Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Translator: Penny
Episode 39
"Grandfather!"
"Oh! Munhyeon!"
On the banks of the Danggangu River stood the small manor of the musician.
As dusk began to fall, news of Zhuge Munhyeon's arrival reached the elderly musician, who rushed out barefoot to greet him.
Baek Hansang, known as "Jade Sound, Silk Strings," was the most renowned musician in northern Hubei and Zhuge Munhyeon's maternal grandfather.
"Please accept my respects."
"Aigoo, you'll get your clothes dirty, you rascal!"
The old man fussed anxiously, worried that even a speck of dust might sully Zhuge Munhyeon's snow-white robes. But Zhuge Munhyeon paid no heed and prostrated himself on the ground.
Gwan Hwipyeong, exhausted from running with his iron weights, reluctantly joined in the bow, though his face couldn't help but twist into a grimace.
Of course, as brothers and with Baek Hansang being the Zhuge Clan's esteemed in-law, they were obligated to show proper respect.
Still...
We... I guess we can go inside.
Even after standing up, his expression remained polite, but inwardly, he was seething with anger.
"No, everyone..."
Baek Hansang couldn't help but feel flustered.
He could understand his grandson's behavior, but the fact that even the other descendants of the Zhuge Clan were showing such deference, kneeling on the ground without hesitation, left him utterly bewildered.
After all, what had things been like before?
Though he was the Zhuge Clan's in-law, his status as a musician had always prevented him from receiving proper respect.
Normally, these people would have barely nodded in acknowledgment...
"Welcome, welcome! I received your mother's letter. You plan to stay for a few days?"
"Yes."
"I'm truly delighted. I've already reserved a decent guest room for you and your companions."
"Huh? Why a guest room?"
"Why? Well, it's bound to be more comfortable for everyone to stay there. The bedding here isn't the best, and the food..."
"Are there no rooms available? When I visited last time, there were plenty of empty rooms."
"That's not it..."
Baek Hansang unconsciously glanced at Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong, gauging their reactions.
This was the first time the other descendants had accompanied them, and he assumed they should stay in proper accommodations.
How could scions of a prestigious clan possibly stay in a musician's house?
But then...
"Aish, why waste money on a guest room?"
"Huh?"
"Just give us an empty room. The courtyard's spacious and perfect for training."
"Mu, Munhyeon-ah."
Baek Hansang couldn't hide his dismay.
A vacant room? How could we possibly have such a distinguished guest stay in such a place?
Yet none of the others who had accompanied him raised any objections. This was unprecedented. It was the first time anyone from the Zhuge Clan had visited, aside from his daughter and her husband, and Zhuge Munhyeon himself.
"We do have a room, but I assumed you'd prefer the guest room, so it hasn't been cleaned."
"We can clean it ourselves."
"What?"
Clean it themselves? A descendant of the Zhuge Clan?
"More importantly, can we get some food? I'm starving."
"..."
Baek Hansang could only stare in bewildered silence at Zhuge Munhyeon's grinning face.
And so began the meal.
"Does it suit your taste?"
"Yes."
It wasn't just suitable—it was far beyond that.
As the saying goes, hunger is the best sauce. Having sprinted all the way to Danggangu, their stomachs pressed against their spines, they devoured the meal before the steam had even dissipated.
They ate with such ravenous gusto it was almost gluttonous.
Yet the food wasn't that exceptional...
Still, seeing the descendants of the Zhuge Clan—who were accustomed to enjoying Fine Wine in Golden Goblets and Delicious Food on Jade Plates—relish the meal so heartily filled Baek Hansang's heart with pride.
"Is there more?"
"Ah... yes, of course there is."
What greater gratitude could there be for the cook than to see their food devoured with such relish?
Baek Hansang hastily instructed the chef to prepare more dishes.
And so, the tempestuous meal came to an end.
"Our grandson has grown so much. Tell me, how have you been all this time?"
"You know how I've always been a troublemaker since I was little."
"Heh heh! Who wasn't mischievous as a child?"
"These are the very kids who got punished back then."
"Huh...?"
Zhuge Munhyeon pointed, and Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong exchanged sheepish glances.
"M-Munhyeon... watch your tongue..."
"What's the big deal? It's all just a memory now, right?"
"..."
The four of them could only manage bitter smiles at that question.
A memory? This is still happening. Just moments ago, I was running and got whacked on the butt with an iron rod, leaving it throbbing.
"By the way, why do you keep using honorifics with them?"
"Well, you see..."
"Just relax and speak comfortably. Considering your age and status, you're far older than the Main Clan Patriarch. Why would you use honorifics with someone who's practically your grandchild?"
"..."
His mind went blank.
What is this child even saying? Comparing a Musician to the Main Clan Patriarch in front of Zhuge Clan descendants... Even if he meant well...
"That's right. Please speak comfortably, Esteemed In-Law."
"Huh?"
"Using 'sir' with me, who's practically your grandchild? Please lower your tone. It makes me feel awkward. If the Patriarch finds out, I'll be in serious trouble."
"Ah, no, that's not what I meant..."
Growing even more flustered, Baek Hansang listened as Zhuge Munho, a faint smile playing on his lips, recounted recent events within the Zhuge Clan.
He spoke of Zhuge Munhyeon's remarkable achievements, his words continuing until the meal was cleared and the tea had grown cold.
"...Recently, there's even been a movement among the young ladies to learn child-rearing from Aunt in her chambers."
"Heh heh, is that so?"
"Of course. Munhyeon is the pride of the Zhuge Clan."
At Zhuge Munho's words, Baek Hansang's eyes grew moist with tears of joy.
How much he had worried all this time!
He knew all too well the hardships a musician's daughter faced when marrying into a prestigious clan, without needing anyone to spell it out.
And yet...
"Heh heh, heh..."
Baek Hansang could only laugh, unable to find the words to express his relief.
It was at that moment...
"Master, you must hurry and prepare for the Requested Performance."
"Oh my! Has it already come to that? I've lost track of time..."
Hearing the voice from outside, Baek Hansang rose from his seat.
"You're still performing at Requested Performances?"
"Heh heh, what a silly question! A musician can't just stop playing."
"But you're getting older now."
"If I stop working just because I'm old, how will I pay my living expenses?"
"Huh? Doesn't Mother send you pocket money?"
"I've already warned her not to."
"Why?"
"You rascal! I'm still perfectly healthy. How could I rely on your mother when she's already struggling?"
She's already struggling... He's worried. Worried that his daughter might be criticized for sending him pocket money.
"I turned down this job several times when I heard you were coming, but they kept pestering me so much I couldn't bring myself to cancel. You know how famous this old man is, don't you? There's no musician in northern Hubei who can match me."
Seeing Baek Hansang boasting, as if his mood had lightened, he chuckled softly.
"Alright, then. Rest up and recover from your journey. I'll go earn your allowance. And don't fight with your brothers."
"Do you think I'm a child?"
"Tsk, you rascal! It feels like just yesterday your mother was sending letters complaining about your troublemaking."
"..."
Mother, really? She must have written about everything. Well, she didn't have many people to talk to back then.
With a satisfied expression, Baek Hansang gathered his jade flute and zither and left the manor.
"Now that we've finished eating, shall we begin our training?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Training?"
"Why?!"
Their reactions varied, but their underlying sentiment was the same.
"Tsk, tsk. Haven't you ever heard the saying that a martial artist who neglects training even for a moment will grow thorns in their mouth?"
"..."
Who the hell said that?! Who uttered such righteous words?!
Their eyes burned with fierce resistance, but now, merely mentioning the Silver River Staff would resolve everything.
Damn it! Just you wait! I'll definitely get stronger! I'll crush you! So that's how they feel. Satisfying. I was once the man who raised a disciple solely to have him kill me.
But that was a distant future, one that might never come to pass in this lifetime.
So for now, train diligently.
To become stronger...
"Um, could I join too?" Sayo asked cautiously.
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned. "Were you planning not to?"
Exhausted from their journey and training, the group fell into a deep slumber, so soundly that they wouldn't have noticed if someone carried them away.
How could I even think about cleaning when I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow?
Besides, since his maternal grandfather, who had requested the performance, hadn't returned yet, Munhyeon couldn't possibly go to bed first.
Seizing the opportunity to be alone, Zhuge Munhyeon sat cross-legged beneath the moon, savoring the tranquil atmosphere.
Minor Heavenly Star Art. He was finally on the verge of mastering Intent Qi. Martial artists typically consider this stage their first major hurdle. But the heavens, it seemed, delighted in testing mortals. Nine out of ten practitioners never find a way to overcome this barrier and grow old without achieving mastery. But this is a path I've already walked. It's not a lack of Internal Power that holds me back, but a lack of understanding.
What others saw as an insurmountable wall, Zhuge Munhyeon viewed as a mere low threshold.
"Hoo..."
With a short, steady breath, Zhuge Munhyeon slowly stepped into the realm of Intent Qi.
The Qi gathered within his body, Gathered Like Stars, was as orderly as the stars fixed in the heavens. Yet when it dispersed through his limbs and hundred acupoints, Scattered Like Clouds and Smoke, it flowed as freely as clouds and mist.
Intent Leads Qi to Move, and Qi Follows Intent to Rotate.
The gently drawn forth internal energy seeped into the unpenetrated gaps between meridians, expanding its domain.
Woo-oong!
A faint light originating from his dantian spread along the meridians, and a subtle radiance finally emanated from his entire body.
Intent Qi, and complete Star's Reply, had been achieved.
To some, this might seem effortless, but behind it lay the Heavenly Demon's relentless dedication to cultivation.
Now, all that remained was to gather and refine.
He needed to gather the energy that had spread through his limbs and meridians, returning it to his dantian for proper refinement.
He could stop now, but he wanted to savor the resurgence of his Intent Qi. It had been a long time since he'd felt that exhilarating sensation of energy coursing through every corner of his body, sending shivers down his spine.
Bang!
"...?"
In the stillness of the night, when everyone was asleep, Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been refining his Internal Power, suddenly snapped his eyes open at the jarring noise.
The door had been flung wide open.
His clothes were soaked with sweat.
"Young Master!"
The man, his face contorted in distress, burst into the courtyard and rushed toward Zhuge Munhyeon, who was sitting in the pavilion.
Who is this?
"Could you please call for Young Master Zhuge Munhyeon?"
"I... am Zhuge Munhyeon."
"Ah! That's perfect. This is truly fortunate."
"What's the matter?"
"You need to go there immediately. Musician Baek..."
He stood up, cutting him off.
Though he didn't know him, his frantic arrival and mention of his grandfather meant something serious had happened.
His heart began to race.
What could have happened?
The fact that he'd come to him instead of someone from the Manor clearly indicated a crisis so severe that the Zhuge Clan's name was needed.
His grandfather was already elderly.
If something terrible were to happen, how would his mother bear the grief?
"Lead the way."
"Huh?"
"We can talk about the details on the way. It sounds urgent."
"Ah! Understood."
The man's name was Wang Il.
He said he was a musician at Hweunru, the most opulent tavern on the southern bank of the Danggangu River.
Baek Hanseong had gone to the Requested Performance there.
And...
"He said he would return home after the Requested Performance, but a conflict arose with the guests who wouldn't let him go..."
"A conflict?"
"Yes."
"So the guests...?"
"No. He did manage to leave the banquet hall, but... some resentful individuals followed him out and dragged him away..."
"D-dragged him away?"
"Yes. They couldn't cause a scene at the banquet, especially since it was a gathering for esteemed guests..."
"Where exactly did they drag him to?"
"I know. There's a place where those bastards take disobedient people, hidden away from prying eyes to prevent rumors from spreading."
At Wang Il's words, Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes narrowed sharply, a murderous intent flickering within them.
A place where they take disobedient people...
It was clear what horrors awaited within, even without seeing it.
These bastards... They don't even know who the Musician's grandson is!
Seething with rage, he didn't even bother asking who the culprit was. Even if they had told him, he wouldn't have heard it.
Click. Thud!
The Iron Weights fell away.
📝 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