Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 127

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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 127

 

 

 

 

 

He ran.

 

As soon as he heard they were under attack, he twisted his body from where he had been crouching beside the corpse, leaped over the wall, and shot toward the branch office.

 

There was no time to ask who had attacked or what the situation was.

 

‘The Dangyang Branch is under attack? What kind of bastards would dare…?’

 

His brow furrowed.

 

The shopkeeper had probably seen the situation from afar and rushed straight here, so he wouldn’t know much.

 

If he had gotten caught up in it, he wouldn’t have been able to come to him either.

 

The attackers wouldn’t have let him go.

 

Though a step behind, Mujin immediately gave chase.

 

Yangmun, who had been staring blankly at their figures disappearing in an instant, snapped to his senses and shouted.

 

“Deputy Branch Manager!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Stay here with the coroners and preserve the scene. The rest of us are going to the Lee Family Branch! Hurry!”

 

“Yes!”

 

He was someone with quick situational judgment.

 

He was a person who had become a branch manager in the unorthodox faction, where it was hard to endure being pressed from above and attacked from below.

 

Though he didn’t have the ability to instantly discern many things from examining a murder scene that had occurred long ago like Zhuge Munhyeon, he was quick-witted.

 

Now he had to help him.

 

Even the unorthodox faction had basic principles.

 

Even though he had set conditions, since they had helped without being bound by orthodox faction constraints, he had to return what he received, if not more than what he received, then at least as much.

 

Above all, Zhuge Munhyeon was absolutely necessary to find the culprit of the murder that occurred at the branch.

 

Not the Black Cat Room’s coroners…

 

 

 

The two in front, and even the Black Steel Gate branch warriors running in a pack behind them.

 

The sight of them running at full speed was nothing short of an unusual spectacle for the villagers.

 

Of course.

 

“Looks like those guys are fighting again.”

 

“Leave them be. Fighting all day long is their job, isn’t it? If we get involved for no reason, we’ll just get a headache.”

 

“Still, they sure are fast. That guy in front is like a swift leopard.”

 

The man who watched with just that level of impression.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

He was sprinting, covering a distance of one zhang with each step.

 

“Damn it, why did I say everything was good?”

 

As they say, life is like Sai Weng’s horse – bad things always come after good things.

 

The sun was already setting.

 

The fields that had been golden yellow were now dyed red.

 

They would have thought they could finally live with some dignity.

 

They would have felt pride in coming under the Zhuge family.

 

He felt terribly anxious.

 

Worried that the scene he would arrive to see might be as red as those fields.

 

“Whatever bastards they are, let’s see if I’ll let them be!”

 

As he ran even faster, the mask he hadn’t had time to remove stuck tightly to his face.

 

“Y-Young Master… Oh my, how can you be so fast?”

 

Mujin, who was chasing behind, once again felt his own inadequacy.

 

He had followed immediately and was deploying his Flowing Cloud Steps to the extreme, yet the distance kept widening.

 

Even though the power of the third seal had completely melted in by now…

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Huff, huff…”

 

Having run without sparing any strength, he was gasping for breath.

 

The main gate of the branch he had just arrived at, as well as the walls, were horribly destroyed, suggesting there had been fierce combat.

 

Moreover, blood was splattered everywhere.

 

At the sight of the branch warriors who had died fighting the attackers, rage welled up from deep in his chest.

 

But he couldn’t hear any sounds of fighting.

 

Don’t tell me they were all killed by the attackers?

 

Even though he had rushed here immediately…

 

Now he understood affection.

 

He had also learned the emotions felt as family.

 

Though he hadn’t known them long, he must have developed that thing called affection for those who had tried to show excessive loyalty toward him.

 

He had been the first to use the expression “family members,” another word for family.

 

Gritting his teeth.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been entering the branch while grinding his teeth, suddenly felt puzzled and hesitated.

 

“Formation technique?”

 

In his eyes, which had been clouded by surging anger, the appearance of the branch was finally captured accurately.

 

The ground was raised in various places, and debris from destroyed structures was scattered everywhere.

 

It seemed not only formation techniques but also mechanisms had been activated.

 

“Ah…”

 

Suddenly, memories from the past came to mind.

 

When the Zhuge Family had subjugated them after they changed their name to the Lee Family, the Military Strategy Hall scholars had frequent business trips to subordinate branches for a while.

 

It was to install formation techniques and mechanisms for them.

 

Especially branches that bordered the Black Steel Gate had formation techniques and mechanisms installed with extra care to make up for insufficient forces.

 

They needed to be able to hold out until additional support arrived.

 

“Phew…”

 

Suddenly, the tension completely dissipated.

 

If there had been attackers and they had activated formation techniques and mechanisms from inside? If the attackers, unable to achieve their purpose, ultimately couldn’t enter inside and fled the scene?

 

His heart pounded inappropriately with hope for survivors.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon swallowed dry saliva and slowly stepped inside.

 

The mechanisms were completely destroyed and could no longer function, but the formation technique was still exerting its influence.

 

It was the type that mixed the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams to exert actual force against intruders.

 

If the attackers had entered the interior, the formation technique would have already been broken.

 

They were alive.

 

As he immediately moved forward with surging hope, the formation technique fiercely exerted its effects as if it had been extremely agitated by enemy attacks.

 

You… you worked hard protecting this place.

 

Today, at least, he felt grateful as if the formation technique were a person.

 

But it couldn’t block his steps.

 

I am the son of the Byeongjudang Master.

 

I’m the one who broke through all of Han Siheon’s formation techniques deployed to confine me, and inspected the Yungzhongshan Eight Formations.

 

His steps quickened.

 

When he broke through the formation technique in one breath and entered inside.

 

“Die!”

 

A sword strike was fiercely swung at him.

 

Clang!

 

He struck with restraint.

 

Only enough to stop the attack…

 

“Stop!”

 

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s shout after removing his mask, the warrior who had been grimacing while holding his aching wrist suddenly looked up.

 

“…Young Master Munhyeon?”

 

“Yes, it’s me.”

 

“Ah…”

 

The warrior choked up, holding his badly bent sword.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon let out a sigh of relief at the scene before him.

 

Thank goodness.

 

Really, thank goodness.

 

Thank you for swinging your sword at me, thinking I was an intruder who had passed through the formation. Thank you so much for being alive.

 

“What happened? Where is the branch manager?”

 

“That is… he was struck down by the enemy’s attack…”

 

“Let me see the branch manager first.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The warrior guided Zhuge Munhyeon to where Hwang Gal was lying.

 

“Hmm…”

 

His teeth clenched.

 

At the sight of Hwang Gal lying there, breathing heavily, a part of his chest stung.

 

“He fought against the attackers, saying he would protect us…”

 

“…”

 

“Fortunately, we managed to save him by activating the formation and mechanisms, but those who died…”

 

As the warrior explained the situation, Zhuge Munhyeon stared at Hwang Gal with a frowning face.

 

He didn’t run away but stood against them for his subordinates?

 

This demonic sect bastard who until recently valued his own life above all else?

 

Seeing him sacrifice himself for his subordinates stirred something within him, but this wasn’t the time to be swayed by emotions.

 

Fortunately, emergency treatment seemed to have been administered, but since they had no physician on hand, his condition was extremely dangerous.

 

“Immediately deactivate the formation and quickly bring a physician. I’ll examine him for now.”

 

“But…”

 

“The attackers have already disappeared.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“We need to move quickly. I’ll try to stop the bleeding, but if treatment is delayed too long…”

 

The rest didn’t need to be said.

 

Understanding the gravity of the situation, the warriors began moving swiftly.

 

But as soon as the formation was deactivated, Mujin came running inside, and numerous warriors leaped over the wall.

 

“Y-Young Master! The Black River Sect bastards have invaded!”

 

“…”

 

It was understandable they’d misunderstand.

 

Since they had come armed.

 

But they had clearly followed him here.

 

“Don’t make a fuss, they’re not enemies.”

 

“What? The Black River Sect?”

 

“Is this the time to argue about that? Quickly bring a physician! Are you planning to let the branch manager die!”

 

At his thunderous shout born of urgency, the startled warrior ran outside.

 

“What is this about…”

 

When Yangmun approached with a puzzled expression after confirming they weren’t enemies, Mujin blocked his path and shook his head.

 

Right now, Zhuge Munhyeon wasn’t in a position to answer.

 

He was concentrating all his mental energy on pressing down on Hwang Gal’s wounds and pouring in his internal energy.

 

“Please step back for now.”

 

“D-Dojo Master…”

 

“Step back.”

 

Mujin’s voice was cold.

 

Even knowing they weren’t enemies, he was ready to cut down anyone who approached Zhuge Munhyeon in an instant, so Yangmun flinched and slowly stepped back.

 

The wound was severe.

 

From shoulder to chest.

 

The diagonal slash had nearly split his body in two. Fortunately, it wasn’t deep, so he could barely cling to life.

 

But the bleeding area was extensive, making simple pressure point strikes difficult, and he had to press the gaping wound back to its original shape and forcibly stop the bleeding by pouring in internal energy.

 

‘You bastard, live. You must live. I’ll find out who did this and get revenge for you.’

 

Zhuge Munhyeon gritted his teeth and made this vow while concentrating his mind.

 

Meanwhile, Mujin took control of the situation.

 

“First, let’s record the appearance of the dead and recover the bodies.”

 

“Understood.”

 

He had quite good learning ability.

 

Since Zhuge Munhyeon was focused on saving the branch manager and would find it difficult to make immediate judgments, he began organizing the situation by doing exactly as he had learned.

 

Eventually, a physician arrived, took over Hwang Gal’s care, and began treatment.

 

The blood-stained time disappeared into darkness, and braziers were lit throughout the branch office.

 

No one spoke.

 

The Second Family warriors maintained silence with somber expressions, while Yangmun and the Black River Sect warriors waited carefully, trying not to make any movements that might seem threatening.

 

And everyone kept glancing at the lit room.

 

Though a long time had passed since Hwang Gal’s treatment began, Zhuge Munhyeon, who was assisting the physician, showed no intention of coming outside.

 

The night deepened and the silence grew thicker.

 

Only a thoughtless owl made sounds, and even more thoughtless insects chirped away.

 

Then, at that moment.

 

Creak.

 

As the door opened, everyone turned to look.

 

“How is the branch manager?”

 

“Is he alive?”

 

The warriors who had jumped up asked worriedly as if it were their own concern.

 

“He’s alive.”

 

“Hah…”

 

Though it was an ambiguous answer, the warriors collapsed as if all strength had left them.

 

“I’d like to hear what happened.”

 

At his voice that seemed to contain suppressed anger, the branch office warriors began recounting the attack one by one.

 

“I, I was the one who went outside to greet them at that time.”

 

“Tell me. In as much detail as possible.”

 

“There were two of them.”

 

“Two?”

 

“Yes. They asked if the branch manager was in, so I said yes, and they asked me to call him.”

 

“And then?”

 

“Though it wouldn’t have been proper to treat guests rudely, their aura felt strange, so I asked about their purpose first.”

 

“Their aura felt strange?”

 

“That is… it was somehow an eerie feeling.”

 

“…”

 

“The one with the large build carrying a long box was somewhat better, but the man with the small build gave me chills just from his voice alone.”

 

“What?”

 

At those words, Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes widened.

 

Two.

 

Large build, a box carried on his back, and small build.

 

Could it be those bastards he met at the candy shop?

 

At that time, the direction they were heading was toward the Lee Family Branch Office.

 

“Then they asked about someone named On Ryu.”

 

“Oh, On Ryu?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The moment he heard that name, Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes trembled.

 

On Ryu?

 

On Ryu was the disciple of Jeong Jocheong whom he had come to find.

 

The Beggar Sect members who hadn’t arrived yet were supposed to guide him to where he was.

 

But why were those bastards looking for him?

 

“However, when we said we would look into it and let them know, they said there was no need and tried to force their way in… so all those who stood in their way were killed.”

 

“…”

 

“The Branch Manager ordered the activation of formation techniques and mechanisms while immediately drawing his sword… and ended up in that state.”

 

The Martial Artist’s sorrow was conveyed directly.

 

It was then.

 

“Young Master.”

 

“…?”

 

“I think you should take a look at the corpses of the dead.”

 

Mujin approached with a serious expression and spoke.

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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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