Chapter 357: The Yandere

Chapter 357: The Yandere

Li Wu thought his peaceful days would continue.

But he never expected it to end so quickly and suddenly.

The day after he finished eating shoyu yaki with Tsuki Akari, he received news from her.

The Cherry Blossom Family is in trouble!

Last night, a powerful individual broke into the family's residence, injured Elder Sakura, and kidnapped Sakura Hana.

When Li Wu heard this news, his heart skipped a beat.

He was worried about the naive and shy girl, and he was also concerned about the impending loss of peace and tranquility for himself.

It was clear that this incident was aimed at him.

The Cherry Blossom Family was implicated because of him, and if things went as expected, this was just the beginning.

"Why don't you go and see, maybe you can help. I'll have Grandmother go with you," Tsuki Akari suggested, seeing Li Wu's furrowed brow.

Li Wu hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

So, on the 19th day of Li Wu's stay at the Tsuki Clan's residence, he stepped out of the clan's door for the first time.

Accompanying him was the grandmother Tsuki Akari had mentioned.

She was the one who exuded an aura of impending death, with her strength at the peak of the Archmage level.

The fact that Tsuki Akari sent her to accompany Li Wu showed the importance she placed on him.

However, in Li Wu's eyes, Tsuki Akari's decision to send this grandmother seemed more like a means of surveillance or preventing him from escaping than protection.

After all, the ruthless Tsuki Akari wouldn't be so kind-hearted.

Even when seeing him off, Tsuki Akari tightly held his hand, her eyes slightly red.

There was a sense of impending separation.

But Li Wu wasn't fooled.

He knew that she was afraid he would run away!

What Li Wu didn't know was that, almost simultaneously with his departure from the Tsuki Clan, an operation targeting him and Tsuki Akari had officially begun.

As the mastermind behind the scenes made their move, the entire operation started to unfold.

First, the Maeda Family, one of the seven major families in Zone 11, invited the Tsuki Clan's Ancestor, who had stayed at home for ten years, to visit.

This old man, rarely seen outside, finally stepped out of his home.

At the same time, there was frequent movement within the Tsuki Clan.

The hidden undercurrents within the clan began to roar towards the surface.

After sending Li Wu off, Tsuki Akari's expression was unusually calm.

She sat in the eye of the storm, coldly observing the commotion around her.

It wasn't until someone rudely pushed open her bedroom door that Tsuki Akari opened her eyes, her icy gaze fixed on the uninvited guests before her.

The cold stare made the intruders shiver.

But soon, he straightened his back.

After all, the woman before him was finished.

The Clan Leader had decided to take action against her, and from that day forward, she would fall from grace, no longer having anyone to fear.

With these thoughts, a hint of mockery and ridicule appeared on the intruders' faces.

"The Clan Leader requests your presence!"

Tsuki Akari didn't respond. She withdrew her icy gaze and stood up with a calm expression.

The intruders didn't waste any words; they surrounded Tsuki Akari, grabbed her, and led her out of her courtyard, through half of the Tsuki Clan's residence, towards Tsuki Yamamoto's courtyard.

Along the way, everyone could sense the unusual atmosphere.

Seeing the once-high-and-mighty Tsuki Princess now looking like a prisoner, many people's eyes gleamed with ridicule and mockery.

The cruel woman was finally getting what she deserved.

Amidst the mocking and ridiculing gazes, Tsuki Akari arrived at Tsuki Yamamoto's courtyard.

Tsuki Yamamoto, dressed in white, sat in the center of his courtyard, preparing tea.

Noticing Tsuki Akari's arrival, Tsuki Yamamoto didn't raise his head but elegantly pointed to the spot in front of him.

"Sit!"

At that moment, Tsuki Akari, looking like a prisoner, didn't say much and sat down directly in front of Tsuki Yamamoto.

As the victor, Tsuki Yamamoto gracefully served Tsuki Akari a cup of tea.

...

"It's finally happening!"

As Tsuki Yamamoto prepared the tea.

In another courtyard of the Tsuki Clan, Tsukimaki Douji was also preparing tea.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that Tsukimaki Douji's tea-making technique was similar to Tsuki Yamamoto's, just a bit more inexperienced.

It was evident that both of them had learned their tea ceremony from the same person.

The two shared the same teacher, and for them, the tea ceremony was not just a means of pretension but also a habit to calm their emotions during critical moments.

Today was an important day for both of them.

The more significant the day, the more their hearts needed to be tranquil.

In this regard, Tsuki Yamamoto performed much better than Tsukimaki Douzi.

Despite both of them preparing tea, Tsukimaki Douzi's emotions remained unstable.

He was excited because this was his first time setting up a strategy as a flag bearer.

And now, at the most critical moment of this game, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by his emotions.

If things went as expected, today would be the day.

Today, he would make his grand entrance, crushing two whetstones as an impressive debut, and securing the genius who had passed through the Divine Blade Tower under the control of the Tsuki Clan.

As he imagined this scene, Tsukimaki Douzi couldn't help but tremble with excitement.

However, just as Tsukimaki Douzi was unable to calm himself down, a commotion erupted in his courtyard, and before he could react, a group of people rushed in.

Tsukimaki Douzi's expression darkened as he looked at this group, realizing that an unexpected variable had occurred, contrary to his expectations.

Despite this, the young man maintained his composure, showing no signs of weakness.

He calmly stared at the group that had just brought Tsuki Akari to Tsuki Yamamoto.

When facing Tsukimaki Douzi, this group's attitude was noticeably better than their treatment of Tsuki Akari. The leader among them slightly bowed, "Young Master, the head of the family requests your presence."

Ten minutes later, in Tsuki Yamamoto's courtyard.

Tsuki Yamamoto looked at the pair of nephew and niece before him and couldn't help but shake his head.

What a troublesome pair of siblings! He thought to himself.

Tsuki Yamamoto then turned his attention to his nephew.

At this moment, Tsukimaki Douzi appeared calm and composed, sipping a cup of tea with small sips, showing neither the dejection of a loser nor the tension of a captive.

When Tsuki Yamamoto looked at him, Tsukimaki Douzi offered a pure and sincere smile, "Uncle, you truly live up to your reputation!"

A double-edged compliment.

It was unclear whether he was praising Tsuki Yamamoto's skill or his tea ceremony.

"If you like it, I can teach you."

Tsuki Yamamoto smiled and refilled Tsukimaki Douzi's tea.

"Uncle, are you sure?"

"You are the future of the Tsuki Clan, and I have nothing to hold back from you!

Once you grow up, the entire Tsuki Clan will be yours!"

The uncle and nephew engaged in a second round of confrontation at the tea table.

Although there were three people present, only two were on equal footing.

One had the backing of the Tsuki Clan's strongest power, while the other controlled the clan's absolute resources.

One represented the future of the Tsuki Clan, while the other was its present. As for Tsuki Akari, in their eyes, she was merely a pawn that couldn't be brought to the forefront.

In the past, Tsukimaki Douzi was still young and hadn't reached a position where he needed Tsuki Akari as a pawn.

But now that he had been exposed, he would have to step up from behind the scenes to the forefront.

In this situation, Tsuki Akari's existence became less significant.

Therefore, both of them tacitly ignored the third person at the tea table, focusing their energy on each other and the upcoming game.

Tsuki Yamamoto had no intention of killing Tsukimaki Douzi because of that old man backing him.

He couldn't and dared not kill him.

So, all Tsuki Yamamoto could do was take advantage of this opportunity to achieve a few goals.

Tsukimaki Douzi also clearly understood this.

Both sides were straightforward, and after a brief exchange, Tsukimaki Douzi spoke up.

"I admit defeat this time, Uncle. You decide what to do."

Tsuki Yamamoto didn't hesitate and, after glancing at Tsuki Akari, said calmly, "She has already sent the Righteous Monarch out of the Tsuki Clan. Since the person is already gone, there's no need for her to return!"

This was Tsuki Yamamoto's primary demand.

For him, Li Wu must die because his talent was too terrifying, posing a significant threat to Tsuki Yamamoto.

Therefore, he had to die.

On this matter, Tsuki Yamamoto spoke not as a negotiation but as a declaration.

"And the one who left with him should not return either.

As for you, Tsukimaki Douzi, understand that the future of the Tsuki Clan is yours. No one can change that, but it's a future ten years from now.

I wish for you to focus on self-improvement before that future arrives and not meddle in the affairs of the Tsuki Clan anymore.

Additionally, I have arranged a new marriage for you with the Third Young Master of the Tsukisakai Clan. I want you to marry quickly and then move out of the Tsuki Clan!"

Tsuki Yamamoto had laid out his intentions completely.

He wanted a decade of the Tsuki Clan for himself.

Or perhaps, he desired a return to the state the Tsuki Clan was in before Li Wu.

As for what would happen after ten years, no one knew if he would truly hand over the Tsuki Clan.

But regardless, for now, Tsukimaki Douzi had no choice but to accept.

A loss is a loss, and the price must be paid. In this regard, Tsukimaki Douzi was decisive.

Without much hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

Tsukimaki Douzi's nod brought a smile to Tsuki Yamamoto's face, knowing his goal had been achieved.

He understood Tsukimaki Douzi's character; once he gave his word, he would not go back on it.

As proud as he was, he would only think of defeating his opponent with his own strength, not relying on Tsuki Kouraku's power.

As long as Tsukimaki Douzi didn't rely on Tsuki Kouraku's power, Tsuki Yamamoto was willing to be the whetstone.

After all, giving him ten years, who would be the stone and who the blade after that time was uncertain.

The two uncles and nephew happily reached a compromise, and Tsuki Yamamoto began preparing to serve tea and see off his guests. As for Tsuki Hina, who had been silent from start to finish, neither of them paid her any mind.

They didn't feel the need to concern themselves with her.

At most, she was just a useless pawn.

However, just as Tsuki Yamamoto was about to serve tea, they noticed something unusual about Tsuki Hina.

Since her arrival, the silent Tsuki Hina finally spoke her first words.

Her icy gaze fixed on Tsuki Yamamoto, and she said slowly and clearly, "What are you planning to do to the Righteous Monarch?"

This delayed reaction, this expression of furious rage, left Tsuki Yamamoto speechless.

"I already told you that I've arranged a new marriage for you..."

"Do you remember what I said before?" Tsuki Hina interrupted Tsuki Yamamoto with increasing calmness.

Tsuki Yamamoto couldn't be bothered to respond to this woman and stood up, intending to have his men see the guests out.

But Tsuki Hina continued, "I said that if anyone dares to touch my man, I will slaughter their entire family!"

As she spoke, a terrifying killing intent erupted from her.

"Archmage level, how is that possible!"

Tsuki Yamamoto's face paled. Before he could react to Tsuki Hina's sudden outburst, something even more shocking happened.

In the moment Tsuki Hina's aura erupted, she took action, and with a single palm strike, she killed her own brother standing beside her.

"You've gone mad!"

Tsuki Yamamoto was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

He knew Tsuki Hina was brutal; the entire Tsuki Clan, even everyone in Zone 11, was aware of her cruelty. But Tsuki Yamamoto never imagined she could be this ruthless, even killing her own brother.

And Tsuki Hina's target wasn't just her brother; as Tsuki Yamamoto stood in shock, a commotion erupted in his courtyard.

"What's going on?"

Tsuki Yamamoto couldn't shake off the bad premonition rising in his heart.

Soon, his premonition came true. A group emerged, led by none other than his trusted aide, the one responsible for the security of his courtyard, and now this aide had his wife and children in his grasp.

"It's you!"

Tsuki Yamamoto jolted awake, turning to face Tsuki Hina.

At this moment, Tsuki Hina had just withdrawn her hand from her brother's body, her gaze colder than ever.

"I've captured his entire family," Tsuki Hina replied, causing Tsuki Yamamoto to shudder.

It was then that Tsuki Yamamoto realized he had always underestimated Tsuki Hina.

He had underestimated her methods and her cruelty, but it was too late.

A few minutes later, Tsuki Yamamoto's courtyard was drenched in blood.

Tsuki Yamamoto's entire family, from himself to his wife and children, was slaughtered, leaving only Tsuki Hina as the sole surviving bloodline.

Almost simultaneously with Tsuki Hina's strike on Tsuki Yamamoto, an aged roar filled with anger and despair echoed, as the Tsuki Clan's elder returned...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end