Under One Person: Please Call Me Golden Flash

Chapter 126 The Only Target

Shanghai, within a stronghold of the Hieiyama Ninja Clan.

At this moment, almost all the Hieiyama ninja who had come to this land gathered in the main hall, but even with so many people gathered together, the entire hall was eerily quiet.

In the main seat, ninja leader Ono Noriyoshi, holding a cane, looked down at the crowd with a gloomy expression.

"Are Zhuang Bingwei and the others all dead?"

"Yes, Ms. Ono..."

Ono Noriyoshi slowly closed his eyes, a barely perceptible sadness appearing in them.

Ono Noriyoshi had always groomed his favorite student as the next ninja leader.

He had no children of his own, so in a sense, Shobei was his son.

Now that he has heard the news of Shobei's death, how could Ono Noriyoshi not be heartbroken?
Even though he was heartbroken, as the leader of the Hieiyama ninja clan, he could not show any weakness.

After hearing this, Ono Noriyoshi suppressed his grief and asked, "Where is that demon sword, Hirumaru?"

"It's still unclear. It might have been lost in the chaos of battle in the Qinling Mountains, or it might have been taken away by Zhao Zhen..."

"possible?"

Ono Noriyoshi glanced at his subordinate.

"Didn't I tell you this before? Never, ever use the word 'maybe'!"

For us, any miscalculation or oversight in intelligence would lead to utter ruin!

"Yes! I'll investigate immediately!"

Just as the man ran out to begin his investigation, a Japanese soldier in military uniform slowly walked into the lobby.

"Lord Ono."

"Major Yamada? What brings you here?"

"By order of Lieutenant General Aoki, I would like to ask the members of Mount Hiei to help Lieutenant General Aoki kill a few people."

"Excuse me, but please tell Lieutenant General Aoki that from today onwards, unless Zhao Zhen dies in our hands, we will not be carrying out any other missions."

Upon hearing this, Major Yamada's smiling expression froze instantly.

"Lord Ono, are you planning to disobey the military's orders?!"

Ono Noriyoshi remained silent, only giving Sakon a look.

Swish!
The next instant, a blade gleaming with a cold light was already pressed against Major Yamada's neck.

Feeling the threat of death emanating from Sakon, Major Yamada's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.

Just as Major Yamada was about to wet his pants in fright, Noriyoshi Ono finally spoke up:

"Hey, stop! Don't be rude!"

Clang!
Upon hearing this, Sakon slowly sheathed his sword and then silently walked back to Ono Noriyoshi's side.

"Major Yamada, we, the people of Mount Hiei, are not under your military's command. The reason we came to this land to take your orders is only on the premise of cooperation. I hope you will not misunderstand."

"Yes, yes, yes... I'm sorry, Ono-sama, I misunderstood."

"Go back and tell Lieutenant General Aoki that from this moment on, the Hieiyama ninja have only one target on this land: Zhao Zhen!"

"Yes, I will pass on your message to Lieutenant General Aoki."

"Well, take care, and don't bother seeing me out."

After watching Major Yamada stagger away, Ono Noriyoshi glanced once more at the Hieiyama ninja present.

"Did everyone hear what I just said?"

"heard it!"

"Then let's get started."

"Yes!"
-
At the foot of Sanyi Mountain, in a small town, the entire Li family was shrouded in solemn sorrow.

The gates of the Li residence were tightly shut, and plain white lanterns hung in front of the gate, swaying gently in the breeze and casting a desolate light.

Above the door hangs a coarse hemp woven mourning knot, flanked by couplets written in black ink on plain white paper, the ink heavy and solemn, expressing deep sorrow.

The mourning hall inside the courtyard has been set up, and in the main hall, the black coffin rests quietly on the funeral bed.

A high altar was set up in front of the coffin, with white candles burning eternally on it, their flickering flames illuminating the sacrificial offerings of meat, vegetables, and seasonal fruits.

A few wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, the rich aroma of sandalwood mixed with the smell of ashes from burning paper money filling the air, heavy and unyielding.

Thick, plain white curtains hung around the mourning hall, layer upon layer like mourning clothes.

Countless white lanterns hung above the curtains, illuminating the entire space in a stark white light.

Countless plain silk elegiac couplets hung on the walls or dangled from the pillars, each word and phrase a lament of grief, the brushstrokes either vigorous or sorrowful.

Wearing heavy mourning clothes, Li Muxuan knelt upright in front of the coffin, his head wrapped in a white cloth and his waist tightly bound with a hemp rope.

His gaze was unfocused as he stared at the cold coffin, his face still bearing the weariness and dust of a long journey, but deeper still, there was deep regret and sorrow.

Li Muxuan, who returned home with Zuo Ruotong a few days ago, was ultimately unable to see his father one last time before his death.

At this moment, his figure appeared exceptionally lonely and cold in the pure white mourning hall, like a frozen stone statue. Only his shoulders occasionally trembled slightly due to silent grief, revealing the surging sorrow in his heart.

Tap tap tap~
A series of footsteps suddenly sounded behind Li Muxuan.

Li Muxuan turned his head and saw that Zhao Zhen had appeared in his house at some point.

He didn't say anything, but silently walked to the altar of Li's father, lit an incense stick, and then bowed deeply.

Li Muxuan opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything more.

A moment later, the two arrived together at the open space outside the mourning hall.

What are you doing here? To laugh at me?

Li Muxuan questioned him without any politeness.

"Jokes? What jokes are there here?" Zhao Zhen replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, Li Muxuan gave Zhao Zhen a deep look.

"Thanks."

"Thank you for what?"

"Thank you for offering incense to my father..."

Regardless of the extent of their past conflicts or even hatred, Li Muxuan was willing to temporarily set aside his past grievances simply because Zhao Zhen was able to offer incense to his father today.

Whether it's genuine or feigned, a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions, and that's enough.

"You're welcome. Respect for the dead is paramount."

Zhao Zhen shook his head, and the image of the old man buried in Siming Mountain came to mind again.

The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease; the child may wish to care for his parents, but they will no longer be there. This has been true since ancient times.

When you one day realize without even realizing it that your parents are getting old, that day is actually not far away...

Speaking of which, I've been busy working outside the Great Wall for the past two years and haven't had a chance to visit the old man's grave. I'll go and offer him some incense when I have some free time.

"Speak, what brings you here? I don't believe you've come all this way just to offer incense to my father."

"Has Master Zuo returned to the mountain?"

"Yes, he went back after the memorial service."

"Then, what about Wugensheng?"

(End of this chapter)