Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Descendants of the Crouching Dragon
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Time rewound to this morning.
The procession that had continued for five days finally arrived at Yangyang, the main estate of the Zhuge Clan.
“This is... the Zhuge Clan.”
Hwa-ryeon murmured softly while gazing at the massive compound backed by Mt. Yongjung.
I approached her side and asked in a quiet voice.
“Shall we head straight to the clan head’s residence first?”
“That would be ideal, but the Zhuge Clan’s situation is different from the Nangong Clan’s. We might have to go through quite a few complicated procedures.”
“Hmm...”
I nodded at Hwa-ryeon’s words and looked toward the compound’s grand gate.
Just then, Zhuge Geun-yeong approached the gatekeepers guarding the entrance, and upon seeing him, they immediately bowed in respect.
-They’ve come with the guests invited by the clan head.
-We’ve already been informed. Preparations for the banquet are in full swing—it’s quite lively. Please, come inside, Young Master Il.
Banquet? Young Master Il?
Using my listening skill, I eavesdropped and caught some intriguing words.
Banquet preparations.
It felt like they were preparing a banquet for us—a sign of welcome, I suppose?
At least the hardships we endured to capture the Jade-Faced Enchantress hadn’t been in vain.
And the way the gatekeeper addressed Zhuge Geun-yeong: Young Master Il.
That was the typical title for the eldest direct descendant—the clan head’s firstborn son.
I’d assumed he held a high position in the clan as the branch manager of the Wunan Branch, their biggest source of income, but sure enough, he was direct lineage.
“Young Hero Goon, Lady Hwa. They’re preparing an evening banquet to welcome your group. Please leave the carriages to us and come inside.”
While I was lost in thought, Zhuge Geun-yeong approached us and relayed what I’d overheard to Hwa-ryeon.
She nodded slightly in response.
“It’s reassuring to see they’re welcoming us. When might we meet the clan head?”
“If you wish, we can do so immediately. The clan head is eager to meet you all as well.”
Fortunately, it seemed we could meet the clan head right away.
Hwa-ryeon’s expression brightened a touch, and we promptly disembarked from the carriages to follow Zhuge Geun-yeong into the clan grounds.
-Hurry! We don’t have time!
-Yes!
As the gatekeeper had said, the clan interior was quite bustling.
There was a commotion as they moved all sorts of things around in preparation, and the faint, mouthwatering aroma of food wafted through the air.
After days of dry rations, it’d be nice to finally fill our bellies properly.
As I idly wondered what dishes would be served at the evening banquet, a large hall that appeared to be the clan head’s residence came into view.
And as we headed straight for the hall, someone dressed in scholarly robes approached us.
“Young Master Il.”
“Ah, Chief Steward.”
Zhuge Geun-yeong warmly greeted the elderly man who bowed politely before him and introduced him to us.
“This is Chief Steward Zhuge Sun, who manages the inner affairs of the main estate. He’s like an uncle to me.”
“Hoho, Young Master Il is too kind. I am Zhuge Sun.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Goon Ja-seong.”
Introductions finished starting with me.
Upon hearing Hwa-ryeon and Master’s names, a strange glint flickered in the steward’s eyes, but he said nothing unusual.
“But shouldn’t we escort the guests to the guest halls...?”
“Ah, the guests wished to meet the clan head immediately, so I’ve brought them here.”
The steward nodded at Zhuge Geun-yeong’s reply.
“I see. The clan head has been looking forward to meeting them as well. He’s in the hall at the moment—please, go right in.”
“Yes, then.”
After bowing politely to the steward, Zhuge Geun-yeong led us into the clan head’s residence, and soon enough, we came face-to-face with the Zhuge clan head in his office.
“Welcome! It’s great to finally meet you. I am Zhuge Su-gyeong, current head of the Zhuge Clan.”
The clan head who greeted us with a beaming smile was surprisingly a refined middle-aged man.
Honestly, from all the stories I’d heard about the Zhuge Clan, I’d imagined their clan head as a cold-blooded manipulator who used his kin for the family’s sake.
But the man before us, smiling brightly as he welcomed us, felt utterly removed from the word “cold-blooded.”
“I’ve already heard about the events in Wunan via messenger pigeon. Thanks to you, a major headache for the clan has been resolved. On behalf of the Zhuge Clan, allow me to express our gratitude.”
Seeing the clan head clasp his hands in a formal salute, Zhuge Geun-yeong’s image overlapped with his.
Even someone unaware of their circumstances could tell they were father and son.
“No need. We intervened for our own purposes, so we’re the ones grateful for this warm reception.”
“Hoho, purposes, you say.”
The clan head let out a hearty laugh at Hwa-ryeon’s words, then hardened his expression.
“That must be related to Tyrant Heaven Fortress, I presume. Isn’t that right, former vice fortress lord of Tyrant Heaven Fortress?”
“...Correct. We’ve come to warn of the schemes Tyrant Heaven Fortress is currently plotting and to seek your cooperation.”
“Schemes and cooperation...!”
The clan head, wearing an expression of keen interest, guided us to seats and took the seat of honor.
“First, I’d like to hear the details.”
Hwa-ryeon promptly pulled out the Explosive Blood Technique manual and slowly began to speak.
She explained their plan to manipulate the murim world using demonic arts, along with the tricks they’d actually pulled on the Nangong Clan.
“Good heavens, such things...!”
“I’d already heard about the Nangong Clan incident, but to think they were hiding schemes like this...!”
The clan head sighed as he listened to Hwa-ryeon.
Zhuge Geun-yeong also looked grave upon seeing the Explosive Blood Technique manual.
“So, this is the Explosive Blood Technique manual? Might I take a quick look?”
“Yes, of course.”
With Hwa-ryeon’s permission, the clan head opened the manual and silently examined its contents for a moment.
A strange light flickered in his eyes as they scanned the text, then vanished.
...What was that just now?
As a peculiar feeling made me tilt my head, the clan head closed the manual again.
“...It truly seems to be the Explosive Blood Technique manual.”
Muttering in a stiff voice, the clan head turned to Hwa-ryeon and asked.
“I understand the situation. So, what exactly do you mean by cooperation?”
“We seek to unite the forces of the murim into a grand alliance—the Murim Alliance. To deter Tyrant Heaven Fortress from recklessly starting wars.”
“The Murim Alliance...”
Hearing Hwa-ryeon’s plan, the clan head stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming.
“A truly bold plan. One misstep, and it could be branded as rebellion.”
“Being framed as demonic cult minions would lead to the same accusation. In that case, I believe it’s better to fight back than sit idly by.”
“Mm...”
The clan head fell into thought with a low groan.
After a brief wait, his response was to hold off.
“Might you give me a few days to deliberate? This doesn’t seem like something I can decide alone. I’ll need to discuss it in a clan meeting.”
Discussion through council.
It seemed the Zhuge Clan didn’t grant their clan head as absolute authority as the Nangong Clan did.
Well, at least it wasn’t an outright rejection like with the Nangong Clan—small mercies?
Hwa-ryeon seemed to share my thoughts and nodded in agreement.
“Understood. How long should we wait?”
“Three days will suffice. Thank you for your patience. It’s not much in return, but we’re holding a welcome banquet this evening—please rest and enjoy yourselves.”
“Our thanks for the hospitality.”
Having finished our meeting with the clan head, we headed to the guest halls where we’d be staying.
Zhuge Geun-yeong stayed behind at the clan head’s request, so maids guided us instead—and that’s when something unexpected happened.
They assigned each of us to separate guest halls.
“...One entire guest hall per person?”
“Yes, as esteemed guests who saved the clan from crisis, we were instructed to treat you specially.”
The maid smiled amiably.
Refusing special treatment would look odd, so I quietly parted ways with the group and headed to my assigned room.
Fortunately, the guest halls were fairly close to each other.
Even if something happened, I’d notice right away—reassuring.
“If you need anything, please call for us,” the maid said before leaving.
Once her presence was far enough away, I headed straight to Hwa-ryeon’s guest hall.
“Hwa-ryeon, may I come in?”
-Come in.
Entering the room, I saw Seol and Master were already there.
We gathered around the table in the center of the room and discussed the clan head’s reaction and what lay ahead.
“He said he’d think it over, but it was still a fairly positive response.”
Seol spoke first.
Neither Hwa-ryeon nor Master raised any objections, nodding in agreement.
“Men sharp enough to be called the Divine Strategists of Zhuge will surely grasp what it means for Tyrant Heaven Fortress to possess the Explosive Blood Technique manual. I hope this goes smoothly.”
“I agree.”
Hwa-ryeon nodded, then turned to me to ask my thoughts.
“What do you think, Young Hero?”
“Well, it’d be nice if it works out.”
“...That somehow sounds like you think it won’t. Is something bothering you?”
“Nothing major—just something we learned thanks to the Jade-Faced Enchantress.”
At my words, the group fell silent.
The Zhuge Clan’s long-standing grudge and their excessive obsession with martial arts stemming from it.
And the monster known as the Jade-Faced Enchantress born from that.
From what Hyeok Ri-gwang had said, that obsession seemed to still be ongoing.
“Honestly, I can’t shake the feeling they’re hiding something. I wonder if we should just leave it be.”
“But that’s ultimately an internal Zhuge Clan matter. It’s not for outsiders like us to meddle in.”
“You’re right...”
I shrugged at Hwa-ryeon’s words.
“Well, it’s just a bit on my mind. Don’t worry about it. If it resolves well, that’s fine by me.”
Even as I said that, I kept recalling the clan head’s reaction earlier while examining the Explosive Blood Technique manual.
That strange light that had briefly passed through his eyes.
What on earth had that been?
Even after returning to my room, I pondered it endlessly, but no answer came.
And time marched on without pause—before long, evening banquet time arrived.