Chapter 133: Chapter 133

A home?

Zhuge Un looked around.

Lake Dongting was right in front of them, and everywhere else was completely forested. Although a hill resembling a high cliff could be seen far behind, it did not seem like a house would be in such a place.

No matter how much he looked and looked again, he could not find anything resembling a house, so he stared at So-mi with a puzzled expression.

“Is there a house in a place like this?”

“Yes! This is So-mi’s home.”

In that instant, Zhuge Un’s and Zhuge Yeon’s eyes grew wide.

Since nothing of the sort could be seen no matter how much they looked around, a single thought ultimately surfaced in their minds and refused to leave.

This child.

She was sleeping in the rough in a place like this.

The reason she was fishing must also be because she could not afford to buy food, so she was making a living that way. Having heard the story earlier that the people in her house did not fish.

The thought occurred to them that they might be exploiting this young child to their heart’s content.

“Those bastards!”

Zhuge Un shouted.

How could they use such a cute child like a servant?

They deserved to be struck by heaven’s wrath.

Gritting his teeth, Zhuge Un looked at So-mi. She was staring up with wide eyes, looking quite surprised by his shouting.

“Where is your house? I must have a word with them.”

“Eh?”

So-mi tilted her head.

Judging by his tone, he did not seem to be a guest of the manor. But why was he getting so angry?

Zhuge Yeon, who was beside him, also had a completely furious expression, her face flushed red.

So-mi thought.

These people.

They seemed to be under a massive misunderstanding.

She opened her mouth to clarify.

“Um… it’s not like that for So-mi…”

“It is fine. You are truly kind for shielding the adults at such a young age. But even adults must be scolded when they deserve to be scolded.”

So-mi flinched.

She held her breath at the intensity of Zhuge Un, who stepped closer and pushed his face forward. She almost screamed but managed to hold it back.

In the end, unable to overcome that pressure, she nodded.

For now…

If she took them home, the misunderstanding would be cleared up.

Furthermore, they did not look like bad people.

“T-this way.”

With an awkward tone, she picked up the basket with a grunt and scurried toward the manor. The manor was quite far from here.

Because the fish in Lake Dongting in front of the manor had recently dried up, So-mi had ended up coming all the way here while gradually moving to other spots.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the manor revealed itself.

Instantly, the two people following from behind stopped in their tracks.

“Gasp!”

“Oh my…”

No one would look at the scenery before them and not be surprised. Zhuge Un and Zhuge Yeon were also people of high status, and their family was also rumored to be the best in the vicinity.

But the manor before them was different.

Even the word magnificent felt inadequate.

The high wall made one feel intimidated without realizing it. The sense of pressure was so great that they wondered if they were even allowed to enter. Although the interior could not be seen from the outside, just looking at the level of the exterior construction made it easy to imagine how beautiful the inner scenery would be.

Moreover, the huge plaque hanging above the main gate.

Staring at it, Zhuge Un felt a heavy pressure.

Hunan Dan Family.

It was definitely a name he was hearing for the first time. If it was someone who owned such a massive manor, he should have heard the name at least once, but the Dan Family? The Dan Family? No matter how much Zhuge Un searched his memory, no one came to mind.

He swallowed hard.

“F-father… could it be that we came to the wrong place?”

Zhuge Yeon slunk backward with an awkward smile.

Would the expressions of third-rate martial artists looking at the Martial Alliance be like this?

This place was shrouded in a dignity that did not allow for easy access. The moment one took a step inside, there was a momentum that felt as if one would be swallowed up by a giant dragon’s mouth.

And this was just a manor!

But who was Zhuge Un!

He was a former Chief Strategist of the Martial Alliance and the Head of the Zhuge Family.

Having also been a pillar of the Five Great Families that had protected this Central Plains Martial World for a long time, he had his pride that could never back down.

“Ahem! No way! Rather, it is even more ridiculous! For someone living in such a great place to exploit a young child!”

“R-right? I think so too.”

The two of them composed their unsettled expressions.

At that, So-mi approached the gate with an awkward smile. Although it looked too heavy to be opened by a child’s strength, the moment she drew near, the gate opened as if it had been waiting.

Creeeak!

The large main gate opened.

At the same time, the figure of a burly man appeared.

So-mi bowed to him.

“I’m back!”

“Have you returned, young lady?”

It was Ma Jang-gang.

Although it was unknown how he, who claimed to be Dan Woo-hyun’s bodyguard, had become a gatekeeper, he greeted So-mi with a quite humble bow.

Soon, he turned his gaze toward Zhuge Yeon and Zhuge Un.

“Who are those people…?”

“Ah! They say they are guests. Huh?”

Whether they were guests or not, So-mi thought deeply about her own words. But since they definitely came looking for the manor, they must be guests.

However, they did not seem to have any business here.

So-mi, who stopped in her tracks, spun around quickly.

“Please come in! This is So-mi’s home.”

“U-uh, right…”

“Y-yes.”

Zhuge Un and Zhuge Yeon realized that something was wrong.

They had thought she was an abused child, but judging by the behavior of the man who appeared to be the gatekeeper, they decided that was not the case.

Moreover, that man.

‘I’ve seen him somewhere before…?’

As he went inside, Zhuge Un quietly examined his face. He was definitely a familiar figure, but because of the bruises everywhere, he could not be certain.

Even Ma Jang-gang turned his head away.

‘What on earth is this manor?’

Zhuge Un could not shake off an ominous feeling.

A manor of this scale had not even been rumored properly in Yueyang. Even the man who was acting as a gatekeeper just now had an unusual momentum leaking out implicitly.

The demeanor of a considerable expert was felt.

He glanced around at other places as well.

Just as he had thought, the interior was extremely beautiful. The decorated landscape was like looking at the imperial palace. A single pine tree standing in the center of the manor seemed to harmonize so well.

Zhuge Yeon beside him was spellbound by all this scenery.

It was the same for Zhuge Un, but he forced himself to look away.

For now, he would examine this manor.

Then, something caught his eye.

It was a person sweeping the yard in the distance. He was sweeping skillfully, casting glances over here to monitor their movements.

It felt like he would pounce immediately at a moment’s notice.

He looked like a servant at first glance, but traces of practicing martial arts were found in the way he swept.

Swallowing a groan, he checked elsewhere.

Then, someone caught his attention.

It was a man on the veranda ahead, hurriedly putting on a mask in surprise. That pitch-black mask was something that gave off a strange feeling just by looking at it.

“Who is it that enters someone else’s house without permission?”

A voice was heard.

Having not sensed a presence at all, Zhuge Un was startled. He hurriedly looked back.

Not knowing since when he had been standing there, a man was looking back and forth between Zhuge Un and Zhuge Yeon with a somewhat crooked gaze.

‘This man… I’ve seen him somewhere…!’

Then, suddenly, that memory from last time came back to him.

“Y-you are…?”

“Do you know me?”

Did he not remember?

Indeed, it was something that happened in an instant, and thanks to that, even Zhuge Un could only recall his face faintly now. Nevertheless, the reason he remembered instantly was because he still could not forget the unique energy this man possessed.

A wind always blew beside the man.

It flowed sometimes sharply and sometimes softly, as if lingering on the tip of a blade.

“I… I am called Zhuge Un.”

“I am Dan Woo-hyun.”

At the name Zhuge Un, Dan Woo-hyun’s brow twitched slightly. Though it was a name he had heard enough to hurt his ears, it was also a strange thing for such a person to be in his manor.

“I… have been looking for you.”

“For what reason?”

Zhuge Un swallowed hard.

A reason?

Wasn’t that obvious?

It was to create a stronger orthodox Martial World. If he could only obtain his assistance, it felt like he could complete a Martial World that went one step further.

But now?

Zhuge Un could not say anything easily.

He had resigned from the post of Chief Strategist of the Martial Alliance and left.

Even after that, he had lived traveling to find someone who could replace the Sword Emperor. Solely with the thought of supporting the orthodox Martial Alliance.

But now, it was different.

The Martial Alliance was split in two, and there was no reason to return. The Martial Alliance would undoubtedly try to recruit Zhuge Un again, but if that happened, it would mean turning his back on the members of the Heavenly Way Association.

The opposite was also true.

Whichever side it was, since Zhuge Un’s choice was to maintain neutrality, it was a situation where he could not do anything right now.

Therefore, no answer came out.

For what purpose did he seek this person?

It was nothing but hope…

“I have seen many people who tried to kill me, but this is the first time I have seen someone looking for me.”

“…”

“If there is no reason, go back. This is not a place for you to be.”

“W-wait a moment!”

He stopped Dan Woo-hyun, who was turning around with So-mi. How could he back down so easily after finding him with such difficulty?

At the very least, he had to build some connection.

For a connection with a master was like a fortuitous encounter in this Martial World.

Zhuge Un urgently called out to Dan Woo-hyun and smiled.

“Do you… like alcohol?”

“Alcohol?”

“Yes, alcohol! I, well… to give you…”

Zhuge Un rummaged through his bundle.

It was not that he specifically kept it to give to Dan Woo-hyun. Zhuge Un was also a considerable lover and collector of alcohol. He had coincidentally obtained high-quality Shaoxing wine while wandering around Hunan, but who would have thought it would be used now?

Zhuge Un smacked his lips, but he did not regret it.

He knew that a connection with such a master was worth far more than this alcohol.

“It is fifty-year-old Shaoxing wine. What do you think? Are you interested?”

At Zhuge Un’s words, Dan Woo-hyun’s stern expression changed minutely. Since he knew that it had not changed no matter what was said until now, Zhuge Un knew that his idea had hit the mark perfectly.

Soon, Dan Woo-hyun’s voice was heard.

“It cannot be helped then.”

Zhuge Un smiled at those words.

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