Chapter 168
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: First Seat (3)
"Forgotten Master has breathed his last."
"Is that so."
"Unexpected. I figured you'd at least crack a smile upon hearing that Forgotten Master died."
"My thoughts simply differ... It's not something to celebrate."
"If it's just a difference in thinking, then maybe you two fought for too long. You and Forgotten Master."
"Different thoughts led to different paths, that's all. We weren't fighting."
"You might see it that way, but from the outside, anyone could tell you were at war. And fiercely so."
"Huhu!"
"Let me ask one thing. What are you thinking?"
"......"
"I'm asking what you plan to do by bringing Four Thousand Four here."
"I never brought that child in..."
"Let's skip the transparent lies. You know it, I know it. And this isn't a question from a friend—it's from the Heavenly Commander of the Heavenly Annihilation Division."
"Whether as a friend or the Heavenly Commander... what can a man locked in Thunder Prison possibly do?"
"Elder Nok!"
"Didn't I warn you beforehand when you tried to use me as bait to reel him in? He might obey at first, but eventually, he'll turn the blade on you. That's the kind of man he is. No, any heir to the Final Decree would do the same in the end."
"Should I just kill him, then?"
"Heh heh! The Heavenly Commander asks the strangest things."
"A master unconcerned for his disciple's safety, a disciple indifferent to his master's life. A fine pair of teacher and student."
"Don't say you didn't see this coming. You knew it would end like this, didn't you?"
"I don't know what you're scheming, but my patience ends here. Get to work."
Elder Nok, the skeletal old man, shook his head side to side.
"That stubborn fool. Do you really intend to kill Four Thousand Four?"
"If it's his fate, then so be it. Listen—human life and death aren't decided by humans."
"First, sever his legs. We'll talk after."
The Heavenly Commander rose to his feet.
"Mm!"
The Heavenly Commander grunted.
Killing Four Thousand Four would be child's play. The man was trapped in the Flower Forest Formation right now. If he willed it, the fool's head would already be rolling.
But doing so would leave Elder Nok unmoved.
Elder Nok wasn't Four Thousand Four's master. Four Thousand Four was Elder Nok's master. Keep Four Thousand Four alive to move Elder Nok. Yet this damned Elder Nok refused to budge.
Was there no master-disciple bond between Elder Nok and Four Thousand Four? No righteousness between them?
"A promise is a promise. Four Thousand Four—cut off his legs."
The Heavenly Commander issued the order.
Ultimate Heaven's Demise was an extraordinarily potent poison. Yet Four Thousand Four had overcome it with ease.
He'd already built an immunity to poison.
The deadly toxins spewing from the Flower Forest Formation couldn't touch him.
All that remained was the petal festival known as Flower Dance.
Paralara!
The petals rustled their leaves.
The apricot blossoms forming the Flower Forest Formation weren't real flowers. They were man-made replicas. The fragrance wafting from the apricot blossoms was a crafted deadly poison, and the petals themselves became razor-sharp hidden weapons, dancing wildly through the air.
From below, from above... from all directions, the petals swirled in frenzy.
Yet... strangely, their movements were visible to the eye. This was his first time facing the Flower Forest Formation, but he could roughly predict which zones the petals would strike next.
He tossed a small pebble to make the petals dance. Then he leisurely followed in their wake.
If one could resist the poison, breaking through the Flower Forest Formation wasn't so hard. Especially for someone like Four Thousand Four, who could anticipate the petals' paths ahead of time.
That was why he'd eagerly chosen the Flower Forest Formation.
To others, it might be a death trap, but to him, it was a comfortable passage. However,
'Uh!'
He, who had been strolling comfortably, suddenly halted.
'The poison's changed!'
Indeed. The Flower Forest Formation's poison had a bitter tang. Inadequate to describe poison by taste, but Four Thousand Four perceived it as intensely bitter. Yet the toxin drifting now was fiercely spicy.
Spicy enough to sting the nose.
'The Poisoner's doing!'
A name sprang to mind.
If it was the Poisoner, he could hide another toxin within the Flower Forest Formation. Or selectively deploy any poison he desired.
'Hmph!'
This time, an intensely cold poison seeped into his skin.
It felt as warm as a spring breeze on contact, but moments later, it turned unbearably frigid.
Four Thousand Four didn't know these poisons.
'Definitely the Poisoner.'
Four Thousand Four bit his lower lip hard.
All he trusted was the immunity built within his body. He hoped it would hold against the poisons. If it gave even a little ground, he'd be overwhelmed and collapse.
Collapse?
'I see.'
Four Thousand Four staggered as if poisoned.
He didn't resist the toxin—he welcomed it. Absorbed it with his entire body. It was possible only because he trusted the immunity forged by Ultimate Heaven's Demise. It had held up until now.
Thud!
Finally, Four Thousand Four collapsed.
Even after he fell, the Flower Forest Formation remained still.
The frenzied petals calmed to a hush, while only the assorted poisons continued to pour in.
Parurururu...!
Four Thousand Four twitched faintly. Then he went still.
"Just bring me his legs."
"Yes!"
Someone gave the order, and someone acknowledged it.
Swoosh!
The ordered man approached with swift footwork.
'I hoped the Poisoner would show...'
No Poisoner, just some small fry. But he couldn't let it slide. Small fry or not, the bastard approached without hesitation to sever his legs.
Thud! Pow!
A brief striking sound echoed.
Four Thousand Four didn't move. He lay collapsed, utterly still. But the man advancing to cut his legs dropped like a sparrow pierced by an arrow.
"Kuh!"
A delayed scream burst from the man's lips.
"Ah! That bastard!"
Four Thousand Four recognized the voice of the panicking man.
The Poisoner, Sama Hong.
He was known to have no ties to the Heavenly Annihilation Division. He moved alongside Northern Fate Bloodletter due to some connection, but had no dealings with the Division's main branch.
Yet here he was, operating on the Heavenly Annihilation Division's side.
If Northern Fate Bloodletter were nearby, it might make sense... but Bloodletter wasn't here. Only the Poisoner Sama Hong was.
Four Thousand Four didn't consider himself a top expert. Still, he could detect Northern Fate Bloodletter's presence. His ears were wide open, his senses sharp.
The Poisoner Sama Hong moved alone.
It didn't add up.
Beyond the Flower Forest Formation lay Dark Serpent Pond immediately. A blue pond stretched out. And that was the Heavenly Commander's domain.
How did he know? Hard to explain. He just did.
In other words, the Poisoner Sama Hong was spreading poison in the Heavenly Commander's domain.
Were Northern Fate and the Heavenly Commander kin, so it was permitted?
No. The Heavenly Commander shared Dark Serpent Pond with no one. He claimed it as his exclusive territory.
'Shadowless Step!'
Swish!
Four Thousand Four melted into the Flower Forest Formation.
No one else would notice, but it was enough to fool the Poisoner's eyes.
Shick! Chak!
"Huff!"
The Poisoner Sama Hong let out a low, empty breath.
Somehow, the enemy had circled behind him. A sword rested on his shoulder, exuding icy killing intent.
"If you've lost, you pay the price."
"Kuhuku!"
The Poisoner laughed cacklingly instead of answering.
"You... know a lot about poisons."
"A little."
"More than a little. You know a ton. Kuhuku! Toying with me."
"I'd love to humor your banter, but time's short. Let's meet again under better circumstances."
Splurt! Stab!
The sword grazed down his back. Along the thigh, down the calf... it lightly sliced the back of his ankle, just above the heel.
"Krrk!"
The Poisoner swallowed his pouring groan. His eyes bulged with rage.
"You were told to cut legs, so I repay in kind. Next time you're targeted, remember this could happen. Our fates never aligned from the start."
Swish!
Four Thousand Four vanished without a sound.
"Kuh! Kuhuku! You bastard, Four Thousand Four!"
The Poisoner Sama Hong clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.
"Sama Hong!"
"I told you it wouldn't work—why send him?"
"Mm!"
Northern Fate Bloodletter grunted.
"Four Thousand Four's grown even stronger. Strange. He seems to level up every time he wakes."
"That's what I think too. Four Thousand Four improves daily. No end in sight."
A glint flashed in Crimson Blood's eyes.
"Anyway, what do we tell Father? Huhu! Four Thousand Four, what a troublesome friend."
Northern Fate quickly regained his composure.
Northern Fate Bloodletter and the Heavenly Commander—one called the other Father, the reverse called Son. But they weren't blood father and son. Nor foster parent and child, nor master and disciple. Just a title they used.
"Someone in this world can trouble Northern Fate, huh."
"Indeed. Could've avoided it, though. How about it? Feel like loosening up?"
"No."
Crimson Blood stated firmly.
"Even Father makes miscalculations sometimes. Like now, when the opponent's growth is unpredictable. You slipped up once before, and here you go repeating it."
"Elder Nok?"
Bloodletter nodded in response.
"You look fine even though we failed to catch Four Thousand Four?"
"Huhu! Better if we don't catch Four Thousand Four."
"Why?"
"That way, Elder Nok dies. Huhuhuhu!"
Bloodletter chuckled softly.
Four Thousand Four gazed at a distant hill.
From where he stood, it looked like a slightly taller mountain. Dense trees hid whatever lay within.
But... he felt it. Someone was there.
'Crimson Blood.'
A tremendously potent aura, destructive power that could shatter reason in an instant.
Just staring at the hill made his heart pound. His limbs trembled faintly.
Crimson Blood was an extraordinary master.
Even now, with Shadowless Step near perfection, facing Crimson Blood felt daunting.
'Crimson Blood, you wouldn't have sent the Poisoner... So Bloodletter's there too. Hufu! Everyone's watching.'
The Heavenly Annihilation Division was quiet. But not truly. The Ten Elites of the Division lurked unseen, all observing. He sensed only Crimson Blood on the hill, but others watched from nearby shadows.
Of course, they'd seen the Poisoner fall too.
Wasn't it odd? Even after the Poisoner was struck down, they held back. Still waiting. What were they waiting for, letting an enemy rampage through the Division's heart?
Shick!
Four Thousand Four tore his gaze from the hill and headed toward Dark Serpent Pond.