Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 259

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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 259

His heart pounded.

The immortal of Mount Tai who had taught the dual cultivation techniques to the Hwangbo father and son.

Does that bastard realize that what he did was wrong?

Probably not.

As Yeongmun said, immortals are beings that transcend the scope of human thinking.

Having no distinction between good and evil, he would think dual cultivation is just another means of gathering energy.

Just as humans treat beasts as prey, to them humans are nothing more than food.

But I am still within the realm of humanity.

I judge right from wrong according to human morality, so anger boils within me.

“Let me ask one more thing.”

“…?”

“It wasn’t just women who were kidnapped. Were those others also your doing?”

“Th-that….”

The moment Hwangbo Yun hesitated to answer, Zhuge Munhyeon’s foot stomped on Hwangbo Yeonwu’s ankle.

Crunch!

A blood-curdling scream burst from Hwangbo Yeonwu’s mouth.

See, it would be nice if you just answered when asked.

Hwangbo Yeonwu, unable to close his mouth, writhed like a crushed earthworm. Unable to ignore his son’s pain, Hwangbo Yun squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

“Those were offerings!”

If he had entered the True Demon Scripture, it might be different, but he should still have human emotions left.

Therefore, while he might disregard others’ pain, he cannot bear to see his own child suffer.

“Offerings?”

“The Medical Sage said so. He said they were beings who received heavenly punishment for being born with things they shouldn’t possess. He told us to bring them. He said he would cure their heavenly punishment and give them new lives.”

“What?”

My face naturally contorted.

According to investigations by the Beggar’s Sect and Namgung Family’s intelligence organization Hyeonyeong Hall, it wasn’t just women who were kidnapped.

Children with disabilities.

I didn’t understand the reason.

They didn’t meet the conditions for dual cultivation.

So I considered them unrelated to this incident and put the thought aside temporarily.

There are occasionally bastards who capture such children and sell them cheaply as slaves.

But heavenly punishment?

Offerings?

‘Don’t tell me….’

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes trembled.

Similar incidents from the past flashed through his mind.

Dan Yeonhwa of Beast Palace.

She became blind because she was born with spiritual energy.

There must be others like her.

Also, that ascetic bastard at Dongho Lake used newborn babies born with spiritual energy as sacrifices to nurture death threads.

It was to replenish his own spiritual power.

‘Gluttony.’

That’s what Yeongmun said.

That gathering spiritual energy isn’t limited to cultivation alone.

Like that beast bastard on Aenoe Mountain who drooled while looking at me, devouring someone else’s….

Grind.

My teeth naturally clenched.

Was that it?

Was the immortal bastard on Mount Tai using the Hwangbo father and son as subordinates, teaching them dual cultivation techniques and satisfying their greed to increase his own spiritual energy?

But they said it’s taboo for immortals to interfere in the human world. They said they must always deploy barriers because they shouldn’t even reveal their power.

‘Fuck, what kind of taboo is that?’

Both that bastard living on Mount Tai and the one who lived at Dongho Lake.

They’re already causing massive damage to human lives.

Give them new lives?

Bullshit.

He definitely devoured them.

“You guys really….”

Unforgivable.

These bastards who violated human morality and lived inhuman lives while strutting around calling themselves Family Head and Young Family Head….

My mind suddenly became calm.

It became cold as ice, and not a trace of sympathy arose.

These bastards are the real demons.

Bastards who live disguising evil as good.

Yes, I know.

In Murim, strength comes first.

The strong devour the weak.

They crave and crave again for stronger power, stronger influence.

But they should have maintained the line.

They shouldn’t have violated the morality that must be kept as martial artists, no, as human beings.

Just as immortals shouldn’t invade human boundaries, martial artists shouldn’t have encroached on the civilian world.

I barely suppressed my rising killing intent.

Right now, I felt like I wouldn’t just kill them but tear them apart without leaving a trace.

I felt like I would crush even their corpses.

But that won’t do.

I must keep them alive for now.

So they can speak of all the sins they’ve committed with their own mouths in front of everyone.

‘You immortal bastard of Mount Tai, I’ll postpone meeting you until the Hwangbo Family’s affairs are finished.’

Though he’s no different from the main culprit, now is not the time yet.

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had withdrawn his breathing technique and used the Small Heaven Achievement Method to return from immortal to human, flicked his finger to send out a finger wind.

Thud!

As one of the stones that served as an axis shattered, the formation that had cut them off from the outside was released.

The hidden world was revealed.

He could see those who had recklessly entered the formation and gotten lost wandering around, and others stamping their feet outside.

They were Hwangbo Yun’s guards.

With their skills, they couldn’t break the formation, so they must have been anxious.

Despite the commotion at the main manor, they couldn’t leave due to their sense of duty to protect their family head.

“The formation has been released….”

The guard warriors who had opened their eyes wide and seemed about to rush in immediately hesitated.

It was because of the scene before their eyes.

Hwangbo Yeonwu wailing while being trampled under Zhuge Munhyeon’s foot, and Hwangbo Yun collapsed limply.

Everyone seemed shocked at the sight of their master.

No one moved rashly.

Their master’s life could be at risk if they acted carelessly.

“Go and bring Master Geomchi here.”

“What?”

“Call the young family heads of each family as well. Bring all the retainers and elders of the Hwangbo Family here without exception.”

“….”

To urge the actions of those standing there dumbfounded in confusion, Zhuge Munhyeon placed his hand on top of Hwangbo Yun’s head.

When he pushed his inner energy through the Baekoe acupoint, Hwangbo Yun let out a startled scream.

The warriors stepped back hesitantly at the inhuman shriek that was hard to believe came from a person’s throat.

“I won’t say it twice.”

The guard warriors swallowed nervously and glanced at each other under his murderous gaze and cold expression.

“A-alright. I understand, so remove that hand.”

Even at Jeon-ak’s words, who served as both the Mudang sect leader and head guard, Zhuge Munhyeon paid no attention.

Crack.

As he applied force to his grip, a faint sound of skull fracturing was added.

Terrified, Jeon-ak immediately ran toward the main manor.

The thought that Hwangbo Yun might die made him unable to even think of giving orders to his subordinates.

* * *

“Ah, no! I… I…”

The first reaction of those who rushed over was unanimous.

They couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions at the sight of Zhuge Munhyeon standing with Hwangbo Yeonwu’s body trampled beneath him while gripping Hwangbo Yun’s head.

The retainers and elders of the Hwangbo family, as well as the owners of small and medium families and merchant groups who had deep ties with them, showed subtle anger after their initial surprise.

Even Namgung Ilhak the Sword Tooth, Dang Yeon, and Zhuge Munho frowned.

They were the ones who had hoped Zhuge Munhyeon would win despite knowing the strength of the great master called Fist King.

But his current appearance was shocking even to them. The Hwangbo father and son actually looked pitiful.

‘And yet he doesn’t have a single wound…’

Namgung Ilhak clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at the Hwangbo father and son caught in Zhuge Munhyeon’s hands.

Both had pupils that were a murky black color.

The energy faintly emanating from their bodies was sinister beyond measure.

‘So it really was demonic cultivation as he said.’

It was something he could tell without even checking their pulse.

Zhuge Munhyeon had been right.

But they couldn’t leave things in this state forever.

Even if they had committed crimes, weren’t they still the heads of a family?

With their household members watching, he thought they should guarantee at least minimal honor to calm the anger of the crowd.

“Listen here. They seem to have no strength left to move, so release them for now.”

Even at Namgung Ilhak’s request, Zhuge Munhyeon paid no attention and simply asked with an indifferent expression.

“How did it go?”

“Hm?”

“Is the suppression of the Hwangbo family complete?”

“That’s right. We’ve detained their household members so it’s a standoff situation, but since the family head and young family head’s lives are in your hands, they won’t think of doing anything else.”

“You succeeded admirably.”

“The Young Master of the Zhuge Family planned well. Though we lacked forces, we won. The skills of the Zhuge family warriors were truly outstanding. It’s all over.”

Namgung Ilhak calmly soothed him, worried that Zhuge Munhyeon might make an excessive choice, or that the watching crowd might act rashly.

What was visible alone was sufficient evidence.

Since traces of demonic cultivation were clearly visible, it could be sufficiently proven that the Hwangbo father and son were involved in the kidnapping of women.

Even though the Hwangbo family was a force that controlled the Shandong martial arts world, even though Hwangbo Yun was revered under the name Fist King, the justification and legitimacy for the Three Sects’ intervention was sufficiently secured.

All that remained was to reveal their other crimes.

However, Zhuge Munhyeon had no intention of releasing the two as he swept the faces of the gathered crowd with sharp eyes.

Namgung, Dang family, Peng family, small and medium families and merchant groups, and even the warriors of the Zhuge family.

It was fortunate that Mujin was nowhere to be seen.

There would be nothing good about him getting involved unnecessarily.

Though he had wrapped it with Primordial energy, traces of practicing demonic cultivation must not be revealed.

Only Wudang, Zhuge, and the Dang family would understand his obsidian-like pupils.

Then he saw the people of the Hwangbo family.

Among the angry faces, several were clearly trying to hide their bewildered expressions.

‘Over my foot…’

Not yet.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s gaze turned toward Zhuge Munho.

“Young Master.”

“Speak.”

“Please tell me everything that has been investigated so far.”

At the somewhat distant politeness, Zhuge Munho immediately caught on to his intention.

All around was filled with anger.

It was natural since their master was being held captive.

If they released him now, there might be a fight with those trying to rescue him.

Releasing him should only come after all crimes were revealed.

But he shouldn’t be the one to step forward.

Zhuge Munho glanced at Sayo beside him.

She was the one who had investigated the kidnapping cases in Shandong together with the Namgung family’s Hyeonyeong Pavilion warriors.

He should give her the opportunity.

They had been scattered and barely surviving by relying on regional powers, but with the Zhuge family’s help, they established their headquarters on Yungzhong Mountain and expanded their influence.

But it couldn’t compare to their past glory.

Right here, right now.

The core of the martial arts families was gathered.

The Beggar Sect would come to the forefront of the martial arts world through this incident.

Just like in the past when they controlled information throughout the entire martial arts world.

“Hmm… It would be better if the Rear Beggar of the Beggar Sect did that.”

“Rear Beggar?”

“Yes. Rather than me relaying the message, it would be much better for her who investigated directly to reveal it.”

At those words, Zhuge Munhyeon smiled.

‘Really, consideration has become a habit for him.’

Standing at the forefront in such a situation would be an opportunity to solidify his position in the martial arts world.

But Zhuge Munho yielded that opportunity to Sayo.

He was trying to elevate the Beggar Sect’s position.

“Rear Beggar, I ask this of you.”

“Understood.”

Though she hesitated briefly, Sayo soon realized Zhuge Munho’s intention and stepped forward without complaint.

“I am Sayo, the Rear Beggar of the Beggar Sect.”

After catching her breath and introducing herself, the martial artists gathered at Mount Tai all began murmuring at once.

The Rear Beggar of the Beggar Sect.

They had only heard of her, but this was the first time seeing her directly.

Her appearance was so neat and well-groomed that they had only thought she was someone from the Zhuge family.

Most of all, for the Rear Beggar of the Beggar Sect to be a young woman…

“At the request of Young Master Zhuge Munhyeon, I secretly investigated the Shandong region for the past ten days.”

“Hmm…”

“In the process, I came to know various information about the merchant groups and small martial families in the Shandong region, but since it’s unrelated to this matter, I’ll omit it and speak only about the kidnapping cases.”

It was natural that the faces of those who had been watching her with curiosity became distorted at her words.

‘Really, she’s no ordinary person either.’

Zhuge Munhyeon immediately saw through that her words were quite intentional.

She was showing off the Beggar Sect’s capabilities.

Also, though she didn’t reveal details, it was the same as saying she had learned about their secret aspects, so they couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was like having their weaknesses grasped, so they would have to be cautious.

Merchant groups and martial families.

How could they always do only righteous things?

Sometimes they’ll engage in illegal operations, and sometimes they’ll bury the crimes they’ve committed.

And through this, the Beggar’s Sect will gain power.

It’s only natural that Beggar Sect members scattered across various regions will hear the rumors and flock here.

Most beggars would dream of returning to the glorious days of the past rather than depending on others and reading their faces.

Moreover, the Hwangbo Family has a completely different level of influence compared to nameless minor clans in the region.

Isn’t it one of the pillars of the great families?

Would they think it’s limited to just Shandong?

Now people will think that no place can escape the eyes and ears of the Beggar’s Sect.

There’s no reason to refuse such a thing.

The expansion of the Beggar’s Sect will be of great help to the Zhuge Family in its own way.

‘The Young Family Head’s judgment was much better.’

Confirming the atmosphere among those present, Zhuge Munhyeon inwardly admired Zhuge Munho’s decision to put the Beggar’s Sect forward.

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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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