Sword God Reborn

“A pleasure to meet you, I am Zhuge Seohu.”

“I am Cheon Mubaeck.”

Zhuge Seohu’s sharp gaze fixed on Cheon Mubaeck’s face.

“To meet the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero, whose fame has recently resounded throughout the martial world, makes my eyes feel brighter.”

“Unnecessary compliments are fine. Let’s get to the point.”

Zhuge Seohu’s eyebrows twitched.

He, who had intended to lead the atmosphere, nodded with a somewhat reluctant face.

“As I mentioned before, the Zhuge Clan formally requests the services of the Azure Star Escort Agency.”

“Hmm.”

“I did some research and found that there are four tiers for escort missions. Highest, High, Medium, and Low. Among these, I will pay three times the compensation for the highest tier.”

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin.

He didn’t know the details, but the compensation for a highest-tier request would not be small.

To offer three times that amount was undoubtedly a good condition.

It also meant that the Zhuge Clan was sincere about this matter.

However, what was important to Cheon Mubaeck was not the compensation.

Cheon Mubaeck said with a faint smile.

“The Inhuman Lust Fiend is a demonic being who has abandoned all morality. As a fellow member of the martial world, how could I have the audacity to accept payment for capturing him?”

As if it were an unexpected answer, Zhuge Seohu’s expression changed from moment to moment.

Watching that expression was quite an enjoyable affair.

Depending on who held the upper hand in a conversation, what each party gained would differ.

Cheon Mubaeck knew well how to seize the upper hand in such situations.

Probe the points your opponent doesn't expect, and shake them.

It was the most basic, yet also the most difficult rule to follow. The parts the opponent didn't expect were often unknown to the negotiator as well.

However, Cheon Mubaeck had a knack for identifying blind spots.

Judging by his expression, it had some effect.

“Indeed, the fame of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero was not in vain.”

Zhuge Seohu responded in a respectful tone, switching from a formal but equal speech level.

“However, this is just my personal stance.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It is my stance as a man of the martial world bearing the name Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero, not as a scion of the Azure Star Escort Agency. It is a different matter from the Azure Star Escort Agency’s position.”

“You said to get to the point, but you seem to enjoy beating around the bush.”

Zhuge Seohu said in a subtly chiding tone. His expression seemed to ask what kind of wordplay this was.

“I have already decided to accept this task. However, as the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero, I will help with this matter out of a sense of duty, and by using the resources of the Azure Star Escort Agency, the agency will also officially help with this matter for a fee.”

“In any case, doesn’t that mean you accept?”

“That is correct.”

Although it was the answer he wanted, Zhuge Seohu did not readily relax his expression. True to the Zhuge Clan, famous for their intellect, his face showed he was trying to grasp the hidden intention behind the words.

Under normal circumstances, Cheon Mubaeck wouldn’t have bothered with a tug-of-war with Zhuge Seohu.

He didn’t think he would lose in a battle of wits, but it was a hassle.

However, the situation was what it was.

The positions of A and B were clear. The one in need was the Zhuge Clan. The fact that they had approached him after seeing him meant they needed Cheon Mubaeck’s assistance.

In the end, Cheon Mubaeck was bound to take the lead in the negotiation.

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

“Confronting a demonic being is a natural duty for a righteous member of the martial world. I will help with this matter.”

“I am grateful, but… if you intend to use the escorts of the Azure Star Escort Agency…”

“We must receive compensation for that.”

Zhuge Seohu had a somewhat puzzled expression. He must be aiming for something to be twisting his words like this.

‘Is this man concerned about his reputation?’

That thought suddenly flashed through Zhuge Seohu’s mind.

If he were to help with this matter for money, wasn’t Cheon Mubaeck’s reputation as a righteous hero widely known in the martial world?

At least those who had heard the name Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero even once saw Cheon Mubaeck as a righteous hero who rose up resolutely upon witnessing a crisis.

His actions had indeed been so.

However, Zhuge Seohu partially revised that thought.

‘He values his reputation, but he’s also a bit of a materialist. They say you should only believe half of the rumors in the martial world.’

Zhuge Seohu thought so and sneered inwardly.

“That is right. For me to mention compensation for tracking a demonic being, I apologize. As a member of the Orthodox Faction, tracking a demonic being is a matter of course. Of course, since you are mobilizing the escorts of the Azure Star Escort Agency, I will also pay a suitable compensation for that.”

At that moment.

A bright smile, different from before, appeared on Cheon Mubaeck’s lips. Zhuge Seohu felt a sense of foreboding.

At Cheon Mubaeck’s following words, Zhuge Seohu’s complexion changed drastically.

“That is correct. Tracking a demonic being is a matter of course. For example, it is the same as me joining forces with Mount Hua and Shaolin to track down the fiends of the Blood Demon Valley.”

“…!”

The corner of Zhuge Seohu’s eye twitched.

‘Damn it!’

Zhuge Seohu belatedly realized Cheon Mubaeck’s intention.

He too had heard all about what kind of fiends the Blood Demon Valley were. The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans had their own secret lines of communication.

As they always paid attention to the affairs of the martial world, they naturally knew about the Blood Demon Valley as well.

However, the Zhuge Clan, despite knowing, had not stepped forward. The situation was not right to intervene while Shaolin and Mount Hua were on the move. And to lend a hand might mean getting stuck in a quagmire. It would be like making an unnecessary enemy.

From the perspective of the Zhuge Clan, which thought of everything logically and rationally, it was necessary to refrain from stepping in when the other side hadn't asked for help first.

So they had been pretending not to have heard, but…

‘I said it with my own mouth!’

His vision went dark. He raised his head and looked at Cheon Mubaeck’s grinning smile.

He had already said it himself. That as a member of the Orthodox Faction, tracking a demonic being was a matter of course.

And wasn’t the Blood Demon Valley a demonic entity?

He couldn’t take back the words he had already spoken. Not when considering the face of the Zhuge Clan. Moreover, he couldn’t just call this whole thing off; his opponent was the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

‘I’ve been had. Completely!’

Zhuge Seohu, who had fallen into a complete checkmate, found Cheon Mubaeck’s smile uncomfortable.

“As expected of the great Zhuge Clan.”

Even the words of praise were unpleasant.

However, Zhuge Seohu was not so immature as to let that emotion show on his face.

But he couldn’t hide the twitching of the corner of his mouth.

Seeing that, Cheon Mubaeck inwardly gloated and delivered a one-two punch.

“Now then, since this is a request to the escort agency, shall we talk about the compensation?”

“…!”

Still, Zhuge Seohu managed to maintain his expression up to that point.

In truth, his insides felt like they were turning over. Not only the pursuit of the Blood Demon Valley, but now he wanted compensation as well. Wasn’t he getting two rewards for one job?

He cleared his throat a few times and nodded.

“That’s right. Since it is a request to the Azure Star Escort Agency, as I said before, I will pay three times the highest-tier rate.”

“No.”

“…?”

“The compensation I want is not something like money.”

Just a moment ago, Cheon Mubaeck had been somewhat playful. But now, he was so resolute that one couldn’t even swallow. In the instant Zhuge Seohu couldn’t keep up with that change.

Cheon Mubaeck’s words struck his head.

“Please install the Zhuge Clan’s Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions in the Azure Star Escort Agency.”

“Wha-what did you say?”

At that point, Zhuge Seohu’s expression contorted in astonishment. The composure he had maintained until now crumbled in a single moment.

It was only natural.

The Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions.

It referred to the heaven-sent mechanism formation installed in the Zhuge Clan.

Its fame was so great that there was a story that during the Righteous-Demonic War, the Demonic Cult, which had struck the Wudang Sect of Hubei, had avoided the Zhuge Clan.

It sounded like a joke, but it was actually true.

The reason the Zhuge Clan, which was not as deep in martial arts as other martial clans, had maintained its position among the Five Great Clans throughout the history of the martial world was precisely the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions.

An absolute domain that no evil villain, demonic being, or master could directly strike the Zhuge Clan.

A representative case was about 200 years ago, when the absolute master of the Unorthodox Faction who swept the era, the Blood Heaven Demonic Fiend, attacked the Zhuge Clan alone, only to destroy thirty percent of the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions and flee with fatal injuries.

In fact, voices praising the Blood Heaven Demonic Fiend even emerged from that incident.

For destroying thirty percent of that great Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions.

And Cheon Mubaeck wanted that Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions. For protecting the escort agency, the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions was the best in the Central Plains, even more so than Yakseon’s formation.

Cheon Mubaeck could be sure of it.

“Do-do you think that makes any sense?”

“Even if you install it, it’s not like you can dismantle and analyze it. I believe you have actually installed the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions in the Imperial Palace… And you also installed it at the Wudang main mountain, and didn’t you install it for the Hainan Sect as well?”

Zhuge Seohu’s face turned red.

“Installing it in the Imperial Palace is one thing, but the ones installed at the Wudang main mountain and the Hainan Sect are simplified versions. They are not the true Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions of the Zhuge Clan.”

“Didn’t you say you would pay compensation?”

“That is too excessive a compensation!”

Zhuge Seohu couldn’t hold back and slammed the table hard.

“I would rather give you more compensation. Five times, no, even more. I have heard of your fame. From Henan Province, through Shaanxi, to Chongqing. You tracked the Blood Demon Valley to the end and achieved results, did you not?”

At those words, Cheon Mubaeck understood why he was so sought after.

From their perspective, Cheon Mubaeck was a master of tracking.

He had discovered the Blood Demon Valley, a hidden force that no one knew about, and finally tracked them to Chongqing, achieving some results. Cheon Mubaeck already knew that this fact was being spread among the prestigious Orthodox Factions. The Beggars' Sect was by his side, after all.

In any case, in Zhuge Seohu’s eyes, Cheon Mubaeck must have appeared that way.

A master who succeeded in tracking alone across three provinces.

It meant he was that desperate. To Zhuge Seohu, who was desperate to find his sister, Cheon Mubaeck must have felt like a lifeline he absolutely had to grasp.

‘Still a child.’

That’s what Cheon Mubaeck thought as he looked at Zhuge Seohu.

Of course, if someone else were to read that thought, they would burst out laughing. Cheon Mubaeck was at least ten years younger.

But Cheon Mubaeck couldn’t help but think that way.

Because he was revealing his own desperation at the negotiation table.

In the end, wasn’t he expressing that he couldn’t be led as Cheon Mubaeck intended?

Even the great Zhuge Seohu was shaken when Cheon Mubaeck made an unexpected proposal.

“I will pay five times the money, no, even ten times. I will help with all my might in establishing a branch of the Azure Star Escort Agency in Hubei. Isn’t this a sufficient condition?”

Cheon Mubaeck lowered his voice.

The atmosphere changed in an instant. The surroundings sank heavily.

“Can you put a monetary value on using the name of the Zhuge Clan?”

“…!”

“I would like to use the name of the Zhuge Clan for a bit. How much should I give you?”

“What is this nonsense! Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero!”

Zhuge Seohu couldn’t hold back and spewed out his anger. The table split with a crack. A terrifying aura poured out. Gwak Cheonhu and Neung-heo, who were outside, burst in.

But Cheon Mubaeck’s face was calm.

He waved his hand.

“Then, why are you putting a monetary value on using the name of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero?”

“…!”

“The Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero is the greatest asset and martial power that the Azure Star Escort Agency can use. That Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero will mobilize all available personnel to help. And you would put a monetary value on that?”

“…”

Zhuge Seohu was at a loss for words. He could no longer bother with managing his expression.

‘To place his own fame on the same level as the fame of the Zhuge Clan, how arrogant!’

Even as he felt he had been swept up in Cheon Mubaeck’s intentions, he had no thought of refuting him.

The eyes.

It was because of the eyes.

No, it was because of the atmosphere.

The gaze and aura flowing from Cheon Mubaeck.

“I will give you a definite answer in proportion to what I receive. Your sister, I will find her.”

The moment he spoke with such force.

Zhuge Seohu realized he had no choice but to accept that proposal.

He had been had. And badly at that.

‘What a swindler!’

Zhuge Seohu found Cheon Mubaeck’s smile detestable.

(End of Chapter)