Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Translator: Penny
Episode 19
"M-Munhyeon?"
Perhaps it was his cousin's reaction—his tongue seemed to freeze for a moment—that prompted Zhuge Pyeong, who was sitting beside him, to sigh and rise from his seat. He watched his cousin, still trapped in the events of twelve years ago.
Who was Zhuge Munho?
The youngest Deputy Branch Head in the Zhuge Clan, their idol who had achieved First-rate status at the youngest age.
He was even a potential candidate for Young Patriarch someday.
It was time for him to move on.
Zhuge Pyeong would show him that this man was nothing.
"Speak of the devil..."
"Huh?"
Before Zhuge Munho could fully process his confusion, Zhuge Pyeong had already left the table, a sneer playing on his lips as he mocked, "Well, well, who do we have here? Isn't it our dear cousin?"
It was a perfect provocation disguised as a greeting.
"Pyeong-ah."
"Wait a moment, Elder Brother."
Zhuge Munho hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, but Zhuge Pyeong shook him off with a smile.
"I'll show you just how pathetic that bastard has become."
"Stop it."
"Elder Brother, really... Why do you keep insisting when I'm fine? He's nothing now. How long will you cling to the past?"
Normally, he would have heeded Zhuge Munho's words, but whether due to intoxication or stubbornness, he shook off his brother's hand again.
He knew it was for his own good.
He was trying to prove something.
But they weren't twelve-year-old children anymore.
They had grown far beyond petty squabbles fueled by jealousy and envy. Moreover, such public disputes between brothers within the Branch's territory would reflect poorly on the Zhuge Clan.
Despite these thoughts, I hesitated. When I first saw Zhuge Munhyeon, my body instinctively recoiled. I thought I was over it now... Perhaps that's why a part of me wanted to keep an eye on him.
Had Zhuge Munhyeon truly lost his talent for Martial Arts?
"Hey kid, you should greet your Elder Brothers when you see them. Standing there like a dummy won't do!"
"Hmph."
Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at the remark.
His flushed face and slightly slurred speech...
Why is this drunk picking a fight with me? I was already in a foul mood after overhearing those whispers about me being a "worthless bastard."
Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes narrowed at the blatant provocation, and Yeo Mungi, sensing the ominous shift in his friend's demeanor, urgently tugged at his sleeve.
"Wait, Munhyeon! You can drink, but let's go somewhere else. Okay?"
"..."
"Munhyeon, please."
At Yeo Mungi's earnest plea, Zhuge Munhyeon let out a small sigh.
Well, he's in an awkward position too. I'm just an apprentice, after all. If I cause trouble, he'll be the one who suffers the consequences. Besides, arguing with drunkards is pointless, especially when they're weaklings. And I don't really want to fight Zhuge Munho anyway.
"Fine, let's go. Looking at those guys will just ruin my appetite."
With a bitter smile, he feigned reluctance and allowed Yeo Mungi to pull him away.
"What's your problem, you punk? Those guys? How can you still be so rude even after all these years?"
Zhuge Pyeong deliberately provoked him again, halting his departure.
Weaklings always have sharp ears, he thought. But no common sense.
He added a warning, trying to be polite: "If you're going to drink, drink properly. Don't start trouble with people who are minding their own business."
"What did you say, you bastard?!"
Zhuge Pyeong glared and strode forward, grabbing Zhuge Munhyeon by the collar.
Even when I try to be considerate, they still act like this.
"Don't do that. I can't afford to cause trouble right now. You'll only get hurt."
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Zhuge Pyeong clenched his fist and threatened him.
Zhuge Munhyeon instinctively grabbed the hand gripping his collar and twisted it sharply.
Ah, these damn reflexes.
With a whoosh, Zhuge Pyeong was flipped over, spinning half a circle before crashing to the floor.
Thud!
Every gaze in the tavern instantly snapped toward the commotion.
"Ah, that was a mistake," Zhuge Munhyeon said with a bright smile, offering a flimsy excuse. "It was just a reflex. Don't worry about it."
Yeo Mungi, standing beside him, was inwardly groaning.
As if they'd listen. As if they wouldn't care. Their expressions said it all.
"You bastard!"
Just as feared, the moment Zhuge Pyeong hit the ground, the men beside Zhuge Munho rose to their feet, faces flushed crimson.
A disaster was brewing.
Given their already strained relations, a fight was inevitable.
But their opponents were the Deputy Branch Head, the Patriarch's third son, and his cousin.
Even if they had provoked the conflict, prejudice was a powerful force.
If a fight broke out, even Zhuge Munhyeon, known as "the bottomless pit of chaos," would find himself in a difficult position, despite being a cousin.
"Wait a moment!" Yeo Mungi swiftly intervened, stepping between them.
"Please, just hear me out."
"..."
"This is a place with many outsiders. It's inappropriate for descendants of the Zhuge Clan to be seen fighting within the Branch's territory. I implore you to end this here."
Would his mediation work?
Zhuge Munho's group glanced around the inn, clearly concerned about the attention they were drawing.
As expected, the sudden commotion had silenced the other guests, who were now staring intently.
"Ahem!"
Zhuge Munho cleared his throat, seemingly aware of the gazes, and took a step back. Yeo Mungi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Munhyeon, Mungi is right. Apologize to Pyeong, come over here, and have a drink with us. We've finally met after all this time—cousins should at least greet each other properly."
Another cousin, Zhuge Gwan, spoke in a calm voice.
What a relief. I barely managed to stop him. Now all he has to do is apologize... Yeo Mungi thought, relieved.
But Zhuge Munhyeon scoffed.
"Why should I?"
"What?"
"You're all a bunch of clowns. How can you call yourselves the Zhuge Clan when you think like this? Isn't it common sense that the ones who started the fight and grabbed me by the collar should be apologizing?"
"Y-you bastard!"
"Whatever. I don't feel like arguing. And what's with the drinks? How could I even swallow that shit?"
Yeo Mungi couldn't help but despair at Zhuge Munhyeon's words.
Yes, you're right about everything. But damn it, Munhyeon! I've been working so hard to mediate this, and you're going to say something like that?!
The faces of Zhuge Munho's group, which had barely regained their composure, flushed crimson again. Their nostrils flared with each angry breath, and it looked like a fight was about to break out any second.
"Wait! You can't do this!" Yeo Mungi shouted, throwing himself in front of Zhuge Munho's group with all his might.
"Mungi, get out of the way!"
"I can't let you fight like this..."
"Didn't you hear me? Move!"
Despite his desperate pleas, Yeo Mungi was shoved aside by Zhuge Gwan's hand and sent sprawling to the ground.
"I will get an apology, Munhyeon."
"..."
Zhuge Gwan glared fiercely, but Zhuge Munhyeon's gaze remained fixed on Yeo Mungi, who was huddled in a corner.
I was going to let it slide, thinking I might have caused Zhuge Munho's demotion to the Branch... But you shouldn't have taken it out on innocent Mungi.
"Hmm, now I recognize your faces. You're those Heavenly Star Pavilion punks from back then, aren't you?"
"What?"
"Haah, alcohol's the real enemy, the real enemy. It just gives kids false courage."
"You insolent fool!"
"Don't get so worked up. You'll tire yourself out before the fight even starts."
Zhuge Gwan, his face flushed with rage, lunged forward, but Zhuge Munhyeon remained unfazed, waving his hand dismissively and grinning.
"Let's see... Since you started this, it wouldn't be right to back down from a fight. But fighting in public could cause trouble. So... let's do this."
"What?"
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been muttering to himself, gripped the chopsticks on the table.
"I used to just throw punches first, but now I have a reputation to uphold, you know?"
Flick!
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and flicked his finger. One chopstick shot through the air and embedded itself in the floor.
"You know about the Qi Gate Formation, right?"
"What?"
"Even a hastily constructed one can replicate the effects of Heavenly Concealment Evasion. It makes the interior invisible and blocks all sound. Ever heard of 'formless' or 'soundless'?"
Flick, flick, flick!
With a smile, Zhuge Munhyeon slowly walked around the room, flicking chopsticks into the floor one after another.
"This is the last one. Formation activated."
As the final chopstick landed and Zhuge Munhyeon smirked, the surrounding scenery completely transformed.
It was as if a massive curtain had dropped around them, sealing them off from the outside world.
"Alright, the barrier's up... If you're confident, try taking your apology."
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned so widely it seemed almost sinister.
But as he drew closer, Zhuge Munho's expression shifted dramatically.
It wasn't because the Qi Gate Formation had been activated.
The thunderous footsteps of Zhuge Munhyeon echoed through the tavern.
Creak... creak...
Though the tavern floor was wooden, it shouldn't have been making such loud noises under normal circumstances.
It was clear an immense weight was bearing down on it.
N-no way...?
Zhuge Munho's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had claimed to walk with ordinary steps, as if he hadn't mastered any footwork techniques.
Now, thinking back, that meant he hadn't ridden a horse or carriage.
He had walked a hundred li...
Could it be that the journey itself was a form of cultivation?
As if to confirm this suspicion, Zhuge Munhyeon rolled up his sleeves, unfastened the dark iron weights, and grinned.
Click, KUUUUUNG!
The floor shattered beneath the dropped iron weights.
The sound jolted Zhuge Munho's carefully buried memories to the surface.
Twelve years old. The memory of that time.
His body froze instantly, his breath catching in his throat.
"...Refreshing. One arm should be enough, right? To guide our brothers onto the true path."
As Zhuge Munhyeon removed the iron weights and stretched his fingers, Zhuge Gwan and the remaining brothers charged forward, their faces flushed with fury.
"H-halt!" Zhuge Munho shouted, but his cousins had already closed the distance to Zhuge Munhyeon.
"Pyeong-ah, step back! I'll teach this brat some manners!"
Zhuge Gwan leaped forward, his fist swinging powerfully to defend Zhuge Pyeong, whose wrist had been twisted.
Pathetic. Did he call me a good-for-nothing? I'll smash his face in!
Just as Zhuge Munhyeon's clenched fist began to glow with energy, Yeo Mungi's desperate cry pierced his ears:
"Munhyeon! Please..."
"..."
Haah, really...
At Yeo Mungi's plea, Zhuge Munhyeon reluctantly withdrew his fist.
Whoosh!
Zhuge Gwan's fist grazed the tip of his nose, leaving a stinging sensation.
But Yeo Mungi was right. What was the point of activating the Qi Gate Formation to isolate them from the outside world if the children got hurt? He'd only face accusations and be branded a good-for-nothing again. That won't do. I've only just taken my first steps. I can't afford to fall out of favor with the clan. And I can't just arbitrarily force Zhuge Munho out of his Deputy Branch Head position again.
"You got lucky this time, you bastard! But there won't be a second!"
"Hmph..."
Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at Zhuge Gwan's renewed stance and the encircling cousins.
They're so arrogant, not even realizing I let them off easy...
"Tch, beating them would be ideal, but I suppose I have no choice. For the sake of my reputation, it's best to avoid leaving any lasting injuries."
"Reputation? What a joke! You're all talk!" Zhuge Gwan sneered, launching another attack.
Effortlessly dodging the weak punches and kicks, Zhuge Munhyeon raised a single finger and lightly jabbed it.
Under Zhuge Gwan's armpit.
Poke!
The sound was so faint it was barely audible, but the moment Zhuge Gwan was pricked, he collapsed limply and began writhing violently.
"Ugh... AAAH!"
Everyone blinked in stunned silence, their faces blank with disbelief.
He just poked him?
But the sight of Zhuge Gwan rolling on the ground, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, seemed to panic his cousins, who quickly backed away.
"What... what did you do? Did you... learn Demonic Arts?"
Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled softly at their reaction.
Demonic Arts? What a joke... These Orthodox Faction fools never change. If they can't understand something, they immediately label it Demonic Arts, just like they always have. This was an improved version of the Sinew Separation and Bone Misplacement Technique. While it didn't actually twist meridians or sever bones, it inflicted pain comparable to those injuries. Leaving no visible wounds.
Poke! Poke!
"Aaaaargh!"
Moving with lightning speed, Zhuge Munhyeon inflicted pain on Zhuge Pyeong and the remaining one, sending them rolling on the ground. He then strode toward Zhuge Munho.
Zhuge Munho, his body tense, gritted his teeth and glared.
Fear. Memories of the past tightened around him like a vise. But he hadn't neglected his training either. If only he could shake off the fear and banish those memories...
"You want to fight too?"
"..."
"Let's stop here. I don't want to hurt you."
For Zhuge Munhyeon, it was a gesture of consideration for their shared past. But for Zhuge Munho, it was an insult.
Yet he couldn't shake the memories flooding his mind. The moment he met Zhuge Munhyeon's chilling smile and piercing gaze, his body froze, as if turned to ice.
"Tch, how boring. If you're not going to fight, at least keep your eyes open properly."
Zhuge Munho unconsciously lowered his gaze, intimidated by the menacing words and glaring eyes.
The savage madness and brutality in Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes seemed to crush his entire being.
He had vowed not to yield...
Yet his resolve crumbled so easily, rendering his past efforts meaningless.
"Mungi, are you alright?"
"Ugh..."
Losing interest, Zhuge Munhyeon approached Yeo Mungi and helped him up.
"Let's go. The wine's lost its flavor."
"Wh-what about them?"
"They'll recover soon. I only inflicted pain; there's no lasting damage. As for the Qi Gate Formation... they'll figure it out themselves. They're Zhuges, after all."
With a dismissive wave, Zhuge Munhyeon strode out of the formation. Yeo Mungi glanced back at the others left behind.
"Aaaah!"
Those stabbed in the body still writhed on the ground. Zhuge Munho, his face etched with despair, remained paralyzed by past memories, unable to act.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny