Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Disrupting Formation
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By the time Cheonhwi arrived at the Plum Blossom Seven Barriers, a wild-haired eccentric was waving his hand in greeting.
"Young hero! You've come!"
The eccentric's identity was Zhuge Seonghyeon.
He still hasn't washed today.
Ever since that previous incident, whether out of guilt or not, he had poured everything into constructing the barriers, leaving his appearance in utter disarray.
His face, in particular, was a mess.
With his thick, unkempt beard and greasy, unwashed hair, it was hard to believe he was the same age as Cheonhwi.
"Is there some kind of problem?"
"Ah, please wait just a moment."
Zhuge Seonghyeon scratched his itchy head vigorously before hurriedly pulling out the blueprints tucked into his belt and spreading them wide open.
"It's around here..."
Muttering to himself as he scanned the grimy blueprints, he pointed to one spot.
"Here. Do you know anything about this formation we're planning to install?"
Cheonhwi was slightly surprised to see the formation at the Three Barriers that his finger indicated.
Eh? He grasped the center of the Three Barriers?
What he pointed to was a small formation in the corner of the Three Barriers.
But that was precisely the formation that pierced the exact heart of the Three Barriers.
'He read the flow?'
As if confirming that thought...
"From the way it occupies the Eight Trigrams and Five Directions and seals them off, it seems like it's meant to block energy, but this flow here..."
Zhuge Seonghyeon continued explaining gravely while pointing at the blueprints for a moment before sighing in lament.
"I can't figure out anything more than that."
He finally surrendered, raising both hands.
He had already mastered every formation within the Zhuge Clan grounds, but this one was something he had neither seen nor heard of before.
"That spot is supposed to disrupt the flow."
"Disrupt the flow?"
At that instant, Zhuge Seonghyeon felt as if he'd been struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
"N-No way...!"
Seeing Cheonhwi's eyes narrow sharply, Zhuge Seonghyeon swallowed dryly.
"The purpose of this formation is to scatter internal energy...?"
Oh, he figured that out?
Cheonhwi looked at Zhuge Seonghyeon in surprise.
"That's right."
Zhuge Seonghyeon was stunned by the confirmation.
How could scattering someone's internal energy be spoken of so lightly?
Aside from a few monstrous techniques recorded in ancient texts, only the infamous Virgin Powder—a deadly poison cherished by the Sichuan Tang Clan—could achieve such a feat.
'And they're recreating that with a formation?'
His eyes darted around wildly as his trembling lips moved.
"I-Is that even possible?"
"We can check later."
His hand shook as he gripped the blueprints.
"If it's true, would it be okay to tell me?"
Cheonhwi chuckled softly.
"You think I'd tell you everything?"
"Then what..."
Zhuge Seonghyeon trailed off.
Asking for the true nature of the formation was akin to demanding their clan secret arts.
"I'll build it according to the blueprints."
Zhuge Seonghyeon asked no more.
Instead, he committed the formation to memory.
'When I return to the main house, I should experiment with it.'
Cheonhwi saw through Zhuge Seonghyeon's intentions but didn't interfere much.
'Even if he figures it out, he won't be able to use it properly.'
It was a demonic path formation.
No matter how brilliant the Zhuge Clan was, without knowledge of the demonic path, they couldn't replicate it.
Just then, Danmokin and the Iron Sword Hero, who had followed Cheonhwi belatedly, stared wide-eyed at the Plum Blossom Seven Barriers.
"What is this place?"
"What...?"
Numerous people were working on construction inside the cave that brimmed with spiritual energy.
While the two gawked in bewilderment, unable to fathom the purpose...
"Oh?"
One of the Zhuge Clan members dropped what he was doing and came running over.
"Aigoo! Iron Sword Hero, great hero!"
The Iron Sword Hero looked at the approaching man in confusion.
"Aren't you Zhuge Palace?"
"It's been so long since we last met."
"Indeed, it's been a while."
As Zhuge Palace offered a handshake in greeting, the Iron Sword Hero clasped his hand and asked,
"But what brings you to the Mount Hua Sect?"
"Hahaha, our clan received a commission from the Mount Hua Sect this time."
"A commission...?"
The Iron Sword Hero was flustered.
The Mount Hua Sect had requested a commission from the Zhuge Clan, and they accepted?
'What nonsense is this? Like a ghost forgetting to eat millstone grit?'
In his bewilderment, he scrutinized Zhuge Palace.
The story made no sense from start to finish, but Zhuge Palace's expression didn't seem like he was lying.
"What kind of commission would bring you to the Mount Hua Sect...?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't say."
Zhuge Palace looked apologetic.
He wanted to reveal the details right away, but it involved the Mount Hua Sect.
A slip of the tongue could create rifts between the Tanmo Clan and the Lowly Heaven Society.
So he had to choose his words carefully.
"That said, there's no illicit connection between our clan and the Mount Hua Sect."
"I asked something I shouldn't have. I don't think there's any close ties between the Zhuge Clan and Mount Hua either. If you meant to hide it, you wouldn't have acknowledged me."
As the Iron Sword Hero spoke reassuringly, Zhuge Palace sighed in relief.
"Thank you for understanding."
"No need. Besides, I'm at Mount Hua myself—what right do I have to pry?"
Zhuge Palace flinched.
He too had wondered why the Iron Sword Hero was at Mount Hua but hadn't dared to ask.
"...Haha."
"Haha."
The two laughed wryly in unison.
"How about we both let this slide?"
"That sounds best."
Seizing the moment, Danmokin approached.
"Uncle. Who is this...?"
"Perfect timing. Greet him. He's someone I was acquainted with before."
Zhuge Palace was startled to hear the woman call the Iron Sword Hero "uncle" and hurriedly clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"I am Zhuge Palace of the Zhuge Clan."
"Zhuge Clan...? Ah!"
Danmokin was also mildly surprised and quickly returned the salute.
"I am... Lin of the Mount Hua Sect."
"Mount Hua Sect...?"
Zhuge Palace looked back and forth between her and the Iron Sword Hero in puzzlement.
If she called him uncle, she must be his niece.
Yet a disciple of Mount Hua?
'No. The great hero has wide connections in the martial world.'
Recalling rumors about the Iron Sword Hero, the two nodded.
"Pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
Seeing this, the Iron Sword Hero smiled.
'As expected, nothing about Lin is known in the current martial world yet.'
Though Danmokin had safely joined Mount Hua, he had still been anxious.
After all, the daughter of one of the Eight Great Clans entering one of the Nine Great Sects would draw attention.
But seeing Zhuge Palace and Zhuge Seonghyeon eased his worries.
'Now I can leave with peace of mind.'
His heavy heart lightened.
Instead, it was time to depart swiftly.
His own fame might provide an excuse if he lingered at Mount Hua.
'I need to leave before the sect gates close.'
As the Iron Sword Hero pondered his departure...
"Murim Scholar greets the Iron Sword Hero, great hero. I am Zhuge Seonghyeon of the Zhuge Clan."
A disheveled wild man approached.
"Zhuge Seonghyeon...?"
Despite the filthy appearance, the Iron Sword Hero's eyes lit up as if he had heard something, and he returned the greeting.
"Hahaha, I never expected to meet the Zhuge Clan's hidden dragon here."
"This one never expected to meet the Tanmo Clan's great wanderer."
"Wanderer? You're too kind."
While figures from the Zhuge and Tanmo Clans exchanged greetings at Mount Hua...
"At least we've cleared this barrier for now."
Sohee Lord and her group approached Cheonhwi, who had been left alone.
"Young hero Cheonhwi."
Cheonhwi tossed out a curt reply as she drew near.
"What?"
"What are you doing?"
It was a beautiful smile and coquettish tone that would make any man react instinctively.
But...
"Just standing here."
Cheonhwi showed no sign of being swayed.
To him, who had faced even more intense honey traps in his previous life, it was laughably trivial.
He could see the obvious intent behind it all too clearly.
"If you're looking for someone, they're over there."
Pointing upward, Sohee Lord smiled with her eyes and parted her lips.
"I came to see you, young hero."
"Let's say that's true."
Cheonhwi chuckled and turned his head away.
Watching his actions, Sohee Lord's brows furrowed.
'To think I'd be treated like this.'
Her pride was wounded.
When had she ever faced such treatment?
Beautiful appearance, imperial bloodline.
She had possessed everything from birth.
Thus, she had been confident that with time, she could draw Cheonhwi into her arms—but there was no progress.
'Could he be uninterested in women...?'
They said there were men in the world who preferred the company of other men.
As Sohee Lord stared piercingly at Cheonhwi's profile, suspicion brewing...
"Senior Brother Cheonhwi!"
Danmokin came running up briskly.
'Senior Brother...?'
Sohee Lord tilted her head at Danmokin, who glared at her.
'Who is she? There wasn't a woman like this at Mount Hua.'
The woman's looks were exceptional.
Still young, but even she, another woman, couldn't tear her eyes away for a moment—so striking was her beauty.
Danmokin, now close, spotted Sohee Lord beside Cheonhwi and halted, opening her mouth.
"...Who might this be?"
Her mouth and eyes smiled at Sohee Lord, but her gaze was as cold as ice.
However, she had picked the wrong opponent.
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking another's name? Isn't that proper etiquette?"
Danmokin's eyebrows twitched in irritation.
Sohee Lord's condescending gaze and piercing words greatly shook Danmokin's composure.
"..."
Feeling outmaneuvered, Danmokin reluctantly curtsied.
"...Lin."
"Ah, the Tanmo Clan's golden flower who just joined Mount Hua."
"How did you...?"
"I heard from the Sect Leader."
Danmokin's words caught in her throat.
Only the Mount Hua Sect Leader and elders knew her identity as the Tanmo Clan's daughter—it was a secret.
Yet this woman knew, meaning she was no ordinary person.
"Sohee."
"Pardon?"
Sohee Lord smiled radiantly at the flustered Danmokin.
"Didn't you ask my name?"
"..."
Danmokin glared at Sohee Lord.
"What's your relationship with Senior Brother?"
"Senior Brother? Ah, young hero Cheonhwi?"
Sohee Lord paused mid-sentence, flashing a meaningful smile.
"That's what I'm curious about too."
With those words, she looked at Cheonhwi.
"What are we to each other, young hero?"
What are they up to?
Cheonhwi replied flatly to Sohee Lord, who suddenly turned the question on him amid their exchange.
"Just acquaintances."
Danmokin, who had been tense, sighed in relief.
In contrast, Sohee Lord was nonchalant, as if she had expected it.
"I thought we'd grown quite close lately. A bit disappointing."
As she spoke, she glanced at the relieved Danmokin, smiled with her eyes, and asked,
"Then, young hero, what about with this Junior Sister Lin?"
Danmokin snapped her head up.
Her eyes mixed hope and worry as she stared at Cheonhwi's lips, awaiting his answer.
"My junior sister."