What aunt? They are obviously sisters.

Kyoto is shrouded in mist in the early morning.

The streets and alleys are as quiet as a painting, with the occasional bird song breaking the silence.

The light mist is like a veil, gently covering the ancient buildings and winding streets, adding a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere to the entire city.

Li Ming and Ayako were walking on a forest path.

Their figures were looming in the mist.

Li Ming's steps were steady and firm, and his eyes revealed a kind of perseverance and determination.

Ayako followed closely behind him, her eyes filled with tension and anxiety.

The two sneaked towards the Amaterasu base, but the atmosphere between them seemed a little heavy.

Ayako's heart was full of doubts and anxieties. She didn't know what Li Ming's true identity was, nor did she know where their future would go.

Li Ming was immersed in his own thoughts, with only the fire of revenge burning in his heart.

"Master..." Ayako finally spoke, with a hint of hesitation in her tone.

Her voice was particularly clear in the silent forest path, as if breaking the spell of tranquility.

Li Ming stopped and turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

There was a hint of confusion in his eyes, as if he didn't understand why Ayako spoke at this time.

"Who are you?" Ayako's eyes were complicated, full of confusion, uneasiness and expectation.

She longed to know Li Ming's true identity and where their future would go.

"Your abilities are far beyond those of ordinary people. I even suspect that you are not an ordinary human. You are hunting down Sakura Yuki Chikage, but you never told me why. Who are we fighting for?"

Li Ming frowned slightly and was silent for a moment.

He wasn't surprised that Ayako would have such a question; ever since she had followed him, his actions and intentions had always seemed mysterious.

He knew that he couldn't keep it secret any longer and he had to give Ayako an answer.

"My identity...is not important." Li Ming said in a low voice, his voice revealing helplessness and fatigue.

"I hunted down Sakura Yuki Chikage for revenge."

"Revenge?" Ayako frowned, her eyes full of confusion and puzzlement.

"What on earth did she do to you?"

"She killed the most important person to me." A trace of pain flashed across Li Ming's eyes, but it was quickly covered up by indifference.

There was a deep hatred and sadness in his voice, as if he was recalling the past that he could not bear to look back on.

"That's all."

Ayako didn't ask any further questions.

Although Li Ming's answer was vague, she could feel his determination.

This man was carrying a heavy burden of hatred and mission, and I was just a small helper on his road to revenge.

She knew that she couldn't continue asking questions and she had to respect Li Ming's choice.

Although she still had doubts in her heart, Ayako chose to suppress her complicated emotions.

She recalled the several times Li Ming had saved her life, and gratitude gradually took over.

She knew that she could not betray Li Ming and she had to stay with him.

"I won't ask again." Ayako said softly, with a firmness and determination in her voice.

"Whatever your purpose is, I will continue to assist you."

Li Ming nodded, a rare gentleness flashing across his face.

He knew that Ayako was a kind and brave girl, and her choice made him feel comforted and touched.

He knew that their future was full of dangers and challenges, but he also believed that as long as they worked together, they would be able to overcome all difficulties.

The two continued to move forward and unknowingly entered a remote wooded area.

The trees here are tall and lush, the sunlight is almost blocked out, and the air is filled with a chilly feeling.

The dense forest seemed like a huge maze, making people lost in it.

"This place...isn't like an ordinary forest area." Ayako whispered, her hand unconsciously clenching the dagger.

There was a sense of nervousness and uneasiness in her voice, as if she sensed the danger here.

Her eyes were full of vigilance as she scanned the surroundings.

Li Ming did not respond, but his eyes became more alert.

He could feel that the atmosphere around him was subtly changing.

There was a sharpness and alertness in his eyes, as if he could see through all dangers.

He knew that they had fallen into the enemy's trap and had to be careful.

Suddenly, the sunlight in the sky seemed to be swallowed up, and the entire forest area quickly fell into deep darkness.

The darkness spread rapidly like ink, making it impossible to see the surrounding environment.

"Enemy attack!" Li Ming shouted in a low voice and quickly protected Ayako.

There was a decisiveness and firmness in his voice, as if telling Ayako that he would keep her safe.

There was a sense of alertness and vigilance in his eyes as he scanned the surrounding darkness.

In the darkness, a low and cold voice came: "Li Ming, I finally see you."

There was a sense of complacency and sarcasm in the voice, as if victory was already certain.

The sound seemed to come from hell, making people shudder.

The owner of the voice slowly appeared, his figure seemed to be condensed from the darkness.

The man was tall and slender, with a cold aura surrounding him, and his eyes flashed with a faint light like a wild beast.

There was a cruelty and coldness in his eyes, as if he could see through people's souls.

"Cang Ying, an SS-level transcendent, comes here just for you." The man said indifferently, with murderous intent in his tone.

There was a sense of confidence and arrogance in his voice, as if he had forgotten how powerful his opponent was.

Li Ming's eyes narrowed slightly.

He had heard of Souei, a top Masonic assassin whose ability was to manipulate shadows to form entities.

He had seen in the intelligence that this person's mission completion rate was almost 100%.

He knew that today's battle would be very difficult.

"The minions of the Freemasons are here as expected." Li Ming said coldly, assuming a fighting stance.

There was a firmness and determination in his voice, as if telling Souei that he would not give in easily.

His eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and alertness, ready to respond to Souei's attack at any time.

Cangying chuckled and raised his hand with a wave. The dark shadows around him quickly rushed towards Li Ming and Ayako, like a group of hungry beasts, trying to devour them.

The black shadow spread rapidly like a tide, making it impossible to avoid it.

Li Ming acted quickly, and a powerful energy blasted towards the black shadows, temporarily forcing them back.

His movements were as fast as lightning, and he launched a powerful attack in an instant.

The energy was like a strong wind, which quickly blew away the black shadow and made people feel his powerful strength.

However, Souei's attack did not stop.

He moved his fingers slightly, and the black shadows gathered again, turning into dozens of sharp blades, stabbing at Li Ming from all directions.

The black shadow blade stabbed towards Li Ming quickly like a poisonous snake, making it impossible to avoid.

"Ayako, be careful!" Li Ming shouted, and quickly stood in front of Ayako.

There was a decisiveness and firmness in his voice, as if telling Ayako that he would keep her safe.

His eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and alertness, ready to respond to Souei's attack at any time.

He waved his hands, and his Qi protected the two people like a shield, but these black shadows seemed to have life, quickly bypassing the barrier and attacking from behind.

The black shadow was like a ghost, quickly bypassing Li Ming's defense and making it undetectable.

"Ah!" Ayako cried out softly as her arm was scratched by a black shadow.

There was pain and fear in her voice, as if she had felt the threat of death. Her eyes were full of fear and anxiety, and she didn't know what to do.

"It's just a trapped beast fighting." Cangying sneered, "In my territory, you will only die."

There was a sense of complacency and sarcasm in his voice, as if he had already secured victory.

There was a cruelty and coldness in his eyes, as if he could see through people's souls.

Li Ming's eyes turned cold. He exerted force suddenly, and his energy tore through the surrounding black shadows like a blade.

His movements were as fast as lightning, and he launched a powerful attack in an instant.

The energy was like a strong wind, which quickly blew away the black shadow and made people feel his powerful strength.

However, this move posed no threat to Souei himself.

The other party still stood there, with a mocking smile on his lips.

His eyes revealed a kind of confidence and arrogance, as if he had forgotten how powerful his opponent was.

"Master, he is too strong!" Ayako shouted anxiously.

There was a sense of fear and uneasiness in her voice, as if she had already felt the threat of death.

Her eyes were filled with fear and anxiety, and she didn't know what to do.

"He is not strong, but cunning." Li Ming said in a low voice, but there was no retreat in his eyes.

There was a firmness and determination in his voice, as if telling Ayako that he would not give in easily.

His eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and alertness, ready to respond to Souei's attack at any time.

Souei's attack came again, and this time, he directly targeted Ayako.

The shadows wrapped around her limbs like chains, holding her firmly in place.

The black shadow quickly wrapped around Ayako like a poisonous snake, making it impossible to escape.

"Li Ming, do you choose to protect her or yourself?" Cangying asked jokingly.

There was a sense of complacency and sarcasm in his voice, as if he had already secured victory.

There was a cruelty and coldness in his eyes, as if he could see through people's souls.

A cold light flashed in Li Ming's eyes.

He didn't answer, but rushed directly towards Souei, his speed was so fast that it was hard to keep up.

His movements were as fast as lightning, and he rushed towards Souei in an instant, making it impossible to dodge.

Cangying barely dodged but was still hit by Li Ming's fist and retreated several steps in embarrassment.

His eyes revealed a kind of fear and anxiety, as if he had already felt the threat of death.

His body was shaking slightly, and he didn't know what to do.

"Hmph, it seems I underestimated you." Cangying said coldly.

He raised his hand, the darkness around him deepened, and a suffocating feeling of oppression filled the air.

His voice revealed a kind of anger and unwillingness, as if he had forgotten how powerful his opponent was.

"Ayako, hold on." Li Ming said in a low voice, with a flash of determination in his eyes.

There was a firmness and determination in his voice, as if telling Ayako that he would keep her safe.

His eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and alertness, ready to respond to Souei's attack at any time.

At this critical moment, the genetic power in Li Ming's body was completely stimulated.

His body underwent subtle changes. His muscles became more defined and the light in his eyes became as sharp as a knife.

His body seemed to be filled with infinite power, making people feel his powerful strength.

Souei obviously noticed this change, and his expression wavered for the first time.

His eyes revealed a kind of fear and anxiety, as if he had already felt the threat of death.

His body was shaking slightly, and he didn't know what to do.

"How is this possible? You actually..." Before Cangying could finish his words, Li Ming appeared in front of him and punched him.

His movements were as fast as lightning, and he launched a powerful attack in an instant.

The fist carried great power, as if it could destroy everything.

This time, Souei was completely unable to dodge.

His body was knocked flying and hit a big tree hard, and the trunk broke.

His eyes revealed a kind of fear and unwillingness, as if he couldn't believe that he was defeated so easily.

Souei gritted his teeth and stood up, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

He knew he couldn't go on and decided to retreat.

His eyes revealed a kind of anger and unwillingness, as if he had forgotten how powerful his opponent was.

"Li Ming, you win this time. But next time, you won't be so lucky." Cangying's figure gradually blended into the darkness and disappeared without a trace.

His voice revealed a kind of anger and unwillingness, as if he had forgotten how powerful his opponent was.

After the fight, Li Ming's body shook and he almost fell to the ground.

His body seemed to be drained of energy, without a single bit of strength left.

His eyes revealed fatigue and weakness, as if he had experienced a life-and-death battle.

"Master!" Ayako hurriedly supported him.

There was concern and worry in her voice, as if she had forgotten her own injuries.

Her eyes were filled with fear and anxiety, and she didn't know what to do.

Li Ming waved his hand to indicate that he was fine.

But Ayako could feel that his physical strength was reaching its limit.

His body was shaking slightly, as if he might fall down at any moment.

"Why...are you trying so hard?" Ayako's voice was a little choked up. "Are you willing to sacrifice your own life to save me?"

There was a sense of emotion and gratitude in her voice, as if she had forgotten her own wounds.

Her eyes were filled with tears and she didn't know what to do.

Li Ming looked up at her, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "If I can't even protect my companions, what qualifications do I have to pursue revenge?"

There was a firmness and determination in his voice, as if telling Ayako that he would keep her safe.

There was a tenderness and concern in his eyes, as if he had forgotten his own wounds.

Ayako's heart trembled slightly.

She originally thought that Li Ming was just a cold-blooded avenger, but at this moment, she saw another admirable quality in him.

She knew that she could no longer doubt Li Ming and she had to go on with him.

"Master, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you before." Ayako said in a low voice.

There was a sense of guilt and self-blame in her voice, as if she had forgotten her own wounds.

Her eyes were filled with tears and she didn't know what to do.

Li Ming shook his head slightly: "It's not important. The most important thing now is that we must find the base of Amaterasu as soon as possible."

There was a firmness and determination in his voice, as if telling Ayako that they couldn't waste any more time.

His eyes revealed a sense of vigilance and alertness, ready to respond to the next challenge at any time.

Ayako nodded, with a firm look in her eyes.

She knew that their future was full of dangers and challenges, but she also believed that as long as they worked together, they would be able to overcome all difficulties.

She knew that she could no longer doubt Li Ming and she had to go on with him.

As the night deepened, silence returned to the forest.

But both men knew in their hearts that the shadow of Freemasonry was looming over them and danger was everywhere.

The silent night seemed like a huge trap from which no one could escape.

"Amaterasu..." Li Ming's eyes flashed with a gleam of light. (End of this chapter)