Cheon Mubaeck sorted out the past situation of Lotus Pavilion and the Black Heart Gang and also set a future direction.

He decided to move as soon as the date and place of the Black Assembly were set.

After returning to the escort agency, he had dinner with his family.

“I’ve heard all about what happened. The situation in the martial world is surprising, but to risk danger for the sake of the escort agency and save the daughter of the Zhuge Clan. Truly admirable. My son!”

Cheon Mungyeong said with delight.

“They made a request to the escort agency, so I just did it.”

“I heard from Yuhwa, but it wouldn’t have been an easy request, yet you took care of both the justification and the practical benefits. With this, it has become much easier for our escort agency to advance into Hubei Province. Since the Zhuge Clan will surely provide convenience.”

Cheon Mubaeck slowly nodded his head.

Although they had made a request and a contract and fulfilled it, given the situation, it could be seen that the Zhuge Clan and the Azure Star Escort Agency had formed a rather deep connection.

Didn’t Zhuge Seola say it with her own mouth? That she had received a great favor.

Given the nature of the martial world where favors and grudges are not forgotten, the Azure Star Escort Agency had gained a great opportunity.

As dinner was coming to an end, Cheon Mungyeong said somewhat cautiously.

“There’s an escort mission to Hubei scheduled soon, so how about stopping by the Zhuge Clan on the way?”

“…?”

Cheon Mubaeck tilted his head.

“Well, what would be the problem with that? Since we’ve formed a connection, we can exchange greetings.”

When Cheon Mubaeck answered so, Cheon Mungyeong’s expression brightened somewhat. Cheon Yuhwa’s eyes, who was next to him, also sparkled.

“Right? It would be better for someone who has already met them to go.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I heard you spent quite a long time together while saving the daughter of the Zhuge Clan.”

Cheon Mungyeong’s voice became subtle. The way he flared his nostrils made it seem like he had something he wanted to say but was forcibly holding it in and changing the subject.

“Well, her physical condition was not good, so I was with her for a while to treat her internal injuries.”

Somehow, a strange smile appeared on Cheon Mungyeong’s face. Cheon Yuhwa also looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“On the way to the escort mission, it seems like a pretty good idea to say hello and continue the connection. Of course, before you go, how about sending a letter to ask if she’s okay first?”

“A letter?”

“Yes. How about sending a letter to Zhuge Seola to say that you will be visiting soon?”

At Cheon Mungyeong’s gaze, Cheon Mubaeck tilted his head.

Cheon Mubaeck didn’t want to head to the Zhuge Clan at this point. He had to participate in the upcoming Black Assembly, so he had to focus his attention on that.

Of course, he understood Cheon Mungyeong’s intention. Wasn’t it to visit the Zhuge Clan directly and bring the connection they had made this time to the surface, making it firm and deep?

But if that was the case, there was no need to go that far.

Because they would be sending people to install the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions anyway.

The person who handles the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions would have a special position within the Zhuge Clan. As the person in charge, at least the great young master, Zhuge Seohu, would come in person. If not, the elders of the Zhuge Clan, who were the working-level officials, might come.

It was a matter of the Zhuge Clan visiting this side first. Perhaps this direction would be valued more by the public than the escort agency visiting them.

Cheon Mubaeck declined and said.

“I’ve already made a promise.”

“What?”

Cheon Yuhwa’s eyes widened.

Then she looked at Cheon Mungyeong. Cheon Mungyeong was also staring blankly at Cheon Mubaeck with his mouth open.

Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders at the strange reaction.

“I said they’ve already promised to come.”

“……”

“Ha.”

Cheon Yuhwa was silent, and Cheon Mungyeong let out a short, hollow laugh.

Cheon Yuhwa muttered without realizing it.

“My little brother… is all grown up.”

There was no way Cheon Mubaeck couldn’t have heard that muttering.

Only then did Cheon Mubaeck realize that they were talking about different things and corrected the misunderstanding.

“Since it’s a matter of installing the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions, there’s a high probability that the great young master, Zhuge Seohu, will come in person as the person in charge. If not, it will be the elders of the clan. Since they promised me they would come, we don’t have to visit the Zhuge Clan first.”

“Ah… is that so.”

There was no way Cheon Mubaeck could have missed the look of disappointment that flashed across Cheon Mungyeong’s face for a moment.

Cheon Mubaeck subtly glanced at Cheon Yuhwa as well.

He could tell what this father and daughter were thinking when they subtly recommended a trip to the Zhuge Clan.

‘It’s understandable to have such a misunderstanding.’

It was not a pleasant thing to be misunderstood. But on second thought, it was understandable.

‘A man and a woman stayed in one place for several days.’

Although martial artists lived a relatively open life, that was only for ordinary martial artists.

The Zhuge Clan, which was not an ordinary martial family but a prestigious family that had never been left out since its establishment as one of the Five Great Clans, was different.

Hadn’t he been alone with the only daughter of such a Zhuge Clan for several days?

Of course, it was for treatment, but that was just their business.

At that time, since the story had spread among the escorts and the Zhuge Clan’s tracking party in the Sword King Valley, he could tell what Cheon Mungyeong and Cheon Yuhwa were expecting.

“The kind of thing you’re thinking of, Father, didn’t happen, so I hope you don’t worry too much. We’ve already formed a sufficient connection with the Zhuge Clan. The fact that we’re installing the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions means we’re in an alliance.”

Perhaps feeling the firmness in Cheon Mubaeck’s tone, Cheon Mungyeong, although showing a look of disappointment, did not say anything more and nodded his head.

“Alright, I understand. Well. What’s the big deal about the daughter of the Zhuge Clan. I heard she’s so aware of her own beauty that her nose is in the air…”

But at the sight of Cheon Mungyeong badmouthing her right after, Cheon Mubaeck could only let out a dumbfounded laugh.

But a few days after this dinner, Cheon Mubaeck had to endure the strange gazes of the father and daughter.

“Greetings, I am Zhuge Seola of the Zhuge Clan.”

“…Uh, a pleasure to meet you, young lady. I am Cheon Mungyeong, the chief of the Azure Star Escort Agency.”

“It’s an honor to meet the giant of the Henan escort industry.”

“A giant, you say. The young lady is gilding the face of an old man with a meager reputation. Indeed, you are the number one beauty of Hubei, just as the rumors say. This old man’s eyes feel brighter.”

Cheon Mubaeck was dumbfounded at the sight of Cheon Mungyeong, who had been badmouthing her, with his mouth wide open.

‘When did he ever curse her for having her nose in the air?’

Zhuge Seola politely greeted the people of the escort agency.

Her appearance was so graceful that it was worthy of a child of a prestigious family, so exclamations of admiration flowed from all over.

Even the relatively cool-headed Cheon Yuhwa, unlike Cheon Mungyeong, gave Zhuge Seola a warm smile, so what more could be said?

Zhuge Seola, who had greeted the father and daughter first, greeted Cheon Mubaeck only after a long time.

“It’s been a while, Young Master Cheon.”

“The distance from Hubei to here must be considerable, yet you came quickly?”

“I set off as soon as I returned to the clan.”

“Right away? Did you get rid of all the yin energy?”

“My grandfather helped me, so I finished the treatment quickly.”

At the fact that the grand clan head of the Zhuge Clan had helped, Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head.

Wasn’t he one of the current Ten Great Masters of the World?

If such a person had treated her directly, it would have been no trouble at all to get rid of all the supreme yin energy left in her body.

In any case, Cheon Mubaeck was a little surprised that she had come.

Perhaps feeling that surprise.

Zhuge Seola smiled gently and said.

“I made a promise, so I came to keep it.”

In an instant, Cheon Mungyeong and Cheon Yuhwa’s gazes were fixed on Cheon Mubaeck.

At that meaningful gaze, Cheon Mubaeck could only let out a sigh.

* * *

The number of people who arrived at the Azure Star Escort Agency from the Zhuge Clan was a little less than fifty.

About thirty were scholars and craftsmen with stern faces.

They were probably the key personnel for installing the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions.

Twenty were first-rate warriors with extraordinary auras, and about five of them seemed to have reached the peak. In particular, one middle-aged warrior had such a great aura that he stole Cheon Mubaeck’s gaze. What caught Cheon Mubaeck’s attention was the fact that he was completely hiding that aura and looked like an ordinary warrior.

‘Interesting.’

Cheon Mubaeck admired him. He was not a later generation expert but someone who had already reached a mature realm. And his ability to erase his presence was also excellent.

‘Is he a secretly brought guard? Well. Since she was kidnapped by the Lacquer-Faced Yama, there’s no way they would just send her.’

Although there were only twenty of them, if they moved right now, there would be no clan in Henan that could stand against them.

“They are warriors my grandfather personally chose.”

“The grand clan head seems to be very worried. Why did you come in person?”

“Because I am the best formation expert in the Zhuge Clan.”

“Heo…”

“Of course, the best is my grandfather. But if my grandfather moves, the entire martial world will be in an uproar.”

At Zhuge Seola’s smiling words, Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head.

“I thought your brother would come as the person in charge.”

“Umm.”

Zhuge Seola smiled somewhat awkwardly.

“I got scolded a lot by my grandfather and father.”

“Well, yeah.”

“It’s all because of me. Because I was kidnapped… And.”

In an instant, Zhuge Seola looked at Cheon Mubaeck as if glaring at him.

Because her eyes were naturally raised, it looked like she was glaring at a glance, but Cheon Mubaeck read a strangely playful look in her eyes.

“He was put on probation because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“My goodness. Who would demand the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions in that situation?”

Cheon Mubaeck smiled bitterly.

Well, it was true that he had used that situation.

Normally, there was no way they would make a promise to give the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions so easily.

“My father gave my brother a severe scolding for making such a decision on his own, but my grandfather ended it with just a word of probation. Because he said he had saved me. Especially, my grandfather seemed surprised at the mention of the Lacquer-Faced Yama.”

“That’s understandable.”

The grand clan head, Zhuge Seon, was one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, and perhaps the second most knowledgeable person about the martial world in the current Central Plains.

‘The first is me, of course.’

Since he was such a person, there was no way he would only remember the infamous name of the Lacquer-Faced Yama. Because he was actually in the middle of the Righteous-Demonic War.

That’s why he would have dealt with Zhuge Seohu with a probation. Because if he had been captured by the Lacquer-Faced Yama, he couldn’t have been saved safely. But since he had done it by giving up one Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions, Zhuge Seon had even praised Zhuge Seohu for making a bold decision according to the situation.

“My grandfather wants to meet you.”

“Me?”

“He asked what kind of person could beat down the Lacquer-Faced Yama.”

“Beat down… He just died because his time was up.”

Zhuge Seola’s eyes narrowed.

“As expected…”

At the sight of her trailing off her words meaningfully, Cheon Mubaeck tilted his head.

“They say he’s a person who exudes the air of a hero recently, but he doesn’t think much of dealing with the Lacquer-Faced Yama.”

In the public, the rumor that the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero had saved the daughter of the Zhuge Clan had spread, but it was only that he had saved her from the Inhuman Lust Fiend.

It was because Cheon Mubaeck had not revealed that it was the Lacquer-Faced Yama.

From Zhuge Seola’s perspective, that was quite a surprising thing.

If the rumor that he had dealt with the Lacquer-Faced Yama, who was a person of the Heavenly Demon Cult, spread, he would gain that much more fame.

Indeed, wasn’t it the typical air of a hero who didn’t care about fame?

“…”

Cheon Mubaeck did not answer. Because no answer came to mind.

For him, the Lacquer-Faced Yama was on the verge of collapse, and he had just accelerated his downfall by aiming for his weakness. If it had been the Lacquer-Faced Yama in his prime, Cheon Mubaeck would have fought a life-and-death battle with him now.

But at Cheon Mubaeck’s reaction, Zhuge Seola nodded her head in admiration.

“Anyway, let’s start work.”

Cheon Mubaeck ended the small talk and clapped his hands to change the atmosphere.

At that, Zhuge Seola’s eyes widened.

“Eh? Right now?”

“Didn’t you say you came to keep a promise.”

“…”

“The promise I made was to install the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions?”

Zhuge Seola nodded her head with a somewhat reluctant face.

“Alright.”

“I will guide you.”

“Young Master Cheon himself?”

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head as if it was natural.

It wasn’t that Cheon Mubaeck had been playing around all this time. As the scale of the escort agency grew, he had to expand the manor and build a few more buildings, including a warehouse, but everything was stopped according to Cheon Mubaeck’s will.

It was to install the Guardian Array of Wondrous Questions and expand the escort agency accordingly.

So Cheon Mubaeck had researched where and what parts to install, and he had to follow them around and discuss it in person.

Moreover, she was the daughter of the Zhuge Clan.

The granddaughter that the grand clan head cherished dearly.

Of course, the escort agency had to provide as much convenience as possible. Cheon Mungyeong was the chief, and Cheon Yuhwa was also the vice-chief, so they were busy.

It was natural for Cheon Mubaeck to step in.

“Let’s go. I have to be by your side, of course.”

“Of course…?”

“That’s right. You have to be by my side until the work is done.”

Of course, there was a follow-up sentence, ‘because there are many things we have to do together…’, but Zhuge Seola didn’t hear that. Because she had lowered her head without realizing it after hearing the previous content.

The back of her neck, revealed by her lowered head, was red.

Cheon Mubaeck tilted his head.

“Are you sick somewhere? Should we do the work later?”

“N-no. L-let’s start right now.”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep