In the wooden house at the heart of the estate, a place blessed with the most scenic views, its doors opened to reveal different vistas. Now, however, the doors were shut, and bodyguards stood guard, feigning ignorance to the arguments echoing from within.
Those inside regretted their decision to eliminate the ability users. They had assumed they were facing two weak individuals, easily dispatched to bolster Kagoshima's strength and transform it into a colossal southern city. But plans rarely kept pace with reality. Even the military had failed to kill the ability users, who had instead breached the city.
The current predicament felt like riding a tiger, impossible to dismount. Reconciliation was out of their league, yet direct confrontation yielded no victory, only countless civilian casualties. If this continued, the city itself would be destroyed.
Sensing the unfavorable turn of events, the de facto rulers of the city began to shift blame. While everyone had agreed to confront the ability users, the immediate need was to absolve themselves of responsibility. Otherwise, when the reckoning came, they would likely be consumed by the flames.
"The most crucial matter now is to discuss how to handle the aftermath. In my opinion, we should immediately seek aid from Tokyo!" an elder with white hair and beard declared.
His suggestion was met with immediate disdain. Someone scoffed, "Hmph, are you losing your mind? Old man, even by plane, it would take at least two hours to fly ability users from Tokyo. Can we hold out for two more hours?"
"Exactly. Not to mention whether Tokyo's ability users can defeat these two monsters. Even requesting support would come at a tremendous cost. Tokyo has always had its eye on our food supplies. If we give them our grain, tens of thousands of us will starve!"
"My suggestion is to negotiate peace with these two ability users. As long as we agree to peace, we'll satisfy their demands as much as possible. The conditions set by two ability users will surely be less than Tokyo's. However, some culprits will not survive."
The seven factions immediately split into two camps: one advocating for seeking help from Tokyo and requesting ability users, the other preparing to sacrifice those who proposed the fight, believing that killing a scapegoat would appease the enemy.
"Boom." At that moment, the roof shattered, sending tiles and wooden debris raining down. A dark silhouette plummeted, filling the room with smoke.
This sudden appearance stunned everyone present. No unauthorized individuals were ever allowed within the estate, yet a dark figure had fallen from the sky. Was it possible for someone to penetrate the layers of security?
The bodyguards outside the house, hearing the loud noise, rushed in, drawing their concealed pistols. They aimed at the figure shrouded in smoke, ready to fire, but the obscured visibility prevented them from doing so without risking the lives of the council members.
"Raging Wind!" Shen Feng roared. Countless wind blades instantly materialized in the air, slicing through the smoke and killing all the bodyguards who had entered the room.
Against the sharp wind blades, the bodyguards were defenseless. Though some managed to fire their weapons, their bullets were deflected by a barrier surrounding Shen Feng.
"Screech..." Bodyguards fell one by one under the onslaught of wind blades, their blood flowing across the wooden floor.
Shen Feng gave them no time to react. In an instant, he unleashed "Hurricane Eye," conjuring a whirlwind that dispersed the smoke. Those inside were thrown about, unable to move, their eyes unable to open.
"Whoosh..." Where the fierce winds had passed, the previous elegance and tranquility were gone. Furniture lay scattered, while others huddled in corners, some attempting to crawl out amidst the chaos.
Shen Feng appeared in the room. He surveyed the scene, noting the absence of chairs; everyone was seated on cushions. Low tables were arranged in the room, with steaming tea still on them.
"I've been looking for you for a long time. Now, if you want to leave here, be careful. I can kill you at any moment!" Shen Feng casually sat on a table and addressed the people.
However, a general, who was present to report on the front lines, reacted to the enemy's appearance. He drew his pistol and aimed at Shen Feng, unleashing a burst of bullets.
"Clink clink..." The bullets failed to hit Shen Feng, striking an invisible barrier that quickly repaired itself.
"It's your usual style to resort to violence at first sight. Impudent fools, die!" Shen Feng frowned, casually using his ability to pierce the general's throat with a wind blade. The general died instantly.
"Keep running. The outcome will be the same as now!" Shen Feng said calmly.
Though his tone was light, no one dared to flee. They knew escape from an ability user was impossible.
The people in the room held positions of power and were members of the elite. Many engaged in international trade and had learned multiple languages, especially Chinese. Several present could speak it passably.
Shen Feng now sat at a low table in the room. Despite his thin, sickly appearance, no one dared to underestimate him. Such immense power could only belong to an ability user.
Ability users, regardless of their location, commanded respect, a respect born from fear of their strength. To ordinary people, ability users were like gods to mortals, beyond the reach of law.
Finally, a frail old man was the first to react, addressing Shen Feng in Chinese: "May I ask your esteemed name? What business brings you here?"
Shen Feng sneered, "Now you ask me what business I have here? It should be me asking what business you have. We were merely resting in the shrine when you repeatedly offended us. When we came to seek an explanation, you dispatched the army to attack us. We were forced to defend ourselves. Now, I want to confirm, do you truly wish to be our enemy?"
Shen Feng had learned the essence of negotiation: to gain the upper hand, one must first make the opponent appear unreasonable. The best approach was to label them, to impose a burden regardless of the facts. Once labeled, they would immediately be at a disadvantage.
Those present felt a sense of guilt. They had indeed initiated the conflict. Yet, they had suffered the greatest losses. Why was the other party acting as if they were the aggrieved party?
"We implore you, honored ability user, not to be angered. We have received no news from China recently and were unaware of your arrival. The attack on you earlier was a misunderstanding. Our subordinates mistook you for enemies and attacked without authorization," several people hastily explained.
Shen Feng looked at them mockingly and sneered, "Do you think such a simple excuse can deceive me? If apologies were effective, there would be no enemies in the world! Let me tell you, if I don't get a clear answer today, this matter will not end here!"
At this moment, the distant sound of explosions could be heard, indicating that the battle was still raging further away in the city.
"Sir, we will compensate you. How about we let this matter drop? Whatever you desire, we will offer it with both hands. Please cease hostilities, and let us talk," a middle-aged man said anxiously.
Shen Feng laughed at this request and replied, "Stopping the fighting is simple. You just need to surrender. My brother will immediately cease his attack and stop using his abilities. All you need to do is go out and hoist a white flag. My brother will see it and stop."
Shen Feng's words ignited anger among those present. The millennia of Bushido had cultivated a sense of pride. Hearing the demand for surrender, they indignantly declared, "We would rather die than surrender! If you have the ability, come to the plains and fight us. Let us face each other openly. I don't believe you can win!"
This response made Shen Feng burst into laughter, a wild, unrestrained laugh. He said, "Wasn't fighting in the city your choice? Now you want to trick us into going to the plains? How naive! You want to fight to the end? I'll oblige you. I'll kill all of you leaders, and I don't believe your subordinates will dare to resist! If anyone still resists, we'll continue killing until we see how many of you have backbone!"
With that, Shen Feng stood up and slowly walked towards the man who had clamored for a decisive battle on the plains. The middle-aged man's face was fierce, but as Shen Feng approached, his expression gradually faded. When faced with the threat of death, the most natural reaction was to preserve one's life.
Shen Feng deliberately walked slowly, intending to exert immense pressure on the man. He wanted to see if these people truly had no fear of death. The old men were one thing; the four elders might as well be dead. But these three middle-aged men, still young, were they willing to die like this?
As he walked, a gust of wind swirled around Shen Feng, causing his tattered clothes to flutter. An invisible pressure enveloped the elites. Shen Feng also released a powerful killing aura. Having fought continuously for two years, Shen Feng had witnessed countless bloody scenes, naturally exuding a bloodthirsty aura. No one dared to meet his gaze.
Anyone who met his eyes felt as if they were being targeted by a malevolent spirit. Staring into Shen Feng's eyes induced immense pressure, almost unbearable. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and through a person's gaze, their character could be fully discerned.
Shen Feng reached a middle-aged man and said, "Since you refuse to surrender even unto death, there is nothing else I can do. It seems I must act. As for whether the other people in this city will surrender, we will find out later!"
Shen Feng's index and middle fingers condensed into wind blades. With a mere wave, he could sever the man's head.
"Wait, I, I surrender!" The middle-aged man could no longer bear it. He had envisioned himself as a legendary, unyielding hero, but reality differed from ideals. Faced with the paramount issue of survival, he slowly knelt, his forehead touching the ground.
Shen Feng looked at the others. No one dared to remain defiant. They knew he was truly capable of killing. Continued defiance would yield no results.
The remaining six key figures also knelt. The act of kneeling, whether in the East or West, signified submission. Those kneeling lost their ability to resist, becoming lambs to the slaughter, helpless.