Chapter 68
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Discarded Stone (3)
Ssssh! Chachachak!
A murderous wind stirred around him.
Vanguard halted his steps. And in that very moment, he pondered whether to live or die.
By the rules of the Heavenly Annihilation Division, death was the obvious choice.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division did not tolerate capture. No matter the circumstances, surrender was forbidden.
Of course, there were unavoidable cases.
If ambushed and struck at an acupoint or soul point, what choice was there? You had to be taken. But the instant you were locked in Thunder Prison, you had to choose death.
Any act that benefited the enemy, no matter how minor, was unacceptable.
Die, or live?
In any other time or place, it would be a question with no room for choice, but now he wrestled with it seriously.
Shiii!
The sound of the wind grew closer.
Time for a decision was running out. They would swarm him soon, forcing him to choose between the two paths.
Vanguard looked up at the towering wall of the Zhuge Clan compound.
He hadn't thought he could infiltrate the rear garden of the Zhuge Clan unscathed.
Assassinate the Zhuge Clan Lord?
This was a true command. To an assassin, it was the ultimate, final order. The Zhuge Clan Lord might not be the world's greatest martial artist, but as long as he hunkered down in his manor, there was no way to eliminate him.
The arcane formations guarding the Zhuge Clan were unparalleled under heaven.
The Zhuge Clan Lord was like a creature sealed inside an unbreakable shell, no matter how hard you pounded.
Was there anyone in this world who could assassinate the Zhuge Clan Lord while he hid in his manor? Even a barrage from a hundred cannons wouldn't topple the Zhuge Clan.
What on earth had headquarters been thinking with this order? They surely didn't expect him to succeed. Nor would they senselessly drive a perfectly good assassination squad to their deaths.
All useless thoughts.
Vanguard needed only to decide one thing: die now, or be captured.
'Ha! That guy...'
Vanguard spotted Four Thousand Four casually perched atop the high Zhuge Clan wall.
Of course, it was his imagination. Nothing was on the wall. Just empty air. But Vanguard clearly saw him.
The rumor that Four Thousand Four had walked right up to the Zhuge Clan main gate on his own two feet and gotten captured had already spread far and wide.
Four Thousand Four was the assassin who killed the Merchant Wanderer, wasn't he?
For such a man to knock boldly on the front door... it would be weirder if rumors hadn't spread.
Why had that guy...?
But if viewed as bait, it made perfect sense.
Four Thousand Four was throwing his life into playing the decoy. By letting himself be captured, he had drawn a significant portion of the Zhuge Clan's warriors' attention to him.
From a bait perspective, Four Thousand Four's actions were completely understandable.
But would a guy like that be satisfied with just that? Had he really surrendered himself purely to play the decoy role faithfully?
There had to be some scheme.
'Fine. I'll trust you once.'
Vanguard decided to be captured.
Even if alive, even bound, he was confident he wouldn't utter a word to benefit the Zhuge Clan or harm the Heavenly Annihilation Division. The torture would be brutal, but he could endure it.
Then getting captured wasn't so bad. He could watch and see what that guy was up to.
Ssssh!
A group of warriors landed in front of Vanguard.
His retreat was cut off. Flanks sealed. They had surrounded him perfectly before revealing themselves.
"Vanguard, right?"
"And?"
"And? Hah! Why is everyone we run into today such a weirdo? Is that your squad's thing?"
"No idea what you're talking about. You blocked my path out of nowhere and asked if I'm Vanguard, so I said yes. What's so wrong with that?"
"Is that so? Guess I misspoke. Then answer this straight too: Heavenly Annihilation Division assassination squad?"
"Hey, how old are you anyway?"
"What?"
"How old do you have to be to talk so rudely to a stranger old enough to be your elder? Half your tongue missing or something?"
"Hahaha! You still don't get your situation."
"I do, punk."
Shring!
Vanguard drew his sword.
Any Central Plains warrior knew Heavenly Annihilation Division assassins preferred death to capture. So these foes had come prepared too.
Capture if possible, kill if not!
He had to fulfill his role. Give his all. If captured despite that, so be it. But he couldn't just surrender like Four Thousand Four.
Vanguard addressed the warrior he'd just bantered with.
"You probably don't have the guts for a one-on-one. Fine. I get it. Come at me all together."
Thud!
Fox approached and tapped Wild Boar's shoulder.
"Ready to die?"
"Heh heh! I say that every day, but can you guys even kill me? Haven't had a real fight since breaking out of Thunder Prison. Just running away all the time."
"Feels like today might be the day."
"Something... happened, huh?"
Wild Boar tensed up, ears perked.
His lax demeanor vanished. Tension rippled through his body. One touch and he'd explode.
Fox smirked and said,
"Suppose, just suppose. If shit hits the fan, I'm running. You?"
Wild Boar glanced at Fox, then turned back to the Zhuge Clan compound.
"What about the vital points?"
"Well..."
"If you don't care, go. Won't stop you."
"You?"
"Can't."
Wild Boar gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Got it. You can't leave."
"Heh heh! Think Martial Camp warriors don't have vital points held? We're all leashed. Hanbi and Jaja too. Probably Vanguard as well."
Fox nodded.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division only used those they could trust utterly. Only those who couldn't break free even at the cost of their lives.
Strange how there were so many such people.
One thing clear: the few with Vanguard would gladly die to protect their vital points.
Wild Boar said in a self-mocking tone,
"Wanna run but can't. Why else would I rampage in Martial Camp and end up as a Thunder Prison guard?"
Fox shot back immediately,
"Anyway, I'm running. Feels like we need at least one guy outside."
"Outside? One guy?"
Fox tapped Wild Boar's shoulder again.
"Look over there. That flag. See it?"
Fox pointed to a corner of the Zhuge Clan compound.
"Yeah. So what?"
"What color?"
"Red."
"Red, right?"
"Why? You're killing me with curiosity. Yeah, red. Why?"
"Means the operation's over."
"Operation? What operation?"
"Ha! Thick-headed much? What operation in the Zhuge Clan right now? Assassinating the Clan Lord, duh."
"Then!"
"Everyone's dead or captured."
"..."
Wild Boar fell silent.
He'd half-expected the mission impossible. Killing the Zhuge Clan Lord wasn't easy. Not like picking persimmons off a tree.
But he'd clung to a sliver of hope.
Because of battle-hardened Vanguard, top-tier Jaja and Hanbi from Martial Camp, and that weird guy.
Fox dusted off his butt and stood.
"Get ready. Guests incoming soon. Think survival if you can."
"You really going?"
"Told you. If I live, we'll meet again."
Fox turned and shot away like an arrow, no hesitation.
"Damn! He's really gone."
Wild Boar shook his head and gripped his two iron axes.
He felt it now. Bugs crawling from all sides. Creeping up... thin antennae brushing his forearm clearly.
"This is straight-up dog death."
Wild Boar grumbled as he rose.
The Six Squad's job was protecting withdrawing comrades. Guard the rear so others escape safely. Block pursuers at the cost of life if needed.
But now... no one withdrawing.
If all dead or captured, he'd die pointless like a dog.
Was this why he'd escaped Thunder Prison?
"Fine!"
Wild Boar roared heartily as he stood.
He set his goal: fight hard. Swing axes freely till death.
"Come on!"
His boar-like bellow echoed.
Wild Boar barely traded blows before dropping one axe.
The Zhuge Clan warriors' combined assault was flawless.
Groups of five formed Twenty-Five in Five Directions Formation, attacking relentlessly.
Wild Boar couldn't find a target.
Strike from front? Hit from back. Block back? Side attack. Turn left? Rear charge. Like a chicken pecking a centipede, no openings missed.
No chance to unleash his brute strength.
"You bastards!"
Wild Boar roared, but rage didn't substitute for offense.
Clang!
Five swords struck his axe. No accident. Precise angles, combined slash.
Even Wild Boar's power couldn't counter the unforeseen.
He dropped his first axe.
Ten exchanges later, the second. Third exchange, stabbed in the back.
Bloody and snarling, but Zhuge warriors wielded swords coldly, emotionless. They held formation till he collapsed unconscious.
Zhuge Clan warriors were elite, forged in formations.
'How do you beat that?'
Fox shook his head.
But as Wild Boar was dragged away alive, Fox smiled. A genuine grin he'd have laughed aloud if not careful.
They captured Wild Boar instead of killing.
Then others likely captured too. If others dead, he'd be dead.
Wild Boar knew little of the assassination squad.
From Zhuge view, better kill than keep such a man. Capturing meant others probably taken alive too.
'They didn't die!'
Fox first thought of Four Thousand Four.
That guy... stoic, doesn't smile much... but unfolds assassin arts brilliantly... no, a true killer, chillingly cold... what's so great about him?
The red flag had convinced him all dead.
Heavenly Annihilation Division didn't allow capture. Better death... with vital points held, they'd choose death.
Yet he'd clung to faint hope.
Strange. Thinking of Four Thousand Four made even dead ends feel escapable. Couldn't trust others, but him, yes.
Four Thousand Four was still alive.
She just watched Wild Boar being hauled away.
No following. Instead, retreating further. Watching from afar.
They needed to ensure escape when they got out.
'Just get out alive. No— you must! I'll even give you Hwarin if you do. You must!'
Fox grinned on one side, frowned on the other.