Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Zhuge Family!
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Shandong Province's Mount Tai was home to the Zhuge Family, known as the Divine Mechanism Zhuge.
The Zhuge Family was renowned for excelling in intellect over martial prowess.
But that was no longer the case.
They now possessed might close to the top among the Eight Great Families.
And the man who had forged the current Zhuge Family was the present family head, Little Crouching Dragon Zhuge Shin.
"Family Head."
The door to the family head's chamber, where Zhuge Shin resided, burst open as the chief steward entered.
"What is it?"
"A letter has arrived for you, Family Head."
"A letter?"
Zhuge Family Head's eyes narrowed.
It was rare for the chief steward to come personally just for a letter.
This meant the sender was no ordinary person, or the contents were gravely serious.
Hardening his expression, the Zhuge Family Head asked,
"Where is it from?"
"Mount Hua Sect."
"Mount Hua Sect...?"
Utterly unexpected, the Zhuge Family Head furrowed his brow.
It was far too out of the blue.
'Mount Hua Sect sent a letter?'
The Murim Alliance and the Bicheon Association were mortal enemies.
Mount Hua Sect was at the core of the Murim Alliance's Nine Great Sects, while the Zhuge Family stood at the heart of the Bicheon Association.
They were not in a position to exchange letters.
"Have you read it?"
"No, sir."
"Hand it over."
Taking the letter from the chief steward, the Zhuge Family Head first checked the sender.
"Mount Hua Sect's Cheonhwi?"
'A disciple of the Heavenly Character Generation.'
The Zhuge Family Head frowned.
The Heavenly Character Generation had some seniority, but this was a name he had never heard before.
"A Mount Hua disciple dares send me a letter directly. Does he look down on our house?"
Glared coldly at the name 'Cheonhwi' written on it, the Zhuge Family Head swiftly untied the string binding the letter.
"Hm?"
For a moment, the Zhuge Family Head's eyebrow twitched.
"Commissioning us to create this mechanism formation?"
It was a blueprint.
One drawn in exquisite detail.
"Mount Hua commissioning our house for a mechanism formation? How bold... Hmph!"
Scoffing as he examined the blueprint, the Zhuge Family Head suddenly widened his eyes.
"Th-this is..."
Flustered, he rapidly scanned it with his eyes.
"Family Head?"
The chief steward called out in confusion, but the family head was already absorbed in the letter.
'I-is this possible? What kind of mechanism formation is this? A formation? I've never seen a formation like this...'
His pupils trembled faintly.
The letter's contents were simple.
Just seven sheets of letter and the blueprint.
But to anyone with even a modicum of knowledge in mechanisms and formations, it was a shocking blueprint.
'A mechanism formation and array I've never seen in my life.'
The Zhuge Family Head bit his lip.
No matter how mighty the family's martial strength had become, what were its roots?
Though proficient in blunt weapons, sleight of hand, and hidden techniques, the house was truly famous for its奇門陣法, Yi principles, and earthwork mechanism arts.
Yet he could not comprehend it.
This mechanism formation in the letter!
His hands trembled.
Gripping the paper as if to crumple it, the Zhuge Family Head bellowed with bulging eyes,
"Summon Seonghyeon right now!"
Moments later, in the family head's chamber, Zhuge Shin and a weary-looking young man pored over the letter side by side.
"What do you make of it?"
"...Gulp."
Young Zhuge Seonghyeon swallowed hard.
"It's completely different from any method known to our house."
The Zhuge Family Head narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Even Seonghyeon doesn't know?'
His head throbbed.
Zhuge Seonghyeon lacked talent in martial arts but was a genius unmatched in mechanisms, formations, and arrays.
"Father!"
At that moment, Zhuge Seonghyeon lifted his head.
With eyes sparkling like starlight, he said to the family head,
"We cannot let this slip. If we learn the details of this mechanism formation, it will greatly advance our house's stalled development in such arts."
"That significant?"
"Yes."
The Zhuge Family Head was slightly surprised.
The Zhuge Family's research history in mechanisms was profound.
For this blueprint to aid it so much...
Meanwhile, Zhuge Seonghyeon could not hide his excitement.
The unprecedented blueprint and mechanism formation stimulated him.
"Do we know who sent this letter?"
"A man named Cheonhwi from Mount Hua Sect."
"Cheonhwi..."
Zhuge Seonghyeon murmured the Taoist name.
As the reclusive Zhuge Seonghyeon showed interest, the family head's eyes gleamed.
'Perfect timing. It's time for Seonghyeon to venture into the jianghu anyway.'
The Zhuge Family Head licked his lips.
"I'm thinking of accepting this commission, but I have no one suitable to send to Mount Hua."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhuge Seonghyeon.
"Would you go?"
Zhuge Seonghyeon's face hardened.
Then he nodded vigorously.
"Yes. I will go to Mount Hua Sect."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Huff, huff."
"I can't anymore."
Cheonhwi ignored Seollan and Jeokgeom sprawled on the floor, along with Shim Wijin, and eyed the elixirs in the box.
Exactly one hundred elixirs, all made a few days ago by properly blending herbs and poisons sent by the North Wind Merchant Group.
"Amazing."
Lord Sohee touched an elixir.
The pitch-black elixir gleamed with a mesmerizing luster.
Cheonhwi immediately took out three elixirs.
And handed them to Lord Sohee.
"For me?"
"You worked hard."
Cheonhwi said nonchalantly.
Jeokgeom and Seollan had been insufficient for testing efficacy, but Shim Wijin and Soryeong had provided great help.
"Thank you."
Lord Sohee smiled faintly.
Cheonhwi didn't even look as he packed the box.
"This turned out well!"
The Divine Physician nearby crossed his arms.
He had somehow ended up making elixirs with Cheonhwi, but it had been a valuable learning opportunity.
'Hm, martial artists could use poisons in other ways too.'
Nodding, he asked,
"Have you named the elixirs?"
"Well, they're black and smelly."
Cheonhwi said lazily.
"Dark Fragrance Pill it is."
An unexpectedly perfect name.
"Then I'll be off."
"Where to?"
"To feed the elixirs."
Cheonhwi grabbed the box and vanished.
Moments later, Cheonhwi arrived at Peach Grove Plain.
Weaving between second-generation disciples deep in meditation, he approached Hyeoncheong, who was standing guard in the center.
"What brings you here!"
Hyeoncheong, who had been watching the disciples, spotted Cheonhwi late and greeted him warmly.
"Brought elixirs."
"Elixirs?"
Cheonhwi set the box down immediately.
Soon the box opened, and a subtle fragrance wafted out.
Hyeoncheong was astonished by the many elixirs.
"Where did you get these?"
"Made them myself."
"Y-you made these yourself?"
"Yes."
As Hyeoncheong stared in shock, unable to believe it,
"Feed them and circulate qi."
"Made for the disciples."
Hyeoncheong beamed broadly, inspecting each elixir in the box.
"Good. I'll distribute them now."
"Ah! But they have a slight side effect."
"Side effect?"
"It'll be a bit painful after taking them."
Cheonhwi explained kindly, but
"Haha. Such pain is nothing they can't endure."
Having long trusted Cheonhwi firmly, Hyeoncheong dismissed it lightly and infused his voice with inner power, letting it boom.
"Everyone, finish your meditation first!"
Despite the sudden command, the second-generation disciples hastily ended their circulation.
Moments later, seeing all open their eyes, Hyeoncheong pointed to Cheonhwi and spoke.
"Cheonhwi here has brought elixirs for you all."
"Huh?"
"Elixirs?"
"From Martial Uncle Cheonhwi?"
The second-generation disciples' eyes sparkled.
Elixirs were given by the sect only to those with bright futures.
For all disciples to receive them like this was highly unusual.
The second-generation disciples immediately bowed their heads.
"Martial Uncle!"
"Thank you!"
Amid the resounding shouts, Cheonhwi smirked at the second-generation disciples unaware of the ordeal ahead.
It won't last long, though.
Even Jeokgeom and Seollan, who obeyed his every word, had eventually rebelled after repeatedly taking the elixirs.
"Then I'll hand them out one by one."
The second-generation disciples moved at once.
Soon, each received an elixir and swallowed hard.
The pitch-black elixirs emanated a unique, subtle fragrance.
They soon looked to Hyeoncheong.
Staring intently at his mouth like fledglings awaiting food from their mother bird.
"Everyone, consume them."
Hyeoncheong's words finally came.
"Yes!"
All swallowed the Dark Fragrance Pills simultaneously.
And assumed the cross-legged position to circulate qi.
"Hm?"
Hyeoncheong grew slightly flustered.
Sensing something amiss, he checked the disciples' complexions.
Perfectly fine faces suddenly turned ashen, expressions twisting.
"Ugh..."
Soon, all groaned.
And moments later, screams erupted.
"Kwaaaak!"
"It hurts."
Hyeoncheong panicked, watching the pained disciples, and urgently asked,
"A-are these really elixirs?"
Unable to stay still, Hyeoncheong said.
He trusted Cheonhwi, but with disciples rolling on the ground, confusion was natural.
"Yes."
"But that's poisoning symptoms..."
"It's a blessing; they have to endure that much."
"They won't die, right?"
"No way they'd die from this."
Cheonhwi said softly.
As he said, it was just painful, not lethal.
"Th-then how do we make these children better?"
Hyeoncheong asked impatiently.
Peach Grove Plain was now pandemonium.
"They'll be fine once they absorb it all. Of course, it'll hurt until then, but that's a bargain."
Hyeoncheong momentarily blanked.
"So they'll stay like that until they absorb the energy?"
"Yes. Ah! Come to think of it, circulating qi makes it hurt less."
Cheonhwi's calm voice pierced the ears of the rolling second-generation disciples.
"Urk!"
One gritted his teeth and began circulating.
Seeing the face ease slightly, the neighbor was startled and started too.
One by one.
The numbers grew until every single one was deep in circulation.
"It's gotten quite quiet."
The screams ceased.
"Ugh..."
"Th-this isn't elixirs... it's poison..."
Instead, groans and moans filled Peach Grove Plain for days.
Time passed swiftly after that.
Mount Hua, once covered in fallen leaves, was now blanketed in pure white snow.
Winter had arrived.
Much like the scenery, Mount Hua Sect had changed greatly.
Especially Cheonhwi's Dark Fragrance Pills, which proved highly effective; with Finance Hall Leader Hyeoncheong's aid, they were mass-produced and given even to first-generation disciples.
Martial prowess rose rapidly.
Moreover, the second-generation disciples built skills swiftly under Hyeoncheong's guidance, and not to be outdone, first-generation disciples steadily advanced their realms.
Thus, as Mount Hua Sect quietly amassed strength for its future ascent,
Crunch, crunch.
A group ascended Mount Hua.
"So this is Mount Hua Sect..."
Zhuge Seonghyeon lifted his head.
Gazing at the sect's sublime vista blanketed in white snow, he breathed out.
Whoosh―
Warm breath appeared and vanished.
Soon, clutching the letter in his bosom, he whispered,
"That the one who made this blueprint, Cheonhwi, is there?"