Uicheon Military Administration Office in Zhuge Territory
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“It says Zhuge Taeryong is dead.”
Although Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Taeryong’s father, was known to have retired from the front line, Zhuge Liang was still secretly leading the Zhuge Clan, contrary to popular perception.
If only his son, Zhuge Taeryong, was a man with outstanding qualities, there was no way he wouldn’t want to foster him carefully. Sadly, that was not the case. Zhuge Liang was fine and still powerful, but his strategies and tactics weren’t his most outstanding qualities so he couldn’t do much from the back line.
“So, that’s what happened.”, he murmured to himself.
Zhuge Liang stood up and carried his bag.
Zhuge Taeryong.
He was Zhuge Liang’s oldest son. However, he was a complete problem child, and in many ways he did not meet Zhuge Liang’s expectations.
Even though he was excellent in martial arts, he did not have any restraint of pen and tongue, so Zhuge Liang could only sigh at the confirmation of his son’s death. (T/N : not having restraint of pen and tongue basically means that Zhuge Liang knew that Taeryong was an incompetent fool.)
From childhood, Zhuge Liang focused his children’s education on both martial arts and literary arts. Zhuge Taeryong was only good at martial arts and tended to ignore his literary studies, and his attitude was a mess.
Hence if one of his children was going to die, he might as well save the remaining child who wasn’t such a problem. In the end, even Zhuge Taeryong’s martial prowess disappointed Zhuge Liang.
After learning the Zhuge Family’s sword arts, Zhuge Taeryong had managed to reach Peak Realm, even if he was an arrogant fool who took advantage of his privileges being born with a golden spoon.
In fact, being at the Peak Realm at Zhuge Taeryong’s age was outstanding, but Zhuge Liang wanted a heir that would be even better than that. His heir should be able to stand as a prodigy among prodigies along the likes of the Jihak, the Future of the Shaolin and Wijihoyeon, The Minor Heavenly Demon.
“What will we do with the next heir?”, the attendant from the administration asked Zhuge Liang.
“He is still young, but he is better than his dead and foolish brother. I’ll be counting on you.”, Zhuge Liang replied, not looking back.
Zhuge Hyongjin.
Although he was only 13 years old, Zhuge Hyongjin’s growing talent was better than his late brother’s, Zhuge Taeryong. If he had enough time and support, reaching the Realm of Transcendence would only be a matter of time for Zhuge Hyongjin. Perhaps he would even be able to go beyond that realm.
Of course, Zhuge Liang wasn’t going to count his chickens before they hatched. As he had learned the mistake of doing so with his late eldest son.
‘There may still be some time left before the establishment of the Heavenly Dragon Society, so he won’t be able to relax. He’s going to be busy.’, Zhuge Liang thought to himself about his youngest son’s position.
“What kind of misfortune did I have in my past life to deserve such troubles in my late years.….”.
Zhuge Liang grumbled as he looked up into the sky.
—–
A long time ago, the clan heads of the Four Great Families made a promise.
It was a drunken remark at a drinking party made without much thought, but over the years the promise was starting to be realized as an ambition.
The Heavenly Dragon Society.
They would make an organization with the powers of the Four Great Families and multiple subsidiary clans.
But Zhuge Liang was well aware of the problems that could arise with such an organization.
Even if The Heavenly Dragon Society was really made, it would not be possible to control the smaller clans and the independent master martial artists they intended to suppress.
“I’ll keep my word, so don’t worry.”, the attendant bowed their head to Zhuge Liang.
“I won’t doubt your success.”, Zhuge Liang responded in a haughty tone.
A man sat in the middle of the spacious room. He was drinking an expensive liquor from the ornamented goblet raised in his hand. He wore a spotless white garment, and his jet black hair tied up in a bun neatly.
He was smiling at Zhuge Liang, gazing deeply at him with his keen and deep eyes. It was almost as if he were human. Even though the person mentioned was a man, he was beautiful enough to be mistaken for a woman.
The stand-in leader of the Orthodox Faction in all of Murim. He was the leader of the Black Dragon Association. Zhuge Liang felt strange every time he met the Leader, Jehu.
Jehu was not a human being. He was half-human, but he had the dragon blood in his veins. The Dragon race had disappeared from all of Eria hundreds of years ago.
It had not been long since Jehu appeared in the Murim and made his name, but nobody knew anything about him. What was he doing before making his name, how long he had lived or his origins. All of it was impossible to find, even with the best of the information guilds searching for his backgrounds.
“Zhuge Taeryong.”
Jehu folded his arms and took something out from his robe. What he took out was a piece of literature, a novel, clean as a whistle.
“He was a master of the Peak Realm. We could write it down and record it properly, or improve it and make him seem stronger than he really was. However, if we talk about Zhuge Hyongjin’s talent, it will be of big benefit to us in the future.”
“Thank you.”, Zhuge Liang replied with his head slightly bent to Jehu’s compliment towards the new heir.
“I’m sorry for you to lose your eldest like that”, Jehu spoke.
“He was an ugly son in nature.”, Zhuge Liang spoke with a bit of irritation in his voice thinking back to his incompetent son.
“Even so, blood is blood. If Zhuge Hyongjin learns martial arts in earnest and gets to a certain level, bring him to the Black Dragon. I’ll make him my disciple.”, Jehu spoke nonchalantly to the Zhuge Clan Head.
“Um….!”
Zhuge Liang’s eyes opened wide at the words of the Black Dragon Leader.
The Leader of the Black Dragon Association was not to be underestimated in his martial strength. This was partly due to the fact that Jehu never showed himself to the public, but also to the fact that he himself had been hiding his own strength greatly.
Zhuge Liang, however, was well aware that Jehu was no weaker than the Saintess, the former Orthodox Faction Leader. If Hyongjin was taken in as a disciple, he would be almost guaranteed to reach Transcendence and have a higher possibility to go even higher.
“Thank you.”, Zhuge Liang bowed deeply.
“I just felt like doing so. What are you doing? Come and get a drink.”, said the Black Dragon Leader.
Jehu had in his hand a bottle of liquor. Zhuge Liang proceeded to sit across from Jehu, facing him directly.
“……then why are you going so far with Ghost Gun?”
“Because he’s annoying.”, replied Jehu.
“The prowess of Ghost Gun has been underestimated. In the eyes of the Clan Heads, they think Ghost Gun will soon reach Transcendence.”, Jehu continued.
“That much?”, Zhuge Liang widened his eyes in surprise.
“He is already standing at the end of the zenith of the Peak Realm. One can easily step into the Realm of Transcendence if you have the talent and hard work to make up for it. If Ghost Gun was one of us, he would be a blessing to our entire Faction, but unfortunately he’s a rogue martial artist.”
Jehu poured the wine into Zhuge Liang’s glass.
“Ironclad was the measuring stick, and Ghost Gun killed Ironclad. And yet he did not kill the Minor Heavenly Demon nor the Crazy one. My plans were foiled by that bastard the moment he saved them. But if that wasn’t enough he killed one of our talents in the process….”, Jehu spoke with an irritated expression.
(T/N : He’s referring to the loss of Ironclad, yet Lee Sungmin also saved his enemies that represent the Heretical Factions, The Heavenly Demons are not directly affiliated with any faction but they practice Martial Arts of the Heretical Path.)
So Zhuge Taeryong had to die no matter what.
With the death of Zhuge Taeryong, The Four Great Families and the clans under the Orthodox would become enraged with Lee Sungmin. This was all a political ploy to get rid of Lee Sungmin.
“I’ve already tipped off the information guilds about the death of Murong Seojin and Zhuge Taeryong. With that kind of information being publicly circulated, the masses will be angered and wrathful with Ghost Gun.”, Jehu spoke this time with a happier expression.
However, the South was a place where their influence was not great. It’s population was mostly filled with monsters and native tribes that had nothing to do with the political landscape of Eria and it’s martial artists.
Even the Black Dragon Association Head knew this well. In fact, he still didn’t like the current situation all that much. If he could, Jehu wanted to personally exercise the power and might of the Black Dragon Association and beat Lee Sungmin to death. But, he couldn’t.
It was because he had been told not to do so yet.
‘It’s weird. Was there a reason to let him go? Even if he doesn’t bother you right now, Ghost Gun would be sure to get on your nerves some day.’, Jehu thought to himself while holding a glass of wine.
Only to feel so, the Heukryonghyeop did not intend to go out on its own.
It was because he would have to respect the words of Kumiho.
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