Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: Zhuge Geunyoung's Choice
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No sooner had Geunyoung finished his declaration than questions came flying.
“First Young Master. You've called this meeting so suddenly—is it to deal with the punishment of the main culprits behind this incident, after all?”
“…Yes. Along with punishing the main culprits, I intend to reveal their ringleader.”
-The ringleader? They said it was under investigation, but it's already wrapped up?
-That's why they've gathered us like this.
A low murmur rippled through the hall, growing into a buzz.
Geunyoung listened quietly to the elders chattering.
Soon, an attendant approached him and whispered softly in his ear.
Having heard this, Geunyoung raised his voice toward the outside of the Grand Celestial Hall.
“Bring them in!”
At his shout, the firmly shut doors of the Grand Celestial Hall swung open, and a group of people entered.
It was Zhuge Sun and the surviving elders.
“…….”
Bound tightly with ropes from head to toe, they remained silent, saying nothing.
Various emotions flickered across the faces of those watching these men, who until recently had been revered as the clan's supreme elders.
Some showed pity and dismay, while others smirked with vicious satisfaction at their downfall.
But the predominant expression was anger.
Especially those who had found close kin among the cave-trapped Blood Burst Art practitioners glared at them with looks that screamed they wanted to tear them apart right then and there.
Zhuge Sun endured their stares and gazed at Zhuge Geunyoung.
Eyes whose thoughts were impossible to read.
‘To hide his emotions so adeptly already.’
Admiration welled up inside him anew, mingled with relief.
His choice had truly been the right one.
The First Young Master would undoubtedly place the Zhuge Clan on solid ground.
He would wipe away all the humiliations of the past years and transform it into a martial house truly worthy of respect from all.
‘Now I have no worries left. This sinner of ages will go smiling to hell.’
He had already coordinated with the other elders.
Though initially skeptical, upon hearing that the First Young Master had routed him personally, they had resigned themselves and agreed to follow his will.
All that remained was for the First Young Master to take this foolish old man's life himself.
‘Trample my corpse and ascend to the family head's seat with everyone's support.’
“First, I wish to reveal the ringleader behind this incident.”
Hearing Geunyoung's voice, Zhuge Sun closed his eyes gently and awaited his next words.
“The ringleader is….”
-Gulp.
In the deathly silence of the Grand Celestial Hall, the sound of someone swallowing rang out clearly.
And at Geunyoung's following words, everyone was stunned.
“My father and the late former family head, Zhuge Sugyeong.”
Zhuge Sun especially.
His serene, closed-eyed face twisted horrifically as his eyes snapped wide open.
“Wh-why…!”
Why make such a foolish choice…!
Was he pitying this old life that had so little time left?
How could someone on the verge of becoming the Zhuge Clan's family head be so emotional!
-Bam!
Just as Zhuge Sun opened his mouth to speak, the sound of a table being slammed rang out, and someone shot to their feet.
It was Zhuge Cheong, captain of the Protection Squad.
“…Are you saying the former family head orchestrated all of this? Did I hear that right?”
Eyes blazing fiercely.
Even under that scorching gaze, Geunyoung nodded slowly, unflinching.
“Yes. It has been confirmed that the Elder Council began researching demonic arts under the former family head's direction.”
The murmurs inside the Grand Celestial Hall swelled at the repeated confirmation, turning as rowdy as a marketplace.
Amid the chaos, Zhuge Sun's bewildered gaze toward Geunyoung shifted to Jaseong.
Jaseong, who happened to be looking right at him.
Resentment naturally crept into Zhuge Sun's eyes.
‘Why didn't you persuade him?’
He might have listened if it came from his benefactor Jaseong!
His eyes blatantly broadcast his inner thoughts.
But Jaseong merely shrugged wordlessly.
“Then we cannot accept the First Young Master as the next family head! How could we follow the son of our enemy!”
“I feel the same!”
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Grand Celestial Hall was swiftly heading toward collapse.
Following Zhuge Cheong, the Finance Hall Master and Martial Union Hall Master rose and declared they could not acknowledge Geunyoung.
There were no small number of elders chiming in agreement.
Their common thread: all had discovered blood-maddened kin turned into test subjects in the caves.
The Martial Union Hall Master's face was especially filled with venom, for the kin he had found was none other than his youngest son.
A late blessing obtained at an advanced age, the boy had been all the more precious for it.
Though not particularly gifted in martial arts, his kind nature and deep filial piety had always brought a smile to his father's face…!
‘That child…!’
Recalling the sight of his youngest son with blood-red eyes flashing as he howled like a beast, the father's rage turned toward the enemy's son.
Thus, the resentment and fury of the elders who had lost kin poured down on Geunyoung and the direct bloodline seated beside him.
The faces of the direct bloodline, excluding Geunyoung, paled.
‘This is dangerous.’
Seeing this, urgency flashed across Zhuge Sun's face.
Their reactions were far from ordinary; he couldn't just sit and watch.
They looked ready to lunge at the direct bloodline any moment.
Of course, with Jaseong's group and Chunsam there, the elders' anger wouldn't reach Geunyoung… .
‘If this continues, the clan will fracture.’
That was the worst, most horrific outcome he could imagine.
Setting aside his disappointment in Geunyoung's choice, he first needed to cool the overheated mood.
‘But how?’
He was no longer the clan's chief steward.
Just an ugly sinner who had sacrificed countless blood kin.
Any words from him would only backfire.
What on earth should he do…!
-Thud!
As Zhuge Sun fidgeted in turmoil, Geunyoung rose from his seat with a powerful stamp of his foot.
“…Son of the enemy, you say?”
Geunyoung was usually evaluated among the clan as capable but indecisive in temperament.
Yet now, his face hardened rigidly as he scanned the room, radiating a fierce aura utterly devoid of any hesitation.
Even the Martial Union Hall Master, on the brink of losing his reason to rage, flinched for a moment.
Locking eyes one by one with those who had shot up in fury, Geunyoung spoke lowly.
“Have you forgotten that this very seat was made possible because that son of the enemy rebelled against his father?”
Reminded of the fact they had momentarily forgotten in their anger, the elders' momentum faltered.
Geunyoung pressed his advantage without mercy.
“If we hadn't stepped in, you would still be clueless, following the former family head's words… No, you would already have met your end at the hands of the rampaging Zhuge Cheon-sang.”
“Uh, ahem…!”
Only then did they recall that Geunyoung, Jaseong, and Hwaryeon seated nearby were the benefactors who had saved their lives.
Yet their dissatisfaction and outrage lingered.
Humans are emotional creatures.
Thus, even when the head understands, the heart sometimes refuses.
Having seen this with his own eyes, Geunyoung picked up the sword leaning against the table and placed it atop the table.
-Thud!
All eyes converged on Geunyoung's hand, on the sword he gripped.
Bewildered, questioning gazes mixed with doubt as to what he was doing.
Amid those stares, Geunyoung gripped the sword tightly and spoke.
“I understand your reluctance to accept me. But in this time of hardship, I cannot allow the clan to fracture.”
“Then what do you propose?”
The Martial Union Hall Master's words carried a veiled hostility.
Meeting his gaze squarely, Geunyoung stated firmly.
“Martial artists speak with martial prowess. If you cannot accept me, then step forward. I will gladly face you.”
*
If you're pissed, come at me.
At Zhuge Geunyoung's arrogant declaration, I let out a chuckle.
This was way cooler than I'd imagined.
I had 'already' known he would handle it this way.
Still, witnessing it firsthand nearly had me giving him a thumbs-up.
Meanwhile, the elders, dumbfounded by the declaration, soon twisted their faces and exuded a menacing aura.
Leading them, the Martial Union Hall Master chewed his lip and spoke.
“Fine. Let's settle it with swords. If I win, the First Young Master must renounce the succession.”
“In exchange, if I win, you follow me quietly.”
“…Agreed.”
Turning from the assenting Martial Union Hall Master, Zhuge Geunyoung raised his voice to the room.
“The same goes for everyone else! If you cannot accept me, step forward, anyone! I won't refuse whoever it is.”
“G-Geunyoung…?”
“Brother…!”
At his shout, the direct bloodline looked at him in greater panic.
Their thoughts were plain: ‘You're going to face all of them? Are you insane?’
Well, insane? Or confident?
Turning from Zhuge Geunyoung's emotionless face, I scanned the elders' demeanors.
Separate from those raging over their kin turned into test subjects, some eyes gleamed oddly.
They looked tempted, as if seeing a golden opportunity.
What, fantasizing about toppling Zhuge Geunyoung and claiming the family head seat themselves?
I snorted softly and straightened up, only to feel a prickling gaze from beside me.
Glancing sideways suspiciously, I caught Hwaryeon eyeing me.
“What?”
“No. Just… you're oddly calm even in this sudden mess. Like you knew it was coming.”
“Who knows…?”
I trailed off vaguely, and Hwaryeon's eyes narrowed further.
Whew, a woman's intuition is scary.
As I smirked, about to come clean, Zhuge Geunyoung picked up his sword and headed outside.
People began following him.
“Let's head out first. I'll explain on the way.”