Chapter 78
“Garim, that’s enough. Thank you. I’m always indebted to you.”
Zhuge Sochu smiled brightly.
“How could a little fanning ever repay the grace of taking in someone like me, who had nowhere to go?”
“Haha. If anything, it’s we who are grateful. The Zhuge Clan has lost many talents…”
Baek Garim—he was the man Zhuge Cheon had one day suddenly brought home. At first, everyone was suspicious of his origins and kept their distance.
But Baek Garim was quick-witted and polite. His sharp awareness and considerate demeanor won over people’s hearts in an instant.
And on top of that—he was strong.
Despite not belonging to any sect, and despite having only learned basic martial arts that anyone could pick up, he was strong enough to defeat decent-level martial artists.
But what made people think highly of him above all else was his intellect.
The Zhuge Clan prized brilliance, so it was only natural that he fit right in.
Recently, it was said he even attended meetings of the Martial Alliance as a strategist in Zhuge Cheon’s stead.
Again, Zhuge Sochu found himself thinking of Zhuge Haesu.
Haesu… you were clever enough as well. If only you had used that intelligence properly, as a direct descendant you might have been recognized even more than Baek Garim…
Zhuge Haesu was as intelligent as Baek Garim, but unlike him, he wasn’t gentle.
Perhaps because he had been compared too harshly with Zhuge Sagun, his personality had grown twisted.
Thinking that far, Zhuge Sochu let out a long sigh.
“To have lost a talent… Has there still been no word of Young Master Haesu?”
“Ah, I have a rough idea of where that brat is wandering.”
A few days ago, a message had come from Namgung Seonyul.
It said Zhuge Haesu was currently staying at the Namgung Clan.
The news was unexpected.
He should have been searching for Zhuge Sagun, yet for some reason he was in the Namgung household. There was no guessing what that boy was thinking.
And Haesu also seemed convinced that even if his whereabouts were revealed, the Zhuge Clan wouldn’t come for him.
Because he believed he was a “discarded child.”
…Haesu. I will catch you, no matter what.
He didn’t know what Zhuge Cheon-hyungnim was thinking, but he was determined to seize Haesu.
He’d catch that brat and make him pay back the wealth he had stolen!
“Will he not return? I’m quite worried for the young master myself.”
“How should I know what that brat is thinking!”
“Please calm yourself, Patriarch.”
“Sigh…”
“But Patriarch.”
“Hm?”
“I’ve actually heard something strange.”
“What news?”
Baek Garim’s expression tightened in concern.
“Someone claims to have seen a man who looks very similar to Young Master Haesu in Yangyang.”
“W‑what? That brat Haesu!”
“If the rumor is true, perhaps the young master will visit the clan soon?”
“How should I know!”
He said that, but the chances were slim. If the brat had even a shred of conscience.
Still, if he had come all the way to Yangyang… he’d at least like to see the boy’s face again.
Zhuge Sochu decided it was time he left the clan for a while.
The next day, Soso ate breakfast with Namgung Jin and Zhuge Haesu.
Namgung Jin shared the report Daewoo had given upon returning from Wuhan at dawn.
“…And shortly after we left for Yangyang, Myung abruptly ran out of the inn. The attendant tried to catch him but lost him almost immediately.”
“How could something like that happen…?”
“Daewoo searched the area thoroughly and posted a notice, but no one has seen a child resembling Myung.”
It was strange.
A young Taoist acolyte in Wudang robes—cute enough to draw attention. Someone should’ve seen him.
But Myung had vanished like smoke.
His first appearance was bizarre, but his disappearance was just as abrupt.
What on earth was he?
Could the child have realized even he was the Ten‑Thousand‑Year Snow Ginseng?
One thing was clear—the boy left of his own will.
No threats, no kidnapping. He walked out of the inn himself.
To go somewhere—or to meet someone.
“Where could he have gone?”
“Perhaps he returned to Wudang, but we have too little information to draw conclusions.”
“I regret not asking him what I needed to… and I’m also worried.”
Even if he had carried her around recklessly as the precious ginseng, he was still just a child.
And this was too harsh a world for a child to travel alone.
Soso wanted—at the very least—to know where he’d gone, even if she had to scold him afterward.
“Will he be all right?”
“He’s more cunning than he appears. And I think his disappearing carries some meaning.”
Zhuge Haesu, who had been listening quietly, spoke up to support Namgung Jin.
“Jin is right. To be frank, I found the way he suddenly appeared from nowhere quite unsettling. A Wudang acolyte eating meat without hesitation—odd. I think it’s fortunate we parted ways before it led to bigger troubles.”
“That’s surprisingly accurate.”
“Jin, did you hear that? That is your elder brother’s perception.”
“….”
Namgung Jin ignored Haesu’s last remark entirely and looked at Soso.
“So now all that’s left is visiting the Dragon Gate?”
At that moment, Sahu slipped into the inn without anyone noticing and sat naturally beside Soso.
“You’re visiting the Dragon Gate before the Zhuge Clan?”
“Sahu Sohyeop! Did you take care of your personal matters?”
“Yes.”
That was when the inn became noisy.
Several men wearing clothes embroidered with the character 黑 (black) entered loudly.
Four men in total, all armed.
Sahu examined them one by one.
They were definitely stronger than the ones he’d silenced with dumplings before, but still small fry.
While watching, he met eyes with one of them.
He stood at the front and had fairly decent internal energy—likely their leader.
“You wearing the black hat and black clothes! Are you the bastard who dared to lay hands on Sangho and our members?!”
So they’d come for revenge, pathetic as it was.
Sahu let out a long, bored yawn.
“If you refuse to answer, I’ll cut off your head!”
“I have taken care of a few trouble‑starting thugs, yes. You’re noisy.”
“We’ll never let you—!”
Just as the men raised their blades toward Sahu—
“I’ll take your— Aaargh!”
It took only a single wave of the hand.
Sahu’s gentle motion sent all four men flying like fallen leaves, crashing against the wall.
Pathetically weak, yet endlessly charging at him—displeasing, and boring.
While Sahu looked completely uninterested, everyone in the inn stared wide‑eyed at his display.
Namgung Jin’s eyes especially sparkled.
No matter how many times I see it, I can’t tell what martial art he’s using.
Sahu’s movements were too clean—precisely because of that, his techniques were impossible to identify.
He showed no martial art that revealed his origins.
If only he would show something unusual…
At that moment, the man who seemed to be the leader jumped up, shouting fearlessly.
“I’ll kill you no matter what!”
“How utterly annoying.”
Sahu was about to kill him—when suddenly a fun idea occurred to him.
“Zhuge Haesu, you deal with him.”
