Chapter 33: Decision
About fifteen kilometers away from Su Xiao, inside a mountain cave.
"At this distance, there should be no problem."
A middle-aged man with a thick beard let out a long sigh of relief. Beside him stood a young woman and a teenage boy.
The young woman glanced at the bearded man, signaling him to use the team communication system, as there were two plot characters nearby.
"That guy, what rank contractor is he? He's a total monster. And where did that Mist ninja he was fighting come from? The technique he used should be Steam Danger Tyranny, and his combat power is definitely at the upper level of the third rank."
The young woman spoke in the team channel. These three formed a small adventure group.
"Tch, it's not as terrifying as you say. Just a shadow guard. If it were a one-on-one fight, I could handle it too."
The teenage boy was somewhat unconvinced. This kind of rebellious teenager usually thought of himself as second only to the class teacher, refusing to submit to anyone else.
"And why did we have to run? That light gold teleportation scroll could sell for at least over a hundred thousand Paradise coins."
The bearded man felt a bit helpless at the boy's words. Due to the distance, he wasn't clear on Su Xiao's combat power, but he had noticed one thing: after the Mist ninja was defeated, Terumi Mei's first reaction wasn't to support but to flee.
Even a Kage-level wanted to flee? That meant the opponent's strength was enough to kill a Kage-level.
"Your mouth says you're unconvinced, but your body is still honest."
The young woman taunted in the team channel. The teenage boy curled his lips. Although he wouldn't admit it verbally, he had also noticed Terumi Mei's reaction earlier. The reason he complained was that he had provided the gold scroll, and he wanted the largest share of the subsequent benefits. Having reached the early third rank, would this boy be brainless? Of course not.
"Poison Pheasant, you handle the contact with Terumi Mei. Your charm attribute is higher."
"No problem. So this time, we're snatching food from a tiger's mouth?"
The young woman spoke. Her alias in Paradise was Poison Pheasant. The origin of this alias was unknown for now.
"Even if it's snatching from a tiger's mouth, we've succeeded."
The bearded man looked at Terumi Mei and Chojuro beside him. As long as they could build a good relationship with these two plot characters, the subsequent gains would definitely be substantial.
"Thank you, three..."
Terumi Mei was about to thank the three contractors for their help, but at that moment, a mass of white substance appeared on her arm.
This white substance rapidly proliferated, like a clump of white mud, quickly enveloping Terumi Mei's upper body. Her chakra was being absorbed by this white substance at an alarming speed.
"This is..."
The bearded man quickly stepped forward. He didn't dare touch the white substance directly but instead drew two hooked blades from his waist and slashed at it.
Pfft.
The white substance splattered, a large chunk cut off. However, this substance proliferated rapidly after absorbing Terumi Mei's chakra, possessing strong recovery and adhesion.
"Damn it!"
Chojuro was also enveloped by the white substance. He tried to pull it off with his hands, but it was too stubborn.
"Poison Pheasant, hurry."
The bearded man's face changed drastically when he saw the white substance. He knew what this was—it was White Zetsu's Spore Technique.
"Parasitic Poison."
The young woman Poison Pheasant's hands turned purple-black. She touched the white substance, the Spore Technique, on Terumi Mei's body with her fingers.
As soon as Poison Pheasant's fingers touched the Spore Technique, the point of contact began to change, turning from white to purple-black.
A parasitic toxin spread within the spores, causing them to rapidly necrotize.
Meanwhile, ten kilometers away.
A person, a dog, and a bull were running at high speed across the snowy plain. Bubu Wang's nose twitched, as if searching for a certain scent in the air.
Su Xiao led the way. On his arms and calves, patches of white substance clung to him. A green energy surged from the white substance into his body, gradually healing the injuries to his calf and lungs.
"White Zetsu, how much further?"
Su Xiao spoke while running at full speed, the wind howling past his ears.
"About ten kilometers. They're using some technique to dispel the Spore Technique. It won't hold much longer."
White Zetsu's voice came from the white substance on Su Xiao's arm. Earlier, when Su Xiao had temporarily given up pursuing Terumi Mei, a White Zetsu clone suddenly emerged from the snow and provided him with the location of Terumi Mei and the others.
White Zetsu's healing ability was excellent—a cell-level recovery ninjutsu that could only be activated after absorbing someone else's chakra.
After receiving White Zetsu's treatment, Su Xiao wasn't fully healed, but the pain in his calf bone and lungs had subsided.
It wasn't that White Zetsu's healing ability surpassed the No. 1 potion, but rather that their healing types differed. White Zetsu's treatment was slow but gentle in recovery, while the No. 1 potion provided rapid recovery in an extremely short time.
White Zetsu's healing ability was suitable for post-battle use, with less noticeable effects during combat. The No. 1 potion, on the other hand, was suitable for use in battle. Even if Su Xiao suffered a fatal injury, as long as he had the chance to drink the No. 1 potion, he could quickly restore his combat power.
Snowflakes drifted. Three figures sped across the snowy plain.
...
Inside the cave where Terumi Mei was, the cave was deep, about ten meters wide and over twenty meters high, partially submerged underground.
Wisps of black smoke rose, and a pungent, fishy stench spread through the cave. On the rock floor were several puddles of purple liquid.
"That should be fine now. Let's leave as soon as possible."
Poison Pheasant let out a sigh of relief. She knew what that white substance was earlier.
"Saved by the three of you again."
Terumi Mei smiled at the three contractors.
"It was just a small favor."
The teenage contractor also smiled at Terumi Mei, showing goodwill.
"Chojuro."
Terumi Mei's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Yes."
A somewhat weary Chojuro straightened up. He had fought fiercely with Amu earlier and then had a lot of his chakra absorbed by White Zetsu's Spore Technique.
"The enemy has already intercepted us from the east. You are to engage the enemies on the eastern side."
Terumi Mei's words stunned Chojuro and the three contractors. They couldn't quite understand her meaning. The enemy should be pursuing from the west. They were fleeing east, toward the Land of Water. How could there be enemies intercepting them? And how did Terumi Mei know this information?
"The assassination squad is almost here. The perception-type ninja Kawaki among them has already relayed the message to me. Chojuro, you need to clear out those enemies intercepting us from the east. After successfully rendezvousing with the assassination squad, come back to support us as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
Chojuro now understood the situation. The Mist reinforcements had arrived but were being intercepted halfway.
"Lady Mizukage, how many enemies are there?"
"Six. Remember, eliminate the enemies quickly and rendezvous with the assassination squad. Our current position is likely already exposed. This cave is a good terrain. Before the enemy kills me, bring people back to support me. If you're fast enough, we can use this cave to form a pincer attack from front and back.
Also, show this to Kawaki and have them form an encirclement according to this formation."
Terumi Mei pulled out a ninjutsu scroll from her bosom. She bit her index finger, used blood to write and draw on the scroll, then rolled it up and tossed it to Chojuro.
"Be quick."
"Yes."
The young Chojuro rushed out of the cave, quickly disappearing into the snowy plain, heading straight east.