“Don’t you think Jongri Hong was just lying? Why would a sacred object of Taoism be in the holy land of Confucianism?”

Neung-heo’s words were, at a glance, reasonable.

No matter how much he thought about it, there seemed to be no connection between the sacred object of Central Plains Taoism and Qufu, which was also called the holy land of Confucianism.

But Cheon Mubaeck had a strong conviction.

“Jongri Hong rather seemed to want me to find the sacred object.”

“Why?”

“He might be thinking that if I gather them, the Jongnam Sect can take them over someday, under the pretext that they have inherited the lineage of Central Plains Taoism.”

Although it was a clear misunderstanding, it was plausible. Jongri Hong knew that Cheon Mubaeck was moving to protect the sacred object from the threat of the Blood Demon Valley.

From Jongri Hong’s perspective, it was a result that was inferred from a situation where he could not even dream that a martial artist who had no connection with Taoism could feel or utilize immortal energy.

If it was in danger of falling into the hands of the Blood Demon Valley anyway.

And if Jongnam were to take all the sacred objects someday.

Wouldn’t it be better to let Cheon Mubaeck protect the sacred object from the Blood Demon Valley and then receive it after everything was resolved well?

That was Jongri Hong’s intention. It was not for nothing that he had spoken so meekly.

“Well, Jongri Hong is ambitious.”

An ambitious man who wanted to become the number one in the world himself, and who wanted his sect to become the number one in the world as well.

Would such an ambitious man be easy to deal with?

“Well. He looked like a fool in front of the lord.”

“Tsk. What kind of language is that to a senior of the martial world?”

“It’s not something to be heard from someone who has hit a senior of the martial world from behind.”

“Hit from behind, you say? I was just appropriately rewarded by a benefactor.”

Neung-heo looked at Cheon Mubaeck’s face for a moment.

And he could not hide his bewilderment.

‘He really thinks so?’

A firm face, as if it had carved a firm belief.

He felt a firmness that he did not doubt.

Neung-heo was newly impressed.

‘To have a thick skin, you have to be at that level.’

Well.

What kind of ordinary iron plate was it? It was an iron plate named time, accumulated over dozens, hundreds of reincarnations.

In any case, Cheon Mubaeck was convinced that the sacred object was in Qufu, and he immediately set his direction.

“Keung. I don’t think it’s there.”

But Neung-heo, unlike himself, continued to make negative remarks.

Considering that he usually followed Cheon Mubaeck’s decisions faithfully even if he grumbled, it was certainly a strange sign.

It was as if he really did not want to go.

Especially Cheon Mubaeck, who could glimpse his emotions, tilted his head at the halo of light that could be seen beyond Neung-heo’s face.

‘He really doesn’t want to go?’

It was full of a reluctant look.

“Did you get caught stealing something in Qufu when you were young?”

Since he had said that his hometown was Shandong, he might have been to Qufu.

Because he had also visited Qufu several times when he was living as the Shandong Sword Hero.

When Cheon Mubaeck asked so, Neung-heo flinched and shook his head.

“No. Let’s just go and come back quickly. Quickly.”

Although it seemed like there was something he was hiding, Cheon Mubaeck did not ask any further. He casually turned his head.

Unlike Neung-heo, Zhuge Seola had a flushed face.

The anticipation that filled her face was clearly visible at a glance. Zhuge Seola, who had felt Cheon Mubaeck’s gaze, smiled brightly.

“Qufu. I’ve always wanted to visit at least once.”

“Always? I don’t think I’ve seen a case where a martial artist specifically visits Qufu.”

“But it’s the place where Central Plains Confucianism is compiled, and it’s a place where the number one great Confucians of the Central Plains discuss academics every day, isn’t it?”

Her eyes sparkled.

Cheon Mubaeck, thinking that her eyes were newly pretty, nodded his head.

Zhuge Seola’s anticipation for Qufu was purely academic.

“Well. In Qufu, you can study not only Confucianism, but all the studies of the Central Plains.”

“That’s right! I heard that there are more studies than in the imperial library, as many as the stars in the night sky.”

Although it was the holy land of Confucianism, it was also a place where all the studies of the Central Plains were discussed.

As the direct descendants of Confucius resided there, not only Confucianism but also many scholars would gather in Qufu for discussions, and they would gather to refute and discuss the principles and logic of Confucianism, and in Qufu, they had no choice but to study the opponent’s studies to counterattack.

So the saying that all the studies of the Central Plains gathered was not a lie.

“I heard that my grandfather visited when he was young. And he said that he had lost for the first time in a pure debate.”

Zhuge Seola’s eyes sparkled greatly.

To her, the grand head, Zhuge Seon, was a teacher and the smartest and most knowledgeable person in the world.

No, was it just her?

Perhaps all the martial artists thought so.

“I naturally thought that they only debated about Confucianism. But he said no. He said they talked about all the knowledge in the world.”

That had given the young Zhuge Seola a deep shock.

Although Zhuge Seon was no different from a great master in martial arts, he was also a genius who could have created a school of thought in academics.

But the one to whom such a grandfather had meekly admitted defeat.

“Because he said he was a direct descendant of Confucius. I’ve always wanted to meet him and have a conversation. Even if it’s not a debate like my grandfather’s, I wanted to receive his teachings.”

In any case, the position of the head of the Zhuge Clan would be inherited by her older brother.

Zhuge Seola, who had been famous for being a genius since she was young, had originally intended to walk the path of academics.

“Then why did you become a martial artist?”

“…I was still undecided and was worrying, but the Blood Demon Valley guys appeared.”

Zhuge Seola glanced at Cheon Mubaeck and turned her head.

To be precise, at that time when she had been saved by Cheon Mubaeck in the Sword King Valley.

Zhuge Seola had stopped worrying.

Was it because the Blood Demon Valley had appeared in the martial world? No.

‘If I become a scholar, I can’t meet him.’

To hide her blushing face, Zhuge Seola turned her head.

Of course, even if she had hidden her face, if she had known that a red halo of light was spreading in Cheon Mubaeck’s immortal eyes, she would not have been able to lift her head from embarrassment.

“You can live as a scholar while living as a martial artist.”

“How hard it is to be proficient in both literature and martial arts.”

“It will be possible. Young Lady.”

“…!”

At Cheon Mubaeck’s calm words, Zhuge Seola’s eyes widened.

Her already red face spread to her neck.

She had thought he was just joking, but words had power, and that power had meaning.

In the voice that was engraved with a conviction as if he did not doubt that it would be so, Zhuge Seola, without realizing it, opened her mouth slightly and looked at Cheon Mubaeck.

Why did he speak with such conviction?

Somehow, she felt a strong belief in herself, and Zhuge Seola’s heart pounded.

* * *

Qufu was not a big city.

Because if you hurried, you could look around the whole city in about a day.

Was it because of that?

When Cheon Mubaeck’s party entered the city of Qufu, the first thought that came to mind was that it was really cramped.

“…Is there some kind of festival going on?”

Neung-heo, who had been quiet without a word until he came to Qufu, clicked his tongue.

It was that crowded. No, it was so packed with people that it was difficult to even describe it as crowded.

The main road was so packed with people that even a carriage could not pass, and the shops and inns lined on both sides of the road had no empty seats.

“This is not a city that has developed through commerce…”

Of course, since the Kong Family Mansion was famous, it was natural for many people to gather.

But this was a crowd that would be seen in a provincial capital. Rather, it had a feeling of being more than a provincial capital.

“Did they say there was some kind of special examination here?”

When he glanced around, there were many people who looked like scholars. There were also many servants who followed them.

No matter how many scholars there were in Qufu, the degree was excessive now. Because almost everyone had a book tucked under their arm.

Rather, Cheon Mubaeck’s party, who had swords at their waists, looked extremely out of place.

Since there were always martial artists wherever he went, even Cheon Mubaeck could not hide his embarrassed look.

How many times in his numerous lives had he held a book instead of a sword?

Since he had lived every life in the martial world, it was natural to feel awkward in Qufu.

“First, I think we need to find out what’s going on.”

Since the situation in Qufu was certainly peculiar, Zhuge Seola suggested so.

Cheon Mubaeck glanced at Neung-heo.

At times like this, it was Neung-heo who moved nimbly and grasped and summarized the situation from here and there.

But Neung-heo pulled his hat down with a somewhat reluctant look.

As if he did not want his face to be known.

It was probably not because he wanted to hide his murderous impression. Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes narrowed.

“Well, let’s go to the Kong Family Mansion first. We have to see if we can get in.”

The way to the Kong Family Mansion was so clear that even an outsider would know it without having to look for it.

“…All the scholars are in the same direction.”

It was as Zhuge Seola had said.

The closer they got to the Kong Family Mansion, the denser the scholars became. To the extent that it seemed as if all the scholars were going that way.

Cheon Mubaeck was also not unfamiliar with the way to the Kong Family Mansion.

Because he had visited this place several times during his days as the Shandong Sword Hero.

The road was not much different now, even after countless time had passed.

But there was a difference from that time.

‘Too many.’

Cheon Mubaeck’s brow, who did not like crowds, narrowed.

People.

At that time, the Kong Family Mansion was quiet. A solemn atmosphere filled the entire city.

People were careful in all matters, and there were not as many as now.

Occasionally, scholars who were seeking teachings would come and go.

It was different now.

“Doesn’t it look like martial artists at a martial arts tournament?”

At the words of Neung-heo, who had been silent until now, Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head.

Neung-heo’s sharp eyes were correct.

A street that was full of a strange heat, overflowing with vitality.

The flow that flowed between the scholars with firm faces.

The voices with a higher tone than usual filled the street. Considering some scholars who said that even running was undignified, the scene now was certainly not ordinary.

The sense of incongruity became clear only after arriving in front of the Kong Family Mansion.

“Is there some kind of festival going on…”

A long line of scholars in front of the main gate.

They were all a crowd trying to enter the Kong Family Mansion.

“Well, can we get in?”

Zhuge Seola narrowed her brows.

With so many scholars gathering, could Cheon Mubaeck’s party, who were martial artists, even get in?

Although Zhuge Seola’s worry was natural, Cheon Mubaeck did not care.

“Don’t worry. We can get in.”

Cheon Mubaeck, while applying for entry to the Kong Family Mansion, at the same time handed a letter to a scholar of the Kong Family Mansion.

The scholar’s pupils shook as he saw the mark written on the surface of the letter. And as he looked back and forth between the letter and Cheon Mubaeck, he was startled and hurriedly ran inside.

‘Since there is a connection from the time of the Shandong Sword Hero.’

The Shandong Sword Hero.

Among Cheon Mubaeck’s numerous reincarnations, it was a moniker with a place name attached, which was rare.

That much, Cheon Mubaeck had a great reputation in Shandong at that time.

Naturally, he had several connections with Qufu. It was not a simple connection. Since he had made a relationship with the direct descendants of Confucius as the Shandong Sword Hero. Even if he just mentioned the Shandong Sword Hero in a letter, a meeting would be arranged.

At Cheon Mubaeck’s confident expression, Zhuge Seola smiled and agreed.

‘It will be fine.’

There was nothing that Cheon Mubaeck had set out to do that had not been resolved. Moreover, since he was so confident, Zhuge Seola did not doubt that she would soon be able to enter the Kong Family Mansion.

About half a day had passed like that.

“Are you Young Master Cheon Mubaeck, the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero?”

A person came out from the Kong Family Mansion.

He was a young scholar. His posture was upright and his voice was clear, as befitting a scholar of the Kong Family Mansion.

His polite posture was like that of treating a precious guest.

Zhuge Seola and Neung-heo looked at Cheon Mubaeck with astonished eyes.

No matter how confidently he had said he could get in, to think that a person would come out in person like this in just half a day.

It was to the extent that they could not understand what kind of trick he had used.

Zhuge Seola’s mind became more complicated.

‘Even my grandfather had requested a meeting and had waited for four whole days without being able to do anything.’

In just half a day? The fame of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero? Would that work in this hall of academics, not in the martial world?

Of course, she had believed Cheon Mubaeck’s boast, but for a person to come out like this in just half a day?

In that complicated and admiring gaze, Cheon Mubaeck stood up calmly.

“That’s right. I am Cheon Mubaeck.”

“I’m sorry, but the head of the family has asked to postpone the meeting and has asked for your forgiveness.”

“…”

It was an entry denial.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep