Chapter 820 The old man doesn't know his place
"But what?" Jiang Bai asked, somewhat dissatisfied.
If you agree, you agree; if you don't agree, you don't agree. Why are there so many "buts"?
What does this mean?
"However, this matter is not so simple. The problem of the Himura Group can naturally be solved. It was just my child being silly. My son would not dare to disobey my every word."
"I've taken care of everything with the Himura Group, but the matter of Sakura the Temptress... is a bit troublesome."
Hiroichi Yamaguchi said noncommittally, then, without looking at Jiang Bai, silently sipped his tea.
"Isn't this the same thing?" Jiang Bai asked, somewhat dissatisfied.
In Jiang Bai's view, these are all the same thing. Sakura Meinin and Himura-gumi are essentially the same, but Yamaguchi Hiroichi insists on separating them.
Doesn't that mean they're not agreeing?
Jiang Bai had no interest in managing those petty thugs from the Himura Group; what he wanted were Himura Kazuko and the charming ninja with a cherry blossom branch.
They possessed amazing seductive skills and open personalities, enabling them to satisfy many of Jiang Bai's special needs.
Every man would drool over it.
Moreover, their own strength is quite good. In the words of the girls, they are, after all, ninjas, not people who use their looks to please others; they have their own strength.
In fact, many years ago, they were also a powerful force with divine ninjas.
Although they have declined over the years, they still possess extraordinary power. They no longer have the highest level of power, but among these twenty-odd people, there are still three Jonin and five Chunin.
These are the best assassins and intelligence agents.
Jiang Bai is also needed.
Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg compared to what Naoto Nakayama did.
Jiang Bai had learned about Jonin; at most, they were only at the level of a first-rank master, and Chunin were even lower.
Their strength is far inferior to that of the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain.
But Naoto Nakayama now needs to rely on Himura to persuade him.
This forced Jiang Bai to protect Sakura Meiren. If he didn't protect Sakura Meiren, the deal with Himura wouldn't be completed. Not only would he lose these charming women and his capable subordinates, but it could also affect his important plans, which Jiang Bai absolutely could not tolerate.
"You may not know this, but it's not the same thing. Sakura Mikoto has a long-standing feud with Koga and Iga. Hundreds of years ago, they were from Koga and caused considerable harm to Iga."
"Then he betrayed the Koga and was hunted down by them."
"The two families' kill warrants have never stopped for so many years. I can make my son stop causing them trouble, but I can't guarantee that the people of Iga and Koga will stop seeking revenge."
"As you know, these two families have become uncontrollable since the shogunate was abolished. They are very difficult to deal with. Although I have some connections with them, I cannot control them either."
"On the contrary, they are still controlling me. These things are not a secret between you and me, and I am not afraid for you to know, so... I really can't help you with this!"
After hearing this, Yamaguchi Hiroichi chuckled and slowly delivered the following remarks to Jiang Bai.
The core message is just this: it's not that I don't want to help you, but I have given you, Jiang Bai, face, and I have indeed done so. Haven't I already asked my son not to cause any more trouble for the Hisumura Group?
I promise I will.
However, the Sakura Ninja behind them has little to do with the Himura Clan and my son; they are enemies of the Koga and Iga Ninja Villages.
These two groups are too powerful. Although I have some connections with them, I can't control these two big shots. So, don't talk to me about this. I can't help you.
Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes at this, realizing that it was Yamaguchi Hiroichi's excuse.
This old fellow makes it sound so nice, promising to help me and giving me face in any way I need, but when it comes down to it, he just plays games with me.
Who doesn't know he has close ties with the Iga and Koga clans? There was some kind of kill order, but that was years ago.
If Yamaguchi Hiroichi is willing to step in, the other party will definitely give him face.
It's just a small grudge from hundreds of years ago, how can it compare to the face of Yamaguchi Hiroichi?
When Yamaguchi Ichiro discovered this cherry blossom charm, nothing happened to him, did it?
This beast killed five people in a month. During this time, Jiang Bai refused to believe that Iga and Koga would be unaware of this.
They didn't utter a single word from beginning to end.
Now that I've stepped in, they've jumped out?
Damn, are there really such coincidences in this world?
Was this something you, Hirokazu Yamaguchi, deliberately arranged, or did the two families want to challenge me?
"So, Mr. Yamaguchi is unwilling to help?" Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes, his tone turning somewhat cold.
Originally, this old man seemed quite polite, and even slapped his son, so he should be giving me face, and this matter shouldn't be difficult to handle.
But now it seems I was wrong.
That old bastard isn't giving me any face.
"You're right. I will certainly help you, Mr. Jiang, but I am willing but unable to do so. There are some things I want to help with, but I am not capable enough. Please understand and don't take offense."
Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Hiroichi chuckled at Jiang Bai, then bowed earnestly to apologize, as if he genuinely wanted to help but was powerless to do so.
"I see. If that's the case, then I understand Mr. Yamaguchi!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes and uttered this remark.
Hishimura, who was standing next to him, was stunned for a moment, and her face turned slightly pale.
Meanwhile, Hiroichi Yamaguchi smiled, and the people behind him looked smug, as if they were quite pleased with Jiang Bai's humiliation.
"However... Mr. Yamaguchi's business has recently been affected not only in China, but also around the world. I heard... you seem to have had some conflicts with Mr. Cheng Tiangang, Mr. Li Qingdi, Mr. Yang Wudi, and Mr. Wu Tianxi."
"You know their relationship with me. Even if I wanted to help, it would be beyond my power. So, Mr. Yamaguchi, you'd better pray for yourself."
"I estimate that Mr. Yamaguchi will suffer a great loss this time. From now on, he will only be able to operate within Yamato. It's really bleak. I express my regret to Mr. Yamaguchi in advance."
Jiang Bai wasn't one to be trifled with either. He changed the subject and said to Yamaguchi Hiroichi in front of him, "I thought I wouldn't need to threaten him. This old guy would know what to do. But it seems he's not being sensible. I'll have to teach him a lesson."
This was a condition that Cheng Tiangang had agreed upon beforehand, a condition that could be used to threaten him at any time. He originally thought he wouldn't use it, but now he had no choice but to.
This made Jiang Bai, who had boasted before arriving that he didn't need to threaten Yamaguchi Hiroichi, somewhat dissatisfied.
Chapter 821 Procrastination
"Mr. Jiang, is this a threat?"
Hiroichi Yamaguchi's expression changed drastically, and he said to Jiang Bai in a deep voice.
If what Yamaguchi Hiroichi said to Jiang Bai just now was an excuse, then Jiang Bai's words were a clear threat.
A blatant threat!
"What are you saying? How dare I threaten Mr. Yamaguchi? This is your territory. It's not like I'm going to lay a hand on you. How can you say I'm threatening you?"
"You can't interfere in the affairs of the Koga and Iga families, and I can't interfere in Mr. Cheng's affairs either. Everyone has their own difficulties!"
While sipping his tea with his eyes half-closed, Jiang Bai made a couple of noncommittal remarks.
He had made things very clear: if Yamaguchi Hiroichi didn't loosen his grip on Hisumura and the others, then the people on Jiang Bai's side would take action against him.
The atmosphere in the room fell silent for a moment. There were more than a dozen people present. In addition to Jiang Bai and Yamaguchi Hiroichi sitting at the front, there were more than ten of his trusted subordinates behind Yamaguchi Hiroichi.
Hiyomura was also on Jiang Bai's side, the only difference being that Hiyomura was just a step behind Jiang Bai, while the people on the other side were relatively far away.
Jiang Bai and Yamaguchi Hiroichi remained silent, but some of Yamaguchi's high-ranking officials could no longer contain themselves. One of them stood up and said to Jiang Bai, "Mr. Jiang, I hope you understand that this is Yamato, not Tiandu!"
"This is our place!"
Jiang Bai took a sip of tea, glanced at the silent Yamaguchi Hiroichi in front of him, then looked at the middle-aged man who had stood up, and sneered: "I know this is your place, and I know this is Yamato, so I'm sitting here drinking tea with you today. If this were the capital, you would have been meeting the King of Hell by now!"
"You..." His expression changed, and he was about to continue speaking when Yamaguchi slammed down his teacup. The middle-aged man's expression changed several times in an instant, but in the end he did not continue speaking. He just sat down with some indignation, showing that he was very dissatisfied with the matter.
If it weren't for Yamaguchi Hiroichi sitting right in front of him, he probably would have already attacked Jiang Bai.
"I had heard of Mr. Jiang's assertiveness before, but seeing it for the first time today has greatly surprised me. Would you mind giving me some time to consider this?"
Yamaguchi Hiroichi said this to Jiang Baiyou.
This made Jiang Bai frown, and he asked in a deep voice, "How long?"
He wasn't a local, and while he didn't have anything urgent to do at the moment, he couldn't stay in Japan any longer. If this guy tried to stall him, who knew how long it would take?
If he takes a year or two to think about it, does Jiang Bai expect him to wait a year or two?
"I've already made a general decision in my mind after three days of consideration, but I need to discuss it with the officers. This matter can't be rushed. You know, even if I decide to help you, it will take enough time to persuade the two major powers, Koga and Iga."
"I can't just talk to them about this directly. I need to ask the sect leader of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu to mediate this matter. They can't agree to it right away either. They need time to consider it. These things all take time."
"Therefore, this matter cannot be resolved quickly!"
Hiroichi Yamaguchi said slowly and deliberately.
He gave Jiang Bai three days to consider it, and then told him that he had almost finished thinking about it, but even if he had almost finished, it would still take a long time to process.
In short, it boils down to this: "I have agreed in principle, but the process will take time, so just wait."
If it were an ordinary person, Jiang Bai would have turned against him by now, but Yamaguchi Hiroichi was clearly no ordinary person.
Jiang Bai couldn't be too forceful. In principle, the underworld forces in Yamato are divided into three groups. One group is the Shinto faction, led by the Ise Grand Shrine and many Shinto temples throughout the country.
One faction is a Buddhist sect led by Rikono, composed of skilled fighters from temples such as Honnoji and Honganji.
There is also a secular faction.
On the surface, the most powerful faction is the secular faction, which combines the Yamaguchi-gumi, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Itto-ryu, Nito-ryu, Koga, Iga, and many other secular forces.
Hiroichi Yamaguchi was their chosen representative, the secular chief representative, whose position was extraordinary. He was not just a simple puppet, but the nominal leader of the alliance.
Otherwise, Hiroichi Yamaguchi wouldn't dare call himself the "Underground Little Emperor."
Jiang Bai felt embarrassed to urge him too much after he said that.
Although Jiang Bai knew that this guy was deliberately stalling, given his status in Yamato and his relationship with the two major powers, he could settle this matter with just a word.
After all, even at its peak, Sakura Ninja couldn't compete with the two major factions, and later it completely declined. Now, there are only a few big and small members left, which are not worth worrying about at all.
However, Yamaguchi Hiroichi did not agree immediately, which meant he was determined to play the stalling game, which greatly displeased Jiang Bai.
However, it was indeed not the time to turn against him. Sitting there, sipping his tea with his eyes half-closed, Jiang Bai stood up and said, "Since Mr. Yamaguchi has said so, then I will wait for good news. Anyway, I won't be leaving here anytime soon, so I have plenty of time to wait for news from Mr. Yamaguchi. I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible."
"Of course, I will give you an answer as soon as possible." Yamaguchi Hiroichi stood up, bowed to Jiang Bai, and said.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!" Jiang Bai waved and turned to leave.
Jiang Bai turned to leave, but Yamaguchi Hiroichi invited him to have dinner there and tour his estate. Jiang Bai wasn't very interested in this, but after thinking about it, he didn't refuse.
So, with both of them harboring their own ulterior motives, they spent half a day together quite pleasantly, as if all the previous scheming had vanished. Before leaving, Yamaguchi Hiroichi even told Jiang Bai that he invited him to come again next time he had time, and that he would definitely prepare something special.
Jiang Bai did not refuse and left with a smile as the other party politely saw him off.
After leaving the area and getting into the car, Hisumura, who hadn't spoken for a long time, hesitated before finally saying, "Master, about this matter..."
"That old bastard is trying to stall us until I leave."
Jiang Bai spoke noncommittally, his eyes narrowed as he looked outside, pondering how to handle the situation.
"Then what should we do?" After hesitating for a moment, Hishimura cautiously asked Jiang Bai. She was somewhat at a loss and did not know how to deal with this situation.
Chapter 822 They Made Their Move
Originally, Himura thought that since they had found the infamous Jiang Bai to handle this matter, he would definitely give them face.
However, things didn't go as Hishimura had planned. Yamaguchi Hiroichi personally received Jiang Bai and treated him with great respect and courtesy.
Yamaguchi Ichiro on this side did not continue to make threats.
However, the matter has not been resolved. Yamaguchi has used delaying tactics, and now she doesn't know what to do.
She knew that Jiang Bai couldn't possibly stay here for long.
While he is safe here, there is no guarantee that no one will harm them once he leaves.
Without thoroughly resolving this issue, Sakura Meinin will never find true peace.
"Old man, if you want to play this game with me, I'll play along to the end."
Jiang Bai smiled noncommittally, having already devised a plan.
If Yamaguchi plays delaying tactics with him, he'll just play along.
"Old Cheng, Yamaguchi is trying to play delaying tactics with us. We need to put some pressure on him," Jiang Bai said as he dialed the phone.
"knew."
Without any further words, the other end of the line hung up, leaving Feicun, who was standing next to Jiang Bai, somewhat bewildered and unsure of what was going on.
Jiang Bai didn't offer much explanation and went to the hotel to rest as arranged by Fei Cun. As for places like Jiang Hong's house and school, Jiang Bai didn't go there.
Whether or not you go to that place is irrelevant now.
Originally, Jiang Bai wanted Himura to meet Naoto Nakayama, but after thinking about it, Jiang Bai decided against it. It wasn't the right time. Firstly, Himura's matter hadn't been officially resolved, and Jiang Bai was too embarrassed to bring it up.
He understood that this was Himura's last bargaining chip. Now that the matter was not resolved, sending her to see Naoto Nakayama would inevitably make her overthink things.
Secondly, Naoto Nakayama has not yet returned to his position as a crowned enshrined minister. It would be meaningless to talk about many things now, and he is unlikely to know the core secrets at the moment. It would take some time after he takes over as the enshrined minister before we can get the things Jiang Bai wants to know from him.
Therefore, Jiang Bai didn't say anything more.
While Jiang Bai was living a comfortable life at Hishimura's house, Yamaguchi Hiroichi was not having such a good time.
That night, while Jiang Bai was enjoying his wonderful life, Yamaguchi Hiroichi was suddenly called out from the bed of two innocent children.
"Something terrible has happened to the president!"
One of his men, Huang, stood at the door in a panic and shouted at Yamaguchi Hiroichi.
The anxious tone startled Hiroichi Yamaguchi, whose expression then changed drastically. At this time, as his trusted confidant, Kenshin outside the door should not be disturbing him in a way that violates the rules.
Since he's here, something extraordinary must have happened.
"What's wrong? What happened? Why are you in such a panic!" Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Hiroichi quickly got up, put on a large bathrobe, and came out, looking somewhat unhappy.
Although he was criticizing his confidant, his words were not too harsh, because he knew that the other party must have had a reason for coming at this time.
"Our overseas business was completely blocked tonight."
"Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and even China itself have all been blocked."
"All our businesses in these places have been subject to official investigations, our personnel have been attacked behind the scenes, and now we are even being attacked in Europe and Country A, resulting in heavy losses!"
The confidant said this anxiously to Yamaguchi Hiroichi, with fine beads of sweat already appearing on his forehead.
Their strength in Europe and Country A is actually not strong. They suffered heavy casualties from the attack, which is acceptable because there is not much industry there.
Their main industries are concentrated in China and the surrounding Southeast Asia, especially in Nanyang and Taiwan, where they have a vast industrial base.
Now that he's being attacked and suffering heavy losses, he's panicked.
Since at least 40% of Yamaguchi Hirokazu's businesses were located in these areas, losing them would be a huge blow to him.
These businesses in Yamaguchi do not belong to him personally; he is merely a representative, a secular power representative. Although he controls all the companies under his control, the reclusive sects hold a huge number of shares.
Now that they've suffered such heavy losses for no reason, Yamaguchi needs to make a statement to the major powers behind them!
This immediately changed Yamaguchi's expression, making him look extremely unpleasant.
"What are the losses?" Yamaguchi asked in a deep voice, hoping that the losses were not too great, otherwise even he would have difficulty explaining the matter.
"The losses are significant, mainly in terms of personnel and property. Some cash was stolen, and the company's fixed assets were also attacked, resulting in some losses. However, these are not the most serious issues. The real serious issue is the surprise inspection that began in the evening."
"Many of our businesses are being controlled by people under various pretexts. According to information revealed by our local network, if we don't resolve this soon, we are very likely to face the risk of our assets being confiscated and seized by the local government."
"That's the most troublesome thing!"
The confidant gave a bitter laugh upon hearing this and said dryly.
Anyone with eyes to see can see that this was a deliberate act by someone who came prepared; it was definitely not a coincidence.
He had done a thorough investigation before he came and knew who the mastermind was.
That's why he was filled with bitterness.
"Who is attacking us?" Hiroichi Yamaguchi asked sharply. He saw this as a declaration of war against him and the forces behind him, which made him very unhappy.
"Uh..." The trusted subordinate could only manage a bitter smile.
There was no answer, yet an answer was given!
"Jiang Bai?" Yamaguchi Hiroichi immediately realized something and asked in a deep voice, a hint of bitterness on his lips.
He didn't agree to their demands that morning, and after Jiang Bai threatened him, he adopted a delaying tactic. But he didn't expect that so little time had passed before they had already made their move?
Moreover, the attack was so fierce that it seemed as if they wanted to wipe out all his external forces at once.
"Yes, apart from him, almost all of the Huaxia people have made their moves: Wu Tianxi, Li Qingdi, Cheng Tiangang, Yang Wudi. We were even ambushed outside the Great Wall. It's said that Nalan has also spoken out..."
Hiroichi Yamaguchi's confidant gave a wry smile. Yamato is very close to China, practically separated only by a narrow strip of water, and they understand each other quite well. Naturally, he understood what the effect would be if all these people took action.
The strength of China has always been above all else, regardless of the level of conflict. It's just that the Chinese people have been prone to infighting, wasting each other's resources. But now they have suddenly united as one, which is truly frightening.
Chapter 823 Who Are You?
"Help me arrange a meeting with him!" Hiroichi Yamaguchi said with a bitter smile and a dry tone.
To be honest, the matter of Himura was no big deal to him at all.
Sakura Miyuki had a minor conflict with Koga and Iga a few hundred years ago, but that was during the Sengoku period.
Later, when the shogunate unified the country, even the long-standing feud between Koga and Iga was put aside, and they even lived in peace. So how much hatred could a little Sakura Miko have against them?
The reason he didn't speak or compromise was because he felt that Jiang Bai had come to him and asked him to release the person, which made him lose face, so he deliberately made things difficult for him.
Actually, he didn't intend to make an enemy of Jiang Bai. He just wanted to put some pressure on Jiang Bai so that he could do Jiang Bai a favor when Jiang Bai came to visit a second or third time.
I never expected this young man to be so impulsive. I didn't even refuse him in the morning, and he took action in the evening?
This left Hirokazu Yamaguchi feeling quite helpless.
He really wanted to fight Jiang Bai, but the people behind him wouldn't allow it.
The experts from Koga and Iga, and even the head of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school, had warned Jiang Bai last night when he stayed at Hisumura's place that Jiang Bai was not someone to be trifled with and that he should not try to provoke this young man, and that he should be careful.
Because Jiang Bai's previous performance in southern Sichuan was astonishing, even several sects were not confident in dealing with such a terrifying character as Jiang Bai.
Unless they are really willing to play all their cards, but there is not much interest involved, who would be willing to use their life-saving trump card to fight to the death with Jiang Bai, whom they consider to be a complete lunatic?
Only a real idiot would do that.
The ninjas of Koga and Iga didn't want to do this, nor did the masters of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school.
They are not without enemies in the country. As representatives of the secular faction, they have been fighting against the two major religions. They are unwilling to waste their precious energy on Jiang Bai, a meaningless person.
"Ask him? What to say?" The confidant was stunned for a moment, and after asking the question, he wanted to slap himself immediately. How could he have asked such a stupid question?
If his boss meets with Jiang Bai at this time, it means he has compromised.
Damn it, why did I even ask about something so embarrassing?
Yamaguchi Hiroichi glared at his trusted confidant, snorted coldly, and said nothing. The other man quickly lowered his head and began contacting Hisumura.
"Mr. Yamaguchi, what's the matter that you're calling me so late at night?" Jiang Bai answered the phone with a smile. He had been waiting for Yamaguchi to compromise.
He knew that Yamaguchi wouldn't fight him to the death.
Sure enough, the old man is calling him now.
"Mr. Jiang, I've thought it over. I will help with this matter. I guarantee that from today onwards, no one will cause trouble for Ms. Himura or Sakura the Beauty Ninja. I will also communicate with Iga and Koga to have the century-long manhunt order revoked!"
"From now on, Ms. Himura and the others can live openly and honestly in the sunlight."
Hiroichi Yamaguchi said in a deep voice, without mentioning Jiang Bai and Cheng Tiangang's underhanded tactics from beginning to end.
He knew these weren't the important things; as long as he dealt with Jiang Bai, everything would be over.
As expected, Jiang Bai chuckled and said after hearing this, "In that case, I think... your business outside, although it has experienced some turmoil, should be able to return to normal by tomorrow!"
Yamaguchi Hiroichi hummed in response, and the two chatted idly for a while before Jiang Bai hung up the phone.
The important points had been covered; the rest was just pointless chatter. Without further ado, after a few pleasantries, Jiang Bai hung up, unwilling to waste his precious time.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Bai told Fei Cun about it.
The other party was naturally overjoyed and extremely grateful to Jiang Bai. At the same time, they did everything they could to please Jiang Bai, which Jiang Bai quite enjoyed.
When Jiang Bai woke up early the next morning, he was somewhat bewildered.
Himura said she was going to find Naoto Nakayama, keeping him in suspense until he took over the position of honored guest, then she would have him take out the scroll and give it to Jiang Bai.
However, Jiang Bai stopped Fei Cun from doing so, because it was not the right time yet, and exposing oneself too early was not a good choice.
Even if Himura has trained Naoto Nakayama to be like a grandson, what's the point?
As long as he hasn't taken over the position of honored guest, there are certain things he won't be able to access, and unfortunately, his dead father is still alive.
This gave Jiang Bai a real headache, as it meant he couldn't leave and was stuck here doing nothing.
This made Jiang Bai, who was used to being busy, feel very bored.
It's not that Jiang Bai can't go back to China, it's just that some people don't want him to go back and cause trouble as the grand event approaches. Jiang Bai also doesn't want to argue with them. He'll only be abroad for a few months, it's not like he's not allowed to go back.
He's really bored right now.
Early in the morning, Himura left. She had to go back to announce the matter to her sisters in Sakura Meinin, prepare a pledge of allegiance ceremony, and help Jiang Bai keep Naoto Nakayama hanging. She was very busy.
Jiang Bai, on the other hand, had nothing to do.
With nothing to do, Jiang Bai wandered around Xijing by himself. He definitely didn't need to go to school anymore. After causing such a commotion and not going to class the next day, there must be a lot of talk about it now.
Most importantly, there's no need to go now. If Himura can handle Naoto Nakayama, Jiang Bai doesn't need to sacrifice his looks to deceive that young girl.
Without any reason to go, Jiang Bai felt quite bored.
I was strolling around the streets when I found an arcade and started playing games there because I was bored.
"Big brother, are you Brother Jiang Bai?" Just as Jiang Bai was playing an old arcade game by himself, bored and doing nothing, a voice rang in his ear.
A young man with dyed green hair stood beside Jiang Bai, looking at him with excitement.
After a moment of surprise, Jiang Bai remembered who this kid was. He seemed to be a classmate from school, one of the group of delinquents he had severely punished on the first day of school. Jiang Bai had forgotten his name.
Or rather, he never even asked those guys their names.
In Jiang Bai's view, these people were no different from any Tom, Dick, or Harry.
"Ah...you are that person..." Unable to remember who the other person was, Jiang Bai pointed at them and said this.
As soon as he finished speaking, the other person hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, I am Iida!"
He ignored his companions while speaking, quickly took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one for Jiang Bai, and behaved with utmost respect, which greatly alarmed his companions.
Chapter 824 Ida
Others might not know what kind of person Ida was, but the delinquents who hung out with him knew exactly what kind of person he was.
Although they all played together, they all followed Ida, who was a typical street kid—good at fighting, arrogant, and looking down on everyone.
My future dream is to walk the path of the Yakuza and become a powerful figure in the Yakuza world.
I've rarely seen him be so respectful to people, and I've never seen him with such a fawning expression.
What's even more frustrating is that Jiang Bai couldn't even remember Ida's name.
"What, you guys are playing here too?" Jiang Bai took a drag of his cigarette and said noncommittally, turning around as he spoke to begin studying his game.
Compared to this kid named Ida, Jiang Bai was clearly more interested in his game.
But the boy named Ida wasn't discouraged. He said to Jiang Bai, "Brother Jiang Bai, are you playing a game? It's already noon. How about we grab a bite to eat together? We've struck it rich these past few days and are just about to find a place to treat ourselves. You..."
Jiang Bai originally wanted to wave the guy away, but after thinking about it, he figured he was bored anyway, so after a moment's hesitation, he agreed to follow the group of kids around and learn about the local customs and culture.
Jiang Bai paid no attention to what the other party said about getting rich.
How much money could a little kid like him have, who has never seen the world?
How could Jiang Bai take him seriously?
"Okay, I don't have anything else to do anyway."
Jiang Bai nodded after hearing this and stood up.
Ida was immediately flattered and hurriedly bowed and scraped to Jiang Bai, introducing his friends. Without hesitation, he slapped each of his friends, making them call Jiang Bai "Big Brother".
Others may not understand Jiang Bai, but he understands him very well. After being severely reprimanded by Jiang Bai at school the day before yesterday, he became completely convinced of Jiang Bai's abilities.
That's not the point. The point is that so many people greeted Jiang Bai after school. He didn't recognize the others, but he knew that there was one person he had seen before.
One of the true yakuza members of the Inagawa-gumi, the elder brother of Date's elder brother, was a follower of that gentleman.
The gentleman, among those welcoming Jiang Bai, could only stand at the very end, following the large group, bowing respectfully to Jiang Bai, and didn't even have the right to speak.
This made Yida realize that Jiang Bai was no ordinary person, and she longed to be associated with him, wishing she could cling to his coattails forever.
Unfortunately, Jiang Bai didn't come to school the next day, which disappointed him. He was overjoyed to run into Jiang Bai today when he skipped class with his friends. Even though Jiang Bai didn't remember who he was, he still came over.
He didn't care about Jiang Bai's attitude at all; big shots are all like that.
"Where are we going?" Jiang Bai stretched and asked Ida behind him as they stepped out of the game room.
"Well... how about we go eat first?" Ida asked cautiously, her mind racing as she considered how to please Jiang Bai so she could stay by his side in the future.
"Okay, fine." Jiang Bai was bored, so he agreed.
As the group left, Jiang Bai realized that there were quite a few of them. Not only were there the four or five delinquent teenagers in front of him, but there were also several young girls who had followed them when they came out.
However, their appearances are neither pretty nor too ugly. Two of them are passable, while two others are truly unsightly.
However, their attire was giving Jiang Bai a headache, and he subconsciously frowned.
Ida, who was also good at reading people, immediately drove them away.
"Is it just the two of us eating?" Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask.
To be honest, Jiang Bai wasn't very interested in having dinner with this somewhat unfamiliar delinquent.
"This...of course, of course it's not just the two of us, I'll call people over right now!" Ida paused for a moment, subconsciously thinking of other things, his expression changed, and he gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision, and said.
Jiang Bai was taken aback by his expression. He didn't understand what he meant by that expression. It was just a meal, why did it look like a life-or-death decision?
To be honest, Jiang Bai didn't understand this at all.
However, he soon understood, because after Ida made a phone call, she found a restaurant and took Jiang Bai inside. About half an hour later, a young girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a school uniform and carrying a backpack, walked in.
He spotted Date from afar, hesitated for a moment, then walked over and said timidly, "D-Date-kun, what do you need me for?"
To be honest, this girl is very sweet-looking, quite pretty. She has her own merits compared to that Junko Nakayama. She has a great figure and a good temperament. She doesn't have any extra makeup. Her hair is hanging down, and her timid expression gives people a feeling of pity.
I just don't know what his relationship is with Date, that he actually called him out.
"This is my older brother. I asked you to come and have dinner with him. What's wrong with that?" Ida said with a frown, somewhat displeased. His attitude was completely different from when he was facing Jiang Bai, and he was somewhat arrogant.
"N-no." The other person was clearly frightened by these words and stammered in response. After saying this, he glanced at Jiang Bai with some fear.
After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and sat down meekly next to Jiang Bai, keeping her head down and not daring to utter a sound.
This piqued Jiang Bai's curiosity. He wondered what methods Date had used to frighten the girl so much that she had sat down despite her apparent reluctance.
Unconsciously, Jiang Bai thought of some dark plots from TV dramas in his past life, and subconsciously glanced at the girl in front of him.
However, it turned out that Jiang Bai was wrong. Date quickly gave Jiang Bai the answer: "Brother, this is Fujiwara Norika. She is a student at the high school next door. She is seventeen years old this year and is the prettiest girl I have. If you like her, you can let her leave with you tonight!"
This surprised Jiang Bai. The prettiest one he had? What does this kid do?
Seeing Jiang Bai's astonished expression, Date immediately said to Jiang Bai, "I am an agent who does some escort work. Fujiwara's father owes a lot of money, and now she has been introduced to pay off the debt. Don't worry, no one has touched her yet."
"I was originally planning to find a good opportunity to sell it for a high price, but... since I've run into you, brother, I should naturally let you enjoy it!"
"Ida said with a fawning expression."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai couldn't help but roll his eyes. He had originally thought this kid was just a delinquent, but now it seemed that he was not only that, but also a pimp.
Chapter 825 You are Free
Jiang Bai was speechless. He glanced at Fujiwara, whose face was flushed and who was trembling all over, and didn't know what to say.
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Bai asked, "How much money does she owe?"
To be honest, Jiang Bai is not short of money, nor is he a philanthropist. He would rather not get involved in such matters than encounter them. However, since he has come across this, Jiang Bai does not mind spending some money as a way to do good deeds.
"This... I'm not quite sure. If you need, I can ask around for you." Startled, Ida hadn't expected Jiang Bai to say something like that.
He glanced instinctively at Norika Fujiwara, who was equally astonished, and then quickly responded.
He knew that Jiang Bai must be very rich and of high status. Even the big shots of the Inagawa Group had to treat him with utmost respect. Jiang Bai certainly wouldn't care about such a small amount of money.
Perhaps he was planning to buy out Fujiwara as a pastime during his time in Yamato?
Ida understood perfectly, and immediately picked up the phone and left after saying that.
Only Fujiwara and Jiang Bai remained. Jiang Bai glanced at the somewhat frightened girl and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid, I'll help you pay off your debts in a bit."
"Hmm." The other person hummed softly, still keeping their head down, seemingly lost in thought. Jiang Bai chuckled at this and didn't press the matter.
A moment later, Jiang Bai got the answer: the girl in front of him was actually in debt for three million yen.
When asked how she ended up with so much debt, Ida explained: "Her father was a gambling addict who used her as collateral to pay off his debts to loan sharks. They said that if anyone wanted to redeem her, they would need five million yen."
"If it were you, I think you should..."
He wanted to say that given the relationship between Jiang Bai and the Daochuan Association, they could release the person immediately with just one phone call, without any further discussion.
To his surprise, Jiang Bai, without a second thought, took out a checkbook, wrote down five million, and said to Ida, "Give this to them for me. I don't want to have any contact with people like that."
He was telling the truth; he didn't want to have any contact with people like that.
Ida paused for a moment, then agreed, though her expression was somewhat strange, not understanding why Jiang Bai was doing this.
Of course, he wouldn't dare to embezzle the money even if he had a hundred lives. He carefully accepted it and then said to Jiang Bai, "Don't worry, brother, I will definitely handle this matter well."
The three of them then had a simple meal. During the meal, Ida asked Jiang Bai if he wanted to drink alcohol, but Jiang Bai refused.
Fujiwara barely ate anything from beginning to end, only taking a few symbolic bites after Jiang Bai spoke, without saying a word the entire time.
After dinner, Ida wanted to invite Jiang Bai to go out for some entertainment, but Jiang Bai declined, as he had no interest in exchanging anything with a pimp.
He found an excuse to send the person away, then left on his own, intending to go to the arcade to continue playing his own games.
To everyone's surprise, Norika Fujiwara did not leave. After Date left, she lowered her head and followed behind Jiang Bai, keeping a distance of a few meters.
At first, Jiang Bai thought it was on the way and didn't pay much attention. However, after walking quite a distance and arriving at his destination, Jiang Bai stood there and found that the other person was still standing timidly behind him, which made Jiang Bai pause for a moment.
"You're not just going the same way as me, you're following me?" Jiang Bai asked in astonishment.
"This...yes. You...you already bought me, didn't you?" Upon hearing Jiang Bai's words, the other party walked over timidly and whispered to Jiang Bai. The voice was not loud, like the buzzing of a mosquito, but it was quite sweet.
This surprised Jiang Bai for a moment, then he laughed in astonishment, "I didn't buy you. If I hadn't encountered something like this, I would have just let it go. But since I have, I naturally have to help you. You're free now, so hurry back!"
Jiang Bai chuckled and said that he wasn't a lecherous devil who would devour every woman he saw.
I tried to do something out of kindness, but the other party misunderstood.
These words stunned Fujiwara Norika for a long time. She raised her head and looked at Jiang Bai with a look of astonishment and confusion.
To be honest, she has encountered all the darkest things she could ever have seen in her life recently. Her own father betrayed her without hesitation, and loan sharks forced her into prostitution.
If Ida hadn't thought it was her first time and that she could fetch a good price, and hadn't kept it without selling it, she would probably be lying in that disgusting old man's arms by now.
But to her surprise, after having a meal together today, the man in front of her paid off her debts without any hesitation. She thought that he valued her and had bought her.
Although it still made her feel a little uncomfortable, Fujiwara felt that this was much better than being a promiscuous woman.
I never expected that the man in front of me would simply help me and tell me... that I'm free?
This startled Fujiwara for a moment, and the next second, tears welled up in her eyes as she repeatedly bowed to Jiang Bai, saying, "Th-thank you... thank you..."
Jiang Bai chuckled and waved for the other party to leave. It was a rare opportunity to do a good deed, and to be honest, he felt quite pleased.
After the other party expressed their gratitude profusely, Jiang Bai went inside on his own, found a place, and continued to study his old arcade game.
Jiang Bai thought the matter was over, but when he walked out of the arcade a few hours later, he saw a figure still hesitating and lingering there as the sun set.
"Why didn't you leave? Don't you have to go to school?" Jiang Bai walked over, but the other person didn't notice him. When he spoke, the other person was startled and instinctively turned around.
He said somewhat timidly, "No, no, there are no classes this afternoon."
"Don't you have anywhere to go?" Jiang Bai asked, seeing the other person's appearance and realizing that they must be having some difficulties.
"Well... I've been staying in the room that Date-kun arranged for me recently, but... now I can't go back, and I don't know where to go."
The other person lowered their head and said this to Jiang Bai.
"Then you should just go home!" Jiang Bai couldn't help but frown.
That's simple. Before, she was forced to stay away from home and was kidnapped by loan sharks, who then handed her over to Date, a stable boy.
Now that I'm free, I can naturally go home.
"I...I can't go back." As she spoke, tears streamed down Fujiwara's face.
Chapter 826 You Stop Right There, Grandpa
This made Jiang Bai frown, thinking of the girl's recent situation, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Since Fujiwara's father could sell her once, he could naturally make a second deal. He's a gambling addict and has absolutely no humanity left. It's true that she can't go back.
Otherwise, Jiang Bai's help to her this time would have been for nothing.
"Do you have any other relatives? What about your mother?" Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask.
"My mother left, and I don't know where she went. She left when I was very young, and since then my father has become a gambler. I don't know where to look for her."
Fujiwara's answer left Jiang Bai feeling quite helpless.
"I know where your mother is. Do you want me to take you to her now? Heh, I didn't expect you to have grown up so much in the blink of an eye. Damn it, I haven't noticed you all these years."
Just then, a mocking voice rang in Jiang Bai and Fujiwara's ears, and a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old appeared in front of them without them noticing.
He was accompanied by seven or eight bodyguards, who appeared to have just gotten out of the car.
This is an acquaintance, known as the number one beast in the animal kingdom, Yamaguchi Ichiro!
Hiroichi Yamaguchi, that good-for-nothing spendthrift son.
I never expected him to appear here and say such things.
This greatly surprised Jiang Bai.
"You...you know my mother?"
Fujiwara paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the hypocrite Yamaguchi Ichiro. Jiang Bai followed his gaze, not understanding why Yamaguchi was here at this time and what he meant by those words.
"Of course I know her. Your mother is still living in my house. She's been living in my cellar for a long time. She's one of my favorite female dogs. When I took her away, you were only a few years old. I can't believe you've grown up so much!"
"Tsk tsk, your mother was once a guardian priestess of the Ise Grand Shrine. Tsk tsk, if she hadn't met your good-for-nothing father, how would she have left the Ise Grand Shrine? And how would she have ended up in my hands?"
"Well, why am I telling you this? In short, all you need to know is that your mother is in my hands now. If you want to see your mother, you might as well come with me."
Yamaguchi Ichiro laughed heartily, and then said a few words to Fujiwara.
"Yamaguchi, if I were you, I'd get out of here right now. If you don't, I'll get out for you! I don't have much patience. If you're not going to show your face in a minute, I'll deal with you, you good-for-nothing, for Yamaguchi Hiroichi!"
Jiang Bai snorted coldly upon hearing this. He didn't have that much patience, and he didn't have much affection for Yamaguchi Ichiro, that beast of a man.
If they weren't on Yamaguchi Hiroichi's turf, Jiang Bai would have already dealt with this bastard. Although he was mindful of Yamaguchi Hiroichi and couldn't take action against this kid, it didn't mean Jiang Bai would give him face.
If this kid doesn't know his own limitations, I wouldn't mind giving him a lesson he'll never forget.
Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Ichiro snorted coldly, glanced at Jiang Bai, and said nothing. He then looked at Fujiwara and said with a smile, "If you want to see your mother, then contact me. I will have someone send you my phone number later. Call me anytime if you need anything!"
"Tsk tsk, what a mistake. She was just a little girl back then, and now she's grown into such a beautiful girl. It's so enviable. I should have taken care of her myself."
After saying this, he turned around and prepared to leave.
Just then, Jiang Bai's phone rang, which made Jiang Bai, who was about to retort to Yamaguchi, lose interest. He glared at Yamaguchi fiercely and then took out his phone.
"Master, I met Naoto Nakayama today and mentioned to him that I have been studying history recently and know about Xu Fu. I am very curious about him."
"Naoto Nakayama told me that he was a descendant of Xu Fu. I told him that I had heard that Xu Fu had a notebook that recorded many secret events, and I hoped that I could have a chance to see it."
It was Himura who spoke, and her opening remarks surprised Jiang Bai. He then frowned. He had already told Himura that now was not the time to discuss this matter. The item was kept at the Ise Grand Shrine, and without inheriting the position of enshrined at the Ise Grand Shrine, Naoto Nakayama could not possibly obtain the manuscript.
It's better to talk about this later; it wouldn't be appropriate to bring it up now.
Surprisingly, she still told me.
Jiang Bai was somewhat displeased and was about to reprimand her when Hisumura spoke up again: "I didn't originally intend to say anything; I just wanted to lay the groundwork for him. But I didn't expect that when we got to this point, I learned some new information!"
"What breaking news?" Jiang Bai was taken aback and couldn't help but ask.
"Naoto Nakayama told me that the notebook was lost nineteen years ago and was taken away by a priestess named Kikurika Ashikaga at the Ise Grand Shrine. Along with the notebook, some secret texts of the Ise Grand Shrine also disappeared."
"It is said that this priestess met a young man, fell in love with him, and secretly ran away, taking some things with her as collateral, including Xu Fu's notes!"
"After they left Ise Grand Shrine, they pawned some things, supposedly to go abroad. Some of them have now been recovered by Ise Grand Shrine, but some are still in their possession. Ise Grand Shrine investigated and found that this Ashikaga Kikurika appeared in Saikyo six years ago, but unfortunately, there was no news of her afterward. Ise Grand Shrine investigated many times, but only found her husband. However, he had become an alcoholic and a gambler, confused and unaware of anything, and the news of him was cut off."
Jiang Bai was taken aback by these words. Could things really be such a coincidence?
He instinctively hung up the phone and looked at Fujiwara, who still looked bewildered, and asked, "Do you know your mother's name?"
"I know, Fujiwara Kikurika!" After hearing Jiang Bai's words, Fujiwara, who was still somewhat dazed and confused, came back to her senses, glanced at Yamaguchi Ichiro who was gradually walking away, and then said this in a low voice.
This made Jiang Bai instantly realize that the other party had changed her name. In Yamato, people change their surname after marriage. The name was correct, but the surname had changed. She was a former guardian priest of the Ise Grand Shrine.
What kind of coincidence is that in the world?
If this isn't the same person, Jiang Bai would have ripped their head off!
Now that things are clear, the notes are likely in that woman's hands, and she has been captured and imprisoned by Yamaguchi. How can Jiang Bai let Yamaguchi go?
Then he roared, "Yamaguchi Ichiro, you stop right there!"
After saying that, he rushed towards the other party, afraid that the kid would get away!
Chapter 827 Tearing Off the Face
Jiang Bai's sudden appearance caught Yamaguchi Ichiro off guard, leaving him bewildered and confused as to what was wrong with Jiang Bai.
However, he soon found out, because Jiang Bai rushed out and pinned the other person to the ground, grabbing the other person's neck with one hand and instantly knocking down the two bodyguards who were with him with the other.
The situation changed drastically at that moment.
"What...what do you want to do!" Yamaguchi Ichiro was terrified.
Don't be fooled by his loud outbursts just now. He knows Jiang Bai won't turn against him over such a small matter. More importantly, he wasn't targeting Jiang Bai, but Fujiwara beside him.
Prior to this, he had a specialist investigate and found that Fujiwara and Jiang Bai had absolutely no connection, which is why he dared to stand up.
But to his utter surprise, Jiang Bai suddenly attacked him and pinned him down, which was completely unexpected.
As the son of Yamaguchi Hiroichi, how could he not know about Jiang Bai's infamous reputation?
That's why I was quite frightened on the spot.
They were afraid that Jiang Bai might get carried away and do something bad to them, then they would have nowhere to turn to cry.
Jiang Bai has done this kind of thing countless times.
It's true that evil people need evil people to teach them a lesson. Yamaguchi Ichiro, who is known as the number one beast in the animal world, was scared when he met the fierce and evil Jiang Bai.
"Nothing much. From what you just said, you mean you captured Fujiwara's mother? Hmm, and she seems to be a guardian priestess from Ise Grand Shrine?"
"I'm curious, this person, she shouldn't be of any use to you anymore, right? How about having someone send her over to me?"
While gripping Yamaguchi Hiroichi's neck, Jiang Bai said.
Upon hearing this, how could the other party dare to utter a single word of dissent?
He nodded hastily and said to Jiang Bai in a tearful voice, "You...you let me go first, and I'll have someone bring someone over right away."
"That won't do. How do I know you won't try anything funny? What if you run away again?"
Jiang Bai shook his head and rejected the suggestion. Then he glanced at Yamaguchi Ichiro's other followers and sneered, "Go and bring him to me. I'll give you an hour and a half. Tell Yamaguchi Hiroichi that I said if I don't see him in an hour and a half, I'll take care of this little beast!"
To be honest, there's a reason why this was done so suddenly.
The news had been received, and Jiang Bai was unwilling to delay any longer. This guardian priest was extremely important to Jiang Bai and could not be lost.
It would have been better if he hadn't spoken up, but now that he's asking for people, it won't be long before everyone knows.
In the past two days, quite a few people have been keeping an eye on Jiang Bai. Ever since the three big gangs failed to visit him and he went to see Yamaguchi Hiroichi, his affairs could no longer be kept secret.
Yamato is now under the watchful eyes of countless people, including those from the Ise Grand Shrine. He wants people, and if he doesn't use coercion, there's no guarantee that something won't go wrong, especially if they end up in the hands of the Ise Grand Shrine.
Jiang Bai will be in a passive position when he needs people in the future; he probably won't have any other option but to forcibly take them.
Since that's the case, why not just get to the point and take them into our hands now?
Once the person is in Jiang Bai's hands, everything else will be fine. Anyone who wants to take the person from him will have to see if Jiang Bai will agree.
Those present dared not hesitate upon hearing Jiang Bai's words. After a moment of stunned silence, one of them immediately took out his phone and began contacting his family about the matter.
They were all close confidants of Yamaguchi Ichiro and worked under Yamaguchi Hiroichi. They were all present at yesterday's events and knew that this man was no ordinary person, so they did not dare to threaten him and simply contacted Yamaguchi Hiroichi silently.
Because they knew they couldn't handle this situation.
Soon there was a reply: how could a woman who had been imprisoned by Yamaguchi Ichiro for many years be compared to Yamaguchi Ichiro, the beloved son of Yamaguchi Hiroichi?
So they quickly gave us the news.
"Mr. Jiang, Mr. Yamaguchi said that the person will be delivered to you immediately. Please do not harm the young master. Also, he wants to speak with you!"
One of Yamaguchi Ichiro's henchmen said this to Jiang Bai, clearly at the behest of Yamaguchi Hiroichi.
Jiang Bai was taken aback by these words. After thinking for a moment, he nodded in agreement. He took the phone, and Yamaguchi Hiroichi's voice came from the other end: "Mr. Jiang, is it necessary to go to such extremes? She's just a woman. With just one phone call from you, we will send her over immediately. Why bother with my son?"
"No, absolutely not. There are quite a few people watching me. I'm afraid you, Mr. Yamaguchi, might play some tricks. This woman is still somewhat important to me, and I don't want any unexpected events to occur."
"Therefore, in this extraordinary time, extraordinary measures must be taken. Rest assured, your son is in my hands and there will be no accidents. Of course, I am referring to the next hour and a half. If I haven't seen him by then, I cannot guarantee whether your son's body will be preserved intact."
Jiang Bai chuckled and responded nonchalantly. If it were anyone else, they would probably be trembling with fear in the face of someone like Yamaguchi Hiroichi.
However, Jiang Bai was clearly no ordinary person. He was not afraid of Yamaguchi Hiroichi, and now that the deed was done, he had no intention of backing down.
"Mr. Jiang, do you know this is Yamato?" After a long silence, the other end of the line didn't hang up and finally said this.
This was the first time Yamaguchi Hiroichi had said such a thing to Jiang Bai, and he did so with great seriousness, the meaning of which was already very clear.
He was warning Jiang Bai that this was Yamato, his territory, and that Jiang Bai was indeed troublesome, and he didn't want to cause trouble. However, if Jiang Bai didn't know when to advance and retreat, he, Yamaguchi Hiroichi, might not be able to find a way to keep him here!
"I know this is Yamato, but I also know that no one can stop me, Jiang Bai, from doing what I want to do. I do things entirely according to my heart and personal preferences."
"If I'm happy, anything is fine. If anyone makes me unhappy, I don't mind kicking them away as a stumbling block. Yin Tianchou and Wang Zhenxu were such stumbling blocks, and they… I did indeed kick them away."
"If Mr. Yamaguchi wants to give it a try, I don't mind putting in a little extra effort," Jiang Bai chuckled.
The two had been exchanging witty remarks for a long time, and it was already on the verge of a complete falling out.
Jiang Bai didn't mince words; he was determined not to give the other party any face. He knew that when dealing with someone like Yamaguchi, there was no room for compromise; he had to let him know his resolve.
Otherwise, there's no guarantee he won't try some tricks on me. With so many people watching me now, once I've got Yamaguchi Ichiro under my control, there's no turning back.
Chapter 828 Dog One
Jiang Bai could guarantee that within half an hour, this matter would become common knowledge.
In this world, no one can keep a secret from others.
Having already taken the matter of Yamaguchi Ichiro asking Yamaguchi Hiroichi for a former priestess of the Ise Grand Shrine, he couldn't hide for long.
It will soon be known to everyone, and the result... is self-evident.
"Okay, I hope Mr. Jiang won't regret what he did today."
Yamaguchi Hiroichi finally said this and hung up the phone, not wanting to get entangled with Jiang Bai any further.
Because both he and Jiang Bai understood that the two of them had completely broken off relations.
After the deal is completed, the two are likely to have a real clash.
However, Jiang Bai couldn't care less about that now. The most important thing was to get his hands on Fujiwara's mother, the former priestess of the Ise Grand Shrine who stole the manuscript.
That's the key point. As for what happens next, if Yamaguchi Hiroichi wants to cause trouble for me, I can just challenge him.
As it turned out, Jiang Bai's judgment was correct.
Shortly after this incident, when Jiang Bai took Yamaguchi Ichiro to the top floor of a nearby hotel, the Ise Grand Shrine received the news and a dozen priests from the Ise Grand Shrine, along with several high-ranking Onmyoji, headed straight for Xijing.
At the same time, several highly accomplished Buddhist monks from Rikoya also arrived.
Both are not far from Xi'an, and can be reached by private jet in just one or two hours.
Clearly, the priestess who was caring for her was far more important to her than Ichiro Yamaguchi, who had imprisoned her for several years.
As for the specific reason, no one knows.
Jiang Bai received the news when he took Yamaguchi Hiroichi to the top floor of the hotel and received a glass of wine from Fujiwara to savor.
He himself has no intelligence network in Yamato. The little power that Himura and the others have recently sided with him is nothing to be ashamed of. Compared with the real major powers, it is not worth mentioning.
However, just because he didn't have it doesn't mean others didn't. Those three bastards who planned his arrival have a lot of information about this place and are well-informed.
In particular, since they control both the God Group and the Human Group, they might not be very good at investigating ordinary people, but as their rivals, they would know about any movements of Takano and Ise Grand Shrine in no time.
This made Jiang Bai very glad that he had acted so decisively.
If we don't give Yamaguchi Hiroshi a strong dose of medicine, who knows what he'll do now.
Whether they would collude with the people of Ise Grand Shrine and use the goddess priestess as a bargaining chip to deal with him, these are all unknowns.
However, Jiang Bai doesn't need to worry about this issue now, because he just gave Yamaguchi Hiroichi a heads-up. Unless he really doesn't want his son, he shouldn't do anything reckless.
At least, he won't do anything reckless until he gets Yamaguchi Ichiro back.
As expected, Yamaguchi Hiroichi valued his precious son's life and arrived at the place Jiang Bai had designated on time, bringing his men to Jiang Bai's presence an hour later.
"This is the person you wanted. Now can you release my son?" Jiang Bai was surrounded by his men.
Inside and outside the hotel, upstairs and downstairs, within a radius of about a mile, Yamaguchi Hiroichi had deployed at least several hundred people, which Jiang Bai saw but didn't take seriously.
He sneered at these words, glanced at Fujiwara Norika standing beside him who was clearly flustered and seemed to be still in shock from the huge scene, and asked her to confirm if this was the person he was looking for.
After a moment of hesitation, Fujiwara understood Jiang Bai's meaning. He cautiously walked towards the woman, whose clothes were somewhat tattered and whose eyes were dull and lifeless. After examining her carefully, tears welled up in his eyes: "Mom!"
A mournful cry rang out as it rushed forward, sobbing uncontrollably.
However, the other party's reaction was somewhat dull. It was clear that being imprisoned for so long had made them numb, and they now looked more like a walking corpse.
Yamato has many ways to torture people, especially some perverts who like certain special games. For example, Yamaguchi Ichiro, a master of the animal world, is very familiar with this kind of thing. The person in front of me has probably been tortured and trained in some way to become the way he is now.
This was clearly not the outcome Jiang Bai wanted.
He wanted a priestess from the Ise Grand Shrine who knew the secret and had taken Xu Fu's manuscript, not a walking corpse.
"This is not the person I want. I want a former priestess, not a walking corpse. The person Mr. Yamaguchi gave me is clearly not satisfactory." Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
He had considered all possibilities, but he hadn't anticipated this situation, which left him momentarily at a loss as to how to deal with it. Naturally, he vented his dissatisfaction on Yamaguchi.
If it weren't for this beastly son's actions, Erika Fujiwara wouldn't be in this state.
What use would Jiang Bai have for such a walking corpse?
"Then what do you want?" Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Hiroichi's expression changed instantly, turning ashen as he stared at Jiang Bai in front of him.
"Hehe, how about it? You give me a certain kind of person, and I'll return the same kind of person to you! Isn't that simple?" Jiang Bai sneered and gave such a statement.
"You dare! Jiang Bai, if you dare to harm my son, I guarantee you won't leave here alive. There are at least two hundred of my men around here, all of them assassins. In addition, there are experts from Koga and Iga!"
"If you dare to break your promise and hurt my son, you will never leave here alive!"
Upon hearing this, Hiroichi Yamaguchi's expression changed drastically.
Just kidding, he saw exactly what Erika Fujiwara looked like.
She was completely a mindless walking corpse. Yamaguchi Ichiro had imprisoned and trained her for several years. How could Yamaguchi Hiroichi not know what she had become?
Hiroichi Yamaguchi could never accept that his son would become like that; after all, this was his only bloodline!
"No! No! She's fine, she's fine! Inuichi! Hurry, speak up!" Seeing things taking a turn for the worse, Yamaguchi Ichiro cried out in alarm.
"Dog One greets Master. What are your orders, Master?"
The next second, Fujiwara Erika knelt down on the ground, making a seductive gesture, and then she was on all fours, which made Jiang Bai's face darken.
What use is someone like that? Just a plaything?
"Hmph!" Jiang Bai snorted twice, then remained silent.
As for Fujiwara, he was completely bewildered by the scene before him and had no idea how to adapt to it.
"Jiang Bai, just tell me your conditions as long as you release my son!"
When Yamaguchi Hiroichi saw Jiang Bai snort and then grab Yamaguchi Ichiro's neck with one hand, he was startled and quickly shouted.
Chapter 829 The System's Bizarre Mission
"Hehe, is that so? Please wait a moment, let me think about this problem."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow and then said this to Yamaguchi Hiroichi in front of him, neither immediately refusing nor immediately agreeing.
"System, can this woman return to normal?" Jiang Bai subconsciously didn't want to use the system, feeling that there was something wrong, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Jiang Bai was naturally very happy to have acquired such a thing out of nowhere, which gave him extraordinary power. However, the fact that the thing came about so strangely and suddenly made him feel a little uncomfortable.
Jiang Bai is unwilling to use it too much unless absolutely necessary.
This is why he started out with the system, but now he doesn't use it unless necessary, and he's even less willing to communicate with it.
Now, Jiang Bai was clearly in trouble, and he remembered the system again.
"That's simple. No side effects, you'll recover to normal for 5,000 prestige points. If there are side effects, you'll recover to normal for 3,000. You can choose. You're asking me if this is even possible? That's blatant disrespect to the system!"
"Young man, it's wrong of you to always refuse to communicate more with the great system."
"Therefore, I have decided to add a little fun to your life. Within twenty hours, please obtain 200,000 prestige points. Otherwise, the system will automatically deduct 200,000 prestige points from the host! If you complete the task, the system will reward you with 200,000 prestige points. This task is a random task from the system and cannot be canceled."
The system's voice rang out at this moment, leaving Jiang Bai completely stunned.
He originally wanted to restore Erika to normal so he could get the manuscript from her, but he had no choice but to turn to the system.
But I never expected that after I had just talked to this guy for a few more minutes, it would cause such a big problem.
Two hundred thousand prestige points?
Who do you think you are?
God?
Are you kidding me? Jiang Bai's income from prestige points has skyrocketed since he acquired the Lingjiu Palace in the Great Snow Mountain. This is because he has several experts under his command, especially after all of them advanced to the top level.
Later, he recruited some people, such as Sakura Meinin, but these people were not completely loyal and could not be considered Jiang Bai's established forces. They could only provide Jiang Bai with a small amount of prestige points each day.
Jiang Bai's prestige is now fixed at around 2,000 points per day, which is a huge amount. That's 60,000 points a month and 720,000 points a year, which makes Jiang Bai quite satisfied.
Although the remaining resources can be used to acquire some things, the amount is not very large.
Two hundred thousand, and he gets it within twenty-four hours?
Is this simply asking someone to do something they can't?
Normally, this is Jiang Bai's inventory for several months.
For him to obtain it in just one day is simply... impossible!
Jiang Bai never expected that this despicable system would suddenly throw such a request at him, especially at this crucial moment. Jiang Bai's face turned green.
Damn it, what do we do now?
This system task cannot be ignored, so what should Jiang Bai do?
Are we just throwing away 200,000 prestige points for nothing?
The positive and negative combined amount to 400,000! 400,000 prestige points is an absolute fortune for Jiang Bai.
Keep in mind that the complete version of "Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique" only costs a little over 600,000 reputation points.
Jiang Bai has already saved up over 100,000, and is just waiting to save up some more so that he can exchange for the complete version of "The Demon Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique" in the future.
Now that's great, once this is done, the "Dragon Suppressing Prison Technique" will basically be within reach, and Jiang Bai's strength will inevitably increase exponentially again.
Conversely, Jiang Bai might suffer significant losses, making it almost impossible for him to give up his current achievements.
Therefore, at this moment, Jiang Bai's gaze towards Yamaguchi Hiroichi changed somewhat.
If you want to build up your reputation, Yamaguchi Hiroichi is definitely an excellent choice.
In Jiang Bai's eyes, Yamaguchi Hiroichi was no longer the intimidating tyrant of Yamato, no longer the representative of many secular masters in Yamato, and no longer the powerful underground emperor who once dominated the world.
It's a moving humanoid monster; kill it, and you'll get tons of experience points!
For a moment, Jiang Bai's eyes lit up as he looked at Yamaguchi Hiroichi.
Jiang Bai unconsciously swallowed and glanced at Yamaguchi Hiroichi. Yamaguchi Hiroichi, who was standing there talking to Jiang Bai, looked at him and his expression changed several times, becoming extremely unnatural.
He also realized that Jiang Bai's gaze was a little strange, but he didn't know exactly why.
I doubt anyone other than Jiang Bai himself would know much about this.
"I think we can't let this go for now. You go first, and I'll contact you later. As for your son, Yamaguchi Ichiro, he'll stay with me for now. I'll give you an explanation within three hours!"
Jiang Bai squinted and said this to Yamaguchi Hiroichi in front of him.
It was said to take three hours, but Jiang Bai estimated it wouldn't take that long. The system would restore Fujiwara Erika, but it would only take a few seconds. However, obtaining Xu Fu's notes might take some time.
Yamato is so big, who knows where Erika hid this thing? Who knows if there were any hidden stories behind what happened back then? Jiang Bai will need some time to get this thing and confirm its contents.
Moreover, it would take some time to call Himura and ask her to hide.
After all, Sakura Meinin has so many people who are already considered Jiang Bai's people. Jiang Bai is preparing to make a big move, so it's only right that they hide for a while.
All of this takes time. Jiang Bai roughly estimated that three hours would be more than enough.
As for whether or not Yamaguchi Ichiro will be returned to Yamaguchi Hiroichi three hours later, is that even a question?
They definitely won't give it to me.
If I give it to him, how will Jiang Bai gain prestige?
Jiang Bai was going all out for those 200,000 prestige points. He couldn't possibly let go of that giant humanoid monster, Yamaguchi Hiroichi!
If we give Yamaguchi Ichiro back to him, how can we continue playing? We'll be doomed!
"This..." Jiang Bai's suggestion clearly surprised Yamaguchi Ichiro. He subconsciously glanced at Jiang Bai with a look of doubt on his face, obviously not quite believing Jiang Bai's sudden suggestion.
You should know that they had already agreed beforehand that he would bring his men over in an hour and a half, and then Jiang Bai would release them.
He withstood considerable pressure for this.
Just before he arrived, someone from the Ise Grand Shrine had already contacted him, demanding an explanation and asking him to hand the person over to the Ise Grand Shrine.
However, he refused all of these requests, enduring the pressure and even threats from the other party, but he still handed the person over to Jiang Bai in order to ensure his son's safety.