Chapter 179: Respective Tasks
"Let's rest for a bit. In about two more kilometers, we should see the mountain path. Once we're out of this dense forest, we'll be in danger at any moment!"
After they had traveled for a long while, Zhou Fan spoke up. The group immediately rested where they stood, wasting no time in taking out and swallowing what healing pills they had left.
Glancing at the others, Zhou Fan felt the small porcelain bottle in his pocket. He reluctantly poured out a Recovery Pill for each of the four. "I'm just too kind. Anyone else wouldn't give a damn if you lived or died."
Li Xing and Li Yue accepted the pills and carefully stored them away. Neither of them had been seriously injured, so they didn't need them now and could save them for later. Hearing Zhou Fan's words, they cracked a small smile.
"If you're so great, then how about this? Once we get back to Jiang Province, the two of us will come work for you?" Fan asked, swallowing the Recovery Pill before looking up, his tone half-joking and half-serious.
"I'll pass on you. I'm not interested," Zhou Fan shot Fan a disdainful look. "I distinctly remember you telling me more than once that if I ever dared to cross Wolf Fang's line, you'd fight me to the death!" He then turned to He Yi. "However, I do have two positions that I've been struggling to find the right people for."
"What positions?" He Yi frowned. 'For him and Fan, the only alternative to joining Zhou Fan was to flee the country. Otherwise, Dragon Soul and Vermilion Bird would never let them go.'
"I have a new assassination unit, called the Traceless Squad," Zhou Fan said, lighting a cigarette and smiling at Fan and He Yi. "Qian Rong is currently in charge, and Nannan and these two girls are members. If you two are willing, I'd like to split the Traceless Squad into three squads, all focused on assassination."
"You're going to form three assassination squads? Isn't that a bit excessive?" He Yi asked, confused. "Usually, one squad of that nature is enough. Any more and not only will their functions overlap, but you'll also create unhealthy competition between them."
"If I agree, do I get to be in charge of those two girls?" Fan, on the other hand, didn't care about the logistics. 'He knew Zhou Fan must have his reasons for doing this. He just wanted to know if he could manage the twins. Over the past few days, they'd shown him, their former captain, absolutely no respect!'
"No way. The members of the first Traceless squad are all temporary for now," Zhou Fan said, shaking his head and shutting down Fan's fantasy. "Once things are more developed, Nannan and the twins will all be leaving the squad. I have other assignments for them." He then looked at He Yi.
"Three squads isn't too many. Your job will be to lead your team and be stationed abroad long-term. I know about your background. It's highly likely that Vermilion Bird's people will use you to target your family. Only if you leave will they lose the leverage they have over the He Family."
"As for you, Fan, your main task will be to gather our old comrades from the Third Squad who are willing to follow us. Then, I'll have Qian Rong give them standardized training. To be frank, the Third Squad's training methods are far too outdated. Once your squad is formed, you'll be primarily responsible for Nanjiang City and Jiang Province, because that's my home base."
Zhou Fan's voice wasn't loud, but his every word was crystal clear. What he said made Fan and He Yi feel that this wasn't some spur-of-the-moment idea, but a well-thought-out plan.
Fan and He Yi stared at Zhou Fan, dumbfounded. They then subconsciously glanced at each other, each seeing the same confusion in the other's eyes.
"Wait a minute. What makes you so confident that we won't be hunted down by Vermilion Bird's faction if we join you? You have to realize, behind Vermilion Bird could be all of Dragon Soul's Elders, the members of the three squads, and even the Commander, whom none of us have ever even met!"
After a moment's pause, Fan voiced the question on his mind. He was genuinely drawn to Zhou Fan's proposal; he wouldn't have to go abroad like He Yi, and he could remain in a familiar environment. But he knew with absolute certainty that Vermilion Bird, who had lost an arm in their last encounter, would never let this go.
That person had dared to orchestrate the murders of the Lingling Daoist and Elder White Tiger, to say nothing of two minor captains like them!
"There's one more thing," He Yi added. "We still don't even know whose side that crazy woman, Dragon Fang, is on. If she's also allied with Vermilion Bird, do you think you could defeat her?"
"You don't need to know about any of that," Zhou Fan said with a faint smile. "When you decide you're going to follow me, I'll naturally tell you. For now, get some rest. We move out in half an hour." 'He wouldn't dare to think and act this way if he didn't have a few trump cards up his sleeve, now would he?'
'After his battle with Vermilion Bird, there were few of Dragon Soul's Elders left who he truly considered a threat. In fact, if he were to use Ying Yi, he probably wouldn't lose even if all six Elders, Vermilion Bird included, came at him together.'
'As for that mysterious Commander…'