Chapter 381. The Mount Hua Sect's Mechanism (2)

I would prefer that you focus on news from Mount Hua before any news about me.

Zhuge Shengji also paid attention to the news of the attack on the Mount Hua Sect.

It was a place that Zhou Xuchuan treasured, and the Mount Hua Sect had special mechanisms that Zhuge Shengji had carefully set up.

He hoped that the mechanisms would be useful so that Zhou Xuchuan’s cherished people would not be harmed.

By the way, if you think about the Mount Hua Sect's mechanisms, I really was quite vicious.

The Mount Hua Sect's mechanisms weren't solely the work of Zhuge Shengji.

For the hidden weapon components, he had asked Tang Hui for help, and for tactical aspects, such as the actual deployment and timing of activations, Zhuge Xiuluan had been involved.

Zhuge Xiuluan had given the following advice on deploying the Sword Mountain and Sword Forest.

After Sword Mountain is activated, they will dismantle the traps as they advance, even if it means slowing down the advance due to their caution.

The Tactician Phoenix foresaw the future, even though she didn’t know who the enemy was.

Thus, it would be better to make the traps placed in the ground as a deception so that they don't notice the machinery on the surrounding trees. Then, when the enemy gets used to dismantling the ground mechanisms and lowers their guard...

The image of his enthusiastic sister flashed through Zhuge Shengji's mind.

Also, though he did not know why, Tang Hui had helped him as if this was her own business.

Aha! So you two have finally come to realize how great and charming the art of mechanisms is! Hahaha!

Zhuge Shengji’s way of thinking was always difficult to understand.

"Whether compliments or insults, I am just glad someone is talking about you, Young Master. Who would have thought that such an eccentric loner would become one of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes... you really surprise me."[1]

"...Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

"Eek! I thought I was talking to myself... sorry, I must have been thinking out loud. Fufufu."

Wang Susu, the maid who had assisted Zhuge Shengji since childhood, twirled her hair with her fingers.

Even the way she looked away and pretended not to notice was impressive acting.

Still, I never actually expected him to become one of the Five Dragons...

Though Wang Susu joked, she was truly surprised deep down.

Long ago, Wang Susu had succeeded in becoming a maid for one of the Five Great Ancient Families, which was fiercely competitive.

However, she had sighed when she learned that her master would be one of the Family’s problem children.

So getting a promotion is out of the question, then.

Perhaps due to the hierarchy emphasized within the Righteous Faction, that hierarchy extended to the maids as well, usually determined by whom the maid served.

The higher the master, the greater the maid’s power.

If one thought a maid’s power was insignificant, they would be mistaken.

For a maid of the Five Great Ancient Families, especially one serving a direct descendant or a member of the Main Family, life could be far better than that of an ordinary person. She could feed her family back home and still have plenty left.

If lucky, a maid might even catch the eye of her master and rise as a concubine, changing her fate entirely.

However, if one served a master with a poor reputation or weak standing, no matter how much experience one gained, others would still look down on her.

Whew, what sort of success is this supposed to be...

Wang Susu had been an ordinary girl who dreamed of success as a maid, but she was not particularly greedy.

Though her future would not be easy, she was satisfied simply being part of the Five Great Ancient Families.

Even though Zhuge Shengji was unusual, he never hit her or forced himself upon her.

Who is that person?

Oh, Elder Sister Susu? Don't worry about her. She's directly under 'that' Young Master.

By that Young Master, you mean... oh, is it?

Shhh. Even still, he's a direct descendant, you can't talk carelessly about him.

Poor thing.

Still, she knows her place, so she doesn't act like a bitch.

Although she felt better after letting go of her unrealistic expectations and accepting reality, life was still difficult. She had to do everything herself and was sometimes ignored.

Wang Susu endured the bullying she received, whether intentional or not, thinking it was simply her fate and quietly doing her job.

However, being with Zhuge Shengji was not as bad as she once thought.

It was a little disheartening that he was often depressed, had no friends, and frequently muttered to himself, but it was rewarding to care for him like a timid younger brother. Over time, they grew close enough to joke with each other.

But then, how could things have changed so much?

Her situation had completely shifted from the days when she was ignored and lacked any special privileges as a maid to a direct bloodline.

The Youngest Master, don't you think he's become handsome lately?

Right? I think so, too.

He still can't speak properly, and he looks depressed, but...

He's handsome!

Zhuge Shengji had grown up wonderfully. Blood was thicker than water, and his appearance, like the others, was outstanding.

He was still a child from the heavens to the family, and while his personality was a bit strange, his reputation was better than before.

And then one day, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect named Zhou Xuchuan came to visit, and many things changed.

The Mechanism Freak?

Young Master Zhuge Shengji? Well...

Have you heard about the Battle of Guizhou?

People are lining up to meet Young Master Shengji?

They say there are hundreds of marriage proposals from all over the country’s martial forces!

Oh, Unni! Hello!

Isn't Elder Sister Wang really amazing?! She already knew what kind of person Young Master Shengji was! How incredible.

Just like that saying, an eye to raise a dragon!

After receiving the titles of the Greatest Mechanism Master Under the Heavens and the Mechanism Dragon, the way people around Zhuge Shengji looked at him and treated him completely changed.

No one saw him as annoying or pitiful anymore. Whether it was a maid or a soldier, everyone treated him with politeness. If he carried something heavy, someone would immediately rush forward to offer help.

Even martial artists treated Wang Susu with respect once they learned that she was Zhuge Shengji’s personal, and only, maid.

To be honest, it did not feel bad.

However, there was something that felt even better than the change in how others treated her.

Susu, I'm the Mechanism Dragon! Didn't I tell you I was a genius?

Zhuge Shengji had happily shared the news, finally being recognized. The maid smiled as she recalled his expression.

"But to think you still don't have any friends... you still cause me stress."

“Who-who doesn’t have any friends? I have friends!”

“Who are your friends? Five, no, just three, just name three. By the way, you know that I don't count, right?"

"Three? I can name five! Let's see, first, Hyungnim, and..."

Zhuge Shengji muttered as he folded his fingers one by one.

A delighted smile spread across Wang Susu’s lips.

***

It was a nightmare. Zhuge Shengji’s name was stuck in the minds of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance and wouldn’t leave. It was like a dream.

Ugh...

Ape Arm Sword, She Teng also shuddered at the power of the mechanisms.

If the Three Gate Masters hadn't protected him because they wanted to give him a

gift

, he would also have become a victim to this mountain of death.

Is this the power of the Mechanism Dragon?!

The truly terrifying thing about the Mechanism Dragon was that he could deal with thousands of unmanned troops even if they were on the other side of the Central Plains.

They had always wondered if Zhuge Shengji’s abilities had been exaggerated by the halo of the Heavenly Strategist or the Tactician Phoenix, but they quickly realized how foolish that thought had been.

“How many were injured?”

“Including the seriously injured, over three hundred.”

When they had started their climb, there had been two thousand of them. Now, five hundred of them had been killed or injured before they even clashed with the Mount Hua Sect.

“Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, it’s not too late. If you don’t want the disciples of your sects to die in vain, surrender," She Teng sincerely recommended.

“Nonsense!”

The One Hundred and Eighty Nine Paths furiously raised his eyebrows, his eyes burning with rage.

"I will not yield to cowards who refuse to show themselves even as martial artists, and the Leader of the Sword Sects, at that."

"He's right."

The Mount Tai Sect’s Sword’s face was dark, but his conviction was as firm as Mount Tai itself, just like his title.

"Refusing to face us openly and hiding is proof that they fear us. Turning back now is exactly what they want. Do you think we will fall for your tricks?"

"We agree.”

Chaoyi Shitai gestured upwards with her chin as if to tell them to prepare to climb again.

“There's no place to retreat anyway.”

Whether it was the Mount Tai Sect, the Mount Song Sect, or the Mount Heng Sect, while no one said anything, they all knew how burdensome wasting time was.

Even though they acted as if they didn't care, they were still concerned about the reinforcements that the Martial Alliance would send, including the Zhongnan Sect.

Above all, the Six Empyrean Overlords, Sword God, was the problem. They did not know where he was, but they knew he would come once he heard about the attack on his sect.

They had to solve it before the monsters, not the humans, came.

“Let’s go.”

The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance advanced again, using their disciples as stepping stones.

After encountering Sword Mountain and Sword Forest, they climbed while keeping watch not only on the ground but also to their sides and above.

Their pace slowed even more, but there was no other choice.

To avoid being attacked all at once as they crowded together like before, they distanced themselves as much as possible.

While they had chosen a frontal assault, they were dispersed doing it.

They were also wary of their surroundings even when resting or sleeping.

While they were many times more exhausted than they had to be because of this, they were still able to keep their lives, at least.

And, after all these efforts, as the sun rose again, they were able to finish their breakfast and reach the Mount Hua Sect.

"So they've arrived."

The Plum Blossom Sword Captain, Wei Zhijie uncrossed his arms, and opened his eyes.

Boom! Boom!

The three-character signboard above the door shook.

Boom! Boom!

Bang!!

The door swelled as if it would burst, and then finally shattered, and the disciples of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance poured in.

Their numbers totaled one thousand five hundred. Their roars were so loud, they seemed to shake the mountain itself.

“Mount Hua Sect!”

It wasn’t just the Three Mountain Sword Sect Masters who were filled with anger and hatred.

Recalling the hardships they had endured from the base to the peak, their foreheads furrowed, and some bit their lips until blood ran down their chins.

Possibly due to the brainwashing of the disciples by the Three Mountain Sword Sect Masters, many of them had bloodshot eyes.

“Kill them!”

No names were exchanged between the two sides.

The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance had already been consumed by bloodlust. Their hatred and rage exploded uncontrollably.

As soon as the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance reached the peak, they swung their swords at the Mount Hua Sect without a word.

“Agh!"

"Ugh!”

There was no order or etiquette for the Righteous Faction members. The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, exhausted from their bitter trek, had no patience.

The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, no, the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance, were all mixed up.

However, only one person from the Hengshan Sect watched the scene.

“Okay, I’ve been waiting for this!”

RAH!!!

Someone's agitated shout burst out from the rear of the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance. The Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance flinched and looked behind them.

Perhaps because they had lost their recklessness to the Sword Forest mechanism, their reaction was lightning fast.

"Ha!"

A rare martial art from the Mount Hua Sect was unleashed.

The palm of the Destiny Hand, Fang Zhesan, slapped at the enemy's back.

"UGH!!"

"Behind us!"

"Cowards!"

"There's also the Fourteenth Sword Hero!"

A hundred Mount Hua Sect disciples, including Qiu Feng, Fang Zhesan, Zhang Hong, and Zhang Xuen, ambushed the Three Mountain Sword Sects Alliance outside the gate and jumped out to block their retreat.

"You pretended to be our allies and then turned into an enemy and attacked us from behind, and now you're calling us cowards?!"

Zhang Hong snickered and swung his sword alongside Zhang Xuen. As the Twenty-four Sword Forms of the Plum Blossom unfolded, a terrible scream burst from the enemies' mouths, and a sweet fragrance wafted from the spilled blood.

Soon, a full-scale melee erupted, making it impossible to tell friends from foes.

And in the midst of the chaos, there were those who moved secretly.

"Find Liu Zhengmu. This is the top priority."

"We have received your orders!"

1. Huehuehue. ☜