Chapter 23
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: What Can You Do? (3)
"Hm! Is this even possible?"
Vanguard let out a low groan.
Before their eyes lay corpses stretched out in a row. Not just one or two, but a full twelve of them.
"That guy broke through the Twelve Stems Formation... Th-this is just..."
Hanbi stammered, at a complete loss for words.
The Twelve Stems Formation was a formation so tough that even those who could wield their martial arts freely struggled to breach it. Even Hanbi, who had trained rigorously in the Martial Camp, wouldn't dare attempt it. It was truly the pinnacle of defensive formations.
Until now, no one had ever pierced the Twelve Stems Formation.
"Unbelievable. So it really is possible."
Jaja muttered.
The village was quiet. There was no sign of any fighting.
This incident had happened right when the flames erupted. Four Thousand Four had clashed with the twelve assassins.
And the fight had ended in an instant.
If it had dragged on, the villagers would have stirred. They'd have rushed over to watch the spectacle. At the very least, shouts of "A fight!" would have rung out.
But the village had nothing to do with the battle. It remained utterly silent.
The clamor came from the sudden blaze, not from any combat.
It had all happened and ended so swiftly, before anyone could even notice.
How could that be? Was this really the work of Four Thousand Four, a man stripped of his martial arts?
Hanbi spoke up.
"Vanguard, am I dreaming right now?"
"Tell me about it. It feels like a dream to me too. I can't even fathom if this is possible."
"It's impossible. This can't happen."
Jaja stuck her head in.
"But he did it."
"Exactly."
Neither the questioner nor the answerer had any real thoughts on the matter. It was the same for everyone.
Anyone who knew what the Twelve Stems Formation was would be struck speechless.
A man without martial arts had broken through it.
No history, East or West, ancient or modern, held such a precedent. Even killing one of the assassins forming the Twelve Stems Formation would be astonishing, but all twelve?
"What he showed in the Nineteen Hells was just child's play. We've dragged out a real monster."
Jaja said, her brows furrowed deeply.
Hanbi shot back fiercely, picking up right where she left off.
"If things go south, we kill him."
"You might end up dead instead."
"Ugh!"
Hanbi could only groan, unable to refute Jaja's words.
The very fact they were having this exchange was absurd. Even if Four Thousand Four recovered his martial arts fully... he couldn't possibly overcome Hanbi, who had trained orthodox techniques in the Martial Camp.
Hanbi was top-tier in the Martial Camp.
No mere murderer could touch him.
Yet Hanbi fell silent. Vanguard said nothing too. Jaja's words sounded ridiculous, but they felt all too real.
Four Thousand Four was not to be underestimated. The tiniest gap, and he'd strike.
A chill wind suddenly blew down their spines.
Jaja asked.
"Four Thousand Four's vital point—do we even know it?"
Vanguard nodded.
"Tch!"
Jaja wrinkled her nose.
Four Thousand Four's fatal weakness was detailed in a letter. And only the Heavenly Commander knew its contents.
Of course, Vanguard was the one delivering the letter. The leaders of each division passed it down. So if he wanted, he could peek at it anytime. And many did just that.
But Vanguard was stubbornly principled and never did.
He must have been curious about his subordinates' vital points, yet he'd never once opened one midway.
Of course, this was a matter of conscience, so the truth was unknowable.
Vanguard could have peeked and pretended otherwise.
But he hadn't. Having shared life and death with him, she could vouch for that. If he were the type to stoop to such petty tricks, he'd have taken easier assignments long ago.
She hadn't expected much knowing the man, but in a case like this, it was a real shame. Knowing Four Thousand Four's vital point would have eased their minds.
"Let's go."
Vanguard took the lead and walked ahead.
"These guys... even if you picked them on purpose, you couldn't have chosen better. Hilarious bunch. Do you know them?"
"I do."
"If they rebel, it'll be more than you can handle. You get that, right?"
"Yes."
Vanguard answered the old woman politely.
The old woman... the one who had felled Four Thousand Four in a single strike, toppled Wild Boar, and knocked out the Fox of Bireung Mountain.
She looked impeccably composed, as if she hadn't just fought.
Vanguard sat before her with utmost respect. Hanbi and Jaja followed suit, seated properly.
On one side lay Four Thousand Four, Wild Boar, and the Fox of Bireung Mountain, unconscious.
The old woman and Vanguard were discussing these three.
"How did you pick these? On purpose?"
"Not on purpose... luck."
"Luck?"
"She picks by deed. Said they're all the same. So I went with 'Four' for survival."
Vanguard nodded toward Jaja.
"So... you're saying that one's One-One, and this one's Four-Four?"
"Not Four-Four. Four Thousand Four."
At that moment, the old woman's face twisted sharply.
"Four Thousand Four? Isn't that the kind who should never leave this world? How many has he killed?"
"Around three hundred."
"...!"
The old woman gaped, speechless.
"Three... hundred?"
"That's what I heard."
"You took him knowing that? The Warden too. How could he release a 'Thousand' so easily?"
"It wasn't easy. They passed the Life-Death Trial."
"...!"
The old woman's eyes widened.
Four Thousand Four, the Fox of Bireung Mountain, and Wild Boar had reached this point by breaking through the Life-Death Trial.
She knew what the Life-Death Trial entailed.
She understood the brutal fights required to pass it and what it signified.
They'd truly unearthed some vicious ones, just as planned.
"Vanguard, no second thoughts?"
"What's chosen is chosen..."
The old woman stared piercingly at Vanguard, then sighed and changed the subject.
"If luck brought these... Whew! Hard to say if it's fortune or calamity. Your fate, I suppose. You've definitely got headaches on your hands."
"I think so too. Somehow ended up with troublemakers."
Vanguard nodded.
He carried the tag of executing One-Four-Six. He treated them with detached calm. Deep down, he saw them as dead men walking.
This time was no different. He hadn't expected much heading to the Nineteen Hells.
When Hanbi pulled Wild Boar, hopes rose a bit.
Wild Boar holding his own against Hanbi in the Martial Camp was promising enough.
Volume Six picked a solid one.
But opening the Life-Death Trial, the real standout was Four Thousand Four. He'd massacred the Killing Gate murderers and even shattered the prison guard's leg.
Four Thousand Four!
Honestly, he was a burden. Those from the Nineteen Hells needed to be moderately strong, moderately useful. Too strong a killer spelled trouble.
That's why he'd rushed to check the records.
Did Four Thousand Four have a vital point? If yes, usable. If no, kill him.
Luckily, there was one.
Curiosity burned about what it was, but he didn't read it. Leader's duty.
Still, the vital point seemed reliable. Seeing Four Thousand Four struggle through the Twelve Stems Formation, its binding power must be immense.
Now, the final choice was Vanguard's.
Four Thousand Four, Fox of Bireung Mountain, and Wild Boar lay unconscious.
Choose them, and the old woman would release their chains, restore their martial arts, teach new ones, turning them into true fighters.
Vanguard had to make that choice. Or rather, he already had. He'd use them as subordinates.
He resolved to employ all three.
Their fates were sealed. From eternal silence in unconsciousness, or awakening. It hinged solely on Vanguard.
He chose to wake them all.
"Vanguard, which of these is the best find?"
"Pardon?"
Vanguard couldn't grasp her meaning and asked again.
The best was obviously Four Thousand Four. A pearl from the muck. But also a potential disaster. The biggest headache, yet the most useful. Breaching the Twelve Stems Formation without martial arts?
"Hah! You know, so why ask?"
"That's not it..."
"Then tell me. Which is the best among them?"
The old woman turned to Jaja.
"Four Thousand Four."
Jaja answered instantly.
"You?"
She asked Hanbi next.
"I think Four Thousand Four too."
The old woman chuckled silently.
Vanguard narrowed his eyes.
"Lady Changjeong, you seem to disagree. Enlighten our narrow vision."
"Heh heh heh!"
Laughing, the old woman pointed at the Fox of Bireung Mountain.
"What?!"
Jaja yelped in disbelief.
If not Four Thousand Four, then Wild Boar. The Fox of Bireung Mountain... a shallow man unfit for such praise.
Honestly, among those from the Nineteen Hells, he was the weakest.
His role was guiding. Simple on surface, but the whole unit's life hung on him.
They'd worried if he'd manage.
Everyone fretted, yet he was the best?
The old woman grinned slyly.
"I guarantee it... Vanguard, this one's save your life a couple times."
"Aren't you overrating him?"
"Am I? Then gouge out my eyes. Heh heh heh!"
"Ah! My apologies."
Vanguard bowed immediately.
She was called Supreme Insight, the best judge of people.
Her "eyes" pierced character: vessel size, capabilities, true heart—like a Buddha's gaze.
"Trust me. He'll save your life a time or two. A treasure."
"Understood. How much time do you need?"
"A month."
"How about half?"
"Don't ask for syrup at a well. That one's fine in half, but these two aren't."
She pointed at Four Thousand Four and the Fox.
As expected. Wild Boar hadn't finished training but had orthodox Martial Camp arts. Release his sealed energy, and he'd be battle-ready.
But not Four Thousand Four or the Fox, she said.
Four Thousand Four seemed deployable with just unsealed energy. Same for the Fox.
Typically, those from the Nineteen Hells needed two or three months to shape up. Otherwise, they'd hinder more than help.
They waited patiently.
After months of prep and one or two missions, they'd die.
Vanguard was used to it.
But this time, he was pushing. Even he realized he was rushing after suggesting it. Others got months; these, half? Truly asking for syrup at a well.
He was that excited.
"I'll return in a month."
Vanguard stood.
