Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Translator: Penny
Chapter 72
Clack!
The Go board was placed.
"Play again."
"..."
The next day, Zhuge Munhyeon was speechless when Zhuge Junggi showed up at his doorstep.
What was with this unannounced visit? And why was he speaking so casually? Especially after losing.
"Shouldn't you be at the Heavenly Star Pavilion right now?"
"That's right."
"Then why are you causing a scene here?"
"Because this is more important than the Heavenly Star Pavilion."
"What?"
"Play again!"
Zhuge Junggi glared fiercely, his eyes blazing.
This guy has no fear whatsoever. And I can't even hit him...
"Haa... What a stubborn leech. Can't you just admit defeat?"
"No, I admit it."
"If you admit it, why are you causing a ruckus at my house?"
"That must have been a mistake. I never placed a stone there."
Zhuge Junggi's words stung him.
Because he had moved it secretly. Because he didn't want to lose. But he had no choice but to press on. How could he admit to such a despicable act? Especially with Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong present...
"See? Losers always have excuses. Whether you placed the stone there or not, you've already admitted it was a mistake. Can't you just accept your defeat?"
"Th-that's..."
"Enough. Go back to your training at the Heavenly Star Pavilion. I don't have time to play with brats like you."
"Brat? We're only a year apart!"
"You little punk! Do you even realize how big a difference one year makes? You'd drown in the drops of liquor I spill. And you dare speak so casually to me?"
"Hmph! What a great example you're setting, drinking like that at your age."
"What's that?"
"And why are you talking down to Elder Brother Munho? He's not just a year older—he's five years older!"
"..."
He was speechless.
If you do it, I'll do it too—he couldn't argue with that logic.
"Just play again!"
The kid was like a leech, clinging stubbornly.
Arguing with him would be endless.
But knocking him out with a heavy head-flick wasn't an option either...
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to train? Get rid of him."
"...Okay."
Zhuge Munho glared irritably and pulled Zhuge Junggi away.
"Let's go."
"What?"
"That guy isn't who you think he is. Don't be stubborn and..."
Zhuge Munho glanced around cautiously, omitting the words, You could actually die.
"Elder Brother, you shouldn't let this slide."
"What?"
"How can you let your younger brother speak so casually without saying a word? You should scold him severely and teach him proper etiquette! Why are you undermining the Zhuge Clan's authority yourself?"
"Well, that's..."
He couldn't answer.
Junggi, if you were in my shoes, you'd understand. You'd realize there are people who don't need to follow such formalities... and that it's actually easier to let them speak casually.
"Why can't you answer me?!"
"...I'm receiving instruction from him."
It was the only excuse he could come up with.
But Zhuge Junggi was the type who refused to accept anything his own mind couldn't comprehend.
"Even if you're being taught, he's not your master or disciple! That's no excuse."
"...Just leave."
Zhuge Munho could no longer humor him. The expression on the monstrous creature's face was growing increasingly twisted.
There was no choice but to drag him out by force.
And gag him too...
"I'll take him to the Heavenly Star Pavilion and be right back."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Zhuge Munho forcibly dragged the struggling Zhuge Junggi out.
The next day:
"Play again!"
"..."
The day after that:
"I said, play again!"
"..."
This guy's persistence was truly extraordinary. Was it really worth going this far just because he spoke informally?
"I'll take him to the Heavenly Star Pavilion and be right back."
"No."
"Huh?"
"I'll do it."
When Zhuge Munhyeon finally rose in exasperation, Zhuge Munho startled and blocked his path.
"Ah, no! You can't!"
"Huh?"
"Munhyeon, even for you, trying to kill your own family..."
Whack!
Zhuge Munho clutched his head with both hands and collapsed to the ground, struck by Munhyeon's fist.
"Who's killing anyone?! Do you think I'm a murderer?"
"Ugh... You weren't?"
"Ugh! I'm so frustrated, I'm burning up inside!"
"If you're not killing him, then what do you plan to do?"
"What do you think? I'll go to the Master of the Heavenly Star Pavilion and complain that this brat keeps bothering me. Maybe they'll at least tie him up."
"Ah..."
Indeed, if Zhuge Munhyeon personally went to plead with the Master of the Heavenly Star Pavilion, they wouldn't simply ignore him. After all, he was a descendant whom the Patriarch and Esteemed Elders personally cared for.
"He's training."
"Okay."
Zhuge Munhyeon grabbed Zhuge Junggi by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out.
"Let go! Let go of me!"
As Zhuge Junggi thrashed and screamed, drawing attention from onlookers, Zhuge Munhyeon subtly suppressed his Acupoints and Nerve Points.
Let him glare all he wants. One wrong poke and he'll go blind.
Zhuge Junggi was dragged away like a log.
"Oh? Young Master Munhyeon!"
"Sayo?"
"It's been a while."
"Indeed. I was planning to visit you soon anyway, to ask for a favor."
"A favor? Please, speak freely at any time. If it's a request from Young Master, I'll prioritize it above all else."
"Hahaha, not right now, but later."
Sayo's enthusiasm surged, her fist clenching. Zhuge Munhyeon waved his hand dismissively, chuckling.
The Hyeoncheonbirok contained records of countless martial sects. It was time to start investigating them. Searching alone would be difficult, and no organization excelled at finding people like the Beggar's Sect. First, Hubei Province, where their influence reached.
"Thank you. You seem busy lately?"
"We're consolidating all the Beggar Disciples in northern Hubei Province. By the way, who are you bringing with you?"
"Ah, this? He's a Go-obsessed lunatic."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Ah... right."
Sayo forced an awkward smile.
A person, and he called him 'this'? And what did 'Go-obsessed lunatic' even mean? Sometimes he was just impossible to understand.
"Where are you rushing off to?"
"Ah! I need to see the Patriarch urgently."
"The Patriarch?"
Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head, his expression puzzled.
Sayo's face darkened.
An urgent matter... What's happened now?
"Well, I'm heading to the Heavenly Star Pavilion anyway. Want to come along?"
"Very well," Zhuge Munhyeon replied.
As they walked together, Zhuge Munhyeon asked what the urgent matter was.
Sayo's expression darkened as she replied, "The Namgung Clan is showing peculiar movements."
"Peculiar movements?"
"Yes. I just received a carrier pigeon and found it strange, so I came to report it immediately."
Zhuge Munhyeon's brow furrowed slightly.
The Namgung Clan...
Come to think of it, he hadn't heard any news about the apology letter or compensation arriving.
I clearly stated I'd come to claim an arm if they broke their promise.
His curiosity only deepened.
"What exactly do you mean by 'peculiar movements'?"
"Over a hundred warriors from the Namgung Clan's Azure Heaven Sword Corps have arrived in Wuhan by river."
"Wuhan?"
"Yes."
Zhuge Munhyeon finally realized the news he'd been waiting for had arrived.
Those bastards... To send a hundred members of the Azure Heaven Sword Corps, the elite Warrior Corps representing the clan... They must be repenting their mistake more deeply than I thought. A big one is definitely coming. If they're sending this many people, the compensation will be substantial.
"What's strange is that the Azure Heaven Sword Corps is being led by Mok Jaun, the Pavilion Master of the Warrior Corps from the Namgung Clan."
"Mok Jaun?"
"Yes. He's one of their Elders."
"Heh heh, those bastards... An Elder, no less?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, never mind."
Zhuge Munhyeon shook his head, unable to hide his satisfaction.
Mok Jaun or whatever—what did he care? But if they were sending an Elder, it was clear they intended to apologize properly. Well, that made sense. An Elder was the least they could send to match the Patriarch's status. At this rate, his reputation might rise even further.
"Something feels off."
It was understandable why she'd feel that way.
A hundred warriors from the Namgung Clan suddenly appearing with an Elder was certainly suspicious. But only Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwipyeong knew that they had sent the Nine Splitting Sword packing. He didn't plan to reveal that just yet. Surprises were always more satisfying.
"Just ignore them. Why bother? They probably have some important business in Hubei."
"They're monitoring movements in Hubei Province."
"Hmm, that's possible... Wait, what?"
"Our influence in the southern regions is still weak, so we haven't been able to gather detailed information. However, we've heard that warriors from the Namgung Clan have scattered across Hubei Province, investigating the Heretical Factions in the northern part of the province. We've instructed our Beggar Disciples not to interfere too deeply to avoid conflict, but... something feels off."
That's right. That was a bit strange. Why would the guys who came to deliver an apology and compensation be investigating the Heretical Factions? And why specifically the northern part of the province?
As Zhuge Munhyeon tilted his head in confusion, he noticed the expression on Zhuge Junggi's face as he was being dragged along.
Junggi was wearing a mocking smile, as if he knew something they didn't.
Zhuge Munhyeon, strangely bothered by that obnoxious grin, released the acupoint restraining the youth.
"Hey."
"What?"
"..."
More insolence and backtalk. But the lingering memory of that unsettling smile made him let it slide for now.
"You little brat."
"B-brat?"
"Why were you laughing just now?"
"Can't I even laugh when I want to?"
"Stop being a smartass and answer properly."
"Damn you, you gonna kill me if I don't talk?"
"Want me to?"
The sudden chill in Zhuge Munhyeon's eyes made the usually defiant Zhuge Junggi subtly avert his gaze.
What kind of eyes were that murderous?
"Tell me why you were laughing."
"Because the Namgung Clan's moves are so obvious?"
"What?"
"You've been investigating the Heretical Factions, haven't you? What do you think their motive is? Obviously, they're eyeing Hubei."
"Eyeing Hubei?"
"How dense can you be?"
His fist clenched tightly.
Seeing the murderous glint in his eyes, Zhuge Junggi quickly continued, startled.
"I learned about the current state of the Martial World at the Heavenly Star Pavilion. Just as our Zhuge Clan has been expanding its territory recently, other powerful clans across the land are making similar moves."
"So?"
"Unlike us, the Namgung Clan, having followed the path of a natural Martial Family since its founding, must have already seized all the key interests in Anhui. What remains are just scraps of land. But Anhui alone wouldn't satisfy them. Martial Families always harbor ambitions to dominate the entire Martial World."
"..."
"The Shandong Hwangbo Clan has long dominated the north, while the Putuo Sect's influence is strong in Zhejiang Province. Jiangxi is said to be controlled by an alliance of Heretical Factions. That leaves Henan and Hubei as the only regions where the Namgung Clan can easily expand its power. If they move into Henan, even if Shaolin remains neutral, their Lay Family will certainly react fiercely. The Hwangbo Clan won't stand idly by either, seeing it as a preemptive seizure of territory they believe will one day be theirs. So, what's left? Hubei, right where we are."
Zhuge Munhyeon was inwardly impressed by the calm and calculated analysis.
Not bad for a brat.
"How do you know all this?"
"Don't you know who my father is?"
"So, Paternal Uncle told you?"
"How could that be? I just pieced it together from hearing Father occasionally mutter worriedly to himself. But to truly throw us into chaos, they'd need to wipe out the Heretical Factions in one fell swoop. A hundred men wouldn't be enough for that... It'll be certain if the Namgung Clan's warriors in Wuhan join the fray."
"..."
"And considering how many men are moving, there's been no word of the Black River Gate mobilizing."
Sayo nodded in agreement.
The Black River Gate hadn't stirred.
This meant they had secretly coordinated beforehand—likely a clandestine pact to turn a blind eye to the Namgung Clan's actions.
But to deduce all that from just the given situation?
"Hah! What an astonishing fellow."
"You're the astonishing one. How can a Go player not even predict this much? Damn it, to lose to someone like you..."
He was impressed by this brat's insight, but he still wanted to smack him. Every word out of his mouth was infuriating. But that wasn't what mattered right now. What if Zhuge Junggi's words were true? What if the Namgung Clan's intentions were as he claimed?
"Sayo."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Is your concern the same as this brat's?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, I see."
Zhuge Munhyeon's brow furrowed.
It seemed he should visit the Patriarch's Hall before the Heavenly Star Pavilion.
The Namgung Clan. We told them to bring an apology and compensation, and they pulled this behind-the-back trick?
"Let's go to the Patriarch's Hall."
"Aish! Why the Patriarch's Hall? Let go! Let go of me!"
As Zhuge Junggi erupted again, Zhuge Munhyeon wordlessly suppressed his acupoint.
Why? Because you're a rude little brat, but your abilities seem quite remarkable.
📝 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