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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“What relationship…?”
The unexpected question left Namgung-Woo speechless.
Zhuge Zhong answered for him.
“Your insolence is beyond measure! Leave at once! This is an order from the Acting Family Head! Defy me again, and I’ll confine you to solitary confinement, nephew or not!”
Zhuge Zhong was furious.
Namgung-Woo had saved his only son.
He had also saved the Zhuge Family from a dire crisis, despite their employer-employee relationship.
And his role in the upcoming war was crucial.
Neither the Zhuge Family nor the Banun Clan possessed a Transcendent Master, one of the Three Extremes and Twelve Lords.
Even with their allies, they still lacked that level of power.
The Zhuge Family, having witnessed a glimpse of Namgung-Woo’s strength, had believed victory was within their grasp.
Until the Banun Clan revealed their hidden expert.
Now, Namgung-Woo was no longer a valuable asset but an absolute necessity.
With the Murim Alliance and the Black Path League remaining neutral, withholding their Transcendent Masters, his importance was even greater.
And yet, this boy was stirring up trouble, bringing up a broken engagement.
Zhuge Zhong was ready to endorse Zhuge Gong, the eldest son, as the next Family Head, Dragon of Foresight or not.
This time, his harsh warning seemed to work.
Zhuge Jun pressed his lips together, then reluctantly bowed.
“I apologize for my disrespect to our family’s benefactor. I will formally contact you later.”
“There’s no need. You’ll be confined to the Cold Palace for the time being.”
Confinement in the Cold Palace meant being locked in an unheated room.
“…Understood. Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Pay your respects to the Family Head before you go.”
“I’ve already done so.”
Zhuge Jun bowed and turned to leave.
The guard waiting outside nervously rushed to close the door behind him.
“Haa… I apologize for my family’s shameful display, Hero. As an elder, I take responsibility.”
“It’s alright. But who was that young hero?”
Zhuge Zhong explained.
“He was once engaged to the eldest daughter of the Peng Family. Their families were close. But don’t worry about it. The engagement was broken off without incident.”
He had wondered how Peng Ha-ryeong, who hadn’t left Hebei, had become friends with Zhuge Seon-ah.
It seemed the connection was through Zhuge Jun.
Zhuge Seon-ah had mentioned staying with the Peng Family for a while.
Perhaps Zhuge Jun had been there as well.
Zhuge Zhong confirmed his guess.
“It was around the time the marriage proposal was made. Jun insisted on seeing her for himself, and Seon-ah tagged along, demanding to go as well.”
After that visit, Zhuge Jun, initially indifferent to the marriage, returned a fervent supporter.
His enthusiasm led to the engagement, but it never came to fruition.
Soon after, Peng Ye-ryeong’s illness was revealed, and the Peng Family’s circumstances changed drastically.
The engagement, never more than a casual agreement, was easily dissolved.
Zhuge Jun, deeply affected, became withdrawn, then suddenly declared he would dedicate himself to martial arts training.
The emergence of a Dragon among the Zhuge Family, known more for their formations and mechanisms than their martial prowess, stemmed from the pain of heartbreak.
“Let’s leave it at that.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
Even though Zhuge Jun had initiated the confrontation, discussing him behind his back felt uncomfortable.
“The reason I called you here, Hero, is to discuss how to deal with the unknown expert who fought you and the Family Head.”
He had anticipated this.
He had given it some thought.
“Unless there’s a way to lure him out, I don’t think I can specifically target him.”
The battlefield was vast.
Perhaps not the entire Hubei Province, but the entire area between the Banun Clan’s Mount Tianzi and the Zhuge Family’s Wuhan.
But the Zhuge Family wouldn’t have raised this issue without a solution.
“Please accompany Seon-ah.”
“Young Lady Zhuge Seon-ah?”
“Yes. Seon-ah practices the Resonating Heaven Diagram, an upper dantian technique, which allows her to foresee fortune and misfortune. That man will likely be where the greatest danger is predicted, at the heart of the battle. Your task is to intercept him wherever he appears.”
Dongfang Huo, despite his skill in unorthodox techniques and powerful martial arts, was less of a threat now that he had lost an arm.
Therefore, the greatest danger predicted by the Resonating Heaven Diagram would undoubtedly be that man.
“…We understand it’s a difficult request, sending you into the most dangerous situations, but… we believe it’s the best course of action. After all, our priority is defense, not offense.”
If the battlefield were Hunan Province, it would be different.
Then, the Zhuge Family could have taken the offensive.
Or perhaps, true to the unorthodox factions’ self-serving nature, they could have abandoned the local sects to their fate.
But the Zhuge Family couldn’t do that.
As protectors of Hubei’s Murim and with branches throughout the province, they had too much to protect.
“In that case, I have no reason to refuse.”
“Thank you. Please… take care of Seon-ah, my daughter.”
It was a request to protect Zhuge Seon-ah during the war, but knowing her feelings for him, it sounded strangely suggestive.
Zhuge Zhong, oblivious to his interpretation, quickly returned to business.
“I hear you received a request from Seon-ah. And that the compensation hasn’t been properly discussed. So, I’d like to formally offer you a reward.”
He unfolded a prepared document, listing the possible rewards.
Money.
Martial arts techniques (excluding the Zhuge Family’s core techniques).
Divine weapons.
Access to the Zhuge Family’s resources and influence.
But none of these appealed to Namgung-Woo.
He had plenty of money.
He had no use for influence or resources.
While divine weapons were tempting, he already had robes from the Peng Family, and he would soon have a sword.
Martial arts techniques were even less appealing.
He hadn’t even mastered the techniques he already knew.
Learning more would be pointless.
He gently but firmly pushed the document back.
“Hero?”
“Consider it a debt.”
“A debt?”
“Just as I helped you, the Zhuge Family will help me when I need it.”
Zhuge Zhong’s expression shifted.
A strange mixture of amusement and concern.
“That’s the most difficult reward to offer. And it shows… a great deal of trust in our family…”
He shook his head, then spoke sincerely.
“As Acting Family Head, I can’t make that decision. I’ll have to discuss it with the Family Head.”
“There’s no need.”
“Family Head?”
He had already sensed Zhuge Chong approaching.
He rose and bowed.
Zhuge Chong waved his hand dismissively.
“There’s no need for formalities. Please, be at ease. Administrator, I’ll take it from here. You may leave.”
“But your internal injuries…”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“…Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Zhuge Chong, still recovering, walked unsteadily towards them and sat heavily opposite Namgung-Woo.
“I heard what happened outside.”
“News travels fast.”
“Before I answer, I have one question.”
Despite his injuries, Zhuge Chong’s gaze was sharp, as if he intended to scrutinize every word.
“The Namgung Family. Is it true?”
It had come.
The name, the burden he carried, regardless of his own intentions.
But he didn’t hesitate.
He had already made up his mind.
“If you’re asking if I’m a Namgung, then yes.”
“…Could it be…?”
“But.”
He cut Zhuge Chong off before he could speak.
“If you’re asking about the Namgung Family, then I don’t know. I may have an attachment to the name, but I have no desire for revenge against the Dugu Family, nor any ambition to rebuild the Namgung Family.”
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[T/N: Sure, let’s pretend we don’t know the novel’s title.]
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