Chapter 76
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Stop! [Halt!] (1)
Vanguard hadn't moved a muscle all day.
Mian Xiaosal was surely keeping watch. The Zhuge Clan warriors would be watching too. He didn't care either way—he just rested comfortably. Sleeping, eating, whatever he pleased.
The reason he wasn't moving was obvious. Jaja couldn't move.
Fox was practically glued to her side. He kept tending to her wounds, applying salve nonstop. It looked like she couldn't move because of that one blow she'd taken from Mian Xiaosal.
He could even read Vanguard's inner thoughts about why he himself couldn't move.
Vanguard and Four Thousand Four were pondering their next steps. Where to go? Who to meet?
They seemed pretty deep in thought.
"Wish you'd help out."
Four Thousand Four spoke up, his face awkward as hell.
"With what?"
Fox grinned brightly.
Four Thousand Four wasn't the type to ask for help lightly. If he was asking, he really needed it. And the fact that he'd come to him made Fox happy.
Four Thousand Four hesitated a moment before pulling a sheet of paper from his bosom and handing it over.
"What's this?"
Fox took the paper as he asked.
Four Thousand Four didn't answer. He just waited for Fox to unfold it.
Fox spread the paper out.
It was a human meridian chart. A human figure drawn on it, with acupoints marked as tiny dots here and there. Lines connected the dots.
A qi flow diagram?
"What is this?"
"No idea. That's why I wanted you to check it out."
"Martial arts?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Doesn't seem like it? That's an odd way to put it. This is about you, right?"
Four Thousand Four nodded.
"Important?"
"Very."
Fox frowned.
Not a martial arts diagram, but a meridian flow chart... Connected to the subject, yet the subject himself has no clue what it is.
This didn't feel right.
Fox got serious.
"Give me anything you can reference. Every little detail, no matter how trivial."
"Feels like some kind of restriction technique..."
"Restriction technique?"
"Zhuge Clan restriction arts, but I'm not sure if they invented it... Used needles. See the numbers there? Depth of needle insertion."
"This... happened to you?"
Four Thousand Four nodded again.
"You idiot!"
Fox yelled before he could stop himself.
Vanguard glanced over. Jaja did too.
Fox quickly schooled his expression to look nonchalant and lowered his voice.
"Letting something like this happen... You okay? Not hurting anywhere?"
Four Thousand Four shook his head vigorously.
"Not uncomfortable when you move?"
Four Thousand Four shook his head again.
"When using martial arts?"
"Fine. No issues at all."
"Yeah, right. That Fire Fox did this, didn't she?"
"Fire Fox?"
"You know, that girl who lives off her looks."
"Can you figure out what it is?"
"I'll look into it. If it's Zhuge Clan restriction arts, it won't be easy. Especially if someone like her used it—probably some ultra-special secret technique. Tough nut."
"Hmph. Figures."
"Still, I'll check it out. No, I'll definitely find out what this is."
"Thanks."
Four Thousand Four patted Fox's shoulder.
"But I have a request too."
Fox said gravely.
"Mm. Shoot. If I can do it..."
"Don't let this happen again. What an idiot! Never let it happen. Got it?"
The moment Fox finished, he whipped around briskly, like a cold gust.
A day later, Hanbi slunk in quietly.
He flopped down next to Vanguard—who hadn't moved an inch anyway—and stared at the sky.
"Wild Boar?"
"Gone."
"How many did you take out?"
"Around twenty? Thought he was half-mad."
"Still, you handled it. Lucky."
"They got careless, took a hit to the back of the head. If they hadn't, it'd have been dicey."
"Wild Boar completely vanished?"
Vanguard double-checked.
"Cut off the Zhuge Clan pursuers clean. Confident we wiped 'em all."
"Good enough. Rest is his luck."
Vanguard shook the dirt off his shoes.
Their conversation rang clear in everyone's ears.
The Zhuge Clan really meant to kill Wild Boar. Stragglers weren't needed. Meaning none of Vanguard's group was truly essential.
Mian Xiaosal had said he could pick off one or two.
He was right. Piss him off down the line, and he'd draw his killing sword in a heartbeat.
Hanbi spoke up.
"So, where we headed?"
"Mission done. Time to head back."
"To the Heavenly Annihilation Division?"
Hanbi looked a bit surprised.
"That's what he said. Do whatever. If he doesn't like our moves, the Division'll clean us up. No need to sweat the details."
"Heh. Makes sense. So, we dropping that deputy commander or whatever?"
"Nah, keep using him."
Vanguard and Hanbi were talking, but everyone could hear clear as day. Might as well be addressing the group. A team meeting.
"Tried it this time—works great. Nearly nabbed Mian Xiaosal. Beats whatever that thick skull cooks up. He reacts instantly."
Vanguard tapped his head as he spoke.
"Got it?"
This was aimed at Four Thousand Four.
"Move without orders if you want. Go where you please, come back when you please. Just stay on the main path. Focus on goals when they pop up."
"Understood."
Four Thousand Four replied.
"Fox, lead the way. To Three Point."
The main path was set.
If there's a golden-eyed black eagle in the sky, then on the ground there's the Green Fragrance White Rat.
Small as a newborn mouse, hairless, so it looks white.
What does Green Fragrance mean?
It means it has an acute sense of smell. Especially for bizarre scents humans can't detect at all.
That scent is called Green Fragrance.
A peculiar odor no human or other beast can smell—only the white rat can.
Squeak! Squeak squeak!
The Green Fragrance White Rat wrinkled its nose.
The scent was moving. Heading into rugged mountains.
"Moving after just a day. Could've rested another."
Mian Xiaosal rose.
"We'll bow out from here."
A warrior in Zhuge Clan uniform clasped hands in salute.
"Good work."
Mian Xiaosal replied arrogantly.
The warrior, used to such sights, didn't even frown. He finished his bow.
Mian Xiaosal ignored him, petting only the white rat.
Squeak! Squeak!
The rat kept squeaking.
Meaning the Green Fragrance scent was drifting farther. Seemed pissed it couldn't track it.
"Got it. I'll catch up soon. Haha! You whine like little Soso when you're like this. Ha ha!"
Mian Xiaosal laughed heartily, pleased. Then he leisurely shot off.
Whoosh!
His form became a streak of wind.
"Haha! You've turned into a rat-chaser."
"Indeed."
Zhuge Myeong and Zhuge Soso watched Mian Xiaosal vanish. No—watched Vanguard, already into the woods.
"Bad news."
"What?"
"Lost Wild Boar."
Zhuge Soso eyed Zhuge Myeong like what?
"Scattered Wind Divination. Looks like Hanbi... All Wild Boar's pursuers turned up dead."
"They knew we'd come. Ha! Getting fun. Real fun."
Zhuge Soso said without smiling.
Her eyes stayed glued to Vanguard's vanished woods.
"Nothing more on Four Thousand Four?"
"Not yet. If it's really bugging you, use a Secret Agent."
"No. Waste to use on this. Save for bigger things."
"Nothing on Fox either. Probed every angle—it's like he dropped from the sky. Clean slate. That's why I'm saying."
Zhuge Soso fell silent.
"Twelve Secret Agents. Using one won't hurt."
"Use one, the other eleven are at risk."
"We planned for that."
"No. Later. Dig more."
Zhuge Soso shook her head.
The Zhuge Clan had long planted fixed agents in the Heavenly Annihilation Division.
They were called Secret Agents. Perfect Division members who aided the Clan once, at a pivotal moment.
So they had to be used wisely.
Right now, Zhuge Soso was curious about Four Thousand Four. Fox too. Their backgrounds, clauses, if they could be swayed—she wanted it all.
The Heavenly Annihilation Division held that info most accurately.
The Division gripped them. Their clauses. Their histories.
Activate a Secret Agent, get everything on Four Thousand Four and Fox.
Worth burning one? If so, better extract the martial arts Vanguard's group trained too.
Learn all about Vanguard and his crew.
Zhuge Soso spoke.
"What amuses me... brother, where do you think they're heading?"
"Dunno. Hiding first, probably."
"No. Straight there. No hesitation. Got a destination."
"They got somewhere to go? Knowing we're tailing?"
"That's the fun part. Know we're chasing, still barrel ahead. Chase if you dare. Curious about the Division? We'll show you, follow. That's their vibe."
"Hm. Kinda fits."
"Blocking Wild Boar, bold moves... Not Vanguard's style."
"Then?"
"Four Thousand Four."
"Him again?"
"Very fun guy. Hehe!"
Zhuge Soso covered her mouth laughing.
Four Thousand Four was an exceptional warrior. But he'd never escape the Zhuge Clan's grasp. Others might, but not him.
The restriction technique on him had two constraints.
One was emitting Green Fragrance. Green qi flowed through restriction acupoints. Unrelated to dantian true qi... Qi originating from the Gate of Life wound through them. Emitting Green Fragrance each time.
The green qi spun independent of his will, every moment. So the fragrance leaked constantly.
Four Thousand Four would be tracked forever.
"Let's head back. Keep tabs on them. Especially Four Thousand Four. Sharp mind too. Matches you or Northern Command Bloodletter."
"Haha! That much?"
"Yes. He is."
Zhuge Soso walked off, then turned back to Vanguard's woods. Eyes gleaming fiercely.