Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 172

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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 172

 

“What exactly is the Cheongcheon Resolution? What is it that makes it a solution?”

 

“It’s exactly what it sounds like.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You petition Heaven to reach a conclusion.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Mujin still wore an expression of confusion, and that same expression was mirrored on Tang Lihua’s face.

 

Cheongcheon Resolution .

 

It sounds grand with all the talk about Heaven, but it actually means challenging the Beast Palace with bare fists.

 

Without weapons or internal energy.

 

You only need to pass the test set by the Beast Palace using nothing but understanding and mastery of martial arts.

 

“…W-wait a moment. So you’re saying you’ll go find the Beast Palace alone and challenge them?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon answered so easily that Mujin and Tang Lihua remained in a dazed state for quite some time.

 

Alone, with nothing but his bare body…

 

“Are you insane?”

 

“What?”

 

“The opponent is the Beast Palace. And you want to go alone? You’re basically telling us to use Young Master Munhyeon as bait and run away!”

 

“You understand well. That’s exactly what I’m trying to say.”

 

“…”

 

“First, I’ll cause a small commotion at Byeoksan and run toward the Beast Palace, drawing all attention to me. And the moment I arrive, I’ll request the Cheongcheon Resolution.”

 

Zhuge Munhyeon calmly explained the plan he had devised.

 

“The Beast Palace’s influence in Yunnan is greater than you think. So when someone appears requesting the Cheongcheon Resolution, everyone’s attention will be focused on that, and even if a blockade is in place, there should be enough of an opening to escape to Sichuan.”

 

“Stop talking nonsense!”

 

“Hm?”

 

“You’re telling me to abandon Young Master Munhyeon and run away!”

 

Mujin shot up and shouted loudly.

 

He seemed angry.

 

He seemed to hate the idea of being cowardly.

 

And on top of that, he was rudely glaring down with his eyes wide open…

 

Those eyes, so fierce!

 

Sigh, I can’t exactly beat a grown man to teach him a lesson.

 

“Calm down. If we get caught because of your noise, we’ll be captured before we can even try the plan.”

 

“But…”

 

“Mujin, sit down.”

 

At the gentle but firm tone, Mujin just pouted his lips and plopped down heavily.

 

His anger hadn’t subsided as he continued to huff and puff.

 

“Mujin, I think you’ve misunderstood what I’m saying… The reason I want you to escape is because Miss Tang could be in danger.”

 

“…”

 

“Even if I become the bait, would Miss Tang be able to escape alone?”

 

“Th, that’s…”

 

“It won’t be easy. Without you by her side. And the reason I’m specifically asking for the Blue Sky Trial is because there’s sufficient possibility, so don’t worry needlessly.”

 

“But…”

 

“Don’t you trust me?”

 

Mujin couldn’t answer.

 

He trusted him.

 

That he was more outstanding than anyone else, that he was someone who could overcome any crisis in any situation.

 

But it wasn’t a matter of trust or distrust.

 

Setting aside the Blue Sky Trial tradition of the Beast Palace that he’d never heard of before in his life, how exactly was he planning to reach the Beast Palace’s main gate alone?

 

The lockdown order had already been issued and the search had begun.

 

“Mujin, I understand your feelings. But Miss Tang’s safety depends on you. You know what I mean, right?”

 

“…Damn it.”

 

He was finally able to persuade Mujin.

 

It was a well-known fact among all three of them that her martial arts were the weakest.

 

Phew, why is persuading with words so difficult?

 

At times like this, the hierarchical relationships of the Demonic Path were much better.

 

Yes!

 

Just that one word would have been enough.

 

But then.

 

“Young Master Munhyeon. Mujin.”

 

“…?”

 

Tang Ihwa, who had been quietly listening, opened her mouth with what seemed like an angry expression.

 

He could even feel her venomous mood.

 

That expression unique to the Tang Family when they were extremely displeased.

 

Somehow he was getting anxious.

 

“I am not baggage, but a daughter of the Tang Family.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t tell me you think I’m afraid of losing something like my life?”

 

“Ah, that’s not it…”

 

“The Tang Family never runs away under any circumstances.”

 

As expected…

 

It seemed he should have persuaded Tang Ihwa first, before Mujin.

 

“Moreover, if a bait is needed, I should naturally take that role. How could I drive Young Master Munhyeon, who saved my life, into danger and run away alone?”

 

“Miss Tang, that’s not it…”

 

“Don’t worry about me. I can protect myself well enough without help from you two.”

 

She was resolute.

 

She wore an expression that suggested she wouldn’t shed a single drop of blood even if stabbed with a needle.

 

How could he not know the Tang Family’s stubbornness?

 

How could he not know their obstinacy that wouldn’t yield even if a blade came to their throat once they’d made up their mind?

 

In the past, whether they did or didn’t, I would respect their choice and just blow their heads off and be done with it…

 

“Miss Dang, this isn’t something to be stubborn about. To reach the Beast Palace, we still have to overcome countless dangers. It’s much harder than escaping.”

 

“I know.”

 

“So…”

 

“I have no intention of becoming a burden.”

 

“…”

 

“I will protect you both.”

 

She remained resolute throughout.

 

And protect? Who exactly was protecting whom?

 

Damn it, should I just… beat her up?

 

If I had done that from the beginning, it wouldn’t have been this difficult.

 

But then Dang Ihwa began rummaging around for something, as if to prove her words.

 

Why the accessories she wore on her clothes? Why was she untying her bound hair and removing her hair ornaments? And what were those things she was taking out from various parts of her clothing… huh?

 

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been watching with puzzlement, grew increasingly wide-eyed at her subsequent actions.

 

Click. Clink.

 

The items she had taken out from various parts of her body and the massive hammer began to disassemble into small pieces, then reassembled and quickly transformed into a new shape. It was clearly practiced handiwork.

 

“Wh-what is this?”

 

“A secret technique of the Dang Clan, the Formation-Breaking Secret Ring.”

 

“…”

 

It was a weapon similar to a small cannon that she normally carried on her body disguised as various accessories, then assembled for use in emergencies.

 

“Th-that’s amazing.”

 

“This is a tested weapon. If enemies gather in one place, it can annihilate them in an instant. When fired, it can shoot up to a thousand tiny hidden weapons in all directions, and can be used about five times.”

 

With the hidden weapons equipped(?) on both hands, her expression looked like that of a brave general facing thousands of troops, while Zhuge Munhyeon and Mujin could only gape in amazement.

 

No wonder she seemed so confident.

 

She had been hiding something more incredible than expected.

 

“Please handle the small fights, you two. When enemies swarm, I’ll take care of them.”

 

“…”

 

Her face showed genuine sincerity.

 

With that level of confidence, she must have used it before.

 

“And this…”

 

Next, what she brought out were cosmetic tools that women used for makeup.

 

A container of powder for the face, a container of rouge to add vitality to the cheeks, lip rouge to redden the lips, kohl to blacken the eyebrows, and face cream to apply over the skin.

 

These were common cosmetic tools that could be seen even in street accessory shops, essential items that traveling women carried with them.

 

But had she ever worn makeup?

 

It was impossible to know.

 

She had always used a separate room.

 

“Why these?”

 

“They’re poison.”

 

“What?”

 

“The powder in the powder container is actually Immortal’s Ruin.”

 

“….”

 

It was a poison that would cause seizures the moment an addict used their internal energy, making their internal energy disappear.

 

“This is a paralyzing poison extracted from scorpions and snakes, this is Soul-Severing Thread, this is an aphrodisiac, and this is….”

 

Tang Ihwa explained the various poisons contained in each vial like a merchant.

 

All were deadly poisons that would kill within half an hour without an antidote… but why on earth was she carrying an aphrodisiac around?

 

It was a moment that made him realize once again the vicious nature of the Tang Family.

 

“Now let us wait. The moment our enemies gather toward us, I will show them hell.”

 

Her confidence left Zhuge Munhyeon speechless.

 

Why had she prepared so many things?

 

The moment she used what she had, it would be more than enough to enter into full-scale war with the Beast Palace.

 

That absolutely could not happen.

 

The reason for requesting a trial by combat in the first place was to resolve the misunderstanding with the Beast Palace and meet the Seventh Master.

 

To uncover the secret of the Silver Cold Staff.

 

But if she used those weapons, trial by combat or whatever would become meaningless.

 

These were things that should only be used when the situation had reached the worst of the worst.

 

“Sigh, Miss Tang.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Are you planning to wage war against Yunnan or something?”

 

At those words, Tang Ihwa seemed to ponder for a moment before answering with a confident expression.

 

“If necessary, we must. The Tang Family never backs down.”

 

“….”

 

She was proud of it.

 

Damn Tang Family…

 

How could they educate a child like this?

 

On one hand, he felt relieved.

 

If he had tried to just flee as he originally intended, he would have nearly died after requesting the trial by combat.

 

There was no way she wouldn’t use hidden weapons and poisons when in danger during their escape, and just from the descriptions alone, it was obvious countless people would die.

 

Would the Beast Palace stay still if they heard people had died?

 

Trial by combat or whatever, they would immediately point their blades at him.

 

‘Damn it, at this rate I can’t even tell her to leave.’

 

Sighing, Zhuge Munhyeon spoke quietly to Tang Ihwa.

 

“Miss Tang.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“I won’t tell you to leave, so please don’t use those things.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I’m not trying to wage war against Yunnan. I have even less intention of rescuing the Seventh Master.”

 

“But….”

 

“The reason I’m requesting a trial by combat is partly to help those two escape, but also to try to resolve this misunderstanding as peacefully as possible. It’s not about who wins or loses.”

 

“….”

 

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

 

Though she made a dejected expression, she soon nodded her head in agreement.

 

“Since Young Master Munhyeon says so, I won’t use it… but if a dangerous moment comes…”

 

“Don’t use it!”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t use it! Absolutely not!”

 

At her response that seemed unwilling to give up until the end, Zhuge Munhyeon ended up shouting loudly.

 

Really, when I tell you not to do something, why do you have so much to say? Do you need to get beaten before you’ll listen?

 

His gaze was so fierce that Tang Yihwa, slightly startled, shrank her neck and nodded again.

 

Even so, he couldn’t feel at ease.

 

Tang Yihwa made him more anxious than Mujin, who might suddenly fall into demonic possession and go on a rampage.

 

“Disassemble that thing.”

 

“What? I just finished assembling it…”

 

“Hurry up.”

 

When he glared at her with deliberately sharp eyes, Tang Yihwa pouted and slowly disassembled the Pajin Bihwan. It separated back into accessories, and her usual hammer regained its original form.

 

“Hand over the pouch with the makeup tools too.”

 

“This is at least for emergencies…”

 

“Give it to me! Don’t my words sound like words to you? Should I forcibly take it away?”

 

“…”

 

When even his tone of speech changed, Tang Yihwa became even more dejected and held out the pouch containing the makeup tools.

 

Since he had already used informal speech, Zhuge Munhyeon no longer spoke respectfully to her.

 

“Do you have anything else hidden?”

 

“…”

 

She couldn’t answer.

 

There was definitely something more.

 

“Hand it over while I’m asking nicely. Unless you want to be stripped naked and walk around nude.”

 

“How could you say such a thing…”

 

“Why? Think I can’t do it? Want me to show you?!”

 

Only after he even raised his voice threateningly did she fumble around and put down everything she had. There was quite a lot.

 

“There’s nothing more, right?”

 

“There isn’t.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“If there’s anything else you’re hiding and I catch you using it later, I’ll blow your head off first. Got it?”

 

“…”

 

Was it because of his expression that looked genuinely serious to anyone watching?

 

After being silent for a while, she rummaged through her long hair and held out something else.

 

This is insane…

 

Who would have thought she had even hidden the Ox Hair Needles, one of the Dang Family’s treasures, in her hair.

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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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