Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Translator: Penny
Chapter 70
The clear sky stretched endlessly, clouds drifting leisurely across its expanse.
They seemed utterly indifferent to the world's affairs, simply following their own path with serene indifference.
Gazing upward, one felt as if time had stopped, the tranquil stillness erasing all worldly concerns.
Yet staring too long strained the eyes.
The neck ached.
Lowering one's gaze, the world beneath the tranquil sky was in frantic motion.
"Ugh..."
"Grrr..."
"Ugh..."
Each groan carried its own distinct character.
Outstretched arms trembled violently, while legs bent to support their bodies shook uncontrollably.
Gwan Hwipyeong, drenched in sweat, moved with such frantic energy...
It was a stark contrast to the heavens above, but wasn't this the world of mortals?
"Hey, Pyeong! Lift your arm properly!"
Zhuge Munhyeon, who was reading a book on a small desk, frowned at their frantic efforts, so unlike the serene sky.
Damn bastard! Devil's spawn! He's just sitting there reading!
He heard their whispers clearly, but he cleanly ignored them as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Yes, they needed to complain. It was the only way they could endure this with a little less effort.
Zhuge Munhyeon turned his gaze to a corner of the courtyard.
Unlike Gwan Hwipyeong, a man sat calmly under the shade of a ginkgo tree, his iron weights removed for the first time in ages.
It was Zhuge Munho.
The reason he wasn't training alongside Gwan Hwipyeong was because he stood at a critical crossroads in his life.
At the very crossroads between Manifestation and Ejection, between First-rate and Peak Stage.
A little over a year had passed since Zhuge Munhyeon had imparted the Minor Heavenly Star Art to him after the Honyeon Faction's destruction.
Though accompanied by Zhuge Munhyeon's piercing teachings and grueling training, achieving a new realm in such a short time was no easy feat.
"He's definitely better than Gwan Hwipyeong. Watching him fills me with genuine satisfaction."
When descendants of the Zhuge Clan chose their paths, most who pursued martial arts did so because they lacked other talents.
They were deficient in scholarship, had no aptitude for formations or mechanisms, and weren't skilled in mathematics.
In other words... they were fools.
At least, within the Zhuge Clan.
When you thought about it, these guys had all memorized the Thousand-Character Classic and started reading the Elementary Learning text by the time they were seven...
Anyway, among those who chose the path of martial arts, Zhuge Munho possessed remarkably exceptional talent.
It was almost... satisfying to teach him.
He grasped concepts instantly and worked tirelessly, even sacrificing sleep.
How could his progress not be extraordinary?
And to top it all off, his master was the Heavenly Demon, who had defected to the Orthodox Factions.
It was at that moment, as he watched him with satisfaction, that Zhuge Munho, who had been regulating his breathing and stabilizing his Internal Power, slowly opened his eyes.
Hmm? Impressive. His gaze was as calm as a windless lake. His Qi was clearly well-contained, sparking anticipation. This was a strange feeling. He never imagined that seeing his student's progress would bring him more joy than his own achievements.
Zhuge Munhyeon and Gwan Hwipyeong, who was practicing the Horse Stance, both focused their gazes, sensing that something was about to happen.
Zhuge Munho slowly rose, drew his sword, and calmly faced the nearby wall.
"Hoo..."
His breath was steady, without a tremor.
His lips pressed tightly together, as if steeling his resolve. A vibrant blue energy surged from his sword, swirling and overlaying the blade.
Refined Sword Qi.
His heart pounded.
Please, please...
In that tense moment, as he desperately prayed for success, Zhuge Munho's sword, held in a low stance, traced a simple arc.
Swish!
The Sword Qi trailing behind the blade detached with a crisp arc.
This was the crucial moment.
Qi, by its nature, dissipated once severed from its caster.
However, through the process of condensation, the Qi could maintain its form for a brief moment, travel a certain distance, and exert its influence—this was Ejection.
The distance the Ejection Qi could travel depended on the practitioner's level of mastery in condensing their Qi. It could range from a few inches to tens of zhang (approximately 30 meters).
And now!
The Sword Qi erupted from Zhuge Munho's sword, hurtling toward the wall.
Though its form gradually dissipated as it flew, its shape remained discernible.
Crack!
A small sword mark appeared on the wall, three meters away.
Success!
Zhuge Munho had finally reached the realm of Ejection Qi.
"Th-this...?"
Even he seemed surprised.
"Ugh! Did it work?"
"Ejection Qi?"
"Really?"
Gwan Hwipyeong's eyes widened, his posture faltering.
So what? For good news, the more spectators, the better. Let's leave them be, even if they've paused their training.
"Munhyeon... I, I did it?"
"That's right. That's Ejection Qi. You did remarkably well for your first attempt. Congratulations on reaching Ejection Qi."
Zhuge Munhyeon beamed with satisfaction, showering him with praise.
"Ah..."
Only then did Zhuge Munho seem to fully grasp his achievement, his face softening with emotion.
After all, what words could resonate more deeply than the approval of one's Master?
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Munhyeon. Ejection Qi... I can't believe it..."
Zhuge Munhyeon couldn't hide his overwhelming emotion, his expression on the verge of tears.
How could he not be overjoyed?
It wouldn't be surprising if he took flight right then and there.
In the current Zhuge Clan, a martial artist who had reached Ejection Qi was an exceptionally valuable asset.
The Core Stage of the Black Tiger Corps was equivalent to the weakest Elder.
Excluding Zhuge Munhyeon, the highest level anyone else had reached was Intent Qi.
Yet he had broken through this formidable realm in just one year.
"Elder Brother Munho."
"Hmm!"
"Now that you've reached Ejection Qi, you need to start practicing its applications."
"Applications?"
"Exactly. Ejection isn't just about shooting Internal Power outward. You can use it to boil or cool water in a cup, strike objects behind walls, and even reach the Penetrating Technique—implanting Qi into a person's body to make it explode. The applications are endless. Mastering all these techniques and using them skillfully in any situation is what truly makes you a Peak Master."
"Ah..."
"Congratulations, but there's still a long way to go."
"Yes!"
"You're not just training in martial arts to become the Zhuge Clan's top expert, right? Right?"
"..."
"Intent Qi, Aura. There's so much more to achieve, and the path ahead requires far greater effort and training than what you've done so far. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
Zhuge Munho responded with the enthusiasm of a much younger brother to Zhuge Munhyeon's words.
He knew this because he had experienced success.
But before that, there had been countless failures...
"Alright, then let's skip training today and have a celebratory drink instead?"
"A celebratory drink?"
"Of course! We have to commemorate such a joyous occasion."
"Yes!"
Zhuge Munho wasn't in the mood for training today either. His heart was too excited.
"Where should we go?"
"I know a good place. How about there?"
"Wow, that's amazing! Ejection Qi!"
"..."
Gwan Hwipyeong approached Zhuge Munho, showering him with enthusiastic praise.
"Hmm? What's with you guys?"
"Huh?"
"Munho achieved Ejection Qi, so why are you all so concerned about where he wants to go?"
Zhuge Munhyeon's words left Gwan Hwipyeong momentarily stunned before they chuckled playfully.
"Ha ha, you're such a kid! What kind of joke is that?"
"Exactly!"
"Of course we should celebrate together!"
Gwan Hwipyeong continued to chuckle, but Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head skeptically.
"A joke? Me?"
"..."
"Seriously, it's like that saying: 'When one thing jumps, everything else jumps too.' You guys are seriously mistaken. Only Elder Brother Munho is taking a break from training."
"What?"
"You guys who've been slacking off every day and barely managed to learn how to draw Sword Qi... taking a break from training? Don't even dream about it, you brats!"
"Ah, Munhyeon? Even for such a joyous occasion..."
"Horse Stance."
"..."
"And keep practicing the Formation. I'll check when I get back. You understand?"
"Mu-Munhyeon."
"I'm not joking. If you slack off just because I'm gone..."
Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and nudged the Silver River Staff, causing Gwan Hwipyeong's faces to twist into a grimace.
Damn brat! Even dogs wouldn't bite you! Favoritism! Favoritism! How could he be so unfair?
Despite their grumbling, they had no choice but to resume the Horse Stance.
The Silver River Staff's gleaming presence loomed before them...
Besides, they had already witnessed it.
Zhuge Munho, who had trained alongside them, had reached the Ejection Qi level in just over a year.
They too practiced the Minor Heavenly Star Art and received instruction from Zhuge Munhyeon.
We can... We must! We'll get favored treatment too!
Zhuge Munho's success served as a catalyst, and they would now slack off less.
Slightly lacking, those guys. But they're improving little by little. They deserved praise too, but not yet.
"Let's go."
"...Okay."
As Zhuge Munhyeon coldly strode out of the manor, Zhuge Munho, following behind, kept turning back, seemingly feeling sorry for his younger siblings.
The Zhuge Clan wasn't the only presence beneath Yungjungsan.
Along the main thoroughfare stretching toward the Main Clan's manor, branch family manors lined up in succession. Beyond them, commoners' homes clustered densely.
Zhuge Munhyeon's manor was situated a short distance from the Main Clan's estate, and he rarely visited unless specifically summoned.
Recently, even the Byeongju Hall had stopped calling for him.
His father still seemed unwilling to abandon his ambition of making Munhyeon a Formation Master, but the Patriarch's orders now allowed him to focus solely on cultivation.
Perhaps the Patriarch believed this arrangement would better serve the clan's interests.
Zhuge Munhyeon and the four others who trained with him.
Thanks to this arrangement, they enjoyed a more carefree life than others outside their cultivation hours.
Of course, the reality was that he spent his time far more structured than simply belonging somewhere...
Zhuge Munhyeon stepped out of the manor and gazed at the bustling main thoroughfare.
"Peaceful," he murmured.
"All thanks to you," someone replied.
"Me?"
"Yes. The revenue from Danggangu is immense."
"Hmm."
The Zhuge Clan's income had recently surged, thanks to their control over the Danggangu waterway. Even after sending a portion to the Wudang Sect, it provided a massive boost to their finances.
With overflowing coffers, the Patriarch made a bold decision:
Tax reduction.
Naturally, merchants operating Zhuge Clan-owned shops near Yungjungsan and tenant farmers cultivating their lands were overjoyed.
Who wouldn't be pleased with a tax reduction?
Still, he was taking all the credit for the achievements Munhyeon had made. That part irked him immensely.
"Oh! Young Master Munhyeon, you're here?"
"Hello."
"Won't you stay for a meal?"
"Next time."
"Please do visit again!"
Since everyone he met greeted him first, he decided to let it slide.
He felt good.
In his previous life, people would collapse and tremble at the mere sight of him...
This must be the joy of living in harmony with others.
With a cheerful heart, he and Zhuge Munho were about to enter their usual tavern, venturing into the narrow, spiderweb-like alleyways.
"Huh? Why are so many people gathered there?"
"I wonder?"
Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head, noticing the crowd gathered at the alley's entrance.
"Has the Marvelous Hand Boy arrived?"
"Yeah! Looks like they're about to have a proper match. Old Master Yang has been sharpening his blade, it seems."
"Let's go see."
Even nearby onlookers surged toward the commotion.
Marvelous Hand Boy? What a peculiar name. It makes passersby curious for no reason...
"Should we go check it out too?"
"Sure."
Zhuge Munhyeon followed the crowd.
Deep within the throng, at a Go board, sat an old man and a boy dressed in snow-white scholar's robes.
📝 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