Located in the Izumo Concession, [New Elegant Pavilion] is an elegant and quiet place, similar to a private club.
The interior is entirely in the Izumo style, with tatami mats, paper sliding doors, and waiters in kimonos... even drinking involves kneeling.
"I never imagined Jinmen had such wonderful features; Lord Zhang is quite a remarkable person indeed."
On the second floor of [New Elegant Pavilion], Xie Junbai looked around with interest, his gaze finally settling on the woman in a kimono beside him.
The woman smiled sweetly and fed him a cup of fine wine.
There was also someone next to Prefect Zhang, and he directly reached into the man's kimono and began to fondle him, saying:
"There are no outsiders here, Brother Xie, please relax. These are all genuine Izumo women; you are free to take them away and enjoy them tonight."
Xie Junbai didn't reply, but instead lifted the woman's chin and said:
"Indeed, you are not a woman from the Divine Continent. You possess martial Martial Arts cultivation at the level of Organ Refining refinement... Which ninja village are you from?"
The woman said softly in Izumo Language: "Private Konoha Village, come to the village."
As soon as he finished speaking, Prefect Zhang laughed heartily:
"I already told you there are no outsiders here. I know you are female ninjas from the [Bamboo Machine], and you speak the Xia Language."
The woman then chuckled and said, "I come from the Konoha Village. If it weren't for your extraordinary bearing, sir, I wouldn't have deigned to serve you."
Xie Junbai said with a half-smile, "Impressive bearing? You've come here specifically to meet officials, haven't you?"
Using one's beauty to gather information is nothing new.
Prefect Zhang stared into Xie Junbai's eyes and said casually:
"They're all sluts, why is this brother so bothered by it?"
"Lord Zhang!" Xie Junbai suddenly stood up and looked back at the other party, saying:
"I like to be upfront. Your courteous treatment today suggests something is amiss; a mere commissioner from the Ministry of Punishment might not be able to handle it."
Such blunt words caused the atmosphere to suddenly turn cold, but Prefect Zhang laughed heartily and said:
"Ha~ my dear brother~ to tell you the truth, there is indeed a small matter."
You've come here to investigate the [Four Spirits], but this is a hot potato; one wrong move and you'll be ruined.
It just so happens that Colonel Ito [Blade Shadow] is very interested. I'd like to help you make the connection."
As they spoke, Prefect Zhang personally filled both of their wine cups, then raised his own and said:
"If we cooperate, I'll give you at least 30% of the [Ice Soul Powder], plus additional benefits. What do you think?"
For a moment, the room was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Xie Junbai was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. "Then I, Xie, will humbly accept your offer!"
After saying that, he stripped off the kimono of the female ninja beside him, held it in his arms, and began to knead it.
"Ha! My brother is quite the drinker!" Prefect Zhang also downed his wine in one gulp.
The two reached an agreement, and the atmosphere immediately became lively, and the drinking and entertainment truly began.
Xie Junbai, teasing the female ninja's tender flesh, asked with a smile:
"The Emperor of Izumo reorganized ninja schools into individual ninja villages, and the Hokage is from the original Iga? I'll have to see how they differ from the people of my Divine Continent later."
The female ninja giggled coquettishly, displaying her utmost seductive charm.
At this moment, Prefect Zhang asked, "Brother, you've just returned from Huzhou... Have those Governor in the south really rebelled because they refuse to pay taxes?"
Xie Junbai sneered, "During the Eight-Nation Alliance period, the Southeast Mutual Protection they signed was essentially a rebellion; it's just out in the open now."
Back then, the governors and viceroys of the southern provinces signed the Southeast Protection Agreement with the foreign powers, indicating that they would not obey the imperial court's orders and fight against the foreign armies.
This not only caused Kim Ting to lose face, but also effectively caused him to lose control over the provincial governorates.
"So the world has been in chaos for a long time."
Prefect Zhang inquired, "I've heard that the imperial court intends to cooperate with Izumo and Izumo army into the pass to quell the rebellion?"
Xie Junbai nodded and said, "This matter is not unfounded. As the saying goes, 'Better to give it to an outsider than to a servant.'"
"Ha~" Prefect Zhang sneered.
"What a fine example of 'preferring to give to outsiders than to one's own servants'! Thinking back to Wu Sangui's opening of the gates in the previous dynasty, it truly reflects that era..."
"Just like right now~" Xie Junbai chimed in jokingly.
This is precisely the attitude of the current imperial court towards the world, and also the attitude of the people towards the imperial court.
Smart people, on the other hand, have already found a new job in advance.
~~~~~~~~~~~
After a few rounds of drinks, the two had completely let loose and started talking about men's topics.
Xie Junbai asked with a smile, "During the day, Brother Zhang seemed interested in that female subordinate, perhaps wanting to 'eat the grass near his own nest'?"
Prefect Zhang chuckled and said, "Brother, she's an extraordinary beauty. She doesn't stand out at first, but the more you explore her, the more exquisite she becomes!"
"Oh? I really didn't realize that."
"It was only after this girl lost her Red Pill and started exuding a seductive charm that I noticed."
A ruthless glint appeared on Prefect Zhang's face:
"That damned Red Pill got taken by that cripple! Damn it, I'll kill him after the New Year..."
Before he could finish speaking, a strange noise suddenly came from the night sky--
Whoosh~~Whoosh~~
The sound was deep and terrifying, like a rumbling thunder about to explode, and it grew closer and closer, making one's hair stand on end and causing panic and shortness of breath!
"Fire!"
The two officials who had been drinking and carousing instantly changed their expressions!
In the night sky, a 0.8-meter-long shell roared past; it was Lu Li's 155mm Howitzer.
Since it was the first shot, he maneuvered the shell to circle in the sky, searching for the target and the best angle of attack.
The whistling sound of a large-caliber artillery shell tearing through the air at Mach terrified the people on the ground!
In times of war, anyone would know what this terrifying commotion meant, and they would immediately scream and run in all directions.
Lu Li's perspective shifted to the cannonball, silently surveying everything below.
Izumo- style architecture, Izumo -style signs, men and women dressed in kimonos and haori... I even saw Xiao Cha!
The girl hid in the dark alley, looking up at the shells whistling overhead.
At that moment, Lu Li seemed to be looking into those watery eyes.
[Xiao Cha, let me show you a big firecracker~]
Looking down through the Heavenly Eye, they quickly determined that Prefect Zhang was on the second floor.
With a thought in mind, the shell whistled toward the target.
At this moment, Prefect Zhang curiously went to the window and peered out, only to make eye contact with a shell falling from the sky!
The two sides were 300 meters apart, and by the time the shell reached this point, its speed had decreased to approximately 600 meters per second.
We'll be facing each other in 0.5 seconds!
With Prefect Zhang's "Spirit Concentration and Blood Exchange" cultivation level, he could still do something in 0.5 seconds.
He roared, stomped on the ground, and turned to run.
Xie Junbai then leaped backward, using the female ninja as a shield in his own hands.
Both of them were traveling at 200 km/h.
The Lu Li controllable projectiles can reach speeds of up to 2,000 kilometers per hour, which is more than ten times faster!
The shell nimbly changed direction in mid-air, entered the building through the window, and easily caught up with Prefect Zhang, who was fleeing for his life.
No matter what movement techniques he uses, or how he maneuvers, he cannot make up for the 10-fold speed difference.
With a look of utter rage on his face, the shell slammed into his chest.
Immediately following was a violent burst of fire and explosion, followed by a shockwave!
The tables and chairs instantly turned to dust, and the concrete and steel bars were also pulverized into fragments, as fragile as potato chips.
"Ah..."
With a desperate scream, Prefect Zhang was instantly blasted apart by the shockwave, exploding into the sky along with countless pieces of debris.
But it wasn't over yet; the shockwave continued to spread outwards, destroying everything in its path!