Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11

 

 

Father, sitting across from him, was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice his tea growing cold, and after much deliberation, he finally spoke.

“Do you truly wish to learn martial arts?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“Must there be a reason for liking something?”

“No, that’s not what I mean…”

“Actually, no matter what book I read, I felt stuffy in my chest as if my blood circulation was blocked, but the moment I read the Small Heavenly Star Technique at the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion, I felt a thrilling sensation throughout my body and thought ‘this is it.'”

A seven-year-old talking about blood circulation problems.

Zhuge Doyun wanted to say what kind of nonsense that was, but he could only groan in frustration due to Baek Suhyeon sitting there with her embroidery frame, glaring at him fiercely.

It was talent for formation techniques, no less.

If he reported this to the Family Head, he would immediately rush over and be overjoyed enough to give his son a piggyback ride.

A formation master.

This was an extremely precious talent even within the Zhuge Family.

Formation techniques are difficult studies that require thorough knowledge of the principles of yin-yang, the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, as well as mastery of the Book of Changes, astronomy, and geography.

And that’s not all?

If it were something that could be done just by knowing it, it would be nothing for the Zhuge Family, which gathered only the most intelligent people in the world.

But one must be born with the intuition. It’s purely a matter of talent.

That’s why even in the Military Strategy Hall, there were only a few who could handle formation techniques.

Yet his son had broken through the Muyeon Formation by applying only the principles he saw in a book, without ever learning it.

This was something that should be announced throughout the entire Zhuge Family immediately.

‘Damn… I even promised I absolutely wouldn’t tell anyone.’

That’s why he could only groan inwardly.

And now martial arts!

Born as a descendant of the Zhuge Family with such excellent talent, how could he say such ominous things?

He should naturally take up the brush!

“Munhyeon, at seven years old, you’re still too young to learn martial arts.”

“I heard that in other martial families, they learn movement techniques as soon as they start walking.”

“Who told you that!”

“Some book in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion.”

“Damn it, why are there such books in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion…”

At his son’s answer, Zhuge Doyun not only cursed reflexively but even thought about setting fire to the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion.

“Son, let me ask you once more – won’t you consider becoming a formation master?”

“Absolutely not.”

“…”

“I will learn martial arts.”

“You brat! Don’t you know that our family’s martial arts have clear limitations? And the Small Heavenly Star Technique at that? Why on earth do you want to learn martial… *cough*.”

Zhuge Doyun, who had been scolding as if he was frustrated to death, suddenly coughed at the chill he felt.

He had sensed the cold gaze of the real authority figure.

The needle in her hand seemed to radiate killing intent.

She’s not even from the Dang Family… though Sound Arts might be possible.

‘Hmm, at this rate there might be a marital dispute.’

Zhuge Munhyeon, who couldn’t bear to see the harmonious couple’s relationship damaged because of him, sighed.

I must protect the peace of my family.

Something so precious.

“Father.”

“What?”

“Everything I’m about to tell you is a secret.”

“Tsk! You sure have a lot of secrets!”

Though Father was getting angry, Zhuge Munhyeon paid no mind and spoke.

“Please promise me.”

“…Fine. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

“Actually, I’ve learned a heart method.”

“Sure, of course you did. A heart method… huh?”

Zhuge Doyun, who had been shaking his head dismissively, looked at his son with a startled expression.

“A… what?”

“Would you like to check?”

When Zhuge Munhyeon rolled up his sleeve and suddenly extended his wrist, Zhuge Doyun blinked with a bewildered expression.

“Since you wouldn’t believe me just by my words anyway, why don’t you take a look?”

“Y-you brat, are you making fun of your father? Tsk!”

“My, when did you say you believed me?”

“Well… are you being serious?”

“Yes.”

At his son’s unchanging expression, Zhuge Doyun half-doubtingly reached out and grasped his wrist.

Since Zhuge Doyun was also a martial artist with considerable skill, if he had revealed his aura even slightly, there would have been no need to grasp his wrist.

But since he had only just formed a dan and lacked time to accumulate internal energy, he had no choice but to let him experience it directly.

“Gasp!”

Zhuge Doyun, who had been pushing his internal energy to examine inside his son’s body, was so startled that he let go of his hand.

“A d-dan…”

“Yes.”

“H-how is this possible…”

“Didn’t I tell you I read the Small Heavenly Star Technique?”

Zhuge Munhyeon had an expression asking how many times he had to repeat himself, but for Zhuge Doyun, this was something he could only be astonished about.

“So now… you’re telling me this unbelievable story that you read a martial arts manual and formed a dan by yourself?”

Nod.

“The Small Heavenly Star Technique… you say?”

“Yes.”

“Hah…”

Zhuge Doyun could only let out a hollow laugh.

How could he not believe it when he had even checked directly?

A dan had formed in his son’s body.

He said he had formed the dan by reading only a martial arts manual without anyone’s teaching.

What kind of troubling… no, shocking matter was this?

It meant he was born with talent for martial arts as well.

Zhuge Doyun found himself unconsciously swallowing his saliva as he looked at his son.

No matter how talented one might be, how many could achieve this on their own?

No, do such people even exist?

‘Oh, Heaven… why are you doing this to me?’

Now it was even frightening.

His son was far too exceptional for him.

Being born with just one talent would be considered outstanding, but four talents…

Though the Central Plains was said to overflow with extraordinary people, he could confidently say he had never heard of anyone born with talent like his son’s. It would be much more accurate to say such people didn’t exist.

“You… do you have anything else you’re hiding?”

“Pardon?”

“What the hell kind of secrets are so many? Formation techniques, martial arts… and now making dans by himself!”

At those words, Zhuge Munhyeon smiled faintly and once again clearly stated his intention.

“Father, I will learn martial arts.”

“…”

Now he couldn’t say anything at all.

How could he say no, that it wasn’t right?

He had already seen it…

Telling him to become a formation master was partly for the family, but also because that talent would be wasted.

But if he possessed such outstanding talent that he could create dans on his own without anyone teaching him…

“Hmm.”

Zhuge Doyun gave no answer and stood up from his seat with a heavy expression.

“Father!”

Even when called, there was no response.

He just quietly left the room with a serious expression.

That damn…

No, is a son learning martial arts really such a serious matter?

I’m saying I’ll live as a Zhuge.

I might even become the greatest under heaven, you know?

If someone from the Zhuge Family, which only produced strategists, reached the pinnacle of martial arts, it would be the so-called union of brush and sword.

One family could dominate everything – how great would that be?

Really, even when given fortune, he doesn’t know how to accept it.

This is why they’re eternal second place.

“Munhyeon.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Don’t be too disheartened. Your father is just shocked, that’s all.”

“Is this really such a shocking matter?”

“Your father is someone with stronger pride in being a Zhuge than anyone else.”

For the first time, Zhuge Munhyeon pouted at his mother’s words.

Pride my ass…

It’s just second-place mentality.

Maybe I should just run away from home as soon as I become an adult.

“Don’t worry. This mother will try to persuade your father. If you want it so much, you should do it. Mother is always on your side.”

At her brightly smiling appearance, his heart filled with resentment softened a little.

How can I not be filial when she supports her son like this?

Just wait and see.

Father’s permission?

I never expected help like that in the first place.

I just told him because I had decided it myself, so he should know it as a matter of father-son duty.

 

* * *

 

Zhuge Doyun came outside and left the pavilion with a face full of frustration.

‘Martial arts…’

It’s a path the Zhuge don’t walk.

Because their will lies in governing the world through Ghost Strategy.

Only ignorant ones use their bodies, while gentlemen use their heads, don’t they?

However, the current world.

Scattered in all directions without distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, heroes have risen from various places and fought for a long time to become masters of the world.

The Zhuge Family, which had believed the power of the brush was stronger than the sword, was pressed by heroes occupying territories everywhere, their influence diminished and many of their interests stolen here and there.

The golden age when they were called one of the Five Great or Seven Great Martial Families is now a thing of the past, and barely protecting one ridge of Yungzhong Mountain is all they can manage.

An era that needs strength.

How could he not know?

But it was too late to cultivate military power.

They hadn’t made efforts beyond the basics in that direction, and whether it was due to bloodline, no descendants with talent in that area were born.

“Haha, really… that young one.”

His son’s ambition is truly peculiar.

To dismiss it as youthful folly, the talents his son was born with are too remarkable.

Could there be heaven’s will in this?

But how can a person know such lofty intentions?

“Planning lies with man, success lies with heaven.”

Planning and devising things depends on people, but achieving those results depends on heaven.

But without planning or devising, how can one expect heaven to make it happen?

The world is already moving. Heroes from various places are gathering strength to reclaim past glory.

The Zhuge Family also had to start preparing to soar high.

“How can a father become a stumbling block on his son’s path?”

Zhuge Doyun’s face, which had been filled with worry, brightened before he knew it.

He would fulfill his duty as a father.

How could he not support his child when he has heaven-sent talent? And how could a child grow only according to what parents want?

“If a child wants to display his inborn talent, it’s also a parent’s duty to help him.”

Once he made up his mind this way, it felt as if a heavy stone pressing on his chest had disappeared, making him feel light and his steps incredibly buoyant.

“Alright. Go ahead and try, let’s see.”

He decided to support his son’s dream.

What if he feels the limits of his talent?

Opening a new path for him then would also be what parents should do.

But just then.

“My lord! How did it go?”

Han Siheon, who had been hated by Baek Suhyeon and couldn’t enter inside, had been stamping his feet outside waiting, and now came running over.

“This man, have you been waiting for me all this time?”

“Oh my, I was so anxious I couldn’t bear it.”

“Really now… Anyone watching would think you’re Munhyeon’s father.”

“Don’t change the subject. Did you persuade him? Will he learn formation techniques?”

“Hmm.”

Despite Han Siheon’s urgency, Zhuge Doyun only quickened his pace without answering.

“My lord! Please say something. He’s a talent born with formation technique abilities. You know yourself that such talent is precious and rare in the family.”

At the words poured out as if he was dying of frustration, Zhuge Doyun finally opened his mouth.

“Listen here, Section Chief Han.”

“Yes!”

“You know the saying ‘A man’s word is worth a thousand gold,’ right?”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“Then do you know what happens if you break it?”

“Pardon?”

“Your manhood falls off.”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of absurd talk is this?

When he made a bewildered expression, Zhuge Doyun burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! Just joking. But keep your promise. Don’t even mention anything about my son.”

“Who says what? Making such random remarks… So what actually happened? Did you persuade him?”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“I just decided not to make him do it.”

“Not making him do it?”

“When my son doesn’t even want it, I can’t force it just for my own greed, can I?”

Han Siheon had no choice but to stop walking.

Not making him do it?

Even after seeing that talent directly?

“Family Head, how can you say such a thing? That’s indulgence. He might become the world’s greatest formation master.”

“Forget it. He doesn’t need to do that stuff.”

“Pardon?”

Han Siheon was dumbfounded at the sight of Zhuge Doyun speaking curtly and walking away leisurely.

No, where did that united spirit of somehow trying to persuade his son go?

“No, where exactly are you going?”

“Cheonseong Pavilion.”

Cheonseong Pavilion was where the young descendants of the Zhuge Family learned martial arts from age ten until their coming-of-age ceremony.

No matter how much they valued scholarship, the Zhuge Family was still within the category of martial families. They taught basic martial arts.

After that, achievements varied according to one’s own efforts.

“Why? Did the Cheonseong Pavilion Master ask you to fix some formation?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I’m asking him to take care of my son.”

“Pardon?”

“Go back now.”

Watching Zhuge Doyun’s retreating figure quickly disappearing, Han Siheon stood there blankly for a while.

His son… what about him?

Wait a minute!

Don’t tell me he fell for that ridiculous talk about being the world’s greatest or whatever?

Unless the Family Head has gone mad…

 

* * *

 

The next day.

Even knowing that he couldn’t leave the pavilions due to being under house arrest, Father stubbornly took his son to Cheonseong Pavilion.

“Haha, Munhyeon.”

“Yes?”

“This father has arranged everything.”

“What?”

“You’re supposed to attend from age ten, but I earnestly pleaded with the Cheonseong Pavilion Master and registered you so you can cultivate martial arts.”

“Pardon?”

“Haha! Why are you so surprised? Go ahead and fulfill your dream. This father will support your dream.”

Father laughed heartily and patted my head.

So now… he’s telling me to cultivate martial arts together with those kids?

Sigh, why did he do something I never asked for…

I had no choice but to hold my throbbing head at Father’s loving kindness.

“Boy, are you that happy? Why are there even tears?”

“…”

Ah, really… if only I hadn’t seen that back then…

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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