What Life Is About

Late at night, three days after Dire Wolf set out.

"Second Brother, I don't understand. If we want to recruit that kid, why did we capture everyone in Snowfall Village?" Fifth Brother asked.

Lin Qing had protected Snowfall Village. Now that they had taken its people, it was like invading the territory of a ferocious beast.

It was a blatant provocation.

Second Brother chuckled. "So what if we captured them? What can he do about it? When he comes back, there are only three possibilities."

"If he refuses to take the offer, we'll kill him."

"If he doesn't dare accept and runs away, we'll let him go and head back."

"If he accepts the invitation and joins us, then he won't be a 'beast' anymore, and the idea of territory won't apply."

Second Brother shrugged. "No matter which way it goes, he won't be able to protect this village anymore."

Fifth Brother suddenly understood.

He was the youngest and had seen the least of the world. He'd never imagined there could be so many twists and turns.

"Second Brother, you're incredible. I've got a lot to learn from you—"

Before he could finish saying "learn," rolling thunder roared in from the distance.

A gust of wind swept past, and Second Brother instinctively narrowed his eyes.

By the time he came to his senses, Fifth Brother was no longer beside him.

Clang!

Second Brother whirled around and drew his blade, staring intently at Lin Qing, who had suddenly appeared.

The other two hurried over.

When their eyes fell on Fifth Brother in Lin Qing's hand, their pupils shrank.

Fifth Brother looked like a braised goose from a stew shop, his head flopped at a ninety-degree angle, limp and loose. His neck had clearly been snapped.

Th-this was impossible!

In a single move—no, before there'd even been a move—Fifth Brother, a Chunin, had been crushed to death like a bug by Lin Qing.

Thud.

Fifth Brother's body hit the ground. Lin Qing shook the blood from his hand and looked at the three who remained.

The shock in Second Brother's eyes slowly faded. Then he let out a soft laugh.

He was laughing at himself.

The five of them had been outlaws to begin with. After coming under County Magistrate Senmura, they'd spent so long calling one another brothers that for a moment, they'd actually started to think of each other as real family.

"You killed one of us. Feel better now?" Second Brother asked.

Lin Qing didn't answer. His calm gaze swept over the three men.

Second Brother knew that look.

It was the look of a hunter choosing his next prey.

He knew why Lin Qing was angry. He'd probably seen the sorry state Snowfall Village was in and let his emotions get the better of him.

"Don't look at us like that."

"We work for County Magistrate Senmura. We came specifically to invite you to join us... I mean, to join the magistrate's ranks. This is our sincerity—"

Second Brother kicked open a chest, revealing gold, silver, and jewels. Then he opened the door to show two beautiful women, both so lovely they seemed almost too delicate to touch.

"This is just an appetizer. As long as you join us, you'll get a lot more."

They'd originally prepared a way to test Lin Qing, but with Fifth Brother's body not even cold yet, there was no need for that now.

Lin Qing took a deep breath. Three days had passed, but he could still smell a faint trace of blood, mixed with the cold air.

It was easy to imagine how many horrific tragedies had unfolded on the night three days ago.

Second Brother finished speaking and waited.

"Is that your last request?" Lin Qing asked.

Second Brother's smile vanished. His expression turned sinister as he stared coldly at Lin Qing.

"I remember. I gave you a chance."

Fourth Brother stepped forward beside him and drew the Kunai at his waist. Raising his voice, he cursed:

"Second Brother, why waste your breath on him? You little punk, what the hell are you acting tough for? Who do you think you are, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? You killed Fifth Brother, and now what, you want to kill us too?!"

Lin Qing looked at Fourth Brother.

"Is that your last request?"

"Fuck!"

Fourth Brother, the most hot-tempered of them all, let out a bang and created two Shadow Clones. The three of them formed a triangular formation and charged over, Kunai in hand.

At the same time, Third Brother and Second Brother rapidly formed Hand Seals:

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"

A fierce fire dragon formed, roaring with its jaws open as it circled once through the air.

Second Brother spat out several Wind Release blasts that circled the dragon's body like scales. Already dozens of meters long, the fire dragon doubled in size, and its waves of heat melted the snow beneath it.

Composite Ninjutsu: Wind Demon Flame Dragon.

"Roar—"

The Wind Demon Flame Dragon shrieked as it lunged at Lin Qing.

Third Brother controlled the Wind Demon Flame Dragon. Second Brother, having already unleashed his Vacuum Spheres, circled around and swung his Ninja Blade at Lin Qing from behind.

Fourth Brother was in front, the Wind Demon Flame Dragon above, and Second Brother, an elite Jonin, behind.

In almost an instant, Lin Qing was caught in the middle of their coordinated attack.

"If Fifth Brother were still alive, and Boss Dire Wolf were here too, we'd dare take on even one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, let alone a kid like you."

"But..."

Fourth Brother stared at Lin Qing's profile as he charged at him.

This was enough!

The few of them were more than enough to take down this completely unprepared kid!

They were already right in front of him. Forget Lin Qing—even the legendary speed-seal master, Copy Ninja Kakashi, wouldn't have time to form Hand Seals and use a technique.

Die—

The thought flashed through his mind. Then everything went black. The world spun around him, and his body flew through the air before crashing into a house, smashing through the wall and disappearing beneath a pile of bricks and rubble.

Blood trickled out between the stones.

"Fourth Brother!"

Third Brother growled, his expression shifting uncertainly.

He hadn't seen Lin Qing move, much less form Hand Seals. He couldn't understand how Fourth Brother, who specialized in close-quarters combat, had been sent flying.

But there was no time to think. Third Brother controlled the Wind Demon Flame Dragon with all his might, opening its gaping jaws to tear into Lin Qing.

Lin Qing took a light breath. Ripple energy surged through his body, and a flash of green lightning appeared beneath his feet.

The snowmelt left by the Wind Demon Flame Dragon rose into the air, becoming a sheet of water as hard as steel.

The Wind Demon Flame Dragon crashed into it, and hissing steam billowed up.

Third Brother's vision blurred.

"Buzz—"

"What was that sound?"

Before Third Brother could react, dozens of bullets pierced his body.

He collapsed into a pool of blood, bewildered.

With no one controlling it, the Wind Demon Flame Dragon let out an unwilling roar and burst apart.

Only then did Second Brother reach Lin Qing.

The hand gripping his blade was slick with sweat. The wind blew over it, making it feel cold and clammy.

Though he stood only three paces from Lin Qing, Second Brother didn't dare take another step, much less swing his blade.

He swallowed, his heart pounding.

He knew who the man before him was now.

The one who had defeated Suikazan Fuguki, exposed the truth behind human trafficking, and slaughtered countless bounty hunters and assassins—the greatest criminal in the Land of Water—

"Lin Qing!"

His fighting spirit faded, and deep fear rose in his heart.

He remembered the intelligence report. Focusing chakra in his eyes, he saw the legendary Evil Spirit.

Star Platinum hovered behind Lin Qing, its cold gaze fixed on Second Brother.

The moment their eyes met, Second Brother understood.

Run!

Run now!

There was no way he could win. If he didn't leave, he'd be beaten to death!

Second Brother turned and fled, but after only one step, his feet seemed glued to the ground. Looking down, he saw streams of water crawling up his legs, making every step heavier.

"Damn it!"

Second Brother formed Hand Seals again, gathering chakra in his palms.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

The wind roared. The streams of water were scattered by his palms, and Second Brother leaped into the air, using the momentum to escape the battlefield.

Rumble!

He heard thunder again.

A hand wreathed in golden lightning tore through the gale. Its index and middle fingers pressed together like a short sword, thrusting toward him.

Second Brother staggered backward in panic and shouted:

"Don't kill me! Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have already come looking for you. It won't be long before they find you!"

Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?!

Mei Terumi arrived late with Sasuke and Xiaotao, just in time to hear that.

"Your only chance of surviving is to join the magistrate! With County Magistrate Senmura's standing before the Daimyo, he can definitely protect you!"

Second Brother shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Lin Qing, don't be stupid!"

Mei Terumi, Sasuke, Xiaotao, and all the watching eyes from the village were fixed on Lin Qing.

They didn't know what Lin Qing would choose.

But if they were in his place, they would definitely accept.

Money, beautiful women, power, and... life.

That's all anyone ever wanted.

Why make things difficult for yourself?

Lin Qing lowered the two fingers he had thrust forward.

"Is that your choice?" Mei Terumi sighed softly.

She'd thought Lin Qing would be different.

Second Brother smiled.

But the next moment, he realized Lin Qing hadn't drawn his arm back. He'd only changed his hand from a "point" into a "fist"!

Lin Qing punched Second Brother in the chest.

What?!

Everyone's eyes widened.

At that moment, the world seemed to freeze. Only the snow in the sky continued to drift slowly downward.

Second Brother clutched Lin Qing's hand. Scalding blood and chunks of flesh spilled from his mouth.

"You think... killing us will end this?"

In the grip of pain, death, and hatred, Second Brother wore a savage grin.

"Before long, you'll come down to hell and join me!"

"Lin Qing... I'll be waiting for you in hell!"

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. "You're wrong about two things."

"First, I think that even if I die, I'll probably go to heaven."

"Second, it isn't the Seven Ninja Swordsmen coming after me..."

Lin Qing applied a little more force, and Second Brother stumbled backward.

Just before he lost consciousness, he heard the rest of Lin Qing's words:

"...I'm going to kill them."