Chapter 103: Chapter 103
When Cheon-hwi arrived at the Seven Plum Blossom Gates, an eccentric man with disheveled hair waved his hand in welcome.
“Young Hero! You’ve come!”
The eccentric man’s identity was Zhuge Seong-hyeon.
He hadn’t washed today either.
Perhaps he felt sorry after what happened last time, as he poured everything into building the gate, making his appearance a complete mess.
His face was in a particularly terrible state.
Because of his shaggy beard and unwashed, greasy hair, it was hard to believe he was the same age as Cheon-hwi.
“You said there was a problem?”
“Ah, please wait a moment.”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon, who was vigorously scratching his head as if it were itchy, hurriedly pulled out the blueprint tucked in his side and spread it wide open.
“It’s around here…….”
Muttering as he scanned the grimy blueprint, he pointed to one spot.
“Here, could you tell me about the array you plan to install in this place?”
Cheon-hwi looked at the array of the Third Gate his finger was pointing at and was slightly surprised.
Huh? He figured out the center of the Third Gate?
What he pointed at was a small array in the corner of the Third Gate.
However, that was exactly the array that pierced through the precise center of the Third Gate.
‘Did he read the flow?’
As if that thought was correct.
“Judging by how it occupies and closes off the Eight Trigrams and the Five Directions, it seems to be blocking the energy, but the flow here is…….”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon continued his explanation while pointing at the blueprint with a serious expression for a moment, then lamented with a sigh.
“I couldn’t figure out anything beyond this.”
In the end, he surrendered and raised both hands.
He had already mastered every single array within the Zhuge Clan, but he had neither seen nor heard of this array.
“It’s correct that the flow cuts off there.”
“It’s correct that the flow cuts off?”
In that moment, Zhuge Seong-hyeon felt a shock as if the back of his head had been struck by a hammer.
“N-No way……!”
Seeing Cheon-hwi’s eyes crinkle, Zhuge Seong-hyeon gulped dry saliva.
“Is the purpose of this array to…… the internal energy?”
Oh, he recognized that?
Cheon-hwi was surprised and looked at Zhuge Seong-hyeon.
“It’s to scatter it.”
At the definite answer, Zhuge Seong-hyeon turned pale with astonishment.
Was scattering internal energy something that could be spoken of so easily?
Except for a few bizarre arts left in literature, it was only possible with the Soul-Scattering Powder, a deadly poison treasured by the Sichuan Tang Clan.
‘But to recreate that with an array?’
Rolling his eyes in all directions, Zhuge Seong-hyeon moved his trembling lips.
“I-Is that possible?”
“We can check later.”
His hands holding the blueprint trembled.
“If it’s true, is it okay to teach it to me?”
Cheon-hwi smirked.
“Do you think I would have taught you everything?”
“Then how…….”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon swallowed his words.
Asking to be taught the true essence of an array was the same as asking to be taught a family martial art.
“I will build it according to the blueprint.”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon did not ask further.
Instead, he engraved the array into his eyes.
‘I should experiment when I return to the main family later.’
Cheon-hwi noticed Zhuge Seong-hyeon’s inner thoughts, but did not heavily interfere.
‘Even if he figures it out, he won’t be able to use it well.’
It was an array of the Demonic Path.
No matter if it was the Zhuge Clan, without knowing about the Demonic Path, they wouldn’t be able to recreate it.
At that time, Danmok Rin and the Iron Sword Qi Hero, who had followed Cheon-hwi belatedly, widened their eyes while looking at the Seven Plum Blossom Gates.
“What in the world is this place?”
“What is it……?”
Numerous people were doing construction in a cave where spiritual energy could be felt.
Just as the two were staring blankly at them, unable to fathom their purpose or what they were trying to do.
“Uh?”
One of the members of the Zhuge Clan threw aside the work he was doing and suddenly came running.
“Oh my! Great Hero Iron Sword Qi Hero!”
The Iron Sword Qi Hero looked at the running man with a bewildered face.
“Why, aren’t you Zhuge Gung?”
“It has truly been a long time.”
“Yes. It’s been a while.”
At Zhuge Gung’s greeting asking for a handshake, the Iron Sword Qi Hero held his hand and asked.
“But what brings you to the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Hahaha, I came this time because our main family received a request from the Mount Hua Sect.”
“A request……?”
The Iron Sword Qi Hero was flustered.
The Mount Hua Sect made a request to the Zhuge Clan, and the Zhuge Clan accepted it?
‘What kind of ghost eating seed-grain nonsense is this?’
He stared at Zhuge Gung in bewilderment.
It was nonsensical from start to finish, but looking at Zhuge Gung’s expression, he didn’t seem to be lying.
“What kind of request is it for you to be at the Mount Hua Sect…….”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot say.”
Zhuge Gung felt apologetic.
He wanted to reveal the details of the request right then and there, but it was none other than a matter related to the Mount Hua Sect.
If he misspoke, it could lead to animosity with the Danmok Clan, no, a rift within the Flying Heaven Society.
Therefore, he had to speak with deep consideration.
“That doesn’t mean there is a collusive relationship between our main family and the Mount Hua Sect.”
“I asked something unnecessary. I also don’t think there would be a close relationship between the Zhuge Clan and the Mount Hua Sect. If you intended to hide it, you wouldn’t have pretended to know me.”
When the Iron Sword Qi Hero spoke as if telling him not to worry, Zhuge Gung stroked his chest in relief.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Not at all. Moreover, I am also at the Mount Hua Sect, so what interrogation would I do.”
Zhuge Gung flinched.
Likewise, he was also curious about why the Iron Sword Qi Hero was at the Mount Hua Sect, but it was a question he couldn’t bear to ask.
“……Haha.”
“Haha.”
Both smiled bitterly at the same time.
“How about we bury this matter?”
“That sounds good.”
Danmok Rin thought this was the right moment and approached.
“Uncle. This person is……?”
“You came at a good time. Greet him. He is someone I had a connection with in the past.”
Zhuge Gung was surprised when the woman called the Iron Sword Qi Hero uncle, and hurriedly cupped his fists.
“I am Zhuge Gung of the Zhuge Clan.”
“Zhuge Clan……? Ah!”
Danmok Rin also seemed slightly surprised, looking at Zhuge Gung before hurriedly cupping her fists.
“I am Dan…… Rin of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“The Mount Hua Sect……?”
Zhuge Gung looked back and forth between her and the Iron Sword Qi Hero in wonder.
Calling him uncle meant she was the Iron Sword Qi Hero’s niece.
To be a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.
‘No. Doesn’t the Great Hero have wide connections in the Jianghu?’
The two who had harbored doubts recalled the rumors about the Iron Sword Qi Hero and nodded.
“Nice to meet you.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you too.”
Seeing that sight, the Iron Sword Qi Hero smiled.
‘As expected, nothing about Rin is known in the current Jianghu yet.’
Danmok Rin had safely entered the Mount Hua Sect, but there was anxiety.
Since a child of the Eight Great Clans was entering the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, there was a concern that attention would be focused on her.
However, seeing Zhuge Gung and Zhuge Seong-hyeon, she could relieve her worries a bit.
‘Now I can leave with peace of mind.’
Her heavy heart felt unburdened.
Instead, she now had to leave in a hurry.
If she, who already had a known reputation, stayed at the Mount Hua Sect, it might provide an excuse for others.
‘I should leave before the mountain gates close.’
Around the time the Iron Sword was thinking about his departure date.
“A junior of Murim greets Great Hero Iron Sword Qi Hero. I am Zhuge Seong-hyeon of the Zhuge Clan.”
The wild man with a messy appearance approached.
“Zhuge Seong-hyeon……?”
Despite Zhuge Seong-hyeon’s messy appearance, the Iron Sword Qi Hero, seemingly having heard something, greeted him with shining eyes.
“Hahaha, I didn’t expect to meet the Hidden Dragon of the Zhuge Clan here.”
“I am the one who didn’t expect to meet the Great Hero of the Danmok Clan.”
“Hero is too generous a term.”
Around the time the figures from the Zhuge Clan and Danmok Clan were exchanging greetings at the Mount Hua Sect.
“It seems up to the Second Gate is done for now.”
Princess So-hui and her party approached Cheon-hwi, who was left alone.
“Young Hero Cheon-hwi.”
Watching Princess So-hui approach, Cheon-hwi tossed out a word indifferently.
“Why?”
“What are you doing?”
It was a beautiful smile and a captivating tone that any man would unconsciously react to.
“I’m just standing here.”
Cheon-hwi showed no signs of wavering.
From his perspective, having suffered worse honey traps in his past life, it was so trivial that he scoffed at it.
Because the intentions contained within it felt too obvious.
“If it’s someone you’re looking for, they’re over there.”
As he spoke while pointing upwards, Princess So-hui smiled with her eyes and parted her lips.
“I came to see you, Young Hero.”
“Let’s say you did.”
Cheon-hwi smirked and turned his head.
Seeing that series of actions, Princess So-hui’s brows narrowed.
‘To think I would be treated like this.’
Her pride was hurt.
When had she ever been treated like this?
A beautiful appearance, the Emperor’s bloodline.
She had obtained everything since birth.
Because of that, she had been confident that if she spent time, she could bring Cheon-hwi into her embrace, but there was no progress.
‘Could it be he isn’t interested in women……?’
Didn’t they say there were men in the world who enjoyed the company of other men?
Just as Princess So-hui stared intensely at the side of Cheon-hwi’s face and harbored doubts.
“Senior Martial Brother Cheon-hwi!”
Danmok Rin came running with quick steps.
‘Senior Martial Brother……?’
Princess So-hui tilted her head while looking at Danmok Rin, who was glaring at her.
‘Who is this? There was no such woman in the Mount Hua Sect.’
The woman’s appearance was outstanding.
She was still young, but she was an outstanding beauty that even she, a fellow woman, couldn’t take her eyes off her for a moment.
Meanwhile, Danmok Rin, who had approached closely, discovered Princess So-hui standing next to Cheon-hwi, stopped in her tracks, and opened her mouth.
“……Who is this person?”
Her mouth and eyes were smiling as she asked while looking at Princess So-hui, but her two pupils were as cold as chilling ice.
However, the opponent was not good.
“Shouldn’t it be courtesy to reveal your own name first before asking the other person’s name?”
Danmok Rin’s eyebrows twitched and spasmed.
Princess So-hui’s expression, looking down as if it were natural, and her words that hit the mark, greatly shook Danmok Rin’s composure.
“…….”
Feeling that she had been suppressed from the start, Danmok Rin reluctantly bowed.
“……I am Rin.”
“Ah, you must be the precious daughter of the Danmok Clan who entered the Mount Hua Sect this time.”
“How did you…….”
“I heard it from the Sect Leader.”
Danmok Rin was left speechless.
Those who knew she was a daughter of the Danmok Clan were kept secret, limited to the Sect Leader and the elders of the Mount Hua Sect.
However, knowing it meant that the woman in front of her was no ordinary person.
“So-hui.”
“Yes?”
Princess So-hui smiled whitely as she looked at Danmok Rin, who revealed her bewilderment.
“Didn’t you ask for my name?”
“…….”
Danmok Rin glared at Princess So-hui.
“What is your relationship with Senior Martial Brother?”
“Senior Martial Brother? Ah, Young Hero Cheon-hwi?”
Princess So-hui stopped speaking mid-sentence and let out a meaningful smile.
“I am curious about that too.”
Along with her words, she looked at Cheon-hwi.
“What is the relationship between you and me, Young Hero?”
What are they doing?
Watching Princess So-hui suddenly ask him after talking among themselves, Cheon-hwi answered in a flat voice.
“We just know each other.”
Danmok Rin, who had been nervous, stroked her chest in relief.
Unlike her, Princess So-hui was nonchalant, as if it was an answer she had already expected.
“Still, I thought we had gotten quite close recently, so it’s a bit of a shame.”
As she spoke, she saw the relieved Danmok Rin and asked with a smile in her eyes.
“Then, Young Hero. What is your relationship with this Lady Rin?”
Danmok Rin abruptly raised her head.
And as she stared at Cheon-hwi’s lips with eyes filled half with expectation and half with worry, an answer was soon heard.
“Junior Martial Sister.”
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