He took a step, walking unhurriedly towards the iron gate.

He didn't unlock it.

His body, like flowing ink, seeped directly through the gap under the door.

Inside the cell, the light was dim.

Nakamura Shin'ichirō was chained to the wall like a dead dog.

He hung his head, his graying hair scattered across his face, obscuring his expression.

The Forging Master's robe, once a symbol of his honor, had long since turned into dirty rags, haphazardly draped over his body.

Hearing the movement, he didn't even bother to lift his head.

It was as if his Soul had completely left him, leaving only a numb, empty shell.

Moria walked up to him, looking down with a cold voice.

"It seems you haven't been doing so well."

Nakamura Shin'ichirō's body trembled imperceptibly.

He slowly raised his head.

His once handsome face was covered in purple bruises and dried blood, and his eyes held a profound, bone-deep numbness and emptiness.

When he clearly saw the person who stood before him, the silver-haired face that was like a nightmare and he would never forget.

His dead eyes showed not the slightest ripple.

He even forced a smile that was uglier than a cry.

"What's wrong?"

His voice was as hoarse as two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"Today, what new trick do you want to use to torment me?"

"Or are you finally tired of playing and ready to give me a quick death?"

Moria looked down at him, his silver eyes devoid of any emotion.

A hint of intrigued smile even appeared on his sculpted, handsome face.

"Give you a quick death?"

Moria's voice was like a lover's whisper, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Wouldn't that be too easy for you?"

Upon hearing this, a ripple finally appeared in Nakamura Shin'ichirō's dead eyes.

He looked up, staring intently at Moria.

"You... what else do you want?!"

He roared, his voice becoming sharp with agitation.

"I've already told you everything I know!"

"What else do you want from me?!"

"Kill me! If you dare, just kill me!"

Moria's lips curved into a playful arc.

"I won't kill you."

He slowly squatted down, his gaze level with Nakamura Shin'ichirō.

"I can even... let you go."

The air instantly fell silent.

The madness on Nakamura Shin'ichirō's face froze.

He widened his eyes, as if he had heard something out of a fairy tale.

"Let... let me go?"

He looked at Moria's face, which was close at hand, his eyes filled with suspicion and confusion.

"You... you'd be so kind?"

He couldn't believe it.

This demon who had imprisoned him here and tortured him with every possible means, would actually be merciful enough to let him go?

This was impossible!

There must be some conspiracy!

Zhou Huai's consciousness was within Moria's body, and he sneered inwardly.

If not for the circumstances, he truly hadn't planned on letting this little devil go.

But Nakamura Shin'ichirō's identity was too special.

He was the contemporary Divine Craftsman of Sakura Country, his only Disciple.

His disappearance within the Great Xia Country had caused far greater turmoil than Zhou Huai had imagined.

Just a few days ago, Mo XuanYe, the Chairman of the Tianhuo City Forging Association, had personally come to their door.

This esteemed elder in the forging world looked weary and helpless when he met Ouyezi.

He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Great Master Ouyezi, I have come this time with a request."

Zhou Huai, controlling Ouyezi, put down his tools, his expression calm.

"Chairman Mo, please speak."

Mo XuanYe sighed, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.

"I'm sure Great Master has heard about Nakamura Shin'ichirō's disappearance."

"Now, Sakura Country has already sent two legendary-level powerhouses to Skyfire City."

"They have given a deadline of three days."

"If Nakamura Shin'ichirō is not found within three days, they will use this as an excuse to declare war on the Great Xia Country."

Ouyezi, controlled by Zhou Huai, frowned upon hearing this.

"Declare war?"

"Just for a Forging Master?"

Mo XuanYe gave a bitter smile.

"When you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."

"These past years, Sakura Country, backed by the Free Federation, has been constantly making small moves and provocations along the border."

"They have long wanted an excuse to start a war."

"Nakamura Shin'ichirō's disappearance just gave them a perfect excuse."

He looked at Ouyezi, his eyes complex.

"At the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, the only one who had friction with Nakamura Shin'ichirō was Great Master."

"So..."

Mo XuanYe took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Ouyezi.

"If this matter was indeed done by Great Master."

"This Junior humbly requests Great Master to be merciful and let Nakamura Shin'ichirō go."

"The Great Xia Country truly cannot afford another war right now."

Zhou Huai, controlling Ouyezi, silently watched him.

Yet, his heart was filled with understanding.

Sakura Country was merely a dog kept by the Free Federation.

Now that this dog was barking at the Great Xia Country, it was naturally at its master's behest.

Once a war began, the Great Xia Country would face far more than just Sakura Country.

Zhou Huai pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"Chairman Mo, you've come to the wrong person."

"Since the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony ended, I have been staying in Donghai City, diligently forging, and have never left for even half a step."

"As for that Nakamura Shin'ichirō, I haven't even seen him."

"His disappearance has nothing to do with me."

Upon hearing this, Mo XuanYe only sighed again, his face filled with disappointment.

He said no more, simply bowed again, and then left dejectedly with his people.

...

His thoughts returned.

Zhou Huai looked at Nakamura Shin'ichirō, whose eyes were constantly shifting, and knew it was time to throw this hot potato back.

However, letting him go just like that was not his style.

He wanted to make Nakamura Shin'ichirō a nail he had planted within Sakura Country.

A devilish smile appeared on Moria's face.

"I can indeed let you go."

"However, I have one condition."

Nakamura Shin'ichirō's dead heart suddenly pounded at this moment.

Hope!

He saw hope of survival!

Without thinking, he nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.

"I agree! I agree to anything you ask!"

He struggled to move his body forward, wanting to get closer to this demon who held his life and death in his hands.

"As long as you are willing to let me go! I agree to any condition!"

Moria's smile deepened.

"My condition is very simple."

He extended a finger and gently shook it.

"I need you to sincerely and wholeheartedly submit to me."

Submit?

Nakamura Shin'ichirō was stunned for a moment.

Is it that simple?

He had originally thought that the other party would propose harsh conditions such as extorting money or demanding a Divine Artifact.

He didn't expect it to be merely verbal submission.

This was practically a free path to survival!

His mind raced.

He would pretend to agree, and once he safely left this place and returned to Sakura Country, he would be free as the sky and sea!

Then he would repay the humiliation he suffered here a hundred, a thousand times over!

Thinking of this, a trace of imperceptible resentment flashed in Nakamura Shin'ichirō's eyes.

He immediately adopted an extremely respectful and pious posture.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He began to frantically kowtow to Moria, his forehead hitting the ground with dull thuds. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Master! From now on, you are my Master!"

"I, Nakamura Shin'ichirō, swear to heaven! From this day forward, I will be loyal to you, my Master, and never betray you!"

"If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

Moria looked at his servile appearance, merely smiling and shaking his head.

He slowly leaned in, extended his hand, and gently patted Nakamura Shin'ichirō's cheek.

"I don't believe your verbal oath."

Moria's voice was soft and full of mockery.

"You people of Sakura Country are always accustomed to breaking your promises."

"Believing your words, what's the difference from believing a stray dog on the street?"

The expression on Nakamura Shin'ichirō's face instantly froze.

Moria's hand slowly moved upward.

Finally, it rested on his head.

A chilling coldness, starting from his scalp, instantly spread throughout Nakamura Shin'ichirō's body.

Boundless fear completely engulfed him.

He thought that the other party was finally going to kill him.

"Ma... Master! What... what are you doing?!"

His voice trembled, heavy with a crying tone.

"Please! Don't kill me! Everything I said is true! I truly am willing to submit to you!"

Moria did not answer.

He merely leaned down, and in his silver eyes, an eerie light flickered.

He spoke in a seductive, devil-like whisper, softly into Nakamura Shin'ichirō's ear.

"Now, don't resist."

"Close your eyes, and empty your Soul."

"If you truly want to live."

"Then willingly sign this contract..."

A pure yet evil Devilish Qi surged from Moria's palm.

It slowly seeped into Nakamura Shin'ichirō's Soul, entering through the top of his head.

...

Three days later.

Skyfire City.

A luxurious airship, bearing the flag of Sakura Country, slowly descended onto the plaza in front of the City Lord's Mansion.

The hatch opened.

Two elderly men, dressed in traditional samurai attire, with profound and imposing auras, were the first to disembark.

They were the two legendary-level powerhouses sent ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) by Sakura Country: Sword Saint Miyamoto and Onmyoji Abe.

The figure in front of them.

It was Nakamura Shin'ichirō, who had been missing for a long time.

At this moment, he had changed into a clean and neat Forging Master's robe.

Aside from his face being a bit thinner and his eyes slightly tired, there seemed to be nothing else unusual about him.

Mo Bai, the City Lord of Skyfire City, and Mo XuanYe, the Chairman of the Forging Guild, who had been waiting there, quickly went to greet them.

"Great Master Nakamura, you've finally returned!"

Mo Bai let out a long sigh of relief; the heart that had been suspended for so long finally settled.

Nakamura Shin'ichirō bowed slightly to the two, a hint of apology on his face.

"I've caused you two worry."

Next to them, Sword Saint Miyamoto's gaze was like lightning, scrutinizing Nakamura Shin'ichirō from top to bottom.

He asked in a deep voice.

"Shin'ichirō, where have you been all this time?"

"Have you fallen victim to someone's malicious scheme?"

Upon hearing this, Nakamura Shin'ichirō merely gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Senior Miyamoto, you worry too much."

"This Junior only suffered a narrow defeat to Great Master Ouyezi at the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, and for a time, my confidence was severely shaken."

"So, I went alone to a quiet place to meditate and clear my mind, hoping to find an opportunity for a Breakthrough."

He paused, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

"I didn't expect to cause such worry to everyone; it truly is my fault."

Sword Saint Miyamoto and Onmyoji Abe exchanged glances.

They carefully checked Nakamura Shin'ichirō and confirmed that there was indeed nothing unusual about him.

Only then did they completely relax.

"Since the person has been found, we won't stay long."

Sword Saint Miyamoto snorted coldly at Mo Bai and Mo XuanYe, his attitude arrogant.

"Farewell."

With that, he took Nakamura Shin'ichirō and turned to board the airship.

Soon, the luxurious airship ascended again, becoming a black dot that disappeared into the horizon.