26 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

### Chapter 26: The Chairman - Anhui (7) * * * About an hour had passed. In front of Zhuge San stood a woman who had already made her preparations. "First, I'll take you out of the mansion to where your brother is. Do you have anywhere else to go? Perhaps distant relatives...?" "No, we don't. My brother and I were abandoned on the roadside when we were very young." "I see." The woman smiled slightly. "It's alright. I’m bringing a few valuables with me, so I can sell them and establish a foundation elsewhere. As you said, no one here would welcome me even if I stayed." Though her face bore a smile, the sorrow hidden beneath was evident. Zhuge San mulled over her words for a moment before asking another question. "Ah, now that I remember, what is the official seal the toad mentioned?" "Toad... Pfft!" The woman burst into laughter. After controlling her shaking shoulders, she regained her composure and answered. "It's exactly as it sounds. It's the head of the household's official seal, necessary for approving all of the family's business transactions." "Has it gone missing?" "Yes, and as you heard, the elder suspects me." "Hearing you speak, I doubt you have it." The woman chuckled bitterly and shook her head. "He wasn't responsible. If he was going to pass early, he should have handled the aftermath." The remark was directed at the late head of the family. Zhuge San made a contemplative sound before continuing. "It seems you didn't have a good relationship." "There wasn't much to call good or bad. It was a marriage of necessity." "Necessity?" "The head didn't want any in-laws who would threaten his position. I needed money to feed my starving brother. You could say it was a convergence of interests." "What a loveless story." "Romance doesn't put food on the table." Zhuge San chuckled lightly. "Can't argue with that." As he answered, something struck Zhuge San. "So that's why." The reason he dreamt such a dream during his nap must have been that this woman resembled his mother in several ways. How she was bold despite her appearance, her circumstances. And her willingness to sacrifice herself for her child. The woman had an aspect to her that evoked nostalgia in him. "Then, please take care of it." "Leave it to me." Zhuge San expanded his senses. "Are the guards unchanged?" The sun had fully set by now. It was likely that a change in personnel would occur soon. Zhuge San rolled the jade stones in his hand. "Seventeen left. I should’ve been more economical." This was tight. How he utilized these jade stones, essential for the makeshift formations, would determine the success of their escape. "Hero?" "Just a moment." Zhuge San closed his eyes. "Alright, let's see..." With his senses expanded and breath held, he felt the approaching presence. "It must be the shift change." The approaching shift change aligned with the guards. Immediately, they exchanged a few words among themselves before the old guard departed. "Now’s the time to go." With the guard just switched, it was the perfect moment to escape. "Excuse me." “Yes... Kyaah!” Zhuge San hoisted the woman onto his shoulders. She flailed in surprise before finally settling in Zhuge San's arms. "Hold on tight." He cast the jade stones he was holding out the window. Whish—! In total, four of them. The stones, extending in different directions, created a bizarre wave. "Yi-geok (一刻)." The formation, meant to disrupt perception, wouldn't last long since it was thrown to amplify its power. Zhuge San took a deep breath and unleashed his inner energy from his Dantian. And then. Tadak—. He leapt over the window sill. * Though it was a common estate, it was still the villa of a wealthy person. Furthermore, Zhuge San was in the challenging situation of carrying the weight of a helpless woman. Unlike when he had infiltrated, Zhuge San wasn't in a position of ease. Just as the formation dissipated. Having just passed the threshold of the inner house, Zhuge San panted as he hastened his steps towards the outskirts of the estate. 'Hoping they don’t notice the anomaly too soon.' He wished as he continued his steps, but as with all matters in the world, things rarely go smoothly. Ting-a-ling—! ­The madam has disappeared!­ ­Find her! I said find her!­ The sounds of bells. Along with the shouts infused with internal energy, the woman's body shuddered. "It seems we were discovered too quickly..." "Indeed. It appears their guard was more stringent than expected." Assuming the guard commander at the peak of first-rate was merely a sentry turned out to be a mistake; he must have possessed other skills beside martial arts. "Now what do we do?" "What else but run faster." Zhuge San forced a smile onto his face. With that, he twisted his steps in an odd manner. 'I don't want to waste energy here, but....' He couldn't afford to economize on internal energy if it meant inviting danger. As Zhuge San's feet glided just above the ground, the surroundings blurred and twisted. Footwork (步法), Heavenly Precursor Step (天機미리보). One of the secret martial arts passed down only to the direct line of the Zhuge Family head. The woman's eyes widened. "This is...." A mystical sensation overtook her. It felt as if only the space where he walked was a different realm. As if rippling water surrounded him and herself. Tadak—. Zhuge San’s pace quickened with urgency. Indeed, Zhuge San had become nervous, fully unleashing his martial arts. ‘This footwork works because it’s night.’ Footwork was different from formations. No matter how much essence of the family was poured into it, it couldn’t fundamentally twist perception. Since there was always a risk of being discovered and surrounded if he let his guard down and moved carelessly, he needed to move quickly while he still had internal energy. ‘I wish I had focused more on internal cultivation.’ He regretted his insufficient inner power. To the point that he wiped even the perpetual smile off his face, Zhuge San started to run even faster. And then he faced a crisis. * Clang—. The most outer perimeter of the estate. --- **Translation Notes** - The "옥돌" was translated as "jade stones," a literal translation as it accurately reflects the term's intended meaning within the narrative's context. - "일각(一刻)" was kept as "Yi-geok (一刻)" to respect the original term used, but can alternately be translated as "Moment" or "Short Time," representing the fleeting nature of the formation's effect. - "보법(步法), 천기미리보(天機미리보)" was translated as "Footwork (步法), Heavenly Precursor Step (天機미리보)." "Heavenly Precursor Step" reflects the mystical and advanced nature implied by "천기천미리보." - Suggestions: Add "옥돌" as "jade stones" and "보법, 천기미리보" as "Footwork, Heavenly Precursor Step" to the list for future context, indicating martial arts specific to Zhuge Family. ### Chapter 26: The Chairman - Anhui (7) * * * Dozens of figures unsheathed their swords. In the midst of them stood an elder, resembling a toad, with his hands behind his back, chuckling. "I knew it would come to this. You wretched girl." Zhuge San frowned. 'Damn it.' They were surrounded. This was a clear misjudgment. No, it wouldn't even be fair to call it a mistake. It was merely bad luck. Why did it have to be that the guards from the previous shift were still lingering in their path? "So, where is the official seal?" The elder stepped forward. His face was painted with unabashed greed. Like a child about to grab hold of precious jewels. The woman, suppressing her sense of helplessness, glared intensely at the elder. "...Didn't I already tell you I don't know?" "Then why are you running? No need to explain! Those damn merchants must have promised you safety in exchange for the seal, am I right? How much did they offer you? How much is your silence worth?!" "I really don't know...!" "Shut up!!!" The elder's face contorted grotesquely. "Still lying! You still lie when I know all about your schemes!!!" The woman's fists clenched tightly. Listening to the elder's blatant rage, her sense of injustice preceded any feelings of anger. "I'm merely leaving. I have no reason to stay here any longer, so I'm departing quietly. Why are you preventing even this? What wrong have I..." "You're of lowly birth!" Suddenly— The woman's body shook. No, it was Zhuge San, who was carrying her, that had trembled. "Lowly blood is always the same! Ingrateful vermin! Parasites that merely consume food! Idiots who can’t see beyond their noses! What else could creatures like you possibly think?!" These were baseless accusations. The elder's logic—or lack thereof—didn’t even warrant being called a rationale. It was purely emotional drivel. The woman finally understood. He didn't genuinely believe she had the seal. He just desperately wanted to believe it. With the head's seal missing and the family in turmoil, he needed someone to blame for his threatened position. She no longer knew what to say. The absurdity and hopelessness of it all made her eyes warm with the hint of tears. 'Is this all...' It was infuriating to be fleeing from an elder's paranoia. "What a despicable way you have with words." Suddenly, Zhuge San spoke up. The woman inhaled sharply, turning to look at him. Up until now, he had always worn a smile, but now, his eyes were filled with blood-red fury as he stared at the elder. "Are you senile from old age? How can someone speak in such a vile manner?" "And who might you be now?!" The elder stomped his foot. Staring at Zhuge San, who had suddenly begun hurling insults, the elder seemed to realize something, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "The merchant! You’re one of those merchant scoundrels, aren’t you?! I see... so if it’s a merchant's lackey, they might slip past the guards into the inner house!" The elder laughed heartily. "Fine, I will take my time with you. Drag you to the deepest part of the compound, make you beg us to confess the truth!" "Well, before that, your head might fly off first. I must apologize in advance; no matter how neatly I slice, it won't look good with your wrinkled face." "You...!" The elder's body trembled with rage. Zhuge San glared at him, pretending to be composed. Still, internally, he was burning with anxiety. There were too many foes, and his internal energy was lacking from using his footwork to get here. If he were alone, escaping through a single weak spot might be possible, but with a pregnant woman hanging on his back, it was another matter. 'If I reveal my family...' Announcing his family background might get him out of this bind. However, doing so wouldn't guarantee the woman's safety, and relying on his family's prestige was something Zhuge San would rather die than resort to. It was a stalemate. With a hollow laugh, Zhuge San spoke. "I'm sorry. It seems I've led us into unnecessary trouble." "...It's alright. Seeing that crazy old man, even staying inside wouldn’t have been safe. At least we've resisted." "The child..." "I'll find a way to have it. Once they know I carry the head's child, they won't harm me immediately. Well, after that, who knows." "That's a relief." After their brief exchange, the elder shouted once more. "Attack! I said attack! Cut that damned fool's legs and bring me the woman!" The elder bellowed. Simultaneously, the martial artists charged. Zhuge San's body was on the verge of being cut apart when something unexpected happened. Baaang—! A heavy impact sound echoed. It was a dull thud, like a blunt object striking down, which froze the movements of both the martial artists and Zhuge San. Though it was only a short opening, for someone, it felt like a gap long enough to yawn. Bang—! Bang—! Baaaang—! In an instant, the sound of multiple impacts overlapped. Immediately, the martial artists guarding the wall crumbled, and a figure appeared. Zhuge San blankly murmured as he looked towards the source. "Mok- brother..." It was Mok Liwon. Though clad in a black mask and covered head to toe in some ragged cloth, Zhuge San recognized him from his exposed eyes and the beauty they hinted at. Mok Liwon approached Zhuge San with leisurely steps. Though his movements were slow, none among those present were able to hinder him. This was because the aura he emitted was both heavy and majestic. "How did you..." Zhuge San inquired. Mok Liwon directed his gaze precisely towards him through his mask, offering a gentle smile. "Didn't I say I'd perform a heroic act? I couldn't possibly miss something like that." Faced with his response, which seemed as if he were only doing what came naturally, Zhuge San could only manage a hollow laugh. "Indeed..." Was there truly a person as peculiar as this? **Translation Notes:** - Elder: In this context, translated from "장로," meaning senior figure or elder. Acts as the authority figure in this scene. Other translations could include "old man" or "senior." - Panic Dialogue: "이년" or "wretched girl" is used by the elder to belittle her, showcasing his disdainful attitude. - Phrase "곤란도 못할 일": Directly translated as "couldn't even call it a mistake," showing that the character felt the probability was just against them. - Wordplay: "염병할" translates to "Damn it," which conveys frustration. As such thoughts crossed his mind, Mok Liwon pointed at the elder and asked, "Are they enemies?" "By my standards, they are." "Then, they must be enemies indeed." The elder, making eye contact with Mok Liwon, trembled and took a step back. 'W-What is this...?' Even as someone entirely ignorant of martial arts, the elder could feel the overwhelming aura. His presence was immensely intimidating. "Go on. I'll handle things here." Mok Liwon tapped his shoulder with his sword's sheath. He then took a step forward, but suddenly paused. "Oh." Words quietly spoken. Mok Liwon glanced at Zhuge San and continued in a voice that seemed almost desperate, "Keep it a secret from the young lady. I snuck out, and it'll be troublesome if I'm found out." The scar from a pinch on Mok Liwon's cheek, beneath the mask, was something no one present would ever know about. **Translation Notes:** - "악적" or "enemies" is translated here from the context of villainous figures or antagonists. - "소저" or "young lady" connotes a term of respect, befitting someone of higher status or endearment, potentially someone Mok Liwon cares deeply about. - This dialogue captures Mok Liwon's playful secrecy and possible romantic undertone in his interactions.