Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Meeting (1)
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The retainers guarding the main gate of the Seok Family spotted dozens of murim warriors approaching and quickly reported it inside.
"Dozens of murim warriors are heading this way."
Upon receiving the report, Seok Yang-ho hurriedly grabbed his weapon and rushed outside with his retainers.
Stepping out through the main gate, he carefully observed the murim warriors walking toward them from the opposite side.
An elderly warrior with snow-white hair led the group, followed by a contingent of young men and women.
'Who on earth could these people be?'
It was impossible to judge whether they were enemies or not offhand, but judging by the bright expressions on the murim warriors' faces, they didn't seem to harbor any ill intent.
Soon, the elderly warrior stopped about thirty paces from Seok Yang-ho.
"I am Seok Yang-ho, head of the Seok Family of Huanin County."
Seok Yang-ho was the first to clasp his hands and bow in greeting.
"I am Zhuge Ser of the Zhuge Family. I have come bearing a personal letter from our family head."
Elder Zhuge Ser of the Zhuge Family returned the bow with a courteous incline of his own.
Stunned, Seok Yang-ho hastily bowed again.
He had never even imagined that someone from the Zhuge Family—one of the Five Great Families of the murim world—would visit.
"Forgive my ignorance for not recognizing an elder of the Zhuge Family. Please, come inside."
"My thanks."
Elder Zhuge Ser entered the Seok Family estate in Huanin County alongside his group of over thirty members.
Once inside the family compound, Zhuge Ser introduced his companions to Seok Yang-ho.
"This is Young Master Moyong Se of the Moyong Family."
At Zhuge Ser's introduction, Moyong Se politely clasped his hands and bowed.
"I am 'Se' of the Moyong Family."
Seok Yang-ho bowed in return, utterly at a loss for what to do.
'What in the world is going on? The Zhuge Family's visit was shocking enough, but now the Moyong Family as well...'
But he couldn't afford to remain flustered forever.
"W-We are deeply grateful for the Moyong Family's visit."
A smile crept into Elder Zhuge Ser's aged eyes.
As rumored, Seok Yang-ho, the head of the Seok Family, was quite different from most murim warriors.
"And this is Lady Namgung Hye of the Namgung Family."
The Moyong Family, followed by the Namgung Family...
Seok Yang-ho steadied his racing heart and caught his breath.
"...We welcome the Namgung Family's visit."
After exchanging greetings with Namgung Hye, Paeng Ok, Zhuge Ji, and Zhuge Ho, Seok Yang-ho summoned his retainers to prepare a grand feast.
Since the Seok Family had settled in Huanin County, no visitors of such stature had ever come before.
Family Head Seok Yang-ho personally welcomed Elder Zhuge Ser and the young later-generation experts into his private quarters.
He ordered the finest tea the family had to be served in haste, and once they were seated, Zhuge Ser handed over the letter from the Zhuge Family.
"The Zhuge Family desires to forge an alliance with the Seok Family of Huanin—one thicker than blood, enduring for ages."
Seok Yang-ho carefully accepted the letter with both hands, broke the seal, and read the words penned by the Zhuge Family head.
As Zhuge Ser had said, the letter outlined the reasons and aspirations for an alliance between the Zhuge Family and the Seok Family.
If word spread that a small martial clan like theirs in Huanin County had received a letter from the Zhuge Family, their reputation would soar several levels.
Yet in the murim world, the higher the fame, the greater the caution required.
"Our humble family may lack the qualifications to receive such a letter from the esteemed Zhuge Family."
Heh heh heh...
Zhuge Ser chuckled good-naturedly.
While staying at his family, he had heard rumors that the Life-Escaping Sword of the Ma Clan had been slain by the Seok Family head, losing his life in the process.
Before hearing that rumor, he had known of a martial clan called the Seok Family in Huanin County, but it was the first time he learned their martial prowess was so exceptional.
Moreover, according to Zhuge Ji, the head of the Seok Family in Huanin was a rare righteous man in the world.
Now, meeting him face-to-face, he was overjoyed to confirm the rumors were true.
"They say excessive humility is as bad as deficiency. How could the family head who felled the Life-Escaping Sword with a single strike lack qualifications? If you refuse the letter, the Zhuge Family will be most disappointed."
"I... I have no words. We will accept your family head's letter with all sincerity."
Heh heh heh heh.
"My thanks."
With the alliance between the Zhuge Family and the Seok Family thus sealed, the atmosphere brightened considerably.
While the Seok Family hosted a feast for the Zhuge Family and the various later-generation experts, a man named Jo Gu was meeting with the head of the Si Family.
Si Ju-pyeong was terrified at the sight of One-Whip Killer Jo Gu visiting his family.
The Jo Clan of Henan was on a scale incomparable to the Si Family of Huanin, boasting so many experts that even the Five Great Families tread carefully around them.
Especially among the Jo Clan's retainers, Jo Gu—known as the One-Whip Killer—was renowned not just in Henan but throughout the murim world.
"H-How... have you come to my family?"
Si Ju-pyeong prostrated himself flat before Jo Gu.
He had heard from Ma Bok-gye that the One-Whip Killer was a sworn brother of sorts, but with his death, he never dreamed the man would actually show up.
"Why is the Seok Family head still alive?"
Though it was their first meeting, Jo Gu treated Si Ju-pyeong like a subordinate with natural ease.
Si Ju-pyeong was so tense that his explanation was barely intelligible.
"W-We commissioned the Black Moon Gate, but there was a problem... so we've put in a request with the Crimson Killer Gate. Please, just wait a little. W-We will surely take Seok Yang-ho's head."
Jo Gu scowled and glared at the back of Si Ju-pyeong's head before asking coldly.
"I haven't heard anything about a problem with the Black Moon Gate. Did you place the commission yourself?"
Assassin gates never abandoned a commission midway once accepted.
Even if all their assassins failed and died in the attempt, the gate leader would step in to fulfill it.
"N-No. M-My son placed it in my stead..."
"Bring him."
Si Ju-pyeong rushed outside and soon returned with Si Wang-saeng.
Si Wang-saeng prostrated himself just like his father.
"Greetings to Great Hero One-Whip Killer Jo Gu."
"Explain from the beginning how things ended up like this."
"Yes. After the Life-Escaping Sword fell to Seok Yang-ho's sword..."
Unlike his father, Si Wang-saeng calmly recounted the full story.
After hearing it all, Jo Gu intuited that something major had gone wrong with the Black Moon Gate.
"In that case, I'll have to step in myself. Starting tomorrow, put surveillance on the Seok Family and report every move of Seok Yang-ho to me."
Jo Gu intended to kill Seok Yang-ho personally.
But the response he received was unexpected once more.
"That... might be difficult. We heard that people from the Zhuge Family visited the Seok Family during the day."
Why on earth was the Zhuge Family popping up here of all places?
Jo Gu was so taken aback that he was momentarily speechless, but he soon regained his composure.
"What did you just say? The Zhuge Family visited the Seok Family?"
Si Ju-pyeong hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Can't you answer properly?!"
A thunderous roar poured down over Si Ju-pyeong and Si Wang-saeng.
Si Wang-saeng spoke up in his father's place.
"During the day, Elder Zhuge Ser, Zhuge Ji, Zhuge Ho of the Zhuge Family, Lady Namgung Hye of the Namgung Family, Young Master Moyong Se of the Moyong Family, Paeng Ok of the Paeng Family, and over thirty others entered the Seok Family. It was a mix of people from the Zhuge Family, as well as the Namgung, Moyong, and Paeng Families."
"This... damn dog..."
The utterly unforeseen predicament nearly made curses spill out involuntarily.
Why had four of the Five Great Families gathered at the Seok Family?
One wrong move, and they might end up in a massive clash with those four great families over something as trivial as the Seok Family.
But backing down in fear here was not an option.
If he found the right opportunity, he could take out not just Seok Yang-ho, but the young later-generation experts from the four families as well.
The moniker One-Whip Killer was known to all, but few could recognize his face at a glance.
After finishing breakfast, Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye left the Seok Family with Paeng Ok.
Escorting the three young ladies was Seok Yang-ho's eldest daughter, Seok Su-a.
"If not for the flood, it would be even more beautiful, but now there's trash piled up along the riverbank, so it might not be as stunning as before."
"It's fine. With good liquor and fine side dishes, we can console ourselves with the drinking ambiance."
Namgung Hye replied, hoisting a large bundle.
Perhaps because it was just the women, laughter flowed nonstop as they walked to the river.
In truth, Seok Su-a hadn't felt at ease even as she left the house.
When her father tasked her with guiding the ladies from the Zhuge, Namgung, and Paeng Families on a village tour, she could barely swallow her food.
But contrary to her worries, the women from the great families were no different from her.
They doubled over laughing at funny stories and played pranks so freely that she hardly noticed when they arrived at the riverbank.
Ah...
"It truly deserves to be called the world's finest scenic spot."
Paeng Ok was the first to voice her admiration, and Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye nodded as they gazed up at the blue waves and the cliffs beyond the river.
There were many places in the world more famous for their beauty.
But this spot had a unique, intimate charm unlike anywhere else.
"If we go upstream a bit, we can see even better views."
Seok Su-a led the three women further up the river.
They busily took in the new vistas unfolding along the banks as they walked.
After quite some time, Seok Su-a pointed to a broad rock formation by the river.
"Last year, I sat there with the retainers watching the moon reflected in the river."
Even to their eyes, it seemed the perfect spot for taking in the scenery.
The women followed Seok Su-a up onto the rock and settled down.
They laid out meat and vegetable side dishes and passed around cups of liquor, creating an earthly paradise.
They drank in silence, immersing themselves in the beautiful landscape.
Splash!
But a sound shattered the serene mood in an instant, coming from upstream.
Turning their heads, they saw a young man diving into the river and splashing about.
"Hurry up and get in, bro! Wake up quick so we can go buy some meat!"
The distance was considerable, yet the man's voice and physique were impressively powerful.
Even these women from the great families, who had traveled widely and met many people, had never seen a man of such build.
"Who are they?"
At Paeng Ok's question, Seok Su-a blushed slightly as she answered.
"Hunters. They live by the riverbank, and it looks like that's their house right there."
No sooner had Seok Su-a finished than another voice rang out.
"Quit stuffing your face with meat, you bastard!"
The women frowned slightly at the rough shout.
Seok Su-a smiled and explained.
"They might look a bit rough, but they're the village's best hunters. They're the ones who caught the tiger for Grandfather's birthday feast."
"I see. We heard the rough story yesterday, but it turns out they're the hunters who strangled a tiger to death."
Zhuge Ji looked anew at the man emerging from the water and the one standing on the hilltop.
Suddenly, the man on the hill turned his head toward where they were sitting.
No, it felt like he was looking right at them.
"What are those women?"