Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 489: Executing the plan

The tension inside the house shifted instantly the moment the distant sounds outside grew louder and more coordinated, voices calling out orders as the search tightened and moved from open streets into private structures, and Lucas did not need anyone to confirm what was happening because he could already feel it in the way the atmosphere outside the walls had changed. The search was no longer limited to patrol routes, it had expanded into homes, and that meant their window was closing fast.

"They’re entering buildings now," Tom said quietly from his position by the window, his voice low but urgent as he pulled back slightly, confirming what Lucas had already anticipated.

Lucas’ expression hardened immediately as he looked toward the group and said, "We move now, no more waiting," his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

There was no argument.

Darmian adjusted his grip and without wasting a second, carefully lifted Sage Raph onto his shoulders, securing him as best as possible despite the man’s frail condition, his jaw tightening slightly under the weight but his movements steady as he said, "I’ve got him."

Lady Isabelle moved into position at once, staying close to the center as instructed, her eyes focused and alert despite everything she had been through, while Lady Cecilia quickly took position beside her, guiding her with a firm but calm presence.

Lucas stepped forward first, moving toward the back of the house, his senses stretched outward as he checked for movement beyond the walls, then he gave a subtle signal with his hand, and Patrick immediately moved ahead to open the back route, his posture already shifting into command mode as he prepared to lead them out.

"Stay close, no noise," Patrick said in a low voice as he opened the back door slightly and peered outside, his eyes scanning quickly before he motioned them forward.

Lucas followed immediately behind him, stepping out first into the narrow back passage, his body angled slightly as he guided the flow of movement, while the rest formed behind them in a tight, controlled line. Lady Cecilia, Lady Isabelle, Flora and Gwen stayed in the middle of the formation, protected on both sides, while Tom and the remaining men took the rear, constantly checking behind them for any sign of pursuit.

The moment they exited the house, the sounds of the search became clearer, closer, more aggressive, guards moving through nearby buildings and calling out to each other as they coordinated their sweep, and Lucas raised a hand briefly, signaling everyone to slow just enough to remain hidden in the shadows of the back alley.

Darmian adjusted Sage Raph slightly as he muttered under his breath, "They’re getting closer," and Lucas responded immediately without turning, his voice calm but firm as he said, "Keep moving, don’t stop for anything unless I say so."

Patrick led them through the narrow passage behind the houses, choosing routes that avoided open intersections and main roads, his movements precise as he guided them deeper into the maze-like back alleys of the town, while Lucas stayed close behind him, constantly scanning both sides, ready to react at the first sign of danger.

Behind them, Tom kept glancing over his shoulder, his voice low as he said, "They’re spreading out, they’ll cover this whole area soon," and Lucas replied without hesitation, "Then we don’t give them time to settle, we reach the exits before their net closes."

Lady Isabelle tightened her focus, staying steady despite the urgency, while Lady Cecilia maintained her grip on her arm, guiding her silently as they moved.

Every step now carried weight.

Every turn mattered.

Because the moment the guards realized where they were heading, the chase would no longer be cautious.

It would become a full pursuit.

They managed to escape pressure and sighted one abandoned building that had already been searched. Lucas signaled them and they crept towards it.

The moment they slipped into the abandoned building, the tension did not ease, it only shifted, because while the walls concealed them for now, everyone in the room understood that it was only temporary. The place had already been searched, which worked in their favor, but it also meant the guards would eventually circle back once the search patterns tightened again.

Lucas stood near the doorway, listening for a brief moment before turning back to the group, his expression calm but decisive. "We can’t stay here," he said quietly, his voice carrying authority without needing to be raised. "This is just a pause, nothing more."

Tom nodded slightly, already understanding where this was going, while Patrick crossed his arms briefly before letting them fall as he said, "Then it’s time."

Darmian adjusted his stance, glancing once at Sage Raph before looking back at Lucas. "We split, place the charges, regroup, and get out," he said, more as confirmation than a question.

Lucas gave a small nod. "Exactly. No delays, no detours. Plant them and move."

Lady Cecilia stepped forward at that point, her expression focused as she quickly began giving directions, her knowledge of the town now more valuable than ever. She pointed subtly as she spoke, keeping her voice low. "The eastern gate is two turns from here, but there’s usually a watch post near the corner, so approach from the rear alley. The southern exit is wider, more exposed, but there are storage crates nearby you can use for cover. The west side has tighter paths, fewer guards but less room to move. And the northern exit..." she paused briefly before adding, "that one is the most heavily guarded, but also the most important. If something happens there, they’ll pull forces from everywhere."

Patrick’s eyes sharpened slightly at that. "Then that’s where the biggest reaction will be," he said.

Lucas nodded once. "Good. We stagger them, not all at once. Make it look uncoordinated."

Tom let out a quiet breath as he adjusted his grip on the device he carried. "Guess we’re about to make some noise," he muttered.

Lucas looked at each of them in turn, his voice steady as he said, "We meet back here immediately after. If anything goes wrong, don’t try to fix it, just return. We move together after that."

Darmian gave a firm nod. "Understood."

Patrick added, "In and out. Clean."

For a brief second, the four of them exchanged looks, not of doubt, but of understanding. This was the most dangerous part of the plan. Once they stepped out, they were no longer hiding, they were acting.

Lucas turned to the remaining group, his gaze settling briefly on Lady Isabelle and then Lady Cecilia. "Stay hidden. Do not leave this building unless we return," he said firmly.

Lady Cecilia nodded. "We’ll be ready."

Flora added calmly, "Go. We will manage here."

With that, Lucas gave a final nod, then turned without another word.

The four of them moved out quickly, slipping back into the shadows of the town, each heading in a different direction, their paths diverging as the plan set into motion.

Behind them, the building fell into silence again.

But outside...The storm was about to begin.

The silence inside the building stretched thin, every second feeling heavier than the last as Lady Cecilia and the others waited, their attention fixed on the faint sounds filtering in from outside, distant footsteps, muffled shouts, the restless movement of a town on edge. No one spoke, not because there was nothing to say, but because anything said would only add to the tension already pressing down on them.

Then a sharp explosion tore through the air.

The sound echoed violently across the town, loud enough to rattle the very walls around them, followed by a brief pause that barely allowed the noise to settle before a second blast erupted from another direction, then a third, and finally a fourth, each one striking from a different point, spreading confusion like wildfire.

Lady Isabelle flinched slightly at the first, her breath catching, while Gwen instinctively looked toward the door, her voice low as she whispered, "They’ve started..."

Outside, the reaction was immediate.

Shouts rose all at once, louder, more chaotic than before.

"Explosion at the east side!"

"No, there’s another at the south gate!"

"Move, move, split up!"

The confusion spread rapidly as guards scrambled, their formation breaking apart as they rushed toward the different points of disturbance, unsure of where the real threat lay. Orders overlapped, directions conflicted, and within moments, the once coordinated search fractured into scattered responses.

But just as Lady Cecilia had predicted...

The northern explosion drew the most attention.

"That one’s bigger," a distant voice shouted. "All available men to the north!"

The shift was clear even from inside.

Footsteps grew louder in one direction and thinner in others, patrols pulling away, the pressure around certain exits easing as the bulk of the forces redirected toward what they believed to be the primary threat.

Inside the building, Lady Cecilia’s eyes sharpened slightly as she murmured, "It’s working..."

Moments passed.

Then a soft but urgent knock came at the door.

Everyone tensed instantly.

Gwen moved first, positioning herself carefully as she approached the door. She asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"

"Open," came the quiet reply.

Lucas.

Relief flickered across their faces, and Gwen wasted no time as she opened the door just enough before pulling it wider, allowing Lucas to slip inside quickly, his presence calm but carrying the weight of urgency as he stepped in.

"Time’s up," Lucas said immediately, his voice low but firm.

Almost as if on cue, footsteps approached again, and seconds later, Patrick slipped in, followed closely by Tom and Darmian, all of them moving quickly but without panic, their return just as precise as their departure.

Patrick let out a quiet breath as he said, "They took the bait perfectly," a faint edge of satisfaction in his tone, while Darmian added, "Most of them rushed north, the other exits are barely holding."

Lucas nodded once, his expression sharp as he said, "That’s our window."

Lady Isabelle stepped forward slightly, her voice steady despite everything. "Then we move now?"

Lucas met her gaze briefly before replying, "Now."

The plan had worked.

And this was their only chance to finish it.