< Murim Alliance Meeting (1) >As Hugo finished up the treatment, a conversation he had had at the Zhuge Family before coming here flashed through his mind.
“A prince, you say? But the imperial bloodline was cut off after the Imperial Palace Bloodbath...”
“To be precise, I should say an imperial descendant. Of course, it is true that those who were in the imperial palace at the time met with disaster, but not all of them lost their lives. There were quite a few who were fortunate enough to avoid being there.”
And one of them was none other than the Crown Princess, who had only recently conceived an imperial grandchild at the time.
After the tragedy of that day, before the world fell completely into chaos, she had managed to escape the imperial capital with those who followed her, and immediately returned to her maiden home to live in seclusion.
With the emperor, and even her husband the crown prince, having passed away, she feared that if she moved carelessly, she would invite disaster upon herself.
Just as she had expected, before long, forces including warlords from every region began to move, and calamity descended upon the realm. She did her utmost to keep a low profile and focused on recovering her health.
At that time, she was no longer alone in her body.
“I see. Then the one born afterward is...”
“That is right. He is the imperial descendant now at Shaolin Temple, Zhu Kangren.”
Born through such hardship, he grew up under the extreme care of his mother and her family, but unfortunately, his physical condition had never been very good from birth.
In times like these, there was only so much her family, now like a kite with its string cut, could endure by inviting renowned physicians and using spiritual medicines.
In the end, after much deliberation, he was entrusted to Shaolin Temple, where eminent monks of great Dharma power resided.
Above all, if it was Shaolin Temple, famed also for its martial might, there would be no need to worry about his safety.
“Our family, which has produced many imperial officials, also had ties with them, so we came to learn of this. And in the process, we discovered that his symptoms were similar to Huimei’s.”
“But is that not also rather top secret? Is it all right for you to tell me this?”
“It was so until the early days of the calamity... but as more than twenty years have passed, it has long since become a secret in name only. In the current situation, nothing would change just because one legitimate heir of the imperial family appeared.”
Indeed, the current state of affairs, with the survival of each faction at stake, was already not something that could be resolved by legitimacy alone.
The fact that among the warlords, there were already quite a few members of the imperial clan who bore the title of king also played a part. ‘Well, to them, a child who hasn’t even been acknowledged as a true imperial descendant wouldn’t be worth caring about.’ The lack of martial force, the most important element to support that legitimacy, must also have played a major role.
In the end, what remained to that imperial descendant was literally nothing but a name.
“Of course, that does not mean one should go around openly talking about it anywhere, but as I am asking you to treat him, should you not know at least this much?”
“I understand. In any case, very well. Then I will go and examine him.”
“Hohoho, thank you. To tell the truth, our family is not entirely unacquainted with theirs, so my heart has not been at ease all this time. Once you return, I will reward you separately for this matter.”
That was the end of that topic.
Afterward, Hugo arrived at Shaolin Temple and, through an introduction from the Zhuge Family, was able to meet the patient right away. And after more than a week of treatment, matters had reached the present.
“Your body is recovering, but it is not yet stable, so please avoid strenuous movement as much as possible.”
“Thank you very much, Divine Doctor. I cannot tell you how comfortably I have been living these days thanks to you. Recently, I have not even had nightmares and have been sleeping soundly.”
“Hahaha, there is no need for such words. Then I will be going now.”
“Ah, then this way...”
Despite being urged to stay seated, Zhu Kangren rose to see him off, and Hugo left the room under his escort. As he did, he stroked his chin and organized his thoughts.
The new information he had gained while treating him had left his mind complicated. ‘He is definitely responding to the treatment faster than Zhuge Huimei did. It took her about a month to move around completely, but he has reached a similar level in only about a week.’
No matter how accustomed he had become to this act of treatment, there were still limits.
If the results differed this much, he had no choice but to consider another reason.
And that was likely due to the preliminary measures each faction had been taking before the treatment with divine power began.
Putting spiritual medicines aside, the Zhuge Family’s medical arts themselves should have been far superior, and yet if this was the result... ‘Rather than the medical arts that attempted to cure the illness, the sermons of an eminent monk meant to grant him peace must have been more effective.’
As expected, this seemed closer not to some disease or constitution, but to a kind of spirit sickness.
The fact that it could be alleviated through Heinrich’s divine power but not completely cured must have stemmed from that problem as well.
Unless the fundamental cause was resolved, even if he treated it now, it would likely continue to worsen over time. ‘Then should I make him receive a god’s descent or something? No, are there even any gods like that in this world?’
There were various religions, including Buddhism and Taoism, but no being that fit exactly with what they were experiencing came readily to mind.
Thus, while he was inwardly lost in thought, he returned to the Zhuge Family’s quarters in the Guest Hall.
“Ah! You have returned, Young Master Ha. Thank you for your hard work today as well.”
At the entrance, the representative of the family, the second son of the family head, Zhuge Zhonghe, greeted him warmly.
His face was filled with a smile.
Hugo responded with a gentle smile and quietly observed his expression. ‘Why is he suddenly doing something he never does?’
A moderate business relationship, neither especially close nor particularly uncomfortable—that was the distance between him and Zhuge Zhonghe.
It was certainly not the sort of relationship where the other man would come all the way to the door to welcome him.
But when he looked more closely, he realized that Zhuge Zhonghe’s attention was directed elsewhere, not at him. ‘Come to think of it... it’s noisy over there.’
Another section of the Guest Hall where outside visitors were received.
He had not noticed it because he had been lost in thought on the way here, but it seemed that people had just arrived from elsewhere.
Perhaps Zhuge Zhonghe had noticed Hugo’s reaction, for he explained before Hugo could ask.
“Ah, the Nangong Family arrived a little while ago. And Young Master Nangong Huang, the young family head, came all the way here in person. I remembered him because I saw him a few times when we were young.”
At that excited voice, Hugo slowly nodded.
Come to think of it, he had heard that Hubei, where the Zhuge Family was located, and Anhui, where the Nangong Family was located, were right next to each other and had occasional exchanges.
Though even so, the distance between their bases was still farther than Shaolin Temple, where they were now. ‘But he isn’t the sort of man to react like this just because a peer he can socialize with has arrived.’
He narrowed his eyes and looked at Zhuge Zhonghe, who kept glancing in that direction.
Throughout the journey here, and even after arriving, Hugo had experienced him as a calm, serious, and uninteresting young man in all matters.
Had he not reacted indifferently even to those of his age who had come a while ago with the Sichuan Alliance, made up of Qingcheng, Diancang, Emei, and the Tang Sect?
And he was able to understand the cause when the people of the Nangong Family came to visit after unpacking their luggage and making their greetings.
“Greetings, Young Master Zhuge. I believe we met when we were young, so I am pleased to meet you again like this.”
“I am glad you remember me. Have you been well, Young Master Nangong?”
After exchanging brief greetings with Nangong Huang, the young family head of the Nangong Family, Zhuge Zhonghe turned his head to the side, and his face flushed slightly.
At the end of his gaze stood a beautiful young girl, looking around here and there with a curious expression.
“Ahem, it is a pleasure to meet you, young lady. I have heard much about you, but this is the first time I have met you in person. I am Zhuge Zhonghe, second son of the head of the Zhuge Family.”
“Ah! Hello. I’m Nangong Xiaolan. It’s nice to meet you, young master.”
At the clear smile and reply that came in answer to his greeting filled with excitement, the corners of Zhuge Zhonghe’s mouth twitched.
Seeing that, Hugo inwardly clicked his tongue and shook his head. ‘No wonder he seemed strangely excited.’
Apparently, after seeing her enter with the Nangong Family’s party, his mind had wandered off to the bean field.
Her beautiful black hair, twisted up in the back and held in place with a hairpin; her healthy and lively air, befitting the child of a martial family; her large eyes full of curiosity; and her refined features.
She was indeed a remarkable beauty, enough to draw the attention of a young man in the prime of youth, but even so, seeing someone who was, in name at least, the representative of a great family behave like that made him seem rather unreliable. ‘Then again, this is originally a gathering for socializing, so it’s hard to say anything. Still, to think the family head’s daughter would come here in person. And on top of that, even the young family head, the family’s heir...’
No matter how much this meeting was intended to promote harmony between the factions, who knew what dangers might be lurking along the way? He had no idea what they were thinking.
He wondered if they were so confident that they could overcome any situation that might arise...
“Oh, it has been a long time, has it not?”
A little while later, when he saw the person who approached leisurely and conversed with the Zhuge Family elder, he realized that his guess had been correct.
“Why, Hero Nangong Wu, what brings you all the way here in person?”
“Hohohot, I have been cooped up in the family for so long that I felt stiff, so I came along to take a trip outside for the first time in a while. While I was at it, I thought I would let the children see a bit of the world too. By the way, how has that fellow Junyue been doing lately?”
“Ah, the Grand Patriarch is the same as ever. These days, he has taken an interest in cultivating orchids.”
A robust old man who casually called the highest elder of the Zhuge Family by name.
His gaze swept lightly over the surroundings before landing on Hugo, who had been quietly standing in a corner, and his eyes gleamed sharply. ‘Ah, if it’s like this, I have to acknowledge it.’
Hugo gave him a slight nod, smiled awkwardly, and averted his gaze.
It was a reaction that came out of him without his realizing it, under a pressure on a completely different level from when he had faced Perfected Yunxuan of the Wudang Sect.
Even though the other side had not done anything in particular.
“Ho, by the way, is that young man one of the Zhuge Family? Since I am here, I should make the acquaintance of the rising talents who will shoulder the future. This old man may be acting shamelessly, but may I ask for an introduction?”
But it seemed the other party had no intention of letting him go easily.
Feeling the gazes around him gather on him following the old man’s eyes, Hugo forced the corners of his mouth upward.
“Ahahaha...”
Nangong Wu, the Grand Patriarch of the Nangong Family, now retired from the front lines.
One of the strongest figures in the martial world, bearing the title of Sword Saint, and a master of the Profound Realm, had personally come all the way here and was showing interest in him.
***
“Grandfather, why did you suddenly do that?”
They had finished exchanging greetings with the other factions in the Guest Hall, starting with the Zhuge Family, and were on their way back to their quarters.
Nangong Xiaolan trotted over to the side of the Sword Saint, Nangong Wu, and asked in an innocent voice.
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on, what else? When we were greeting the Zhuge Family earlier. Was there something special about that person? You don’t usually do that, so I was curious!”
“Ah, I was surprised as well. It was the first time I had seen you take interest in someone first like that, Grandfather. And was he not a man who looked even younger than me? At most, he seemed only one or two years older than Xiaolan.”
“Hohoho...”
When his granddaughter asked with a hint of charm, and even his always serious grandson agreed, the Sword Saint let out a low laugh and quietly stroked his beard.
How should he explain this?
Then, deciding that it would be helpful to simply speak honestly, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Very well. Just in case, it would be good for you two to know as well. That fellow from earlier is an otherworlder.”
“...Huh?”
“...Pardon?”
And just as expected, seeing the blank expressions on his two grandchildren’s faces at that answer, the Sword Saint laughed heartily with a pleased expression.
Since he had already spread a sound barrier as soon as the conversation began, there was no concern that their voices would leak out to the surroundings.
“An otherworlder... You mean those people who came from another dimension? The ones who use all sorts of strange abilities?”
“...That is certainly surprising. I think I understand why you showed interest in him, Grandfather. I heard that if the conditions are right, they can grow stronger quickly. Their very existence could certainly become a variable.”
Naturally, the two of them, still young, had never seen an otherworlder before.
They had only heard stories about such beings.
What made it even more astonishing was that most of it concerned the one who had gained the greatest infamy among those known as otherworlders—the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Emperor, who had now suddenly vanished without a trace.
“Wow! I’d only heard stories, but people like that really exist? I thought it was all made-up lies!”
“Soran, we’re outside the clan grounds. Please, mind your behavior…”
Despite her older brother’s attempt to restrain her, Namgung Soran kept hopping up and down with sparkling eyes, chewing eagerly on her lower lip. ‘An otherworlder, like in the books! What kind of strange abilities does he have? I want to see him at least once!’ So it had been worth pestering her grandfather, whining and acting cute, then finally throwing herself on the floor in a tantrum until she was allowed out into the wide world!
To be honest, she had seen so much of the world’s ugly state on the way here that she had been starting to regret it a little—but to think such an exciting incident had been waiting at the end of it all!
Looking at the children with a pleased smile, the Sword Saint slowly stroked his beard and continued.
“He happened to be right on the borderline. If he had been entirely below first-rate, there would have been nothing to see, or if he had reached Hwagyeong… no, the supreme peak realm and focused on concealing himself, it would have been difficult to notice. But at an ambiguous level like the peak realm, the discrepancy between his physical ability, internal energy, aura, and realm is not so easily hidden.”
Of course, only someone of my level would have noticed such a subtle difference.
Having finished speaking, the Sword Saint proudly straightened his shoulders.
Expecting his grandchildren to react with admiration.
However, the response he received was a little different from what he had hoped.
“…No matter how I look at him, he seemed younger than me. Are you saying he has already reached the same realm as I have?”
Namgung Hwang, who had been listening with great interest, murmured with a stiff expression.
He was the eldest son of the great Namgung Clan, destined to become the next family head.
Naturally, he had inherited the talent of his bloodline and, from a young age, had trained in the strongest martial arts under the best conditions while taking all manner of precious elixirs.
That was why he took pride and confidence in his accomplishment of reaching the peak realm in his mid-twenties.
Among the rising talents of the current era, only a very few could compare to him.
And yet someone who looked to be only in his early twenties was already in the same realm as him…!
“Eh~ Orabeoni, are you stupid? He’s an otherworlder, an otherworlder! That much should be easy for him! I actually think he should at least be at Hwagyeong. It might even be a little disappointing otherwise.”
“What kind of nonsense is that…! No matter how bizarre the sorcery they use may be, there are still limits!”
“It’s not sorcery! It’s a proper ability! Just because you don’t understand it, does that make everything sorcery?”
“You? Did you just call me ‘you’? To your older brother?”
“The young clan head of the great Namgung Clan is so narrow-minded and petty…”
“You little—just because I’ve indulged you, you’ve become utterly ill-mannered…”
Watching the siblings quickly begin arguing among themselves, the Sword Saint quietly lowered the shoulders he had puffed out and let out a small sigh.
Wondering if he had spoken unnecessarily after all. ‘Still, the appearance of an otherworlder is not something to take lightly, so these children ought to know as well. For now, he seems to be within the Jegal Clan’s fence, but there is some need to be wary. They are clever children, so they should know how to conduct themselves.’
They might look immature now, but both were children called prodigies within the clan.
Surely they would not do anything foolish for no reason.
However, it did not take very long for him to realize that his judgment had been hasty.
A few days later.
“Haa… Lady Namgung. What brings you here again today?”
“What do you mean, what brings me here! Today’s the day, isn’t it?”
Hugo forced himself to ignore the jealous gaze of the young master of the Jegal Clan boring into the back of his head and sighed as he looked at the young lady of the Namgung Clan, who had come to see him again today.
“The day the assembly is held!”
And so, amid much commotion and attention, time passed.
At last, the assembly of the Martial Alliance—now disbanded, with only its name remaining—
the Martial Alliance assembly without a Martial Alliance began.