Chapter 61
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Chapter Thirteen: Departure! [Leave!] (1)
“How did you know where I was?”
“The whole world’s been buzzing about it. How could I not know?”
“Am I that famous?”
“Ugh! You think they’re talking because you’re famous? It’s because a wild boar like you got drunk and started causing a ruckus. They’re just spreading it around so no one picks a fight with you over it.”
“Why are you talking so casually all of a sudden?”
“Hee hee! Because I figured out your lives are in my hands. If you want to live, you’d better stay on my good side. Come morning, I’ll fetch your wash water. After a long trek, I’ll even massage your legs.”
The Fox patted Wild Boar’s shoulder.
“Hah! What’s gotten into her? Did she eat something bad?”
Wild Boar glanced at Hanbi as he spoke.
“Heh heh! She’s right. She’s saved our skins more than once. Saved yours too, Wild Boar. So let’s make nice. Fetch her wash water, rub her feet. Ha ha ha!”
Hanbi laughed heartily. But beneath that laughter lurked a hollow emptiness.
Was Four Thousand Four safe?
He kept the worry bottled up inside, afraid speaking it aloud would sour the mood. That weight always tugged at the edge of his mind, whether laughing or talking.
This mission had been pulled off by just two people, really.
Four Thousand Four had killed the Merchant Escort. The Fox of Bireung Mountain had gotten them out safely.
The others hadn’t done much.
Of course, they’d all played their parts, creating the opening for Four Thousand Four. But no one else had even dreamed of poisoning the Merchant Escort.
Poison, of all things.
No one had heard Four Thousand Four knew poison techniques, nor that the Fox of Bireung Mountain could wield Fire Lin signals—and even Fire Thunder—on top of that.
What the hell were these guys?
The Fox of Bireung Mountain could even read Beggars’ Sect secret codes.
He’d found Wild Boar by deciphering a code left by a Beggars’ Sect disciple.
While everyone else was scrambling just to escape, he’d decoded another sect’s secrets. He’d moved twice, three times faster than Hanbi or Jaja. And still fought without tiring.
They’d benefited greatly from the Fox of Bireung Mountain.
They should be fetching his wash water before he even asked.
If only Four Thousand Four made it back safe... It’d be perfect. A most dangerous mission completed without a single sacrifice. Everyone could share a feast.
“Huh? Isn’t this Three Village?”
After cresting the ridge, a familiar sight appeared.
To Hanbi and Jaja, it was very familiar. Wild Boar had watched tensely too, so hard to forget. And hadn’t they gotten Twin Beauties there, of all places?
“Yeah. Three Village.”
“Why are we here...?”
“To meet Vanguard.”
“Vanguard’s here?”
“He’s probably already arrived. Come on, hurry. I’ve been running all day—I’m dying for a bed. I told you yesterday: run like hell, then sleep like hell. Hee hee!”
The Fox took the lead downhill.
“You little punk!”
That was all Vanguard could say.
The Fox had given Vanguard the roughest path. One that required hands and feet to crawl up the sheer slope.
But it was the safest route.
The Fox had used Hanbi as bait to lure Golden-Eye Black Response and the Zhuge family warriors.
Even at the cost of Hanbi’s life, Vanguard’s safety was assured... He’d set his protection priorities accordingly.
“Ah! Whatever. Bath first, then crash. Vanguard, whatever you’ve got to say, save it for tomorrow.”
The Fox slipped into the room he’d used before.
“Kekeke! Looks like she thinks this is her own house.”
Iron Ball Gramps beamed.
“Let her be. She must be exhausted today.”
“See? What’d I tell you? She’s the best one. Kekeke. You lucked out saving her.”
“Seems that way.”
“Everyone, good work. Rest up.”
Iron Ball Gramps didn’t ask about the absent one, Four Thousand Four.
He already knew from Vanguard. And he knew Four Thousand Four was unlikely to return alive. The Sacheon Tang Clan’s Poison Elder had gotten involved personally... Even Iron Ball Gramps wouldn’t bet on survival in that scenario.
Four Thousand Four was dead. That’s what he thought.
The Fox slept the whole day.
He’d said he’d bathe first, but the moment he hit the bed, he was out. Still in his dusty clothes, face grimy, dead to the world.
“Kekeke! Good work.”
Iron Ball Gramps wiped the Fox’s face with a damp cloth.
Still no stirring. He must’ve truly let his guard down.
“Sleep well. Kekeke!”
Iron Ball Gramps stroked the Fox’s cheek.
Vanguard’s myth—that One-Four-Six killed everyone—was shattered.
Four-Four had died, sure. But One and Six survived. Thus, the myth was broken. A bad, dishonorable myth finally ended.
Yet his heart felt heavy.
Without Four Thousand Four, they couldn’t have killed the Merchant Escort.
From start to finish, from leaving Three Village to returning, they’d diagrammed the entire operation.
Pinpointing where things went wrong, where variables arose, what mistakes were made.
Everyone had slipped up.
The biggest? Not knowing the target.
Public assassination!
They’d been clueless about the key part: “public assassination.”
They hadn’t known Vanguard was bait either.
The assassination squads were separate. Multiple squads merged into one. The unwritten rule—one squad per incident—broken.
Yet the assassination failed.
Vanguard failed. The squads failed. No kill.
“Poison did it, but the type’s unknown.”
Iron Ball Gramps said, eyeing the diagram.
“Even headquarters couldn’t identify it?”
Vanguard asked gravely.
Without Four Thousand Four, success was impossible. He’d pulled off the impossible, breaching Euldumun and Sinwolmun defenses alone.
“No word. They haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Poisoning the Merchant Escort. What kind? Does Four Thousand Four even use poison?”
Hanbi eyed Wild Boar and the Fox.
Wild Boar shook his head. Fox did too.
No reports of Four Thousand Four using poison. Wild Boar knew his record well—no poison mentioned.
Fox knew even less.
Best guess: learned Volume techniques in Nineteen Hells. Without him bragging, no one knew his weapons. Poison least of all.
“Poison Elder was here... Four Thousand Four dove into the poison formation’s heart...”
Iron Ball Gramps trailed off.
Four Thousand Four couldn’t escape. Everyone studying the diagram saw no way out.
Jaja asked the Fox.
“What would you do?”
The Fox bit his lower lip like a little girl.
Adorably cute. A grown man giving that vibe—why?
But couldn’t just see it as cute. The Fox’s face twisted. Deep despair etched there.
“I didn’t realize it was like this.”
The Fox muttered unconsciously.
Hearing he was trapped vaguely versus seeing it diagrammed—worlds apart. What would I do? What could I? Die, that’s it.
Facing Sacheon Tang Poison Elder and Zhuge Soso, and pulling off the kill? Miracle enough.
Suddenly, the Fox’s face lit up. Eyes sparkling.
“He’s alive! He’s alive!”
“What! Alive what?”
“Four Thousand Four! He’s alive!”
The Fox jumped up, rushing to the diagrammed paper.
The Fox traced Zhuge Soso’s path with his finger.
“This woman, Zhuge Soso... her trail cuts off here. Not chasing me, not you either. Movement stops dead...”
Where the Fox pointed: where Wild Boar prepared his last stand. Where Vanguard’s group planned overlooking the capital. Where Four Thousand Four left at dawn.
Zhuge Soso had been there.
“Not me, not you—then Four Thousand Four! She chased him.”
“Four Thousand Four escaped the deadly poison formation? How?”
“No idea. Honestly, I couldn’t escape there. Even using everything, poison’s... Anyway, he got out of the manor and came here.”
Come to think of it, Zhuge Soso’s actions were suspicious.
If chasing the Fox, she wouldn’t have spread signal flares when Golden-Eye Black Response burned. Wasn’t it Fire Lin user? High chance of Fire Thunder too.
Zhuge Soso would’ve read that.
Four Thousand Four drawing her off let the Fox dodge Zhuges and save Wild Boar relatively easy.
“Hm! Alive... if he’s alive...”
Vanguard grunted.
But eyes on the diagram now held hope. The Fox’s words rang true. Why’d Zhuge Soso halt? Perfect chance to nab Vanguard’s group.
Four Thousand Four alive... couldn’t dismiss it.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Someone approached.
Even strides, wooden stiffness, occasional pauses to scan around leisurely... Too far for face, but... guessable.
“Fo-Four Thousand Four!”
Wild Boar spotted first.
“What!”
“Four Thousand Four?”
Hanbi and Jaja sprang up like springs.
Iron Ball Gramps and Vanguard, mid-discussion inside, dashed out.
A man approached from afar.
“It’s him. Four Thousand Four!”
Hanbi grinned wide.
Four Thousand Four’s gait was unique. Precise as measured steps, yet relaxed. Seemed odd at first glance, but fine on closer look... odd stride.
Four Thousand Four! He’s coming!
“He really survived. Whew! Not seeing ghosts or anything...”
Jaja muttered, eyes gleaming.
“See? He’s alive!”
The Fox beamed.
He’d seen Four Thousand Four approaching. Probably she’d spotted him first.
She’d climbed the mountain on pretext of lightness skill training.
From an empty rock, scanned all roads. Believing he’d come, waited.
See? There he was, walking.
Just seeing him made her heart pound. Face flushed red.
She’d seen Four Thousand Four only a month or so ago.
Hardly any days of him hale; mostly bedridden.
Never chatted privately.
Exchanged work talk as comrades, but nothing personal.
Still, she liked Four Thousand Four.
The Fox bounded down the mountain in one leap.
By the time the Fox reached the village, Four Thousand Four had arrived.
He’d greeted Vanguard, exchanged wellness with Hanbi, Jaja, Wild Boar.
“Heard about your exploits. Impressive skills.”
Four Thousand Four spoke first.
“You too. Glad you made it back alive. Go wash the dust off. Let’s drink till we drop tonight.”
The Fox thumped Four Thousand Four’s chest, smiling slyly.
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