Chapter 187
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: Amorous Affection (2)
Traps and ambushes only work if the enemy has absolutely no idea they're coming. The moment they spot the trap or sense the ambush, it's already a failure.
In that regard, Fox was meticulous.
He'd set up a trap that no one else in the world knew about—only him. A trap that could even fool the heavens.
When laying the thunderfire charges, he'd freeze at the slightest rustle of a squirrel in the bushes, tracking the sound to its source. Even a gust of wind a bit too strong would halt him in his tracks.
A perfect trap.
But in these mountains, at least three pairs of eyes were watching her.
Not just one, but three... People who shouldn't know a thing, and yet three of them did.
Crimson Moon was one of them.
'You're planning to die.'
At this moment, Crimson Moon was the only one who truly understood Fox's intentions.
She knew Fox's heart belonged to Four Thousand Four. But she also knew Fox was bound by a mission from the Heavenly Annihilation Division—one concerning none other than Azure Flame.
Fox couldn't betray the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
Killing Abbot Jigong didn't count as betrayal. So she could choose death relatively freely.
Even so, going to such extremes...
Crimson Moon's gaze naturally drifted toward Four Thousand Four.
She was curious about this man called Four Thousand Four. What was it about him that drove Fox to make this choice?
'It's unfair for Fox to die alone like this.'
She shot Fox a glance, then immediately sought out Four Thousand Four.
Of course, "finding" him didn't mean confronting him. It meant positioning herself where she could observe.
But then—
Snap!
Four Thousand Four looked right at her. Right at where she was hiding.
'His senses are sharp...'
Four Thousand Four had already detected her presence.
This wasn't mere intuition. It was the Detection skill clearly listed in his stats.
For covert assassinations, checking for nearby people was basic protocol.
Four Thousand Four stuck to the basics.
His martial arts might be low at times, but his detection was unmatched. And now, with his martial prowess elevated, even more so.
He'd spotted Crimson Moon.
'Good if he notices.'
Crimson Moon tied a prepared letter to a dagger and hurled it toward Four Thousand Four.
Whoosh! Thud!
The dagger landed at his feet.
Four Thousand Four didn't flinch or panic as it flew toward him. He remained calm, as if it had nothing to do with him. He'd sensed no killing intent on the blade.
Four Thousand Four's martial arts were beyond imagination.
He picked up the dagger and read the letter.
Leaning against a tree, Four Thousand Four sat down, staring blankly at the sky just like Fox.
'Well, what now?'
Crimson Moon asked Four Thousand Four in her mind.
Fox is ready to die alone for you—what are you going to do?
Four Thousand Four didn't move. He just kept staring vacantly at the sky.
Fox's thunderbolt formation was formidable.
No one could escape it, just as Fox planned. To survive, you had to avoid it entirely; once caught, death was inevitable. An absolute death zone.
But there was an unforeseen variable here.
The person Fox had in mind... That implied the extent of strength she could imagine.
Abbot Jigong was beyond her imagination.
His martial arts were so profound that no one could speak of them without seeing with their own eyes.
In other words, the thunderbolt formation couldn't kill Abbot Jigong.
That was why Crimson Moon had informed Four Thousand Four about it. If it could have killed him, her choice might have been different.
Fox would just die a dog's death.
What judgment was Four Thousand Four making?
Thinking the thunderbolt formation could kill Abbot Jigong? That would mean underestimating him and scheming to sacrifice a woman's life—Four Thousand Four had issues aplenty.
He needed to act now. Rescue Fox. Find another way to deal with Abbot Jigong.
But Four Thousand Four didn't budge.
'What? You plan to let Fox die?'
Crimson Moon's brows furrowed deeply.
Was Fox staking her life on a man like this?
'This grudge of yours...'
Killing intent flashed across Mercy Killer's lips.
Now she understood her connection to Four Thousand Four clearly. It was enmity. Deep, irreconcilable enmity.
When traveling with Zhuge Soso, it had felt like a tolerable bond.
But seeing Four Thousand Four here confirmed it—they couldn't coexist under the same sky.
Crimson Moon held some goodwill toward Four Thousand Four.
Maybe not full affection, but she definitely didn't view him negatively.
Why did every woman around him see Four Thousand Four in a good light? A mere assassin scum!
Mercy Killer clenched her fist tight.
Once this was over—after killing Abbot Jigong—she'd deal with Four Thousand Four for good.
Abbot Jigong? No worries there.
Three against one. With Crimson Moon, even the unreliable Four Thousand Four, and herself. Even if Abbot Jigong was the world's best, she was confident solo.
'Hahaha! Crimson Moon, you're my woman. Don't give other guys the time of day. Makes me jealous for no reason. Haha!'
Mercy Killer grinned slyly.
Zhuge Soso spotted Fox too.
She knew high-level experts had entered this place besides Four Thousand Four. And that her own skills couldn't match them.
With Mercy Killer and Crimson Moon here...
So she moved stealthily beforehand.
Like a sparrow aware of eagles circling overhead... Moving with utmost caution.
She knew the mountain.
She knew the explosive annihilation formation set up here.
She could easily find paths to evade Mercy and Crimson Moon's gazes.
And then she saw Fox.
Fox, an assassin of Vanguard... Rumors said Heavenly Annihilation Division killers treated their lives like straw. Was she about to self-destruct in the middle of explosives? Die like worthless straw?
Zhuge Soso interpreted Fox's actions simply as an assassin's way of life.
'Why the thunderbolt formation...'
Zhuge Soso tilted her head.
It made no sense. Facing a powerful foe with a sword in hand, yet swinging a mere branch instead. Who could understand that?
Zhuge Soso couldn't fathom why Fox had deployed the thunderbolt formation.
Four Thousand Four had the explosive annihilation formation.
Trapped in the world's mightiest array, capable of collapsing the entire mountain.
Just as Fox was in her thunderbolt formation, Four Thousand Four stood amid piles of explosives.
Compared to the explosive annihilation formation, the thunderbolt one was but a firefly's glow.
Both Fox and Four Thousand Four... They were both contemplating death. Yet neither consulted the other. Both acting on their own stubborn whims.
If Four Thousand Four had mentioned the explosive annihilation formation, Fox wouldn't have set the thunderbolt one.
'A decoy to hide the explosive annihilation formation? The thunderbolt might divert attention briefly... But it's still a dog's death. It won't catch Abbot Jigong.'
Zhuge Soso shook her head side to side.
Crimson Moon observed Fox then left. Mercy Killer saw her too, smirking derisively.
Zhuge Soso watched them.
Though her martial arts fell far short, she could observe from afar without detection.
Geographical advantage was ever so useful.
She had no intention of stopping Fox's death. Interfering now would disrupt the bigger picture. Fox would tell Four Thousand Four, and in the process, Crimson Moon and Mercy would learn.
Saving Abbot Jigong would become even more remote.
To save him, they needed that final move: blocking the explosive annihilation formation.
For that moment, she stayed hidden, just watching.
'Time to check on Four Thousand Four.'
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Steps crushing deep into fallen leaves... Not Abbot Jigong. Nor the Shaolin Six Victors traveling with him. The approaching person wasn't hiding their presence.
Fox's eyes widened as she stared ahead.
"It's me."
A curt voice rang out from the front.
"Ah! Vanguard."
Fox finally recognized the newcomer.
On any other day, she'd have noticed those steps instantly. Vanguard's footfalls had a distinctive clumsiness, easy to identify. But today, her mind was elsewhere.
"Phew! What are you doing out here?"
Vanguard sighed heavily as he spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
Fox asked back with a smile.
"I was looking for you on the way, but you didn't catch my eye at all."
"For what?"
"Thunderfire."
"...!"
"Didn't you bury thunderfire charges here?"
"How did you know?!"
"Hahaha! Where you are is where the thunderfire is. Nothing new there."
"No way. That's impossible! Tell me honestly, Vanguard. How'd you figure it out?"
"That guy sent me. Said to keep you quiet."
"That guy?"
"Kid! Who else but Four Thousand Four is 'that guy' around here?!"
Vanguard lightly tapped Fox's head with his fist.
"Four Thousand Four sent you? How'd he know I was here?"
Fox asked, eyes wide in surprise.
"You're not the only one here. Crimson Moon's around, and Mercy too, he said. I didn't see 'em myself."
"Ah!"
Fox let out an exclamation.
"He said he's in no position to move right now, so he can't come himself. But the thunderbolt formation won't kill Abbot Jigong—it'll just get you killed like a dog. He'll handle Jigong, so trust him and... wait."
"He... said that?"
"He added one more thing. You're a woman, huh?"
"Eep!"
Fox clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Woman or man, doesn't matter. They're all my backbone crew. Got a ton of questions. How'd a woman end up in the Nineteen Hells? How'd she survive a place like that? Well..."
"What're you getting at? Why end with 'well'?"
"Figured you could survive anywhere. Those Nineteen Hells bastards didn't touch you, right?"
"Vanguard!"
Fox yelled sharply.
"Let's go. Retrieve the thunderfire if you can, abandon it if not. This fight doesn't need us meddling."
"But he's alone..."
"Trust him. When's he ever let us down? Sometimes, stepping back is the way to set him free. What you're doing now? It's just grabbing his ankle."
"But..."
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Vanguard burst into sudden laughter.
"Why laugh?"
"Seeing you now, you look every bit the woman. The old Fox is gone, just a girl left. Hahaha! Fox's strength was quick wits, but today..."
"Gonna keep teasing?"
"Right now, we need Fox, not a woman. Oh, he said one more thing—I forgot. What was it...?"
Vanguard scratched his head.
"Don't tease—spit it out. What'd he say?"
Fox's eyes sparkled.
"Feels like Fox is back now. Haha! Alright, then. He wants an escape route to the northeast. Added he wasn't sure if it was doable."
'A lie.'
Fox instantly saw through why Four Thousand Four said that.
It was a lie. No escape route. Just like he'd dealt with Vanguard and Hanbi first, now he was shaking her off too.
But she decided to play along.
She'd pull back as he wanted, prepare a northeast escape. If that eased his mind, let him focus on the fight.
'I trust you. Please... don't disappoint. You can't. Got it?'
Fox's eyes sparkled.