to be a diviner on the way, and I took some time to punish him."

"Those poor common people are the ones we need to save, Que—you shouldn't trouble them."

Zou Si Jiu lifted the black ceramic teacup on the table and took a gentle sip.

"Weak will and inadequate ability—they're not worth recruiting. Even if they joined the organization, they'd only be a liability."

"Alright, it was his fault for desecrating the Shinto path in front of you."

The other party seemed to understand Tang Shang Que's stubborn nature and didn't continue arguing, instead asking: "This meeting was called because the higher-ups want to know—are those missing people on the imperial mainland related to Hei Long Capital?"

If not, would I be replacing this Tang Shang Que? These two idiots.

Zou Si Jiu cursed inwardly, but his face showed an unusually solemn expression.

"My current level doesn't have much access to information, but from some clues, Hei Long Capital does seem suspicious."

The man frowned. "Just suspicious? Can't confirm yet?"

"Do you want to see my corpse in the dark alleys of Jōdo City?"

Zou Si Jiu pretended to be angry. "I'm just a Yin-Yang Eight administrator—if I recklessly investigate the group's secrets, I'll expose my identity!"

"Que, don't be mad. The organization just urgently wants to know their true purpose."

Song Shan, a Honghu member, said soothingly: "After all, the number of missing people is too large, and it's made the Daoist sect anxious—they've sent many celestial masters into the Yamato District to investigate. If we don't find out their plans in advance, it might disrupt the organization's layout."

Upon hearing this, Zou Si Jiu's heart stirred, and he quickly used the Great Case Method to search again through the information extracted from Tang Shang Que's brain machine.

After repeatedly confirming there was no relevant information, he asked in confusion: "What layout?"

"These matters don't concern you, Que. When the time comes, you'll naturally know. I'm telling you this only to remind you how urgent the current situation is. You just need to quickly find out whether these people were captured by Hei Long Capital."

Song Shan said with a half-smile: "Before I came, the higher-ups already instructed me—once you complete this task, you won't need to continue lurking in Hei Long Capital. You can return to the organization directly. With the merits you've accumulated over the years, you can be promoted to Yin-Yang Seven, and then naturally be assigned to some minor crime districts as a Honghu regional king!"

Just after finishing his meal, another big carrot was dangled in front of him. The Honghu's methods were as old-fashioned as ever.

Zou Si Jiu's heart sneered repeatedly, and in accordance with Tang Shang Que's personality traits, he replied: "I have no interest in governing crime districts. I only wish to explore the mysteries of Shinto and serve for life, unwavering as following the Honghu's will."

"Of course, once we take over and reshape this empire, everyone can do what they want."

Song Shan smiled: "But before that, the organization needs you to quickly uncover Hei Long Capital's purpose. Or rather, that woman Akira Asahi—what exactly is she planning?"

"Does the higher-ups have any specific instructions?"

Zou Si Jiu frowned. "Hei Long Capital's industries are too broad, and their subordinates too numerous. Without a clear direction for investigation, the difficulty is too great."

"This is something the organization has considered. Lord Pingwang specifically told me to remind you to pay special attention to 'authority'!"

Zou Si Jiu raised an eyebrow. "Authority? Do you mean the Huang Liang Dream Realm Authority?"

"Exactly."

Song Shan nodded. "These missing people are spread across the empire's major provinces—not only Daoist sect members, but also some Yin-Yang sect apprentices. Their only commonality is that they possess some Huang Liang Dream Realm Authority."

Zou Si Jiu's face showed genuine shock, this time not from his disguise, but because he truly didn't know this information.

Small amounts accumulate to form a large quantity, grains of sand build into a tower.

What is Hei Long Capital trying to do by stripping away so many Huang Liang Authorities? Could they be secretly plotting something?

But if they just wanted to break through the empire's blockade on the Yamato District's Huang Liang Dream Realm, with the number of backdoors Hei Long Capital obtained back then, they wouldn't need so many Authorities.

Could it be...?

Zou Si Jiu's thoughts raced, and he had a vague, uneasy feeling.

Song Shan looked at the silent white-robed Shinto priest and said with a light smile: "Que, you don't need to worry. You just need to complete the task. Whatever they're planning, the organization has the capability to stop them."

"By the way, there's another small matter the organization needs you to keep an eye on."

Zou Si Jiu composed himself. "What is it?"

"Keep track of someone's movements."

"Who?"

"The Eastern Lord of the Ausha Group, Ausha Lie!"

Zou Si Jiu asked in confusion: "Do you mean he might have private contact with Hei Long Capital?"

"There's that possibility."

Song Shan whispered: "And the organization will soon launch an operation in Inuyama City, which might intersect with this person. We don't want to conflict with the Ausha Group right now."

Inuyama City—that's Li Jun's jurisdiction, isn't it?

Zou Si Jiu pressed his hand over his chest, trying to suppress the tremors coming from there.

"I understand."

"So be it. On this wind-swept, snow-laden night, I shall take my leave first, hoping for our next encounter, my dear Quan."

Songshan rises slowly from his kneeling posture, departing toward the door.

Zou Sijiu, his face twisted in disdain, watches his retreating figure and mutters, "Still letting him get away with it? What a damn nuisance!"

"Quan Uncle, your uncle is in peril."

An anxious, youthful voice pierces Zou Sijiu's ears.

He gently pats his chest, soothingly replying, "Fear not, girl. Your Uncle Li's life is as hard as nails; these men cannot lay hands on him. Besides, you long to see him, do you not? The opportunity presents itself now!"

"When Li Jun is driven to desperation by Honghu, we shall burst in like celestial warriors, rescuing him from the jaws of peril!"

Zou Sijiu laughs, "The theatrics alone are thrilling to imagine! When the moment arrives, your Uncle Li will be beside himself with joy."

"Truly?"

"Of course it is true, Quan Uncle. When have I ever deceived you?"

Zou Sijiu's smile radiates brilliance, yet his heart silently grumbles.

Li Jun, Li Jun, I shall aid you this once—surely you would not seek to slay me in return?

Surely not.