Chapter 216: Chapter 216

Three days passed after the meeting with the Overlord.

The Zhuge Clan was in the midst of being busy with the aftermath after the banquet ended, and many of the guests had also left.

Like that, the number of people staying in the detached house of the Zhuge Clan decreased one by one, but.

“This is delicious.”

“There’s more here, Senior Martial Brother.”

Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin were still staying in the detached house, enjoying a free life.

Today as well, Cheon-hwi, who was leisurely rolling a sweet in his mouth, looked towards the north.

‘It’s a failure today too.’

During the period of three days, he had secretly gone to find the Overlord a few times to meet him again, but he failed completely.

That was natural because the Small Heaven and Earth Generation Formation had already been destroyed, exposing the location, and as a result, the security had become several times stricter.

It was because it was hard to even approach.

‘With that level of security, I won’t even be able to think of approaching for a few days.’

Cheon-hwi’s impression frowned slightly.

It was an absolute master he had met after a long time.

But since he couldn’t even exchange blows like this and only time was passing, he felt frustrated.

‘Should I just act crazy and go find him?’

He even had an impulsive thought, but in the end, he had no choice but to shake his head.

There was more to lose than to gain.

That was because, was there a need to go that far and make enemies with the Zhuge Clan?

Even before leaving, the Sect Leader had emphasized so much not to absolutely cause any trouble within the Zhuge Clan.

‘And if I do that, there’s only exactly one chance, but I can’t just throw it away so vainly like this.’

Cheon-hwi thought coldly.

The martial prowess of the Overlord was outstanding.

No, the word outstanding was not enough.

The absolute realm that surpassed the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Weren’t they said to have reached the realm of Heaven Beyond Heaven called the Martial God Realm?

In contrast, he himself was not currently in a state where he had made full preparations.

Since he had not yet fully regained even his martial prowess from his past life.

However, using up the exactly one given life-and-death duel with an absolute master in such a half-baked state was too regrettable.

It was better to step back for now and wait for the next time.

‘Tsk, it can’t be helped.’

Cheon-hwi, who finished chewing and swallowing the sweet he was rolling in his mouth, stood up from his seat.

“Hmm? Great Hero, you’ve stood up.”

“Where are you going?”

Peng Cheol-wi and Hwangbo So-hyeon, who were sitting at the table next to him, looked at that Cheon-hwi with surprised eyes.

For the past few days, Cheon-hwi had just rolled around on the bed and had never gone out of the detached house.

That was natural because the servants brought food to the detached house.

Moreover, since Danmok Rin stuck right next to him and did all the small errands, there was no need to go outside.

“I’m going to return now.”

At the unexpected words, Peng Cheol-wi and Hwangbo So-hyeon panicked and put down the teacups they were drinking from.

“Suddenly?”

“You’re already leaving?”

They asked back with wide eyes.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Ah, no. That is….”

Hwangbo So-hyeon hesitated.

“Since Big Sister Yang is coming….”

“Yes?”

At the suddenly appearing name, Cheon-hwi tilted his head, and then belatedly recalled someone and parted his lips.

“Ah, Young Lady Yang?”

Hwangbo So-hyeon nodded her head.

On the day she met Cheon-hwi, she had immediately sent a letter to Yang Se-ryeong.

And the reply to it had arrived just two days ago.

That reply was very short.

[I’ll go right away!]

It was her first time seeing such an excited writing style.

It was to the point where laughter came out the moment she first saw it. And since Cheon-hwi, who made Yang Se-ryeong that excited, was about to leave now.

“Um, Great Hero….”

Hwangbo So-hyeon spoke cautiously with a troubled expression.

“Couldn’t you at least just see Big Sister Yang’s face before you leave when she comes?”

She spoke earnestly, but Cheon-hwi was not someone who cared about such things.

“The banquet is over, and I have no reason to stay longer. I’m going to leave since I’ve made up my mind. Strike while the iron is hot.”

“But Big Sister Yang wants to see you, Great Hero….”

“Well, is today the only chance? We can just meet later. We all know each other’s sects and names now anyway.”

Cheon-hwi spoke carefreely and was about to pick up the sword right next to him, but then paused.

It was because Danmok Rin next to him was revealing a somewhat uncomfortable mood.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to go? If you don’t want to, you can stay here longer and come separately.”

“A-No!”

Shocked, Danmok Rin quickly shook her head side to side so hard it felt like her neck would fall off.

After a while of doing so, she asked cautiously.

“Senior Martial Brother, who is Young Lady Yang?”

“Just someone I had a brief connection with, why?”

When Cheon-hwi spoke nonchalantly, only then did Danmok Rin’s expression brighten up like usual.

“I just asked.”

Meanwhile, Hwangbo So-hyeon, who saw that scene, felt her vision turn dark.

Peng Cheol-wi, who was watching that Hwangbo So-hyeon from the side, asked.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Because I think Big Sister Yang is going to suffer.”

Peng Cheol-wi immediately nodded his head.

“She will suffer. Still, there is no need to worry too much. Didn’t Young Master Zhuge say so? Since they said they formed an agreement with the Sun Moon Sect….”

Listening to Peng Cheol-wi’s words, Hwangbo So-hyeon smiled bitterly.

‘That wasn’t what I meant….’

Hwangbo So-hyeon had been coming and going from the detached house for a few days and was certain that Danmok Rin liked Cheon-hwi.

Although she was usually as cold as ice, the appearance she showed Cheon-hwi was incomparably warm like sunlight.

Probably most people would have noticed.

Except for exactly one person.

‘Brother Peng is too dense.’

Peng Cheol-wi was sometimes frustratingly ignorant about romance.

But what could she do?

That was why she liked him.

‘If that woman were a rival in love….’

Hwangbo So-hyeon’s gaze turned towards Danmok Rin.

‘She is truly beautiful.’

It was an appearance that naturally drew one’s eyes.

An appearance and atmosphere bursting with a peculiar charm that went back and forth between a girl and a woman.

It was to the point where she didn’t even feel jealous.

‘Comparing her with Big Sister Yang, they have different appearances and atmospheres.’

Yang Se-ryeong was also a beauty.

Would she be called the Number One Beauty of Gansu for nothing?

However, the atmospheres of the two were contrasting.

If Yang Se-ryeong was a beauty with a mature atmosphere, Danmok Rin boasted a pure and clean atmosphere.

“Even if you leave a little later….”

“No, I decline anything more troublesome now.”

At Hwangbo So-hyeon’s words who could not give up lingering attachments, Cheon-hwi answered and turned his head.

At that moment.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking on the door was heard, and soon the door forcefully swung open without hesitation.

“Little Taoist Cheon-hwi!”

Zhuge Myeong strode in.

Having entered even before receiving permission to enter, he opened his eyes wide upon discovering Cheon-hwi standing up and spoke.

“Wow, it seems this is my first time seeing you standing up.”

Zhuge Myeong immediately struck up a conversation, but Cheon-hwi thoroughly ignored him.

But nevertheless, Zhuge Myeong’s mouth never stopped.

“Hahaha, as expected, everyone is here. Good morning. Young Master Peng, Young Lady Hwangbo. And Young Lady Rin as well.”

He poured out words like a waterfall.

‘How noisy.’

Cheon-hwi shook his head.

Although he could have left a bit later, one of the reasons he was trying to leave right now was precisely because of that Zhuge Myeong.

After the day of the banquet, he came every day and tried to converse somehow.

To be exact, it was nothing more than him unilaterally chattering.

“It seems the Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect are taciturn. Could it be a vow of silence training….”

Around the time when even Peng Cheol-wi and Hwangbo So-hyeon were smiling awkwardly at him chatting incessantly.

“Elder Brother!”

Zhuge Seong-hyeon came running urgently.

“Didn’t I tell you not to bother the Young Hero?”

“What do you mean by bother?”

Zhuge Myeong shrugged his shoulders.

“I am building a friendship. Isn’t that right?”

Looking at Zhuge Myeong who spoke while smiling brightly, Cheon-hwi answered in an indifferent tone.

“It’s not.”

It was a chilly and freezing voice.

If it were anyone else, they would have sensed the strangeness and stepped back, but Zhuge Myeong was different.

“Hahaha, Little Taoist, really. You don’t need to be so shy.”

He was just way too clueless.

‘I can’t even chase this guy out….’

If he had picked a fight, it would have been different.

But since it wasn’t a fight and he was just coming to talk so brightly with the excuse of building a friendship, what on earth could he do?

At that time, Zhuge Seong-hyeon, who read Cheon-hwi’s annoyed expression, intervened.

“Elder Brother, didn’t you say earlier that Father called you separately?”

“Ah, right!”

Zhuge Myeong hastily turned his body.

“Then I will come again later.”

As Zhuge Myeong just said what he wanted to say and left, Zhuge Seong-hyeon let out a deep sigh with an expression of being sick and tired of it.

“Haa. I apologize, Young Hero.”

Zhuge Seong-hyeon’s head throbbed.

The one who introduced the two was him.

It was a meeting he arranged thinking that if it were Cheon-hwi and Zhuge Myeong, they would be able to converse through martial arts.

But this was beyond expectations.

“I really didn’t know my elder brother was this clueless.”

He had admired Zhuge Myeong.

His overwhelming martial talent, and his leadership in leading the family members.

However, since they had only maintained a distance for so long precisely because of that admiration, he hadn’t known his detailed personality.

Meanwhile, Cheon-hwi grabbed his sword as if he were annoyed regardless of whether he apologized or not.

“It’s fine. I’m going to leave now anyway.”

“Yes?”

Zhuge Seong-hyeon panicked for a moment.

“Leave, where to….”

“Where else but the Mount Hua Sect.”

“A-Are you planning to return?”

“Then is there any reason to stay longer?”

“No. That is not the case, but.”

Zhuge Seong-hyeon replied bewilderedly.

Actually, the reason he invited him was partly because he wanted to introduce him to his elder brothers, but the biggest reason was because his father had shown interest.

But currently, his father was so busy with something that it was hard for even him to meet his father.

‘…Do I have to see him next time?’

Recalling his father, Zhuge Seong-hyeon soon nodded his head.

“Then please wait for a moment.”

* * *

A moment later, outside the front gate of the Zhuge Clan.

“I have been waiting.”

Looking at Go Sam, who was offering a greeting from the driver’s seat of the carriage, Cheon-hwi opened his mouth.

“It seems you’ve continuously stayed at the Zhuge Clan.”

“The Merchant Guild Leader had told me to properly escort you, Little Taoist, when you return as well.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Around the time Cheon-hwi chuckled at the quite considerate treatment.

“Y-Young Hero! No, Little Taoist!”

Zhuge Myeong came running in a hurry.

Having ran in a rush, he hurriedly caught his breath and then looked up at Cheon-hwi.

“Are you already leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you rushing too much? Staying just a few more days before you leave….”

Zhuge Myeong expressed his regret.

He wore a bitter smile as if he were sending off a close friend.

Then, he suddenly sparked his eyes and said.

“Then next time, I will go visit Mount Hua.”

Go visit, my foot.

Cheon-hwi immediately spat out words of refusal.

“There is no need for you to come.”

“Haha, why are you being shy again.”

At Zhuge Myeong interpreting it as he pleased, Cheon-hwi let out a sigh saying ‘Ehew’ and waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed.

“Do whatever you want.”

“Mhm, I will surely visit.”

As he was about to get on the carriage, ignoring Zhuge Myeong’s chattering from behind.

“Great Hero.”

Peng Cheol-wi and Hwangbo So-hyeon approached.

“Please visit my clan later. I will make sure to be fully prepared then.”

“Please visit the Hwangbo Clan as well.”

“If I have time, I’ll go.”

The same question and answer as before.

Peng Cheol-wi and Hwangbo So-hyeon were a bit disappointed at not receiving a definite answer, but they nodded and stepped back.

Behind them, Zhuge Seung-ho and Zhuge Seong-hyeon appeared.

“Great Hero, please take this.”

Having walked closer, he carefully handed over an item tightly wrapped in fancy silk.

It wasn’t known what was inside, but just looking at the wrapping silk showed it was nothing ordinary.

“It is something Seong-hyeon and I prepared.”

“It will be worth a look for you, Young Hero.”

Before anyone knew, Zhuge Seong-hyeon, who stood next to Zhuge Seung-ho, heavily shrugged his broad shoulders.

“If you’re giving it.”

Cheon-hwi accepted the wooden box well-wrapped in silk.

“Have a safe trip.”

“I will contact you later.”

The moment Cheon-hwi was about to get on the carriage after watching their subsequent polite fist salutes.

“….”

Suddenly, a cold silence flowed.

All those who had been boisterously whispering near the front gate stopped talking.

Was it just words?

They were staring somewhere with stiffly frozen faces and wide-open eyes, as if they had even forgotten to breathe.

Amidst the terrible silence being continuously maintained.

Step… Step…

The sound of footsteps was heard.

Perhaps due to the suffocating silence.

The sound of footsteps, which sounded unusually loud, gradually approached the front gate.

Srrk…

The people stealthily stepped back.

And through that gap, a white-haired old man wearing old gray clothes was walking very slowly with his hands behind his back.

Everyone could not suppress their astonishment.

In particular, those with some age all opened their mouths as if their jaws would drop, shifting their gazes following the old man as if possessed.

“G-Grandfather?”

Zhuge Myeong ran over in shock.

And with that as the start, the silence was broken and the people let out sounds close to screams along with the breath they had been holding back.

“…O-Overlord?!”

“W-Why is an Eight Martial God suddenly….”

The people’s bodies trembled vigorously.

Some staggered as if they would faint, profusely breaking out in cold sweat.

Looking at the approaching Zhuge Myeong, Zhuge Gocheon wore a gentle smile.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Is that so?”

Zhuge Myeong could not hide his bewilderment.

He, who had always acted confidently in any situation, floundered for the first time and opened his mouth.

“But Grandfather. Why are you here…?”

“I came because I have someone to meet.”

“Someone to meet?”

At the moment when Zhuge Myeong asked back in shock.

“There he is.”

Zhuge Gocheon smiled brightly looking at Cheon-hwi, then walked past Zhuge Myeong.

And he spoke to Cheon-hwi.

“Are you leaving now?”

Cheon-hwi stopped his attempt to get on the carriage and met eyes with Zhuge Gocheon standing in front of him.

“It’s a bit much to keep staying.”

“The person he’s meeting is a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect?”

“W-Who is that Taoist for him to….”

Everyone was astonished by the conversation between the two.

It was surprising enough that Zhuge Gocheon, who had been silent for decades, had come out from his deep seclusion, but to think the person he said he was personally meeting was none other than a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect.

When the surrounding people were blankly watching them in a situation that far exceeded their understanding.

“But you’re only coming out now.”

Cheon-hwi grumbled.

“You should have come out before if you were going to.”

“It was because it is now, that I could come out.”

“Well, that’s true too.”

Cheon-hwi spoke with understanding.

Even just right now, hadn’t people’s gazes gathered like this simply because of the fact that he had come out?

If he had sought him out before that, it would not have been a matter that ended as a mere commotion.

“Are you just going to say hello and leave?”

“What else would there be?”

“Tsk, that’s a shame.”

While speaking, Cheon-hwi’s eyes shone.

“By the way, don’t you get bored normally?”

“Bored? What do you mean?”

Zhuge Gocheon tilted his head.

“When I looked there, there was nothing but a vegetable garden.”

At Cheon-hwi’s answer, Zhuge Gocheon, realizing what he meant, curved his eyes.

“Hoho, that’s quite rewarding too. Of course, it has become difficult to tend to that vegetable garden now, though.”

“In that case, how about you come visit Mount Hua sometime?”

Cheon-hwi grinned.

“Well, there isn’t much to see, but the plum blossoms are truly beautiful.”

“Hoho. Plum blossoms, I look forward to that.”

Zhuge Gocheon burst into laughter.

“I will go later. Please take good care of the plum blossoms until then.”

“That’s a given.”

The two faced each other for a moment.

And soon Cheon-hwi lightly hopped onto the carriage and parted his lips.

“Then I will wait.”

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