C20 I Hope You Can Help Me!

Upon arriving at the construction site, Yang Ming continued his task of moving bricks.

With unwavering focus, he breezed through three hours of work, collected his pay, and headed for the hotel.

A group of more than a dozen onlookers watched him leave, their eyes glinting with a growing coldness.

But Yang Ming remained indifferent; they weren't worth a second thought to him.

Back at the hotel, after freshening up, he was about to head out for a meal when, out of the blue, a silhouette flashed at the window.

A ninja?

A flicker of surprise crossed Yang Ming's mind, but he faced the Grass Ninja with unruffled composure.

He could tell from the energy that this was merely a Junior Ninja.

"Mr. Gekka, Mr. Chu requests your presence," the ninja stated, his curiosity piqued by Yang Ming's lack of surprise, but he stayed on task.

"Mr. Chu? Chu Koichi?"

Yang Ming's curiosity was now piqued as well.

"Correct," confirmed the Junior Ninja.

"Fine," Yang Ming replied after a moment's thought, agreeing to the summons.

He wondered what Chu Koichi could possibly want with him. Was he looking for another beating?

With that thought, Yang Ming followed the ninja, leaping from rooftop to rooftop until they reached a room.

Inside, he found Chu Koichi lying in bed, his body swathed in bandages, looking the picture of misery.

"Huh? Who managed to do this to you?" Yang Ming's curiosity deepened.

Chu Koichi was a notable figure, backed by the Grass Kage, wielding considerable power in the village. Who would dare cross him?

"Mr. Gekka, please excuse my current state; I can't even stand. But I needed to see you, to share some important news," Chu Koichi said, gesturing with his hand. The room was now left to just Yang Ming and the Junior Ninja who had led him there.

"Go on," Yang Ming prompted, his tone even.

"Here's the situation. Yesterday, obeying your orders, I was patrolling near the orphanage when I was ambushed by rivals and sustained serious injuries. Normally, I would report such an incident to Lord Grass Kage, but he's away at the Daming Mansion on business and not in the village. So, I had no choice but to seek you out. I'm currently incapacitated and unable to fulfill the task you entrusted to me," Chu Koichi explained.

Chu Koichi spoke up.

"Your adversary?"

Yang Ming's curiosity was piqued upon hearing this.

"Yes, indeed. His name is Mizunoki, a fellow ninja who graduated with me. After I defeated him, he left the village and joined the Daming Mansion. There, he trained under a formidable master and mastered several ninja techniques. His strength has increased significantly, and with a single move, he inflicted a serious injury on me. He's challenged me to settle our scores once and for all in three days. I wouldn't have reached out to Mr. Gekka if I weren't desperate. Unfortunately, it's already the third day, and I have very few allies to call upon."

Chu Koichi said with a wry smile.

"People from the Daming Mansion?"

A thought struck Yang Ming.

Unlike the five great nations, the Daming Mansion's guard and security forces in the Grass Country were comprised of the village's strongest, tasked with ensuring the magnate's safety.

They also kept a watchful eye on the magnate, sometimes even manipulating his decisions.

The guard forces of the Grass Country's Daming Mansion were a tangled web of power, with experts hailing from all corners, including the formidable Iron Blood Mercenaries. Their strength was profound, and not even the Grass Kage could be certain of victory against them.

A small nation like the Grass Country simply didn't possess such capabilities.

Within the nation, the magnate's word was law, and even the Grass Kage had to comply.

"Exactly. I have my suspicions that Lord Grass Kage's sudden summons to the Daming Mansion for discussions might be related to this issue. But that's just conjecture. Right now, I'm really hoping Mr. Gekka can lend me his support!"

Chu Koichi stated.