Chapter 34
Great Huangfu Family Residence, Jinan, Shandong Province.
The Great Huangfu Family patriarch, Huangfu Jun, looked puzzled. He had just received a report from Huangfu Sheng, who returned with a broken wrist and elbow.
“The Great Sima Family? Who?”
“He introduced himself as Sima Bi. He seemed to be a little over twenty years old,” Huangfu Sheng replied, feeling ashamed. He was thirty years old this year, yet he still got defeated by someone in his early twenties. He couldn't even come up with an excuse for what happened.
“Sima Bi is the young patriarch of the Great Sima Family. He’s twenty-three years old this year,” Huangfu Ren, the middle-aged man next to Huangfu Jun, commented. He was in charge of the Great Huangfu Family’s information network.
“Considering he put Huangfu Sheng in that state, he’s likely in the Peak Realm at the very least. Does it make sense to you that the Great Sima Family’s young patriarch is that strong?” Huangfu Jun asked in astonishment.
Huangfu Jun and his nephew were in the first-rate realm. The fact that the man could beat Huangfu Sheng that badly in a single battle evidenced he was at least at the Peak Realm.
“Although it hasn’t been confirmed, there is a rumor that the young patriarch of the Great Sima Family is in a pretty formidable realm.”
“Determine where the Great Sima Family’s young patriarch is right now. And draw up the appearance of the man that defeated Huangfu Sheng and compare it with Sima Bi’s.”
“Understood.”
“What about the pursuit of Shangguan Bihe?”
“Fortunately, Huangfu Sheng smeared the Hundred-Mile Soul-Chasing Incense on Lady Shangguan, so we’ll be able to track her down.”
The Hundred-Mile Soul-Chasing Incense was a drug that left a special scent humans couldn’t detect. However, dogs could be trained to smell it.
As its name suggested, the Hundred-Mile Soul-Chasing Incense’s aroma could be picked up from a hundred miles away. With trained dogs, one would be able to track their target down for as long as they were within that distance. However, the scent only lasted three days. Once it disappeared, the Great Huangfu Family would no longer be able to track her down.
Despite having his arm broken, Huangfu Sheng didn’t forget his mission. He still remembered to use the Hundred-Mile Soul-Chasing Incense so they could track down Bihe.
“Where is she right now?” Huangfu Jun asked.
“It has been confirmed that they entered Mount Tai of the Thousand Pines Valley.” Huangfu Sheng replied.
“The Thousand Pines Valley?”
“As its name suggests, it is a valley consisting of a thousand pine trees.”
“What’s inside that place?”
“We haven’t found out yet. Considering there is a trap array installed in the Thousand Pines Valley, it doesn’t seem to be an ordinary location.”
“A trap array, you say?” Huangfu Jun raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“I don’t think this is a matter that can be resolved just by thinking. Can the trap array be destroyed?”
“We've sent the family’s array master, so it should be destroyed in a few days.”
“But there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to destroy it.”
“That’s correct.”
“Did you say that the person who took Shangguan Bihe was a member of the Jinan Medical Clinic?” Huangfu Jun diverted his gaze onto Huangfu Ren.
“Yes. He claimed to be the best even within the Jinan Medical Clinic.”
“What about his personal background?”
“There wasn't any information available except for his name and age.”
“Nonsense. Try beating the intel out of the Jinan Medical Clinic members.”
“It’s not that simple. The people of Jinan have a lot of faith in the Jinan Medical Clinic. Thoughtlessly messing with the Jinan Medical Clinic could damage the reputation of the Great Huangfu Family.”
“That wouldn't matter if we do it without anyone knowing, would it? Do whatever it takes to get information on him. The Thousand Pines Valley certainly doesn’t seem like an ordinary place, seeing how it has a trap array installed.”
“Understood.”
Huangfu Ren nodded, raising no further concerns.
***
Five days had passed since Mu-Gun came to the Medicine King Family’s Heavenly Underground Cave. In that period, he got along quite well with Seonwoo Kang and Bihe. Perhaps because they were of similar age, they easily clicked. Seonwoo Kang and Bihe were twenty-four years old and twenty-one years old, respectively, and both of them had an unstained innocence. That was evidenced by their decision to put everything on the line to protect their love regardless of the consequences.
Mu-Gun spent most of the past three days improving his martial arts in his residence. Whenever Seonwoo Kang and Bihe would visit, he would also have tea and chat with them. Seonwoo Kang and Bihe visited Mu-Gun’s residence that day as well, carrying aromatic pine tea produced from the pine needles of the Thousand Pine Valley’s pine trees.
“Welcome.” Mu-Gun gladly invited their presence.
“Aren’t you looking too pleased?” Seonwoo Kang replied.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m pleased to see the aromatic pine tea, not the two of you.”
“What, are we worth less than the aromatic pine tea to you?”
“Why would I be glad to see a pair of lovers being affectionate and rubbing salt in the wound of a single man like me?” Mu-Gun said upon seeing Seonwoo Kang and Bihe holding hands in front of him as if they were intentionally showing it to him.
“If you’re jealous, you should start dating too. Don’t you think women would come running from all directions for someone like him?” Seonwoo Kang turned to Bihe and asked.
“My point exactly. Are your standards perhaps too high, Young Master Baek?” Bihe answered and look toward Mu-Gun for an answer.
“Well, I’ll meet someone when the time is right.”
“How will you be able to meet anyone at all when all you do every day is cultivate your martial arts? At this rate, you'd likely just pass by the one for you and miss your chance.” Seonwoo Kang chided Mu-Gun upon hearing the latter’s words.
“If that happens, then it means we’re not really meant to be.”
“If you say so. Anyway, I hope you meet a pretty and kind-hearted woman like dear Bihe. I don’t know if another woman like her exists, though.”
“Damn you. Let’s just drink the tea,” Mu-Gun said, fed up with Seonwoo Kang rubbing salt in his wound.
“Please wait a moment.” Bihe chuckled and began to prepare the tea.
“Hmm, as expected, it doesn’t matter when I get to drink it. The Medicine King Family’s aromatic pine tea will always be delicious,” Mu-Gun said after taking a sip of the aromatic pine tea. He savored its aroma and taste.
“If someone hears you, they’d think you’ve drunk it before.”
Mu-Gun had drunk the aromatic pine tea in his previous life, but he couldn’t tell them that.
“It’s just a figure of speech.”
“Honestly, I don’t know if I find the tea as good as you say.” Seonwoo Kang felt that Mu-Gun was praising the tea more that what it was worth.
“That’s because you’re used to it. You drink it every day, after all.”
“That’s true. At first, I found its unique scent awkward, but it began to grow on me the more I drank it.”
“I’m glad you like it. By the way, don’t you get sick of practicing martial arts all day long?”
“Honestly, it’s boring. However, I have to bear with it if I want to advance to a higher level.”
“Your determination is really incredible,” Seonwoo Kang complimented.
“It’s nothing compared to the Medicine King Family’s determination to devote their life to the study of all herbs and spiritual plants in the world. For generations now, it’s been sparing no effort to create a pill capable of curing all diseases.”
“What’s with the high praise again?”
“I’m just telling the truth.”
Mu-Gun’s words seemed to please Seonwoo Kang. Just as he was about to say something, someone outside came looking for Mu-Gun.
“Young Master Baek, are you inside?”
“That sounds like Uncle Jang Sam from father’s residence. What’s going on?”
Seonwoo Kang tilted his head, recognizing the voice coming from outside.
“I think the patriarch is looking for me.”
Mu-Gun answered Seonwoo Kang, then called Jang Sam inside.
“What’s the matter?” Mu-Gun asked.
“The patriarch is looking for you. We request that you come as well, Young Patriarch and Lady Shangguan,” Jang Sam relayed the message from Seonwoo Pyo.
“Us too?” Bihe asked with her eyes widened.
“Yes. The patriarch is looking for the both of you as well.”
“What’s going on?” Bihe turned to look at Seonwoo Kang for an answer.
“Considering he’s asking for us as well, It’s probably related to the Great Huangfu Family,” Seonwoo Kang pondered for a brief moment before replying.
“Let’s just go for now,” Mu-Gun said and stood up.
The trio went to Seonwoo Pyo’s residence. Seonwoo Pyo greeted them with a hardened expression.
“Why did you summon us?” Seonwoo Kang asked.
“The Great Huangfu Family’s martial artists have surrounded the Thousand Pine Valley’s entrance.”
“The Great Huangfu Family’s martial artists?”
“They probably started tracking us from the inn,” Mu-Gun said, getting the gist of the situation.
He made sure to stay alert in case of any possible pursuit. Hence, the fact that the Great Huangfu Family still managed to discover the Thousand Pine Valley meant for sure that they didn’t simply tail them. They used a different method.
“I’m sorry. I put the Medicine King Family in danger because of my hasty actions,” Seonwoo Kang apologized with a brooding expression.
“It’s not your fault, Brother Seonwoo. I’m the one to blame for all this. This wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for me. I’m sorry.” Bihe said while shaking her head.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Neither of you is to blame for this matter, so raise your head.” Seonwoo Pyo had no intention of blaming this matter on Seonwoo Kang or Bihe. Seonwoo Pyo lamented Seonwoo Kang’s choice to bring Bihe here without thinking about the consequences, but he did not intend to blame him. He knew Seonwoo Kang had no other choice.
Bihe didn’t want this to happen, either. If someone was to be put to blame, it was the Shandong Merchant Association and Great Huangfu Family, both of which tried to use Bihe for their own benefit. Above all, who was right and wrong wasn’t important right now. They had to prioritize figuring out how to stop the Great Huangfu Family. Seonwoo Pyo could only rely on Mu-Gun now.
“Can you stop the Great Huangfu Family?” Seonwoo Pyo asked Mu-Gun.
“With my current internal energy, I can only stop one of the Great Huangfu Family’s Ten Heavenly King Platoons.”
“What if your internal energy is increased?”
“It depends on how much it’s enhanced. However, if I were to be given sixty years' worth of internal energy, their people wouldn’t be able to do anything to me for as long as the Great Huangfu Family’s patriarch and the Four Unmatched Heavenly Kings don’t appear.”
The Medicine King Family could refine up to a maximum of three Divine Thunder Essence Pills, each of which provided sixty years' worth of internal energy. However, each consumption would cut its potency in half. If Mu-Gun absorbed three Divine Thunder Essence Pills, he’d only obtain less than one hundred and twenty years worth of internal energy.
If Mu-Gun could take a Divine Thunder Essence Pill now, the Great Huangfu Family wouldn’t be a concern. However, it would take another month for one to be produced. Mu-Gun had to resolve the situation with only a little more than thirty years worth of internal energy.
Seonwoo Pyo pondered for a while, then asked, “Have you perhaps heard of the Yin Yang Poison Horn Serpent?”
“Its name suggests it’s a snake with horns on its head and possesses yin and yang energies.”
“That’s right. With the internal energy cultivation method, you should be able to fully convert the beast core of a monster possessing yin and yang energies to thunder qi. What do you think?”
“I should be able to absorb at least seventy percent of such a beast core’s energy. How can this information help us right now, though?”
“A few years ago, I happened to obtain the Yin Yang Poison Horn Serpent's beast core. However, I couldn’t find a way to detoxify the deadly poison aura it contained. I couldn’t use it, so I’ve left it untouched since.”
“Deadly poison aura?”
“The Yin Yang Poison Horn Serpent's beast core contains a deadly poison aura, but the purification and detoxification method it requires is unidentifiable. Those who cultivate poisonous martial arts consider it a priceless treasure, but ordinary martial artists just see it as a pie in the sky.
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
“I think your internal energy cultivation method can detoxify the poison in the Yin Yang Poison Horn Serpent's beast core.”
“In short, I have to risk my life and obtain the energy within the beast core.”
“Yes. I’m not forcing you to do it. I just thought I should let you know that we have this option.”
Mu-Gun pondered about it for a while, but he soon shook his head.
It was a deadly poison aura that even the Medicine King Family couldn’t purify. It could be possible for him to eliminate it with the internal energy he’d have after consuming a Divine Thunder Essence Pill, but it was too dangerous with the current internal energy he possessed.
“I don’t think that’s possible right now, but it should be worth trying after I’ve drunk a Divine Thunder Essence Pill and enhanced my internal energy.”
“Understood. We have no choice but to produce a Divine Thunder Essence Pill as soon as possible, then.”
“How long can the trap array of the Thousand Pine Valley hold against them?”
“If the Great Huangfu Family’s array masters get involved, I doubt it’ll be able to hold on any more than three days.”
“That’s too short. Why don’t we do something else?”
“What do you mean?” Seonwoo Pyo questioned.
“Let’s make it so that the Great Huangfu Family’s array masters won’t be able to destroy the Thousand Pine Valley’s trap array.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“By getting rid of them.”
“You mean killing them?”
“We can just kidnap them if possible, but that would be difficult to do with the Great Huangfu Family’s martial artists all around them.” Mu-Gun answered.
“But you think it’s possible to eliminate them?”
“The Great Huangfu Family’s martial artists will never expect us to try getting rid of their array masters. They’ll drop their guard sooner or later, and we’ll have a good chance to pull it off once they do.”
“Won’t this put too much pressure on you, Young Master Baek?”
“It’s within what I can do, so you don’t have to feel pressured.”
“If so, then please allow me to shamelessly depend on you.”
“I also have something to tell you.”
“Please go ahead.”
“I think it would be best to consider moving the Medicine King Family's secret hideout somewhere else now. Even if we successfully stop their current advances, the Great Huangfu Family won’t stop there.” Mu-Gun then put forward his proposition.
“I’ve actually been thinking about it.”
“Do you already have a place in mind?”
“Not yet. Do you have any recommendations?” Seonwoo Pyo had not thought of any ideal places.
“How about Zhejiang Province’s Yandang Mountain?”
“Is there a reason why you’d recommend that place?”
“Although it does not compare to Mount Tai, one of the Five Great Mountains of China, it is also a spiritual mountain, making it rich in herbs and spiritual materials the Medicine King Family is looking for. It also neighbors the Baek Sword Sect, my family. Lastly, Zhejiang Province is geographically far from the Great Huangfu Family, making it a good location if you want to avoid them.”
“Hmmm, I’ll give it some thought. That being said, would it be alright if you were to excuse yourself? I’d like to talk about personal matters with my family.”
“I’ll be taking my leave now, then.”
“Thank you. Stay for a while, Kang and Lady Shangguan.”
Mu-Gun politely bid farewell and left Seonwoo Pyo’s residence. The reason Seonwoo Pyo made Seonwoo Kang and Bihe stay behind was probably to talk about the marriage between the two. Mu-Gun thought Seonwoo Pyo would allow the marriage. Unlike others, he didn’t want to benefit from it.
To him, his child’s feelings and the personality of the woman his son wanted to marry were more important. Considering Bihe’s upright personality, Seonwoo Pyo would likely allow their marriage.
In fact, Seonwoo Pyo respected the couple's wishes. It would be difficult to have a wedding until they had eliminated the Great Huangfu Family's threats. Nevertheless, he had decided to push ahead with their marriage once everything had settled down.
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