Chapter 173: Twelve Artifacts
Chapter 173: Twelve Artifacts
Fang Jing naturally realized the special aspects of the poisonous flame power released by the “Seal of the Asura Hand”. However, he also realized that the stolen life energy wasn’t much. Probably this power mainly focused on destroying life. The life force returned from the experimental animals killed by the poisonous flames was also very little, only trickles, which were sucked into his body.
“Five days have passed in closed-door cultivation. Luckily, this time wasn’t wasted. After achieving the Seal of the Asura Hand, my combat ability improved quite a bit.”
He stood up, intending to go out.
Even when going out now, Fang Jing was extremely careful and cautious.
He even specifically brought a long sword. This was the Katana that he had received earlier, which had killed living people. Now he kept it in a fishing gear bag.
Even when going out, he would always keep the sword in the fishing gear bag.
The reason for doing this was, of course, to disguise himself as a “Fang Hunter”.
He knew that he bore the “Jawtooth Mark” on his body. If Corpse Hounds appeared nearby, they would definitely consider him a member of the Fang Hunter Organization.
For the Corpse Hounds, Fang Hunters were enemies, and also their natural predators.
Except for the Corpse Hounds of the Phantom Jaw lineage, other groups of Corpse Hounds would also consider whether it was necessary to take action.
There were risks in opposing Fang Hunters. Under normal circumstances, Corpse Hounds would try their best to avoid Fang Hunters and prevent conflicts.
This wasn’t because they were afraid of direct confrontation with Fang Hunters, but because they feared leaving traces, being discovered by other Fang Hunters, who would then investigate and launch stealth attacks.
The “Jawtooth Mark” wasn’t all bad.
At least for some weaker Corpse Hounds, it was like a “bell” on a cat’s neck.
He carried a fishing gear bag. In the eyes of ordinary people, it was nothing special.
But if it were a “Corpse Hound”, seeing him carrying this item, they would suspect whether this Fang Hunter was carrying an “Exorcism Blade”.
An unarmed Fang Hunter and a Fang Hunter carrying an “Exorcism Blade” were always different existences in the eyes of Corpse Hounds.
Fang Jing didn’t have any strange interest in being ambushed by Corpse Hounds. Such disguises could save him some trouble.
(Karasawa Meisuke also said that the Corpse Hounds in the city had been cleaned up once. In the short term, no Corpse Hounds should have appeared in the city…)
“Car, just stop here.”
He instructed Ōsumi, then walked forward carrying the fishing gear bag.
The place he was heading to next was a research laboratory under a pharmaceutical company in this city, established by a large medical group called “Unrinyoin Group”. The “Unrinyoin Group” covered areas including drug development, medical equipment hardware, bioengineering research, and related projects.
The abandoned Kurasaki Hospital outside the city also originally belonged to Unrinyoin.
The research building gave quite a futuristic art piece feeling, but after entering through the main entrance hall, the overall layout had an atmosphere from the last century.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant. The floor was covered with green tiles. Fang Jing, carrying the fishing gear bag on his back, went down the stairs, glanced at the corridor that turned spacious, and continued forward.
Just then, a figure passed by him.
Unlike Fang Jing, who walked straight away without any reaction, the walking figure paused. As if realizing something, he slightly turned and glanced at the departing Fang Jing.
“What’s wrong? Yagashi…”
The voice came from the “guitar case” he was holding. It was the sentient Demon Blade named “Chigamaru” that he carried with him.
“No, it’s nothing, Suzuran… I just sensed a strange presence.”
“Oh! Could there be a Corpse Hound nearby? Or maybe a Fang Hunter?”
“Probably neither…”
It was different from those two, but it wasn’t a particularly good presence either.
“In that case, it has nothing to do with us.”
The girlish voice line fell silent in an instant.
What “Chigamaru” Suzuran said was right. Since it was unrelated to Corpse Hounds or Fang Hunters, there was no need for him to dwell on it.
He also went up the steps, ascended the stairs, turned, and left the research building.
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“Doctor, how is the condition of the little girl who was sent here?”
He came to a room in this laboratory building and found the Secret Doctor Aoe Byosetsu, who had close ties with the Sunao-gumi.
She was the doctor who treated Higashi Yuantai’s wounds last time.
Fang Jing had become somewhat familiar with this Doctor Aoe recently.
She sat in a swivel chair smoking, facing the computer screen.
The entire office was pitch black, the curtains drawn tight. Only the computer screen flickered with light.
“The initial surgery was successful. Permanent steel nails and plates were implanted in her limbs and body. She recovered a bit of energy after the operation. But honestly, her condition is very bad. Her body is already showing signs of organ failure. Even with advanced medical methods, we can’t prolong her life for more than two years…”
“Two years—?”
Fang Jing muttered to himself, then shifted his gaze to the female doctor.
“Then, what about my original proposal? Proceed with that experiment according to the requirements I provided.”
“Specimen A is indeed special, but your proposal is too difficult. Such research direction, and the transplant surgery… with my current skill level, I can’t achieve it…”
Aoe Byosetsu pushed a stack of documents towards him.
“This is the previous sampling report. There are thirty pages in total. The information you need is all there.”
“Alright!”
Fang Jing had no intention of forcing others. Research on the Demonic Implant Secret Art was too advanced even for this era. Some technical conditions couldn’t be met even with modern medical standards.
Although Aoe Byosetsu was an excellent doctor, she wasn’t a mad scientist. She couldn’t fully comprehend the information about the Demonic Implant Secret Art that he had given her.
“… About the transplant surgery you mentioned, I truly can’t perform it. But I think there is someone who probably can.”
She didn’t turn her head, just stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray made of black glass.
“No… probably only that man in all of Japan can perform such surgery. After all, in terms of madness, he is a match for your ‘ideas’.”
“Who?”
“My teacher, Dr. Norohiko.”
Aoe Byosetsu picked up the mug filled with coffee.
“That man has no ethics, morals, or sense of values. He has done many foolish things. Years ago, he was expelled from academia. Later, he disappeared. The ‘experiment’ you want to do probably can only be completed if you find him.”
Dr. Norohiko. Alright, he noted down this name.
Fang Jing didn’t go to see the little girl. He only knew her name was “Emma”. Other information was pitifully scarce.
“Anyway, she only has two years to live. Let’s take a gamble. If we win, it might turn out to be an unexpected gain.”
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“Yo! Everyone’s so early!”
“No, Torimata Tsuki, it’s just that you arrived too late.”
The blonde girl glared at this last-to-arrive companion.
“The meeting time was nine o’clock, but it’s already ten now. Do you even have any sense of time…”
“Hahaha! Sorry, sorry!”
The girl wearing loose casual clothes pressed her palms together and kept apologizing to her.
“Alright! Tobu, don’t waste time.”
A tall, sturdy man wearing a sleeveless shirt slowly walked towards the two.
He had a robust build, his trapezius muscles bulged high, even more exaggerated than a wrestler’s. More importantly, the brawny man held a black short sword in its sheath.
“Uzou uncle, long time no see.”
The casual-clothed girl greeted the tall, brawny man.
“Yeah! Long time no see, Torimata Tsuki… By the way, you didn’t forget to bring the ‘Ranzhe Blade’, did you?”
“Uzou” scanned the girl, realized she came empty-handed, and couldn’t help but ask.
“No, no… No way I would forget to bring ‘Ranzhe’. Actually, it’s been in my hand all along.”
She raised one hand. Only then did Uzou and the blonde girl notice she had been holding the Exorcism Blade in its blade bag.
“I see. It seems your mastery of the ‘Mind Control Art’ might far surpass the previous generation.”
Uzou was then relieved. Speaking of the previous Ranzhe wielder, they were famous for their superb “Mind Control Art”. And now, it seemed this girl had inherited the predecessor’s essential skills.
— The technique called Mind Control Art was essentially an ancient form of mental induction. Many in the intelligence and cleanup teams of the Fang Hunters were skilled in this technique. With this secret art, whether gathering intelligence or sealing off a scene became quite easy.
“This technique is really convenient. Honestly, I’d like to learn it too. If I knew this trick, even if stopped by police on the road, I wouldn’t have to worry too much.”
The blonde girl carrying a large guitar case containing an Exorcism Blade couldn’t help but sigh.
Although the Exorcism Blade was a very powerful tool for hunting Corpse Hounds, as a weapon, it was far less convenient than firearms. Even with her disguise, she could still be spotted by patrolling police when going out.
In such situations, it naturally became quite passive and awkward.
On the other hand, she also understood that even if Torimata Tsuki was holding the blade bag, if one didn’t pay close attention, there was even an illusion that “the thing doesn’t exist at all”. If one looked carefully, of course they could see it. But if actually stopped by police, she would use other induction methods to slip through.
Torimata Tsuki smiled and said, “Tobu, the ‘Mind Control Art’ isn’t that easy to use. Moreover, serious study requires training from childhood. Without excellent aptitude or diligent training, it’s hard to achieve much effect in practice.”
“Alright, alright, of course I know that.”
Ryugai Tobu shook her head and said seriously, “Then, now that the ‘Xiongbo’, ‘Ranzhe’, and ‘Jiangliang’ among the Twelve Artifacts are all present. We should be able to discuss serious matters now!”
Among the Exorcism Blades of the Fang Hunters, there were always those called the strongest Twelve Artifacts. They were named after the beasts from ancient exorcism Rituals: Jiazuo, Qiuwei, Xiongbo, Tengjian, Ranzhe, Boqi, Jiangliang, Zuming, Weisui, Cuoduan, Qiongqi, and Tenggen.
The Twelve Beasts were ferocious beasts from ancient mythology. They fed on eleven types of ghostly plagues: ghost tiger, epidemic, specter, misfortune, blame, dream, violent death, parasite, observation, giant, and poison.
The Fang Hunters who wielded the “Twelve Artifacts” were twelve individuals. Some passed it down through bloodlines, while others sought their own successors.
The three people present all belonged to the Fang Hunter Organization, and they were also elite experts who bore the “names of the artifacts”.
“It’s the same as before, but this time it’s a joint operation. Personnel consist of the third, sixth, and seventh squads of Team A, which I lead, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth squads of Team B where Tobu belongs. We will carry out a surprise attack operation targeting this area.”
Uzou cleared his throat twice: “This subjugation mission is very important. Blade Demon Transformation is permitted in critical moments. But I must also emphasize, you must pay attention to the timing. You all know very well the burden of Blade Demon Transformation.”
“Received!”
Torimata Tsuki raised her hand straightforwardly and asked, “But since we are allowed to perform Blade Demon Transformation, that means we will encounter very strong Corpse Hounds this time!”
“Yes, there are suspicions of Elder Class Corpse Hounds appearing.”
Uzou said again gravely, “You must also be careful. To deal with an Elder Class, at least two inheritors need to join forces simultaneously. So, if you encounter an enemy alone, you must find a way to escape.”
“Don’t worry! Uzou uncle, we’ll pay attention to that.”
Ryugai Tobu chuckled.
“Then, let’s prepare for a spectacular opening!”
Have something to do this afternoon
Asking everyone for leave, have something to do this afternoon, the chapter will be posted in the evening ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————