Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
The instant that envelope entered my view, her intention became crystal clear.
“You’re hoping I will take this to Uncle Zhuge?”
“Precisely.”
Studying Zhuge Seolha for a beat, I reached over and gave her head an affectionate pat.
“Tch. Save the sympathy. I am doing just fine.”
How did she discern so quickly that pity had prompted my gesture?
Quite the perceptive little girl.
“Endure just a bit longer. As your martial skills advance and your state of mind steadies, Honored Teacher will almost certainly permit you the occasional journey home.”
She had never spent even twenty-four hours away from her father, only to find herself abruptly confined here on Mount Gokyeol. Regardless of whether it served her apprenticeship, loneliness was inevitable. At her tender age, collapsing into tears of fear every night would hardly have surprised anyone.
Granted, considering her noble background, she showed remarkable maturity and seldom caused a fuss, but the truth remained.
Being barred from visiting your family at will was bound to wear on anyone’s spirits. It was that ache, more than anything, driving her wish to dispatch such a message.
“The second I start down the mountain path, I will make straight for the Zhuge family.”
“Senior Brother, you needn’t make the journey personally. Journeying to my clan’s stronghold requires a minimum of one month.”
“My going ensures the greatest haste.”
Having attained the second-rate realm, traversing a single territory was no great ordeal. A second-rate expert nestled within the form of a nine-year-old child? Considering how thoroughly any adversary would drop their guard, wandering freely carried practically zero genuine peril.
The timing, frankly, could hardly have aligned better. It was an ideal opportunity to put the Zhuge family’s influence to good use.
I already knew the exact task at hand. While handling this errand, I might even manage to strike down a foe with a borrowed swo—no, simply enlist a touch of assistance from my sworn uncle.
“I assume you’d appreciate a written reply in return?”
“That would bring immense joy, but returning all the way to Mount Gokyeol would merely burden you, Senior Brother. There is truly no obligation.”
“Handling an inconvenience on behalf of my junior sister is no trouble at all. Delivering it back to you is my own choice.”
Furthermore, securing that response would grease the wheels when seeking their as—assistance.
Zhuge Seolha gazed at me wordlessly for a brief span, unfiltered appreciation brightening her countenance.
“Ahem. Are you finally coming to recognize the superior virtue of your senior brother? Treat me with greater reverence going forward, then. Attend to my needs attentively without waiting to be instructed, understood?”
Instantly, her expression turned frigid.
“…Our ages are identical. Quit overstepping, buddy.”
“‘Buddy’? Did this pint-sized runt seriously address her senior brother as ‘buddy’?”
“And what of it? You barked ‘Pay attention, kid!’ at me only moments ago!”
…One truly cannot afford loose talk when in the company of youngsters.
“Are you claiming the prized jewel of the Zhuge family stands on equal footing with me?”
“Do we not stand on equal footing by virtue of sharing the same master?”
“…”
In that fleeting instant, a wave of pity washed over me for those who had previously endured my own antics, particularly Gu Ak. The sheer exasperation provoked by a clever, sharp-tongued child was becoming painfully clear. Still, when cold logic falls flat, honeyed words can always bridge the gap.
“Junior Sister, one’s manner of speech serves as a reflection. Since heaven blessed you with lovely features, shouldn’t your words possess equal charm?”
“…That reasoning actually holds water.”
“Does it not?”
Zhuge Seolha drifted into contemplation. In truth, mimicking Yanghwi’s conversational habits was thoroughly entertaining. Though embarrassment kept her from admitting it, Yanghwi embodied the precise ideal she wished to project, drawing her focus toward his mannerisms and gestures.
Yet Senior Brother speaks the truth.
As enticing as copying him was, exercising restraint carried far greater merit.
I shall proceed in that manner instead.
Her decision settled, Zhuge Seolha allowed a faint grin to tug at the corner of her mouth.
“Understood. I shall embrace your counsel sincerely, Senior Brother.”
Completely unaware of the conclusion she had privately formed, Yanghwi felt deeply satisfied by her compliant response.
“Excellent. Keep that thought close at hand. It will serve your future well.”
A youngster is essentially an unmarked parchment. Yanghwi remained oblivious to just how meticulously one must weigh every syllable uttered before them.
Roughly two months following his ascent onto the peak, Yanghwi stood before the Sound Empress and executed a respectful bow.
“Honored Teacher, I request leave to travel back to my clan’s stronghold.”
Though her preference leaned toward keeping him nearby to direct his cultivation, the Sound Empress granted her assent without resistance. Across the preceding weeks, Yanghwi’s progress had thoroughly satisfied her extraordinarily rigorous expectations.
“You have permission.”
“I am grateful for your grace. Ah, though I intend to present myself here again within about a month.”
After laying out the task Zhuge Seolha had entrusted to him, he posed a further inquiry.
“Should you need or desire any particular provisions, Honored Teacher, I shall carry them upon my return.”
“Well now. What an attentive student, seeking out chores of his own accord.”
Having named a few necessary sundries, the Sound Empress let a subtle smile graze her features.
“Off you go, then. Surely you have no need of an escort to guide you down?”
Truthfully, having her transport me swiftly to the mountain’s base would have been magnificent, though suggesting such a thing might have invited harsh retribution.
“Naturally not, Honored Teacher.”
Steering clear of the route leading toward the Baek Estate, I ventured down the northern slopes. Carrying out the delivery meant pressing onward toward the domain of the Zhuge family.
I might as well hone the Vessel Thousand Steps as I travel.
The Vessel Thousand Steps functioned both as a lightfoot art and an intricate footwork discipline. My fluid, effortless strides picked up greater and greater velocity. Around half a month slipped past in that steady rhythm until I finally arrived before the rolling lower slopes of Mount Yungzhong in Hubei, the ancestral home of the Zhuge family.
“Incredible. Truly majestic.”
Even while separated from the outer perimeter of the Zhuge estate by hundreds of zhang, the sheer magnitude of the compound felt overwhelming. By pure area alone, it appeared three to four times more expansive than the Baek Estate. Our central grounds were regarded as the most imposing throughout Ak’an County, of course. Not that our lineage had been capable of pushing beyond its borders even while presiding at the pinnacle of the Five Great Houses, boxed in completely by the surrounding settlement.
They even maintain dedicated sentries at the threshold. Our clan ought to begin positioning martial guards at the grand gate before long as well.
Chewing on that thought, I raised my voice to call forward.
“What is this? A young noble delivering correspondence from the young lady?”
The sentry stationed at the primary threshold dispatched word inward, and within moments, a figure tore through the path like a gale. It was Zhuge Seon.
“Yanghwi! Can it be true that you carry word from Seolha?!”
“It has been far too long, Uncle!”
Just as I offered a cupped-fist salute, I was scooped cleanly into the air.
“Come, let us move inside at once!”
Zhuge Seon unleashed his lightfoot art at such blistering speed that the rushing air lashed harshly against my cheeks.
Hmm. Is the young master truly permitted to deploy lightfoot arts and leap over rooftops within his clan’s private walls?
Then again, the estate was so sprawling that crossing it on foot would consume endless time, particularly since the heir’s personal quarters rested directly at the heart of the inner sanctuary. The vast compound below offered a dazzling display of affluence and prestige. Finely chiseled stone monuments were arranged throughout the grounds, while elaborate pavilions were positioned with artistic flair. More than that…
They maintain a staggering force of martial sentries.
My heightened internal qi perception was registering the hidden presence of warrior sentinels concealed throughout the grounds.
Every single figure among them possesses remarkable cultivation.
Under ordinary circumstances, their exact coordinates would have been easy to trace, yet not this time. Their qi presences registered as minuscule, drifting near absolute imperceptibility, proving that every operative was an advanced martial artist possessing master-level camouflage disciplines. Then again, an esteemed aristocratic clan required nothing less to defend its name. A veritable dragon’s den and tiger’s lair—this sanctuary was the absolute embodiment of both.
One day, our house will… We still have immense ground to cover.
Soon, we crossed into the young master’s study. Without pausing to direct an attendant to prepare refreshments, Zhuge Seon pressed forward with undisguised urgency.
“Yanghwi, hand over the letter, quickly!”
“It is right here.”
Zhuge Seon’s gaze swept over the writing with frantic haste.
“Ah, she thrives in good health. That brings immense relief. Truly wonderful.”
With moisture gathering in his reddened eyes, Zhuge Seon turned his gaze toward Yanghwi.
“My deepest gratitude goes to you for crossing such distances to deliver this message. Ah, my manners have failed me entirely. May I provide you with some tea?”
“I have no need. More crucially, would you compose a reply? I will carry it back to Seolha.”
Yanghwi stood as the lone soul granted passage into the residence of the Sound Empress upon Mount Gokyeol. Zhuge Seon conveyed his thanks once more.
“Nephew, your consideration moves this uncle beyond words. To draft a response, I must share these words with my wife as well. Remain here briefly.”
Rising to step away, Zhuge Seon hesitated.
“No, given your presence, allow me to introduce you to my household.”
With that shift in plan, I was escorted into his private quarters deep within the interior grounds.
“Here. This is my wife. Come forward and pay your respects.”
Without any warning, I found myself presented to the spouse of the Zhuge family’s young lord.
“And here is my son, Hwaun. He leads you in age by five years, Yanghwi.”
To add to the occasion, I was introduced to the young master’s offspring—the very youth destined to shoulder leadership of the Zhuge family in the years ahead.
“Young Hero Baek Yanghwi.”
Zhuge Hwaun, son of Zhuge Seon and older sibling to Zhuge Seolha, stepped forward and took hold of both my hands.
“Your reputation has preceded you. I learned that you guided our Seolha to step beyond her boundaries. My gratitude is profound. Profound… truly profound…”
Overcome by rising tears, Zhuge Hwaun struggled to complete his words. The earnest, heartfelt bond between the two siblings was unmistakable.
“You praise me too much. Even without my presence, Seolha would have cast aside her restrictions on her own and joined the tutelage of Honored Teacher. She holds both the raw talent and the inner resolve to achieve it.”
Later, while Zhuge Seon penned the return message in the company of his wife, I exchanged words with Zhuge Hwaun.
“Securing the second-rate realm at your youthful age defies belief! Regardless of what serendipitous blessings one might discover, achieving this is unthinkable without boundless innate genius—no, even with a miraculous blessing, it should still remain impossible!”
“You overstate the matter. Good fortune was my only ally.”
“To dismiss it as mere fortune reveals your true modesty. There is great wisdom I must glean from observing you, Young Hero Baek.”
Zhuge Hwaun had already secured second-rate attainment himself despite having only reached fourteen years. Even so, for an adolescent of fourteen, his manner was… well, excessively formal, perhaps overly rigid. He came across like a scholarly archivist—a quintessential clerk in every respect.
In a sense, his reserved disposition suited the lineage of the Zhuge family flawlessly. Honestly, Uncle Seon was the true anomaly for bearing the Zhuge bloodline while earning the fearsome title of the Peerless Dragon.
Yet, father and son unquestionably aligned on one distinct aspect: both were utterly foolish, doting protectors when it came to their beloved daughter and sister.
“During Seolha’s early childhood, you cannot imagine how utterly precious she was!”
Given that more than nine parts out of ten in our discussion focused strictly on Zhuge Seolha, that fact admitted no doubt.
“Yanghwi, the writing is complete.”
Hearing his voice, I glanced over to find Zhuge Seon holding the prepared document, marked cleanly with his personal emblem.
“See that it reaches her without harm, and I entrust you with carrying her next response to me as well.”
With that parting instruction, Zhuge Seon slid the folded paper within his garments.
“Uncle? If I am expected to deliver the message, you must pass it to me.”
“Naturally, yet I shall yield it to your hands shortly.”
“Shortly? What do you mean by that?”
“Ah, I purpose to travel beside you, Yanghwi.”
“…?”
Could he possibly be scheming to obtain yet another letter directly after this one?
That had to be his intention. Troubled by the prospect of forcing me to trek all the way back to the Zhuge family a second time, he had resolved to journey into the vicinity of Mount Gokyeol on his own.
This circumstance could not be more advantageous. It will make broaching my request far simpler.
“Uncle, is it not somewhat risky for the heir of a renowned martial house to venture out alone?”
“I plan to mobilize an appropriate retinue of guardian martial artists to accompany me.”
“If so, while you travel along that road, might you consider providing us some assistance?”
Yanghwi proceeded to detail the unprovoked assault staged by the Gyojin Gang. Instantly, Zhuge Seon’s features darkened into sheer fury.
“Foul dogs of the dark-path dared to assault the Baek Estate? And stripped of any legitimate justification? Those scoundrels must be racing toward the gates of the netherworld!”
The Baek Estate was governed by Baek Muryang, Zhuge Seon’s sworn brother. Launching an ambushed strike to eradicate such a house was equivalent to heaping absolute disrespect upon Zhuge Seon himself.
“Given how abruptly that outrage fell upon us, a power undoubtedly pulls their strings from the shadows. I initiated a thorough inquiry before departing, and the intelligence should await our arrival at the estate.”
“Annihilating every last one of them is the bare necessity to uphold honor. I shall need to bolster my accompanying retinue slightly.”
Zhuge Seon’s definition of “slightly” was a military detachment that the combined might of the Baek lineage could never hope to rival.
Ten apex masters? Regardless of who lurks behind them, absolute destruction is assured.
A master belonging to the apex realm was an existence one would count as lucky to encounter across an entire regional county. Ten such figures simultaneously? Weathering a strike from an assembly of that caliber would demand a supreme faction holding dominion across an entire province.
I cannot wait to see our front gates.
Whatever wretches were operating as patrons to the Gyojin Gang, their fates were sealed. Just as a smug grin began spreading across my expression at that realization…
Hm?!
My acute spiritual awareness caught a spike of qi—a pressure of staggering, suffocating magnitude.
“For what reason has Father stepped forward…?”
Catching the startled bewilderment written across Zhuge Seon’s countenance, the reality struck me. Moments later, a commanding tone reverberated through the chamber.
“The Crouching Dragon has arrived!”
The entryway parted, revealing an aged gentleman crowned with the Crouching Dragon Crown. He was clad in formal scholarly robes decorated with a dragon woven in azure silk over an immaculate white silk field. Though advanced in winters, he displayed no trace of frailty; instead, he radiated the refined, razor-sharp brilliance of a strategist honed to supreme maturity. Surrounding his entire form was that unmistakable authority natural to a sovereign who shaped the grand matters of all under heaven.
“Heh heh heh. So it is you who are called Yanghwi of the Baek lineage?”
The elder parted his lips to speak. In that very breath, twisting coils of invisible qi began wrapping tightly around Yanghwi’s form like coiling vipers.
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