Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 194
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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 194
Monstrous Poison Gate .
It is the largest power in the southern region of Yunnan.
North is Beast Palace, south is Monstrous Poison Gate.
These two powers have competed as representatives of the north and south for so long that people commonly say this.
However, their natures are quite different.
Beast Palace, which has rugged mountainous terrain as its domain and lives alongside wild beasts, is rough and fierce, while Monstrous Poison Gate, which lives in the jungles of the plains and waterside areas spread south of Aenoe Mountain and strategically uses poisons, is so sinister that their true intentions are hard to fathom.
Since they pursue different directions in life, they don’t often clash, but the boundaries are clear.
Aenoe Mountain .
It is a sacred mountain of Yunnan that is covered in clouds and fog day and night throughout all seasons, so no one has ever seen its exact shape.
Between peak and peak are thousand-fathom cliffs, and its entrance gapes open like that of hell itself.
The winding mountain range stretches over a hundred li, dividing Yunnan in half, and ancient primeval trees of unknown age spread their branches to cover the sky.
Who could know the end of the deep and distant Aenoe Mountain even if they spent their entire life exploring it?
That place is the border point between north and south, and such words don’t exist for nothing.
But why do they want to hold the finale of the Wild Spirit Festival there?
Setting aside the extreme danger, it’s natural that Monstrous Poison Gate wouldn’t welcome it.
That place is a buffer zone that belongs to no one.
And.
“Young Lady, what do you mean by repaying a debt? What exactly are you talking about?”
“I mean exactly what I said.”
“Pardon?”
“Master Zhuge wishes to find someone at Aenoe Mountain.”
“Master Zhuge does?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
His brow couldn’t help but furrow.
Strict orders had been given to treat Zhuge Munhyeon as an equal to the Palace Master himself.
How significant was it that they even provided the Palace Master’s personal cook for him?
“I understand what you mean. But to make such a decision, discussion is needed. We also need to seek cooperation from Monstrous Poison Gate.”
“…”
“I don’t know who Master Zhuge is trying to find, but let’s move after the Wild Spirit Festival ends for now.”
“That would be too late.”
“Pardon?”
“He seemed like he wanted to go find them immediately.”
“Ah…”
“For me, this is a golden opportunity to repay the debt I owe him. Also, how could he search that vast Aenoe Mountain alone? If the beaters, searchers, trackers mobilized for the Wild Spirit Festival, and the young warriors participating in the coming-of-age ceremony help, wouldn’t we be able to find them more easily? Moreover, since unknown wild beasts live in Aenoe Mountain, we could further enhance the achievements of the Wild Spirit Festival.”
Jeong Haeryong couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at Dan Yeonhwa’s appearance as she poured out words without pause.
Had she always been this eloquent?
Since she had always quietly stayed behind the Palace Master, this was an aspect he hadn’t known about.
“Well, that would certainly be true. Many places in Aenoe Mountain have been preserved untouched by human footsteps. But even so, we cannot ignore proper procedures. The reason we haven’t designated Aenoe Mountain as a location for the Wild Spirit Festival until now is to avoid unnecessary friction. So we must approach this carefully. First, we’ll discuss it in the council of elders and convey our intentions to Monstrous Poison Gate, then…”
“I will persuade Father myself.”
“Pardon?”
“We’re not trying to cross boundaries, are we? We’re simply holding the Wild Spirit Festival. It won’t have any impact on Monstrous Poison Gate.”
“Ah, Young Lady.”
Her stubbornness was bewildering.
And such drive on top of that.
Jeong Haeryong felt as if he were facing Dan Chuyeong.
He should say something, but instead he found it admirable.
The Palace Master’s only daughter.
She was born with outstanding talent, but because of that talent, she couldn’t learn heart methods.
Everyone had felt sorry for her.
But now she was completely different.
He didn’t know how Zhuge Munhyeon had healed her, but during the Wild Spirit Festival she had begun building physical strength and accumulating internal energy through heart methods.
Just ten days.
Though weak, energy was gently spreading through her body.
It was truly a tremendous achievement worthy of inheriting Dan Chuyeong’s blood.
That made it even more regrettable.
To think her talent for martial arts had been buried because of her ability to read spirit energy…
What if she had inherited Dan Chuyeong’s martial arts from childhood?
Of course, he knew it was greed.
Though she couldn’t learn martial arts due to her talent that seemed like a curse, Beast Palace’s power had become incomparably stronger than in the past.
“Elder, please prepare with that in mind.”
“Pardon?”
“I will definitely go to Aenoe Mountain.”
“The Palace Master wouldn’t give permission so easily…”
“If he doesn’t give permission, I’ll even pretend to die.”
“…”
Another hollow laugh escaped at her appearance as she clenched her fists and made her declaration.
Identical.
Those eyes, that expression, that attitude.
Just like Dan Chuyeong from some day in the past, who would somehow achieve whatever he wanted.
What could he do?
When she wanted it so much.
When she, who had never once lived according to her own will, desired it so earnestly.
“…I’ll just prepare for it.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Having finally persuaded Jeong Haeryong, Dan Yeonhwa immediately wrote a letter to send to her father.
* * *
The next morning.
The atmosphere starting the day was extremely bustling.
‘What’s this? I thought I heard we were moving tomorrow?’
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had finished his morning cultivation and emerged from his tent, tilted his head at the sight of warriors moving busily and frantically.
Mujin, Dang Ihwa, and Chiljangjja who came out after him were the same.
They all had expressions of not understanding what was happening.
“Master Zhuge.”
“Yes?”
“May we pack up the tent?”
“It’s fine with me, but…”
“Then please pack only your personal belongings separately. We’ll take it down soon.”
“…”
Zhuge Munhyeon kept tilting his head as he observed the scene visible behind the warrior who bowed politely and withdrew.
Most of the camp was being packed up.
The warriors were each maintaining their weapons and had finished preparing to depart.
It was then.
“You’re already awake? Were we being too noisy? I told them to prepare quietly…”
Zhuge Munhyeon shook his head at Dan Yeonhwa’s words as she approached with a bright smile.
“I woke up a while ago.”
“Ah! You were doing your dawn cultivation? You’re truly diligent.”
“…”
Her unusually bright and cheerful demeanor raised a strange question in his mind.
“Are we moving the camp?”
“Yes. We’ll be moving to the final location for the Wild Spirit Festival.”
“The final location… are we going near Daeri County?”
“No. We changed it.”
“Changed it?”
“We’re going to Aenoe Mountain.”
“Aenoe Mountain? Isn’t that… the border point with the Monstrous Poison Gate?”
“Huh? How do you know that?”
“Ah, well…”
He just smiled awkwardly.
How could he not know?
In his previous life, he had wandered the Central Plains for over ten years seeking strong opponents for martial duels.
Was there anywhere he hadn’t been?
Especially famous places – he had visited them all.
During that time, through his connection with the former Beast Palace Lord, he had even been introduced to the Goedeokmunju.
Though they weren’t close, he roughly knew the circumstances of Beast Palace and the Monstrous Poison Gate.
‘Hmm, how should I explain this?’
As he pondered, struggling to find the right words to explain suddenly, Dan Yeonhwa clapped her hands and spoke.
“Ah! Don’t tell me you studied about Yunnan in advance?”
“Uh… yeah.”
When he answered vaguely, she nodded and smiled.
“Haha! Miss also noticed? Our Young Master Munhyeon reads so many books. When coming here, he probably looked up and read about Yunnan’s history and the relationships between various forces. He’s truly an incredible bookworm, isn’t he? Isn’t that right, Miss Tang?”
“Hmm… that’s probably what happened. He knew well about the Tang Family even though no one had explained it to him.”
Mujin explained supportively as he always did, and Dang Ihwa nodded based on her previous experience.
“I see. Your preparation is truly remarkable. You’re indeed my master.”
Dan Yeonhwa even clapped her hands as she laughed.
…That went well.
What did it matter anyway?
Reading the records stored in his mind was the same as reading books.
You could call it the Heavenly Demon Chronicles?
But what was strange was Dan Yeonhwa’s reaction.
Why was she grinning like that?
Since starting cultivation, she often came out in the mornings exhausted, with roughly arranged hair and sleep in her eyes, yawning frequently.
‘This girl, something’s up.’
He had often seen this kind of attitude.
Zhuge Munho, Mujin.
Occasionally when they had accomplished something satisfying to themselves, that feeling of wanting to be praised…
The cause was probably related to the current bustle.
“Yeonhwa.”
“Yes!”
“Why Aenoe Mountain?”
“Pardon?”
“There are only three days left in the Wild Spirit Festival. I heard before that the final schedule would be conducted near Daeri County, so why go specifically to Aenoe Mountain where friction with the Monstrous Poison Gate might occur?”
Dan Yeonhwa showed a surprised expression at Zhuge Munhyeon’s deduction.
“Wow! Master really can’t be fooled.”
“…”
Anyone would see through it.
Your feelings are written all over your face, girl.
“Actually, it’s Aenoe Mountain.”
“…Huh?”
What an absurd answer.
It wasn’t even some Zen dialogue from Taoists – when he asked why Aenoe Mountain, she said it’s actually Aenoe Mountain?
What kind of conversation method was that?
Zhuge Munhyeon was frowning in disbelief when a sudden thought made his eyes widen.
“You, don’t tell me?”
“Hehehe! That’s right, Master. That place is exactly Aenoe Mountain. I saw it when I followed Father to meet with the Goedeokmunju before.”
“…!”
Finally, he understood the meaning.
The Beast Palace Lord and Goedeokmunju would have met near Aenoe Mountain where their territories bordered, and he would have brought his daughter along.
At that time, Dan Yeonhwa would have seen someone with spirit energy.
‘So it was Aenoe Mountain.’
Suddenly his heart pounded like a young man who had seen a beautiful maiden.
“Aenoe Mountain is vast.”
“…”
“It’s so big and wide that you could never search it all alone. So we plan to conduct the finale of the Wild Spirit Festival there. Of course, with unlimited time! Until Master is satisfied.”
He was amazed.
Who would have thought she’d come up with such an idea?
Indeed, it was impossible to predict how long it would take to search Aenoe Mountain alone.
But if those divided into tracking, searching, and pursuit helped search the mountain together? And if warriors joined in as well?
“The Beast Palace Lord permitted this?”
“Of course? I earnestly requested it last night. Then he readily said he would send word to the Monstrous Poison Gate.”
“The Monstrous Poison Gate agreed too?”
“They had no choice but to agree. We decided to lend them part of the trading rights for Daeri’s specialty products for one year free of charge.”
“What?”
“It’s fine, Master. That’s not Beast Palace property but Father’s personal assets.”
“…”
They were crazy.
Both father and daughter had lost their minds.
Though he had helped her regain her sight and she hadn’t lost her spiritual vision…
He could only think of it as a tremendous decision.
A whole year’s worth of trading rights lending.
Though Beast Palace and the Monstrous Poison Gate lived together in Yunnan, their trade goods were completely different.
The items Beast Palace dealt with – spirit herbs, spirit creatures, leather, marble – were mostly commonly used goods, so their income was substantial.
But the Monstrous Poison Gate mainly dealt with poisons and antidotes.
High supply but low demand.
Giving away part of the Palace Lord’s personal property rights meant giving away a fortune.
And all just to search Aenoe Mountain, something that didn’t really matter whether it was done or not.
‘Sigh, she handled all that? From preparation to negotiations with the Monstrous Poison Gate?’
It had been just one night.
They probably couldn’t sleep and were busy all night.
‘This… I’m the one who received the favor.’
It was truly remarkable.
A fierce wind makes one wrap their clothes tighter, while warm sunlight makes one remove them.
Those words were exactly right.
I showed kindness, and kindness was returned.
And suddenly, such a thought occurred to me.
Did I… live wrongly in my previous life…?
I became depressed for a moment.
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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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