Chapter 51

"Mr. Takahashi, please get up. I can't promise you too much, but as long as I live, I will take Saya with me." Lin Yifan didn't dare to make promises he couldn't keep, fearing that if he had to take Saya back to the Infinite City to be treated like a grandchild, he wouldn't be able to handle it.

Hearing this, Takahashi Soichiro's tense expression gradually eased, and he bowed again to Lin Yifan, who was kneeling. "I have no way to repay you, but I will do my best to help you through any difficulties."

Lin Yifan's eyes lit up, and he cleared his throat and muttered, "Ahem, I just want to ask, what if I get caught by the police with a gun?"

"That won't be a problem. The Self-Defense Forces and police controlling Saitama Prefecture are all my close friends or family acquaintances. I will inform them not to make things difficult for you no matter what happens."

Takahashi Soichiro helped Lin Yifan up and glanced at his daughter, who looked confused. "Saya, from today on, you must listen to him, understand?"

"Huh? Dad, you... you're not joking? Why should I listen to him? Are you really going to sell your daughter like this? Dad, you misunderstood, I really don't... I really have nothing to do with him."

Saya hesitated for a moment when she said she had nothing to do with Lin Yifan. They had gone through too much today, experiences that ordinary friends might never have in a lifetime.

No matter what, everything Lin Yifan did for her today would be deeply etched in Saya's memory.

"This is an order!" Takahashi Soichiro's face turned stern, and the terrifying aura he emitted made Saya step back a few paces.

Soichiro then stood up and returned to the Japanese-style house, holding a katana as he walked out slowly.

"Is this... the Muramasa demon blade?"

"Exactly. I don't need to introduce it further. You know who this blade is for." Takahashi Soichiro held the sheath with one hand and firmly presented the blade to Lin Yifan.

Lin Yifan took the Muramasa with both hands. Though called a demon blade, it wasn't as sinister as people thought. Its fame was largely due to the ban during the Edo period.

At that time, Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Tokugawa Ieyasu's unfortunate grandfather, father, uncle, and even himself had all been injured or killed by the Muramasa blade, which he considered "inauspicious."

Thus, the Muramasa became a banned blade and was demonized in the public eye as a demon blade.

Lin Yifan slightly drew the blade, and the sharp edge hummed with a chilling aura, its sharpness a sickly beauty. Holding it made him feel an inexplicable restlessness, and images of slashing and blood splattering flashed through his mind.

Unable to resist the terrifying impulse, Lin Yifan immediately sheathed the blade and let out a sigh of relief.

The elegant blade made him feel an urge to charge into battle and slash.

"I know, I will give this blade to her." Lin Yifan stroked the hilt and nodded.

This was the katana that Soichiro was supposed to give to Tojo Sae in the story, but now he would be the one to deliver it.

Takahashi Soichiro's face turned stern again, and he resumed his usual scowl. He bowed slightly to Lin Yifan and then turned and walked away.

"Dad, where are you going?"

Takahashi Soichiro stopped, not turning back. "To talk with some uncles. And you, from now on, follow him closely."

Without giving Saya time to ask why, Takahashi Soichiro, holding the katana, disappeared around the corner.

Everything was unexpected, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. Lin Yifan breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't wait to leave this place and deliver the blade to Tojo Sae.

Now, only the two of them were left alone. Saya straightened her shirt and black Gothic skirt, which she had deliberately changed into to look slimmer and more curvaceous.

Saya's face was slightly red, and she lowered her head, unsure how to start. Her father's words had made her heart race.

After a while, Saya noticed that Lin Yifan wasn't paying any attention to her, only focused on the blade.

Seeing Lin Yifan occasionally draw the blade, gaze at it lovingly, and then reluctantly sheath it, Saya was about to explode with anger.

"Hey! This blade was always cherished by my father. Why did he give it to you? Did you say something you shouldn't to my father?"

Saya approached Lin Yifan, the katana between them. Her face was full of suspicion, wondering what kind of magic Lin Yifan had used on her father.

"Don't worry, I've already clarified our relationship and won't take advantage of you. I have something to do, so I'm leaving now." Lin Yifan put the katana in his backpack and hurriedly walked downstairs.

Saya ran after him, her face full of anger. "Where are you going? And what strange things did my father say? He told me to follow you. Why? Give me an explanation!"

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. From today on, you'll stay with me."

Lin Yifan said this without much thought, but Saya's face instantly turned red and hot.

Saya, her face flushed, remained silent for a long time. Was Lin Yifan confessing? "Stay with me from now on," wasn't that a confession?

Lin Yifan, however, was focused on his "big plans" and didn't notice Saya's teenage girl heart.

The big plan, of course, was to win over Tojo Sae!

As they walked through the Takahashi family's courtyard, Lin Yifan took out his phone and called Carbon Iron.

In the previous battle, Carbon Iron had been burned to a crisp. However, the轮回者s (reincarnators) didn't need to worry about their vehicles, no matter how damaged they were.

Lin Yifan sent a text to the insurance company according to the Infinite City's insurance policy, paid a few hundred dollars, and a brand new Carbon Iron motorcycle reappeared.

Riding the new Carbon Iron, Lin Yifan felt particularly elated. With this service, he could afford any expensive vehicle!

As for the insurance company's profit, it was probably just a benefit provided by the Infinite City to the reincarnators, so they didn't have to worry about vehicle damage.

"Hey, get on. What are you spacing out for?" Lin Yifan turned back, puzzled, to see Saya's face red as if she was about to bleed. Could it be her period?

Saya, still in a daze, came to her senses and ran over, her face red as she climbed onto the bike. "You, are you serious?"

The motorcycle had limited space, so Lin Yifan put his backpack on his chest to make it easier for Saya to sit behind him.

"Hmm? I've already promised your father, so I won't go back on my word. Hold on tight. At least I'll make sure you're safe if we encounter danger."

Saya, confused, asked, "Take me away? Where are we going now?"

"School!"

As Saya put her hands around Lin Yifan's waist, he revved the engine, and with a scream from Saya, the motorcycle sped down the hill.

"Ah! Slow down, it's a downhill road!"

Saya's twin tails danced in the air, and her skirt flapped in the wind. Out of fear, she had to cling tightly to Lin Yifan, pressing her body against his back.

Lin Yifan grinned, enjoying Saya's panicked screams. Hearing the half-teen's tsundere cries was a special kind of pleasure.

Riding recklessly through the main road, the patrolling police officers glanced at the motorcycle but didn't stop Lin Yifan. They had clearly received orders to let this unlicensed delinquent pass.

It was a special time, with the zombie virus spreading in other areas, and Takahashi Soichiro's connections made it easy to arrange.

Amidst the traffic, Lin Yifan finally slowed down.

Saya, her chest pressed against Lin Yifan's back, was reluctant to let go. She pretended not to notice and stayed put.

"I... I suddenly realized, what should I call you?" Saya asked shyly. She had always called Lin Yifan "Hey" or "The guy from across the sea."

"My name is Lin Yifan. Call me whatever you like."

Saya's lips trembled, opening and closing, and after a while, she seemed to gather her courage. "Yi... Yi-fan."

"Miss Takahashi, are you okay? Calling me by my name isn't the Japanese custom, right?" Lin Yifan felt a bit awkward. Usually, people would call him "Lin-kun" or "Mr. Lin."

Saya, who had mustered the courage to call Lin Yifan by his name, was disappointed that he didn't appreciate it!

"You! You jerk, you call Tojo-san 'Sae' so affectionately. You've only known her for a few days, humph!"

Saya's voice was filled with jealousy.

Lin Yifan's skin crawled. This jealousy...

Just as he was puzzled by Saya's attitude, he suddenly noticed a figure staggering on the street.

The figure stumbled a few steps, like a puppet, raised its head, opened its mouth, and stood at the crossroads, moaning.

Passersby hurriedly avoided, thinking the person was a lunatic or performing some art.

Lin Yifan, waiting at a red light, suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Hey, don't go over there!"

Lin Yifan shouted to a few police officers who were walking over. The next moment—blood splattered the crosswalk.