Trafford's Trading Club

689: Chapter 102: After Midnight, This Place Is Mine! 689: Chapter 102: After Midnight, This Place Is Mine!

It’s not hard to imagine how the entire village is shrouded in such a curse, and how much the villagers value this ‘new blood’ outsider… they’ve mobilized nearly all the men in the village to this extent.

Outside the crowd, many village women are watching with a hint of unease… and a trace of expectation on their faces.

Mo Xiaofei glanced at Xizhilang and the bamboo pole, said nothing, and walked directly out to meet Lord Nagato, head of the Bushi Household in Zaodao Village.

Lord Nagato sized up Mo Xiaofei and suddenly asked, “Are you really a samurai?

Do you have any identification?” “Just consider me a wandering samurai,” Mo Xiaofei said with a wave of his hand.

Lord Nagato was lost in thought, but Mo Xiaofei was not unfamiliar with this kind of look—like an addict seeing a hallucinogenic white powder.

Lord Nagato nodded, “Then, please follow me.”

Around them, the men in slightly better clothing were likely from the Bushi Household, though most carried bamboo swords.

Including Lord Nagato, only three were actually equipped with katanas—one of whom resembled Lord Nagato a bit, around thirty-something, likely the Nagato Saburo who fled back from battle.

The other was very young, probably no older than the real Mo Xiaofei, just seventeen or eighteen, possibly Lord Nagato’s son or something. “Alright, but I need to gather my things,” Mo Xiaofei nodded and then turned directly back into the house.

At this moment, Lord Nagato waved his hand, and the servants and many village men immediately surrounded the place inside and out.

Such things couldn’t escape Mo Xiaofei’s senses… he shook his head, feeling an inexplicable sensation about this village. “Lord Kojiro, those outside can’t truly stop you.”

Suddenly, the voice of Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto came through, and Mo Xiaofei frowned, slowly turning around in the room, shaking his head, “They also have their difficulties; a conflict would only harm the innocent.”

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto also frowned slightly but did not continue on the matter, only saying calmly, “I came to check because you were gone for so long.” “Great Goddess, what do you think of the village’s curse?” Mo Xiaofei unexpectedly asked.

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto glanced at Mo Xiaofei… since this human samurai asked, he clearly knew of her presence and even what she overheard in his conversation with the bamboo pole.

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto showed no embarrassment and, frowning, said, “This village is indeed infused with an ominous aura.

As for the curse the village girl mentioned… it’s hard to say.” “Hard to say?” Mo Xiaofei was surprised.

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto nodded, “Some curses are very peculiar and do not manifest immediately.

Even as a god, powerful curses need careful examination to be discovered.”

This is entirely different from the concept of an omniscient god…

Mo Xiaofei nodded in agreement, yet internally, he felt less reverence for the so-called Three Goddesses.

Perhaps what we call gods are merely stronger beings, still far from omniscience and omnipotence.

Mo Xiaofei took a deep breath, “Great Goddess, could you do me a favor?” “Speak first,” Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto replied coolly.

Mo Xiaofei said, “Perhaps the Nagato House knows more about this curse, so I’m planning to visit Lord Nagato’s house.

As for the bamboo pole… could the Great Goddess take a closer look to see where this curse originates?”

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto was surprised, “Lord Kojiro, do you intend to solve the village’s problem?”

Mo Xiaofei said calmly, “I can’t just turn a blind eye… since I can’t, I might as well help.”

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto shook her head, “You must know that everything happens for a reason, even those drowning might be wicked people; should you still save them?”

Mo Xiaofei replied earnestly, “When you see someone drowning, do you first consider whether they’re bad before saving them?”

Mo Xiaofei shook his head, “You can’t know in advance.

And the moment they’re drowning, it’s the most dangerous, leaving no time to verify what kind of person they are.

But one thing’s certain: if you hesitate, the drowning person might die.

You could find out they were good, making you the killer of a kind soul.

On the other hand, if you discover later they were bad, it’s a relief, but at that moment you have lost your virtuous heart.

Because you have become someone who can drown others… weak water.”

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto remained silent, finally nodding, “Then go ahead, Lord Kojiro.

I’ll check the village girl carefully… there should be results by dawn, and I’ll find you then.” “Thank you,” Mo Xiaofei smiled now, as if relieved, and walked past Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto with measured steps.

Ichikujikunohime-no-Mikoto whispered to herself, “What a pure-hearted person…” … …

Back in his shrine, Susanoo-no-Mikoto prepared to gather his soldiers when he found a particular source unresponsive.

His divine decree fell on deaf ears, leaving Susanoo-no-Mikoto uneasy.

As one of the Three Nobles, born of the powers of the Yan Wuyue World creators Izanagi and Izanami, he couldn’t see everything like the father and mother god but had strong instincts. “You all, wait here for me!”

In the shrine, clad in red samurai armor, Susanoo-no-Mikoto stood before his subordinates and miko, then disappeared from the shrine.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto governed the seas between many islands, and the raging waters could not block his steps—soon he landed on a barren, jagged black stone island.

As soon as he landed, he sensed something different—the island, usually shrouded in dark clouds and lightning, seemed somewhat subdued.

He also discovered a subordinate’s corpse.

It seemed to have been slain by something; the body was in pieces, but the cuts were extremely precise.

Behind his demonic mask, Susanoo-no-Mikoto’s eyes narrowed slightly, “This is… lingering Sword Qi?

It’s so sharp… no, this isn’t Sword Qi, it’s Sword Intent!”

Susanoo-no-Mikoto was surprised, and as he contemplated, his body flickered, moving swiftly but gracefully, yet each step covered a great distance. “Devil!”

Susanoo-no-Mikoto finally stood at the entrance of a massive cave.

A sound like thunder buzzed, yet he simultaneously caught a whiff of that thick, bloody scent.

A fierce battle had taken place here, for such a rich smell of blood couldn’t exist otherwise—knowing the ferocious nature of these Devils, even within the same clan fights often occur, but they’re merely shows of belligerence, without any real lethal intent. “Could it be a suppression army from some country?” Susanoo-no-Mikoto shook his head; this possibility seemed faint.

If it were other Devil tribes, perhaps it was possible, but the Devils on this overseas Ghost Island are reared by Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Master of the Seas, a public secret…

No human king would jeopardize themselves to such an extent.

Finally, at the end of the passage lay a green-skinned Devil, split in two, sprawled across the path’s end…

The clean, decisive cut and the terror left on its face were all too apparent.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto felt his anger surge as he stepped over the corpse.

Before him, within the vast, layered caverns, scores of Devil corpses lay strewn about…

Apart from these Devils, there was nothing else in sight… “Oh, missed one.”

An abrupt voice.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto immediately glanced upwards to the left!

There, in front of a small stone chamber forged by Devils for resting, stood a young man in peculiar attire with a scarf wrapped around him.

He was dragging a Devil corpse while holding a longsword against his shoulder.

The sword-bearing young man, upon seeing Susanoo-no-Mikoto, nonchalantly tossed aside the Devil’s corpse and leapt down, sizing him up, “You’re different from these Devils…

Are you a leader of sorts?” “Are you the one who slaughtered them?” Susanoo-no-Mikoto’s voice grew cold.

The young man…

Da Zhe nodded indifferently.

Slaying such grotesque monsters was effortless for him.

In one of the stone chambers, he even found numerous human bones and cooking tools…

On the cooking utensils, human bones were also present; and when he was brought in by Zhan Lu, he saw several Devils roasting a human body…

There wasn’t a shred of guilt in killing these Devils.

It even felt…

Satisfying! “Then…” Susanoo-no-Mikoto slowly drew the sword at his waist, coldly saying, “I’ll take your life as payment then.”

No more words were necessary…

He was already a fearsome deity, whose hands had stained more blood than the proclaimed million gods in Takamagahara combined. “Attacking at the slightest provocation?

I like it!” Da Zhe swung his sword to block a slash from Susanoo-no-Mikoto, although his body was pushed and dragged a few meters back by the enormous force.

Da Zhe, surprised, shook his slightly numbed arm…

Using Zhan Lu required physical form; with Black Soul’s vaporization ability, he couldn’t hold Zhan Lu’s body.

Susanoo-no-Mikoto, observing that this guy barely managed to fend off a single strike, naturally underestimated him a bit, “Impressive strength, no wonder you could wipe out all these Devils.

But thinking you can defeat me is a century too soon!

The gap between humans and gods is impossible to bridge!”

Da Zhe switched Zhan Lu from his right hand to his left, then swung it, muttering, “I told you, the boss said to warm up, but all these Devils are too brittle…

Seems like you’re the real warm-up.” “Boss?” “Ignore the details.” Da Zhe removed the scarf and tucked it into his clothes, smiling at Susanoo-no-Mikoto, “Zhan Lu says it can take on ten like you!”

This sword…

Is really a show-off sword, isn’t it?

Da Zhe couldn’t help but grumble internally…

It seemed if he didn’t speak on its behalf, it would uncontrollably drag his body, just like when he was initially pulled into this cave. “Arrogant!” Susanoo-no-Mikoto was furious, “Let me show you what true divine power is!” “You know nothing about power!” Da Zhe pointed with the sword—something Zhan Lu also said!

Damn, when I first picked you up to cut down that haunting spirit by the reservoir, I had no idea you were such a show-off sword! “Ten Fists Sword!” Susanoo-no-Mikoto roared, his immense power causing the entire cave to shake violently!

Zhan Lu’s blade suddenly emitted a bright radiance, ancient patterns of gold appearing across its surface.

Suddenly, Da Zhe felt a tremendous power flooding into his body, momentarily feeling as if he could split the sky itself!

Being born to fight and cut people, Da Zhe hesitated not a moment, swinging Zhan Lu wildly like a hatchet.

There wasn’t any particular swordsmanship involved, just a straightforward hacking style from street brawls!

Susanoo-no-Mikoto sneered, for such unstructured attacks, he effortlessly used his Ten Fists Sword for a casual block—but in that instant, he felt something terribly wrong!

His Ten Fists Sword couldn’t withstand the impact, getting chipped, while a massive force pressed upon him, his legs sinking into the hard rock beneath!

Susanoo-no-Mikoto was utterly astonished; this guy wasn’t a skilled swordsman, wielding the sword like a cleaver, delivering blows akin to chopping wood.

Yet each strike was overwhelmingly powerful and so swift he couldn’t catch them…

Moreover, he couldn’t recall when such a formidable swordsman emerged in the Human Realm!

After just four or five strikes, the Ten Fists Sword bore the same number of gaps!

The Ten Fists Sword, having accompanied Susanoo-no-Mikoto through countless battles, was now heartbreakingly worn out! “Who are you, really?” Susanoo-no-Mikoto exclaimed in disbelief, as in the final block, his Ten Fists Sword was cut and broken!

The broken blade flew into the air, spinning rapidly before embedding into the rock above!

He heard the other say heavily, “My name is Da Zhe!

From now on, past midnight, this place is under my watch…

Forget I said that!”

Carelessly blurting out words that used to be habitually spoken…

My bad, my bad.