Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 17

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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 17

 

 

It was quite some time later when Yeo Mungi regained consciousness.

“Mmm.”

“Oh? You’re awake?”

“…?”

A voice filled with delight.

Yeo Mungi, his eyebrows trembling, sat up and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Where am I?

Why am I lying here?

I was definitely researching Formation Technique in my room…

His head felt heavy, as if part of his memory had been erased.

“Are you alright?”

Then came a familiar voice.

And the person approaching with a gentle, worried expression was…

“F-Family Head?”

“That’s right.”

Yeo Mungi bolted upright and quickly turned his head to look around.

The Family Head’s office?

“But why am I here…?”

“Oh my, don’t you remember?”

“Pardon?”

“Hmm, they said there shouldn’t be anything wrong with your head…”

Zhuge Doyun, who had been speaking worriedly, looked at someone and scolded them.

“You rascal, why did you hit someone! You gave him a concussion!”

“That’s not it! I didn’t do it on purpose – he suddenly approached from behind… And I hit his face. The concussion was from when he fell…”

“Ha! So you’re saying it’s the victim’s fault?”

“That’s not what I meant – this was purely a reflexive action.”

“I really won’t live to see my natural lifespan because of you. Why do you keep doing this? Hm? I thought you’d finally calmed down a bit… You come to your father’s workplace and beat up an innocent kid the moment you arrive!”

“I said it was a mistake! How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Be quiet, you brat. Where in the world is there someone who throws punches by mistake? If you make two mistakes, someone could die.”

“That’s… Haa.”

Faced with his father’s continuous scolding, Zhuge Munhyeon gave up making excuses and let out a sigh.

It was true that he had thrown a punch.

And it wasn’t really something you could say he was wrong about.

But Yeo Mungi, who had been blinking at their conversation, stared intently at Zhuge Munhyeon.

Suddenly, the lost memory came flooding back into his mind.

The fist that had suddenly come flying…

Ah, that’s when I lost consciousness.

Finally realizing what had happened to him, he learned that the boy was Zhuge Doyun’s son.

Ah, I see.

He was the Family Head’s son.

So that’s why he was at the Military Strategy Hall… Huh?

Yeo Mungi’s eyes widened as he calmly processed the relationship between the two.

W-wait! If he’s the Family Head’s son?

“You, could it be? That bastard?!”

“…”

Silence fell after his outburst.

And then.

“Has this guy lost his mind? Who are you calling a bastard?!”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes trembled as he raised his fist and glared.

“Hey! You brat! Stop that right now!”

“But he started the fight first!”

“‘He’?! He’s three years older than you. And it’s not exactly wrong, is it?”

“Father!”

“Sit down!”

“…”

After being scolded, Zhuge Munhyeon glared at Yeo Mungi while pouting.

“With such a fiery temper… I’m worried about you, truly worried. When do you plan to calm down?”

“I’m calm as long as no one provokes me.”

“Sure you are.”

Zhuge Doyun sighed and shook his head at his son who had turned away.

Of course, Yeo Mungi, caught between them, couldn’t make sense of the father-son quarrel.

It seemed like a fight between adolescence and middle-age crisis.

“Please understand him. He’s a good kid, but sometimes he gets a bit heated…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I misspoke first…”

“Not at all. More importantly, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Despite having insulted his son, Zhuge Doyun smiled and patted Yeo Mungi’s shoulder.

But to think it was that Zhuge Munhyeon.

“Ah, come to think of it, you must have trained together at Cheonseong Pavilion?”

“Yes. Briefly, though.”

“You must have many unpleasant memories of my son.”

At Zhuge Doyun’s bitter smile, the shocking events of that day came flooding back to Yeo Mungi’s mind.

Seven-year-old Zhuge Munhyeon.

The time he trained with him at Cheonseong Pavilion wasn’t very long.

There was already a status difference between direct and branch lines, and because of his young age, he received separate training from an instructor.

But on the day of the incident.

The trainees of Cheonseong Hall Lower Class witnessed that tremendous scene firsthand.

The sight of him beating Zhuge Munho, the Family Head’s son who was five years older, to a bloody pulp.

Even now, thinking of those terrifying eyes made his knees weak.

After that, he was banned from entering Cheonseong Pavilion, and there was much talk about him.

About his talent in martial arts.

And about his cruel nature.

Afterward, the nickname ‘bastard’ became far more famous than his actual name.

However.

“I only have good memories.”

“Huh?”

“…?”

At Yeo Mungi’s words, both father and son looked puzzled.

“Actually, everyone failed to notice it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Though there were rules that everyone was equal, the branch line descendants would often run errands for the direct line descendants. As if listening to them was natural. Because that’s how they were born.”

“Ah…”

“But after what happened with your son, those bad practices disappeared for a while. The Regional Lord strictly forbade them. Well, that didn’t last long either.”

Though Yeo Mungi spoke as if relieved, Zhuge Doyun’s expression grew heavy.

He was recalling the chronic ailments plaguing the family.

The limitations of social status.

No matter how outstanding one’s abilities, the opportunities given to descendants of branch lines are very limited. Even with talent, they must yield their talent to others, and despite being unable to rise to high positions, they are forced to show loyalty.

If those above are like this, how could those below be any different?

That’s why many left.

Perhaps the family’s decline wasn’t created by the atmosphere of the times, but was a result the family brought upon itself.

“But did you teach your son the Eight Formation Diagram?”

“Hm?”

“He recognized it immediately upon seeing the scale model. He even seemed to be thinking of breaking methods.”

Yeo Mungi asked while glancing at Zhuge Munhyeon, who was turning his head away sulkily.

But then.

“What? He recognized the Eight Formation Diagram?”

“Pardon?”

“Munhyeon! Is that true? Did you really recognize the Eight Formation Diagram?”

At the startled question, Yeo Mungi’s eyes widened.

“You didn’t know?”

“I never taught him.”

“Ah…”

Yeo Mungi felt his mind go blank for a moment.

Then he figured it out just by looking, without being taught?

“Well, it wasn’t that impressive. It’s still incomplete anyway…”

“You? Haha, really.”

“I’m part of the Military Strategy Hall now anyway.”

“Hahahaha.”

At his son’s words, Zhuge Doyun couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

When he heard that he had broken the Nine Palace Formation in an instant, he thought it was just commendable, but to recognize the Eight Formation Diagram.

Since he had the talent to recognize something he was never taught, surely if he just learned, he would surpass himself.

This is why greed arises. This is why.

“So what should I do now? When do we go to Wudang?”

“Wudang?”

“Yes!”

Zhuge Munhyeon had no intention of hiding his talent anymore.

He would be recognized as a member of the Military Strategy Hall.

And he would definitely go to Wudang.

“Why would you go to Wudang?”

“Pardon?”

“You fool, did you think I’d send an apprentice who can’t do anything to Wudang? Everything has its order.”

“…Pardon?”

“Let me see, ah yes! I was just coming back from discussing an urgent matter that needs to be resolved at the Great Hall meeting.”

Zhuge Doyun pulled out a map from his chest and held it out.

“You know the Yanghyeon Branch, right?”

“…I do. I heard it borders Honyeon Territory.”

“Right, but recently there was a landslide due to heavy rain that damaged the formation techniques.”

“And so?”

“Go there first.”

“…”

Zhuge Munhyeon stared at his father.

“Go there and watch, listen, and gain experience from various things. We’ll discuss Wudang after that.”

“…”

How disappointing.

Among academic ties, regional ties, and blood ties, blood ties should be the strongest…

What would be so problematic about just sending him to Wudang?

“So if I go there and quietly gain experience, you’ll send me to Wudang?”

“I’ll see how you do.”

“You promised.”

“Hey! What promise? I said I’ll see how you do.”

“Fine. I just need to watch and listen, right?”

“Right.”

“Understood.”

It’s not like he couldn’t do it.

They weren’t dispatching personnel to Wudang immediately anyway, right?

Honyeon Territory, a place that had made enemies with the Zhuge Family.

How long had he endured living like this?

Getting beaten for insulting his mother was apparently fine, and getting beaten in martial duels was supposedly okay…

Just wait and see.

Would he really just watch and listen?

This time, he would grab a sword and charge into enemy lines, rampaging like an enraged beast. He would make them say what a fine son he was, showing whose child he truly was.

“It works out well since Mungi needs to go too.”

“Yes! I will definitely achieve merit!”

“Merit? Haha, you rascal. You’re still an apprentice. Just watching and learning the formation repairs will be enough.”

“Yes! I will… pardon?”

“Hm?”

“No, it seems like there was a word different from what I was thinking.”

“What?”

“You said formation repairs just now…”

“Right.”

“…It’s not war?”

“What war, hahaha! The Military Strategy Hall’s mission is to repair formations.”

“…”

“Since your talent is outstanding, learn a lot. I’ll recommend you as an apprentice and send you. Hehehe, what a fine boy.”

He really had hoped, just maybe.

But what could he do?

That was the Military Strategy Hall’s mission.

 

* * *

 

And so the repair corps was formed.

Military Strategy Hall scholars to fix the formations and martial artists from the Hyeonho Unit following as escorts.

“Even so, formation repairs… They should have at least made me an escort.”

Zhuge Munhyeon, positioned roughly in the middle of the group, had been assigned the position of Military Strategy Hall apprentice scholar.

But what was this disappointment just when his grand dreams were about to begin?

Even a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.

He was steeling his resolve again, determined to do his best as a Military Strategy Hall apprentice, when it happened.

“Isn’t that the bastard over there?”

“It is.”

“But why is he with the Military Strategy Hall?”

“Probably because he’s the Military Strategy Division Head’s son.”

“But wasn’t he talented in martial arts?”

“Ah, that was when he was only seven years old. Look at him, even his walking posture is crude. It must have been just a brief flash in the pan.”

“That’s right, wasn’t his academic talent the same? Getting into fights at the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion and all…”

“Ick! He’s looking this way.”

“Ahem.”

Zhuge Munhyeon’s face contorted with anger at the murmuring of young martial artists nearby.

Those bastards…

I can understand calling me trash, but that?

Am I some kind of object?

I’m already pissed off, should I give them a beating?

“P-please restrain yourself.”

“…”

“They’re saying that because they don’t know how excellent your knowledge of formation arts is, so just ignore them. There’s nothing good that comes from getting involved with the Hyeonho Unit martial artists. They’re people you simply can’t reason with.”

Yeo Mungi spoke soothingly.

You call that comfort…

You’re just as ignorant as they are.

I’m someone with the skill to steam and devour those kinds of people within a few breaths, you know?

“Um, but… are you planning to keep walking?”

“Why?”

“Well, you are the son of the Military Strategy Division Head and still have direct lineage status… wouldn’t it be better to ride a horse?”

This was one of the reasons Yeo Mungi looked troubled.

Unlike him who was on horseback, Zhuge Munhyeon had been walking the entire time. Like a laborer…

“How about at least riding in a cart? It’s quite a long way to Yanghyeon.”

“What?”

“Since you, a direct descendant, are walking, I feel uncomfortable riding a horse…”

At Yeo Mungi’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon let out a small laugh.

“You seem to be seriously mistaken about something.”

“Huh?”

“What’s so great about status? Strip it away and we’re all just the same people.”

“…”

“And I’m doing this because I like it.”

“You like doing it?”

“This is all cultivation.”

“Cultivation?”

“That’s right. I could ride a horse or take a cart. But then it wouldn’t be cultivation.”

At those words, Yeo Mungi, being a scholar, couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Walking is cultivation?

What on earth…

But as he tilted his head in confusion, he was finally able to see it.

Hidden by cart wheels and horse hooves, other people hadn’t noticed, but now that he looked carefully with suspicion, he could discover it.

Unlike others, his footprints were deeply indented.

As if he were walking while carrying a huge load on his back.

Wasn’t that strange?

Walking with just his body yet leaving such deep footprints…

At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

“By any chance, are you? Are you still wearing iron rings like back then?”

“That’s right. I’ve never taken them off once since I started practicing martial arts at age seven.”

When Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and rolled up his sleeves to show him, Yeo Mungi couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

Iron rings…

There was a brief trend once.

Those who cursed Zhuge Munhyeon as trash but still wanted to catch up to him all ordered iron rings and wore them around.

Of course, he had done the same.

But the trend quickly faded.

Living with dozens of pounds of weight attached to your body wasn’t such an easy thing.

Then he asked, struck by a sudden question.

“Just how many pounds do they weigh to create footprints like that?”

“Fifty pounds each.”

“F-fifty pounds?”

Not only was he shocked, but at the words that followed, Yeo Mungi nearly fell off his horse.

“…Each.”

“…!”

E-each?

Then… he’s walking around with a total of two hundred pounds attached to his body?

“Why are you surprised? This much is natural. It needs to be at least this much for it to be cultivation.”

“Ah…”

Yeo Mungi, who barely managed to hold on by gripping the horse reins, stared blankly at Zhuge Munhyeon.

Two hundred pounds… no wonder the footprints were deep.

Just walking is impressive.

‘It wasn’t just talent.’

When he had recognized the Eight Formation Diagram, he had simply thought it was because he was born with talent due to his Zhuge Family bloodline.

But now he could see that his effort was also considerable.

Regarding formation arts, and regarding martial arts too.

Yeo Mungi came to see Zhuge Munhyeon in a new light. He even felt a sense of respect.

It was then.

“But why does he keep walking?”

“Who knows? How could we understand that trash’s mind?”

“True, even a horse would hate it. Having such trash ride on its back.”

“Keke.”

Once again, sounds of mockery about Zhuge Munhyeon could be heard from the surroundings.

And.

“Those fucking bastards! Making fun of him with their loose tongues?!”

Suddenly, Yeo Mungi’s eyes flashed as he trembled with clenched fists.

“What’s wrong? Just bear with it.”

Instead, it was Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been insulted, who had to calm him down.

—————
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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