Chapter 372
Chapter 372
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 372
Chapter Title: Unity Assembly (3)
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I was in the middle of replying that I would accept the Zhuge family's invitation.
Yin Xia Lian cautiously opened her mouth toward Zhuge Seolji.
"...Has the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder agreed to take the position of Unity Assembly Leader? That would be the best possible outcome if he has."
"It's not confirmed yet. I tried my best to persuade him... but he wouldn't give a firm answer. He said he wants to meet Young Master Yong-un first."
It was at that moment that Dang Ok-gi, who had been listening in, spoke up, his hands wriggling like snakes.
"It's as good as confirmed. No one, not even Grandfather, can withstand Eon Yong-un's snake-like tongue!"
I shot a glare at the guy.
"Why are you still hanging around? Go to the lab."
"I was going, but Seolji showed up!"
"Once the greetings are done, you should head straight to the lab. Didn't I tell you to prepare for the poison technique completion process? Do you somehow have one or two extra hours per day compared to everyone else?"
"Ack! I'm going, I'm going!"
After chasing Dang Ok-gi away like that, I turned to Zhuge Seolji with my question.
"So, is it just me who needs to go? Should I clear my schedule?"
"Yes. He mentioned something about playing a game of Go."
"Hm. I should bring a gift. What does the Elder like?"
"He enjoys playing Go, but lately, he spends most of his time on calligraphy."
"...Hm. Guess I'll have to ask the Inkstone Iron Workshop if they can custom-engrave an inkstone."
She answered my questions for a moment.
Then Zhuge Seolji pointed at Response, perched on my shoulder, and asked her question.
"By the way, Response is back? So that note you're holding is from Wuchang?"
"That's right."
"...Any news from the Nangong family?"
It was news that would spread within a few days anyway.
And since we needed to share it with my siblings to prepare for the guests, I nodded and spoke.
"That's right too. Apparently, Gongyun and Youngie somehow persuaded the Sword Emperor Elder, and he's attending the Unity Assembly."
"......"
As Zhuge Seolji clamped her mouth shut.
Paeng So-jin tilted her head and said,
"The Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder hasn't given a firm answer yet, but assuming Ok-gi is right and Yong-un makes a good impression... If both elders attend the Unity Assembly, who becomes the Leader?"
Paeng So-cheon spoke as if it was no concern.
"Sister always overthinks things. Someone will do it."
"You're the one who doesn't think, you pig. It's not an easy decision for people who've declared retirement to come back out."
Paeng So-jin insisted it wasn't something to take lightly.
At that, my various siblings furrowed their brows.
Eon Yong-myeong and Cheon Jang-ho spoke up in turn.
"If both attend... They led the Orthodox Murim together, one as Alliance Leader and the other as Grand Strategist, so wouldn't they wisely decide between themselves?"
"Even so... I heard from the Pavilion Master that they fought almost every day when they were in the Alliance."
Clap.
"Everyone, focus. That's not our concern right now. No matter who becomes Leader, we need both of them to step into the Unity Assembly."
I clapped my hands to liven up the atmosphere.
"I'll step out for a bit to find a gift to bring when I meet the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder. Everyone else, do your utmost to prepare for the guests."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The weekend arrived.
"Young Master Yong-un. Today is the day we're to visit your main family home. Tomorrow."
"Already?"
I picked up the gift I'd prepared in advance and left the Righteous Martial Academy with Zhuge Seolji.
- The old man from the Zhuge family isn't really calling you just to play Go. I wonder why he wants to see you.
'The invitation to play Go might actually be sincere.'
- True enough. They say the Grand Strategist often played Go with that girl Hyea and Seolji too, so he'd naturally be curious about the guy who beat both of them.
'Thanks to the Sa-pa-go, though.'
- ...Sa-pa-go?
'That's what Master called it.'
- ...No, it's not.
'Anyway. He probably wants to play Go, but he's also curious what kind of guy I am. An elder like him would have seen right through my deep involvement in launching the Unity Assembly.'
As I exchanged a few words with Master, it suddenly occurred to me that I might have to play reception Go.
I asked Zhuge Seolji,
"Miss Zhuge. Let me ask one thing."
"Yes. Ask away."
"I'm not looking down on the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder at all."
"Pardon? Why say that?"
"It's about Go. If it seems like I'm about to win against the Elder... should I throw the game?"
"He hates that sort of thing."
"True. Considering your personality, that makes sense..."
"My personality?"
"You have that vibe. Let's hurry."
It took only half a day at a master's pace from Dankang District, where the academy was, to Yungjung Mountain, home of the Zhuge family.
At the gates of the arrived Zhuge family estate, a middle-aged couple was waiting for us.
One of them was Zhuge Gyu, Zhuge Seolji's father, whom I'd met at various events.
'...He even rushed over personally when the academy was attacked.'
Then the elegant lady beside him must be Zhuge Seolji's mother.
I politely cupped my hands in greeting and spoke.
"Family Head, it's been a while."
"I've heard about you through the newsletters, but it's been a while since I've seen you in person. Ah, this is my wife, Seolji's mother."
"I read them too whenever they arrive, so I've seen your portrait plenty, but drawings don't do you justice. Nice to meet you. Seolji's been in your debt."
"Madam, you look like you stepped right out of that painting of the Peach Blossom Paradise."
"Oh my. Does that mean I look like a fairy? Hohoho."
Watching me, Master clicked his tongue.
- Your tongue must run on oil instead of blood. Ok-gi was spot on.
Pretending not to hear, I offered the gift as a token of thanks for the invitation.
"This is in return for the invitation. Nothing special: writing implements for the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder and the Family Head, and a golden hairpin for Madam."
"Oh my. You didn't need to."
Instead of a servant receiving it, the madam extended her hand personally. Looking around, I saw no family servants.
'It's odd that no one followed the Family Head and Madam out.'
Strange noises came from inside the estate too.
Thud- Thud-
Sounds like machinery turning. I craned my neck to peer inside.
'Are the mechanisms activated?'
Sure enough.
Inside the estate, scarecrows with long spears instead of arms were spinning everywhere.
At the rare sight, I asked Zhuge Seolji,
"As expected of the renowned mechanism masters. But with the formations running like that, how do the household members handle their daily tasks?"
At my words.
Zhuge Seolji, having checked the estate, seemed flustered as she spoke.
"B-basically, the main buildings are arranged within the formations' intricacies, and various mechanisms are hidden. But they're not usually running constantly like this."
She glared at Zhuge Gyu with axe-like eyes.
"Father! What's going on here?"
"...Father ordered it."
"You should oppose strange orders."
"I did say it seemed off... But he's so stubborn..."
"The Sword Emperor Elder from the Nangong family is on his way right now. And you activate the mechanisms while calling Yong-un here?"
"Sh-should I deactivate them?"
"Immediately!"
Listening to the father-daughter exchange for a moment.
"No need. Miss Zhuge, stand down too. I came knowing the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder is curious what kind of person I am."
I showed them my palms to halt their conversation.
"I'll gladly accept it as the Elder's guidance."
I handed my gifts to Zhuge Seolji and leaped inside the gates.
The activated mechanisms were quite intricate.
Whoosh- Whoosh-
Though they were just scarecrows, they were artfully placed to cover all directions.
I had to focus to break through.
Clang!
Clang clang!!
Some mechanisms were best avoided by relying on physical ability.
'Who knows what'll come out there.'
Some sections required disarming to proceed.
Drawing on past experience and academy knowledge, I discovered the core principle governing the estate's mechanisms.
'Roughly every five breaths, the mechanism's pattern shifts.'
Thanks to that, I quickly pierced through the mechanisms for a while.
Then one appeared that didn't yield to the patterns from before.
'Right now it's the Earth phase of the Twelve Branches cycle, so one tile depicting an earth-dwelling animal should remain... Why is it a bird tile instead?'
I quickly double-checked mentally, but the answer was the same.
I wrapped my body in qi.
Ignoring the principle, I touched the tile that seemed to be the answer.
Click-
Suddenly, not where I stood but elsewhere, wooden clubs sprang out.
And toward me popped a sign with writing.
『Even tap the stone bridge』
The pole that should have had a blade was bladeless.
And the inscription too—it seemed the Elder wanted to impart a lesson.
Smirking, I kicked off the ground again.
Whoosh-
After the sign-popping mechanism, formations that clouded the mind with mental interference were arrayed.
A normal person would have struggled twice as much with the later ones, but with my mental immunity, it was a piece of cake.
Thus escaping the maze packed with all sorts of mechanisms and formations.
'Whew.'
A modest hall reflecting the owner's taste greeted me.
Along with a white-haired elder looking at me in surprise.
"...Already? You've passed through our family's mechanisms? Heh. I'd heard you were something special, and the rumors hold true."
There couldn't be another elder at the core of the Zhuge family's encircling mechanisms.
I gathered my sleeves and bowed.
"Eon Yong-un of the Murim Lexicon pays respects to the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain Elder."
"I'm Zhuge Cheok. Your name, Eon Yong-un, kept reaching my ears, so I was curious how impressive you really were and tested you. Did it bother you?"
"Not at all. I gained a lesson and learned something. It was a time to realize why the Zhuge family's formations are hailed as peerless under heaven."
"You arrive here in mere moments and speak such sweet words."
"A quarter-hour is more than enough for a place like the Zhuge family to mobilize its forces."
Zhuge Cheok smirked at my words and tapped the Go board before him as he spoke again.
"Enough. Let me see the skill that beat Hyea and Seolji."
To that, I said to Master,
'From here, it's Master's turn.'
- Alright. Dare to test my disciple? You've met your match today, you old coot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We exchanged stones across the Go board from Zhuge Cheok for quite some time.
- Hey, where'd the Go player go?
Before the packed board of white and black stones, Zhuge Cheok pondered deeply for a long while.
Then, sweating profusely, he spoke.
"...Give me one move."
"No."
"What? Didn't you come here to get me to attend the Unity Assembly?"
"I did. Actually, on the way, I worried what to do if I got a chance to beat the Elder."
"...Seolji must have tipped you off that I hate that."
"Yes. But separately from her advice, I briefly considered throwing it subtly?"
"Then? Why not give ground?!"
"I want to win now."
"What?"
Facing Zhuge Cheok's expression of seeing an impudent rascal, I continued.
"I won't yield. Instead, how about this."
"How?"
"Don't people say you can discuss the world over Go?"
"True."
"But I see it a bit differently. There are lines and the board framing it. The real world has no such thing. With that in mind, what if we imagine lines extending to the sides and bottom too?"
"...Fine. Then I'll connect right away."
"I'll leave a space."
We resumed like that for a while longer.
Zhuge Cheok broached casually.
"Nothing you want to ask me? About whether I'll join the Unity Assembly, or anything you know about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
"I'll ask once the Elder decides to participate."
At my words, Zhuge Cheok let out a hollow laugh and crossed his arms.
"Well now. You think that's a condition now?"
"Less a condition, more... I sense there's a reason behind your retirement declaration."
"Suddenly? Didn't you come to seat me in the Unity Assembly?"
"I did, but after seeing the inscription in the mechanisms, I realized forcing it wouldn't work."
"......"
"Explaining our side in detail to bring you along would tarnish the thoughts you held upon retiring."
"......"
"If you decide to join of your own will, then I'll pester you. Today, I'll just play Go and go."
At my words, silence filled the hall for a moment.
Zhuge Cheok slammed the Go board with his palm and burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha. Truly a rare talent. Even 'Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain' falls short. You're not one who moves mountains—you make them move."
"...Pardon? Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain?"
"It's a thing. Anyway, impressive. Now I see why the world buzzes with Dragon tales, and why Seolji nags her grandpa."
"......"
"Smart, bold without flinching, resolute without backing down."
He lavished praise on my face for a while.
"Well, watching promising young sprouts up close is its own joy."
"...Does that mean?"
"This old man will attend the Unity Assembly too."
He gave his firm answer.
Yet, for some reason, Master grumbled discontentedly.
- Eeeh.
'...Things went well. Why the grumble?'
- Look at the board. While praising you, this old coot subtly overturned it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having received Zhuge Cheok's firm commitment to attend the Unity Assembly, I redoubled preparations to welcome the academy family and seniors.
Though the Alliance Leader and Father were driving the Unity Assembly.
'Unity' encompassed everyone under heaven, so some in Orthodox Murim might oppose the need for change.
Thus, we prepared the launch ceremony meticulously to avoid any faults, and time flew by.
"Hyung. The Nangong family guests and Alliance Leader have reached Dankang District!"
"Hyung-nim! The Zhuge family guests are arriving too."
As martial luminaries began arriving one by one for the Unity Assembly.
The two giants of Orthodox Murim arrived right on cue, as if by appointment, and spoke toward each other.
"Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain. You look well since we last met."
"Well?"
"I'm serious, not mocking—why the sour face?"
"Listen, Nangong Family Head. Unlike when we were tied to the Alliance, I'm higher rank now, so show respect. I'm 'Grand Family Head,' and you're just a lowly 'Family Head'?"
"Lowly... Grand Family Head is just an honorary title, isn't it? You handed everything to your son."
"Handing it all over is right! Why cling to the Family Head seat after declaring retirement? Can't let go of lingering attachments, huh? Crawling out just 'cause you got a fancy hat. Eeeh."
"Talking like a true in-law."
At the sight of those two.
Cheon Jang-ho whispered to me.
"...Doesn't seem like they'll decide wisely at all?"
The sparks flying between Nangong Won and Zhuge Cheok shifted to me.
"Anyway, long journey—seems wasted. I'll take the Leader position. Right, Little Dragon?"
"You're the Little Dragon. First time meeting, but clearly I'm better than that fan-flapping geezer."
Facing a dilemma not seen since Mom likes Dad likes, I changed the subject.
"First, come inside. The scholars have prepared much to pay respects to you great seniors."