Chapter 94
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Solo Run (4)
Twelfth Division, Fifteenth Division... And there were more guests besides them.
Two men appeared.
They were twins. Not just their height and build, but even their faces and the swords at their waists were identical.
"We volunteered when we heard Fourth-Four was vacant. Will you accept us?"
"I've got my eye on a spot in the Sixth Division. If it's alright, I'd like to bunk with Vanguard and wander the winds."
The two grinned at Vanguard.
Their speech was exceedingly polite. But their attitudes were the complete opposite. They smiled as if they were telling him he had no choice in the matter.
"Wolf Valley?"
Fox scowled as he spoke.
At the mention of Wolf Valley, Jaja and Hanbi looked at the twins again.
The two newcomers also stared at Fox with somewhat surprised eyes at the sudden mention of 'Wolf Valley'.
"Huhu! To think we'd run into someone who knows Wolf Valley in a place like this."
"Knows Wolf Valley? Huhuhu! That means the bastard's got some seriously sticky inner energy. Kickick!"
The two men giggled. But the looks they shot at Fox were far from friendly. The murderous glint in their eyes sharpened like blades pouring forth.
Wolf Valley was a mysterious place.
Very few in the Central Plains martial world knew of it. Even pretending to know the slightest bit would get you torn apart by the wolves that sprang from Wolf Valley.
In that sense, Fox needed to be torn apart too.
Fox spoke calmly.
"Wolf Valley has these Twin Fangs. Ugly as sin, and in the Central Plains, they're called the Twin Ghosts. Right?"
Fox said to the two men.
The two couldn't find words, only flashing their murderous intent.
"If you're the Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts, you're welcome. But do you know our squad's always had issues with One-Four-Six?"
Vanguard said in a steady voice.
"Kickickik! That's why we volunteered, isn't it?"
The Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts didn't even glance at Vanguard. They stared piercingly only at Fox.
No one in the Central Plains could recognize the Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts. Everyone who knew them was dead.
Who the hell is this guy to recognize us?
He must be connected to Wolf Valley. And connections to Wolf Valley aren't good. It means he placed an assassination contract there. An important one at that...
Those who place minor contracts don't even know who's in Wolf Valley.
They must have revealed our existence because he was a very important client from Wolf Valley's perspective... meaning we've seen this guy before... but we can't remember.
"Hmph! You didn't volunteer—you were ordered to come. Why? To keep an eye on us?"
Jaja snapped.
"Vanguard needs to know how good our martial arts are... kekeke! We have to dance with our blades, but we hate swinging at empty air... Vanguard, if it's okay, I want to cut off one of that bitch's arms."
"I'll take that guy. He's been getting on my nerves."
The other man pointed at Fox.
"You're mine. Where should I cut? His mouth's filthy, so maybe slice out his tongue."
Hanbi stepped forward.
"What the hell's wrong with you all! Can't you just shut up and stay put!"
Vanguard bellowed. Then he looked at the Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts and said,
"I know you came on orders from the main force. Whether your purpose is surveillance or assistance, I don't care. But my squad moves as I say. If you're going to follow my orders, join in. If you're going to keep acting on your own like this..."
Shring!
Vanguard drew his sword.
"Since the main force didn't say otherwise, I can cut you down without issue."
Vanguard gazed at the Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts with serene eyes.
"Ah! Scary."
"Damn! We should've started with some blood. Who's gonna complain? We'll listen to Vanguard. Kickik!"
The Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts sneered.
They had no intention of following Vanguard's orders. They were there to monitor him from his side. And they feared not even Vanguard. When he drew his sword, a flash of killing intent arose.
Killing intent... The Wolf Valley Twin Ghosts wanted to fight.
"How do you know the Twin Ghosts?"
Jaja asked.
"I was their eyes."
Fox whispered in a voice as soft as an ant's.
"Eyes?"
"Whenever they needed info, they'd come to me. I'd sniff it out and bring it back."
"But they don't recognize you?"
"They wouldn't. All they know is Mountain Eyes. The secret messenger I used to relay to Wolf Valley. If they knew Mountain Eyes was the Fox of Bireung Mountain, they'd have skinned me alive."
"I'll take your word for it. You sure have a lot of secrets."
"Kickik! Guilty as charged."
"Happy about that?"
"...?"
Fox's eyes went wide at Jaja's sudden words as he stared at her.
"I like you. I want to protect you, hold you."
"Ja, Jaja!"
"Look at you pretending to be surprised. You already knew. That I like you."
"N-No, I..."
"It's fine. I won't pressure you. Ah! I thought saying it would feel refreshing, but now it's even more awkward. Forget what I said. Pretend you didn't hear. Got it?"
"..."
"I said pretend you didn't hear!"
Jaja gently stroked Fox's cheek before standing up.
Fox didn't move. He just watched her blankly as she walked away.
Chik! Chijik! Chik!
The Emerald-Scented White Rat began reacting again.
"Looks like the hunch was right. They said if we tail Vanguard, we'd find the guy."
"But I still don't get it. How did he slip out of there?"
"Huhu! Before we kill him, we'll definitely ask."
Mian Sosal's eyes gleamed with murderous light.
"No. Don't kill him now."
"...?"
Mian Sosal eyed her as if asking what she meant.
"It was fine to kill before, but his use has changed. We need him alive. Capture him at all costs."
"Within half a shichen."
"Hold back."
Mian Sosal looked at Jegal Soso with displeasure.
"Since we're watching anyway, let's see what tricks he's got. Heavenly Annihilation Division sent Twelfth and Fifteenth—I'm curious how he'll escape their combined assault."
"Hm!"
Mian Sosal twitched his sword brow.
For Mian Sosal, it was an easy question. Trash like that—even if Third or Fourth came at him together, it didn't matter. He'd cut them down as they came.
Four Thousand Four was different. He didn't have that level of martial prowess.
How would he escape? It was intriguing.
"Brother, deploy the Ten Directions Chain. This is a good chance to take out a few."
"Got it."
Jegal Myeong smiled coldly.
"Young Master, please handle the Vanguard side. Don't kill, just confirm up to the Heavenly Annihilation Division main force."
"You think those guys will make it to the main force? Heavenly Annihilation Division rarely exposes their headquarters."
"They will. Or... kill them."
"Huhu! The latter's quicker."
"If so, do as you please, Young Master. Move if you want."
"Hahaha! Might as well take that guy."
Mian Sosal lingered, reluctant to leave Four Thousand Four.
He was the first to survive charging in with killing intent.
Four Thousand Four had no escape route. Yet it ended like a dog chasing a chicken only to stare at the roof.
Mian Sosal wanted to kill Four Thousand Four personally.
Truth be told, many felt that way. The Merchant Sword Sage did too, and so did Jegal Myeong. Even Jegal Soso, having let him slip right in front of her, couldn't claim no killing intent.
"I'll set aside my personal feelings and follow your lead. Understand that."
"I do."
Shhh!
Mian Sosal vanished.
"If you're not going to accept him, stop toying with him. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin."
Jegal Myeong said, watching Mian Sosal depart.
"Why say that...?"
"You might be smart, but you're clumsy with emotions. It's all over your face. Your eyes on Mian Sosal hold no feeling. Like looking at a neighbor."
"Strange, right? A man like him is rare... Why can't I feel anything?"
"If that's how you feel, end it quick. Using love as bait to manipulate people isn't good."
"I'll think deeply on it."
Jegal Myeong furrowed his brow and left.
Using people...
Her brother had said something shocking.
He hadn't meant it that way, but in truth, she was using Mian Sosal.
But that wasn't her will.
It was her father's—the family head, now missing.
Where had Father gone? Why leave Mian Sosal behind? Leaving him meant facing a power beyond the Jegal clan's strength alone... Who was attacking that they'd pull in someone like Mian Sosal?
Heavenly Annihilation Division had scouted if the family head was present.
Rumors said he'd been assassinated, but no one believed it.
Heavenly Annihilation Division confirmed he wasn't at the Jegal clan.
Did that mean they'd attack? Why? What did they gain from striking the Jegal clan?
Either way, a powerful assault loomed.
One requiring the full might of the Jegal clan and Mian Sosal's prowess to repel.
Yet Mian Sosal's loyalty was hers.
"Hoo!"
Jegal Soso let out a deep breath.
Chikchik! Chikchikchik!
The Emerald-Scented White Rat twitched its nose frantically, squeaking away.
It had caught Four Thousand Four's scent strongly. Proof he was not far from where Vanguard had been.
The Ten Directions Chain would find him soon.
Using the rat directly would be faster, but that meant facing Heavenly Annihilation Division scouts head-on.
She could. But she didn't want to. She wanted to watch how Four Thousand Four escaped.
Twelfth and Fifteenth would die.
The Ten Directions Chain wouldn't let them live. Since Heavenly Annihilation Division struck first, killing a couple of scouts was a fitting response.
Then... the ball would be back in Heavenly Annihilation Division's court.
What would they do with Vanguard? With Four Thousand Four? Drag them to headquarters? Or eliminate still?
Jegal Soso bet on dragging to headquarters.
Heavenly Annihilation Division teemed with experts who could easily subdue Vanguard or Four Thousand Four. Sending any to escort them back would be trivial.
That's what she thought.
Chikchik! Chikchikchik!
The Emerald-Scented White Rat squeaked wildly, as if starved.
"What's wrong? Hungry...?"
She set aside her thoughts and glanced at it absently. Then a realization hit... and her body froze.
"Four Thousand Four?"
"So it was the scent after all."
A calm voice came from the darkness.
It was Four Thousand Four. He'd pierced the Jegal encirclement and entered. Right up to her.
She wasn't at the Jegal clan. No guards nearby. She'd face him with her own martial arts. No—she could handle Four Thousand Four. What she couldn't handle was his killing method.
With martial arts, she could manage him easily.
With killing method... she had no idea how.
His martial arts were far superior, yet the bizarre logic held: she could die to Four Thousand Four.
She looked toward the grove and said,
"You plan to kill me?"