Chapter 367

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Chapter 367: The Sword Hunt of the World

Although Bai Wei was considered a dangerous person, an arrest warrant had not yet been issued.

For now, he could still walk freely through the bustling commercial district.

However, he needed to buy new clothes to conceal his identity, as returning home would likely lead him into a trap.

Yoshine Ise understood the situation well. Without hesitation, she opened her wallet and paid for the clothes.

Bai Wei didn’t have much money on him, so after purchasing the clothes, he wrote an IOU to cover the cost.

Yoshine Ise accepted it and placed it in her wallet. When Bai Wei went to pay, she tore up the IOU and tossed it in the trash.

“When you saved my life, you didn’t ask for an IOU,” she said with a light smile.

Yoshine Ise’s hands and feet hadn’t fully recovered, so she should have still been using the wheelchair. However, Bai Wei couldn’t carry the wheelchair for her, so instead, he decided to act as her human wheelchair, carrying her on his back.

As they walked through the commercial district, they caught the attention of many passersby.

“Actually, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to pick Igarashi. At least she’s healthy and could help you hide your identity better. You wouldn’t be in this situation,” Yoshine Ise remarked, her hands pressing against Bai Wei’s back.

“But she’s not clever enough,” Bai Wei replied. “In a time like this, it’s better to have smart people with us.”

“So, you were interested in my mind?” Yoshine Ise asked.

“Kind of,” Bai Wei answered.

“Hmph,” Yoshine Ise scoffed. “I thought you were just attracted to my beauty.”

Bai Wei opened his mouth to respond, but then hesitated.

The sword witch noticed he was about to say something, and teased, “Just say it, I’m listening.”

“Saying it out loud might sound insincere,” Bai Wei replied, before pausing. “You don’t need to force a smile. I’m sorry for dragging you into this. If I have the chance, I’ll send you back.”

“Force a smile? Do I look like I’m forcing a smile?” Yoshine Ise pushed her facial muscles, then added, “Maybe I’m just not one to smile often, but this experience feels quite fresh. I find it interesting.”

“Being chased by the whole city is interesting?” Bai Wei thought to himself, but asked aloud, “Do you think this is a game?”

“They’re chasing you, not me,” Yoshine Ise said with a mischievous grin. “I’m just the hostage, unable to move freely, completely at the mercy of others. But the police uncle will forgive me because I’m a patient, right?”

“Yes, yes,” Bai Wei replied, trying to keep up with the banter. “I’m the notorious terrorist, holding a hostage. Could you maybe act a little more scared?”

“I’m already scared enough,” Yoshine Ise said, bending slightly. “Can’t you hear my heartbeat?”

“… Can’t hear it,” Bai Wei muttered.

“Nonsense,” she teased. “Although I’m not as dramatic as Jingūji, I’m still a solid C+.”

“It’s probably because it’s too thick that I can’t hear it,” Bai Wei sighed. “I’m on the run, so can you please be serious?”

“Running in the commercial district?” Yoshine Ise waved her hand dismissively. “Over there, could you get me a matcha-flavored ice cream?”

“Okay.”

A high school girl working part-time at a nearby stand couldn’t help but feel shy as she looked at the two of them. She thought to herself, Adults are bold—walking around in public like this and not feeling embarrassed.

Yoshine Ise, sensing the girl’s hesitation, quickly said, “Don’t misunderstand, I’ve been kidnapped by this person and held hostage. We’re not lovers, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

The high school girl nodded, understanding, then said to her colleague, “Matcha flavor, lover’s size, extra…”

Bai Wei stared at her, speechless.

They sat down in the shop, and Yoshine Ise, enjoying her ice cream, commented, “There are so many people in the commercial district. The police can’t clear them all. Even if they were conducting an arrest operation, they wouldn’t choose this place. We can rest easy for now. The real problem is—what’s your next move? Do you have a plan to clear your name?”

Bai Wei shook his head. “I don’t even know what crime I’m accused of, so how could I clear my name?”

Yoshine Ise scooped up a spoonful of white ice cream covered in green matcha powder and mused, “The charges are definitely serious. The mobilization level surpasses that of capturing murderers. It must be a grave form of terrorism… perhaps something involving followers of an evil god.”

As a sword witch, she had been involved in similar operations before, and the memories left a deep impression on her.

“But if it’s just a few ordinary people going against the followers of an evil god, it’s hard to make sense of it,” Bai Wei replied. “Do you really think a few high-level missionaries could overcome the mysteries from beyond the realm?”

Who has seen an evil supernatural being killed by a bomb gun?

“The shrine can’t help at this stage. December is our vacation time, and it seems that the sword witches are off in the village for some kind of ritual.” Yoshine Ise rested her chin on her hand. “But it’s strange—this operation has no connection to the shrine. Maybe it’s because you’re more familiar to us? Maybe they’re worried about alerting the enemy?”

“Regardless, the whole operation feels rushed and strange,” Bai Wei said, interlacing his fingers. “It’s like someone gave an order and it was executed in haste. And from what I see, the police department is acting unilaterally. The mole must be from within.”

The sword witch took a bite of ice cream. “It’s delicious. Want a taste?”

“I’m not thirsty, thanks.”

“Having something sweet can help ease bad feelings.” Yoshine Ise offered him a spoon.

“You’ve already used it, haven’t you?” Bai Wei asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I only got one, but I don’t mind.” Yoshine Ise acted nonchalant.

Bai Wei reluctantly took a bite. The cool, sweet matcha ice cream flowed down his throat, easing the tension in his mind.

He stood up. “I’m going to make a phone call. Is it okay for you to stay here alone?”

Yoshine Ise, still eating her ice cream, nodded. “If you don’t come back in an hour, I’ll ask the shopkeeper to call the police and take me back.”

It’s convenient to talk with intelligent people. This girl is a bit mischievous, but not unpleasant.

Bai Wei left the ice cream shop and walked to a public telephone booth three kilometers away. After inserting some coins, he dialed the number.

“This is the Dragon Sakura Club,” a waiter answered.

“Is Xue Hanlei there?”

“The boss lady is currently not in.”

“If she comes back, please let her know that I’ll call again before 10 pm tonight.”

The phone call ended, and Bai Wei stepped out of the booth. This was New Tokyo’s inner area, with office buildings and commercial developments sprouting everywhere. Old apartment buildings were already marked for demolition, and the residents had moved out. There were hardly any pedestrians around.

“Come out,” Bai Wei called out. “You’ve been following me for a while, haven’t you? I’m sure you’re getting impatient.”

Just as he finished speaking, a white streak of sword energy shot through the air, slamming in front of him, then breaking apart. The scattered sword energy formed air currents, leaving marks on the old walls on both sides.

“Even without drawing the sword, one can release sword energy. In the Ming Country, it’s called ‘protective Qi.’ A rare skill among high-ranking martial artists,” a steady, yet old voice said.

A sixty-year-old man dressed in a kimono appeared. His topknot and traditional attire, which consisted of a shoulder wrap and wide-legged trousers, identified him as a samurai from the Edo period—a time when samurai were highly ranked and wielded swords.

In this era, such people were rare. The few remaining samurais were even fewer still, and fewer still were allowed to carry swords.

Bai Wei stared at the man, then said, “I was wondering why only a few armed forces were sent. Perhaps I underestimated myself… Now, I realize I’ve been respected enough.”

The old man stepped forward and introduced himself: “I am Ishida Kiyoshimasa, the guard of the Akamatsu Edo clan. I’ve come to apprehend the thief upon the orders of the General!”

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Chapter 367: The Sword Hunt of the World

Although Bai Wei was considered a dangerous person, no arrest warrant had been issued yet. For the time being, he was free to walk through the bustling commercial district.

He needed to buy some new clothes to conceal his identity, as returning home was too risky. There was a high probability of falling into a trap if he did so.

Yoshine Ise understood this very well and opened her wallet without hesitation to pay for the clothes. Bai Wei, with limited funds, wrote an IOU based on the price. Yoshine accepted it, placed it in her wallet, then, when Bai Wei tried to pay, she tore up the IOU and discarded it in the trash can.

“You didn’t mention needing an IOU when you saved my life,” she said with a hint of a smile.

Yoshine Ise, whose hands and feet hadn’t fully recovered, should have been using a wheelchair. Since Bai Wei couldn’t carry the wheelchair for her, he decided to serve as her human wheelchair and carried her on his back instead. As they walked through the commercial district, they attracted curious glances from many passersby.

“Actually, picking Igarashi isn’t a bad choice,” Yoshine said, pressing her hands gently against Bai Wei’s back. “At least she’s healthy and could help you hide your identity, so you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“But she’s not clever enough,” Bai Wei replied. “At times like this, it’s better to have someone with a sharp mind by your side.”

“So, you’re interested in my mind?” she teased.

“Kind of,” Bai Wei admitted.

“Hmph,” Yoshine scoffed. “I thought you were just attracted to my beauty.”

Bai Wei opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.

Seeing this, Yoshine prodded, “Just say it.”

“Saying it out loud would sound insincere,” Bai Wei muttered. “You don’t need to force a smile. I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this. If I get the chance, I’ll send you back.”

“Force a smile? Do I look like I’m forcing a smile?” Yoshine mused, pushing her facial muscles. “Maybe I’m just not the smiley type. But this experience is quite fresh, and I find it… interesting.”

“Being chased by the whole city is interesting?” Bai Wei thought. “Do you think this is a game?”

“They’re chasing you, not me,” Yoshine replied. “I’m the hostage, a pitiful hostage who can’t move freely. I’m at their mercy.” She couldn’t help but show a mischievous side. “The police uncle will forgive me, after all, I’m a patient, aren’t I?”

“Yes, yes,” Bai Wei nodded. “I’m a notorious terrorist holding a hostage, so could you act a little more scared?”

“I’m already scared enough,” Yoshine said, bending over. “Can’t you hear my heartbeat?”

“… I can’t hear it.”

“Nonsense. It’s not as exaggerated as Jingūji, but I have a C+ heart rate.”

“It’s thick, that’s why I can’t feel it,” Bai Wei sighed helplessly. “I’m on the run, so please be serious.”

“Running in the commercial district?” Yoshine waved her hand. “Over there, over there, could you please get me a matcha-flavored ice cream?”

“Okay.” Bai Wei agreed reluctantly. The girl working part-time at the stand, a high school student, couldn’t help but feel a little shy as she watched the pair closely. She thought, “Adults are so bold, walking through crowds without a hint of embarrassment even when they’re so close.”

Yoshine Ise noticed the girl’s gaze and said, “Don’t misunderstand, I was kidnapped by this person and held hostage. We’re not lovers, so please don’t get the wrong idea.”

The high school girl nodded in understanding and turned to call out, “Matcha flavor, lover’s size, extra…”

Bai Wei: “…”

The two of them sat down in the shop. Yoshine Ise tasted her ice cream and said, “There are so many people in the commercial district, and the police can’t evacuate them all. Even if they are conducting an arrest operation, they wouldn’t choose this place. So, we can rest for now. The real issue is, what’s your next move? Do you have a plan to clear your name?”

Bai Wei shook his head. “I don’t even know what crime I’m being accused of, so how can I clear my name?”

Yoshine Ise scooped up a spoonful of white ice cream covered in green matcha powder. “The charges are serious. The level of mobilization surpasses that of capturing murderers. It must be something incredibly grave… maybe terrorism. For example, followers of an evil god.”

She was a sword witch and had participated in similar actions several times before, which left a deep impression on her.

“But if it’s just a few ordinary people going against the followers of an evil god, it doesn’t make sense,” Bai Wei said. “Do you really think a few high-level missionaries can overcome the mysteries from beyond our realm?”

Who has seen a supernatural evil creature defeated by a bomb?

“At this point, the shrine can’t help. December is vacation time, and it seems the sword witches have been sent to some village for a ritual,” Yoshine said, resting her chin in her hands. “But it’s strange that this operation has no connection to the shrine. Maybe it’s because you’re more familiar to us, and they’re worried about alerting the enemy?”

“Regardless, the operation was too rushed and strange,” Bai Wei said, intertwining his fingers. “It’s like someone gave an order and it was hastily executed. A unilateral action from the police department—there’s a mole inside.”

The sword witch took another bite of ice cream. “It’s delicious, want a taste?”

“I’m not thirsty, thanks.”

“Having a bite of something sweet helps digest bad feelings,” Yoshine Ise said, offering him the spoon.

“You’ve already used the spoon, right?” Bai Wei asked cautiously.

“I don’t mind,” Yoshine said with a casual smile, “I only got one, but I’m fine.”

Bai Wei reluctantly took a bite. The matcha-flavored ice cream slid down his throat, its cool sweetness slightly relaxing his tense mind.

He stood up. “I’m going to make a phone call. Will you be okay alone?”

Yoshine Ise nodded as she continued to enjoy her ice cream. “If you don’t come back in an hour, I’ll ask the shopkeeper to call the police and take me back.”

It was convenient talking with intelligent people. This girl was pretty nice, though a bit mischievous.

Bai Wei left the ice cream shop. After he departed, Yoshine Ise leaned on the table. Unconsciously, her fingers clenched, and she held back a laugh. Suddenly, she raised her head and punched the air a few times, releasing a burst of strength that had built up in her body.

After finishing the punches, she let out a breath, then took another spoonful of ice cream, savoring its gentle sweetness.

The sword witch muttered to herself, “It’s a bit sneaky to use someone else’s situation to satisfy your own desires… but, this feeling is really… intriguing.”

She held her cheeks and sighed contentedly.

Yoshine Ise was no longer the young sword witch who would blush at the sight of ice cream. The excitement she felt came from the strong contrast between Bai Wei’s usual mature, carefree knightly attitude and the tender side he revealed in their close encounter. It was like touching the neck of a tiger, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that left her feeling excited.

Of course, she wasn’t just excited. She was also contemplating what to do next while refueling with sugar.

Bai Wei left the commercial area and walked three kilometers to a public telephone booth. He inserted coins and dialed the number.

“This is the Dragon Sakura Club,” a waiter answered.

“Is Xue Hanlei there?”

“The boss lady is not here at the moment.”

“If she returns, please tell her I’ll call again before 10 pm tonight.”

The call ended.

Bai Wei stepped out of the booth. This area was New Tokyo’s inner district, filled with office buildings and ongoing commercial construction. The old apartment buildings had been marked for demolition, and the residents had already moved out. There were hardly any pedestrians around.

“Come out,” Bai Wei called out. “You’ve been following me for a while, haven’t you? You must be getting impatient.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a white streak zipped through the air and slammed into the ground in front of him, breaking apart.

The scattered sword energy formed air currents, leaving marks on the old walls nearby.

“Even without drawing a sword, it’s possible to release sword energy,” a calm voice said. “In the Ming Country, it’s known as ‘protective Qi.’ It’s a rare skill among high-ranking martial artists.”

An elderly man in a kimono appeared before him. He had a traditional samurai topknot and wore a deep blue kimono, the design indicating a high rank. It was a style worn by samurais in the Edo period.

Bai Wei said, “Before, I wondered why only a few armed forces were sent. I may have underestimated myself… Now I realize I’ve been respected enough.”

The old man took a step forward, introducing himself: “I am Ishida Kiyoshimasa, the guard of the Akamatsu Edo clan. I’ve come to apprehend the thief upon the orders of the General!”