“Doesn’t ‘mu’ in ‘bimu’ (martial duel) mean martial arts?”“What does that matter?”At Zhuge Jihwi’s crisp reply, Namgung Hyun gave a short laugh.“It seems every year’s Alliance gathering brings me stranger customs.”“No — this isn’t one of them. A calligraphy duel isn’t an Alliance tradition. It’s a game I just invented.”With an easy smile, Zhuge Jihwi lifted a hand. A servant waiting nearby hurried over.“Could you fetch brush, ink, and paper?”The servant blinked.“Sir? Is that a drink?”Zhuge Jihwi burst out laughing.“No — actual paper and brush.”“Ah! Brush, ink, and paper. At once.”“Enough for three. We’ll need three sets.”At that, Tang Sohwa’s brow furrowed slightly.“For three?”“Yes — you, Namgung Young Master, and me.”Sohwa’s expression stiffened politely.“I must apologize, but I’m unversed in poetry or calligraphy. Please allow me to sit out.”“Oh no, that won’t do. I came here precisely to confirm a rumor — that Namgung Young Master and Tang Young Lady held a secret meeting in a private study.”Catching sight of Tang Hak approaching, Zhuge Jihwi’s mouth curved into a crooked smile.“I wondered whether the two of you truly met to discuss calligraphy — so deeply cultured you lost track of time — or whether you were sharing the kind of whispers others seem so eager to imagine.”“Brother!”Tang Hak’s face flushed red as he shouted.He rarely raised his voice; Sohwa forgot her own words and looked at him instead.Coldly, he said, “Watch your tongue.”“What has gotten into you today? Hahaha — please understand, Tang Young Lady, Namgung Young Master. Our Little Clan Head must have had a bit too much to drink and spoken without thinking.”Zhuge Jihwi only curled his lips. Setting down his cup, he spoke softly.“To hush the truth for courtesy’s sake — sometimes that’s the ruder choice.”Though his eyes rested on Tang Sohwa and Namgung Hyun, his voice carried toward Pang Yiran and Tang Hak.“You both know perfectly well what people have been saying about them.”His gaze swept the onlookers gathered around.“What changes if you speak politely only before their faces? Behind their backs, you mock them freely. It’s those thoughts that ought to change.”The crowd — who’d come running to see something amusing between the young heirs — fell silent.Zhuge Jihwi looked again to Sohwa and Hyun, smiling.“So let’s do it — a calligraphy duel. Show everyone just how fond you are of calligraphy, to have spoken together for hours in private.”Sohwa met his eyes.His voice was light, but the weight beneath it was not.For reasons she couldn’t name, he seemed intent on helping her and Namgung Hyun.She had no interest in idle rumors — but apparently, for this Little Clan Head, they weren’t so easily ignored.Her gaze drifted past him to Tang Hak, who kept his mouth shut tight, anger in his eyes. Even if she could bear such talk herself, others clearly could not.Then a bird called.The silence that had settled — everyone waiting for their reply — made the sound ring clearer.Letting that stillness steady her heart, Sohwa finally spoke.“My skill is nothing to boast of — but since you # Nоvеlight # insist, I can hardly refuse.”Zhuge Jihwi smiled.“I’ve heard a few rumors about Namgung Young Master,” he said, “but never about you, Tang Young Lady.”His tone held a hint of meaning.“That’s why you frighten me more.”Sohwa answered with a quiet smile instead of words.Just then, the servant returned with writing tools, and attendants who’d been listening in rushed to clear the table.Soon the large table was bare, and fresh white paper was spread across it.A crowd formed around them like gathering clouds.“What’s going on?”“They say Zhuge Jihwi, the Little Clan Head, challenged someone to a duel! Though is writing poems even a duel?”“The Little Clan Head issued the challenge first? Can the Zhuge Clan get away with that?”“Guess he doesn’t want the title next year. Still, this’ll be fun — a contest between Tang, Namgung, and Zhuge! Hey, bring a fine brush while they’re grinding the ink!”Word spread fast. Even those who’d been nowhere near the lake came running to witness the Alliance’s first-ever calligraphy duel.***Tang Ji-ha pressed his fingers to his temples.A headache throbbed there out of nowhere.“Clan Head Tang, are you well?”“It’s nothing.”He answered Namgung An in an icy tone.Why bring that bastard son this year of all years…!He signaled to a Black Tiger Unit guard behind him. The man stepped forward, accustomed to such orders.“Go and see what’s happening.”“Yes, sir.”Without another word, the guard left the hall.Tang Ji-ha emptied his cup again.A bad feeling gnawed at him.Something was brewing — and not knowing what it was made it worse.He rubbed his temple, then lifted his cup once more.“You’re drinking quickly today, Clan Head Tang. I can barely keep up.”“Don’t mind me — drink at your own pace.”At the Zhuge Clan Head’s gentle tone, Tang Ji-ha smiled — only on the surface.That old fox is itching to stir trouble again.Thanks to the rumors about Sohwa and Namgung Hyun, that cunning Zhuge kept bringing it up, scratching at his nerves. He hadn’t wanted to come at all.But Pang Shihyeon, elder of the Pang Clan, had insisted earnestly, so he was hosting a luncheon with the clan heads and elders.When the talk began to drift off-course, Pang Shihyeon steered it back.“I believe everyone has heard of the Blood Cult’s attack on the Shaanxi Branch.”The incident was recent; nerves were still raw. If not for this Alliance meeting, each clan would be convening at home over it.The elders, eager to speak, chimed in.“I never believed the Blood Cult was truly gone — but I didn’t expect them bold enough to strike openly.”“They haven’t grown strong — they’re cornered, baring claws.”“Headquarters said the same. Then again, since half of Headquarters is Zhuge men, its stance is the Zhuge stance.”The Zhuge Clan Head’s face tightened at the jab.Fearing an argument, Namgung Munseon cut in.“Elder Pang, is that why we’re gathered today?”“No. I didn’t call such busy people to repeat old news. You’ve heard the report — a Mount Hua disciple was found with traces of the Great Desert Sun Palace’s arts. Elder Wu So himself said he had to draw heat from the boy’s meridians. So it’s true.”Clack.The sound of Pang Shihyeon’s cup meeting the table echoed through the hall.She spoke again.“You all know how that heat is drawn out — which means you’ve been seeking yin-type elixirs like Binggeukjicho.”Someone coughed.Prices for Northern Sea remedies had soared lately — and likely everyone here was to blame.Pang Shihyeon smiled.“I don’t say this to reproach anyone. We’ve been searching too. Which brings me to the point.”Her tone smoothed to calm formality.“What do you think of opening exchange with the Northern Sea Branch?”Namgung Munseon frowned.“The Northern Sea Branch? Did I hear you right?”“Yes. The Alliance Leader is considering trade. Perhaps Zhuge Clan has heard already? Word is, Headquarters is polling its members.”“This is news to us.”The Zhuge Clan Head smiled faintly. Pang Shihyeon answered in kind, but didn’t buy it.She went on.“The Northern Sea Branch calls itself the Outer Branch, yet the Martial Alliance has never once dealt with them. In truth, don’t we all regard the Outer Branch as traitors?”Long ago, when the Blood Cult expanded, it absorbed every sect beyond the Central Plains.Alarmed, five palace lords of those outer lands formed a league — the Five Outer Palaces, which included the Great Desert Sun Palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace.But they were defeated; their lords and kin were hunted by the Blood Demon.In desperation they begged the Martial Alliance for aid.The Alliance, long intrigued by foreign arts and elixirs, had maintained light contact before. The Outer Palaces clung to that tie — but the Alliance refused. Naturally. They had no duty beyond their borders.When the Outer Palaces fell, fear took root.If the Blood Demon had seized the lands encircling them, what next?Even the Demonic Sect, watching from afar, grew afraid and struck first. It was a war to the death — the Demonic Sect was destroyed, and the Blood Cult left crippled.Some in the Alliance urged a finishing blow before it recovered.But the distance was vast, and few wished to interfere abroad. The Alliance Leader refused to march.Those discontented with his decision gathered followers and departed the Central Plains, vowing to wipe out the Cult and protect the Outer lands. They settled there, dividing the territory.Though they kept the Alliance name, the Leader refused to recognize them. To abandon the Central Plains was to abandon one’s sect.Thus the Alliance cut all ties, casting the Outer Branch out.Pang Shihyeon understood the silence that followed.Even speaking the words Outer Branch was taboo.Only she dared.“Still — given our situation, the Alliance Leader means to ask the Northern Sea Branch for Binggeukjicho, and to confirm whether the Great Desert Branch retains any manuals of the Sun Palace.”Long service at Headquarters had given her reach. Once close to the Namgung Clan Head, trusted by the Leader, she knew the truth of the Blood Cult’s strike better than anyone.Now she sought to convince the Five Great Families.“The Blood Cult lay low for years, then devoured the Outer Lands in a single strike. Even the Outer Palace lords and the Demonic Sect’s master fell to the Blood Demon. What we see in the Central Plains now — it’s the same pattern.”Her voice grew low.“We cannot repeat that mistake. This time, the Martial Alliance must open exchange with the Outer Branch.”

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.