Chapter 79

In the Central Plains, there’s a saying.

It literally means “a dragon and a tiger fighting,” used to describe two evenly matched powers clashing.

In Shandong, however, the phrase is used slightly differently.

“Fight of Tiger and Crane.”

Which form someone uses depends on who’s speaking.

Specifically, whether they’re from Jinan or Qinzhou determines which version they say.

Jinan in Shandong was originally tiger territory—the Hwangbo family’s manor stood there.

Qinzhou in Shandong was the crane’s domain, home to the Zhuge family.

Between them countless expressions grew—feuding like dogs and apes, dragons and tigers, dogs and rabbits…

Many phrases described the two families, but in one word it came down to this:

Archenemies.

The Zhuge and Hwangbo families had been enemies for a very long time.

Now those archenemies had gathered together in the Hwangbo family’s tea room.

“……”

“……”

On one side sat Hwangbo Ack, the Hwangbo family lord, with Young Family Lord Hwangbo Ryeong and his brothers in a row behind him. Opposite them sat Zhuge Gun at the head, flanked by Young Family Lord Zhuge Kwan and the other heirs.

The Hwangbo family’s black martial robes and the Zhuge family’s white clothing contrasted like water and oil.

Hwangbo Ack lifted the teapot and poured for Zhuge Gun, then filled his own cup and raised it to drink first.

In the murim world, sharing a cup meant an unspoken assurance: the tea was not poisoned.

Zhuge Gun set his cup down and whistled softly.

“High-mountain green tea… but you steeped it too long. It has a light aroma and should be steeped briefly in hot water. And this teaware—high-mountain green tea should be brewed in white porcelain, not earthenware. No wonder it tastes awful.”

Hwangbo Ack inclined his head and answered politely. “I’ll drink whatever you give me.”

“Not delicate enough… tch. You lack the basic manners to receive guests.”

“Boy, go fetch more hot water. Throw it in this fellow’s face.”

“Do that. I’d rather drink plain water than this poorly brewed tea. What a waste of tea leaves.”

A vein throbbed at Hwangbo Ack’s temple.

“This scholar is an ingrate no matter how I treat him. Do you think I offered good tea because I wanted to? If you don’t like it, spit it out!”

“The tea leaves are innocent. If anyone’s to blame it’s your brewing. Your tea ceremony is as poor as your martial arts.”

“Oh? Fine. Kneel in the rear garden right now. Let’s see what flavor you have when we trample you.”

“You want to try? I’m curious if your tongue can tell the taste of green tea from the taste of a human brewed in it.”

While the family lords traded childish barbs, their children sipped calmly as if used to the spectacle.

Outside they were solemn, authoritative patriarchs; facing each other they became shockingly petulant.

In the end Hwangbo Ryeong, unable to bear it, admonished the two heads. “Both of you, calm yourselves. This isn’t a place to pick a fight, is it?”

There was a weighty reason why the two rival families had gathered in the same place.

“Hmm…!”

Hwangbo Ack folded his arms and frowned.

Zhuge Gun felt the same unease.

Zhuge Kwan spoke to Zhuge Gun, who sighed and sank into thought.

“Apologies, Family Lord.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s fortunate we withdrew before Solitary Cloud Manor collapsed. What’s left is ours to deal with.”

“How do you think the Drunken Flower Manor Lord will act?”

The one who had summoned them was none other than the Bukgung family’s Fifth Young Master—no, the Drunken Flower Manor Lord.

At Zhuge Kwan’s question, members of the Hwangbo family leaned forward to listen to Zhuge Gun.

They were enemies, but Zhuge was famed for his insight. Against a common foe like Drunken Flower Manor, borrowing Zhuge’s wisdom was acceptable.

“It’s obvious Drunken Flower Manor will try to recruit us. The question is what methods he’ll use. The chief of Drunken Flower Manor is unpredictable.”

“What do you think? Will you take the Drunken Flower Manor Lord’s hand?”

Hwangbo Ack asked bluntly.

And the question quickly shifted to, “Do you think the Drunken Flower Manor Lord could become the Bukgung family’s family lord?”

“Hmm…”

Zhuge Gun couldn’t answer easily.

They had already tasted bitterness dealing with Solitary Cloud Manor.

Those who change allegiances are often shunned wherever they go.

“I don’t think so.”

Hwangbo Ack answered himself first. “We didn’t sever ties with Solitary Cloud Manor because they slighted us. Under the name of the Bukgung family, all families are expendable. They will never be our true friends. The Drunken Flower Manor Lord would be the same. How long will we live under the shadow of the Bukgung family?”

Hwangbo Ack’s words carried the authority of a leader.

It was the complete opposite of the childish bickering from a moment ago.

Zhuge Gun did not misunderstand Hwangbo Ack’s point. However—

“It’s not that simple.”

“No—if it were simple, it would be simple. You have a bad habit of overcomplicating things. The decision is simple: either live under the Bukgung family’s shadow and sip the honey they drip, or keep your pride and fight. Isn’t that the gist of it?”

Yes.

Seen simply, it was a simple problem.

But when you placed the massive weight of a family on one side of the scale, it wasn’t so simple.

That was exactly what Zhuge Gun worried about.

Is the Zhuge family’s pride more important than the Zhuge family’s fate?

For a family lord, it was not an easy decision.

“I will give you the chance to follow Drunken Flower Manor.”

That was the first line Bukgung Mok-min spat out upon arriving at the Hwangbo estate.

Arriving with his eight bodyguards, he naturally took the seat of honor—the one the Hwangbo family had left empty in deference to the Zhuge family.

Bukgung Mok-min sat with his chin propped on his hand, looked around the room and said, “Congratulations. You are mine now. It’s time to leave this cramped Shandong and expand your power. Need someone dead? We have many famed killers. Like to drink? You can’t leave us out—rare liquors, courtesans, pleasures, even gold. All the world’s pleasures are in my hands. Join Drunken Flower Manor and they’ll fall into your lap. Tempting, isn’t it?”

The Drunken Flower Manor Lord spread his hands and smiled like a delighted boy; his joy was almost contagious as he displayed his trove of toys.

But his smile vanished immediately.

The jocular manor lord’s expression hardened.

“Bring all of Shandong to me. Whole.”

He crossed his legs and stared at Zhuge Gun and Hwangbo Ack.

“I am very greedy. Very greedy indeed. Once something is mine, I hate to lose it more than death. So—Shandong. Whole. Bring it. To me. Do you understand?”

“…What exactly do you want?” Zhuge Gun asked.

Bukgung Mok-min answered casually. “The submission of the entire Shandong power bloc, including the Zhuge and Hwangbo families. Or should I call it loyalty?”

“Shandong isn’t the name of some alley. Telling us to hand it over…”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bukgung Mok-min slammed his armrest, cutting off Hwangbo Ack.

It wasn’t an intimidation based on inner power. It was the sulk of a spoiled child at a remark he didn’t like.

“So you’ve come to my alley boss, Mr. Hwangbo? Don’t argue with me. I may seem to be smiling, but I’ve been in a foul mood these past few days…”

“What insolence to the family lord!” Hwangbo Ryeong cried indignantly.

Sreung!

The eight bodyguards around Bukgung Mok-min drew their swords in a single, synchronized motion.

Bukgung Mok-min, backed by eight blades, looked like a gilded peacock.

“What’s your name?” Bukgung Mok-min asked lazily.

“I’m Hwangbo Ryeong of the Hwangbo family.”

“Tell me. Do you know what power is?”

“…Power?”

“I mean, if I picked anyone here and fought one-on-one, how would it go? I’d probably lose, right? Get beaten to death? You are warriors who spent your lives honing martial arts; I’m not. But still—”

Bukgung Mok-min touched the blade by his cheek.

“That’s not real power. Real power is being able to do as you please. If I fought anyone here, I wouldn’t win a single one. But behind me is Drunken Flower Manor, and behind that is the Bukgung family. Real power isn’t winning fights—it’s making it so no one can even fight you. That’s the true power the Bukgung family holds.”

A drop of blood welled on Bukgung Mok-min’s finger. He extended it and one of the bodyguards bent and sucked the blood.

“Remember what I said. I give you the chance to follow Drunken Flower Manor. Zhuge? Hwangbo? Those are replaceable. You don’t have a choice to follow or not. You either seize the chance, or you lose the rope and fall to your death.”

He withdrew his finger from the bodyguard’s mouth, touched it with his tongue, and added, “Be grateful even to be made alley boss. Whether I crush you with force or buy you with money—bring all of Shandong to me. Especially those rustic fools from the Southern Four Alliance—take them all. Understand? Do that before I show you my true power.”

“How did Mok-min oppa come across?”

Bukgung Yoon asked in the carriage heading to Shandong. “What did he promise to entice the Zhuge and Hwangbo families? A huge sum of money? A secret manual suitable for a martial house? Or precious elixirs or jewels?”

“Manor Lord. Have you forgotten what the Sixth Young Master offered us at the Lotus Field?”

What did he offer?

“…He offered nothing.”

Right. Bukgung Mok-min liked to take things by force.

“Then isn’t it fair to expect the same this time? He’ll likely bully and wreak havoc rather than offer gifts.”

“Bah, surely not.”

“I think he will. A pot that leaks inside leaks outside as well.”

“I don’t think the two families will cooperate meekly. If anything, they’ll resist.”

“According to the information I had Chun-sik squeeze out before I came…”

In truth that was a lie. Without needing Chun-sik as an excuse, Yeon Mujin already knew the tendencies of the Hwangbo and Zhuge heads well.

“The two family lords’ reactions will probably differ.”