Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: To the Zhuge Clan
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To the Zhuge Clan
When I said that, the old Yeon man snorted with an irritated expression.
“Ha, better to smash it to pieces than hand it over to those damn imperial bastards.”
“Uh, uh-huh….”
I was startled for a moment.
The old Yeon man suddenly blurting out “damn imperial bastards” so openly.
Setting aside the treason, the resentment in his voice was anything but ordinary.
“…I can sense some deep-seated grudge against the imperial family somehow. Mind if I ask why? Might as well, since we're already talking treason.”
“Treason my ass…!”
The old man's story, which began with a short grumble, was shocking.
Ever since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, up to the present day spanning hundreds of years, the imperial court had been rooting out and massacring sorcerers hidden throughout the Central Plains.
“And that's why most bloodlines of sorcerers have been severed by now—all thanks to those purges.”
“No way, on what grounds… Why on earth?”
In response to my follow-up question, the old man spat out his pent-up resentment, even spraying saliva.
“Well, they claim we're in league with the Demonic Cult. These idiots who don't even know the 'sor' in sorcery can't distinguish between the Demonic Cult's evil curses and true sorcery, so they lump every sorcerer together as Demonic Cult minions. Does that even make sense?”
“…Uh-huh.”
I thought back to past events.
The Seven Branch who burrowed into my mind using that Soul-Muddling Brew, and the Jade-Faced Seductress who deceived women with illusions to rape them.
…Honestly, can you really tell them apart?
“What's with that look?”
“Nothing at all.”
Sensing my stray thoughts, the old man's gaze sharpened, so I hurriedly schooled my expression and played innocent.
Once he stared at me for a bit, let out a small sigh, and relaxed his face, I cautiously posed another question.
“If they're purging sorcerers that harshly… is it really okay for you, Elder Gok, to be staying with the Zhuge Clan?”
Whether innocent or not, if the imperial court was purging sorcerers like traitors… traitors usually meant extermination of the entire clan.
At that level, even the Zhuge Clan wouldn't escape unscathed, right?
The old man's answer to my doubt was simple.
“As if it could be. It's only safe because the imperial eyes are turned toward the borderlands—if they catch wind, the Embroidered Guards or the Heaven-Shattering Fortress will storm in and reduce it to rubble.”
“Then why are you staying with the Zhuge Clan, Elder Gok?”
“Well… tch.”
At my next question, the old man opened his mouth only to close it wordlessly and click his tongue.
“Doesn't seem like something I should say myself. Hear it directly from him.”
With that, the old man abruptly stood up.
“Anyway, I've given what I owed, so I'm off.”
“Huh? You're leaving? Where to… just like that?”
I realized he wasn't saying he was returning to the Zhuge Clan branch.
No, how could someone who just got up from a sickbed up and go somewhere?
“…No reason for me to stay here anymore, so it's time to go. Honestly, I don't want to linger.”
“Ah….”
Just as I was about to dissuade him, I recalled the Jade-Faced Seductress upon hearing his low voice and shut my mouth.
A wayward disciple committing atrocities, even trying to kill her master before dying herself.
I could tell without asking that this incident was the worst possible outcome for the old man.
Honestly, I'd want to leave quickly too if I were him.
Glancing at me standing speechless, the old man spoke again.
“…Don't worry about it. I know you did your best in your own way. No reason you should've, but you saved Seol-yi and brought her back.”
“…….”
I fell silent at his words.
That decision was one I still regretted, after all.
“Thanks. For letting me see that bastard Seol-yi one last time.”
Despite nearly dying because of my wrong choice, he was thanking me instead.
I had no idea what expression to make.
Seeing my confused look, the old man gave a feeble smile and headed for the door.
Pausing just before exiting the room,
“Be wary of the Zhuge Clan.”
“…Pardon?”
He suddenly warned me about the Zhuge Clan.
I turned to look at the old man's back.
“What do you mean by that?”
“They know the risk of harboring a sorcerer like me as a guest retainer, yet they cling and won't let go.”
“…So you're saying they have some reason worth bearing that risk?”
The old man shrugged at my retort.
“Who knows. But look at their actions. Forcing one-sided sacrifices on their blood kin while thrashing about to alter their constitutions.”
This was something I'd been thinking about too.
The current Zhuge Clan, one of the Five Great Clans, was overly obsessed with improving their bloodline's constitution due to an inferiority complex over lacking true masters.
And obsession always comes hand-in-hand with madness.
“True, there's no guarantee they won't scheme something even worse.”
“Knowing that is enough. Now I'm really off.”
Hearing my agreement, the old man left the room without a hint of hesitation, as if he'd said all he needed. The moment he vanished from sight, even his presence disappeared.
“…Huh?”
Startled, I rushed out after him, but the old man was nowhere to be seen.
It felt like I'd been possessed by a ghost.
The only proof it wasn't a dream was the Demon-Poison Brew still sitting on the table.
*
Three days passed in a flash after the old man left, and the day we departed for Yangyang arrived.
“It feels like we've just lounged around without accomplishing anything proper during our stay.”
Branch Chief Jo, who came out to see us off from the merchant house with an apologetic expression, was met with Hwa-ryeon shaking her head.
“We've rested more comfortably than we could have hoped, so don't trouble yourself over it.”
“…Miss, I pray you stay safe.”
Branch Chief Jo bowed politely to Hwa-ryeon and turned to my master.
“Hero Yeo, I entrust the miss to you.”
“No need to say it. I'll protect her with my life.”
Turning from my master, who answered quite solemnly, I looked at Seol-yi.
Seol-yi was bidding farewell to Branch Chief Jo's children, Si-woo and Seo-yeon.
Having grown close during our stay, Seo-yeon was shedding big tears like a chick, refusing to let go.
“I'll come visit again later.”
“Really? Promise?”
“Yeah, promise.”
Seol-yi, hugging little Seo-yeon's body tightly, had reddened eyes herself.
I smirked at the sight, then turned my head.
Branch Chief Jo approached me, leaning against the carriage.
With a strangely stiff expression, he blurted out,
“If you make the miss cry, you won't sleep soundly at night.”
“Br-Branch Chief Jo! What are you…!”
Hwa-ryeon panicked at the sudden remark.
I, widening my eyes slightly at Branch Chief Jo, smirked and replied.
“Then I don't have to worry. I plan to sleep soundly every night from now on.”
My response implied no such thing would happen, and Branch Chief Jo gave a silent bow, entrusting the miss to me once more.
Thus, we left behind those we'd briefly grown fond of, boarded the carriage, and headed for the Zhuge Clan branch in Wuhuan.
And shortly after arriving at the branch, we met
“You bastard! You the one who dared muddy the future of the Zhuge Clan?!”
a middle-aged man reeking of beastly stench.
*
I recalled the old man's warning to beware the Zhuge Clan.
But what we'd imagined back then
“I'm asking! Did you crush Heavenly Supreme?!”
wasn't anything like this….
Scratching my head for a moment, I asked the man draped in tiger pelt before me.
“…And who might you be?”
“You? Such an insolent punk!”
Not something you'd expect to hear from a stranger right off the bat.
Anyway, seeing the person in question had no intention of answering my question, I turned to the third party in between, Jeon Gal Geun-yeong.
He looked headache-inducing, but upon sensing my gaze, he gave an awkward smile and introduced the man.
“This is one of our clan's guest retainers, Fierce Tiger Blade Hyuk Ri-gwang, the hero.”
After the introduction, he leaned in close and quietly added,
“He's Heavenly Supreme's father.”
“…How old is that guy exactly?”
Just how old was he to have his dad show up raging over a beating?
He sighed with an indescribable expression at my pointed look and explained.
“It's not that. Seems the clan head learned of the recent martial bout. Whether he's interested in you, young hero Goon, or what, he asked Hero Hyuk to bring you to the main house.”
“Follow quietly! The Zhuge Clan head wishes to see you himself!”
What? It was just to bring me along?
I thought his son came home beaten and he was here to chew me out.
Of course, there was probably an order like “drag him if he refuses.”
But I was planning to head to the main house anyway—no need for force.
“Then let's go, to the Zhuge Clan.”
That's why I readily agreed to accompany them.
But this reaction was unexpected; Hyuk Ri-gwang looked clearly flustered.
“Huh? What? Why so compliant all of a sudden? No fun.”
“…Didn't I tell you earlier? I was heading to the main house anyway.”
“When did you!”
“Just now….”
Jeon Gal Geun-yeong replied in a deflated voice, as if drained of energy.
Seemed he and this Hyuk Ri-gwang guy didn't mesh well in various ways.
“Argh, tch.”
Meanwhile, Hyuk Ri-gwang, clicking his tongue dissatisfied, suddenly turned his gaze to Hwa-ryeon behind me and widened his eyes.
He scanned her up and down appraisingly, then strode over and asked,
“You, how old this year?”
“…Why do you ask?”
Hwa-ryeon, already displeased from the moment he eyed her body, retorted coldly.
Hyuk Ri-gwang cleared his throat shortly, then started spouting nonsense.
“Damn, hips wide, tits big and hefty—looks like you'd bear fine sons. Wanna meet my boy?”
“…….”
“…….”
Silence.
Our group's faces stiffened rigidly, and Jeon Gal Geun-yeong paled as if about to faint.
And I, I simply approached the beast cub and grabbed the shoulder buried under tiger hide.
“Huh? What? Hurry up and get ready to….”
“Branch Chief. If I smash this guy, will there be any issues later?”
Cutting off Hyuk Ri-gwang, I asked Jeon Gal Geun-yeong.
A voice half-resigned came back.
“…No. No problems. Do as you wish.”
“What nonsense…!”
-Bam!
My fist slammed into Hyuk Ri-gwang's face as he spoke irritably,
-Boom!
and he flew back, crashing into the wall.