Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Seeking Help
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For several days, I agonized over how to handle the Taebong Sect issue, but no clear solution came to mind.
I was confident I could subdue even the master of the Taebong Sect by force, but doing so would only complicate matters rather than solve them, so my worries deepened.
Frustrated, I spent my time in the training hall practicing the Heavenly Will Sword Art and cultivating my inner energy.
-Affectionate.
It was a mental message from Pure.
I was glad to hear from her.
I finished my energy cultivation, left the training hall, and entered my room, closing the door. Pure then appeared.
“It's good to see you.”
“Is something wrong? You look a little down.”
She came closer and studied my face.
“It's nothing.”
I shook my head slightly.
She moved a little away from me and sat down.
“Have new orders come down?”
“You met privately with the leader of the Soul-Chasing Sword Guard last time.”
“I did.”
“Did you happen to say you wanted to meet with Strategist Zhuge of the Alliance?”
“Did he agree to meet?”
“Wow, you're not one for small ambitions, Affectionate. Wanting to meet Strategist Zhuge himself.”
“I'm serious. Will he meet me?”
“Yes.”
Pure replied with an expression that suggested she wasn't surprised at all.
Having been surprised so many times before, she seemed to think a meeting with Strategist Zhuge was perhaps to be expected.
“Then I'll have to leave for Wuhan Prefecture.”
I said this because the Martial Arts Alliance was located in Wuhan Prefecture.
“No. Strategist Zhuge will be coming to Zhengzhou Prefecture soon.”
Not understanding, I tilted my head.
‘Zhuge Mun-hyeon isn't someone with that much free time. Is he really coming all the way to Zhengzhou just to meet a mere executioner from the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion? True, I've shown exceptional martial skill, but no matter how I think about it, this doesn't add up.’
“I don't know the details, but it seems he's already visited the area of the Dark Blood Heaven Cult's Shanxi branch. That place is close to Zhengzhou.”
“I see.”
Outwardly, I agreed, but inwardly, I didn't.
But I didn't ask any further.
I could ask Zhuge Mun-hyeon about it myself when we met.
“Then contact me again when the time comes.”
“Yes. And a reward of thirty-five thousand nyang has been issued. Shall I pass it on to Elder Geum of the Full Moon Tower?”
“Please do.”
“Understood.”
Pure's voice faded, and her form vanished with it.
A glimmer of hope appeared.
Including this reward, the money I'd entrusted to Elder Geum would amount to fifty thousand nyang.
I planned to repay the money I had borrowed.
However, it was clear that repaying the money wouldn't solve all my problems, so I intended to get Zhuge Mun-hyeon's help.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon would be able to mediate with the Taebong Sect and resolve the issue.
Of course, mediating over a matter involving a woman was hardly a dignified affair, but considering the Taebong Sect's standing in Henan Province, mediation was the right course of action if possible.
Even the Taebong Sect's master would likely accept Zhuge Mun-hyeon's mediation.
A few days later.
I met Zhuge Mun-hyeon on the seventh floor of the Blue Moon Inn in Zhengzhou Prefecture.
It was a room with a wide, open view of Zhengzhou. When I entered, Zhuge Mun-hyeon was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window.
-Hey, Mun-hyeon. It's me. Hwa Un-ryong.
The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I had to force them back down.
He sensed my presence and slowly turned around.
Seeing his face, gaunter than before, with more wrinkles and white hair, I felt a pang of pity.
He must have been through a lot of emotional turmoil.
“I am Affectionate.”
“Oho, so you are the renowned warrior, Affectionate. I am Zhuge Mun-hyeon. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon strode over and clasped my hand.
His warmth was transmitted directly to me, and I stared intently into his eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You've grown thin. No, it's nothing.”
For a moment, a glint appeared in Zhuge Mun-hyeon's eyes before vanishing.
“It's only natural for an old man to get older. In any case, the scenery of Zhengzhou is quite beautiful.”
He led me to a seat with a good view of the window.
Soon, the food that had been ordered beforehand arrived. Zhuge Mun-hyeon sent everyone else out, leaving us to speak alone.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“I came to Henan Province partly to investigate the traces of those fiends.”
He and I continued to talk, but the conversation felt somewhat superficial.
“If you have something you wish to ask, please do. I will tell you what I can.”
“Could you remove your disguise?”
“This is a rule that you yourself, Strategist Zhuge, created and the Alliance Leader approved to protect the executioners of the Demon-Dispelling and Demon-Slaying Pavilions. Do you intend to break it?”
“Hahaha.”
It was only after seeing him burst into laughter that I thought, ‘Oops.’
“Just as I thought. You know the Martial Arts Alliance inside and out. I didn't believe it.”
“Do you suspect me? As a spy?”
“The circumstances suggested it. However, I am now certain you are not a spy.”
“Why is that?”
“Your eyes are so similar to someone I know. A man who lived his entire life for justice. This old man knows a thing or two about people, and you, warrior Affectionate, have eyes that are both simple and strong. I do not believe you are the kind of person who would deceive others for your own gain.”
“I see.”
“The Heavenly Will Sword Art?”
He suddenly changed the subject again.
His unique way of abruptly switching topics always caught his opponents off guard.
Especially when he jumped from a mundane topic to a crucial one, it was easy to see the surprise on their faces.
“That's correct.”
As I readily admitted it, Zhuge Mun-hyeon seemed to be the one who was surprised.
“Would you care to explain in detail?”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon, as if his throat were dry, gulped down some cold water.
I felt sorry for having to deceive him, but it couldn't be helped, so I told him the same lie I had told Elder Geum.
No, I mixed in the truth to give an ambiguous answer.
If I told an outright lie, Zhuge Mun-hyeon would surely see through it.
“I have a deep connection with the former Alliance Leader.”
“A connection?”
For the first time, a look of bewilderment crossed Zhuge Mun-hyeon's face.
This was Zhuge Mun-hyeon, a man who planned everything for the Alliance and prided himself on knowing Hwa Un-ryong's every move.
So he must have thought it impossible that he wouldn't know of someone with a connection deep enough to be taught the Heavenly Will Sword Art.
“You probably wouldn't know, Strategist. He once stopped by Zhengzhou on his way to subjugate the Blood Palace. By chance, our paths crossed for a few days.”
“The Heavenly Will Sword Art is not an ordinary sword art that can be learned in just a few days of tutelage.”
“Sometimes, what seems impossible becomes reality. Like me. If I hadn't formed a connection with him, how would I know the Heavenly Will Sword Art? It is his unique sword art, after all.”
“Hmm.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon was at a loss for words.
It was because he could neither believe my words nor disbelieve them.
I had only emphasized our 'connection' and hadn't used the word 'taught', but Zhuge Mun-hyeon seemed to interpret it that way.
My soul entered Guyang Cheon's body—is that not an extraordinary connection?
Zhuge Mun-hyeon did not think I was lying.
“Then allow me to demonstrate the sword art.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon gave his permission with silence.
I drew the Gwihon Sword, stood in the center, and raised my Universe's Will True Energy to its peak.
“Universe's Will True Energy...”
A gasp escaped Zhuge Mun-hyeon's lips.
As expected of Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
He was the first person to recognize the Universe's Will True Energy at a glance.
*Swiiiiiish.*
As I unleashed Lightning Flash, his eyes widened as far as they could go.
“Stop. That's enough. Any more and this place will be destroyed.”
“I have only performed the first form.”
“I can tell just from the first form. You were indeed taught by the former Alliance Leader. Otherwise, you could not have executed Lightning Flash so perfectly. I also caught a glimpse of your genius. Come, please sit here.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon's expression had already softened into a gentle one.
“Do you have any other questions?”
As I sat down and spoke, Zhuge Mun-hyeon asked in return, his expression cautious.
“Who are you?”
“I was told the identity of a Demon-Dispelling Pavilion executioner is guaranteed.”
“Of course. I created that rule, how could I not know? However, I wish to grant you a new position, separate from your role as an executioner of the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion. You may not be aware, but the Central Plains martial world is facing an unprecedented danger. Besides the Dark Blood Heaven Cult, other groups are stirring. Nothing is decided yet, but I'm thinking of a position on par with the leader of the Soul-Chasing Sword Guard.”
“So you can work me to the bone whenever you need?”
“I apologize. The situation in the martial world is dire, so I must ask this of you.”
“Hah, then you alone must know, Strategist.”
“Of course.”
I circulated my true energy and removed the disguise.
“Hah. Y-You, the Sword Emperor.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon saw the face of the Sword Emperor, Ouyang Ui, in mine and was utterly astounded.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Guyang Cheon, the second son of the Ouyang Clan.”
“So it was. The connections in this world are truly mysterious and profound. To think the former Alliance Leader took Young Master Guyang as his disciple.”
“I also never imagined my connection with him would continue like this.”
“You look much better now than you did with the disguise.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon paused, then spoke again.
“I have a favor to ask of you as well.”
“Is it about mediating with the Taebong Sect?”
As soon as he confirmed I was Guyang Cheon, he immediately made the connection.
In any case, having spent his life gathering and analyzing information, his intuition was extraordinary.
He must have acquired and analyzed information about this place on his way to Zhengzhou, likely looking over every minor detail.
Then he would surely know about the issue involving the Taebong Sect, the most important martial family in Henan; the Full Moon Tower, a nationwide information network; and the Ouyang Clan, a once-great family that produced a Sword Emperor, even if it had fallen.
“Precisely. Considering the positions of the Taebong Sect and the Full Moon Tower in Henan, it is a troublesome problem. Even more so in these difficult times. Do you have a solution?”
“Na Hyeong-rin isn't truly lovesick. He harbored ill intentions toward Lady Hwangbo, and when he was rejected, he grew angry. Sect Master Na is in a bind because of his son's behavior. He has a surprising soft spot for his son.”
“I thought as much.”
“I will meet with Sect Master Na, and I plan to bring Na Hyeong-rin to the Alliance. He is quite vain, so he will be pleased if given a suitable position.”
It was a realistic and clean solution.
It wasn't a loss for Zhuge Mun-hyeon either.
In exchange for granting Na Hyeong-rin a position, he would gain a firm grasp on the Taebong Sect.
It was a very Zhuge Mun-hyeon-like solution.
He had proposed a solution to my problem, but at the same time, he was acting in the best interest of the Martial Arts Alliance.
This was why I had trusted Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
“Warrior Guyang, you are a great blessing to the martial world. I was feeling quite frustrated, but after having such a frank conversation with you, I feel at ease.”
“I will help as much as I can.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon took both my hands and shook them, expressing his joy.
After leaving the Blue Moon Tower and passing through a secluded area, Pure appeared.
“Did it go well?”
“Yes. Thankfully.”
I nodded silently, lost in thought for a moment before speaking.
“It seems the Martial Arts Alliance is going to give me a position. On par with the leader of the Soul-Chasing Sword Guard. I'll probably lead a strike force.”
“Ah, so you're leaving the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion after all.”
Pure's eyes turned red.
It looked as if tears would start falling at any moment.
Startled, I waved my hands and quickly explained.
“No. I'm not leaving the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion. For now, I'll be handling both positions at the same time.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Affectionate.”
*Fwump.*
She threw her arms around me.
“I really thought you were quitting.”
“Calm down. I won't be leaving the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion anytime soon.”
I patted her on the shoulder.
She quickly pulled away from me.
“I'm sorry.”
“I'm surprised to see such an emotional side to the cool-headed Pure.”
“I won't make such a mistake again.”
Pure deliberately answered in a stiff tone to hide her feelings.
“Let's go. There's much to do. Orders related to my other position will probably come through you as well.”
“Yes. I will handle them without fail.”
I gave a slight nod and leaped away.
Pure opened her palms and gazed at them, recalling the feeling from a moment ago. A faint blush rose to her cheeks.
Soon, her body blurred and then vanished.