Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 164

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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 164

Crack, crack crack!

The sound that started from his wrist reached all the way to his shoulder blade.

The penetrating force wrapped around his arm bones, tightening and breaking them piece by piece.

If he resisted, he would lose his arm.

Great Evil hastily pulled his arm back and launched his body into the air.

The nausea washing over him suggested he had already suffered internal injury, but it was better than losing an arm.

However.

“Think you can escape!”

“…!?”

The moment he let go, Zhuge Munhyeon’s form shot up straight from kicking off the ground, closing the distance.

“You, you bastard!”

Great Evil, his intentions read, panicked and threw out both palms repeatedly, but none of them could touch Zhuge Munhyeon’s body.

Even while floating in the air, he moved as naturally as the moon through clouds.

Heavenly Mystery Bewildering Steps, Moon Walking Through Clouds.

And then Meteor Flash followed, penetrating through an instant gap with a single flash.

Thwaaack!

Great Evil’s body, struck hard in the waist by the Silver Cold Staff, bent sideways and flew away.

Great Evil, whose consciousness had been cut off for a moment before returning, hastily looked for Zhuge Munhyeon’s form.

‘Where is he?’

But in the instant gap when he had lost consciousness, Zhuge Munhyeon had already leaped above his head and was swinging the Silver Cold Staff.

Kwaaaang!

Falling Star dropped on Great Evil’s shoulder.

One side of his body caved in deeply, and his breath escaped all at once as his broken collarbone seemed to pierce deep into his lungs.

But without even a moment to crash into the ground, the Silver Cold Staff in Zhuge Munhyeon’s hands emitted flashes as it repeatedly struck Great Evil’s body.

Forty-nine strikes, Seven Stars Revolving Heaven.

Great Evil, helplessly surrendering his body, was beaten like laundry being dusted on a dry day.

But why?

Why did his attacks only add extreme agony instead of death?

Before the question that had suddenly occurred to him could fade, let alone allow for a response, Zhuge Munhyeon’s Silver Cold Staff twisted his body like a whirlwind and exploded against Great Evil’s body.

Hidden Star Dance, the dance of stars.

The trajectory was as elegant as performing a practice dance, but each move delivered unbearable and unblockable pain.

Where he was struck caved in, bones broke, and joints bent at odd angles.

It was strange.

Why didn’t any of his counterattacks work?

Zhuge Munhyeon was striking only at openings, as if he could see right through his attacks.

Most of all, the strange force contained in his internal energy penetrated into his body, cutting off the flow of energy like a dam blocking waterways.

Naturally there should have been some degree of rebound, but the massive force penetrated and crushed everything, so pain continued to accumulate inside his body.

‘…How does this bastard possess the same power as the Sect Leader?’

He couldn’t understand it.

Even if he understood, he couldn’t counterattack.

His body was already in shambles.

Right now, he had no room for anything other than allowing the attacks.

Thwack!

Great Evil’s body, which had been writhing as if being beaten, was kicked and rolled helplessly across the sandy ground.

“Urgh!”

His entire body was already torn and swollen to a pulp, but Great Evil even vomited up traces of internal injuries on top of that.

The blood he spat out stained the sand red.

The blood was full of fragments of shattered organs.

As if some had gone into his lungs, his coughing wouldn’t stop, and blood was vomited each time.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t raise his body.

This was because bones had broken randomly wherever he was hit.

Lying prone, barely lifting his head to look was all he could manage.

Zhuge Munhyeon approaching with rustling footsteps seemed like a tiger about to devour weakened prey, or like a grim reaper coming to take his life.

The footsteps stopped right in front of him, but Great Evil, caught in the helplessness of being unable to do anything, could no longer resist.

He could do nothing but glare with eyes tensed to endure the pain.

“Damn it, you’re like looking at the Sect Leader.”

“What?”

Strange words.

Like the Sect Leader?

“That power, and age too…”

“…?”

His head tilted slightly.

Age?

Did he mean the New Sect Leader was around the same age as himself? Or did he mean he was similarly strong when he was around the same age? The meaning was ambiguous.

No, whatever it was… it seemed an incredible guy had become Sect Leader.

To think there was someone with talent comparable to himself, who had been the Heavenly Demon in his previous life.

Meanwhile, another thing he had said bothered him.

Power…

What did he mean by that?

Suddenly irritation welled up.

‘Damn it, a guy who’s about to die is making my head unnecessarily complicated.’

Worry was a word that didn’t suit him.

So what if the Sect Leader was strong?

If they became enemies someday, he’d just knock him down. Whatever power he possessed.

Just as he was shaking off the momentary worry, Great Evil spoke as if he had decided something.

“…Kill me.”

“…”

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled at the voice that seemed barely squeezed out.

“Trying to enjoy the good fortune all by yourself?”

“What?”

“I told you. I have no intention of preserving your honor.”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

“You’re going to die miserably. Writhing in agony while being mocked. After death, neither honor nor pride will remain.”

“…”

“I’ll make sure to tell the world. That the leader who commanded the organization called Milying in the Demonic Sect drove his subordinates to death and died while desperately trying to flee to save only himself, that he shed tears begging for his life, that he pleaded to stop the beating.”

“Y-you bastard… when did I ever beg for my life!”

“You haven’t yet. But you will now. Because terrible pain will be carved into your body.”

With a grotesque smile that only pulled up the corners of his mouth, Zhuge Munhyeon began inflicting torturous punishment.

Crushing bones at every joint and severing blood vessels piece by piece.

Using the cruelest methods he knew to slowly approach the moment of death.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

There were no questions and answers.

Only the Great Evil’s desperate screams filled the sandy beach.

And then.

“Kill me, please kill me. Please kill me.”

He begged.

He pleaded.

He grasped at his feet and entreated.

And Zhuge Munhyeon slowly trampled even the hand that grasped his feet while laughing.

“Descendant who has lost his pride, only shame will remain in your death. That is my punishment as your predecessor who was called the Heavenly Demon.”

“Heavenly… Demon?”

The image of Zhuge Munhyeon looking down coldly with a smile was reflected in his wide-open pupils.

But he could not resolve his doubt.

In his final moments, only pain and screams, pleas, and flesh growing cold as it lost warmth remained.

“Hmm…”

Somehow it felt bitter.

The Demonic Path that had changed unlike his memories.

Should he… draw a line?

He had wanted to visit them someday like returning to his hometown and give even small help to his descendants.

The dreary cold wind, the leaves whispering as they brushed against each other in the passing breeze, the waves rippling at the riverside without knowing their depths, the ghostly energy emanating from the dead…

His heart was stained with desolation.

More bitter and more lonely.

“Young Master! Young Master… huh?”

“You came?”

Mujin, who suddenly emerged through the forest, looked at the completely finished situation with a deflated expression.

He was drenched in sweat.

As if he had guided Tang Munqing to the Tang Family’s pursuit team and rushed here using his Light Body Technique to the extreme.

“What about Tang Munqing?”

“I entrusted it to Tang Family Warriors in the vicinity.”

“They must have been close.”

“Yes.”

Were there only pursuers?

The encirclement net was probably already closing in from across the river as well.

“Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

“So it came to that in the end.”

“Yes.”

“Are you alright? Your wounds…”

“…”

Rather than examining the corpse, Mujin was worried about Zhuge Munhyeon’s physical condition.

Somehow, the Heavenly Demon had become someone who caused worry to a Taoist.

“Pfft!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just laughing. Just because. Am I someone who would cause others worry?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“And shouldn’t we worry about that side first rather than me?”

“Pardon?”

“She’s been in the water too long. It seems she hasn’t learned water techniques either…”

Zhuge Munhyeon glanced at the river.

Though the current was slow, it wasn’t still, and from what he’d experienced falling in, the depth was unimaginable.

And there was Tang Ihwa, barely holding on by clinging to the wreckage of the broken boat.

“Ah!”

As if finally coming to his senses, Mujin’s eyes widened as he frantically searched for something that could serve as a boat.

At that sight, the bitterness faded and a smile formed.

Seeing how I’m laughing for no reason, I must have become quite orthodox myself.

And from various places, commotion began approaching along with torches.

Tang Family Warriors.

They came quite quickly.

“Young Master Zhuge!”

“You’re here?”

The first to arrive with the warriors was naturally Dangyeon.

“Sorry for being late.”

“Indeed you are.”

“…”

At the straightforward response, Dangyeon couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

But it wasn’t his fault.

Rather, he had made the right judgment and executed the fastest possible action.

He had sent up signal birds, and knowing it would take time for the main forces of the Main House that had been drawn away by the Branch Office attack to return, he issued mobilization orders to all Branch Offices to form an encirclement.

“You don’t need to make that expression. Even if I hadn’t intervened, you would have ultimately stopped them.”

It was just a matter of timing, not that the Tang Family lacked strength.

“No, I wouldn’t have been able to stop them. Not if you hadn’t informed me in time.”

“….”

“Moreover, even if we had stopped them, there was no guarantee we could have saved the Bang Leader. If they had used the Bang Leader as a hostage, it would have been difficult for us to move easily.”

At Dangyan’s heavy expression, Zhuge Munhyeon smiled.

Not bad.

He really is a dragon’s offspring.

Seeing how he doesn’t put himself forward and tries to apologize even for things that aren’t his fault.

Also, since he feels shame about it, there’s great potential for growth.

“On behalf of the Tang Family, I deeply thank you and the Zhuge Family.”

“Good. Those words.”

“….”

“Then you’ll bring up my proposal once more, right?”

“Proposal?”

“Installing formations at Silver Flower Mountain. The Main House has so many good formations, doesn’t it?”

“Ah! You mean this? I’ll actively advocate to the Family Head to discuss it seriously in the retainer council. Also, the matter of a political marriage with the Zhuge Family’s Young Family Head. Oh, and with the Iron Wood Pill too…?”

“….”

Dangyan asked cautiously.

Shut up, you bastard.

Things were going well and then you say something unnecessary.

“Ahem! I have no intention of holding a wedding ceremony! Handle the Young Family Head’s marriage yourselves. I don’t want to get involved in matters of mutual affection between men and women.”

Whatever happened with the Young Family Head’s marriage didn’t matter to him.

It was something for the family to handle, and a matter for Zhuge Munho, the person involved, to decide.

What was important to him was simply that the Zhuge Family became safer.

Even if the Zhuge clan steadily trained and became stronger in martial arts, they couldn’t instantly become equal to the great families that had built their power as martial families for a long time.

Because the entire family’s strength, not just one person’s, needed to grow stronger.

It would probably take a hundred years, or perhaps two hundred years.

Because it needed to accumulate.

So before that, he would create the power to protect the Zhuge clan.

With the power of other families and other forces.

The Tang Family was a very important ally for such purposes.

Many people pointed fingers at the Tang Family due to their poison arts that repaid grudges tenfold, but at least they absolutely never forgot kindness either.

That was enough.

This martial world was full of bastards who pretended not to know you once they turned away, even after receiving favors.

Even if he suddenly left someday, the Zhuge Family would be safe, and his parents would remain peaceful within a sturdy fence.

However.

‘The Sect Leader…’

Great Evil’s words bothered him.

That person who was similar to him, or perhaps even stronger than him.

Moreover, if they already exist as demons having lost their way, their attention will soon turn toward the Central Plains.

Perhaps before long, fierce winds of blood may blow across the Central Plains.

Zhuge Munhyeon walked toward the corpse of the dead Great Evil while having such thoughts.

“Munhyeon, we’ll take care of the corpse…”

At Dangyeon’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon suddenly thrust his hand into the corpse’s chest and rummaged around, then extended his hand and said.

“Take the Thunder Stone first. It’s a precious item.”

“…Right.”

Dangyeon, who received the Thunder Stone back, nodded with a bright face.

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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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