Chapter 96: Chapter 96
Zhuge Clan!
Located on Mount Tai in Shandong Province, this clan was called the Divine Mechanism Zhuge.
The Zhuge Clan was known as a clan that excelled in intellect rather than martial arts.
That was not the case currently.
It was a clan that possessed martial power close to the top seat among the Eight Great Clans.
And the person who created the current Zhuge Clan was the present Clan Head, the Little Crouching Dragon Zhuge Shin.
“Clan Head.”
The door to the Clan Head’s room where Zhuge Shin stayed was thrown open, and the Chief Steward entered.
“What is the matter?”
“A letter has arrived for you, Clan Head.”
“A letter?”
The Zhuge Clan Head’s eyes narrowed.
There were few cases where the Chief Steward came in person just for a letter.
That meant the person who sent the letter was no ordinary figure, or the contents written within were serious.
The Zhuge Clan Head stiffened his expression and asked.
“Where did it come from?”
“It is the Mount Hua Sect.”
“The Mount Hua Sect……?”
Because it was a completely unexpected place, the Zhuge Clan Head frowned.
It was too out of the blue.
‘The Mount Hua Sect sent a letter?’
The Murim Alliance and the Flying Heaven Society were in a hostile relationship.
And a sect among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang at the core of the Murim Alliance was the Mount Hua Sect, while the place at the core of the Flying Heaven Society was the Zhuge Clan.
It was by no means a relationship where they would exchange letters.
“Did you read it?”
“No, I did not.”
“Give it to me.”
Receiving the letter from the Chief Steward, the Zhuge Clan Head first looked for the sender.
“Mount Hua Sect Cheon-hwi?”
‘Is he a disciple of the Cheon-character generation?’
The Zhuge Clan Head furrowed his brow.
If it was the Cheon-character generation, they were someone of considerable seniority, but it was an individual he had never heard of.
“A disciple of the Mount Hua Sect sent a letter directly to me. Are they looking down on this clan?”
Glaring at the phrase written as ‘Cheon-hwi’ with a cold gaze, the Zhuge Clan Head untied the string binding the letter in one breath.
“Mm?”
For a moment, the Zhuge Clan Head’s eyebrows twitched.
“They are requesting the construction of this mechanism formation?”
It was a blueprint.
Drawn very meticulously.
“To think the Mount Hua Sect would make a request to this clan because of a mechanism formation, how dare…… Heup!”
The Zhuge Clan Head, who was looking at the blueprint while snorting, opened his eyes wide.
“Th-this is…….”
Flustered, he rapidly rolled his eyes.
“Clan Head?”
The Chief Steward called out to the Clan Head in bewilderment, but the Clan Head was already focused on the letter.
‘Th-this can’t be! What kind of mechanism formation is this? Is this an array formation? I have never seen such an array formation before…….’
His pupils trembled minutely.
The contents of the letter were simple.
Exactly seven pages of letter and blueprints.
However, it was a blueprint that would astonish anyone who knew even a little about mechanism formations.
‘It is a mechanism formation and array formation I am seeing for the first time in my life.’
The Zhuge Clan Head bit his lip.
No matter how mighty the Zhuge Clan’s martial power was now, what was the root of the clan?
They were proficient in staff techniques, hand techniques, and hidden weapon arts, but more than those things, they were a clan famous for Qimen Formations, the Principles of Changes, and Civil Engineering and Mechanism Arts.
Yet, he could not understand it.
The mechanism formation written in this letter!
His hands trembled slightly.
The Zhuge Clan Head, gripping his hands tightly as if to crumple the paper, widened his eyes and shouted.
“Bring Seong-hyeon here right this instant!”
A short while later, in the Clan Head’s room, the Zhuge Clan Head and a young man with evident signs of fatigue were putting their heads together over the letter.
“How does it look to you?”
“……Gulp.”
The young man, Zhuge Seong-hyeon, swallowed his saliva.
“It is completely different from the methods known to this clan.”
The Zhuge Clan Head half-closed his eyes.
‘Even Seong-hyeon does not know?’
His head throbbed.
Currently, Zhuge Seong-hyeon had no talent in martial arts, but regarding mechanism formations and array formations, he was a genius who allowed no peers to follow.
“Father!”
At that moment, Zhuge Seong-hyeon raised his head.
Looking at the Zhuge Clan Head with a gaze sparkling like starlight, he said.
“We must not miss this. If we learn about this mechanism formation in detail, it will be of great help to the development of this clan’s mechanism formations, which has been stalled for a long time.”
“Is it to that extent?”
“Yes.”
The Zhuge Clan Head was slightly surprised.
The history of the Zhuge Clan’s mechanism formation research was deep and profound.
Yet, to think this blueprint would be helpful enough for that mechanism formation research.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Seong-hyeon could not hide his excitement.
The blueprint and mechanism formation he was seeing for the first time in his life stimulated him.
“Can you tell who sent this letter?”
“It is a person named Cheon-hwi of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“Cheon-hwi…….”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon muttered the Daoist title.
As Zhuge Seong-hyeon, who had been living in seclusion, showed interest, the Zhuge Clan Head’s two pupils flashed.
‘Did it work out well at just the right time? Since it is also time for Seong-hyeon to make his debut in Jianghu.’
The Zhuge Clan Head parted his lips.
“I intend to accept this request, but there is no one in particular suitable to go to the Mount Hua Sect.”
As he spoke, he looked at Zhuge Seong-hyeon.
“Would you like to try going?”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon stiffened his face.
After that, he gave a large nod.
“Yes. I will go to the Mount Hua Sect.”
* * *
“Pant, pant.”
“I cannot do any more.”
Cheon-hwi stared at the elixirs in the box without even glancing at Seol Ran, Jeok-geom, and Sim Wi Jin who were sprawled on the floor.
The elixirs, numbering exactly one hundred, were everything made by appropriately mixing the medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs sent by the Flying Wind Merchant Guild a few days ago.
“It is fascinating.”
Princess So-hui touched the elixir.
The pitch-black elixir displayed an entrancing luster.
Cheon-hwi immediately took out three elixirs.
And then gave them to Princess So-hui.
“Are you giving them to me?”
“Because you worked hard.”
Cheon-hwi spoke nonchalantly.
At the moment when Jeok-geom and Seol Ran were insufficient to test the efficacy, Sim Wi Jin and So-ryeong provided great help.
“Thank you.”
Princess So-hui smiled lightly.
Cheon-hwi grabbed the box right away without even looking.
“It turned out well this time!”
The Divine Physician next to him crossed his arms.
He happened to make elixirs with Cheon-hwi by chance, but it became an opportunity for him to learn many things.
‘Hmm, poison could be used on martial artists in a different way.’
Nodding his head, he asked.
“Have you decided on the name of the elixir?”
“Well. It is just pitch-black and also smells.”
Cheon-hwi said as if it was bothersome.
“Let’s go with Dark Fragrance Pill.”
Surprisingly, it was a perfectly fitting name.
“Then I will be going.”
“Where do you mean?”
“I have to feed them the elixirs.”
Cheon-hwi immediately picked up the box and disappeared.
A short while later, the place Cheon-hwi arrived at was Dorimpyeong.
Cheon-hwi passed through the second-generation disciples engrossed in circulating their qi and approached Hyeon-cheong, who was standing guard in the center.
“What brings you here!”
Hyeon-cheong, who belatedly discovered Cheon-hwi while examining the disciples, welcomed him.
“To give elixirs.”
“Elixirs?”
Cheon-hwi immediately put down the box.
Soon the box was opened, and a subtle fragrance gently spread out.
Hyeon-cheong was surprised to see many elixirs.
“Where did you obtain these?”
“I made them myself.”
“Y-you mean you made these yourself?”
“Yes.”
By the time the startled Hyeon-cheong looked at Cheon-hwi with an expression of disbelief.
“You just have to feed them and have them perform energy breathing.”
“So you made them for the disciples.”
Hyeon-cheong wore a beaming smile and examined the elixirs in the box one by one.
“Good. I shall distribute them now.”
“Ah! By the way, there is a slight side effect to that.”
“Side effect?”
“It will be a little painful when eaten.”
Cheon-hwi kindly explained, but.
“Haha. They will all be able to endure such trivial pain.”
Hyeon-cheong, who firmly trusted Cheon-hwi from before, spoke nonchalantly and flowed out a magnificent voice infused with internal energy.
“Everyone, finish your energy breathing for now!”
It was Hyeon-cheong’s sudden words, but the second-generation disciples hastily concluded their qi circulation.
A short time later, seeing everyone open their eyes, Hyeon-cheong pointed at Cheon-hwi and opened his mouth.
“Here, Cheon-hwi has brought elixirs for you.”
“Pardon?”
“You mean elixirs?”
“From Martial Uncle Cheon-hwi?”
The second-generation disciples’ eyes sparkled.
Elixirs were things given even within the sect to those with promising futures.
Yet, bestowing them upon all disciples like this was extremely exceptional.
The second-generation disciples immediately bowed their heads.
“Martial Uncle!”
“Thank you!”
Amidst the resounding shouts, Cheon-hwi chuckled while looking at the second-generation disciples who did not know the future that would unfold.
That probably would not last long.
Since even Jeok-geom and Seol Ran, who would die for his words, had rebelled unable to endure after repeatedly eating the elixirs.
“Then I will distribute them one by one.”
The second-generation disciples moved right away.
Soon, the second-generation disciples who each received an elixir gulped down their saliva.
The elixir showing a pitch-black luster was subtly exuding a unique fragrance.
Soon, they stared at Hyeon-cheong.
As they were intently staring at Hyeon-cheong’s mouth like baby birds waiting for the mother bird to bring food.
“Everyone, eat.”
Hyeon-cheong’s mouth finally parted.
“Yes!”
At the same time, everyone swallowed the Dark Fragrance Pills.
Simultaneously, they assumed the lotus position and began to perform energy breathing.
“Hm?”
Hyeon-cheong was slightly flustered.
Feeling that something was unusual, he looked at the complexions of the second-generation disciples.
Their complexions, which were clearly good, suddenly became darkened, and their expressions distorted.
“Uugh… “
Soon, everyone let out groans.
And a moment later, screams erupted.
“Kuaaaak!”
“Ah, it hurts.”
Hyeon-cheong watched the disciples complaining of pain in bewilderment and urgently asked.
“A-are they really elixirs?”
Hyeon-cheong spoke while being unable to sit still.
He trusted Cheon-hwi, but since the disciples who ate the elixirs were now rolling on the ground, it was natural for him to be confused.
“Yes.”
“But those are symptoms of poisoning…….”
“It is a fortuitous encounter, so they must bear that much.”
“Are they not dying?”
“There is no way they would die from this much.”
Cheon-hwi spoke quietly.
Just as he said, it was only painful, and they did not die.
“Th-then what should be done for these children to be okay?”
Hyeon-cheong asked anxiously.
Right now, Dorimpyeong was an agonizing hell.
“They will be fine once they absorb it all. Of course, it will be a little painful in the meantime, but they got off cheap at that level.”
Hyeon-cheong lost his mind for a moment.
“Then are you saying they will continue like that until they absorb that energy?”
“That’s right. Ah! Come to think of it, they said it hurts a little less if they circulate their qi.”
Cheon-hwi’s calm voice lodged into the ears of the second-generation disciples who were rolling on the ground.
“Uugh!”
One person who gritted his teeth assumed a qi circulation posture.
The second-generation disciple next to him, seeing his gradually relaxing expression, was surprised and began qi circulation.
It became one person, two people.
The number of people continued to increase, and now every single one of them was engrossed in qi circulation without exception.
“It has gotten quite quiet.”
The sounds of screaming disappeared.
“Uugh…….”
“I-it’s not an elixir but poison…….”
Instead, sounds of suffering and moans continued in Dorimpyeong for several days.
Afterwards, time flowed quickly.
Mount Hua, which was full of fallen leaves just a while ago, was soon dyed completely pure white with thickly piled snow.
Winter had approached before they knew it.
The Mount Hua Sect changed as much as the scenery.
In particular, perhaps thanks to the Dark Fragrance Pills created by Cheon-hwi showing immense effectiveness, they were mass-produced with the help of Jaeryeong Pavilion Lord Hyeon-cheong and given to the first-generation disciples as well.
Rapidly increasing martial attainments.
Moreover, the second-generation disciples rapidly built up their skills centering around Hyeon-cheong’s teachings, and not to be outdone, the first-generation disciples were also stepping up their realms step by step.
While the Mount Hua Sect was quietly building up strength for the day they would soar later.
Crunch, crunch.
There was a group coming up Mount Hua.
“This is the Mount Hua Sect…….”
Zhuge Seong-hyeon raised his head.
Looking at the superb scenery of Mount Hua covered entirely in pure white snow, he exhaled a puff of breath.
Huuu…
The warm breath appeared and vanished.
Soon, clutching the letter inside his arms tightly, he whispered.
“Are you saying that the person named Cheon-hwi who made this blueprint is in that place?”
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