Chapter 71

Morning

Yang Chen was getting ready to leave for work when he received a message from Hannya.

Yang Chen looked at the message before he left the house, got on his car, and drove away with an indifferent face.

When Yang Chen was driving toward his company, he saw a pretty woman with black hair and a blue dress walking on the sidewalk.

The random people were passersby to this young pretty woman. No one paid attention to her as they continued their morning. If this place was crowded, she probably wouldn't even be noticed. Yet, Yang Chen spotted her with ease.

And just like that, the black-haired woman walked into an alley.

Yang Chen parked his car and would have his subordinates return it to his house.

He then got off his car and followed the woman into the alley, only to find out she had cut to another alley.

Yang Chen kept following her, only to find her entering the door of a courtyard.

The door was left open as the woman knew she was being followed. This was a sign, that Yang Chen could enter.

Yang Chen walked in and saw an old abandon mansion. It was simple and elegant.

The place and the courtyard looked relatively cleaned apart from some brown leaves that were scattered in the ground from the wind.

It was getting close to winter so the fall trees were starting to wither away.

There was a low table, with a tea set, in the center of the courtyard and a mat on the floor.

The woman kneeled on the mat and signaled Yang Chen to do the same.

Yang Chen showed a painful look as he stared at this woman. He then joined her at the tea table.

This woman had a frosty look and was indifferent toward Yang Chen's reaction.

She then poured him tea.

"Please, drink."

Her words were cold.

Yang Chen, still showing a complicated expression as he looked at this woman, picked up the teacup and downed it instantly.

The woman did the same but only, with a small sip. But if one were to look closely, her drink wasn't the tea from the teapot. It was just water.

Now, with no more distractions, Yang Chen hurriedly asked.

"H-How are you-..."

"Still alive."

The woman finished the sentence for him.

Yang Chen nodded and showed a face full of guilt.

The woman smiled in contempt internally but on the outside, she was as cold as ever. She liked seeing this expression from the man she hated wholeheartedly.

She scoffed, "I barely managed to escape with my life."

"...And the child?"

The woman suddenly trembled. Her eyes turned red as she showed an angry face while saying coldly.

"You think a pregnant woman could survive an explosion like that, unscathed!"

"Cough!"

Yang Chen put a hand over his mouth and lowered his head. You couldn't see what type of reaction he had as he faked a coughing fit.

In truth, Yang Chen only covered his mouth to prevent a smile from forming. He wanted to laugh at how good his acting skills were.

The woman in front of him didn't see it that way. She smiled gleefully, as she thought the poison he just drank was already working. Her smile instantly went away as Yang Chen looked back at her.

Now composed, Yang Chen showed a pained look.

"I see..."

The woman wiped her eyes and stood up.

"I only managed to meet you so I could say goodbye to that past."

Her cold words echoed in Yang Chen's ear.

Yang Chen also stood up, wanting to stop her. But his courage didn't allow him to.

Seeing this reaction, the woman turned around and was going to leave. Suddenly her movements halted and she turned around with a troubled face.

She then rushed toward him.

Expecting a hug, Yang Chen caught her.

Suddenly the woman took a few steps back as she separated from him.

In her place, a golden dagger was pierced into Yang Chen's chest.

With a baffled look, Yang Chen looked at her.

"Seventeen..."

The woman laughed in contempt.

"How does it feel?" The woman asked scornfully.

Yang Chen showed a pale face and didn't respond.

"How does it feel to have a dagger pierced into your heart. People refer to you as, a God, but look at the state you're in. You're nothing but a demon, who deserves worse!"

Pure fury could be heard in her voice. She regained her state of mind and showed a playful smile.

She then twirled around and in a blink of an eye, this fake Seventeen transformed. What revealed, was a charming lady dressed in a pink Japanese kimono with a scarf made of fox fur wrapped around her neck.

Smiling proudly, she introduced herself.

"I'm Nine-Tails Arctic Fox from Takamagahara."

The Takamagahara organization was formed by a group of 'monsters' which possessed some kind of superpowers. Although they had limited members, each of them held extraordinary powers.

Nine-Tails still showing a proud look, "My ability allows me to read the memories of those that I have disguised myself as."

Yang Chen was silent as he didn't care about what this fox saying.

Nine-Tails smiled disdainfully, "Looks like the poison is so strong that you can't even speak. Hahaha...how pitiful."

Her eyes became cold, "Your Majesty Pluto, this is all your doing. You became all of our enemies and everyone's threat! Furthermore, you refuse to give up God's Stone which is in your hands! You only have yourself to blame."

As soon as she finished speaking, the door of the courtyard was pushed open and a few people dressed in different clothing walked in.

Yang Chen plopped down and leaned up against the tea table to show his miserable appearance.

His acting skills were on point.

"Finally!" Nine-Tails said excitedly as she saw who walked in.

An old man with white hair was leading the line as they entered the courtyard. He could be seen as old but there was no apparent aging on his face. His sight stayed on the miserable Yang Chen, with cold eyes.

Next to him, was Hannya. She was wearing her black ninja outfit.

Once Hannya saw Yang Chen's condition, she bit her tongue. She wanted to go aid him, but Yang Chen had specifically told her that he would be fine. All she can do is trust his words for now.

Next to them, were two members of Takamagahara since they didn't have many that they could send on this mission. Beside them, were a couple of high-tier power-users wearing blue jackets. They were Blue Storm.

Nine-Tails proudly looked at Yang Chen and motioned toward the white-haired old man.

"If it wasn't for him, you probably wouldn't be in this situation. He came up with this whole scheme."

He was none other than the Yamata Sect leader, Noriko Okawa.

Noriko Okawa suddenly said something to Yang Chen that shocked those that were present.

"Why are you acting like you're about to die?" He asked coldly.

Yang Chen revealed a smile as he stayed leaning against the table. He then motioned at the dagger in his chest.

"What do you mean? I'm clearly at death's door, right now."

Noriko Okawa was unfazed by his humor.

"Both of us used to be assassins in Zero. Although we weren't close, I understand you more than anyone else. That poison that you just drank, with the addition to that poison dagger, it's enough to kill millions of humans in an instant. The fact that you're still talking, proves your identity as a God."

He continued.

"I know that Gods are theoretically eternal and indestructible, but if their bodies were destroyed, they definitely couldn't immediately revive. They would need hundreds of years to properly reincarnate."

His knowledge about Gods had reached such a level. It was only given since he was the previous Hades', right-hand man.

Nine-Tails unknowingly sighed in relief. She thought Yang Chen was just faking being hurt. She truly did despise this man.

Hannya's worry eased as she heard this until she saw Yang Chen cough up a mouthful of blood.

"Cough!"

Yang Chen turned even more pale by the second. Time was running out for him.

"You may be acting, but that doesn't mean your body is as well. This poison is designed especially for you so this is the only outcome." Noriko Okawa said.

Hannya clenched her fists as she forced herself to remain in her role.

Nine-Tails, seeing this scene, smiled delightedly. This was all revenge for the death of her sister.

Yang Chen started breathing heavily.

Seeing this, Noriko Okawa grabbed an old katana that was strapped to his waist.

The sheath was held by chains. This katana gave off an eerie feeling to those present.

Noriko Okawa carefully unsheathed the katana and everybody suddenly shuddered.

The blade was black with a shine of red. It had ancient runes written on the sides.

"This cursed weapon is called Demon's Blade. For hundreds of years, it has been alive and tasted the blood of those it has slain. Every time it gets dipped in fresh human blood, it will get stronger. Just holding this weapon will make the user go mad and want to start a massacre, but I have a protective talisman to prevent that." Noriko Okawa explained.

"Truly a weapon to be used on God such as yourself..."

Even though he said those words, his eyes slowly shone red as this cursed weapon was extremely powerful.

Those close suddenly took a few steps away from him.

"Where's the God's Stone, Pluto? Even if your body is going to be destroyed today, you still have loved ones. If you tell me where it is, I won't let any harm come to them."

A sadistic smile appeared on Noriko Okawa's face. He was slowly getting affected by the Demon's blade.

Yang Chen stayed silent and lowered his head.

Noriko Okawa became impatient. Yang Chen would surely die soon.

"This is your last chance, Pluto! If you don't tell us where the God's stone is located, I'll have to ask your loved ones!"

A bulging vein appeared on Yang Chen's forehead. He was done playing games.

Yang Chen slowly stood up and removed the golden dagger that had pierced his chest without any difficulty, before throwing it aside.

*Clank*

The sound of the blade that hit the ground, echoed across the area.

Everybody became shocked and it only increased as they saw what happened next.

The wound on Yang Chen's chest closed itself, instantly! No blood or scar was seen. Even the fabric of his clothes had been repaired.

Noriko was the first to break out of his stupor as he had some knowledge of Yang Cen's abilities.

Noriko Okawa then became angry, 'No! This can't be happening! My plan was full proof!'

The Demon's Blade was slightly taking over as he was having negative thoughts. It had also reacted, as it had sensed Yang Chen's fresh blood. A God's blood.

The Demon's Blade became excited as it was about to be dyed red once more.

Noriko Okawa rushed toward Yang Chen with great speed and swung his katana diagonally at him.

Expecting to fatally injure Yang Chen, he smiled crazily.

His smile vanished as his katana came to stop, just a few inches from Yang Chen's body.

Yang Chen had actually caught the blade with his bare hand!

Noriko started using all his strength to slash Yang Chen, but it was proven fruitless.

Yang Chen looked at him indifferently before he kicked him in the leg, breaking it completely.

He wasn't done there, Yang Chen suddenly grabbed the Demon's Blade from Noriko and cut his right arm cleanly off.

"Ahh!" Noriko Okawa shouted in pain as he held the wound of his missing arm while falling face-first to the ground.

Yeng Chen sidestepped so he wouldn't land on him.

Noriko Okawa was in agony. Touching or even being grazed by this extremely sharp Demon's Blade was already considered an extremely painful injury so imagine your whole arm being cut off.

Yang Chen then slammed his foot on Noriko Okawa's head, caving it into the ground. Many of his teeth, along with his nose became broken on the spot.

A truly merciless act.

Yang Chen had healed him, just enough so he won't die or lose consciousness. His suffering was only beginning.

Noriko Okawa was in pain all over. The bleeding stopped somehow, but why was he still conscious. He didn't want to feel this horrible pain anymore.

Yang Chen looked over to the rest of the people present with indifference while holding the Demon's Blade in his right hand.

'Demon!' Everybody thought fearfully.

Their plan went up in smoke and the strongest one here became dog meat in seconds.

If Yang Chen wasn't even injured, how were they supposed to fight this monster?

The people from Takamagahara valued their lives the most. The organization had limited members so they couldn't just throw it away.

Everybody came to the same conclusion.

Retreat!

Yang Chen called out to the blonde ninja.

"Hannya."

Hannya was smiling before she nodded with a serious face. She then started killing the Blue Storm members with ease.

Ever since she became Yang Chen's slave, she has gotten considerably stronger.

Yang Chen, of course, had a role in that. He had given her a cultivation technique, fitting that of an assassin. This technique, if trained to a high degree, can assassinate a God in their full strength.

Yang Chen had also sped up her cultivation by cleaning her meridians since he didn't want his slave to stay weak.

So it was easy for Hannya to dispose of these people.

Not even the Takamagahara members could avoid Hannya's killing blow. She had erased her whole presence while Yang Chen was beating Noriko, and slipped away without anyone noticing.

Yang Chen then looked over at Nine-Tails, only to find her in a different transformation.