The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 524 Deer Without a Trace

"Everyone says the world of martial arts is full of dangers, but in my opinion, they've never seen a real storm. Anyone who's ever been out at sea on a boat wouldn't think that what people stir up is any big deal... Oh dear!"

The wind was strong and the waves were high, suddenly throwing the small boat into the air.

The speaker let out a delicate shout, performed a somersault and leaped into the air, before gracefully falling like a leaf.

Li Miao, standing beside him, sighed.

"Haven't you heard the rumors about me circulating in the martial arts world?"

The man patted the water droplets off his chest. His palace attire was stretched taut, and the pat caused it to tremble, like ripples on water.

she said with a smile.

"What kind of idle talk are you talking about, sir?"

"Did you kill countless people and skin them alive for wine, or did you hold the emperor hostage and abuse your power, or were you cunning and vengeful?"

"Okay, I get it now."

She tilted her head and smiled as she spoke to Li Miao.

"Are you referring to those rumors that you have countless female confidantes, are a lecherous fiend, forcibly take countless outstanding female warriors into your house, and show no mercy, even abandoning the leader of the Ming Cult after seducing him, ultimately causing the disaster in the capital...?"

"Of course I've heard of it."

Li Miao's lips twitched.

"Then why did you wear that palace dress, and when you could have easily calmed the jolts with a simple weight, you insisted on flipping into the air right in front of me... Was that on purpose?"

The woman smiled and nodded with utmost sincerity.

"Yes!"

"You may not know this, but I am an old friend of Governor An. Among the four young masters, we are the only two who are familiar with each other. After he took office, we often corresponded with each other."

"He is well aware of my admiration for you. To be honest, I am extremely grateful for his recommendation of me, so how could I not seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

Li Miao shook his head helplessly.

The last of the "Four Gentlemen of Wine, Women, Wealth, and Temper"—the "Wealthy Gentleman" Lu Wushuang—is actually a woman... and a woman of unparalleled beauty.

To be honest, he wasn't unaware of the "Four Young Masters," and he had naturally heard of the name and deeds of the last young master.

"The Colorful Prince", Lu Wushuang.

He was known in the underworld as the "Money-Grubbing Young Master".

The Blood-Clad Tower's white-clad assassins, who betrayed their sect and established their own, built an inn in the Shaanxi area, dealing in intelligence and assassination. They claimed that as long as the money was right, anything could be done, but if there was no money, even their own brothers would be kicked out.

But this only explains her nickname "Greedy Young Master," but not how she got the nickname "Graceful Young Master"... It's very simple, this Young Master Lu has a fondness for beautiful women.

Ninety percent of the money she earned was used to build a massive palace for the harem she had gathered. The name "Peerless City" became renowned throughout the martial arts world.

This is precisely why, and because Lu Wushuang always disguised herself when she went out, no one in the martial arts world really knew that she was a woman.

Seeing Li Miao remain silent, Lu Wushuang smiled and said.

"Since you know my feelings and are not a conservative or old-fashioned person, why do you still have reservations... Could it be that you think my reputation is bad?"

“You don’t need to worry. Why would Brother An send a woman of questionable character to your side? I just like to look at beautiful women. I haven’t actually done anything with them, and I haven’t even had any contact with any men.”

"In fact, I often talk about your deeds in my Peerless City, and all my sisters are smitten with you... If you were to submit to me, the entire Peerless City would be yours, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Li Miao shook his head and didn't reply.

Lu Wushuang was also sensible; seeing that Li Miao was unwilling to engage, she naturally changed the subject.

"We're getting close to Japan. Once this storm passes, we should be able to see the coast. However, Japan is currently in turmoil, and many bandits are plundering merchant ships along the coast. We're heading towards a border region, so we're likely to run into some trouble."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the side, chuckled, and pointed with her slender, fair hand.

"Look, here it is!"

Li Miao had already looked in that direction. Hundreds of feet away from their small boat, a crimson hue was slowly spreading across the sea.

In the very center of the crimson expanse, a merchant ship stood motionless, while several grappling hooks were hung on the decks around it, extending to several small boats. More than a dozen Japanese men, wearing only loincloths and holding katana in their mouths, were climbing up the grappling hooks onto the ship.

The merchant ship had become a living hell.

The bodies of sailors and servants were dragged from the cabins and piled up in a small mountain in the center of the deck. Some Japanese soldiers were searching around with knives, and screams of women and screams of agony could be heard from all sides.

Some Japanese even poured oil on the trembling prisoners, set them on fire, and watched them writhe and struggle on the deck while letting out piercing, sinister laughs.

The sinister laughter pierced through the deck and carried to a small cabin below.

Inside the cabin, Nanako Sasakura covered her mouth tightly, tears streaming down her face like raindrops.

She knew she couldn't escape it.

She shouldn't have come.

If only I had listened to my father... So what if it's an arranged marriage? Didn't my mother go through the same thing? Even if the other party is a vulgar and cruel villain, he wouldn't kill me, would he?
But now, it's too late for regrets.

Footsteps were already outside the door.

In a few breaths, I'll be in the hands of these villains... Rather than suffer humiliation, it's better to...

Sasakura Nanako drew a short sword from her belt, trembling as she held it to her neck, staring intently at the doorway.

Click, click.

A rusty Japanese sword poked its way through the crack in the door, probing for the bolt. Once it found it, it jerked the bolt open, and then—bang!

The cabin door was kicked open.

A Japanese man wearing only a yellowed loincloth, with yellowed teeth and a lewd appearance walked in and stared intently at Sasakura Nanako.

A hideous, grotesque smile spread across his face.

After turning around and locking the door, he slowly walked towards Nanako Sasakura, whispering words of comfort as he went.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't act impulsively."

"I'll be quick, very quick. After I'm done, wouldn't it be better if I died for you? You'd be in even worse shape if you fell into someone else's hands, so I should be your ally."

"Put down the knife...put down the knife!"

He suddenly let out a loud shout.

Dang clang——

Nanako Sasakura was startled, and the short sword fell to the ground.

He grinned maliciously and charged forward.

That hideous and lewd face rapidly magnified in Sasakura Nanako's pupils. She was terrified to the extreme, but she couldn't move and could only watch helplessly as the other person grabbed at her.

boom! ! !
In an instant, the deck collapsed.

The pirate was like a rice cake being pounded, suddenly transforming from "one" into "a puddle".

Blood and flesh splattered on Sasakura Nanako's face, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed limply to the ground.

Li Miao's calm voice came from above.

"Seventy-eight heads, not bad."

"A great start."

"Little Deer, go see if there are any living people you find pleasing to the eye. You can use them as guides once we get ashore. As for those you don't like, don't worry about their origins, just kill them all."

"We've come to Japan to kill, not to save."

(End of this chapter)