The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 259

Divine Doctor of Primordial Demise (259)

Zhuge Lian frowned, staring intently at Murong Geuk.

“What did they find out?”

Murong Geuk paused at those words.

He belatedly realized that the eyes around them were focused on them.

He almost made a mistake in his haste.

Only a handful of people knew about Noh Dan-yang and her relationship.

It was not a matter to be discussed publicly like this.

Murong Geuk spoke indirectly.

“I suspect that Muwi has been up to something……”

Zhuge Lian furrowed her brow.

“That can’t be.”

She always personally took care of reports related to Muwi’s movements.

She had not found any special signs or indications from any of the Three Demonic Venerables, including Dan Ak-seon.

However, Murong Geuk’s following words forced her to think differently.

“I don’t know the details, but I don’t think it would be wise to encounter them as we are now. There must be a reason why they are rushing in with such opportunistic momentum.”

That was true.

If there was a variable she didn’t know about, it would mean inviting an unfavorable situation without any countermeasures.

However, she couldn’t just head to the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].

It was clear that the Beggars’ Sect’s surveillance network was already spread everywhere.

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Let’s move to my family estate first.”

Zhuge Lian fell into contemplation at Murong Geuk’s suggestion.

However, there was no other clever solution at the moment.

No matter how dense the Beggars’ Sect’s information network was, the path to Liaoning would be relatively quiet.

Even setting aside the tactic of ‘running away is the best option,’ there was no reason to insist on an unfavorable situation.

Above all, it was necessary to buy time for now.

“Let’s do that.”

In the end, Zhuge Lian accepted Murong Geuk’s proposal and turned towards Liaoning, where the Murong family was located.

A short while later.

Hong Jeok-mun, along with the masters of the Nine Great Sects, arrived at the Zhuge family estate and stood face to face with the head of the family, Zhuge Gyeong.

“Although it’s chaotic, I am ashamed as the host for not being fully prepared to welcome such esteemed guests.”

Zhuge Gyeong, seemingly already aware of the situation to some extent, showed a somber expression and paid his respects.

Hong Jeok-mun returned the greeting and opened his mouth.

“I am only saddened that I cannot visit you for a good reason.”

Hong Jeok-mun’s attitude was extremely polite, but his eyes were colder than ever.

“On behalf of the Nine Great Sects, we seek to detain your daughter, Zhuge Lian.”

“May I ask the reason?”

“She is suspected of plotting insurrection and instigating the murder of the Beggars’ Sect’s leader.”

“I would like to see the evidence for the charges you are claiming.”

Hong Jeok-mun took out a half-burnt letter from his chest and presented it.

“The culprit who murdered the Sect Leader is Noh Dan-yang, the Seven Fiend Devil. This is the core key to the demonic art that was given to him. Can you identify whose handwriting is written there?”

A familiar handwriting.

Zhuge Gyeong recognized that it was Zhuge Lian’s and sighed deeply.

“That’s not all.”

Hong Jeok-mun took out other documents from his chest and handed them to Zhuge Gyeong.

“These are transcripts of statements.”

Zhuge Gyeong checked the contents of the statements and closed his eyes with a miserable expression.

Hwangbo Eon, the head of the Hwangbo family, and Dang Gok, the head of the Sichuan Dang family.

The testimonies they directly wrote were directly pointing to Zhuge Lian.

“The head of the Hwangbo family stated that he mobilized warriors under his family’s command as a liaison between Zhuge Lian and Noh Dan-yang. The Dang family also stated that Zhuge Lian, backed by the authority of the Murim Alliance, pressured them when the Beggars’ Sect’s investigation began.”

It wasn’t difficult to guess what was happening.

The head of the Dang family would have limited the main conspirator of the plot with Zhuge Lian to Dang Ryung, and would have framed it as an individual deviation unrelated to the family’s intentions.

Although lacking practical authority, the position of Dangga Taju [a symbolic position only allowed to the direct bloodline of the Dang family] was a symbolic position only allowed to the direct bloodline of the Dang family.

As such, he had considerable influence within the Dang family.

The head of the Dang family clearly intended to monopolize power within the Dang family by sacrificing Dangga Taju on this occasion and filling the position with his own people.

“The Sichuan Dang family testified that they received instructions from the current Murim Alliance Leader to meet the Seven Fiend Devil. And they chose to cooperate with her, but instead, they chose to tell us the truth.”

The Dang family had frequently sent matchmakers under the guise of marriage proposals until now.

But now they were backing out.

To make matters worse, they were now providing decisive evidence that put Zhuge Lian in a corner.

What that meant was clear.

They judged that the current Murim Alliance, a union of aristocratic families, would lose in the power struggle with Muwi, led by Dan Ak-seon.

As he was seething with betrayal and humiliation.

“The head of the Namgung family has passed away.”

Thunder struck in Zhuge Gyeong’s head at Hong Jeok-mun’s words.

“He fought Noh Dan-yang to the death.”

‘Was this it!’

He finally understood why the Sichuan Dang family had changed its position.

They had already judged the Murim Alliance to be a sinking ship.

Did the current Alliance Leader have a hand in the death of the former Alliance Leader, Namgung Baek?

Regardless of whether that was true or not, the very suspicion itself shook the Murim Alliance’s reason for existence.

Zhuge Gyeong closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

“That child is no longer a member of the Zhuge family.”

Zhuge Lian was the first to declare the severance, but the father’s heart, repeating that fact, was devastated.

Hong Jeok-mun nodded.

“I wanted to hear those words.”

With this, the Zhuge family could no longer exert any influence in detaining Zhuge Lian.

At that moment, someone rushed towards Hong Jeok-mun.

It was a master belonging to the Beggars’ Sect who had been investigating the surroundings.

“Someone has witnessed Zhuge Lian leaving with Murong Geuk.”

Hong Jeok-mun’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Then they must have headed to Liaoning.”

That was good.

‘Just like Doctor Dan said.’

The purpose of leading a large number of masters from the Nine Great Sects to the Zhuge family estate was working properly.

This was a show of force to demonstrate to the outside world that the Nine Great Sects were moving in unison.

It was intended to warn other aristocratic families not to rashly sympathize with Zhuge Lian.

If she had headed to the Murim Alliance, it could have become a headache.

In the worst case, there was a high possibility that it could develop into an all-out war between the Nine Great Sects and the aristocratic family alliance.

The true enemy, the Demonic Sect, was still hiding and constantly aiming for the Central Plains.

In such a situation, a civil war that gnawed at each other would only benefit the Demonic Sect.

Hong Jeok-mun clasped his hands towards the masters of the Nine Great Sects who had accompanied him to this place.

“From now on, I will settle this with the power of our Sect alone.”

Beop-ryo, who had accompanied the Arhats [Buddhist disciples] to this place, expressed concern at Hong Jeok-mun’s words.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Although they boasted the largest number of members in the Central Plains, the Beggars’ Sect was the weakest among the Nine Great Sects in terms of martial prowess.

No matter how much Hong Jeok-mun was called one of the Three Great Knights of the Central Plains, it was also true that he was far behind himself or Cho Ak-ryang.

Moreover, Murong Geuk, whom he had recently encountered, had an unusual aura and energy.

He certainly possessed a higher level of martial arts than Hong Jeok-mun.

Hong Jeok-mun smiled quietly and opened his mouth.

“This matter must be resolved solely by the power of the Beggars’ Sect. It is to hold them accountable for the death of our Sect Leader. If it’s just the Murong family, the current power of the Beggars’ Sect is enough to handle it.”

“But the damage will be significant.”

“That won’t happen.”

Beop-ryo couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the confidence Hong Jeok-mun showed.

However, Hong Jeok-mun was not one to make empty promises.

There must be a reason why he was so confident.

“May the blessings of Buddha be with you.”

Hong Jeok-mun clasped his hands in return to Beop-ryo’s prayer.

Leaving behind Beop-ryo, the Arhats, and the masters of the Nine Great Sects, Hong Jeok-mun headed straight to Liaoning with the Beggars’ Sect members.

* * *

The quiet before the storm in the inner hall of the Murong family estate.

Murong Geuk, who was sipping tea in Mucheon Pavilion, the head of the family’s office, suddenly opened his mouth towards Zhuge Lian, who was sitting across from him.

“Your plan has failed.”

Zhuge Lian’s eyes turned cold at Murong Geuk’s calling her ‘Miss’ instead of ‘Alliance Leader’.

Murong Geuk smiled at this and continued.

“The Hwangbo family, the Sichuan Dang family, and even the Zhuge family have turned their backs on you.”

“……”

“That’s why I repeatedly advised you, didn’t I? That you should wait for the right time. Your impatience has ultimately caused all of this.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It is said that even a thousand thoughts can have one mistake, but you have already made several mistakes.”

Murong Geuk continued, sipping his tea leisurely.

“Turning Namgung Baek into an enemy goes without saying, and trying to plot great things with people like Dang Ryung or Noh Dan-yang is also a big mistake. Above all……”

“……?”

“The biggest mistake is that you didn’t properly assess the other party’s capabilities. Didn’t Sun Tzu say? ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'”

“I don’t understand why someone so knowledgeable in military strategy is still working with me.”

Murong Geuk did not lose his smile even at Zhuge Lian’s somewhat sharp sarcasm.

“Isn’t it true that one must take risks to pursue great profits?”

Zhuge Lian frowned.

The initiative between the two had already passed to Murong Geuk.

However, at the moment, Murong Geuk was the only person she could rely on.

Murong Geuk spoke to Zhuge Lian, who was in such a situation.

“I heard that only people from the Beggars’ Sect are heading here. So there’s no need to be so anxious.”

Confidence was evident in Murong Geuk’s eyes and expression.

“There is no master in the Beggars’ Sect who can handle me. Moreover, you know our strength better than anyone else, don’t you?”

“……”

That was true.

Although it was not known to the outside world, the current power of the Murong family far surpassed that of other aristocratic families in the Central Plains.

It was all thanks to her arrangements.

Namgung Baek, who had secured the Demonic Sect’s secret manuals, tried to research them to find a way to defeat the demonic arts.

Furthermore, he also worked to create anti-demonic arts that were the opposite of demonic arts.

However, the plan failed, and Namgung Baek withdrew it.

However, it wasn’t that there were no results at all.

He was able to obtain some of the key essentials among the secrets of the demonic arts.

Zhuge Lian secretly contacted Murong Geuk and handed over the demonic arts and research contents.

There was no better bait than this in establishing a cooperative relationship with them.

The Murong family had an unusual desire for martial arts, adopting the family traditions of mixed Hu and Han blood and the unity of literary and martial arts.

As a family, its history did not match that of other aristocratic families, but the potential of the Murong family could not be ignored.

Tracing back the history of the Murong family, they were rooted in the Murong tribe, one of the Xianbei tribes during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

The Murong tribe was a force that had built the Former Yan, Later Yan, Southern Yan, and Northern Yan during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, and had exerted its power to almost dominate the Central Plains.

As such, they had collected and compiled martial arts from all over the world over a long period of time, and no one could follow them in their understanding of martial arts.

The most representative of these was the Murong family’s unique family martial art, the Star Shifting Technique [a technique that returns any external attack in the desired direction].

Befitting its grandiose meaning of shifting the Big Dipper, it was a technique that returned any external attack in the desired direction.

However, this was not limited to forms alone.

The ability to accept external things and create new martial arts of their own was unparalleled.

Murong Geuk accepted Zhuge Lian’s proposal and continued a long-term secret relationship, avoiding the eyes of outsiders.

In the process, there were unexpected results.

Surprisingly, Murong Geuk created a new martial art that compiled only the advantages of the demonic arts with their own unique mental cultivation method, excluding the Demonic Sect’s mental cultivation method.

There were no side effects such as demonic intrusion, and it did not emit the unique demonic energy of demonic arts.

Moreover, Murong Geuk did not stop there and passed on the martial arts he had created to the family’s bloodline.

The Mucheon Squad, consisting of one hundred masters, was created in that way.

And this was why Murong Geuk was so confident.

It was then that the door to the office opened and a person entered.

“Reporting to the Head of the Family.”

“What is it?”

At Murong Geuk’s question, the head of the outer hall, who was in charge of receiving outsiders, bowed respectfully.

“The Beggars’ Sect Elder, Quick Hands Yeoui, has sent a visiting card.”