Tokinada limped back to the imposing yet stern Tsunayashiro Clan's estate.
His legs were spread at an extremely strange angle, each step he took was tiny, and his body was slightly hunched, as if every movement pulled on an unspeakable, agonizing wound.
This caused fine beads of cold sweat to continuously seep from his forehead, his face pale as paper.
Although he had cleaned the bloodstains beforehand, such an odd gait was still particularly conspicuous.
Fortunately, he had always been moody, and lately, news of 'killing his wife and comrade' had spread.
The passing servants, maids, and guards only dared to be shocked in their hearts… no one dared to approach and inquire.
Everyone, like avoiding the plague, quickly lowered their heads, quickened their pace, or turned onto another path, fearful of any eye contact that might bring unwarranted disaster.
Tokinada took all of this in, his gaze extremely dark.
But he had no energy at this moment to punish these 'ants'… he only wanted to return to his own nest as quickly as possible, to lick his wounds and plan his revenge.
Finally, he returned to his own courtyard, located on the western side of the estate, relatively independent yet also remote.
This was the residence of the branch family. Though the decoration was still exquisite, it was far less luxurious than the core area of the main family, and few people came here.
Tokinada returned to his bedroom and forced himself to set up a soundproof barrier. The moment the barrier was complete, he let out an inhuman, extremely suppressed roar.
"Ahhhhh!!!!!"
He lunged at the round rosewood table in the center of the room and overturned it with all his strength.
The exquisite porcelain, brushes, ink, paper, and decorative ornaments on the table clattered and smashed all over the floor. The sound of shattering was particularly harsh within the enclosed barrier.
Still unsatisfied, he grabbed antique vases and jade items from the curio shelf against the wall and, without looking, viciously smashed them against the walls and floor. Expensive artworks instantly turned to dust and fragments.
"Chiaki Setsuna! Chiaki Setsuna!! Chiaki Setsuna!!!"
While frantically destroying everything within sight that could be destroyed, he roared this name hoarsely, every syllable steeped in profound hatred and venom.
His once handsome face was now twisted like a demon's, his eyes bloodshot.
Since childhood, as a child of the Five Great Nobles, even if disregarded within the branch family, he had never suffered such dual physical and mental humiliation.
Being publicly slapped, teeth flying out, having his hand stomped and crushed, and most unbearable of all... being completely stripped of his masculine dignity and pride in that manner by a blind lowborn he considered an ant.
Every twist felt like it had simultaneously mashed and trampled his, Tsunayashiro Tokinada's, very soul into the filthy mud!
He panted heavily, stopping amidst the chaos, his body trembling violently from excitement and pain.
Subconsciously, he lightly touched his own rear with his hand...
"Hiss!!!!!"
Even the slightest friction of the fabric caused him extreme pain.
This pain instantly overwhelmed him, making his legs go weak, nearly causing him to fall to his knees. He could only support himself against the only intact wall, gasping for air in large gulps, cold sweat soaking his undergarments.
"Kill him, I must kill him, in the most painful way, make him taste all the torments in the world, make him regret ever being born!"
This thought, like poisonous vines, entwined his heart, growing wildly.
But amidst the extreme anger and pain, Tokinada's brain began to operate with an abnormally cold, detached speed.
He didn't immediately rush to the Central 46 to cry out, nor to the family elders to complain, as he had when uttering threats earlier.
He forced himself to be calm and began to analyze:
First, uncertainty.
He found that Setsuna possessed some bizarre ability, capable of distorting perception and creating illusions.
Sato Taishi's accusations back then being dismissed as insane ramblings was a precedent.
If he went to report it now, would he, in the eyes of others, also become a madman, guilty and mentally disturbed from killing his wife, babbling nonsense?
What if he was still under some persistent influence of the other party's ability, and all his evidence and accusations appeared to others as his own delusions and performances?
That wouldn't just be asking for humiliation… he might even be disposed of by the family as an 'instability factor'.
Second, value assessment.
Even if he reported it successfully, and the Central 46 and the family believed him-
Then what?
He wasn't dead, just severely injured and grievously humiliated.
For the sake of a branch family member's reputation and injuries, would they completely break ties and even spark conflict with a Gotei 13's Captain who could single-handedly subdue a Vasto Lorde Menos Grande and acted without regard for consequences?
Would those old foxes in the Central 46 engage in such a losing bargain?
Would the family, for a member like him with a ruined reputation and limited potential, risk potentially heavy losses, even shaking the family's foundation?
The answer was most likely no.
More likely, for the sake of 'overall stability', they would suppress the matter, even warn him in turn not to publicize it, to avoid damaging the collective dignity of the nobility.
And the other heirs of the main family would probably only use this as a topic of idle gossip, looking down on him even more.
Just then, a name flashed through his mind… Kasumioji Yuka.
The head of the Kasumioji Clan, a stupid woman blinded by hatred.
After Taishi's death, it was said that Yuka had frantically tried to mobilize the entire family's power, sparing no expense to seek revenge, but seemed to have been forcibly suppressed by other factions within the clan and external pressures, thereby losing partial control of the clan.
'A woman consumed by hatred, temporarily out of power, and eager to regain it...' A faint, cold smile slowly emerged on Tokinada's pale face.
'I can use the 'Tsunayashiro Clan' banner to help Kasumioji Yuka regain control of her family. In return, Kasumioji Yuka and her Kasumioji Clan will become the sharpest blade in my hand, pointed directly at Chiaki Setsuna!'
'Moreover...' Tokinada's eyes flickered, recalling some secret rumors within the family.
'The development of the [Bakkoto] seemed to be nearing completion, right?'
Theoretically, that was a trump card sufficient to allow the Tsunayashiro Clan to break free from the Gotei 13's constraints. He had no right to use it whatsoever. But if it was Yuka's thirst for revenge... well, that had nothing to do with him.
The plan gradually became clear in Tokinada's mind.
Although the physical pain persisted, the mental anguish seemed slightly diluted by this vicious scheming, transforming into a deeper, more dangerous excitement.
Tokinada grinned fiercely. "Chiaki Setsuna, you are strong, strong enough to ignore the rules. But a spear in the open is easy to dodge, an arrow in the dark is hard to defend against. When the poisoned blade of hatred strikes from the shadows you least expect, when the forbidden weapon descends with the power of destruction..."
"Let's see if your so-called 'absolute power' can protect everyone around you! Whether it can let you stay... this arrogant forever!"