At the strange words, Heukcheon Amgui’s expression also grew serious.However, the conversation could not continue further, for the others had already crossed into the new domain.The hearty voice of the Taeguk Sword Sovereign rang from behind.“Headquarters must be quite well-off, eh? You keep using those expensive night pearls as markers. How many of those did you bring, anyway?”The Alliance Leader curved his lips instead of answering.The party pushed through the dark forest and continued forward. They had neither slept nor rested, yet they did not slow down and kept walking for a long time.Dawn came and passed, and when the sunset’s glow returned—“What is that?”Wu So frowned as he asked.The trees were thick with hanging vines that stretched all the way to the ground, dense enough to block out the red sky. When Wu So realized what they were, his expression twisted.At first glance, it looked as though willow branches were swaying—but the branches were snakes, mouths opening as they searched for prey.Startled eyes turned toward the Alliance Leader.The Alliance Leader grabbed the head of a snake lunging toward him and glanced back.“Can’t you see? They’re snakes.”He said it as if it were nothing.“There’s nothing strange about snakes living in a forest. Just walk carefully.”“There aren’t just one or two snakes!”Heukcheon Amgui shouted, speechless, but it was the Sagye Hall Administrator who replied.“It appears to be a snake den.”“Are the people from headquarters deaf? You think I asked because I didn’t know that?”There was no path in the forest. They had been pushing their way between trees, so the branches often brushed their skin. But now it wasn’t branches—it was snakes they were brushing against.It was difficult to take another step. Not out of fear—but disgust.Still, having come this far, they couldn’t turn back, so they reluctantly continued on.The Daoists walking ahead, considering killing a sin, avoided striking the snakes. Strangely, the creatures also avoided touching the Daoists.Heukcheon Amgui clicked his tongue once and withdrew the throwing blade he had been holding.The Zhuge family’s young warriors hunched their shoulders as they walked among the writhing snakes. They were still young and had never truly experienced the martial world—let alone a snake den.Especially Zhuge Cheonyu, whose face was tense as if she could hardly bear it.At that moment, a huge snake seemed to take her for easy prey and lunged at her. Zhuge Cheonyu reflexively drew a steel thread.Clack.“Guhk!”The snake gagged as if something had lodged in its throat. Looking closely, it was a dagger.Tang Hak approached with a calm face, pulled the dagger from the snake’s mouth, and threw the creature far away. Seeing that he had blocked its mouth with the hilt rather than the blade, it was clear he had no intent to kill it.It was an impressive display of hidden weapon skill. It was said that controlling such weapons without harming the target was far harder than using them to kill.'He doesn’t even take lightly the life of a mere creature.'Zhuge Cheonyu’s lips curved slightly.Since the Duel Tournament, many had mocked Tang Hak, belittling him, but Zhuge Cheonyu saw something different in the Young Clan Head.After all, the ability to consider others meant he was strong enough to afford such composure.She was about to thank him—but closed her mouth when a sharp voice came from ahead.“Ah! How many times must I tell you—a flying blade should ride the wind, not be thrown by hand!”Startled by Heukcheon Amgui’s roar, Tang Hak flinched. The old man turned his body fully to scold him.“If you let the wind carry it, you can call it back when you cast it again! How many times have I drilled that into you? And yet you still walk over to retrieve it yourself?”“E-Elder, everyone can hear you.”Tang Hak tried to placate him carefully, but Heukcheon Amgui only shouted ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ louder.“Let them hear! If a rule could be learned just by hearing it, wouldn’t that be great? You’d have mastered it long ago, and I wouldn’t be tearing my hair out in my old age!”Under the barrage of scolding, Tang Hak bowed his head gloomily.Quick-witted Zhuge Cheonyu looked away, pretending not to notice.She tried hard to hide her discomfort.Even so, no matter how different family cultures might be, the Tang Clan’s reaction was difficult to understand. Such behavior was unimaginable in the Zhuge family.Their elders, including the Clan Head, would never scold the Young Clan Head in front of outsiders.Of course, each year the elder brothers who lost the Young Clan Head position were humiliated and suppressed—but that always happened only within the Zhuge family.Those who lost face were the ones dethroned, not the one who became the new Young Clan Head.Zhuge Cheonyu turned her head slightly to glance behind.She saw the Tang Young Clan Head shrinking his shoulders, his face cold as ice yet looking pitiful, like a drenched puppy.'…To look that pitiful with that face—now that’s a skill.'Zhuge Cheonyu’s gaze lingered, but she eventually forced herself to look forward.Still, it felt as though they were walking the same path over and over.Had the Alliance Leader not placed the night pearls to mark their route, she might have asked whether they were circling the same area.After marking several more boundaries, the Alliance Leader took out another night pearl and said quietly,“The next one will be the area before the West Gate.”“Alliance Leader.”Wu So suddenly interrupted.The Alliance Leader turned to him, showing he was listening.“It seems the formation is divided into sectors. Do we need everyone to go ahead to the West Gate?”It was strange to suggest splitting their force of barely a dozen people. As the Alliance Leader remained silent, Wu So glanced back.“We only need to draw their attention for half a shichen. Is it necessary to bring these young ones along?”The Alliance Leader gave a short, helpless laugh. It was a very Wu So kind of question.His eyes turned toward the young warriors. The Zhuge youths looked terrified. They had not come voluntarily—they’d been forced by their Clan Head’s order. Their pitiful expressions must have been what caught Wu So’s attention.After a moment’s thought, the Alliance Leader said,“However, if those remaining behind accidentally touch the boundary, the East Gate’s forces could converge here. If that happens and their troops gather behind the formation, your retreat path could be blocked.”Isolation. The worst possible outcome for anyone infiltrating enemy territory.But Wu So looked back at the young ones calmly, not afraid.“Are you going to touch the formation?”“Absolutely not! We will never touch it! Even within the Zhuge family, our formation skills are recognized. What the Alliance Leader fears will not happen!”One of the frightened Zhuge warriors shouted.The Tang Clan Head supported the idea.“I agree with Wu So. It would be easier to fight without worrying about them. And if the Zhuge Clan Head’s daughter were injured, it would greatly harm my reputation.”The Tang Clan Head did not hide his discomfort. He was uneasy that, while trying to save his own daughter, he might cause harm to another clan’s heir.Realizing that the opinion had already turned, the Alliance Leader nodded.“Then let’s accept the Zhuge family’s assistance only up to this point.”“Yes, we’ll stay here and guard the path properly!”Before the overly eager youth could finish, the Tang Clan Head cut in.“Young Clan Head.”“Yes, Clan Head.”“You will stay here as well and protect them.”At those words, the Zhuge youths frowned all at once.'…Who’s protecting who?'They couldn’t hide their incredulous looks. Tang Hak’s face flushed with embarrassment.“No, I’ll fight with you.”“Do not make me repeat myself.”“…Yes.”When the Clan Head cut him off coldly, Tang Hak fell silent immediately.Everyone understood the reason: the Young Clan Head wanted approval, but the Clan Head prioritized the mission’s success.Given the level of martial skill of those heading for the West Gate—Alliance Leader, Taeguk Sword Sovereign, Heukcheon Amgui, Wu So, Tang Clan Head, and the Sagye Hall Administrator—it was only natural Tang Hak would not go with them.No one consoled him or paid him any mind. Only Zhuge Cheonyu glanced at him a few times.Rustle.The Alliance Leader and the warriors disappeared silently ahead.Left behind, Tang Hak lifted his head with a bitter expression but didn’t turn around—he knew the Zhuge warriors were mocking him.Then a strange voice came from behind.“Young Lady, how about moving to the rear? They’ll be back soon anyway, so it might be better for us to wait at the back.”Tang Hak frowned and turned.“Did you not hear the warning not to touch the formation?”“Ah, who said anything about touching it? We’ll just wait in front of it.”The Zhuge youth answered irritably. Another standing beside him added,“We’re just baggage anyway. If we wait near the front, we can run faster when retreating—that’ll actually help everyone.”“That’s right. And didn’t you hear what the Clan Head said? If Young Lady gets hurt, his honor will suffer.”“That’s enough.”Zhuge Cheonyu cut off her subordinates.She wasn’t angry—she smiled lightly as she spoke in their stead.“They didn’t mean any harm, please understand. We’re all nervous—it’s our first time here, and to be in the Blood Cult’s stronghold, no less.”Tang Hak was startled by her bowing her head and said nothing. Then Zhuge Cheonyu raised her face and spoke softly.“Still, I also think it would be better to move to the next formation ahead. Since we are weaker, if we face the Blood Cult directly, we might become a burden. If we go ahead and find the next night pearl first, we could guide the way more efficiently when retreating.”Her voice was gentle, but her eyes curved playfully.“Of course, I’ll respect the Young Clan Head’s decision. What do you think?”The Zhuge youths swallowed sighs. Why give him so much face? The Young Lady was far too polite.Tang Hak wanted to wait, but with four people disagreeing, he had no choice.'Maybe I’m the one who’s wrong.'Reluctantly, Tang Hak nodded.“…Alright, let’s do that.”In the end, all the young warriors remaining behind moved to the rear of the formation.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.