It's Not That Easy

Iwamoto found Lin Nan's actions rather amusing.

Those who turn their backs on others the moment they gain a bit of leverage are usually the most efficient to utilize. To secure more power and profit, they are typically unscrupulous, often achieving their goals in the most direct and rapid manner.

And once their power and status surpass that of their former superiors, they tend to be the most dangerous type of people.

However... this brat would never get that chance. Iwamoto chuckled inwardly, certain he would never let the boy live long enough to surpass him.

Lin Nan's slap completely stunned Kyoraku Shunsui, a bright red handprint quickly appearing on his fair cheek.

Standing by, Iwamoto's subordinates—Masaki, Kuramoto, and the others—all let out a silent hiss.

That kid has a vicious streak! To think he could land such a heavy blow on the young master he had been desperately protecting just a moment ago.

Lin Nan released Kyoraku's collar, stumbled to steady himself, then slowly turned his body, tilting his head to scan the group of onlookers behind him.

His gaze swept over each of their faces, finally settling on Masaki.

Masaki stood with his legs pigeon-toed and his back hunched, staring at Lin Nan with a sidelong, dissatisfied glare.

Lin Nan tilted his head, meeting Masaki's eyes. "Isn't this the big guy? What are you staring at me for? Are you healed up already?"

Provoked to his face, Masaki recalled the humiliation of being kicked like a ball by Lin Nan, and a surge of anger rose within him: "Bastard, what do you think you're doing??"

Lin Nan raised an eyebrow, and without a word, delivered another kick straight to Masaki's crotch.

With a sharp, high-pitched cry, the tall Masaki was lifted off his feet for half a second before collapsing to his knees. This time, the cry was far less resonant than the last; he curled up on the ground, his face turning a sickly, iron-blue.

The other onlookers felt a chill in their own groins, subconsciously hunching their shoulders and taking a half-step back.

Even Iwamoto couldn't help but frown as he asked, "Lin, what are you doing?"

Ignoring Iwamoto's question, Lin Nan first rubbed his own waist: "Still can't put much force into it while injured~"

He then leaned over, pointing at the incapacitated Masaki and the other guards on the ground: "You, and the rest of you, remember: even though we're on the same team now, don't you dare provoke me. Whether Boss Iwamoto is here or not, you hear me?"

The group glanced at Masaki on the ground, then at the fierce, predatory look in Lin Nan's eyes, before looking helplessly at Iwamoto.

Iwamoto looked back at the group and said with a sigh, "You're all colleagues, after all. What kind of behavior is this?"

Lin Nan revealed a wicked smile: "I'm just helping you straighten out the rules. This bunch of trash is a disgrace to you."

Iwamoto stared into Lin Nan's eyes for a long moment.

Joining a new faction and choosing to make enemies rather than win over allies—people like this are either fools or true geniuses.

With that thought, he scoffed and turned to walk away.

If this kid wanted to make enemies, let him. If he could eventually subdue the others, they could serve as a whetstone. If he couldn't, then he himself had lost nothing.

Lin Nan's words ignited a fire of rage in the hearts of the men, but seeing that their boss, Iwamoto, said nothing, they dared not speak and could only suppress their anger.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Lin Nan hummed softly and stretched his sore neck.

Just then, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back with force.

The morning sun was bright. Guided by the servants, Kyoraku Seishu had followed the family crest markers left by Lin Nan, traversing more than half of the Danzhao District.

The markers along the way had been placed with great ingenuity, clearly indicating the direction at every fork in the road, so they hadn't wasted much time.

However, after seeing the final marker, they could no longer find the location of the next one.

"My Lord, the servants have searched everywhere, but we couldn't find the next mark."

"Brother Kyoraku, we checked the nearby houses and couldn't find any traces of a marker. It shouldn't have been wiped away by anyone."

After hearing the reports from the servants and the Soul Reapers respectively, Kyoraku Seishu's gaze narrowed as he looked around: "Who is the person who left these marks?"

The servant bowed and replied: "It is the young master's classmate, Lord Lin Nan. It is said he is the newly accepted disciple of Lord Genryūsai."

Kyoraku Seishu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? The Head Captain has taken on a new disciple?"

It seemed this young man named Lin Nan was quite sharp; the Head Captain had clearly chosen well. The markers he left along the way were clever—once the first few were found, one could quickly locate the next based on a fixed pattern, all while maintaining sufficient stealth.

For such a clever person to suddenly stop leaving markers could only mean one thing.

Something had happened.

Kyoraku Seishu's sharp, hawk-like gaze slowly swept across the surroundings, and soon, he discovered a small hole the size of a pinky finger on a nearby rooftop.

He leaned in to examine it closely. The edges of the hole were smooth and neat, showing signs of melting.

"Kido... it should be a low-level Kido like Byakurai." Seishu nodded slightly and ordered loudly: "Spread out the search area and stay alert! Watch out for ambushes! There may be an enemy nearby capable of using Kido!"

The group acknowledged the order and quickly dispersed to search. Soon, at the corner of a wall at the end of the road ahead, they discovered another sign of damage. Hearing the report, Seishu immediately stepped forward to inspect it.

It was a cylindrical groove that had sliced the surface of the wall in two, about an inch deep. The edges were equally smooth, and the severed thatch from within the wall was exposed, the cross-section still bearing a trace of scorch marks.

On the snow-white wall, this mark looked as if someone had carved a thin groove with a spoon in a block of tofu.

Because this mark appeared on the wall behind a corner—not a standard location for the markers—it had been overlooked by the Soul Reapers during their initial search.

Seishu frowned in confusion as he looked at the mark: This also looked like the work of Kido. But what kind of Kido could leave such a thick, deep, and penetrating scorch mark?

Was it also Byakurai? Unlikely... there was no such thing as a Byakurai this thick...

"Brother Kyoraku, we've found signs of a struggle by the woods behind us," a squad member reported.

Qingqiu hurriedly turned and followed.

This was the edge of the Danzhao District, separated from the adjacent Second District of the South Rukon District by a dense forest; few people ever passed through here, so the traces on the ground remained largely undisturbed.

Qingqiu stepped lightly and carefully, avoiding the destruction of any marks while meticulously identifying and analyzing them.

"A struggle took place here... and here, someone fell... judging by the indentations of the knees, it was someone of significant build... Hm? Is that blood?"

Following the trail, Qingqiu finally discovered a patch of blood covered by dirt at the furthest point. It hadn't been covered completely, and wisps of crimson still seeped through.

"This is bad..." Qingqiu felt a sharp throb in his temples. Kyoraku and his classmate certainly wouldn't be carrying blades; whose blood was on the ground?

Could it be that the two of them were injured?

"Search the vicinity carefully, especially the woods. Do not overlook a single detail!"

Lin Nan was caught off guard and yanked into a half-turn, coming face-to-face with a furious Kyoraku.

Kyoraku's eyes were wide and bloodshot: "How dare you strike me!"

His hands were still bound, so he clenched his fists and used all his remaining strength to deliver a swinging blow at Lin Nan.

However, having just endured torture and covered in wounds, he had no real strength left; the blow landed only symbolically on Lin Nan's shoulder.

"You lowly house slave, you dare hit me! I'll kill you!"

Lin Nan recoiled sharply, letting out a miserable cry before doubling over in pain to clutch his abdomen, his head having taken a solid hit from Kyoraku: "Damn it! My stomach wound split... Motherfucker, I'm already injured and you dare to ambush me! I'm going to beat you to death!"

As he spoke, he clutched his abdominal wound with one hand while taking small, shuffling steps forward, reaching out with his other hand to strike Kyoraku.

Kyoraku also stumbled forward, raising his bound hands to block and parry.

After a few exchanges, both realized they couldn't inflict any real damage, so they changed tactics and began grabbing each other's hair.

"You lowly thing! Die! I'll show you for acting all high and mighty!"

"You're the lowly thing! I am the Second Young Master of the Kyoraku House!"

"I'll send you to a brothel to be a 'young master' there! Go play with your spinning tops!"

Under the gaze of the crowd, Kyoraku and Lin Nan rolled into a ball, one bruised and swollen, the other bleeding from his stomach, tearing at each other and brawling on the ground like two children.

Iwamoto's subordinates watched the scene with utter bewilderment.

What kind of chaotic situation was this? That Lin Nan, who had seemed so sinister just a moment ago, was now rolling on the ground like a child in a fistfight?

Everyone was speechless. How were they supposed to handle the boss's new hired muscle fighting the hostage? Waiting for an answer online...

However, the arrogant Lin Nan didn't seem to have the upper hand, which was quite satisfying to watch. A few of the men already had smug smiles playing on their lips.

Iwamoto stopped in his tracks, turned around, and watched the two on the ground calmly without speaking. When they had rolled for the third time, Iwamoto said quietly: "That's enough. Go and pull them apart."

Kuramoto stepped forward and hauled Lin Nan up from the ground: "The boss has spoken. Stop fighting."

Lin Nan stood up, panting, and pointed a finger at the equally breathless Kyoraku: "You just wait! Once I get my wounds treated, I'm coming back to beat you!"

Kyoraku didn't back down either: "If you have the guts, have them untie me, and we'll see who beats whom!"

"Then just wait and see whether your mouth is harder or my fists are!"

Several men suppressed their laughter as they dragged Lin Nan out of the basement. Seeing Lin Nan get beaten up felt quite good to them.

Iwamoto walked in front, looked back at Lin Nan, and said: "Your wound has split. Go get it treated immediately and stop moving around. We still have use for that brat; his life cannot be taken."

Lin Nan's expression still held a trace of rage, but upon hearing Iwamoto's words, he suppressed his anger, nodded, and thanked him: "Understood, thank you, Boss Iwamoto!

Don't worry, I won't let him die that easily!"