Chapter 134
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: I Love You (4)
Mian Sosal's brow furrowed deeply.
A mounted Daoist emerged from the forest on the left.
Whether he truly was a Daoist was unclear. He wore no Daoist crown, nor did he have his hair bound up. But he was dressed in Daoist robes, with a clear Taiji emblem on his left chest.
A sword hung at his waist.
From the forest on the right, an elderly man appeared as well.
He too rode a horse. He wasn't wearing Daoist robes but martial attire, with a blade strapped to his back.
These were the legendary Sword Sage and Dao Sage, known only by rumor.
They were the right-hand men of Northern Bright Blood Fang.
Their martial prowess could shake the world. The mere fact that Northern Bright Blood Fang had cultivated no other organizations besides these two spoke volumes about their strength.
Yet Mian Sosal could handle them.
A two-on-one fight would be tough, but one-on-one, the odds favored Mian Sosal.
The problem was the dozen or so warriors trailing behind the Sword Sage and Dao Sage.
Behind the Sword Sage and behind the Dao Sage, groups of about a dozen warriors each advanced with limp arms dangling like men bereft of reason, weapons clutched in their hands, trudging forward step by heavy step.
This was no normal sight.
Mian Sosal felt a powerful pressure from them—an oppression he hadn't sensed even from the Sword Sage or Dao Sage.
The Ten Directions Linked Formation hadn't crumbled because of the mounted warriors.
'Those bastards broke it.'
The smile vanished from Mian Sosal's face.
"Any escape routes?"
No answer came. Instead, they just shook their heads side to side.
"Fox. You?"
Fox shook his head too.
You didn't need great martial skill to know there were no escape routes. Even someone ignorant of martial arts would realize, in a situation like this, that there was no space to flee.
Vanguard asked his subordinates' opinions just in case.
The answers were predictable. No one could find an escape in such circumstances.
"In that case... there's no need to head to the main camp. This makes for a fine death."
Vanguard seemed almost relieved.
There was an escape route. They could break toward the lake.
Lady Zhuge had said the boats on the lake were arrayed in a Nine Palaces Linked Formation.
He didn't know what a Nine Palaces Linked Formation was. But he could see the boats forming a tight net. Still, it wasn't airtight. By maximizing Little Thread's lightness and speed, they could create a brief gap.
Riding the boats, however... that would only save a few. That was the hesitation.
How many could Little Thread carry?
Zhuge Myeong had led the Ten Directions Linked Troops here with a considerable number of subordinates. Even if many had died, plenty still lived.
They couldn't carry them all.
So they had to find a breakthrough on land. Was there no path on the ground?
Left and right were sealed tight. The two peak masters were trouble enough, but the dozen warriors following them were the real issue. An evil aura emanated from those men.
The center was problematic too.
A master whose prowess even Mian Sosal couldn't guarantee victory against held the center. He hadn't shown himself yet, but a profoundly dark and ominous energy wafted from there.
To find a breakthrough on land meant collapsing one of those groups.
"We go right."
Four Thousand Four approached Mian Sosal's back and spoke softly.
"The right..."
"Can you handle that one?"
Four Thousand Four glanced at the mounted elder.
"The Dao Sage isn't the problem. It's those behind him... Hm! Right. If it were Shadowless Throw, maybe those guys... No. Even Shadowless Throw won't work. They've forgotten fear of death. Unless you kill them all at once, it's impossible—and even Shadowless Throw can't manage that."
"Leave them to me."
"Even if you take them out, that one's the issue."
Mian Sosal looked toward the center.
No one was there. No one had revealed themselves. But both Four Thousand Four and Mian Sosal knew someone was present. And that he was the true master.
"Leave that to me too."
"What, you think you're a god? How do you plan to block them all at once?"
"I'll handle it. If I can hold them off, can we break through?"
"Once the path opens... yeah, it should be possible. Lady Zhuge will manage the tactical side."
"Then go. Entrust our branch to you as well. If possible, take them prisoner to avoid triggering the Heavenly Annihilation Division's summons. Please."
Mian Sosal looked at Four Thousand Four.
"You're prepared to die?"
"An assassin's life is uncertain day to day. No regrets here anyway."
"Not even seeing your master?"
"Seeing my master before death is my greatest wish, but if death comes, nothing remains. So no lingering attachments."
"Why do this?"
"..."
"Your actions now... you're saying you'll die to save us all. No way a guy like you has any sense of justice or chivalry. Why throw your life away?"
"No reason. I just want to."
"Hard to believe."
"Take down the Dao Sage. I'll follow right behind."
"Fine. Let's do it."
Shring!
Mian Sosal drew his sword.
The conversation between Four Thousand Four and Mian Sosal had been heard by everyone.
They'd whispered softly, but those nearby couldn't fail to hear.
Escape!
If they could just break through one side as Four Thousand Four said, escape was possible for now. Who knew what traps lay beyond them—doubtless double and triple locks—but first, they had to break out.
Four Thousand Four couldn't defeat the dozen warriors and the unseen peak master in the center. But as he said, he could buy time.
Wheeee! Whiiiii!
Zhuge Myeong blew a long, sharp whistle.
The Zhuge warriors, who had been fleeing in disarray, swiftly gathered around them.
"Eight Trigrams Linked Hands!"
At Lady Zhuge's shout, the Zhuge warriors paired into groups of eight, crossing and supporting each other in formation.
"You can lag behind if you're slow, but don't break formation. You saw what happens when it collapses—like leaves in the wind. No one can help then."
"Yes!"
The Zhuge warriors roared in response.
"No need for our help?"
Vanguard said.
"We're people with no meaning in life even if we escape this place. You know we're better off dead than alive. If we're set on dying, joining in together's fine by us."
"No."
Four Thousand Four said as he gathered small pebbles and stuffed them into his satchel.
"You have to live. Even rolling in shit's better than the afterlife, right?"
"Then why're you pulling this crap?"
"Hahaha! It's just my nature."
"Got it. You've made up your mind. Can't stop you. We'll do our best, so you survive too. This life's better than the next, like you said."
"Will do."
Four Thousand Four chuckled.
"Was shocked you're Green's disciple... Makes sense they'd give you the 'Thousand' rank in the Nineteen Hells. I'll keep being your friend from here on."
Fox clapped Four Thousand Four on the back.
"Thanks."
"Thanks? Then live for sure."
Was it an illusion? Fox's eyes seemed to glisten. He quickly turned away, so Four Thousand Four couldn't see clearly.
"Same for me. Live."
Jaja said coolly.
Hanbi just patted his shoulder.
They had all become like family now. An organization gathered for slaughter, yet they'd grown to care for each other's safety.
Even now that Four Thousand Four's connection to Green was revealed.
Shiii!
Mian Sosal soared toward the Dao Sage.
Four Thousand Four stuck close to his back, moving as one.
Lady Zhuge and the Zhuge warriors followed him. Vanguard's branch covered the rear, with Zhuge Myeong bringing up the very end.
The weakest in martial arts here were the Zhuge warriors, so they were placed up front. Their swift escape would free up the rest.
Four Thousand Four caught Lady Zhuge's scent.
She worried him. He wanted to look back, say something reassuring, tell her to live no matter what, even crack a joke.
He suppressed it all and stared ahead.
This assault... even Lady Zhuge hadn't anticipated it. And it targeted her. Mian Sosal was there, Zhuge Myeong too, and himself—but the goal was Lady Zhuge.
He couldn't let her get hurt.
Yes, this was selfish. Not following Green's teachings, not guiding the dying to peace. Not even a desperate bid to survive. Purely the desire to save Lady Zhuge.
He liked Lady Zhuge. Unrequited, sure, but his heart burned hot.
Strange as it sounded, if only she was safe, he felt he could do anything. Even die blocking them... anything, as long as she was safe.
She never spared a thought for herself.
That was fine. She looked better beside a powerhouse like Mian Sosal. With his striking looks and tall frame... Mian Sosal and Lady Zhuge matched perfectly.
Screeeee!
Mian Sosal lunged at the Dao Sage. In that instant, Four Thousand Four pulled small pebbles from his satchel and hurled them soundlessly, formlessly, sensationlessly.
Thuk! Thud thud thud!
The dozen warriors trailing the Dao Sage were struck by the pebbles and flung back.
But... they rose again.
Their foreheads were smashed, blood streaming down. One had a gaping hole in his throat.
Four Thousand Four hadn't held back on Shadowless Throw. He'd unleashed full power to kill them all in one go—not to protect himself, but to save Lady Zhuge, making it all the more desperate.
Them rising was definitely unnatural.
"What are they?"
He asked Lady Zhuge following behind.
"Like soulless husks. 'Lost Souls' fits."
"They don't die?"
"They do. But their potential has erupted—they shrug off ordinary attacks. Their inner energy's doubled at least, they've lost pain sensation, and without humanity, no fear of death."
Papapapap!
Meanwhile, Shadowless Throw burst forth again.
No air-splitting whoosh. No visible projectiles. Yet the warriors, rising unscathed, staggered from massive impacts and collapsed. Only to rise again soon after.
Clang clang clang clang!
A cacophony of metal rang overhead.
As Four Thousand Four struck the warriors, Mian Sosal and the Dao Sage clashed fiercely.
"Gah!"
Four Thousand Four shouted, intercepting the warriors.
Thud thud thud thud!
Shadowless Throw erupted at the rising warriors again.
Shiii!
Four Thousand Four heard the wind of those escaping behind him.
The Zhuge warriors were breaking through. Lady Zhuge's scent mingled among them, slipping away.
'Lady Zhuge, live for sure!'
Four Thousand Four gritted his teeth and hurled more pebbles.
Thud thud thud thud!
Shadowless Throw burst at the writhing warriors on the ground.
Attacks that would have killed normal men ten times over. Yet the dozen warriors still twitched.