Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 188

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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 188

 

The brilliant moonlight spread gently like silver ash on charcoal, illuminating the deep night of Yunnan.

 

They did not light any torches.

 

It was a consideration for Dan Yeonhwa’s eyes, which had just begun to see the world.

 

She would not be accustomed to it yet.

 

Everyone was seeing the world by moonlight, but their faces were brighter than ever.

 

A grand banquet for Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Dan Chuyeong, filled with indescribable joy, opened his storehouse to provide food not only to Beast Palace but to the surrounding regions, and released many who had been imprisoned for their crimes.

 

“We offer our congratulations, Palace Master. How can we express this joy in words?”

 

“Haha! Thank you.”

 

The owners of nearby sects who had come upon hearing the joyful news bowed deeply, offering congratulatory greetings and gifts.

 

Today, Dan Chuyeong had no choice but to greet each of them in the long line.

 

His daughter, precious as the apple of his eye, had seen the world for the first time since birth.

 

What could be more joyful than this?

 

If he followed his heart, he could dance with joy all day long, or even for days on end, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

 

The only regret was that due to the flood of guests, he was neglecting to properly attend to Zhuge Munhyeon, who was practically the guest of honor at this banquet.

 

Even though he himself had declined, saying he disliked such commotion…

 

Dan Chuyeong occasionally glanced toward a spot slightly away from the upper seat.

 

“Come, have a drink.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Wi Jungsan offered alcohol to Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon emptied his wine cup while sensing Dan Chuyeong’s gaze but pretending not to notice.

 

There had been a request for him to sit at the upper seat to honor his achievement, but he had politely declined.

 

Bothersome things were absolutely detestable.

 

What would be the point of going to a place where others exchange greetings?

 

Dan Chuyeong felt endless regret, but what could he do when the person in question disliked it?

 

I did it!

 

I cured your daughter’s eyes!

 

A blind person opened their eyes!

 

Do you know how amazing that is?

 

It was like leaving a giant footprint in Yunnan.

 

“Hehe, I never knew your medical skills reached the heavens.”

 

“Haha.”

 

He was being treated as the greatest physician under heaven.

 

It wasn’t medical skills, it was formation technique…

 

“I could die right now without regret. To think the day would come when Young Lady would speak while looking at us…”

 

Wi Jungsan forgot his dignity and choked up with emotion.

 

He’s good at lying too.

 

An old man saying he’d die right away ranks proudly among the world’s three great lies, alongside a merchant saying he’s selling at a loss and a maiden saying she doesn’t want to marry.

 

“Come, have a drink of mine too.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

It was Grand Elder Seong Yeonghoo.

 

He had come with Wi Jungsan and stuck right next to him, constantly speaking in a friendly manner.

 

He understood.

 

Since he had cured the eyes of Beast Palace’s precious treasure but declined the upper seat, they had these two attend to him.

 

“Just how did you do it? The Palace Master said to keep it secret, but… I’m too curious to bear it.”

 

“Ah, that’s…”

 

“Haha! If you don’t feel like it, you don’t have to tell me.”

 

“…”

 

Are you telling me to speak or not to speak after asking?

 

Of course, he had no intention of answering.

 

When he hesitated to answer, Seong Yeonghoo burst into hearty laughter and patted his shoulder.

 

This fellow is being rude…

 

I’ll let it slide just for today.

 

Since I’m in a good mood today.

 

The alcohol was sticking sweetly to his mouth, so he seemed to be getting quite drunk.

 

And beside them.

 

“I never thought you’d actually pull it off. Curing blindness.”

 

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I say to believe? That person is that kind of person.”

 

“You’re right. He’s really unpredictable.”

 

“Just believe. That’s all you need to do.”

 

When Dang Ihwa clicked her tongue in amazement, Mujin puffed out his chest proudly as if it were his own achievement.

 

And next to them again.

 

Dan Yeonhwa, sitting demurely, had her ears perked up attentively.

 

Although she should rest since she had just finished treatment, it wouldn’t be proper not to attend a banquet for her benefactor. She had attended, but since she couldn’t be at the upper seat which was bustling with greeting guests, she ended up sitting with Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

She didn’t harbor romantic feelings for him, but she couldn’t help being curious.

 

But listening in, it seemed the Taoist named Mujin knew quite a lot about him.

 

What should she say to start a conversation?

 

She wanted to take a somewhat friendlier attitude…

 

After pondering for a while, she carefully tried to speak.

 

“Excuse me… Wudang sir?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

Mujin turned his head abruptly at the sudden interjection, looking bewildered.

 

And.

 

“Pfft!”

 

Dang Ihwa immediately burst into laughter.

 

She almost spat out the food she was chewing.

 

Wudang sir, indeed.

 

She must have remembered the previous mistake and used it on purpose.

 

“M-Miss Dan. That time, I was…”

 

“It was a joke.”

 

Dan Yeonhwa smiled with her eyes and covered her mouth with her sleeve.

 

“Sigh… You have a mischievous side.”

 

Mujin sighed and scratched his head vigorously.

 

Still, fortunately the atmosphere seemed to have become more comfortable.

 

Zhuge Munhyeon glanced at them and shook his head.

 

That lustful demon Taoist fellow.

 

His mouth is so slack he’ll be drooling soon.

 

What a perfect time.

 

Well, that’s what makes youth good.

 

Recalling the youth he once passed through… let’s not.

 

What good experiences.

 

Blood, blood, blood…

 

It just was what it was.

 

His life.

 

Even as he shook his head vigorously to erase the moment of reminiscence, the conversation among the three continued.

 

“He’s really amazing, isn’t he? He spreads goodwill wherever he goes.”

 

“What kind of goodwill do you mean…?”

 

“The residents of a small village were once kidnapped by water bandits… And you rescued the Beggar Sect Members… In Dangyang County, you also resolved the massacre caused by Demonic Cult Members. You even care about demonic faction forces that you don’t need to concern yourself with?”

 

“That’s surprising. I only heard that orthodox and demonic factions cannot coexist.”

 

“Exactly. That’s when I realized once again that he is someone who moves purely out of goodwill. For goodwill, the distinction between orthodox and demonic is meaningless.”

 

“He must be someone with great chivalrous spirit?”

 

“Is that all? At the Tang Family, he saved the grandfather of Young Lady Tang here, who was almost kidnapped by a Demonic Cult member.”

 

“Really?”

 

When Dan Yeonhwa looked surprised, Dang Ihwa nodded in agreement.

 

“We received great kindness. Since then, I’ve been following him to help.”

 

“I see. And now he’s come to Yunnan to heal me as well.”

 

“See? He spreads goodwill wherever he goes, making me, a disciple of the Taoist sect, feel ashamed. Hahaha!”

 

“You respect him?”

 

“Respect? Oh my, don’t even mention it. I always look up to him. He’s like a personal teacher to me. Though he’s younger than me, he has such a free-spirited nature that I stopped caring about that long ago.”

 

The entire conversation was praise for Zhuge Munhyeon.

 

Those guys, right in front of me… How grateful.

 

Though he wasn’t the type to be swayed by praise, he couldn’t help feeling good.

 

When people keep saying you’re doing well, how many would dislike it?

 

‘How strange.’

 

On one hand, his feelings were peculiar.

 

Praise and goodwill.

 

These were things he had never experienced.

 

The path he walked was always one of tyranny.

 

People would bow and scrape in front of him out of fear, but point fingers behind his back.

 

Of course, he didn’t care about the words of weaklings.

 

They had no other way to maintain their self-esteem except by cursing.

 

He just needed to fly higher.

 

High enough that their pointing fingers couldn’t be seen, high enough that their cursing words couldn’t be heard.

 

And he needed to become stronger.

 

Strong enough to eliminate those who opposed his will.

 

That was the mindset with which he had lived his life.

 

But now… it felt like he was restoring one by one the things he had destroyed and broken in the past.

 

Should he call it the feeling of clearing his karma?

 

‘Well, it’s not unpleasant.’

 

It was when he wore a slight smile.

 

The expressions and behavior of Wi Jungsan and Seong Yeonghoo, who had been listening to the three’s conversation, seemed a bit strange.

 

The meaningful glances they exchanged, and their whispering something in each other’s ears.

 

“My, how bothersome you’re being.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“What is it? What’s going on? Why have you been glancing at me with those eyes?”

 

“Gl-glancing? Who?”

 

“You two.”

 

“Don’t falsely accuse innocent people. What did we do? Isn’t that right, elder brother?”

 

“Right! Nothing like that happened at all!”

 

“…”

 

Seeing them flatly deny it made them seem untrustworthy.

 

“Sigh, I think I’ll get up now.”

 

“What, already?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Without enjoying more. This is a banquet that the entire Beast Palace prepared for you.”

 

“I’ll just accept the sentiment. I don’t particularly like banquets.”

 

“Still…”

 

“I need to meet Chiljangjja.”

 

“Chiljangjja? The Palace Lord has already given permission, so couldn’t you see him after the banquet ends? If necessary, we can call him here right now.”

 

“No. I want to talk with him alone. Without being disturbed by others. You’ll arrange that, won’t you?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

There was no way they would refuse.

 

Right now, he was being treated as the most honored guest in Beast Palace.

 

“Understood. I’ll guide you.”

 

“It’s fine. Lord Wonju and Grand Elder, please continue enjoying the banquet. I already heard where he’s confined anyway. Mujin, you too.”

 

When he specifically pointed out Mujin, who had already gotten up and prepared to leave, his expression immediately became dejected.

 

“Enjoy the banquet. This is an extremely personal matter.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Though Mujin became dejected, perhaps feeling left out by being told to stay behind, he soon nodded.

 

Because he knew the reason for wanting to meet Chiljangjja.

 

The secret contained in Eunhangon.

 

After all, they had come to the Tang Family and then to Yunnan to solve that mystery.

 

After Zhuge Munhyeon left the banquet hall.

 

“I say, Master Mujin.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Mujin tilted his head at the cautious approach and call from Wi Jungsan and Seong Yeonghoo.

 

For some reason, their attitude was friendly.

 

Their tone was also gentle…

 

“Continue what you were saying earlier.”

 

“What I was… saying?”

 

“About that friend Munhyeon.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“Go on. Tell us in detail when, where, how, what, and why he did things. When you get old, your hearing gets poor, so you need to speak very clearly for us to understand everything.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“What kind of people are his parents, what’s the family atmosphere like, who does he meet frequently.”

 

Wi Jungsan and Seong Yeonghoo even filled Mujin’s cup with alcohol while taking turns urging him.

 

“No, you don’t need to know all that…”

 

“Nonsense! Of course we need to know all that. He’s the benefactor who healed our young lady!”

 

“…”

 

They even shouted at him suddenly.

 

But do they really need to know all that?

 

It must be a regional characteristic.

 

Yunnan has a different atmosphere from the Central Plains.

 

“Well, so… Young Master Munhyeon’s father is someone with the title Palmun…”

 

Mujin’s story began, and the two old men perked up their ears like rabbits.

 

Of course, both Dang Ihwa and Dan Yeonhwa were also participating.

 

* * *

 

Beast Palace’s prison.

 

It was no different from anywhere else in the Central Plains.

 

Divided rooms, dense iron bars.

 

However, Chiljangjja was confined in a private cell equipped with a fairly comfortable bed.

 

It was probably consideration for Zhuge Munhyeon’s treatment of Dan Yeonhwa.

 

Of course, if he had failed?

 

Their necks would have been cut off together.

 

“This is the place.”

 

Since the Palace Lord’s orders had already been given, a martial artist holding the position of prison warden personally guided them.

 

“I’d like to be alone with him, would that be possible?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The martial artist answered as if it were natural.

 

By the rules, allowing a prisoner to meet with an outsider or leaving them alone together was forbidden, but Zhuge Munhyeon was an exception.

 

Right now, he had achieved something so remarkable that even flying birds would fall from the sky.

 

Just one word saying ‘The prison warden was rude’ would be enough to cost someone their head.

 

“If you need anything, please call for me. I’ll come running immediately.”

 

“Thank you. I won’t forget your kindness.”

 

“Kindness? Not at all. Then.”

 

The martial artist waved his hands dismissively and withdrew all the prison guards from the prison.

 

All that remained in the prison were Zhuge Munhyeon and Chiljangjja trapped inside the iron bars.

 

“It seems you really did cure Young Lady Dan’s blindness.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Remarkable. Medical skills that can cure the blind…”

 

Watching him express admiration, Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and plopped down across from the iron bars.

 

“Would you like a drink?”

 

“I am a Taoist.”

 

“But Wudang drinks, don’t they?”

 

“I’m different from Wudang.”

 

“That’s quite a shame. I specially brought bear bile wine.”

 

“…Medicine is acceptable.”

 

“Pfft!”

 

Seeing Chiljangjja swallowing his saliva, Zhuge Munhyeon burst into laughter and slightly bent the iron bars to pass the wine bottle through.

 

When he took a sip.

 

“There’s something I want to ask.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“How did you come to know about the Silver Cold Staff?”

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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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