Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 301

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

Chapter 301

Huashan began moving faster than expected.

The Elders, who had received the Sect Leader’s orders to negotiate with Wudang, moved directly, and envoys were also dispatched to the Zhuge Family.

It seems the establishment of the Murim Alliance will be accelerated a bit more.

Also, the issue regarding the Blood Sect.

The martial families are already gathering their strength around Zhuge, and now that Wudang and Huashan, the leaders of the Daomen, have stepped forward, it won’t take long for the Nine Sects to unite.

What remains is Shaolin…

Let’s leave them be.

If they were going to come, they would have come already.

In fact, they should have come before Wudang or Huashan.

As they say, “All martial arts under heaven come from Shaolin.”

There’s even a saying that all martial learning in the world originated from Shaolin, so how great must their prestige and influence be?

Of course, since their history is long, people just naturally say such things.

It’s not like the martial arts of the demonic path came from Shaolin.

Anyway, if we can just persuade Shaolin, convincing the Central Plains would be as easy as swimming on land.

But… I don’t want to.

Like the Daoist sects, Shaolin and the demonic path are incompatible and natural enemies.

Why else would most of Shaolin’s martial arts possess anti-demonic power?

No matter how much I’ve gained a new life as a descendant of the Zhuge Family, I absolutely don’t want to get close to Shaolin.

Now there’s no need for me to step forward personally.

The tide is already moving.

By then, I’ll have done enough for both the family and the orthodox sects.

Now… it’s time to live for my own goals.

“Whew.”

The darkness before sunrise.

Zhuge Munhyeon sat alone on the wooden floor of the guest hall next to Huashan’s upper palace, where not even a fire was lit, exhaling deeply as he gently calmed his energy.

It wasn’t for cultivation.

Small Heaven Star Art.

Taoist breathing technique.

And Wood Pulse Heart Flow.

While staying at Huashan, Zhuge Munhyeon had been wracking his brains day and night trying to unite these three into one.

But it wasn’t easy.

Combining internal arts that were fundamentally different from birth…

He had thoroughly learned the method Jin Yalim practiced and even seen demonstrations, but there was no progress at all.

Naturally, his head could only ache, and rest became desperately needed.

But what is there to see in the Daoist temple?

In the middle of a rocky mountain at that.

All there was to see was the open world below the mountain.

It might be a bit better if Mujin were around, but that guy is currently searching for peers day and night, saying it’s a good opportunity to learn Huashan’s way and build friendships.

It’s all excuses.

Going around with Dan Yeonhwa, what kind of way is that…

Yesterday he said he went to see Huayin County with some Huashan disciples who clearly seemed to be lovers.

Birds of a feather really do flock together.

I must be getting old now.

In the past, I would have beaten him with Eunhangon first, but I only told him to keep his eyes well covered.

What’s life anyway?

He’s been training hard, so he should have time to play occasionally.

Kids that age naturally get their hearts fluttering even with the spring breeze.

Right now, I also needed some time alone.

“I should get some fresh air.”

Zhuge Munhyeon came outside to clear his head, which only got more complicated the more he thought.

“Where are you going?”

“…”

“Well, temple life in the mountains isn’t easy, is it? Shall we go down to Huayin County? Let’s have a drink.”

It was Jin Yalim.

He seemed to have had a sleepless dawn as well.

Well, that makes sense.

For someone who lived as a bandit, nothing would be harder than staying in a stuffy temple.

He couldn’t tactlessly intrude between Mujin and Dan Yeonhwa either.

And I’m busy with training.

Still though.

“Don’t you have anything to do?”

“It’s not that I don’t have anything…”

“Wouldn’t it be good to interact with the Huashan disciples while you’re at it? Try some sparring matches too.”

“What fun is there in fighting weak guys? Unless it’s a match with Zhuge Gongja. How about it? Won’t you spar with me this time? There’s a training ground not far from here that seems empty. Last time I was flustered, but this time will be different.”

I agree with the part about fighting weak guys not being much fun.

Therefore, sparring with Jin Yalim is… not particularly appealing.

However, I know that Jin Yalim’s words aren’t his true feelings.

He doesn’t like sparring with weak guys?

That’s nonsense.

At first, his eyes sparkled with the thought of being able to observe Huashan’s martial arts.

But there was no crazy Taoist who would show their sect’s martial arts to a bandit.

In the end… he was ostracized.

When he approached, the Huashan disciples would part left and right like the sea splitting, or step back from a distance.

He must have felt disappointed.

Poor guy.

It seemed like it was time to let him go now.

I’ve gained everything there was to gain.

There’s nothing more to obtain.

Keeping him in this bleak temple would just be meaningless torment.

“Then go back now.”

“What?”

“The kidnapping is canceled as of today.”

“…”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Jin Yalim frowned and looked him up and down.

He seemed quite disappointed.

“Is that what a kidnapper should say?”

“Huh?”

“We’ve shared life and death together, but when you brought me here it was one thing, and now you’re telling me to leave? How can you be so heartless?”

I couldn’t help but feel absurd at his protesting appearance.

When did he make such a fuss about wanting to leave?

When did he say he hated the temple?

I don’t understand why he’s being stubborn when I’m saying I’ll let him go.

“Who do you think doesn’t want to go? I want to go too! I want to leave this damn temple right now!”

“That’s why I’m telling you to go.”

“I can’t go!”

“What?”

“Damn it, did you forget I reported to the chief? I said it was decided to cooperate with the orthodox sects regarding this kidnapping incident.”

“Well, that’s…”

“I’m supposed to stick close to you.”

“….”

“Damn it, they could have assigned someone else, so why did it have to be me….”

His expression showed he felt utterly wronged.

The Green Forest’s cooperation agreed upon due to Jin Yalim’s report.

They had no choice either.

If this had been an ordinary kidnapping that happened daily in the Central Plains, they would have shown an indifferent attitude, but this time the Blood Sect was involved.

No matter how powerful the Green Forest was, it would have been difficult to refuse.

The Beggar’s Sect had already moved to find the Blood Sect hiding in the Central Plains, and all of Murim was in turmoil.

The Green Forest also had to read the situation.

No matter how much they claimed to be the masters of the Central Plains’ mountains and rivers and formed a great force, if they got swept up in this matter, it was obvious they would be uprooted entirely.

They had to draw a line.

That it wasn’t them.

That they would actively cooperate.

Because pride must be exercised with consideration of time and place.

In the end, Jin Yalim remained by Zhuge Munhyeon’s side as a symbol of that cooperation.

“Then you could just go back and send someone else.”

“Easier said than done. You don’t know what kind of person my father is.”

“…?”

“If I disobey something he’s said once, I’ll really die. He’d probably expel me from the Green Forest, wouldn’t he? Ugh, I don’t even want to imagine it.”

Jin Yalim shuddered as if recalling his father.

Hmm, the Nokrim Chongpyopalja.

He seems stricter than expected.

“Instead of that, let’s have a martial duel with me. It’s good to work up a sweat from the morning, isn’t it?”

“….”

“Why? I’ll teach you other martial arts too?”

The only thing I needed from you was the Wooden Vein Submersion Technique.

Other martial arts from the Green Forest… are completely useless.

“Let’s just take a walk.”

“A, a walk?”

“The scent mixed in the dawn air is refreshingly pleasant.”

“What kind of dog-like nonsense is that? What smell comes from air? There’s no smell at all. Instead of that, let’s have a martial duel with me. Where else can you find something as good as dawn sweat?”

Jin Yalim grumbled while sniffing and kept pestering him.

Please play with me.

No.

What sweat with someone who would collapse with just one wave of my hand?

Unless I break into a cold sweat trying to hold back so he doesn’t get hurt.

Zhuge Munhyeon didn’t respond further and started walking.

“Zhuge Gongja! Don’t be like that, let’s have a martial duel! Zhuge Gongja, this damn…was a mistake. I misspoke. Really.”

“….”

When words that shouldn’t be mixed in reached his ears and he lightly grasped Eunhangon, Jin Yalim flinched in surprise and waved his hands dismissively.

Fortunately, it became quiet after that.

I don’t know what he might be thinking inside, but since it’s not reaching my ears, it’s fine.

Zhuge Munhyeon slowly walked and looked around Huashan, which had not yet awakened.

It’s truly a good place.

Though it was nothing but a rocky mountain, the rising wind penetrated his lungs and provided refreshment, making his complicated mind seem to clear a little.

Having come out for a rare walk.

Zhuge Munhyeon, who wanted to feel leisure at least until the sun rose and the sounds of those staying here filled Huashan, passed through various parts of the temple grounds and headed down the mountain.

Answers don’t come just from endless worrying.

It would be fine to rest for a day.

Since he had come out for once, he planned to pass through Yeonhwabong and look around both Nagan Peak and Seonin Peak thoroughly.

Not only that?

It was said that Huashan had many scenic spots since ancient times.

Saja Hermitage, Cloud Gate….

Today he planned to look around leisurely, and in the afternoon meet with the Sect Leader to ask about Geollyeongji where Taeudon was said to be located.

If he didn’t know, he would search through Huashan’s bookshelf area to find things related to it.

It was while he was walking absorbed in such thoughts.

“Huh? It looks like someone’s over there?”

Jin Yalim, who had been following behind like a puppy, suddenly felt puzzled and looked in one direction.

Zhuge Munhyeon, who quickly came to his senses, looked in the direction Jin Yalim was pointing.

Before he knew it, his steps had reached Cheongga Plain, a small flat ground between Yeonhwabong and Nagan Peak.

Though not very large, it was sufficient for one person to cultivate.

Someone was standing there.

‘The Sect Leader?’

It was Ok Hwan.

But why was he here at this hour?

Since coming to Huashan, Zhuge Munhyeon had always focused only on combining the three heart methods into one before sunrise and had never gone outside.

There was no way he could know that the Sect Leader cultivated at Cheongga Plain every dawn.

“Sect….”

“Shh….”

Just as Jin Yalim was about to call out to him, Zhuge Munhyeon put his finger to his lips and blocked him.

Though secretly watching someone’s cultivation was rude, he didn’t want to disturb Ok Hwan, who seemed deeply concentrated.

Perhaps this was an important moment for him to gain enlightenment.

Even if it was cultivation he always did.

After all, enlightenment sometimes comes at unexpected moments.

[What are you going to do?]

[What do you mean what? Let’s quietly pass by. So as not to disturb his cultivation.]

[Understood.]

He was just about to muffle his footsteps and leave for another place.

Zhuge Munhyeon had no choice but to immediately put down the foot he had lifted.

‘Th, that is?’

His eyes widened.

The moment the sword was drawn and the basic stance was taken, plum blossoms bloomed like phantoms in that dark space.

In the instant he couldn’t even lift his foot, when even the moonlight was fading and it was the darkest space, the moment the trajectory of white sword light created soft lines, plum blossoms bloomed abundantly all around Ok Hwan.

Though he knew it was rude, it was a sight he couldn’t take his eyes off.

The plum blossoms that bloomed with each of his steps revealed their full-bloomed beauty, and soon the entire Cheongga Plain seemed to be filled with plum blossoms.

Not only that, but the scattered sword energy carried by the wind penetrated his nostrils.

Profound.

There were no other words to describe it.

Before he knew it, it had spread and been absorbed, filling every part of his body.

At that moment, he seemed to understand why plum blossom fragrance was called dark fragrance.

Then the fully bloomed plum blossoms scattered and fluttered away.

It was the principle of nature.

Being born, forming buds, blooming, and withering.

Each time Ok Hwan’s techniques slowly unfolded, the plum blossoms repeated blooming and falling.

It was circulation.

Flowing without going against the principles.

At that moment, it felt as if a stone had been thrown into Zhuge Munhyeon’s heart, and the ripples that arose spread uncontrollably.

‘Th, this couldn’t be?’

It was sudden enlightenment.

Even though he had been the Heavenly Demon in his previous life, even though he was confident he had seen all martial arts of the Central Plains.

The unity of three heart methods.

‘Yes, that’s what it was. Not forcing it, not trying to combine them by force… I had to let them flow naturally on their own.’

Zhuge Munhyeon sat down in meditation posture.

He closed his eyes and savored his enlightenment.

Regardless of who was beside him, regardless of where this place was, even knowing it wasn’t without danger, he couldn’t let slip this moment that seemed like it might never come again.

And.

“What the damn hell… what kind of bullshit is this, getting enlightened while watching cultivation.”

Jin Yalim’s eyes, which had been filled with bewilderment, suddenly turned sharp.

Wait, this is an opportunity?

Should I kill him?

Right now, he’d die with just a light touch.

Though such thoughts crossed his mind for a moment, he soon frowned and remained by Zhuge Munhyeon’s side, standing guard.

Father… the Nokrim Chongpyopalja told him to get along well this time.

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