"Nogawa Kyoko is dead!"
Hearing this, Ye Ming and Nangong Qianyu's hearts trembled violently. They looked at the woman before them in disbelief, as if questioning their own ears.
What did that sentence mean?
Ye Ming stared intently into her beautiful eyes, and she met his gaze. Deep within Nogawa Kyoko's pupils, a resolute glint flickered.
"Have you truly thought this through?"
Sensing this, Ye Ming's gaze towards Nogawa Kyoko subtly changed.
A clear hint of admiration was present.
That such a decisive choice could be made in such a short period of time far exceeded Ye Ming's expectations.
It was precisely because of this that he wished her to reconsider.
"Ye Ming! What... what does this mean?"
Nangong Qianyu beside him, clearly not yet understanding Nogawa Kyoko's statement, wore a look of bewilderment.
"Shagu also agrees with my choice. There is no longer any need to consider," Nogawa Kyoko said with a wistful smile. "This is the best for both you and me, isn't it?"
However, it was unknown whether any personal emotions were mixed into Nogawa Kyoko's decision.
"Actually, the external influence is not as great as you imagine. Although it's troublesome, but..."
Ye Ming seemed to want Nogawa Kyoko to be more cautious.
However, before he could finish speaking, Nogawa Shagu, standing before him, directly interrupted him and said earnestly, "Ye Ming! I know you are considering us. But..."
She reached out and took the hand of the man she cared for, smiling gently. "But please, let us share some of your burden, okay? You have already done enough for us. From now on, leave it to me!"
Then, she looked at her mother and said, "Moreover, this is a good thing for Mother. From now on, she can walk a starlit path unique to her. Isn't that wonderful?"
Seeing her daughter's gaze, Nogawa Kyoko also nodded with a smile, then looked at the sky and sighed softly:
"It's time to say goodbye to the past!"
From this day forward, there would be no more Nogawa Kyoko in the world, only a remarkable woman named "Kawano Makoto."
...
Two hours later, astonishing news swept through the entire country of Higashijima like a gale. The headline read:
"The current First Elder of Bushin Mountain, Nogawa Shagu's mother, passed away this afternoon at three o'clock."
Upon hearing this news, not only the general public but the entire ninja world was thrown into a frenzy.
For no other reason than the fact that Nogawa Shagu was the foremost figure in Higashijima. Anything related to her would become the center of public attention.
Furthermore, it was her mother's passing.
How could such a significant event not be noticed?
"Alas! Although I knew that Lady Shagu's mother's health was not good before, I didn't expect... alas!"
"Indeed! I heard that Lady Shagu valued her mother the most. Now that the elder has passed, who knows what kind of upheaval will occur in the ninja world?"
"Forget it! This has nothing to do with us minor figures. I just hope this matter doesn't cause too much shock to Lady Shagu."
"Exactly! Once the Blood Asura is unrestrained, the consequences... are unimaginable."
"..."
Nogawa Kyoko's "death" was like the fall of the Sword of Damocles in certain circles, plunging many into endless panic.
Because they all knew that Nogawa Kyoko was Nogawa Shagu's only restraint. Now that the restraint was broken, who else could suppress that Blood Asura?
Shifting the focus to the Nogawa estate now, a heavy atmosphere pervaded the entire place, with white banners hung on all sides, preparing for Nogawa Kyoko's funeral rites.
This news was not only too sudden for the outside world, but even the members of the Nogawa family were still in a state of shock.
They had not expected the old lady to pass away at this time.
After all, not long ago, the entire Nogawa family had been "purged" by Nogawa Shagu. Now, with the old lady gone, they were even more panicked.
They feared Nogawa Shagu losing control.
Some even secretly speculated whether the old lady's sudden passing was caused by the events that had transpired earlier.
If that were the case, then the Nogawa family might be the first to suffer.
Next, would be Bushin Mountain.
Therefore, the vast majority of people in these two families were filled with extreme fear, dreading that Nogawa Shagu might initiate another "bloodbath" after the funeral.
At this moment, in front of the mourning hall, a coffin was placed. Kneeling before the coffin was a woman clad in mourning attire.
It was Nogawa Shagu.
Her original blood-red veil was now replaced with a cold white one. At this moment, she exuded a sense of desolation.
Behind her were all the members of the Nogawa family.
Without exception, everyone was present.
This included several core members, such as Nogawa Ryuichi, who were even bandaged and knelt on the ground, trembling. They dared not even breathe too deeply.
Large beads of cold sweat dripped down their foreheads, and their fear grew exponentially.
These were the individuals who had betrayed Nogawa Shagu before.
When Nogawa Shagu purged her ranks, she had not killed them directly, but had shown a sliver of mercy.
However, now that Nogawa Kyoko was dead, perhaps that sliver of mercy would vanish entirely.
"Minister of the Cabinet, Lord Kimura, has arrived!"
At this moment, the greeter outside the courtyard announced loudly.
Kimura Ken'o had arrived.
And he represented the Cabinet.
After Kimura Ken'o entered the mourning hall, a middle-aged man wearing a mask, whose appearance was obscured, followed behind him.
He first glanced at Nogawa Shagu, who was kneeling silently, then bowed deeply towards the coffin with a somewhat complex tone:
"Lady Shagu, please accept my condolences!"
At this moment, Kimura Ken'o's heart was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.
Initially, when the news of Nogawa Kyoko's death reached him, he did not believe it. Because he knew that the shadow of that great person had always been by Nogawa Shagu's side.
With that person present, how could Nogawa Kyoko suddenly pass away?
But after arriving at the Nogawa estate and witnessing the scene before him, no matter how much he disbelieved, he had to accept this reality.
Although he had many questions, at this moment, they no longer seemed so important.
In response to Kimura Ken'o's condolences, Nogawa Shagu merely nodded faintly, offering no further reply.
As she was wearing a veil at this moment, no one could discern her expression.
Of course!
No one dared to look directly at her at this time.
Kimura Ken'o naturally did not mind her reaction. Nogawa Shagu's distant coldness was known to all.
To receive a nod of acknowledgment, Kimura Ken'o felt honored.
At this moment, the middle-aged man following behind him gently removed his mask, stepped forward, and also bowed towards the coffin.
Initially, not many people paid attention to this scene.
However, when they saw the middle-aged man's face, everyone was stunned.