# 667
Chapter 668: The Faith of the Black Killing Squad
When Yuzuri Nana held Uncle Kyosuke's hand and walked back to the car, her eyes were already red and swollen.
Uncle Kyosuke had told her everything—the reasons he had hidden his identity and all that had happened. He had concealed these things before because he didn't want to drag Yuzuri Nana into this whirlpool, but now that she had finally drawn the [Thousand Cranes] and become a [Fierce Ghost]-level wanted criminal as well as the master of the Magatsu Blade, there were some things she was destined to face.
Telling her everything would only benefit her.
"Dad, the shop is destroyed, Dotonbori is gone too… Where should we go from here?" Yuzuri Nana looked at the flattened Dotonbori around her, where the prosperity and bustle of old were nowhere to be seen, and turned to look at Uncle Kyosuke.
If it had been before, the destruction of Black Wutong would have devastated Yuzuri Nana, but now her heart wasn't in as much pain. After all, she already knew Uncle Kyosuke's identity. For her now, wherever Uncle Kyosuke and her brothers were was Black Wutong.
The shop itself… seemed to have become less important.
Uncle Kyosuke stared at the completely collapsed Black Wutong club in the corner and fell into silence…
Though Shen Qingzhu couldn't understand what they were saying, relying on years of keen observation, he could vaguely guess their predicament. He turned to Lin Qiye and said, "If you have nowhere to go, you can come back to the Black Killing Squad with me. There are many empty floors there, and no one will disturb you."
Lin Qiye translated Shen Qingzhu's words for everyone. The others exchanged glances and had no objections.
"Thank you for the trouble." Uncle Kyosuke held Yuzuri Nana's hand and gave Shen Qingzhu a slight bow with a smile.
…
Black Killing Squad Building.
The black sedan stopped at the foot of the building. The moment Shen Qingzhu and the others stepped out of the car, they froze in place.
Outside the building, every member of the Black Killing Squad stood at attention before the gate. Wind and rain drenched their bodies, yet they remained unmoved, like row upon row of sculptures.
Shen Qingzhu's brow furrowed. He couldn't understand what these小弟 were doing.
When they saw Shen Qingzhu appear before them, eyes lit up with joy—Ii Moriyoshi, Asakura Ken, and the others couldn't contain their elation!
The Big Boss was back!!
The Big Boss was still alive!!
Thud—!
In that instant, every member of the Black Killing Squad dropped to their knees, their kneecaps crashing heavily against the ground with dull sounds. They prostrated in perfect unison, shouting with all their might into the storm:
"Please, Big Boss, forgive our sins!!"
Shen Qingzhu stood before the crowd in his flowing cloud feather robe, turning his head stiffly to look at Lin Qiye. His eyes showed a plea for help.
What is this situation?
Why did they all kneel down the moment I came back?
What are they even saying?
Lin Qiye walked silently to Shen Qingzhu's side, lowering his head, his lips parting slightly as he whispered so only the two of them could hear:
"They're saying, 'Please, Big Boss, forgive our sins'…"
Shen Qingzhu was stunned for a moment, then understood why the Black Killing Squad members were doing this.
"Big Boss!" Ii Moriyoshi raised his crimson-red eyes. "We are truly sorry! When you rescued us from the Oracle Envoy's hands, everyone was planning to grab their weapons and go back to help you! It was I… I who stopped them. I felt that in that situation, all of us going back would only be a burden to you in battle!
We abandoned you and fled on our own—that's truly inexcusable!
But the order to not look back was given by me. If you must punish someone, please punish me!
Ii Moriyoshi, here and now, will seppuku to atone for his sins!"
As he spoke, Lin Qiye translated every word in real-time. The moment he finished his last sentence, Ii Moriyoshi knelt up, raised his upper body, and猛地drew a tantō from his waist, preparing to thrust it into his own abdomen. His eyes were filled with resolve!
Shen Qingzhu's eyes narrowed. His thumb hooked the white ring on his ring finger, sending it flying outward. It sliced through the air and struck precisely against the tantō's blade, sending it flying from Ii Moriyoshi's hand with a震!
The tantō clattered to the ground. Ii Moriyoshi stared at his empty hand and茫然looked up at Shen Qingzhu.
"What… should I say?" Shen Qingzhu muttered quietly.
Lin Qiye contemplated for a moment. "I'll say a sentence, and you repeat it."
"Alright."
Shen Qingzhu took a deep breath and roared: "Eight men!"
This bellow directly stunned all the Black Killing Squad members. They had never seen the Big Boss so furious.
"Those gods don't treat you as human, and now you don't treat yourselves as human either?" Shen Qingzhu's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes filled with majesty and fury. "Dignity is something you earn yourselves! No one has the right to decide whether you live or die! We went to great lengths to rescue you from the Oracle Envoy's hands, and now you want to take your own lives?
Foolish! Absurd! Humbling yourselves and trampling everything you are underfoot—how is that any different from ants!
With attitudes like that, how dare you call yourselves my subordinates?"
When Shen Qingzhu finished speaking, every Black Killing Squad member shuddered. They stared blankly at Shen Qingzhu. They had never seen the Big Boss speak so many words in one breath.
In their impression, the Big Boss had always been a taciturn, decisive type. Speaking so much at once meant he truly valued them…
So in the Big Boss's heart, they were actually this important?
No wonder… the Big Boss risked his life fighting the Oracle Envoy just to rescue them!
The Black Killing Squad members' eyes began to turn red.
Shen Qingzhu had no idea what he was saying. Whatever Lin Qiye told him to say, he just repeated it. Judging from these people's expressions, though, it seemed to be working quite well…
"We are truly sorry!!" Ii Moriyoshi, leading the other members, prostrated themselves once more, holding back the moved tears in their eyes as they bellowed, "The gods treat us like ants, so from this day forward, we will no longer worship gods!
Our lives and glory belong entirely to the Black Killing Squad! To the Big Boss!
From now on, Big Boss… you are the faith of the Black Killing Squad."
Watching the Black Killing Squad members prostrate like waves, Shen Qingzhu slightly turned his head to look at Lin Qiye. The latter gave him a nod, signaling that everything was taken care of. Only then did he relax.
"These few are my honored guests. Clear out a floor for them and take good care of them." Shen Qingzhu said to Lin Qiye, then ignored the kneeling crowd and walked straight into the building.
Amemiya Haruki, standing to the side, looked at the retreating backs of Shen Qingzhu and Lin Qiye, his gaze filled with complex emotions.
Truly worthy of the invaders from Great Xia!
To so easily change the faith of the largest black market organization in Kansai, rescuing them from the tyranny of divine authority…
Just what kind of miraculous nation is Great Xia… If given the chance, he really wanted to go take a look.