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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Jing County, teeming with all sorts of people from all corners of the world for the Four Seasons Gathering, was practically a microcosm of the entire realm.
There were those completely unrelated to the Jianghu, such as government officials and merchants.
There were members of the righteous factions, primarily from the Hwangsan Sect, who now led the righteous Murim in Jing County in the absence of the Nine Great Sects and the Seven Great Families.
There were also members of the unorthodox factions.
While Dugu Bin, the eldest daughter of the preeminent Dugu Family, had been present but her departure the previous day left the Shin-Eung Clan in charge.
Finally, there were those who belonged to the Murim but were neither righteous nor unorthodox, existing in the gray area between.
These included wandering mercenaries hired for escort duty and independent martial artists who had come to Jing County on their own.
A diverse crowd with different goals and affiliations.
If not for the inviolable presence of the Guya Workshop, chaos would have surely erupted.
However, the name “Zhuge Family” had the power to unite them all.
The Guya Workshop was located in Chaji Village, a small settlement within Jing County.
And within Chaji Village, there was only one place large enough to accommodate such a crowd.
The Treasure Ancestral Hall, the largest shrine in Chaji Village.
Since the person who brought news of the Zhuge Family’s plight was staying there, people naturally gathered at the shrine.
“Let’s go too.”
Namgung-Woo and his companions joined the throng.
Entering the main hall of the shrine, they saw many people already gathered.
While more than half had left after the results of the Four Seasons Gathering were announced, several hundred remained.
The hall was packed.
Everyone was whispering, but the sheer number of people filled the space with murmurs.
As Namgung-Woo and his group entered, the murmuring briefly stopped, then resumed.
Glances were cast in their direction.
He didn’t need to enhance his hearing to catch snippets of conversation: “That’s him…” or “From the Guya Workshop Master…”
But the main focus of attention wasn’t the Four Seasons Gathering.
“Thank you all for coming. I am Hang-wi of the Hwaseong Temple.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd at the words of the man who had come to deliver the news of the Zhuge Family’s distress.
“Hwaseong Temple? Isn’t that the warrior monk temple on Mount Guhwa?”
“The renowned monk Hang-wi. He seems injured, but his Qi is stable. Just as the rumors say.”
Those familiar with Hwaseong Temple and Hang-wi shared their knowledge with the crowd.
“As you’ve heard, the Zhuge Family is in danger and sent a request for aid. Several warrior monks, including myself, went to assist them, but… I’m ashamed to say I was the only one who escaped.”
He had been chosen to deliver the message because he possessed strong protective techniques and was less likely to attract attention.
“Strange. Who could be powerful enough to threaten both the Zhuge Family and Hwaseong Temple?”
Hang-wi answered in a grave tone,
“We suspect the Withered Hope Society.”
“The Withered Hope Society?”
“What makes them think they can attack the Zhuge Family?”
The hall buzzed with speculation about the attackers.
Namgung-Woo recalled the second reason he had heard for why the Withered Hope Society hadn’t been eradicated.
‘They’re not actively pursued because they can be used as a cover to eliminate rival factions’ promising talents.’
So, the true culprits were likely someone else using the Withered Hope Society as a scapegoat.
He wasn’t the only one who reached this conclusion.
A scoff echoed through the hall, followed by a sarcastic remark.
“Withered Hope Society? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s the Banun Clan.”
Now familiar with the major powers of the Murim, Namgung-Woo nodded in agreement.
The Banun Clan.
One of the Seven Gates of the Black Blood Alliance, their strength rivaled even the Nine Great Sects.
Based in the Tianzi Mountains of Hunan Province, their territory overlapped with the Zhuge Family’s in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
“It could be the Gangseo Hwang Family.”
The Gangseo Hwang Family, based in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, was also one of the Four Great Families.
Considering the Zhuge Family’s route and geographical location, the Gangseo Hwang Family was also a suspect.
“The Gangseo Hwang Family is on good terms with the Zhuge Family. There’s been increasing tension between the Banun Clan and the Zhuge Family recently, so it’s more likely the Banun Clan.”
The speculation ended there.
“Where is the Zhuge Family now?”
Hang-wi’s gaze shifted towards the group of unorthodox Murim members.
Seeing this, the righteous factions began to pressure the unorthodox factions.
“Step aside.”
“There’s no need for bloodshed.”
Tension filled the air, chilling the atmosphere.
In the tense silence, a voice rose from the unorthodox side.
“Let’s go.”
The words of the man leading the Shin-Eung Clan represented the consensus of the unorthodox factions.
Since the Shin-Eung Clan, the strongest among the unorthodox factions present, had decided to withdraw, the remaining unorthodox members knew they were outmatched.
As the unorthodox factions filed out, followed by the neutral factions, Namgung-Woo remained.
Taoist Jeong-gwang of the Hwangsan Sect, acting as the representative of the righteous factions, addressed the remaining neutral martial artists in a more polite tone than he had used with the unorthodox factions.
“We ask that you also step aside for a moment. We are going to rescue the Zhuge Family. However, if any of you wish to join us, you are welcome to stay.”
His words surprised Namgung-Woo.
They were going to help the Zhuge Family?
It could be a trap.
But they were going regardless.
Because they were the Zhuge Family.
They were willing to risk their lives.
‘Is it because they are the Zhuge Family, or because they are fellow righteous martial artists?’
He considered the Clear Water Sect instead of the Zhuge Family.
If the Clear Water Sect were in danger, would they have driven out the unorthodox factions and immediately set out to rescue them like this?
Probably not.
While some would have upheld the righteous principles and offered assistance, they wouldn’t have mobilized on this scale, this quickly.
If that was true for the Clear Water Sect, what about the Azure Sky Group?
Who would help a mercenary group with no direct connections?
‘They’re doing this because it’s the Zhuge Family.’
That was the power of a prestigious family.
The ability to inspire others to help willingly, without any promise of reward.
It was like his first encounter with the Peng Family.
The Peng and Zhuge Families were in opposite situations, but each demonstrated the power of a prestigious family in different ways.
In Wuan County, the Peng Family’s arrival brought a sense of stability.
Here, the Zhuge Family’s call for help had mobilized people based solely on their name.
‘A family…’
When he decided to survive in this world, he had formed the Azure Sky Group to create a place for himself.
But the Azure Sky Group was a temporary measure.
It was meant to be disbanded if he found a way back to his original world.
But what if he couldn’t return?
Or what if he found a way but chose to stay?
The longer he lived in this world, the more connections he made, the weaker his desire to return became.
‘I need to consider my options if I stay.’
The two families he had encountered, the Peng and the Zhuge Families, had left a lasting impression, offering him different models for how to navigate this world.
That’s why he decided to join the rescue effort.
He wanted to observe their motivations and see how a prestigious family responded to such a crisis.
“I have a question.”
While Namgung-Woo pondered his future, Peng Ha-ryeong raised her hand.
“Who from the Zhuge Family is there?”
“Before that, should we assume that those who remain here intend to join us?”
Peng Ha-ryeong looked at Namgung-Woo.
The decision of how their group would act rested with him.
While she, as a member of the Peng Family, wanted to help the Zhuge Family, she would defer to his judgment.
“I’d like to hear the answer first.”
“That is…”
“It’s alright, Taoist Jeong-gwang. They could find out if they wanted to.”
Hang-wi stopped Jeong-gwang and answered,
“The Zhuge Family members leading this effort are Zhuge Pan, Leader of the Biwoon Squad, and Zhuge Seon-ah.”
“Seon-ah?”
Peng Ha-ryeong unconsciously repeated the name.
“Do you know her?”
“She’s a… friend. But if it’s Seon-ah, it’s strange that there haven’t been any rumors…”
“That means the Zhuge Family has kept it quiet.”
While their conversation seemed casual, its content wasn’t lost on the others.
“May I ask—are any of you personally acquainted with Lady Zhuge Seon-ah?”
“I don’t, but…”
Namgung-Woo deferred to Peng Ha-ryeong, who removed her veil, revealing her identity.
“I am Peng Ha-ryeong of the Hebei Peng Family.”
No further explanation was needed.
Her name, family name, and origin answered all questions.
Peng Ha-ryeong’s presence dispelled any lingering distrust towards the Azure Sky Group, and they were accepted as full participants, unlike the other mercenary groups.
Since the search area was vast, the righteous factions divided into five groups.
With Taoist Jeong-gwang of the Hwangsan Sect and Hang-wi taking the lead, they formed five search parties of about twenty members each.
“Let’s depart!”
Their goal was to find and rescue the Zhuge Family.
And to eliminate the enemy.
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