WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Haruto

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Martial Alliance Rulebook Archives ◈

Chapter 79: Sow Beans, Reap Beans (1)

──────

“What kind of person is this senior of yours?”

“Hm? They’re friendly and easygoing. They prefer wandering to staying tied down at the Alliance, so they’re not easy to meet. But whenever they’re truly needed, they come running.”

So this was someone who smiled warmly while spreading Formless Poison. I thought of Peng Juhyeok, who had praised the Eye-Butcher of the Mount Cang Sect as a “hero.”

‘It seems this man has a habit of vastly overestimating people as long as they bear the orthodox badge.’

As I rubbed the back of my neck, Peng Juhyeok shrugged and suggested that I spend some time circulating my qi.

“It’ll take a few double-hours to settle everything. Even if we deal only with the Zhuge Clan members, leaving out the Martial Alliance personnel, we still need to erase the memories of a dozen or so people. If you have nothing else to do, tend to your qi and blood circulation.”

They could erase the memories of every Zhuge Clan household member who had seen and heard the Ghost Valley Master descend before the night was over.

It was a skill worthy of admiration. Techniques that dealt with human memory were not something one could easily attain through either the Soul-Binding Art or sorcery.

To have learned such an art alongside poison arts capable of administering an inferior Formless Poison. It truly was an attainment worthy of a senior Records Officer.

“It must be possible because they have reached such a high level in both poison and sorcery. Their abilities are truly remarkable...”

“Hm? Ah, no. Senior only handles putting them to sleep. As for the memory removal, well, how should I put it? Personnel borrowed from another department will take care of that.”

“...Borrowed?”

Peng Juhyeok nodded without a trace of discomfort.

“Why? The Formation Array Research Department, where we are nominally affiliated. Isn’t that the department in the Martial Alliance most familiar with sorcery and the Soul-Binding Art?”

“Yes...”

The countless strange techniques used in formation arrays were connected to a wide range of disciplines. The Formation Array Research Department dealt with a field that was the culmination of all those disciplines, which was why most of its leadership came from the Zhuge Clan.

“People involved with that sort of sorcery make a living observing Heavenly Order, so naturally they come to know about Anomalies as well, right?”

“I suppose so.”

“Then wouldn’t they have no complaints about being temporarily dispatched to the Anomaly Records Office?”

“...?”

There seemed to be a leap in his logic. When I looked bewildered, Peng Juhyeok proudly added an explanation.

“By contributing their abilities to Anomaly investigations, they serve the orthodox martial world! Any true hero would roll up their sleeves and step forward!”

In my mind, I pictured this mysterious senior Records Officer storming into the Formation Array Research Department with their eyes gleaming.

‘Possessing such abilities and yet failing to belong to the Anomaly Records Office is a grave act of treason! However, the Martial Alliance, which upholds the banner of the orthodox sects, is merciful. It shall grant you the opportunity to wash away your crime by immediately serving the Records Office!’

...No wonder they had no hesitation about spreading poison on allies. Did they regard their allies as supplies?

I shuddered in fear. Then I realized that the Martial Alliance personnel were not the only ones staying here.

“What about the Black Lotus Society?”

If they detected the sleeping poison and mistook it for a surprise attack, it would be a disaster. Fortunately, Peng Juhyeok seemed to have considered that as well.

“Ah. It would be a serious problem if we tried to probe their memories without permission. I gave them a subtle warning back at the abandoned house, so they’ll have prepared their own defenses.”

“Phew.”

A sigh of relief escaped me. As I took a deep breath, something suddenly struck me as strange.

“Wait. Did you say someone from the Formation Array Research Department was being requisitioned to erase memories?”

“Requisitioning sounds unpleasant. Call it a request for cooperation.”

“Then that person will most likely be from the Zhuge Clan as well, won’t they?”

“Hm. Usually, yes.”

“Then why did Zhuge Yeong and Zhuge Byeok know nothing about Anomalies or the Ghost Valley Master?”

Peng Juhyeok shrugged.

“Because they lack seniority?”

“What?”

“People normally learn about matters like this only after both their martial arts and character have matured. We’re the unusual ones. Ordinarily, you need to be at least a clan head or elder. Even the two senior Records Officers permanently stationed at the Records Office are elderly, aren’t they?”

“If Senior Ok had been here, they would’ve given me hell.”

“They aren’t here, so it doesn’t matter! Anyway, Zhuge Byeok and Zhuge Yeong are rising talents. It’s only natural that they don’t know.”

I scratched my chin. This was where I could feel the difference between the Black Lotus Society and the Martial Alliance.

In short, the Martial Alliance imposed a certain restriction on those who could approach dangerous matters such as Anomalies.

Only those who could hold firm to their intent even after receiving the shock Anomalies brought were allowed through the doors of the forbidden.

But the Black Lotus Society was somewhat different. I could not easily assess the Changing Sparrow Sima Gwa’s martial ability, but she was likely similar to Zhuge Yeong or perhaps half a level above her.

I had not witnessed the two fight directly, but making a rough comparison like this was not difficult. I had seen and heard enough.

Sima Gwa’s words and actions revealed that, though she pretended otherwise, she was quietly conscious of Zhuge Yeong. If Sima Gwa’s martial ability were clearly higher, she would have no reason to feel inferior to Zhuge Yeong.

And then there was Sima Ye. That little brat belonged to the Infiltration Warfare Office too.

The Black Lotus Society did not seem reluctant to send rising talents into Anomaly investigations at an early age.

What were they thinking...?

‘Do they believe it is better to produce one martial artist of a higher realm, even if people die in droves after becoming entangled with Anomalies?’

There was a common saying that martial artists gained their greatest realizations in life-and-death duels.

Honestly, I did not agree with that idea. But someone like the Black Lotus Society Leader must have survived countless scenes of carnage, so perhaps they saw things differently.

Certainly, the skills of the Black Lotus Society’s Anomaly investigation personnel who truly counted as combatants were formidable.

‘But those martial artists of genuine cultivation are Myeong Myeong Myeong Myeong and the Life-and-Death Gambler, aren’t they?’

Weren’t they riddled with traits that disqualified them as human beings outside of combat?

There was a reason the unorthodox sects were unorthodox sects...

* * *

I was still pondering the Black Lotus Society Leader’s true intentions when Peng Juhyeok pulled me from my thoughts.

“Hm? Wait. Senior is looking for you. It seems they want to see the newcomer while they’re here.”

I nodded. This was another senior I had never met before. Honestly, I was a little curious about what they looked like.

‘They must be from the Sichuan Tang Clan.’

Peng Juhyeok had described them as friendly and easygoing, but I could not take that man’s assessments at face value.

Based on the impressions left by the Tang Clan people I had met, this person would surely have an exceptionally stern and fearsome air.

Someone cold and terrifying, like a giant hornet that could spew poison at any time if things went wrong.

Following Peng Juhyeok’s lead, I slowly made my way over. His warning to “make sure you have the poison-repelling pearl again” felt especially chilling.

The familiar scent that seemed to sting the mucous membranes had subsided somewhat, but the sight before me was far more horrifying than the smell.

Every Zhuge Clan household member asleep there was breathing in the same rhythm.

Their chests rose and fell at exactly the same rate. Things that should not have matched moved as one, an unnatural sight that gave rise to a disturbing unease.

Two figures stood among the people sleeping as though dead.

The first was a cold-faced middle-aged man, who spoke evenly.

“They all fall short of the standard. Zhuge Yeong is especially disappointing. Considering the resources the clan invested in her, this is a truly disappointing result.”

“Come now. They are still growing children. Give them more time and wait.”

“Our positions are not the same. Compassion is unnecessary in evaluation.”

“Oh, dear...”

That frightening coldness. He was undoubtedly a Tang Clan man. The person who had tried to defend the Zhuge Clan members, only to be rebuked, must have been the unfortunate person borrowed from the Formation Array Research Department.

‘There must be familial affection involved. But that is also reasoning that would not work on someone from the Tang Clan.’

[This is bad.]

Peng Juhyeok sent me a voice transmission. His tone was clearly troubled.

[I never expected Senior Tang to bring that person here. No. Did Senior Tang bring him?]

[That person?]

[The person beside Senior Tang. One of the Martial Alliance’s chief strategists. An elder of the Zhuge Clan.]

Then he added:

[Zhuge Byeok and Zhuge Yeong’s father.]

Clear Sight of Heavenly Principles, Jegalui.

[I see. He came to defend his children...]

[Hm? What are you talking about?]

[What?]

The cold-faced man began listing Zhuge Yeong’s failures one by one.

Her unwarranted suspicion and conflict with Zhuge Byeok had made the atmosphere tense, creating an environment where it was difficult for others to offer different opinions.

She had failed to understand that being clever herself did not give her the right to look down on the wisdom of others.

She had mistaken herself for having reached the realm of No-Mind, when she had merely suppressed her emotions rather than emptied them.

[The person specifically criticizing the Radiant Phoenix over there is Clear Sight of Heavenly Principles.]

[...]

As I could not bring myself to reply, Peng Juhyeok muttered through voice transmission.

[Wow. It’s fortunate the Radiant Phoenix was hit by the sleeping poison. If she were awake, she would’ve gone into qi deviation again.]

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried