Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 277

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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 277

The deal with Haowen was concluded successfully.

Thanks to that, they were able to enjoy comfortable rest.

They stayed in the finest room at Hoeunru and were served the finest food.

For free.

When Zhuge Munhyeon woke up refreshed and was preparing to depart, Mujin tilted his head and asked.

“Daebyeolsan?”

“That’s right.”

“But Huashan is in Shaanxi Province?”

“I know that too.”

Daebyeolsan is the mountain that reaches closest to Heaven in southern Henan.

The mountain ridge extends east to west, dividing the border between Hubei and Henan.

However, going there would significantly delay their arrival in Shaanxi.

But!

It was already infuriating that bandits were in Zhuge territory, but now they were coming down to villages to kidnap people?

‘These bastards.’

How insignificantly people must think of the Zhuge Family’s security… no, how mockingly they must think of me.

This was absolutely unacceptable to the pride of the former Heavenly Demon.

“Don’t tell me? Are you planning to rescue the kidnapped people?”

“Hm?”

“Young Master really can’t be stopped. You’re so eager to do good deeds. Amitabha.”

Last night.

Mujin had heard about the conversation he had with Seolhui.

The situation where bandits were kidnapping people.

How could he not respect Zhuge Munhyeon’s will to save people as a disciple of Wudang?

But at Mujin’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon made an awkward expression.

He hadn’t thought as far as rescuing them, but there was no need to correct that.

If he beat up the bandits, people would naturally be saved.

The purpose was different, but the goal was the same.

“Well, the Daebyeolsan gang is quite a large force even among the Green Forest… they might know something. But will it be alright with just the three of us? I heard the Daebyeolsan gang has grown so large that they don’t fear even the subjugation army, let alone Shaolin.”

“That’s true.”

The Daebyeolsan gang.

They were among the top bandits of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds even when Zhuge Munhyeon was the Heavenly Demon.

That means they have deep roots.

“If you’re reluctant to ask the family for help, shall I send word to Wudang Mountain?”

“To Wudang?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

He thought about it briefly, but the conclusion was already decided.

Asking Wudang Sect for help would be foolish.

No matter how great the Daebyeolsan gang was, they couldn’t stand against sword-obsessed Taoists who were determined to attack.

And the bandits knew this well too.

The reason they hadn’t been subjugated so far wasn’t because their power was great, but because they had keen judgment.

The moment they sensed defeat was likely, they would disappear.

Then they could never be found.

They say even a dog fights harder on its own turf, so how much more so for bandits?

They weren’t bandits for nothing.

They knew the mountains better than anyone.

Even herb gatherers and hunters had to acknowledge their skills.

“No, there’s no need to stir up a hornet’s nest from the start. For now, we’ll just check. We need to verify if Haowen’s information is accurate.”

“True… we can’t completely trust the words of unorthodox sect members.”

Mujin nodded.

If their words proved true, this would be a matter requiring the entire orthodox faction to step forward.

It couldn’t be handled carelessly.

It might lead to war with the unorthodox sects, so they needed perfect justification.

“We’ll need to steel our hearts.”

“…”

“Dan Mae, always stay close behind me. The Daebyeolsan gang are famous bandits. We’re just going to observe, but they’re definitely not to be underestimated.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Mujin cautioned Dan Yeonhwa.

Of course, Zhuge Munhyeon’s thoughts were a bit different.

‘Daebyeolsan or whatever.’

Mere bandits.

He had never thought of them as more than places to briefly stop by to replenish supplies and stay when travel funds ran low.

If nothing else, those guys knew how to grill meat well.

* * *

Daebyeolsan wasn’t far away.

The ridge extended near Dangang District.

Zhuge Munhyeon took the waterway into Henan and arrived at the mountainside via the eastern road.

This was the starting point of Daebyeolsan, which stretched east to west.

“Small strongholds?”

“Right. The Daebyeolsan gang isn’t made up of a single mountain stronghold.”

“…?”

“It’s similar to how Wudang has branch temples. The Daebyeolsan gang is the leader of the Henan bandit gangs. Just as the Daebyeolsan gang’s chief received a cup from the general leader and became one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds, they shared cups and command numerous small strongholds under them.”

“I see.”

It was curious that Zhuge Munhyeon understood the organizational structure of bandits so well, but Mujin didn’t bother asking.

He probably read it in a book again.

“That’s exactly why the Daebyeolsan gang hasn’t been subjugated so far. The moment a small stronghold on the outskirts of the main stronghold is attacked, word goes to nearby strongholds and the main stronghold. Then they assess the enemy’s scale and judge victory or defeat.”

“I see. It could be problematic if enemies concentrate their attacks or fall into traps.”

“That would be fortunate, but if luck is bad, they just run away.”

“What? Run away? Without fighting? If they shared cups, they’d be sworn brothers, so how could they…”

“They’re sworn brothers in name only – what loyalty do bandits have? Running and hiding the moment things look bad is their nature.”

“Hmm, then it won’t be easy. Daebyeolsan is the largest mountain in southern Henan, so there must be many places untouched by humans.”

Mujin turned his head to look at Daebyeolsan.

Deep.

So deep he couldn’t even guess what lived inside.

Finding small strongholds within that didn’t seem like an easy task.

“What can we do? The thirsty one digs the well. If we wander the mountain paths, won’t someone come to attack us?”

It was literally a random approach.

There was no royal road to finding bandits.

The best method was to be attacked.

Just as luring with bait is most effective when hunting beasts, if they walked mountain paths wearing expensive clothes, those drawn by the smell of money would come flocking on their own.

“It might take some time, but we just need to find one small stronghold. After that, it’ll be smooth sailing.”

“Understood.”

After all, he knew about ten thousand ways to make bandits talk.

“Let’s start wandering around.”

“Yes.”

But just then.

“Um… Master.”

“Hm?”

Dan Yeonhwa, who had been quietly listening to their conversation since she wasn’t familiar with the Central Plains, cautiously spoke up.

“I think I could help find the small stronghold?”

“You? How?”

“Well… I could use the friends of the forest.”

“Friends of the forest?”

“Yes.”

What kind of cutesy expression is that?

There’s a limit to acting pretty – just call them beasts.

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been looking at her scratching her cheek awkwardly with disdain, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“Ah! Beast Palace!”

That’s right.

He had momentarily forgotten that she was from Beast Palace.

They learn how to handle beasts from childhood. In that field, they’re the best under heaven.

“Do you also know how to handle beasts – I mean, friends of the forest?”

“To some extent. Especially with children who possess spiritual energy…”

“Ah.”

She was useful trash.

“You can handle those with spiritual energy even better?”

“Yes. Communication is easier with them. But my spiritual sight has a limited range…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“…?”

I have Half-Immortal level spiritual power.

Finding beasts doesn’t particularly affect the human world anyway.

Zhuge Munhyeon activated his breathing technique and expanded his spiritual energy in all directions.

Whiiiii.

The suddenly spreading energy became wind and blew out in all directions.

Soon, the world reflected in Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes changed dramatically.

The life force flowing through straight trees, vegetation, and…

“Let’s go.”

As Zhuge Munhyeon quickly launched his body forward, Mujin and Dan Yeonhwa immediately followed behind him.

* * *

Han Bulhae, the proud bandit leader who remained on Jeongyang Mountain without abandoning the name of Palgong Gang, was very lucky.

When that damn Zhuge Family son attacked and his stronghold was destroyed, his subordinates were all injured without a single one unharmed, and even the gold he had diligently collected was stolen, he truly felt like the world was collapsing, but at least he survived.

Afterward, he pondered a lot about how to live.

After leaving Jeongyang Mountain, he attacked a slash-and-burn farming village just to put food in his mouth.

It was lamentable that he had lowered his bandit pride and become a fire bandit, but what could he do?

A pine caterpillar must eat pine needles.

Those who had lived as bandits their whole lives couldn’t carry dung buckets.

Above all, he had to keep his subordinates from going hungry.

These were guys who said they’d trust and follow him even after losing their stronghold and being driven out…

That Evil Seed from the Zhuge Family had told him not to loiter around Hubei, but he hadn’t said to stop being a bandit.

But there he met his benefactor.

Daebyeolsan Gang.

For some reason, they were also attacking the slash-and-burn farming village.

It was strange.

Why would Daebyeolsan Gang?

What was even stranger was that they captured not only wealth but people too.

But Daebyeolsan Gang was in the middle of recruiting manpower and made him a recruitment offer.

It was the opportunity he had dreamed of.

He could live grandly under the name of Daebyeolsan Gang without even five hundred taels.

He was even assigned a stronghold.

Though it was quite far from the main stronghold, and he was just a tiny gang under a small stronghold!

Anyway, it was part of Daebyeolsan.

He heard that if he worked hard, he’d be recognized as a small stronghold and someday receive a cup from the great leader of Daebyeolsan.

They say human affairs are like Sai Weng’s horse.

From Palgong Mountain in Anhui Province to Jeongyang Mountain in Hanam Province, and even after being smashed by that Zhuge Family brat, he persevered tenaciously until finally a path to success as a bandit opened up.

That day, Han Bulhae hugged his subordinates and cried.

Though what they demanded was going down to nearby villages to kidnap people, if only he could become part of Daebyeolsan Gang…

‘I’ll walk only on flower paths. I’ll become a cooler bandit. I’ll kidnap anyone I can get my hands on.’

Han Bulhae, unable to contain his satisfaction, went to the village with his subordinates again today.

“Leader, today’s income is quite good.”

“Elder Brother will be pleased.”

“That’s right.”

A pleased smile appeared on Han Bulhae’s lips as he looked at the vagrants they had captured from the village and brought back tied in a line.

At this point, it would be fine to go back and have a drinking party.

Ten iron coins per person.

The small stronghold seemed to receive more money from the main stronghold, but even this much was more than enough for them now.

It would only be cheap white liquor, and they’d have to roast the captured beasts for side dishes, but as long as bandits could live as bandits.

“Vice Leader.”

“Yes!”

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s have a drink for once today.”

“Really, sir?”

“Of course! Let’s spend the money we’ve saved to buy some liquor and roast some meat to grease our throats. We need to eat well to kidnap more.”

“Understood!”

At Han Bulhae’s spirited voice, the bandits moved their feet with high spirits.

It was while they had been walking like that for a while.

Rustle.

Something popped out from the forest ahead of the procession.

Bright red eyes, perked-up ears, a plump body and white fur.

A rabbit.

This one had quite some spirit.

A creature that should be startled and run away upon seeing people was standing still and staring at them as if saying “catch me and eat me.”

“Hehe, they say heaven helps those who help themselves, and since I’ve lived diligently, heaven gives me such gifts too.”

Small but useful as a side dish.

Though it was regrettable there was only one, it’s human duty to take gifts from heaven.

“Give me my bow.”

“Yes! Leader.”

Receiving the bow from his vice leader, Han Bulhae spread his feet shoulder-width apart and stood at an angle like someone absorbed in archery, confidently drawing the bowstring with an arrow nocked.

Creeak.

The bow bent as if it would break.

One shot would be enough.

But at that moment.

Kyaaaak!

The rabbit suddenly let out a strange cry, and Han Bulhae, whose concentration was broken, made a mistake.

Twang!

The arrow missed spectacularly.

With his subordinates watching, Han Bulhae’s face turned bright red as if it would burst.

‘Damn, what a surprise.’

But did rabbits make sounds like that?

It sounded somewhat like a human scream… could it be a spiritual creature?

Just as embarrassment and bewilderment washed over him, another figure emerged from the forest where the rabbit had sprung out.

“Gasp!”

It was a woman.

No, a breathtakingly beautiful woman, as if a hundred-year-old nine-tailed fox had transformed.

And.

“Huh?”

“….”

“You again?”

“….”

His mind, which had been entranced by the woman’s beauty, snapped back to clarity.

Of all people, that bastard….

How could there be such an annoyingly coincidental guy?

He had finally left the place he’d grown attached to, yet how coincidental was it to run into this bastard right here?

Damn you, Heaven.

What did I do so wrong?

Despite his resentful feelings, Han Bulhae quickly clasped his hands together, bowed respectfully at the waist, and wore the brightest smile he had ever managed in his life.

“We meet again, Confuc… no, Young Master Zhuge Gongja.”

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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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