"Wow... I didn't expect the Japanese to be so orderly," Luna Xiao exclaimed, surprised.
"Heh... Yeah, I've lived in Japan for years and noticed this. The Japanese do order better than most countries. They're cold in daily life, but in disaster, their unity is scary. Any country with citizens like this can't be ignored..." Annabelle Hung remarked.
"You can really see it..." Luna Xiao nodded.
Just then, they saw a crowd of men in black suits flood the street, quickly taking over every main intersection.
"Hmm? Looks like they're Yamaguchi Syndicate members..." May Gu frowned.
"May, how do you know they're with the Yamaguchi Syndicate?" Rachel Sasaki asked curiously.
"Oh, because their leader's missing a pinky. That's a classic Yamaguchi Syndicate sign." May Gu explained.
"Really? Why would they do that?" Rachel Sasaki looked over and saw it was true—the men leading the black suits were all missing their pinky, just a stub left.
"Cutting off your pinky and offering it to the boss is how Yamaguchi Syndicate members prove their loyalty. It means they've chosen the criminal life, no turning back." May Gu explained.
"Hmph... Cutting off your pinky is just dumb. You can't grip a knife properly after that, so it's no wonder they always lose to the Dragon Clear Brotherhood," Annabelle Hung scoffed.
"Huh... Makes sense!" Rachel Sasaki, a skilled swordswoman herself, knew Annabelle Hung was right.
The Yamaguchi Syndicate members started patrolling the streets and clearing the roads. Within minutes, traffic began flowing again. Then, several vans slowly rolled into the city.
"Eh? What are they up to?" Luna Xiao wondered aloud.
"No idea. Let's just watch and see..." Rachel Sasaki replied.
The vans stopped at several spots in the city, and Yamaguchi Syndicate members began gathering around them.
When the vans were opened, they were packed with supplies—biscuits, ration packs, canned food, candles, blankets, bedding, brushes, and other daily necessities.
The Yamaguchi Syndicate members lined up to collect these supplies, then handed them out to refugees along the streets. In just half an hour, they had emptied dozens of vans and distributed everything to the people taking shelter.
After distributing the supplies, the Yamaguchi Syndicate members even helped police direct traffic and maintain order. Grateful citizens bowed and thanked them, creating a surprisingly harmonious scene.
"Wow... I never thought a gang would do something good!" Rachel Sasaki exclaimed in surprise.
Annabelle Hung smiled, "Japanese gangs are different from those in other countries. They rarely bother regular people and see themselves as descendants of ancient swordsmen and knights. In times of crisis, like now, they'll even help out. That's why Yamaguchi Syndicate is so popular in Japan, and they have close ties to the government—many officials are connected with them."
"Heh... With a foundation like that, no wonder they've become legal and grown so much!" Luna Xiao remarked.
"Right now, the Japanese government is swamped handling the earthquake and nuclear meltdown. They don't have enough people, so it's normal for the Yamaguchi Syndicate to step in and keep order," Annabelle Hung said.
As night fell, thanks to the Yamaguchi Syndicate, traffic on Nagano's main roads began moving again. Luna Xiao marveled at their efficiency and couldn't help but admire their cleverness.
Because of this, the girls, who thought they'd have to walk to Wakayama, could drive again. Each of them also got supplies from the Yamaguchi Syndicate.
"Hahaha... After fighting them for so long, I never thought I'd be eating Yamaguchi Syndicate snacks! Life's wild. Still, they're our enemies—who knows, maybe we'll clash in Wakayama. Whatever, let's eat first!" Rachel Sasaki laughed, munching on a biscuit.
Not long after Annabelle Hung's group left Nagano, Shawn Young and Jade Swann finally 'called a truce.' After hours of passionate action, Shawn gave it his all, and Jade Swann collapsed in his arms, clinging to him like an octopus, drenched in fragrant sweat.
Satisfied, Shawn gave her plenty of 'ammunition' and felt totally refreshed. They cuddled for a long time before Shawn pinched Jade's chin and said, 'Jade... Get up, we need to leave.'
"Oh... Just a little longer, you big meanie! You went so hard, now I'm all wobbly... You're terrible!" Jade Swann murmured in Shawn's arms.
"Heh... Isn't that why you came with me?" Shawn Young grinned mischievously.
"You make me sound so desperate! You're the worst..." Jade Swann pouted, pinching his waist.
"Heh... It's not desperation, it's pleasure. We're both enjoying this... haha..." Shawn Young grinned, savoring his time with Jade Swann. She seemed cold on the surface, but in bed, she was adventurous, and as a cultivator, her stamina was no joke—she could really keep up with Shawn, giving him a taste of true competition.
"Hehe... That's true. But good times like this are always short. With who we are, living a normal life is impossible, so these happy moments are rare. Anyway, enough talk—there's work to do. Let's get dressed." Jade Swann sighed, then started getting dressed.
Hearing this, Shawn Young sat on the bed for a moment, then got up and hugged Jade Swann from behind. 'Jade, have you ever thought about quitting?' he asked softly.
"Huh... Why are you asking that?" Jade Swann replied, surprised.
"I just think a beautiful girl like you deserves a happy life. But your work is dangerous, and if..." Shawn Young began.
Jade Swann suddenly turned and covered his mouth. 'I know my work is risky, and sometimes the missions are life-or-death. But you have to understand, there are plenty of hidden enemies targeting our country... If people like us don't step up, who will protect our nation and our people?'
"But..." Shawn Young tried to say.
"I know what you're thinking, but let me tell you—I love this job!" Jade Swann said.
"Why?" Shawn Young couldn't help but ask.
"No reason... Our sect teaches that you need a nation to have a home. As Taoists, it's our duty to protect the country! That's all the reason I need!" Jade Swann said, her face glowing with pride.
"Oh! I get it... Heh, my cultivation might be stronger than yours, but my sense of duty isn't as deep." Shawn Young reflected.
"Hehe... You're not wrong, either. Cultivation is all about defying fate, and if I break through the heavenly tribulation, maybe my goals will change too..." Jade Swann said.
"Oh! Heavenly tribulation..." Just mentioning it made Shawn Young tense up. He realized he'd been stuck at this bottleneck for a long time, unable to break through.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking?" Jade Swann asked, seeing him lost in thought.
"Nothing, let's go. I want to find them soon..." Shawn Young shook his head. He vaguely felt that breaking through his tribulation was somehow connected to Luna Xiao, so he was eager to see her.
"Okay, I'm hungry too. Let's go down and get something to eat." Jade Swann nodded.
The two finished dressing and were about to leave when a strange noise came from outside the window. Shawn Young was startled, quickly opened the window, and was shocked by what he saw...
[Irrelevant or unclear text, skipped.]