Chapter 290: Resistance

In a restaurant filled with soothing background music, a sudden “ding” of the doorbell sounded. As the door opened, a strikingly beautiful young woman walked in.

“Welcome,” the hostess promptly greeted her with a bow.

“I’m here for an appointment. Please take me to table eight,” the woman said directly, without unnecessary words.

“Please follow me.”

Walking with a composed yet graceful stride, the young woman quietly followed the hostess. Even so, the elegant lines of her legs beneath her skirt inadvertently drew the glances of a few men.

In a relatively quiet corner of the restaurant, the woman spotted the person waiting for her.

“Please, have a seat,” the man gestured politely.

Glancing at him, the woman smiled faintly and said, “Even if the Superintendent of Police wanted to meet me, I wouldn’t be too surprised. But I honestly didn’t expect the one inviting me here to be you.” As she spoke, she removed her jacket and placed it on the back of the chair.

Watching her take off her jacket, the man asked, “Aren’t you warm?”

“I had no choice. There was a meeting this morning, and everyone was dressed like pompous hypocrites. I couldn’t afford to be too casual. Could you get me a glass of ice water, please?”

“Just a moment,” the hostess said and quickly walked away.

“I heard from Maeda that you got a promotion. Congratulations.”

Ayano Eiko sneered. “A so-called promotion, just a token title for show, accompanied by meaningless tasks that make no difference whether I do them or not. The only upside is that I no longer need to spend money on accidental insurance every year.”

“That’s not bad, is it? High income, low risk. Given your background, dealing with armed criminals isn’t exactly your forte. Let’s skip the small talk—how’s the investigation I asked you to do?”

“Before I answer that, let me ask you something first. Why did you ask me to investigate instead of asking your stepfather for help?”

After taking a slow sip of his coffee, Lei Yin replied, “Initially, I thought about asking Maeda to help, but he said he specializes in criminal cases and isn’t adept with missing persons. Besides, I figured you might be less busy, so I turned to you.”

“Less busy? You’re just as annoying as ever. But you’re not entirely wrong—I do have some free time. Back to business, I looked into the missing persons case thoroughly but didn’t find anything unusual. It appears to be a typical disappearance case. In Japan, hundreds of people mysteriously vanish each year for various reasons. Some are murdered, some are trafficked overseas, and others quietly flee to avoid debt collectors.”

“A clean-cut, ordinary college student steps out one evening to buy snacks and vanishes without a trace. Doesn’t that strike you as odd? Based on your experience, what do you think caused her disappearance?”

“It is a bit strange. But without evidence, baseless speculation could hinder the investigation. From previous cases, if we rule out personal grudges, the individual could have been abducted by someone with psychological issues. However, this is purely conjecture—we need solid evidence to back it up.”

“Did you encounter any obstacles during your investigation?”

“Obstacles? What do you mean?”

“For instance, did anyone try to hinder your investigation, or did you find that the information you received was incomplete?”

Hearing this, Ayano Eiko seemed surprised. She stared at him for a moment before smiling oddly.

“It seems this missing persons case isn’t as simple as it seems. Tell me, who exactly is this Aikura Ai?”

Lei Yin shook his head. “That’s none of your concern. Just tell me what you know. Please answer my question.”

After watching him for a moment, Ayano Eiko said, “No. During my investigation, no one obstructed me, and there were no signs that the records from the officers handling the case had been tampered with.”

Lei Yin felt a mixture of relief and unease at her response.

Three days ago, Aikura Ai had mysteriously disappeared.

It wasn’t until the police came to question him that he learned about the incident. According to Aikura Ai’s roommate, she had said she was going to the shop outside their apartment to buy snacks. But after stepping out, she never returned, and her phone had been turned off.

Lei Yin’s first thought when he heard of Aikura Ai’s disappearance was that Japan’s secret government agency had discovered her unique abilities and taken her away. This was both the most concerning and the most likely possibility.

To confirm his suspicions, while arranging for others to investigate Aikura Ai’s whereabouts, Lei Yin enlisted Ayano Eiko—a police officer whose reputation skyrocketed after she independently exposed a human experimentation case but whose position remained sensitive—to look into the matter.

He didn’t genuinely expect her to uncover anything significant; instead, her investigation was a test. If anyone tried to obstruct or interfere with her inquiry into the disappearance, it would strongly suggest that Aikura Ai had indeed been taken by a secret government agency rather than simply vanishing.

However, after hearing Ayano Eiko’s report, Lei Yin felt confused. Could it be that Aikura Ai had disappeared for reasons he didn’t understand and hadn’t been taken by a government agency after all?

Watching the deepening furrow in Lei Yin’s brow, Ayano Eiko couldn’t help but smirk. “I never thought I’d see you so troubled. It looks like I should celebrate this rare occasion. As for my report, don’t you think it’s only fair you tell me what’s so special about this girl?”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Lei Yin replied coolly, “If it’s about gratitude, I believe something more tangible would be better. So today, I’m treating you to lunch. Order whatever you’d like.”

Unimpressed, Ayano Eiko frowned. “Trying to brush me off with just lunch? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have helped you investigate.”

Lei Yin smiled. “If you’re curious about what makes her special, you’re free to continue your investigation. After all, you seem to have plenty of free time. But don’t expect me to tell you anything. That said, if you find any useful information, I might consider exchanging intel with you.”

With a confident smile, Ayano Eiko replied, “That won’t take long.” She picked up the menu and began flipping through it.

Lei Yin stayed silent, lost in thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

※※※

“What kind of nonsense Tiger Subduing Fist are you doing? It looks more like swatting mosquitoes. Whoever taught you martial arts must be an idiot, and you’re an even bigger idiot for learning from them!”

“Damn it, how dare you insult my master?!” Furious, No. 5 didn’t hesitate to swing a punch at the loudmouth standing beside him.

“Bring it on!” Kuang Dao said as he effortlessly countered by grabbing No. 5’s wrist.

No. 5 immediately threw a kick aimed at Kuang Dao’s abdomen, but Kuang Dao retaliated without holding back. The two soon began trading blows on the grassy lawn of the garden.

Watching the brawl from the hall’s window, Zhang Qian sighed and turned to Lei Yin. “Hey, can’t you tell your friend to tone it down? He’s always stirring up trouble with our team members. It’s putting me in a tough spot.”

Lei Yin took a sip of his beer and replied, “Don’t you know he comes here specifically to spar with your team members? When it comes to pure martial arts, no one here can match him. But it’s not just about martial arts—he’s more interested in testing your members’ individual abilities. Since they won’t fight him seriously, he has no choice but to provoke them like this. Don’t worry; he knows his limits.”

“That’s the directive from No. 1. Last time, letting No. 3 spar with him was already a serious breach of protocol. To avoid exposing our identities, No. 1 has strictly forbidden the use of special abilities outside of missions. No matter how much your friend provokes them, it won’t work. But honestly, I’ve never seen someone so obsessed with fighting.”

“He’s lonely,” Lei Yin said indifferently. “A martial artist of his caliber doesn’t belong in this era.”

Zhang Qian was surprised. “Are you saying even you can’t beat him?”

“I don’t have the time to spar with him constantly. Besides, if we were to truly fight, it’d be hard to avoid injuring each other. So, our matches are rare and infrequent. The difference is, I’ve found ways to enjoy life outside of martial arts, whereas for him, aside from drinking, his only pleasure is fighting opponents. Because skilled opponents are so rare, he’s lonely. Now that he’s encountered people like you with special abilities, of course he wants to compete.”

“You and your friend are both unreasonable weirdos.”

“You have the nerve to lecture me? Where are the others?”

“They’re all training in the basement or their rooms.”

“In such a small space? How’s that even possible?”

“They’re all espers, training their abilities, not physical strength. Space isn’t an issue for that. Hmm, looks like they’re done.”

Lei Yin turned to look and saw No. 5 leaning against the wall, panting heavily and glaring at Kuang Dao, who was saying something to him—likely not anything pleasant, judging by No. 5’s expression.

Among all the team members, only No. 1, as the captain, and No. 5 had trained in martial arts from a young age. The others only began receiving specialized military training after becoming soldiers. No. 5, having trained longer than the others, had lasted a bit longer. However, during the time Lei Yin and Zhang Qian had been talking, Kuang Dao had already taken him down three times. While the injuries weren’t serious, No. 5 was too exhausted to mount another counterattack for the moment.

Seeing No. 5, barely able to stand, preparing to charge again, Zhang Qian couldn’t bear it anymore and asked Lei Yin to intervene.

Lei Yin took a sip of beer and walked over.

By the time he reached the garden, Kuang Dao’s sharp and mocking voice rang out.

Lei Yin said, “Kuang Dao, pushing him further is pointless. They’ve been ordered not to use their abilities to spar with you.”

Hearing this, Kuang Dao pointed at No. 5 and cursed, “Are you even a man? Getting bullied like this and just enduring it without fighting back. What are you, raised by turtles?”

No. 5, face red with fury, shouted, “Shut your damn mouth! If not for the captain’s orders, I would’ve taken you down already!”

Seeing Kuang Dao about to hurl more insults, Lei Yin turned to Zhang Qian and said, “This isn’t going anywhere. How about this? Once this mission is over, let your team members take turns sparring with him one-on-one. How does that sound?”

Kuang Dao immediately turned to Zhang Qian, his eyes gleaming like a wolf eyeing its prey.

Zhang Qian hesitated for a moment before replying, “That would violate protocol. The higher-ups won’t approve.”

Kuang Dao cursed, “What the hell do your so-called higher-ups know if you don’t tell them? If you don’t agree, I’ll keep showing up to provoke your team every day. Let’s see how long they can endure it.”

Knowing Kuang Dao wasn’t bluffing, Zhang Qian reluctantly compromised. “I’ll need to discuss it with No. 1 first.”

Not wanting to push too hard, Lei Yin gave Kuang Dao a subtle look. Taking the cue, Kuang Dao pretended to be impatient and said, “Fine, but I want an answer by tomorrow.”

Left with no choice, Zhang Qian nodded reluctantly.

Seeing her agreement, Kuang Dao’s mood brightened instantly.

He turned to No. 5 and said, “Watch carefully.” Without another word, he walked to the center of the garden and began demonstrating a martial arts routine.

No. 5 was taken aback. “Arhat Tiger Subduing Fist?”

Unlike No. 5’s earlier vigorous but rough performance, Kuang Dao’s movements were steady and deliberate. Though there was no visible force emanating from his punches, the plants six or seven meters away swayed as if stirred by an unseen wind with each strike.

Despite standing at a considerable distance, No. 5 felt a chill run through him and instinctively stepped back. He had never seen martial arts like this before—this kind of fist technique.

It was the same Arhat Tiger Subduing Fist that No. 5 had just practiced, yet in Kuang Dao’s hands, it became something entirely different. The forms hadn’t changed, but the oppressive aura and power were palpable. No. 5 couldn’t even imagine the consequences of taking a direct hit from such a strike.

Kuang Dao finished the routine and stood still, the tension dissipating. Only then did No. 5 snap back to reality.

“My… my master never taught me that this fist could be used like that. Who are you?” No. 5 asked, staring at Kuang Dao in shock.

Kuang Dao sneered, “That’s because your master is incompetent. The Arhat Tiger Subduing Fist is a form of Shaolin Hard Fist, focusing on uniting form and intent, with energy reserved for release. Your flashy display earlier was nothing but brute force—unrefined, overly aggressive, and lacking stability. It’s a dead technique that can strike but not defend. Learning forms alone doesn’t mean you’ve truly mastered the art. With your sloppy execution, you’d be better off performing tricks on the streets for scraps. If you want to stand against a real master, come back after a hundred years of practice.”

No. 5 was left speechless by the rebuke. After a moment, his tone became unusually respectful as he said, “May I ask, senior, were you also trained in Shaolin martial arts?” Although he had been defeated by this man several times before, he had always been unwilling to accept it, assuming that the man was merely faster in his moves. However, after witnessing the display of martial arts just now, he realized this man was truly a master. The skill and aura he demonstrated were beyond even what his own master could achieve. Recognizing this, he couldn’t help but show deference.

“That was ages ago, no need to mention it.” Kuang Dao brushed it off and turned to Zhang Qian, saying, “Hey, lady, when are you planning to take action? I’m getting tired of waiting.”

Although slightly irritated, Zhang Qian answered, “I’ve received reliable intelligence that the target will arrive in Tokyo this week. They were originally scheduled to arrive last week, but for some reason, they stayed in Europe longer than expected.”

“Damn it, another week? What a hassle,” Kuang Dao grumbled, walking back to the hall.

When he sat down, he noticed No. 5 staring at him intently. Feeling annoyed, he said, “What are you looking at? Haven’t seen a man before?”

No. 5 stammered, “I didn’t realize senior was a highly skilled Shaolin practitioner earlier. Please forgive my disrespect. I trained at Shaolin Temple for over ten years, and my master was also a Shaolin monk. May I ask for senior’s name?”

Rolling his eyes, Kuang Dao retorted, “I haven’t been affiliated with Shaolin Temple for ages, so don’t try to claim any ties with me.”

Lei Yin chuckled and said, “He’s right; he’s no longer part of the Shaolin Temple. He broke the precept of celibacy long ago and was expelled.”

No. 5 was momentarily stunned before responding, “The precept of celibacy? But monks nowadays are different—they’re even allowed to marry.”

Lei Yin replied with a mock-serious tone, “Ah, but you don’t understand. He didn’t just break the precept of celibacy—he broke it with men…”

“That’s nonsense!” Before Lei Yin could finish, Kuang Dao grabbed an ashtray from the coffee table and hurled it at him.

Lei Yin casually tilted his head to dodge it, catching the flying ashtray with one hand and placing it back on the table.

Glaring at him, Kuang Dao turned to No. 5 and said, “If you trained at Shaolin Temple, why have you only learned such superficial skills? Were you slacking off while others were practicing?”

No. 5 was about to respond when Lei Yin lazily interjected, “He wasn’t slacking; he just couldn’t learn even if he wanted to. Martial arts aren’t something you can master just by reading books. Let me give you an example:

“Once, a young monk named Mingyin went up the mountain to chop firewood. Unfortunately, he slipped and tore his pants. To avoid walking through town with his backside exposed, he took the pants to a young seamstress to have them mended.

“This was a trivial matter, but by the next day, the village gossips were already saying that Mingyin had intentionally torn his pants as an excuse to meet the seamstress.

“By the third day, rumors spread to another village that a poor seamstress had been taken advantage of by a young monk named Mingyin. People claimed he was so desperate that he tore his pants in his haste.

“The point of this story is that as information passes from one person to another, it becomes distorted. Similarly, as martial arts are passed down through generations, the teachings inevitably deviate. Over time, these deviations accumulate, turning the original techniques into something unrecognizable.

“And that’s not even considering the catastrophic events China has endured in modern times. The fact that Shaolin Temple still stands is a miracle, and preserving even the forms of the techniques is already quite an achievement. What do you think? Doesn’t that make sense?”

Kuang Dao slammed his foot onto the coffee table, glaring at him. “Damn you, walking through town with your backside exposed? Your ridiculous analogy pisses me off.”

Lei Yin burst out laughing, clearly enjoying himself.

Zhang Qian and No. 5, however, looked on in confusion, unsure of what had just transpired.