Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Translator: Penny
Episode 20
Dawn broke.
Branch Head Zhuge Cheong stood before the assembled crowd in the training grounds and shouted loudly, "Teams will consist of two Byeongju Hall scholars and three guards. The Honyeon Faction is taking this matter very seriously, so we must be prepared for potential attacks. If you find yourselves in danger, immediately blow your whistles and retreat! Under no circumstances should you engage in direct confrontation!"
"Yes, sir!"
After the lengthy speech, the teams were assigned.
The process was quick, as the Branch Head and his staff had already finalized the assignments the previous night.
"Team Ten! Chief: Byeongju Hall Scholar O Sangmun. Assistant: Yeo Mungi. Guards: Zhuge Gwan, Zhuge Pyeong, and Zhuge Hwi."
"..."
"Munhyeon, you'll be joining as an apprentice. Stay behind the seniors, observe closely, and learn as much as you can."
"Yes, sir."
Zhuge Munhyeon responded respectfully to Mun Ilhwa's words.
As an apprentice, I need to make a good impression.
"Please take good care of me, everyone."
"Huh?"
"Ha ha, you people! Why are you so surprised? The faster you complete the repairs, the sooner you'll get paid, right?"
"Ah... that's true."
At Chief O Sangmun's words, Zhuge Pyeong glared at Zhuge Munhyeon with a displeased expression.
Should I just stab him right now? Maybe give him another poke?
Zhuge Munhyeon raised a finger and glared back. Perhaps the memory of the previous night's "incident" was still too vivid, because Zhuge Pyeong immediately cleared his throat and turned away.
A guy who can't even handle a little poke is trying to glare at me?
Still, he seemed to be keeping his mouth shut.
He hadn't breathed a word about what happened the night before.
"Deputy Branch Head!"
"Yes!"
"While the Formation is being repaired, go to the Honyeon Faction border and monitor their movements."
"Understood."
"Remember, safety is paramount. This repair is a highly sensitive matter for them as well."
"Yes, sir!"
Zhuge Munho answered crisply, then glanced sideways. Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled softly.
"Alright, teams, move to your assigned sectors."
As the Branch Head finished speaking, the Zhuge Clan's Maintenance Team split into their respective groups and began moving out.
The repair site was located at the southern edge of the territory, in a disputed area closest to the Honyeon Faction.
"Ugh, I thought my heart was going to burst from anxiety."
"Why?"
"Why do you think? I was worried about what happened last night coming back to bite us."
"We didn't leave any marks."
"Marks aren't the point! There were witnesses!"
"It all blew over, didn't it? They probably didn't want to admit they got humiliated."
"That's a relief... sigh, anyway, please be careful. Okay? I swear, you're going to give me a heart attack one of these days."
"Don't worry, people don't die that easily."
"Ugh, if only you'd shut up..."
Yeo Mungi shook his head at Zhuge Munhyeon's utter lack of concern.
But inwardly, he was deeply shaken.
He knew Zhuge Munhyeon's skills must be exceptional, given that he carried around two hundred geun of Iron Weights. But he never imagined he could single-handedly defeat four Black Tiger Corps warriors in an instant.
Just how high a level has he reached...?
After training at the Heavenly Star Pavilion, Yeo Mungi had chosen the path of a scholar, making it difficult for him to gauge Zhuge Munhyeon's current level.
"Well, let's put that aside for now. I'll explain what we need to do."
"Repairing the Phantom Formation?"
"Yes."
"Do I need to know about this? I was just told to observe."
"You should observe with understanding. Please pay attention. You're not just a bodyguard anymore; you're an apprentice scholar of the Byeongju Hall."
"Tch."
Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at Yeo Mungi's explanation.
He didn't need the explanation to understand the purpose of the Phantom Formation.
The Yanghyeon Branch was in a precarious position, constantly threatened by potential attacks from the Honyeon Faction across the border.
However, monitoring the entire mountain range was impractical due to manpower and cost limitations.
Therefore, formations and mechanisms were installed at strategic chokepoints, leaving only a few key paths open.
By monitoring these chokepoints, the branch could significantly reduce surveillance costs.
Of course, this was a feat only the Zhuge Clan could accomplish.
Come to think of it, it was always like this. This was the border between the Demonic Cult and the Central Plains. Occasionally, the Zhuge Clan would lead large-scale construction projects, installing mechanisms and formations in strategic locations. Back then, the Zhuge Clan's influence was immense... Without them, the Central Plains would have to pour vast resources into defending against the Demonic Cult. It was impossible to protect such a vast territory alone. But now...
Those lunatics! Are they too busy fighting their own civil war to care?
The thought reignited his anger.
Fools... If they had maintained their former glory, would the Zhuge Clan have fallen into such a sorry state? With the Demonic Cult weakened and the Martial Alliance dissolved, the clan's military role diminished, causing their influence to shrink to this extent. They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but against raw, unyielding power, the pen is utterly useless. My situation is truly... This is why one must cultivate strength in ordinary times.
"Hmm, but what if villagers accidentally wander into the Phantom Formation? They could get trapped and lose their lives..."
"Don't worry. It's non-lethal."
"Huh?"
"It's just a simple Phantom Formation. You know, like the Fog Formation."
"Ah..."
The Fog Formation.
A formation that shrouds the surroundings in mist, making it impossible to find one's way.
"Once the formation is set up, we need to install safety markers and educate the villagers."
"But what if someone still gets trapped?"
"It's okay. It'll only be an hour or two at most. The branch's martial artists patrol regularly to rescue anyone trapped."
"I see."
Even though he'd resolved to live as a son of the Zhuge Clan, hearing this still left him feeling strangely resentful.
Safety markers? Patrols? Then why did they treat the Demonic Cult so differently? Even if the cult had committed countless sins in the past, they hadn't launched any campaigns against us during my time. Yet countless children had died after accidentally stepping into those damned Formations. Damn them... It's not like they're discriminating against people, are they?
"Ah, it looks like we've arrived."
Just as he was inwardly grumbling, the lead carriage came to a halt, just as Yeo Mungi had predicted.
"Please begin the maintenance work. We'll secure the perimeter."
"Understood."
After finishing his instructions, Zhuge Pyeong led the guards into a 品-shaped formation, while O Sangmun surveyed the terrain.
The recent heavy rains had clearly taken a significant toll.
The ground was torn up and collapsed in places, leaving no trace of the original Formation.
"Chief, it looks like we'll have to set up a new one," O Sangmun said.
"Indeed. This will take quite some time. No choice, then. I'll take the Core, and you handle the Left Flank. As for the Right Flank... we'll set it up after the others are complete."
Yeo Mungi hesitated, glancing at Zhuge Munhyeon.
This might be a good opportunity to showcase his talents.
Even if the previous day's incident caused trouble later, proving his skill in Formation maintenance and earning recognition for his abilities could potentially mitigate the consequences.
"How about we assign the Right Flank to Munhyeon?"
"To Munhyeon?"
"Yes."
Zhuge Munhyeon's face twisted into a scowl at the sudden mention of his name.
Why are they dragging me into this?
His assigned task was simply to observe.
But Yeo Mungi, undeterred by Zhuge Munhyeon's murderous glare, continued, "He's far more skilled at Formation construction than I am. You can trust him with this."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. But if he does well, please be sure to report his contributions to the higher-ups."
"Of course. How could I not? Especially since the apprentice is offering to help."
O Sangmun beamed, clearly pleased to have secured a reliable ally for what promised to be a lengthy repair job.
"Munhyeon, can you handle this?"
"..."
"Good. Then come here. I'll explain how to configure the Formation Axis."
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had come as an apprentice and suddenly found himself tasked with Formation repairs, glared at Yeo Mungi, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
I'll just—!
But then...
"Ha ha! Just trust us, Young Master!"
"That's right. We're experienced in this kind of work."
The workers grinned broadly, offering their encouragement.
He restrained himself because of them.
Yes, if I make a contribution now, it might be useful later.
"Alright, let's get started."
"Yes, sir."
The half-hearted discussion concluded, and the three men dispersed to their assigned areas, each accompanied by several workers.
Soon, the construction of the formation began.
The Fog Formation they were installing had a simple structure, but its vast scale made it impossible for a single person to complete alone.
Precise measurements were required for distances, and the angles of the cores had to be consistent. Only after thorough verification could the formation function stably, making the process time-consuming.
Though called a "formation," this type of installation in the wilderness was purely manual labor.
They had to dig out unnecessary stones, level the ground, and drive the pivot stakes deep into the earth.
As he continued to shovel, he grew increasingly irritated.
Mun Ilhwa had simply told him to watch and learn, but it felt like he was doing pointless work.
All because of Yeo Mungi... Here I am, the Heavenly Demon, reduced to shoveling dirt. Should I just bury him here and be done with it?
Driven by frustration, he dug into the ground with furious strokes, the soil flying out in clumps.
"Huh? Young Master, you're really good at this! You're even better than us, and we've been working our whole lives!"
"Oh my, most people just give orders... It's so admirable to see you leading by example like this."
Hmm... Is that so?
Their words eased his irritation slightly. He even felt a flicker of pride.
Come to think of it, despite his long life, he couldn't remember the last time he'd received such genuine praise.
But this was a one-time thing.
Next time, he absolutely wouldn't do any more manual labor.
"We'll be finished the fastest, won't we?"
"It's all thanks to Young Master."
"At first, I was worried that a noble like you might hinder the work, since you're just an apprentice... Hah hah! What a foolish thought that was."
"..."
The workers showered him with praise, even bringing him water and offering cloths to wipe his sweat.
Honestly, these people... As if shoveling dirt is some great accomplishment.
"Move aside."
"Eek!"
Thirsting for praise, Zhuge Munhyeon took over tasks that should have been done by the workers themselves.
He worked so diligently that the Right Flank Formation, which he was responsible for, was completed the fastest among the three formations.
Now, all that remained was to install safety posts engraved with the words "Formation Zone: Detour" and string up the red boundary rope.
"What? Is it already finished? Wow! And it's even perfectly accurate? You're truly remarkable. A Formation created by one person is far more difficult than one built by a group working together."
"..."
Shut up. I'm still furious with you. I've dug a deep pit for you—a pit far deeper than this Formation.
"Hmm, but we're still far behind... Now that you're finished, could you lend us a hand?"
Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes narrowed at the awkward smile and request.
Is this guy crazy? Help them? I barely managed to finish my assigned task, half-dead, only to hear this!
"Do you really want to die?"
"Huh?"
"Is this because your father coddled you? You keep trying to boss people around? I came here as an apprentice, not a Formation Master! I'm already furious enough from digging all day."
Zhuge Munhyeon's anger flared, his eyes glaring fiercely. Yeo Mungi flinched and backed away.
"Wait, Munhyeon, just a moment."
"Don't worry. I'll bury you without leaving a mark, just pain. You saw what happened last night, didn't you?"
He raised a finger and advanced on Yeo Mungi with a sinister expression.
Piii!
A sharp whistle pierced the air from a distance.
📝 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