How to Live as a Mage in the Murim World

Chapter 22 – Episode 6: The Green Forest Road Alliance (1)

“I’m truly sorry.”

“Not at all. You couldn’t have known when I would arrive.”

Zhuge Hyeonmong bowed his head deeply.

At a time when he already had enough to worry about regarding the Zhuge Family, such a mistake was absolutely fatal.

‘Of all times, I had to have that lucid dream right then.’

“Anyway, please come in.”

Zhuge Hyeonmong led Zhuge Jun inside.

Zhuge Jun followed Hyeonmong a few steps, then suddenly smiled.

“This is a nice place.”

“You think so? It’s just an old thatched house.”

Indeed, Zhuge Hyeonmong’s house was rather old and shabby.

He hadn’t been well-off to begin with, and with his father’s debts added on, he couldn’t afford to maintain the house properly.

“Not at all. The air is excellent. There’s something indescribably fresh and pleasant about it.”

“…Please come inside.”

Zhuge Hyeonmong guided Zhuge Jun in.

He brought out the tea and refreshments he had prepared. Though they weren’t particularly luxurious, Zhuge Jun accepted them gratefully.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Zhuge Jun spoke.

“I imagine you already know why I’ve come here.”

Honestly, Hyeonmong had no idea.

Not because there were no possibilities, but because there were too many.

“Please, tell me.”

“Since you already know, I’ll speak frankly.”

Zhuge Jun straightened his clothes and fixed Zhuge Hyeonmong with an intense gaze.

“I know this is presumptuous of me, but would you lend your strength to the Zhuge Family?”

“…”

In truth, Zhuge Hyeonmong had prepared responses for what he thought Zhuge Jun might ask.

Whether he asked about formation techniques or that ridiculous nickname “Reincarnation of the Zhuge Liang,” he was ready to answer.

But this…

‘I didn’t expect this.’

What could a powerful family like the Zhuge Family possibly need his strength for?

“As you probably know, the Zhuge Family isn’t what it once was. We’re gradually declining.”

‘I don’t kno— Well, I do now.’

Zhuge Hyeonmong nodded.

It was common knowledge in the Jianghu that the Zhuge Family wasn’t what it once was.

Especially after the Sima Noble Family had risen to prominence.

The Zhuge Family was famous for its strategy and intellect. Known as a gathering place for smart people. However, they were also a martial family.

Ideally, they would possess both intellect and martial prowess, but alas…

Even in its heyday, the Zhuge Clan hadn’t been known for its martial strength. They were more like a mystical clan, solving problems with uncanny strategies reminiscent of Zhuge Liang’s legendary feats.

But somewhere along the line, they had entered the secular world, becoming just another ordinary Murim clan.

“Of course, our fortunes haven’t declined to the point of crisis. We still have enough power and influence to be called a martial clan. But compared to the growth of other families… our elders believe that in a hundred years, we might not even be able to call ourselves a noble family, much less a major one.”

“Hm.”

From Zhuge Hyeonmong’s perspective, these were the complaints of someone with a full stomach.

Especially compared to his own situation of drowning in debt.

“I understand the situation. But what could I possibly do to help?”

“You really are being coy. You already know, don’t you?”

‘Know what?’

He still couldn’t see where this conversation was heading.

But Zhuge Jun came to his own understanding and continued.

“To make our family great again, we need innovation. I’ve been searching for a method for a long time. And recently, I discovered one possibility.”

Zhuge Jun said this while fixing Zhuge Hyeonmong with burning eyes.

“That is to welcome back the Scholar Faction that left our family long ago.”

“…”

“Isn’t that what you wanted too?”

Zhuge Hyeonmong smiled faintly.

It wasn’t a smile with any particular intention; he simply still had no idea what Zhuge Jun was talking about.

‘What Scholar Faction?’

This was the problem with the Zhuge family—they assumed others knew what they were talking about.

Just because his surname is Zhuge didn’t make him privy to all the family’s secrets. How was he supposed to follow this conversation?

“That’s why you adopted the moniker of the Reincarnation of Zhuge Liang and set up that long-lost Formation. All to attract the Zhuge Family’s attention.”

“…”

Suddenly, it all clicked into place.

The discarded formation manual.

The Zhuge Family’s decline.

His ancestor who had been expelled from the Zhuge Family long ago.

His father who had inherited that ancestor’s legacy.

The incense burner that was one of his father’s artifacts.

Everything fit together.

‘I see. I’m a descendant of the Zhuge family’s Scholar Faction.’

He still didn’t know exactly what the Scholar Faction was.

But he could easily guess that they were practitioners of some kind of esoteric arts like himself and that they had been pushed out in a conflict with the martial faction, becoming the most distant branch of a branch family.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“Not interested.”

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Zhuge Hyeonmong’s eyes gleamed.

‘This is an opportunity.’

Until now, Zhuge Hyeonmong had been quite tense.

If Zhuge Jun had seen what Zhuge Hyeonmong had done and accused him of heresy or stealing the family’s secret art, there would be little he could say in his defense.

Although Zhuge Jun was treating Zhuge Hyeonmong very respectfully, there was always the possibility that during their conversation, he might suddenly exclaim, “How dare you sully our family name, die!” and attack. Such was the way of the Jianghu.

One might think this wouldn’t happen since the Zhuge Family belonged to the Orthodox Faction, but that made it even more important to be careful, as they placed great emphasis on face and justification.

So, the only thing Zhuge Xianmeng could do now was play along.

Zhuge Hyeonmong’s eyes became tinged with melancholy.

“I didn’t particularly want to return.”

“…”

“Though we share the same surname, as you said, we’ve been separated for a long time. Now we’re no different from strangers… perhaps even less than strangers. I simply wanted to confirm what I had heard in the rumors.”

Zhuge Jun couldn’t speak.

He knew that the Scholar Faction had been practically exiled.

‘The records claim they relentlessly demanded funds and resources for their research, squandering the family’s wealth with their bizarre practices, but that probably wasn’t the whole truth.’

Isn’t there a saying that history is written by the victors?

What if they’d been framed and disgraced on their way out of the family?

‘Come to think of it.’

Just looking at Zhuge Hyeonmong’s thatched house said enough.

The air might be refreshing, but one could hardly call the state of the house good.

“I know of your reputation, Master Zhuge. One of the Three Jewels of the Zhuge Family also one of the candidates to become the next family head, right?”

A dying camel is still larger than a big horse. Declining as they are, Zhuge Hyeonmong still had heard various bits of information about the Zhuge Family, including about Zhuge Jun.

A talent the Zhuge Family was raising with all their might and resources.

Zhuge Hyeonmong pondered for a moment.

Although unexpected, Zhuge Jun’s proposal was actually quite good.

‘Accepting the proposal wouldn’t be bad.’

At the very least, it would help him pay off his debts.

And he could also check out the Scholar Faction’s secret techniques that might still exist in the Zhuge Family.

But that was all.

“It was just curiosity. At least for now, I have no intention of going to the Zhuge Family.”

Zhuge Hyeonmong disliked troublesome things.

From what he’d heard, the Scholar Faction had separated from the Zhuge family long ago. Even if there were any grimoires left, how much could there really be?

Joining the Zhuge family in search of things that might not even exist didn’t seem like a profitable venture.

“I see.”

Zhuge Jun’s disappointment was palpable.

“However.”

“…?”

“We could still help each other.”

Zhuge Hyeonmong had no intention of joining the Zhuge Family under Zhuge Jun.

But nonetheless, Zhuge Hyeonmong needed backing.

‘Sooner or later, I’ll have to reveal the magic I possess.’

It wasn’t something he could hide forever.

For now, he could get by with clever tricks and smooth-talking, but later, as his skills accumulated and his realm deepened, such simple deceptions would no longer work.

He could be accused of practicing sorcery or, in the worst case, falling into the Demonic Path.

If the Zhuge Family stepped in at that point, they could smooth things over and clear up any misunderstandings.

“Well then.”

“Let us simply consider this the beginning of a small connection. What do you say?”

“…That sounds good!”

Zhuge Jun bowed deeply.

“I look forward to working with you, Master!”

“Please, don’t call me Master. I’m hardly worthy of such a title, and I’m not that much older than you.”

“Since I’m two years younger, I’ll call you brother, Brother Hyeonmong.”

“No, that’s still…”

Zhuge Hyeonmong and Zhuge Jun argued a bit, but in the end, Zhuge Hyeonmong half-heartedly agreed to be called “brother.”

After settling on the formalities, they engaged in light conversation. But it was short-lived.

“Yaaaawn.”

“Are you tired?”

“Yes, brother. Actually, I haven’t slept for about three days.”

“…”

Zhuge Hyeonmong inwardly clicked his tongue.

The reason for the lack of sleep was crystal clear.

He must have been staying up all night trying to solve the Formation that Hyeonmong had deployed.

“Then you should sleep here tonight… hm.”

He trailed off with a wry smile.

Truth be told, the room he’d cleaned up to welcome Zhuge Jun was just the single room he was currently using as his own bedroom.

The rest of the house was frankly a mess, not exactly a place he’d want to offer to anyone, even himself.

“No, my friends are waiting, so I should head back. Oh, and…”

Zhuge Jun retrieved something from his robes.

It was a box containing the Clear Spirit Pills that Sima Rin had given him.

“This is a small gift.”

“…”

Zhuge Hyeonmong found himself staring at it.

Not because he was attracted by the luxuriousness of the box.

Rather, he felt a strange sensation from what was inside.

“What is this?”

“These are Clear Spirit Pills made by the Sima family. They say just one pill nourishes the body and increases vitality. I originally received them as a prize from a bet, but I’d like to offer it to you as a token of our meeting. And…”

Zhuge Jun placed the box on the desk and continued as if he’d just remembered something.

“There’s something I must tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It would be best for you to leave the Green Forest Road Alliance as soon as possible.”