Chapter 45
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Seizing the Collar [Grabbing the Nape] (5)
Dazed and speechless.
The Merchant Sword Sage couldn't say a word. His mind was utterly blank, devoid of any thoughts.
The grid search was over.
Outside the estate, an inescapable net had been spread. Inside, they'd combed through every nook and cranny, down to the anthills.
The entire estate had been turned into a honeycomb of peepholes.
Yet the assassin hadn't shown himself. It was as if he'd shot up to the heavens or sunk into the earth—vanished without a trace.
"Is this even possible?"
After a long silence, Wandering Soul Vanguard Daoist Huang Su muttered.
"We must have slipped up somewhere. He's definitely still inside."
Azure Water Merchant Sage Yi Song stared at the honeycombed estate.
If the assassin had already slipped out, it made sense. But if he was still inside, it didn't. So had the assassin escaped? If he had, then the Eul Clan and New Moon Clan might as well be blind with their eyes wide open.
Neither explanation held water.
"No luck finding him."
Zhuge Soso said as she approached.
The Merchant Sword Sage just ground his teeth. The fiend who'd harmed his master had been right in front of him, and he'd let him slip away. What could he say? He had no words, even if he had ten mouths.
No one could evade a grid search.
Besides, the one the Merchant Sword Sage was hunting was the fiend who'd harmed his master—an enmity too deep to share the same sky. He was searching with fire in his eyes.
The grid search and thirst for revenge had blinded him.
No one could say the Merchant Sword Sage had slipped up.
"Please pull people out of the estate."
"Everyone?"
"Everyone. Only those whose identities are verified. Don't let any unknown merchants or guests go."
The Merchant Sword Sage got the point.
Let out only the known ones. Vet each one whose identity is certain. Then only the strangers remain.
If he'd escaped the grid search... there was only one way. Hiding among the crowd. But that didn't hold up either. The grid search included checking every person.
Everyone in the estate had been eye-checked by the Merchant Sword Sage.
Only those he deemed trustworthy were funneled one by one through the New Moon Clan's formation.
Zhuge Soso spoke to Poison Master Tang Zhong.
"Great Uncle, can you seal off the estate?"
"Seal it? Sealing... there's degrees to sealing. How tight do you want it?"
"About seven days and nights."
"That much is doable."
"How tight can you make it?"
"I can turn this place into a land of death for seven days and nights. Anyone stepping inside dies on the spot. Too strong?"
"No. Perfect."
"You two, please hold the line for just seven more days and nights."
She requested of the Eul Clan Leader and New Moon Clan Leader.
"Of course. No worries."
The two readily agreed.
Eul Clan and New Moon Clan disciples surrounded the estate in layers.
This wasn't to guard against intruders from outside. It was to prevent anyone inside from escaping.
In the meantime, the Merchant Sword Sage released people from the estate one by one.
The familiar ones, those with verified identities... they'd already been checked once in the grid search, but now they checked again. This time with the chief steward joining in.
"This man runs a salt shop just up ahead. He's been in business for over twenty years."
When First Island Demon Daoist blocked an unfamiliar merchant, the outer steward hurriedly explained.
First Island Demon Daoist let the merchant go.
No one unfamiliar, no stranger by face, was released. Only the verified ones.
Tang Zhong scattered poison in every corner of the estate.
Psssh!
Flowers and plants withered yellow in an instant, then shriveled up. Even the fish in the pond floated belly-up, white underbellies exposed.
Turning a set area into a land of death was child's play for Tang Zhong.
In truth, for a Poison Master, this was the easiest task. There were too many ways to wipe out all life in a space to even list them.
The hard part was detoxification.
After a set time, the poison had to dissipate, turning it back into livable land. Killing was easy; reviving was hard.
Maintaining the poison for exactly that duration was tough too.
Zhuge Soso had ordered seven days and nights.
There were plenty of poisons that lasted one or two hours. And vicious ones that, once scattered, lingered for ten or twenty years.
A land of death for exactly seven days and nights... a tricky order.
But Tang Zhong accepted readily. For the Poison Master of the Sacheon Tang Clan, it wasn't so hard.
In dark, secluded spots, he dusted poison powder. In wells and ponds, he dripped a few drops of poison liquid. He placed poison pastes too. Poison incense wafted to paralyze limbs.
Tang Zhong meticulously turned the estate into a land of death.
"I can't show my face. We slipped up..."
Wandering Soul Vanguard Daoist Huang Su said, eyes bloodshot and bulging.
The one who'd harmed his master. He had to catch him. He wasn't far. He was close. Yet they couldn't catch him.
"You think it was a slip-up?"
Zhuge Soso said something unexpected.
"What do you mean?"
"These are professional killers. Professionals don't slip up. Everything that looks like coincidence is skill."
"Hah! So you're saying that bastard's some kind of monster?"
"Yes. Even I was fooled."
Zhuge Soso gave a bitter smile.
She'd even slapped the fiend's cheek. He'd seemed like a low-rank warrior craving honor, so she couldn't hold back her anger. It risked igniting inter-sect conflict since he was from another clan... but she'd thought, 'What kind of pathetic creep is this?!' and her hand had flown before she knew it.
Up to that point, no New Moon Clan disciple had raised any suspicions.
That was the scary part.
The ordinariness, the naturalness that aroused zero suspicion.
Put yourself in his shoes, and you see how brilliant he was.
His assassination target was right there. He'd already unleashed his deadly hand. Time would bring down the Merchant Traveler. He needed to escape fast. He should've launched his lightness skill without hesitation. Delay too long, and even if the Merchant Traveler fell, he might not get out.
Yet he'd stayed calm. No tension at all. Burning ambition for honor from taking the enemy's head.
He hadn't reeked of assassin at all.
That composure was terrifying. A killer without emotion—that's what scared her.
She could declare it: he was the top assassin.
"Whoever he is, he won't escape this time. If he's inside, we'll catch him for sure."
Huang Su ground his teeth.
"What's going on? Firecrackers popping everywhere, it's chaos..."
"Did it work?"
Wild Boar Changbok and Fox asked at once.
"It worked."
Vanguard said gravely.
"What about Hanbi and Jaja seniors?"
"They'll be back soon."
Vanguard's voice stayed heavy throughout.
"What about Four Thousand Four?"
Fox asked, eyes wide as saucers.
"Get ready."
Vanguard answered curtly instead.
"Get ready" meant... for the Six Squad Wild Boar, prepare to die. For Fox, prepare to bolt.
From Vanguard's tone, things were gravely serious. He usually cracked a joke or two, but not now. Even after mission success, his face was grim.
"My turn now, huh."
Wild Boar gripped his iron club tight.
Moments later, Hanbi and Jaja returned.
"The guy?"
Vanguard cut straight to Four Thousand Four's safety.
"He didn't get out."
"Hm! Sure?"
"Positive."
"Merchant Traveler?"
"Definitely dead."
"Well... how'd you kill him?"
Vanguard tilted his head.
Truth be told, even Vanguard lacked confidence in killing the Merchant Traveler. He'd prepped poison as an assassination tool, but the Merchant Traveler wouldn't give time to spread it.
Heavenly Annihilation Division seemed to account for that, planting another contingency.
The moment all eyes fixed on Vanguard, the second team ambushed the Merchant Traveler.
Twelve men, fully prepped, struck at him.
There was a sliver of hope there... but the Merchant Traveler repelled the ambush swiftly and simply, as if he'd known. They bounced back the instant they engaged.
No way to kill the Merchant Traveler.
So how the hell did Four Thousand Four pull it off?
"Weird thing is... it doesn't make sense. Merchant Sword Sage launched a grid search. But they didn't find him. He clearly didn't escape."
Jaja said, tilting her head.
"I saw that too. Airtight grid search, and they still missed him."
"What?!"
Vanguard was speechless.
Four Thousand Four—what to make of this guy? What tricks was he pulling?
"One more thing. Zhuge Soso was in the estate."
"What?!"
Vanguard whipped around to stare at Hanbi.
"You sure?"
"Dead sure. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I double- and triple-checked. It was definitely Zhuge Soso."
"Zhuge Soso, confirmed."
Jaja backed him up.
"Hm! If Zhuge Soso's here... pulling back won't be easy. They've probably sealed everywhere already."
Vanguard paused, deep in thought.
Hanbi and Jaja, used to such situations, stayed silent.
Vanguard spoke as if resolved.
"Fox, we're heading to the mountain stronghold."
"Mountain stronghold?"
The Fox of Bireung Mountain blinked in surprise.
"Vanguard, that's too risky. One slip, and Papa's exposed. Somewhere else..."
"Wild Boar, gear up tight."
Vanguard ignored Hanbi. He rose as if his mind was set.
"Full five hundred from Eul Clan and New Moon Clan will chase us. Merchant Sword Sage too."
"Poison Master Tang Zhong's there too."
Jaja added.
Wild Boar gaped.
"M-Me... blocking all of them?"
Block? Wrong word. How could he block them? Just show up, draw eyes, then flee on sight—drag it out as long as possible.
Vanguard said,
"Survive if you can."
"Damn it!"
Wild Boar grumbled.
Shoving him into an inferno he couldn't possibly survive, then "if you can."
"If by some chance you make it out... head to Luoyang. Sit by the east gate—someone will find you. Follow that person."
"Not the mountain stronghold... Ah! Tail 'em?"
"Fox, let's go."
Vanguard urged the Fox of Bireung Mountain.
"Vanguard, you just told Wild Boar to go to Luoyang to avoid tails. What guarantee do we have we won't get tailed? Heading to the mountain stronghold..."
"I think Four Thousand Four will make it out alive."
"...!"
"If he does, the mountain stronghold's his only option. Tailing... got no choice but to trust you, Fox. Lead well—no one spots us, no one can follow. Please."
"Heh! Heavy shoulders. I hate this grim vibe. Tusky Pig, see ya later!"
Shiiiing!
Fox launched his lightness skill without warning.
Time was of the essence. They had to move fast. The situation demanded it.