The Fortunate Sword God of the Zhuge Clan - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 35.
Time flowed mercilessly, and the sky beyond the long night held the deepest indigo.
Fortunately, Mu Hun had reached his conclusion just before dawn broke.
‘Return it.’
Though the Formation Design Blueprint had come into his hands, it belonged to them in the first place.
Setting aside personal feelings, the answer had always been predetermined.
‘But this time, the Formation Design cannot be corrupted as it was before.’
Of course, Sama Do Yun was an accomplished Formation Technique master as well, so upon seeing the completed blueprint, he would realize its original purpose was not what he desired.
But human greed is not a thing easily set aside.
Whether he understood that or not, Sama Do Yun might very well create the Formation Design according to his original plan.
No—he would.
Because it was not merely Sama Do Yun’s individual desire, but the wish of the entire Tianma Cult, including Cheon Yeo Rin.
Mu Hun recalled that terrible outcome and exhaled a faint sigh.
‘Such a thing must never happen again.’
If that was so, then Mu Hun would need to directly oversee the activation of this Formation Design.
‘In the end, I’ll need to draw closer to some degree….’
It was something he somewhat reluctant about, but there was no other way.
It made no sense to simply hand over the blueprint out of nowhere.
Would a stranger, knowing what they desired, hand it over?
Sama Do Yun and Cheon Yeo Rin—this Martial World—were not so naïve as to trust in pure goodwill.
“Hah….”
Mu Hun laughed with a hollow sound.
‘Even if this meeting never occurred in this lifetime, encountering someone I’ve buried in my heart once more is never simple.’
If even making the decision weighed so heavily, what expression could he possibly wear when they truly faced each other?
Mu Hun suppressed his doubt and unease, gently circulating the Tianshan Continuous Cultivation.
Whoooosh—
As his energy completed a full circuit through a body that had not merely healed from Severed Meridian Syndrome but reached Peak Cultivation, an unprecedented warmth wrapped around his entire meridian network, settling his troubled mind.
‘In my past life, our first meeting was also at the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.’
Cheon Yeo Rin—or Sama Yeo Rin as she was called now—was not from an orthodox sect, but with the prestige of the Sama name, she advanced through the preliminary rounds of the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.
‘I will see her then.’
Already there was a mountain of things he needed to prepare for, and now he had to steel his resolve anew.
Though he had made his peace with it, the life of one who had returned to the past, burdened with old karma, was far from easy.
Lost in contemplating the weight of return, Mu Hun sensed through his heightened Energy Perception that Dok Go Hyun was stirring.
“Mm. You’re up early.”
“And this humble one hears you’ve been coughing since before the sun fully rose.”
“What of it….”
Dok Go Hyun shrugged his shoulders.
Mu Hun knew that he frequently suffered nightmares about his master around dawn, so he refrained from pressing further.
“Since we’re both awake anyway, shall we head down the mountain a bit earlier?”
At Dok Go Hyun’s suggestion, Mu Hun smiled readily and nodded.
“Let’s do that. If we consume any more game, the Qingcheng Sect might grow suspicious.”
“Ha! There’s no need for such worry. They won’t believe a person could eat that much—they’ll think a tiger wandered in from somewhere.”
“Ha ha! A tiger would be all the more dangerous. Wouldn’t you fear for the villagers’ safety and go hunting? Since getting caught either way amounts to the same thing, let’s head out soon.”
The two exchanged banter as they stepped out of the cave.
On the way up, they had needed several time periods to match Mu Hun’s pace, but now that both had reached Peak Cultivation, it took less than half a time period.
Since it was early morning with the sun barely risen, the two wandered through the marketplace for a while before discovering a noodle shop that opened at dawn.
As hunger had been gnawing at them, they ordered noodles and were in the midst of eating when both sensed something rapidly approaching through their Energy Perception.
Mu Hun was about to rise from his seat when Dok Go Hyun stopped him.
“It’s nothing serious. Or so I think, anyway. There’s no need to move.”
Mu Hun didn’t understand and was about to ask when there was no need to do so.
For immediately after, someone burst through the door with force.
“I… Young Master?”
“Ah.”
Mu Hun greeted Yong with a pleased smile.
“You’ve worked hard. Seo Yong. Was the errand you went on resolved well?”
Yong stared blankly for a moment without answering, looking at Mu Hun, before suddenly gathering his wits.
“Ah…. Yes. But, truly….”
“Yes. Just as I promised then, I return to you in good health.”
Mu Hun clasped his fists and bowed his head lightly.
“…That is not all, is it.”
Ling bowed even deeper than Mu Hun, drawing himself up with formal respect.
“I am truly grateful that you have healed your affliction and attained such profound achievement.”
“Thank you.”
Mu Hun noticed a slight tremor in Ling’s voice but chose not to remark upon it.
How could he not have sensed the sincerity with which Ling served him?
He had no intention whatsoever of pointing it out and shaming him.
Dok Go Hyun, however, was another matter entirely.
“I’ve said it before, but the more I see, the more I realize you’re capable of actual feelings. Wouldn’t it be better if you were like that all the time?”
Ling lifted his head and turned to Dok Go Hyun with an expressionless face, as if to say he was only as he’d always been.
“It seems you have reached Peak Cultivation, Young Master.”
“Ah, so it was true then?”
Dok Go Hyun had intuited it instinctively, but to have it confirmed by someone of Ling’s caliber felt entirely different.
Dok Go Hyun’s lips curved upward in satisfaction.
“Well, I have you to thank for most of it. I’m genuinely grateful.”
“However, while your spirit and body may have reached that threshold, your Internal Cultivation appears somewhat diminished.”
At Ling’s words, Dok Go Hyun raised one eyebrow.
“That’s because of how the Dok Go Sword works. It’s a martial art that can grow strong without relying on that sort of thing.”
“You are certain of this?”
“Well… that is… our founder supposedly cultivated it that way.”
“Does that principle apply to you as well?”
“I mean… it’s the same technique, isn’t it?”
“I see. A remarkable art indeed, though it seems you would find it difficult to manifest Body Protection Technique or Sword Energy.”
“Are you really going to press this just because I joked around a bit?”
“Even reaching that level, you have been overtaken by this young master—in spirit, body, and the Internal Cultivation you yourself lack.”
“Now wait a moment—”
Dok Go Hyun stared at Ling with an expression of bewildered exasperation.
At this, Ling’s lips curved upward just slightly—barely visible unless one was watching carefully.
“Nevertheless, reaching Peak Cultivation is a remarkable accomplishment. You will grow even stronger still. My congratulations.”
Hearing Ling’s praise—a clever return of the jab—Dok Go Hyun let out a short, suppressed laugh.
“Well, I appreciate that.”
His tone was gruff, but he did not sound displeased.
After all, he had been recognized by the one who had taught him.
Mu Hun and Dok Go Hyun seated Ling and recounted what they had experienced.
Dok Go Hyun described the first Formation Technique, but from the second one onward—where he had lost consciousness—Mu Hun was forced to take over the narrative.
Mu Hun did not hide his conversation with Jeegal Cheon Seong.
This was for the sake of Dok Go Hyun’s honor.
Otherwise, they might think that Mu Hun, having gone as an escort but failed to cure the Severed Meridian Syndrome, had forced Dok Go Hyun alone to navigate the dangerous Formation Technique.
“…The Sage of the River. So you met Master Jung Dal.”
“Jung Dal? Who is that?”
“You ought to learn a little more about history, Young Master.”
“…You could just tell me who he is, you know.”
“He was a strategist and Formation master who contended with the founder of our Jeegal Clan for supremacy under Heaven. In the end, our founder prevailed.”
Dok Go Hyun’s eyes widened at Mu Hun’s words.
“If the founder of the Jeegal Clan was as sharp as you, he must have been something to defeat a mind like that.”
“Our founder’s health deteriorated and he eventually passed away. One cannot claim his abilities were superior.”
At Ling’s words, Mu Hun shrugged slightly.
“A victory is still a victory. I believe the founder would have said the same.”
“That… may well be true.”
“In any case, that match with him became a profound experience for me. I would say I now see the path ahead far more clearly.”
Mu Hun smiled faintly.
Even now, thinking back on it sent cold shivers down his spine—such an intensely fought contest it had been.
A sensation like that would likely be hard to experience again.
Ling bowed once more.
“No one under Heaven has had such an experience. I am grateful for the insights you have gained.”
“Thank you.”
Then Mu Hun spoke of how he had used Gongchengshi posture and the Tianshan Continuous Cultivation to pierce through to Peak Cultivation.
He did not mention that he had obtained half of the Formation Design Blueprint descended through the Sama family.
If he told Ling, it would inevitably reach the ears of his father, Jeegal Cheon Seong.
And the insatiable curiosity particular to the Jeegal Clan, masters of Formation Techniques, would surely make it impossible for them to resist the desire to see that blueprint.
Especially since it belonged to Sama Jung Dal, the only rival the founder had ever truly known.
‘I fear it may be unfilial to keep this from Father….’
This half-formed Formation Design Blueprint contained knowledge that any martial artist would covet.
Whatever Jung Dal’s intentions, Mu Hun was determined that no one but its rightful owner would ever use this design.
It violated principle, and it carried enormous danger.
The conversation continued along these lines until, imperceptibly, the topic shifted to their next destination.
“Then you intend to travel to Sichuan, Dok Go?”
Cheon Yeo Rin’s question drew a nod from Dok Go Hyun.
“Yes. I’m still not fully comfortable with the Wave Breaking Form yet. As you said, it’s clear I won’t grow stronger through Internal Cultivation alone, so I want to seek out a renowned sect and polish my Dok Go Sword technique further.”
Cheon Yeo Rin studied Dok Go Hyun for a moment, then drew something from her robes and extended it to him.
“Hm? For me? What is this?”
Dok Go Hyun accepted it, though he had no idea what it was.
Mu Hun, by contrast, recognized it at once.
“My… Cheon Yeo Rin, how did you come by something so precious?”
A finely woven cloth adorned in green and deep purple.
The character for Tang embroidered at its center was something anyone with even a casual interest in martial arts could identify—a thing of unmistakable origin.
“That is a Poison Gate Token.”
“A Poison Gate Token?”
“Indeed. Have you heard of the Sichuan Tang Family?”
“Oh. That fearsome clan known for their skill with poisons and secret weapons?”
“Rough in phrasing, but accurate.”
Mu Hun pointed to the Poison Gate Token in Dok Go Hyun’s grip.
“With that in hand, should you present yourself at the Sichuan Tang Family, they are bound to receive you as an honored guest. It is proof of a debt owed.”
“…All that from a scrap of cloth?”
“Precisely. The Tang Family is known to repay kindness tenfold and grudges a hundredfold.”
Mu Hun turned to Cheon Yeo Rin with an expression of subtle understanding.
“You must have done the Sichuan Tang Family a considerable service while we were on Qingcheng Mountain.”
“But… you’re giving this to me? Is that really all right?”
Cheon Yeo Rin shook her head.
“It was not such a difficult matter.”
She regarded Dok Go Hyun with an impassive face.
“You upheld honor and protected this young master in my absence. Think of this as repayment for that service.”
“I only did what came naturally—Mu Hun was the one who truly excelled.”
Mu Hun protested.
“That is not so. Without you holding me aloft through the wind, charging unflinchingly at that massive stone, teaching me about Qi Sense and hunting down those beasts—I would never have recovered or reached Peak Cultivation.”
Cheon Yeo Rin nodded slowly in agreement.
“Take that token to the Tang Family. You will then enjoy all the martial competition you desire.”
Dok Go Hyun scratched his head awkwardly, then offered a respectful bow to Cheon Yeo Rin.
“Thank you. I won’t shame you for giving me this. I’ll work hard to make it worth your while.”
Cheon Yeo Rin returned the bow with a nod.
Mu Hun wore a pleased expression at the sight.
‘So Cheon Yeo Rin has truly opened her heart to Dok Go.’
How could Mu Hun not see it?
That Cheon Yeo Rin had given the Poison Gate Token meant the Sichuan Tang Family—themselves one of the Five Great Clans—had faced trouble grave enough to require help.
To pass such a thing to Dok Go Hyun was, as she said, partly in recognition of his service as Mu Hun’s protector.
Yet fundamentally, it was an act she would never have taken had she not genuinely come to favor him.
Cheon Yeo Rin turned to Mu Hun with studied indifference.
“When shall this young master depart? If you wish, I can have a carriage brought round at once.”
“Mm.”
Mu Hun nodded.
“Then let us leave immediately. I am eager to show Father and my brother the progress we have made.”
“Understood. I shall make the preparations at once.”
Cheon Yeo Rin rose from her seat with a faint smile.
Dok Go Hyun watched quietly, then spoke.
“Then I’ll see you at the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.”
“So you shall. If you remain with the Tang Family, they will escort you there—you needn’t fear losing your way.”
“Ha, I’m hardly a child of ten. Unnecessary worrying.”
Dok Go Hyun rose with a quiet laugh.
“Until then.”
“Are you leaving without bidding Cheon Yeo Rin proper farewell?”
“She’ll be outside. I’ll pay my respects on the way out.”
Dok Go Hyun carefully tucked the Poison Gate Token into his garments.
“I can’t half-measure something like this. I want to grow stronger as quickly as I can, and there’s no reason to hesitate.”
“Haha. True enough.”
Mu Hun burst into a hearty laugh.
“Should I expect to see how much stronger you’ve become in a month’s time?”
“However much you expect, it’ll be more than that.”
Dok Go Hyun declared with absolute confidence.
“I’ll look forward to it too. You’ll return and master some martial arts of your own, won’t you? The time is short, but with your talent, you could become quite formidable.”
“I’m grateful for such high praise.”
“It’s not high praise. It’s simply fair assessment.”
Mu Hun curled the corners of his mouth upward and nodded.
“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear.”
Dok Go Hyun waved his hand and stepped out of the shop.
“I’ll see you at the Dragon Phoenix Assembly!”
Mu Hun nodded, watching for a moment as Dok Go Hyun departed into the distance.
‘Martial arts….’
After Seo Yong, now even Dok Go Hyun had placed expectations upon him.
It should have weighed heavily on his shoulders, yet Mu Hun felt no such burden.
‘So the time has truly come for me to master such things.’
Rather, Mu Hun felt a peculiar thrill.
The reality that he could finally master the martial arts he had longed for across decades still did not feel entirely real.
‘I’ll probably begin with the fundamentals, so I’ll most likely start by learning the Xiaotianxing Sword Technique, which is built upon the Xiaotianxing Cultivation as its foundation.’
Mu Hun pondered for a moment.
His inner cultivation method, Tianshan Continuous Cultivation, had been created with Xiaotianxing Cultivation as its foundation, yet through repeated research and refinement, it had already diverged considerably from the original.
In other words, while he could learn the Xiaotianxing Sword Technique, there was a high likelihood it would not harmonize perfectly with his inner cultivation.
‘That wouldn’t allow me to claim I’d truly mastered proper martial arts.’
Mu Hun had recognized this problem from the very beginning, when he and Seo Yong created Tianshan Continuous Cultivation together.
But at that time, there had been no possibility of ever learning martial arts, so he had dismissed it as irrelevant.
‘Yet….’
That did not mean he had ignored it entirely.
After all, Mu Hun was someone who had spent his entire life longing for martial arts.
Having created an inner cultivation method, he could not help but envision martial arts that would match it.
Thus, half in jest, Mu Hun had sought Seo Yong’s counsel and designed martial arts that would suit Tianshan Continuous Cultivation.
Seo Yong, whose perspective on martial arts was somewhat limited, had questioned whether such an effort was truly necessary; but upon seeing the design Mu Hun brought, he changed his tune.
-I’m tired of being amazed now, but your intellect is truly unrivaled.
-So you finally acknowledge the martial knowledge I’ve accumulated?
-Haha. I acknowledged your knowledge long ago. But knowledge of martial arts that cannot be put into practice remains only half-formed and fails to transcend mere intellectual pursuit….
Seo Yong slowly read through the design Mu Hun had brought once more.
-Several things come to mind. The Emperor’s Sword Form of the main house, the Purple Glow Sword Manual of Mount Hua, the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword of Wudang…. And even the sword techniques of the heterodox schools flow together in harmony.
-The great sword arts I’ve witnessed over the years inspired me.
-I have no words but praise. It’s truly an extraordinary martial art. However….
Mu Hun circulated his energy through a Full Circulation and gazed down at his own hands.
‘Will it even be possible to master that sword technique?’
Mu Hun had reached Peak Cultivation and possessed an extraordinary body that drew ever closer to the Celestial Void Body with each revolution of his cultivation.
Yet even so, he could not be certain.
The words of Seo Yong from his previous life kept tugging at his mind.
-Even the Ancestor with a Celestial Void Body wouldn’t be able to withstand the danger of this martial art.
A theory beautiful in its elegance, yet impossible for anyone to master.
That had been Seo Yong’s assessment of the martial arts Mu Hun had designed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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