His raised hand paused for a moment at Takada Naoto’s plea.

Qin Fan turned his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he gazed at Takada Naoto.

"Want to live?"

"Yes! I want to live!"

"Then kill them," Qin Fan said in English, pointing at Matsubara Santai and his men with a deceptively harmless smile.

BUZZ—!

At Qin Fan’s demand, Takada Naoto’s mind plunged into a buzzing void.

Kill them!

Kill them!

Kill them!

The words echoed in Takada Naoto’s mind like a demonic chant.

"No! No! I can’t!" Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and Takada Naoto shook his head frantically.

"Hmph," Qin Fan grunted dismissively. His paused hand lifted, ready to slam down on the Crystal Stone Ball once more.

In that split second, however, Takada Naoto screamed like a madman, "STOP! STOP! STOP!"

"Speak! This is your last chance!" Halting his hand just inches from the sphere, Qin Fan snapped coldly.

"If I kill them... you’ll let me live?" Takada Naoto choked out, swallowing hard as he trembled in terror.

I’m going insane! I must be completely insane! Betraying one’s comrades is the greatest taboo in the samurai spirit of Japan. It’s the ultimate prohibition for the Onmyoji lineage! And now, to save my own life, I have to slaughter my own kind? In that instant, Takada Naoto’s so-called moral compass shattered completely! Only a single voice remained in his heart: Live. I have to live! I must live!

"You think you’re in any position to bargain with me? I told you to kill them! Do it now! Immediately!" Qin Fan’s face darkened as he barked the order.

He then turned to Hua Xiaotian. "Give him a Murdering Knife!"

"Yes, Master Qin!" Hua Xiaotian complied. He briskly walked over, drew a katana, and threw it in front of Takada Naoto.

With trembling hands, he slowly picked up the katana. Hesitation was written all over his weak face. Even then, he couldn’t bring himself to make the decision.

"Takada, what are you trying to do? Are you going to kill us? You idiot! Idiot!"

"Takada, do you really think that bastard will let you go if you kill us? No way! It’s impossible!"

"Takada, you won’t survive even if you kill us! Even if that bastard spares you, do you think the Elders and the great god Orochi won’t punish you? You’re insane! You’ve lost your mind!"

Although they knew death was their only outcome, they didn’t want to die at Takada Naoto’s hand. Because such a drama of turning on one’s own kind could only happen in Huaxia. The people of Japan would never do such a thing! The Yamato Nation is glorious! The spirit of the samurai is eternal! A citizen of the Yamato Nation would rather commit seppuku than turn their blade on their own people!

"I... I don’t want to die! My wife and children are waiting for me! My mother still needs me to take care of her! I can’t die! I can’t die!" Takada Naoto screamed, gripping the katana in one hand and tearing at his hair with the other, on the verge of a complete breakdown.

"Fuck! My patience is limited!" Qin Fan snapped when he saw that Takada Naoto still hadn’t moved.

Just then, Matsubara Santai mustered the last of his strength. He glared at Takada Naoto and began to roar madly, "You damned idiot! You traitor! You piece of trash! Your wife, children, and parents will be ashamed of you! If you dare lay a hand on us, not even the great god Tian Zhao will forgive you! Your family will be plunged into a nightmare, and they will suffer the world’s cruelest tortures! Drop that katana, you cowardly waste! Don’t you dare defile a blade of the Yamato Nation! You goddamn fool! Idiot! Idiot!"

It seemed bullying Takada Naoto had become a habit for him. Even in this life-or-death situation, Matsubara Santai didn’t think to calm Takada Naoto down. Instead, he provoked him with increasing fervor.

However, for a person who is inherently timid and cowardly, what is most frightening? It is an appeal to their reason and emotions. Once logic and feelings come into play, the madness lurking beneath their cowardice can be soothed. Provocations like Matsubara Santai’s, however, do the opposite. They push that cowardly side of human nature to a point of complete and utter madness.

As Matsubara Santai’s words faded, Takada Naoto’s breathing grew more and more rapid. A burning flush crept up his pale face.

"YOU BASTARD!"

With a hysterical roar, Takada Naoto gripped the katana with both hands and charged headlong at Matsubara Santai. There was no hesitation. His savage expression was a mask of unhinged fury.

"We’re the same rank! Why do you always bully me? Why do you always look down on me?! I’ll kill you! I’LL KILL YOU! BASTARD! BASTARD! BASTARD!"

Roaring like a madman, with no path of retreat left, Takada Naoto unleashed his final reserves of strength. As his roar died down, he raised the katana high and plunged it mercilessly into Matsubara Santai’s chest.

Unable to believe that the coward Takada Naoto had actually dared to strike, Matsubara Santai’s eyes bulged in shock. Before he could utter a final sound, Takada Naoto gripped the hilt and viciously twisted the blade.

URK—!

A bloody foam gurgled from his mouth as his pupils constricted. His head lolled to the side, and the life left him.

"Very good. Three more to go. Go on, kill them," Qin Fan said with an enticing smile, glancing at Matsubara Santai’s wide-eyed corpse.

SHLICK—!

Pulling the blood-drenched katana from Matsubara Santai’s chest, Takada Naoto moved toward the other three men like an obedient puppet.

"Takada, you’re courting dea—!" The Onmyoji didn’t get to finish his sentence before Takada Naoto’s katana pierced his heart.

It was the same scene all over again—gurgling blood, and another man dead.

"You bastard—!"

URK—!

The blade fell, silencing him. Another one down.

When Takada Naoto stood before the last man, the Onmyoji seemed to have accepted his fate. Closing his eyes against the sight of death, he said softly, "Good luck, Takada."

"Thank you." The ferocity faded from Takada Naoto’s face, replaced by a blank expression. He offered his thanks, then mercilessly plunged the katana home.

Taking a long, deep breath, Takada Naoto wiped the splattered blood from his face. His expression held no trace of guilt or remorse.

CLANG.

Takada Naoto dropped the katana. He slowly turned around. After killing several of his own colleagues, his very nature seemed to have been upended. The last trace of timidity had vanished. He met Qin Fan’s gaze and said calmly, "They’re all dead."

"Mm. Good luck," Qin Fan said with a flippant smile, removing his hand from the Crystal Stone Ball.

"Thank you," Takada Naoto replied. He instinctively glanced back at the now-quiet Orochi Cave. He didn’t dare linger a moment longer. His weakened body shot forward toward an exit up ahead.

If I can just escape Mount Fuji, get my family, and leave Japan, I’ll be safe! I know the Elders won’t pursue a single person like me into another country! And Qin Fan’s presence here should keep those Elders and the great god Orochi occupied. That will give me enough time to escape!

But reality is often crueler than one’s hopes. Takada Naoto hadn’t gotten far before the entrance to the Orochi Cave suddenly exploded.

Several figures shot out of the cave like a hurricane, heading straight for Takada Naoto.