Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Sleeping Dragon Crown
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Baek Yang-hui's eyes locked onto the crown perched atop the old man's head.
Sleeping Dragon Crown. A variety of true headwear commonly donned by scholars, marked by its vertical ridges.
Originally woven from silk threads, it was also known as a cloud turban.
The reason it bore names like Sleeping Dragon Crown or Zhuge Turban.
Obviously, it stemmed from the influence of the Zhuge Clan's founding ancestor, the Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Gongmyeong. And it wasn't your average true headwear, either.
'So that's the Zhuge Clan's patriarchal treasure, the Sleeping Dragon Crown.'
Wudang's Pine Pattern Ancient Sword, Shaolin's Green Jade Buddha Staff, and so on.
The murim harbored divine weapons imbued with mysterious powers.
Among them, the Sleeping Dragon Crown was a legendary artifact said to lend the wearer a share of Gongmyeong's genius intellect.
It was the Zhuge Clan's patriarchal heirloom and leader's command plaque, handed down through generations alongside the Baek U-seon sword.
'But that's not what's important right now.'
A snake-like energy burrowing into his every fiber.
Thin enough to be stealthy, meticulous enough to be relentless.
It had been the same with Yin Hou-nim. Honestly, did all old folks develop a habit of prodding at kids' energy ports with age?
'Well, he probably figures I won't notice.'
Yang-hui smiled to himself.
Gauging an opponent via their aura was the simplest way to size up their realm and prowess.
But.
Peering into something was little different from laying oneself bare.
Yang-hui, too, could measure the Zhuge Clan Head's realm and prowess along that thread of energy.
'Roughly Super Peak. A seasoned Super Peak, at that.'
His embodied martial arts were still nascent, but he held the enlightenment of Super Peak.
The finesse in wielding his energy. The deftness at brushing skin and tracing meridians.
Yang-hui could roughly gauge the Clan Head's caliber.
'Valuable intel secured.'
In his previous life, he'd roamed the world of murim, but as a mere wanderer.
Meetings with the head of the Zhuge Clan—one of the Five Great Clans—were rare enough to count on one hand.
Super Peak. A lofty realm, but hardly untouchable.
The perfect distant milestone and goal.
"Hohoho. What an exceptional child. Second-Rate realm at your age."
He smiled and offered a fist salute.
'He didn't sense the hidden pellet.'
As expected, his realm fell short of Yin Hou's.
Of course. Word had it the Zhuge Clan Head was turning sixty this year.
The World's Ten Supremes were heights even heaven-blessed prodigies needed nearly a century to reach.
A clan head's fearsomeness lay as much in their faction's vast might from the start.
"Baek Yang-hui of Baek Clan Manor pays respects to the Supreme of the Zhuge Clan."
"Supreme! Child, I'm just one family's patriarch, and not here in that capacity."
"Then let me rephrase. Baek Yang-hui of Baek Clan Manor pays respects to Uncle Zhuge's Great Grandfather."
At the title of Da-ye—Great Grandfather—the Zhuge Clan Head beamed with delight.
"Da-ye. Spot on, technically. Such a well-mannered child. Feels like I've gained another grandson."
His tone and words evoked a kindly grandfather, but Yang-hui stayed vigilant.
In his past life, he'd never directly spoken with Zhuge Pae.
But.
'During the Orthodox-Demonic War, Zhuge Pae served as strategist for the Baekdo Alliance.'
Considering the schemes Zhuge Pae proposed and the paths he pursued in the future, his nature was.
'Chillingly cold.'
While Zhuge Seon possessed a hot-blooded streak atypical of Zhuge clansmen.
His father—the current Clan Head, Zhuge Pae—was cold-blooded to the core.
To put it in terms... A righteous faction elder treading the Baekdo path, yet not for chivalry's sake, but to reap maximum gain.
'Well, perfectly in character for the Zhuge Clan, in a way.'
Even Zhuge Ryang had spared Ma-sok under pretext of military discipline.
A man who favored grand designs over petty affections.
That described Clan Head Zhuge Pae to a tee.
"Baek Yang-hui of Baek Clan Manor. Child, I heard of you from my son."
"Uncle favors me so, he likely showered me with excessive praise."
"I thought as much. But meeting you now, it hardly seems exaggerated."
Yang-hui bowed respectfully, and Zhuge Pae continued.
"First, my thanks are due. For aiding our Seol-ha in becoming Breaking Heaven Yin Hou's disciple. Truly grateful."
Yang-hui glanced up to read Zhuge Pae's face.
'This much seems genuine.'
Of course. Seol-ha was the sort of granddaughter no grandfather could fail to cherish.
She probably wouldn't pain his eyes even if cradled there.
'This might net even more.'
Sure enough, Zhuge Pae's next words brimmed with goodwill.
"A favor received demands equal repayment. Speak any desire from our clan, child."
A promise from the head—not young lord—of one of the Five Great Clans.
Yang-hui wouldn't let it slip.
'If he's offering, take it cleanly. What to request.'
Wealth? No.
Not desperate enough for coin when better options beckoned.
Spirit medicines? No.
Twenty spirit pills from Seven Branches Three Fruits Three already filled that gap; better shore up elsewhere.
'Wait. Do I even get a say?'
Recalling Zhuge Pae's temperament from his past life...
Instead of naming demands, Yang-hui replied humbly.
"How could this junior presume to wish for aught from an elder's bestowal upon his rite-nephew. Whatever is granted, I accept."
Zhuge Pae's brow arched faintly.
"Then I grant nothing. Anything given pales against nothing at all."
His face as he spoke was stern as stone.
Prior warmth and thanks evaporated.
Which was it.
'Truth? Or trial?'
No further probing, just a hardening demeanor.
The boon of Ten Supreme Breaking Heaven Yin Hou's discipleship.
One answer.
"I bestowed no favor, nor is it strange to seek no reward for duty's sake. I follow Da-ye's will alone."
Zhuge Pae eyed him steadily, then quirked one lip.
"Child. Steadfast of heart. No one's comported so before this Zhuge Pae."
'Small wonder, Clan Head.'
Feigning warmth, then flipping cold.
Outward sentiments at odds with an icy, unyielding gaze.
Likely even grandson Zhuge Hwa-un held him in awe.
A sidelong glance at Hwa-un confirmed it.
"No misdeed done, and for a praiseworthy act, what shame to bear."
"Hohoho! Well said!"
Zhuge Pae bellowed laughter, then sobered abruptly.
'This child. What to make of him.'
Nine years old, Second-Rate realm.
Feasible for a great sect's direct heir.
But from a mere third-rate martial family.
And serious training barely past one year.
'One of two. Heaven's grace, or innate prodigy.'
Rumors of an unprecedented stroke of fortune.
Perhaps both.
And prodigy wasn't the whole story.
'Unruffled—firm resolve. No slips—profound mind.'
Such a child couldn't be left to grow unchecked.
Precisely.
Either embrace and elevate grandly, or crush if foe-potential.
Before grandfather to favored kin, as Zhuge Clan Head, judgment called for.
'Favor repaid ends matters. Think beyond.'
Break him. Or claim him.
Which served Sleeping Dragon's rise better.
Ties to son Zhuge Seon.
Baek Clan Manor's ethos and lineage.
Faction standings and distances.
Yang-hui's adopted firstborn status and bearing.
Weighing all, Zhuge Pae decided.
'Raise and claim. Seon seems to agree.'
From a clan weighing the world, friendly proxies per domain ideal.
Jiangxi lacked Baekdo powers worthy of Zhuge notice; nurturing Baek Manor viable.
'Petty favor buys deep loyalty. Profitable.'
"Child."
"Yes. I listen."
"I open our clan's Crane Feather Library to you."
Kindness and amity could bind Zhuge as ally.
Aid in future harvests.
Thus Zhuge Pae could afford magnanimity.
"Three shi-jin. All arts read and memorized therein may be passed to others. Sleeping Dragon Clan's gift and bond-token to Baek Clan Manor!"
At the declaration, Yang-hui couldn't suppress a grin.
"Thanks for Da-ye's boundless grace!"
Transmit all memorized arts?
Jackpot. A massive windfall.
A martial family's bedrock was its martial arts.
Baek Clan Manor's roots plunged deep but spread narrow.
Stance arts, inner/outer techniques, sundries.
Of myriad categories, only heart methods and sword arts filled shelves.
'Memorize twenty or so for home.'
Leak of twenty arts entire.
Unforeseen even by Zhuge Pae, genius unbowed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Crane Feather Library.
Not direct lineage arts, but generations-gathered external third- and second-rate techniques.
Typically for meritorious retainers; outsiders rare in ages.
"This is Crane Feather Library. Heed the three shi-jin limit strictly, Young Master."
Guided by the guard warrior, Yang-hui entered.
Rich scent of aged shelves wafted thick.
"Sniiiif. Haha. Kyaa, divine aroma."
For a martial house to ascend clanhood: three pillars.
Wealth, warriors, martial arts.
Prime chance to bolster the lacking arts foundation.
'Time tight—glean only gems.'
Second-rate at best, but ideal.
Baek needed not pinnacles, but arts retainers could readily master en masse.
Simply: for broad forces and rewards.
'With solid roots, elevating to first-rate's no sweat.'
Casual musing that'd stun listeners.
Reason plain.
Past-life forges in martial creation, myriad trials endured.
Blend those insights with fresh arts' essences.
Others' grueling labors and ages, bypassed.
'Roots must be sound, though. Shallow truths fine if apt vein.'
Shelves scanned, all devoured.
Precisely: openings alone.
Promising saplings differ from first leaves; worthwhile arts gleam early.
Thus one shi-jin yielded twenty prime manuals.
'One shelf remains.'
Farthest nook; tomes filthy, frayed.
Skipped at first.
But here already—why not peruse all?
Resuming his binge.
'Hm?!'
Yang-hui's eyes flew wide.
"Why's this here?"
Title reread.
No mistake.