Chapter 209
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Death Spirits (4)
The sun, blazing as if it meant to incinerate the world, couldn't hold out against the cold wind and began to lose its fury.
The mountains were painted in vivid hues of crimson.
Yellow, orange, red... and above them stretched a clear blue sky.
Whoosh! Snap!
A warrior clad in black martial robes, his face hidden behind a black mask, shot into the air with nimble grace.
In that instant, a single fallen leaf fluttered down from the sky.
Swoooosh!
The masked figure looped back and snatched the falling leaf.
"Tch!"
The masked one clicked their tongue, clearly displeased.
"Still not satisfied?"
A clear voice echoed from deep within the forest.
"I was supposed to pierce it and make it drop, but I sliced it clean off."
"It looked like a perfect thrust to me."
"You're mocking me!"
"Sigh! Why are you getting so prickly day by day? The old Fox was sweet and pleasant."
"The old Fox didn't wear a mask!"
"Did I force it on you? Why are you blaming me...?"
The man trailed off, launching himself away in a flash.
Whoosh! Thunk!
The moment he vaulted upward, a dagger plunged into the spot where he'd been lounging.
"You really!"
"So don't go picking fights..."
This time, it was the masked Fox who couldn't finish her sentence.
Rustle! Whoosh!
A man slid down the rugged mountainside as smoothly as if it were ice.
"He's here!"
Spotting the man, Fox lit up and shot forward.
"Anyway, that, that..."
The tall man left behind, Hanbi, stared at Fox with utter disbelief.
"Did you find anything good?"
Fox pressed close to the man and asked.
"Lots of fruits this time. Jujubes, goji berries, omija. Hold on..."
Four Thousand Four pulled a root herb from his herbal basket.
"Eat this."
"Isn't that wild ginseng?"
"Got lucky and found it."
"Ah! Look at that head—it's gotta be at least a century old. How's the crown longer than the body?"
"Eat."
Four Thousand Four handed over the ginseng.
Fox tucked both hands behind her back and took a step away.
"No way. Ginseng's good for men. You eat it. Mmph!"
Fox froze mid-word.
Four Thousand Four stepped up, lifted her mask, and shoved the ginseng into her mouth. In a blink.
She could've dodged it easily.
Four Thousand Four was fast, but she was just as quick. In a fight to the death, she wouldn't stand a chance, but avoiding a forced feeding? Piece of cake. Yet she didn't budge.
"You only eat if I shove it in?"
"Hee!"
Fox grinned cheekily as she chewed the ginseng. She dropped into a seat right away and sank into meditation.
Four Thousand Four sat beside her, passing on his share.
Wholehearted Qi Inversion.
Fox needed an environment where she could immerse herself utterly in qi circulation, oblivious to the world around her.
Not even an ant should approach while she cultivated.
She was utterly defenseless. A child could take her down in that state.
She sealed off all external worries, focusing solely inward.
Fully absorbing the ginseng's vital heat to expel the fire poison rooted deep in her body.
That was why Four Thousand Four roamed the mountains daily without fail, gathering herbs. To draw out her fire poison, he never took a break.
How could she refuse such ginseng?
He stood guard as her protector, ensuring she made perfect use of its heat. No way she'd turn that down.
The two understood each other without a word.
"How long do you plan to hole up here?"
Vanguard asked.
"I promised to track down the head of the Zhuge Clan. It has to be done in absolute secrecy, no one the wiser."
"So we're stuck living like this forever?"
Hanbi said coldly.
"I'm planning to hit the Heavenly Annihilation Division."
"What?!"
"Ah!"
Everyone stared at Four Thousand Four in shock.
Four Thousand Four had been to the heart of the Heavenly Annihilation Division. He knew its weight.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division was an unbreakable fortress.
If it were solid walls, he could topple them. Even the world's greatest master could fell it. But the Heavenly Annihilation Division wasn't walls or a single powerhouse. It was sand.
No matter how fierce your sword winds in a sandfield, you can't erase the grains.
Eradicating a nest of hornets? Possible.
Killing the Heavenly Commander? That too.
But wiping out the Heavenly Annihilation Division? Impossible. Its roots ran too deep and wide; lopping off a branch or two wouldn't kill it.
Why else would the orthodox sects leave an assassin group alone?
Even the orthodox martial world couldn't destroy the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
They'd tried dozens, hundreds of times, and in the end, settled for uneasy coexistence.
What was Four Thousand Four saying now?
Four Thousand Four spoke up.
"We'll be a little thorn in their side."
"A thorn?"
Jaja echoed.
"A very annoying one."
"And how exactly?"
"No big plans right now. But they need to learn discomfort. If unseen ghosts start harassing them from the shadows, beyond their wildest guesses... it'll drive them mad."
"So we have to stay completely hidden for that?"
"That's why we're perfectly dead."
Four Thousand Four spoke smoothly, as if he'd planned it all along, without a hint of hesitation.
"Fox, can you operate while playing dead?"
He meant her information network. Could she tap the channels she'd used as the Fox of Bireung Mountain while hiding that she was alive?
"Don't worry."
Fox said confidently.
"That guy's word is law for her, no question... Sigh!"
Vanguard clicked his tongue at Fox.
"What?"
Fox snapped sharply.
"She's riled up again. How does she wag her tail for him and bare her teeth at us?"
"You asking 'cause you don't know? Vanguard, you're ugly."
Hanbi blurted out.
"Me? Ugly?!"
"Hohoho!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Being dead freed them to laugh without a care.
Breathing free, moving free, chatting and bantering free.
No missions hung over them.
Do what they wanted; skip what they didn't. No pressure.
Even Four Thousand Four's talk of tormenting the Heavenly Annihilation Division barely fazed them. Those who wanted in would join; others could bail. No forcing it.
"Sorry, but I wanna poke at that bastard."
Hanbi said.
"You got the skills?"
Jaja smirked.
"Nah."
"Then how? Wanna die again?"
"Plenty of ways to poke without dying. Turns out being a ghost opens up a world of options."
"Forget it. You'll croak."
"Heh heh heh!"
They spoke their minds freely, no holds barred.
Too soon to act. Bodies weren't healed yet. They talked big plans, but full recovery meant at least a couple more months of rest.
Not till winter passed and spring came could they move.
In the meantime... raise their martial arts as high as possible.
"To find the Zhuge Clan head, don't we need a lead from the Zhuge Clan itself?"
Fox said to Four Thousand Four. She never took her eyes off him.
"They promised a lead."
"When?"
"No word till winter ends. Told them that much time was needed."
"Got it!"
Fox beamed brightly.
Four Thousand Four looked at her. He gave a wry smile.
"Probably not till next spring. In the meantime, we..."
"We rest easy. Duh. Hohoho!"
Fox laughed nonstop, clearly thrilled.
No Zhuge Soso around, and she wouldn't show for a while... that alone put her in high spirits.
Did Four Thousand Four not know why?
Did Vanguard, Hanbi, and Jaja not see Fox's heart?
No one teased her laughter. It was genuine.
"What about him? Says he won't get hurt, but it still stings."
"..."
Four Thousand Four had no reply.
"Can't you cut ties with that woman? She doesn't suit you."
"Never thought she did."
"Then?"
"When she's near... it's fun."
"When Fox is near?"
"It's poignant."
"Hmph! Time to sort him out. Pity's not love. Poor guy's hopeless."
"..."
Four Thousand Four fell silent.
'My lord.'
Fox smirked faintly as she watched Vanguard and Four Thousand Four.
Their quiet conversation drifted over softly, but she caught every word.
Four Thousand Four liked Zhuge Soso.
She couldn't pierce his heart. No room for her.
If Zhuge Soso returned his feelings, if they were a perfect match, fine. But she didn't, and here he was, all worked up alone.
That irked her most.
But for now... nothing to be done.
She couldn't let go of Four Thousand Four either.
He might not know, but... they'd pressed bare skin together.
Chest to chest.
When he channeled qi through his chest, faintly... in the haze of memory, she'd felt his breath from afar.
Jaja had explained how he'd healed her.
Not on purpose, but bare bodies pressed close.
If he didn't want her near, she'd stay back. But she couldn't stop her own feelings.
Two reasons kept her at a distance.
Zhuge Soso... too beautiful. Too wise. Fine clan, wealthy, skilled in martial arts. No flaws. Kind-hearted too, it seemed.
As a woman, it sparked envy.
The second reason loomed larger.
Fighting Miserable Death had seared her with vicious fire poison. Face, skin—all ruined.
She'd been cute once. Now...
Best to sort her heart out quick? She knew. It made sense. But too late. She'd come to know Four Thousand Four too deeply.
'It's fine. Even if he doesn't love me back. As long as I feel good.'
Fox gazed at Four Thousand Four with a warm smile.
Just looking at him was enough.
His joy lifted her; his sorrow weighed her down. How could she let go? How...