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墨書 Inktalez
The tower would forever stand in the depths of memory for the four who departed. For Ikeda Masahiro, it was a thrilling blockbuster filled with action; for Ikeda Kenji, it would be a milestone honor within the Yamamoto Clan; for Wu, his most respected master would no longer meet him, perhaps separated by realms; and for Jufeng, having seen through some past grievances, he stood firm in his decision without betraying his conscience.
Descending from the fourth floor to the first, they left through the old path they had come, a trail marked by shocking bloodshed, including fallen members of the Holy Envoy who might never rise again.
Although Ikeda Masahiro had experienced the Underworld and grown under its dark influence, Ikeda Kenji rarely allowed him to witness such gruesome scenes. Just moments ago, a severed arm had left an indelible horror etched in the woman's heart; now, as they departed, the reality was even more brutal than expected.
With Jufeng's support, Wu had regained some strength and noticed Ikeda Masahiro's pale face partially hidden. Realizing that his actions had caused her distress, he softly said, "I'm sorry for making you feel sick."
Ikeda Masahiro was taken aback; she never expected this bloodthirsty maniac would apologize. Looking at Wu, she saw his slightly pale face devoid of blood scabs, appearing harmless and pure. In her shock, she forgot to respond.
With the crisis averted and successfully escaping danger, Jufeng's mood had relaxed compared to before. He interjected, "Ikeda, she probably doesn't like you. I suggest you spare yourself the trouble."
His light teasing eased the awkwardness of the moment. Ikeda Masahiro snapped back to reality and glared at Jufeng, huffing as she turned her head away. However, Romain had indeed reached deep into her heart; she felt a genuine fear towards Wu.
Not everyone was infatuated with Wu like Zhu Yao was.
Having left the forbidden high tower of the Saint Envoy, it was already morning outside. A light milky mist lingered between the hills like a layer of silk trying to conceal something but ultimately revealing nothing.
As they passed through the thicket, they were met by Vera and Lance leading the Bear Guard. Their numbers were not few, indicating they had been waiting for quite some time.
Seeing Jufeng and his group emerge safely from within, Vera finally exhaled a breath she had been holding in her throat for too long.
"You've been inside for an entire night. What happened in there?"
Vera had no news from inside and was anxious but feared that rushing in might disrupt Ikeda Kenji's selection process. Thus, she could only wait impatiently.
If sunlight pierced through the forest and the milky mist dissipated without any sign of them returning, Vera would have disregarded everything and rushed in to save them.
Ikeda Kenji glanced at Jufeng and seeing that he did not intend to reply, he said, "Some things did happen inside that no one could have anticipated. Let's head back first; we can discuss it on the way."
Vera glanced at the figure beside Jufeng and quickly deduced the person's identity, feeling a slight surprise in her heart, wondering why he was here.
As for Jufeng, his gaze remained fixed among the branches of the jungle, preferring to look at the mist rather than meet her eyes.
Vera bitterly smiled to herself, her face still icy as she turned away and walked outside.
In the forest, there were no means of transportation; everything had to be done on foot, and it was not a short journey. After about half an hour, Ikeda Kenji recounted in detail everything that had happened in the tower to Vera. Listening to him felt like hearing a myth from Strange Tales of the Square Night, as a look of mild astonishment lingered on her face.
Vera's understanding of the Saint Envoy organization was deeper than Ikeda Kenji's, so she knew how revered and untouchable the Commander was. She never expected that he would resolutely sacrifice his arm due to past events; it was truly admirable.
After a night without rest or food, Ikeda Masahiro was on the verge of collapse but persisted solely to avoid causing trouble for everyone. As soon as they emerged from the jungle, she fainted directly into her brother's arms, which made Ikeda Kenji look at her with deep concern.
They stayed at the previous inn but had booked an additional room. Vera arranged for guards since they had not completely escaped danger; no one knew if Yuta Shouroku would notice anything amiss and set an ambush or if someone who failed during the selection process might harbor resentment.
Jufeng and Five were in a separate room tending to their injuries. The so-called recovery was merely a casual conversation between the two. Five had always kept his injuries to himself, even in front of his best friend Jufeng.
"Are you going back to Huaguo?" Jufeng casually asked as he looked at the despondent and quiet Five.
Li Ji was the master of Heroic Journey; however, it was clear that after today's events, he would no longer struggle in the mundane world. Thus, he would likely have no further connection with Heroic Journey. Yet, with such a vast enterprise at stake, it could not be left without someone in charge; otherwise, this massive machine could easily collapse.
Surprisingly, Five shook his head.
He replied wearily, "My master knows I dislike being bound by positions, so he has been training his successor. There are several people in Thirteen Halls who have been controlling the operations of Heroic Journey, so whether I am there or not won't make much difference."
As soon as he finished speaking, Five paused for a moment before continuing, "However, I cannot completely disregard my responsibilities. I need to provide some assurance for Heroic Journey; I want everyone to know that Five is part of Heroic Journey and thus fear it, not daring to provoke trouble with Heroic Journey. This is all I can do to help Heroic Journey."
Let the world tremble at the mention of Five, the one who embodies the Heroic Journey, instilling fear in those who dare to provoke trouble. It takes an immense confidence to remain calm in such a position. Five is not one to boast; even when he is certain of something, he leaves room for uncertainty. Thus, his words carry the weight of an ironclad rule.
Jufeng could even imagine the moment when Five became the soul banner of the Heroic Journey.
“So where are you headed next, and how long until you can rest?”
Jufeng believed in Five's words and was even more convinced that Five would exert extraordinary effort because of them. This made him somewhat worried for his friend, as Five always fought alone, leaving no trace behind, and Romain felt powerless to assist him.
Five smiled faintly, raising his battered arm and patting Romain on the shoulder. He said slowly, “Stopping is a terrifying thing. Do you want me to sunbathe in a swimsuit on Xavier's beach? If I ever become that way, it would mean I've lost my mind. So I can't stop; this is the only way my heart feels alive.”
“The next target should be the world's second-ranked assassin, a bodyguard for an Oil Tycoon, and apparently a relative of a Chieftain.”
Romain was momentarily speechless before he chuckled helplessly. Just a few months ago, Five had killed the third-ranked assassin in Europe, and now he had climbed to second place. It seemed he would soon stand at the pinnacle of this world.
“You truly are unimaginable. I thought after the concert my skills had improved enough to catch up with you, but I never expected you to be moving so much faster. It's beyond reach.”
Romain shook his head with a sigh, but Five dismissed it, saying, “Have you focused so much on others that you haven't stopped to look at yourself? You are now at odds with all of Huaguo's underworld factions; once formidable entities like the Three Major Factions are now your enemies. What does this mean? It means you have become someone who can contend with Huaguo's Underworld. Is that pace really slow?”
“Moreover, your friends are already part of gangs like Blazing Axe and Yamamoto Clan. How many people in this world can stand at your level at such a young age? I am alone and naturally spend more time honing my skills. Are you really going to compete with me over that? Can we not enjoy our friendship?”
Upon hearing Five's insights, Romain realized that he too had been racing toward the summit without noticing it. Time truly flies; it was hard to believe.
“It seems we are both unable to slow down our pace.”
Five smiled slightly and then quietly gazed out the window. The scenery outside was beautiful.
Before noon arrived, Five departed, stepping into the cool sea breeze as he vanished from this picturesque town.
Leaving with a body full of wounds, aside from the dried bloodstains, no one knew just how severely he had been injured.
Ikeda Kenji entered the room, looking at the open window and the dazed Jufeng, feeling grateful to have found such a friend.
"Brother Jufeng, birds of a feather flock together. I suddenly feel that being in the same circle as you is a truly fortunate thing. I admire your friend; he is the most fearless warrior I have ever seen."
Venturing alone into the forbidden grounds of Saint Envoy was indeed an act of fearlessness.
"Thank you. Actually, we are all the same. Throughout our lives, we don't want to live well; we just want to make a fuss. Since we’re making a fuss, it might as well be something sensational. Sigh! The matters of Saint Envoy have finally come to a close. I look forward to seeing what kind of remarkable achievements you will stir up when you return to Yingguo, Ikeda Brother."
Ikeda Kenji glanced at the window, a faint smile on his face—neither servile nor arrogant, yet possessing a captivating aura.
"I also look forward to seeing how long Yuta Shouroku can hinder my progress."
(To be continued)
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