February 4, 2023
Bam!
"What do you mean by canceling the sacred Zhan Dou tradition that held every Lunar New Year? All this time, we've upheld the honor of that tournament as a tribute to the year that has passed. Canceling it means insulting our ancestors who have guarded this sacred tradition every year, Shengxiao Dragon."
The Shengxiao Tiger, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His large hand slapped the table, drawing everyone's attention to him.
He was big and muscular, his hair cut short and neatly. He was about the same age as the Shengxiao Monkey. They had once been close friends, though that relationship had recently begun to fray as one of them changed.
Jianying clearly heard his words. Yet he still insisted on canceling the annual sacred tournament.
"I'm convinced those people from the Inverted Cross organization will join the tournament. If their representative wins, we'd have an enemy spy inside this Hunter Agency. My goal is to prevent that; that's why I'm suggesting we cancel this year's sacred Zhan Dou."
Jianying remained firm in his warning. Some faces around the table, seeing his serious expression, began to feel convinced.
"Ha, coward." The Shengxiao Dog sneered openly. He smirked and even raised a middle finger at Jianying.
Jianying merely glanced at him briefly and ignored the man completely.
"Prevention is always better than cure—if you have a brain."
The Shengxiao Dog was about to stand up, angered by Jianying's reply, but he stopped when he saw Lang Zen raise his hand.
"No need to worry."
Lang Zen, the former head of the China division, finally spoke. Every ear turned to catch his every word.
"For years, Zhan Dou has never suffered a tragedy because we're always prepared to prevent it. This year will be no different."
"I hope so."
Jianying looked unsatisfied with Lang Zen's solution. His tone had made a few people feel slightly offended.
"How dangerous is this Inverted Cross organization you're talking about, Shengxiao Dragon? Dangerous enough for you to suggest something you already know we'll reject?" The Shengxiao Pig asked, his expression curious.
From the report I saw from Shengxiao Dragon, the Inverted Cross organization he's investigating doesn't appear on the surface. There are only victims who died horribly. No concrete proof that the organization truly exists in this world.
The Shengxiao Pig doubted inwardly, which was why he asked.
"They spread terror and false beliefs. They operate from the shadows without us realizing it. I still can't believe this is an organization led by a Witch, when in principle, Witches shouldn't have the same mind as humans. Still, I insist we—"
"They really do exist. Believe it or not. In Jianying's imagination and daydreams. Isn't that right, friend?" The Shengxiao Snake sneered, cutting Jianying off mockingly. The man in square glasses simply stared back without any emotion on his face.
"Pathetic. Why is there always someone who makes this brief meeting drag on? You'd best just accept the words of our former division leader, Jianying. I don't have time to discuss some Inverted Cross of yours."
Jianying raised his hand onto the table, intertwining his fingers. He neither sighed nor looked offended. He simply fixed his sharp gaze on the smirking Shengxiao Snake.
"Shengxiao Snake. Say that again."
"Of course, I'll repeat it a thousand times if you'd like."
"An, Jianying."
Both men immediately stopped when Luxia, the Empress, call their names.
Luxia then spoke in a serious tone. "That organization truly does exist. I just encountered one of its members while investigating a large mana trace near the Forbidden Forest."
All heads turned to the Empress. If the Empress supported Jianying, then what he said was indeed worth worrying about. They waited for her next words.
"The villages near the Forbidden Forest are remote and hard to reach, far from any city. When I investigated each village there, I found them already cursed. Their eyes were blood-dark, and they were mindless and aggressive toward any living being. Yet something was different about these cursed humans compared to others."
"What's different? They're no different from other cursed creatures." Lang Zen spoke, his voice carrying a hint of anger rooted in his trauma since youth.
The Blood Moon Incident was a calamity that wiped out an entire continent, turning it into cursed land.
And Lang Zen was among those who survived that great disaster.
"No, they still had consciousness."
All faces around the round table tightened. One thought crossed all their minds.
*Cursed humans with consciousness?
"How could that be?" Lang Zen asked again. He rested his folded hands on the table, propping his chin on them.
"In this matter, you have more detailed information, Jianying."
Jianying nodded, understanding Luxia's words.
"They had special rune tattoos carved into their bodies: inverted cross runes. The runes activate whenever those cursed humans mention something about that man they call the savior."
Jianying then projected holographic photos of inverted crosses carved into the dismembered bodies of victims. The data appeared from his hologram tablet.
The horrifying holographic images floated above the glowing table.
"Runes?" The Shengxiao Goat looked puzzled by the word.
"It's a kind of magic similar to talismans. But runes use a single symbol for a single spell, and they can't be formed by hand alone—they require a contract." The Shengxiao Rooster, the martial arts woman seated beside him, explained.
The Shengxiao Goat scoffed lightly; he already knew that.
"Thanks for explaining, Shengxiao Rooster. What I really want to know is: why would a rune user roam our land and experiment on remote villagers?"
"Terror," answered the Shengxiao Horse. "They intend to create terror in our lands. If these runes can create Witches and cursed humans who retain full consciousness, it means whoever is behind this aims to produce terror for us ordinary humans. It's like creating hundreds of Arch Witches with consciousness and absolute obedience. Death soldiers."
The Shengxiao Horse looked at Jianying with respect. Jianying gave a slight nod of thanks.
"Yes, as the Horse Sign said. They aim to create terror here. I won't force my opinion to cancel this year's Zhan Dou. My goal is to warn you of this hidden threat and ask that you remain vigilant.
"The Grand Witch has vanished since the Blood Moon Incident, yet Witches keep spreading like fungus. This era of fragile peace will soon end."
Jianying looked at each participant in turn before finally gazing at Lang Zen a little longer.
"Ara~ let's return to our main topic. Thank you for your warning, Jianying. Therefore, I've decided to proceed with Zhan Dou as usual—but this year, it will be a little special."
Luxia gave a faint smile to everyone.
"All of you will stay here as guards during the tournament."
Some division heads looked displeased with the Empress' decision. But no matter what, they couldn't defy her.
The Shengxiao Dog clicked his tongue in annoyance, while the Shengxiao Monkey let out a cold snort.
"Well, think of it as a short vacation. Watching new talents emerge for three days isn't so bad." The Shengxiao Snake smirked faintly. He didn't seem to mind.
Some faces were fine with it, while others weren't.
"Can we not just send representatives, Lady Luxia?" The Shengxiao Tiger raised his hand.
Luxia closed her eyes briefly before answering, "Do you have business that can't be left, Laohu Xin?"
"No."
"Then I ask for your help. Your presence here means a lot, General Laohu."
The Shengxiao Snake raised his hand. Luxia allowed him to speak.
"Isn't it a bit excessive to gather all our strength just to guard the central agency for three days without clear information?"
"What do you mean, Shengxiao Snake?" asked the Shengxiao Rooster, narrowing her eyes.
The Shengxiao Snake raised both hands and shrugged.
"I mean, even if they decide to plant spies in the Agency, I doubt they'd be obvious or bring hundreds of death soldiers like Shengxiao Horse said. They'd probably send just one or two skilled people. Or… do you actually have another plan, Ji-an-ying?"
His sly smirk looked cunning. He pointed at Jianying with a suspicious gaze.
"I suspect you're warning us only to gain something for yourself.
"For example, by gathering us all here for three days to guard the Zhan Dou, wouldn't that leave the cities we protect open to attack by this so-called Inverted Cross? If so, shouldn't we suspect you might be their spy?"
All ears listened to the Shengxiao Snake, and some began doubting Jianying's words. A few even felt convinced Jianying had an agenda, whether is good or bad.
"An Haocun. Your words are baseless." Jianying only responded with that, his expression calm, unaffected by the Shengxiao Snake's bait.
"Of course, you can deny it. Who knows who here wears the sheep's clothing?"
"An." Luxia fixed the Shengxiao Snake with a stern gaze. Her pretty lips no longer smiled, and her eyes turned cold.
"Stop this mutual suspicion. It will only destroy the trust that holds our work together. We are Hunter Agents, protectors of humanity from darkness. We cannot let darkness whisper to us and destroy each other from within."
Hearing Luxia's cold, serious words, the thirteen participants fell silent, surprised to see their Empress angry.
She exhaled softly and closed her eyes before smiling gently again.
"An, it seems you have experience in counter-espionage. Then why don't you become the judge of this year's Zhan Dou?"
The Shengxiao Snake, shocked and reluctant, shook his head.
"Wasn't it supposed to be Chief Lang Zen as usual?"
"This year, to prevent enemy spies from entering, wouldn't this be a noble duty for you?"
The Shengxiao Snake couldn't protest once the Empress had given her command.
He glanced at Jianying, who now wore a satisfied smile.
"Heh, your word is my life, Empress."
***