Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 132

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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 132

 

 

 

 

 

“What a mess.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled as he looked over his appearance and turned his head.

 

Both his clothes and hair were a mess.

 

The surrounding scenery was even worse.

 

The hut that had been hit by fierce energy waves like a storm had completely disappeared, and the formation had already lost its power.

 

He could see the warriors from the Black Steel Gate and the Yi Family Estate who had been unable to enter and could only stamp their feet anxiously.

 

“Young Master Zhuge!”

 

Yangmun came running faster than anyone else.

 

That guy…

 

He must have been waiting anxiously.

 

I’m fine.

 

Nothing happened to me at all…

 

“Are these the bastards? You finally caught them! I’ll make these damn bastards pay!”

 

Words like “you’ve worked hard,” “well done,” or “truly admirable work” should have come first, but Yangmun barely acknowledged him before heading toward the corpses.

 

That bastard!

 

“What are you doing! Immediately take those culprits’ bodies and…”

 

“Yangmun.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon cut off Yangmun’s orders to his subordinates and spoke with a faint smile.

 

“Don’t touch them, unless you want to die.”

 

“…”

 

Yangmun flinched at the chilling feeling in his liver and stopped what he was about to say, clamping his mouth shut.

 

He couldn’t bring himself to take another step.

 

This bastard is speaking informally to me?

 

And who are you to order me around about what to touch or not touch?

 

But contrary to his inner thoughts, his outward behavior was to gauge Zhuge Munhyeon’s mood.

 

Both the murderous tone and those damn eyes made it clear.

 

“Ah, that… I just wanted to check. Haha! Really. I was curious about what kind of bastard it was… I had no other intentions. Isn’t that right, Deputy Branch Manager?”

 

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

 

Though his expression said ‘why are you asking me that?’, the atmosphere wasn’t right for that, so Yeom Ak quickly nodded.

 

“Oh, is that so? I thought Branch Manager Yang might be trying to get a piece of the culprits I caught.”

 

Though he returned to respectful speech with a bright smile, Yangmun felt like a blade was stabbing into his side.

 

He’s smiling, but what kind of aura is this…?

 

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

 

If he had taken one more step forward, it felt like a blunt weapon without an edge would have flown toward his head.

 

Two culprits.

 

He didn’t know their identities, but he had already seen how strong they were.

 

This was Zhuge Munhyeon who had killed them.

 

Looking at the situation, it was clear he had fought alone.

 

He had heard that the Violent Dragon was impressive, but seeing his actual abilities, he was far more outstanding than the rumors suggested.

 

Therefore, he dared not speak up.

 

Prostrating oneself before a master was the nature of the unorthodox faction, and Yangmun was very accustomed to that.

 

Of course, calculations about future matters were already racing through his mind.

 

The Black Steel Gate and Yi Family Estate’s Dangyang Branch had been attacked unexpectedly.

 

The Black Steel Gate was completely wiped out, but the Yi Family Estate had blocked the culprits’ attack with only minor damage.

 

In that situation, Zhuge Munhyeon had killed the culprits and resolved the incident, so naturally he would gain priority over Dangyang County.

 

That’s how justification works.

 

The winner takes all.

 

Even if he stubbornly tried to claim his rights, the Zhuge Family, who loved justification, wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

 

A headache was coming on.

 

What could he do about this?

 

The Black Steel Gate wouldn’t fight the Zhuge Family over just one branch office.

 

It would be like an adult interfering in children’s fights.

 

He was going to lose Dangyang County, which he had been eyeing, without being able to do anything.

 

‘Damn it, like a dog that was chasing chickens.’

 

He might not even be able to recover compensation for the lives of the thirty subordinates under him.

 

Most importantly, Zhuge Munhyeon was the strongest one here right now. Regardless of justification or interests, the most important thing in negotiations between martial artists was strength. The strong one was justice and law.

 

After frantically working his mental abacus, Yangmun turned toward Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Yangmun approached him with a confident attitude, politely clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and smiled with narrowed eyes that didn’t look excessive.

 

“You’ve worked hard, Young Master Zhuge.”

 

“…”

 

His actions were so transparent that it was almost laughable.

 

But I have no intention of letting you have even a fourth spoon at this table, you bastard.

 

“…Your greetings are quite quick, aren’t they?”

 

“Haha! This one got too excited about revenge against the culprits.”

 

When Zhuge Munhyeon pointed it out with half-closed eyes, Yangmun quickly changed the subject with an awkward laugh.

 

He’s from the orthodox faction.

 

He won’t engage in unorthodox behavior like spitting in a smiling face. Just get through this situation and handle him well… Yes, that would work.

 

Why are adults adults?

 

Because they have more experience than young men who are barely coming of age. Especially in negotiations like this, he had vastly more experience.

 

But.

 

“Hmm. My, when you get excited, you don’t consider various things, do you?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Getting excited and trying to investigate the Yi Family Estate without permission, getting excited and trying to take the culprits’ bodies first without even saying ‘you worked hard’ – the evidence from this incident.”

 

“Ah, that…”

 

He tried to make excuses but was completely speechless.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon was someone who could boldly spit even in a smiling face.

 

“We’ll take care of the bodies on our side.”

 

“Ah, understood. But could we know the culprits’ identities? We’re also in a position where we need to report to our superiors…”

 

At Yangmun’s question, Zhuge Munhyeon glanced at Mujin, seemed to think for a moment, then spoke.

 

“They’re culprits.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Culprits. Should I write it down for you?”

 

“…”

 

He almost spat out curses at the ridiculous response.

 

Damn bastard, who doesn’t know that culprits are culprits?

 

Where they live, what their names are, how old they are, what organization they belong to! It would be proper to tell him at least one of those things!

 

But.

 

“Haha, your jokes are quite sharp. Culprits, what a joke, uhahaha! That was the best joke I’ve heard recently.”

 

He tried to cover it with loud laughter, but Zhuge Munhyeon’s expression didn’t change at all.

 

If anything, it became colder.

 

“Hmm, I must have looked like someone who would make jokes after risking my life in battle.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Didn’t you refuse when I clearly offered to help, Branch Leader Yang?”

 

What did you do?

 

If you’re thinking of taking a share, put your neck on the line first.

 

…That’s how it sounded.

 

“Ah, you have such good memory. But that was… I was worried that the culprit might be too powerful and something might happen to the Second Family Head or Young Master Zhuge. If you got hurt, how sad would your parents be? So we would step forward and take the blade, that kind of moral… eh, and also… we knew you were fighting and tried to help but because of the formation… ehehehehe.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled at the sight of Yangmun sweating profusely while spouting whatever came to mind.

 

The way he was trying to protect his rice bowl by any means was quite amusing. It was fun to tease him too.

 

However.

 

“I appreciate your concern, but such matters should be handled clearly. Since the Second Family Head and I joined forces to catch the culprit, I’ll handle the processing myself.”

 

“Of course…”

 

“I’ll deliver the investigation report later.”

 

“I’d be grateful if you would…”

 

“And since the situation has changed, we’ll need to recalculate things, won’t we?”

 

“Re, recalculate what?”

 

With each word that ended, Yangmun’s shoulders dropped and his knees bent as he looked up with a tearful expression.

 

“Who will have control over Dangyang County.”

 

“Wh, what do you mean by that?”

 

When the words he’d been dreading came out, Yangmun’s face became drenched in sweat.

 

He was no match in terms of strength, and now he’d lost control of the conversation too.

 

Even if they told him to withdraw from Dangyang County and return to the Yidu Branch, he had nothing to say.

 

What was he to do about this situation?

 

He had stepped forward boasting loudly that he would manage Dangyang County if he solved the case, but now he’d return empty-handed and even have to report casualties among his subordinates – the sect master would try to kill him… no, might actually kill him.

 

“Naturally, I believe the Second Family Head should have control, don’t you think?”

 

“That makes sense, but until now the Black Steel Gate’s influence has been…”

 

“What about now?”

 

“Now…”

 

“Is there even a Black Steel Gate branch left? The Black Steel Gate forces currently in Dangyang County are clearly from a different branch.”

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

“Branch Leader.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“They say excessive greed brings disaster.”

 

“…”

 

“I’m not saying I’ll take everything. Just that I’ll take a bit more.”

 

“Yes? Th, that means…?”

 

“I prefer peace.”

 

It had been the same before.

 

Whatever others said, he had never started a war while holding the position of Sect Leader.

 

Whether bad people did bad things, good people did good things, or swindlers committed fraud – none of it mattered.

 

Martial artists were supposed to act according to their own will and just take responsibility for the consequences.

 

He had simply enjoyed martial duels with strong opponents.

 

Fighting with those who couldn’t accept that led to bloodbaths, disasters, deaths, many deaths… that’s how it went.

 

“Why should we fight when we’re living under the same roof? I’ll give you what you need.”

 

How you accept it is entirely your choice.

 

If you don’t accept it, then we can fight like proper martial artists. He wouldn’t mind killing them all right now either.

 

Yangmun’s eyes lit up at the crossroads of choice that Zhuge Munhyeon had presented.

 

What they needed…

 

Even a light sprinkle of rain during drought could moisten ground cracked like a turtle’s shell.

 

He could tell the sect master that he had almost lost everything but managed to secure at least this much through sophisticated negotiation skills.

 

“Really?”

 

“I don’t lie.”

 

“If you would do that, we would be truly grateful.”

 

Yangmun bowed his head with a much brighter expression.

 

The choice was made.

 

He had chosen to gain something, however little, rather than fight.

 

That was enough.

 

A pure-blood Zhuge would use their brain, but he had shown strength and forced a choice.

 

Each should do their best with what they had.

 

Also, the saying about excessive greed bringing disaster didn’t apply only to Yangmun.

 

The same went for himself and the Second Family Head.

 

If they lost Dangyang County, it would constantly gnaw at them, and they’d attempt desperate measures to somehow recover it.

 

It might even turn into a pride battle between the Black Steel Gate and the Zhuge Family.

 

He had to give what was worth giving.

 

Though not as much as their greed demanded.

 

And he had some intention of compensating Yangmun to some degree.

 

At least when he heard that the Second Family Head was under attack, he had come with his subordinates to help.

 

Whether it was to catch the culprit or out of pure concern for the Second Family Head.

 

“Then we’ll clean up the rest, so Branch Leader Yang should head back now. Don’t you need to deal with the rotting corpses at your branch? If you leave them too long, disease will spread and cause headaches.”

 

“Of course! That’s exactly what we should do. Then I’ll head back and wait for good news. Branch Leader Hwang, see you later. I’ll buy you a drink at my Moon Gazing Pavilion. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on, so we should build camaraderie. Hahaha!”

 

Yangmun laughed heartily and left Chima Mountain leading his subordinates as if he were a victorious general.

 

Hwang Gal and the warriors from the Second Family Head’s branch, who had been watching them leave, suddenly approached in formation.

 

“Young Master! Thank you.”

 

“No, why did you come all this way when you’re injured?”

 

Hwang Gal was covered in bandages.

 

“How could I not come? I don’t know how to contain this feeling.”

 

“…”

 

They knelt and bowed their heads.

 

Their bodies were trembling slightly.

 

They seemed moved.

 

As Mujin had said, it would have been their first time.

 

Not just facing the Black Steel Gate confidently, but actually having the upper hand…

 

“Shall we bury the body first?”

 

“Yes! Yes?”

 

“It’s unsightly to leave it like that.”

 

“The culprit…”

 

“Please bury him respectfully. You don’t need to make a tombstone. It’ll be enough to pour a drink occasionally when you think of him.”

 

At those words, Hwang Gal pondered with wide eyes.

 

A tombstone for a Demonic Sect member… Ah!

 

Is this what the Orthodox Sect is like?

 

“Ha, you truly have a broad heart.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“To show such mercy even to an enemy who deserves to have his coffin opened and corpse dismembered and scattered as dog food… I was an Orthodox Sect member only in appearance, but I learn much from you today, Young Master.”

 

“…”

 

He suddenly looked moved.

 

Mercy? Did that even suit him?

 

But since everything had been resolved well, it was fortunate.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon simply remained silent and scratched his head, while the warriors of the Second Family Head’s branch carefully dug the ground and buried the corpse.

 

After Mujin performed a ritual praying for the peace of the deceased, the group left Chima Mountain with light hearts.

 

It was just his own thought, but he had kept his promise to bury him together on Chima Mountain.

 

Like most of the Demonic Sect, he was probably kidnapped as a child and wouldn’t know where he came from, and would remain in a nameless grave, but that was enough.

 

For warriors who live in the turbulent jianghu and crumble like dust somewhere…

 

And now it was time to meet On Ryu.

 

He needed to find out why the Demonic Sect had sent out even Milying’s warriors to search for him.

 

Though he might not get answers to all the questions that had formed in his mind.

 

If it doesn’t work out… so be it.

 

He had a long life ahead of him anyway.

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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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