Once Zhuge Myeong had sworn his oath, the two of them sat down again, facing each other across the table.

Freshly steeped tea was set before them once more, and the atmosphere, now markedly softer than before, allowed their conversation to resume.

Seolhwa brought up the question that ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) had been bothering her.

“If that formation can only be seen by those at the Fire Realm... then what about the story that Zhuge Clan warriors entered it and died?”

“Did Hwi tell you that?”

“She did.”

“To answer plainly—no one died because of the formation.”

Which meant... Zhuge Hwi had lied?

‘She claimed she never lies...’

She really lied so smoothly with that shameless face of hers.

“But...”

“Hm?”

“Hwi seems to be rather fond of you, my Lord.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The tale about warriors dying from getting lost in the poisonous mist of the formation—it’s more of a ghost story within the Zhuge Clan. It was made up to keep the children away from the formation’s boundaries.”

Like stories of goblins snatching up children who wander at night.

“You didn’t bother to tell her it wasn’t true?”

“A ghost story is just that—a ghost story. But yes, I did tell her the truth long ago.”

“Then why...”

Why did Zhuge Hwi speak so seriously about it?

About warriors dying?

“Hwi was a child who believed in those tales with unwavering conviction. One day, she ran into me while I was passing through the formation. She froze up like stone.”

To a child, realizing that the madman who had supposedly led warriors to their deaths was her own uncle must have been devastating.

“You didn’t try to explain?”

“I told her again and again that it wasn’t true. But she refused to believe me. So I let it go.”

[...So you’re telling me that Zhuge Hwi still believes that childhood ghost story?]

That’s what it seems like.

[I didn’t take her for it, but... what a dumb brat.]

“She’s... naïve.”

“If you want to say it kindly, yes. In any case, she’s not the type to talk frivolously about things. The fact that she shared that story with you means... she didn’t want you to get hurt.”

So in her own way, Zhuge Hwi hadn’t actually lied.

‘Now it all fits.’

It never made sense that the Ten-Thousand-Mile Strategist formation had killed her own family’s warriors, nor did it make sense that there were no guards stationed.

Now it all made sense.

And now, she realized—

‘The problem was Zhuge Hwi.’

The more she learned, the stranger that girl seemed.

A grown woman still clinging to a tale she heard as a child?

In any case, the mysteries were cleared up, and that brought a welcome sense of clarity.

“May I ask something in return now?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you come here as the Mistress of the Demonic Union? Did you plan to recruit me as a strategist for the Demonic Union?”

“It was simply more convenient. Even though I was hiding my identity, there are many things I can do from behind the mask.”

Even those within the Namgoong Clan didn’t know the true nature of Seolhwa’s connection to the Demonic Union.

Fewer than ten people in the entire world knew that Seolhwa was the Mistress of the Demonic Union.

“As Namgoong Seolhwa, there’s not much I can do right now. I’m too young to be taken seriously. It’s hard to take center stage.”

And even harder to lead others with this appearance.

Even Zhuge Myeong had been stunned the moment she removed her mask—because she was a young woman.

They say that gender and age don’t matter in the martial world, but human prejudice is more deeply ingrained than people admit.

“I simply wanted to face you without any of those biases.”

“Then let me once more apologize for my earlier rudeness.”

“It’s fine.”

“Then... am I now someone affiliated with the Demonic Union?”

Seolhwa shook her head.

“I couldn’t possibly send someone who despises the dark path to live among it. As it happens, there’s something else I’d like you to do.”

“What is it?”

Zhuge Myeong’s gaze gleamed.

He radiated determination, as if ready to take on anything she gave him.

“Strengthen your influence within the Zhuge Clan.”

“You wish for me to become the Clan Head?”

“No. I intend to install you as a strategist of the Martial Alliance.”

“!”

Zhuge Myeong asked again.

“The Martial Alliance—as in the martial coalition being led by the Celestial Dragon Sword Sovereign?”

“That’s right.”

“...Don’t tell me...!”

The Demonic Union and the Martial Alliance—could they both be the work of his lord?

“I only made the suggestion. The one pushing things forward is my grandfather. I just contribute my opinions and help where I can.”

“...”

Even that was astounding.

To have founded the Demonic Union at age eighteen was already incredible. But to also have a hand in forming the Martial Alliance?

‘Just what kind of future is my lord seeing...?’

Zhuge Myeong swallowed dryly, tension tightening his throat.

‘Terrifying.’

Someone not to be underestimated under any circumstance.

“You’re telling me to increase my influence within the Zhuge Clan so that our clan will take a more active role in forming the Martial Alliance.”

“Exactly.” 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Thanks to the formation designs and mechanisms he’d developed, Zhuge Myeong already had a certain degree of standing within his clan.

If someone like him were to step forward and add his strength to the Martial Alliance, the Zhuge Clan wouldn’t be able to sit idly by and simply observe from the sidelines.

“Use Zhuge Hwi. After speaking with her, I realized her values align closely with yours.”

Even if Zhuge Hwi wasn’t officially heir-apparent, she still had influence comparable to one. If the two of them worked together, shifting the clan’s direction would be much easier.

“You have half a year. Within that time, you must sway the Zhuge Clan’s position.”

“...”

“You can do it, can’t you?”

The corner of Zhuge Myeong’s mouth curled faintly.

His expression now glowed with overflowing confidence.

“The Zhuge Clan already belongs to you, my Lord.”