Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

"I'm so sorry, I apologize for my rudeness."

"It's alright, Mr. Nakamura is a patriot, how could he have been impolite?"

These words delighted Nakamura, and it took him a while to come to his senses.

That's when they started getting down to business, asking questions about the Shanghai garrison, supplies, and troop morale.

These are all normal questions; any officer returning from a war zone could answer them.

Cui Ming answered each question clearly and logically, with accurate data.

He had prepared all of this in advance, and it could withstand scrutiny.

After asking questions for more than half an hour, Nakamura Shun finally stood up.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Yamashita. I apologize for bothering you."

Cui Ming saw him out.

Just as Nakamura Shun was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped.

Oh no! I got so engrossed in the conversation that I almost forgot about the important matter.

Suddenly, Nakamura Shun turned around, and a barely perceptible fluctuation was released at the same time.

"Lord Yamashita! I heard that you have done an outstanding job in the 37th Regiment, and everyone in the regiment admires you very much."

And I've heard that you're highly regarded by your superiors. There might be a pleasant surprise tomorrow!

Cui Ming smiled, as if he hadn't noticed anything.

"Mr. Nakamura, you flatter me. I was just doing my duty. It was all for the Empire!"

Nakamura Shun was also very excited upon hearing this, his eyes narrowing as if he had found a like-minded person.

"Everything for the Empire!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply to Cui Ming again before turning and leaving.

After everyone had completely left, Yong En gently closed the door and whispered.

"He is testing me with Qi."

Cui Ming nodded; how could he not know?

Just as Nakamura Shun turned around, a very faint aura swept over.

That energy was very subtle; if Cui Ming hadn't been prepared, he wouldn't have been able to detect it at all.

Unfortunately, his disguise was flawless.

"Ignore him."

Cui Ming turned his back and walked towards the desk.

"Let them investigate. The more thoroughly they investigate, the more at ease they will feel."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day.

Tokyo, luxury hotel.

The morning sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains.

Cui Ming stood by the window, looking at the neatly trimmed pine trees in the courtyard.

The strange people disguised as gardeners and servants reappeared here, pretending to tend to the plants in the courtyard.

A soft knock came at the door.

Yongen went to open the door, but standing outside was a hotel employee pushing a food cart and bringing breakfast.

Yongen took the food cart, closed the door, checked the food, and then pushed it in front of Cui Ming.

"Master, it is nine o'clock in the morning."

There's still an hour before the Osaka Chamber of Commerce representatives arrive today.

Yon reminded him in the mind link.

Cui Ming glanced at the clock on the wall and responded casually.

"Okay, you can sit down and eat too."

Yongen simply shook his head upon hearing this.

"There is a proper order of seniority; how can we sit at the table when the master is dining?"

Please be mindful, Your Majesty, that in an island nation, attempting to break with tradition may result in rejection.

Upon hearing Yongen's words, the first person that popped into Cui Ming's mind was the legendary Sixth Heaven Demon King—Oda Nobunaga.

Island nations are truly pathological; the more they try to change, the more they are attacked by the entire nation.

Leaving aside those far removed from the past, let's talk about the Nameless Sword Saint, the legendary swordsman who defeated countless top swordsmen from the island nation.

The final result was that he was besieged and killed by countless Onmyoji, ninjas, ronin, and innate extraordinary people.

But as he thought about it, Cui Ming's mind turned to the faint aura he had felt last night. It seemed that the Curse Binding Society was also showing signs of this kind of unorthodox behavior.

After finishing breakfast, Cui Ming changed his clothes, ready to set off at any time.

However, at this moment, Qianmian, who was patrolling outside and in charge of guarding the area, pushed open the door and came in, his expression somewhat strange.

"Master, something has happened."

Qianmian said in the Heart Connection.

"I just went out for a walk and noticed that there are suddenly a few unfamiliar cars near this hotel."

And judging from their appearance, they weren't from the Osaka Chamber of Commerce.

Cui Ming's eyebrows twitched slightly, somewhat surprised.

"So fast? Who are these people?"

"It's not clear yet. But those cars have been parked across the street, and there are people in the cars watching the hotel entrance."

Cui Ming pondered for a moment, then said calmly.

"Don't worry about it. We'll talk about it when the people from the Osaka Chamber of Commerce arrive."

At 9:00 AM sharp, a black sedan slowly pulled up in front of the hotel.

Cui Ming led Yong En, Qianmian, Wuming, and Bailian out of the hotel, only to find that the person getting out of the car was not Yamada Masao from yesterday, but a strange middle-aged man.

The man was wearing a custom-made suit, and although he had a smile on his face, it gave people a feeling that his smile was fake and extremely hypocritical.

"Yamashita-kun, I'm so sorry."

The man quickly stepped forward to meet him.

"Yamada-kun's car was in an accident on the road and is stuck in traffic, so he can't come to the hospital for a while."

"Therefore, I, Tanaka Taro, have been ordered to come and escort you all on your journey."

Cui Ming looked at him, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

A car accident? I'm afraid you guys were the ones who deliberately caused this kind of car accident.

Despite his racing thoughts, Cui Ming remained outwardly calm, instead displaying a concerned expression.

"I see. Yamada-kun was in a car accident? How is he? Is he alright?"

Tanaka maintained his smile.

"It's nothing, it's just that the car was hit, I'm fine."

"It's just that it's inconvenient for me to come, so I was specifically asked to come and tell Yamashita-kun that I'll show you all around Tokyo today, and we'll meet up with Yamada-kun this afternoon."

Cui Ming sneered inwardly.

Meeting in the afternoon? That statement is full of holes.

If it really was sent by Yamada, why not let Yamada's people contact them directly?

But Cui Ming didn't expose him, because the difference wasn't significant to him.

"I see."

Cui Ming smiled.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Tanaka-kun."

A hint of surprise flashed in Tanaka's eyes, but he then warmly led Cui Ming and the others into the car.

The convoy drove away from the hotel and quickly merged into the traffic of Tokyo.

Cui Ming sat in the car, observing the street outside through the window.

Instead of heading towards the bustling city center, the convoy gradually drove into the sparsely populated mountainous region.

The shops on both sides of the street gradually disappeared, and there were fewer and fewer pedestrians, but the environment began to become more pleasant.

Surrounded by lush greenery, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, the hustle and bustle of Tokyo has completely vanished.

Yong-eun sat next to Choi Myung, her face calm, but her voice could already be heard through the mental link.

"My lord, this is the wrong direction. This isn't leading to..."

Cui Ming interrupted Yong En directly.

"I know. Let them choose for themselves."

Yongen sensed the murderous intent in Cui Ming's words and remained silent, secretly preparing himself.

But soon, Qianmian, who was sitting in the car behind Cui Ming, also began to report to Cui Ming.

"Master, the number of vehicles following behind is increasing. There are at least five now, all of them are their men."

Cui Ming remained calm.

"Let them follow."

The convoy continued on its way and soon arrived at a very luxurious manor.

The car rolled over the gravel road and slowly came to a stop in front of the gate made of black lacquered wood.