# 734
Chapter 735: Nice to Meet You All
After hesitating for a moment, Todo Yasuhiro still knocked on the office door.
A few seconds later, he pushed open the heavy door and walked inside.
The luxurious office of the club wasn't lit. Except for the moonlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows from the clouds above, casting several white shadows across the floor, everything else was pitch black.
In the moonlight, Shen Qingzhu stood draped in that flowing cloud feather robe, facing the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing at the distant city, lost in thought.
Upon hearing Todo Yasuhiro enter, Shen Qingzhu turned slightly and looked at him.
"Great Leader." Todo Yasuhiro spoke respectfully. "All the honored guests have been settled. Do you have any other instructions?"
Shen Qingzhu said nothing.
Todo Yasuhiro seemed already accustomed to Shen Qingzhu's silence, automatically taking it as no instructions, but after much deliberation, he still spoke up:
"Actually... I have something I'd like to ask the Great Leader.
I've heard that you've personally come to our location. All the brothers of the Black Assassin Group here in Hokkaido deeply admire you... I wonder if you might have time to say a few words to them?
As you know, Hokkaido is far from Kansai, and these brothers haven't been having an easy time here. If you could say a few words to them, they would certainly be overjoyed!
Just a few words, it won't take up much of your time... Of course, if you're tired, it's fine if you don't go..."
Shen Qingzhu studied Todo Yasuhiro's expression and saw the difficulty in his eyes. Though he couldn't understand what he was saying, he thought for a moment and spoke:
"Yoshi."
...
Ten minutes later.
Shen Qingzhu was led by Todo Yasuhiro to a spacious open area.
In the depths of night, the open area was now filled with people. Some had followed the convoy to the beach today and had seen Shen Qingzhu, while others had never laid eyes on him. All together, there were roughly three hundred people.
Three hundred men crowded into the open area, making the space feel cramped, but these members showed no complaints whatsoever. They stood in neat formation, chests out, heads high, like soldiers awaiting inspection.
When the figure in the flowing cloud feather robe stood on the elevated platform before them, every single one of their gazes burned with fervor!
"—Greetings, Great Leader!!!"
The three hundred people bowed in unison, their voices thundering across the sky.
Shen Qingzhu stood on the platform, staring at the three hundred figures bowing deeply before him, frozen in place.
The Black Assassin Group members slowly raised their heads, their eyes burning with intensity as they looked at Shen Qingzhu, their faces full of excitement, all waiting for his address.
Shen Qingzhu fell silent.
He hadn't expected that coming here today would mean giving a speech to the Black Assassin Group members...
He never spoke those motivational platitudes, and certainly couldn't speak Japanese. He simply stood there quietly, his gaze sweeping across those eyes full of hope, one by one.
In the past, he probably would have coldly snorted and walked off the platform without a word.
But today, he didn't want to do that.
His eyes were filled with complex emotions.
These were all his little brothers...
And they would ultimately be buried here forever, along with this sinful Human Enclosure.
They didn't know the truth, didn't know what awaited them. They only knew that the man standing on the platform before them was one they could believe in forever, and they waited for him to say something...
If nothing unexpected happened, this would be the last time Shen Qingzhu faced them.
He'd been pretending for too long. He was tired.
This time, he didn't want to pretend anymore.
So, under the moonlight, he slowly began to speak:
"I'm sorry, I've deceived you all..."
He spoke in standard Mandarin Chinese. When these words fell, everyone in the open area froze, as did Todo Yasuhiro standing to the side.
Great Leader... what was he saying?
"I cannot speak your language, nor can I understand what you're saying, because I don't belong here at all." Shen Qingzhu's voice echoed quietly across the open area.
"To be honest, up until now, I don't know who you are, why you're standing here, or what kind of role I play in your hearts...
All I want to tell you is that the Great Leader you worship is fake—a figure you've invented and imagined yourselves.
I'm not as powerful, as clever, or as profound as you imagine...
I'm just an outsider.
I know you can't understand what I'm saying, but that's fine. After all, I can't understand what you're saying most of the time either...
But I believe that even without understanding, some things can still be felt with the heart.
Just as I can sense your trust in me."
Shen Qingzhu stretched out his hand and firmly struck his left chest.
"Though we're not from the same world, though our beliefs differ and our languages don't match, since you believe in me and treat me as your leader, then I... will trust you in return.
If, after learning my true identity, you're still willing to stay here and accept me as your leader...
From this day forward, we will be true brothers."
Shen Qingzhu took a deep breath. A gentle breeze brushed against the flowing cloud feather robe. His gaze swept across everyone in the square as he spoke, word by word:
" gentlemen,
I am Shen Qingzhu,
Shen Qingzhu of the Nightfall Squad.
I... am very happy to meet you all."
His words fell, and he closed his eyes, gently bowing to the crowd below.
In the square, all three hundred-plus Black Assassin Group members stood frozen in place.
They didn't know what Shen Qingzhu had said, nor did they understand his name, but without the slightest hesitation, all three hundred of them bowed deeply, their heads nearly touching their knees.
They didn't care who Shen Qingzhu was or what his identity was.
They only knew that the Great Leader had bowed to them, and they had to return the courtesy.
Because the Great Leader was their faith.
In unison, they called out again:
"—Greetings, Great Leader!!!"
The same words, but in Shen Qingzhu's ears, they carried a different meaning.
A slight smile curved his lips.
Shen Qingzhu rose, and without another word, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it between his lips, and lit it with a lighter.
A wisp of smoke drifted in the moonlight.
At this moment, a question that had been plaguing him all day finally found its answer.
Shen Qingzhu took a long drag, then turned and walked toward the club in the night.
A few minutes later.
A knock came at the Knight's door.
The Knight sat up from his bed, glanced at the door with confusion, then walked over and opened it.
Under the moonlight, Shen Qingzhu stood at the doorway, draped in that flowing cloud feather robe.
"Shen Qingzhu?" The Knight asked, puzzled. "It's so late. What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss."
Shen Qingzhu met his eyes and slowly said, "I want to make a deal with you..."
...
...
Author's Note:
Recently, Sanjiu has an event with the Tomato platform called the "Sanjiu Update Urging Festival," which I'm sure you all know about~ (laughs)
Simply put, there's a topic called #SanjiuUpdateUrgingFestival# on Douyin and Weibo. If the total views for this topic reach 190 million across the entire internet before the 12th, Sanjiu will release 19 chapters in one爆发 on that day...
Yes, 19 chapters...
To gather these 19 chapters, Sanjiu has already lost half his life.
Fortunately, the 19 chapters are ready.
My task is complete. Whether these 19 chapters can be released in one go depends on you all (winking dog).
On the 12th, if the conditions are met, I can prove... that I, Sanjiu, am NOT SHORT!
Of course, the daily three chapters will continue as usual.
Additionally, on March 12th at 8 PM, Sanjiu will virtually appear in the Tomato Novel Douyin livestream to meet readers online and reveal various little secrets behind "The God of War's Medical Explorer."
You can search for Douyin ID [Tomato Novel] to watch, or you can directly follow Sanjiu's Douyin account [Sanjiu Yinyu]. There will be lottery events and other activities, so everyone can give it a try.
Also,
A few days ago, due to gathering chapters, the story's pace was a bit slow. I hope everyone can understand. Starting today, the story's pace will return to normal, and some highly exciting scenes are coming soon~