Chapter 419. Seven Stars, Blessed Existence (3)

“Xun Yingguan.”

Zhou Xuchuan spoke his real name aloud.

Standard Class Rank Six Upper Grade Official of the Censorate, the Registrar of the Registry Xun Yingguan.

He was the Registrar of the Registry of the inspection division of the imperial government, the Censorate.[1]

"You know it well."

“When I found out his name and status, I was puzzled at first, but now that I think about it, there is no more appropriate position.”

After hearing their identities from the Heavenly Demon, Zhou Xuchuan had thoroughly investigated the three main figures: the Association Lord, Blessed Existence, and Destructive Soldier.

He had gone over the intel multiple times to see if he had been deceived or if he had misunderstood, and even after he confirmed it, he worked hard to clarify in different ways.

"Yes, you're right. While the emperor could never let an official in a high position stay alive, he still spared those who had no interest in power or were in low positions. And the inspection mechanisms, the Censorate, that monitored and reported on officials went without saying."

To be purged, just because one was an official. It truly wasn't a joke. Anyone who showed even the slightest greed was killed. Not only the official in question, but all of their relatives were beheaded.

It wasn't without reason that those of the Dark Heavens Association had given up the powers that they had accumulated and fled.

Seeing their close associates and family die down to the ninth generation, they thought that there was no hope.

There was a famous anecdote at the time, that even the Crown Prince had begged the emperor to stop his killing.

"A long time ago, a certain scholar of the Hanlin Academy was caught discussing the state of affairs, saying that he was worried about the country, and was investigated extensively. This was the opportunity for me to catch the Association Lord's eye and have the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities."

"Don't answer without thinking. Answer properly. What does that have to do with trying to turn the

murim

upside down?" Zhou Xuchuan asked, frowning.

Putting aside how Xun Yingguan and Lu Cun met, it was strange that he lamented the state of affairs while bringing chaos to the

murim

.

If the state of affairs in the imperial government was the problem, he should have maintained his status until the end and not come to the

murim

.

“Are you thinking of rebelling... even staging a coup... with the power you gained from conquering the

murim

?”

If that were the case, it was a truly dangerous idea.

The reason the imperial government had not touched the

murim

until now was because they didn't consider it a dangerous element.

While the

murim's

history was filled with all kinds of things, it had never interfered with the governing of the country.

Even if someone of the

murim

had gotten themselves involved, they ended up getting executed by the leaders of their organizations directly.

No matter how strong the martial arts of the

murim

may have been, it wasn't as if the imperial palace didn't have their own martial arts. Moreover, the numerical difference between the two was ridiculous.

Even in a time of large-scale war like the Era of War and Chaos, each force would have a maximum of twenty to thirty thousand members.

By contrast, the imperial government’s scale was on another level entirely.

This was why Destructive Soldier often mocked the wars of the

murim

.

“What? Hahaha.”

Blessed Existence laughed in a cold, airy voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Zhou Xuchuan.”

In recent times, there had been no scholars who truly pursued ideals.

“There is no action more meaningless than revolution. Even if the imperial government changes, in the end, it is only the vested interests that have changed. When the rebels hold a sword, they may cry out for peace and fairness, but when they hold power instead of a sword, they will change. Because that is the animal called humans.”

Blessed Existence exhaled and continued.

“Mencius said that human nature is good, but this isn't true. As Xunzi said, ultimately, human nature is evil. Humans value desire over the wellbeing of others and pursue personal interests, and in the end, everyone ends up committing the same actions.”

“Are you truly intending to discuss the theory of human nature being evil?”

“There is no need to discuss it. Do you think the country and society will change if people do not change?”

Blessed Existence’s expression twisted with genuine disgust.

“I guarantee that no matter who holds power, whether it is the

murim

or anything else, the country will not change in the end. Even if thousands of years pass, it doesn’t matter whether it’s ethnicity, gender, age, race, or morality... people will eventually discriminate against each other, judge each other by their own standards, and hate each other.”

The scholar who had given up on his dream lifted his chin slightly, eyes cold and prideful.

“I won’t say anything ridiculous like, 'our goal is to save the people or to create a peaceful era.' The reason I named myself Blessed Existence was simply because I didn’t want to let all the effort and study I’ve done go to waste.”

There wasn't a single lie in his words. There was no sign of him becoming deranged because he was tired of reality.

"I'm grateful to the Association Lord for allowing me to make use of my abilities. If I hadn't met him, I would still be writing meaningless records or would have been robbed of everything by those greedy bastards and become a corpse."

There was no lofty philosophy, such as this being for someone, or it being a necessary evil, or even differences of opinion.

He was just a scholar who had dreamed, despaired, hated, and resigned himself to reality. However, he no longer attached much significance to it.

Zhou Xuchuan stared at him, silent, then slowly raised the hand not holding his sword.

“It seems you have wasted your time looking for me, only to have failed. I feel so bad for you, what should we do?” Blessed Existence murmured.

“Don’t worry. I haven't failed in anything else.”

“Young Master Zhou!”

Zhuge Xiuluan’s voice rang out sharply.

“I found it!”

The conversation wasn't just about buying time to find Blessed Existence’s location. If it was her, he knew she would solve it.

“Everyone, this way!”

“Follow the Miss!” a First Class warrior of the Zhuge Family shouted. As expected of a member of the Zhuge Family, he had some knowledge of formations.

Zhou Xuchuan also took the path guided by Zhuge Xiuluan. He didn't forget to be on guard against the surroundings just in case.

Zhuge Xiuluan had barely managed to find the Life Gate and opened a way out.

About two hundred people had died or were injured, but the rest gained strength from the thought of getting out of this damned place.

Moreover, as if she had perfectly figured out how to break through the gate, the illusion of Blessed Existence that had followed them everywhere began to blur and finally disappeared.

“The illusion is disappearing!”

“Get it together!"

“Breaking through the Life Gate was successful!”

“Our vision is returning!”

With Zhuge Xiuluan’s help, they had avoided stepping into the Death Gate. However, that didn’t mean they were safe before managing to escape.

The problem had been the Seven Stars Division soldiers who were fighting fiercely. As the warriors kept battling against the soldiers, they would sometimes go beyond the safety radius and fall into the territory of the Nature Formation.

Then the ground would turn into a swamp and swallow them, or they would be consumed by sudden flames.

In some cases, a single misstep sent them off a cliff, or they were slashed by a cutting wind.

Sometimes, they swung their weapons thinking they were striking an enemy, only to find it was an ally. And in other moments, someone they thought was a friend turned out to be the enemy.

However, that hell was over now. Cheers and relief could be heard from all around.

“Ha.”

Blessed Existence burst into laughter.

“Hahahahaha!”

Zhuge Xiuluan felt uneasy as she heard the laughter.

It came from ahead, not from all directions like before. The sound wasn’t loud enough to shake the area.

It wasn’t an illusion or a hallucination. At the very least, it confirmed they were walking the right path out of the nature formation.

They had checked their exit twice to be safe, and nothing seemed out of place.

“Zhuge Xiuluan, my praise earlier was not just empty words. I hold you in high regard.”

The voice of Blessed Existence rang out from beyond the bamboo forest.

“Among the younger generation of the Righteous Faction, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes are at the top of the Association’s Slaughter List. They may be young, but they are far from ordinary, so how could we take them lightly? Don’t treat them with disdain like those fools blinded by jealousy or inferiority."

The Dark Heavens Association would never let their guard down.

Blessed Existence never became complacent.

It was said many times, but Blessed Existence didn't even forgive young sprouts who

may

become a threat in the future. His meticulousness was terrifying.

Zhou Xuchuan, who seemed to see the future and was so far beyond common logic, was regarded as a different being entirely.

But Zhuge Xiuluan—Blessed Existence highly regarded her. He considered her, who had devised a Portable Natural Formation that could be deployed anywhere, regardless of location, a genius, and he even thought that she might be superior to him.

"Some people may think that you're just the younger sister of the Heavenly Strategist, but they're greatly mistaken. You're a genius in your own right. The Tactician Phoenix.

"I knew that if it was you, that you would definitely escape the Death Gate and escape through the Life Gate.”

It wasn't that he had prepared for the chance of failing.

No, he had prepared to fail in the first place.

"No!"

Zhuge Xiuluan turned pale upon hearing that.

“We must retreat immediately! It's a trap...”

“It’s too late.”

Boom!!

A loud noise erupted as if lightning had struck, then the ground began to shake.

Rumble!!!

Hundreds, no, thousands of bamboo stalks swayed as if dancing wildly.

Long poles knocked into each other, creating clashing sounds, and leaves rained down from above.

“There's no way!”

Zhuge Xiuluan raised her head.

“Mechanisms?”

“Yes.”

Blessed Existence smiled coldly.

“If you thought mechanisms were the exclusive domain of Zhuge Shengji, you were sorely mistaken.”

Blessed Existence was adept at all kinds of techniques. The art of mechanisms was one of them. Starting from the Tomb of the Ominous Demon, mechanisms were always installed in the hideouts to block intruders, and even to prevent exposure.

“Not just anywhere, but to build one under a formation?”

Zhuge Xiuluan, who always kept her cool, couldn't hide her shock.

Nature Formations were more sensitive than one could imagine.

Starting with geomancy and being influenced by the surrounding terrain, if one even touched a formation wrong, it would become a mess.

“T-this!”

“No!”

Frightened voices rose from different directions.

Even though it had only been about a year, and even if he didn’t design the formation from the start, the idea that he had installed mechanisms beneath it... there's no way that's possible!

Still, Zhuge Xiuluan didn’t give up. Amid the panic, she searched for any opening. She pushed her mind to find a way out.

“Congratulations, Zhou Xuchuan!”

Beyond the bamboo forest, Blessed Existence stood with his arms outstretched.

“By the time you get out of there, everything will be over...”

“Blessed Existence.”

Zhou Xuchuan paid no attention to the earth-shaking tremors. Instead of staggering, he stood upright and looked at the strategist.

"I don't look down on you."

Zhou Xuchuan never once laughed at Blessed Existence.

"Considering it was you, considering it was

you

, I already knew that you would see through Young Lady Zhuge's true abilities and prepare something more."

Zhou Xuchuan never let his guard down.

Zhou Xuchuan never boasted.

Zhou Xuchuan always gave it his all.

“I can guarantee that even if you search the Central Plains, or even everywhere under the heavens, there’s probably no one who can surpass you.”

This strategist stood at the top of every field, from strategy and intrigue to espionage and administration, to collection of knowledge, nature formations, and even mechanisms.

“There was a monster on earth called Blessed Existence.”

There were two monsters in the Dark Heavens Association.

The Association Lord and Blessed Existence.

The Dark Heavens Association Lord wasn’t just powerful in strength. His mind was sharp beyond comparison. He didn’t follow Blessed Existence’s plans without reason.

"That was why the Zhuge Family sent over their geniuses."

Zhou Xuchuan looked straight at Blessed Existence.

“Nonsense.”

The smile on Blessed Existence’s lips vanished.

"If you're placing this trust in Zhuge Shengji, wake up from your useless dreams. I already confirmed that there were no problems just this morning. Even if Zhuge Shengji were here, even if he could break through it in a day, no, an hour or two, it would be too..."

Blessed Existence stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

“...?”

A questioning look appeared on Zhuge Xiuluan’s face. She wasn’t the only one. The people around her also slowly raised their heads.

“The sound...”

“Has it stopped?”

“The shaking... has stopped.”

The bamboo that had been swaying like waves in the ocean stood still.

As the recoil disappeared, the tremors stopped altogether.

“No...”

Blessed Existence clenched his fists.

“That can’t be...”

His voice shook. His eyes scanned the area, wide with disbelief.

“That can’t be!”

Squeak.

In the center of the bamboo forest, a round door hidden in the ground rose up.

“Ah, that was fun!”

And the one who popped his head out from under it was Zhuge Shengji, with a satisfied smile on his lips.

“It was close, but I succeeded...

eek

!”

Zhuge Shengji absentmindedly looked around and was startled.

“Ah, auntie! It’s not time to come out yet!”

“What are you talking about? Why don’t you hurry up? I said you're heavy.”

“Agh!”

Chu Lian pushed Zhuge Shengji up.

“...”

All eyes were on him. Zhuge Shengji blinked, then scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

“Oh, um, hello?”

1. The above is his formal title, the below is the job title. They read different in Korean but are technically the same thing in English. ☜