The ancient dwelling’s door was swung open, and a tall, kimono-clad young woman stepped inside. Her delicate and beautiful face bore a certain resemblance to the older woman’s, and her expression was tinged with indifference. Her aura was frigid. She was the Young Master of the Iga Clan, Iga Hideko.
Iga Hideko walked up and sat kneeling in front of Iga Suzumi.
"Hideko, the Koga Sect has sent an order for you to go to China to kill someone!"
Iga Suzumi looked at Iga Hideko and said.
"Go to China to kill someone? Who?" Iga Hideko asked indifferently.
"A Chinese named Xiao Yifeng. He crippled the Young Master of the Ishii Clan. The Patriarch of the Ishii Clan sought the Koga Sect to have him killed. The Koga Sect dispatched Qianxun Guiwu, but in the end, they failed, and two ninjas in the Initial Stage of the Gang Qi Realm were killed."
Iga Suzumi spoke calmly.
"Given that, why would the Koga Sect send me?" Iga Hideko frowned slightly.
"This is exactly what I’m worried about. Matsumoto Mayu suddenly assigning you this task at this time, I don’t know what her intentions are. I’m worried..."
Iga Suzumi’s face carried a somber look with a hint of concern.
"Mother Superior is worried that Matsumoto Mayu might harm me," Iga Hideko said, looking at Iga Suzumi.
"Your martial talent is the strongest among the young generation of the Iga Clan today, even surpassing mine. You will undoubtedly become a true martial artist in the future, and the hope for the rise of the Iga Clan rests entirely on you. If anything happens to you, the Iga Clan will be finished."
Iga Suzumi spoke with worry.
"Mother Superior thinks that Matsumoto Mayu intends to take this opportunity to kill me."
"It’s not an impossibility. Right now, we are reliant on them, yet we must obey their orders, otherwise the Iga Clan will be in danger," Iga Suzumi sighed.
"If that’s the case, we’ll just have to give it a try. Even if they want to kill me, it won’t be so easy. I won’t give them the chance," Iga Hideko stated coldly, her eyes flickering with a chill.
"Hideko, the Koga Sect will certainly send someone to secretly keep an eye on the Iga Clan. I can’t send anyone to protect you in secret. Once you’re in China, everything will be up to you," Iga Suzumi instructed as she flipped her palm. Suddenly, a delicate sword emitting a halo of light appeared in her hand, radiating a spiritual charm and a formidable aura.
"This is a Sword of Spirit Instruments!"
At the sight of the delicate sword, Iga Hideko displayed a startled expression, her pupils constricting.
"Indeed, this Middle-Grade Spiritual Sword is the inheritance sword of our Iga Clan, held by each generation’s Patriarch," said Iga Suzumi as she waved her hand and fed a Dao Seal into the sword, making it quiver slightly.
"I have now removed the bond with the Spiritual Sword. I officially entrust this sword to you, hoping it may provide you with the power to protect yourself."
"Mother Superior, I will not fail your expectations. Once I’ve killed this Chinese man, I will strive to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm!" Iga Hideko declared solemnly, her eyes gleaming with a sharp murderous intent, emitting a cold air all around her.
Just as Xiao Yifeng was preparing to leave work for dinner at Ye Corporation, he suddenly sneezed.
"Which beauty is thinking of me again?" he said with extreme narcissism. However, he was unaware that it was not because someone was thinking of him, but because a young woman was preparing to kill him.
At that moment, Xiao Yifeng’s phone rang.
"Mr. Xiao? This is Shen Yunfeng!"
The voice of Shen Yunfeng, Mayor of Tianhai City, came through the phone.
"Mayor Shen, may I ask why you’ve suddenly called me? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Xiao Yifeng said, somewhat puzzled.
"Mr. Xiao, are you free at the moment? My father specifically asked me to give you a call and invite you over for a meal at our home to express our gratitude for saving his life," Shen Yunfeng spoke.
"Mayor Shen, you’re too kind; there’s really no need for this."
"Mr. Xiao, please make sure to come. If I can’t get you to come, Elder Shen won’t let me off the hook," Shen Yunfeng said with a sense of helplessness.
Being so earnestly requested by the esteemed Mayor himself, Xiao Yifeng could only agree.
"Mr. Xiao, where are you currently? I’ll send a car to pick you up."
"No need, just tell me the address, and I’ll come over," Xiao Yifeng responded, jotting down the address provided.
Twenty minutes later, Xiao Yifeng arrived at the family compound of the Tianhai City government in his Aston Martin, only to be stopped by two armed guards outside the compound.
"Sir, whom are you looking for?"
"Does Mayor Shen’s family live here?" Xiao Yifeng asked.
"Yes!" one of the guards nodded.
"That’s right, then. I’m here to see them. Let me in, please."
"Sir, please show your identification!"
"Identification? What identification?" Xiao Yifeng asked, bewildered.
"Without identification, we cannot let you in," said the guard firmly.
Xiao Yifeng was left speechless and had no choice but to take out his phone and call Shen Yunfeng to explain the situation.
Soon, Shen Yunfeng, dressed in a suit, appeared and approached Xiao Yifeng’s car: "Mr. Xiao, I’m sorry about this!"
"It’s no problem," Xiao Yifeng shook his head.
"This is my guest, let him through!"
Shen Yunfeng said calmly to the two guards, prompting a sudden change in their expressions. They hurriedly nodded and allowed the car to pass.
Shocked, their eyes were filled with awe as they silently wondered: Who exactly is this young man that Mayor Shen personally came out to greet him? He must hold quite the esteem!
Under Shen Yunfeng’s guidance, Xiao Yifeng drove to a secluded three-story house deep within the government family compound, surrounded by numerous trees and absent of any neighboring houses, an environment both quiet and elegant. It was the Shen family home.
"Mr. Xiao, please come in. Elder Shen is waiting for you inside!"
Shen Yunfeng looked at Xiao Yifeng with a smile, without any of the airs or authority of a city mayor, appearing instead like any ordinary citizen.
"Mayor Shen is too polite. But from now on, just call me Little Feng; no need for ’Mr. Xiao’. It feels too formal," Xiao Yifeng said lightly.
"Alright then, I’ll call you Little Feng, and you can just call me Uncle," Shen Yunfeng said with a gentle smile.
Afterward, the two entered the house together.
Inside, the house was furnished simply and elegantly, reminiscent of an ordinary household. This sight made Xiao Yifeng feel rather impressed; it seemed that the Shen family held admirable family values.
At that moment, Elder Shen was sitting on a sofa, sipping tea from a cup. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in a black athletic outfit with a crew cut, his sharp eyes fixed on Xiao Yifeng, a spark of intensity flashing within them.