Shingo entered the dining room of the Jade Phoenix Restaurant, only to find that the tables and chairs had already been cleared away. It was apparent that the Jade Phoenix Triad had anticipated their arrival.

A middle-aged man welcomed them with a smirk on his chubby, bearded face and a stare behind his narrow eyes. His bloated figure was covered with a long, colorful robe that made him look like an old-fashioned Wushunese landlord.

“Welcome to Jade Phoenix Restaurant. I am Wang Zi, at your service. From the fashion of your entrance, you are not here for the food, right?” the Jade Phoenix Triad Godfather said.

Hayato responded with a sly smile, “Surely you’re familiar with our signature ‘aggressive negotiation’, aren’t you? Well, that’s what we’re doing now.”

Wang Zi scoffed. “Really? Whew, sorry to disappoint you, but we in the Jade Phoenix don’t negotiate. We burn the trash without recycling it. We burn trouble down, not solving it.”

Shingo couldn’t help but interject, “Whew! It sounds more effective and more direct, but more barbaric too!”

Hayato agreed, “You got a point there, Shingo. Consider this, Wang Zi. If we adopt YOUR method, we would bring the whole Skull Mask Squad along and raze this fancy restaurant of yours to the ground. But no, we’re too civilized, too modern for that. We prefer getting friends and allies to making enemies. That’s why our influence is more widespread and you can only take our territories by force.”

Wang Zi was unimpressed. “No matter how civilized and modern it may look, at the end of the day, you still resort to violence. See my men lying, scattering on the streets? You even sent my ace fighter and cook, Gale Zhao running with bruises. We are two of the same kind. So, turn around and run away, you filthy slumdogs!”

As Wang Zi’s anger escalated, a figure appeared from behind him. It was Gale Zhao, the Triad champion who intercepted the Yakuza duo but failed to stop them.

“Stop it, Godfather! You’re not yourself, so snap out of it!” Gale shouted.

Shingo and Hayato exchanged questioning glances. Gale proceeded to explain that Wang Zi was never this brutal and that destruction was never the purpose of all his actions. He revealed that the Wushunese Triad had been ordered to invade the Yakuza’s territories and that he was reluctant at first but was forced to comply to avoid death.

Gale suspected that Wang Zi was possessed by a spirit, but he had no idea whose spirit it was. Wang Zi’s behavior became even more erratic as he called for the replacement of his “generals”, including Gale.

“You called me a ‘general’ and you sought to replace me? So you’re truly possessed!” Gale exclaimed. “Please, let me fight him too!” he added, turning to Hayato and Shingo.

Hayato welcomed Gale into their party, and he joined them with a sense of determination. It was time to fight and put a stop to the chaos caused by the possessed Wang Zi.

Shingo, Hayato, and Gale stood ready. Shingo with his katana, Hayato with his claws, and Gale with his bare hands. Their faces became more tense as they witnessed the sight in front of them.

Suddenly, Wang Zi began to change, his body twisting and contorting until he stood before them as a jiangshi, a Wushunese zombie wearing a robe like an ancient time magistrate. He spoke, his voice hollow and cold. “Behold, this is my true form, the Undead Judge, Wang Guo Zheng!”

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Shingo and his companions made battle stances, ready to face this new, formidable-looking foe.

But before they could strike, Wang Zi spoke, “Noo! Don’t I have a chance at this age to fare better in my conquests? Looks like true justice exists! I’ll never accept this! Never!”

Wang Zi’s words hung in the air, a bitter reminder of the harsh reality they faced. Justice was often fleeting, and victory could come at a great cost.

The sounds of clashing echoed from the restaurant courtyard to the empty streets, accompanied by the dull thud of fists and claws meeting undead flesh.

Moving from the dining room to the courtyard, Shingo, Gale, and Hayato were fighting for their lives against Wang Zi and his horde of jiangshis. Their enemy was relentless, his powerful physique and relentless attacks overwhelming them at every turn.

Gale darted and weaved through the sea of jiangshis, delivering quick and precise strikes with his bare hands, his kung-fu skills providing a deadly edge.

Meanwhile, Hayato engaged the jiangshis in close combat, his double claws glinting in the pale moonlight as he sliced through the air, his karate moves infused with deadly intent.

Shingo fought with his trusty katana, slicing through the air with deadly precision, his movements fluid and graceful. He clashed with Wang Zi, the two warriors locked in a fierce battle of strength and skill. Shingo’s swordsmanship was impeccable, his years of training and discipline serving him well in this life-and-death fight.

As the fight wore on, Shingo, Gale, and Hayato began to gain the upper hand, their coordinated attacks and quick thinking allowing them to outmaneuver their enemies. One by one, the jiangshis fell, their undead bodies crumbling to dust as the trio of warriors fought on.

Finally, Wang Zi was the only one left standing. As a last resort, he began to transform. His muscles were bulging with raw power as he snarled and bared his teeth. But even he was no match for Shingo, Gale, and Hayato. Together, they delivered a final blow, knocking Wang Zi out cold.

The group breathed a sigh of relief as they looked around at the destruction they had wrought. Bodies of jiangshis lay scattered around them, their lifeless forms a testament to the ferocity of the battle. But they had emerged victorious, and that was all that mattered.

“Is everyone okay?” Shingo asked his voice tight with adrenaline and exhaustion.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Gale replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“I’m fine,” Hayato chimed in, his claws retracting as he took a deep breath.

Shingo nodded, relief flooding through him. They had survived the fight, but it had been a close call. Looking over at the reverted Wang Zi, who lay unconscious on the ground, he wondered what had driven him to such desperate measures.

Gale let out a sigh of relief. “Whew! The ancestor’s spirit has left Wang Zi, and now he’s unconscious.”

Shingo turned to Hayato. “Does it mean we can punish Wang Zi for his actions?”

But Hayato shook his head. “That won’t be necessary, because he acted under his ancestor spirit’s influence, not by his own will. We’ll leave him that way, there are many enough witnesses here.”

Gale chimed in. “Not including me. The witnesses have also seen me fight against my boss. It is forbidden and considered treason, so when Wang Zi wakes up, he’ll execute me for sure.”

Shingo felt a twinge of sympathy for Gale, but there was little they could do. “That’s harsh. I won’t last a week in that kind of organization.”

Gale looked to Hayato. “So, can I join the Silver Skull instead? I have nowhere else to go for an asylum.”

Hayato smiled. “You’re welcome to join us if you pass the trials. You can bear witness and forgiveness for the Jade Phoenix in front of our godfather, Akiba Maeda.”

Gale nodded, grateful. “Thank you, Brother Hayato Mori.”

Shingo couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. “I say this is a quite fruitful mission, isn’t it?”

Hayato agreed. “You bet it is.”

Shingo’s Diary

Truth be told, it seemed Gale Zhao became our new brother.

And soon, as my mentorship with Hayato was complete,

Gale became my new teammate and partner in the Silver Skull Yakuza.

End of Act Two