Chapter 306: Zhuge Clan (4)

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Won immediately took a piece of paper from his robes. The small and neat handwriting was unmistakably Zhuge Yan’s.

“Thorough as always.”

With a bitter smile, I accepted the letter written by Zhuge Yan.

Written there were the contents of a contract.

The contents were simple.

I, Muk Hui-yeong, save Zhuge Yan and shadow guard Won.

Zhuge Yan and shadow guard Won cooperate with Muk Hui-yeong. End. It was an amusing contract where Zhuge Yan’s disposition was clearly revealed.

“She must have been in a hurry.”

However, a major blind spot was visible in the contract. A clause that ought naturally to be present in a contract was missing.

“It does not state what happens in a situation where the contract cannot be fulfilled, or if someone deliberately does not uphold it.”

“She said she deliberately did not write that in.”

“Deliberately?”

“Yes. If you look at the back of the contract, there is content the young lady wrote. I would be grateful if you would check it.”

The back. I had not thought of that. I turned the letter over. On the back, too, was Zhuge Yan’s writing in neat script.

—This is Zhuge Yan. I apologize for greeting you via letter as the clan’s situation is currently grave. If it is the you I know, you probably first took issue with Won as to why there was no clause for breach of contract.

The corners of my mouth curled up. Zhuge Yan was truly someone of the same kind as the past me. She was that sharp, and her mental calculation as a merchant was second to none.

Rather, considering that my current merchant senses had dulled, there would probably be no one in the Central Plains whose mind turned as quickly as Zhuge Yan’s right now.

That was why I was even considering the possibility that this letter from Zhuge Yan was a trap disguised as a surrender.

—The reason it is absent is that neither of us has any obligation to sacrifice our lives for each other. If your side can save us, you save us; if not, it cannot be helped. We too will likewise cooperate only in matters where we can cooperate safely. Of course, because I am currently in the position of Outer Garden Hall Master and handle all clan affairs on behalf of the Clan Head, I can handle most business matters.

To think she had been promoted all the way to Outer Garden Hall Master. But considering Zhuge Yan’s age, Outer Garden Hall Master was a bit excessive.

Normally, when such an unprecedented promotion was carried out, there would have been a bloody purge beforehand. Well, the Zhuge Clan’s internal affairs were none of my concern. In any case, as the Outer Garden Hall Master, it seemed she could certainly hand over something like the Heavenly King Divine Art secret manual quietly.

—Then the only thing remaining would be the presence or absence of my betrayal. I know it would be shameless of me to tell you to trust me without considering my betrayal. It would not hold up as a transaction either. If you ask Won for a token of faith, he will give it to you.

A token of faith. Did such an emotional thing still remain with Zhuge Yan?

“A token of faith.”

When I mentioned it, Won’s expression turned grim. Whatever it was, the token of faith seemed to be something precious.

“Actually, before giving this to you, there is something I must say. But as you can see, the young lady never asked me to explain. It is entirely my own discretion.”

Won wore a pained expression.

“I did not know Young Lady Peng of the Hebei Peng Clan was present as well, but in any case, I know both Young Lady Peng and the New Justice Association Leader to be people who uphold the noble spirit of the orthodox sects.”

The spirit of the orthodox sects. When we had just confirmed moments ago that we each possessed demonic qi. Still, our spirit was close to the orthodox sects, so it was not entirely wrong.

“In that respect, casting aside all shame, there is something I wish to request. I know the young lady and I are in no position to make requests, but even so, this is something I wish to stop.”

“What on earth is it that you drag your words out so much?”

“What the young lady prepared is none other than a gu worm.”

My eyebrows flinched. Peng Chae-hyang also covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with shock.

“The young lady has staked her life. What is to be given to the New Justice Association Leader is the mother gu, and if the mother gu is tormented or killed, the offspring gu automatically dies. It is truly entrusting her life to the Association Leader.”

“It certainly is a token of trust. Is it certain that Zhuge Yan consumed the offspring gu?”

“The young lady will probably sneak out of the clan once to see the Association Leader. You can verify it then. However, my personal request is that you do not take this gu worm. It is an act that goes against the values of an orthodox martial artist, and it is far too cruel.”

Won spoke as he bowed slightly to me. Glancing at Peng Chae-hyang, her eyes were trembling. Even if she possessed demonic qi, she was an orthodox martial artist to the bone. Naturally, she could only be negative about using a gu worm.

“Gaga. A gu worm is……”

Sure enough, Peng Chae-hyang spoke up carefully. I shook my head. It was a sign that I would speak.

“Then do you have another token of faith?”

“We do not. That is why I am pleading.”

“Considering the original relationship between the Zhuge Clan and us, you will know this is a request that is quite hard to accept.”

“It is precisely because it is a request that I earnestly plead like this.”

“Why are you making such a plea? Are you not merely a shadow guard? Rather, if my temper goes awry and things go wrong because of this matter, your position as a shadow guard will become extremely precarious.”

“The young lady and I are not simply in the relationship of a protected person and a guard. I know this too may be difficult for you to understand, but…… this is all I can tell you right now.”

I nodded. Everyone had their own circumstances. Were there not as many circumstances as the countless people in the Central Plains?

Even Zhuge Yan, whom I had regarded as an evil woman, must have had unavoidable circumstances. However, there was something I felt as I lived my life. If I always showed understanding, no one would ever understand me.

“I am sorry, but I cannot.”

“……Is that, truly so.”

“In the first place, it is not even something Young Lady Zhuge requested. That is merely your own desire. Your side has your circumstances, and I have mine. If I do not accept the gu worm out of pity and what you prepared is truly a trap, I will be unable to take responsibility for this friend beside me.”

I gestured with my chin toward Peng Chae-hyang. Peng Chae-hyang closed her mouth with a conflicted look.

To protect herself, she had to use a gu worm that did not align with her convictions. But there were such things in the world. No, in truth, there were far more than one would think.

“Then I shall give it to you here.”

Won looked at me with slightly resentful eyes, took a casket from his robes, and handed it over. Opening the received casket, a wriggling insect was visible along with a dreadful stench. For anyone to see, it was unmistakably a gu worm.

“Did the Zhuge Clan use gu worms as well?”

“It seems to have been brought in from somewhere recently. Since the Central Plains is in chaos, they must have obtained it somewhere. I do not know that far.”

“I see.”

To think the Zhuge Clan, an ostensibly orthodox sect, used gu worms. It was unknown whether this was Zhuge Yan’s personal deviation or a sign that the Zhuge Clan was driven into a corner.

“The young lady said she would come out to Chwihwaru in Xiangyang after three days and nights. You should come then as well, Association Leader. In disguise, of course.”

“Understood.”

I had confidence in disguise. Since I had received the Tang Clan’s disguise techniques. I could do it for Peng Chae-hyang as well.

Won bowed his head deeply and left the inn. Only Peng Chae-hyang and I remained in the room once again.

Suddenly, Peng Chae-hyang’s face flushed hotly. She probably remembered what she had been doing right up until Won entered. Since she was at a level where she could sense presences and dispel intoxication with internal energy.

“Gaga.”

“Yes.”

“Do not say anything.”

“All right.”

“No answering either.”

I closed my mouth. After that, we truly did not say a single word, turned our backs to each other on the same bed, and spent an awkward night.

* * *

“Muk Hui-yeong is not a wanderer who moves without purpose. Especially after becoming the New Justice Association Leader, he feels a strong sense of responsibility, so that will be even more the case.”

Zhuge Yan nodded at Zhuge Gyeom’s words. It was an analysis that matched hers exactly. No matter how excited and reckless Zhuge Gyeom was running, his unique analytical ability remained intact.

“Therefore, if we tightly bolt the clan shut, he will somehow scrape his way inside. Miraculously, he is a strange fellow who frequently takes reckless actions while making cold-headed analyses.”

“Ah.”

Zhuge Yan was impressed. Zhuge Gyeom had not locked the clan shut thoughtlessly.

He had analyzed the person named Muk Hui-yeong, accurately saw through his behavioral patterns, and induced the most advantageous battlefield.

“However, if we draw him inside the clan, is there a way? The New Justice Association Leader is strong.”

Zhuge Yan asked discreetly. She was soon to meet Muk Hui-yeong. To be of even slight help to Muk Hui-yeong, she had to bring as much information as possible.

“Those who have survived the formations until now are fellows who would be treated as masters wherever they are put in the jianghu. Moreover, having made them cultivate a special divine art, they can truly be called elites.”

“A divine art? What divine art are you speaking of?”

“That is……”

Zhuge Gyeom paused mid-sentence and looked at Zhuge Yan. Zhuge Yan realized her mistake. In her anxiety, her eagerness had gotten ahead of her and caused a slip.

“Daughter. You have had an increase in useless curiosities lately. You were not like that in the past.”

“……I apologize.”

“What change of heart has occurred in you? It seems you cannot focus on work at all lately.”

Zhuge Gyeom asked. Looking at the content alone, it was seemingly a word of concern, but goosebumps erupted all over Zhuge Yan. Because whenever he purged elders, he had said similar things.

“N-no. How could that be? I seem to have made a momentary slip of the tongue.”

“Is that so? The daughter I know was not someone who made mistakes so often.”

“I am sorry. I will ensure such a mistake never happens again.”

“Hm. Did you say you were going outside the clan for a short while tomorrow?”

“Yes. I intended to inspect the earnings while touring the inns under the clan’s jurisdiction.”

Zhuge Yan bowed her head. Although Zhuge Yan was taking on a great deal of work due to the recent absence of elders, that was originally what the work of the Outer Garden Hall Master was.

Of course, what was more important was using that as a pretext to make contact with Muk Hui-yeong at Chwihwaru.

“Cancel that schedule.”

Right then, Zhuge Gyeom’s thunderous words fell. Zhuge Yan concealed her agitation as much as possible and asked.

“May I ask the reason?”

“Since you are curious about the divine art, I intend to show it to you. What is important to the clan right now is not such petty coin, but the martial artists being nurtured by the clan.”

“I misspoke. Being no martial artist, I would not understand even if I saw it. Please permit me to devote myself to the duties of the Outer Garden Hall Master.”

Zhuge Yan bowed deeply. Both to meet Muk Hui-yeong and to avoid getting tangled with ominous-looking martial artists, Zhuge Yan desperately wanted to go out tomorrow.

Zhuge Gyeom tilted his head and looked at Zhuge Yan.

“Daughter. You truly have changed. When did you ever talk back to my words and refuse?”

“……It is not that.”

“Do you take me for a cripple!”

Zhuge Gyeom slammed his fist down onto the desk. Not being a martial artist, Zhuge Yan flinched and trembled at that momentum.

“What is it? What is making you waver?”

“Nothing is making me waver. Upholding Father’s words, I will cancel tomorrow’s outing.”

“Since when did you call me Father?”

Zhuge Gyeom’s eyes blazed.

“Even when I told you to call me Father when the two of us were alone, did you not continually address me as Clan Head? Why are you calling me Father now? Was it not that you could not correct it for years, but that you refused to correct it? What kind of change has occurred in your heart, and why?”

Zhuge Yan was at a loss for words. She could not deny that this was different from usual.

“Answer me! You wench of lowly blood! Before I lop off your neck along with that lowly younger brother of yours!”

Zhuge Gyeom shouted. Zhuge Yan trembled violently with humiliation and terror.

If only someone would save her from this situation, she felt as though she could sell her very soul.