With a flash of golden lightning, Tang An appeared in front of Shinobu, his right hand sweeping a dog-leg knife with a piercing sound. She raised her Nichirin blade in defense, but the force was too powerful.
The ground cracked within a three-meter radius, and Shinobu spat blood as she was sent flying.
As Tang An pursued, Mitsuri’s attack came swiftly.
Whip shadows covered the sky, tearing the ground with gashes, but Tang An suddenly appeared in the air, flashing behind Mitsuri, and launched a hardened kick.
Mitsuri tensed, countering with a powerful strike.
“Boom… Boom…”
Mitsuri’s feet sank into the ground as she held firm, her breath quickening and her face flushing from exertion.
Mitsuri had a unique physique, with muscles eight times denser than usual, enhancing her defense and attack when tensed. Despite her delicate appearance, her strength was among the Pillars’ best.
“Insect Breathing: Dragonfly Dance – Compound Eye Hexagon.”
Bloodied and determined, Shinobu slid across the ground, her sword delivering a rapid six-hit thrust.
Tang An glimpsed her from the corner of his eye, adding force to kick Mitsuri away and flipping in the air to land above Shinobu, his Nichirin blade descending.
Shinobu twisted her body, spinning mid-air and deflecting with her sword, but Tang An reappeared behind her, his hardened foot crashing down.
Shinobu barely managed to block, but the force sent her crashing into the ground, tumbling into a trench unable to rise.
“Love Breathing: Sixth Form – Cat-Legged Winds of Love.”
Mitsuri appeared suddenly, her whip-like Nichirin blade slashing at Tang An’s neck.
Tang An leaned back to dodge, but Mitsuri swiftly followed with a sweeping kick, her slender leg wrapped in thigh-high socks.
Tang An flipped to avoid, but Mitsuri’s speed surprised him. She swung her blade from above, forcing him to sidestep, only to face her relentless kicks.
Blocking with his dog-leg knife, Tang An was sent flying. Mitsuri, her feet cracking the ground, pursued like a cannonball, her whip blade striking rapidly.
Tang An dodged left and right, but Mitsuri closed in and kicked out again. He blocked and retreated, but Mitsuri spun and delivered another side kick.
Tang An sidestepped, swinging his blade, but Mitsuri blocked just in time, the ground erupting beneath them.
“Insect Breathing.”
Shinobu, persistent like a cockroach, attacked again.
Tang An’s face darkened as he withdrew, creating distance, his breath slightly labored.
“Cough, cough…”
Shinobu spat blood while Mitsuri, her chest heaving and sweating profusely, also struggled. Despite their chaotic state, Tang An’s gaze remained cold.
“Breath… of Thunder – Eight-Layered Mirror.”
Golden light illuminated the horizon as Tang An became a flash of lightning.
The time I seemed to slow.
A pink heart-shaped mark appeared on Mitsuri’s left neck. In that split second, she pushed Shinobu away and bent back, dodging Tang An’s high-speed attack.
But Tang An’s Eight-Layered Mirror was not a single strike but eight consecutive ones.
Explosions rocked the ground as Tang An darted around Mitsuri, his blade slicing upwards towards Shinobu.
She barely blocked, but a flash of the dog-leg knife left a cut on her neck.
Tang An continued his assault on Mitsuri, but she seemed strangely stronger, blocking his remaining strikes despite suffering injuries.
Her tattered uniform exposed her crystalline skin, now glistening with blood.
The allure was deadly.
As they distanced themselves, Tang An’s gaze remained cold, focused on the pink heart-shaped mark on Mitsuri’s neck.
It must be a demon mark, explaining her sudden surge in strength.
“Shinobu.”
Tears welled in Mitsuri’s eyes as she looked at Shinobu lying in a pool of blood.
The wound on Shinobu’s neck was deep, nearly severing it, her breath fading.
“Why?”
Mitsuri turned to Tang An, her eyes filled with sorrow and anger.
Tang An remained silent.
Biting her lip, Mitsuri stared at him for a moment before attacking.
Seeing her charge, Tang An’s heart grew colder. As she moved, he hesitated no longer.
Though he deeply loved her, it had all been an act, a manipulation. Anyone who tried to kill him had to die.
No one was worth more than his own life.
“Love Breathing: Second Form – Fluctuating Love.”
“Instant Kill.”
Lightning ripped through the ground as they clashed, passing each other in a flash.
Tang An stood at the end of the trench, a deep wound on his chest nearly piercing his heart.
Mitsuri had aimed to kill him, understanding exactly what she was doing.
FroWhenng An killed the Pillars; there was no turning back.
But Tang An’s wound was not fatal. With colorful threads weaving together, steam rose as his wound healed.
Tang An didn’t look back, quickly leaping away.
Behind him, Mitsuri’s pale face dimmed, a wound appearing on her neck as she collapsed, blood staining the ground.
As her life flashed before her eyes, memories of her time with Tang An surfaced.
She had never truly understood this ruthless, deceitful man.
He had no feelings, no heart.
Mitsuri closed her eyes, a hint of relief on her dirt-streaked face.
Ten minutes later, a figure appeared, moving swiftly.
This terrifying man had black hair in a high ponytail, six eyes on his face, and deep red flame markings on his forehead and chin.
Kokushibo, Upper Moon One.
The strongest of the Twelve Kizuki.
“Too late.”
He surveyed the ruined Flower Street, scanning the bodies in the blood pools, then sharply turned to the direction Tang An had gone, sensing the lingering aura.
“Whoosh!”
He vanished, pursuing Tang An.
Tang An, meanwhile, had not left Yoshiwara. Instead, he arrived at an outdoor hot spring inn, soaking in the open-air bath, and opened his panel.
The rewards were substantial after killing Gyutaro, Daki, Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen, Insect Pillar Shinobu, and Love Pillar Mitsuri.
Tang An was pleased, but reality proved harsh.
They were all considered minor characters. Gyutaro and Daki were counted as one, a minor antagonist.
This was infuriating.
These were not small fry; they were top-tier fighters.
Yet they ranked lower than Zenitsu and Inosuke.
Even though Zenitsu and Inosuke are important supporting characters, the powerful Pillars and Upper Moon Six are only minor.
It was beyond frustrating; it was excessively unfair.
Tang An clenched his fists in exasperation.
There were always those who misunderstood his role. He knew he had made it clear, but people still compared him to others, misunderstanding his position.
It was frustrating, but he had learned to cope.
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