Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 298

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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 298

The investigation of Yeon Manor was handed over to the Beggar’s Sect.

Since they were already in Shanxi, there was no need to keep his movements secret.

And a full-scale investigation was about to begin.

It was tantamount to revealing the ugly truth that Yeon Manor had hidden and exposing the Blood Sect’s existence to the world.

If only Zhuge had witnessed it, it might be different, but since Huashan had also seen the scene directly, the various factions that received word from the Beggar’s Sect would move on their own.

This wasn’t the Central Plains where one lived alone.

How could a person handle all worldly affairs by themselves?

Since the floodgates had been opened, the rest would have to handle themselves.

Meanwhile, Jin Yalim’s role was quite significant.

He sent a letter to the Green Forest headquarters informing them of what happened at Yeon Manor.

Since those who had been the main perpetrators of the kidnappings would help the Beggar’s Sect track down traces, discovering the Blood Sect’s whereabouts was only a matter of time.

Of course, what Zhuge Munhyeon emphasized during this process was ‘secrecy.’

‘Hehehe, the Zhuge Family will also gain quite a bit of profit.’

Though he didn’t move directly, it was as good as moving directly.

Why?

The Beggar’s Sect’s help was crucial for this matter.

Therefore, it was a natural progression that Beggar’s Sect branches would expand much faster than before.

Those wanting to achieve merit were scattered everywhere, and everyone would want information.

Then the movements of Central Plains factions would naturally converge in one place.

Where?

Right at the Yungzhongsan Beggar’s Sect headquarters.

Then naturally, what the Beggar’s Sect knew, the Zhuge Family would also come to know.

It was as if the world was being placed on the Zhuge Family’s go board.

The Thousand-Eye Network and Thousand-Ear Network weren’t enviable.

The Family Head, who had unexpectedly sinister aspects, wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

‘Hmm, should I try moving Haowen a bit this time too?’

If he held both the Beggar’s Sect and Haowen, the two great pillars of the Central Plains intelligence world, in his hands?

Zhuge would soon reach All Under Heaven.

Just thinking about it was satisfying.

‘No, no. It would be troublesome to develop Haowen yet. It’s just one branch. I need to make them come to me first.’

That way, there would be more to gain.

A thirsty person would not hesitate to pay a thousand gold to obtain water.

Anyway, Zhuge Munhyeon’s group moved together with Huashan.

The road to Huayin County.

It was natural that Huashan’s disciples were tense.

Not only because of the tremendous divine prowess he had shown, but also because the members of his companions were extraordinary.

The only daughter of Beast Palace.

The successor of the Green Forest.

From Wudang…

Let’s exclude Mujin.

He’s just a Taoist.

However, there was one question: ‘What on earth is this?’

The pill inside the wooden case.

That was the only thing discovered at Yeon Manor.

Though the Beggar Sect members thoroughly searched the vicinity and even conducted inquiries, they couldn’t find traces of where the previously kidnapped people had moved.

They didn’t know.

They had never seen them.

‘In the end, it means they all died in there…’

The cauldron where people were put in and boiled.

It was a strange affair.

What on earth was the Blood Sect trying to do?

It was a scene he had never witnessed before, and since quite some time had passed from the point he remembered, it was difficult to gauge the Blood Sect’s purpose.

“What on earth is that?”

“Hm?”

“It doesn’t look like a spirit pill…”

At Mujin’s question, Zhuge Munhyeon grimaced and chuckled.

“The Blood Sect bastards wouldn’t make spirit pills.”

“Then?”

“I don’t know either. Since we’re on the way to Huashan anyway, we’ll have to ask there.”

“Hmm, you’re thinking of consulting with Taoists who have learned alchemy?”

“Right.”

When he nodded, Mujin looked around and whispered in a small voice.

“How about sending it to Wudang?”

“Hm?”

“We’re much better at alchemy than Huashan. After all, our history is… we’ve been researching it for a long time.”

“…”

These Taoist bastards, really.

Even in that situation, they displayed their sect’s pride.

“Forget it, it’s not an urgent matter anyway. Right now, it’s much better to give face to Huashan.”

“But…”

When he put the wooden case containing the pill into his robes, Mujin closed his mouth with a very regretful expression.

Anyway, only one pill wasn’t discovered.

Besides the ones he had brought, several others would be researched in different directions.

Among them would be renowned physicians, the Tang Family would be consulted, and it would be delivered to Wudang too.

In the process, someone would figure out its identity.

For now, he needed to look into other matters that had been temporarily postponed. It would take quite some time to reach Huashan.

“Yalim.”

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? I called you because I have something to ask. Why is your tone so challenging?”

“…”

When Zhuge Munhyeon raised his hand irritably, Jin Yalim, who had been shrinking his neck like a turtle, stuck out his lips and pouted.

He seemed to really hate himself for getting scared for a moment.

‘That kid, that kid. He’s only grown in age, but he’s still a child.’

What could be done?

I, who have lived long(?), must understand.

“Tell me about your childhood.”

“Pardon?”

“Your childhood, what kind of life you lived from birth until you started learning martial arts.”

“…”

At those words, Jin Yalim stared at him silently.

Why ask such a thing?

That was roughly the expression he was making.

Smack!

At times like this, a beating is the medicine.

Really, there are those who won’t listen to words.

“Damn it, it’s not like I’m conducting a household survey… Why are you curious about my childhood?”

“Want to get hit one more time?”

“…It was thirty years ago!”

He should have done that from the start.

Jin Yalim began recounting the story of his life as he remembered it.

He was born as the son of Chongpyopaja, a bandit leader.

He learned the martial arts of the Green Forest and reached the level of creating new techniques, earning the great title of Cheongang Star, and became the successor of the Green Forest after defeating countless brothers… it was just another typical bandit success story.

The exaggeration was quite something too.

He spoke as if he were some kind of genius of the ages.

His storytelling skills weren’t great either.

It was neither interesting nor moving.

How boring must it have been for Dan Yeonhwa, who was listening alongside, to quietly turn her head and even yawn?

It was fortunate that Mujin wasn’t there since he was having a conversation with Hyeonmuk.

But what Zhuge Munhyeon wanted to hear wasn’t such ordinary stories.

“Isn’t there anything else? Like feeling some unique energy in your childhood or something.”

“Where would I have anything like that?”

“Hmm…”

That couldn’t be right.

There had to be something.

He was definitely just being lazy and glossing over things because he didn’t want to talk about it.

It seemed like an example was needed.

“Yeonhwa.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Tell us your story.”

“Pardon?”

“About your blindness. How it felt in detail.”

“I understand.”

Dan Yeonhwa began her story.

Her sorrowful tale, told in a gentle tone, touched the hearts of the listeners with the help of her appearance.

Even Jin Yalim, who had been half-heartedly listening while picking his ear with a bored expression, was now focused, and the nearby Huashan disciples perked up their ears.

“Afterwards, I met Master and was able to cure my blindness. I’m still grateful.”

When Dan Yeonhwa’s words ended with a bright smile, some even made gestures as if to applaud.

Her story had emotion in it.

Especially during the touching anecdote with her father, some even had tears welling up in their eyes…

Well, that wasn’t the important part.

“Yalim.”

“Yes?”

“What about you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you had similar experiences to Yeonhwa?”

“Similar… experiences?”

“Right. Being different from others, being sick somewhere, or seeing things others couldn’t see. Like ghosts, for example. Or did you have any problems learning martial arts?”

“Well… hmm, I did have an illness.”

“An illness?”

“Should I call it an illness? Those damn quack bastards said it was a heavenly curse that couldn’t be cured… But who am I? I overcame it with willpower.”

“…”

Here he goes bragging about himself again at every opportunity.

I wonder how many more beatings it would take for him to give only the answers I want quickly.

“So, what kind of illness was this so-called heavenly curse? Tell me the symptoms.”

“Why do you want to know when you’re not even a physician?”

“Tsk!”

“…They called it Closed Meridian Syndrome.”

“Closed Meridian Syndrome?”

“Yes. They said my blood channels were blocked from birth, so even if I learned heart methods and accumulated internal energy, I wouldn’t be able to use it.”

“What were the symptoms?”

“Just… there weren’t really any symptoms. It was inconvenient because I couldn’t move my limbs freely? Oh, and if I overexerted myself, I felt pain like I was going to die.”

“Hmm.”

“The quacks said my whole body would stiffen and I wouldn’t be able to move before I turned twenty, but… as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

At Jin Yalim’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon formed a hypothesis.

What if it was spirit energy that blocked the blood channels?

He would have become disabled.

Unable to manifest and gradually becoming stiffer and harder.

“So? How did you overcome it?”

“I recreated the Green Forest’s heart method to suit my body. I thought if I couldn’t move anyway, I might as well try to break through the blocked blood channels.”

His heart raced.

So he must have broken through the blood channels. And that heart method would have fused the spirit energy accumulated in his body with his internal energy.

If not, spirit energy couldn’t be circulating in his blood vessels.

In other words, what he knew was something I needed too.

Anticipation surged that he might be able to reach a new level.

Though he had never coveted others’ possessions in his life, at this moment he was consumed by greed.

“What kind of heart method is that?”

“Pardon?”

“The heart method you recreated. What kind is it? What did you modify and how? How does the energy circulation work? Which blood channels do you follow and how do you flow it?”

When he interrogated him persistently, Jin Yalim, who had stopped talking and was staring at him, laughed with an incredulous expression.

“My goodness, that’s taboo…”

Whack!

“Ahhh!”

The Silver Cold Staff vigorously struck his head.

Jin Yalim rolled around holding his head with both hands.

Right, taboo.

Who wouldn’t know that?

In the martial world, if you tried to find out someone’s martial arts, swords would be drawn immediately.

Who would agree to tell you the details in the midst of all this?

“Damn it! Isn’t this really going too far? It’s not just asking for the name of someone’s martial arts, but asking them to reveal the methods of qi circulation and energy flow! Who the hell would tell you such things?”

“I would.”

“What, what?”

“I absolutely must know. Everything about that heart method you created.”

“…”

Jin Yalim flinched in surprise and stepped back.

Looking at him now, Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes were not normal.

Madness was surging within them.

The will that he absolutely must know was clearly evident.

Even killing intent was surging, as if saying he would kill if not told…

“W-wait a minute. This isn’t right, is it? No matter how much of a master you are… how can you, the son of the Zhuge Family, try to commit such an immoral act?”

“I told you, you’ve been kidnapped.”

“…”

“I can do whatever I want. So tell me. I’m in the mood to dissect you alive and examine every single blood vessel in detail.”

He’s insane.

This bastard is truly not in his right mind.

Jin Yalim looked around seeking help.

Then everyone quietly averted their gazes.

Hey, you bastards!

Right now a righteous sect bastard is breaking taboos right in front of your eyes!

Why are you looking away!

That’s when he realized.

The fact that among their group right now, he was the only one who was both from the Unorthodox Sects and a bandit.

“But I won’t kill you. That’s really a last resort.”

“….”

“But if you don’t talk, I’ll have to make you talk. I know about fifty-eight thousand ways to do that, you know? So just speak obediently.”

Fifty-eight thousand ways?

That was a lie.

It was probably just slightly different methods of beating him up.

‘Ah, damn it. Even Heaven is heartless. To be kidnapped by such an Evil Seed.’

It was pitiful.

He was also at the Gang Qi stage, yet here he was in a situation where he had to submit after being beaten.

He’d rather have his money stolen.

In all his life, he never imagined there would be someone who would extort martial arts.

This guy was more vicious than bandits.

But that place was no different from an isolated island with no one to help him, so Jin Yalim finally let his shoulders droop and said weakly.

“Through sound transmission… let’s do it.”

Jin Yalim once again decided to fear the shit out of the murderous sincerity contained in Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes.

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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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