Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: First Seat (5)
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Eight people sat around the round table.
Among them were familiar faces. The Heavenly Commander was there, along with the Lesser Execution Lord. The other six, however, were complete strangers. Neither North Star nor Crimson Moon had secured a seat here.
The table was originally meant for ten. Yet now, two seats stood empty.
Despite the vacant spots, no one showed any sign of unease. The eight seated there all maintained their calm composure, as if nothing had happened at all.
"Old Master, any loose ends?"
Someone spoke up.
"The simplest solution would be to kill Four Thousand Four. The Old Master went as far as slaying Green Killer, only to leave behind that relic called Four Thousand Four. Eliminate him too, and what aftereffects from the Old Master could there possibly be?"
"Kill Four Thousand Four... then how do you plan to proceed with Falling Star?"
"Hmph. Green Killer was reliable, perfectly suited for the job."
"Which means we have to keep Four Thousand Four alive... Win over Crimson Moon... No, that won't work."
A barrage of disjointed remarks spilled from their mouths.
"Vanguard business is going to pile up."
The Heavenly Commander said, glancing at the Lesser Execution Lord.
"The older I get, the more I need to keep moving. Time to trim off some of this flab... It's fine."
The Lesser Execution Lord replied with a smile.
As the two began their exchange, the others clamped their mouths shut.
"What of the Demonic Ants?"
"Thanks to you, I've got them under perfect control."
"At this rate, the lives of every last Vanguard squad member are in the Execution Lord's hands. Haha!"
"Power comes with responsibility. I'll keep those Ants on a tight leash so they don't go rampaging."
The Heavenly Commander and the Execution Lord shared a laugh.
The roots capable of pursuing the Vanguard squads—the White Frost Demonic Ants and Blood Demonic Ants—had not been eradicated.
Just before Star Garden's collapse, the Round Table members had enacted an operation they dubbed Phantom Demon. It involved relocating a portion of the White Frost and Blood Demonic Ants from Star Garden to the Lesser Grounds.
The Poisoner had led this operation.
As knowledgeable about the Ants as the Star Garden Lord himself, the Poisoner selected exactly the ones needed.
Of the Ten Seats, only two had been excluded from this effort.
The Old Master and the Star Garden Lord.
Breeding the Ants did require the Star Garden Lord's expertise, it was true. But at this point, with breeding perfected, that knowledge was largely superfluous.
The Ants were for the Lesser Grounds to use anyway—far more efficient to move them there.
If Star Garden could keep the Lesser Grounds in check, that might be one thing. But given the current state of affairs, even that wasn't the case. Whenever the Lesser Grounds made a request, Star Garden supplied the Ants without question.
Star Garden had long since devolved into a mere subordinate organ of the Lesser Grounds.
For its lord to hold the First Seat among the Ten Seats in such a position simply didn't add up.
The Star Garden Lord's importance had already vanished.
And that was why... they had merely watched as Four Thousand Four brought Star Garden crashing down. North Star had handed over the mechanism to Jeoksoso precisely so she could extract Four Thousand Four from the Lesser Grounds.
The Lesser Execution Lord's dogged pursuit of Four Thousand Four wasn't to kill him. It was to deceive the Old Master. A performance to assure him that everything was unfolding according to his wishes.
The assault by the Incarnate Poison, all of it... fell into the same vein.
They had given their all. In the process, Four Thousand Four could very well have died for real. No, he had to be left on the brink of death. Only then could they fool the Old Master's eyes.
Everything had gone off without a hitch.
The Old Master would believe he'd left Four Thousand Four in precisely the state he desired.
What would that Four Thousand Four do next?
The Old Master had his contingencies, and the Ten Seats had their own designs. And one more thing... North Star coordinated the Ten Seats' thoughts, identifying and patching any gaps.
Whatever the Old Master schemed or desired, he had embarked on an unwinnable battle.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division had returned from the Old Master's era to the Heavenly Commander's.
They all held equal power, or so it was said... But among them, the one who presided over life and death was the Heavenly Commander. The other seven merely guarded their domains under his aegis.
True power-sharing had faded into the dusk alongside the Old Master.
"Is Falling Star feasible...?"
The Execution Lord asked, looking to the Heavenly Commander.
At his question, all eyes turned to the Heavenly Commander.
"It is."
The Heavenly Commander declared with confidence.
"Whether Four Thousand Four bends to the Old Master's will or takes up Green Killer's mantle—we'll know soon enough. If he succeeds the latter, Falling Star accelerates. If not..."
"And if not?"
"Hahaha! What choice would I have? If Four Thousand Four won't listen, I'll have to step up myself."
"You're saying you'll handle Falling Star personally?"
"That's right."
The Heavenly Commander nodded firmly.
"If the Heavenly Commander steps in, what worries remain? Haha! From tonight, we can sleep with legs stretched out straight. Hahaha!"
One of the Eight Seats burst into a broad grin as he spoke.
The Heavenly Commander further set their minds at ease.
"No need to worry. If Four Thousand Four disobeys, I'll move at once. Been a while since I wielded a sword—hohoho!"
Falling Star meant toppling a star from the sky.
A star... bringing down a star.
Stars hang in the highest reaches, beyond human reach, in places no hand can touch.
Topple such a star.
Who could accomplish that? Green Killer. The Old Master. And the Four Thousand Four they left behind.
The martial world teemed with assassins, yet among them all, only those three possessed the ability. Only those who inherited the Final Decree could topple stars.
Stronger martial artists abounded in the martial world.
The Old Master and Green Killer were not the supreme under heaven. No, they weren't even among the Five Stars of the Martial Forest. Even accounting for their hidden nature, they wouldn't qualify.
Crimson Moon was far stronger than either.
The Old Master and Green Killer couldn't stand against Old Bone, Blue Flame, Chain Beauty, Beauty Regret, or Crimson Moon.
Yet their odds of toppling a star far exceeded those five.
Because the supreme five were martial artists, while the Old Master and Green Killer were assassins.
And Four Thousand Four would carry on their legacy.
The current Four Thousand Four fell short of the Old Master or Green Killer. He lagged leagues behind. His martial attainment surpassed theirs, but in the assassin’s craft, he was rated a novice.
Four Thousand Four had to emerge as a true assassin.
Old Bone, Blue Flame, Chain Beauty, Beauty Regret, and Crimson Moon denoted martial artists. Shadowless was reserved solely for assassins.
Four Thousand Four had unleashed Shadowless Step before inheriting the Old Master's hidden blade. But the true Shadowless Step unfolded amid bone-chilling savagery... It would come after his qi deviation.
"How is he?"
"Quiet."
"Circulating qi?"
"Not circulating... just sitting there blankly. Doing nothing at all."
"Report any changes immediately."
"We're fully prepared."
They monitored Four Thousand Four through the hole in the ceiling.
From their vantage, he was in plain view. No matter what corner he hid in or what he did, he couldn't escape their gaze.
The distance between Four Thousand Four and them spanned a full thirty zhang.
Even if Four Thousand Four noticed the surveillance, he had no means to shake it. Short of sprouting wings and taking to the skies, escape was impossible.
Green Killer, whose assassin craft far outstripped Four Thousand Four's, had been helpless here—how much more so for him?
"Don't take your eyes off him for a second!"
"No worries!"
They dared not grow lax. With the Heavenly Annihilation Division's leadership fixated here, how could they slack off?
"How do you know Blue Flame's techniques?"
"No reason to tell you."
"You will tell me."
"Why should I...?"
"Because I'm Crimson Moon."
Gulp!
Fox swallowed dryly.
He knew Vanguard's techniques. That's why he couldn't conceal his own.
At that moment, Vanguard had exuded lethal intent.
He knew full well they stood on opposing sides, swords drawn.
Was that the mistake?
Vanguard, Hanbi, and Jaja had been mere tools to divert Four Thousand Four's attention.
Four Thousand Four believed the Heavenly Annihilation Division's gaze fixed on Vanguard, so he'd moved freely, seizing what he thought was the perfect chance to rescue Green Killer.
He hadn't seized the opportunity. They'd granted it to him.
Proof came right after Four Thousand Four departed: Vanguard, Hanbi, and Jaja collapsed like lifeless puppets.
Poison!
Even they, who could handle most toxins, crumpled like rotten logs.
The Poisoner had stepped in personally.
And when he opened his eyes... this woman stood before him. A beautiful woman, one who felt somewhat aloof, emanating pressure so intense it choked the breath.
This was Crimson Moon!
Thud!
Two swords landed before Fox.
"Your blades. Unfurl Twin Shadow Hands."
"No, no. I couldn't. If I didn't know you were Crimson Moon, maybe. But am I a fool? Fight a foe I know I can't beat just to die pointlessly?"
"You're... a girl?"
"W-what?!"
Fox's eyes bulged.
She was a master of disguise. Her cross-dressing was top-tier. Since roaming the martial world in male garb, only Iron Fist Grandpa had seen through her.
"Change into women's clothes, and you'd be quite cute."
"W-what are you saying?!"
"Hohoho! I heard Blue Flame has a troublesome granddaughter. That you?"
"Hah! Even nonsense has its limits."
"Only I and the Poisoner know you're Blue Flame's granddaughter. Count yourself lucky. If the Heavenly Annihilation Division learns your identity, Blue Flame's in peril. You know that much, right?"
Gulp!
Fox swallowed again.
Crimson Moon's insight was razor-sharp. No matter how Fox protested, she'd already pierced her true face. And from just a few exchanges, she'd deduced Fox was Blue Flame's granddaughter.
She hadn't used Twin Shadow Hands against Vanguard after all.
"Pick up the sword."
"I-I'm not fighting!"
"Hohoho! I've confirmed who you are—why would I fight? From now on, stay by my side and travel with me. It's for your own good. Once we're out of here, you're free."
"Y-you... aren't with the Heavenly Annihilation Division...?"
"Hohoho! Just follow me. Anything else aside, they can't be allowed to exploit Blue Flame. He becomes the supreme martial artist of the world, or he dies by hands like mine. That's our duty, we five. Right now, you're the one obstructing that. You're the fetter binding your grandfather, the supreme warrior under heaven."
Fox let out a smirk at those words.
"Grandpa's already fettered. Don't pretend you didn't know. Forgot? I'm a Heavenly Annihilation Division assassin. How many assassins there ever became one willingly?"
Binding Clause. She was speaking of the Binding Clause.
In that instant, a blue glint flickered in Crimson Moon's eyes.
"Your Binding Clause... what is it?"
"Mom."
"What?!"
"Now you get it. Grandpa and I are already bound hand and foot. Those people aren't leaving me alone because they don't know I'm Blue Flame's granddaughter. They do know—and they're leaving me be. Someday, they'll find a real use for me. Just not yet."
"Mm!"
Crimson Moon's expression stiffened in evident shock.
She stared at Fox for a long moment. Then she spoke resolutely.
"Your Binding Clause... I'll free you from it. Where's your mother?"
Fox gave a wistful smile.
"Can't free it."
"...?"
"Mom wasn't dragged here. She came of her own accord. How do you free something like that? You can't."
Fox and Crimson Moon stood there, staring only at each other.