Chapter 220
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Dark Annihilation (5)
Four Thousand Four was constantly exchanging messages with Zhuge Soso.
From the perspective of the Five Great Families and the Three Beauties, this was clearly an act of betrayal. And since the purpose of the communication was to attack the Three Beauties, it went beyond mere betrayal to outright becoming the enemy.
Zhuge Soso was risking her family's very survival to pass along this information.
Wasn't it ridiculous? A prestigious house like the Zhuge family, with someone like Zhuge Soso—known as the Southern Belle—staking their fate on a mere assassin.
"We're heading to Guangzhou."
"That's a long way."
"Do you know anything about a man called First Moon?"
Four Thousand Four asked, looking at Fox.
"First Moon? Is Elder First Moon our target this time?"
Vanguard asked with wide eyes.
Vanguard had asked about the assassination target, but by tacking on "Elder" to First Moon, it seemed he knew something about the man.
"First Moon... Heh, things are getting tougher by the day."
Hanbi muttered.
Everyone seemed to know who First Moon was.
"Looks like you all know First Moon well..."
Four Thousand Four asked for an explanation.
"Was there anyone who didn't know Elder First Moon?"
Hanbi chuckled.
"Elder First Moon is Guangzhou's wealthiest man. It's no exaggeration to say the entire city belongs to him."
Vanguard added.
Fox continued.
"His family business is maritime shipping. Think of it as him having a tight grip on all fifty-two ports along the southern coast, with Guangzhou as the hub. His organization is rock-solid. Sailors are rough folk by nature, and the same goes for port laborers. To make them move like clockwork, he's got plenty of muscle backing it up. With that kind of power, his influence in the martial world is no small thing either."
"I hear he commands over five thousand fists alone."
"Pfft, five thousand? His reach isn't just in the ports. Factor in his influence across all of Guangzhou, and the number of small bosses under him has to exceed that."
Jaja and Hanbi shook their heads.
"But why target First Moon? Is he connected to the Three Beauties too?"
Jaja asked.
"He has no ties to the Three Beauties."
"No... ties?"
"First Moon is one of the Ten Elders of the Heavenly Annihilation Division."
Four Thousand Four said calmly.
"That intel must come from the Zhuge family."
"Yes."
"Hitting the Heavenly Annihilation Division and the Three Beauties... Poke at both sides, and stretching out to sleep comfortably will be a pipe dream."
"The plan to assassinate First Moon hasn't changed, right?"
Fox asked.
Four Thousand Four nodded.
"Got it. Then I'll look into ways to strike. You're our boss anyway."
An assassination squad centered on Four Thousand Four was formed.
Not a killing squad led by Vanguard, but one with Four Thousand Four at the helm. Four Thousand Four still used polite speech, and Vanguard still spoke casually, but the hierarchy was now clearly drawn.
First Moon was a widely known figure.
Not just those who made their living on the sea, but plenty of land-dwellers knew of him too.
He had spread the wealth and power he'd amassed from the ocean onto the mainland as well.
Numerous businesses operated under the First Moon name. He directly managed inns and taverns, and even supplied clothing and weapons to government offices through his hands.
First Moon was a tycoon.
Yet few truly knew him.
His appearance, age, family ties, residence... Try to speak about First Moon in detail, and words failed you.
He was famous far and wide, yet shrouded in mystery.
"Doesn't the Zhuge family know more about First Moon?"
Hanbi asked.
"The Zhuge family won't intervene any further on this. We can't get any more information on him—not even assistance."
"They're stingy when it comes to helping with their own mess."
"This isn't the Zhuge family's affair."
"..."
For a moment, everyone stared at Four Thousand Four.
Fox even stopped walking and turned around.
He was navigating a deserted mountain path. Sometimes pushing through thick underbrush, other times finding a way along sheer cliffs. He couldn't let his guard down for even an instant. And yet, he had to turn back.
"Isn't this what Zhuge Soso asked for?"
Jaja asked for confirmation.
"One strike at the Three Beauties, one at the Heavenly Annihilation Division. That's how we'll proceed."
"Hitting both sides once each? Feels off."
"I think the same. Wouldn't it be better to focus on one? If we're going to find the Zhuge family head, we should concentrate there..."
Vanguard trailed off midway.
Four Thousand Four had already decided.
He hadn't sought opinions. The decision was made; he just needed people to follow.
As Vanguard fell silent, so did the rest.
The more time passed, the more real it felt that Four Thousand Four was the boss.
It wasn't something that ended with kneeling and pledging loyalty. You had to be ready to obey orders in every aspect. No voicing opinions like this anymore.
"Even if it's not the Zhuge family's business, using their info would still help a ton... Why? Zhuge Soso refusing to share?"
Fox asked.
"Since the Zhuge family tipped us off about First Moon, using their intel to kill him might put them in a tough spot. Better to be extra careful—no harm in that."
Four Thousand Four said casually.
In truth... it was anything but casual.
Four Thousand Four was even concerned for the Zhuge family's safety.
The Zhuge family had revealed First Moon's existence. Even that he was one of the Ten Elders of the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
Few sects knew this fact.
For Heavenly Annihilation Division executives, secrecy was life itself. The moment it leaked, an assassin's blade could come from anywhere, anytime.
They assassinated others—could they themselves escape unscathed?
Especially for an executive in a killer group like the Heavenly Annihilation Division; setting foot in the Central Plains was like courting death. For as long as it had existed, countless had fallen to its blades, amassing equal hatred.
The Five Great Families had identified an enemy.
One of the top elites among the enemy generals—an executive among executives.
What would the Five Great Families do? Kidnap him, of course. Killing one was easy; abduction was hard. But killing stopped at one general, while capturing him opened doors to the rest.
First Moon was the key to dismantling the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
Would they casually reveal info on someone that crucial? It had to be a secret known to only a tiny few.
Common sense dictated suspicion on how the Zhuge family knew it in the first place.
If the family head were still around, he'd naturally know. But with him missing, no one in the Zhuge family should have been told. Though Zhuge Myeong was acting head, other family heads still saw him as a kid.
Yet the Zhuge family had learned this top-tier intel.
It must have leaked from the Eight Families' council, probably in a small gathering.
If First Moon were assassinated, the Zhuge family would immediately come under scrutiny.
Using their intel on him on top of that would turn suspicion into certainty.
From now on, Four Thousand Four had to gather intel on First Moon himself. Base the assassination plan on that, and execute it. Only then would it be clean of Zhuge involvement.
Four Thousand Four had thought this far ahead.
"I'll investigate First Moon. But don't expect much—plenty have tried before, and almost no one succeeded."
"Thanks for the effort."
Four Thousand Four said to Fox.
"Elder First Moon is seventy-two. Never married, but he has six concubines. He's set them all up separately, so they probably don't even know about each other."
Fox spoke up just two days after promising to gather intel.
They were all trudging along mountain paths. No people encountered in those two days. No carrier pigeons, no graffiti mimicking secret codes.
How did he know? From whom?
Fox was sharing freshly uncovered info.
"Concubines, sure, but he visits only once or twice a year... Does that mean he's not into women?"
"At seventy-two, isn't that side done for? Six concubines screams lecher to me. Even if once or twice a year, it's not the same woman each time. Spread across six, that's once a month with one. Unless he's after household bliss, call him a womanizer."
Jaja analyzed.
"When he visits his concubines, he brings guys called the Twin Killers. They sound formidable."
"Just two escorts?"
"Anyone heard of the Twin Killers?"
Everyone went silent.
There was no need to know the guardians shadowing First Moon. People watched him but ignored the shadows. Shadows were disposable—replace or discard as needed.
Fox said.
"These Twin Killers have stuck by him since he took over Guangdong. Gotta respect their skill."
"Took over Guangdong... when?"
"When First Moon was in his thirties, so nearly forty years ago?"
"Ugh."
This time, groans escaped.
When Elder First Moon seized Guangdong's ports, he faced assassination attempts almost daily.
Countless enemies targeted him.
Those with deep pockets hired martial artists or put out hits with groups like the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
If the Twin Killers thwarted them all...
"And get this—they don't even sleep. When First Moon's with a concubine, they stay wide-eyed for days, no matter how long."
"Feels less like fighting First Moon and more like battling the Twin Killers."
"That's the info for today."
Fox grinned.
No one asked where his intel came from.
Fox was the Fox of Bireung Mountain. That was all they knew. No digging deeper.
Fox had ties to Cyan Blade.
He wielded the arts of one of the martial world's top five masters.
If he had secrets, they were big ones. What he showed wasn't all there was.
"Looks like digging up dirt on First Moon isn't easy. People say no one really knows him."
"Appreciate it."
"Save the thanks... Zhuge Soso might know about him. No plans to ask for help?"
"..."
"Sigh. Knew it. Fine."
Fox sighed.
"Killing one guy like First Moon won't end it."
Four Thousand Four said, looking at Fox.
"If offing him wrapped everything up, I'd take the Zhuge help. But this is just the start. We need to corner the Heavenly Annihilation Division and the Five Great Families at least before asking for aid. Until then, we handle it ourselves."
"Later... will you grant me one favor?"
"A favor?"
"Any kind. No questions."
"..."
Four Thousand Four looked at Fox.
"Not a marriage proposal, so don't freak. But it'll be a tough one to swallow."
"I'll do it."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Good. I trust you. Keep that promise. I'm serious."
As he spoke, Fox's expression darkened bit by bit.
She might not realize it, but Four Thousand Four noticed. Her heart was clouding over.
Death Sense felt it. Sensed death.
He didn't know what she was thinking, but as Fox spoke, death lingered in her mind. She hid it well, acting casual, but Death Sense's tendrils couldn't be fooled.
Whatever favor she'd ask later... it'd be dark, heavy, suffocating. Even so, he'd grant it. He'd promised. Coming from Fox, of all people.