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nKo Seh Bum, the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.

nHe was the adopted son of the former Alliance leader and was said to have talents for martial arts that only appears once every five hundred years.

nHe had two subordinates.

nThey were the two people who helped him the most to become the alliance leader.

nOne of them was Zhuge Mi Ryeo.

n“It’s been a while, Elder Ho-nim.”

nZhuge Mi Ryeo gently alighted to the ground like a fairy from the sky and smiled elegantly.

n– Young master-nim, she is the one who is currently responsible for all of the Martial Arts Alliance’s strategies. Apparently even the Alliance leader needs her permission to move a large number of troops.

nCale listened to Chief Eunuch Wi’s information as he watched the gate to the Martial Arts Alliance castle open.

n– That is Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s top assistant, Zhuge Eun So. She is Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s disciple and is accepted as the future Chief Advisor.

n“It has been so long, Elder Ho-nim.”

nZhuge Eun So smiled brightly and bowed respectfully.

nChief Advisor Zhuge Mi Ryeo. Zhuge Eun So, who was standing slightly behind her.

n– …They are called Big Ghost and Little Ghost.

nCale looked at the two people after hearing what Chief Eunuch Wi finally said after a while of hesitation.

nZhuge Mi Ryeo…

nShe was over fifty years old and had been by Ko Seh Bum’s side since they were younger. She was giving off the aura of someone who had been through numerous battlefields.

nAs for Zhuge Eun So…

nShe seemed to be in her mid to late twenties and gave off a cute aura while her eyes showed brilliance.

n“It is an honor to meet you like this, young master Kim-nim.”

nZhuge Mi Ryeo showed respect to Cale at that moment.

n‘As expected of the advisor!’

nChief Eunuch Wi was amazed by her action.

nThe Chief Advisor was said to have meaning behind even the smallest actions she took.

n‘It has not even been an hour since we came to Wuhan.’

nCale’s group had openly entered Wuhan with Elder Ho, the rising stars, and the members of the Martial Arts Alliance.

nThey then headed immediately for the Martial Arts Alliance.

nBasically, it meant that the Chief Advisor figured out their location and came out to greet them like this in less than an hour.

n‘Furthermore, the amount of respect the Chief Advisor showed the young master-nim right now is excessive for a normal young master!’

nHowever, it was not formal enough to address a member of the Imperial family.

nThis meant that she knew he was a member of the Imperial family but that he wanted to hide his identity. As a result, she was only greeting him with this level of formality.

n‘They say that you need to be careful around Zhuge Mi Ryeo because her words and actions are hiding daggers.’

nChief Eunuch Wi gulped.

n‘This won’t be easy.’

nOne way to suppress the opponent was through force and spirit, but Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s methods were just as ferocious as a battlefield.

n‘It looks like I will need to step in.’

nIt was highly likely that an esteemed individual like young master Kim Hae-il would not be good at a battle of words.

nThat was why it would be better for him to step in as someone who has fought battles with this blade called words in the Imperial Palace.

n“It is my honor as well to meet such an esteemed individual in person.”

nZhuge Eun So greeted with respect as well and the Chief Advisor smiled gently while speaking to Cale.

n“The Alliance leader-nim is waiting for you, sir.”

nThe person the Alliance leader was waiting for…

nThe moment the Chief Advisor said those words, the guards at the gate as well as everybody around them flinched and observed Cale.

nEverybody even quieted their breathing.

n‘It is time for me to step in.’

nChief Eunuch Wi took a step forward. He and Elder Ho exchanged glances at that moment as well.

n– Elder Ho-nim, this is not the time for us to have a battle of spirit. You know that, right?

n– Ahem. Of course!

nElder Ho peeked at young master Kim while responding to Chief Eunuch Wi’s sound transmission.

nYoung master Kim was just standing there smiling. Elder Ho got the chills even more after seeing that.

nHe wanted to immediately tell Zhuge Mi Ryeo something.

n‘Chief Advisor! This is not the time to have a battle of spirit with young master Kim!’

nThe way she used her martial arts to climb over the castle wall to how Zhuge Mi Ryeo brought her disciple, Zhuge Eun So and even mentioned the Martial Arts Alliance leader, she looked ready to fight young master Kim to gather information.

n‘It is understandable.’

nHe could understand her train of thought.

n‘She doesn’t know anything.’

nYoung master Kim, the benefactor of the Namgung Clan.

nThat and the fact that he is a member of the Imperial family are probably the only things they knew about him.

n‘They don’t know much about the Blood Cult or the Great War of the Triumvirate yet.’

nThey also didn’t know about young master Kim’s true identity.

nThat was why they would scope things out as usual and try to suppress the competition.

n‘That only works against someone within reasonable standards! Young master Kim is a heaven above the heavens!’ (TL: I.e. best of the best)

nHeaven above the heavens.

nThat was the evaluation Elder Ho made of young master Kim and the warning he gave in his message that he sent to the leader of the Beggars’ Gang.

n“Ahem.”

nHe let out a fake cough and stepped forward with Chief Eunuch Wi.

nIt was at that moment.

n“To come out in advance to greet me like this, I truly am touched.”

nCale started speaking first.

nThe smile on Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s face became bigger after hearing his comment.

n‘I heard that he is a member of the Imperial family and the benefactor of the Namgung Clan. Yet he is so humble.’

nThis young master Kim was acting confidently but with just the right amount of respect.

nAt the same time, his tone was very humble.

n‘Is it an act or is it character that he was born with?’

nHer sharp gaze was hidden by her gentle smile as she looked at him.

n“Touched? We just did what we should do. Will you be heading to see the alliance leader-nim right away, sir?”

nChief Eunuch Wi’s eyebrow slightly twitched at Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s comment.

nThis was what she was saying to Cale’s group.

nEven if you are a member of the Imperial family, this is the Martial Arts Alliance.

nThat is why despite the fact that you have come a long way, we cannot just provide a place for all of you to stay in the Martial Arts Alliance.

nAs a result, meet with the alliance leader, take care of business, and leave.

nThis had caused Chief Eunuch Wi’s gaze to fill slightly with anger.

nHowever, this was an expected action from Zhuge Mi Ryeo.

n‘How did they get here to Wuhan so quickly from Anhui Province?’

nThey had information about when young master Kim’s group had arrived at the Namgung Clan, but they did not have any information about them leaving.

nThey must have moved stealthily.

nHowever, them arriving at Wuhan right now still did not make sense with the distance calculation.

n‘I need to be wary.’

nZhuge Mi Ryeo was already having quite the headache these days because of the Unorthodox faction and the Demon Cult.

nHaving someone like young master Kim, who had the Imperial Palace on his back, appear at such a time had her senses fully alert.

n“Hmm.”

nCale smiled for a bit as if he was placed in an awkward position.

n“Meeting the Alliance leader-nim right away is great, but…”

nHe touched his chin with his hand and contemplated something.

nHe then took a look at Zhuge Mi Ryeo and then at Zhuge Eun So.

nZhuge Mi Ryeo spoke gently after noticing his gaze.

n“Is there something you wish to say sir? Or maybe there is something you wish to do before that?”

nCale nonchalantly commented at that moment.

n“There are a total of five people from the Zhuge Clan in the Martial Arts Alliance. At least counting only the ones at the middle-grade executive level.”

n“…Sir, may I ask your reasoning about mentioning that?”

nUnlike Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s gentle reaction, her mind was getting complicated again.

n‘Is he trying to emphasize to me, the Chief Advisor, that he has information about the Zhuge Clan?’

nWas he trying to suppress her spirit?

nThe moment she had that thought…

n“Of those five, two happen to be right here.”

nBefore she could even analyze the meaning behind his words…

nYoung master Kim nonchalantly continued.

n“This is a great opportunity.”

n‘A great opportunity?

nWhat does he mean by that?’

nThe moment she had that thought…

n“Noble Warrior Do.”

nYoung master Kim raised his hand and called someone over.

n“Ah. His thoughts are so deep!”

nZhuge Mi Ryeo saw Chief Eunuch Wi suddenly gasp in admiration and stop moving forward.

n“Yes, young master-nim.”

nZhuge Mi Ryeo then saw an old man responding with an extremely respectful pose.

n‘Hmm?’

nHowever, the old man’s appearance was weird.

nFrom his nose to his mouth… Was covered by a white cloth.

nThe old man took the cloth off.

n‘Hmm?’

nShe then noticed that the old man’s nose was plugged.

n‘What kind of grotesque……’

nBefore Zhuge Mi Ryeo could even have that thought…

nThe old man released the thin cloth plugging his nostrils.

nHe opened his mouth with a bright smile.

n“Now I can breathe a little bet-”

nThat was it.

n“Ugh!”

nCale’s eyes clouded over after seeing that reaction and then he flinched.

n“Ugh!”

nDurst covered his nose with both hands.

nHis body curled forward.

n“Aaaack!”

nHe then started dry heaving.

n“S, such a terrible stench, aaaaaaack-!”

nHe continued to sound like he was going to barf without being able to speak properly.

n“Ugh! Such a dirty stench, aaaaaaaaack-”

nIt was quite severe.

nHe looked as if he might start barfing at any moment.

n– …Human, Durst has a dog’s nose.

nCale, who was listening to Raon’s blanking out mumbling, had also frozen for a bit at Durst’s intense reaction.

nAs the two people from the Zhuge Clan blankly watched this sudden situation…

nAn odd air current flowed between Cale’s group and Elder Ho.

nThey had realized it as well.

nOne of these two women was a living jiangshi.

n“U, unbelievable-”

nElder Ho subconsciously commented and his face turned white.

nHe knew that there was a living jiangshi within the Martial Arts Alliance and that it was a member of the Zhuge Clan.

nHowever, it was bad if it was one of these two people.

n‘The current Chief Advisor… And the future Chief Advisor. One of these two people is the Blood Cult’s puppet?!’

nElder Ho’s body turned cold as if his whole body had fallen into a cold lake.

nZhuge Mi Ryeo watched this and had a thought.

n‘Something’s wrong.’

nZhuge Mi Ryeo motioned to her disciple, Zhuge Eun So with her eyes.

nThe sharp Zhuge Eun So noticed and stepped forward after nodding her head.

nZhuge Mi Ryeo watched this and spoke to young master Kim.

n“It looks like it would be good to send that sir to a doctor.”

n“Yes ma’am. Mm.”

nCale debated for a moment before continuing in a nonchalant tone.

n“May I leave Noble Warrior Do in your top assistant’s care? I need to see the Alliance leader-nim first.”

n“Of course.”

nShe motioned with her eyes and Zhuge Eun So approached Durst.

nCale watched her with a casual face but an attentive gaze.

n“Noble Warrior. I shall escort you to the doctor.”

nThe moment Zhuge Eun So smiled gently and approached him…

n“Ugh!”

nDurst tried to squeeze his nose with both hands.

nHowever, as if he didn’t even have the time to do that…

n“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack—-”

nHis dry heaves became even worse.

nBoth Zhuge Mi Ryeo and Zhuge Eun So became anxious.

n“Ugh, ugh! Such stench-! Ugh!”

nDurst was surprised as well.

nHe had never smelled something so terrible in his life.

n“Ack, ack, aaaaack-!”

nThese continuous dry heaves made Cale subconsciously comment.

n“He might die like that. Choi Han.”

n“Yes sir.”

nChoi Han, who had been standing next to Cale, started moving. He was able to get next to Durst without any issues because everybody was anxious about Durst’s extremely intense dry heaves.

nHe then picked Durst up.

n“I will take him to the doctor.”

nHe then approached Zhuge Mi Ryeo’s side with Durst.

n“Huff. Huff.”

nDurst’s dry heaves became better than earlier.

nHe quickly pulled a cloth out and blocked his nose again.

n“T, this is a stench I would be able to smell from even 100 meters away!”

nThe comments he made intermittently in between the dry heaves made Cale have the answer.

nRaon seemed to know the answer as well as he spoke to Cale.

n– Human! That Zhuge Eun So person must be the living jiangshi! That reaction from Durst wouldn’t come out unless it was a living jiangshi! She must be an amazing living jiangshi at that!

nThe excitedly speaking Raon suddenly stopped.

n– …An amazing… living jiangshi……?

nRaon didn’t show his invisible self, but Cale felt as if everything around him was getting cold.

n– …To purify something amazing… our human… Will he faint?

nCale ignored Raon’s mumbling, which he was purposely delivering into Cale’s mind.

nInstead, he took turns looking at Chief Eunuch Wi, the Fist King, Elder Ho, and Lee Soo Hyuk.

nThey all nodded their heads.

nCale nonchalantly commented.

n“I can see their thoughts.”

nThe living jiangshis.

nAlthough he had only seen two of them now, the Blood Cult’s thoughts on using them… He felt as if he understood.

nChief Eunuch Wi must have understood as well as he sent a sound transmission.

n– It looks like the Blood Cult was planning on destroying the Martial Arts world through the Great War of the Triumvirate and use the living jiangshis to take control of the next generation of the Martial Arts world.

nNamgung Tae Wi had been skilled enough to be a squad leader in the Namgung Clan’s core force, the Heavenly Guardians.

nHe would have been a core executive of the next generation of the Namgung Clan.

nThe Chief Advisor was a central figure in the Martial Arts Alliance. Zhuge Eun So was the most likely candidate to have that position next.

nShe would be at the center of the next generation’s Martial Arts Alliance’s strategies and administration.

nCale looked at Zhuge Mi Ryeo.

nShe looked shocked but not shaken.

nIn fact, she was looking at him with an even clearer gaze now.

nCale spoke to her.

n“Let’s go to the Alliance leader.”

nChief Eunuch Wi spoke at that moment.

n– If we use this situation properly, the Chief Advisor and the top executives will put everything they have toward the destruction of the Blood Cult to clear their sin of bringing a living jiangshi into their organization.

nA gentle smile appeared on Cale’s face.

n– Human! You keep smiling like the crown prince! I wonder if the crown prince is eating properly. I’m curious!

nCale listened to Raon’s rambling as he entered the Martial Arts Alliance.

nWhile that was going on…

nThe walls surrounding Wuhan… A soldier who was standing in the watchtower looking out in the distance with binoculars subconsciously started speaking.

n“T, that is the Embroidered Uniform Guard……!”

nThe Emperor was the symbol of the center of the Central Plains.

nThe guards who protected the Emperor, the martial artists who were called the Sword of the Emperor, were approaching Wuhan with their red clothes fluttering in the wind.

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nTranslator’s Comments

nThe dementors, I mean the Embroidered Uniform Guards are coming.

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