Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 219

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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 219

Running.

Just earnestly, without even knowing the destination.

Circling around the vast Yungzhong Mountain, gasping as breath rises to the throat.

Moreover, the participants had to rely solely on their physical strength.

Their internal energy had been dispersed after taking the Power Dispersal Pills individually distributed by the medical hall.

What was painful wasn’t just the lungs that felt like they would tear.

Arms and legs.

The iron rings attached to each limb grew heavier, preventing them from achieving their usual speed.

Before training began, the craftsmen of the Heavenly Workshop under the Military Strategy Hall had worked through countless nights, and all nearby blacksmith shops had joined forces to create them.

Meanwhile, the talent recruited by the Heavenly Workshop, Section Chief Danyeong, showed such meticulousness that he engraved each participant’s name and number on their respective iron rings, having produced countless disciples.

The path wasn’t just running the same route either.

The strategists of Cheonchaek Hall had spread out maps of Yungzhong Mountain and created routes that would never overlap.

Was that all?

The two uncles, Cheonseong Pavilion Master and Hyeonho Dan Leader, along with their subordinate group leaders, were serving as instructors to assist with training.

In other words, each department of the Zhuge Family was putting forth their full effort in nurturing warriors.

Though it was just running, running with iron rings was unparalleled physical training.

Additionally, members of Gaebangdo, who borrowed parts of Yungzhong Mountain in each zone, were stationed for surveillance, immediately blowing whistles to alert of accidents or minor problems.

It was truly peaceful.

He could leisurely drink tea while continuing his usual energy circulation as always.

Then.

Piiiiik!

The sound of a whistle echoing from somewhere on Yungzhong Mountain.

It was a signal from the Beggar’s Sect.

“Hmm, is it finally starting?”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had drained his teacup in one gulp, moved toward the whistle sound.

* * *

“Huff, huff… Dan Leader. I really can’t go on. This is my limit now.”

Jang Gokseong, a squad leader belonging to the Hyeonho Unit, couldn’t overcome his physical limits and collapsed with a thud.

“Hey! Get up and run! You haven’t reached the destination yet.”

“There’s actually a destination?”

“Of course there is. You just need to run about fifty more li.”

“What? F-fifty li?”

“That’s right.”

At Zhuge Domyeong’s words, Jang Gokseong made an incredulous expression.

What the hell kind of thing is this?

They’re just running continuously.

How is this supposed to be training?

Though iron ring training had once spread like a trend, it would be better to spend this time cultivating heart methods to accumulate even a bit more internal energy.

“Now I understand why they called it ‘hell.’ I can’t do this. My arms and legs feel like they’re going to break off.”

“You rascal! How can someone who’s a squad leader of the Hyeonho Unit have so little persistence?”

“What persistence? This training seems wrongly planned from the start.”

“What?”

“It’s training we’ve never done before, isn’t it? You’ve never made us train this way either, Dan Leader, so how can you just trust Young Master Munhyeon’s words…”

Though Jang Gokseong had always complained about dying from difficulty even during Hyeonho Unit days, true to his nature, Zhuge Domyeong couldn’t help but understand his complaints.

It was excessive for first-day training.

He had heard about time being short and could fully empathize, but…

It seemed the warriors would become exhausted and give up from just running before they could even do proper training.

Already, perhaps due to Jang Gokseong’s complaints, the warriors who had been chasing behind began sitting down one by one.

They were equally overwhelmed.

If a squad leader-level warrior was in that state, how much worse must the regular members be?

“Please tell Young Master Munhyeon that the training method needs adjustment.”

“Hmm…”

Though Zhuge Domyeong showed no change in expression, distrust grew in a corner of his heart.

They had somehow endured the first day, but the second day was too much.

They were just running all day without even loosening their cramped muscles.

At this rate, the backlash would grow.

It was counterproductive.

Training should begin with a firm resolve to become stronger…

‘I should probably request a conversation with Munhyeon.’

Just as he was making that resolution.

“Taking a break, I see?”

“Ah, Munhyeon.”

At the suddenly heard voice, Zhuge Domyeong showed delight with an impassive expression.

This worked out well.

Having seen the scene directly, he too would have some feelings about it.

“Munhyeon, I think we need to have a conversation.”

“A conversation?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not trying to convey complaints about the training, are you?”

“Ah, well…”

“Oh my, I didn’t expect Uncle, the Hyeonho Dan Leader, to say such things.”

“I’m sorry. But the warriors…”

“Do you pity them?”

“These are warriors I’ve kept under my command all along. It would be a lie to say I don’t pity them.”

“I see. So that’s why you were letting them rest like that during training.”

“It’s not letting them…”

“Let me see, they don’t look like they’re about to die, do they?”

“Huh?”

“From what I can see, they seem like they could run more…”

“What?”

Zhuge Munhyeon passed by Zhuge Domyeong and examined the collapsed warriors, speaking with a grin.

“Hmm, taking a break when they still need to run fifty more li… This is really just basic physical training, and the main training hasn’t even started yet.”

“Basic physical training?”

“Of course? You don’t think we selected the renowned warriors from all over the Zhuge Family just to do this, do you? This is just the morning run to start the daily routine.”

“…”

“They need to adapt quickly to start the main training. Hmm, as expected, even their basic physical fitness is a mess.”

Though his tone was gentle, the content was full of contempt, making the warriors’ eyes turn fierce.

Even if it was Zhuge Munhyeon, still.

To treat the warriors who had always been evaluated as the Zhuge Family’s strength like this…

That statement would surely provoke unavoidable backlash, so Zhuge Domyeong hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

“Munhyeon, your words are a bit…”

“Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“No wait, since we’re in the middle of training… should I call you Chief Instructor?”

“R-right.”

“Then who am I?”

“…Chief Instructor.”

“You know well.”

That was the situation.

This training was planned solely by Zhuge Munhyeon alone, and Zhuge Domyeong participated as one of the instructors to help him.

“But someone who knows that… turns the training into this mess?”

“Huh?”

The suddenly changed tone and expression were bewildering.

Not only speaking informally but also glaring with raised eyes, Zhuge Domyeong hesitated, not knowing how to react.

“Young Master Munhyeon! Your words are excessive. How can you speak such words to your uncle and family elder in private!”

“Hmm… Hyeonho Unit Second Squad Third Group Leader Jang Gokseong, training number twelve. That’s a high number. It means you’re among the top participants in skill.”

“That’s right! I am….”

“It’s rebellion, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“Rebellion against the Chief Instructor during training, and from the looks of it, even complaints and inciting other trainees.”

“No, what kind of nonsense is that?”

“Well now, to think such problems would arise on just the second day of training.”

“Y-Young Master Munhyeon. What do you….”

“This is all a problem stemming from the incompetence of an instructor who ignored the Chief Instructor’s will. Tsk tsk.”

“What?”

Zhuge Munhyeon clicked his tongue and muttered, completely ignoring Jang Gokseong’s words.

What is he talking about?

Everyone was thinking that when.

“First Instructor.”

“Huh?”

“Get down on your knees.”

“…Huh?”

“From now on, as Chief Instructor, I will hold you accountable for failing to smoothly continue the training and arbitrarily granting rest.”

“….”

His mind went blank.

What is he saying right now?

You’re my nephew and I’m your uncle?

“For training purposes, organized resistance is absolutely unacceptable, and the trainees’ mistakes are the same as the instructor’s mistakes!”

“M-Munhyeon. You right now….”

Zhuge Domyeong looked at his nephew in confusion, but the moment he met those murderous eyes, he froze.

“Get down on your knees.”

“….”

Zhuge Domyeong hesitantly bent down as if entranced, placing his hands on the ground.

“The Chief… no, the Chief Instructor is disappointed. To think your heart for the family would be swayed by mere compassion.”

“….”

“It will hurt a little. First Instructor.”

Chief Sect Leader?

The unexpected words slipped out, but before anyone could wonder about it, they forgot.

Because the Silver Cold Staff stuck in Zhuge Munhyeon’s back was drawn and swung.

In fact, it was too fast to even perceive.

Thwack!

The Silver Cold Staff’s trajectory had already reached Zhuge Domyeong’s buttocks.

“Kyaaaah!”

“Hey, don’t move. Your bones will break!”

Thwack!

From the intense shock, more powerful than his late father’s switch from childhood, Zhuge Domyeong regained his lost expression.

“Kyaaaah!”

My heart aches.

To think I have to beat my uncle’s bottom.

But for the Zhuge family, getting cursed at a bit is nothing, right?

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The relentless beating.

Still, I didn’t neglect proper treatment for my uncle.

Getting hit on the bottom with this precious Silver Cold Staff isn’t exactly easy to come by.

I’ll beat him generously.

And then.

“Huh? Still resting?”

“….”

“First Instructor, I’m repeatedly disappointed. To think those who were once in the Hyeonho Unit are still only thinking of their own comfort even while their unit leader is being punished.”

“W-wait a momeaaaah!”

The beating continued.

The screams echoing through the mountainside made the expressions of Jang Gokseong and the other warriors turn pale.

That crazy bastard!

Beating his uncle?

Instantly, Zhuge Munhyeon’s childhood nickname came to their minds.

A disrespectful piece of trash.

Their superior was wailing long cries to him….

“Still not running? Then let’s see you keep resting.”

The Silver Cold Staff was raised again, and Zhuge Domyeong had no way to avoid it.

“You damn bastards! Run! Run! Crawl if you have to!”

The compassion that had remained in their hearts cleanly disappeared.

They had to survive first.

The running resumed.

At Zhuge Domyeong’s curses as he collapsed clutching his buttocks with both hands….

Zhuge Munhyeon, having perfectly resolved the situation, smiled with satisfaction.

This is the demonic path’s method.

Once training begins, you must push them to the limit where death comes and goes before their eyes.

The only difference is that instead of bringing death to those who fall behind, you punish the instructors who should be leading them.

Then things will work out well on their own.

“Should have done that from the start.”

With a pleased heart, Zhuge Munhyeon sheathed the Silver Cold Staff behind his back and looked pitifully at Zhuge Domyeong, who had collapsed and couldn’t get up.

“Uncle, you’re okay, right? That’s why you shouldn’t sympathize with the trainees. Never do that again next time. Make sure to apply medicine.”

“….”

“I will definitely remember Uncle’s sacrifice for the Zhuge Family.”

At the consoling words spoken with a bright smile, Zhuge Domyeong trembled.

It seems my nephew has a split personality.

That’s when it happened.

Tweeeeet!

The sound of a Gaebangdo whistle came from another zone.

“Hmm, they’re not giving us time to rest.”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned and disappeared, flying away with swift body technique.

Who will it be this time?

The Cheonseong Pavilion Master?

Whoever it is, what does it matter?

Zhuge Domyeong thought he couldn’t be the only one to die.

* * *

The resistance quickly died down.

Though their true feelings were unknown, no one dared voice complaints about the training.

Even if someone fell behind, Zhuge Munhyeon didn’t need to intervene personally.

The two uncles and other selected instructors took care of “encouraging” the participants themselves.

“These damn….”

“Shit….”

Though profanities they normally wouldn’t use did burst out like shouts.

Through such efforts, the trainees gradually grew accustomed to the weight of the iron rings, and the running that once took all day was reduced to half a day.

Finally, they had secured afternoon training time.

“Everyone has worked hard. Though it took somewhat longer than expected, this Chief Instructor applauds your efforts. Therefore, to help you grow even more, I have prepared new basic training.”

“….”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, silence fell over the gathering.

Unlike before, the eyes looking up at him on the platform were filled only with murderous intent.

They would kill him, someday.

It was a gaze where such inner thoughts could be felt naturally, not just from the participants but even from the instructors.

Very good.

That’s exactly it.

I’ll gladly take all the curses.

But you must possess even stronger poison than the Dang Family, the clan of poison arts.

I’ll push you to your limits without rest.

“From now on, we begin formation training.”

“…?”

“The Military Strategy Hall has set up various formations for you all, so from now on, please stake your lives within them.”

Something was wrong with his words.

Stake their… lives?

What kind of basic training is like that!

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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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