Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Five Great Lords (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Once the charred remnants of wood and ashes had been cleared away completely, the work of tamping down the earth began.
However, with dusk already beginning to fall, they couldn't finish tamping the ground.
Zhuge Ji called the workers over and started recording their names one by one.
"Wages will be paid out every ten days. I'll calculate them more generously than other places, so please work hard."
The people bowed deeply to her one after another.
"Thank you."
"Thank you very much."
As the people dispersed, Myeong-gak began preparing the rice.
They were handling their own tasks without me even needing to assign them.
Illyangja, Hyeonwonja, and Namgung Jak gathered in one place.
These three were figures who held seats among the Five Heavenly Kings of the murim world.
The place where they sat together was the Zhuge Family estate, and joining them were the Zhuge Family Head along with Yeong-gae, known as the Flower Beggar.
"Three months ago, the Mok Family in Shanxi was utterly exterminated. Not only the children but even the retainers were all massacred, leaving no survivors."
"I've heard about that too. Master Mok Dan-ho was a hero whose martial arts rivaled the Seven Armies, so I was greatly shocked to hear that even he had fallen."
"I still find it truly regrettable."
The main ones carrying the conversation were the Zhuge Family Head and Namgung Jak.
Illyangja of Wudang Mountain, Hyeonwonja of Huashan, and Yeong-gae of the Beggars' Clan listened silently to their discussion.
The Zhuge Family Head, who had been conversing with Namgung Jak, turned to Yeong-gae and asked,
"Has the Beggars' Clan identified the enemies' identity?"
Yeong-gae shook his head gravely.
"There are a few eyewitnesses, but we don't know who they are. They say roughly a hundred men attacked the Mok Family, but the witnesses were too terrified to get close enough to observe."
"Even the Beggars' Clan hasn't uncovered anything?"
"All we know is that the one leading those hundred or so murim warriors was a man with a thick, scraggly beard."
After answering, Yeong-gae gave a wry smile.
The Beggars' Clan had informants in every corner of the jianghu—no place in the entire realm was without their beggars.
Yet nowhere had any information on these men surfaced.
At that moment, Illyangja, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
"The Divine Monk has been concerned since three years ago that the demons have already revived. Do you think the same, Yeong-gae?"
"You all already know this beggar's answer, don't you? Nothing but those same fiends from a hundred years ago can explain the current situation. Pillars and beams upholding the murim world are falling one by one to unidentified foes, and sinister cults seducing the common folk are springing up like mushrooms across the jianghu. I don't believe for a moment that this is mere coincidence."
"Then you agree with the Divine Monk that the righteous sects must form the Murim Alliance?"
Kkek kek kek...
Yeong-gae burst into loud laughter.
As he laughed, the heavy atmosphere lightened a bit.
Though these men were masters revered like gods in the jianghu, each had been tricked by Yeong-gae at least once.
Moreover, Hyeonwonja of Huashan had once fallen for Yeong-gae back when he was young and wandering in disguise as a woman—a tale still brought up as a joke over drinks even now.
Once his laughter subsided, Yeong-gae spoke in a somewhat lighter tone.
"A hundred years ago, we ignored the warnings from the One Immortal Sect and knelt before the Demonic Cult without even putting up a proper fight. We cannot repeat that humiliation from a century past."
"Then we should first announce the formation of the Murim Alliance across the jianghu."
Illyangja and Namgung Jak nodded in agreement with Hyeonwonja's response, but the Zhuge Family Head shook his head.
"If we're going to form the Murim Alliance anyway, wouldn't it be better to proceed step by step in secret? The enemy won't know we're preparing, giving us a prime opportunity for a counterstrike."
"As expected of the Zhuge Family—truly exceptional."
Yeong-gae nodded in satisfaction, and the Zhuge Family Head bowed his head politely.
"You flatter me."
"It seems to me that you've already devised a plan, Family Head... Could you share it with us here?"
Zhuge Zhong, the Zhuge Family Head, glanced around the gathering.
As Illyangja, Hyeonwonja, and Namgung Jak nodded, he began revealing his inner thoughts.
"To thwart the revival of the Demonic Cult, we must act both internally and externally at once. First, inform the renowned elders of the jianghu and quietly gather funds and forces. Once that's progressed sufficiently, we send out peak masters to the outside. If brilliant young experts with superb martial arts roam and stir the murim world, those hiding in the shadows will be forced to reveal themselves."
"Where do we find young masters with such caliber?"
A smile appeared on Zhuge Zhong's face.
"They already exist, don't they?"
Hyeonwonja let out a hearty laugh at Zhuge Zhong's smile.
Heh heh heh...
"In the end, the disciples of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families will have to undertake this. And the leader should be Ilryong, of course."
Hyeonwonja grinned as he glanced at Namgung Jak.
No father would dislike his son receiving such expectation and attention from others.
But he couldn't simply rejoice over something this dangerous.
"My boy can handle himself well enough, but I'm not sure if he can accomplish something so vital."
As Namgung Jak subtly tried to decline, Illyangja backed Hyeonwonja.
"If not Hu, then who could take on such a task? Don't worry too much, Namgung Family Head. Not only the Divine Monk's disciple, but my own disciple and Hyeonwonja's disciple here will join him as well."
With Illyangja going that far, Namgung Jak had no choice but to consent.
"My son is currently at the Zhuge Family, but I'll ask his intentions."
"Thank you, Namgung Family Head."
At that point, Yeong-gae chimed in.
"There are some young men lately catching the Divine Monk's eye. It might be good to include them in this as well."
The emergence of promising new young experts drew the interest of everyone in the jianghu.
This held true even for the Five Heavenly Kings and the Zhuge Family Head.
Especially if they had caught the Divine Monk's attention—they were no ordinary folk.
"Which young men from where have caught the Divine Monk's interest?"
Zhuge Zhong asked on behalf of the group.
"Hunter brothers living in Huanin County."
"Hunters?"
Not scions of any prestigious family or disciples of a martial sect, but hunters.
Yet if they had the Divine Monk's interest, they were surely no ordinary hunters.
Heh...
"When my daughter returned to the family, she made all sorts of excuses to head back to Huanin County. Even Hye showed great interest in that village. It seems the girls knew something about those hunters. Have you met them yourself, Yeong-gae?"
"Yes. I met the older brother in person and spoke with him directly. I haven't met the younger one, but he's said to be the Seok Family's martial instructor."
"A hunter serving as martial instructor..."
No insignificant clan tucked away in the boonies, nor even a local martial hall, would have a hunter as their instructor.
This meant the hunter possessed considerable martial prowess.
"What sort of man was the older brother?"
"He seemed like someone carrying a deep burden in life. His demeanor was gloomy, but his nature wasn't malicious. Also, from what the beggars residing in Huanin County reported, the older brother repelled an raid by the Henan Jo Clan."
Ho...
"As expected of youths worthy of the Divine Monk's attention. Until now, I'd believed it was the Zhuge and Namgung Family scions who thwarted them."
Kkek kek kek...
"It's true that the Zhuge and Namgung Families provided great assistance."
Returning to the guest quarters of the Zhuge Family, Namgung Jak summoned his son Namgung Hu.
"There is something you must absolutely do for the sake of the murim world."
Namgung Hu, who had been lazing about in frustration over failing to find his master and fellow disciples, responded half-heartedly.
"I don't know what it is, Father, but there are plenty of other family scions idling about besides me."
Namgung Jak harshly scolded his son, whose eyes were as listless as his attitude.
"Are those master and fellow disciples your entire life? Get a grip on yourself, you fool! Do you think they'll magically appear before you while you're in this state?"
Having been rebuked by his father, Namgung Hu straightened his posture and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Father. I was foolish."
Hmm...
Namgung Jak's anger subsided immediately upon seeing his son admit his fault.
Truth be told, he was a son any man could boast about.
"Your task is to visit the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families scattered across the jianghu. I'll have Illyangja, Hyeonwonja, and I write letters of introduction for you. Deliver them to the sect leaders and family heads, select outstanding young disciples and scions, and bring them here. Since you'll be traveling the entire jianghu, you might even hear news of your master and fellow disciples."
Only then did Namgung Hu's expression brighten.
His father might be right.
He had only searched the nearby areas in his quest for his master and fellow disciples, never venturing as far as Sichuan.
"Understood, Father. Leave it to me."
Seeing his son's face light up improved the father's mood as well.
But there were worries too.
"Your martial arts are outstanding, but you must be cautious in all things. Unknown forces are lurking and scheming in the current jianghu, so travel with groups of people whenever possible."
"I'll keep that in mind, Father."
While the martial kings gathered at the Zhuge Family to worry over the jianghu's affairs, the Seok Family in Huanin County was discussing family matters.
Seok Yang-ho called Seok Su-a to him and inquired about the wedding.
"You don't seem to dislike Seok the Instructor that much. What are your thoughts on him as your groom?"
Seok Su-a blushed and hesitated without answering.
"You had feelings for him too?"
Seok Yang-ho pressed for a reply.
"I... I'm not really sure."
Heh heh heh heh...
That answer was enough.
In murim families, scions originally had no say in choosing their marriage partners.
They were used as tools to forge blood ties with other families for the clan's benefit.
However, Seok Yang-ho had been reluctant to marry his daughter off to a man she didn't care for.
Since it was a lifelong companion, he wanted her matched with someone whose heart aligned with hers.
"I understand your feelings, so you may go now."
After sending Seok Su-a away, Seok Yang-ho leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
He dreamed nightmares every night.
Family scions slain by enemies, retainers, women, children wailing in agony.
He could do nothing before that horrific scene.
'I must protect the family, the family.'
He had never felt his inadequacy as family head so acutely as now.
Not just his own power as head, but the clan's power was insufficient.
Without outside help, the family would have been exterminated long ago.
Having endured such a precarious crisis where annihilation loomed, his convictions had begun to shift.
Justice and chivalry were important, but they were utterly useless after the family was wiped out.
Fortunately, with the help of Ko the Hunter and Seok the Instructor, they had acquired the complete family martial arts.
But it still wasn't enough.
Seok the Instructor was formidable in his own martial arts, but not particularly skilled at teaching others.
It would be ideal if Ko the Hunter took over as instructor, but he wasn't in a position to ask that of him.
They had already received immeasurable favors from him.
To protect the family, above all, they needed overwhelming power.
And that power was right there within the family now.
'A son-in-law would be perfect.'
Seok Yang-ho had no intention whatsoever of sending Gwang-u and Su-a away even after the wedding.