Chapter 45 - A First-Rate Warrior Who Gathers People (4)

A corner of the Zhuge Clan estate.

There stood a small pavilion built in a unique, square shape.

The people of the family called this pavilion the 'Juja Golden Jade Prison'.

The family already had a Golden Jade Prison underground to lock up the demonic heads of Jianghu, but this 'Juja Golden Jade Prison' was built for a special prisoner the likes of which had never existed before and never would again.

Inside a small space just big enough for a single person to live in, a fair-faced boy was endlessly drawing pictures, blueprints, and formulas without distinguishing between the walls and the floor.

"Young Master."

At the sound coming from the ceiling, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Yeong-yeong. If you keep sneaking in here, the Supreme Elder will punish you."

Yeong-yeong. A shadow-like existence who followed only Zhuge Cheongi.

Not knowing when he would ever leave the Golden Jade Prison, he had told her to return to her original post, but this loyal shadow continued to hover around Zhuge Cheongi.

"Someone has come to see the Supreme Elder."

"The Supreme Elder is always busy, isn't he?"

"It's someone who came looking for you, Young Master."

"Me? Why?"

Zhuge Cheongi looked up at the empty ceiling.

"They say he came to request your dispatch."

"Why me...?"

"He said he wants to install your mechanisms and formations at his sect."

"What!"

Zhuge Cheongi was startled.

While not only the people of his family but also countless intellectuals in Jianghu unanimously argued the uselessness of mechanisms and formations, to think someone had actually come to install his work.

"Moreover, do you know his identity?"

"His identity? Is he someone special?"

"You know about the recent incident in Hunan, right?"

"I do."

"It is said to be Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon, who made a name for himself there."

"Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon!"

Yeong-yeong would occasionally tell him about what was happening in the outside world, and among the stories he had heard recently, the one that interested Cheongi the most was the story of the Black Flame Dragon.

He never grew tired of hearing the tale of how he had fought within the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Extinguishing Array, which had only been passed down in legends.

If he weren't locked in the Golden Jade Prison, he would have wanted to go meet him right away.

It was because he wanted to know exactly what method he had used to dismantle the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Extinguishing Array.

"Someone like that came to see me?"

Zhuge Cheongi instantly forgot the surrounding circumstances and the criticism from others that had depressed him over the past few months.

He had so many things he wanted to ask him right away.

"... Ah, ah."

But then, the existence of the Supreme Elder came to mind once again.

"It will probably be difficult..."

"Yes? What do you mean?"

"The Supreme Elder is not an easy person to deal with."

"..."

"Yeong-yeong, if by chance I cannot meet Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon, could you pass along a letter for me?"

"Don't say that. Young Master, I'm sure he will come to see you."

* * *

"Hah!"

Zhuge Jeong let out a sound that could have been either amusement or anger.

"I heard Hunan Province was in an uproar over the rumors of the Black Flame Dragon, so I thought I would meet you once, but as expected, you are nothing more than a rogue with lowly roots."

Most of what Zhuge Jeong spat out was grating, but the term 'Black Flame Dragon' was the most irritating of all.

"Black Flame Dragon?"

Seeing my expression, Zhuge Hyeon-un raised an eyebrow and spoke.

"Did you not know? That your alias in Jianghu is the Black Flame Dragon?"

"..."

I could roughly guess why the character 'Flame' had been included. I was also humbled that they had bestowed upon me the undeserved character 'Dragon,' reserved for those who stood out even among the rising talents of prestigious sects.

But 'Black'? Was that really a character suited to a rising talent of the Orthodox Murim?

Moreover, when the three characters were combined, the name had a strangely grating ring to it.

'Why is that?'

Anyway, deciding to think about the alias later, I continued speaking.

"Are you unhappy with the proposal I made?"

"Are you saying you do not know how much your proposal insults the Zhuge Clan?"

I tilted my head.

"This proposal insults the Zhuge Clan?"

"Do you think the Zhuge Clan hasn't caught the Iron-Clad Black Python because we lack the strength? It is all a matter of following the natural order of things."

"Is there anyone in Jianghu who doesn't know that?"

"What?"

They had more than enough power to catch it, but stepping forward for free would lower their reputation, so they couldn't act unless greater damage occurred or someone pushed them from behind.

"In fact, looking at it from that perspective, shouldn't you be more ashamed of throwing Zhuge Cheongi into the Golden Jade Prison?"

When experimenting with Qimen arrays, one experienced many accidents. In severe cases, there were instances where people suffered from illusions and hallucinations within the array, developed mental illnesses, and lived the rest of their lives having lost their reason.

The mistake Zhuge Cheongi committed was not that big of an issue within the Zhuge Clan.

The real problem was that Zhuge Cheongi, one of the direct descendants, had tried to preach the effectiveness of mechanisms and formations rather than Qimen arrays.

Zhuge Cheongi could have easily gotten out of the Golden Jade Prison before this.

There was only one condition: swear to abandon mechanisms and formations and devote himself to the advancement of Qimen arrays.

Because he did not fulfill this condition, Zhuge Cheongi spent eight years in the Golden Jade Prison.

Because of that, he couldn't even take the standard exam for the Murim Academy, did his mandatory service in the Murim Alliance, and ended up in the Minor Orthodox Unit.

"I simply cannot understand it. You belittle mechanisms and formations, yet you apply a harshly high standard to the person who came to use those very mechanisms and formations. Isn't this level of inescapable, confusing contradiction something one could only experience inside a Qimen array?"

Zhuge Jeong's face turned bright red.

It was just when I thought the whole matter might fall through.

"Supreme Elder. It seems this young friend's words are not wrong."

"Patriarch!!"

The Patriarch having to persuade the Supreme Elder, and the Supreme Elder's influence sometimes being stronger, was a rare sight in Jianghu, but at the same time, it was a unique dynamic only the Zhuge Clan could have.

"In the first place, this young warrior's words are correct. If people find out that we set such a harsh standard for someone who isn't even an official array master, wouldn't they think our standards are based on personal stubbornness rather than rationality?"

Zhuge Jeong looked thoroughly displeased that Zhuge Hyeon-un was taking my side.

"Isn't that just because Zhuge Cheongi is your child, Patriarch!"

"...!"

In the end, he had made a mistake.

Because the family's affairs were decided according to rational opinions, the Patriarch's opinion sometimes became weak. But even so, one must not cross the line into ignoring the Patriarch.

"That is correct. He is certainly my child. Then I will ask you the opposite. Why have you, Supreme Elder, set such a harsh punishment only for my child?"

"... T-that's because he's the Patriarch's successor, isn't he? If that child ignores Qimen arrays, it means the Zhuge Clan ignores Qimen arrays."

"Cheongi has never once ignored Qimen arrays. He simply had a great interest in mechanisms and formations."

After saying that, Zhuge Hyeon-un crossed his arms and clamped his mouth shut.

Zhuge Jeong suddenly found himself in an awkward situation because of the mistake he had committed.

If he continued to act stubborn here, it would truly make it seem like he was ignoring the Patriarch and issuing a harsh punishment to his child.

"Oh my, was that how it was?"

"Quiet! This is not the time for you to interfere."

There was no way the people of the Zhuge Clan, who would never just let a problem slide if it lacked rationality, would look favorably upon Zhuge Jeong.

In this situation, me speaking up to smooth things out would be the best way to wrap up the meeting without damaging his face, but knowing that, I purposely remained silent and just looked at Zhuge Jeong.

Zhuge Jeong glanced at the Patriarch once, shot a glare at me once, and stared at the ceiling for a moment before speaking with a sly smile on his lips.

"Fine. I will accept your condition."

One of Zhuge Hyeon-un's eyebrows shot up. He was about to slowly uncross his arms.

"You do possess a minimum level of rationality."

"... However, there is a condition."

Instead of answering, I nodded.

"Passing the Zhuge Clan's standard means being recognized as a prestigious sect of Jianghu. Therefore, you can be seen as the representative of the Taiyi Sect. We must see the level of your sect through you."

"That's right."

"Thus, you must catch the Iron-Clad Black Python alone, without the help of any warriors or hunters."

"Supreme Elder!"

Both Zhuge Hyeon-un and I were startled.

"Patriarch. This is me making a great concession."

"Even so, how can he catch the Iron-Clad Black Python alone?"

"That is for that boy to choose. How about it? Will you do it?"

A cunning old man, as expected.

Reaching the position of Pavilion Master of the Artisan Pavilion as someone from a branch line in this Zhuge Clan, which was teeming with outstanding talents, wasn't achieved by luck alone.

I briefly rummaged through the library in my mind.

And perhaps because that time spent thinking looked like I was agonizing over it, a sly smile was forming on Zhuge Jeong's lips.

Then, after glancing through the books on monsters and spiritual beasts in the library, I answered obediently.

"Understood."

"... You'll do it?"

Perhaps feeling a little anxious because of my answer, he quickly continued.

"The items equipped on your sword and arm do not look ordinary. You cannot receive the help of such artifacts either. I will lend you a normal iron sword."

"Hah..."

At the sight of Zhuge Jeong, who had now discarded all rationality and become like a child throwing a tantrum, Zhuge Hyeon-un let out a hollow laugh.

"Understood. Is there anything else you want to restrict?"

"You must not set fire to the mountain or cause damage to the surrounding villages."

"Anything else?"

I was slowly starting to wonder just how petty this old man could get.

"... Items like Thunderbolt Bombs are not allowed either."

"Can I even get my hands on those? Tell me more."

"..."

"Is there nothing else?"

"..."

Unfastening my sword sheath and Flying Dragon Claw, I spoke to Zhuge Jeong, who was still radiating anger as if something was making him anxious.

"Elder, do you know the term 'senile disgrace'?"

"... You bastard!"

"When you were first evaluating the standard, I was happy, thinking a good opportunity had arisen to raise the name of the Taiyi Sect."

I looked back and forth between Zhuge Jeong and Zhuge Hyeon-un.

"But coming to this point, I am starting to wonder if passing that standard and receiving the Zhuge Clan's recognition holds any great meaning."

* * *

Even after Zhuge Jeong kicked off his seat and stormed out, Zhuge Hyeon-un remained silent for a long time.

"I apologize for showing you such a shameful sight."

A sigh naturally escaped Zhuge Hyeon-un's lips. There could be no greater humiliation than this.

Unlike other families, Zhuge Hyeon-un had ascended to the Patriarch's position decades earlier. It was because his father, Zhuge Somyeong, had risen to the position of Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance.

It would have been nice if his father had at least sorted things out within the family, but what his father had actually said was:

["If you do not have the ability, give it to someone else."]

It could be called cold-hearted, but that was also the custom of the Zhuge Clan, and it was the foundation that allowed the Zhuge Clan to maintain its fame for hundreds of years.

"It is fine."

The young man in front of him.

When Jin Sowoon had defended Zhuge Cheongi, he had been so grateful that he felt like jumping out of his seat and hugging him.

It was also a completely new feeling that this young man, an outsider, acknowledged Cheongi, whom no one in the Zhuge Clan would acknowledge.

'Cheongi might end up getting a good older brother.'

Since he had been so uniquely alienated even among his own siblings.

But that was only up to this point.

He had to stop what the young man was trying to do.

Catching the Iron-Clad Black Python was a difficult task in itself, but enduring all those countless restrictions to catch the Iron-Clad Black Python was tantamount to suicide, even from his perspective.

"I will speak to the Supreme Elder. So, you should head back now."

"I need the young warrior, Zhuge Cheongi."

"Thank you for saying that. Cheongi would probably be very grateful if he heard that as well. However, catching the Iron-Clad Black Python alone makes no sense. Furthermore, you cannot even use artifacts? A sword circulating in the market won't even be able to pierce its skin. From the beginning, the Supreme Elder was just playing a wicked trick to force your surrender."

Zhuge Hyeon-un stared intently at Jin Sowoon.

He, too, had heard so much about his exploits at the Demonic Spirit Plateau that his ears rang.

He had lamented that the Zhuge Clan could not step forward, and conversely, he had marveled at the rumors of Jin Sowoon's exploits.

He wanted to ask what method he had used to pass through the array and research it together, but in his position as Patriarch, he couldn't even take such actions.

Because he found him that likable, he didn't want a promising young man to throw his life away out of sheer stubbornness.

"Once the Supreme Elder makes up his mind, he sinks his teeth in and never lets go. He will likely attach an observer to you as well. So that you absolutely cannot try anything else."

"That is all within my expectations."

As they conversed, Zhuge Hyeon-un was feeling a strange sense of incongruity.

"... Are you not afraid?"

"I am afraid, of course."

The young man named Jin Sowoon did not show even the slightest bit of tension, like a person who already knew how the ending would unfold.

'Come to think of it.'

Zhuge Jeong was an elite master among elite masters, counted among the top in the world.

In front of such a Zhuge Jeong, a young man who hadn't even reached his twenties pointed out his contradictions and criticized him for his 'senile disgrace'.

"You do not look like it at all."

"I am afraid, but that is because there are several ways to catch the Iron-Clad Black Python."

"... Several ways?"

"Among them, I'm thinking of catching it using the method that will infuriate the Supreme Elder the most."

Then, Jin Sowoon smiled brightly, baring his teeth.

The smile felt familiar, and when he wondered where he had seen it before, he realized it was the smile children would make when they were playing a prank.

'He is thinking of playing a prank in this kind of situation?'

Zhuge Hyeon-un had never once thought of himself as lacking, but right now, he couldn't even begin to guess what Jin Sowoon was thinking.