Hunting: Memories (I Transmigrated as a Memory Hunter)

Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 28

CHAPTER 28

The Saikyu Manor was a bit isolated away from the main town, however, the situation didn’t look good here as well. Lifeless bodies of two bandits greeted them in the corridor. Blood splashed both on the wall and the floor.

“Mother!”

Nephrite shouted but no one responded.

The whole house was eerie. Except for the crackling sound of fire and echo of voices and screams from the distance, one would think the place was desolate.

Nephrite closed his eyes.

Just then, a shadow flashed.

Before it reached Shier, Nephrite already pulled him away. His sword created a loud ‘clunk’ as it collided with the weapon of another enemy in a fox mask.

Shier hadn't even breathed yet he instinctively dodged as he felt something approaching. A cut appeared on his cheek, barely avoiding one of the three silver needles thrown in his direction. He had a glimpse of another person in a cat mask at the end of the corridor before it vanished in the darkness.

A stealth warrior, Shier gritted his teeth. Everything happened within a few seconds.

Nephrite wasn’t in a good situation either. The attack of the man in the fox mask was too strong. Nephrites were forced back every time their swords collided.

Shier didn’t hesitate. He joined and helped Nephrite.

Despite Shier’s smaller appearance, he was more dexterous with swords. His attacks were swift and fast,

“Young Master, go find them,” Shier called him. He blocked the man who tried to aim straight away at Nephrite.

Nephrite didn’t waste time. He wasn’t able to activate his full skill earlier because he saw the man right away. Yet, before he could reach the outdoor patio, a person jumped towards him. He felt a cold metal grazed his skin, narrowly missing his neck as Nephrite dodge back inside the room. Instead of running away, he boosted himself and dashed towards the culprit.

The cat-masked man once again attacked him, this time with a thin knife. Nephrite deflected it with his sword while turning his body to dodge. In quick succession, Nephrite did a rapid back turn and aimed a back hook kick. The enemy dodged back. Yet, it was already too late before he realized what Nephrite’s actual target was. Before he could react, the cat mask was already removed, smashed to pieces as it hit a pillar a few feet away.

The enemy raised his hand. Nephrite had a sudden foreboding feeling. Before the enemy could run, Nephrite flicked his hand at a fast speed. As the stealth warrior was about to vanish in the shadow, Nephrite’s poisoned dart hit the enemy.

Nephrite took one of the antidotes Shier made. Aside from his own poisons, Shier’s antidote also works in every poison in this world. Shier made it himself and it was Nephrite’s biggest cheat in this world at the moment.

He didn’t waste time. He closed his eyes. Slowly, everything within a 20-meter radius appeared in his eyes. Without closing his eyes, Nephrite searched which secret room his mother hid.

As he traipsed in one of the inner corridors, he noticed a figure following him. He pretended not to notice it as he checked every twenty meters of the house. Whether if someone was still lurking in the dark, waiting to ambush him, or finding his family.

Aside from the sounds of sword-clashing from Shier and the other enemy and crackling fire, silence filled the air.

All of a sudden, Nephrite called out, “Mother! Wherever you are, don’t come out. I will find you. Be patient.”

What he did was actually impractical. The enemy mocked him inside for being stupid. Even so, as a stealth warrior, he did not lower his guard. Like a predator hunting its prey, alert and precise.

Nephrite turned to one corner, touched the wall, and slipped a small paper in a gap secretly. He also tapped the wall in the process, treading with great care. Once he was out of the enemy’s line of sight, he dashed to one of the rooms.

The enemy was still a few meters away. When he heard Nephrite’s footsteps, he ran after him, enough time to see where he went in. Alert, he followed to the room. The sliding door was left open.

Nephrite covered his nose and mouth as he held a wooden bucket, waiting forbearingly inside the bathroom.

As the enemy stepped in front of the doorway, Nephrite threw the bucket right in his direction.

The enemy noticed its direction and grinned. He reacted fast and moved his head away from the door frame to avoid the wood splinters.

The wooden bucket crashed, a sweet-scented powder scattered on and near him.

“Whatㅡ”

Before he could speak, he already felt the numbing of his body. He inhaled a lot of Shier’s paralyzing powder.

Nephrite walked towards the man. It was really Yattsu. He kicked him and shouted, “Run!”

Hearing the signal, Shier threw a smoke bomb on the fox-masked man’s face and dashed right out of the house.

The signal wasn’t only for him.

Keisuke’s mother, along with some of the attendants and his nephew emerged from the secret room. Her long-time female attendant, Hana, held a short sword. She nodded when she saw him.

They ran out of the manor and Shier took the initiative to carry his nephew.

“Mother, why is Shobu here?” Nephrite asked, panting as they ran.

Shobu heard Keisuke’s question and gladly gave answers. “I was told to call Kei-nii .”

“Told you? Who told you?” Nephrite asked in shock. It was a huge question in Keisuke's memory.

Nephrite long-wondered why they needed to silence him along with his nephew. He was suspecting many things about this part. Aside from that, his nephew has nothing to do with it. Cruel as it might be, they could spare the little child unless they have no choice but to get rid of him as well.

“Lord Iruwa!”

They entered the nearby temple’s grounds. Past the temple would be the forest. They could find a place to hide or continue to the border and seek help.

Nephrite guarded the rear while Shi’er and Hana protected the front.

However, as Nephrite passed the gate of the temple, a heavy object smashed on the left side of his body. Nephrite felt his left arm and ribs break as the impact sent him a few feet away. His vision swirled and blurred. He vomited blood.

The brain works in mysterious ways.

As blood rushed out from his body as he vomited blood, the impact made him almost lose his senses, his brain worked.

Memories from Keisuke’s past flood his brain. In an instant, he understood.

Nephrite forced himself to stand up. He can not understand the blur voices of his companions. But he recognized the two silhouettes running towards him from two directions.

He didn’t turn his head to the Shier’s silhouette. He drew his sword, ignoring the burning pain of his arms. He can feel the wetness trickling down from his shoulders down to his hands. The scent of iron started to permeate the air. Despite the slippery palm, he tightened his grip.

“Shier, go. Protect Shobu,” Nephrite steadied his wobbly feet, “Go!”

“But Keisuke!” Shier protested

“Shier, run!” Nephrite screamed as he rolled and dodged another attack. The man’s silhouette was huge. Though he couldn't see him properly, he could guess who he was!

Dekai, one of Lord Fei’s henchmen.

“Shier! Just go! Protect Shobu and my mother at all costs!” Nephrite shouted before dodging another blow. “Go! Mother, go now!

Shier finally understood. “Stay alive!”

Rina knew she couldn’t stay too. Nephrite heard her sobs.

Just like he thought, Dekai did not pay attention to them. Dekai was also the one who captured Keisuke in his past life. However, he did not touch Shobu. If not for Yattsu insisting, Shobu might have survived.

Please stay alive. Nephrite hoped as he faced Dekai head-on.