Chapter 316

The pitch-black warehouse was torn apart by silver light, split in two.

This sword instantly melted its target.

Higashise Shozo didn't last even a second…

Gu Shen waved his hand, dispelling the poisonous mist, and with it, the Iron Throne and Truth.

"It's over already?"

Chen Li was dumbfounded.

This was the first time he had seen Gu Shen take action… After returning to the Five Continents, Gu Shen's temperament had become much more somber. He and Song Ci had primarily taken over the investigation of this case.

Chen Li had thought he was washing his hands of the martial world.

He realized it was a complete misjudgment.

"Higashise Shozo is old. Even if he used 'evil arts' for a final burst of strength, his abilities were still very ordinary."

Gu Shen said indifferently, "In terms of real strength, he's on the same level as the Great Deer Saint of the Storm Church… or even weaker."

Among the various tiers, a titled powerhouse like Higashise Shozo, who didn't walk the righteous path and specialized in unorthodox methods, was at the very bottom.

"Mm… he was indeed very ordinary, just too disgusting."

Song Ci nodded in agreement.

On the other side, Higashise Takamasa was deeply shocked.

In his perception, Gu Shen had always been "slightly stronger" than him…

He knew this evil spirit held the highest status.

But Higashise Takamasa had always believed that Song Ci, the first thug under the Madam's command, was the strongest in terms of ability.

Now his perception was completely overturned.

The strength of this evil spirit made Higashise Takamasa feel fortunate.

He was glad he hadn't played any tricks during that interrogation.

……

……

The investigation into the Higashise Family case had been under Gu Shen's control from beginning to end.

The reason he was calm and unconcerned was because of everything that had happened in the Yinghai District.

He had the ability to suppress and extinguish it all.

Higashise Takamasa's final confession revealed the "culprit" behind the Higashise Family's defection.

It wasn't the Five Great Families.

Nor was it the various major forces of East Continent that Gu Shen was familiar with.

It was a powerful being from another continent—

"So, this is it?"

Gu Shen stood on a small mountain on Wu Dai Island, looking at the clustered village below. This was the "place of faith" that Higashise Takamasa had mentioned. After retiring from Nagano, Higashise Shozo had been wholeheartedly planning how to make Yinghai break away from East Continent's control.

He was an ambitious man.

But unfortunately, his strength was far from matching his ambition.

Not to mention making Yinghai break away from East Continent's control.

Higashise Shozo didn't even have the ability to make the Higashise Family break away from control.

In the past few years, he had bowed his head in submission, not daring to let the upper echelons of East Continent see his thoughts. In order to not expose his true conspiracy, he had even hardened his heart and pushed his son to the forefront early on.

However, his years of persistence had seen a glimmer of dawn.

Someone had contacted him.

And given him a practical path forward.

Letting Yinghai District break away from control was too ambitious. Higashise Shozo was well aware that he could never accomplish such a thing in his lifetime. But through this contact, he found a way to let the Higashise Family break away from control.

That was, to develop faith.

"One thousand and forty-three people…"

Gu Shen's mental power swept across the village. In this captive land, there were no books, no internet, and of course, no knowledge.

There were only a few simple farming gardens, a well, and a large number of poisonous snakes.

This village was completely controlled by Higashise Shozo. The "villagers" here were still alive, but in terms of the spirit, they were no different from the dead.

Because they no longer possessed their own will.

Under the years of erosion from the Du Chao (Poisonous Nest), they had completely believed in the teachings created by Higashise Shozo.

Creating a church out of thin air.

This was the method the "behind-the-scenes figure" had taught Higashise Shozo.

"I've been investigating this for years, and I'm sure that it was a temple elder from West Continent who was in contact with Higashise Shozo. I don't know which one specifically."

Higashise Takamasa took a deep breath and said, "How to cultivate 'faith,' how to breed 'zealots,' were all taught to him by the temple. There are several such 'bases' throughout the Kanko Islands. Higashise Shozo's agreement with that temple elder was that after cultivating ten thousand believers, West Continent would officially accept the Higashise Family's entry."

The real behind-the-scenes figure.

Wasn't even in East Continent…

Just as Gu Shen had guessed, the Higashise Family simply didn't have the power to plot a "rebellion."

And the great force supporting them from behind.

Was Guang Ming Cheng (City of Light).

"So Higashise Yue went to the Source Tower?"

"This was also a requirement from West Continent…" Higashise Takamasa murmured, "Guang Ming Cheng is trying to infiltrate the entire world with its faith. The temple's help in the Higashise Family's escape from Yinghai also came with a request, which was to plant 'zealots' in the Source Tower."

If Higashise Yue successfully infiltrated the interior of the Source Tower.

Then Guang Ming Cheng would be holding a trump card.

"Damn it, it's really disgusting!"

Song Ci sat cross-legged on the small mountain and spat fiercely, feeling that the Guang Ming Ling Pai (Light Token) in his hand was truly unlucky.

In the name of light, doing sinister things!

Perhaps many years ago, Guang Ming Cheng wasn't like this…

But now, the temple's actions had deviated from the original teachings, and could even be said to be the opposite.

"In any case, betraying East Continent is a fact. I am willing to enter the Xue Long (Snow Cage) for service, and I also respect your judgment, to let the Higashise Family withdraw from the Yinghai stage from now on…"

Higashise Takamasa said softly, "It's just that not all of the family's high-ranking members are 'defectors.' Only a few know about Higashise Shozo's true plan… Among them, many colluded with other continents for their own selfish desires, committing the crime of betrayal. I have already listed the names of those people. Takamasa only has one wish, and I hope that you will punish them according to their crimes, and not harm the innocent."

Before the interrogation began last night.

Higashise Takamasa told Gu Shen that he had a letter in his chest.

This letter had been written long ago.

Part of the contents of the letter… was this list of defectors.

"The list of defectors will be verified by others. The people outside the list will also be reviewed one by one."

Gu Shen said calmly, "I promise you, I will not let go of a guilty person, nor will I wrong the innocent of the Higashise Family."

Hearing this, a glimmer of light ignited in Higashise Takamasa's dark eyes.

He smiled softly, "That… would be good."

"There's just something I don't understand."

Gu Shen suddenly asked, "Since you hate Higashise Shozo's actions so much, why didn't you stand up and report him earlier? With your prestige in the Yinghai District, contacting Lu Nanzhi, or even the upper echelons of the Five Great Families, shouldn't be difficult."

Higashise Takamasa was silent for a moment, "That's a good question, then why didn't you contact them, and instead came to investigate this case alone?"

Before Gu Shen could speak.

Higashise Takamasa said hoarsely, "Obviously, you are worried that there is also corruption within East Continent. What if the big shot I found was colluding with the temple, just like Higashise Shozo?"

Chen Li said coldly, "What do you mean?"

"Don't get excited."

Higashise Takamasa said mockingly, "I don't want to sow discord, nor do I want to question the meaning of the Five Great Families… I'm just stating the facts."

Chen Li's expression was unkind, but the next moment he was stunned.

Higashise Takamasa opened the haori robe that he wore all year round, revealing his chest.

There were hundreds of dense scars, overlapping each other, just on his chest.

Recalling Higashise Shozo's hideous appearance earlier.

Chen Li suddenly understood something.

"You adults may not understand the torture I experienced in my childhood."

Higashise Takamasa said calmly, "For a 'puppet' like me, there is only one chance to resist… If I fail, I will be doomed forever. I no longer care about my own life or death. As long as the final result is that Higashise Shozo pays the price, then anything is fine with me. So the current ending is also very good for me."

"Then… what about Higashise Ii?"

Gu Shen spoke again.

Higashise Takamasa was stunned for a moment.

"Thirty years ago, you obeyed Higashise Shozo's orders and married into the Ishitsuka family, which was in the limelight. Your wife was thirty years older than you. Because of this marriage, you became a laughingstock. To this day, many people ridicule you for losing your dignity, but it was precisely because of this that the Ishitsuka family nominated you to become a 'councilor.'"

Gu Shen said, "As everyone knows, this was a political marriage. A few years later, your wife died of illness, and the children born from this marriage also died young… It was not until a few years ago that your illegitimate son entered the public eye. If you want Higashise Ii to live well, you shouldn't let him be known."

"…"

Higashise Takamasa smiled, "The child is grown up, he has his own ideas, I can't stop him."

"Is that so?"

"Is that really the case?"

Gu Shen's questioning made Higashise Takamasa become silent.

"Mr. Takamasa, I see that there is a name missing from the list of defectors you provided."

Gu Shen continued, "That is yourself, Higashise Takamasa. The fundamental reason why you did not report Higashise Shozo is that you also wanted to send someone away from Yinghai… and that person is Higashise Ii."

The sea breeze blew across the small mountain of Wu Dai Island.

A faint fishy smell drifted by.

Higashise Takamasa said weakly, "Sir, since you have already seen through everything, why do you have to reveal it so cruelly?"

"Yes, it is indeed a bit cruel."

Gu Shen looked into the distance. After a long time, he turned his head to look at Higashise Takamasa and asked seriously, "I'm just curious, is it necessary for him to escape from East Continent? Is East Continent… really that dirty?"

The last bit of his thoughts was seen through.

All the strength in Higashise Takamasa's body seemed to have been taken away in an instant.

He leaned against the tree weakly. The sea breeze blew, looking at his hands that were not stained with blood, but full of fishy smell.

From the beginning, Higashise Takamasa never thought of absolving himself of his crimes.

It's just…

Some things, some truths, he wanted to bury in his heart forever.

If Higashise Shozo's plan succeeded, he would add Higashise Ii's name to the transfer list as the head of the Higashise Family and send him away urgently.

He didn't want his son to know about everything that happened here.

Because he had suffered endless torture and darkness.

So Higashise Takamasa wanted to be a good father.

He didn't want the painful and broken life of a puppet to be repeated on Higashise Ii, which was why he was willing to endure the evil deeds of Higashise Shozo…

He wanted to use his last bit of strength to save his child.

Even if his tolerance would cause more people to suffer torture.

Even if among these tortured people…

There were also fathers and children.

Looking at those believers trapped by the Du Chao (Poisonous Nest) at the foot of the mountain.

"No…"

Higashise Takamasa closed his eyes, and turbid tears slid down his cheeks, smiling painfully, "It's just me… who is dirty."

……

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(ps: Four updates have been completed~ I put a lot of thought into this small chapter of the Higashise family. I personally feel very satisfied. Please give me a monthly ticket~)