Chapter 148
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Heavenly Annihilation Division (3)
Four Thousand Four's body was a complete mess.
While he was unaware, Dosun had treated him, and Four Thousand Four had done his own patching up as well. The essence of the White Phase Horse, melted into his bloodstream, was clinging to his lifeline. But honestly, it was a miracle he was still alive and moving with wounds that deep.
Every step Four Thousand Four took must have brought excruciating pain.
Blood oozed from his wounds, soaking through his clothes. His chest and back were drenched in it, like sweat.
"Take off your clothes and lie down."
"I'm fine. This is nothing..."
"We're not in a rush anywhere, and we've got time. Treat it while you can. Take off your clothes and lie down."
Four Thousand Four stripped off his clothes and lay down on the bed.
'Good lord!'
Fox's wide eyes trembled.
When they'd met on the mountain, Four Thousand Four hadn't shown any sign of it, so Fox hadn't even realized he was wounded. His face had been pale, but Fox figured it was just accumulated fatigue.
Four Thousand Four was a wreck.
Even if you smashed a toy, it wouldn't look this broken.
But Fox didn't show his shock. Truth be told, there was no reason to be surprised. Considering the people Four Thousand Four had faced—Little Baldy, Dosun, Sword Sage, Poison Shadow...—the fact that he was alive at all was miraculous.
"Don't you know your body is your life, Four Thousand Four? How can you squander it like this?"
"I told you, I'm fine."
"These two wounds here could kill you twice over. Honestly, I have no idea how you survived."
"Heh heh!"
"You're laughing in this situation?"
"You yapping away like that makes you look just like a whiny girl."
"A girl? Seeing you spout nonsense like that, you really must be dying. Look forward to it—you'll meet the grim reaper by tomorrow."
"If I do, should I pass along your regards? Ack!"
Four Thousand Four grimaced mid-joke.
Fox, who was applying the salve, deliberately pressed hard on the wound.
"These wounds... were they worth it?"
Fox wanted to pour out everything in his heart. He wanted to bluntly ask if suffering like this for that woman, barely clawing back from death, had been worth it. But even just asking this much, Four Thousand Four would understand.
"They were worth it."
Four Thousand Four answered immediately, as if no thought was needed. Not only that, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. Unexpectedly, Four Thousand Four was smiling.
"Thinking about Zhuge Sosoh?"
"Trying not to... but she keeps coming to mind."
Fox's hands froze.
Right now... Four Thousand Four had said something incredibly dangerous. He might not realize it himself, but it was the kind of thing that absolutely could not slip out, even at the moment of death.
He had to let him know. What Four Thousand Four had just said.
"Four Thousand Four."
"You done with the medicine?"
"Just suppose. What if the mainland used Zhuge Sosoh as your hostage to lure you in?"
"......"
In that instant, Four Thousand Four's body went rigid.
He didn't move. But since Fox's hands were on his body, he could feel it clearly. The moment the words ended, every muscle in Four Thousand Four's body tensed up taut.
'This guy... he really likes her.'
Just that Four Thousand Four liked Zhuge Sosoh made a deep sadness well up. His heart felt empty.
"You've already fallen for it."
"......"
"You can hide your words or your expressions, but not your actions. After this incident, the mainland will be watching Zhuge Sosoh. As the woman Four Thousand Four risks his life for."
"Zhuge Sosoh isn't my hostage. How could that woman be my hostage..."
"Four Thousand Four."
"......"
"No need to hide it from me. Hide if you want. That's your heart, but the mainland is already looking at Zhuge Sosoh. It's funny. You don't flinch for your master's life, but you tremble for Zhuge Sosoh's. You think the mainland won't notice?"
"I see. I made a mistake."
Four Thousand Four admitted it readily.
He didn't see Fox as an enemy. He already considered him a friend. That's why he was spilling his heart out casually.
That was appreciated. But it also stung.
"Helping that woman is fine. But think it over one more time before you act. Moving like this will just tire her out. She's smart, so she'll handle herself somehow."
"Fox, thanks."
"Roll over. I finished your back."
'Yeah. Just being by his side like this is good enough.'
Fox let out a smile.
Hanbi returned. But he sank into his own world without speaking to anyone.
Circulating qi, walking, circulating qi, walking... From the moment he opened his eyes until he slept, Hanbi devoted himself solely to circulating qi. He didn't say a single word all day.
While circulating qi, Hanbi looked very peaceful.
The walking Hanbi was not peaceful. Even after finishing his qi circulation, when his mind should have settled, his furrowed brow wouldn't smooth out. Like someone with great worries.
Four Thousand Four and Fox deliberately didn't speak to him.
Fox had lived gathering herbs in the mountains, and Four Thousand Four was absorbed in memorizing the maps and codes Zhuge Sosoh had left him.
Jaja returned.
She was no different from the old Jaja. But like Hanbi, she carried a heavy burden of pain.
Circulating qi, rest, circulating qi, rest, training, rest... Her daily routine was just like Hanbi's. She didn't even talk to Hanbi, who usually opened up about everything.
Hanbi could be like that because of his personality, but Jaja too?
What had the two of them been doing? What could have tormented them so?
In any case, Hanbi and Jaja seemed intent on staying silent until Vanguard arrived.
They exchanged nods when their eyes met. But Jaja didn't even return the nod. The moment their faces met, she turned her head away, expressionless.
"Something happen?"
Four Thousand Four asked Fox.
"No idea. I don't know either. What's going on with them?"
"Don't even know where they've been?"
"They didn't say a word to me. Just up and left without even saying they were going far. Leaving only their horses behind."
"When do you think Vanguard will get here?"
"No clue."
Fox shook his head.
Vanguard arrived the next day.
Early dawn, Four Thousand Four woke to the sound of heavy footsteps.
Thud! Thud!
The sound of boots hitting the ground was very familiar.
'Vanguard!'
Vanguard was approaching.
Four Thousand Four heard other sounds too.
Hanbi sat up. Jaja seemed to have woken as well. But neither went out to greet Vanguard.
Vanguard didn't muffle his footsteps. Anyone with decent martial arts skill would hear it. Who was coming. Especially not assassins' ears.
The moment Vanguard reached the third floor of the cabin, he rummaged through where the utensils were kept and found a bottle of liquor.
Vanguard sat down and chugged from the bottle.
Hanbi and Jaja didn't speak to Vanguard. Four Thousand Four didn't get up from where he lay.
Vanguard drank while gazing at the moon still brightly shining.
For the first time in a long while, the entire Killing Gate squad was gathered together.
Things were very different from when they moved as a full Killing Gate squad. All of Killing Gate had become targets of the Heavenly Annihilation Division, and especially Four Thousand Four was locked in fierce combat with them.
Only Four Thousand Four fought among them. The others waited for death with hands folded.
That was a big change too.
"I... couldn't do it."
After a long silence, Vanguard finally spoke.
"Keh!"
No sooner had Vanguard finished than Hanbi let out a scoff.
"I went with my heart hardened... Hm! Let's hear it first. How about you two?"
At Vanguard's question, Jaja bit her bitter smile.
Hanbi turned his head to stare into the distance.
They each showed different reactions, but the answer was clear. They couldn't do it, just like Vanguard.
"I figured as much. You guys can't become true assassins after all."
Vanguard nodded.
Vanguard always kept Hanbi and Jaja close because they couldn't become assassins. If they had been like the other squad members pulled from the Nineteen Hells—murder-crazed killers—he wouldn't have shared any talk outside of missions. Let alone grown attached.
He'd grown attached precisely because Hanbi and Jaja weren't assassins.
That's right. To Vanguard, Hanbi and Jaja weren't subordinates. They were already like little siblings, fellow disciples.
"So, what now?"
Vanguard asked.
Fox and Four Thousand Four didn't join the conversation.
They didn't know what Vanguard was talking about. But they knew this conversation was extremely important, and they had no place to intervene.
"Four Thousand Four."
Suddenly, Hanbi called out to him.
"You've looked over what Little Lady left behind, right? When we enter the mainland, how far can you break through?"
Was he asking because he truly wanted to know, or just out of curiosity... Hanbi's face was so expressionless, Four Thousand Four couldn't even guess the intent.
Four Thousand Four said,
"I plan to do my best."
"As expected, a predictable answer. Pointless. Fox, no one doesn't know you stick to this guy all the time. So, tell us. Will you go to the mainland with him?"
"......!"
Fox couldn't answer right away.
Fox had a hostage in the mainland too. And he couldn't betray that hostage.
Vanguard said,
"Why take it out on Fox! Four Thousand Four, following you means ignoring our hostages' safety. Whether hostage or heartfelt wish, it means abandoning everything to fight. Hanbi's asking if he can die a satisfying death right now. You... at least give him that much of an answer."
Now Four Thousand Four and Fox understood why they'd been in such agony.
Fox bowed his head, and Four Thousand Four furrowed his brow.
After a moment's thought, Four Thousand Four spoke.
"If you're going to join me..."
As soon as Four Thousand Four started, Fox cut in.
"Four Thousand Four, let me say it first. I can't go."
Everyone looked at Fox. Fox only looked at Four Thousand Four.
"I like you... I really, really like you... but I can't fight the mainland."
"It's okay."
Four Thousand Four patted Fox's shoulder.
Just moments ago, Hanbi had asked Fox. If he could follow Four Thousand Four and fight the mainland.
Fox couldn't fight. The moment his hostage was threatened, Fox would freeze solid. And afterward, he'd throw himself into anything with all his might.
No one in Killing Gate squad didn't stake their lives on their hostages, but Fox was exceptional.
A man like this could never turn his back on his hostage.
Vanguard knew it, Hanbi knew it, Jaja knew it. Four Thousand Four knew it too. That's why they hadn't told Fox and left without him. To check if they could sort out their hostages.
"Since it's come up... I can't either. Sorry."
Jaja gave a bitter smile as she looked at Four Thousand Four.
These were people who'd been ready to throw away their lives over their hostages. That showed how precious the hostages were. What about Vanguard and Hanbi? Theirs weren't precious?
Hanbi stood up and said,
"Make your death worthwhile. Heh heh! I think I'll just die. Feels like that'd be easiest."
He shot to his feet and walked out.
"Then you two stay here and provide support..."
"Vanguard, sorry."
Jaja gave another bitter smile.
"It's fine. Me and that guy are the type to throw everything away, while you two want to save your hostages, so not coming along isn't wrong. You're not abandoning loyalty. Plus, we need someone to watch our backs. Let's eat lunch and head out."
Vanguard smiled brightly at Four Thousand Four.