Chapter 36: Robbery and Plunder

The force contained within his fist pierced through the coyote's body and shot toward the Ukiyo-e painting directly behind him, instantly shattering the entire artwork into fragments.

“What kind of boxing is this?” The coyote remained motionless, his gaze shifted to Xiao Kaitian, asking in a strange tone.

“A punch for killing,” Xiao Kaitian slowly stood up. He no longer paid the coyote any mind. This punch held no technique or form, just a straightforward blow, but the divine source contained within had utterly pulverized the coyote's internal organs.

Though the coyote's combat power surpassed his own, Xiao Kaitian could assess his strength through actual confrontation. From the very beginning, he never intended to let the coyote live. To die under his divine source was, in a way, an honor.

“Good,” the coyote managed to squeeze out a single word before collapsing stiffly to the ground.

In less than twenty seconds, the strongest bounty hunter of Six Leaves was killed by Xiao Kaitian with a single punch. Watanabe Hirofumi’s face turned ashen; he was not a man known for his martial prowess and stood no chance against Xiao Kaitian.

Xiao Kaitian straightened his somewhat disheveled suit, pulled up a chair, sat down in front of Watanabe Hirofumi, crossed his legs, and lit a cigarette.

Watanabe Hirofumi stood behind the table, trembling, his hands gripping the surface to keep his body from collapsing.

“All funds under Six Leaves’ official accounts, transfer them to me,” Xiao Kaitian stated calmly, “and every resource you have related to martial cultivation, I want them all.”

“In exchange, I won’t kill you, nor anyone downstairs,” he flicked the ash from his cigarette as if bestowing mercy. “As for police or other matters, you handle them. Don’t expose me, or you know what will happen.”

With that, he glanced at Watanabe Hirofumi.

The other man instantly felt as though he were being eyed by a tyrannosaurus; his legs trembled uncontrollably, and his lips quivered. In his eyes, Xiao Kaitian’s robbery felt almost like a gift.

He wanted to resist, to refuse, but he had no strength left. The expert he hoped for from Mount Takao had not arrived, and his fate was sealed.

“My patience is limited,” Xiao Kaitian took a teacup, poured in properly steeped hot tea, and inhaled the subtle scent of plum blossoms.

Six Leaves’ official funds were not much, only two hundred million local currency. Watanabe Hirofumi, shivering, transferred it to Xiao Kaitian. Losing the money was nothing compared to losing his life.

Xiao Kaitian cared little for the amount; in his eyes, robbery was simply a matter of taking whatever could be taken. But when he saw the martial resources Watanabe Hirofumi produced, disappointment flickered across his face.

There was a great deal, nearly filling the room with weapons—guns, explosives, and all sorts of cold arms, each with a quality look, but none caught Xiao Kaitian’s eye.

He scoffed inwardly. Once his divine source was more closely linked with his true self, he could freely retrieve the weapons stored within. These “scrap metals” before him were utterly useless.

If Watanabe Hirofumi knew Xiao Kaitian’s thoughts, he’d probably cough blood; these were the “treasures” Six Leaves had painstakingly collected over the years.

During the introduction, Watanabe Hirofumi brimmed with pride, each weapon backed by a tragic, beautiful story. But to his dismay, Xiao Kaitian only shook his head at every item.

Ultimately, what drew Xiao Kaitian’s attention were two bottles of the Water of Power and a single black pill. He picked up the pill, and a strange scent wafted to his nose.

“This was obtained from a martial cultivator of the Han and Tang lineage,” Watanabe Hirofumi bent low, adopting the manner of a servant as he explained carefully. “It’s called the Meridian Pill. Martial cultivators who take it can further open their meridians…”

Xiao Kaitian looked at it with distaste. Regardless of its supposed effects, his divine source revealed the pill was overloaded with heavy metals. Though he could purge them after ingestion, it was an inconvenience—a sign that whoever crafted it lacked skill.

Still, it was better than nothing. Six Leaves was evidently not a high-level bounty hunter organization; it was simply “poor.” Considering he would eventually have to deal with martial cultivators, Xiao Kaitian put away the Meridian Pill.

Watanabe Hirofumi followed behind him, step by step. Seeing the items Xiao Kaitian took, he was secretly relieved, when Xiao Kaitian’s voice rang out again: “Within seven days, sell all these weapons and transfer every penny to me.”

Watanabe Hirofumi nearly wept. These weapons could only be traded through special channels, and every martial cultivator or bounty hunter already had their own favored arms. In short, these were useless—nice to look at, but not pearls or jewels, easily sold anywhere.

He cautiously made his plea, and Xiao Kaitian shook his head in disdain: “Why did you bother collecting so many useless things in the first place?”

Watanabe Hirofumi forced a bitter smile. They were history, heritage, glory—but this man before him did not understand.

“Finally, remember this,” Xiao Kaitian’s tone was icy: “If you ever provoke me, or anyone close to me, next time won’t end so simply.”

Watanabe Hirofumi nodded urgently; he didn’t need to be told. Six Leaves was finished. Their best had fallen in this mission, and no new bounty hunters would ever join them.

Xiao Kaitian paid no mind to the sincerity of his response. He brushed a bit of dust from his suit and left Six Leaves.

The commotion was considerable, but no one dared to call the police. Watanabe Hirofumi looked at the headquarters in utter chaos, bodies sprawled everywhere, his face pale and his entire being unsteady.

With the departure of the terrifying Xiao Kaitian, the fire of hatred in his heart began to flicker and surge. He dared not confront Xiao Kaitian again, but nothing stopped him from begging others to seek revenge.

In the nighttime cityscape of East View, under the dazzling lights, the distant, tranquil area of Mount Takao and Sacred Mountain held an altogether different charm.

In a courtyard at the famous Medicine King Temple atop the mountain, an old monk sat cross-legged on the tatami, eyes closed in meditation. Not far in front of him, a young monk knelt and bowed.

“Master of the temple,” the young monk bowed again, “I beg you, no matter what, to grant your approval for this matter.”

The old monk ignored him, only slowly opening his eyes to gaze peacefully at the youth kneeling before him.

The surroundings were silent, broken only by the occasional “dingling dingling” of the wind chimes hanging under the eaves.

“Mifune,” after a long pause the old monk spoke slowly, “You’ve been here so long, yet your worldly desires have not been relinquished.”

“Master of the temple,” the youth bowed again, “Mifune has truly failed your expectations, but for those who walk the path, if the demon in their heart is not broken, I fear I cannot continue.”

“There is still something you wish to break free from in your heart. That is your obstacle,” the old monk sighed, his expression tinged with disappointment. “So be it. Go into the world; treat it as your cultivation.”

“Yes!”

“But…remember, if your heart’s demon is not broken, you cannot return. Do you dare accept this?”

“Mifune will obey your command.” He bowed deeply once more.