Chapter 137
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Trampling (2)
“What happened?”
Zhuge Ming asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you're casually kicking Taebeongbi out of the courtyard right now. That's not like you at all.”
“So what is 'like me'?”
“Hmph!”
“Hoho! How sly of you.”
“What? That's even less like you.”
“Is it? I see. So that's the kind of woman I am.”
Zhuge Soso nodded.
Taebeongbi the Merciless Slayer had come to the Zhuge family because of a promise he'd made with their missing patriarch. He'd become one of their limbs, resolving countless incidents. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was always there wherever there was fighting.
Zhuge Soso had made excellent use of that fact.
A master like Taebeongbi the Merciless Slayer was someone you'd beg to hire, let alone someone who walked in on his own two feet.
Even with the heavy matter of the betrothal lurking beneath it all, she was confident she could handle something like that. She had even thought that, as long as he wasn't ugly, weak in martial arts, or evil-hearted, marriage might be possible.
Yet now, he was discarding her as if none of it had ever happened.
At the very moment when Taebeongbi's martial arts were needed most, she was calmly saying she didn't need his help.
In the art of war, the best strategy was the one that achieved the objective. Morality and ethics had no place in it. It focused solely on the goal.
Zhuge Soso was well-versed in such strategies.
No one knew better than her how to act at any given moment or whom to use as her top priority.
And yet, she was quietly pushing Taebeongbi away.
Rejected by her, Taebeongbi leaned against a tree, staring up at the distant sky.
Whether he intended to help or just watch remained unclear from his current attitude.
But any ordinary person would probably wait until the other side begged for help. If the plea came at a life-or-death moment, the price could be far greater than now.
Zhuge Ming let out a deep sigh.
“Fine, have you found a way out?”
“Brother, you must be having such a hard time.”
“Don't say that. My efforts aren't even worth mentioning. Now, just tell me what to do.”
Zhuge Soso whispered into Zhuge Ming's ear for a long while.
His expression changed constantly as he listened—frowning at times, brightening at others. But the frowns far outnumbered the smiles, suggesting it was quite the difficult task.
“Do you remember everything I said?”
“You think I'm an idiot? Don't worry.”
“Not a single inch of error is allowed.”
Thwack!
Zhuge Ming patted his sister's shoulder before hurrying back to the Zhuge warriors. He began issuing quiet orders.
Hmm!
Four Thousand Four groaned inwardly.
He launched the boat into the lake. From there, the vast terrain came into view at a glance, and he spotted Zhuge Soso amid it all.
She hadn't escaped the encirclement yet.
Why wasn't she moving? Why bring on a situation where she'd have to clash with Dosun and Geomseon if they pursued?
Four Thousand Four found the answer easily.
If the heavy force at the center was the poison master Sima Hong... then the one who formed this encirclement, Bukmyeong the Bloodletter, still hadn't shown himself. In other words, he was lurking far behind Sima Hong.
Zhuge Soso had slipped only the first layer of the net. She was still trapped in the second.
What to do? Pretend not to notice?
He hated to just retreat like this. But doing so made his chest ache for no reason.
“Vanguard, I need a favor.”
“A favor? I always get chills when you clear your throat like that. What is it? Spit it out.”
“We have to meet again later. If you know a good spot for it, tell me.”
“You're not coming with us?”
Four Thousand Four pointed to the boats lining the lake.
“I'm going to sink one of those. While spilling a ton of blood. Then...”
“Shura Blood Eels!”
Fox blurted out in shock before Four Thousand Four could finish.
Four Thousand Four nodded.
Bukmyeong the Bloodletter had overlooked the Shura Blood Eels living in the lake. He'd assumed he could control them even if a fight broke out. That had to be it. That underlying confidence was why he'd encircled the lake with boats. He figured losing one or two wouldn't matter.
Bukmyeong the Bloodletter's thinking was perfectly reasonable.
The Shura Blood Eels were thoroughly controlled. They never strayed from their territory.
But that held only until something unexpected happened. A situation where blood poured into the lake... nothing like that had ever occurred before. It couldn't have. So there was no information on what Shura Blood Eels would do after a massive blood spill.
That was the reasoning behind Four Thousand Four's claim of an escape route through the lake.
If he could lure the Shura Blood Eels outside their control zone, Bukmyeong the Bloodletter's encirclement would collapse in an instant.
Once the Shura Blood Eels attacked, everything afloat on the water and submerged beneath it would be in danger. They'd tear into trees and people alike. Sink boats and devour humans.
Of course, Four Thousand Four would be right in the thick of it. There was no way the Shura Blood Eels would spare them.
Four Thousand Four looked at Fox.
“Fox, can you clear a path?”
It was a sudden question. And Fox's response was just as absurd.
“I can clear a path, but why can't we go together? Don't tell me... you like that woman?”
“...”
Four Thousand Four fell silent.
A clearer answer than any denial or affirmation.
“I had a feeling it might be something like that. You idiot, how do I knock some sense into you? She's a daughter of a righteous clan. Not for the likes of an assassin like you.”
“I'm not asking for that much. I just want to get her out of this danger.”
“That's how the heart tricks you. 'Just this once.' 'Just this time.' And then you can never let go. Do what you want. Handle your own business. Don't worry about the path—I'll open it. Believe it or not, I'm an expert on Shura Blood Eels.”
Fox grinned brightly.
Shuuut! Papapapapap!
Shadowless Darts exploded forth properly.
Something streaked through the air. But that was it... nothing after—no form, no sound.
“Even watching from the side, I can't believe it.”
“Don't ever use that on me.”
Hanbi and Jaja both stuck out their tongues in amazement.
Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud thud!
Impact sounds erupted in two waves.
After the first set, there was silence for three or four breaths, then the second set rang out.
Four Thousand Four had mastered infusing different amounts of inner energy into his left and right hands.
The faster throw hit first, the slower one second. From the side, it looked like a single strike, but it was actually a combo.
Combos were highly effective against boats too.
The first strike punched a hole in the hull. The second shattered the weakened wood.
Ssssh!
Water began flooding into the boat.
The hole was tiny—just from a dozen or so pebbles. But as water poured in... the water itself widened the hole. The force of the water expanded it.
Shushushushushu!
Four Thousand Four unleashed Shadowless Darts in rapid succession.
“Kuhk!”
A warrior at the boat's edge clutched his throat as blood gushed out, collapsing.
Another fell with his heart pierced clean through.
All of them bled profusely. The kind of death that spilled the most blood.
Shuut! Shushushushu!
Four Thousand Four kept firing Shadowless Darts without pause.
He had about fifty pebbles he'd gathered like sweeping them up before boarding. He unleashed them all at once.
“Go now. Too late, and it'll be trouble.”
Fox patted Four Thousand Four's back.
“Head to the Reed Grotto. You can find it yourself.”
“Got it.”
Just before Four Thousand Four dove into the lake, Fox grabbed him.
“You'll come back alive, right?”
“Don't worry. I'll live.”
Then Fox said something utterly bizarre.
“I don't think I can live without you anymore. So make sure you come back alive.”
Fox's whisper was so soft, not even those nearby could hear.
Four Thousand Four startled and looked at Fox.
As if nothing had happened, Fox said boldly,
“If you're ever in danger anywhere, shout to the heavens. 'Save me!' I'll come running.”
“Th... thanks.”
Four Thousand Four gazed at Fox, light gleaming in his eyes.
Was it his imagination? Fox's cheeks seemed flushed red.
Four Thousand Four plunged into the lake. About the time it took to travel one li passed, and the holed boat began sinking into the lake.
In that instant, red blood spread everywhere.
“It's coming!”
Fox, who had been scanning the surface relentlessly, yelled in tension.
A massive shadow loomed beneath the lake's surface. Like a black reef surging up, darkness blanketed the entire water.
“Damn it!”
Fox rowed with all his might.
He ignored the boats lining the surface. The encirclement didn't matter a whit. He stared only at the water, rowing toward spots without the black shadow.
Kwajik! Kwajijik!
The black shadow began surging above the surface. It rampaged in a feeding frenzy.
Boats sank like they'd been thrown into quicksand.
“Qu-quick, evade!”
“Have those bastards gone mad?!”
The encircling boats finally sensed something wrong, but it was too late to stop the Shura Blood Eels.
Boats sank, people were torn apart.
The devoured spilled vast amounts of blood, and the scent drove the Shura Blood Eels into a greater frenzy.
The encirclement collapsed in a moment.
“Are we really okay?”
Vanguard asked worriedly.
Martial arts meant nothing against Shura Blood Eels. Even clad in iron armor, you'd be eaten.
“Haa! Haa!”
Fox panted roughly, focused on rowing.
Vanguard knew what Fox was watching: the black shadow underwater.
“How'd you know about the Shura Blood Eels?”
Jaja asked as she gripped an oar alongside Fox.
With Jaja's help, Fox sounded a bit calmer.
“Forgot I'm a jack-of-all-trades?”
“Jack-of-all-trades? Hahaha! Right, the Fox of Bireung Mountain. Anyway... why do you like Four Thousand Four so much? For a fellow Nineteen Hells inmate, it's too much.”
“Beats me? I don't know what's so great about that guy, but I just like him. Hahaha!”
Fox forced a hearty laugh.
“No interest in women?”
“Aigoo! When survival's this tough, what luxury is that? I'll think about women once things calm down.”
Fox avoided Jaja's gaze, naturally looking at the water.
Jaja, that woman...
Jaja had noticed Fox's feelings. The kindness she showed wasn't mere friendliness. Her gentle words weren't just for a comrade.
Sigh! What a headache. What to do about this.
Fox's brow furrowed involuntarily.
“Those boats...!”
Zhuge Ming gasped and raised his hand without thinking.
“Wh-what the hell is going on?”
His last words were directed at Zhuge Soso.
“The Shura Blood Eels have gone berserk. Whew! Who knew someone would use them like that.”
“Used the Shura Blood Eels? Who?”
Instead of answering, Zhuge Soso pointed to a small boat leisurely cutting through the waves.
“Four Thousand Four.”
“That Four Thousand Four?”
“He must have known there was a path there. But he gave it up to let us escape—all because he was thinking of us. Not just you and me, brother, but every soul in the Zhuge household.”
“Hmph. So once we slipped away, he used it.”
“If I'm right, Four Thousand Four isn't on that boat.”
“What does that mean? Are you saying he's protecting us or something?”
“Who knows.”
Zhuge Soso let out an enigmatic smile.