Chapter 150
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Heavenly Annihilation Division (5)
The crook of the valley formed an enormous village.
There were three-story pavilions numbering three or four, and grand estates with distinct inner and outer compounds, over a dozen in sight.
Rather than calling the entire crook a mere village, it was more like a full-fledged city.
The Enclave wasn't the sort of place that could be hidden away just because someone wanted it to be. Its scale was so vast that if word hadn't spread, that would be the truly strange part.
That's right. The Enclave was abnormal.
The village spanned well over fifty thousand pyeong, yet it remained unknown to the world. Precious few people were aware of such a settlement tucked away in a corner of the Central Plains.
How could this be possible?
In the Central Plains, there was the Beggars' Clan, who scooped up every scrap that fell to the ground. There was the Afternoon Gate, which dug out every hidden secret.
There was no need to even mention the martial world. How many merchants were there who shunned nothing, not even hell itself, if there was profit to be made? Was there any place their footsteps couldn't reach?
And yet, the Enclave was utterly unknown to the world.
No one who stumbled lost into the valley crook. No hunters who chased beasts unthinkingly. Even with the constant flow of vast supplies in and out, no one knew.
This was possible only because the Enclave strictly controlled everyone connected to it.
Anyone who set foot in the Enclave unaware was killed without fail.
Those who traded with the Enclave were bound to absolute silence. A slip of the tongue would bring disaster upon their entire family—they'd vanish overnight without a trace.
Naturally, the Enclave's defenses were impenetrable, not even allowing a needle to pass.
Screeeeech!
One man came charging like a storm.
He had first been spotted near the signpost set up at the base of the plaza. It was about thirty jang from a small outpost-like hut at the valley entrance.
From that moment, the man shot forward in a straight line.
"What the hell!"
"Is that bastard insane?"
The sturdy men, lounging idly and chatting, jumped to their feet.
Two from the left, two from the right.
They crossed their arms and blocked the center of the path.
Swish swish swish!
Silent movements occurred as well.
As the four men blocked the path, over thirty archers took positions along the ridges to the left and right.
The man's sudden charge was unexpected, but their response was swift and orderly, like those drilled endlessly for such scenarios.
Clang!
The charging man drew his sword.
No need for talk—he was declaring his intent to attack outright.
"Mad bastard."
Clang! Clang! Shing!
The four men drew their swords in unison.
Of course, the mountain archers nocked arrows and pulled their bowstrings taut.
But the man who had drawn his sword and charged suddenly halted.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Staring at the sky, the man burst into wild laughter. He infused his voice with qi, unleashing a thunderous lion's roar that echoed.
"What the hell's with him?"
The men blocking the path exchanged glances.
The charging man pointed his sword at the four, then laughed again.
"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!"
"What the fuck are you doing!"
"That fool's begging to die."
The men couldn't hold back and yelled.
The man lowered his sword to point at the ground, then began drawing a line in the dirt with it.
Scraaaape!
A line dividing the path as a boundary was etched.
"They said from here starts the Moat-Cutting Bow Formation... and not to cross it under any circumstances, right?"
At the man's words, the four exchanged looks.
The men didn't know what the Moat-Cutting Bow Formation was. But they knew archers lay in ambush in the mountains. And that those arrows, fired in tangled barrages, trapped anyone inside inescapably.
"You idiots. One more step, and you'll be pincushions. Crazy enough to come in anyway? Hahahaha! Good play."
The man sheathed his sword with a shing! and turned back without hesitation.
Those who wandered lost and found the valley crook... those who entered by chance... they were classified as either intruders or escapees.
Intruders were easy to dispatch. But those who spotted the massive village and quietly retreated required pursuit and elimination—a hassle.
Of course, there were those who handled such tasks.
From the east path, west path, south path, north path—the four paths—they struck simultaneously, ending lives in an instant.
They were called the Pathway Executioners.
Swish!
Twelve men stood at predetermined, familiar spots.
The North Path's Twelve Executioners.
They glared murderously at the stranger who toyed with the gate guards and retreated.
"A master."
A calm voice rang out.
But what of it? Once surrounded by the Pathway Executioners, death was the only outcome.
Swish!
Six of the twelve burrowed like moles into tunnels.
Soon, the north path would be fully sealed. Two of the six would ready crossbows capable of two hundred consecutive shots, two would prepare sky-and-earth-covering flying needles, and the other two would unleash armor-piercing mechanism iron bows.
At the same time, the other three paths would be perfectly prepared.
If the Twenty-Four Virtuous Saint Sword Formation struck first and killed him, the mechanisms wouldn't activate—but if the swords failed, they triggered without mercy.
To date, the Pathway Executioners had never failed.
Boom!
Finally, a yellow firework burst into the blue sky.
The signal calling the surrounding Twenty-Four Virtuous Saint Sword Formation.
The North Path's six Executioners moved to act in unison. They had to sync with the other three paths to form the formation. But the North Path Executioners couldn't move. They tried, but a man appeared out of nowhere, stopping them.
"Kuh!"
"Damn... bastard!"
Frustrated groans rose as two of the six collapsed limply.
They hadn't sensed the ambush or the attack—two lives snuffed in ignorance.
One had a tree branch lodged in his throat.
The other had his heart pierced by a fresh branch, leaves still attached, as if just severed.
"Wh-who! Who is it!"
The surviving four leveled their swords.
They read no presence from the man before them. The one who'd dashed the path reeked of mastery, but this killer emitted nothing—making him all the more terrifying.
"You... could you be... Four Thousand Four?"
Shadowless Fist flashed in their minds.
Only it could kill Executioners tracelessly, without warning.
And currently, the biggest headache for Heavenly Annihilation Division was Four Thousand Four.
Four Thousand Four had escaped Little Punishment.
That alone was enough to turn Heavenly Annihilation Division upside down—a massive incident that would leave the entire martial world agape.
The man blocking the North Path Executioners spoke calmly.
"I don't like killing... but no choice. Forgive me. At least the quickest..."
"Bullshit! Four Thousand Four hates killing... Gah!"
The speaker crumpled mid-sentence.
An instantaneous death. No time for pain—the scream was mere reflex.
Thud! Thud!
The North Path Executioners dropped their swords and fell blankly.
"Well then."
The man who turned them into scarecrows—Four Thousand Four—clasped his hands in prayer over the dead.
Whoosh!
He vanished again. Into the trees.
"Wh..."
The one entering the tunnel barely uttered a word.
Crack!
His neck snapped back.
Simultaneously, a thrust sword pierced another's lung.
The lung-struck man gaped. But no scream escaped. He wanted to cry out, but his words leaked from the punctured lung.
"Hm."
Vanguard slew the two all too easily.
He had anticipated they'd enter the tunnel where he waited.
The tunnels formed trench-like shapes.
Inside were ten repeating crossbows, each loaded with twenty bolts.
Capable of unleashing two hundred at once.
Two men firing simultaneously would unleash four hundred in a storm. And from all four paths... no escape.
Swish!
Vanguard swiftly moved to the adjacent tunnel.
There, mechanism iron bows were prepared, they said. Human strength couldn't draw them—only mechanisms. Loaded with iron bolts, swift and strong beyond any hero's shot.
Eight targeting one left no counter.
Arrows piercing flesh before movement—steel through in a blink.
Thanks to such devices, the Enclave kept its secrets for ages.
Then... how did Four Thousand Four know of these mechanisms?
Zhuge Soso hadn't mentioned the Enclave at all. It wasn't in her satchel either. None of the main team, including Vanguard, knew of it.
Yet Four Thousand Four knew intimately, like an insider.
Tunnel navigation, neutralizing mechanisms, undetected movement... undetected paths among Enclave warriors.
How?
Thuk! Thuk!
Silent daggers flew, piercing the backs of heads of Enclave warriors staring ahead.
The mechanism iron bow preparers collapsed soundlessly.
Just as Four Thousand Four described. Circle left from the crossbow spot to find the iron bows. Two men, in separate tunnels—but so close, a thin wall apart. Two daggers in one go.
Exactly as Four Thousand Four said.
Now, retrace steps. Third target, ten-odd jang from the crossbows: the flying needle preparers.
Flying needles launched from distinct spots due to nature.
Eliminate third, move to fourth—twenty jang away. Last one farthest.
Count to ten after yellow firework, or Hanbi gets hurt.
Boom!
Yellow firework burst in the sky.
Four Thousand Four had surely cleared the north path. Now, his south path... steps quickened toward third flying needle.
Count to ten before needles fly.
'Just like that bastard said. Four Thousand Four... now I'm curious about you. Who the hell are you!'
Vanguard spotted the third target.
Paths were open.
South and north both. But Hanbi must take north. Vanguard couldn't reach the south's Virtuous Saint Sword Formation. No time.
His north move would draw fierce rear attacks.
I.e., south Executioners lunging at Hanbi's back. First the Twenty-Four swords, later mechanisms. But if north Executioners absent, mechanisms silent... south mechanisms activate instantly.
Hanbi's life hung on Four Thousand Four and Vanguard.
Move now.
Yellow firework signaling swords left no room for hesitation.
Whoosh!
Hanbi shot her form northbound, per the script.