Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 159

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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 159

 

In the forest near a village about fifty li north of Silver Flower Mountain.

 

A group of masked figures hid themselves in thickets so dense that even moonlight couldn’t penetrate, scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes.

 

The village before their eyes.

 

Dozens of torches brightly illuminated the village and its surroundings, while martial artists conducted search operations as if looking for something.

 

Though they had only stayed briefly, their numbers were increasing exponentially.

 

Like fire spreading.

 

Their purpose was naturally to find them.

 

“How on earth…”

 

The eyes barely visible beneath the mask furrowed.

 

The leader of the secret camp, Great Evil.

 

After leaving Silver Flower Mountain, they had run straight northeast.

 

When fleeing from the Tang Family’s pursuit in Sichuan, there were six possible escape routes to choose from.

 

Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet.

 

But with their mission accomplished, there was only one escape route that would allow the fastest return.

 

Gansu Province.

 

Though the Gongdong sect was at the border between the two provinces, once they broke through there, it would be Unorthodox Sects territory.

 

Once they reached that place, even the Tang Family’s pursuit forces wouldn’t be able to exert their power.

 

From the raid to the escape.

 

They had foreseen every situation and considered all possible problems.

 

The distance between Silver Flower Mountain and the Tang Family’s main base was roughly half a day.

 

They had even devised a strategy to simultaneously attack branch offices to draw out the Tang Family’s main forces.

 

Though the assault teams would likely all die, it could be called a noble death as it was a sacrifice for their purpose.

 

Moreover, to reduce the time needed to break through the defenses deployed at Silver Flower Mountain, they had even used the Demon Possession Scripture, considered a forbidden technique, on their subordinates.

 

Thanks to this, they had easily achieved their objective.

 

They had also made sufficient follow-up plans for their escape.

 

They left behind Hwang Jang-yeom, a squad leader-level martial artist from the secret camp whom he had personally trained, along with half of his subordinates.

 

Their mission was twofold.

 

To annihilate all life at Silver Flower Mountain.

 

And to create an escape route heading south to confuse the direction of his own escape.

 

The so-called Three Deaths Strategy.

 

Achieving their objective through three deaths.

 

But the response was faster than expected.

 

Even if the attacked Silver Flower Mountain contacted the main house, he had judged that their response would only come after dawn.

 

‘What went wrong? Was there something I missed?’

 

Great Evil furrowed his brow as he retraced his steps, wondering if there had been a mistake in his strategy.

 

The simultaneous attacks on the branch offices.

 

There had been no error.

 

He had personally confirmed that the pursuit teams sent by the Tang Family and the forces from each branch office were chasing the assault teams.

 

The assault on Silver Flower Mountain.

 

Because they had utilized those who had reached the state of demonic possession, it was completed much faster than the expected time.

 

Due to the basin-like terrain that contained them as if in a bowl, they attacked while simultaneously neutralizing the messenger pigeon network.

 

In case there might be hidden networks remaining, they had left Hwang Jang-yeom behind to kill the survivors, so the Tang Family shouldn’t learn of Silver Flower Mountain’s assault until after dawn.

 

‘Yet such swift movement… There must have been messenger pigeons remaining. Then did something happen to Yeom? There shouldn’t be any other variables…’

 

This was the only part of the mission he couldn’t confirm with his own eyes and ears.

 

He couldn’t think of any other variables.

 

If nothing had happened to Hwang Jang-yeom, then the Tang Family Branch Office located on their escape route wouldn’t be searching the vicinity.

 

He briefly considered the possibility.

 

News of Silver Flower Mountain’s assault had reached the Tang Family.

 

Hwang Jang-yeom was dead, and their escape route had been discovered.

 

The Tang Family had issued alert orders to all Branch Offices and begun searching throughout Sichuan.

 

“Damn it… It would be no different from a heavenly net.”

 

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

 

A net spread across Heaven and earth.

 

It was an exaggerated expression.

 

No matter how large a net might be, it couldn’t cover all of All Under Heaven.

 

But Sichuan was different.

 

The Tang Family’s land.

 

A place where they had reigned as masters for a long time.

 

A place where not only people from villages unrelated to the Martial World, but even government soldiers would eagerly step forward to help with Tang Family matters.

 

Everyone could become a watcher.

 

“Great Evil, what shall we do?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

After pondering for a long time at his subordinate Martial Artist’s words, he quickly made a decision.

 

If the Tang Family knew, the surveillance network would become even tighter, and as time passed, their escape success rate would drop significantly.

 

The Thunder Stone and Tang Mun-cheong.

 

Those two were objectives that had to be secured.

 

Because that was the first order the New Sect Leader had given to the Secret Camp.

 

‘In my greed to escape Sichuan as quickly as possible, I came too close to the Village.’

 

They had to change direction.

 

Even though it was night, if by any chance they caught someone’s eye, the pursuit would become even more relentless.

 

Village people? Government soldiers? Even if they were Tang Family Warriors, he wouldn’t avoid fighting.

 

But the Tang Family’s terror lay in their Hidden Weapons and poisons. The moment they were trapped, escape would become difficult and the mission would fail.

 

“We’re changing routes.”

 

“Which direction?”

 

“Detouring to the east of the Village would be difficult. Since it’s close to Star Blade, all the Village people are practically no different from Tang Family Warriors.”

 

“Then to the West?”

 

“We’ll move along Qingcheng Mountain while avoiding villages.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

The route had been decided.

 

The mountain where the Qingcheng Sect was located, one of the martial forces established in Sichuan and possessing power comparable to the Tang Family.

 

That place would actually be safer.

 

Though it was the Qingcheng Sect’s territory, the Taoists in the mountains couldn’t monitor all the forests below the mountain.

 

The Tang Family’s pursuit team wouldn’t carelessly approach the vicinity of Qingcheng Mountain either.

 

No matter how urgent the situation was and how bold the Tang Family’s nature, they would need to seek cooperation first before intruding on the Qingcheng Sect’s territory.

 

Moreover, they wouldn’t expect them to break through the Taoist Sect’s domain.

 

When the brightness of torches that had spread like wildfire illuminated the thicket, the demonic practitioners had already hidden themselves in even darker places.

 

But in the sky, a single hawk was drawing an arc while looking down at the earthly realm.

 

Like pursuing the shadow of a rat hiding in darkness, avoiding the blazing torches.

 

* * *

 

The Demon Cult members who had been wandering the mountain paths finally revealed themselves under the moonlight.

 

They had escaped Qingcheng Mountain.

 

“Great Evil! It’s a river.”

 

“Good. Hurry and find a boat.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The Demon Cult members who had passed through the reed forest connected to the mountain foothills and reached the long stretch of sandy beach began searching along the riverbank.

 

Though narrow in width, it was a difficult distance to cross in a single leap.

 

Since they hadn’t reached the level of water-walking and had prisoners as well, a boat was absolutely necessary.

 

Even the Great Evil would find it difficult to cross the river while carrying people.

 

Finding a boat wasn’t difficult.

 

Fishermen who had been working during the day had moored boats in various places.

 

But they couldn’t all ride together.

 

A bamboo raft.

 

A boat made by cutting and weaving bamboo lengthwise.

 

Since it was a boat for fishing, it couldn’t carry more than five people.

 

“First, Great Evil should take the Tang Family young master and cross ahead. We’ll divide up and move as soon as we find boats.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The boat was quickly launched.

 

As the long oar was rowed, the boat instantly glided across the river.

 

Those remaining searched through the reed forest for another boat, and five more moved again.

 

And the remaining four.

 

If they could just find one more boat…

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Screech!

 

When a sharp sound echoed from the air, the Demon Cult members jerked their heads up.

 

It was a hawk.

 

It was circling with its wings spread wide, as if searching for prey on the ground.

 

“Damn bastard, must have gotten hungry in the middle of the night, huh?”

 

The Demonic Sect members, thinking nothing of it, soon lost interest and focused on searching for boats again.

 

Rustle, rustle.

 

Among the reeds, they discovered another boat.

 

Now they just needed to cross the river.

 

But at that moment, one of the Demonic Sect members hesitated when he spotted a black figure emerging from the reeds on the opposite side.

 

‘A… person?’

 

Dark night.

 

A man approaching through the reeds.

 

And the corners of the man’s mouth slowly curling upward.

 

After a brief moment of consideration, the Demonic Sect member’s eyes widened.

 

A pursuer!

 

Startled, he urgently opened his mouth to warn the others, but his opponent was faster.

 

Bang!

 

With a sound like kicking off the ground, the black figure approached in an instant.

 

“Gasp!”

 

Terrified, he hastily crossed both arms.

 

But the fist instantly shattered his arm bones, and the follow-up punch struck his face hard.

 

Crack!

 

The Demonic Sect member was sent flying and crashed into the sandy beach.

 

“Yang Chung!”

 

The moment the other Demonic Sect members, shocked by the sight, drew their swords, Zhuge Munhyeon and Mujin emerged through the reeds.

 

“See, here they are.”

 

“Indeed. You’re truly amazing. To find them by watching that, even though you’re not from the Tang Family.”

 

Mujin looked up at the hawk in the sky.

 

It was still circling and making sharp cries.

 

As if there was prey on the ground.

 

“By the way, we’re a bit late. Two boats have already crossed the river.”

 

“Shall I handle it?”

 

“Will you?”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and nodded, then tried to pass by the Demonic Sect members blocking his way.

 

Actually, there was no rush.

 

The two boats already crossing the river?

 

A futile effort.

 

Now that the hawk had spotted its target, their escape was over. Even if they crossed the river, Tang Family warriors who spotted the hawk would swarm from all directions.

 

There would be casualties.

 

But they absolutely couldn’t escape.

 

Still, the reason he wanted to act before the Tang Family was because he wanted to ask that bastard called Great Evil something.

 

Why he had used the Heart Demon Mirror.

 

Why he had trampled on the pride of the Demonic Path that his subordinates possessed.

 

He intended to hold them accountable for that responsibility.

 

But at their conversation, mockery and killing intent simultaneously rose in the eyes of the Demonic Sect members blocking their path.

 

“Crazy bastards… who said they’d let you go?”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned at the sharply raised swords pointed at them.

 

Ah, these junior bastards are blocking the path again.

 

Instead of trying to preserve their precious lives a little longer.

 

“Attack!”

 

“….”

 

A tiresome response.

 

Attack what exactly?

 

Those without the skill…

 

If you truly wish to die, I’ll grant your wish. You’ve already abandoned your pride as followers of the Demonic Path, so you’re no longer my juniors, you worthless fools not even worth this Silver Cold Staff.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon narrowed his eyes and gathered energy in his hand, while Mujin drew his sword.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“You two! Get out of the way!”

 

“…?”

 

A voice too gentle to belong to a man.

 

The sound of running footsteps splashing through the damp ground.

 

It was her.

 

Iron Eye Dan.

 

Had she already caught up?

 

Well, they had run north before changing direction upon seeing the signal flare, but she would have run straight here just following the flare.

 

But what was this sense of unease?

 

“Mujin!”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes widened as he urgently shouted, and Mujin quickly threw his body in the opposite direction.

 

As they dodged left and right, the Demonic Sect members were positioned directly in front of the charging Tang Ihwa.

 

Twang!

 

With a sound like a bowstring being released, hundreds of small light streaks shot out, slicing through the reeds.

 

“Hidden weapons! Defend yourselves!”

 

The startled Demonic Sect members hastily swung their swords to deflect the light streaks.

 

They had to concentrate entirely on blocking the hidden weapons without any chance to observe anything else.

 

It was like a sudden downpour in an instant.

 

Thunk, thunk thunk!

 

They couldn’t deflect everything.

 

Hidden weapons embedded in various places, causing involuntary groans to burst out.

 

“Kugh!”

 

And the Demonic Sect members who barely saved their lives raised their swords again and swung at Tang Ihwa as she broke through.

 

Clang! Clang clang!

 

But their swords bounced off the protective gear Tang Ihwa wore around her body.

 

Whoooosh!

 

Tang Ihwa’s massive hammer, having broken through the sword strikes and closed in, swept in an arc like a fierce whirlwind and struck down upon the Demonic Sect members.

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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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