Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 26

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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 26

 

 

The female beggar was quite refreshing.

Of course, it’s not like there are no women among the world’s beggars… but at least from his memory, there seemed to be no cases where a woman officially became a member of the Beggar’s Sect and received the knots.

The reason for that was…

How would I know?

I’ve never bothered to ask about it.

Well, those beggar bastards probably have their own shitty philosophy.

However, curiosity arose, so he ended up following her.

Not because she was a female beggar.

Why was the Beggar’s Sect keeping watch on the Honyeon Alliance?

That’s what he was curious about.

And he thought he might learn much more than by capturing and beating up some Honyeonbang martial artist for interrogation.

Even though the martial world is currently divided into individual factions, blood is thicker than water after all.

Orthodox sects over unorthodox sects, right?

Besides, seeing her conducting espionage, it doesn’t look like they’re on good terms with the Honyeon Alliance either.

Who knows?

If their intentions align, he might be able to help temporarily.

“But to think I’m following a beggar… what have I become.”

Looking at himself trailing behind while muffling his footsteps, he felt an inexplicable sense of self-loathing.

He used to be the number one under heaven who was called the Heavenly Demon.

Somehow it felt like the roles had been reversed.

But as soon as they left the village, the female beggar’s pace gradually quickened.

Changing directions here and there… she was really putting in effort.

‘Good instincts.’

It seems she noticed she was being followed.

So be it.

It’s not like he was particularly trying to hide anyway.

Just as he was leisurely following, the female beggar who had left the village headed into a deserted reed field.

Not a bad choice.

Reeds that grew taller than a person’s height were good for hiding from surrounding eyes. Also, though the ground was muddy, even if footprints were left, they’d be hard to find due to the dense reeds.

Besides, they were quite far from the Honyeon Alliance, so even if a fight broke out, it would be difficult to be discovered.

“Perfect for having a conversation.”

But then the footsteps ahead suddenly stopped.

It meant she would wait to meet him.

Rustle, rustle.

As he leisurely pushed through the reeds, a small clearing appeared.

She stood in the center of it.

Looking at him.

Her age was roughly around thirty?

“What the hell are you?”

“Ah, I am…”

“Damn bastard, are you in heat like a stray dog?”

“…Huh?”

“Then why else would you follow me!”

Right off the bat?

Her first words were so crude… no, what did I even do?

There are things you should say and things you shouldn’t, so how could she make such a vulgar misunderstanding?

It made his fists clench with strength.

“For a young bastard to shamelessly follow me all the way to a reed field. Your intentions are deeply impure.”

“Hey, you’re the one who came to the reed field…”

“Shut up, you bastard!”

“…”

She won’t let me speak and then tells me to shut up?

You’re going too far.

And where do I look so desperate that I’d be attracted to a female beggar?

I’m a member of the Zhuge Family, for crying out loud…!

“Even tearing you apart wouldn’t be satisfying enough, you Honyeon Alliance scum!”

“Ah…”

Honyeon Alliance?

Hmm, that could be possible.

She could misunderstand like that, but!

“Hey! Where do I look like I’m from the Honyeon Alliance?”

“Hmph! Do you plan to deny it? You think I’d trust you bastards with your black hearts?”

“…”

Seeing the murderous intent filling her eyes, it seems she has deep bad blood with the Honyeon Alliance.

If so, that’s fortunate.

The enemy of my enemy is my ally.

Since there’s a possibility of receiving help, it would be better to endure for now and persuade her with words.

“Right. Your words are a bit harsh, but since I did secretly follow you, I was in the wrong. I had my own circumstances for doing so. I’m Zhuge Munhyeon. From the Zhuge Family…”

As he was carefully introducing himself, she suddenly burst out laughing.

“Puhaha, look at this bastard! A scum from the unorthodox sects trying to wear the Zhuge name? You think I’d fall for that? Not a chance, you bastard!”

“Don’t you recognize the snow-white robe?”

“Clothes can be disguised anytime!”

“Hmm.”

Then why are you wearing rags?

Sigh, looking at her expression, persuasion seems futile.

If he left it like this, the nickname of forced molester of female beggars might be added to his existing reputation as scum.

“Really, I didn’t want to use my hands.”

As he approached with a frowning face, she smirked.

“As expected, I saw right through you. Now that your true nature is exposed, you plan to solve it with force. But you chose the wrong opponent.”

“…”

“I am Sayo, disciple of Purple Ghost, who was the branch manager of all Hanyang Prefecture. Even if you’re young, you must have heard the famous name Secret Enchantress Sword, right?”

Not at all…

Secret Enchantress Sword or whatever, how would I know a name that’s only famous locally?

Besides, it’s been sixty years since I died, and I’ve only been alive for fifteen years.

“Today will be the worst day of your life!”

The moment her body twisted with gritted teeth, a pure white flash flew toward his eyes.

It was both a secret blade and a flying blade.

‘What a trivial technique…’

Zhuge Munhyeon bent his body forward while simultaneously unleashing Heavenly Energy Flash to close the distance with explosive speed.

The flying blade came straight at him right before his nose, but it wasn’t even worth dodging.

Thwack!

Zhuge Munhyeon struck the flying blade with his left palm wrapped in internal energy and unleashed Coagulated Blood Divine Claw to subdue her.

He would have liked to fix her rotten temper, but since she might become an ally…

But then.

“You! I’ve got you!”

“…?”

Suddenly showing a triumphant expression, her hand made a strange movement.

A momentary flash.

‘Silver Thread?’

Feeling a chill at the back of his head, Zhuge Munhyeon quickly withdrew his hand and twisted his body.

Ping!

The Secret Blade that had been swung returned to her hand.

At the end of the Secret Blade was connected a silver thread so thin it was barely visible.

Beggar’s Sect members use all sorts of things.

They should just carry around Dog Beating Staffs.

But it seemed quite unexpected to her that he had blocked something so trivial.

“Tch, you have good instincts.”

“…”

But I wonder if you who barely dodged one will be able to handle two.”

Another Secret Blade was gripped in her hand as she wore a cold smile.

The smile disappeared from Zhuge Munhyeon’s lips as he let out a deep sigh at her murderous appearance.

“You brought this on yourself.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I’ve been patient enough with a complete stranger twice. So don’t complain later.”

“What?”

Her eyes widened in bewilderment for just a moment.

Splash!

The sound of stepping in mud.

And suddenly, Zhuge Munhyeon’s figure before her eyes became blurry.

Splash!

Then immediately the sound of stepping in mud was heard right beside her.

Along with chilling killing intent.

“Th-this!”

Sayo, who had left her side defenseless, had no time to throw her Secret Blade and leaned back while rolling in the mud.

“Urgh!”

A throbbing pain was felt in her side and her mind became dizzy. Just from the wind pressure created by his fist grazing her…

But she couldn’t afford to be dazed.

Sayo, preparing for the follow-up attack, sprang up and retreated backward.

But Zhuge Munhyeon was surprised by that movement.

“Oh? Well, look at that? Drunken Reason Step… I thought you were a pushover from how you talked, but you’re more orthodox than I thought?”

At his admiration, Sayo’s eyes widened.

“You know Drunken Reason Step?”

“Of course I know it. I also know that combining Drunken Reason and Heaven Earth creates Drunken Reason Heaven Earth Step. I think Heavenly Return Beggar was the successor, are you also from that lineage?”

“…!”

Sayo’s pupils trembled finely, unable to hide her surprise.

Heavenly Return.

A figure from two generations ago who had once mastered the legendary technique called Drunken Reason Heaven Earth Step.

To Sayo, he was her master’s master’s master…

Anyway, he was a figure from a much earlier generation.

But how does this guy speak as if he knows someone whose bones would have turned to dust by now?

“Let’s stop this. I was a bit angry because of what you said, but I’ll consider it a misunderstanding and let it go. I’ve already been patient three times. You’re probably the first.”

He was trying to calm his irritation and have a conversation again, but she gripped Secret Blades in both hands and lowered her stance.

“No, your words make me even more suspicious.”

“What?”

“I won’t kill you. But I must capture you!”

“What is this girl really saying? You’ll really shit blood if you keep this up? I’m not the type to go easy on someone just because they’re a woman.”

“Fine, I understand your skill well. And that it would be difficult for me alone…”

“Huh?”

“I will definitely capture you and reveal your identity!”

This is really maddening.

He already revealed his identity.

Son of the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Munhyeon.

Just how much suspicion does she have?

Does she have some kind of illness?

But then Sayo took out some kind of flute from her bosom, put it to her mouth, and blew hard.

A Silent Flute that makes no sound.

An item that produces sounds only those with special training can hear, and its transmission range isn’t very far.

In other words, there were other beggars hiding in the reed forest.

Swoosh!

Just like this.

But surprise attacks only work when the opponent doesn’t know about them.

Zhuge Munhyeon narrowed his brow and leaned his body backward.

A club grazed over his body.

Calling this an attack…

Crack!

The male beggar who was struck in the abdomen by the rising knee folded his body like a shrimp.

Rustle rustle rustle!

The sound of brushing through reed leaves could be heard from all directions.

They’re probably going to surround him with the useless Dog Beating Formation.

“Haah… I’m not even a dog.”

A sigh escaped naturally.

He was the one who had once single-handedly turned a Dog Beating Formation deployed by a thousand Beggar’s Sect members into mincemeat.

“Can’t be helped. You just stay there for now. You seem to be the leader, so I can’t let you go.”

“What?”

As he furrowed his brow and swept his hand blade, dozens of dried reed stems were caught in his hand.

Ping ping ping!

And following his flicked fingers, the reed stems were embedded in the mud near Sayo.

“You bastard, what are you…”

Her voice, which had been surprised thinking they were projectiles, was buried and disappeared in the formation.

It’s a simple formation.

Since it was hastily made, its completeness is also lacking.

If she had mastered even Drunken Reason Step, she would be more than capable of breaking through it.

“Well, I just need to finish this before then.”

Whoosh!

Zhuge Munhyeon launched his body toward the swarm of beggars rushing from all directions.

 

* * *

 

When the surroundings were suddenly filled with fog, Sayo couldn’t help but be flustered.

“A-a formation?”

How could this be possible?

A formation is something that can only be activated by setting up axes in precise positions through complex calculations…

He had activated a formation with just a few reed stems.

“No way? Really the Zhuge Family?”

If not, it would be difficult to deploy such a formation technique.

But how does a formation practitioner from the Zhuge Family possess such martial prowess?

Sayo’s mind became complicated with countless questions, so she hurriedly shook her head.

Breaking the formation comes first.

Fortunately, the formation’s power wasn’t strong. It seemed to be a formation that only obscured vision by creating misty illusions without any lethal effects.

Touch the formation to examine its flow…

Before that flow creates changes, deploy Drunken Reason Step to escape…!

The mist cleared and finally external sounds could be heard, revealing the scenery of the reed field where she had been.

Looking around quickly with fierce eyes… the beggars had their faces buried in the mud.

Five in total.

“They, they were all defeated?”

It didn’t even take long to escape from the formation?

But at that moment, Sayo felt a sinister energy approaching.

Someone who might possibly be from the Zhuge Family.

Thwack!

Her thoughts ended there.

Her mind went blank from the strike that penetrated deep into her abdomen.

“Kugh!”

A single scream was all.

Her breath was completely blocked by the pain and her body bent forward.

“…I understand you misunderstood, but I’m not in a very good mood?”

“Wa, wait…”

“I said I won’t hold back anymore, didn’t I?”

A sneering face.

A savage light flickered in his curved eyes.

“What’s wrong with being in heat? How dare you frame me as a sexual predator!? You tried to kill me earlier, didn’t you?”

It was a misunderstanding.

But the words had already been spilled and couldn’t be taken back, so Sayo had to pay the price.

A woman?

He had never considered such things.

Where do age and gender distinctions exist among martial artists?

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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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