Chapter 11
Late at night, Zhuge Yeon was summoned to the Strategist's Office.
Zhuge Yeon bowed her head gracefully to the refined-looking Zhuge Guk.
"Greetings, Strategist."
Zhuge Guk waved his hand.
"That's enough. This is a private setting, so call me uncle."
At his gentle voice, Zhuge Yeon smiled softly.
"It's been a while, Uncle."
"Yes. It really has been a while. Has it been three years? I was so busy with work that I couldn't even visit the main house, and you've already become a young lady."
Zhuge Yeon's cheeks turned red. But that sight was so captivating. Even Zhuge Guk, her own flesh and blood, felt his heart pound.
Zhuge Guk burst into a hearty laugh.
"You rascal, don't make that face anywhere else. I'm worried that strange men will stick to you."
"Oh, come on, Uncle..."
Zhuge Yeon glared prettily. If it were any other man, it would be captivating enough to make his heart drop.
'They say she's already being called the number one beauty of Hubei...'
He thought it was plausible.
While working as a strategist in the Orthodox Justice Alliance, he had met countless women.
Among them were many female martial artists who had made a name for themselves in the martial world for their beauty.
But Zhuge Yeon was by far the most outstanding among them.
It was to the point where a flower bud that had just begun to bloom was already overwhelming the fully bloomed flowers.
"Well, well... if I had my way, I'd wrap you up tightly and hide you in the house, but I can't do that either..."
"Uncle, are you going to keep teasing me like that?"
"Who's teasing you? Grab anyone passing by and ask them. See if I'm teasing you."
"Oh, come on. Are you going to keep doing that?"
Zhuge Guk smiled gently, as if Zhuge Yeon's pouting was cute. But in the end, he shook his head.
"If I had my way, I'd want to do this all day, but I don't have time. You must be tired too."
Zhuge Yeon nodded.
"Yes. What did you call me for?"
"You know well, don't you? Why I called you."
The position of strategist in the Orthodox Justice Alliance was not an easy one.
Documents poured in like a mountain every day. If he postponed them, he wouldn't be able to handle them. So every day was a war.
In fact, it had been over a week since Zhuge Yeon arrived in Kaifeng, but Zhuge Guk had not been able to see her even once.
The fact that Zhuge Guk, who especially cherished Zhuge Yeon, had not visited her even once meant that he was that busy.
But as soon as she entered the Dragon and Phoenix Inn, he sought out Zhuge Yeon at a late hour. Then there was only one reason.
"By any chance... is it because of Young Master Moyong?"
"Yes. How do you know that guy?"
"I don't know him well either. I saw him for the first time today."
"Really? I heard you seemed quite close."
"It's true. There's no reason for me to lie to you, Uncle. I really saw him for the first time today."
"Is that really so? With your personality, you wouldn't have approached him first. What did that guy say when he approached you?"
"He said he came to keep a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yes."
Zhuge Guk's face showed a question.
"What promise? Didn't you say you saw that guy for the first time?"
"Yes. So I asked him too, but he didn't answer."
Zhuge Guk narrowed his eyes.
'There's no reason for Yeon to lie.'
If necessary, the bloodline of the Zhuge family could lie without batting an eye with a calm face.
But this case was different. There was no reason to lie, and it was a matter that should not be lied about.
She was a child who could distinguish that much.
So Zhuge Guk had a different thought.
'Could it be... that there was some connection with the family?'
Moyong Gi and Zhuge Yeon had no point of contact. Naturally, he had to expand the scope.
However, even when he retraced his memories, nothing came to mind.
Considering the tendency of the Zhuge family not to overlook even trivial matters, it was unlikely that they would not have left a record of such a thing.
'I'll have to contact the main house.'
He was going to tell them to search thoroughly.
It was just that he couldn't find it, but if it was a connection with the family, there would surely be a trace of something.
'If it's not this, it's going to be a headache.'
If it wasn't that and there was another reason, even Zhuge Guk had no way to deal with it right now.
He had to wait indefinitely until a clue was revealed. It was the worst-case scenario.
'I'll have to pray that it's not.'
Zhuge Guk, who had organized his thoughts, relaxed his face and looked at Zhuge Yeon.
"Was there anything else?"
Hesitation appeared on Zhuge Yeon's face, who had been answering well until now.
Just as Zhuge Guk was beginning to have doubts again, Zhuge Yeon opened her mouth.
"He said he would teach me martial arts."
"Martial arts?"
"Yes."
Zhuge Guk's eyes widened slightly.
"For what reason?"
"I don't know that well either... I think it might be related to that promise."
"Hmm..."
It made sense. It was difficult to find another reason other than that.
"So what did you say?"
"That's..."
Zhuge Yeon hesitated and trailed off.
Zhuge Guk frowned.
"Did you say you would?"
"No. I didn't say anything."
Zhuge Yeon hastily shook her head.
But he could already see Zhuge Yeon's thoughts. If she had thought it was worthless, she would have refused on the spot.
But she didn't. She was clearly thinking something else.
Zhuge Guk, who had guessed Zhuge Yeon's thoughts, sighed.
"You're trying to take the difficult path."
Zhuge Yeon unknowingly lowered her head. She felt guilty without realizing it.
Zhuge Yeon was Zhuge Guk's first affection.
It wasn't that he had no other nieces, but the first one is always special.
The memory of carrying Zhuge Yeon around the family estate every day was vivid.
A smile unknowingly bloomed on his face when he thought of Zhuge Yeon following him around like a duckling, calling him "Uncle, Uncle."
Moreover, Zhuge Guk had no children. So he felt even more sorry.
"Do you know what you have to endure?"
Zhuge Yeon, with her head still lowered, did not answer.
But Zhuge Guk could fully guess that she already knew well.
"It would be fortunate if you entered the Two Phoenixes, but if you don't, brother won't leave you alone."
He was the current family head with a disposition that put calculations before blood ties.
He might even erase her from the family register. He surely would.
It would be a relief if it was just that. He might even erase her traces from the martial world altogether.
"But you must do it?"
The sight of Zhuge Yeon, still not answering, made him uncomfortable. It wasn't that he was getting annoyed, but a corner of his heart ached.
Zhuge Guk's voice softened a little more.
"You rascal, lift your head. Have you forgotten? Didn't this uncle always say he was on your side?"
Zhuge Yeon stealthily lifted her head.
And then, confirming Zhuge Guk, who was smiling gently, she felt a surge of emotion.
The bridge of her nose tingled. The corners of her eyes turned red.
"You rascal, you still cry easily even after getting older, just like before."
"No. I didn't cry."
Seeing Zhuge Yeon hastily shaking her head, it seemed her heart had softened a little.
Or maybe she was just pretending to be relaxed. She was that cunning of a child.
Zhuge Guk looked at Zhuge Yeon with a gentle smile and then suddenly became serious.
"Anyway, brother won't be able to do anything to you during the Dragon and Phoenix Inn course. The problem is the other Five Great Families, but I'll block them for you."
She was a child who was more stubborn than cunning.
She wouldn't give up until she realized for herself how dangerous a path she was taking.
In that case, it was better to protect her rather than scolding her not to do it.
But Zhuge Yeon's face darkened.
"Why that face again?"
"I feel like I'm putting too much of a burden on you, Uncle..."
Zhuge Guk let out a faint laugh.
"I may look like this, but I'm the strategist of the Orthodox Justice Alliance. That much is not even a burden, so you don't have to worry."
He said that, but the reality was different.
Although he was the strategist of the Orthodox Justice Alliance, he had a lot of work but not much authority.
If he were to block the Five Great Families for her, he would have to bend his pride that much.
Zhuge Yeon now knew well how difficult that was.
But Zhuge Guk, with an unconcerned face, said again.
"By the way, let's make one promise."
"What promise..."
"If you don't enter the Two Phoenixes, you will learn the affairs of the Orthodox Justice Alliance under me. That's all."
His consideration was so grateful. He was even preparing a contingency plan for when Zhuge Yeon failed to enter the Two Phoenixes.
The corners of Zhuge Yeon's eyes turned even redder.
"I will definitely do so."
But Zhuge Guk shook his head.
"That's not what I mean. You must enter the Two Phoenixes. Just think of this as a one in a million chance."
Zhuge Yeon, who understood the meaning, bit her lip.
"I understand."
"And I'm saying this out of an old woman's concern... don't rely on that guy. You have to walk your own path. Just like you chose now... and you are the one who takes responsibility for it. Do you know what I mean?"
"I will keep that in mind."
Zhuge Guk had not yet seen Moyong Gi.
There were many reports, but he didn't fully trust even those.
He only trusted Zhuge Yeon's judgment. But he wanted her to be more cautious.
"Yes. That's right. You can go now. It's very late."
"I will visit you again."
"Do so."
After bowing her head gracefully, Zhuge Yeon opened the door and left, and only then did Zhuge Guk let out the sigh he had been holding back.
"Haa... it's difficult."
Although he had spoken easily in front of Zhuge Yeon, nothing was easy.
But one thing was certain. Now was the time to move.
"Is anyone there?"
As Zhuge Guk raised his voice, a warrior in a night-prowling suit dropped from the ceiling.
"You called?"
"Send a message to the Alliance Leader's office. Tell them I will visit him in person."
"I understand."
The warrior who had received Zhuge Guk's order disappeared as if scattering.
***
"Wow... the fatigue is completely gone!"
Moyong Gi left the room with a face full of energy for a change.
"They kept talking about the upper room, the upper room. There was a reason for it."
It was on a different level from the lower room he had stayed in before his return.
First of all, the size was different.
It was more than twice as large as the lower room where four people shared one room.
Moreover, the furniture was very luxurious. They all had a glossy sheen and a pleasant fragrance was faintly lingering. He could immediately tell that they were made of the highest quality fragrant sandalwood.
'The highlight among them was the bed.'
He didn't know what it was filled with, but it was unbelievably soft. It felt as if his body would sink right in when he lay down.
Moreover, the blankets were all crisp. It was a luxury he couldn't enjoy in the lower room, where he had to sleep under a musty-smelling blanket on a hard bed.
Thanks to that, he was able to sleep soundly for a change. The travel fatigue that had accumulated from sleeping outdoors while moving in a hurry was completely gone. He was full of vitality.
"As they say, you have to succeed in life..."
Moyong Gi walked with a refreshed face and a good mood.
However, he couldn't even take a few steps.
He stopped when he confirmed Myung Jin, who was leaning against the wall and staring at him.
"What are you doing?"
At Moyong Gi's question, Myung Jin pushed himself off the wall. And then he drew his sword.
"A duel as promised."
Moyong Gi sighed.
He knew that he had endured a lot with that personality.
He had probably been tossing and turning all night.
But he couldn't help but feel annoyed.
He contorted his face and shouted.
"You crazy bastard! What are you trying to do at dawn?"
Myung Jin was unconcerned.
"A duel has no day or night."
Rather, his eyes shone.
Moyong Gi let out a groan. And then he spun around and went on his way.
"Where are you going?"
"To eat."
Myung Jin narrowed his brow.
"Eating makes the body dull. It's better to eat after a duel."
Moyong Gi let out a faint laugh.
It was true, but it didn't apply to the rising generation martial artists.
If he had to worry about the rising generation martial artists just because he had eaten, the old monsters of the Demon Sealing Valley would be wailing and hitting the ground.
"I get my strength from eating."
Myung Jin stared at Moyong Gi for a while and then eventually sheathed his sword.
And then he quickly followed.
"By the way... didn't you say you were going to eat?"
"Yeah."
"The dining hall is in the opposite direction."
He knew. He knew better than Myung Jin.
It was just that there was something he had to pick up.
"I have to go get Yeon."
Myung Jin looked at Moyong Gi.
"Are you interested in Young Lady Zhuge?"
"That's why I'm going to get her. Why else would I go get her?"
Myung Jin narrowed his brow.
"I heard you met for the first time yesterday."
"You're young, so you probably don't know yet, but that's how feelings are. They're quiet, and then they suddenly burst into flames. You'll know when you get a little older."
Myung Jin looked at Moyong Gi with a look of disbelief. Myung Jin and Moyong Gi were the same age.
Moyong Gi didn't even pay attention and plopped down in front of Zhuge Yeon's room, leaning his back against the wall.
Myung Jin looked at Zhuge Yeon's door.
"Shouldn't you at least send a message?"
"Why?"
"She might have already left, right?"
"She's inside."
"How do you know that?"
Moyong Gi frowned.
"There's a presence in the room. Can't you feel it?"
Myung Jin's eyes widened. Only then did he seem human.
'He looks a little better like that. No. What do you mean, better! Where do I even start teaching this?'
It was frustrating. There was a long way to go. A sigh came out.
"You can feel that?"
"Yeah."
"How do you do it?"
"You'll get it if you keep doing it."
Moyong Gi shut his mouth with an annoyed face.
Myung Jin frowned and then quickly took a seat next to Moyong Gi.
And then, with a serious face, he concentrated on something, and it seemed like he was trying to catch Zhuge Yeon's presence.
Moyong Gi let out a faint laugh.
'Still, the basics are there.'
He felt a little better.
(End of Chapter)