Chapter 75
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Plot and Trap (5)
"Not very assassin-like mistake."
Mian So-sal slowly turned his body as he spoke.
"The time you were given was just a split second. Once you missed it, you lost your chance to strike."
"I know."
Four Thousand Four replied curtly.
"You mean you made that mistake on purpose? Why?"
"One assassin recognizes another."
"Hahaha! So you're saying I'm not an assassin?"
"......"
Four Thousand Four said nothing. Or rather, he didn't need to—the unfolding situation spoke for itself.
Jaja had been attacked, but it wasn't fatal.
Hanbi had taken a hit too, but it was just a scrape. The broken hidden weapons seemed like the bigger loss.
Mian So-sal had no intention of killing Vanguard's group.
Pursuit? Just a fancy word... Mian So-sal had applied pressure to draw out this exact scenario.
Vanguard, Hanbi, and Jaja attacking him together.
Mian So-sal's pressure had forced Vanguard into that line of thinking.
Thanks to it, Hanbi and Jaja had revealed all their hidden trump cards. It was as good as showing the Zhuge family their very best.
Four Thousand Four's attack was a bonus.
No one had anticipated it. They never imagined he'd pummel Mian So-sal like that. If not... Vanguard probably would have shown his hand too.
"Go on, attack me. Any way you like."
Mian So-sal said with a grin.
Four Thousand Four didn't move. He wouldn't, even if Mian So-sal struck first.
"You're a strange one."
"......"
"You're the weakest here by far. In a straight-up duel under broad daylight, plenty could beat you. But... if it's a fight for your life, no one can guarantee victory. That's what's so odd. How does someone like you even exist?"
"You done talking? Mind leaving?"
"Leaving? Where to?"
"......"
"Heh heh heh! You still don't get it. Listen, I'm a watcher of sorts. You think pursuit just means chasing and killing? Do whatever you want. I'll just observe. But pull this stunt again... heh heh heh!"
Mian So-sal laughed as he turned his back.
In that instant, four sharp gazes pierced toward his back.
Four Thousand Four's eyes, Jaja's eyes, Hanbi's eyes, Vanguard's eyes... all locked on Mian So-sal.
They were assassins to the bone. With his back exposed, it was an opening. So they watched. Could they strike? Would it land?
Ssssh!
Mian So-sal unleashed his killing intent.
This time, it was real. Anyone who attacked would not live.
No one moved.
"Vanguard, I want to go into secluded training for six months."
Wild Boar blurted out.
"Why tell me?"
"......?"
"You're under the squad leader. Tell him."
"Oh! That wasn't permanent? Even better. Hey, Four Thousand Four! Give me six months."
"Six months enough?"
Four Thousand Four replied surprisingly easily.
"Six months. If I don't show after that, assume I'm dead. I won't run away like a coward."
"Heh heh heh!"
Four Thousand Four chuckled and nodded.
"What're you planning to train?"
Hanbi asked.
"Got an iron staff now. What's left to train?"
"You aren't... saying you're going for Axe Wave, are you?"
"Damn it! You trained Chaotic Whirlwind Step, so why can't I train Axe Wave?"
"Heh heh! You're really staking your life on it."
"Reconsider? Axe Wave is just..."
Vanguard shook his head.
"Heh heh! Vanguard, you talked big when you killed One-Four-Six... but they were disposable anyway. The skill gap was insane. Heh heh! One-Four-Six really were consumables."
"Anyone here not a consumable? Stop whining like a kid."
Jaja snapped.
In the fight with Mian So-sal, she'd taken a nasty sword wound. Scars on her back and side that wouldn't heal easily.
Still, she smiled.
Fox was tending her. He scooped plenty of golden wound salve and applied it to the gash on her back. She'd refused flat-out when Hanbi offered... but with Fox holding the salve, she bared her back without hesitation.
Jaja was definitely fond of Fox.
"Is Axe Wave that tough?"
Fox asked as he applied the salve.
"Ten out of ten."
"Ten out of ten?"
"Nickname because ten train it, ten die or go mad. Ho ho! Looks like that bear was in a real rush. Stepping up for something like that."
"What do you call that stealth technique you just used, sis?"
"Sis?"
"Ah! You seem older than me... if it bothers you..."
"Doesn't bother me... but it itches somehow. Just call me bro."
"Bro?"
"Everyone in Martial Camp calls each other bro. Older or younger. It's a special term. No master-disciple bonds allowed in Martial Camp. That's how it started."
"Ah! Bro..."
As Fox murmured, Jaja muttered like to herself.
"One Inch Hidden Ground."
She'd answered Fox's question—the name of her stealth technique. Jaja had shared her martial art.
"Whoa! That was One Inch Hidden Ground?"
Wild Boar gaped in surprise.
One Inch Hidden Ground was one of Martial Camp's Ten Supreme Arts.
Like the Axe Wave Wild Boar planned to train, it was a supreme art no one was known to have mastered.
Hanbi and Jaja—both had mastered supreme arts.
Wild Boar muttered.
"Mian So-sal... heh heh! One lucky bastard. If these folks' attainments were a bit higher, the fight could've gone either way. Ah! What about you, Vanguard? What's your secret?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit!"
"Ha! That mouth of yours... Hey! Get lost and train your Axe Wave or whatever. Seeing that guy makes my stomach turn."
"Heh heh! On my way out. Damn! Falling to Thunder Prison duty was a fatal mistake. Got outmatched bad."
Wild Boar stood and said to Four Thousand Four.
"If I vanish down this path, we won't meet again. I can't find you, so you'll have to come to me. Six months from now, look for me. I'll be at Yellow Crane Tower with a drink."
Nod, nod! Four Thousand Four replied with a head gesture.
"Whatever happens to this guy, come find him, Vanguard. Heh heh! Might be worth it. If he's drinking at Yellow Crane Tower, he'll have Axe Wave down decently... useful, right?"
"No need. Kid, you see anyone here weaker than Axe Wave? And look at us now."
"Got it. See you later."
Wild Boar sauntered down the mountain.
About half a shichen passed since Wild Boar left.
No one spoke. They just silently waited for night to fall.
Then, Four Thousand Four spoke.
"Is Axe Wave any good?"
"If you master it, yeah. Especially for Wild Boar with his strength—he'd be worth a hundred men."
Vanguard answered.
"Then we should let him train it."
"Let him? You got a way?"
"Means we save Wild Boar."
"What? What're you saying?"
Vanguard asked in shock. Hanbi and Jaja narrowed their eyes at Four Thousand Four. Only Fox grinned, like he knew the plan.
"What? You knew too? What's going on?"
Vanguard asked Fox.
Fox smiled, dimples deep in his cheeks.
"Ah! I thought you all knew. Guess it's just me and Four Thousand Four."
"What's the deal? Why save Wild Boar?"
Jaja asked.
"Wild Boar's the runt who split from the pack. And that pack's under watch."
"Hm!"
Vanguard finally caught on.
They were being watched.
Unable to sleep as night deepened, unable to talk, just thinking endlessly... because they had nowhere to go.
Under surveillance, where could they head?
To go anywhere, they'd shake the watchers—but how to shake Mian So-sal?
They couldn't go anywhere.
Meeting Heavenly Annihilation Division members in this state would just expose them too.
That was their situation.
Yet... one had slipped away without a word.
From the watchers' view, what would they do? If the stray was a Volume Six blocker... not useless.
They'd kill him. Wild Boar was in danger!
"It won't be Mian So-sal who strikes. He's stuck on me. Watching me even now."
"You feel his eyes?"
Nod, nod!
Four Thousand Four replied with a nod again.
Mian So-sal was formless. He could watch others unseen.
Four Thousand Four sensed the formless.
What senses did this man wield?
"Zhuge clan warriors will go after Wild Boar. They've caught him once, so they think it'll be easy again. Odds are with us."
"Better save Wild Boar without him knowing. Defend from the shadows and slip back."
Vanguard had to move now. But he couldn't. Mian So-sal's gaze pinned him too. And Fox, whose identity they hadn't pinned yet.
Only two could move. And both were wounded, unwatched.
"Heh heh! Guess I gotta use that clumsy Chaotic Whirlwind Step again."
Hanbi stood.
Jaja didn't. She'd move too, but not both at once.
"Can you shake Mian So-sal?"
"No."
"Hm!"
"But we have a destination."
"Yeah? Where to?"
"Go wherever you want."
"What? You mocking me?"
Vanguard scowled.
Four Thousand Four smiled faintly.
"You think Heavenly Annihilation Division doesn't know our situation?"
"Wh-what!"
"If they didn't, the Zhuge clan wouldn't have openly declared the patriarch's assassination. My guess? Heavenly Annihilation Division is certain the patriarch isn't at the Zhuge clan."
"Hm! This is..."
"Heavenly Annihilation Division said hand over the patriarch since we're sending killers. It's more complicated than we thought."
"So the Zhuge clan couldn't produce him?"
"Makes it look like he's hiding from assassination fears."
"Right. That's why Zhuge Xiao-xiao said that. Treat him as assassinated, and it proves he was there. Heh heh heh! We're definitely consumables."
"So we do whatever. Heavenly Annihilation Division has our back."
"Hahaha! Good! Do as you please. They'll cover us from above. Do as you please. Hahaha!"
Vanguard laughed heartily.
It felt like ten years of pent-up frustration melting away.