Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 260

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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 260

“So far, a total of one hundred and fifty people have been confirmed as kidnapped. Among them, seventy-nine are women, showing a completely different pattern from what we’ve identified in the western region until now.”

One hundred and fifty confirmed kidnappings alone.

The crowd murmured as they heard there were more than double that number still under investigation.

“And we believe this kidnapping incident is related to the Hwangbo Family.”

“That’s nonsense!”

As soon as the perpetrator was identified, Gang Cheonwi, the Grand Elder of the Hwangbo Family, immediately objected.

“What grounds does the Beggar’s Sect have for making such claims! Were the kidnapped victims discovered at our main house?”

“….”

“Don’t slander our family with unconfirmed matters!”

Despite the angry glares from Gang Cheonwi and the Hwangbo Family retainers, Sayo remained unfazed.

She simply extended one finger calmly and pointed at the Hwangbo Yun father and son.

“You call this slander? Even after seeing that state?”

“That, that’s….”

“If necessary, check for yourself. What kind of martial arts they’ve been practicing. If they’ve been absorbing yin essence, it would certainly be cold yin internal energy.”

“Hmm.”

As Sayo pointed to the captured Family Head and Young Family Head, Gang Cheonwi’s face contorted.

There was no need to check their pulse to know.

Not only had their eyes turned completely black without any whites showing, but the aura they emanated was cold and sinister.

It was clearly demonic cultivation.

There was no way someone of his stature as Grand Elder wouldn’t know.

But how could he acknowledge it?

The mere fact that the Family Head had practiced demonic cultivation meant the Hwangbo Family’s fate was as good as sealed.

That’s when it happened.

[Elder Brother Munhyeon. You’re not planning to end it here, are you?]

[Why?]

While the crowd’s attention was focused on Sayo, Zhuge Junggi, who had been silently observing, spoke through voice transmission.

[We need to root out the remaining accomplices.]

[The Hwangbo Family hasn’t been completely subdued yet.]

[So you want to do it later? That’ll be too late. Who knows what those with dirty secrets will try to hide.]

[What?]

[Do it now. The opportunity is perfect.]

[Now?]

[One sentence should be enough, right? We’ve already revealed not just the Family Head and Young Family Head, but also evidence about those who kidnapped the women. It would take us a long time to find them ourselves. We need to make those with guilty consciences move on their own. You create the situation, and I’ll cast the net.]

After pondering Zhuge Junggi’s words for a moment, Zhuge Munhyeon soon smiled.

Such a sharp fellow.

He immediately grasped the meaning of those words.

There was no way the Family Head and Young Family Head could have kidnapped all those civilians by themselves.

Their movements would have been completely exposed to the family members.

There must have been others secretly helping them.

He wanted to catch those people.

Whatever Zhuge Junggi had communicated, Gwan Hwiping was already starting to move.

The Namgung and Tang families were moving too.

Even the Paeng Family in the midst of all this?

His skills were truly impressive.

He probably presented them with the benefits they would gain after this incident concluded.

When the Zhuge Family had prepared the entire feast and they only needed to add a spoon to receive enormous profits, they couldn’t help but move.

Fortunately, the Hwangbo Family people hadn’t caught on.

Some were in shock, while others were trembling with fear that their involvement might be exposed.

Thanks to this, Zhuge Junggi’s net was gradually tightening.

With such a stage set, he couldn’t help but step forward.

“Rear Beggar.”

“…Ah, yes!”

Sayo, who had been explaining the case details thoroughly, turned her head.

“May I speak from here on?”

“Please do.”

Sayo stepped back without complaint.

Just by demonstrating the Beggar’s Sect’s capabilities, she had fulfilled her role and obtained everything needed.

“Grand Elder.”

“…Speak.”

Gang Cheonwi, who had been singled out, answered with a thoroughly hardened expression.

“The Beggar’s Sect’s investigation wasn’t limited to just the kidnapped victims. You don’t think we stirred up this matter with just that much, do you?”

“What, what are you saying?”

“Do you think the Family Head and Young Family Head carried out this affair by themselves?”

“….”

“That’s impossible. There are those within the Hwangbo Family who received orders from the Family Head. They kidnapped people and offered them to the Family Head and Young Family Head.”

Gang Cheonwi’s eyes widened.

Not just him, but other Hwangbo Family warriors couldn’t hide their surprise and murmured while looking at each other.

Sayo couldn’t help but be flustered too.

It had only been ten days.

Even with help from the Namgung Family’s intelligence network, there hadn’t been enough time just to investigate the kidnapped victims.

But she didn’t show it.

She hadn’t been dealing with Zhuge Munhyeon for just a day or two.

He surely had some scheme in mind, so it was better to be prepared.

“The investigation into that side is already complete. We know who kidnapped the women and offered them to the Family Head and Young Family Head.”

Zhuge Munhyeon wore a sinister smile as he looked at each member of the Hwangbo Family with sharp eyes.

That was enough.

Whether the investigation had really been conducted or not wasn’t important.

He just needed to make them anxious.

As they say, no matter how elegantly one might package strategy, its core is ‘who can deceive whom better.’

Of course, to increase the effect a bit more, some scheming was necessary.

A divisive stratagem.

How much could evildoers trust each other?

Ping!

Zhuge Munhyeon secretly sent out finger wind to suppress the pressure points of Hwangbo Yun and Hwangbo Yeonwu.

He couldn’t have them saying unnecessary things.

“Unlike the Family Head, the Young Family Head had a looser tongue than expected. With just a little pain, he confessed that there were those who helped him. That person is….”

Before he could even mention a name.

The moment Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes, twisted in a smile, turned toward one person.

“You, you bastard! How loyal have I been!”

Sometimes there are those who lack patience.

He must have thought the Family Head had confessed everything and panicked.

He probably thought he might be caught, or perhaps had already been caught.

Though he spun around trying to flee, Zhuge Junggi had already spread a sturdy net.

There was no way to break through the warriors of the three families who had surrounded the Hwangbo Family warriors, and his sudden action immediately triggered the movement of collaborators hidden among the Hwangbo Family warriors.

In an instant, all directions were filled with those desperately trying to escape the net.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Ping!

The Tang Family was quickest to respond to their movements.

The ones who followed Dangyon weren’t many, but the moment he spread both hands, countless projectiles accurately struck their targets.

Among them was Zhuge Mungi.

Not bad at all.

Since his hidden weapon techniques weren’t improving much and he couldn’t blend in with the Dang Family, I helped him learn the Three Yang Divine Art, and now it seems he’s playing a proper role in the Dang Family.

The face of the father watching such a son, Zhuge Domyeong, was also filled with pride.

Though there was no change in expression, I know now.

“Ah…”

At the sight of fugitives collapsing everywhere, sighs appeared on the faces of those who hadn’t sided with the Family Head, including Gang Cheonwi, the Grand Elder of the Hwangbo Family.

The sky had collapsed and there was no hole to emerge from.

Those who moved now were warriors from the three halls that the Family Head had created separately.

Their attempt to flee was no different from a confession, so now any rebuttal would be meaningless.

In that place where a battle had erupted, those who despaired at their family’s downfall collapsed to their knees and hung their heads.

“Everyone… drop your weapons and surrender.”

Gang Cheonwi gave the order with a devastated heart.

His voice cracked.

It wouldn’t have been easy to make that decision.

But anyway, he only had two choices left.

Fight to the death, or surrender.

Without long deliberation, Gang Cheonwi chose the latter.

Zhuge Munhyeon who had subdued Hwangbo Yun, called the Fist King, and his son without injury, and Namgung Ilhak the Sword Tooth.

In a situation where just those two were overwhelming, the Zhuge, Namgung, and Dang families had joined forces, and even the Paeng Family had joined in.

Perhaps they could overcome this moment.

Someone would survive.

But what would be the point of surviving like that?

They would spend their lives being hunted.

He couldn’t increase meaningless deaths.

As the family’s Grand Elder, he had to protect the innocent family members.

* * *

Many people died.

The foothills of Mount Tai were stained with blood, and everywhere was filled with corpses and wounded.

The surrendered warriors of the Hwangbo Family were imprisoned with their internal energy suppressed.

No matter how vast the great manor was, they couldn’t confine everyone.

Moreover, they lacked the manpower to guard the places where they were confined.

But the Zhuge were there.

The formation they deployed turned all the pavilions into prisons from which escape was impossible even without guards.

It was a temporary prison that would be maintained until a thorough investigation revealed whether there were any remaining crimes.

Afterward, a meeting was convened in the Great Hall of the Hwangbo Family. The Grand Elder and several retainers, representatives of martial families centered around Namgung Ilhak, and Sayo, a Rear Beggar of the Beggar Sect, took their seats.

It was to discuss the aftermath.

“You sit at the head seat.”

“Pardon? But with you here, how could I…”

At Namgung Ilhak’s words, Zhuge Munho made a troubled expression.

“How could I bring up age privately in official matters? This affair was initiated and led by the Zhuge Family, and it’s no different from being concluded by the Zhuge Family. Therefore, it’s right for you, who represents the Family Head, to sit in that seat.”

“But…”

Even at the repeated words, Zhuge Munho couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression.

“I also agree that the Young Master of the Zhuge Family should sit at the head seat.”

“Why are you saying this too, Young Family Head?”

When even Dangyon joined in, Zhuge Munho frowned, not knowing what to do.

Even more.

“I also think the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family should sit at the head seat. Everyone is waiting, so please go up quickly.”

Paeng Mok, the Young Family Head of the Paeng Family, also agreed.

No, given the atmosphere, he wasn’t in a position to oppose.

Now was a situation where the Zhuge Family had no choice but to be at the center.

Other families were already supporting them, and matters regarding future interests in the Shandong region were at stake.

It was difficult for the Paeng Family alone to stand on the opposite side of the three families’ alliance.

He thought it was right to side with the Zhuge now if he wanted to gain as much as possible.

“Young Family Head, since everyone’s intention is such, please sit quickly and preside over the meeting.”

“U-Uncle.”

At Zhuge Domyeong’s polite request, who was being formal since they were with outsiders, Zhuge Munho ended up sighing.

Both he and Zhuge Junggi had faces full of pride.

Zhuge Munho turned his head to look at the highest seat in the Great Hall.

A seat permitted only to the Family Head of the Hwangbo Family.

‘Munhyeon, you really…’

He hadn’t attended the meeting.

He knew it was deliberately stepped aside to center things around himself.

The ambition he had once boldly revealed before the family elders suddenly came to mind.

If martial families gathered, let the Zhuge lead it.

How long would they remain satisfied with being called a family of strategists, trapped in an empty shell?

It had really come to pass.

Surpassing the renowned martial families of the Central Plains, the Zhuge had come to sit at the center and look down on everyone.

Though it wasn’t a gathering of Family Heads, this single instance of taking the initiative would surely be meaningful enough.

‘If nothing had happened at the Hwangbo Family, would such an opportunity never have come?’

Somehow it didn’t seem so.

That guy would somehow have placed the Zhuge Family at the highest position.

‘Damn kid, even so. Leaving the troublesome work to me and slipping away.’

“Whew…”

After taking a deep breath, Zhuge Munho’s face no longer showed traces of anguish.

With shining eyes and a confident expression, he looked at everyone and said.

“Since you all unite in wanting me to preside over the meeting, I won’t refuse. However, I won’t sit in another family’s master’s seat. This meeting is for punishing Hwangbo Yun, the Family Head of the Hwangbo Family, his son, and those who participated in their crimes, not to trample the Hwangbo Family underfoot. Therefore, please don’t ask me to sit at the head seat anymore.”

At the powerful voice that spread gently, everyone in the assembly showed pleased expressions.

“Ha ha! Well said. It’s truly fortunate that someone like you is presiding over the meeting.”

“Thank you.”

Namgung Ilhak’s praise.

And the assembly nodded as if agreeing with those words.

Zhuge Munho’s words emphasized that the relationship among those gathered here was not a hierarchy distinguished by superiority and inferiority, but a horizontal cooperative relationship.

Of course.

“He refused the head seat?”

“Yes.”

“Sigh, really, even when I set up the stage for him…”

Hearing that story from Zhuge Hwi, Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t help but feel regretful.

If you set the table, you should naturally take the head seat!

Why position yourself as equal with those who only added their spoons!

“Sigh, really, this damn noble family. Why did they teach such useless things?”

But what could he do?

He had already left it to him.

He had his own methods.

And perhaps such aspects could indeed be called characteristic of the Zhuge Family.

Anyway, a closure order would be issued to the Hwangbo Family.

They would be under surveillance.

And discussions would follow to divide the interests that the Hwangbo Family had held until now.

The minor clans and trading companies already within the Hwangbo Family were moving with keen awareness.

Judging which side would benefit them.

‘That Junggi fellow will handle himself well. He’s got a sharp mind for these things. He knows well enough that you have to give what you should give and take what you should take to earn the support of the other families.’

Since he had entrusted it to them, he had to trust them.

Whatever decision they made.

“But why didn’t you attend the meeting? Honestly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you led this entire affair single-handedly… Everyone seemed curious about it.”

“Because it’s bothersome.”

Zhuge Hwi couldn’t help but feel bewildered, though on the other hand, he thought it was just like Zhuge Munhyeon.

If he had attended, they probably would have started by seating the Young Family Head at the upper seat.

Since he was a bastard who knew nothing of hierarchy.

While Zhuge Hwi was having such thoughts, Zhuge Munhyeon was already absorbed in different thoughts.

The bastard who had taught Hwangbo Yun and Hwangbo Yeonwu the dual cultivation techniques and caused this mess.

Thanks to him, Zhuge had become the center of the martial families, but…

“Elder Brother Hwi.”

“Hm?”

“I have somewhere to go for a while. Tell the Young Family Head that if the profits are meager, I won’t let it slide.”

As Zhuge Munhyeon suddenly stood up and began walking, Zhuge Hwi asked urgently.

“Hey! Where are you going? You need to tell me your destination so I can report it!”

“Mount Tai, going sightseeing.”

“What? In times like these?”

He asked back, but Zhuge Munhyeon had already leaped away and disappeared.

Zhuge Hwi stared blankly in the direction he had vanished, then sighed and shook his head.

“That guy really has the best luck in life. Is it because he’s such a bastard? They say dogs have the best fortune after all.”

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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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