One Step Closer to Suyou's Hideout

Yūto walked until he reached another pavilion.

However, this pavilion was located higher up.

There was a wooden staircase leading to it.

“This is the only way. There's no other choice. I have to go through it,” Yūto muttered.

After reaching the top, he saw Wenhao Liang sitting there and meditating.

A burning incense stick was placed in front of him.

‘He’s a martial artist from China. There’s no doubt about it,’  Yūto thought.

Yūto couldn't continue because the path ahead was right beside Wenhao.

A few moments later, Wenhao finished meditating and turned toward Yūto.

Wenhao said something in Chinese, but Yūto couldn't understand him.

Wenhao then switched to Japanese.

“You’re the one called "The White Ronin"?”

Yūto nodded.

Wenhao stood up and picked up his yellow iron staff.

He spun it around several times before taking a fighting stance.

“Can’t you just let me pass? My girlfriend will be killed by Suyou if I don’t reach him before midnight,” Yūto pleaded.

Wenhao immediately lowered his weapon and stood straight.

“What do you mean?”

“I came here to save my girlfriend. Suyou has captured her.”

Wenhao remained silent for a moment, thinking about Yūto’s words.

Then, he stepped aside and let Yūto pass.

“If that's really the truth, I won’t stop you.”

Yūto nodded.

“Thank you.”

Yūto immediately ran as fast as he could toward the fifth pavilion.

Finally, he reached the fifth pavilion.

The place was bright and colorful, almost like a nightclub.

There were two women and one man inside.

Yūto approached the pavilion.

‘This place looks like a nightclub in America. I forgot... Who was guarding the fifth gate again?’  Yūto thought.

As he got closer, the man named Louis de Lacroix looked at him and walked toward him.

“You’re "The White Ronin"?” Louis said.

Yūto nodded.

“Good," Louis said.

He turned toward the two women in his arms.

“You two go over there first. I have something to take care of.”

Suddenly, he attacked Yūto with several quick jabs.

Yūto dodged every punch and moved backward to create some distance.

“Not bad,” Louis said.

“I really don’t have time to fight you.”

Louis continued attacking while Yūto kept dodging.

Then, one of Louis’ punches finally struck Yūto in the temple.

Whack!

A small amount of blood began to flow.

Yūto wiped the blood from his face.

‘He's strong. He’s tall and big, but he moves very fast,’ Yūto thought.

“Why don’t you use your katana? Let’s fight seriously. Don’t hold back.”

Louis rushed forward and threw several more jabs.

Yūto dodged them, but Louis suddenly used a feint and followed it with a spinning kick straight toward him.

Yūto quickly blocked it with his sword.

The force pushed Yūto backward, dragging him several meters across the ground.

“Finally! If you hadn’t used your katana, you would've died,” Louis said.

“There’s no other choice. I have to fight him.”

Before Yūto could say anything else, David, Takeshi, and Kenji arrived.

“Yūto!” David shouted.

Louis looked at them.

“Uhh... That’s not fair. One against four?” Louis muttered.

David turned toward Yūto.

“You go ahead. I’ll handle him.”

Yūto nodded.

“Be careful, Dad. He's strong.”

Yūto, Takeshi, and Kenji continued toward the sixth pavilion.

Louis stared deeply at David.

“I think I know you. David "The Mad Dog".”

David was surprised that Louis recognized him.

“Who are you?”

Louis smiled.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m the man whose future you destroyed!”

“What do you mean?” David asked in confusion.

“You're the one who arrested my father and sent him to prison for life. Jacques de Lacroix!”

“Oh. I remember now. Your father was a drug dealer and a mafia boss who was behind the chaos in the underground market.”

“You'll pay for everything!”

“Conveniently, I can put both of you in prison at the same time, so you can be together with your father."

Meanwhile, Yūto and the others had already reached the sixth pavilion.

“This is my fight! Let me deal with my younger brother!” Takeshi said.

He immediately walked toward the sixth pavilion and confronted his younger brother, Kaoru Ryūzen.

“What are you doing?! Why did you join this dirty organization?!”

Kaoru laughed.

“Brother, don’t you think everyone is dirty? Because in this world, you’re the only one who thinks you’re clean!”

“What do you mean?!”

“You always think I’m wrong. You always think you’re right! Father always thought you're better and stronger than me!”

Kaoru took his katana and placed it at his waist.

“Now, I’ll prove that Father was wrong about you!”

Takeshi remained silent for a moment and looked at Kaoru.

“It seems I really have to pay for all the mistakes I made in the past."

Takeshi turned toward Kenji and Yūto.

“You two go ahead.”

They nodded and continued their journey.

As they walked, Yūto started a conversation.

“How's your injury, Master?”

“I’m feeling much better now.”

“On your way here, did you also encounter Wenhao Liang, the martial artist from China?”

Kenji nodded.

“He stopped us. Then William, your father’s friend, fought him.”

Yūto looked at Kenji.

“He let me pass.”

Kenji looked surprised.

“Really?”

Yūto nodded.

“Yes. I simply told him that I wanted to save my girlfriend, and he let me go.”

A few moments later, they reached the seventh pavilion.

“Finally! This is the last gate before we enter Suyou’s hideout!” Yūto said.

Kenji looked at Yūto.

They slowly entered the seventh pavilion.

Jin Hayabusa was sitting on top of a pentagram surrounded by small candles.

“That’s Jin Hayabusa. He’s the most dangerous of them all!” Kenji muttered.

They immediately became alert.

They held their katanas as they continued approaching the pavilion.

The moment their feet entered the pavilion, Jin immediately threw several shuriken at them.

Whoosh! Swung!

Clang! Clang!

Yūto and Kenji blocked all the shuriken.

Jin laughed and stood up.

“You two are pretty good. I didn’t expect Lord Suyou to tell me to eliminate "The Think" as well.”

“Why are you willing to follow Suyou’s orders?! He’s a murderer and a criminal!” Yūto shouted.

Jin laughed as he looked at Yūto.

“Boy, if you think every murderer is a criminal, then shouldn’t you also be called a criminal for killing "The Brothers"? Am I right?!”

Yūto fell silent and thought about his words.

“Not only you! Look at the person standing beside you! "The Think" has also killed many people. Why don’t you call him a criminal?! Why do you only consider Lord Suyou a criminal?! You’re still too naive, Boy!” Jin said calmly.

Yūto lowered his head.

Kenji looked at Yūto.

“Yūto, don’t let his words affect you. You’re different—”

Before Kenji could finish, Yūto interrupted him.

“No. He’s right. I’m no different. I killed the Kurogane Brothers.”

“No! You were only defending yourself. You were trying to save Takeshi!” Kenji shouted, trying to bring Yūto back to his senses.

Yūto looked at Kenji.

“No, Master. "The Brothers" were already helpless. But I still cut their throats. I’m just as bad as they were!”

Jin laughed.

“You finally realized it, didn’t you?”

“Shut up!” Kenji shouted.

“I’ll end this. It'll be quick and painless."

Jin prepared to attack Yūto.

Kenji stepped in front of Yūto.

“No one's going to touch my student!”

“I’ll kill you first, "The Think"!”

Jin charged forward with a fast and brutal attack.

He threw several shuriken before rushing forward without making a sound.

Kenji pushed Yūto to the side, causing him to fall to the ground.

Yūto remained silent, his eyes empty.

Whoosh!

Kenji quickly tilted his head.

The shuriken only grazed his cheek before embedding itself into the wall behind him.

But it was only a distraction.

Clang!

Jin appeared from the right and swung his katana with incredible speed.

Kenji raised his sword just in time to block the attack.

Clang!

However, the force pushed both of his feet several meters backward.

‘He’s so fast...’  Kenji thought.

Jin gave him no chance to recover.

He spun his body and launched a second slash, then a third and a fourth.

Each attack was so fast that Kenji could barely follow his movements.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kenji continued to defend himself.

But for the first time, he realized something.

Jin had become stronger since their previous encounter.

Jin suddenly disappeared from his sight.

Kenji’s eyes widened.

“Where—”

Wham!

A powerful kick struck Kenji in the stomach.

His body was lifted off the ground.

Before Kenji could regain control of his body, Jin was already in the air behind him.

Another shuriken was thrown.

Kenji twisted his body and blocked it with his sword.

But that split second was all Jin needed.

Slash!

Jin’s katana struck the side of Kenji’s body.

Kenji was thrown forward and crashed hard onto the ground.

Boom!

Dirt and dust flew into the air.

Kenji rolled several times before finally stopping.

He tried to stand.

But his knees were shaking.

Blood flowed from the wound caused by Jin’s sword.

Jin stood several meters away, holding his katana.

His expression remained calm.

“You’re moving slower, Kenji.”

Jin raised his sword.

“Even at your best, you’re still no match for me, Kenji!”

Kenji gritted his teeth.

He took his fighting stance again.

In an instant, Jin disappeared once more.

Whoosh!

Kenji could only see a black blur.

Bam!

A powerful punch struck his jaw.

Kenji’s body was thrown backward and crashed into the wall of the pavilion.

He fell to the ground.

Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He tried to stand once again.

But Jin was already standing in front of him.

Jin’s katana stopped only a few centimeters from Kenji’s neck.

For the first time during the fight, Kenji was silent.

His katana had been knocked far away.

He had lost.

‘The impact from Enrique’s attack earlier has weakened my body so much,’  Kenji thought.

Jin then returned his katana to its sheath.

“Don’t die yet, Kenji. I want you to watch your student die first.”

He turned around and walked toward Yūto.

Jin grabbed Yūto by his clothes.

He drew his katana and prepared to stab Yūto.

“No! Cough... Cough...” Kenji shouted.

Jin turned toward Kenji.

“Watch your student die slowly.”

Yūto remained silent, his eyes still empty.

Hayabusa thrust his katana toward Yūto.

Thud!

Grab!

Hayabusa was shocked and turned his head.

“What?! Sakamoto?!”

Sakamoto smiled at Hayabusa Jin while firmly gripping Jin’s hand and stopping the attack.

“Long time no see, Master!” he said with a smile.