CLS-Chapter 434

Chapter 434:

“How utterly preposterous.”

Zhuge Yan could only click his tongue.

He had only been away for a few days, yet in that short time, the renowned Zhuge Family of the realm had been completely toyed with by a single young man.

“So you’re saying you couldn’t say a word and just tucked your tail and ran?”

“Family Head.”

Zhuge Mun-in bowed his head deeply.

“If it had been anything else, I too would not have retreated. But we cannot afford to create friction with the Censorate.”

“Hmm…”

“Currently, the Censorate wields absolute power with His Majesty the Emperor’s trust. Creating friction with such an organization would bring great inconvenience.”

“Were you afraid of inconvenience?”

“No.”

Zhuge Mun-in spoke firmly.

“What I feared was not mere inconvenience. Currently, the martial world is more tense than ever before as we face an imminent battle with the Demonic Cult. If we create friction with the Censorate in such circumstances, our relationship with the government could grow distant. If that leads to delayed government assistance in the future great war against the Demonic Cult, the damage would be immeasurable. All that blame would fall on us to bear.”

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Zhuge Yan let out a hollow laugh.

“There’s someone else causing trouble, yet we’re the ones who take all the blame.”

“Family Head…”

“It’s not as if Heaven is helping that fellow, so how can things be so coincidental? Doesn’t it seem like everything is turning in his favor?”

Zhuge Mun-in lowered his head.

He felt terribly sorry for bringing such disgrace to the family by being unable to handle Wei Yan-ho alone.

“You didn’t fall for his provocations at all?”

“That’s correct.”

“Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho…”

Zhuge Yan stroked his beard.

“He’s an even more formidable character than I heard. Looking at it carefully, doesn’t it seem like this fellow is trying to toy with our Zhuge Family from above our heads?”

Zhuge Yan did not like this fact.

Being overpowered by Wei Yan-ho’s strength was something he could endure. No matter how much the Zhuge Family focused on intellect rather than martial prowess, they too were a martial family of the martial world. They couldn’t be unaware that the logic of strength took precedence above all else.

If Wei Yan-ho had tried to crush everyone with force, they might have prostrated themselves flat. But now Wei Yan-ho was trying to toy with them.

This fact wounded Zhuge Yan’s pride.

‘It’s not just a matter of pride.’

Strategists and warriors are different. When a warrior is overpowered by someone in strength, their value doesn’t diminish, but when a strategist is outmaneuvered intellectually, their value plummets instantly.

If such rumors spread, the Zhuge Family’s reputation would be buried in the ground.

They would probably be pointed at even more than the Tang Family, who had been humiliated when Tang Cheon-gun was defeated by Wei Yan-ho.

‘This is not good.’

Zhuge Yan quietly stroked his beard.

“I heard that even the Divine Strategist is having trouble controlling Wei Yan-ho. From what I understand, he’s practically given up.”

“Are you saying that since the Divine Strategist couldn’t do it, it’s natural that I can’t either?”

“…That wasn’t my meaning, Family Head.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing Zhuge Yan make a displeased sound, Zhuge Wu realized his mistake.

Zhuge Yan was someone who harbored great dissatisfaction with the Divine Strategist being called the greatest intellect under Heaven. That position should rightfully have been his.

He believed the Divine Strategist only held the position of the realm’s greatest intellect because he was born a dozen years earlier and had devoted himself to the Righteous Martial Alliance.

If anyone else had such thoughts, they would be called arrogant and presumptuous, but Zhuge Yan was someone who had sufficient qualifications to think this way.

“You mean Wei Yan-ho is that difficult to handle.”

“Indeed. Yes, indeed.”

Zhuge Yan quietly nodded his head.

Having faced him directly, he seemed to understand why Wei Yan-ho was so difficult to deal with.

‘He’s someone with nothing to lose.’

That’s how fights always are.

You have to target what the opponent doesn’t want to lose for it to become a real fight. But Wei Yan-ho had no particular weak points. Targeting him directly was impossible because he was too strong, and targeting his surroundings was also difficult because they were formidable as well.

Trying to crush him with authority would only result in being crushed by authority in return, and trying to pressure him with wealth was pointless since Wei Yan-ho possessed several times more wealth than the Zhuge Family.

“Wealth, authority, and martial power—the trinity… How are we supposed to deal with this?”

The feeling was completely different from when he had observed from a distance. When viewed with the intention to attack, Wei Yan-ho was like an impregnable fortress.

‘For a young man to hold such power in his hands.’

Even his martial prowess alone would be difficult to handle, so how did he come to possess so many abilities?

Moreover…

‘No matter how different their possessed power may be, the fact that Mun-in couldn’t even resist and was unilaterally beaten shows he’s an exceptionally clever fellow.’

Zhuge Yan quietly opened his mouth.

“Mun-in.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

“As the Family Head, I ask the Young Family Head.”

“Please command me.”

Zhuge Yan hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Could you win over Wei Yan-ho?”

Zhuge Mun-in couldn’t readily answer. Not because the answer was difficult, but because he knew how important this question was. After wiggling his fingers for a moment, Zhuge Mun-in asked back.

“It would be impossible with my abilities. But if the family were to step forward directly, it’s hard to predict what might happen.”

“Even if the family steps forward directly, it would be difficult…”

Zhuge Yan stroked his chin beard as if greatly displeased.

“I suppose I must acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.”

The gazes of Zhuge Mun-in and Zhuge Wu turned toward Zhuge Yan.

“No matter how much I try to deny it, it’s a clear fact that the hegemony of the next generation has already shifted to Wei Yan-ho. We might be able to squabble with him now, but if just ten more years pass, the world won’t be able to withstand even Wei Yan-ho’s cough.”

“…”

Zhuge Mun-in looked displeased, but he didn’t particularly deny that fact. He was the one who had felt Wei Yan-ho’s power most clearly.

His pride was hurt, and defiance surged within him.

“Control your emotions.”

And Zhuge Yan accurately perceived Zhuge Mun-in’s state.

“Let me ask you, are you a warrior or a strategist?”

“I cannot choose just one.”

“Then can you surpass Wei Yan-ho in martial prowess?”

“…That would be difficult.”

“Then can you suppress him with intellect?”

“I’m confident that my mind is in no way inferior to his. But it’s impossible to suppress his power with my intellect alone.”

Zhuge Yan quietly nodded his head.

“When a strategist meets such an opponent, that’s when they finally acknowledge that there’s someone above them. Perhaps you’ve met someone you should serve for the rest of your life.”

“Father.”

“Listen to the end.”

“…Yes.”

When Zhuge Mun-in closed his mouth, Zhuge Yan continued speaking.

“What do you think is our family’s problem?”

“I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to…”

“Why do you think the Zhuge Family hasn’t become the leader of the realm?”

“Martial power.”

Zhuge Yan clicked his tongue.

“Foolish boy.”

“…”

Zhuge Yan seemed very displeased with Zhuge Mun-in’s answer. His eyebrows trembled.

“If you had martial power, could you obtain the world?”

“I…”

Zhuge Mun-in couldn’t answer with certainty. His head thought yes, but somewhere in his heart was saying no.

What was lacking?

“What we lack is not martial power. It’s popular support.”

“Popular support, you said?”

“That’s right. The world is not a place that can be ruled by ability alone.”

Zhuge Yan quietly stroked his beard and continued speaking.

“Was Han Xin inferior to Liu Bang? Was our ancestor truly less capable than Emperor Zhaolie?”

“That’s not the case.”

“Then why were there others who ascended to the throne? According to your logic, the most capable people should have become emperors.”

“…”

Zhuge Yan sighed.

“Those who think highly of themselves inevitably have many enemies. Especially those who devise schemes and manage people inevitably make enemies. They have no choice but to make enemies not only externally but internally as well. This is our fate. Moreover… we naturally lack popular support. We can be outstanding, but we cannot stand at the very top. For us to rule the world, we need someone to stand above us.”

“Are you saying we need a sovereign?”

“Isn’t that the fate of a strategist? Even our ancestor was merely a hermit whiling away time in the mountains until he met Emperor Zhaolie. The fact that his fame could cover the world and be passed down in history was largely due to Emperor Zhaolie’s role. Isn’t that so?”

“…That’s correct.”

“I highly regard your ambition to try to move the world yourself. But you must distinguish between what’s realistically possible and impossible.”

“Then…”

Zhuge Mun-in looked at Zhuge Yan with somewhat provocative eyes. The resentment reflected in those eyes kept jabbing at Zhuge Yan.

“Does the Family Head want me to enter under that young man’s command?”

“Stupid fool.”

“…”

Contempt appeared in Zhuge Yan’s eyes.

“It wasn’t that Liu Bang used Han Xin, but that Han Xin unified the world through Liu Bang. It wasn’t that Liu Bei used Zhuge Liang, but that Zhuge Liang divided the world into three through Liu Bei. Does it matter whose name comes first?”

“That’s not the case.”

“If I were you, I would have tested Wei Yan-ho. And if I felt he was sufficiently qualified, I would have strived to enter under his command even if it meant turning my back on the family.”

“Family Head…”

“I never met such a person. Moreover, I don’t have much time left to live. But you’re different. If someone truly worthy of your service appears, don’t hesitate.”

Zhuge Wu also added his voice.

“That’s right, Young Family Head. Don’t be bound by the family. What you should be bound to is your ideals.”

Zhuge Mun-in let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.

“Father.”

“…Speak.”

The form of address changed from Family Head to Father. This wasn’t a question from the Young Family Head to the Family Head, but advice sought by a son from his father.

“Honestly, I find it difficult to grasp what kind of person Wei Yan-ho is. I see too many facets in him. With my limited insight, it’s hard to make any definitive judgment.”

“Hmm.”

“So I’m sorry to ask, but how would it be if Father met Wei Yan-ho directly?”

“You want me to?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Mun-in spoke with conviction.

“Even if he’s not the person we want, he’s someone who will dominate the next era. It wouldn’t hurt to see him with your own eyes.”

“For once, you’re saying something sensible. I was already thinking of going to see him myself.”

“Ah…”

Zhuge Yan’s face slightly contorted.

“Setting everything else aside, we have to resolve the money issue, don’t we?”

Zhuge Mun-in became like a mute who had eaten honey.

Zhuge Yan muttered as if speaking to himself.

“Let’s see then. Whether he’s someone we should join hands with, or someone we must eliminate even if it means risking the family’s fate.”