Chapter 116: Bad Idea
Chapter 116: Bad Idea
Chance strode downstairs, stepping over a piece of fallen rubble and down onto the ground floor. Everyone turned to look at him. It was clear by the shifty looks in their eyes and the bright red blush in Bellas cheeks that everyone had heard at least some of the conversation upstairs.
At least I whispered when I was speaking the important bits to Ocie.
Stop looking at me like that, Chance grumbled. Weve got work to do, you know.
You mean you arent going to finish what you were talking about with Bella? Quinn demanded. I mean, I dont think I should care, but for some reason, Im
Jie slapped Quinn gently on the back of the head. She snapped her mouth shut and sent a glare at him, but crossed her arms in a silent pout.
Not with you lot watching, Chance said dryly. We unfortunately have considerably less fun matters to deal with. Ive got a plan to deal with the Brackern sect. All of them.
Seriously? Jade asked, squinting at Chance doubtfully. Does it involve returning to Gleam to get reinforcements?
No. We arent going back to Gleam yet, Chance said with a shake of his head. And, even if you do yourself, we arent going to be here when you get back. The Shikari arent our friends.
Jade pressed her lips together, then shrugged one shoulder. Whats your plan, then?
My companion is already working on it, but well all have to help. I need to make as much noise and gather as much attention as we possibly can.
This time, the looks Chance got were closer to the worried gaze of a doctor that had started to expect that their patient had hit their head just a little too hard.
That sounds like a great way for all of us to get killed really quickly, Quinn said. Do you realize theyre Rank Five and Six cultivators? We are going to get killed. Painfully.
The reason I think this should work is precisely because theyre that powerful. Theres no way theyd actually use their full strength against us, right?
I dont think you understand, Quinn said. They dont need their full strength. A finger would be enough.
Which is why itll be important that they never actually land a finger on us. Powerful cultivators are pretty egotistical from what Ive seen of them. Ive dealt with someone thats probably well past Rank Six, and he was the same.
Bellas gaze darkened at the reference to Vex. Chances words technically included Yamish as well, but Yamish was a special case and not one he wanted to think too much about right now.
Youre going to bet on them being so arrogant that they what, just let us walk out? Quinn asked. Im not sure thats a very reliable strategy.
Chance shook his head. No. They wont let us walk out, but theyll almost certainly want to make a show of things, just like you said. You escaped them. Theyll want to show that doing something like that isnt possible to anyone else that might be having thoughts of rebellion.
You want to get tortured?
I want them to think that were playing into their hands, Chance corrected. But, more importantly, I want them grouped up. After that, Ocie will handle everything.
Bella tilted her head to the side, but she seemed to be the only one taking Chances words with any degree of actual consideration. Everyone else didnt even look slightly convinced.
Youre just going to stop there? Wheres the part of your plan where we actually deal justice? Jade asked. Youre leaving out the most important part.
No. Im leaving the most important part to Karma, Chance corrected. The more locked in this plan is, the worse my Essence will work. And I dont want them to somehow overhear what were talking about. Who knows what kind of Essences they have. Maybe theyve got a way to hear what weve said.
If they do, then youve already said too much, Quinn said.
No, I havent. I can say what I want, but theyre Rank Five and Six cultivators, just like you said. Theres absolutely nothing that I, as a Rank Three, could possibly do to them. No matter how much they may or may not know about the plan, it doesnt matter. Nothing changes. Well, if they were able to tell where we were, then that would be a problem but its also clear they cant, or we would have been found by now, so thats a moot point.
Quinn shook her head and stood up, scratching at her side with a frown on her lips. Im not a fan of following a plan that you wont tell us when it sounds this dubious already. It seems like a death sentence.
Have you thought of any better ideas? Bella asked.
Im pretty sure doing absolutely nothing would be better, Quinn muttered, but her eyes fell and her shoulders slumped. I dont know. But how is this supposed to work? Bringing all of them together so we can beat to paste even easier? Im not seeing it.
Youre going to have to trust me, Chance said. My Essence works better when theres more luck involved, and for this plan, it doesnt actually matter much what all of us do. We just need to draw the Brackern sect out to the front of the city.
Can we run afterward? Jie asked.
Chance shrugged. Once the important part is over, then yes. If we time it right, we wont have to be waiting out there long at all. Everything will happen in an hour from a few minutes ago or in about a little over fifty five minutes.
Lets assume youve got some way to actually deal with the cultivators, Jade said, drumming her fingers on the hilt of her sword. How do we survive? Im willing to fight for a cause I believe in, but I dont want to throw my life away. Its a waste of resources.
That really is the question, isnt it?
Ill handle it, Chance said. It was one thing to ask the others to help, but for the final stage of his plan, the only person whose life he was willing to completely bet on his trust in Ocie was his own. The important part will be getting all the important Brackern sect members to the front. As soon as you get them there, Ill keep their attention. The rest of you can run.
You really think you can hold off multiple high ranked cultivators? Jades brow furrowed. Are you hiding some sort of strength that I havent seen? Theres no possible way a Rank 3
Ill be fine, Chance repeated. I know Im asking all of you for a lot, but Im convinced this will work.
Then Ill stand with you, Bella said, inclining her head. I dont know what good Im going to do against a Rank Six, but my specialty is defense. If anyone can hold them back for even a few seconds longer, it would be me.
Chance nodded in appreciation. Having Bella beside him would go a long way to help tip the scales in his favor. He was still confident that Ocie would pull through on her end, but even a few seconds could make a world of difference.
Quinn pursed her lips. Then she let out a huff. Ill help make noise and draw the bastards over to you, but Im not going to stand around outside the city like a chicken waiting to be plucked. Is that enough?
More than, Chance said with a grin.
Youre absolutely sure of this? Jade asked.
Chance nodded.
Then Ill help Quinn in luring the cultivators to the front of the city, Jade decided. If things look like theyre going well enough, I might throw in with you and Bella, but I wont just toss my life away unless its for a good cause.
You know, you probably shouldnt throw your life away for any reason, Jie muttered. Im not sure Ill be much help in any of this. Im not a cultivator. I might be able to make sure there arent any normal citizens in the area, though. I take it that if Chances plan works, theres going to be a lot of damage?
Chance nodded. Yeah. That would be perfect. Thank you, everyone.
Thank us if you manage to survive this, Quinn said. You said weve got a bit less than an hour. When do we want everyone to show up at the front of the city? How long can you hold them off?
Not long, Chance admitted. My strategy isnt going to work for more than a few minutes, so the closer we are to the perfect timing, the better. And, once were there, if youre going to run, make sure you run really hard. Dont be anywhere close.
The others all exchanged nervous glances.
Thats reassuring, Jade said under her breath. The groups will be Bella and Chance together, then the rest of us on our own, right? Lets spread out to the corners of the city and start causing a commotion after about forty five minutes. That should leave everyone enough time to run back to the front of the city the cultivators are unlikely to want to destroy their own town, so stick close to buildings.
And make sure to avoid anyone you pass by, Quinn added. We dont want to injure anyone thats just being controlled.
Everyone nodded. With that, their plan as secretive as Chance was had been set. They all chose a direction and broke off, leaving the safe house behind as they set off to dropkick a bee hive and hope that Chances Essence was enough to keep them from paying the price.
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