麻豆工作室

 In front of Zhuge San’s eyes was the woman, now fully prepared.

 “I’ll get us out of this place and take you to where your brother is. Do you have anywhere to go? Like a distant relative…”

 “There is none. We brother and sister were abandoned by the roadside in our childhood.”

 “Ah, I see.”

 The woman chuckled quietly.

 “It’s fine. I’ve taken a few pieces of jewelry with me, I can sell them to start a new life somewhere. As the Great Master said, there’s no point in staying in a place where no one would be happy to see me.”

 Even though she had a smile on her face, her smile was filled with sadness.

 Zhuge San pondered her words for a moment before asking another question.

 “Ah, by the way, what is that seal that the toad mentioned?”

 “Toad… Pfft!”

 The woman burst into laughter. She shook her shoulders, holding back her laughter, before regaining her composure and responding.

 “Exactly as the word suggests, the Family Head’s seal. It is needed to approve all business conducted by the Zhang House.”

 “And that’s gone missing?”

 “Yes, and as you have heard, the elder suspects me.”

 “From the way you’re talking, it does seem you don’t have it, hm.”

 The woman shook her head with a bitter smile.

 “He was irresponsible. If he was going to die so early, he should have at least cleaned up after himself.”

 She was talking about the deceased Family Head.

 Zhuge San made a ‘hmm’ sound and said.

 “It seems you didn’t have a very close relationship.”

 “Was there anything to be close or not close about? It was a marriage of convenience.”

 “Convenience?”

 “The Family Head did not want in-laws who might threaten his position, and I needed money to feed my starving young brother. I suppose you could consider it an alignment of interests.”

 “Alas, quite the unromantic tale.”

 “Romance doesn’t fill your stomach.”

 He chuckled.

 “I can’t argue with that.”

 As he responded, Zhuge San thought something.

 ‘She’s similar.’

 That must be why he had such a dream during his nap. This woman resembled his mother in many ways.

 Her boldness despite her delicate appearance, her situation, and her willingness to sacrifice herself for her child.

There was something about her that evoked a sense of wistfulness in him.

 “Then, please take care of us.”

 “Leave it to me.”

 Zhuge San sharpened his qi detection.

 ‘Are the guards still the same?’

 The sun had set, and there would likely be a change of guards soon.

 Zhuge San rolled the remaining jade stones in his robe.

 ‘About seventeen left. If I had known that, I should’ve saved some.’

 It was cutting it close, but how he used these jade stones which were crucial for a simple formation technique, would determine the success of their escape.

 “Great Master?”

 “Just a moment.”

 He closed his eyes.

 ‘Let’s see…’

 With his qi detection sharpened, he held his breath and felt people approaching.

 ‘They’re changing shifts.’

 The next group of guards arrived and began conversing with the previous ones, who soon departed.

 “It’s time to go now.”

 The shift change was the perfect opportunity to make their escape.

 “Excuse me for this discourtesy.”

 “Yes… Kyaah!”

 As Zhuge San lifted the woman up into his arms, she flailed around with a startled expression before calming down.

 “Hold on tight.”

 Zhuge San threw the jade stones he had been holding out the window.

  Whoosh–!

 Four were thrown, each in different directions, creating an unusual wave of qi.

 ‘One moment.’

 The formation technique would disrupt their perception, but wouldn’t last long since they were thrown in a manner to amplify their own power.

 Zhuge San took a deep breath and drew upon his inner qi from his dantian.

 And then.

  Thud–

 He leaped out over the windowsill.

* * *

 It was an ordinary courtyard house one could find anywhere, but nonetheless, one owned by a wealthy person.  

 Moreover, Zhuge San was burdened with a powerless woman in his arms.

 Unlike when he had invaded them, he couldn’t afford to relax now.

 The formation technique had been released, and Zhuge San had managed to slip out of the inner quarters and escape to the outskirts of the compound.

 He quickened his pace while taking deep breaths.

 ‘Hopefully, they notice the change after we’re gone.’

 He continued moving with such hopes, but as with anything in the world, nothing ever came easy.

  Dinggg–!

  –The Lady of the House has disappeared–!

  –Find her! Find her at any cost!

 The woman’s body trembled at the sound of the bell and the voice that followed.

 “It seems we were discovered too quickly…”

 “Seems so. Their guards must have been more stringent than I thought.”

 He thought that the person in charge at the early-stage first rate was a mere guard, but he seemed to possess skills outside of martial arts.

 “What should we do now?”

 “What else? Run faster.”

 Zhuge San forced a smile as his steps became erratic.

 ‘I don’t want to exhaust my strength here, but…’

 He couldn’t afford to be threatened by saving his inner qi right now.

 At that moment, Zhuge San swept his foot across the floor, the surroundings blurring with his movements.

 Foot Technique, Mysterious Steps of Heaven.

 It was one of the secret martial arts techniques passed down only to the direct descendants of the Zhuge Clan Head.

 The woman’s eyes widened.

 ‘This is…’

 The sensation felt mysterious.

 As he moved, the very space around him seemed to transform, creating an illusion. It was as if rippling water surrounded them.

  Thud–

 Zhuge San grew more impatient, hurriedly exerting his martial arts.

 ‘This foot technique is currently only possible because it’s night.’

 A foot technique was different from a formation technique.

 No matter how much his martial arts embodied the core essence of the Noble Clan, it couldn’t alter basic human perception.

 If he moved carelessly, then they could risk being discovered and surrounded at any moment, so he had to move swiftly while his qi remained.

 ‘If I had known this would happen, I would have focused more on my cultivation technique.’

 Resenting himself for his own insufficient inner qi, Zhuge San, now without his signature smile, started to run even faster.

 And then, he faced a crisis.

* * *

  Shwing–

 At the outermost edge of the courtyard house, dozens of guards drew their swords.

 In the center was a toad-like old man with his hands behind his back.

 “I knew this would happen, you bitch.”

 Zhuge San’s expression darkened.

 ‘Damn it.’

 They were surrounded. It was an obvious mistake.

 No, this couldn’t be called a mistake.

 It was just bad luck.

 Of all the paths they could have taken, they ended up stumbling into the previous guards who hadn’t left yet.

 “Now, where is the seal?”

 The elder stepped forward.

 His face twisted with plain to see greed, like a child about to grab treasure.

 The woman suppressed her frustration, glaring back at him and said.

 “…Have I not told you that I do not know?”

 “Then why escape? No, no need to explain! Those damned merchant bastards guaranteed your safety in return for the seal, didn’t they? How much? What was the offer, huh?!”

 “I really do not kn…!”

 “Silence!!!”

 His face contorted hideously.

 “Even now! EVEN NOW YOU LIE!!! You wench, I know all about your secret schemes, I KNOW EVERYTHING!!!”

 Her fists clenched tightly.

 When confronted by his blatant rage, she felt more wronged than angry.

 “I am just trying to leave. I have no reason to stay here anymore, so I want to disappear quietly. But why are you stopping even that? What have I done that was so wrong…?”

 “Are you not of lowly birth?!”

  Thump–

 The woman’s body trembled, or rather, the one carrying her trembled.

 “Lowborn blood all the same! Ungrateful wretches! Parasites that just steal our food! Short-sighted trash! Isn’t it so predictable what your kind thinks?!”

 It was nonsense.

 The elder’s logic, if it could even be called that, was nothing more than emotional rambling.

 It was then that she realized, he didn’t truly believe she had the seal.

He just wanted to believe it.

He needed someone to blame for the Zhang House’s instability and his own threatened position since the seal’s disappearance.

 She didn’t know what to say or feel anymore.

 It was such an absurd and disheartening situation that she felt her eyelids begin to heat up.

 ‘This is it…’

 She was furious that the reason she was running away was due to an old man’s insecurities.

 “Oh wow, what a shitty mouth you have.”

 At that moment, Zhuge San opened his mouth.

The woman gasped in surprise and looked at him.

 His usual smile was gone, replaced by eyes filled with rage as he stared at the elder.

 “Have you grown old and senile? How can you speak so vilely?”

 “This bastard again!”

 The old man stomped his foot and glared at the man who shot out verbally abusive words. Then upon realizing something, he pointed accusingly towards him.

 “The merchants! You’re a lackey of that merchant group! No wonder… yes, if you’re one of those merchant dogs, you’d have the gall to infiltrate the inner quarters!”

 The elder laughed louder.

 “Indeed, we’ll deal with you slowly. Lock you up in the depths of the compound until you’re begging to confess the truth!”

 “Well, I’m afraid you might lose your neck first. I apologize in advance if I can’t make a clean cut. Your wrinkly old skin might not make for a pretty slice.”

 “You bastard…!”

 The old man trembled with rage.

Zhuge San feigned his nonchalance, but inwardly he felt the heat of the situation.

 There were too many enemies, and his inner qi was running low from using his movement technique to get here.

If he were alone, he could break through their defense, but he was burdened by a woman and baby he had to protect.

 ‘My clan…’

 He could avoid this situation by revealing his identity, but that wouldn’t save the woman, and relying on his clan’s glory was worse than death itself to Zhuge San.

 It was a checkmate.

 Zhuge San laughed helplessly and said.

 “Sorry about this. It seems I got your hopes up for nothing.”

 “…Not at all. From the looks of that old man, I would not have been safe even if I stayed inside. I’m at least glad I tried to resist.”

 “But the child…”

 “I’ll have to give birth either way. Once they know I carry the Family Head’s child inside my stomach, they would not dare harm me. Well, what happens after that, I’ll have to see.”

 “That’s fortunate then.”

 After a short exchange, the elder shouted.

 “Attack–! Cut off that shitty bastard’s leg and bring me that wench!

 As soon as he commanded, martial artists charged in.

 At any moment now, somewhere on Zhuge San’s body was in danger of being mutilated.

 Then, something unexpected occurred.

  Baaaaaam–!

 A heavy impact resounded as though something had been struck by a blunt weapon. Both the martial artists and Zhuge San halted dead in their tracks.

 It was a very short instant, yet to some, long enough to yawn.

  Baam–!

  Bam–!

  Baaaam–!

 As the sound of multiple blows followed, the martial artists guarding each of the walls collapsed one by one, and in their place stood the figure of a man.

Zhuge San looked towards the commotion and mumbled in disbelief.

 “Brother Mok…”

 It was Mok Riwon.

His entire body was covered by a black mask and some kind of straw outfit, but even through his two beautiful eyes alone, Zhuge San recognized him.

 Mok Riwon walked over to him in a carefree manner, yet no one dared stand in his path despite his slow movements.

 This was because the qi flooding out from him was simply that overwhelming.

 “How did you…”

 Zhuge San asked.

Mok Riwon, his eyes visible behind his mask, turned to him and made a warm smile.

 “Didn’t you say you came here to perform a chivalrous deed? I couldn’t possibly miss out.”

 The way he responded was all too natural for him that Zhuge San could only let out a wry smile.

 “Indeed…”

 ‘Is it even possible to meet someone this peculiar?’

As he was thinking that, Mok Riwon pointed to the elder and asked.

 “Are they villains?”

 “By my standards they are.”

 “Then they must be villains.”

 The old man locked eyes with Mok Riwon and began trembling in fear, backing away.

 ‘W-What is this…’

 Even the elder who knew nothing of martial arts, could sense an imposing aura. The force surrounding him was simply that vicious.

 “Please go. I’ll take care of things here.”

 Mok Riwon tapped him on his shoulder with the sheath of his sword.

 And while taking a step forward, he paused.

 “Ah.”

 In a rather low voice, he glanced at Zhuge San and continued pleadingly.

 “Don’t tell the Young Lady. I’ll get in trouble if she finds out I snuck out.”

 The pinched scar on Mok Riwon’s cheek, hidden behind his mask, was a secret that no one present knew.

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