Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Layers of Killing Intent (4)
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Tak! Tatak! Tatak!
Far off in the distance... a faint sound echoed, one that could only be caught by straining one's ears and listening intently.
Sounds like that were easy to overlook.
Not only were they too subtle to notice without focus, but even when heard, they came across like a mountain hare or squirrel treading on dry twigs.
"What's that noise?"
Vanguard didn't let it pass.
"Someone's out there."
"Obviously."
Vanguard thought of the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
They hadn't escaped the Division's territory yet. And even if they had, the Division's watchful eyes would still be on them. He'd already factored that in.
"Damn, they caught up quick."
Vanguard grumbled offhandedly.
'A true master!'
Four Thousand Four's brow furrowed ever so slightly—not by choice, but on its own.
The source of the sound was no ordinary expert.
Even on the same twig, a master's step and a novice's differed starkly.
A master glided over it like skimming water's surface. A novice hacked down like chopping logs with an axe.
The gap was enormous.
By the snap of the twig alone, they sounded nearly identical—master or not, it was all the same—so distinguishing them was all but impossible.
Four Thousand Four could tell them apart.
His ears, flung wide open, picked up the gliding skim.
Thud... whoosh... crack! Thud... whooosh-crack! Pop!
Vanguard caught only the third sound. Four Thousand Four, the first.
So how could a master commit such a blunder, letting their presence slip?
Vanguard and Hanbi had missed that detail.
The area around the Heavenly Annihilation Division bristled with defenses denser than a spider's web. Not manned by people. Traps and formations laid out, lying in wait for any telltale response. Like this sound now.
Where it originated lay the Earthsink Hollow Array.
It posed no direct threat to intruders. Purely for surveillance.
It peeled back the earth thin as sod. Dry twigs lined the cavity, buried under fallen leaves.
That alone wouldn't make it a true formation.
Its genius lay in forcing anyone within fifty zhang to snap a twig, no matter their path. And crucially, without alerting them to the trap.
The stepper remained blissfully ignorant of their exposure.
Whoops, careless—stepped on a twig. Gotta watch it!
Twigs blanketing the whole forest might raise alarms, but the Earthsink Hollow Array dotted only unavoidable spots—one or two per route.
No accident. Unknowing feet had to hit them.
No cause for doubt.
'Martial prowess like that outstrips mine. Red Moon? No— she'd know the Earthsink Hollow Array... Not Division either. No idea who, but a heavyweight's been on us from the jump.'
Four Thousand Four drew a deep breath.
Swish!Swish-swish!
Like sand scudding before a gale... energies stirred, then faded.
Eerily elusive. You felt them surge and ebb, yet they defied all control.
They sparked in the Du Meridian... nape's upper edge, Yamen point? Had to be. From Yamen, they climbed Fengfu, Naohu, Qiangjian.
Du Meridian flow. In sync with it.
They crested at the crown's Baihui, then cascaded toward the face.
Through Tuiduan to Yingjiao.
Then forged a path through acupoint-less void. Straight back to Yamen.
A bizarre circuit, head-bound only.
Four Thousand Four couldn't pin down its nature. No inkling of trigger or origin.
Yet now... it intensified to conscious awareness.
'What the hell?'
True qi flared unbidden. Uncontainable. Absurd—his own inner force rampaging beyond his command.
Unlike the Earthsink Hollow Array, the head-spinning qi meant no harm.
Ignore it, and it stayed harmless. No boon, no bane.
Aftermath of White Stallion Demon, Blood Demon arts?
No. It predated those revelations.
'Unknown energies lurking inside? Bad omen. One day, I'll probe deep.'
Four Thousand Four dismissed the head qi once more.
"Iron Gourd Old Man's headed for the third hideout. Original spot's blown wide open."
"Where's the third?"
"Kaifeng."
"Kaifeng? The capital?"
"What? Iron Gourd Old Man can't live in the capital?"
"No, it's just..."
"Heh heh heh. Heavenly Annihilation Division swings extreme to extreme. Last was backwoods hollow—now straight to heart of capital. Next? Backwoods again."
"Kaifeng's Beggar Clan headquarters, right? Tough spot to hole up."
"If that scares 'em, not Division material. Bigger worry: will Iron Gourd Old Man even take us in? Technically, we're no Division killers."
"He will."
"Confidence from?"
That's when Four Thousand Four caught another sound.
Plip-plop!
Like rain pattering leaves.
Vanguard and Hanbi kept chatting, oblivious.
"Ever seen that guy spill secrets? He knows something. Just won't share with us."
"That right?"
"Hey, true or not? Speak up."
Vanguard nodded along; Hanbi turned to Four Thousand Four.
"No."
Four Thousand Four clipped it short, eyes gauging distance.
Earthsink Hollow trigger to latest—Fine Twig Resonance Array... two mountains spanned. Yeah. Tailing across that vast stretch.
Speed defying belief.
They'd stuck to flats, keeping distance short. Pursuer vaulted far ridges. Three, four times the mileage.
Fine Twig Resonance Array weaponized twigs for sound.
Slender ones draped limp, compelling lifts—yielding arrow-sharp whistles.
Precisely what Four Thousand Four heard.
Last formation exiting Division turf.
Or first, entering.
'Outclasses me for sure. No matching that pace.'
Four Thousand Four shook his head.
He could ghost like that sans formation knowledge. Stealth, yes. But parity in distance—plains walker vs. mountain sprinter? Brutal ask.
'Formations tipped me here. Kaifeng? Blind spot.'
"Shadow's on our tail."
Four Thousand Four intoned heavily.
"Old news."
"Could be non-Division. Threat to Iron Gourd Old Man? We bail that way."
"Our visit blows his cover wide, yeah?"
Four Thousand Four wanted no peril for Iron Gourd Old Man. Pure motive.
"Assuming they fool your eyes?"
"Yes."
"Such folk exist?"
"..."
"Hmph. Heavyweight tail, non-Division... still got a path to Iron Gourd Old Man."
"Zero exposure risk?"
"Foolproof. Heh!"
Vanguard laughed assured.
"Mind if I tag along with them?"
Fox's eyes gleamed.
"Who?"
"Huh?"
"Your crush. Not Vanguard. Hanbi? Four Thousand Four?"
"Crush? Who said!"
"Four Thousand Four."
"What! Don't be absurd! Like that murderer?"
"Beyond crush—you're smitten."
"Argh! Useless talk. Done."
Fox whipped her head away.
Red Moon was enigma. Youthful, yet arts heaven-high, mind profound. One moment, worldly sage; next, impulsive girl. Moments like this? Pure friend.
"Hostage, remember?"
"Me as hostage? Pointless. Cut me loose."
"You stay, Blue Flame stays no puppet. But... Blue Flame's granddaughter turns Fox of Bireung Mountain? He'd never allow it."
"So what about Fox of Bireung Mountain!"
"Blue Flame silent?"
"Grandpa your buddy? Blue Flame this, Blue Flame that."
"Why Four Thousand Four? Murderer. Blue Flame hears? Fury."
"Blue Flame again!"
"No dodging. Why him? Good reason? Might spare once."
Fox's eyes sparkled.
Red Moon's offer... spare once... no bluff. Not "won't kill Four Thousand Four." Rescue from peril.
Fox read volumes in those eyes.
"W-what's that mean..."
"Apologetic Killer, right? Yeah."
"Guh! Then Apologetic Killer!"
"Tailing since before. Killing intent off the charts—uncharacteristic. Hunting someone... likely Four Thousand Four."
"S-save Four Thousand Four!"
Fox stammered.
"You adore him."
Fox nodded fiercely, denial dead.
"Fun fact: you're not alone liking Four Thousand Four."
"Y-you too?"
"Me? Hahaha! Hohohoho!"
Red Moon cackled.
Fox jolted clearheaded.
'Zhuge Soso!'
Her mind conjured the ethereal beauty—woman dubbed Namso, Zhuge Soso.
Apologetic Killer: Zhuge Soso's shadow self. Eternal companion. Boiling cauldron? She'd dive at a word.
Now adrift from Zhuge Soso, orbiting Four Thousand Four.
Red Moon's take: kill-intent sky-high.
Apologetic Killer targeting Four Thousand Four. Why?
Simple: jealousy. Forsaking Zhuge Soso for him... nothing else fueled that venom.
Why no strike? She could crush Four Thousand Four, Vanguard, Hanbi easy. Perfect moment? Overkill.
Red Moon. Red Moon. Apologetic minded her.
"Sorry. I..."
Fox flushed crimson.
"Spill. Why him?"
"Just... like him. So much. Seeing him? Bliss. Meals together, sleep, road companions... Vanguard's lead, merchant hits; Zhuge clan head... happiest times. Laughable, sure."
"Deeply smitten. Hohoho! Deal. I'll save his skin once."
Red Moon's eyes twinkled.