Chapter 9 - 97 to 108

Over on Hanagaki Takemichi's side.

Takemichi was already preparing to return to the future again to gather more information.

The current Toman had already exceeded his expectations.

This Four Kings Conquest was Hanagaki Takemichi's last struggle.

If he still didn't achieve his goal this time, stopping Zhu Xian later would only be more difficult.

Hanagaki Takemichi walked along the road, thinking of countermeasures.

"Hello, you must be Hanagaki Takemichi!"

A middle-aged man stood in front of Hanagaki Takemichi and said.

Takemichi looked up at the middle-aged man, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

"Hello, have we met somewhere before?"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked the middle-aged man.

"Why don't we go over there and sit down."

The middle-aged man invited Hanagaki Takemichi to a coffee shop nearby.

"Uh, ah, okay."

Takemichi pondered for a moment, then agreed.

The two then walked into the coffee shop.

"Hello, what would you like to order?"

The waiter came over and asked them.

"What would you like to drink?"

The middle-aged man asked Takemichi.

"Just ice water."

Takemichi replied.

"One ice water, one coffee."

The middle-aged man told the waiter.

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Soon after, the waiter brought their orders to the table.

"Please enjoy."

"I won't beat around the bush. I am Tachibana Hinata's father."

The middle-aged man said to Takemichi.

No wonder Takemichi felt like he had seen this man somewhere before.

It turned out to be Tachibana Hinata's father. Speaking of which, he looked too much like Tachibana Naoto.

"Uh, then Uncle, do you have something to tell me today?"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked cautiously.

This was his first time meeting his girlfriend's father, after all.

"Please break up with my daughter."

Tachibana Hinata's father stood up and bowed to Takemichi, saying.

Seeing this, Hanagaki Takemichi also quickly stood up.

"I hope she can find happiness."

Takemichi was unwilling to break up with Hinata, but Tachibana Masato's words made Takemichi fall silent on the spot.

"You're a delinquent. Can you guarantee that you won't drag my daughter into danger?"

This made Takemichi silent, as in all the futures he had seen so far, Hinata had never had a good outcome.

Hanagaki Takemichi clenched his fists, then suddenly released them.

"Okay, Uncle, I will break up with Hinata."

Hanagaki Takemichi said to Tachibana Masato.

"Is that so? Then I am truly grateful."

The two then ended their conversation.

Hinata, unaware of what had happened, returned home and asked her mother.

"Mom, do you still love Dad now?"

Hearing Tachibana Hinata's question, her mother was startled.

"Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"

"I just suddenly wanted to know."

Tachibana Hinata's mother didn't think much of it.

"Very much!"

"I want to say the same thing to Takemichi ten years from now."

Tachibana Hinata said to her mother with a smile.

Knock knock knock, a knock on the door sounded.

"Coming!"

Tachibana Hinata went to open the door.

"Ah, Takemichi, you're here."

Tachibana Hinata was a little surprised.

"Is Naoto home?"

Takemichi asked Tachibana Naoto.

"Hey! Why are you looking for Naoto again? I'm your girlfriend, aren't I?"

Tachibana Hinata was a little angry.

Takemichi, on the other hand, didn't dare to look into Tachibana Hinata's eyes.

Takemichi touched the breakup letter in his pocket, finally making up his mind.

"I need to talk to Naoto about something."

"Alright, Naoto, come here quickly."

Tachibana Hinata shouted into the house.

"Coming, coming, oh, it's you again, Big Brother."

"Naoto, can you come out for a moment?"

Hanagaki Takemichi said to Tachibana Naoto.

The two then went downstairs to Tachibana Naoto's apartment building.

They sat on the swings.

Silence lasted for a long time.

"Hey, Big Brother, why aren't you saying anything?"

Takemichi took out the breakup letter from his pocket.

"Naoto, please give this to your sister later."

Takemichi then extended his left hand to Naoto.

Tachibana Naoto took the envelope, and his face instantly turned pale.

"Big Brother, what do you mean by this? Why are you giving this to me?"

Tachibana Naoto's voice carried a hint of a sob.

Takemichi turned his head away, unable to face Naoto's disappointed gaze.

"Naoto, I'm sorry... Your sister and I aren't suitable."

Takemichi gritted his teeth and finally said it.

Tachibana Naoto's hand, holding the envelope, trembled slightly, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Big Brother is a liar... You said you'd always be with my sister..."

Tachibana Naoto murmured.

Looking at Tachibana Naoto's sadness, Takemichi's heart was filled with guilt.

But he knew this was for Hinata's safety.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and patted Tachibana Naoto's shoulder.

"Let's shake hands, Naoto. From now on, you'll have to protect your sister yourself."

Tachibana Naoto wiped his tears, extended his small hand, and shook Takemichi's hand.

Then Hanagaki Takemichi's eyes went black, and when he opened them, he had already arrived in the future.

Looking at the surrounding decorations, Takemichi confirmed that he had arrived at the Takemichi Group's base.

He had been here once during his last time leap.

"Get the car ready. We're going to find Ryuguuji Ken."

Hanagaki Takemichi told his subordinates around him.

The car quickly arrived at Ryuguuji Ken's residence. Takemichi walked into the room and saw Ryuguuji Ken watching TV.

"Yo, Takemichi, why are you here?" Ryuguuji Ken greeted him.

Takemichi's expression was serious. He walked up to Ryuguuji Ken and handed him a piece of paper. "I need your help investigating this."

Ryuguuji Ken took the paper, glanced at its contents, and frowned slightly.

"This is..."

"I suspect this matter is related to Toman, so I need your help," Takemichi said in a deep voice.

Ryuguuji Ken nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best to investigate."

A few days later, Ryuguuji Ken came to Takemichi's office.

"Takemichi, I have the results," Ryuguuji Ken's tone was somewhat grave.

"What is it?" Takemichi asked eagerly.

"According to my investigation, this matter is indeed related to Toman..."

This time, Takemichi didn't go to Tachibana Naoto first, unlike last time.

Instead, he first found Ryuguuji Ken and learned a lot about the current Zhu Xian.

And he also asked Ryuguuji Ken to investigate some things from the past that he didn't understand.

"But these things happened a long time ago. Even if we figure them out now, it's no longer necessary."

Ryuguuji Ken said to Hanagaki Takemichi.

"No longer necessary?"

"Tenjiku is doing these things under Toman's name. How is it not necessary?"

"Murder, crime..."

Takemichi said to Ryuguuji Ken aggressively.

"Takemichi, what's wrong with you...?"

Ryuguuji Ken was a little confused about the situation.

He didn't understand why Hanagaki Takemichi was so agitated.

Shouldn't these things be normal for everyone now?

After all, they were living off of these things now.

You weren't like this before."

Hanagaki Takemichi sighed.

Ryuguuji Ken listened to Hanagaki Takemichi's words, said nothing, and just looked up at the ceiling.

He smiled faintly and said to Hanagaki Takemichi,

"When you're young, you always think you can change the world."

"But as you grow older, you gradually realize that simply staying true to yourself and not being changed by time is already a great success."

"I am not the person I used to be, not since that incident happened."

"I made up my mind to accompany Manjiro on this journey."

Hanagaki Takemichi was stunned; he seemed to see the old Ryuguuji Ken, the passionate and spirited young man.

"That incident… it really hit him hard," Hanagaki Takemichi said softly.

Ryuguuji Ken nodded silently, a flicker of pain in his eyes.

Hanagaki Takemichi knew what incident Ryuguuji Ken was referring to; he had already heard about it.

A group of unidentified people had attacked Ryuken in the middle of the night.

If Manjiro hadn't received the text message, Ryuken would have been killed.

"So, who exactly were those people?"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked Ryuguuji Ken.

Ryuguuji Ken showed a surprised expression.

"This matter is already common knowledge; do you really want me to repeat it?"

Ryuguuji Ken lowered his head and said in a low voice.

"I want to hear you say it yourself."

Hanagaki Takemichi said with a firm tone.

"It was done by people from Chitian (Red Sky)! Kurokawa Izana, Manjiro's brother, personally orchestrated it."

"Kirihara Chiya from Baitian (Day Sky) plotted behind the scenes to set up this scheme."

Hanagaki Takemichi clenched his fists; he hadn't expected that it was people from Tenjiku who had attacked Ryuguuji Ken.

And Kirihara Chiya was actually plotting behind the scenes.

"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.

Ryuguuji Ken patted his shoulder, "What good does knowing this do now? We are all working under the Nine Heavens now."

"I was indeed very sad when I found out, and I had a good talk with Manjiro about it."

"But it was precisely that conversation with Manjiro that solidified the path I wanted to take."

Hanagaki Takemichi gritted his teeth but said nothing.

Ryuguuji Ken looked at him, a surge of emotion in his heart. He knew that Hanagaki Takemichi had always been someone who refused to give up.

"Where is Manjiro? I need to find him."

Hanagaki Takemichi said to Ryuguuji Ken.

"He was taken by Kunji; I don't know where he went."

Ryuguuji Ken shook his head.

"So, what is the current situation of the Nine Heavens?"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked eagerly.

"Takemichi, you're very unusual today; before, you wouldn't concern yourself with internal matters of the Nine Heavens."

Hanagaki Takemichi's uncharacteristic behavior made Ryuguuji Ken suspicious.

If Hanagaki Takemichi himself wasn't standing here, he would have thought it was the police.

"Currently, within the Nine Heavens, factional disputes are rampant, even though Kirihara Chiya from Baitian (Day Sky) and Green Heaven Kisaki Tetta are holding things together."

"But it has already reached a precarious state."

"The Nine Heavens are about to break ties with Baikal, and the next Prime Minister election will be a moment of life or death for the Nine Heavens."

"Currently, there are two main people most likely to become the acting Azure Heaven."

"Kirihara Chiya from Baitian (Day Sky), and Green Heaven Kisaki Tetta."

"However, because these two are candidates for the Prime Minister election, their chances are not high."

"So the martial faction has gotten involved; Chitian (Red Sky), Chengtian (Orange Sky), and Zitian (Purple Sky) all hope to be elected."

"The remaining Azure Heaven, Lantian (Blue Sky), and Huangtian are taking a wait-and-see approach."

Hanagaki Takemichi's eyes sharpened, "So, the situation of the Nine Heavens is more complex than I imagined."

Ryuguuji Ken nodded, "Exactly, and the intervention of the martial faction has made the entire situation even more chaotic. They are resorting to all sorts of methods to contend for the acting power."

Hanagaki Takemichi pondered for a moment and then asked Ryuguuji Ken.

"That Four Kings Conquest back then…"

"Why are you asking about that now?"

"Weren't you there at the time?"

Ryuguuji Ken said.

"I always feel like I've forgotten something, maybe I can find some clues."

Hanagaki Takemichi spoke nonsense with open eyes.

"That incident happened a long time ago, didn't it…"

"I remember it was also in the early stages of the Four Kings Conquest, you changed, you weren't like before."

"Although I can't pinpoint any specific changes, I can feel that you've changed."

"Let's go back to it, at that time, the Kanto Manji Gang and the Tenjiku Alliance, backed by the Yamagata Group, were the first to provoke a war with Zhuxian."

"Originally, Brahman hadn't joined, but because the Yamagata Group put pressure on us, demanding that we quickly eliminate everyone."

"Kirihara Chiya suggested at the time to pull Brahman onto our warship to fight against Zhuxian together."

"After Zhuxian was dealt with, we would then turn to deal with Brahman." "What happened then?" Hanagaki Takemichi pressed.

"Then…" Ryuguuji Ken paused, "We proceeded according to plan, but an accident occurred midway."

"Zhuxian had moles within us, and all our actions were known to them in advance."

"But luckily, with the help of the Yamagata Group, they successfully tied Brahman to our side."

"Thus, the situation became three against one, and Zhuxian had no chance of winning."

"What was the final outcome then?" Hanagaki Takemichi eagerly pressed.

"We lost."

Ryuguuji Ken's voice became heavy.

Hanagaki Takemichi's eyes widened, "How could we lose?"

Ryuguuji Ken took a deep breath, "Kunji, he is a legendary man, he defeated all the Presidents by himself."

"I still remember that battle vividly."

"The victory was already decided, but Kunji suddenly got up, and then ended the battle with lightning speed."

Hanagaki Takemichi bit his lip, his heart filled with shock.

Kunji actually accomplished this feat all by himself.

Hanagaki Takemichi processed the information he heard, finding it hard to believe Kunji was so powerful. "What happened after that?" he pressed.

Ryuguuji Ken recalled the past, a complex expression on his face: "After that, the prototype of the Nine Heavens was established, and Zhuxian absorbed the other three organizations."

"They respectively formed the Tenjiku Group, the Brahman Group, and the Toman Group."

Hearing this, Hanagaki Takemichi let out a long breath.

Ryuguuji Ken nodded: "But we must be careful, we cannot act rashly. The martial faction will not give up easily; they will definitely try every means to secure the acting power."

"Right now, only our Black Heaven has not declared its stance."

"It's simply because Manjiro is not here, and I cannot represent Manjiro."

"I am planning to hold an internal Black Heaven meeting sometime soon to vote on this matter."

"I just told you in advance."

So, what's our stance?" Hanagaki Takemichi asked Ryuguuji Ken.

"I'd like to remain neutral, but the other captains might not agree," Ryuguuji Ken said with a sigh.

"I see..." Hanagaki Takemichi nodded thoughtfully.

He understood that in this situation, maintaining neutrality wouldn't be easy.

Each captain had his own ideas and positions, and their decisions could influence the direction of the entire team.

"Then we can only wait and see the attitudes of the other captains?" Hanagaki Takemichi looked at Ryuguuji Ken, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Ryuguuji Ken was silent for a moment, then gently shook his head: "No, we can't just wait. We need to actively understand their thoughts and try to find a solution that everyone can accept."

Hanagaki Takemichi nodded slightly in agreement.

He knew it would be a difficult process, but for the stability and development of the team, they had to try.

Nine Heavens could be said to be on the verge of collapse, and this turbulent situation allowed Takemichi to fish in troubled waters.

To gather more information, Takemichi did not seek out Tachibana Naoto as he had before.

Instead, he continuously interacted with people within Nine Heavens, as the intelligence he obtained from Nine Heavens was more accurate than what he could get from Tachibana Naoto.

Hanagaki Takemichi began to actively communicate with other captains, trying to understand their positions and concerns.

During this process, he found that the atmosphere within the team was extremely tense, and every member was filled with uncertainty about the future.

At the same time, Hanagaki Takemichi was also silently observing the internal dynamics of Nine Heavens.

He gradually discovered that some members were becoming dissatisfied with the current situation, and some were even secretly plotting to leave the organization.

Facing such a complex situation, Hanagaki Takemichi realized that relying solely on his and Ryuguuji Ken's strength was not enough.

He decided to unite some like-minded members to jointly work to maintain the unity and stability of the team.

"Baji, how did you return during the Four Kings Conquest?" Hanagaki Takemichi asked Baji Keisuke.

Because Baji had originally died in the great battle of Bloody Halloween.

However, during his last Crossing, Takemichi learned that Baji had not died.

Instead, he was arranged by Kunji to another place.

He returned to the team during the final battle of the Four Kings Conquest.

It was precisely because of Baji Keisuke's return that the Kanto Manji Gang easily submitted to Zhu Xian.

So Takemichi wanted to start with Baji Keisuke to understand the specific details of the Four Kings Conquest.

"Actually... I'm not sure either," Baji Keisuke scratched his head. "I just remember I was severely injured at the time, and when I woke up, I was in a strange place."

Hanagaki Takemichi's eyes lit up, "Then how did you return to the Kanto Manji Gang?"

"It was... it was a mysterious person who saved me. He healed my injuries and told me some things about the Four Kings Conquest," Baji Keisuke recalled.

"Mysterious person?" Many questions arose in Hanagaki Takemichi's mind, "What did he look like? Did he leave any clues?"

Baji Keisuke shook his head, "I didn't see his face clearly. He came and went without a trace, only leaving one sentence, telling me to protect the Kanto Manji Gang."

Hanagaki Takemichi fell into deep thought. Who exactly was this mysterious person? Why did he help Baji Keisuke? Was there a larger conspiracy hidden within this?

After Takemichi left, Ryuguuji Ken walked over and patted Baji's shoulder.

"Did you tell him?"

"Yes, I told him exactly what he said."

"That's good..."

Hanagaki Takemichi felt that there must be something fishy about this.

It was clearly Kunji, so why would Baji say it was a mysterious person?

Could it be that Kunji wasn't manipulating all of this behind the scenes?

Why is it so troublesome? I feel like I've gotten involved in something incredible.

Actually, if Takemichi had sought out Tachibana Naoto immediately after crossing over, he would have been able to get some information about that year.

However, Takemichi directly sought intelligence within Nine Heavens.

Of course, Nine Heavens were the experiencers of the events of that year; they understood the inside story.

If Hanagaki Takemichi could obtain genuine intelligence from Nine Heavens, Takemichi could indeed change the past on his own.

But who could guarantee that the intelligence given to him would be true?

Hanagaki Takemichi decided to investigate the identity of the mysterious person and his relationship with the Four Kings Conquest in depth.

He inquired everywhere, looking for possible clues, but progress was slow.

On one accidental occasion, Hanagaki Takemichi met a person named Kobayashi.

Kobayashi was once a member of an underground organization, and it was said that he knew something about certain secret events.

Hanagaki Takemichi asked Kobayashi about the mysterious person and the Four Kings Conquest. Kobayashi hesitated for a moment, then revealed some surprising news.

It turned out that the mysterious person did not act alone; there might be a huge force behind him.

This force seemed to be manipulating various events, including the Four Kings Conquest.

Kobayashi told Hanagaki Takemichi that this mysterious force was extremely secretive, and few people knew their true purpose.

Hanagaki Takemichi realized that to uncover this mystery, he needed to dig deeper for clues.

Thus, Hanagaki Takemichi decided to start with the information provided by Kobayashi and conduct further investigations.

He searched everywhere for evidence related to the mysterious force, not letting go of any subtle clue.

"I heard Takemichi has been investigating this organization lately."

Ryuguuji Ken showed Baji Keisuke a photo.

"Is this also from above?"

Baji Keisuke showed a surprised expression.

"They probably arranged it, I don't understand why they would do such an irrelevant thing," Ryuguuji Ken complained to Baji Keisuke.

"It's like they're toying with Takemichi. No, Toman can't let anyone bully us like this," Ryuguuji Ken was somewhat angry.

"Ryuken, what's wrong? Since it's done by those above, there must be a reason for it."

"If you're really upset, you can go to headquarters and ask for an explanation!" Baji Keisuke picked up the teacup in front of him and took a small sip.

"I just feel like they've underestimated us."

"Now that Manjiro isn't here, we in Black Heaven don't have a leader."

"Kunji isn't at headquarters either. The apparent leaders are only Kirihara and Kisaki."

"I just feel..." Ryuguuji Ken's tone was a bit anxious.

"What's the hurry? Kirihara's battlefield is in politics, Kisaki's battlefield is in business."

"The true ownership of Nine Heavens still needs to be decided within the martial arts faction."

"What we should be thinking about now is how to protect ourselves."

Ryuguuji Ken listened to Baji Keisuke's words and was silent for a while. He knew Baji Keisuke was right.

The current situation was complex, and they needed to act cautiously.

"Alright, perhaps you're right. We can't act rashly; we need to clarify the situation first," Ryuguuji Ken sighed, "But we can't completely ignore Takemichi either. After all, he's our friend."

"I understand," Baji Keisuke nodded, "We can observe in secret and see what's really going on. If needed, we'll step in to help."

The two decided to remain inactive for now, closely monitoring the development of events.

At the same time, they were also thinking about how to strengthen their own power to cope with potential challenges.

How is it, Kunji? Is everything Kunji asked you to do before he left taken care of?"

Kirihara Chiya of Baitian (Day Sky) within the Nine Heavens Group asked.

"Don't talk to me with that attitude; we are equals."

Green Heaven Kisaki Tetta said with some displeasure.

"I'm just asking if the President's instructions have been carried out."

Kirihara Chiya said in a calm tone.

"According to the news from the Toman Group, it's already done."

Kisaki Tetta glanced at Kirihara Chiya and said.

"Very good."

Kirihara Chiya nodded slightly.

"Now, we just await the President's next instructions."

He turned to look into the distance, pondering his future plans.

However, Kisaki Tetta seemed to have different thoughts.

"Kirihara, don't you think this operation is a bit strange?"

Kisaki Tetta suddenly spoke.

Kirihara Chiya frowned slightly.

"What's strange about it?"

"Why are we so obedient to the President? And what exactly is the purpose of this operation?"

Kisaki Tetta questioned.

Kirihara Chiya was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The President has his own considerations; we just need to follow orders."

But Kisaki Tetta was clearly not satisfied with this answer. He stared intently at Kirihara Chiya, as if trying to see into his mind.

This was actually Kisaki Tetta's deliberate attempt to find a flaw in Kirihara Chiya's response, as he didn't trust him.

Kisaki hoped to find a loophole in his answer.

But unfortunately, his answer and expression were flawless.

At the end of the Four Kings Conquest, Kunji defeated the other three Presidents by himself.

He successfully reached the pinnacle of the delinquent world.

And then this person who had always been hidden in the shadows appeared.

Kirihara Chiya... He had repeatedly plotted to assassinate Kunji.

Kaedehara Ryou's street assassination, Tenjiku's sneak attack from behind.

Both times almost cost Kunji his life.

When Kirihara Chiya finally appeared and introduced himself, the members of the Punish the Immortals present wished they could kill him.

But Kunji stopped them.

Later, he finally understood that it was because of the Yamagata Group.

Kirihara Chiya helped Punish the Immortals eliminate the Yamagata Group, and Punish the Immortals thus entered the Yakuza world.

In the end, this guy actually got the position of Baitian (Day Sky).

"I don't understand why Kunji still keeps you by his side," Kisaki Tetta said coldly.

Kirihara Chiya's lips curved upward: "Because he needs me."

"Needs you?" Kisaki Tetta's eyes widened. "You traitor!"

"Hmph, say what you will." Kirihara Chiya turned his head away dismissively. "One day, you will understand."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Kisaki Tetta stomping his foot in anger.

Kisaki Tetta watched Kirihara Chiya's retreating figure, his heart filled with doubt and anger.

"Kirihara Chiya, what exactly is your goal...?" he muttered to himself.

At this moment, a gust of wind blew by, bringing a chill.

Kisaki Tetta couldn't help but shiver. He realized that the situation was becoming increasingly complex, and he had to handle it carefully.

He wanted to find Kunji, who was the soul of the entire Nine Heavens Group.

But suddenly, one day, Kunji left a letter and departed with Sano Manjiro.

No one knew where they went.

The letter didn't say when he would return either.

Instead, it specifically detailed various matters concerning Hanagaki Takemichi.

"President, where did you go?"

The Nine Heavens Group lost its backbone and became leaderless.

Everyone was speculating about Kunji's whereabouts. Some said he went to seek greater power, others said he went to resolve some personal issues.

Kisaki Tetta and Kirihara Chiya also had their own thoughts.

Kisaki Tetta worried about Kunji's safety and was also confused about Kirihara Chiya's true intentions;

While Kirihara Chiya was secretly plotting something, a hint of cunning revealed in his eyes.

"Still worried about Kunji?"

A voice sounded from behind Kisaki Tetta.

"Ah, it's Koko."

Kisaki Tetta turned around, recognized the person, and said.

"Why worry about him? He's invincible."

Kokonoi Hajime said confidently.

"If you have this much time, you should consider the company's affairs instead."

Kokonoi Hajime said.

Kokonoi Hajime was the Kōten (Yellow Sky) within the Nine Heavens Group, primarily responsible for finance.

Not only the finances of the Nine Heavens Group, but also all subsidiary companies and some industries under the Nine Heavens Group were managed by Kōten (Yellow Sky).

Kisaki Tetta was the Lǜtiān (Green Sky), primarily responsible for administration. Personnel changes and work processing within the Nine Heavens Group were handled by Lǜtiān (Green Sky).

Of course, this was limited to the legitimate Baikal forces.

The Yakuza part of the Nine Heavens Group was handled by other combat factions.

Among them, Heitian (Black Sky) was responsible for assassinations, carrying out covert assassination missions.

Chitian (Red Sky) and Chengtian (Orange Sky) had the same role as enforcers, responsible for Yakuza gang wars.

Aotian (Blue Sky) and Lantian (Blue Sky) had the same position, both responsible for bringing new blood into the organization.

Zitian (Purple Sky)'s position was very special, belonging to an all-rounder role, capable of filling in at any time.

When other combat factions were short-handed, he could be deployed to any task at any time.

The Nine Heavens Group was divided into ten parts: Heitian (Black Sky), Baitian (Day Sky), Chitian (Red Sky), Chengtian (Orange Sky), Kōten (Yellow Sky), Lǜtiān (Green Sky), Aotian (Blue Sky), Lantian (Blue Sky), Zitian (Purple Sky), and Cāngtiān (Azure Sky).

Cāngtiān (Azure Sky) represented Kunji himself, and the team directly under Cāngtiān (Azure Sky) was Punish the Immortals.

Punish the Immortals did not disappear but survived in another form.

Since the establishment of the Nine Heavens Group, Punish the Immortals became the most mysterious one.

No one knew what their work was, no one knew who they were.

They only knew the three cadres of Punish the Immortals: Hanma Shuji, Hanemiya Kazutora, and Ye Qi.

Everything else was unknown.

Originally, these three cadres of Punish the Immortals could still be seen, but since Kunji disappeared, Punish the Immortals also vanished.

"I know, but with Kunji gone, I just feel uneasy," Kisaki Tetta sighed.

"Don't think too much about it. Maybe Kunji will be back in a few days," Kokonoi Hajime comforted him. "

By the way, there are a few projects at the company that need your approval recently."

Kisaki Tetta nodded, "I'll handle them as soon as possible. By the way, Koko, do you think Kirihara Chiya is trustworthy?"

Kokonoi Hajime hesitated, "It's hard to say, but since he's someone Kunji left behind, he must have his uses."

Kisaki Tetta nodded thoughtfully, "I hope so."

"The combat factions are in a huge uproar, already starting to fight for control of the Nine Heavens Group."

"It seems that the Nine Heavens Group is going to fall into chaos during Kunji's absence," Kisaki Tetta said worriedly.

"Let's not worry about those for now. The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation."

Kokonoi Hajime suggested, "We can first select some reliable people from the combat factions to form a temporary leadership team to jointly manage the Nine Heavens Group."

"How is that possible? You know the current situation."

"Kunji is the one who commanded their respect, but besides Kunji, who else can keep them in line?"

"Aotian (Blue Sky) and Lantian (Blue Sky) are fine, they don't have such ambitions."

"But how could Chitian (Red Sky), Chengtian (Orange Sky), and Zitian (Purple Sky) just give up?"

Kisaki Tetta's brows were tightly furrowed, clearly showing his deep concern about the current situation.

"You're right, Chitian (Red Sky), Chengtian (Orange Sky), and Zitian (Purple Sky) certainly won't give up the chance to contend for power easily."

Kokonoi Hajime also looked worried, "But, we can't just sit by and let them cause trouble."

"So, do you have any ideas?" Kisaki Tetta looked at Kokonoi Hajime, hoping to get some inspiration from him.

Kokonoi Hajime pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I think we can try to find some intermediaries to mediate the conflicts between all parties. At the same time, we can also strengthen our connections with other forces and seek their support and help."

"Intermediaries?" Kisaki Tetta was a little puzzled, "Who do you think can handle this role?"

"Kirihara Chiya might be a good choice," Kokonoi Hajime said, "Although he is a somewhat problematic member, he is also someone Kunji left behind. His special status might allow him to play a role in mediating between all parties."

"Kirihara Chiya?" Kisaki Tetta raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure he's reliable? He did betray us once, after all."

"Betrayal?" Kokonoi Hajime shook his head, "That was just a difference in stance. Moreover, since Kunji chose to keep him, it means he has his own value and use. We can try to trust him this once."

Kisaki Tetta was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Alright, I agree with your suggestion. However, we must be careful and not give Kirihara Chiya any opportunity."

Kokonoi Hajime nodded, "Don't worry, I'll pay attention. Now we need to hurry and talk to Kirihara Chiya."

The two got up and left, heading to Kirihara Chiya's residence.

Deep within the Nine Heavens Group, Kirihara Chiya sat alone in his study.

He faced a complex map showing the distribution of Nine Heavens forces.

His eyes were deep and firm, as if he was contemplating how to deal with the current situation.

When Kisaki Tetta and Kokonoi Hajime walked into the study, Kirihara Chiya looked up and showed a slight smile.

"President Kisaki, President Kokonoi, what brings you here?" he said, feigning surprise.

Kisaki Tetta didn't waste words and went straight to the point, "Kirihara, we came to you because we want to talk about the current situation of Nine Heavens."

Kirihara Chiya nodded, "I know, Nine Heavens is currently without a leader, and all forces are vying for power."

"So, what are your thoughts?" Kokonoi Hajime asked.

Kirihara Chiya smiled slightly, "I think we need someone who can unify Nine Heavens."

"Unify Nine Heavens?" Kisaki Tetta and Kokonoi Hajime exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

"Exactly, unify Nine Heavens," Kirihara Chiya continued, "Only then can we end the current chaos and restore stability to Nine Heavens."

"So, who do you think can take on this role?" Kisaki Tetta asked.

Kirihara Chiya's gaze deepened, "There is one person who has the ability and qualifications to unify Nine Heavens."

"Who?" Kokonoi Hajime pressed.

Kirihara Chiya slowly uttered a name: "Kunji."

After hearing what Kirihara Chiya said, both of them laughed.

Who doesn't know that Kunji is the leader; you, Kirihara Chiya, don't need to say that Kunji was originally the boss.

No need for you to recommend him, but the key is that Kunji and Sano Manjiro have both disappeared now.

"What do you mean by that?"

Kisaki Tetta's face darkened as he spoke.

Kirihara Chiya, however, remained unhurried, a faint smile still playing on his lips.

"Don't rush, President Kisaki. I, of course, know that Kunji's whereabouts are unknown, but his influence still exists.

We can use his name to integrate all forces and stabilize the situation first."

Kokonoi Hajime frowned, "But this is only a temporary measure. If Kunji doesn't appear, the problem will ultimately not be completely resolved."

"You mean to deceive them!"

Kisaki Tetta said.

Kirihara Chiya nodded slightly, "I understand, but this can buy us time. Moreover, who knows, during this process, we might find clues about Kunji, or cultivate someone capable enough to take on the great responsibility."

Kisaki Tetta was silent for a moment, "That's not entirely unfeasible, but how exactly should we do it?"

Kirihara Chiya stood up, walked to the force distribution map, and pointed to several key areas.

"We'll start from these places, use Kunji's prestige to win over those wavering forces, and at the same time suppress those ambitious forces. If handled properly, Nine Heavens will quickly restore a certain degree of order."

Kokonoi Hajime and Kisaki Tetta looked at the distribution map, lost in thought.

After a long while, Kisaki Tetta slowly said, "Then let's try your plan first, but if it doesn't work, we'll have to think of another way."

Kirihara Chiya smiled confidently, "Don't worry, I'm confident."

In the following days, Kirihara Chiya began to act proactively.

Relying on his understanding of Nine Heavens and his former connections, he painstakingly pushed the plan forward.

However, things did not go as smoothly as he imagined. All parties had their own agendas, and the situation remained complex and tricky... Days passed, and Kirihara Chiya felt increasingly pressured.

Each time he faced representatives of those insidious forces, he had to rack his brains to maneuver, striving to maintain superficial peace and stability.

Kirihara Chiya was often anxious, constantly wondering if this approach could truly succeed.

But he also told himself that there was no turning back, he had to persevere.

During a negotiation with a medium-sized force, the other party clearly showed distrust and resistance.

Kirihara Chiya secretly cursed in his heart, but his face still maintained a composed smile.

"Please believe in our sincerity; everything we do is for the future of Nine Heavens," Kirihara Chiya tried to persuade the other party.

"Hmph, anyone can talk big. Why should we believe that you are truly thinking of Nine Heavens?" The other party's leader sneered.

Kirihara Chiya took a deep breath, his mind racing, searching for suitable reasons and bargaining chips.

He slowly said, "We act in Kunji's name; doesn't that prove our determination? As long as everyone works together, Nine Heavens will surely regain its former glory."

The other party was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. Just as Kirihara Chiya thought there was hope, the other party suddenly stood up.

"Sorry, we still need to consider it further." With that, he led his men away.

Kirihara Chiya watched their retreating figures, filled with a sense of frustration.

He secretly cursed, these guys are really tough to deal with. But he knew he couldn't just give up.

Upon returning to his residence, Kirihara Chiya sat tiredly in a chair, rubbing his temples. At this moment, Kokonoi Hajime and Kisaki Tetta walked in.

"How's the situation?" Kisaki Tetta asked eagerly.

Kirihara Chiya shook his head helplessly, "Not very smooth; they still don't quite trust us."

Kokonoi Hajime frowned, "This is troublesome; the plan will be difficult to advance like this."

"We must find a way to increase our bargaining chips and let them see the benefits of cooperating with us," Kirihara Chiya said.

Kisaki Tetta nodded, "Perhaps we can start with some smaller forces, achieve some results first, and let the larger forces see our strength."

Kirihara Chiya's eyes lit up, "That's a good idea; we'll get to it immediately."

For the next period, Kirihara Chiya and the two of them focused their energy on some smaller forces.

Through various means, they successfully attracted some forces to join their camp.

As their influence gradually grew, Kirihara Chiya and his companions finally attracted the attention of some major forces.

However, this also meant that the challenges they faced would be even more daunting.

One day, Kirihara Chiya received news that a large force was preparing to launch an attack on them.

Kirihara Chiya's expression instantly became solemn.

Kirihara Chiya secretly vowed that no matter what, he would overcome this hurdle and absolutely not let his previous efforts go to waste.

He quickly gathered everyone and began discussing countermeasures...

Just like that, the Nine Heavens Group meeting began.

However, only Baitian (Day Sky), Lǜtiān (Green Sky), Zitian (Purple Sky), Chengtian (Orange Sky), and Chitian (Red Sky) were present.

Qingtian and Lántiān (Blue Sky) did not attend.

As the meeting started, Zitian, Shiba Taiju, slammed his hand on the table and addressed everyone.

"Kunji just disappeared, and you people are already rushing to usurp power."

Hearing Shiba Taiju's words, Chengtian, Terano Minami, glanced at Shiba Taiju with disdain.

This guy was completely crying wolf.

He himself was one of those who wanted to usurp power.

"Kirihara, I heard your activities in Baikal have been quite frequent lately."

"That's not good, is it? After all, you are the Nine Heavens Group's public face."

Chitian, Kurokawa Izana, said to Kirihara Chiya.

This was a blatant threat.

He was warning Kirihara Chiya not to meddle in affairs, and that Kirihara Chiya should only do his part.

Maintaining order on Baikal was Kirihara Chiya's job.

These words were also directed at Kisaki Tetta and Kokonoi Hajime.

The positions of these three were not those of the combat faction.

Instead, they represented the face of the Nine Heavens Group, handling all matters on Baikal.

It had always been this way: Baikal and the underworld each handled their own responsibilities.

But the current actions of these three were a complete provocation.

They had even begun to interfere in the Nine Heavens Group's underworld affairs.

Could it be that because of Kunji's disappearance, these three also wanted to become the acting Azure Sky?

"Hmph, I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do," Kirihara Chiya snorted coldly.

"Instead, what are you doing here, not managing the underworld properly?"

"We are here, of course, for the future of the Nine Heavens Group."

Lǜtiān (Green Sky), Kisaki Tetta, said, "Kunji is not here, so we must unite to face the current crisis."

"Crisis? What crisis?" Shiba Taiju said dismissively.

"I think you're just being alarmist."

"Shiba Taiju, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."

Chitian, Kurokawa Izana, said coldly, "You're not unaware of the Nine Heavens Group's situation; now is the time we need to unite."

"Unite?" Shiba Taiju burst into laughter.

"You people, each with your own intentions, how can you unite? I think you're just trying to seize power."

"Enough!" Kirihara Chiya slammed the table. "What's all this shouting about? We are here to discuss the future of the Nine Heavens Group, not to argue."

Everyone quieted down, and Kirihara Chiya continued: "Although Kunji is not here, the Nine Heavens Group still exists. We cannot let the Nine Heavens Group fall into chaos; we must elect a new acting Azure Sky as soon as possible."

"I agree," Kisaki Tetta said, "but the candidate for acting Azure Sky must be approved by everyone."

"Does that even need to be said?" Shiba Taiju said, "Of course, the strongest person should be the acting Azure Sky."

"Strongest?" Kurokawa Izana sneered, "Are you talking about yourself?"

"Hmph, I didn't say that," Shiba Taiju said, "However, I do think you don't have the qualifications."

"Oh?" A glint of killing intent flashed in Kurokawa Izana's eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"Alright, alright, everyone stop arguing."

Kirihara Chiya said, "We can discuss the candidate for acting Azure Sky slowly. But right now, we must first solve a problem."

"What problem?" Everyone looked at Kirihara Chiya.

"You're not talking about that force that wants to attack the Nine Heavens Group, are you?"

Shiba Taiju said to Kirihara Chiya.

"You don't need to worry about that; we will handle it. You just need to do your part."

"Everyone has their own job; just do your part."

Shiba Taiju said.

"You..."

Kisaki Tetta was momentarily speechless in the face of Shiba Taiju's sarcasm.

"In that case, then it's troublesome."

Instead, Kirihara Chiya responded calmly.

"In that case, let's adjourn. There's nothing else to discuss."

Kirihara Chiya announced the end of the meeting.

After everyone had left, Ryuguuji Ken returned.

Due to Sano Manjiro's disappearance, Ryuguuji Ken was now substituting for Kurokawa Izana.

"The matters Kunji entrusted have all been handled, and it is indeed as the letter said."

"Hanagaki Takemichi seems to have become a different person; what we told him was also what the letter instructed us to say."

Ryuguuji Ken said.

"Alright, understood. Let's proceed as planned."

Kisaki Tetta said.

"Mhm, as long as you understand."

Then Ryuguuji Ken left after speaking.

"What do the contents of the letter represent?"

Kirihara Chiya asked Kisaki Tetta.

"I don't know. Anyway, since Kunji left it, just do as he said."

Actually, Kisaki Tetta was not unaware.

On the contrary, only he knew what the words in the letter represented.

Hanagaki Takemichi was a transmigrator; Kunji had told him this a long time ago.

Therefore, the content of Kunji's letter was deliberately to guide Hanagaki Takemichi.

To make him return to the past and change the future of the Four Kings Conquest.

Although Kisaki Tetta knew, he still worked hard to change the current situation of the Nine Heavens Group.

Even though he deeply distrusted Kirihara Chiya, he still cooperated with him.

The reason was that he didn't know what form Hanagaki Takemichi's transmigration took.

Was it a parallel world or some other form?

If it was a parallel world, and if he didn't change the Nine Heavens Group now,

Then the Nine Heavens Group would be finished, and he couldn't afford to gamble.

So, while completing Kunji's mission, Kisaki Tetta was also completing his own plan.

"So what should we do now?" Kirihara Chiya asked.

"For now, let's hold our ground and observe the situation."

Kisaki Tetta said,

"I will have people closely monitor the movements of that force, and at the same time, I will strengthen the Nine Heavens Group's defenses."

"Mhm, that's all we can do."

Kirihara Chiya nodded.

"I hope Kunji can return soon, otherwise the Nine Heavens Group will truly fall into chaos."

"Indeed..." Kisaki Tetta sighed, "With Kunji gone, all of us must work even harder."

At the same time, Hanagaki Takemichi was also working hard to change the future.

He constantly gathered information, searching for people who could help him.

"Hanagaki Takemichi, what do you need me for?" Ryuguuji Ken asked.

"I want to know, what are your thoughts on the future of the Nine Heavens Group?" Hanagaki Takemichi asked.

"The future of the Nine Heavens Group?" Ryuguuji Ken frowned, "I think the Nine Heavens Group right now is like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment."

"Why do you say that?" Hanagaki Takemichi asked.

"You've seen it too; the Nine Heavens Group is currently riddled with internal conflicts, with various factions fighting for their own interests. Coupled with the threat from external forces, the Nine Heavens Group's situation is very dangerous," Ryuguuji Ken said.

"Is this everyone's future?"

Hanagaki Takemichi thought to himself.

Hanagaki Takemichi had now gathered all the information about the Four Kings Conquest.

Hanagaki Takemichi believed that this time, upon returning, he would definitely be able to stop the Four Kings Conquest.

Hanagaki Takemichi, you're finally here!" Tachibana Naoto showed no surprise at Hanagaki Takemichi's arrival.

"Naoto, it's as if you knew I was coming," Hanagaki Takemichi asked, a little surprised.

"I knew you'd return without needing to pay special attention," Tachibana Naoto explained to Hanagaki Takemichi, "Your recent actions have made it very hard not to be suspicious."

Tachibana Naoto poured Hanagaki Takemichi a pot of tea and said.

"There's a reason I didn't come to you immediately," Hanagaki Takemichi said.

"Is it because you thought you could extract more valuable information from the people involved?"

"After all, my information is only from the Metropolitan Police Department, so it's naturally inferior to what the people involved say firsthand."

Tachibana Naoto poured Hanagaki Takemichi a pot of tea and said.

"There are also some things that aren't in the Metropolitan Police Department, such as who rescued Baji Keisuke back then," Hanagaki Takemichi said to Tachibana Naoto.

"Wasn't it Kunji?" Tachibana Naoto asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It was a mysterious person."

"I now have all the information on the Four Kings Conquest, and I'm sure I can complete the mission this time."

Hanagaki Takemichi said with full confidence.

"In that case, I won't say much more."

"Oh, and one more thing: this might be your last chance."

"Because after this incident ends, and after a period of recuperation, Zhuxian will formally enter the yakuza world."

"At that point, even if you wanted to stop it, you wouldn't be able to," Tachibana Naoto said.

Hanagaki Takemichi frowned, his expression becoming especially serious.

"I understand, Naoto, so this time I must go all out and absolutely not let tragedy happen again."

Tachibana Naoto nodded slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"I hope so, Takemichi. What do you plan to do next?"

After a moment of thought, Hanagaki Takemichi said, "I need to first find those key figures, stop them from making wrong decisions, and especially find a way to disrupt Zhuxian's plan."

"That's not an easy task," Tachibana Naoto reminded him, "They're definitely prepared, and Zhuxian's power should not be underestimated."

"No matter how difficult, I must try," Hanagaki Takemichi said, his gaze firm, "I've been through too much; I can't let those innocent people get hurt anymore."

Tachibana Naoto looked at Hanagaki Takemichi, a surge of admiration in his heart, "Then you must be extra careful. If you need anything, come to me anytime."

"Do you mean travel back anytime?"

Hanagaki Takemichi joked.

"Of course, but I hope you won't need my help."

Tachibana Naoto said.

Hanagaki Takemichi gave Tachibana Naoto a grateful look, "Yes, I will."

With that, Tachibana Naoto extended his hand to Hanagaki Takemichi.

"I'm counting on you, Takemichi. My sister is in your hands."

Tachibana Naoto said.

"Don't worry, Naoto, she's with me."

Their hands clasped tightly together.

Hanagaki Takemichi felt a wave of dizziness, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back in the past.

Meanwhile, Tachibana Naoto's side was fraught with danger.

Near Tachibana Naoto's house, two men were watching everything happening inside with binoculars.

"Hanagaki Takemichi has gone back. What should we do? Should we make our move now?"

One person said to the other.

"How about we wait a bit longer…"

The other person replied.

"Wait for what? The captain's order is this."

"Alright, alright, you always bring him up. Fine, let's go."

The two argued, then finalized their plan of action.

Just as the two were about to act, Tachibana Naoto seemed to sense something amiss, and he vigilantly looked out the window.

But before he could see clearly, the two had already rushed into the house like ghosts.

"Tachibana Naoto, your time has come!"

One of them said viciously.

Tachibana Naoto reacted quickly, dodging the opponent's attack by turning sideways, while simultaneously grabbing a nearby chair and smashing it at them.

However, these two were, after all, well-trained assassins; they worked together seamlessly, and their moves were fierce, quickly cornering Tachibana Naoto.

But Tachibana Naoto did not back down in the slightest; he used his agile movements and tenacious will to fend them off.

During the intense fight, Tachibana Naoto gradually discovered some weaknesses in the two men.

"You want to kill me? It won't be that easy!" Tachibana Naoto roared, pulling out a pistol from his pocket.

The two men, with their extremely high professional standards, were not intimidated.

Instead, they charged forward with their daggers.

The daggers in their hands gleamed with a cold light. Tachibana Naoto narrowly dodged, but his arm was still cut.

Blood seeped out, but Tachibana Naoto's gaze became even more resolute.

He knew he had to find a way to get rid of these two, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.

He continued to fight while looking for things he could use.

Just at this critical moment, a sudden commotion came from outside, as if other people had arrived.

The two assassins heard the noise, their faces changed, and they exchanged glances.

"Retreat!" one of them shouted.

The two no longer lingered in the fight, quickly jumped out the window, and disappeared into the night.

Tachibana Naoto breathed a sigh of relief, slumping to the ground, secretly grateful to have escaped.

At this moment, he also began to wonder who had sent these two; he had to be even more careful and cautious.

"What do we do? We failed."

One of the men who had just escaped said.

"What else can we do? Let's go back and report,"

The other person had no choice but to say so.

One person took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Captain, we failed. That guy had a gun."

The person on the other end of the line was silent after hearing this news, seemingly in thought.

After a long while, a voice came from the other end of the phone.

"You can't even do this simple thing well. I really want to hand all of you over to Hanma and Kazutora."

The person on the other end of the phone said viciously.

"Ah, Captain, don't send us to the first and second teams!"

The two pleaded for mercy.

"You're useless. Get back now!"

"I'll handle this myself."

The person on the other end of the phone said.

"Okay, Captain."

The two men slunk back to the base, their hearts full of apprehension.

At this moment, their captain was pacing back and forth, his face grim.

As for Tachibana Naoto, after recovering, he immediately began to investigate the identities of these two assassins and their mastermind.

He knew that this attack was by no means accidental; someone definitely wanted him dead.

But no matter how Tachibana Naoto searched, he couldn't find any clues.

It was as if these two people simply didn't exist in this world.

Facing this situation, Tachibana Naoto already had a certain understanding.

His authority was not enough; he simply couldn't find any information about these two people.

Tachibana Naoto was now a little panicked.

His opponent could easily kill him.

But he didn't even know who the enemy was; this was too terrifying.

From a vantage point next to Tachibana Naoto's house, a man was assembling a sniper rifle.

The man methodically put together the rifle's body and barrel.

He then mounted the scope onto the sniper rifle, and through the scope, he saw Tachibana Naoto inside the house.

Tachibana Naoto was currently pondering how he could escape this predicament.

Unbeknownst to him, a sniper rifle was aimed directly at his head from not far away.

The man aimed at Tachibana Naoto's head and slowly pulled the trigger.

Due to the use of a silencer, there was no loud sound.

A bullet shot from the muzzle, flying straight towards Tachibana Naoto's head.

With a burst of blood, Tachibana Naoto collapsed into a pool of his own blood.

Seeing that his assassination was complete, the man did not linger.

He picked up his equipment and turned to leave.

Returning to Hanagaki Takemichi, Hanagaki Takemichi had already obtained a lot of information about the Four Kings Conquest from the future.

Hanagaki Takemichi was confident that he could prevent the Ju Xian this time.

"Hanagaki Takemichi, get ready, the war with Ju Xian might be about to begin."

Matsuno Chifuyu said to Hanagaki Takemichi.

"What? So soon?"

Hanagaki Takemichi didn't expect to go to war with Ju Xian right after returning.

He had thought there would be more time, which would have allowed for more planning.

But now, there was clearly no time for that.

"Yes, Manjiro personally gave the order."

"The Kanto Manji Gang and Tenjiku will go to war against Ju Xian together."

Matsuno Chifuyu said to Hanagaki Takemichi.

"How is Ju Xian responding?"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked.

"Everyone on Ju Xian's side has been called back by Kunji."

"It looks like they are also preparing for war!"

Matsuno Chifuyu said.

"Sure enough, it's just as I understood."

"The initial Four Kings Conquest actually only involved three organizations."

"Brahman did not participate, but in the final decisive battle, Brahman suddenly led an army to attack."

"That's what ultimately led to this Four Kings Conquest."

Hanagaki Takemichi frowned, falling into deep thought: "It seems we need to pay special attention to Brahman as a variable; we can't let them disrupt our plans at a critical moment."

Matsuno Chifuyu nodded: "Indeed, so what should we do now? Manjiro has given the order, and war could break out at any moment, so we must respond quickly."

Hanagaki Takemichi's gaze was firm: "First, deploy our personnel, ensuring the defense and clear communication of each stronghold. Then, find a way to scout Ju Xian's specific operational deployment in advance; we can't fight an unprepared battle."

"Hanagaki Takemichi, you've matured quite a bit in a few days; you even know how to order a captain around!"

Matsuno Chifuyu teased Hanagaki Takemichi.

"Uh! Uh, uh, uh, uh..."

Hanagaki Takemichi was speechless for a moment.

"Alright, I'll go arrange it now." Matsuno Chifuyu turned to leave.

Matsuno Chifuyu agreed and departed.

Hanagaki Takemichi took a deep breath; he knew that a difficult, fierce battle lay ahead.

But his conviction never wavered; he had to stop this bloody Four Kings Conquest and protect everyone's peace and tranquility.

Amidst tense preparations, Hanagaki Takemichi and his companions stood ready, awaiting the moment of direct confrontation with Ju Xian.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ju Xian's core members were also urgently discussing their battle plan.

Kunji looked at his subordinates with a solemn expression, saying in a deep voice: "The Kanto Manji Gang and Tenjiku are coming fiercely; we must be fully prepared."

"Hmph, what's there to be afraid of? We, Ju Xian, are not to be trifled with!" Shiba Taiju said fiercely.

"Don't underestimate them. Although Brahman hasn't made a move yet, we can't let our guard down," Kunji reminded.

On Hanagaki Takemichi's side, personnel deployment was proceeding tensely and orderly.

Security was heightened at every stronghold, and intelligence personnel were active everywhere, trying to gather more accurate information about Ju Xian.

Hanagaki Takemichi paced back and forth in the room, constantly considering various possible scenarios and countermeasures.

As time passed, the atmosphere of war grew increasingly intense, as if a storm was about to break.

Hanagaki Takemichi stood by the window, looking out at the street, secretly vowing to protect everything and prevent tragedy, no matter what.

"Hanma, go. You'll lead the charge this time."

Kunji said to Hanma Shuji.

"Remember, don't get bogged down in battle. Your goal is just a sudden attack."

"If you can draw out that mysterious person, that's best. Even if you can't, you must return."

"Now that the Kanto Manji Gang and Tenjiku have allied, if these two organizations react, you won't be able to withdraw."

Kunji said to Hanma Shuji.

Hanma Shuji nodded slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes, and replied: "Don't worry, Kunji, I know what to do."

With that, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Suddenly, a subordinate rushed in to report: "President, we've detected unusual activity from Ju Xian; it seems a force is rapidly approaching us."

Kurokawa Izana's heart filled with joy, and he thought: "Has Ju Xian finally lost patience?"

He immediately ordered: "Have everyone prepare for battle and closely monitor the enemy's movements."

Before long, Hanma Shuji appeared like a ghost before Tenjiku's stronghold. Without a word, he charged directly into the crowd, launching a fierce surprise attack.

Tenjiku's grunts had no power to resist.

Hanma Shuji, relying on his strange agility, darted left and right through the crowd, causing considerable chaos for Hanagaki Takemichi's side.

Just then, Mochizuki Kan'er stepped forward, confronting Hanma Shuji directly.

Their eyes met, instantly igniting a strong fighting spirit.

"Hanma Shuji, you won't get away with this easily!" Mochizuki Kan'er roared.

Hanma Shuji sneered: "Hmph, then let's see!"

Meanwhile, in Ju Xian's camp, Kunji closely monitored Hanma Shuji's actions.

He silently calculated his next move, thinking about how to use Hanma Shuji's surprise attack to gain a greater advantage.

Ding, ding, ding, a phone rang.

Hanagaki Takemichi answered the phone.

"Hanagaki Takemichi, Ju Xian has launched an attack..."

Matsuno Chifuyu said on the other end of the line.

Upon hearing this, Hanagaki Takemichi realized he was a step too late.

"Is Hanma Shuji leading the team!"

Hanagaki Takemichi asked urgently.

"Yes, that's right, Hanma Shuji is indeed leading Ju Xian's team."

Matsuno Chifuyu gave Hanagaki Takemichi a definitive answer.

"Quickly organize a rescue; Hanma Shuji won't stay there for long."

Hanagaki Takemichi said urgently.

"Alright, I'll report to Manjiro now."

Matsuno Chifuyu said to Hanagaki Takemichi.

"It's too late."

Hanagaki Takemichi thought to himself.

"I can't fall into Kunji's rhythm..." Hanagaki Takemichi thought to himself.

When the Kanto Manji Gang rushed to the scene, it was already a mess.

Mochizuki Kan'er and all the Tenjiku members were sprawled on the ground, covered in blood, a shocking sight.

Seeing this tragic scene, Hanagaki Takemichi couldn't help but curse under his breath, "Damn it, we're still one step too late."

But he quickly adjusted his state; he understood that this was just the beginning.

He was generally clear about the subsequent Immortal Slaying operation, as long as he could calmly counterattack in the follow-up actions.

There was still a chance for everything.

Hanagaki Takemichi took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

His eyes also became more firm and sharp.

He quickly checked the injuries of Mochizuki Kan'er and the others, and although they were seriously wounded.

Fortunately, they still showed signs of life, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Afterward, he began to calmly analyze the current situation.

He rapidly recalled every detail of the Immortal Slaying operation in his mind, like a movie playing.

He pondered how to cleverly use the information he possessed to gradually reverse this unfavorable situation.

He turned to the Kanto Manji Gang members behind him and said firmly, "Everyone, clean this place up first and send the injured for treatment as quickly as possible."

The Kanto Manji Gang members immediately sprang into action, working together in a well-trained and coordinated manner.

Some carefully lifted their injured comrades, while others quickly cleared away the clutter and bloodstains.

Meanwhile, Hanagaki Takemichi walked alone to a quiet corner.

He began to concentrate on formulating the next step of the plan.

He knew very well that every step from now on would be crucial, like walking on a tightrope.

Even a slight misstep could lead to complete defeat, and he would never allow such a thing to happen.

Time ticked by, and a clear plan gradually formed in Hanagaki Takemichi's mind.

He reassembled everyone and, with a serious expression, began to deploy the next actions: "We need to divide into several teams; one team is responsible for closely monitoring the enemy's movements and must report to me at all times; the second team needs to quickly prepare weapons and equipment, ensuring they can enter battle at any time and be ready to strike."

Everyone nodded, their eyes filled with determination and resolve, and then they quickly acted according to Hanagaki Takemichi's instructions.

On the other side, Kunji's situation was also not optimistic.

Hanma Shuji had successfully retreated; this surprise attack could be said to be almost perfect for him.

Although he failed to draw out the mysterious person hidden behind the scenes.

He did deliver a heavy blow to the Kanto Manji Gang and Tenjiku.

This war, originally hidden in the shadows, was thus completely revealed to everyone with Immortal Slaying's surprise attack, and the scent of blood and cruelty permeated the air.

"Immortal Slaying has begun its operation, Kirihara, what are your thoughts?"

Kurokawa Izana said to Kirihara Chiya with a gloomy expression.

Kirihara Chiya gritted his teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"Since things have come to this, what else can I think? Let's go to war."

His words were concise and powerful, as if carrying endless determination and courage.

Kurokawa Izana nodded slightly; he understood that the current situation could no longer be avoided.

They had to bravely face the coming storm.

With Kirihara Chiya's decision, the forces under his control also began intense preparations for war.

Weapons were polished to a shine, and personnel were quickly organized.

A tense and oppressive atmosphere enveloped everyone.

On Hanagaki Takemichi's side, the members of the first team silently dispersed to various key locations like ghosts.

Relying on their excellent stealth abilities and keen observation skills, they meticulously monitored every move of the enemy.

Even the slightest change could not escape their eyes.

As time went on, the tension between the two sides grew.

It was like a volcano about to erupt, ready to spew hot lava at any moment.

Hanagaki Takemichi continuously received intelligence from the first team, and each piece of information made his brow furrow tighter.

He constantly analyzed and adjusted his plan in his mind, trying to find the enemy's weaknesses.

He aimed to formulate the most perfect counter-strategy.

On Immortal Slaying's side, Hanma Shuji and other members were also actively plotting their next moves.

They wanted to strike while the iron was hot, continue to expand their advantage, and completely defeat the Kanto Manji Gang and Tenjiku.

On this unpredictable battlefield, every decision could affect the final outcome.

Hanagaki Takemichi knew this well; he constantly encouraged himself, telling himself to remain calm, to remain steady.

He had only one belief in his heart: to lead the Kanto Manji Gang to victory.

"Take a look at the intelligence our mole inside Tenjiku sent back."

Kunji took out a piece of paper, containing intelligence from Immortal Slaying's mole within Tenjiku.

Shiba Taiju scoffed.

"Just charge in!"

Hanma also looked indifferent.

After all, he had just led a team to defeat the Tenjiku members himself.

"Don't underestimate them; are you really blind to the scouts around the base recently?"

Kunji said to everyone.

Kunji's words silenced everyone for a moment.

Shiba Taiju frowned, seemingly realizing that things might not be so simple.

Hanma also put away his indifferent expression and began to think seriously.

"These scouts are indeed a hidden danger; we can't ignore them," someone echoed.

"Hmph, so what? Will we, Immortal Slaying, be afraid of them?"

Although Shiba Taiju said this, a hint of caution appeared in his eyes.

Kunji looked at everyone and continued, "We cannot let our guard down; the forces behind these scouts might be plotting some big conspiracy. We must readjust our deployment based on this intelligence and not act blindly as before."

Everyone nodded in agreement; they began to carefully study the intelligence, analyzing every detail within it, trying to figure out the enemy's next move.

At the same time, Hanagaki Takemichi also obtained some intelligence about the internal situation of Immortal Slaying.

He read it carefully, a subtle smile appearing on his face.

That's right, there was also a mole within Immortal Slaying.

"It seems we have a chance," Hanagaki Takemichi whispered.

He immediately gathered his core members, shared the intelligence with them, and began to formulate a new battle plan.

They knew this was a rare opportunity that they had to seize to gain an advantage in this fierce struggle.

In the following time, both sides were making intensive preparations.

The atmosphere on the battlefield grew increasingly tense, as if a world-shaking battle could erupt at any moment.

The relationship between Zhuxian and Tianzhu had now plummeted to a freezing point.

Although Tianzhu hadn't yet actively invaded the territory controlled by Zhuxian,

everyone knew that this was merely the calm before the storm.

On this particular day, Ye Qi was walking home alone.

However, she keenly noticed a tail quietly following her.

"Is this fun? Come out!"

Ye Qi stopped, her voice calm but with a hint of authority.

The Tianzhu members secretly following Ye Qi were startled; they hadn't expected their tail to be discovered so easily.

But the moment they recovered, the two Tianzhu thugs immediately chose to flee.

Ye Qi watched their retreating figures and had no intention of pursuing them, simply continuing her walk as if nothing had happened.

Midway, Ye Qi saw a restaurant, and her stomach happened to be rumbling.

"I'll just grab some fast food first!"

Ye Qi stepped into the shop, a restaurant with a strong Chinese style.

Ye Qi ordered a stir-fried tomato and egg with a bowl of rice, then began to eat with great relish.

Just as Ye Qi was enjoying her meal, the restaurant's door was suddenly kicked open.

Several Tianzhu thugs and Kanto Manji Gang thugs swaggered in, looking aggressive and numerous.

Ye Qi simply continued eating her meal, showing no intention of acknowledging them.

Behind these thugs, a cadre also walked in. Upon closer inspection, it was Lin Liangping of the Kanto Manji Gang.

Lin Liangping walked directly opposite Ye Qi, then sat down and said, "You're a cadre of Zhuxian?"

Lin Liangping's tone openly revealed disdain and contempt.

Seeing this, Ye Qi couldn't help but feel secretly displeased.

"Why do they always pick on me? Do I look so much like an easy target? Should I get a tattoo to show off my domineering presence?"

Ye Qi pondered these thoughts in her mind.

Seeing Ye Qi's distracted look, Lin Liangping was instantly enraged. He abruptly swept the rice in front of Ye Qi onto the floor.

Then, with extreme speed, he leaned close to Ye Qi and growled, "Are you listening to me, kid?!"

However, what he never expected was to be met with Ye Qi's powerful fist.

"Every grain of rice and every drop of porridge comes with hard work; don't you understand?"

Ye Qi said furiously.

"Also, I still had so much more to eat!"

"Haven't you ever had stir-fried tomato and egg? Why are you jealous of me?"

Ye Qi continued.

"Alright, alright, today I'll let you eat your fill!"

Ye Qi erupted instantly, shouting at Lin Liangping.

"Listen to me!"

Ye Qi swung her fists, continuously speaking.

"Tomato boogers, tomato pork, tomato chicken, tomato beef, stir-fried tomato and egg, tomato porridge, tomato rice, stir-fried tomato ho fun, stir-fried tomato rice, stir-fried tomato water, tomato sandwich, tomato tofu."

With each word, a punch was thrown, culminating in the final "Tomato Violent Slam Dunk!!!!!"

Ye Qi landed a powerful heavy punch directly on Lin Liangping's chin.

This blow instantly sent Lin Liangping into "sleep mode"!

"Have you had enough to eat?! Have you had enough tomatoes?!" Ye Qi roared at Lin Liangping, who lay on the ground.

Meanwhile, the thugs nearby, witnessing this scene, were all thrown into a panic.

After all, the state Ye Qi was displaying at that moment was truly terrifying.

Imagine, when your opponent is fighting you, and keeps spouting strange, inexplicable words.

The key is that you can't even beat him, which is simply a cruel double torment for both mind and body.

"This guy isn't a normal person at all!"

The thugs thought almost simultaneously in their minds.

Subsequently, these thugs felt the urge to retreat, thinking they needed to quickly leave this place.

But who would have thought that at this moment, the restaurant owner walked out from inside.

"Hey, hey, hey! You messed up my restaurant like this and you think you can run!"

The restaurant owner shouted loudly at the thugs trying to escape.

"Uh, uh, uh, boss, I don't have money. Go find them!"

Ye Qi quickly waved her hand, indicating that she had no money for compensation.

The restaurant owner glanced sideways at Ye Qi, then said to the thugs, "Hurry up and pay! Compensate me for my losses!"

Seeing that Ye Qi wasn't going to get involved, the thugs suddenly got angry.

They secretly thought, when did a small restaurant owner like you dare to be so rude to us?

In the past, these business owners would scramble to pay us protection fees.

"No money, what are you going to do about it?!"

One of the thugs said to the restaurant owner with extreme arrogance.

"No money? Then I can only call the Metropolitan Police Department."

Then, the restaurant owner decisively pulled out her phone, preparing to call the Metropolitan Police Department.

Seeing this, the thugs stopped pretending and aggressively approached the owner, intending to teach her a lesson.

"What, you're going to use your hands? Delinquent youths are very impressive!"

"Very amazing, huh? Do you know what the mafia is?"

"A bunch of little brats!"

The owner was fearless, directly retorting.

These thugs, subjected to such insult, were instantly enraged and erupted.

They intended to teach the owner a lesson.

Seeing this, Ye Qi also immediately stepped forward, intending to help the owner.

But who knew, the owner directly landed a front kick, sending one thug flying.

"Whoa, this boss has some skill!"

Ye Qi secretly marveled in her heart.

At the same time, her impulse to intervene also calmed down.

"I'm telling you, when you're out here, if you make a mistake, you admit it, and if you get beaten, you stand at attention!"

These thugs were still not giving up, and rushed forward recklessly again.

The restaurant owner didn't indulge them at all, directly picking up a wine bottle from the table.

She smashed it hard on the head of the thug charging at the front, cracking his head open.

Then she flipped over a stool and wildly struck the remaining thugs.

Before long, these thugs were lying on the ground, covered in blood.

"Do you know my name? I'm telling you, remember it well."

"My name is Liang Kun. Don't be so arrogant when you see me in the future!"

"Sigh, I really need to control my temper!"

Liang Kun said to the people lying on the ground.

"No, this boss is a bit fierce, and that name feels somewhat familiar, why?"

"I always feel like I've heard it somewhere, sigh, never mind, I won't think about it."

Ye Qi thought to herself.

Boss, I really feel like you're incredibly fierce!"

Ye Qi smiled, speaking to the boss in standard Mandarin.

At this, Liang Kun slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze falling on Ye Qi.

Then he spoke, "You kid, are you from Huaguo?"

Ye Qi quickly replied to Liang Kun, "Yes, I came here for school."

"Oh, I see. Well, you should leave, don't interfere with my business here."

Liang Kun waved his hand as he spoke, directly gesturing for Ye Qi to leave.

"Uh, uh, uh, Boss, do you need my help...?"

Ye Qi glanced at the chaotic ground, seeing it covered in broken glass shards and wood splinters, with streaks of blood staining the floor.

"Oh, no need, just leave quickly..."

Liang Kun waved his hand again, clearly indicating with the gesture that Ye Qi should leave at once.

Just then, a phone rang on Kunji's side.

"Moshimoshi, is this Kunji?"

A voice came from the other end of the line. "Yes, it's me. Who is this?"

Kunji responded.

"Our President wants to meet you."

The person on the other end of the line said.

"Your President, who is that?"

Kunji asked into the phone.

"Tenjiku's Kurokawa Izana!"

The voice on the other end of the line uttered that name, word by word.

Upon hearing this name, Kunji's brows instantly furrowed tightly.

"Where?"

Kunji then asked.

The other party stated a location, and then both sides successfully set a time.

"President, Kunji agreed."

Kirihara Chiya said to the expressionless Kurokawa Izana standing beside him.

"Is he coming alone?"

Izana asked.

"That's what I said on the phone, and he agreed."

Kirihara Chiya replied.

"In that case, gather the troops, and let's go together."

Kurokawa Izana remained expressionless, his face completely devoid of any discernible emotions.

On Kunji's side, he also began to gather his members simultaneously.

"Come on, come on, quickly gather all the troops!"

"Prepare to begin the operation!"

Kunji swiftly sent messages to all the captains.

"President, what exactly is going on?"

Kisaki Tetta asked Kunji.

"Kurokawa Izana asked to meet me. I thought I'd take this opportunity to handle some things."

After saying this, a subtle smile, not easily noticed by others, appeared on Kunji's face.

Soon, Kunji had gathered all the members of Zhu Xian.

Then, they marched grandly towards the location agreed upon with Kurokawa Izana.

Kunji did not choose to go with the Zhu Xian team.

He had his own plans, intending to go alone first to scout out the situation.

He wanted to find out what tricks Kurokawa Izana was playing and what he was really up to.

When Kunji arrived at the agreed location on time.

He indeed found that Kurokawa Izana was not the only one who had come from Tenjiku.

Kakucho stood quietly beside Izana.

Not only that, Tenjiku's Four Heavenly Kings, including Mochizuki Kan'er, Muto Yasuhiro, the Haitani Brothers, and Madarame Shion, all appeared on the scene.

Seeing these four names, Kunji couldn't help but secretly chuckle to himself.

"These four guys are truly veteran actors; only Kakucho is a new face."

"You actually dared to come alone."

At this moment, Kurokawa Izana, as the leader, said to Kunji.

Hearing this, Kunji found it incredibly amusing.

"How could he think that I would really be foolish enough to come alone? Do I look that much like an idiot?"

Although Kunji thought this in his heart, he still felt it necessary to play along with Izana in this act.

So, Kunji spoke, "Alright, alright, setting a trap, huh, Izana."

Then he added, "Is that all the magnanimity and vision the President of Tenjiku has?"

Kunji spoke directly to Izana.

"Kunji, you are too naive. What do you think we are doing? Playing house? This is a brutal war where it's either you die or I die."

Kurokawa Izana said in a cold tone.

And listening to what Izana said, Kunji only felt it was incredibly ridiculous.

Kurokawa Izana forcefully waved his hand, and immediately, the Tenjiku members who had been hidden in various corners around them surged out like a tide.

"See that, Kunji? Today is your death day."

Kurokawa Izana said viciously.

Kunji quietly watched the sudden scene before him, his face showing no change in expression whatsoever.

It was as if everything was within his expectations.

However, in the very next second, Kunji suddenly pointed his finger at Kurokawa Izana.

He loudly cursed, "Izana, open your eyes and look closely, do you recognize me? I am Kunji, do you dare to spar with me? You're acting all high and mighty here, still acting high and mighty and I'll make you fly! Do you believe me?"

Then, Kunji decisively shouted, "Attack!"

With Kunji's command, the people of Zhu Xian, who had been ambushed nearby, slowly emerged from their hiding places.

Shiba Taiju, Hanma Shuji, Hanemiya Kazutora, Kisaki Tetta, Ye Qi—all the cadres of Zhu Xian were gathered here.

Not only that, but most of Zhu Xian's members also appeared.

"What's wrong? Weren't you having a great time mocking me earlier? And Kurokawa Izana, are you taking kindness for weakness? You blossom when given sunshine, you overflow when given a little flood. I'm asking you, have I given you too many smiles?"

At this moment, Kunji no longer hid his emotions, directly unleashing a barrage of words like a continuous combo.

He utterly berated Izana.

"Black Hand Bro's quotes really feel good to say," Kunji thought to himself.

"One word... Satisfying!"

"President, I never saw you so eloquent before," Ye Qi teased from the side, a hint of a smile on her face.

"That's right, that's right, Tomato Demon!"

At this moment, a Tenjiku grunt suddenly pointed at Ye Qi and shouted loudly.

Ye Qi heard the grunt's words and instantly froze, her face filled with astonishment.

"What? Tomato Demon? Are they talking about me?"

Ye Qi murmured in disbelief, her heart full of questions.

She had only kindly taught them how to make tomatoes, so how did she end up with such a strange and ridiculous nickname!

Ye Qi felt completely unable to understand the reason behind it.

"Pfft."

Kunji, upon hearing the nickname "Tomato Demon," also couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Hearing Kunji's laughter, Ye Qi instantly felt enraged, and her eyes widened.

She shouted at the group of Tenjiku members, "You, yes you, quickly tell me who gave me that nickname!" Ye Qi asked loudly, full of anger.

Hey, hey, hey, Ye Qi, don't get so worked up!"

Kunji suppressed his laughter, extended his hand with a serious expression, and firmly pushed down Ye Qi, who was about to lose her temper.

Then, Kunji gently pushed Ye Qi behind him, as if to shield her from something.

"What, Izana, do you want to start a war?"

Kunji's gaze was sharp as lightning, directly meeting Kurokawa Izana's across from him, his eyes revealing unwavering determination.

"Hahaha, interesting..."

Izana's lips curved upwards into a faint smile, yet he didn't appear flustered; instead, he exuded an air of leisurely self-possession.

"Go..."

As Izana gave his low command, the Tenjiku members surged forward like a tide, all of them launching into action.

They charged forward with fierce momentum.

Seeing that Tenjiku had begun its charge, Zhu Xian naturally didn't want to be outdone and also rushed forward, shouting.

"How is this different from what I saw in the original work? Weren't they supposed to have some kind of leader's battle?"

Kunji wondered inwardly as he watched the chaotic scene before him, but given the current situation, there was no time to ponder it further.

He couldn't worry about so much anymore.

Kunji's figure flashed, and he lunged forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

"Lariat!!!"

Kunji roared, delivering a powerful elbow strike directly to the neck of a Tenjiku grunt.

The Tenjiku grunt didn't even have time to react before instantly falling unconscious.

"No way, Boss, he's that fierce?"

Ye Qi, standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Nonsense, if I wasn't fierce, could I be the boss!"

Kunji responded loudly, immediately following up with another elbow strike.

"Come, duck neck!"

This strike once again allowed a Tenjiku grunt to experience an instant "sleep" service.

At the same time, Zhu Xian's executives were not to be outdone.

Hanemiya Kazutora had picked up a steel pipe from somewhere, his movements as practiced as if it were an everyday task.

"Why does Kazutora always find a steel pipe on the roadside every time he fights? Does this thing respawn on a fixed schedule?"

Kunji furiously complained in his mind as he watched this scene.

"Shine..."

Kazutora yelled as he directly swung the steel pipe, smashing it fiercely towards the Tenjiku grunt's head, with an intensity that seemed to want to flatten him into a meat patty.

Hanma and Taiju, facing these Tenjiku grunts, handled them with ease, as if slicing through melons and vegetables.

Finally, Tenjiku's executives made their move.

"What's the point of you old actors still showing up?"

"Are you messing with me here?!"

Kunji was so angry that he directly cursed at Tenjiku's executives.

Izana remained standing there, unmoving, while Tenjiku's chief executive, Kakucho, known as the fighting expert, made his move.

Kakucho's target was clear: he charged directly at Kunji.

Seeing Kakucho charging at him, Kunji felt a sense of relief.

"At least it's not those four old actors."

"I'll see what the 'King's Number One' is all about!"

Kunji thought to himself.

The other individuals also quickly moved, each finding their respective opponents.

The Haitani Brothers, with grim expressions, confronted Hanma Shuji;

Mochizuki Kan'er and Muto Yasuhiro aggressively faced Shiba Taiju;

Madarame Shion, with a ruthless look, went up against Hanemiya Kazutora.

The atmosphere on the battlefield grew increasingly tense and fierce.

Kakucho charged at Kunji like a gust of wind; Kunji was unafraid and responded calmly.

Kakucho's figure flashed, and his massive fist, carrying a powerful gust of wind, struck hard; Kunji dodged sideways.

At the same time, he aimed a sweeping kick at Kakucho's lower body. Kakucho leaped up, flipped in the air, and then lunged down again, delivering a series of kicks like a phantom.

Kunji crossed his arms to block, shaken back a few steps by the powerful impact, but he instantly steadied himself and counter-attacked like a leopard, his punches generating gusts of wind as he fiercely clashed with Kakucho.

Every physical contact produced a dull thud, and the surrounding air seemed to be stirred into a turbulent frenzy.

On the other side, the battle between the Haitani Brothers and Hanma Shuji also entered a heated phase.

Haitani Rindo weaved like a ghost, sometimes launching surprise attacks from tricky angles, sometimes leaping high for powerful kicks.

Haitani Ran provided support from the side, seizing opportunities to deliver swift attacks.

Hanma Shuji let out a strange laugh, his body twisting at incredible angles to evade attacks.

At the same time, the short blade in his hand gleamed with a cold light, constantly slashing out deadly arcs, engaging in a thrilling life-or-death struggle with the Haitani Brothers in close quarters.

Shiba Taiju, facing the combined assault of Mochizuki Kan'er and Muto Yasuhiro, displayed formidable strength and combat experience.

He was like a towering mountain; every attack carried the force of an avalanche.

Mochizuki Kan'er moved nimbly, leaping around, trying to find an opening from the side.

Muto Yasuhiro, with his burly physique, launched repeated fierce charges.

Shiba Taiju roared, slamming his massive fist into the ground, the powerful shockwave pushing both of them back.

He seized the opportunity to close in, his fists and feet raining down like a storm upon them.

Hanemiya Kazutora and Madarame Shion were locked in a fierce, evenly matched battle. Kazutora wielded his steel pipe.

Each swing carried a whistling sound, and the steel pipe struck the ground, sending sparks flying.

Madarame Shion's eyes were sinister, and his figure moved swiftly, constantly striking at Kazutora.

Kazutora was unafraid and immediately moved forward.

As the battle continued, sweat poured from both sides like rain, and wounds gradually appeared on their bodies.

But neither showed any intention of backing down.

Kunji gradually found his rhythm in the fight against Kakucho; he suddenly unleashed an extremely powerful uppercut, hitting Kakucho squarely on the chin.

Kakucho's head snapped back. Seizing this opportunity, Kunji spun and delivered a side kick that landed squarely on Kakucho's waist. Kakucho grunted, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Hmph, that's all there is to it!" Kunji provocatively shouted.

Kakucho's eyes turned cold, and he charged forward again, the battle growing even fiercer.

Kakucho lunged like a furious beast, his punches whistling, each one carrying a killing intent.

Kunji's gaze was like a torch, completely unfazed, deftly dodging left and right.

As he evaded attacks, he constantly delivered swift counterattacks.

Their figures flashed rapidly across the battlefield, like two bolts of lightning clashing fiercely.

"As expected of the King's Number One, quite interesting."

Kunji thought to himself.

Izana, standing nearby, suddenly spoke,

"Kakucho is not someone the Haitani Brothers or that group can compare to."

"Tenjiku's strongest weapon is Kakucho!"

Kunji's brow furrowed upon hearing this.

"Don't mess around when I'm serious; if I give you face, you should take it!"

Kunji said, his body moving, then swiftly dodging Kakucho's heavy punch sideways.

"Come, duck neck!"

It was Kunji's signature elbow strike again.

"My twenty years of mastery in this elbow, can you block it?"

Kunji arrogantly proclaimed.