Chapter 45: The Six Directions Take Action

A night shrouded in darkness and fierce winds—a night fit for murder.

On the road leading to the eastern outskirts of Phoenix City, three black silhouettes raced forward, their speed astonishing. Had anyone witnessed this scene, they would surely have doubted their own senses, convinced they were hallucinating.

These three were none other than Typhoon, Song of Departure, and Harmony, who had just left Jiang Qin’s place.

It was not long before they arrived at the address they sought. Before them stood a three-story villa, brilliantly lit, its windows glowing in the night.

Typhoon, ever cautious, surveyed the surroundings and quickly spotted hidden surveillance cameras. Clearly, the occupants were not ordinary merchants from the Cherry Blossom Nation; no businessman would possess such vigilance.

The three exchanged glances, nodded in silent agreement, and found a blind spot from which they vaulted over the wall, landing inside the grounds. After studying the layout, they crept up to the second-floor balcony and then quietly made their way onto the corridor.

Meanwhile, in the first-floor hall, nine men dressed as martial artists from the Cherry Blossom Nation were gathered together.

“What’s going on with Miyamoto Burial? We only sent him out to gather information, and yet a whole day has passed—he still hasn’t returned!” A man with a goatee, speaking the language of the Cherry Blossom Nation, uttered angrily. This was the team’s temporary leader, Sato One.

“Who knows? I can’t comprehend why our sect master would send a mere lower ninja like Miyamoto Burial to join us,” responded a strikingly androgynous figure, his tone slow and deliberate.

“Let’s not worry about him for now. Our mission this time is of grave importance; there must be no mistakes. Although Xiao Yu is gravely injured, he remains a master of the Divine Rank. We must proceed with utmost caution, leaving no trace.” Sato One spoke solemnly.

“It’s almost time. We should go and rendezvous with them.”

With that, Sato One rose slowly. At that moment, a chilling voice echoed through the hall.

“Tonight, none of you will be leaving!”

The sudden voice startled the martial artists. Sato One spun around sharply, looking up to the second floor.

At the top of the stairs stood Typhoon, Song of Departure, and Harmony, their faces cold and unyielding as they stared down at the men.

“Who are you? How did you get in here?” Sato One was astonished. All present were elite upper ninjas, yet not one had sensed the arrival of these three.

“The dead have no right to know so much.”

Harmony’s gaze was icy as he stared at Sato One, the killing intent radiating from him growing ever stronger.

Feeling the chill in Harmony’s eyes, Sato One was gripped by an inexplicable panic. The look in this man’s eyes was terrifying, like a demon crawling out of hell, sending chills down his spine.

“Gentlemen, perhaps you have mistaken us for someone else? We have never met; what grievance could there be between us?” Sato One steadied himself, speaking calmly.

“You’re from the Yagyu Half-Moon School? Here to assassinate our leader?” Typhoon stepped forward, questioning the group below.

Sato One was momentarily stunned, then his face changed dramatically. “You—you’re the Twelve Heavenly Descents from Xiao Yu’s side!”

“So it truly is you. In that case, you may close your eyes in peace.”

Harmony’s gaze sharpened, and in a flash, he leapt down from the second floor, his eyes fierce as he stared at Sato One and the others. Typhoon and Song of Departure remained motionless above, clearly with no intention of intervening.

“Are you prepared to face the judgment of death?”

Harmony slowly raised a weapon wrapped in black cloth, pointing it at Sato One and his men, a murderous aura swirling about him.

The martial artists from the Cherry Blossom Nation simultaneously reached into their wide robes, their faces grave.

At that moment, Harmony moved. With a twist of his wrist, the black cloth split apart, revealing a pitch-black longsword that radiated a thick, bloody aura.

“Sword Demon Harmony!” Sato One’s pupils contracted sharply, his voice trembling in shock.

“Use your full strength! Don’t linger in battle—if any of you escape, so be it! Attack!” Sato One shouted, charging forward.

“Tonight, you all will die!” Harmony’s eyes narrowed, an overwhelming aura bursting forth. He raised his sword high and brought it down with ferocious force.

Thunderous sword energy slashed through the center of the hall, the deafening noise shaking the villa to its foundations.

Sato One and his men moved with incredible speed, dodging to the side as the sword descended. Yet even so, four were grievously wounded, losing the ability to fight.

“You—” Sato One began, but before he could finish, his vision blurred. In an instant, Harmony appeared before him.

A sudden, excruciating pain surged through Sato One’s body. He slowly lowered his head, disbelief in his eyes as he stared at his abdomen.

Harmony’s longsword had pierced straight through his belly, blood dripping steadily onto the floor. It all happened so quickly that even Sato One, an elite among upper ninjas, failed to react.

“With such meager skills, you dare attempt to assassinate our elder brother? How laughable!” Harmony said coldly, withdrawing his sword and pressing his hand against Sato One’s face, shoving him to the ground.

With a heavy thud, Sato One fell, blood gushing from his wound like a fountain. After a brief struggle, he finally lay still.

Sato One was dead.

After dispatching Sato One, Harmony’s gaze swept over the remaining men. Seeing the murderous intent in his eyes, they trembled, thinking only of escape—if any could flee, so much the better.

Harmony seemed to sense their intentions and sneered. “Trying to run? I’ve already said, none of you will survive.”

As his words fell, Harmony’s figure vanished, and muffled groans echoed through the hall. When Harmony reappeared, he had already sheathed his sword, standing motionless as if frozen in place.

One by one, the martial artists from the Cherry Blossom Nation collapsed, their eyes wide in terror as though they had glimpsed something unspeakable.

A team of nine was utterly annihilated by Harmony in less than two minutes.

The Twelve Heavenly Descents, Sword Demon Harmony—truly terrifying.