Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 30

Just like the Honyeon Territory maintaining distance in their standoff, the Zhuge Family also observed their movements.

“Jang Hongsik, Jeong Byeongil, and Wang Iga have come out. Sa Hoin is nowhere to be seen. He must have remained at the manor.”

At Jeok Un’s words, Zhuge Cheong nodded with a stern expression.

Even though they had formulated strategies, reviewed them countless times, and supplemented their shortcomings, they were still at a disadvantage.

Each person had to handle twice their share.

Above all.

“What about Sayo?”

“There’s still no word.”

“Jang Hongsik has come outside, so why hasn’t she…?”

“Could it be betrayal?”

“Hmm…”

Her failure to return was concerning.

What if it became a variable that greatly affected the battlefield?

“Good grief, people have such little faith.”

“Huh?”

While everyone was worried, Zhuge Munhyeon’s grumbling voice suddenly popped out.

“I mean, whether she escaped or didn’t escape, can we put back what’s already spilled?”

“…”

“What? Are you planning to turn back just because Sayo didn’t make it out?”

“Ah, no, I didn’t mean that. But if variables come into play…”

“Why variables?”

“Huh?”

“Good grief, do you think war is some child’s game? No matter how well you plan, variables can always arise.”

“That’s true, but…”

“When we need to give our all and it’s still not enough, how can we win if the leaders are trembling over variables?”

Feeling as if they were being scolded, the leaders made awkward expressions.

“Be confident. Straighten your backs! Everyone’s looking hunched over while staring at the person in front of them…”

At those words, the leaders unconsciously spread their shoulders wide and straightened their backs.

“See? Look, that bastard stopped there and is waiting for us. That means Scholar Mun’s strategy is working.”

“But Jang Hongsik has come out personally…”

“More worrying! Scholar Mun said so, didn’t he? That Jang Hongsik has an arrogant personality and would never participate in the initial battle. If he joins the fight, we should flee without looking back.”

“That’s true, but…”

“He’ll come before then. I’ll handle Jang Hongsik. Without fail! So steel your hearts. Even if we fight desperately, it’s questionable whether we’ll win.”

Though Zhuge Munhyeon spoke confidently, they couldn’t feel at ease.

The opponent was the supreme master Jang Hongsik.

Even if they were at the same level, Zhuge Munhyeon was surely just at the beginning stage—how could he boast so boldly about stopping him?

“Geez, it’s not like I have to teach you everything from one to ten. Why are you draining your energy from the start?”

At his thoroughly grumbling appearance, everyone smiled awkwardly.

It seemed like their positions had switched.

Adults who should be encouraging others were getting scolded by a family descendant.

“But will you really be okay?”

“With what?”

“The surprise attack.”

What else could it be?

Who exactly is worrying about whom?

“Of course. First, we need to rescue the Beggar’s Sect Branch Manager, don’t we? Sayo might be captured too.”

“That’s true, but…”

They couldn’t help but worry.

Zhuge Munhyeon, Zhuge Munho, and… Gwan Hwiping.

Each had their own names, but since Zhuge Munhyeon called him that so often, it had become familiar.

It was also easier to say.

But there were only five of them.

With Sa Hoin not showing himself and unknown additional forces, they wanted to launch a surprise attack on the rear?

“Munhyeon, shouldn’t we think about this once more? If we first lure the enemies according to plan to reduce their numbers and then join forces together, even if Jang Hongsik participates later…”

“What? Are you not confident?”

“Huh?”

“If you think you’ll lose to those so-called sworn brothers of the territory lord, I’ll stay behind.”

“That’s not it!”

When he spoke dismissively and smirked, Zhuge Cheong and Jeok Un answered simultaneously.

“Then why do you keep worrying? I’ll handle my part well, so you two just do your assigned tasks properly.”

“…”

“They say when people get old, they only worry more. Tsk tsk.”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s grumbling, Zhuge Cheong and Jeok Un were at a loss for words.

Somehow it seemed like he was being respectful, but it sounded like he was scolding subordinates, and while they wanted to argue about manners, his words weren’t wrong so they couldn’t really refute him.

‘Good grief, how did the Byeongjudang Master raise his child so strangely? He seems to have manners but also doesn’t…’

Looking at Zhuge Munhyeon made them think various thoughts.

That’s when it happened.

“The preparations seem to be finished.”

At Mun Ilhwa’s words after receiving a signal from behind, tension descended.

The reason they had stopped.

It was to give the scholars time to construct their formation.

If it were a large-scale cutting formation, they’d need to dig ground, set up axes, and consider connections, which would take quite a long time, but creating a formation that caused brief confusion only required a small gap.

Meanwhile, the sun was setting and the world was turning red.

They had deliberately made a commotion as if changing formations, stirring up dust, so the enemy couldn’t even imagine they were constructing a formation.

A thousand-li scope?

Go ahead and look all you want. Can you see it?

It’s only called a thousand li in name—it can barely see five li, let alone ten… I don’t know which bastard gave it such an exaggerated name.

“Let’s start moving slowly. The sun will set soon.”

“Let’s do that.”

Even the timing was perfect.

Because Mun Ilhwa had deliberately arranged it that way.

The dimness right after sunset darkens everyone’s vision.

In other words, they’d be even more confused the moment they’re trapped in the formation.

And it would be difficult to spot them moving for the surprise attack.

‘Strategy is more interesting than I thought.’

It wasn’t necessary before.

When fighting in the Demonic Sect, they didn’t formulate strategies.

Just direct confrontation.

Force clashing against force, with the winning side achieving victory.

That’s how martial artists should be.

Strategy, what’s that…

You just walk straight into enemy territory and mercilessly cut them down.

Only weak bastards rely on things like strategy.

Weak…

“Ahem! Let’s begin.”

“Understood. Please…”

“Good grief. Worrying again!”

“…”

“Worry about yourselves. You know, right? You absolutely must not go in deep. You need to fight roughly, then pretend to be terrified and flee to lure them into the formation. You understand what I’m saying? Don’t bring up some nonsense about pride as martial artists. If you die, it’s all over. Do you understand?”

Such a long string of reminders.

The very person who told them not to worry…

“I know. I know.”

Zhuge Cheong nodded, took a deep breath to steel himself, then shouted toward the martial artists.

“Advance!”

The charge began.

The martial artists split into two groups raced across the plains, raising clouds of dust that built layer upon layer.

Sigh, I hope they don’t overdo it…

Watching their retreating figures as they charged forward, Zhuge Munhyeon found himself sighing without realizing it, then was startled.

Damn, looks like my blood is stirring again.

Who would have thought the day would come when I’d worry about the Zhuge Family.

There was a time when I was caught in their schemes and formations and wanted to kill them so badly…

Life really is full of surprises when you live it twice.

“Munho, Gwan Hwiping! Let’s move too.”

“Right.”

* * *

“They’re moving.”

“Keheheh, good, good. These bastards are coming to find their own death.”

Seeing the Zhuge Family charging forward with clouds of white dust, Jang Hongsik’s mouth stretched into a wide grin.

How delightful that those who pride themselves as the smartest in the world would become fertilizer for these plains, for Honyeon Territory!

“Three hundred zhang!”

“Two hundred… one hundred…”

The martial artists’ forms became clear enough to distinguish.

“Heheheh, too late to run now! Kill them all!”

With Jang Hongsik’s shout, the martial artists who had been divided into two sides spread out like wings and charged forward.

Dust storms rising like massive clouds charged powerfully from both sides and collided.

Kwaaaaang!

The edge of the plains rang thunderously.

The formations shattered completely, scattering into pieces, with blood spurting up everywhere.

Screams of those being cut down, trampled, and pierced echoed from all directions.

Though they seemed evenly matched at first, the Zhuge Family, who were outnumbered and had inferior martial artists from the start, found themselves on the defensive shortly after the battle began.

“Kahahahah! Bastards who don’t know their place! How dare the likes of you look down on Honyeon Territory?”

The victor’s laughter and arrogance could be heard, and the intimidated Zhuge Family lost their tight balance and began to be pushed back helplessly by the emboldened Honyeonbang.

“Zhuge Cheong! Today I’ll finally cut off your head!”

Under the sword force of Absolute Sword Hand Jeong Byeongil, whose momentum had greatly risen, Zhuge Cheong’s hands became frantic.

Though they possessed similar skills as those on the verge of reaching the peak, Zhuge Cheong couldn’t display his proper abilities as he had to keep watch over the surrounding situation.

Though the first clash was originally planned with retreat in mind, they were being pushed into a defensive position far too quickly. They needed to hold out longer, but casualties were mounting.

At this rate…

“Retreat! Quickly withdraw from the battlefield!”

He had no choice but to make the decision.

No matter how good a strategy was devised, if they suffered too much damage, it would be useless. They had to preserve their strength to continue the battles ahead.

“Support the wounded! Squad leaders delay the enemy’s pursuit!”

The Zhuge Family ultimately fled without advancing a single step from the first clash point.

Mockery and ridicule naturally erupted.

“These bastards are running with their tails between their legs. Don’t let a single one escape! Pursue and kill them! Dye the plains red with blood!”

“Don’t let them cross the mountain. We must annihilate them all on the plains!”

The Honyeonbang martial artists immediately began pursuit, and the Zhuge Family martial artists ran and ran as if their lungs would burst.

Their momentum was already boiling over.

The Honyeonbang martial artists drew closer and closer like unbridled horses, like shadows of death chasing souls.

“Tsk, I had expectations thinking they’d do something…”

Jang Hongsik, watching from afar, clicked his tongue and wore a mocking smile.

This was a fight not worth watching further.

What more could be expected from the Zhuge Family being chased like beaten dogs?

“Should I give that Sang Cheol fellow a reward at this rate?”

Wasn’t it thanks to him that Zhuge Munho was brought to death’s door?

Justice and chivalry.

Strong bonds between blood relatives.

That’s the problem anyway.

Thanks to that, they could annihilate the Yanghyeon Branch all too easily.

Without major losses…

“I should bring Sayo to show her. When she sees the corpses filling the field, she won’t be able to be stubborn anymore.”

Just as Jang Hongsik was recalling Sayo’s smooth appearance and couldn’t hide his satisfied smile.

As he was turning around, something strange caught his eye.

Suddenly the pursuit came to a halt.

What?

It was already a won war…

“Telescope, bring me the telescope!”

Jang Hongsik snatched the telescope from his subordinate and surveyed the battlefield, but couldn’t see clearly due to the thick dust and darkness that had already settled.

Were these bastards planning a desperate resistance since they were going to die anyway?

Just as he was staring intently through the dust.

“Kraaaak!”

The screams of Honyeonbang martial artists began.

The moment the Zhuge Family martial artists stopped fleeing and turned to take position, the Honyeonbang martial artists who had scattered like grains while pursuing disappeared as if sucked into thin air.

* * *

Jeong Byeongil couldn’t help but feel flustered by the sight of the Zhuge Family martial artists suddenly counterattacking.

‘A, a trap?’

No.

There wasn’t time to set up traps.

Then formation techniques?

Could it be that the reason the Military Strategy Hall scholars with weak martial arts participated was?

As Jeong Byeongil panicked at the sudden situation, a fierce sword strike flew toward his neck.

Kaaaang!

He barely deflected it and rolled on the ground, but the sword tip grazed his cheek as it passed, leaving a burning sensation.

“Urgh.”

Sticky blood wet his face.

“Zhuge Cheong?”

He had turned around, extending blue sword energy fully, catching his ragged breath.

Unlike before, facing him with a resolute expression, there was no trace of the frightened, fleeing figure.

That wasn’t all.

In the distance, Jeok Un was fiercely pressing his sworn brother Wangi, and other Zhuge Family martial artists also began unleashing fierce attacks as if suddenly possessed by something.

The bigger problem in the midst of all this was that numerous martial artists were trapped in formations activated throughout the area.

Their numerical advantage had become meaningless.

Rather, their own numbers seemed much smaller.

“These despicable bastards lured us in?”

To Jeong Byeongil’s anger as he bit his lips hard enough to make a grinding sound, Zhuge Cheong spoke in a chilling voice.

“Those words are laughable. Did you not know that the Zhuge Clan excels in Formation Technique and Strategy?”

“…”

“The real fight starts now. Absolute Sword Hand.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————