Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 117

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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 117

 

 

After the martial duel that had been intensely fierce (?) for one person ended, the two sat side by side on a pile of cut reeds.

There was no need to face each other.

They shared the same goal of pursuing ultimate techniques on the path of martial arts.

The two sitting side by side gazed at the deepened night sky for a long while.

As if shaking off the shock of defeat, Namgung Ilhak’s face looked very peaceful.

He wasn’t lost in thought.

He hadn’t gained anything from Zhuge Munhyeon in the first place.

He hadn’t sought enlightenment after all.

“Munhyeon.”

“Yes.”

He began speaking in a somewhat more relaxed voice.

Though he didn’t have the kind of expression that looked sincere like Zhuge Domyeong’s, his voice had strength that conveyed sincerity.

“What direction are you looking toward?”

“…?”

It was an ambiguous question.

Zhuge Munhyeon turned his head to look at him.

Namgung Ilhak was still looking into the darkness.

The moon was hidden by clouds, and that dreariness colored everything the same shade, making everything within sight uniformly black.

While looking at the same place, he asked…

“Was the question difficult?”

“…”

It was rather out of the blue.

What direction are you looking toward?

When he made an even more puzzled expression, Namgung Ilhak chuckled and grumbled.

“A Zhuge Clan member who can’t read a single intention… Are you pretending not to know even though you do?”

It’s a misunderstanding.

It’s prejudice.

Not all Zhuges are the same Zhuge.

I’m a slightly different Zhuge.

And do you think that just because someone’s a Zhuge, they can read minds no matter what question you ask?

There are three stupid Zhuge Clan members right beside me who can’t understand even when explained in detail.

Gwan Hwiping…

“Stubborn fellow.”

Perhaps his contemplative appearance looked that way, as Namgung Ilhak corrected his question with a serious expression.

“I’m asking if the place you’re looking toward happens to be All Under Heaven.”

“Ah!”

Why didn’t you ask that from the start.

Why go in circles making my head hurt…

“Well. Does it matter where I look?”

“It matters.”

“Why?”

“Because the stance I take will differ depending on the direction you’re looking.”

“Why would your stance change depending on the direction I’m looking?”

Because it’s you.

Despite your young age, you have the power to aim for hegemony.

Of course, you might think of yourself as just one martial artist, but Namgung Ilhak knew better than anyone that sometimes the history of Murim is swayed by that one person.

Though it might be a somewhat early judgment, at least in his eyes, Zhuge Munhyeon was a talent worth expecting to become the best under heaven.

“Of course. We’re a martial family. And so are you.”

“Hmm.”

Martial family.

The weight they carry in Jianghu, in Murim, was indeed something to consider.

In fact, not just martial families, but all those living within the realm of martial arts are no different from venomous insects contained in one giant poison jar called the Central Plains.

The commonly spoken of gu poison.

The poisons contained in a limited space must fight fiercely to survive.

It’s the inherent nature of those called martial artists.

The weak are devoured first, and those who grow strong turn their venomous blades toward each other.

Orthodox and Demonic factions.

They are ultimately the strongest venomous insects among the poisons trapped in the jar.

They will fight until only one remains.

The current Murim is at the stage before that.

It’s the point where they must wage war to devour the weak and become the venomous insect representing their group.

The strongest poisons from each region compete against each other, and eventually one of them must emerge and stand at the very top.

And someday, after fighting even the Nine Sects, something like the Orthodox Martial Alliance, the ultimate poison at the peak, will emerge again.

That’s exactly what Namgung Ilhak wants to say.

Looking toward All Under Heaven.

That’s asking whether you’re dreaming of hegemony.

However.

“Since my desire to become stronger is directed toward All Under Heaven, I can’t definitively say I’m not looking at it.”

“Becoming stronger?”

“Yes. I will become the strongest in All Under Heaven. More than things beyond human.”

It was a personal goal.

He continues to live for that one thing unchangingly.

Namgung Ilhak nodded.

Though it was a young martial artist’s ambition, he somehow felt it might be possible.

At least the level he had seen was already approaching the Transcendent Level.

The only thing lacking was internal energy, and time would solve that.

“Hmm… So you’re saying you’ve never thought about hegemony?”

“Wouldn’t that be too troublesome?”

“What?”

“When there are many, it becomes troublesome.”

“…”

“There would be many things to take care of… I don’t want to represent anyone. Not in the past, not now.”

“Hmm…”

The reason he became the Heavenly Demon.

He didn’t become it because he wanted to.

He fought and defeated the strongest sect leader, and naturally became that.

He kept fighting to become stronger, and before he knew it, he had become the best under heaven.

He only tried to become stronger.

He tried not to lose in any fight and returned what he received, and before he knew it, he had become someone everyone feared.

After that, since he couldn’t become any stronger, he tried to ascend to find someone stronger.

Because there were no more worthy opponents in the world.

In the meantime, if he went around directly, it seemed like there would only be bloodshed like when he killed three thousand from the Evil Alliance, so he went to Wudang, said to have the highest cultivation, and demanded they hand over the Ascension Method.

Even after obtaining the Ascension Method, if he returned to the Demonic Sect, there would be many troublesome people chattering about conquest and whatnot, so he simply wanted to stay in Taiji Cave.

At least while he was staying here, the Demonic Sect wouldn’t make any moves…

But those damn bastards recorded him as an Evil Seed…

‘Hmm, should I just tear apart Wudang first?’

Such thoughts briefly crossed his mind, but it was a thing of the past.

In any case, he was still running.

Toward being the best under heaven, and toward Ascension to Immortality.

But still unable to find an answer to his question, or perhaps feeling uneasy, Namgung Ilhak asked again.

“But the Zhuge Family’s moves were enough to put everyone on edge.”

“…”

“You gained control of the local unorthodox factions faster than anyone else, stabilized them, and achieved hegemony in Hubei. You’ll probably subjugate the Black River Gate soon and regain all your past power. Eventually, that power will extend beyond Hubei toward All Under Heaven. Whether you want it or not, you’ll stand at the center of it all. Because you’ll become even stronger.”

“Hmm, so that’s how you saw it?”

At Namgung Ilhak’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon raised one eyebrow and nodded.

“Well, it is remarkable. A family that nearly perished on Yungzhong Mountain has risen again, expanding its influence.”

“That’s why…”

“But do you know how that fight started?”

“How the fight started?”

“Ah, well, these guys came while we were setting up formations and killed people, you know? Workers who hadn’t even learned martial arts, at that.”

“…”

“I got angry and wiped them out.”

It was about the Honyeon Territory incident.

“After that, we were setting up formations on Yungzhong Mountain to protect our family, when the Namgung Family came and arrogantly told us to submit to them.”

“That, that was…”

“I activated the formations and told them to come in if they had the skill, but they made a mess without being able to use any real power.”

“…”

Deeply stung, Namgung Ilhak couldn’t even sigh and kept his mouth tightly shut.

“Our Family Head is naturally generous, so he just scolded them with words and drove them away, but thinking about it, wouldn’t you be quite angry? We chased after them, beat them up a few times, and demanded compensation money… But what do you know? Instead of giving us the money we asked for, they suddenly sent the Azure Sky Sword Master to subjugate the unorthodox factions in Hubei Province.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Ilhak felt so ashamed he wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.

“So what could we do? It was obvious we’d be next after the unorthodox factions. We had no choice but to increase our number of warriors in preparation for an all-out war with the Namgung Family. My goodness, how hard I ran around back then. I already had enough headaches from other problems.”

“…”

“And that’s how we ended up here. But what did you say? Something about hegemony? Ha, thinking about it makes me angry again.”

He couldn’t refute a single word.

In other words, ‘Wasn’t it because you came first talking about submission, and when that didn’t work, you attacked us, leading to this situation?’

Having asked a serious question only to get scolded, Namgung Ilhak subtly averted his gaze and cleared his throat.

“But I think the Zhuge Family’s intentions won’t extend beyond Hubei.”

“What?”

“The Zhuge people I’ve seen are like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know? Second best under heaven.”

“…”

“My goodness, they treat that like it’s some kind of family glory.”

“Huh?”

“People have no ambition, no ambition.”

Suddenly getting irritated, Namgung Ilhak couldn’t help but feel flustered.

What’s this about being second all of a sudden?

“Fortunately, their thinking seems to have changed a bit now, but they probably won’t think about targeting All Under Heaven beyond Hubei. At least not now.”

“Hmm…”

“However, if someone tries to put the Zhuge Family under their feet, or tries to make life difficult for them, I don’t think I could stand it. That would mean war.”

“I see.”

Namgung Ilhak had gotten sufficient answers to what he wanted to ask.

And.

“It seems I’ll have to take back my words about not influencing the negotiations.”

“What?”

At his sudden change of words, Zhuge Munhyeon frowned.

Why did I end up having to duel…

But then.

“Even if we have to pay greater compensation, it would be better to strengthen our friendship with the Zhuge Family. As you said, at least for now…”

He added in a low voice.

You should have said that from the start.

I almost really buried him in the ground out of surprise.

Above all, friendship would be a welcome thing.

Having an enemy like the Namgung Family would be troublesome.

Thanks to meeting that Ascetic fellow, other tasks had taken root in his mind, and if anxiety about a possible war arose, wouldn’t he be unable to move rashly?

“But is it okay for you to make such decisions so casually? From what I heard, it sounds like you just decided now… You said it’s difficult to go against your family’s will.”

“That’s true.”

“Then shouldn’t you get permission from your Family Head? Should we try postponing the date?”

“Haha! Don’t worry. I can decide on conditions of that level.”

“Really?”

“Hey! I’m the current Family Head’s uncle.”

“Even so, you can’t exceed the Family Head’s authority.”

“What’s the big deal? I’ll just lie down and throw a fit.”

“What?”

“I’m still the person who taught the Azure Sky Sword Masters. I take pride in being respected. If I lie down sick and protest, the Family Head can’t just ignore it.”

He had a very proud expression.

Reliable.

An old man’s stubbornness should be at least that level.

“But it won’t be peace that lasts forever.”

“That’s right. But if you want to mess with the Zhuge Family, you’d better be well prepared. Even if we can’t win, we’ll at least make sure it ends in mutual destruction.”

“Haha! I look forward to it.”

Namgung Ilhak, who had been laughing for a while as if feeling relieved, spoke with a subtle expression.

“May I ask you a favor?”

“If it’s something I can do.”

“Please duel with me occasionally.”

“What?”

“I’m so frustrated I can’t stand it. Even if I go back and enter secluded training, I’ll find a way to beat you.”

Namgung Ilhak said playfully, grinding his teeth.

What a personality.

This elderly man apparently has no intention of growing old tending bonsai in some back room.

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

“Now it’s time for you to keep your promise.”

“Hmm… Ask what you’re curious about.”

“I’d like to know where famous craftsmen are located.”

“Famous craftsmen, eh. There are too many answers to that question. They’re people with different specialties. They’re scattered throughout the Orthodox Faction Territory too.”

“That’s fine.”

“It would be difficult to tell you in detail, so would it be okay if I write it down for you?”

“Well, I’m not planning to visit them right away anyway.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Namgung Ilhak nodded at the readily given consent and said.

“Let’s go wet our throats.”

“But it’s late at night?”

“What does the time matter? Where else can you find happiness like having a drink after working up a sweat?”

At those words, Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and nodded his head.

It wasn’t bad.

After the martial duel, rather than being cursed at and pointed at as a villain or whatever… it was nice to harmonize with his opponent like this and share a drink.

It was an unfamiliar experience he had never had in the past.

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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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