Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Zhuge Clan (4)
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Trickle—
The tea water poured from the teapot filled the cup, sending a subtle fragrance wafting through the air.
In a room elegantly decorated in a simple yet antique style.
A fitting space for a scholar, where the elderly head of the Zhuge Clan, former patriarch Zhuge Gunaak, personally brewed the tea and slowly lifted the cup to savor its aroma.
"Mm."
Though he had lost his sight long ago, his movements in performing the tea ceremony were flawless, without the slightest excess.
Thanks to the refined senses honed through years of training, everyday tasks like this posed no challenge at all.
'Harris... and Ha Seung-hoon.'
And, as might be expected.
Those keen senses were equally useful for gauging others.
This applied to the sudden visitors as well.
'Otherworlders... These guests are extraordinary in every way.'
Yet even for Zhuge Gunaak, fully assessing these two was no easy task.
He had interacted with a few otherworlders in his youth, but these differed vastly in temperament, behavior, abilities—everything.
'Neither seems wicked, and there's no hostility. If anything, it's closer to goodwill.'
Harris's attitude had been somewhat rude, but such arrogance was common among experts of that caliber—nothing to fault.
And now, they had taken the initiative to mend relations.
By subtly hinting at Ha Seung-hoon's healing abilities.
'No idea how they knew about Hye-mi's condition.'
It was an obvious ploy, but Zhuge Gunaak pretended ignorance and played along.
Knowing it was the hand they extended first for reconciliation and cooperation.
'Much remains unclear.'
He had sensed early on, from their conversation, that Harris was hiding something.
The same went for the winged otherworlder suspected as the chaos's culprit.
But the hostility Harris showed when mentioning him was genuine...
'Hmm, best to observe a bit longer.'
No need for immediate further action; maintain friendly ties.
That was the former patriarch's initial assessment, stepping in for the busy current head to deal with these guests.
"Hoho, and he's the lifesaver of my only granddaughter to boot. They've already reported improvement. I held back from visiting this old body might cause trouble. Looks like I'll finally see my granddaughter's face after so long."
A faint smile played on Zhuge Gunaak's lips as he organized his thoughts amid the serene tea ceremony in the still air.
As the clan's elder, the family's interests always came first, but he worried for his ailing granddaughter just the same.
'One's a transcendent expert from the Mystic Faction's Heavenly Mechanism Sect lineage. The other revived a patient even our clan healers and external physicians had given up on—a Divine Physician, no, a Godly Healer. Associating with them seems more gain than loss.'
Of course, instinctively weighing the pros and cons was an inescapable trait of their bloodline.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Holy power healing wasn't omnipotent.
Certainly, bestowed directly by the Saint himself, its efficacy was unquestionable, but treating severe illnesses demanded time and effort in equal measure.
This case was no different.
Day three since Hugo began daily holy power treatments for the "young lady."
Shaa—
As before, soft light seeped from the holy emblem, naturally permeating the patient's body.
The scene was identical to the first day, yet one key difference stood out...
"Mm, it's fascinating. Feels different from internal energy. Like it's warmly enveloping and embracing everything..."
The patient herself, Zhuge Clan's precious pearl, Zhuge Hye-mi, was awake.
She had regained consciousness during the second treatment after two days in a coma.
A faint blush colored her once corpse-pale face, and her skin now glowed with unmistakable vitality.
Compared to her past, where elixirs barely sustained her life, this was a dramatic turnaround.
And this was only the third session.
'Good that it's working, but her reaction to holy power differs from other illnesses. Is this even a disease?'
Hugo, performing the treatment, wore a subtle expression of unease.
He sensed something off, but as mere conduit for holy power—unbaptized—his senses couldn't pinpoint the issue.
'Heinrich could confirm it directly here.'
Impossible for now, so he'd monitor long-term changes indirectly.
The treatment wouldn't wrap up quickly anyway.
'Still, she's recovering. Combining with prior procedures might shorten the timeline.'
A somewhat mercenary thought, but it could strengthen ties with the Zhuge Clan during that period—not a bad deal.
Heinrich might find constant holy power supply a hassle.
"Haa, I can't even remember the last time I felt this. Or maybe it's my first? I've been frail since childhood. Born that way..."
During treatment, he chatted with Zhuge Hye-mi.
Usually bedridden, she seized the chance with an outsider, chattering nonstop.
In just two days since introductions, Hugo learned much unwillingly.
Youngest of three older brothers; birth mother died delivering her; born cursed child heralding the world's chaos...
Her playful tone masked self-deprecation, but one detail nagged him.
"Hmm, if I may ask, Miss Zhuge—how old are you?"
"Eek? Asking a lady's age? Ugh—Young Master Hugo, I didn't peg you for lacking tact..."
This won't do.
Left alone, she'd ramble forever.
Hugo cut her off decisively.
"I recall the world's turmoil stems from that incident 22 years ago, correct?"
"Yes? It's not widely known, though."
"So you're twenty-two?"
"A-again? Must you press? Just gloss over it, Young Master."
He eyed her pouting, cheeks puffed like a child.
Her looks and antics screamed pre-teen girl.
'Makes sense if she's been ill since youth.'
Plausible, and hardly crucial.
What bothered him: the world-shaking event coincided with her birth.
'Coincidence?'
Unlikely a real curse, but perhaps linked to her illness...
"By the way, how old are you, Young Master?"
Lost in thought, Zhuge Hye-mi asked innocently.
Her feigned sulk gone, replaced by a beaming smile.
"Twenty-three."
He answered firmly.
Afraid she'd cling more if younger; technically true anyway.
Earth age twenty, but three years in this world now.
Factoring multiple avatars' dense experiences, perhaps older still.
"Oh! Same age? Thought you were older. Ehehe."
Shading me as mature-looking?
The thought flashed, but her grin seemed innocent.
Tricky woman to handle.
"Yawn— Ah!"
She yelped, hastily covering her unguarded yawn.
Frozen briefly, she peeked at him with wide eyes.
"You seem tired. Treatment's done—rest now."
"N-no! Not tired at all? Totally fine!"
"No stubbornness. Rest aids recovery. Talking drains stamina too—let's end here."
Hugo rose firmly.
Perfect timing; he'd been waiting to leave.
"Uuu... Coming tomorrow?"
"Of course. Daily for the foreseeable future."
"...Okay."
She pouted, slumping back into bed.
Overly familiar for recent acquaintances, but natural—he was her lifesaver.
'Maybe needed someone detached to confide in.'
Not family, not clan—total outsider to her life.
Her words made sense in that light.
"...See you tomorrow."
"Yes, tomorrow."
Thus, Hugo steadily rooted himself in Kanghwan Realm with new ties.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ One corner of a battlefield strewn like post-brawl chaos.
Woooong—
Heavy air swirled around a man kneeling reverently, hands clasped.
Just praying motionless, yet his solemnity exuded overwhelming pressure, stifling breathers.
And fittingly, an admirer watched in awe—
'As expected of Sir Heinrich! Never skips prayer.'
Saintess Riesta of the Church of the Main God.
Right after subduing another white giant outbreak.
Back from aiding zone victims, she sparkled seeing Heinrich pray in spare moments.
'Can't fall behind!'
His blazing holy power ignited her faith.
She settled beside him cautiously, mirroring his prayer pose.
Exhausted from battle and wide-area healing, but with Heinrich leading fights and cleanup so devoutly, she couldn't complain!
In that space flowing with majestic holy power.
The Saint and Saintess prayed side by side to the Main God—
'Good, that's enough.'
Heinrich successfully refilled holy power for Kanghwan dispatch today.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Another one. This is a real goldmine."
Harris grinned, hefting a plant root thick as his forearm.
Mount Wudang, not far from Zhuge Clan's Yunzhong Mountain.
Home to the massive Wudang Sect.
'My personal garden now, though.'
Here, vitality still rich, he confirmed it.
Why gathered spirit herbs felt underwhelming.
'Zhuge Clan mentioned it too. Overall efficacy declining.'
Due to worldly qi drying up, hypersensitive to ambient energy.
Likely all non-dragon vein herbs similarly affected.
Thus, dragon vein spirit herbs' value soared.
'And Hugo's must be top-tier!'
Tolerance builds with quantity; no filling limits with mediocrity.
His boy deserved only premium ingredients, packed tight.
'Passing other herbs to Zhuge Clan was smart. Showed goodwill too.'
Nodding contentedly, Harris buzzed about, harvesting eye-catchers.
Minimal presence to avoid friction; time short.
'Will return often, but stockpile Hugo's needs now.'
Harvest ballooned beyond expectation—better too much than too little.
Excess could be gifted generously.
'This should do. Time to...'
On day ten of Harris's Kanghwan entry.
The fruitful labor before returning to Outerica.