novelraw Chapter 267-2: Lin Xun’s Backup Plan, Disarming the Tenshukaku (2)
Chapter 267-2: Lin Xun’s Backup Plan, Disarming the Tenshukaku (2)
[Reckless Apostle, what will you do next?]
[1. Use your exceptional escape arts to charge straight through the gate, perhaps even the alarm enchantments will fail to detect your enhanced Heavenly Concealment Escape Art.]
[2. Continue using the Ninja Grappling Hook to scale the walls, perhaps the many samurai posted above will not notice the noise of the hook.]
[3. Lie in wait here, silently waiting for a better opportunity to slip inside…]
Tonight’s operation must succeed, failure is not an option!
Even though the chance of the Ninja Master’s stealth being detected was very low, Lin Xun still chose the more cautious approach.
The assassination attempt during the day had already doubled the Tenshukaku’s defensive forces. If this attempt failed again, he might never have another chance to conquer the Tenshukaku.
[You slipped into the shadows, concealing your presence, quietly waiting for a better moment to infiltrate…]
[…]
[You looked toward the towering Tenshukaku within the castle walls. The top floor was brightly lit, where dozens of craftsmen were repairing the damaged rooftop atop ladders.][During the fierce battle earlier that day, the Tenshukaku’s roof had been badly damaged, and the crashing dragon had caused varying degrees of destruction to the nearby watchtowers. Afterwards, the chief retainer had recruited a number of craftsmen to work through the night on repairs…]
[Your ears twitched as you heard slight sounds coming up the mountain path behind you.]
[Turning your head, you saw a team of mounted samurai escorting several dozen people up the slope.]
[As they approached, you could see the clothing of the dozens of figures more clearly, they appeared to be craftsmen sent to repair the rooftop.]
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up.
He seized this excellent opportunity without hesitation.
[You turned lightly, opening a pair of dim eyes. Your figure vanished without a trace…]
[…]
[The samurai captain arrived at the gate and ordered the craftsmen to undergo another inspection… After the craftsmen removed their clothing to be checked, the captain finally let out a sigh of relief and handed over command to the samurai leader posted at the gate.]
[After the daytime assassination, the samurai dared not let their guard down. If the retainers hadn’t ordered that honored guests would arrive in two days and the Tenshukaku had to be repaired urgently, they would never have allowed craftsmen up the mountain under such tense circumstances.]
[All the craftsmen’s families had been secretly taken hostage, and they themselves had been thoroughly inspected before ascending. Apart from the clothes on their bodies, they were forbidden from carrying any other items.]
[While the craftsmen repaired the rooftop, samurai would be stationed nearby to watch them at all times. If any of them showed even the slightest suspicious behavior, they would be executed on the spot, and their families would not escape death either.]
[…]
[At the very back of the group, you controlled the unfamiliar craftsman shell, keeping your head lowered as you followed the team through the gate without incident…]
[You looked up. Protected by a massive barrier, the Tenshukaku still stood magnificent and imposing.]
[Atop the four surrounding watchtowers, the defenses had grown even more formidable. Not only had the number of stationed samurai increased, but the ready ballistae had also doubled from around ten to more than twenty.]
[With the dense coverage of so many ballistae, there was no blind spot in the firepower around the Tenshukaku.]
[You had only looked up for a moment before a samurai lashed your back with a whip, shouting for you to keep moving and stay with the group.]
[As part of the second group of craftsmen, you were assigned to repair several of the smaller watchtowers in the distance.]
[Although the dragon hadn’t fallen directly onto the watchtowers, the tremendous impact of its crash had caused varying degrees of damage.]
[Will you launch an attack immediately or continue your infiltration?]
“I must eliminate the threat of those four watchtowers…”
Each watchtower held five or six large ballistae. Trying to destroy so many weapons without raising an alarm was practically impossible.
Lin Xun chose to keep hiding. Soon, the craftsmen were divided into groups to enter different watchtowers and begin their work.
He and five craftsmen were assigned to the same watchtower. Though there were only six of them, twelve samurai stood watch close by.
[…]
[You are inside the first floor barracks of the watchtower, a resting place for samurai. At the moment, only two craftsmen and four samurai are here; the others are working in the adjoining chambers.]
[Under the watchful eyes of two vigilant samurai, you sawed wooden planks to prepare window repairs.]
[Repairing in progress…]
[…]
Lin Xun narrowed his eyes, preparing to act immediately.
If he could swiftly kill the four samurai and the other craftsman without making too much noise, he could possess one of the samurai shells and proceed with his plan.
He took a deep breath, about to switch shells, when suddenly the game text flickered.
[Footsteps sounded outside the barracks. A richly robed elder pushed the door open.]
[The four samurai instantly straightened and bowed deeply, showing utmost respect.]
[The Fire-Worshipping Retainer of the Ogiwara Clan swept the room with his gaze before walking over to stand before you, questioning you about the progress of your repairs.]
[From a glance, you could tell this man held high rank and authority, someone your lowly station had to look up to.]
[After asking detailed questions, the Ogiwara Clan Retainer turned to leave and inspect the next chamber…]
[The samurai whispered to each other, praising how the Retainer was truly diligent. As the one in charge of all Tenshukaku’s defensive works, he personally came to supervise the craftsmen…]
Lin Xun’s eyes brightened.
The chief steward in charge of all the defensive works?
A moment ago, he had been worrying over how to deal with the four watchtowers. But if he could seize this shell, wouldn’t the subsequent assassination become as easy as taking something from his own pocket?
“You’ll be the one, then!”
Lin Xun acted decisively.
[You possessed the shell of the Fire-Worshipping Heartless Ninja Master!]
[The four samurai were startled and just about to draw their blades and shout when a flash of deadly sword light swept past!]
[The four samurai and the craftsman beside you clutched their throats and collapsed soundlessly to the floor, dead without a word…]
Lin Xun possessed each of the corpses in turn, stripped their equipment, and abandoned the shells, leaving only a single samurai body prepared for later possession.
Abandoning a shell caused the corpse to vanish, making this the perfect way to dispose of evidence.