Chapter 23

Just as Battlefront Yukitsuri clearly had no intention of letting Morikawa escape, before he could run a few steps, she threw her katana with a flick of her wrist.

The sharp katana sliced through Morikawa's feet, tripping him and leaving deep, bone-visible wounds.

Thus, Morikawa, who had fallen to the ground, could no longer run. After a few agonized screams, he saw Battlefront Yukitsuri slowly approaching. Ignoring the pain, he could only crawl forward on all fours, trying to escape. The blood from his foot wounds left a deep trail on the ground.

Even so, he did not have the courage to turn and fight, even though Battlefront Yukitsuri no longer had a sword in her hand.

Thus, with nothing in her hands, Battlefront Yukitsuri walked towards Morikawa. As she passed by Asai Juro, who was completely limp on the ground, he trembled even more at the sight of the two severed gang members still moaning, but he did not offer any resistance.

Battlefront Yukitsuri approached Morikawa with a sinister smile, picked up her sword, and watched him crawl forward like a cat playing with a mouse. With a swift slash, she severed Morikawa's legs.

"Ah, ah." Morikawa, now without legs, could no longer crawl and could only wail in despair.

Then, Battlefront Yukitsuri, still smiling, slashed again, this time severing his hands.

Thus, Morikawa, now without hands or legs, could only lie on the ground like a human stick, wailing in despair as blood gushed from his limb stumps.

Seeing that her toy could no longer escape, Battlefront Yukitsuri turned her attention to Asai Juro, who was a quivering mess on the ground.

Asai Juro noticed that Battlefront Yukitsuri was now focusing on him, but he was already paralyzed by fear and could not even stand.

Although Asai Juro had threatened others and even driven some to death while collecting debts, he had never killed anyone with his own hands. The gruesome scene before him was far beyond his capacity to handle.

Thus, Asai Juro broke down. Seeing Battlefront Yukitsuri, who was approaching with a sweet smile, he cowered, muttering, "Please spare me, let me go!" and curled up, burying his head in his chest.

Looking at this toy that could not even struggle, Battlefront Yukitsuri felt dissatisfied. She decided to make this toy suffer more before killing him.

Battlefront Yukitsuri stood in front of Asai Juro, who, with his head lowered, could see her slender, perfectly shaped legs encased in stockings. If it were any other time, Asai Juro would have been filled with lust, but now he was only filled with fear.

Just as Battlefront Yukitsuri raised her sword, considering where to strike first, the sound of footsteps approached.

"This place is quite lively. I could hear the piercing sounds from far away," a teasing voice echoed from the stairwell.

A figure slowly ascended the stairs and came into view before Battlefront Yukitsuri.

It was a young-looking man, yet he exuded a peculiar sense of沧桑 (沧桑 means "沧桑" in Chinese, which can be translated as "weathered" or "world-weary"). His eyes scrutinized Battlefront Yukitsuri, and he walked up the stairs with his hands empty. This man was Aoba.

After searching for over a week for the last of the White Ghost's enemies, Aoba had not found them. But today, as he passed by this area, the White Ghost sensed something. Aoba immediately rushed over and, upon arriving, habitually scanned the building with his divine sense. To his surprise, he witnessed a dramatic scene, seeing the entire process of Battlefront Yukitsuri's outburst through his divine sense.

It was only when Battlefront Yukitsuri was about to kill Asai Juro that Aoba hesitated and walked up the stairs.

This was not because Aoba wanted to save Asai Juro, but because he wanted the White Ghost to witness Asai Juro's death up close. The White Ghost was right beside Aoba, but as an ordinary person, Battlefront Yukitsuri could not see her.

After all, Aoba had promised the White Ghost to help her take revenge, so he at least wanted her to see her enemy's death up close.

However, Battlefront Yukitsuri had already lost her mind.

The quivering Asai Juro no longer interested her. Although she would not let him go, she could wait a bit before killing him.

But the sudden appearance of this man, who did not seem afraid of her, piqued her interest.

Moreover, her instincts told her that this man was dangerous.

But danger did not make her retreat; instead, it made her feel more excited.

Thus, Battlefront Yukitsuri, feeling excited, charged at him with her sword.

"Indeed, I noticed something was off with you. It seems you have truly lost your mind to the thrill of killing," Aoba said, shaking his head in exasperation.

Even as the blade approached at high speed, Aoba remained calm. As the blade was about to reach him, instead of retreating, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

This move completely disrupted Battlefront Yukitsuri's rhythm. Whether Aoba had retreated or blocked, she had follow-up moves, but his advance left her plans in disarray. If she continued to swing the sword, she would only hit his body with her wrist and not cut him.

Thus, Battlefront Yukitsuri quickly retracted her move, trying to break free from Aoba's close proximity.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Aoba reached out and grabbed her hands holding the sword. With a gentle twist of his wrist, he forced her to turn around, ending up with her back against his chest, tightly held in his embrace.

Aoba still held her wrists, forcing her to hold the sword in front of her.

Even as Battlefront Yukitsuri struggled to turn and attack Aoba, she could not succeed.

As she writhed in his embrace, her perfect figure rubbed against his body. Although Aoba's intention was not to take advantage, he could not deny that she was a temptress.

Especially when the scent of her sweat, intensified by her intense movements, mixed with the pungent smell of blood in the air, it created a strange, alluring charm, like a mixture of an angel and a demon.

However, such allure did not sway Aoba's reason. He focused his mind and placed his other hand on Battlefront Yukitsuri's abdomen, pressing against her body and beginning to channel pure yang energy into her.

Indeed, this was Aoba's goal: to restrain her and use pure yang energy to suppress her impulses, making her calm down.