Chapter 67. Hou Gong Clearly Likes It

It was then.

Three figures shot up from the forest.

Everyone's gaze turned to them.

In a moment, they landed at the edge of the courtyard, and they were the three identical triplets of Tianzhan.

“Taemi! What are you doing there!”

“Come here right now!”

Startled by the scolding of her brothers, Taemi immediately ran over.

“Jungjung!”

The three triplets surrounded Taemi and, without waiting for anyone to take the lead, began to scold her.

“Didn’t you make us worry!”

“What were you thinking, coming here alone!”

“Jungjung…”

[That’s not it…]

“What do you mean, that’s not it?”

Taemi, while making the sound "jungjung," pointed several times towards the direction of Tian Gong Dan. As the explanation continued, the triplets' eyes filled with confusion.

And finally,

“Is that so?”

“Jungjungjungjungjung!”

Seeing the brothers' expressions change to curiosity, Taemi started to make the sound "jungjung" frantically.

***

At that moment,

Taedae had finished sorting out his thoughts.

It was the result of spending the whole day in deep contemplation.

Yesterday, he had retreated because of the scholar from Tianhua Library.

The moment he heard the scholar's words, Hou Gong came to mind.

- Remember, under no circumstances should any of you get hurt or lost.

It felt as if Hou Gong's concern was conveyed through the scholar of Tianhua Library.

The scholar's harsh words did not feel like provocation,

but rather like someone who was overly worried and lashing out.

It seemed as if he wanted to persuade them by any means.

It was truly a strange occurrence.

They had only just met, and there was no connection between them.

Why did it resonate with him?

And why did the scholar need to be so intense?

What reason could a young man have to worry about them?

This led to a lot of thinking.

And now, after spending the whole day in deep contemplation, he reached a conclusion.

‘A cunning and arrogant brat.’

It wasn’t even worth giving it much thought.

Upon reflection, anyone could say such things.

What did the brat know?

Unless one had experienced it, they couldn’t understand the depth of the intense emotions they felt in their youth.

If the brat had been sincere, he should have shown respect to Hou Gong before giving advice. He even had a screen set up.

Despite being called a genius, he was a cunning and arrogant brat. He had used a few words to sway people and avoid trouble.

‘I won’t fall for it again. Not a second time.’

Tianzhan, who showed no mercy, had been generous.

“Taeja.”

Taeja, who was outside, entered and bowed respectfully.

“Elder Brother, did you call me?”

“Tonight, we will finish with the scholar and Tian Gong Dan.”

“Yes.”

A faint smile spread across Taeja’s lips.

He had been worried all day, as Elder Brother had not eaten or spoken. It turned out to be unnecessary worry.

“What about the others?”

“I will call them right away.”

“Surely they haven’t gone to the annex, right?”

“They shouldn’t have.”

After a while.

Taeja couldn’t believe his eyes.

Despite saying they shouldn’t have, they had.

Taeja finally found his brothers in the annex.

The problem was the atmosphere.

In the courtyard of the annex, his brothers were laughing and joking with Tian Gong Dan. He couldn’t understand why they were acting this way.

If they were here, there should have been a fight.

His brothers, as he knew them, should have been fighting.

They were very fierce.

When it came to Hou Gong, they became even more violent, and the youngest, Taemi, was especially stubborn and unreasonable.

Yet, the sight before him was heartwarming.

Despite the battle to come tonight,

Despite the imminent fight,

‘Did they take drugs?’

He even thought that.

If the scholar from Tianhua Library had given them a bewitching drug, this situation would make sense. Otherwise, it was impossible.

While he was half-dazed,

“Hey, you’re here too?”

“What are you standing there for, idiot! Come over here and eat some fruit.”

The three brothers of Tianzhan gestured to him.

The triplets and Taemi also gestured.

Taeja, feeling the surrealness of the scene, muttered to himself.

‘They must have taken drugs… Right?’

A moment later,

Taemi and the triplets were dragged to Taedae, looking dejected.

Taedae, who had already heard Taeja’s explanation, had a face as hard as stone.

“Why are you acting like this?”

Taedae’s gaze fell on Taemi.

It was because Taemi had started it.

[...]

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Jungjung.”

[Sorry.]

Taemi gestured.

“Sorry isn’t enough to explain this.”

[It’s that guy.]

“Yes, that guy.”

They knew who it was without needing to say his name.

[He used sign language. Very well.]

“...”

[And he said he’s sorry for yesterday.]

“Is that all?”

[...]

Taedae’s brows furrowed.

“Does it matter who you’re talking to as long as you can use sign language?”

Taemi, who had been hanging her head, lifted it.

Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.

[I’m not stupid.]

“Then what?”

[He said it’s okay.]

“Okay?”

[This is already pretty impressive. Hou Gong clearly likes it. He thinks we’ve grown well. He feels good about it. He’s glad no one got hurt and no one was lost.]

“...”

Taemi wiped her tears with her sleeve and gestured.

[And he hopes we don’t get hurt in the future.]

“...Why?”

[I don’t know. But just hearing those words felt good. It was comforting. Even though it wasn’t Hou Gong, it felt like Hou Gong was saying it.]

“...”

[That guy... When he looks at me... His eyes are warm. I can feel that he likes me.]

“...”

[And... Tian Gong Dan is fun...]

“...”

[Big Brother... Sorry.]

Taedae couldn’t say anything.

‘In the future?’

In the future... he hopes they don’t get hurt?

From the moment Taemi gestured this, Taedae’s mood became a mess again. He had just sorted out his thoughts, but now they were complicated again.

He had decided to deal with the cunning and arrogant brat, but this was a different issue. The fact that all communication was done through sign language was something he hadn’t expected at all.

“Elder Brother, that brat’s tongue is devious. Tonight, we will...”

Taeja, who was venting his anger, stopped speaking.

Elder Brother, for some reason, looked dazed and turned to enter the room.

“I need to think.”

“Elder Brother, Elder Brother...”

As the door closed, Taeja, unable to open it, called out in a pained voice.

Regardless, Taedae’s mind was too complicated.

The scholar from Tianhua Library was neither cunning nor arrogant.

On the contrary...

Wasn’t he quite a decent guy?

And indeed,

What was it that reminded him of Hou Gong?

***

That night, Hou Gong was busy with his brush.

Forget about Tianzhan.

This should be enough to surpass the Seven-Part Ridge.

Now it was the turn of the Medicine King Sect.

As the brush moved, various diagrams, formulas, and characters were recorded on the paper.

This was the diagram of the Locking and Restraining Virtuous Needle Formation (鎖禁賢針陣).

It was also one of the many formations in Fanhang’s memory.

It was for the benefit of the Medicine King Sect’s leader.

There was nothing better than the Locking and Restraining Virtuous Needle Formation for mental confusion.

It restrains the scattered mind and purifies the heart.

This formation was also related to Fanhang. Originally, it was installed in Fanhang’s quarters at Tianhua Library to heal the mind, but it was soon removed.

After Fanhang realized it, he modified the formation to consume the mind instead.

“Boss, what are you so busy with since last night?”

Sotkkae entered and spoke.

He plopped down in front and propped his chin, watching.

Boss had been busy all night and continued into this night.

Outside, Tian Gong Dan was fiercely debating what to eat for breakfast tomorrow. The arguments over various dishes were so intense that a fight seemed imminent. Sotkkae, who had been advocating for grilled fish, shuddered and sought refuge.

“A formation.”

“What kind of formation?”

“I plan to imprison the Medicine King Sect’s leader.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

Sotkkae, far from being surprised, raised his thumb and sparkled with anticipation.

Hou Gong chuckled.

“Yes, it’s impressive.”

This guy had adapted so much that even nonsensical talk seemed to have some meaning.

“Boss, are we taking over the Medicine King Sect with Tian Gong Dan?”

“Yes. We’re going to turn it upside down.”

“How, how are you going to do it? Steal treasures and take all the medicinal herbs, right?”

“Of course. But first, we need to drive out the Nanhua Academy.”

“Yay~~.”

Sotkkae whistled excitedly.

Hou Gong put down his brush and began to review.

He meticulously checked for any errors or omissions.

It might be excessive for a Du Yang Chong, but considering their past connection, he could do this much for the Medicine King Sect’s leader.

The guy’s help had been invaluable during his travels.

Just off the top of his head, he had saved the life of Zhuge Hui’s father, who was also his sworn brother, twice. Regardless of the value of Du Yang Chong, the Medicine King Sect’s leader was a likable guy.

He would find treasures for him and strip away the shadows of the Medicine King Sect.

The current Medicine King Sect resembled Tianhua Library.

Tianhua Library, due to Fanhang’s shadow of death, had been suffering and rotting, consumed by darkness. While the Medicine King Sect was currently better than Tianhua Library, it would become darker over time.

Hou Gong didn’t intend to let it come to that.

He would normalize the Medicine King Sect.

The first thing to do was to remove the obstructive Nanhua Academy.

If Nanhua Academy’s Prince Mo Ying hadn’t solved the code by now, waiting any longer would be a waste of time. If he had solved it, it would be a hassle.

Review of the Locking and Restraining Virtuous Needle Formation complete.

No errors.

“Sotkkae, gather Tian Gong Dan.”

Soon, Tian Gong Dan entered noisily.

“Brother, we’ve decided to hunt wild boars tomorrow. We’ll have a light breakfast and start slicing the meat for lunch.”

“That sounds promising.”

Hou Gong responded half-heartedly.

Honestly, whether it was pork or duck, it would be easy to get from the Medicine King Sect. What Tian Gong Dan was doing was just for fun.

Once everyone was seated, he spoke again.

“Wild boars aside, from now on, Tian Gong Dan will have work to do.”

“Are you planning to farm?”

Gimjeok made a silly joke but quickly changed the subject when the others gave him a cold stare.

“We’re taking over the Medicine King Sect.”

“Huh? Taking it over?”

Gimjeok’s