The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

"You!" The old man's expression froze for a moment upon hearing this, but he still forced himself to continue, "This (the one Jin Bingyun was pointing at with a sword) is Sha Qianli, one of the four great masters of the Xining Sect."

"This is Xiahou Liang, a new generation master of the Wolong Sect." The old man then pointed to a man beside him who was holding his wrist with blood flowing from his fingers and introduced him.

"This is Hong Renda, renowned throughout Suzhou and Hangzhou," the old man said, pointing to the man holding a short halberd.

"And that one over there, that's Jian Zhengming, the Wanderer Umbrella of the Xining School," the old man said, pointing to the last young man using the umbrella.

"Are you sure you want to offend both the Xining Sect and the Wolong Sect for the sake of a woman, and also offend the master behind this Xiaohuaxi?" After introducing everyone, the old man looked at Shiyuan Zhang with a look that said, "Think it over carefully and don't do anything wrong."

"Xining Sect? Is your sect leader surnamed Zhuang? Oh, right, you also have a daughter named Zhuang Qingshuang?" Shi Yuanzhang paused for a moment upon hearing this before asking Sha Qianli and Jian Zhengming, who were from the Xining Sect, with a strange expression.

Although neither of them answered, their sudden change in expression and the reactions they read through mind-reading proved that the leader of the Xining Sect was indeed surnamed Zhuang and had a daughter named Qing Shuang.

It really was obtained without any effort at all.

He had just found Lian Xiuxiu when the whereabouts of another of the Ten Beauties of the Martial World fell into his hands. It was as if even the heavens were urging him to hurry up and take the so-called Ten Beauties of the Martial World.

Without further ado, in a flash, Jian Zhengming, Sha Qianli, Hong Renda, and Xiahou Liang were all suppressed by Shi Yuanzhang. Then, with both hands at his side, he found the location of the Xining Sect's mountain gate from the minds of Sha Qianli and Jian Zhengming. He then threw them and the old man into the corridor outside Lian Xiuxiu's room, leaving the madam who had come up with him but failed to stop him to handle the aftermath.

For example, asking someone to take them back or something.

Then, Ishihara Akira had the maid he brought close the door and sat down directly opposite Rei Xiuxiu, freely looking her over.

Chapter 388 Observing Diligence

Well, Lian Xiuxiu's temperament is indeed very unique, with a typical Jiangnan beauty style, but she is quite tall, about 165 cm tall in later times. She has fair skin and a slender figure. She doesn't have an A4 waist, but it doesn't seem to be much thicker. She has shallow dimples on her face, and when she smiles, she gives people the feeling of a girl next door, making it easy for people to develop a strong liking for her.

Their eyes are jet black, bright, and spirited; touching them is like being bewitched or possessed by a magic spell, causing one's heart to beat involuntarily.

However, Ishihara Akira could clearly sense that Lian Xiuxiu did not have much cultivation. She might have Qi Refining, but she didn't have any profound internal strength.

Ishihara Akane felt that she might not even be as good as the two maids who originally served Jin Bingyun that he brought with him, so it was perfectly reasonable to say that she was an ordinary person.

With long, slender fingers and dressed in white, she resembled a fairy descended to earth, making one want to touch and caress her.

Of course, all of this is in comparison to ordinary and worldly women. Compared to someone like Jin Bingyun, who comes from Cihang Jingzhai, cultivates the Sword Manual, and possesses a celestial body, she is somewhat lacking. At least, her attraction to Shi Yuanzhang is not as strong as that of Jin Bingyun.

"I've heard that Miss Xiuxiu's musical skills are unparalleled in the seven provinces. Would you be so kind as to play a piece for me to prove the rumors?" After a moment, Ishihara Akira withdrew his gaze and said to Lian Xiuxiu.

“Of course I can,” Lian Xiuxiu said calmly. “But, are you sure you want to stay, sir? After all, you just offended the experts from the Xining Sect and the Wolong Sect. If you don’t leave quickly, they might come looking for you again.”

"Since I dared to drive them away, I was prepared to be in trouble. Besides, the Xining Sect is nothing to me," Shi Yuanzhang said with a light laugh.

He planned to take Zhuang Qingshuang away from the Xining Sect after dealing with Lian Xiuxiu. In other words, even without the matter of Sha Qianli and Jian Zhengning, he would still offend the Xining Sect. Therefore, he didn't take the Xining Sect's affairs to heart at all.

After all, no matter how strong the Xining Sect is, can it be stronger than the Demon Master Palace? He even slapped Pang Ban, so why would he mind provoking the Xining Sect again?

Moreover, after today, he plans to recreate the miracle he performed in the world of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, turning his mode of transportation into a flying flower boat. At that time, he will not only float in the sky for 24 hours a day, but he will also be invisible for 20 hours a day. Even if the Xining Sect were to exhaust themselves, they would not be able to find him wandering in the sky.

They certainly wouldn't take the Xining faction's affairs to heart.

In short, if he didn't have the confidence, he wouldn't have come to Xiaohuaxi and prepared to forcibly take Lian Xiuxiu away.

Yes, by force.

After all, Lian Xiuxiu is the top courtesan of Xiaohuaxi, and a super top courtesan whose beauty and talent surpass those of the surrounding seven provinces. She is definitely a golden phoenix that can lay golden eggs. Otherwise, the person in charge of the forces behind Xiaohuaxi would not have offended other forces around them and become almost like a rat crossing the street in order to protect her.

However, if it were Ishihara Akira who ran a brothel and had a top courtesan like Rei Shushu, he would probably have the same attitude. So he never expected to take Rei Shushu away through normal means—by redeeming her.

Even if he could, Ishihara Akira wouldn't want to be the sucker.

He's not a good person.

So I decided to operate in a more江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) style, and a bit more 'magical'.

Seeing that Shi Yuanzhang was full of confidence, Lian Xiuxiu didn't say anything more. She walked gracefully to the guqin beside her, sat down, and placed her hands on the instrument. In just a moment, a series of sounds that seemed to penetrate worldly prejudices and reach the depths of people's souls were transmitted from the guqin. With a wonderful and indescribable power, they brought Shi Yuanzhang and Jin Bingyun, who were listening, into a wonderful realm.

"As expected of Lian Xiuxiu, it's the world that limits her. If she were in a cultivation world, or a world where one could prove their Dao with a zither, Lian Xiuxiu would probably have cultivated to the Nascent Soul and Spirit Division realm and become a powerful cultivator." Ishihara Sho thought to himself as he listened to the music played by Lian Xiuxiu.

谷珒

"However, we could take her away and get her a martial arts manual like the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds or the Azure Sea Tide Melody, so that she could relive the legend of sonic power in this world..."

After a long while, the music ended, and Ishihara Akira and Jin Bingyun returned from their wondrous state.

"As expected of Xiuxiu, who is known for her beauty and talent that surpasses all others in the seven provinces, her musical skills are truly extraordinary and on a completely different level from the average person. It was worth bringing Bingyun here to listen to her play." Shi Yuanzhang clapped his hands in praise.

"Sir, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise," Lian Xiuxiu said modestly.

“However, it is quite a pity to only hear one piece. It is like having tasted the deliciousness of a state banquet, one can hardly swallow ordinary food. Therefore, in order to enjoy Miss Xiuxiu’s musical skills day and night in the future, I think it would be better to take Miss Xiuxiu with me when we leave.” Ishihara Akira said to Lian Xiuxiu with a smile.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a rough voice came from outside the house.

"I'm afraid this will disappoint you, sir."

Then, the door to Lian Xiuxiu's room was opened from the outside, and a middle-aged man who looked like a gang leader, accompanied by four or five subordinates, swaggered into the room with the madam and said to Ishihara Sho in a low voice.

"And who are you?" Ishihara Akira sat motionless in his chair, arrogantly sizing up the man before him, and said coldly.

"I am Cha Zhiqin, and I am not very talented. I am the behind-the-scenes owner of this Xiaohuaxi." The man clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute to Ishihara Sho and introduced himself.

“That’s perfect. I’m taking Lian Xiuxiu with me. Remember to inform the others afterwards,” Ishihara Akira said decisively.

"Your Excellency seems to have hearing problems." Upon hearing this, Cha Zhiqin's expression changed, and he coldly sneered.

"As I said, it's probably impossible for you to get what you want, sir. Miss Xiuxiu is the foundation of my Little Flower Creek. Any woman in Little Flower Creek can be redeemed and taken away, but not Miss Xiuxiu. Please don't joke about such things with me, sir."

"Then let me make it clear to you that what I just said was merely to inform you of my decision, not to discuss it with you," Ishihara Akira said coldly.

"So, you're not going to give me any face?" Cha Zhiqin's face darkened completely.

“I don’t even give Pang Ban face, so who do you think you are?” Ishihara Akira said with amusement.

"How dare you!" Cha Zhiqin's henchmen shouted angrily.

"Slap yourself." Ishihara Akira turned his gaze to the underling who had spoken. The latter, as if bewitched by Ishihara Akira's gaze, suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.

One, two, three...

Ishihara Takashi's attitude of not stopping unless told to stop made Chachiko's expression change drastically.

"Who exactly are you?" Cha Zhiqin asked cautiously.

"I am Ishihara."

Chapter 389 Taking Lian Xiuxiu Away

"Well, Mr. Shi, thank you for your kindness towards Xiuxiu, but Xiuxiu only sells her art, not her body. If your purpose in wanting Xiuxiu is for that kind of thing, then Xiuxiu will probably have no choice but to die to prove her innocence." Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit stiff, Lian Xiuxiu put on a cautious little look and spoke weakly to persuade him.

"Oh? To prove your innocence with your death?" Ishihara Akira turned to look at Rei Xiuxiu, confirming with a half-smile.

“Yes.” Lian Xiuxiu nodded.

"Then you probably don't know, do you? Not only is my martial arts unparalleled, but my medical skills are also unmatched. Let alone if you die right in front of me, even if you've been dead for three or five days, as long as it's not the seventh day after your death, I have a way to bring you back from the clutches of the King of Hell. But what will happen to you after you come back to life..." Ishihara Akira chuckled evilly a few times before continuing, "I'll throw you into the nearby Jinxiang Pavilion to serve customers, and I'll arrange for all sorts of beasts—I mean real beasts like pigs, cows, dogs, and sheep—to enjoy you. I think you probably don't want to experience that feeling of being worse than dead."

As expected, Lian Xiuxiu turned pale upon hearing this and fell silent.

If that's really the case, then she might as well be dead than alive.

"Alright, now that you've met the boss and everything's been explained, pack your things and come with me." Ishihara Akira turned his gaze away and looked at Chachiko, who was near the door, and said calmly.

"Xia Shuang, Qiu Xue, you two go and help Miss Xiu Xiu pack her things." Then, Shi Yuanzhang instructed the two maids he had brought with him.

"Yes." The two responded and came to Lian Xiuxiu's side.

"Miss Xiuxiu."

Lian Xiuxiu glanced at the two of them, then at the subordinates brought by Cha Zhiqin who were obsessed with Shi Yuanzhang's gaze and only knew how to slap themselves, even though their cheeks were swollen like balls and their mouths were bleeding, and at Cha Zhiqin who was intimidated by Shi Yuanzhang's gaze and no longer had the domineering and powerful demeanor he had when he first entered the room. She sighed inwardly and stood up from her chair.

"Come with me."

The three then disappeared into the room, leaving only the occasional sounds of them packing up.

"If there's nothing else, you can leave now," Ishihara Akira said, looking at the docile and obedient Chachiko.

"Does Your Excellency know how many people I have offended and how much suffering I have endured over the past three years for the sake of Miss Xiuxiu?" Cha Zhiqin said with a bitter smile.

"What does that have to do with me?" Ishihara Sho asked with amusement.

“I don’t expect you to help me resolve the troubles caused by Miss Xiuxiu’s departure. After all, although I’ve offended many people because of Miss Xiuxiu over the past three years, I’ve also gained a lot of benefits because of her. So, these troubles can be considered my own fault. But it’s a bit unreasonable for you to take Miss Xiuxiu away from Xiaohuaxi with just a few words,” Cha Zhiqin said, putting on an air of self-awareness as he bargained with Shi Yuanzhang.

"Why waste so much breath? Just tell me what you want to say," Ishihara Akira said impatiently.

"According to the rules of the brothel, no matter who you are or what your status is, if you want to take a girl away from the brothel, you have to pay a ransom, which means buying out your past and saying goodbye to it from now on. What do you think..."

"How many do you want?" Ishihara Akira asked calmly.

"Miss Xiuxiu is the top courtesan in our Xiaohuaxi, and her fame is known throughout seven provinces."

"You have one more chance to say one sentence. If you can't say what I want to hear, you don't need to say anything more," Ishihara Akira said, frowning and becoming increasingly impatient.

谷朴

"Ten thousand taels of gold." Cha Zhiqin could tell that Shi Yuanzhang was serious, so he didn't mince words and directly shouted out a price that most people could hardly afford.

"You certainly know how to flatter yourself," Ishihara Akira said with a sneer.

Then, without saying anything more, he grabbed the wine jug left behind by Sha Qianli and the others, poured some wine into his hand, and used the Reverse Tianshan Six Yang Palm technique to freeze the wine into ice with his cold-attribute true energy. Then he threw it, and the ice shards pierced into the unsuspecting Cha Zhiqin's body like arrows. It took effect, and Cha Zhiqin felt as if thousands of ants were crawling all over his body, and he couldn't help but scratch his body with both hands.

Left side, right side, front chest, back.

Even if you scratch your clothes until they bleed, you can't stop the extreme itching that keeps surging from deep within your body. Instead, the pain and damage to your skin cause you to scream involuntarily.

"I don't want the money anymore, I don't want the money anymore, please spare me!" Cha Zhiqin hurriedly begged Ishihara Sho in his haste and pain.

"Enjoy yourself for a while. I'll remove the life-and-death talisman from your body once Xiuxiu has finished packing." Shi Yuanzhang replied.

He then picked up the teapot next to him and drank the tea directly from the spout.

……

After a while, just as Cha Zhiqin was suffering terribly from the power of the Life and Death Talisman and even wanted to commit suicide to escape the pain, Lian Xiuxiu finally came out with several packages, accompanied by her two maids, Xia Shuang and Qiu Xue.

Then Lian Xiuxiu was startled by Cha Zhiqin's appearance—

He looked absolutely horrible. His clothes were torn and he was covered in blood, especially his face, which he had scratched all over, making him unrecognizable. Even if a doctor could help him heal his facial wounds afterward, he would still be ruined.

But for someone like him who doesn't rely on his looks for a living, it doesn't matter.

Lian Xiuxiu was puzzled. How had Cha Zhiqin angered this domineering young master and tormented him to this state?