Chapter 316

Chapter 316
## Chapter 316

Reconnaissance (2)

Naturally, participating in a gathering of that scale was not a privilege he could claim merely on a whim.

He occupied the position of a mere visitor, essentially a dependent lodging within the estate of the Zhuge Clan.

“Mmm, the selection process for the attendees was just underway… As you are well aware, the journey is fraught with peril. Are you entirely certain of your decision? The circumstances remain highly volatile, and the likelihood of falling into an ambush is considerable.”

“It is impossible to evade every hazard in existence. Remaining perpetually sequestered in a secure haven is simply not an option for me.”

Consequently, his initial step required obtaining authorization from the individual overseeing the household…

“…A highly commendable perspective. Truly, exposure to varied encounters is vital for personal development during such turbulent times.”

“Precisely. There is arguably no finer chance to expand one’s perspective.”

“Very well. I shall see what arrangements can be made.”

…And he effortlessly secured the endorsement of Zhuge Gunak, the Grand Elder, who had originally granted him residence at the property.

Had he been nothing more than an unhelpful dependent, they likely would have denied his request without a second thought… however, he had transformed into a proficient martial artist, fully capable of ensuring his own safety.

‘They are likely operating under the assumption that Harris will be safeguarding him.’

Possessing a master of the Mysterious Realm acting as a covert protector offered a tremendous advantage to any traveling party.

Whether that assumption held true or not was irrelevant. It functioned as a reliable safety net, a minor concession to make for the sake of prospective advantages.

Yet, a completely unanticipated development arose.

“I intend to accompany the group as well.”

Zhuge Hyemi, the very person who had initially informed him of the assembly, stubbornly insisted on participating.

“My medical treatments have not yet concluded. Furthermore, should any complications arise during Young Master Ha’s absence… It would be far more practical for me to travel alongside you.”

She offered an explanation that appeared superficially logical, though it was transparently a weak pretext.

This journey, after all, was scarcely a leisure trip.

Who in their right mind would deploy a coddled young lady, essentially raised like a delicate greenhouse flower, into a hazardous and volatile environment just to prepare for an unlikely contingency?

She would serve as nothing more than an impediment.

“…Ah, what a pity. I had sincerely hoped…”

Zhuge Hyemi let out a soft sigh, a trace of melancholy in her expression.

Hugo observed her, his gaze narrowing slightly.

‘She informed me of the gathering with full intent, didn’t she?’

He had previously assumed she had merely referenced it in passing during their casual dialogue… yet reflecting on her current demeanor, it became clear that it was a deliberate action.

A calculated inquiry, a subtle trial.

‘…I can comprehend her motivations.’

She had spent her existence confined strictly within the boundaries of the Zhuge Clan, forbidden from even wandering the estate grounds due to her physical frailty… and her recovery had only been recent.

It was entirely understandable that she would crave a glimpse of the wider world.

Nevertheless, her current ambitions were akin to an infant attempting to compete in a grueling footrace.

“Well, it cannot be helped. I shall commit myself to rigorous training here, so pray recount the entire experience upon your return, Young Master Ha. And… might I anticipate a token from your travels?”

“Naturally. I shall endeavor to find something particularly unique for you.”

“Wonderful! You truly are exceptional! It is a binding agreement, then?”

Consequently, once Hugo’s inclusion in the party was finalized,

The logistics for the departing group, which were already in progress, moved at an accelerated pace.

Elite combatants and spellcasters from the Zhuge Clan were chosen, alongside a senior elder appointed to guide them, while the supreme authority over the mission was granted to Zhuge Junghyeok, the second son of the patriarch and one of Hyemi’s older siblings.

‘I anticipated a standard elder would suffice… yet they are deploying the patriarch’s own son? The stakes are evidently higher than I perceived.’

It was highly probable they wished to circumvent trivial disputes and preserve the reputation of their lineage.

Alternatively, they might have simply viewed the Shaolin Temple as a secure destination, given its proximity.

‘…I must dedicate myself wholly to my training until the hour of departure.’

Although the Shaolin Temple was deemed close in relative terms, the trek still spanned a formidable distance, mirroring the span separating Seoul and Busan. Comprehensive preparations were mandatory.

A fortnight drifted by.

Hugo utilized this window to refine the fresh capabilities he had acquired, and…

…the anticipated day for the party’s journey finally arrived.

At the grand threshold of the Zhuge Clan, a multitude of transport wagons and mounts stood arranged in formation.

“May your journey be secure. And do not neglect the commitment we made.”

Zhuge Hyemi, having offered her goodbyes to her sibling and the presiding elder, walked over to Hugo with a vibrant expression.

Her animated delivery failed to entirely obscure the underlying apprehension in her gaze, though he paid it little heed.

“Rest easy, Young Miss Zhuge. I possess the means to retreat should the situation demand it. Though I certainly hope to bypass unnecessary friction.”

“…I shall remain eager for my token.”

With those final words, the traveling party, Hugo—under his alias Ha Seung-hoon—included, departed the territory of the Zhuge Clan and proceeded toward the northern regions.

—

Clatter— Clatter—

Throughout the journey, Hugo remained seated within a wagon laden with provisions, keeping his eyelids shut and his frame completely still.

“Huu—”

He had been deeply engaged in his meditative practices at the moment of departure, making it impossible to simply abandon his progress.

‘The breakthrough is nearly within my grasp… ’

He drew several elongated breaths, centering his consciousness and descending further into his internal domain.

Regulating one’s respiration constituted the core foundation of cultivating inner vitality.

While it remained an essential tenet for every living organism, it was uniquely prioritized within martial disciplines—the precise science of purifying and directing Ki.

‘Respiration influences every phase of Ki refinement, spanning from its gathering and purification to its transmission across the meridians and its release through martial forms.’

It was by no means accidental that methods for developing inner vitality were universally referred to as breathing arts within this realm.

What, then, would occur if he attained flawless mastery over his respiratory functions?

‘「Underwater Breathing」 permits me to absorb oxygen through my skin whilst submerged. If I can successfully transpose this mechanism to dry land… ’

He would become capable of utilizing every pore across his skin to respire, granting him absolute mastery over the internal circulation of his vitality.

He had already validated the viability of this theory during his meditative sessions within the bathing facilities of the Zhuge Clan residence.

‘Naturally, the efficacy is severely compromised without supplementary pulmonary respiration.’

Hugo suppressed a brief urge to laugh, recollecting the attendants of the Zhuge Clan who had repeatedly monitored his condition, terrified that he had inadvertently perished beneath the water.

There were inherent boundaries to how elastically a capability could be utilized, regardless of one’s mastery level.

Altering a talent specifically engineered for aquatic environments proved to be an intricate endeavor.

‘Yet it remains attainable.’

He had borne witness to such phenomena on multiple occasions in the past.

The advancement of capabilities, their integration, and their ultimate transmutation.

His current objective centered on fusing the principles of 「Circulation of Energy」 with 「Underwater Breathing」.

This required merging his unique transdimensional advantages, the developmental capacity of his vessel, the trait 「Jack-of-All-Trades」, and the residual power of the consumed medicine.

‘A vast quantity of unassimilated medicine gathered by Harris remains within me. The moment I master this holistic respiration method, my assimilation velocity will amplify exponentially…!’

Regrettably, while he remained completely absorbed in his meditations,

Kaboom!

Swish—!

…The predictable disturbance manifested.

“An ambush! Vacate the mounts and organize a defensive ring!”

Neigh—!

“Hostiles approaching from both the northeast and northwest sectors!”

Swish—!

“Projectiles incoming! Shield the beasts!”

His meditative focus shattered instantly as a savage skirmish materialized around them.

In truth, the conflict itself was not entirely disadvantageous.

He had anticipated hostiles along the route, and he could exploit the engagement to analyze the martial forms of the Zhuge Clan combatants alongside the methods of their assailants, collecting valuable insights for 「Mimicry」.

However…

Beep—!

“Assault! We are under assault!”

“Rouse yourselves, immediately!”

Even during the dead of night, while the camp slumbered in their tents.

“Advance—!”

“Insolent fools! Have you no concept of our lineage?!”

“Khahaha! The recluses have finally emerged from their sanctuary!”

Even while navigating a deserted mountain corridor.

“Miserable wretches! To strike while we are taking sustenance…!”

“Ugh! The debris! It has ruined my food!”

“This is hardly the moment for complaints!”

Even during their designated periods for nourishment.

He was subjected to an unceasing barrage of disruptions, rendering any sustained focus on his cultivation entirely impossible.

‘…I failed to anticipate the severity of this chaos.’

Hugo found himself utterly dismayed by the circumstances.

When he initially stepped foot into Ganghwange alongside Harris, the true state of this realm had been obscured from him. Harris had traversed the skies, and even upon descending, no individual possessed the audacity to challenge him openly.

‘I have remained sheltered within a secure environment for far too long.’

He comprehended the reality from an intellectual standpoint, yet experiencing the systemic decay firsthand was an entirely separate matter.

He could now accurately gauge the true condition of Ganghwange.

The rule of law had completely disintegrated.

‘It is entirely logical that they enacted such meticulous safeguards for this journey. Their precautions were far from empty posturing.’

From specialized strike teams belonging to competing factions, to brigands, mercenaries, and even desperate commoners forced into depravity…

The territories extending beyond the jurisdiction of the Zhuge Clan were an anarchic quagmire, a savage frontier.

‘…This fulfills the definition of reconnaissance in the most literal sense.’

He had accomplished an initial goal of his journey, yet he found it impossible to derive any satisfaction from the realization.

The psychological toll of the perpetual disruptions was rapidly eroding his composure.

‘If I were merely granted a brief window of tranquility… I am on the very precipice…!’

The elusive revelation remained perpetually teasing, hovering just beyond his immediate grasp.

Each time he neared a monumental advancement, an interruption would force a regression, requiring him to reinitialize the entire sequence from the beginning.

It became a relentless cycle of irritation, a profound deprivation that offered no resolution.

“Khaha! Look at these pampered nobles! Intending to traverse our domain without offering tribute! We shall provide them with a harsh awakening!”

“Move, you miserable thralls! Advance! Survive this encounter, and you shall be rewarded with a feast of meat!”

“Ugh… Aaaagh!”

Subsequently, as he observed a horde of skeletal combatants, clothed in tatters and wielding corroded polearms, being driven forward by a contingent of mocking martial artists,

…The final remnants of his restraint dissolved entirely.

‘What was my objective in journeying to Ganghwange?’

He interrogated himself amidst the surrounding madness, his thoughts moving with rapid speed.

For what purpose?

To cultivate a fresh origin for Karma.

Furthermore, to systematically derail the ambitions of the Heaven’s Turn Society by reintroducing structure to this shattered realm.

In essence, to act as the vanguard for its eventual rehabilitation.

‘Should I actively engage, or should I remain a passive observer?’

Direct intervention would provide instantaneous acquisitions of Karma.

Conversely, to systematically rehabilitate this world, he required the accumulation of broader intelligence, alongside a comprehensive mapping of the dynamics between prevailing organizations…

‘No, that logic is fundamentally flawed.’

Would permitting these subhuman dregs to persist truly benefit his long-term objectives?

Could he realistically restore stability to this realm while such malicious entities operated with impunity?

‘An individual cannot establish order within a sty. The refuse must be cleared first. It is identical to organizing one’s environment before committing to study.’

He gave a firm nod, solidifying his course of action.

The comparison was imperfect, yet the nuance mattered little to him.

The critical factor was that a definitive choice had been made.

‘Now, which instrument shall serve as my… broom?’

Harris, given his extensive history, was… ill-suited for a task of this nature.

He had already displayed an alarmingly volatile disposition during their prior encounter with the highwaymen, and his core personality appeared susceptible to degradation by the ambient malice of this environment, which presented an unacceptable hazard.

‘In that case… ’

A succession of potential options flashed across his consciousness.

Following a period of meticulous evaluation, he ultimately designated a specific choice.

“Aaaagh—!”

“Slaughter them all!”

“M-mercy…!”

Across a theater of conflict saturated with agonized cries, the sharp aroma of iron, and an atmosphere thick with depravity and bloodlust,

A vast distance away from Hugo’s immediate position,

Sizzle—

Upon a thoroughfare that the Zhuge Clan vanguard had navigated a mere hour prior,

“Hehehehehe!”

…A lunatic… or rather,

“Ah, this is magnificent! Khahaha—!”

…The Mad Demon, stirred from his slumber.