Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 283

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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 283

In the deepest part of the main building of the Daebyeolsan bandits, nestled like a village within the valley.

Inside the mountain inn built against the mountain, two men sat facing each other.

A middle-aged man and a young man.

Though there was a clear age difference between them, the middle-aged man’s attitude toward the young man was extremely cautious.

The one whom all bandits in the Central Plains call Honored Guest, meaning precious descendant.

The reason they call him this is because the young man is none other than Jin Yalim, the successor to the current Green Forest King and one of the Thirty-Six Stars of the Green Forest, the Heavenly Leader Star.

The Thirty-Six Stars and Seventy-Two Killers who shared drinks with the Chief Banner Bearer.

It is said that in the past, righteous bandits who could no longer endure the tyranny of corrupt officials formed brotherhood with 108 comrades and raised an army in rebellion, which is said to be the origin of the Green Forest.

Among them, the Thirty-Six Stars always stayed by the Chief Banner Bearer’s side, while the Seventy-Two Killers remained in various mountains of the Central Plains to continue their chivalrous ways, which is the origin of what is called the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds.

Of course, in history, it’s only mentioned in a line or two as “there was such a fellow.” It’s not even certain whether there really were 108 brothers.

It’s purely the bandits’ claim.

What righteousness and chivalry could there be in fellows who rob travelers’ money and even commit kidnapping?

There were various theories, but the most credible one was that bandits who wanted to create roots like others had plausibly fabricated and spread this story.

Whatever the case, it’s a definite fact that the Green Forest is a massive force that forms one axis of the unorthodox faction.

Their power is also the greatest.

They’re not limited to one region but spread across every mountain in the Central Plains.

Jin Yalim was one of the top experts among all the bandits in the Central Plains and the person who would become the future master of the Green Forest.

For Deng Fei, the leader of Daebyeolsan who had become a sworn brother of the Chief Banner Bearer and received the name Deng Fei instead of his real name, being cautious was natural.

Refilling cups when they were empty, immediately ordering more side dishes when they ran low…

“Leader Deng.”

“Yes! Honored Guest.”

“It’s noisy outside.”

“Well, they’re naturally free-spirited fellows… I’ll tell them to be quiet.”

As Deng Fei scratched his head with an awkward smile and tried to get up, Jin Yalim frowned.

“It’s not your subordinates… Never mind, let’s go out together for now.”

“Pardon?”

“It seems uninvited guests have arrived.”

“…?”

At Jin Yalim’s words as he got up from his seat, Deng Fei could only be bewildered.

Uninvited guests?

How could that be?

Since the Honored Guest had arrived, he had given orders not to let even personnel from the small outposts enter carelessly, so there was no way outsiders could enter the main building without permission.

Above all, the Jamsanjin formation was spread widely across the valley where the Daebyeolsan main building was located.

It was absurd for outsiders to find a place that even renowned families and government troops had failed to locate despite numerous subjugation attempts.

‘What sound could he possibly be hearing…’

Deng Fei also listened carefully, but all he could hear was the busy noise of preparing for a banquet.

However, he couldn’t question the Honored Guest’s words.

Would someone who had received the position of Heavenly Leader Star speak falsely?

“I shall escort you.”

Deng Fei quickly got up and offered to guide him as he opened the door.

As he had thought, nothing seemed particularly unusual.

The kidnapped servants simply bowed their heads silently upon seeing him, and the bandits were busy preparing for the banquet.

‘Indeed, nothing’s happening…’

Deng Fei glanced at Jin Yalim.

But looking closely, his gaze wasn’t directed toward the front of the mountain inn but far toward the entrance of the main building.

Since the Daebyeolsan main building was formed along the valley and stretched out lengthily, the entrance shouldn’t be visible, nor should sounds from there reach this place.

However, since Jin Yalim’s gaze was fixed there, it was proper to investigate the situation.

“Shall I have someone look into it?”

“No need… we can just go directly.”

“Understood.”

As Deng Fei bowed his head, Jin Yalim, who had been looking toward the entrance with his hands behind his back, stamped his foot.

Thump!

The moment he lightly kicked off the ground, his form stretched out as if swimming through the air.

‘Hah! That must be the legendary Forest Swimming Shadow Step.’

It was a movement that drew admiration.

Originally, the Green Forest’s martial arts had no specific system.

This was because various people were mixed together.

However, the case of the Green Forest leadership was slightly different.

Unlike the Seventy-Two Strongholds, which frequently changed owners due to subordinate betrayals or subjugations, they had developed martial arts across generations.

Thus, they used systematic martial arts like renowned families or sects, and the Forest Swimming Shadow Step was one of them.

It was a supreme lightness skill specialized for mountains that allowed one to move through even densely tangled tree gaps as if running on flat ground, and even when stepping on grass and leaves, it would only leave traces as if stirred by a gentle breeze.

It was said that when mastered, one could even climb up and down vertical cliffs.

‘Oh no, this isn’t the time for this.’

Seeing Jin Yalim’s form rapidly distancing, Deng Fei snapped to attention and hurriedly chased after him.

* * *

Crash!

With just one step, even the nearby pavilions shook.

‘These bastards…’

Zhuge Munhyeon, whose nerves had become extremely sharp due to hunger, glared at the charging bandits with a furrowed brow.

He was knocking down every single one that attacked, yet their numbers hardly seemed to decrease.

‘How are there so many bandits holed up in these deep mountains…’

He hadn’t counted, but there seemed to be over several hundred.

Meanwhile, he had beaten all the attackers into the ground and crushed them, so they should be frightened, yet they kept swarming endlessly.

Some among them had considerable skill.

Occasionally there were those who had surpassed Energy Cultivation and reached Righteous Energy, and some had excellent combat experience, launching attacks that could be threatening.

They were even forming sword formations, making them quite troublesome to deal with.

‘Damn it, I neglected mental cultivation while training spiritual energy… what a mess this is.’

It was becoming increasingly difficult.

The wooden club he had been holding was already long gone, and fragments of the severed Snow White were flying about.

Should he draw Eunhangon even now?

He didn’t want to bestow grace upon such rabble.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s repeated crises also brought concerns to those watching.

“Excuse me, shouldn’t we help?”

Han Bulhae asked worriedly.

It was understandable.

If Zhuge Munhyeon were to be defeated like this, what would happen to them?

They had already been branded as traitors and had attacked the main building. If they were defeated like this, the outcome wouldn’t be good.

However, Mujin calmly shook his head.

“That’s not necessary.”

“Pardon? But…”

“Ah, Young Master Munhyeon is enjoying himself for once right now.”

“En-enjoying himself?”

“Otherwise, there’s no way he’d be going so easy on them.”

“Is that so?”

But since his worried feelings were still clearly showing in his expression and tone, Mujin, with a slight smile, reassured him once more.

“Well, you probably don’t know just how strong Young Master Munhyeon is.”

“…”

He knew that he beat people up quite well.

“He’s incomparable to me. Like the difference between a full moon and a firefly, or between the Yangtze River and a stream. Anyway, he’s someone who couldn’t be matched even when two Peak-level martial artists attacked him together. So please watch with a relaxed mind. Interfering would be a great discourtesy.”

“I, I see.”

“Of course!”

Mujin was confident, but Han Bulhae’s worries only grew.

His clothes were getting tattered from the multiple attacks and he was even getting wounded.

He’s… holding back, right?

That’s when it happened.

Kwaaaaang!

Zhuge Munhyeon pushed back the multiple attackers with a single strike, then stepped back and shouted.

“Mujin!”

“Yes.”

“It looks like you’ll have to step in.”

“…What? You’re not doing it yourself?”

At Mujin’s bewildered expression, Zhuge Munhyeon frowned.

If only I could do it myself.

Recently, his martial arts achievements had stagnated while cultivating spirit energy.

Though he could boast of being the best under heaven in terms of experience, insufficient internal energy didn’t just appear suddenly.

Even dealing with three or four Ui Qi martial artists rushing at him was difficult.

Using spirit energy would solve it easily, but why break taboos when he had a sharp blade available?

Of course, he couldn’t tell the truth.

The student surpassing the master wasn’t always good. With the thought of surpassing their teacher, they become arrogant, haughty, lazy… and subtly disrespectful…

Mujin was a lustful demonic Taoist who would do exactly that.

He’d rather die than see that sight.

“I’m hungry.”

“Ah… I see. I wondered why your movements seemed duller than usual. You should have said so earlier.”

Mujin nodded in understanding and stepped forward, drawing his sword.

Han Bulhae was dumbfounded.

Duller than usual?

Didn’t he say he was enjoying it earlier?

His trust in them was only growing weaker.

“Then please wait a moment.”

“Alright.”

The bandits rushed toward Mujin like a swarm of ants as he stepped forward to replace the retreating Zhuge Munhyeon.

They were right in front of him.

If he couldn’t block them, all their heads would roll.

“Young Master Mujin! In front! In front! Look in front of you!”

The moment Han Bulhae urgently shouted.

“Petty bandit scum… Unfortunately, I do not know how to enjoy myself.”

Mujin’s eyes gleamed with killing intent as he muttered quietly, and a blue light surged from his sword.

Swish!

It was a single strike.

The world before his eyes split in half from the horizontal sword strike.

The bodies of the bandits caught in the trajectory were also cut in half.

But those outside the trajectory were still intact.

“Die!”

Swords flew toward Mujin from all directions.

But without the slightest waver, he smiled coldly instead.

Wudang’s swordsmanship, Flowing Cloud.

Since time immemorial, flowing clouds never travel alone.

Though invisible to the eye, strong winds always blow behind the drifting clouds.

“Cloud Movement, Wind Coming. The first sword destroys, the second sword sweeps and tears apart.”

Once again the world split with a crack.

Then once more.

Eventually countless small lines overlapped in competition, and the area around Mujin was soon filled with sword strikes.

Slash slash slash slash!

No one preserved their form before his sword technique.

Small fragments of bone and flesh fell down with thuds, and blood poured down like rain.

That was the beginning.

When his light first step led to a second step, soon changing to a sprint.

Mujin’s form, carrying internal energy boiling from the Mad Soul Art, wove through the gaps between bandits, and everywhere he passed was cut down.

“I should have sent that guy from the start. I suffered for nothing.”

As expected of Mujin.

I raised him well.

Having learned the Mad Soul Art and gained the power of Primordial Unity, he produces power comparable to Gang Qi. He’s probably among the top fighters in Murim now.

Of course, he’s still far from catching up to me.

The moment I bring out my hidden black flame… no, spirit energy, the gap between Mujin and me would widen tremendously.

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words as he stepped back with a pleased smile, Han Bulhae just gaped.

Th-that much?

Since he moved as Zhuge Munhyeon instructed, he had only thought of him as an obedient subordinate…

Somehow Mujin seemed much stronger.

In less than a moment, the Daebyeolsan Main Sect was about to collapse.

And what was his true identity that his methods were so cruel?

He wielded his sword without hesitation and took lives without reservation. He took the bandits’ lives as if cutting through objects.

“He’s my disciple.”

“What?”

“He’s a Wudang Taoist, but he’s my disciple.”

“…”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words full of pride, Han Bulhae couldn’t help but be even more shocked.

A Wudang Taoist?

That guy?

He just looks like an unorthodox master, no, like a Demonic Sect member.

Not just his intimidating aura, but his very eyes…

“Damn, anyway, looks like I’ll be eating in the smell of blood.”

“…”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s sigh, Han Bulhae briefly reconsidered his earlier thoughts of looking down on him.

How can you eat after seeing that?

Could this guy possibly… not be from the Zhuge Family I know?

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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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