Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 248

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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 248

Zhuge Munhyeon returned to his lodging with his face deeply furrowed as he rested his chin on his hand.

Seeing his serious expression, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping who had followed behind kept their distance, exchanging glances and whispering among themselves.

They knew Zhuge Munhyeon well.

At times like this, it was best to just leave him alone.

If they carelessly spoke to him and caught his ire, they would only suffer for it.

‘Damn it… we were almost finished.’

His anger rose to the top of his head.

Hwangbo Yeonwu.

Unfortunately, no one had noticed that he was learning the martial arts of Mado.

Even if he shouted at the top of his lungs, ‘That bastard has learned the martial arts of Mado! He must have learned it through sinister and corrupt methods rather than proper ones!’, it would be of no use.

Who would believe him?

That would sound like the ravings of a madman, no different from saying he was actually the Heavenly Demon in the past.

Moreover, most of those gathered at the Hwangbo Clan Estate were pointing fingers at the Zhuge Family.

‘Damn orthodox sects.’

At times like this, Mado was much better.

Regardless of what others said, he could forcibly push through everything, then grab that bastard Hwangbo Yeonwu and tell them to check his pulse to see if his words were right or wrong.

However, being a descendant of the Zhuge Family was suddenly regrettable.

Even Namgung Ilhak wouldn’t have been able to do anything in that situation.

Rather, the backlash would only grow stronger.

‘Indeed, one must be in a position where others would nod in agreement.’

That’s how the world works.

No one believes the words of a vagrant wandering the streets, no matter how truthful they may be. Instead, they trust more the words of those of high status and good family who beat that vagrant.

No, they create public opinion that way.

To their own advantage.

Because they have the power to do so.

Even if someone has doubts, the voice of a child crying out while coughing up blood is quickly buried.

Creating rumors, moving public opinion.

That is the world of those who have power.

Murim is no different.

Though it’s an extremely subjective thought, Mado received the same treatment.

Their strength, grown strong through cultivating barren lands for long periods, became a source of anxiety for those in power, and those who felt threatened eventually defined Mado as evil.

It was unclear who first pointed their sword at the other.

Directing attention to external enemies whenever internal unity wavered was a very good strategy.

Since people had blindly pointed fingers simply because they followed the reverse path rather than the orthodox forward path that was mainstream, there was no better method for moving public opinion.

‘Well… there were occasionally some who fell into demonic nature and went mad.’

But those were only a very small minority.

In any case, it’s the same now.

No one would listen to Zhuge’s words.

Because the Hwangbo Clan Estate has greater influence in Murim.

In this current era where heroes from all regions spread their wings and oppose each other with ambitions to devour the world.

It would be very easy to spread malicious rumors about the Zhuge Family, who consider the unorthodox sects they’ve fought and trembled over the Central Plains as family after subjugating them.

With even blood relatives having joined them, anyone would side with the Hwangbo Clan Estate.

It wouldn’t be pleasant.

For a family that has been based on scholarship to interfere in a world where martial arts is power.

He understood.

He too had thought that only martial arts was supreme. At least in this Murim, strength took priority.

Therefore, he had sought to build Zhuge’s strength.

He had wanted to make them stand tall at the center of All Under Heaven through martial arts rather than scholarship.

Because that place was now his family.

The Tang Family, Namgung, Hwangbo, the Paeng Family.

He had thought it would be good if they could unite those called the center of martial families in contemporary Murim and eventually become a family that encompasses the Nine Sects.

If that happened, there would be no more attacks on Mado out of groundless criticism and vainglory.

He had also thought it would provide sufficient power to suppress those damn descendants who had become not Mado but the Demonic Sect, should they run rampant.

But his thoughts had changed.

Hwangbo – their attitude was already fundamentally wrong.

He had wanted to respect them if they had tried to achieve things by developing what they already possessed, but he didn’t like how they dared to use his Mado… the martial arts that previous generations had developed as a means to achieve their family’s ambitions.

‘These bastards, I was going to work with them and they come at me like this?’

It wouldn’t be just Hwangbo Yeonwu.

There was no way Hwangbo Yun wouldn’t know that he had learned demonic arts.

Someone in the family must have helped.

If so, he wouldn’t include their name among those united as one.

Greed for power doesn’t disappear easily, so someday their desires would rear their heads again and become an unstable factor that would collapse them from within.

He needed to find the corrupt parts.

The demonic arts that Hwangbo Yeonwu had learned were surely not normal, and if so, traces would definitely remain.

‘Damn, but how should I go about this? Since I’m inside, I can’t just move recklessly…’

Should he move after the banquet ends?

“Um, Munhyeon.”

“…?”

“Are you alright?”

While he was pondering, Zhuge Munho, who had been hesitating and watching for a while, mustered the courage to approach.

The Young Family Head was completely intimidated.

Do I eat people?

“Some water. My insides are burning.”

“Huh? Ah! Water! Wait just a moment.”

At his younger brother’s request, Zhuge Munho brightened and asked a servant girl to bring water.

He felt unnecessarily sorry.

It seemed he had made him worry… Huh?

At that moment, Zhuge Munhyeon felt puzzled.

‘What’s this about?’

In the moment he let go of his worries, he saw it.

The gait of the servant girl going to fetch water at Zhuge Munho’s request.

It was strange.

Why would a mere servant girl…

“I’ve brought the water.”

Taking the bowl that the servant girl respectfully offered, Zhuge Munhyeon pretended to drink water while observing her.

Though hidden by long sleeves, the calluses embedded in her hands that were occasionally visible, and the light footsteps that couldn’t be hidden within the irregularity of her retreating steps.

She’s learned martial arts?

[Elder Brother, was that servant girl here from the beginning?]

[…Huh?]

When he suddenly sent a telepathic message, Zhuge Munho looked puzzled, glanced at the servant girl, and tilted his head.

She wasn’t familiar to him.

That couldn’t be right.

They had stayed for several days.

He might not know, but Zhuge Munho was the type to pay a lot of attention to people around him.

It was because of the family teaching to show courtesy starting from the lowest positions.

Therefore, even at the Zhuge Family, he was kind even to the servant girls who tended to their residence.

For such a person to be unfamiliar with her meant…

‘Hmm, so she was changed? Or additionally deployed.’

When you don’t know, it would just pass by in a flash, but once you harbor suspicion, you start examining everything in detail.

‘Well, look at that? Now that I see it, there’s more than one?’

The suspicious gaze that started with the servant girl who brought water secretly swept in all directions.

The servants and maids assigned to their lodging.

They had all learned martial arts.

Their attempts to hide it were obvious.

‘Come to think of it, the atmosphere has changed.’

The suspicion didn’t end with the servants and maids but reached throughout the entire lodging.

The quality of energy emanating from the martial artists guarding the perimeter to protect the guests had changed.

Moreover, their attention was directed inward rather than outward.

The martial artist by the door kept glancing inside.

‘Surveillance?’

It seemed the Hwangbo Family Head was quite concerned.

He must have been anxious.

Even if others didn’t know, he was worried that he himself, who had directly fought Hwangbo Yeonwu, might have noticed something.

‘This way, suspicion hardens into certainty.’

That’s when it happened.

A middle-aged woman entered the lodging.

Seeing how the servant girls bowed respectfully and even the martial artists showed courtesy, she seemed to hold quite a high position.

“Young Family Head.”

“Who might you be?”

“I am Hwang Wol-hyang, in charge of the dancers belonging to Geumgosa.”

“I see. But what brings you here…?”

“The Family Head cannot come personally as the banquet is not yet over, but he specifically ordered me to convey his unfinished apology.”

“The Family Head did?”

“Yes. He said he was concerned that you couldn’t properly enjoy the banquet… He hoped you would at least enjoy yourself at the lodging.”

“What do you mean by that?”

When Zhuge Munho looked puzzled, Hwang Wol-hyang lightly clapped her hands to signal.

Subsequently, many people entered the lodging.

“We have prepared a physician to examine Young Master Zhuge Munhyeon’s condition and a small banquet for the Zhuge Family members.”

Behind the physician who entered first and bowed his head, workers carrying food, musicians, and even dancers followed in line.

“The Family Head asked that you please not refuse his apology.”

“Ah, no… Even so, this is…”

Just when Zhuge Munho couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“To think you would show such consideration. We were just feeling disappointed that we couldn’t fully enjoy the banquet. Please be sure to tell the Family Head we are grateful.”

“Huh?”

When Zhuge Munhyeon, who had briefly gone into the lodging and come back out, smiled brightly and accepted, not only Zhuge Munho but even Gwan Hwiping couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.

Was this the same guy who looked half-dead just moments ago?

“What are you doing, Young Family Head? When the Hwangbo Family Head feels this sorry, it wouldn’t be proper to refuse, would it?”

“That’s true, but…”

His suddenly changed attitude.

But Zhuge Munho quickly changed his mind.

Again.

Though he hadn’t heard his inner thoughts yet, just like when dealing with Hwangbo Yeonwu, this guy definitely had something in mind again.

“Come, please set it up over here. Oh my, why did you prepare so much?”

“…”

Zhuge Munhyeon smiled cheerfully and even designated where to set up the drinking party.

“Young Family Head, please sit down. Everyone is just watching and waiting, aren’t they?”

“Right. Let’s do that.”

Both the martial duel with Hwangbo Yeonwu and now this.

He planned to go along with it for now.

Though there were probably hundreds of schemes inside, he wasn’t someone who would do anything harmful to the family or themselves.

“Everyone sit here. As Munhyeon said, it wouldn’t be proper to refuse such consideration.”

“Yes.”

As the martial artists sat down one by one, the musicians and dancers also took their positions and waited.

“Then I shall return now. I hope you have an enjoyable time.”

“Please tell the Family Head we are grateful.”

“I will do so.”

“Ah, and could you please dismiss the other servant girls and the martial artists guarding the perimeter? When drinking, mistakes tend to happen frequently.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

After pondering briefly, Hwang Wol-hyang nodded and left the lodging.

Soon music was played.

As dancers wrapped in flowing silk performed their dance moves to the rhythm, the hearts of the previously subdued martial artists melted like snow on a spring day and joined the drinking party.

“We will prepare medicine to restore your energy.”

The physician who had finished taking Zhuge Munhyeon’s pulse respectfully withdrew and brewed herbal medicine in one corner of the pavilion.

“You, what exactly are you thinking? Just moments ago you had a serious expression as if deeply troubled, then suddenly you want to enjoy a drinking party. Please just tell me.”

“What deep thought? I was just surprised by Hwangbo Yeonwu’s skill. I thought I was the best, but he’s quite formidable.”

“You…”

“It’s just that. Don’t say useless things and just drink for now.”

“…”

Though he acted as if nothing was wrong, Zhuge Munho still couldn’t dispel his suspicion.

Could he possibly not know his own younger brother?

He had been watching him constantly because he wanted to be like him.

But Zhuge Munhyeon paid no attention and calmly filled his cup and drank it down.

‘He’s quick to notice things, anyway.’

A bitter smile emerged at the sight of Zhuge Munho constantly glancing at him.

Yes, he would find it strange.

Why he was acting this way.

But it wasn’t time yet.

After all, they say to deceive your allies first if you want to deceive your enemies.

If their attitudes changed after hearing his words, someone would notice.

The Hwangbo Family Head’s intention.

It was quite suspicious.

Not satisfied with just the perimeter guard martial artists, he even sent those suspicious servant girls to monitor them, then suddenly prepared a drinking table?

‘It doesn’t make sense. And above all.’

Zhuge Munhyeon looked at the physician brewing herbal medicine at a spot slightly away from the drinking party.

At first, even he had only felt puzzled.

But then he felt the Eunhangon tucked in his back trembling finely.

Why is this thing doing that?

It was something that wouldn’t even react unless it sensed spiritual energy.

Worried that others might notice, he brought the Eunhangon to the lodging, then operated his spiritual sight through positive energy.

When his spiritual vision opened, he could see it.

The bundle of medicinal herbs the physician brought was filled with an ominous flow he had never seen before.

If the Eunhangon hadn’t warned him in advance, he would never have noticed.

He wouldn’t have even thought to use spiritual energy.

‘But what exactly is it to have such an evil flow?’

The intention was very suspicious.

And that intention was ground finely in the medicine bowl and went into the herbal medicine meant for him.

The color of the herbal medicine seen through spiritual vision was pitch black.

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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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