Chapter 142: Tsukuyomi!

When that inner room door was completely pushed open, the figure walking slowly out from the shadows was completely exposed under the warm yellow light.

Even though she was mentally prepared, when that familiar face of Isumi Yoshitaka, carrying a deep and profound expression completely different from usual that made one's bone marrow turn cold, truly appeared before her eyes, Kirigaya Nuo still felt an icy shudder.

Isumi Yoshitaka...

That 5-dan Isumi who always wore proper suits, had impeccable smiles, and was flawless in dealing with people and matters.

Is actually... the highest leader of the Crescent Group who holds the power of life and death, legendarily like a divine dragon whose head can be seen but not its tail—Tsukuyomi?

That yakuza emperor whose background is unfathomable, said to be the illegitimate son of a prominent and powerful Nihon political figure...

His public identity is actually an inconspicuous, even somewhat marginalized professional Go player mingling in the Go world?

Lurking in such a noble, elegant field that almost wouldn't arouse any suspicion?

Truly... what deep scheming, what absolute disguise!

It turns out, the biggest eye, the deepest black hand, had always been right beside her, quietly observing everything from the closest distance and in the most harmless posture.

What made a chill run down her spine even more was that just now in the lounge, when Isumi Yoshitaka leaned close to pass the message, a trace of faint, almost imperceptible sweet fragrance drifted from his body.

That wasn't an illusion, nor was it him changing perfume.

That was exactly "Qiluo Incense," or some precursor medium of it.

She actually fell for the trick unknowingly during an unguarded close-contact encounter.

It turns out this trap began from within the world belonging to Go!

Isumi Yoshitaka, or rather Tsukuyomi, slowly walked in front of the limp and powerless Kirigaya Nuo and stopped.

He still wore a sharp suit, his tie tied meticulously, still that elegant and suave Go Institute elite.

It was just that the layer of gentle and refined mask on his face had completely peeled off, replaced by a condescending calmness, like a Creator scrutinizing his most satisfied work.

He leaned over slightly, his gaze greedily lingering on Kirigaya Nuo's face, which had flushed with an alluring redness due to the invasion of the drug's effect.

His voice returned to that gentle tone that usually made people feel like bathing in a spring breeze:

"Little Nuo, are you... very surprised?"

He chuckled lowly, that laughter exceptionally clear and exceptionally creepy in the silent room.

"You should know, I have always... appreciated you very much, Little Nuo."

"Whether on the Go board or in the training ground, the talent, mindset, and resilience you displayed, and this face... that even I have to admit can be called perfect... everything has far exceeded my most optimistic expectations."

"You are a very smart and also very capable child. Given time, in a few years, even the position that stupid woman Gekka-ki sits in would be a waste of your talents.

The organization needs fresh, powerful, and incomparably beautiful blood like yours to inject new vitality and climb to new peaks."

"As long as you and I join hands and cooperate sincerely... in the future, the whole of Nihon will dance in the palm of our hands. You will stand by my side and share this supreme glory."

His voice lowered even more, carrying a hypnotic temptation:

"Therefore, this final purification ritual, this baptism that will let you shed your mortal body, truly merge into the shadows of Crescent, and ascend to the supreme position... must be personally presided over by me."

"I will, in the capacity of the Apostle of Crescent, perform the Rite of Kagura for you."

"This body and this power are all divine vessels bestowed by the gods. They will chisel open the hole leading to truth for you, guiding the divine power of the Dark Moon to inject into your pure vessel."

"Pain is the incense on the altar, trembling is the dance welcoming the descent of the god. When the crest of the Crescent is branded into your womb, the old you will die in that divine flame, and the reborn you will rise from the ashes, becoming a living divine artifact serving the Dark Moon for us."

(TL: What is bro saying... what is bro smoking?)

After saying that, a smile of quiet certainty played at the corners of his mouth, as if victory were already in his hands.

He began to unhurriedly unbutton his suit jacket, his movements elegant and composed, like conducting a solemn sacrifice.

However, just in the next instant after he undid the first button and his attention was slightly distracted!

A sudden change occurred!

That body on the floor, originally limp like mud and unable to move due to the erosion of the drug, was actually abruptly jerked up as if pulled by invisible marionette strings!

"Xu Nuo," in an extremely weird posture completely defying common sense, abruptly exerted force from her waist and abdominal core.

Her legs, as if installed with some precision springs, suddenly sprang up from the tatami!

Although the posture was slightly stiff due to residual drug effects, that speed, that explosive power, that completely different icy aura emitted in that instant, made the pupils of Tsukuyomi close at hand contract sharply!

Xu Nuo's consciousness was both shocked and delighted, almost crying out:

"Teacher? You... you can still directly control my body like this?"

Xu Yunzhou's consciousness responded:

"Mhm, don't get distracted, feel carefully! Remember this final lesson—how to defeat the strong with the weak, break force with skill in a desperate situation! We only have fifteen minutes in total! There are highly likely four more people outside, we must fight a quick battle and force a quick resolution!"

At this moment, the one dominating this body was no longer that Xu Nuo deeply sunk in drug effects and despair.

Nor was it Xu Yunzhou far away in another spacetime.

But a briefly existing combat complex birthed by the will of both under extreme pressure!

Not a single word of nonsense, not half a bit of hesitation, not even giving Tsukuyomi any time to react and think!

Offense is the best defense! And also the only way out!

In front of the screen, Xu Yunzhou's fingers swiped across the keyboard like afterimages!

WASD controlling direction, mouse precisely clicking to lock onto the target, heavily pressing down on the spacebar!

On the screen.

Xu Nuo's right hand took advantage of the momentum to grab a ceramic sake pot on the low table!

Flicking her wrist, liquor spilled!

Carrying a muffled wind-breaking sound, the porcelain pot smashed viciously and precisely toward Tsukuyomi's temple!

As expected of the highest leader of Crescent, Tsukuyomi's almost instinctive crisis reaction cultivated by being on the edge of danger long-term saved his life!

His head abruptly jerked backward and to the side.

The porcelain pot whistled past, brushing his temple, and smashed against the wall behind him with a "bang," instantly shattering into countless pieces, liquor and porcelain shards splashing everywhere!

"What?"

Tsukuyomi was both shocked and angry, completely not expecting that Xu Nuo, who was drugged, could still erupt with such a sharp attack!

Moreover, this wasn't her usual combat style at all!

She actually secretly hid such a terrifying bottom card even in combat skills?

This scheming, this forbearance...

However, "Xu Nuo's" attacks were like a violent storm, simply not giving the opponent the slightest opportunity to catch his breath and think!

Borrowing the force of her spinning body, her left leg, like a steel whip that had accumulated power for a long time, swept viciously toward the kidney area on the side of Tsukuyomi's waist!

This whip kick, tricky in angle, precise in timing, heavy and fierce in power, impressively had the demeanor of a grandmaster expert!

Tsukuyomi's pupils quaked, horrified to the extreme!

He barely twisted his body, using the outer side of his arm to forcefully block this kick!

"Bang!"

A muffled sound of impact rang out!

Tsukuyomi only felt a burst of severe pain and numbness in his arm.

His whole person was dragged staggering backward by that massive force, his back smashing heavily against the wall, his qi and blood surging!

He stared fixedly at the cold-eyed "Xu Nuo" before him, his voice carrying shock:

"Your... your martial arts... how could they reach this kind of realm? This is not the routine the Crescent Group taught you at all! You..."

He abruptly thought of something, a trace of disbelief flashing through his eyes:

"A heaven-sent genius... indeed a heaven-sent genius! To actually be able to learn without a teacher, or perhaps integrate different schools, secretly cultivating combat skills to such an extent! I really... did not misjudge!"

After the horror, it was actually intensified, twisted appreciation and desire!

"What a pity, what a pity!"

Forcibly enduring the severe pain in his arm and internal organs, Tsukuyomi pulled the corners of his mouth into a hideous and excited smile, as if an injured beast seeing prey even more worthy of conquering,

"You are ultimately a woman, limited by strength, otherwise with that strike just now, the bones in my arm would have already broken! But... this is good too."

He licked the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth, his eyes becoming dangerous and excited:

"A motionless doll at the mercy of others isn't much fun. Personally conquering, polishing, and ultimately completely taming a little wildcat full of thorns and infinite potential like you, making you willingly expose your belly... that's flavorful enough!"

Before his words fell, the fierce light in his eyes skyrocketed.

Taking advantage of the tiny gap when Xu Nuo's old force was exhausted and new force hadn't yet been generated, he actually counterattacked fiercely!

A straightforward punch without any flashiness blasted violently toward Xu Nuo's face!

The wind of the punch was sharp and ear-piercing; clearly, he had also undergone extremely strict, even cruel combat training!

As if having predicted this punch long ago, at the instant the fist was about to reach her body, Xu Nuo's upper body abruptly leaned backward as if broken, and with a sideways roll, dodged this fatal blow!

Amidst the roll, she had already silently circled to the side and rear of Tsukuyomi!

Tsukuyomi's punch hit empty air, his center of gravity leaning forward. Alarm bells rang wildly in his heart, and he hurriedly wanted to turn around—

But, it was already too late!

Halfway through rolling up to her feet, Xu Nuo's right hand had already reached into the clothes in front of her chest, grabbing a handful amidst the turbulent mountains!