Episode 100:


    Zhuge Hye.


    Direct descendant of the Zhuge family.


    A woman believed to be Earth Dragon’s twin sister.


    A mysterious being shrouded in mystery.


    I don’t know what her intention was, but she officially invited me to her residence.


    Seeing as they asked me toe with the rest of the group, I thought it might have been simply a ce to build friendships, but somehow the real purpose seemed to be something else.


    There were a total of four people, excluding me, who epted the invitation.


    Cheon Garyeong, Tang Seoyeon, Cheonwoo Dojang, and Damun.


    Seo Ho-seon seemed ufortable participating in a meeting hosted by thete Jisoo of the prestigious Sega, so he waved his hand and expressed his refusal.


    As I headed to the manor she told me about with my group, Iughed out loud.


    I said it felt vaguely familiar, and it turned out to be the manor I had reached after backtracking on a follower not long ago.


    ‘Now that I think about it, the battle was spread out across the entire manor.’


    I wondered if the manor, which requires a huge amount of money to create and maintain, wasid out all over therge site because it was a manor of a certain status, but it seems to have been a vi used by the direct descendants of the Zhuge family.


    At the entrance to the manor stood a man with a familiar face.


    I don’t know his name, but I remember him as the leader of the warriors who guarded Zhuge Hye.


    “I’ll take you inside the manor. “The lines are spread out, so be careful and follow me.”


    “All right.”


    As I passed through the entrance, a well-manicured garden came into view.


    The sound of Cheon Ga-ryeong letting out an exmation was heard from behind.


    Perhaps, before her eyes, the scene of the people in front of her disappearing like smoke due to the formation was unfolding.


    I walked after the warrior and asked him a question.


    “Can I ask you a question?”


    “Ask anything.”


    “What is your name?”


    “It’s called Chuso. You can call us at your convenience. “I feel burdened when you call me that high.”


    Musa Chu scratched his cheek and answered awkwardly.


    The person who nced at this person looked like someone who was up to something.


    -Why was the warrior following me?


    -……!


    Musa Chu’s face became as hard as stone.


    My gait became unnatural and the movements of my arms became stiff.


    -It didn’t seem like he was trying to cause any harm, so I just let it go that time, but there won’t be a next time.


    -I will keep this in mind.


    -If you are thinking of receiving Gongcheong Petroleum from me, please give up. Even if you ask me to pay twice as much, I won’t hand it over.


    Musa Chu nodded heavily.


    Dojang Cheonwoo and Seoyeon Tang took turns looking at Musa Chu and me with puzzled expressions.


    “This is the ce.”


    After entering the hall pointed out by Musa Chu, my group and I were soon able toe face to face with Zhuge Hui.


    A ‘gasping’ moan came from behind.


    When I nced back, I saw Dojang Cheonwoo had stopped walking and was looking straight ahead with a nk expression.


    ‘That’s amazing.’


    Zhuge Hye’s beauty, which I saw with my own eyes, was at an incredible level.


    The expression that rumors are not as good as reality is probably used in times like these.


    I heard that the appearance of the earth dragon that appeared at an official event was outstanding enough to attract even the female monks of Botaam.


    ‘If the original background supports it, even if it is reversed, it will still be bad.’


    Smooth skin with no blemishes visible, sharp nose, lips like cherry, eyes curved like a crescent moon.


    She wore a silk bow with light pink stripes and simple jewelry on her ears and neck.


    Her hair was neatly tied up and held in ce with a hairpin, leaving her pure white nape exposed.


    It was no wonder that Dojang Cheonwoo reacted in a dazed manner.


    As for my personal impressions, I don’t think it would be inferior at allpared to Cheon Ga-ryeong or Cheonhwa Cheonnyeo, who is called the Four Rivers Best Beauty.


    “thank you for the invitation.”


    “I prepared a lot of things in my own way, and I hope you enjoy it enough.”


    After exchanging greetings with a light bow, they followed Zhuge Hye and entered the pavilion connected to the pavilion.


    The table spread out in the middle of the pavilion was filled with precious delicacies from the mountains and the sea.


    The host, Zhuge Hye, sat at the head table, and my group, including myself, took the remaining seats.


    Dojang Cheonwoo, who was pushed out by Damun after fighting fiercely alone to sit next to Jegalhye, looked dejected.


    “long time no see. “Sama… no, Brother Dam.”


    “A long time.”


    Zhuge Hye and Damun exchanged friendly yet awkward greetings.


    I stopped my hand from picking up the chopsticks and looked at the two people in turn.


    ‘Now that I think about it, I heard that the two of you were spherical.’


    Just as Damun knew about Zhugehye, Zhugehye also knew about Damun.


    Also about his origins and current situation.


    “I have heard well about your brother’s activities.”


    “I have heard so much about the Earth Dragon’s reputation. “Thanks to being active in the same time slot, I also earned the cool nickname ‘Chiunryong.’”


    “…I feel sorry for some reason.”


    “There is no reason for you to be sorry. “After hearing the nickname ‘Chiunryong’, I think it’s not as bad as I thought.”


    “…….”


    The food was delicious.


    The liquor served by the husband-inw was of high quality, worthy of being called famous liquor.


    After finishing the meal, the priests cleared the table and brought out a table and teaware.


    We sat around the beautiful pavilion, savored the scent of tea, and chatted for a while.


    Zhuge Hye got to the point.


    “Yeon Sohyeop. “There is one thing I would like to ask.”


    “……?”


    “Are you interested in joining the small cooperative?”


    “I’ve been getting a lot of simr questionstely.”


    “It seems like there was someone else besides me who asked the same question.”


    “Yeah whatever. “Senior Sohyeongeom, the elder of the n, or senior Mujon, the leader of the n.”


    “Mu muzon!?”


    Dojang Cheonwoo squirted out the tea in his mouth.


    Suddenly, Damun, who was sitting next to him, was shocked.


    “I’m sorry. “Stop being so surprised.”


    “……it’s okay.”


    Damun frowned and took a dry towel from Shibi and wiped his face.


    Zhuge Hye opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.


    “I didn’t know that Yeon Sohyeop was also close to Maengju.”


    “We are not particrly close friends. “I just had a brief conversation with the leader who came to see the event during the preliminaries of thepetition.”


    “…….”


    “To answer the question, it is true that the intention is to be blind. However, I have no intention of belonging to a specific faction.”


    “Why?”


    “Because I don’t want my range of maneuver to be narrowed.”


    “I hate to say this, but for that reason, I think it’s better to belong to a faction. “If you don’t belong to any faction, you will be subject to considerable checks.”


    “I have something else in mind regarding that part.”


    “Is that so…”


    Zhuge Hye licked his lips with regret.


    Feeling puzzled, I turned to her and asked.


    “But why are you asking that?”


    “This time, I am also joining the membership.”


    “yes?”


    “Recently, my twin brother’s physical condition has greatly improved. To the extent that it does not interfere with daily life at all. “I no longer need to act as a substitute, so now I have to find my own life.”


    It seems that the hypothesis that Ji-ryong was Zhuge Hye’s twin brother was correct.


    I said, putting the tea cup down on the table.


    “Congrattions.”


    “thank you.”


    “But why the Murim Alliance? “With Sojeo’s ability, he would be able to rise to an important position in the family even if he does not join the n.”


    “I don’t want toplicate the session issue. The voices supporting me within the family are growing louder…”


    “I understand what you mean. So, Sojeo, are you going straight into the military department?”


    “Not immediately. “You should start by helping with chores and gradually work your way up.”


    “…….”


    I sighed andughed.


    Even if she started from the bottom and worked her way up, her advancement speed would be so fast that it could not even bepared to that of an ordinary swordsman.


    Ability, background and even background.


    Because he is a character who is missing nothing.


    “I guess this was the purpose of setting up this ce today.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Let’s get along well with our ssmates from now on. “I think that’s roughly what it means, but am I mistaken?”


    “Is it obvious like that?”


    “He must have been thinking of dragging me into the faction that senior Jegal-Hwan, a soldier of the Alliance, belongs to.”


    “I was rejected before I could even say anything.”


    I scoffed in my heart.


    Even if I had intended to belong to a specific faction, I would not have epted her rmendation.


    There are various factions within the Murim Alliance.


    The factions, divided ording to their own interests and purposes, werergely divided into two groups: the first was the Maengju faction (派) and the second was the senior faction (派).


    And the faction to which Zhuge Huan belonged belonged to the former.


    It could be said that this is a faction that anyone who dreams of bing an elder should never join.


    I narrowed my eyes and nced at Zhuge Hye.


    The sight of her sighing softly and pouring tea into an empty cup was so beautiful that it reminded me of a fairy from a fairy tale.


    ‘Maybe I’ll have an antagonistic rtionship with her.’


    I spoke to her with a wide smile, hiding my true feelings.


    “Please take care of me in the future.”


    “Please take care of me.”


    Was I jealous of the warm atmosphere?


    Dojang Cheonwoo tilted his teacup and muttered.


    “Should I join the union at this point?…”


    No, you can’t join the union.


    What will happen to the Hwasan Sect if the next Plum Blossom God Sword leaves the reclusive world and settles down in the secr world?


    * * *


    Three dayster, the day of the second preliminary round arrived.


    This test site was the training center within the Murim Alliance.


    Large rocks ced at regr intervals in the vast training ground stood out.


    A test tube wearing a ceremonial uniform embroidered with a pattern symbolizing the Jujakdae (朱雀隊) was ced on the podium.


    Among the Four Gods, the Suzakudae is the only groupprised entirely of women.


    Although its size was smallpared to other armed forces, the average level of armed forces of its members was known to be quite high.


    The middle-aged woman on the podium also seemed like an ordinary person, giving off a heavy prayer.


    Even at a nce, it was clear that he was a strong man who had reached the pinnacle of excellence.


    Jujakdaewon (朱雀隊員) exined the content of the exam concisely.


    “Everyone, use your martial skills and leave scars on the rock.”


    While the first test assessed basic skills such as internal strength and stamina, the second test seemed to confirm the power of the martial arts that the participant had learned.


    One participant raised his hand curiously and asked.


    “Is it okay to destroy the rock?”


    The Suzaku member twitched his lips and nodded.


    “Does not matter. “If you can, do it.”