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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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He had been the head of the Namgung Family in ‘Chu-rok Murim’.
He felt a certain attachment to the name.
But he wouldn’t inherit the burden of a feud with strangers.
“I see… after all this time… So, you sought the support of the Peng and Zhuge Families solely for self-preservation?”
“I didn’t seek their support for any specific purpose. I followed my heart, and they followed me.”
“…A wise answer. It would be disrespectful of me to pry further into the Namgung Family matters. I will honor your request.”
The Zhuge Family’s unconditional support.
It was a verbal agreement.
They could easily go back on their word, but Namgung-Woo didn’t think Zhuge Chong was that kind of man.
If Zhuge Chong betrayed his trust, it would be his own fault for misjudging him.
But he believed he was right.
The subtle twitch of Zhuge Chong’s facial muscles, the flicker in his eyes, the quickening of his heartbeat when he mentioned the Namgung Family – they all revealed his true intentions.
Even a master martial artist couldn’t perfectly control all those involuntary reactions.
The eyes and the heart, in particular, were beyond conscious control.
Even if one could control involuntary muscles through martial arts, it was far more difficult than controlling voluntary muscles.
And Zhuge Chong provided more than just nonverbal cues.
He offered verbal confirmation and irrefutable proof.
“I give you my word. The Zhuge Family will not forget your assistance and will repay you in kind. This will serve as a token of our promise.”
He produced a pearl.
A meticulously crafted white pearl called the Pearl of Tranquil Intent.
Crafted from white jade, it was a valuable ornament, but its true significance lay in its function as a key to the Zhuge Family’s formations.
“The bearer of this pearl will always find a safe path through our family’s formations. It should never leave the family, but the Family Head has the authority to gift it to an outsider.”
To give the Pearl of Tranquil Intent.
For the Zhuge Family, masters of formations, it was a declaration of welcome, an invitation to visit their estate anytime, unannounced.
“…I could misuse this.”
“The pearl only reveals the safe paths. While that alone is valuable, even if it falls into the wrong hands, we have more than just formations to protect our family.”
There were several notable points in his words.
The shift from “Hero” to the more respectful “you.”
And the fact that he only considered the possibility of Namgung-Woo losing the pearl, not misusing it.
It wasn’t as overt as the Peng Family’s overwhelming generosity, but the Zhuge Family was subtly expressing their gratitude.
“I gratefully accept.”
He secured the pearl within his robes.
Given Zhuge Chong’s condition, their meeting ended there.
As Namgung-Woo rose to leave, Zhuge Chong made a final request, his voice tinged with apology.
“Please don’t hold Jun-ah’s actions against him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He tried to cure the Peng Family’s youngest daughter. I saw evidence of his research into using the Resonating Heaven Diagram. But amplifying and externalizing one’s internal energy through the Resonating Heaven Diagram was detrimental to her condition, so he stopped. His understanding of the upper dantian was too limited anyway.”
Zhuge Chong had known Zhuge Jun’s intentions but hadn’t stopped him.
It was a catalyst for his growth.
“It was foolish of him to think he could cure an incurable illness, especially at his level. But he tried. He even searched for Ghost Gates, hoping to find a solution… He earned the title ‘Dragon of Foresight’ through his efforts, so it wasn’t entirely fruitless, but ultimately, it was all in vain.”
Then Namgung-Woo appeared.
A young man, not much older than Zhuge Jun.
“I’ll talk to Jun-ah. So, please forgive his rudeness.”
Zhuge Chong expressed his sincere gratitude.
Touched by his paternal affection, Namgung-Woo relented.
“Will this one time be enough?”
“That’s more than enough.”
Their conversation ended there.
And the next day.
The righteous factions, having recovered from the initial attack, launched their counteroffensive against the encroaching unorthodox factions in Hubei Province.
The war between the Zhuge Family and the Banun Clan officially began.
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The clash of weapons echoed throughout the counties of south-central Hubei.
Even within the walled cities, under the jurisdiction of the government officials, the fighting was fierce.
Outside, it was even worse.
In forests, mountains, rivers, fields.
The clang of steel, the spray of blood, the cries of the wounded.
Back and forth, the battle raged.
Despite the Banun Clan’s successful initial assault, the war reached a stalemate.
The unorthodox factions allied with the Banun Clan were a formidable force, but the righteous factions’ counterattack was equally strong.
Throughout the Nine Provinces, all eyes were on Hubei.
This war was a smaller-scale version of the Righteous-Unorthodox War.
The sheer number of experts involved was astonishing.
On the Banun Clan’s side: Dongfang Huo, the Fallen Immortal; the Dragon-Slaying Demonic Blade; the Black Sword Devil; Myeol Seom-ma; and numerous other Peak Realm experts, totaling nearly ten.
The righteous factions were equally matched.
Zhuge Chong, the Three Extremity Four Rivers; Zhuge Wei, leader of the Nungun Squad, the Zhuge Family’s strongest fighting force; Daoist Go-won-jin of the Wudang Sect; the enraged Hengsan Sect Leader, seeking revenge for his disciple’s death; Yi Ho-yeong, the Yellow Dragon, one of the Three Wandering Swordsmen; and many more.
Nearly twenty Peak Realm experts on each side.
Reaching the Peak Realm earned one the title of “One of the Hundred Greats.”
Considering that a province typically had around ten Peak Realm experts, this meant the entire Huguang Murim was mobilized.
This was no longer just a feud between the Zhuge Family and the Banun Clan.
It was a battle for supremacy in the Huguang Murim.
Neither side could afford to lose.
Even the wandering swordsmen and third-rate martial artists, initially drawn by the promise of wealth and fame, began to realize the gravity of the situation.
Finally, the war earned a name.
The Yunmeng War.
Named after the Yunmeng Marshes in Hubei, the main battlefield, it also symbolized the clash between the Zhuge Family, often associated with clouds, and the Banun Clan, chasing their elusive dreams.
The intensity of the war meant neither side had gained a decisive advantage.
As the conflict dragged on, both sides grew anxious.
The looming threat of the unpredictable Ghost Gates.
This fear weighed more heavily on the righteous factions.
The Wudang Sect was holding back, reserving their strength to deal with the Ghost Gates.
Prioritizing the safety of the common people over their vendetta against Dongfang Huo, was a testament to their righteous nature.
Both sides faced other challenges as well.
The unorthodox factions were wary of the Imperial Court’s potential intervention.
While the Banun Clan’s alliance with Imperial Consort Wan was known among the higher-ups, the use of gunpowder was a cause for concern.
Those less aware of the Imperial Consort’s influence were even more anxious.
Ironically, the righteous factions shared a similar fear.
They worried that Imperial Consort Wan might sway the Imperial Court to fully support the Banun Clan.
Therefore, when the Banun Clan proposed a decisive battle, the Zhuge Family readily accepted.
“This battle will decide the outcome of the war.”
Peng Ha-ryeong spoke after receiving news of the upcoming battle.
Looking at her, Namgung-Woo thought of Zhuge Jun.
The Zhuge Family, perhaps out of consideration for him, or perhaps to prevent Zhuge Jun from causing trouble, had ensured that the Azure Sky Group and Zhuge Jun’s paths didn’t cross.
The Azure Sky Group followed Zhuge Seon-ah’s predictions from the Resonating Heaven Diagram, while Zhuge Jun was deliberately kept away from them.
But that wouldn’t be possible in a decisive battle.
They could assign him to a separate unit to cut off enemy retreat routes, but that would raise questions about favoritism.
Besides, Zhuge Jun was a valuable asset.
Excluding him from a battle that would decide the fate of the family and the Huguang Murim was unthinkable.
‘We’re bound to meet.’
Peng Ha-ryeong must know about Zhuge Jun’s presence.
She wasn’t oblivious.
But did she know he still harbored feelings for her?
“Huh?”
“Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought. What were you saying?”
“I was talking about the location of the battle.”
“They’ve decided to hold it in the western plains of Xia Honghu.”
“It would be difficult to fight in the Yunmeng Marshes.”
“But if we lose, we’re screwed. If they block the north, we’ll be surrounded and annihilated.”
His companions discussed the upcoming battle, their voices filled with concern.
Perhaps it was due to the recent shift in momentum, slightly favoring the unorthodox factions.
Or perhaps it was the pressure of their first large-scale battle.
He offered them the greatest encouragement he could.
“Don’t worry. We’ll win.”
And so, the day of the decisive battle, the day that would determine the outcome of the Yunmeng War, arrived.
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