Chapter 77: Who’s There?
Noticing Zhi Qi’s skepticism, Fang Xiaocao blinked and quickly changed the subject, smiling as she said, “It’s getting late. Let’s get some rest.”
“We can talk about everything tomorrow.”
As she spoke, she patted Zhi Qi on the shoulder.
“Everyone, go get some rest.”
“I’ll take the night watch,” Zhi Qi responded with a nod.
“I’ll stay up with Aquarius instead,” Fang Xiaocao said with a smile.
Zhi Qi looked at her, and Xiaocao returned the gaze with a playful wink.
Zhi Qi hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
It was an old signal from their time at the orphanage.
It meant: Listen to me—no questions asked.
Whenever one of them made this signal, the other had to obey unconditionally.
So despite her doubts, Zhi Qi chose to trust Xiaocao and do as she asked.
Once everyone had returned to their tents, Xiaocao stretched and sat by the campfire.
“Aquarius, sit,” she said.
Aquarius nodded obediently and took a seat by the fire.
“You had a group of twelve, right?” Xiaocao asked casually.
“Yes, Princess,” Aquarius answered.
“What about the other six?” Xiaocao asked in a serious tone.
She had been meaning to ask this question for a while, but with Yun Luoshu present earlier, she had waited until now.
“They’re up ahead,” Aquarius responded.
“Scarface was Gemini. Who were the other two that died?” Xiaocao continued.
“Sagittarius and Libra,” Aquarius replied truthfully.
Hearing this, Xiaocao nodded.
“Then the remaining six must be the rest of the Zodiac signs?”
“That’s right.”
“Who’s their field leader?” Xiaocao asked.
“Capricorn.”
“Tell me about Capricorn,” Xiaocao requested.
To win a battle, one must know their enemy.
With Gemini—Scarface—dead, their biggest threat now was Capricorn.
She needed to gather intel.
“Capricorn is an extremely dangerous woman,” Aquarius said, her voice carrying a slight tremor. “Her threat level is second only to the Star Master, Gemini.”
“In fact, among the entire Blacklist, she’s one of the most feared.”
As he spoke, Aquarius shivered, as if recalling something terrifying.
Xiaocao frowned. In that brief moment, she sensed a violent disturbance in Aquarius’s mental state.
He had almost broken free of her control.
Xiaocao furrowed her brow, analyzing this Capricorn.
In astrology, Capricorns are known for being stubborn, isolated, and indifferent.
That might be a useful reference.
She began forming a psychological profile:
A highly stubborn, self-isolated, emotionally repressed, and dangerous woman.
“Hmm…” Xiaocao murmured to herself. “That’s not going to be easy.”
If her psychological analysis was accurate, Capricorn would be incredibly resistant to hypnosis.
Hypnotizing her might be just as difficult as it was with Gemini.
Sensing the lingering fear in Aquarius, Xiaocao smiled and said, “My knight, do not be afraid. Your princess is with you.”
With only Aquarius under her control now, Xiaocao felt more at ease than ever.
She performed a second round of hypnosis on her, reinforcing her mental imprint.
A person could be hypnotized multiple times, but the more layers of hypnosis, the greater the impact on their psyche.
Too many layers could even reduce the subject to a mindless husk.
But for someone like Aquarius—a hardened criminal—Xiaocao had no hesitation. Even if it turned her into an idiot, she wouldn’t feel any guilt.
“As you command, my Princess!” Aquarius knelt on one knee in reverence.
“Rise, my knight,” Xiaocao said with a smile.
“Thank you, Princess!” Aquarius replied as she stood up.
To prevent Capricorn’s implanted fear from resurfacing in Aquarius’s mind, Xiaocao decided to stop questioning her for now.
She sat cross-legged by the fire, closed her eyes, and began meditating to recover her mental energy.
Seeing this, Aquarius also closed his eyes and rested.
The battle, along with her injury, had drained her.
For someone who lived in the shadows, constantly navigating a world of blood and steel, resting whenever possible was second nature.
Time ticked by, and the camp fell into an eerie silence.
Only the occasional crackling of burning wood disrupted the stillness.
Suddenly, Aquarius’s eyes snapped open.
She tilted her head, listening intently.
In the next second, she sprang to her feet, drawing the crude pistol from her waist.
With a swift motion, she racked the slide against her boot, loading a round.
“Who’s there!” she shouted, aiming his gun at the forest.
Hearing Aquarius’s shout, Xiaocao, who had been lightly dozing during her meditation, immediately awoke.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a burning stick from the fire and hurled it in the direction Aquarius was pointing.
At the same time, she reached for the pistol in her pocket.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she chambered a round and disengaged the safety.
“Someone’s here,” Aquarius said, eyes locked on the forest.
“Where? How many?” Xiaocao asked, aiming her gun at the darkness.
“Hiding in the trees ahead. Not sure how many,” Aquarius replied.
Slowly, he backed away from the fire, slipping into the shadows.
Xiaocao mimicked her movements, retreating into the shadow of a nearby tent.
“If you don’t come out, I’ll shoot!” Aquarius called out.
From her position, Xiaocao peered into the trees but saw no movement.
After a moment of thought, she signaled to Aquarius—motioning for him to flank the intruder.
Aquarius nodded and silently moved toward the forest, vanishing into the darkness.
“Xiaocao, what’s happening?” a voice called from inside a tent.
Aquarius’s shout had roused the others.
“Stay inside. Someone is sneaking around,” Xiaocao whispered sharply.
Hearing this, everyone inside the tent froze.
“Wan Xiaozhou, come out and assist. Everyone else, stay put.”
A rustling sound came from the tent.
A shadowy figure darted out, executing a flawless roll into the shadows.
It was Wan Xiaozhou.
“Where?” she whispered.
Xiaocao pointed toward the suspected location.
Wan Xiaozhou’s gaze sharpened. She drew her dagger and performed another tactical roll, disappearing into the trees.
Moments later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the woods.
The intruder was retreating.
(End of Chapter 77)
