Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 122
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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 122
“Rude?”
Jin Yeorak’s eyebrows furrowed.
The subordinates beside him also scowled, their hands sliding down from the sword guards to grasp the hilts.
“What? Going to draw? Go ahead. I’ll give you a chance. Though it’ll probably be the last of your life.”
“…”
At the chilling gaze of consideration, Jin Yeorak, who had been asking about business, sent hand signals to restrain his subordinates.
Mujin, knowing Zhuge Munhyeon’s personality, sensed the situation was explosive and casually drew up his internal energy.
Though they wouldn’t be a match for Zhuge Munhyeon, he thought it would be better to help in some way.
The one who panicked was Hwang Gal, caught like a shrimp between whales.
A fight?
He was already under suspicion.
Though the Black Steel Gate’s conduct was rude, he had endured it not because he lacked strength, but because he needed to avoid suspicion.
But if such a disturbance occurred now, nothing good would come of it.
“Y-Young Master.”
Swallowing hard, he blocked Zhuge Munhyeon’s path, trying somehow to prevent the fight.
“Please listen to what I have to say first…”
“Move aside.”
“Young Master.”
“I said move.”
“…”
There was no way this would end well.
What is family?
People who live in the same house and eat together.
Though they hadn’t been staying under the same roof for long, if they were family, shouldn’t he take his side instead of blocking him?
That made him even angrier.
Moreover!
Groveling?
When the other side was being so rude!
When Hwang Gal retreated with a tearful expression, startled by the murderous gaze, Jin Yeorak took his place.
Perhaps due to Hwang Gal’s attitude, he wore a mocking smile.
“Is it because you’re young? You’re unusually hot-blooded for someone from the Zhuge Family. But have you thought about what impact your actions will have on this situation?”
“Then have you thought about it?”
“What?”
“What impact coming to my family without reason, suspecting them as criminals and investigating them will have on the relationship between the Zhuge and Black Steel Gate.”
“…”
“If you want to calculate, speak up. I’ll show you what hot blood really means.”
At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Jin Yeorak fell silent for a moment.
He seemed to be calculating in his head which would be more problematic.
The answer was the latter.
Causing friction between factions was a much more serious problem.
But he didn’t seem inclined to back down gracefully.
Among martial artists, especially when they were enemies, there was a reason for the saying that you couldn’t lose even in verbal sparring.
He seemed intent on finding fault with anything.
“Family? The Zhuge Family has really fallen. Since when has the Zhuge considered the unorthodox as family?”
“Your eyes must be crooked? Didn’t you see the signboard at the entrance when you came in?”
“What?”
“This is the Lee Family Branch. Recognized by the Zhuge Family as a collateral branch. And even if it hasn’t been long, family is family. And the Zhuge don’t carelessly abandon family. Not until their crimes are confirmed.”
At those words, Hwang Gal and the Lee Family warriors flinched.
Family.
Such a good word.
Even I, who thought being alone was best, now feel warmth in my chest just hearing it.
It’s because I received Mother’s love.
Above all, the sudden change in the Lee Family warriors’ aura was probably because they felt some kind of pride.
That’s the difference between the unorthodox and orthodox factions.
A sense of belonging?
The Demonic Sect doesn’t care if someone next to them dies, and the unorthodox think of profit first before deciding whether to help, but the orthodox help first.
“Crimes… you spoke well. Do you know that your family is currently the most suspected?”
“Evidence?”
“What?”
“Do you have evidence that the Lee Family Branch attacked the Black Steel Gate Branch?”
“…”
He couldn’t answer.
After all, they had investigated the Lee Family Branch to find evidence in the first place.
“And did you send an official document?”
“A-an official document? Who sends official documents for such matters?”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
“…”
“For matters like this, you need to follow proper procedures to avoid problems later. At the very least, you should have sent an official document to Yungjoong Mountain Main House asking permission to investigate a branch under a collateral family, and moved only after receiving approval.”
“What did you say?”
It was absurd.
Not just to the Lee Family, but sending an official document all the way to Yungjoong Mountain for permission?
It was ridiculous nonsense.
But Zhuge Munhyeon shook his head as if pathetic and said.
“When you were both unorthodox factions, you might have done as you pleased, but now this is the Lee Family Branch. Broadly speaking, it’s a branch of the Zhuge Family. So naturally you should seek cooperation from the main house and send official documents. Right?”
“…”
“You know that entering like this without permission is at minimum trespassing, and at worst no different from attacking the Zhuge Family, right?”
“What?”
With just a few words transforming it into an attack on the Zhuge Family, Jin Yeorak again couldn’t answer and only scowled.
This is the Zhuge way.
I once thought having strong power was everything, but living has taught me.
There’s quite a bit of satisfaction in beating someone with words too.
Furthermore, it draws out different reactions than when beating them with force.
Namely, agreement and sympathy.
Even Hwang Gal, who had tried to stop him, and the tense Lee Family warriors were nodding and changing their expressions. Then they began looking at the Black Steel Gate warriors with questioning eyes, demanding answers.
“Why are you silent?”
“…”
“If you can’t answer… I’d like you to get lost.”
At the naturally following order to leave, Jin Yeorak’s face scowled even more.
He couldn’t just leave when told to.
Tucking his tail and retreating after a few words from a young punk who had lived far less than him would hurt his pride.
“Ha, that guy sure talks well.”
“…?”
“Just like the Zhuge Family, very smooth with words.”
One of the warriors behind Jin Yeorak twitched his eyebrows and stepped forward.
Zhuge Munhyeon was startled.
“The bastard’s getting scared… What, are you flustered because your tough act isn’t working?”
The warrior misunderstood his surprised expression and sneered with overconfident mockery.
Of course it wasn’t because he was scared.
Those thick, dark eyebrows like caterpillars were talking.
What an amazing ability this guy had.
How could he make such a fuss with his eyebrows in perfect sync with his words?
Indeed, there were many people in the world with various talents.
But it seemed he had no eye for judging people.
“Evidence? Official documents? You must not have much worldly experience since you don’t seem to know, but we don’t need that crap.”
“Oh, really?”
“And what are you, the Family Head of the Zhuge Family or something? Do you think we’ll obediently say ‘yes’ and back down just because you mention family and talk about relatives?”
“Hmm…”
“This is a matter between branches. Investigation will reveal evidence, so stop your nonsense and step aside.”
Thud.
…He hit him.
On the shoulder.
Zhuge Munhyeon looked at Jin Yeorak.
He said nothing.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping it either.
Just watching.
How irresponsible.
Right now his subordinate had stepped into mortal danger…
Yet staying still like this meant permission, right?
How grateful.
Well, this was better.
He had fought with words befitting a son of the Zhuge Family, but where could his true nature go?
A warrior’s answer is fists.
To put it more elegantly, no need for words.
Of course, he had to keep in mind potential future problems.
“Ah…”
“…?”
Zhuge Munhyeon staggered back a step weakly and grimaced.
The reaction was a bit delayed, but it was fine.
It hurt. It hurt terribly.
He made roughly that kind of expression.
This was to emphasize the fact that he had been attacked.
“You hit me?”
“What?”
“You hit me. You did it. You first. Maybe it’s a serious injury that needs to be shown to a physician. Right, Mujin?”
“That’s right. You look like you’re in a lot of pain.”
The two were quite well-coordinated.
Of course, the reality wasn’t quite like that.
But.
“Not only did you barge in without warning, but you even hit someone… I don’t have to hold back anymore, right?”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“What do you mean what? I’m saying it’s self-defense from now on!”
“What?”
It might be called unreasonable, but since it was true that he had hit him, the warrior who struck his shoulder widened his eyes.
It’s retaliation, you bastard.
Legally!
Though such things couldn’t matter among warriors who would draw swords just from making eye contact.
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and grabbed the man’s wrist, twisting it at the same time.
Crack!
“Aaaahhh!”
He screamed as if dying from his weakly broken wrist.
Ugh, my ears hurt.
He slammed him down while still holding him.
Onto the neat blue stones laid down so people wouldn’t kick up dust while passing by.
Thwack!
The warrior flew like a paper doll and crashed into the blue stone, splitting his head open.
“Uuuugh…”
A groan.
It seemed the force of the slam was too weak.
Really, my heart has grown too soft.
Since he was hit on the shoulder, the normal thing would be to rip off his arm.
Crunch!
Before anyone could stop him, Zhuge Munhyeon’s foot stomped hard on his head.
After that, he couldn’t make any sound.
“You damn bastard!”
A comrade had been struck down.
If they didn’t step forward, they wouldn’t be warriors.
With a sharp ring, a sword was drawn and aimed at Zhuge Munhyeon, and Mujin from behind tried to respond by drawing out power mixed with demonic energy.
At that moment when tension arose as if it had suddenly turned into a murderous battlefield, Zhuge Munhyeon looked coldly at Jin Yeorak and his comrades and smiled.
“You drew it? In the end…”
“…!”
Why was it?
The moment he uttered those words, Jin Yeorak felt his heart shrink from the spreading killing intent.
Just who was he that with mere presence alone… Huh?
Suddenly the name he had heard earlier flashed through his mind.
Zhuge Munhyeon…
Zhuge…
Someone with such martial prowess at that age… Gasp! C-could it be the Violent Dragon?!
The main figure who had subjugated demonic sect forces in a short time and defeated the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Sword Unit.
His exact martial prowess wasn’t known, but he had brought a Namgung Family elder to his knees with a second strike…
Damn it all!
He had failed to realize it, only seeing his young age and clean appearance.
“W-wait!”
“…?”
Jin Yeorak, with a terrified expression, hastily restrained his subordinates.
“Sheathe your swords.”
“…Squad Leader?”
“Sheathe them!”
“…”
At his fierce glare, the warriors frowned as if they couldn’t understand but sheathed their swords.
When their superior ordered it, they had no choice but to comply.
But then.
“My apologies, I was late with my greetings. I didn’t expect to meet the Violent Dragon, who has been making the biggest name for himself in Hubei lately.”
Jin Yeorak immediately cupped his fists and bowed politely, while the others’ eyes widened as soon as they heard the title Violent Dragon.
“What? You’re not going to fight?”
“Fight? It seems there was a slight misunderstanding.”
“Hmm…”
At his suddenly changed attitude, Zhuge Munhyeon clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
Cunning Unorthodox Sect bastard.
To immediately change his attitude the moment he realized he was no match.
“Come to think of it, we seem to have ignored many procedures. Our nerves were on edge due to the Branch Office’s incident, so we’d be grateful if you could understand.”
“…”
“If it’s alright, we’ll withdraw now.”
At the words asking for his opinion while gauging the situation again, Zhuge Munhyeon nodded.
He wouldn’t refuse a fight.
But he didn’t want to beat up ten tails either.
Of course.
“Aren’t you apologizing to the wrong person?”
“Pardon?”
“It seems our Branch Manager was disrespected before I was?”
“I was naturally planning to apologize.”
As soon as the words finished, Jin Yeorak gave a cupped fist salute toward Hwang Gal and bowed his head.
“Branch Manager Hwang, I was very rude. I apologize. I’ll be careful to ensure this never happens again.”
“Ah, well… hmm.”
Hwang Gal, who received the apology, was rather flustered.
Because it was the first time.
Black River Gate had looked down on them and treated them poorly ever since he belonged to Demon Shadow Tower as a Branch Manager.
But it didn’t feel bad.
His martial arts hadn’t improved and only his affiliation had changed, yet to receive respect from those who had looked down on him until now…
“Ahem, I understand. Since your sect had troubles, it’s natural that nerves would be on edge. I hope you’ll refrain from this kind of visit in the future.”
“We’ll naturally do so. If there’s anything to investigate, we’ll seek cooperation in advance and send official documents as well.”
“Please do so. And the injured person…”
“Don’t worry about it. How could we blame you for something that happened because this fool made a mistake.”
At Jin Yeorak’s words, Hwang Gal nodded with a deliberately dignified expression.
“Then may we return now?”
“…”
Though it was a conversation between Jin Yeorak and Hwang Gal, both subtly gauged Zhuge Munhyeon’s reaction.
When he casually turned his head away, Jin Yeorak quickly gathered the injured person and left.
“Damn it, we almost died.”
“Right. To think that guy was the Violent Dragon…”
“I almost pissed myself.”
Once outside the Branch Office, they ran as if fleeing.
Every single one of them.
“W-wait for me!”
Of course, the one carrying the injured person was the slowest.
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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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