Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 245

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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 245

The more one possesses, the more one has to hide.

Such was the atmosphere inside the Grand Hall.

They concealed their true intentions behind fake smiles filled with pretense, struggling to discern each other’s motives.

That too was a form of warfare.

In a moment of carelessness, they could be swayed by their opponent’s words, so those wearing smiles kept their nerves on edge throughout.

The divisions were clear.

Hwangbo and Paeng Family, Namgung and Dang Family.

Excluding Zhuge, they shared drinks while exchanging insincere conversations to read each other’s true thoughts.

The problem was.

“I’m telling you, it’s really that effective?”

“….”

Everyone perked up their ears at the conversation between Yu Gilcheon and Namgung Ilhak.

“To that extent?”

“That’s what I’m saying?”

Although the Zhuge Family’s mechanisms and formations are excellent….”

“Listen here. Our family maintained no less than five layers of perimeter defenses to protect Eunhwa Mountain.”

“Hmm.”

“The cost alone was several thousand taels per year. Well, it wasn’t really a big problem for my family, of course.”

He spoke as if stating something obvious, but was subtly showing off his family’s wealth.

Several thousand taels per year.

It might not be a problem from the Dang Family’s perspective, controlling all of Sichuan’s commerce, but for other families it was jaw-dropping money.

Naturally, the listeners’ ears perked up even higher. Even the sounds of their separate conversations died down considerably.

“The really important issue is that maintaining that perimeter requires about three hundred, no, including rotation forces, up to five hundred warriors stationed permanently. Unable to do anything else.”

“Of course, it’s protecting the family’s secret grounds.”

“But the Zhuge Family replaced all of that with mechanisms and formations!”

“The entire mountain?”

“Absolutely. I can’t tell you the name of the formation since it’s classified… but anyway, that’s how it is.”

“I see.”

Hwangbo Yun had no choice but to listen to Yu Gilcheon’s words.

As the eldest at the banquet and out of respect for his reputation, he had seated Namgung Ilhak beside him.

He was not pleased.

Zhuge Family’s formations?

What was so special about them that everyone stopped talking and listened intently?

He wanted to object.

“Haha, Young Master Dang.”

“Ah, Family Head. Just call me Yeon. I’ll treat you like an uncle too.”

Hwangbo Yun smiled and asked, seeing Yu Gilcheon stop his conversation with Namgung Ilhak and answer good-naturedly.

“No matter how great Zhuge’s formations and mechanisms might be, could they really replace warriors? You seem to have overestimated them. Isn’t that right, Elder Geomchi?”

“Mm, that could be the case.”

When Hwangbo Yun glanced over, wanting to diminish the Zhuge Family’s formations that had captured everyone’s attention, Namgung Ilhak nodded.

He too was a martial artist, after all.

But Yu Gilcheon, who had been blinking at those words, smiled faintly and said.

“It wasn’t just me—the elders at the main house said the same thing. ‘Those formations, what use could they possibly have?'”

“….”

“But you know what? This isn’t something to take lightly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Only some sections have been completed so far, so it’s not finished yet, but my father personally tested it.”

“The Dang Clan Leader?”

Immediately the gathering became noisy.

Their interest was piqued.

The Dang Clan Leader was not only the strongest in Sichuan but renowned throughout the Central Plains.

Though they were too distant to meet often enough to build close relationships, everyone acknowledged his skill with hidden weapons as the best under heaven.

What exactly were hidden weapons?

Quick hand movements and hawk-like accurate vision were important, but it was a martial art that required swift feet.

Due to the nature of hidden weapons, maintaining distance from opponents maximized their effectiveness.

Therefore, being skilled with hidden weapons meant having first-class lightness skills as well.

There were even rumors that the Dang Family’s lightness techniques were comparable to those of the Beggar’s Sect.

Such a person had personally tested the formations and mechanisms installed by the Zhuge Family?

While everyone stared at Yu Gilcheon’s mouth, wanting to know the results, Namgung Ilhak couldn’t contain his curiosity and pressed him.

“So, so what happened?”

“He couldn’t speak for quite a while.”

“What?”

“Then he gathered the retainers and said, ‘Begin additional negotiations with the Zhuge Family immediately. Discuss ways to install formations around the Dang Family’s outer areas to protect the village in emergencies.'”

“….”

Those words were enough.

Additional contracts.

This meant the Dang Clan Leader had acknowledged the Zhuge Family’s formations.

And this was the Dang Clan Leader, no less.

A man who thought himself the best in the world had been satisfied with another’s techniques.

Because of overflowing wealth?

Impossible.

He was purely impressed by the effectiveness.

Most importantly, after the initial investment costs, it would save several thousand taels annually.

Moreover, once the formations and mechanisms replaced the perimeter defenses, up to five hundred warriors would be freed up.

Considering that warriors guarding family secret grounds typically needed to be above a certain skill level?

It was like gaining an additional warrior unit overnight.

This was truly remarkable.

Normally, creating a warrior unit required recruiting talented warriors, training them… a truly long time and enormous costs.

But not only were that time and cost saved, their military strength increased instantly.

‘This bastard….’

From Hwangbo Yun’s perspective, he couldn’t help but be furious.

Why was this damned Sichuan bumpkin saying such things at his birthday banquet?

He was already displeased with the competitive relationship with those cursed fellows.

Mere scholars trying to stand above warriors.

Meanwhile, though no one had said it yet, even the Dang Family and Namgung Family had been won over.

But then.

“Mm, Young Master Dang.”

“Yes?”

“Could you tell us in more detail?”

“Haha, is the Young Family Head of the Paeng Family also curious?”

“If there’s that much cost-saving effect… actually, our family has similar places too.”

“True, most martial families are similar.”

“But how do you handle the maintenance?”

“The Zhuge Family sends permanent personnel to handle it.”

“Oh!”

“Mm, instead of this, why don’t you meet with the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family separately later?”

“Should I?”

“That would probably be faster. I can’t explain the formations and mechanisms myself.”

“Let’s do that.”

Seeing Paeng Mok, the Young Family Head of the Paeng Family, stepping forward to make connections while matching his rhythm, Hwangbo Yun’s mood could only grow sharper.

He had secured support by proposing a political marriage and promising future commercial rights to the Paeng Family, but the situation was still not completely secure.

And now it seemed like even that might be taken away.

‘I went through all that trouble to separate the Zhuge.’

He had done so fearing they might bewitch people with their brilliant eloquence, but he never thought a country bumpkin from Sichuan would fill that position instead.

“Rather than this, shall we go meet them now? It seems like there’s conversation to be had between the adults anyway.”

“Ah, shall we? Then please introduce us. We haven’t had a chance to meet them yet since we arrived late.”

Just as they were about to stand up.

Outside the Great Hall, the center of the banquet hall where the minor forces had gathered became extremely noisy.

Naturally, it was enough to draw everyone’s attention.

When they turned their heads, for some reason, two young men had climbed onto the central stage instead of the musicians and dancers.

‘Munhyeon?’

Namgung Ilhak the Sword Tooth, who was the eldest among those gathered and had taken the seat next to Family Head Hwangbo Yun out of respect for his reputation, frowned.

“Hmm, what could this sudden commotion be about?”

“Hehe, it looks like they’re going to have a martial duel.”

“A martial duel?”

“Yes.”

“But why so suddenly…?”

Namgung Ilhak couldn’t help but be bewildered.

He couldn’t even guess what reason those two people had for engaging in a martial duel.

Moreover, it wasn’t just anyone else, but that Zhuge Munhyeon stepping forward directly…

Meanwhile, Hwangbo Yun thought this worked out well.

Wasn’t he already displeased that the conversation had been mainly about the Zhuge Family?

A duel between the two.

And his son’s victory.

It seemed like he could seize control of the atmosphere in one stroke.

“Well, we’re going to see quite a spectacle. I was already curious about the Violent Dragon’s martial prowess since his name has reached even Shandong, and it looks like we’ll be able to witness the achievements of an outstanding junior scholar.”

“Oh? As the Family Head says, we’ll indeed see quite a spectacle. I’ve heard about the Violent Dragon as well. To match the Gang Mugakju of the Namgung Family? Even though he was said to be exhausted from the previous battle, it was truly remarkable for a junior scholar. I was quite surprised when I heard. The Zhuge Family wasn’t highly regarded in martial arts, was it?”

Paeng Mok interjected, showing his curiosity.

Though he had saved face for the Namgung Family by mentioning things like being exhausted and achieving a draw, it wasn’t pleasant at all.

Because the facts should be known as facts.

“Hmm, but I heard rumors that the Young Family Head of the Hwangbo Family has already reached the realm of righteous energy.”

“Oh my, has it already spread to Hebei?”

“Don’t even mention it. My father compares me to him so often that it’s becoming torturous.”

“Haha! The Young Family Head of the Paeng Family is being too modest. How could you not know that your achievement in the Five Tiger Gate-Breaking Blade is exceptional, drawing five strands of sword energy in one strike and being called the Blade Dragon?”

The Five Tiger Gate-Breaking Blade representing the Paeng Family.

It was a blade technique that, when perfected, seemed like five tigers attacking the enemy in succession.

Though his internal energy was lacking, Paeng Mok, who had achieved such a realm at a young age, was being called the future of the Paeng Family.

“My goodness, for the Hwangbo Family to know the Paeng Family’s situation so well… I’m ashamed because it’s not comparable to Young Family Head Hwangbo, who has mastered the Thunderbolt Divine Fist and is already called the Great Mountain Hidden Dragon of Shandong.”

“Don’t be ashamed. Rather, it means our martial families are growing like in the old days, so it’s something we should rightfully celebrate.”

“Speaking of which, if the opponent is Young Family Head Hwangbo… it’s likely to be quite a teaching duel.”

“We’ll have to wait and see. Isn’t the Violent Dragon of the Zhuge Family also said to have considerable skill?”

Though he said that, Hwangbo Yun’s face was full of pride.

Not Fist Dragon, but Great Mountain Hidden Dragon.

How could he not feel good when Paeng Mok had placed his son in a much higher position?

Also, though he didn’t know why a martial duel had suddenly come about, he roughly understood his son’s thinking.

Setting aside other worthless fellows, he must have been curious about the skill of the martial artist called the Violent Dragon.

And it would be to show him, to show everyone watching.

That the martial artist put forward by a scholarly family was of insignificant level. And that the Hwangbo Family had sufficiently surpassed even the Gang Mugakju of the Namgung.

“What do you think? I hear that during this visit, you’re close enough to come together with the Zhuge. Perhaps he’s even better than the rumors?”

“…”

Hwangbo Yun, hiding his true intentions, glanced at Namgung Ilhak and asked.

He didn’t answer.

‘Crazy bastards… You should look at where you’re going to lie before stretching your legs.’

He couldn’t help but think so inwardly.

Blade Dragon? Great Mountain Hidden Dragon?

Ridiculous.

Some junior scholar with names like dragon or phoenix attached couldn’t possibly be a match for Zhuge Munhyeon.

He had already surpassed the Family Head, who was the supreme master of the Namgung Family and prided himself on being the best swordsman under heaven, and was even capable of mercilessly beating up someone called Sword Tooth like himself.

This was just… like an adult fighting a child.

But why?

Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t be unaware of such facts, so why was he trying to have a martial duel?

Had Hwangbo Yeonwu made some big mistake against the Zhuge Family?

Or was he angry about the added infamy from Hwangbo Suhyeon’s suicide?

He wasn’t the type to move so rashly…

But if he had really moved out of anger because of that, the problem would be serious.

‘That bastard doesn’t seem like he’ll just let it slide… Should I try to stop him, even by asserting my seniority?’

Since it was a sudden situation and he couldn’t fathom Zhuge Munhyeon’s intentions at all, Namgung Ilhak could only groan inwardly and say nothing.

“Elder Sword Tooth, what do you think? Though this banquet was held under the pretext of my birthday, it also has meaning as a gathering of dragons and phoenixes for the successors, for the future friendship of our martial families… How about going closer to cheer on the martial duel?”

“Hmm…”

At Hwangbo Yun’s request, Namgung Ilhak followed reluctantly with a frown.

Whatever the case, he had to go and see.

If that bastard went too far, someone had to stop him.

“Both Young Family Heads, let’s go and watch as well.”

“…”

Though Paeng Mok suggested it, Yu Gilcheon and Namgung San kept their mouths tightly shut and urgently conversed through voice transmission.

[Elder Brother, what could he be thinking? With that bastard’s temperament, there might be a huge commotion… Shouldn’t we try to stop him?]

[Can you stop him? If you can, go ahead and try.]

“…”

[What’s the big deal anyway? It was their fault to begin with. Why is it the Zhuge’s fault that she committed suicide? Did they push her or something? This must definitely be the Hwangbo Family bastards maliciously spreading rumors. Let’s use this chance to teach a lesson to those who are being impudent without fear.]

[Is that something you should say? We might lose the Hwangbo and Paeng families.]

[Hmph! Whatever. I don’t want those petty bastards either.]

“…”

Ah, this unpredictable elder brother bastard is more of a problem.

Though he was in an alliance with the Zhuge Family like himself, Yu Gilcheon’s completely different attitude made Namgung San only sigh deeply.

This alliance… will it be okay?

The Tang Family and Zhuge, no, Zhuge Munhyeon.

Somehow it felt like he had gotten on the same boat as crazy bastards.

“Elder Brother Namgung, let’s go. It’ll probably be worth watching.”

“…”

Hwangbo Mison, the daughter of the Hwangbo Family sitting beside them, encouraged Namgung Yu who was sitting with her.

“Ah, um… Sh-shall we?”

Namgung Yu, who immediately became silly, glanced around while watching his elder brother Namgung San’s reaction.

That lacking fool… While others were focused on discussions for family development, he alone was bewitched by feminine charms.

Namgung San couldn’t help but feel irritated.

Hwangbo Mison.

Outstanding not only in martial arts but also in beauty, the title of phoenix wasn’t wasted on her.

But having her participate seemed quite intentional.

A political marriage.

Whether it was his own decision or he was pushed by his family, he would ultimately be used as a tool for political strife.

Martial families had always been that way.

He probably thought nearby Anhui would be better than distant Sichuan. There was also likely the calculation that the Namgung Family would be a greater force than the Tang Family, which was considered part of the Orthodox Faction Territory.

While having such thoughts, Hwangbo Yeonwu, who had stepped onto the stage, cupped his fists toward the spectators gathered all around and spoke.

“Haha! Fellow martial artists of Dongdo, somehow this stage meant for dancers has become a martial dueling ground.”

“Waaaah!”

Just from his greeting, the spectators who were filled with anticipation for the duel burst into cheers.

“You’ve all probably heard the name of the Violent Dragon, whose reputation resounds throughout Hubei Province. I too was captivated by that reputation and was thinking it would be good to test our skills someday when this opportunity arose.”

“Waaaah! Fist Dragon!”

“Taishan’s Hidden Dragon!”

“Hwangbo Yeonwu!”

Cheers for Hwangbo Yeonwu poured out from all directions.

‘Popular little bastard.’

At the ear-splitting cheers, Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled and rubbed his ears.

Well, this was Shandong.

Even a mutt barks loudly in its own home, doesn’t it?

Most of those attending the banquet were small and medium-sized families and merchant groups from the Shandong region who had connections with the Hwangbo Clan Estate.

It was natural that Hwangbo Yeonwu would be more recognized by them than Zhuge Munhyeon, who came from outside.

“I am Munhyeon of the Zhuge Family.”

Since he had to greet them anyway, when he stepped forward and cupped his fists, the cheers suddenly cut off completely.

Not only that, but their gazes became sharp as well.

‘Well now, I really am a villain.’

A bitter smile formed.

But silence was better than jeers of ‘Booo~!’

Actually, it didn’t matter what happened.

This was a very familiar situation for Zhuge Munhyeon, so he wasn’t hurt at all.

To the people of the Central Plains, he had always been a villain.

“I hope you will all enjoy the friendly martial duel we are about to share.”

Hwangbo Yeonwu, wearing a satisfied smile at the starkly different crowd reaction, bowed his head in all directions and cupped his fists again.

“Fist Dragon! Fist Dragon!”

“Hwangbo Yeonwu!”

Amid such cheers, Hwangbo Yeonwu waved his hands toward the people, showing his leisure, but Zhuge Munhyeon seemed unconcerned as he stomped on the floor several times.

Thump, thump!

Was that sound bothering him?

Hwangbo Yeonwu, who had turned around with his hands behind his back, slightly frowned and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, I was checking if the martial stage is sturdy.”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, I prefer the ground… but well, this should be fine. I’ll just have to hold back my strength a little.”

“…”

Perhaps it was an unexpected remark, as Hwangbo Yeonwu made a puzzled expression.

Right, what would you know?

Someone who’s never even held a hammer in his life, let alone done any digging.

From his experience at the Heavenly Workshop, stages used for musicians and dancers were built with different strength standards than stages used for martial duels.

Because they could collapse from a single strike if not careful.

Fortunately, it was sturdy.

“Well then, Young Family Head, everyone seems to be waiting, so shall we start lightly?”

“…Let’s do that.”

Hwangbo Yeonwu chuckled and extended one hand with his hands behind his back, wiggling it provocatively.

The young fool was just putting on airs.

Pretending to be a master, how ridiculous.

It was so pathetic that his snickering wouldn’t stop.

What did he call it? Friendly?

There’s no such thing.

Still, I won’t use Eunhangon – fists should be met with fists.

First, let me check the skills of you arrogant brat.

Very lightly, that is.

The moment Zhuge Munhyeon’s lips stretched to both sides, forming such a vivid smile that it looked eerie.

Bang!

His form, having stomped the ground hard enough to crack the floor, was already at Hwangbo Yeonwu’s side.

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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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