Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Translator: Penny
Chapter 47
Gyunhyeon maintained close ties with the Wudang Sect.
Even though the sect members had transcended worldly affairs and generally remained detached from worldly matters, they paid special attention to Gyunhyeon.
This was because all supplies destined for Wudang passed through the town.
Gyunhyeon, in turn, relied on visitors to Wudang for its livelihood, fostering a remarkably friendly relationship with the sect.
Indeed, it was only natural.
Shops renting Daoist robes to tourists and pilgrims, urging them to create lasting memories, and guide services promoting Mount Wudang tourism generated substantial revenue.
Moreover, since all the land surrounding Mount Wudang had been granted by the nation, many residents worked as tenant farmers. With relatively low tenancy fees, the population had been steadily increasing each year.
But for Zhuge Munhyeon, Wudang held a different significance.
It was the location of the Virtuous Celestial's Secret Cave, where the dream of Ascension he had failed to achieve in his previous life might still reside.
As he approached what he believed to be his life's purpose, his pace naturally quickened. By the time he reached the outskirts of Gyunhyeon, his heart was pounding fiercely.
"Ahem! That's Mount Wudang over there," Zhuge Munho declared, clearing his throat and pointing to the distant, towering peak with an air of scholarly authority.
"According to the Record of Jingzhou..."
"Mount Wudang is also known as Celestial Dwelling or Great Harmony. The Commentary on the Water Classic states that it has been called Mount Taihe, Samsangsan, Sarasan, Great Peak, and Grand Peak," Munhyeon interjected, reciting the information from memory.
"Huh?"
"According to the Stele of the Great Five Dragons Spiritual Response Ten Thousand Longevity Palace, there's a mountain near Yanghan County with a circumference of eight hundred li. Its name was Great Harmony, but when the Primordial Martial Deity attained enlightenment there, he renamed it Mount Wudang. The mountain's energy is said to be so potent that only the Primordial Martial Deity could withstand it, hence the name Mount Wudang."
"Ah, you know about that..."
Feeling awkward, Zhuge Munho clamped his mouth shut.
He hadn't meant to embarrass him.
The explanation had simply blurted out automatically.
After all the years I'd spent on that mountain... Does he even know how long I endured, sitting in the pitch-black Taiji Cave with a candle, chewing and swallowing those rock-hard Grain-Seclusion Pills, all for the sake of Ascension?
That was truly grueling.
That bastard Yu Gilcheon had blocked the entrance with a boulder, trapping me inside. I could have smashed it, but I didn't want to feel like I was losing.
But did I really just cultivate the whole time?
No one could do that.
Even facing a wall gets old after a day or two. The boredom and loneliness became unbearable.
So I read.
I read the books stored in Taiji Cave.
They weren't Martial Arts Manuals, but rather works on Daoist history and mental and physical cultivation—incredibly dull stuff. Still, I figured it wouldn't hurt to learn about Daoism beforehand, since I'd have to enter the Celestial Realm after Ascension.
Thanks to that, I can confidently say that while I may not know the Secret Daoist Arts, my knowledge of Daoist history and the proper conduct of a Daoist surpasses even that of the Wudang Daoists.
I'd read those books so diligently, poring over the same volumes countless times, that their contents were practically etched into my mind.
Muryangsu-bul.
"Where did you even learn all this?"
"Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion."
"Huh?"
"The Zhuge Clan has everything."
"Ah..."
Zhuge Munho nodded at his casual reply, but Gwan Hwipyeong, who had been listening nearby, tilted his head in confusion.
Wasn't he kicked out after just a few days?
Exactly! He's such a weirdo. Maybe he was a Wudang Daoist in his past life, not a Demonic Cultist?
Pyeong-ah, please stop with the nonsense.
Gwan Hwipyeong's muttering finally made him gasp.
Pyeong is sharper than I thought.
"Ahem! Let's hurry. Everyone must be waiting."
"Right."
The Zhuge Clan brothers quickened their pace toward the inn where the Maintenance Team was staying.
"Ah, you've arrived!" Baekmu greeted them warmly.
"Yes," Munhyeon replied.
"You've worked hard. Truly, you've worked hard. I've heard tales of your exploits in Danggangu from the Main Clan."
Baekmu welcomed them with open arms.
The others looked at them with expressions of admiration, as if they were gazing upon the clan's heroes.
Having achieved another great feat after the Honyeon Faction incident, Zhuge Munhyeon had firmly etched his name into the minds of the people.
He was seen as the future of the Zhuge Clan.
"Has Wudang contacted us yet?" Munhyeon asked.
"Actually, we just received permission to enter the mountain. Since you were coming, I requested that the Daoist who would guide you down the mountain."
"That's fortunate. I expected the entry procedures to be more complicated."
"Perhaps the Secret Cave Restoration is more urgent than we thought."
Zhuge Munhyeon nodded in agreement with Baekmu's words.
Those who come are not virtuous, and the virtuous do not come. This proverb meant that those who arrived unannounced could not enter the Daoist Gate, and those who did come must first declare their intent, receive permission, and follow the prescribed procedures.
This was the ancient protocol established by Wudang and other Daoist Gates.
When he had been the Heavenly Demon, he could visit any Daoist Gate at any time and always be served tea. But now, as a member of the Zhuge Clan, he had to adhere to the rules and procedures.
"We still have some time left. Why don't you tell us about what happened at Danggangu? I heard you uncovered and thwarted the Seven Kill Sect's plot in advance?"
"Ah, that... Where should I even begin?"
As curious gazes converged on him, Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled awkwardly.
"That's right! I'll tell you about the crucial role I played! Hahaha!"
As if he had been waiting for this moment, Zhuge Pyeong stepped forward with a triumphant expression.
"It was three days ago, on the night history began! We were training at the Manor when we received news that our Esteemed In-Law had been kidnapped and rescued."
"..."
He sure knows how to talk, Zhuge Munhyeon thought dryly. Especially considering he was probably asleep the whole time.
But perhaps the heavens truly were fair. They had gifted this man, lacking in both wit and skill, with exceptional eloquence.
Even Zhuge Munhyeon, who had experienced the events firsthand and initially felt indifferent, gradually found himself listening more intently.
It was even thrilling.
If he found it so captivating, what about the others?
A collective gasp of "Wow!" escaped their lips as they were instantly drawn into the story.
As they remained entranced by Zhuge Pyeong's tale, a Daoist from the Taiji Daoist Temple entered the inn. His serene face framed by a tall Daoist coronet, he carried a White Horsehair Whisk that resembled a large duster. He addressed them:
"Muryangsu-bul. You are the Maintenance Team from the Zhuge Clan, correct?"
"Yes, we are," Baekmu replied, snapping to attention to greet them.
"I am Yeonghwa, sent from the main temple."
"Ye-Yeonghwa-bae?" Baekmu stammered.
"Is something the matter?"
"Are you perhaps an Elder?"
"Indeed. I hold the position of Master of the Yuzhen Palace."
Yeonghwa's words startled Baekmu, who bowed his head again in surprise.
"I was unaware that you were one of the masters of the Eight Palaces. I apologize for my rudeness."
"Please dispense with the formalities. It's merely a title... there's no need for such excessive courtesy."
Easy to say, but how could I possibly dispense with the formalities?
The character "永" (Yong) in his generation name.
This placed him in the Elder rank within the current Wudang Sect. As the Master of the Yuzhen Palace, he oversaw Wudang's external affairs, primarily managing foreign relations.
In other words, he was the true power holder of Wudang.
And he maintained close ties with the Maintenance Team.
Even for Baekmu, a man of considerable age, this was a position that no martial artist would dare to treat lightly.
"Are you fully prepared to enter the mountain?"
"Yes."
"It's fortunate you prepared in advance. The Sect Leader has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"Thank you for saying so."
Yeonghwa smiled, pleased by Baekmu's respectful demeanor.
"Ah, I heard someone from Danggangu has arrived?"
"Yes! They arrived earlier and are currently speaking with the family."
"May I be introduced?"
"Huh? An introduction?"
"A letter arrived from the Zhuge Clan, outlining the situation. Wudang had overlooked the plot devised by Southern Henan's rabble, but you handled it admirably. I'd like to express our gratitude."
"Ah..."
This was a somewhat sensitive matter.
The incident at Danggangu.
While it was a cause for celebration for the Zhuge Clan, it was a less palatable issue for Wudang.
But he couldn't pretend not to hear the request.
"Children, come quickly and greet the Master of the Yuzhen Palace."
At his stern tone, Zhuge Munho bowed first.
"I am Zhuge Munho of the Zhuge Clan."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Next, Gwan Hwipyeong bowed, and Yeonghwa responded with a warm smile.
And then...
"I am Zhuge Munhyeon of the Zhuge Clan," Zhuge Munhyeon said, respectfully cupping his hands in a formal bow.
The thought of that bastard Yu Gilcheon's Ascension Method causing his birth made curses rise to his throat, but he had to suppress them.
After all, he was here to fulfill a contract.
At least until he entered the Virtuous Celestial's Secret Cave and witnessed the Secret to Ascension with his own eyes, he had to maintain the utmost courtesy.
The moment Yeonghwa received Zhuge Munhyeon's greeting, a peculiar glint flashed in his eyes.
Hmm, this fellow is quite unusual. How does he know the Daoist rites so well?
Wudang valued etiquette highly, believing it to be a form of cultivation. After all, proper posture and mental discipline were essential for walking the righteous path.
The way he clasped his hands, the angle of his bow, even the precise spacing of his feet—flawless.
Unlike the others, Zhuge Munhyeon's greeting was reverent and refined, as if he had studied Daoist customs for years. Yet it carried an impressive presence.
Hmm, he looks young... but I can't quite gauge him.
This was astonishing.
It was said that martial artists who had reached a certain level could roughly gauge an opponent's skill by sensing the subtle aura emanating from their body.
But Yeonghwa could sense nothing.
Even with his Intent Qi-enhanced vision, he saw nothing—as if the man had never trained in martial arts, or as if he were at the same level as Yeonghwa, or even higher.
Intrigued, Yeonghwa asked, "How old are you?"
"Fifteen," the man replied.
"What? F-fifteen?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"..."
Yeonghwa was speechless at Zhuge Munhyeon's counter-question.
Though the man looked young, Yeonghwa had assumed he was at least twenty. Fifteen? It was astonishing.
At that age, he shouldn't possess such formidable Qi...
"Have you ever received instruction from Daoists before?"
"That can't be. I've spent my entire life within the Clan's walls and only recently ventured into the martial world."
"Muryangsu-bul. But why was Wudang's etiquette so distinctive?"
"..."
At that moment, Zhuge Munhyeon realized why Yeonghwa was asking so many probing questions.
He must have unconsciously adopted the etiquette described in the books he'd read in Taiji Cave, driven by the instinct to observe proper decorum. He'd even practiced these manners out of sheer boredom while studying them.
Damn it, should I have said I learned it at the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion?
But he quickly found a better answer.
"Wudang's Yeongmun Daoist had a connection to my father. I've heard he had even offered me a heartfelt blessing."
"Yeongmun? Could it be that you're the son of the Head of the Byeongju Hall of the Zhuge Clan?"
"That's correct."
"Ah ha...! How could this be? So that's it, that explains it. I knew there was something different about your etiquette. You're the child Yeongmun praised to no end, aren't you?"
Yeonghwa finally understood, bursting into hearty laughter.
It was a genuine smile, not a forced one.
Yeongmun had been the Wudang Daoist who stood beside Zhuge Munhyeon's father when he first held the newborn in his arms.
"What a twist of fate! It's truly a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yeongmun's elder brother."
"Ah!"
Why hold onto resentment over something that happened so long ago? I'm not that petty.
Zhuge Munhyeon, letting out a gasp of admiration, immediately changed his respectful posture and said, "Greetings, Paternal Uncle."
"Huh?"
"If you're the Elder Brother of my paternal uncle, wouldn't that make you my paternal uncle as well?"
"What? Ahahaha!"
Within a family, the father's eldest brother was called Paternal Uncle, and the younger brothers were called Second Paternal Uncle. But what did it matter if the titles were slightly off? Yeonghwa found Zhuge Munhyeon's familiar way of addressing him endearing and burst into hearty laughter.
"Ahahaha! That's right, that's right! It's truly a pleasure to see our connection through Yeongmun manifest like this."
Unlike before, Yeonghwa's expression had softened into genuine warmth.
See that? This is how you properly leverage your connections. After all, blood is always thicker than water.
📝 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