Chapter 221
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Golden Heaven (1)
Night had deepened.
People were asleep, and the mountain beasts began to move in earnest.
Night was the domain of animals.
Coo-roo-roo-rook!
A mournful mountain dove's cry echoed from deep in the forest.
"Cawww!"
Zhuge Myeong responded with a crow's call.
The dove's cry fell silent. Zhuge Myeong also stopped mimicking the crow.
Darkness blanketed the vast mountain depths. Yet the moonlight was bright enough that the path felt no hardship to tread.
"You okay?"
Zhuge Myeong turned back as he spoke.
"I'm fine. This path is awfully rough."
Zhuge Soso pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the sweat pouring down her face.
"We're almost there. Just hang in a bit longer."
"I know. Don't worry about me."
Zhuge Soso flashed a gentle smile, as if to ease his concerns.
No matter how treacherous the mountain trail, it was no different from level ground to a martial artist. No matter how deep the darkness, their eyes pierced it like broad daylight.
But the two had ingested poison.
From the valley mouth, they had swallowed Qi-Dispersing Poison to seal their internal energy. Because of it, they climbed the brutal path relying solely on raw physical strength.
"Huhu! Looks like these bastards are dead set this time. Gonna be a long night."
Zhuge Myeong skipped the part about staying sharp.
Zhuge Soso was already on full alert. Telling her to stay sharp wasn't for her—it was a reminder he owed himself.
They had scattered their internal energy before the Eight Families Gathering even kicked off. It came off like they wouldn't rest until someone dropped dead.
That "someone" was obviously the Zhuge Clan.
The heads of the Four Great Murim Clans and the Other Three Families were all gunning for the Zhuge Clan.
He could guess the agenda without being told.
The gathering had been called over the Other Three Families getting hit.
It wasn't some random or chance attack on the Other Three Families. Someone who knew their network inside out had orchestrated it systematically, assassinating countless warriors.
Those hidden experts of the Other Three Families, unknown to the world, had been pinpointed and slain with precision.
This was no small issue.
This Eight Families Gathering was convened exactly for that—the attack on the Other Three Families. And the Seven Family heads suspected the Zhuge Clan as the culprits behind it.
He had foreseen this before even leaving the clan.
He hadn't come oblivious; he had walked into the lion's den knowing full well, ready for a head-on clash.
So he had no choice but to stay sharp.
Especially now, with the Qi-Dispersing Poison blocking any internal energy flow.
Shring! Click!
The sound of swords drawn from sheaths and snapped back rang out.
The warriors posted at the pass bared their hostility outright. Letting their blades hum was intimidation tactics—a promise they wouldn't let them through easy.
They really needed to stay sharp.
If the grunts at the pass were this hostile, imagine the Seven Family heads. Having resolved to wipe out the Zhuge Clan, they'd surely sown that grudge in their men.
"Looks like we're here."
Zhuge Soso raised a hand toward the woods.
A presence emanated from there. Nothing visible in the dark shroud, but the thick killing intent hit hard.
"Yeah. We made it."
Zhuge Myeong nodded.
The Eight Families Gathering was always grim.
Even among heads of prestigious clans, there was no spark of life—just a heavy, cloying killing aura.
The vibe came from just three men: the Other Three Family heads.
"You came. Figured you wouldn't. Decided showing up beats skipping out?"
The voice grated like gravel.
Shape lost to the shadows, but that standout timbre gave him away instantly.
Hebei Peng Clan Head Peng Do.
'Iron Wall Shattering Blade.'
Voice alone transmitted its savage might through his entire body.
His spine prickled; fine hairs rose on their own.
"Your nephew greets you, Uncle. But what did you mean by that...?"
Zhuge Myeong cupped his fists calmly in salute.
"Heh heh heh! Twisting words like always... If you see me as kin, cut the games... Let's keep it real. One question: you link up with those Heavenly Annihilation Division scum?"
Peng Clan Head Peng Do blurted it out.
For a split second, light flickered in Zhuge Soso's eyes. But it sank deep already—no trace left.
"Care to elaborate?"
Zhuge Myeong replied without a tremor.
"Heavenly Annihilation Division hit the Other Three Families."
"Heard about it."
"Heard? Wasn't your orders?"
"We have eyes and ears too—ended up knowing more than we cared to. We knew the Other Three Families got attacked, no need for your say-so. We figure that's why this gathering's on. But..."
"But?"
"Why grill the main house out the gate? I want reasons. What grounds, what cause—spell it out."
"What? Reasons? Grounds? Hah hah hah ha! Grown some balls, eh? Won't even bow to your elders now?"
Wrath edged the Peng Head's voice.
Zhuge Soso's eyes flashed again this instant. Silent, but her gaze roiled fierce.
Zhuge Myeong's tone stayed even, but ice-cold.
"I'm not here as your nephew. I'm proxy for Father, standing in as Zhuge Clan Head. Can't hear or stomach words hurting the main house. You claimed we teamed with Heavenly Annihilation Division. State your clear basis."
"Kuh ku ku! Won't talk?"
Swish!
Before Peng Head finished, Zhuge Myeong seized his sword hilt.
Didn't draw. But his stance was set—blade out in a heartbeat if needed.
"You dare!"
Peng Head bellowed.
The quiet woods thickened with war clouds.
No shock if weapons flew first. A brawl right then? Par for the course.
Then, silent Zhuge Soso spoke.
"Other heads got nothing to say? All on the same page?"
"Same page."
Her words barely done, a chill voice chased.
Like a honed blade unsheathed—heart icing over.
Other Three Family head.
The tight-lipped Other Three head speaking meant kill intent locked in.
"No reasons coming?"
"Our boys gutted by Mara Heaven-Transforming Sword. Seventeenth Branch Leader of Heavenly Annihilation Division's art."
"And?"
"And? Ha! Ha ha ha ha! Zhuge Soso... Soso. Namso. You... Everyone knows you synced with that Seventeenth Branch Leader."
Killing intent clung to the Other Three head's voice.
Zhuge Soso's reply dripped endless frost.
"Ask again. Other Three warriors felled by Mara Heaven-Transforming Sword—that the crux? And? Ah! We messed with Heavenly Annihilation Division's branch leader back then, tying it to this hit?"
"What!"
"One: Vanguard's dead. Blew himself up hitting Miansosar out of his league. No sightings since—guess you've seen him?"
"..."
No words. But seething silence screamed rage.
"Two: Mara Heaven-Transforming Sword ain't Vanguard's. Heavenly Annihilation Division standard. Right?"
"..."
"Three: Us syncing with Seventeenth Branch Leader? Insult. What do we lack to ally with branch trash? Heavenly Commander or Lesser Penalty, maybe—but some branch punk? You shake with their kind?"
"You..."
Other Three head started. Zhuge Soso sliced it off.
"Four: What do we gain hitting Other Three? Attack only nets gain. Why assume we'd swing for zero scraps?"
Silence hung heavy.
Seven heads had piles of evidence locked.
Detected Jaja and Hanbi's arts too. Tracked moves, paths, portraits prepped. Maybe sniffed Fox or Four Thousand Four too.
But tying Seventeenth Branch to Zhuge Clan? Weak link.
One way to connect: unearth secret missives Zhuge Soso passed Four Thousand Four. But each delivered got wiped clean.
Just as planned—no evidence whatsoever linking the outfits.
Knew it'd play this way.
One thing left: sans proof, kill Zhuge Myeong and Soso to erase Zhuge Clan? Obvious next: storm the sect, butcher direct disciples.
Five Great Clans can't spearhead.
Prestige won't raid prestige.
Other Three must hit Zhuge Clan.
In sum: Zhuge Clan "wiped by mystery group."
Now, ponder this.
Did Zhuge Soso blunder into Eight Families blind to even this?
They might bag Myeong and Soso, but Other Three erasing Zhuge Clan? Brutal uphill. Countermeasures locked in by now.
This meet needed her clueless, blind. Instant kill on pair, then total wipeout. Her foreseeing it? Zhuge Clan safe.
Seven heads' suspicions firmed, but lips sealed.
Now what?
Silence polled silence.
"Zhuge Clan... best lay low awhile."
Gentle voice. Serene. Grandfatherly pat on the head.
Secret One Family head.
Secret One head never graced Eight Families before. Always deputy proxy, full powers delegated.
This time: personal.
Zhuge Soso recalled one lifetime voice-hear.
- This one's it. Look kind.
- Heh heh heh! That lad... cute now, grown? Clan head holds world's gem. Hm! Fate calls—gift time. What? This hit my palm morn; yours meant to be. Heh heh!
Once only.
Six years old, Father's hand in hers, met that grandpa. Got Profound Enigmatic Sword Manual—one of Murim's Five Great Sword Compendiums.
That grandpa... grandpa's voice.
Secret One head pressed on soft.
"Zhuge head's fate unknown. Still, seal gates awhile..."
"No."
Zhuge Soso halved even his words.
"Take this hit and keep playing ball? No pride. Father's proxy here—clear: Zhuge Clan quits Eight Families Gathering from now."
"Heh heh heh! Know what that spells?"
"Do. Shared turf, trade—all turns rival now."
"Skipped Heavenly Annihilation Division counter."
"Don't sweat it."
"Emotional—not your style. Not Namso's call?"
Zhuge Soso cupped fists salute.
Last bow to Seven heads.
Their move now. Kill or release.