Chapter 433

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Chapter 433: A Man

In the parking lot, Hokusinn Xuanma was planning to go home. Just as he opened the car door, he saw a mysterious figure reflected in the mirror on the car.

He suddenly snapped back to reality, looked towards the corner, and then opened the car door, pulling out a long-handled umbrella from the gap between the door.

"Family head?"

"Stay here and wait for me." Hokusinn Xuanma carried the umbrella and chased after the figure at the corner.

On the first day of the New Year, his good mood quickly turned very bad. The bright night sky had hardly any clouds, and the moonlight illuminated everything. There was an open space near the shrine, with only a few winding paths.

He followed a twisted path through a thicket of trees. The moonlight created a straight silver path, and there were some damp dewdrops on the ground. Just beyond, there stood a silhouette.

Hokusinn Xuanma’s eyes were icy cold as he gripped the umbrella handle and twisted the handle, pulling out a four-foot-long real sword.

He crouched down, focused his energy, and stepped swiftly on the ground, suddenly exerting force to close the distance.

As the head of the Hokusinn family, Bai Wei had seen his comprehensive swordsmanship level reach as high as thirty-nine.

Although he still had a considerable gap to bridging with the sword master, he was almost at the pinnacle of the level where ordinary swordsmen could reach.

The gleaming blade moved like a silver fish in the moonlight, silently cutting through the moonlight, directly aiming for the person’s silhouette.

Attacking from behind without hesitation was not the way of a samurai or a swordsman, but that of an executioner.

No swordsman would strike at an opponent like this unless they were consumed by extreme anger.

Hokusinn Xuanma’s expression showed no anger. His hand was steady, his breath balanced. He swung the sword with the usual speed, not speeding up or losing balance due to anger. But in his eyes, there was a chilling coldness.

The sword’s light hit the figure, but there was no solid feeling in his hand.

The entire figure was actually just a framework with a cloak hanging on it. He cut through the branches and the cloak, slicing through the air.

Swinging the sword meant that he had entered someone else’s range of attack.

A gust of wind came from behind. Hokusinn Xuanma reacted, but a step too slow. As he turned around and swung his sword, a sharp object struck his shoulder.

His left hand instantly went numb, unable to grip the handle of the sword.

He stumbled backward, trying to adjust his stance and regroup. However, the opponent’s pursuit was fierce, hitting him from all angles like a wild beast.

Knowing he couldn’t defend himself, Hokusinn Xuanma shouted in anger, assuming a defensive stance and swung his sword, interrupting the continuous attack and also breaking something.

He looked down and saw that it was the umbrella frame he had dropped on the ground.

Hokusinn Xuanma’s left hand hung down, gasping for breath. He looked at the figure five steps away in the moonlight, drenched in sweat.

"You really want to chop me down with a sword."

Her voice was cold and crisp, like the sound of water gently hitting rocks. It had a touch of lightness that only young girls possess, but more importantly, it resonated with the sound of fragments colliding against the mountains and rocks.

Hokusinn Xuanma could see the other person’s face clearly in the moonlight.

If Hokusinn Kichyō were here, she would surely be surprised because this person bore a striking resemblance to her, around 50% similarity in appearance. However, this person was older, approaching forty years old, clad in a kimono that hindered movement, yet easily defeating Hokusinn Xuanma’s stance.

Hokusinn Xuanma’s face twisted with anger, "I only hate myself for not being able to chop you down with a sword."

"Your skills are not enough." The person sneered, "It’s been so many years, and your swordsmanship hasn’t progressed one bit. Forget about catching up to Hokusinn Hua, you can’t even reach half of her level back then."

Seeing Hokusinn Xuanma remain silent, she said softly, "Initially, I came here just to visit for the New Year, never expected to encounter you here, or that you would dare to draw your sword."

The woman with short hair crossed her arms and said, "Last time, I gave you a chance to draw your sword against me, but you didn’t dare. You kneeled down and begged for mercy, asking me to give you three more years to reorganize the Hokusinn family… Why are you in such a hurry to offer yourself as a sacrifice now? Or do you think that since three years haven’t passed yet, I won’t kill you?"

Hokusinn Xuanma said coldly, "You can try to kill me now."

"Are you provoking me?" The woman with short hair picked up a fallen leaf, her eyes turned cold. With a toss, the leaf grazed the shoulder of the Hokusinn family’s head, leaving a wound that cut into the ground like a blade. "Remember, little pony, I can kill you anytime, but not in this situation… I will defeat you in a public place and then kill you, and take back what belongs to me."

"Do you think that by killing me, the Hokusinn family will submit to you?" Hokusinn Xuanma pressed on his bleeding wound.

"Who wouldn’t agree? Their lives only have one chance… Besides, instead of letting the Hokusinn family’s reputation decay slowly in your hands, it’s better to let it flourish in mine." The woman smirked arrogantly, "Other than me, who else can take on such a role? Is it you, an untalented clumsy swordsman, or your incompetent daughter?"

"…"

"Too bad, a gaze can’t kill." Her provocation and sarcasm only received silence and even longer silence, making her feel extremely bored. "I’m just here to say hello today. Your life will end in less than half a year, maybe even just three months. So, prepare yourself mentally, write your farewell letter ahead of time, or find a way to immigrate abroad. At least you’ll still have one life left."

"I will die at the hands of the Hokusinn family." Hokusinn Xuanma said each word with emphasis, "I’ll be waiting for you to take my head!"

"It seems like you have already accepted it, that’s good… At least you can die with some understanding, unlike Hokusinn Hua… dying in an unclear manner."

With a swish, a sharp sound came from the air.

The master swordsman closed his thumb and index finger together, grabbing the sword that flew toward her neck. With a little force at her fingertips, she snapped the sword in half.

She lifted her foot and kicked Hokusinn Xuanma in the stomach. He flew backwards, crashing into a tree trunk, causing leaves to fall in disarray.

The master swordsman stepped on his chest, bent down, and smirked, "You can’t even handle a provocation. How did someone like you survive until now? Oh, I forgot, it’s because of me that you’re still alive… So, it doesn’t matter anymore."

Hokusinn Xuanma lifted his head, leaning against the tree trunk, with unwavering and defiant eyes, "Hua is already gone, and maybe I won’t live much longer, but the Hokusinn family will never fall into your hands. If it does, it will be destroyed eventually."

"If it gets destroyed, so be it. The Hokusinn family used to serve the shogunate like dogs, and now it’s just following a different person. It doesn’t make a difference to me," the woman sneered. "Is this dirty family really that precious to you?"

Hokusinn Xuanma sneered, "You couldn’t defeat Hua back then… What despicable means did you use?"

Before finishing his words, he coughed up blood. A strand of sword energy kicked into his body, instantly causing his eyes to be bloodshot.

"Do you really think I’m afraid to kill you right now?"

The master swordsman sneered, a chilling killing intent bursting forth. But in the next moment, she retracted the sword energy that could turn half a street into a slaughterhouse.

"So it was someone who came, no wonder you suddenly became so brave."

She withdrew her right leg, which had almost crushed someone, "Remember to keep your daughter far away, I won’t kill you, but I might kill her."

The swordswoman walked out of the street and brushed past the person standing at the intersection.

"I don’t ask about your private matters, and you shouldn’t give me trouble," Kokonohana Nori said calmly.

"Considering our past relationship, let’s just pretend that we didn’t see each other this time."

"There’s no longer any past friendship between us, and you know that best."

"Yes, luckily for you, you can’t defeat me," the swordsman chuckled playfully.

"Leave quickly," Kokonohana Nori said concisely as she gave the order to leave.

"Let’s go… but before we go, I still need to ask one thing, are you really not planning to…"

"Why did Amaterasu come here? You know better than me, why do good people not do good things and instead act like dogs?" Kokonohana Nori walked away, brushing off her sleeve.

"Where are there any swordsmen who are not acting like dogs? Whether serving the shogunate or serving others, what’s the difference?" The swordsman smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes, spoke calmly and indifferently, "Both you and I are the tools of important people, fundamentally not much different."

"We now have gods and beliefs, what about you? What do you have?" Kokonohana Nori countered.

The swordsman didn’t answer, walked away with each step, wearing a black-based ‘Black Maple’ kimono that exuded a solemn and murderous aura.

After she left, Hokusinn Xuanma struggled to walk out and said, "Thank you, Lady funeral attendant…"

"I don’t meddle in your family matters, but we can’t just witness violence and conflict here. She provoked you to kill two birds with one stone, and incidentally test my reaction, so she can report back to higher-ups." Kokonohana Nori sighed, "You’re impulsive too, suffering needlessly."

"It wasn’t suffering needlessly," Hokusinn Xuanma apologized with his head down, staggering away.

"If anything happens in the future, you can bring Hokusinn Kichyō to the shrine." Kokonohana Nori said, "I’m not afraid of Hokusinn Ryo."

"Is it only funeral attendant?" Hokusinn Xuanma asked.

"Shrine doesn’t have this ability, and neither do I, but someone inside the shrine does."

"I never expected to hear this sentence from Lady funeral attendant’s mouth… How times have changed."

"I feel the same way. I never thought I would have such inexplicable confidence." Kokonohana Nori chuckled self-deprecatingly and looked at the silent moonlight. "I hope you can live well, even if it’s for Hokusinn Kichyō… I have seen your daughter, and she looks a lot like her."

"Thank you…"

Hokusinn Xuanma didn’t give a direct answer but didn’t refuse either, leaving a way out. He limped away.

Kokonohana Nori watched him leave, sighed softly, and turned back into the shrine.

Past events always need a conclusion, but no one, including her, knows what really happened between Hokusinn Hua and Hokusinn Ryo, these two sisters.

The number of worshippers at this time has decreased. She came alone to the altar, clasping her hands together, silently praying and making wishes to the deities.

…

Bai Wei, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly felt a message from the Golden Power.

You have a new message, please pay attention and check it.