novelraw Chapter 657 - 285: Divine, Er Fu!!!
Chapter 657 - 285: Divine, Er Fu!!!
Like two moving shadows, they silently slipped into the periphery of the camp already controlled by the Garrison Army.
Inside the camp, soldiers were clearing the battlefield.
No one noticed the two uninvited guests skirting past the blind spots of their vision.
Soon, they arrived again at the concealed crack entrance beside the Black Stone Giant Puppet’s corpse.
Fang Qingyu did not enter immediately; instead, he squatted, his sharp gaze meticulously searching the disturbed snow and ice around the entrance.
Moments later.
The tense corners of his mouth relaxed slightly.
Below an inconspicuous rock edge inside the entrance, a thread finer than a hair remained taut and intact.
"Did you leave this?"
Jiang Wei’s voice rang out, with a hint of understanding.
"Yes." Fang Qingyu responded softly, a flash of approval in his eyes, "It seems that the soldiers Captain Qin brought out are very disciplined."
Before leaving yesterday, he had laid this nearly undetectable guard device.
And notified the perimeter troops that this area was forbidden to enter.
After a night passed, the unbroken thread proved that the Garrison Army truly followed the orders strictly, and no one had clandestinely entered the crack to explore.
This eliminated the possibility of internal soldiers intruding and alarming others.
Only then did the two follow the narrow, cold crack passage to reenter the cave.
The cave was in disarray, with only broken ropes, scattered rags, and the cold ground remaining.
Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei touched nothing, choosing a nook formed by a concave rock wall, naturally shrouded in shadow.
The darkness of the Eternal Night Territory was the perfect camouflage, completely covering and assimilating them.
Time ticked by second by second in silence and cold.
One hour, two hours, three hours...
The faint noise from the camp outside was the only background sound.
The chill of the ice cave seemed to penetrate the marrow.
However, the two remained patient like the most seasoned hunters.
Jiang Wei even closed her eyes and controlled her breathing, seemingly entering a light trance.
Five hours passed.
Just as even Fang Qingyu began to reassess the efficiency of this waiting game...
"Shaa... shaa..."
A very faint sound of footsteps came from deep within the crack passage, approaching.
Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei’s eyes opened instantly.
Their gaze met in the darkness.
It’s here!
A small figure appeared at the crack entrance.
He wore the standard winter combat uniform of a Garrison Army officer, with a helmet and goggles covering most of his face.
He first cautiously poked his head in, quickly scanning the spacious cave interior with a flashlight, the beam lingering on the broken ropes and the empty space for a few seconds.
He seemed to heave a sigh of relief, though slightly disappointed, not venturing in further, merely confirming again on the spot.
Then, without hesitation, he turned, moving even faster than when he came, retreating swiftly toward the crack exit.
At the moment he turned.
The densest shadow in the cave.
Silently moved like a living thing, sticking to his back, merging with his own shadow, then disappearing into the darkness of the crack passage together.
...
In a secluded alley far from the main road in Spine City.
Chu Kuanglan hiccupped drunkenly, his steps slightly unsteady, his face flushed, reeking of alcohol.
He had just come from a social drinking session, having downed quite a bit, but deep in his eyes was a clear and rapid pondering.
"Celestial Frost Castle, Ji family... Er Fu... Killing Demon... the fastest Divine... symbol of Military Officer..."
He mumbled incoherently under his breath.
Chewing over the critical information "accidentally" heard at the drinking table.
In the midst of drinking and revelry, an old counselor well-versed in the Federation’s ancient family genealogies, deliberately guided by Chu Kuanglan, began discussing those martial arts families with a long history.
When the topic naturally shifted to families renowned for speed.
The old counselor, slightly tipsy and mysterious, lowered his voice, "When it comes to speed, deep roots, and ruthless actions... hmm... the Ji family of Celestial Frost Castle absolutely ranks high! Do you know who their venerated ancestor is? Er Fu!"
"Er Fu?"
At the time, Chu Kuanglan looked puzzled.
Because he hadn’t heard of this person.
"Heh, that’s a famously notorious character from ancient mythology!"
The old counselor’s eyes gleamed with excitement about revealing secrets, "A deity with a human face and snake body! Not a Divine Chosen, but a mythological figure ancient people believed in! Legend has it he was the fastest, and his temperament was the most violent and bloodthirsty! Symbolizing slaughter and martial prowess! Their family’s ultimate body technique, it’s said, touches upon the divinity of this ancestor!"
"Though, back in the day, this name was ill-reputed, only getting cleaned up and accepted gradually after the Federation’s founding."
"But that inherent ruthlessness and unscrupulous drive to achieve goals, some old folks say in private, hasn’t been lost!"
These words exploded like thunder in Chu Kuanglan’s mind.
Taking advantage of refilling his glass, he quickly researched information on Er Fu.
Which basically matched what the old counselor said.
Er Fu is an ancient divine name.
His descendants, however, use the surname Ji.
A human-faced snake-body totem, governing speed and slaughter, symbolizing a Military Officer.
A martial arts family venerating such an ancestor famed for speed and killing.
Their core spirit of family inheritance was evident.
Couple that with the network and post distribution they’ve woven within the Great Wall...
"Damn... it’s highly likely these bastards!"
The more Chu Kuanglan thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
The alcohol turned into anger and excitement at confirming a target in his heart.
So Chu Kuanglan declined a second-round invitation, instead intending to report back immediately, sharing the key information about "Er Fu" with Fang Qingyu.