CLS-Chapter 411

Chapter 411:

The elders of the Tang Family couldn’t help but be surprised when they saw who entered the room.

Of course, it was something they could have anticipated to some degree.

Tang Yong-min had nowhere else to turn for help except the Zhuge Family. Considering the current situation and Tang Yong-min’s statements, it was obvious that someone from the Zhuge Family would come to help them.

This much was within their general expectations.

However, the person who had just entered the room was someone who exceeded even their expectations.

Of course, the person who entered was from the Zhuge Family. But…

“Young Master?”

Tang Pyeong muttered in surprise.

The person who had entered the room was Zhuge Mun-in, the Young Master of the Zhuge Family.

‘The Young Master came personally.’

Tang Pyeong couldn’t help but be surprised.

Generally speaking, a Young Master was like a crown prince to a nation, the person who must inherit all the major and minor affairs of the family. He could be said to be the second most important person after the Family Head. Especially in the Zhuge Family, which valued legitimacy, the power that the position of Young Master held was tremendous.

Such a person had now come to help the Sichuan Tang Family.

“Zhuge Mun-in of the Zhuge Family pays his respects.”

When Zhuge Mun-in courteously cupped his hands, Tang Pyeong realized his mistake and adjusted his voice.

“You must have had a hard journey coming so far. To think the Young Master would come personally, we are deeply grateful.”

Zhuge Mun-in smiled warmly and said,

“I am honored by such a warm welcome. Please feel free to speak comfortably. I am still just a young apprentice. I am not worthy of receiving such hospitality from the renowned Sichuan Tang Family.”

Tang Pyeong chuckled.

“If the Young Master of the Zhuge Family is not in a position to receive hospitality, how many people in the world would be qualified? Excessive courtesy is discourteous, so it would be better for the Young Master to put aside his modesty.”

Zhuge Mun-in smiled softly.

“This way.”

Tang Yong-min stood up and guided Zhuge Mun-in to his seat.

Once seated, everyone’s attention focused on Zhuge Mun-in.

“I would like to exchange some pleasant small talk before we begin, but I hope you’ll understand that we don’t have time for that.”

“Of course.”

Tang Yong-min cleared his throat a few times and began to speak.

“While it’s true that we requested help from the Zhuge Family, we never expected the Young Master to come personally. We are grateful for the Zhuge Family’s righteousness.”

“It would have been better if the family elders had come rather than me, but I don’t know where to put myself with such a warm welcome.”

“This may be a foolish question, but may I ask why the Young Master came personally?”

At Tang Yong-min’s question, Zhuge Mun-in smiled lightly.

It was quite improper language according to etiquette. However, Zhuge Mun-in also didn’t particularly like beating around the bush. Time was limited, and efficiency was determined by how much could be accomplished within that time.

“This involves the Righteous Martial Alliance. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“As expected.”

“Moreover, I heard that those who came from the Righteous Martial Alliance this time are from the Wei Family.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Yong-min nodded with a grunt. Seeing that reaction, Zhuge Mun-in smiled.

“When the Wei Family, which is shaking the world, has entered Sichuan territory, we cannot help but investigate.”

“…Is your interest in Wei Jeong-han or Wei Yan-ho?”

“Wei Yan-ho, of course.”

When Wei Yan-ho’s name was mentioned, the faces of the Tang Family members slightly contorted.

“Young Master, Wei Yan-ho is a dangerous person.”

“I know. Because he’s dangerous, I must confirm with my own eyes.”

“Those who have gotten close to Wei Yan-ho have all met with misfortune. You should be careful…”

Zhuge Mun-in smiled.

“Those who handled a bomb without knowing it was a bomb naturally met with misfortune. But I know that Wei Yan-ho is a bomb. So there shouldn’t be any particular problem.”

“However…”

When the conversation seemed to be getting a bit long, Zhuge Mun-in spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“In the first place, didn’t you all request help from our family because of that fellow?”

“…That’s true.”

Although both the Dark King and the Righteous Martial Alliance were troubling them simultaneously, when you got down to it, the root of all problems was Wei Yan-ho.

If Wei Yan-ho hadn’t existed, that Dark King wouldn’t be acting so arrogantly, and if someone other than Wei Yan-ho had come from the Righteous Martial Alliance, they wouldn’t dare to swagger around saying they would investigate the Tang Family so boldly.

In the end, all the trouble came from Wei Yan-ho.

“I would like to resolve everything immediately, but I also need information. First, I need information about the strange deaths occurring in the Sichuan Tang Family…”

Zhuge Mun-in closed his eyes slightly.

After closing his eyes for a moment as if to prioritize matters in his mind, Zhuge Mun-in quietly opened his eyes and spoke.

“I must also see that Wei Yan-ho with my own eyes. Then we’ll reach a conclusion.”

Tang Yong-min slightly furrowed his brow. This alone was insufficient.

“Young Master.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“I must commit another discourtesy. Even if the Young Master confirms everything here, can you resolve this matter?”

Zhuge Mun-in’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

“Though my surname is Zhuge, I’m not particularly brilliant, so I don’t quite understand what you’re worried about, Elder. Since we’re in the same boat anyway, can’t we speak openly and honestly?”

“Ahem.“

Tang Yong-min cleared his throat and continued.

Zhuge Mun-in’s words were correct. In any case, they had borrowed the Zhuge Family’s hand to drive out the Family Head. In the midst of this, what face was there to save, and what was there to hide?

“It’s embarrassing to say, but the Family Head holds most of the Sichuan Tang Family’s power. Even if we cooperate to the fullest, there aren’t many within the Tang Family who would oppose the Family Head’s authority. We might not be of much help—would that be acceptable?”

Zhuge Mun-in smiled gently.

However, his inner thoughts were completely different.

‘Cunning old fox.’

Even while saying they should speak openly, he wasn’t directly revealing his true intentions to the end. It probably meant he wanted to secure an escape route in case things went wrong.

Even though he guessed all of this, Zhuge Mun-in didn’t bother to show his displeasure.

This was a transaction anyway.

There’s no such thing as a transaction that ends with everyone feeling good. That would be a flawed transaction. It’s normal for someone to lose out in a proper transaction.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Should I poke him in the side a little?

“We’ve already secured a promise of support from the Heavenly Medical Alliance.”

“Oh, from the Heavenly Medical Alliance?”

“He also expressed deep concern about this matter. If there’s a way to normalize the Tang Family, he won’t spare his support.”

“Hmm, I see.”

This time, Tang Yong-min’s face slightly frowned.

He got the impression that they were stepping back by referring to the Alliance Leader not as “Alliance Leader” but as “he.” It might seem trivial, but each of these words would have a major impact when determining right and wrong in the future.

“It must not be an easy matter, but for the Heavenly Medical Alliance to make such a decision. This Tang Mo expresses his gratitude.”

“…Not at all.”

Zhuge Mun-in smiled softly.

It seemed he wanted to confirm the Heavenly Medical Alliance’s support by any means. When old foxes are anxious and urging, it’s one method to give in appropriately.

“The Tang Family is the Heavenly Medical Alliance’s most important military force. When that force is experiencing problems, the Heavenly Medical Alliance cannot stand by. Don’t worry. If I hadn’t taken on this task, it would be one thing, but since I’ve accepted it, I will mobilize all the power of the Zhuge Family and the Heavenly Medical Alliance to definitely normalize the Tang Family.”

“We are grateful.”

Tang Yong-min bowed his head deeply.

Tang Pyeong also had a satisfied expression.

‘This isn’t the time to be petty.’

Zhuge Mun-in didn’t underestimate them. Right now they were acting like innocent old men who knew nothing, but these were the elders of the Sichuan Tang Family, called venomous as snakes.

The moment he acted carelessly, he would be the one bleeding from their poisonous fangs.

“I’d like to move right away, but…”

Zhuge Mun-in reached for the tea placed in front of him and drank it. It was a gesture showing he didn’t suspect them in the least.

“Hastily eaten rice causes indigestion. First, please arrange accommodations. I need to understand what the atmosphere is like.”

“Of course.”

Zhuge Mun-in and the Tang Family elders looked at each other and smiled. While clumsily hiding their true intentions in their hearts.

“The Sichuan Tang Family…”

Zhuge Mun-in, who had been guided to his lodging, looked around the room.

“It doesn’t seem as heavily guarded as I thought. What do you think?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a person dropped from the ceiling.

Dressed entirely in black night clothes, the figure prostrated before Zhuge Mun-in and said,

“There is no surveillance.”

“Strange, isn’t it?”

Zhuge Mun-in opened his fan.

With a swoosh, as the fan opened, Zhuge Mun-in began to wave it.

“To let the Young Master of another family who entered their territory roam freely without even surveillance. Do they have thick nerves, or do they think someone like me doesn’t need to be watched?”

“It’s probably neither.”

“Right, it wouldn’t be. Then it means Wei Yan-ho is threatening enough that they had to let me roam completely freely…”

Zhuge Mun-in reached for the report placed on the table. It was a report on how the Righteous Martial Alliance investigation team had moved since coming to the Sichuan Tang Family. Of course, those who provided this report were the Tang Family elders.

“Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho…”

Zhuge Mun-in closed his fan and tapped his head with it.

“He’s truly incomprehensible.”

How Wei Yan-ho had moved from his reappearance in the martial world until coming to the Sichuan Tang Family was perfectly stored in his mind. However, no matter how much he tried to analyze, Wei Yan-ho was an unanalyzable person.

“He’s extremely impulsive and honest with his feelings. People usually have a tendency to move in their habitual ways, but this Wei Yan-ho is so swayed by his surroundings that even that tendency is ambiguous.”

Those with clear opinions are easy to predict.

But Wei Yan-ho had no opinions. The saying ‘earrings when hung on ears, nose rings when hung on the nose’ would best describe Wei Yan-ho’s opinions.

“How about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you infiltrate Wei Yan-ho’s quarters and observe him? Others’ eyes and my eyes are different. These paper scraps written by others based on their observations cannot be called living information. Can you go and confirm what kind of fellow he is?”

“Give the order. I will simply follow.”

“You would. Very well, go and see. Confirm what kind of person he is.”

“I receive your command!”

When the black-clad figure disappeared, Zhuge Mun-in reached for the teapot. Then he quietly poured tea into his cup.

“What kind of poison might be in this tea?”

Zhuge Mun-in lifted the teacup with an expectant expression.

The tea inside the cup was gently swirling.

“Whatever poison it is, it won’t matter. The poison you harbor toward me won’t match mine anyway.”

Zhuge Mun-in drank the tea in one gulp.