Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 214
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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 214
“Loyalty!”
“….”
It was absurd.
The Zhuge Family’s warriors controlling people from the entrance of Yungzhong Mountain, dressed to the nines and lined up on both sides.
But loyalty?
These crazy bastards, am I the Family Head?
What kind of irreverent nonsense is this!
…I was about to say something, but far away at the end of the formation, the Family Head was waiting with a face full of smiles.
Meanwhile.
Rustle.
Since I had no choice but to get out of the carriage and walk, I stepped outside… flower petals?
No, when did they even prepare all this?
“Welcome back, elder brother.”
“Welcome back, big brother.”
The Zhuge Family’s boys and girls, who only came up to my chest, approached and even put flower necklaces on me.
Elder brother?
Big brother?
It wasn’t wrong.
They looked about twelve years old and were wearing Cheonseong Pavilion training clothes.
I keep forgetting, but in reality, Zhuge Munhyeon was their elder brother.
“We will escort you.”
“….”
The boys and girls who volunteered as flower attendants carried baskets and walked alongside me, scattering flower petals with each step.
“Loyalty!”
The warriors continued their irreverent behavior.
Is this right?
In the Zhuge Family where propriety and etiquette are alive?
“What a tremendous welcome ceremony. I can feel how much the family cherishes Master.”
“Haha! Junior Sister, it’s not just the Zhuge Family? Our Wudang also treats Confucius Munhyeon as an extremely honored guest.”
“Wudang? Ah, to think I became the disciple of such a person. I’m newly moved.”
“….”
It was the conversation between Mujin and Dan Yeonhwa following behind.
Was it just my imagination that their excessive admiration sounded like insults?
And why do you two stick together so closely?
Even if it’s the early stages, read the situation before getting heated.
Zhuge Munhyeon, who sighed and shook his head, had no choice but to quietly follow the event the family had prepared.
They had prepared all this, and the Family Head was just smiling without saying anything… I couldn’t cause a scene.
As he walked awkwardly and gazed at the Family Head and family elders standing in formation in the distance, he spotted his mother among them.
His body instinctively flinched.
‘Is she perhaps angry? Well, I was too late. I went all the way to Yunnan without saying anything.’
He worried needlessly.
From Hubei to Sichuan, and then to Yunnan again.
In reality, the time spent in each place wasn’t that long, but the journey back and forth was far and took a long time.
From the moment he departed as part of the delegation until he returned to the family, it was a journey of nearly half a year….
She was someone who would offer purified water morning and evening, praying for her child’s safety, so she had every right to be angry at her son’s reckless behavior.
Meanwhile, she had even secretly sent matchmakers to the Tang Family without his knowledge, but he hadn’t met with any women even once.
Her purpose was probably her child’s marriage….
How could he not understand that heart?
She was well past fifty.
There were many cases where people married right after their coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen, but her son was still alone, so she must have been worried.
‘…But for that to be the case, her face looks bright?’
It was embarrassing to have worried needlessly.
She wasn’t forcing a smile because it was an official event, but was genuinely smiling.
‘Mother really….’
It seemed the joy of her child returning safely was greater than worries about marriage or the long journey.
‘Well, she’ll probably nag me later.’
What could I do?
She was saying it because she worried about and cherished her child.
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had shaken off the worries that filled his heart, walked forward with light steps, trampling the flower petals.
“Munhyeon requests permission to return to the family.”
“Haha! Welcome back. You’ve worked hard.”
“Thank you, Family Head.”
The first greeting was to the Family Head.
That’s how families work.
Whether officially or unofficially, family descendants returning from travels must first report their return to the Family Head.
That was the proper way.
The family elders couldn’t hide their satisfaction at seeing him greet according to etiquette.
“Is the young lady behind you the one leading the Beast Palace delegation?”
“Yes. She is the only daughter of the Heavenly Demon.”
“Please introduce her. She must be quite tired from the long journey.”
“Yes.”
When Zhuge Munhyeon stepped aside, Zhuge Dowon stepped forward toward Dan Yeonhwa, cupping his fists with proper etiquette and greeting her first.
“I am Zhuge Dowon, Family Head of the Zhuge Family. You’ve worked hard coming such a long way. I am endlessly pleased to welcome such an honored guest.”
“I am Dan Yeonhwa of the Tang Family. Thank you for the warm reception. The Palace Lord asked me to convey her deep gratitude for the Zhuge Family’s help.”
“Haha! We help each other in life. Please tell the Palace Lord that we gratefully received her sentiment.”
“Yes, Family Head. And since I became a disciple by learning the Small Heaven Star Heart Method from Confucius Zhuge Munhyeon, I ask that you also treat me comfortably.”
“Hahahaha!”
The Family Head laughed even louder than before and rejoiced at the mention of disciple.
Teaching the Small Heaven Star Heart Method without permission wasn’t a problem.
The issue was that the Heavenly Demon’s daughter was a disciple of a Zhuge Family descendant.
Of course, it was formality and courtesy.
Anyway, all this content had already been exchanged through letters beforehand.
“Now, please come in. Hearing that the delegation was coming, we prepared a modest banquet.”
“Yes.”
The next part would probably continue there.
Gifts would be exchanged, and introductions and greetings with the family’s key figures would follow.
‘Sigh, we could just eat and drink. This is going to be troublesome.’
The Family Head led the way.
Then Zhuge Munhyeon’s group.
The retainers followed behind toward the banquet hall.
Thanks to this, Zhuge Munhyeon slowed his pace to exchange eye greetings with Young Family Head Zhuge Munho and his guards before finally being able to face his parents.
“You rascal, well done.”
Zhuge Doyun embraced his son with an expression of pure joy.
Let it be….
Let me leave it alone.
I did accomplish quite a few admirable things.
With the Tang Family, with Yunnan Beast Palace.
The Zhuge Family had gained unprecedented attention.
All because of himself.
So thinking of his father’s proud expression during the retainer meetings all this time, he didn’t want to push it away.
“Oh my, this fellow. Your body seems to have grown a bit? It looks more solid too.”
“You noticed?”
“Of course, would I be so indifferent as to not notice my son’s changes?”
“Father, really.”
The transformation he experienced while absorbing spirit energy in Yunnan.
That was equivalent to bone transformation.
Through tremendous pain, his body was practically reconstructed and his build grew slightly larger.
But to notice even though it’s been so long since they last met.
He’s more observant than expected.
“Thanks to you, we’ve decided to dispatch a large number of Military Strategy Hall scholars to Sichuan. How on earth did you come up with such an idea…?”
“Wait a moment, Father.”
“Hm?”
“I haven’t even greeted Mother yet.”
“Ah! Look at my mind. Ha ha ha!”
Zhuge Doyun laughed awkwardly and stepped aside.
“Mother.”
“Yes, are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief. Your health is what matters most to this mother.”
“…”
Mother really can’t be helped.
Even when everyone else only thinks about the achievements he’s made, she only worries about his health.
He felt choked up for no reason.
How foolish at his age.
But this is why he loves Mother.
This was the reason he couldn’t yet sever his ties with the world.
It would be fine to enjoy it a little longer.
Mother’s warm embrace.
“Come, let’s hurry. Everyone will be waiting.”
“Yes.”
Zhuge Munhyeon walked ahead spiritedly, savoring the overwhelming happiness at the sight of his mother welcoming her son with a bright smile.
Mother’s overflowing love, how could he ever repay it all?
But!
There was something in Mother Baek Suhyeon’s heart that Zhuge Munhyeon never dreamed of.
‘So that child is Dan Yeonhwa? She’s refined. You can tell she’s well-educated. And she’s so beautiful on top of that.’
Even while exchanging warm greetings with her son, Baek Suhyeon kept glancing at Dan Yeonhwa.
The letter sent in advance from Beast Palace.
It contained something to be specially conveyed to her, Zhuge Munhyeon’s mother.
The key point was.
‘The elders and senior members of Beast Palace wish for their marriage.’
She was satisfied.
Since they even enclosed Dan Yeonhwa’s birth chart, this must mean the Heavenly Demon also wishes for their marriage.
The objective was as good as achieved.
Hadn’t the Tang Family conveyed similar content before?
Dang Ihwa, the granddaughter of the Workshop Leader.
It was regrettable that she didn’t come along, but it wouldn’t matter to learn about Dan Yeonhwa first.
However.
‘Why does she seem closer to the Wudang Taoist?’
She felt somewhat puzzled.
But she wasn’t too worried.
Wasn’t he a disciple of Wudang, the root of Taoism?
Marriage would be impossible from the start.
What would a Taoist do…?
She simply assumed they must have become close during the long journey and asked her son.
“Dan Sojo seems to have quite an outgoing personality.”
“She does have that side to her.”
“She looks so close with the Wudang Taoist.”
“Tell me about it. They get along so well it’s crazy, you know?”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t you notice? I could tell at a glance.”
“…Tell what?”
“They’re trying not to show it, but I’ve been watching from the side the whole time, so how could I not know? I think they’re dating. Heh heh.”
“D-dating?”
“Yes.”
Zhuge Munhyeon kept giggling as he spoke in a small voice.
For her, this was like a bolt from the blue.
She had been thinking of her as a match for her son, but what was this?
“But he’s a Taoist?”
“Huh? Didn’t you know? They say Wudang’s Ten Precepts disappeared long ago. They drink and eat meat well, and often hold weddings too.”
“W-weddings?”
“That’s what they say? Heh heh heh. Mother, you’re really funny too… Hm? Mother?”
“…”
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been giggling and whispering for a while, looked puzzled at his silent mother.
She looked terribly shocked for some reason.
But it was understandable.
She had no interest in Murim affairs whatsoever, so it would be absurd to hear that Taoists drink alcohol, eat meat, and even get married.
“You must be very surprised. What can we do? That’s how Wudang is… Please congratulate them later. Oh, since Mother is excellent at needlework, just like when you made robes for Mujin before, you could make wedding clothes too.”
“…”
“Actually, I became their master.”
“M-master?”
“Surprising, right? Ha ha! That’s the kind of person I am. My disciples are a Wudang Taoist and Beast Palace’s only daughter, you know?”
At her son’s words, Baek Suhyeon’s expression became increasingly lost.
So right now…
Not my son’s match, but the Wudang Taoist’s…?
But my son is giggling happily talking about wedding clothes or whatever?
“Ah, Father is calling. Just a moment.”
“…”
Her son, who chattered away without knowing his mother’s feelings, then ran off at his father’s call.
At that moment, Baek Suhyeon’s world collapsed.
She stopped walking in a daze, her eyes only seeing her son’s back walking ahead.
That reliable and sturdy-looking back of her son.
Her son’s…
“You rascal!”
Baek Suhyeon knows no martial arts.
She learned nothing except how to live as a virtuous wife and mother and the skill of playing musical instruments.
Nevertheless, she displayed the miracle of closing a distance of over ten feet in an instant.
Smack!
She struck her son’s back with all her might.
“Ahhh! Mother, why all of a sudden…?”
“…”
Shut up, you foolish boy.
I never had a son like you.
Whack!
That day, Zhuge Munhyeon’s back caught fire without knowing why.
Smaaack!
“Ahhh!”
In his past life the Heavenly Demon, in this life a martial artist on the verge of Gang Qi and a half-immortal with spirit energy powerful enough to reach that level… but in the end, he was still a son getting his back beaten by his mother’s hand.
Whack!
“St-stop! Stop it. It hurts!”
Zhuge Munhyeon pleaded, but there was no one to stop Baek Suhyeon’s fury.
Everyone quietly looked away.
At that moment, she was the supreme master of the Zhuge Family.
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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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