"You want to participate in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament?"
Inside the old-style tatami room, Wu Hui Li'ang, kneeling before the tea table, frowned slightly.
"Our clan has indeed received a commission, but the representative has already been decided—it's Raian. You're not a member of the Wu Clan, young friend Rei. This is internal clan business, so it wouldn't be appropriate for you to step in."
"Senior, you misunderstand me. I don't intend to compete under the name of the Wu Clan."
Kurosaki Rei shook his head. He had come to bid Wu Hui Li'ang farewell, and before leaving, he hoped to secure a small favor if possible.
"Oh? I nearly forgot—given your strength, joining any company wouldn't be difficult. Since you specifically brought this up to me, you must have a special purpose in mind?"
Wu Hui Li'ang looked at Kurosaki Rei with curiosity, wanting to know this powerful young man's intentions.
"Your insight is sharp, senior. I want to compete under the identity of the Fang of Metsudo."
Kurosaki Rei smiled.
The Fang of Metsudo stood at the pinnacle of the Kengan Association—the fighter of Chairman Katahara Metsudo, widely regarded as the strongest active combatant in Kengan matches.
Wu Hui Li'ang froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and studied Kurosaki Rei for a long time before bursting into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Young friend Rei, you seem to have quite the ambition."
"Ambition might be too strong a word. I simply have a matter I'd like Chairman Metsudo to help with. Without showing sufficient value, he likely wouldn't be willing to act."
Kurosaki Rei continued calmly.
"And you are the first-generation Fang of Metsudo. With your introduction, a great deal of bloodshed could be avoided."
Wu Hui Li'ang immediately understood.
Of course, Kurosaki Rei could simply storm in and replace the current Fang of Metsudo by force—but that would likely trigger armed conflict and escalate into outright war.
If Wu Hui Li'ang recommended him, and Kurosaki Rei then formally challenged the current Fang, it would avoid unnecessary bloodshed. A win–win outcome.
"That's a minor matter. I can send word to the old man."
Wu Hui Li'ang waved it off casually.
"But you must have something else you want from me, don't you?"
He hadn't even met the current Fang of Metsudo, but he had complete confidence in Raian's strength. Even if the current Fang was stronger than Raian, it wouldn't be by much—and Kurosaki Rei was an entirely different matter altogether.
Yes—even when he himself had been young, as the 'Strong Demon' Wu Hui Li'ang, he doubted he could have defeated the young man before him.
After several days of observation, he was increasingly certain that Kurosaki Rei's strength didn't lie merely in his superhuman physique, but in the extreme refinement of his martial art.
In Wu Hui Li'ang's eyes, Kurosaki Rei hadn't even needed to learn the Wu Clan's Release. With technique alone, he could already overwhelm opponents who were physically stronger than himself—and there were very few people in the world whose raw strength surpassed superhuman levels anyway.
He knew that replacing the current Fang would be easy for Kurosaki Rei. Even without his recommendation, Katahara Metsudo's private army wouldn't be able to stop him, and judging by Metsudo's temperament, he would gladly accept Kurosaki Rei once he saw his strength.
Which meant that Kurosaki Rei's request for an introduction was simply giving him face. There had to be another reason.
"You really can't hide anything from you, senior."
Kurosaki Rei smiled wryly.
"I do indeed have something I'd like to ask of the Wu Clan. But as you can see, I'm just a wanted criminal without much money—I can't afford an exorbitant commission."
Wu Hui Li'ang took a sip of tea.
"You've already taught Raian quite a bit beyond what was agreed upon in the exchange. That alone is worth the payment."
"Go on. What do you want us to investigate?"
Kurosaki Rei inwardly sighed in relief. Dealing with smart people really was convenient.
"I'd like senior to help me investigate whether, among the participants of this Kengan Annihilation Tournament, there are any particularly abnormal individuals—or rather, anyone whose strength has increased at an unusually rapid pace recently."
Kurosaki Rei judged that the End wouldn't be so cruel. The Origin Seed would likely appear during the Kengan Annihilation Tournament—but he couldn't afford to wait until then.
He didn't know the exact details of the other Explorers' missions. But if he failed to secure the Origin Seed, he would die. And every extra day the current holder of the Origin Seed remained alive only increased the mission's difficulty.
He enjoyed challenging strong opponents, but he wasn't Vegeta. Only by staying alive could he continue to relish combat and climb ever higher.
Besides, there was already an ultimate powerhouse in this world that he was eager to face. Before crossing blades with that being, he absolutely could not die—or he'd never rest in peace.
Therefore, the optimal solution regarding the Origin Seed was to locate and secure it before the Kengan Annihilation Tournament even began. Only then could he proceed with the rest of his plans in peace.
"That's a rather strange request."
Wu Hui Li'ang nodded slowly.
"I won't ask why. Once we gather the intelligence, I'll have someone contact you."
As the head of an assassination clan, his professionalism in such matters was impeccable—he never inquired into a client's motives.
Kurosaki Rei cupped his fists in salute.
"My thanks, senior. I've been well looked after these past few days. In the future, if I happen to encounter the Western Wu faction, and if you don't mind an outsider intervening, I'll help you deal with them."
Wu Hui Li'ang's gaze sharpened.
"You really do know a great deal…"
"After all, I was born on the continent. I've always been interested in matters concerning the Wu, and I only learned of it by chance. If senior would rather I not interfere, then consider what I just said as never spoken."
Kurosaki Rei smiled.
In this world, the Wu were divided into three factions. The continental Wu Clan and the Japanese Wu Clan could be described as Lawful Evil, while the Western Wu faction was Chaotic Evil.
By now, it should have been recent history—the Japanese Wu Clan, the continental Wu Clan, and the Western Wu faction had cooperated in a joint operation to "exterminate the Worm," attacking one of the Worm organization's bases.
The Worm was a global organization—essentially an international terrorist network, notorious for carrying out attacks worldwide. In that joint operation, the Japanese Wu Clan and the continental Wu Clan suffered heavy losses and failed to return.
The reason was simple: the Western Wu faction had betrayed them.
To put it bluntly, the Western Wu faction had long since sided with the Worm and pledged allegiance to the so-called "Immortal," Shen Wulong.
Because of this betrayal, the Japanese Wu Clan had suffered catastrophic losses and had been seeking revenge ever since—only lacking the right opportunity.
Having read the sequel to Kengan inside the space, Kurosaki Rei knew that the Western Wu faction's representative, Edward Wu, was an extraordinary powerhouse.
In the original story, the old man before him had led the entire Wu Clan—young and old alike—into a group assault. In the end, he had used his own life as bait just to barely defeat Edward Wu.
Kurosaki Rei felt he had been treated generously by the Wu Clan. If he ever encountered Edward Wu, cutting him down along the way didn't seem like a problem at all.
"No."
Wu Hui Li'ang shook his head.
"If you can do it, the Wu Clan will remember this favor."
Then his expression turned solemn.
"But be careful. You are extremely strong in the domain of martial arts—but when it comes to killing, we Wu are the true experts."
Kurosaki Rei laughed softly.
"Senior, have you forgotten? I'm a death-row inmate imprisoned for mass murder."
"Don't worry. If the Western Wu run into me, it'll be their bad luck."
After chatting a bit longer, Kurosaki Rei departed under Wu Hui Li'ang's watchful gaze—leaving both the tatami room and the Wu Clan itself.
Half an hour later, Karura came running into the room, looking around anxiously.
"Grandpa, where's Kurosaki Rei?"
"He's gone."
"Gone where?"
"To climb a mountain called the path of martial arts."
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