Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Part 1)

Forty-six hours earlier, Yingzhou.

At 23:05 Present Realm time, a light drizzle fell from the sky. Outside Jinling Street in Kobe, a sedan bearing Tanba plates quietly stopped at the intersection.

The young man in the back seat pushed open the door and stepped out, unhurriedly opening his umbrella.

As he raised his somewhat boyish face, it was illuminated by the flickering neon lights in the distance.

Ahead at the intersection, two rows of burly men in suits stood bareheaded in the rain, solemn-faced and shouting in unison as they respectfully bowed to greet the visitor.

"Wow, this is quite the show?"

Lin Zhongxiaowu whistled and laughed. "Do we really need this much pomp just for a family meal?"

Someone got out of the front passenger seat.

The middle-aged man looked particularly bizarre. He wore a tracksuit, yet a crooked tachi hung from his waist. His face was covered in stubble, his curly hair stuck up in all directions, and his back was hunched like that of an old monkey.

He followed behind the young man, flashing a wide grin at the greeters on either side who had come to "welcome" them.

The cigarette at the corner of his mouth fell to the ground and was casually crushed beneath his foot.

Just like that, he swaggered after the young man into the heart of the Six Harmonies Society.

They crossed the silent long street and, beneath countless watchful eyes, stepped through the vermilion main gate, passed through hall after hall, and continued straight ahead.

They moved as naturally as though they were returning home.

Along the way, Lin Shijiu smiled warmly and greeted acquaintances passing by. Yet this time, the smiles that had once been so enthusiastic seemed rather forced. One after another, they retreated and did not dare say