Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 38

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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 38

 

 

From Yungzhong Mountain to Wudang wasn’t far.

The repair team chose the land route.

Just like with the Yanghyeon Branch, they needed many tools for repairs, so they had to travel with carts loaded full of supplies.

They could use waterways, but loading and unloading cargo would happen multiple times.

They had plenty of time anyway, and the roads were well-maintained, making travel comfortable. Most importantly, since the Wudang Sect looked after this region, there were no threats from bandits, water thieves, or demonic sect forces.

Occasionally some ruffians might appear at rest stops, but even dozens of such thugs would be no problem for Zhuge Munho.

“But you’re coming too?”

“Yes.”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned when he saw Sayo and several Gaebangdo members included in the group.

“Why?”

“Well, naturally where the needle goes, the thread follows, doesn’t it?”

“What?”

“Oh my, you don’t know.”

“…”

Sayo covered her cheeks and acted embarrassed.

‘She called him a needle?’

‘Are those two in that kind of relationship?’

‘At this rate, won’t the Byeongjudang Master’s wife end up welcoming a beggar daughter-in-law?’

Gwan Hwiping muttered.

Those bastards…

No, this is really!

Why does she keep saying unfunny and useless things that cause misunderstandings?

“Do you really want to die?”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood for a moment.”

“Should I loosen your muscles and joints strand by strand instead of the mood?”

“I won’t do it again.”

Since she could feel the sincerity in his eyes, Sayo was startled and immediately apologized.

“Be careful.”

“Yes!”

“So why are you following along? Shouldn’t you be working on gathering forces by Jagwi Branch Leader’s side right now? There probably aren’t any Gaebangdo around Wudang either, right?”

“Actually, it’s not because of Gyunhyeon where Wudang is, but because of Dangang District.”

“Dangang District?”

“Yes. I heard that you’ll be briefly stopping by your maternal family home. Some of the scattered Gaebangdo are living as ruffians there.”

“Living as ruffians? Gaebangdo members?”

“They have no choice. They need to survive too.”

“Hah, the world really has gone to hell. It feels like just yesterday they were going around calling themselves the Gate of Chivalry.”

“Pardon?”

Sayo tilted her head.

Gate of Chivalry.

The Beggar Sect used to call themselves that.

A very long time ago…

But after they scattered, no one calls it that anymore? What does he mean by ‘just yesterday’? He’s only fifteen…

“You sometimes say things that are hard to understand.”

“Huh?”

“It’s been well over several decades since the Beggar Sect stopped calling itself the Gate of Chivalry, yet you speak as if you remember those times.”

“Ah…!”

Zhuge Munhyeon finally realized his mistake.

Damn, he’d carelessly let out his thoughts.

What if this sharp-witted Beggar Sect member thinks something’s strange? Then she’ll try to dig deeper… He can’t exactly kill her to silence her, so should he pull out her tongue?

He was seriously contemplating this by himself.

“Did you perhaps read it in a book?”

“Huh?”

“The Byeongjudang Master said so. That you enjoy reading books and have read all sorts of things.”

“Ah… th, that’s right. Something like that.”

“I thought so. After all, the Zhuge Family’s Ten Thousand Books Pavilion has all kinds of books.”

“Yeah. That’s why I know many stories from the past.”

He smiled awkwardly, but it seemed to pass smoothly enough.

Phew…

“By the way, I heard you first spoke when you were a hundred days old? You said ‘Mother, food’ very clearly.”

“Huh?”

“And you finished the Thousand Character Classic when you were three, which is really amazing. I heard you even pretended not to be smart on purpose so you wouldn’t differ too much from your other siblings?”

“What?”

He was shocked.

How does she know that?

Even for the Beggar Sect, it would have been difficult to find out personal matters from over ten years ago, right?

And it’s such a favorable and biased interpretation.

“Why are you so surprised? Information about you is a top priority for us too.”

“Still, how did you find out such things?”

“A servant girl named Sohye told me.”

“What? Sohye did?”

“Yes. When I started by saying I owed you a life-saving debt, she just praised and praised… She talked by herself for almost two hours.”

“…”

“She said when you were little, your intestines were so strong that you needed your diapers changed twelve times a day…”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”

Since Sayo had already experienced being hit, she closed her mouth the moment Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes changed.

‘Damn, why did Sohye tell such useless stories…’

But how could he not know her personality?

She was probably excited.

She who always felt sorry that she only got scolded would often fight with other servant girls.

When someone praised her, she was so happy.

Well, whatever.

What does it matter who knows?

It’s not like he’s living in hiding like a spy, and there’s no problem with childhood stories being talked about.

“But why are you walking? Everyone else is riding carts or horses…”

“I’m cultivating.”

“Cultivating… Ah!”

Sayo, who had been puzzled, quickly caught on after looking at the footprints on the ground.

She’s not a Beggar Sect member for nothing, it seems.

“Hmm, seeing how it’s not noticeable, you must have hidden armor or leg guards under your clothes. For footprints to be that deep… even considering your weight, it must be well over 150 geun…”

“Ho? Not bad?”

“It’s basic for a Gaebangdo member. This is our profession, after all.”

She spoke casually, but it wasn’t an ability to be taken lightly.

Gaebangdo professionally learns tracking arts.

Since following others around is their job.

But even so, inferring the form and roughly gauging the weight just from a quick glance is impossible with ordinary deductive skills.

‘He seems to have inherited Heavenly Return’s lineage… This one isn’t ordinary either. If things go well, he could truly be of great help to the Beggar Sect.’

Though he hasn’t yet reached his time of awakening, if he gains enlightenment in a single moment, he might become the future of the Beggar Sect.

No, it’s certain.

Because it’s my intuition, and no one else’s.

Hmm, should I give him a little push while I’m at it?

But then.

“What are you writing right now?”

“Pardon?”

“You stopped talking and started writing something so intently.”

“Ah, this is… well, you see.”

“Are you perhaps writing about me?”

“Hahaha!”

When he frowned at her hesitant behavior, Sayo quickly stepped back.

This is really…

She’s quick-witted too.

Now that she knows I’m wearing iron rings.

“Sigh. Fine, fine. More importantly, how far have you learned the Drunken Reason Step?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just tell me.”

“It’s a technique called Wind Floating Willow Body… You probably wouldn’t know it even if I told you.”

“Hmm… A willow branch swaying in the wind, that’s Reverse Step, right? Used when avoiding an opponent’s attack and launching a counterattack.”

“That’s… what?”

Sayo, who had been nodding without realizing it, looked up in surprise.

I roughly remembered it.

Since I’ve fought against Heavenly Return before.

I was quite fascinated by his movement technique, so after the fight ended, we argued about it for quite a while, and I even pondered applying it to my own martial arts.

“But if you’ve learned the Drunken Reason Step, why don’t you combine offense and defense? When I saw you before, you were only using the movement technique.”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t know? Tsk tsk, the transmission is a mess. ‘Chui’ is the movement technique and ‘Li’ is the attack method. That’s why it’s called Drunken Reason Step. Among them, Wind Floating Willow Body would probably suit attacks that strike at the opponent’s openings. If the complete incantation formula wasn’t passed down, if you ponder in that direction, you’ll achieve some good results.”

“…”

“And ‘Chui’ means drunken steps, so you must mainly use Swift Change to maximize its effectiveness. So don’t try to attack all at once, but mix in various changes to confuse, and you’ll see openings for attacks.”

Sayo just stood there frozen with her mouth agape.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s words.

They aligned with what her master sometimes pondered: ‘Wasn’t the original Drunken Reason Step supposed to look like that?’ No, they had even more depth.

As if he had penetrated to the core…

Above all, for a moment she felt like he was a seasoned master who had surpassed a certain level.

“What are you doing? Are you going to keep standing there?”

“Pardon?”

“You keep falling behind the formation.”

“Ah!”

At those words, Sayo, who had been frozen like stone, hurriedly caught up with the formation.

“Young Master, how on earth do you know the Drunken Reason Step?”

“Know what? When I hear technique names, I can deduce things to some extent.”

“That’s possible?”

“Yes. At least for me.”

“That’s impossible. You’re only fifteen…”

When Sayo muttered in disbelief, Zhuge Munho, who liked taking sides(?), chuckled and said:

“Munhyeon’s words are probably true.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s originally a guy whose talent pierces the heavens. We’re sometimes amazed too. Actually, the family’s… um, anyway, that’s how it is. That guy’s abilities are acknowledged even by the adults of the Zhuge Family, so you’d do well to listen carefully.”

“…”

At his agreement, Sayo, who had been just blinking, suddenly pulled out the paper she had hidden.

If even the Zhuge Family people say so!

“W-wait a moment! So what did you say earlier? ‘Chui’ is movement technique and ‘Li’ is attack method, and what about the changes?”

“You didn’t listen properly when I told you once.”

“I’m sorry. If you could tell me once more…”

“Hmm, fine. If you try to write while walking, you might trip over a stone, so let’s just stick to questions and answers for now. Later when we rest at an inn, I’ll point things out while looking at the movements in detail.”

“R-really?”

“If you don’t want it, never mind.”

“No! How could that be? You promised!”

“That’s what I said.”

At Sayo’s almost pleading words, Zhuge Munhyeon smiled slightly.

Showing one’s own sect’s martial arts in detail to others is tantamount to taboo.

But she must have yearned for it all along.

The fact that she endured despite living as a Gaebangdo member in a woman’s body being far from easy meant she truly cared for the Beggar Sect.

‘Well, giving a little help wouldn’t be bad. That guy Heavenly Return and I had quite a good connection.’

So he decided to help the Beggar Sect, no, Sayo.

If she became stronger, it would be of great help to the Zhuge Family too.

Also, later when he properly sought the Ascension Method, having one trustworthy Gaebangdo member would be even better…

‘Hmm, but to think the Dangang District Gaebangdo are living as ruffians… While I’m at it, should I help them out too? It would help with security in the area where my maternal family lives, and it would have the effect of making the Beggar Sect grow a bit more.’

It didn’t seem bad.

Five days would be enough for some ruffians, and Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping needed to gain some real combat experience too.

 

* * *

 

A day after departing for Wudang, the procession stopped at a crossroads that split in two.

This was because Zhuge Munhyeon was temporarily leaving the main procession to visit his maternal family home in Dangang District.

“Munhyeon, you must arrive in Gyunhyeon in five days without fail.”

“I will.”

“If you can’t join us after getting permission to enter the mountain from Wudang, it would be troublesome…”

“Geez, I know, okay? Five days later, Gyunhyeon, Blue Horse Inn. Right?”

“That guy’s temperament, really.”

Baek Mu, who had been making him promise several times, burst into a hollow laugh and nodded.

If it were someone else, he would have scolded them, but during the month of teaching the basics(?) of mechanisms, they had grown quite close.

Unlike others he had taught who might have regarded it as mere digging and carpentry work, wasn’t this fellow who followed along silently without complaints?

It was a sincerity unbefitting his age.

Because of that, he sometimes thought he wanted to teach him everything he knew…

“Go on then. Your maternal grandfather will be waiting.”

“I will. Then I’ll see you in five days.”

“Yes.”

After seeing off the main procession, Zhuge Munhyeon headed toward Dangang District where his maternal family lived, along with his companions.

When the two groups gradually grew distant and finally only those who knew Zhuge Munhyeon’s true nature remained.

“So then… shall we run?”

“Huh?”

“I’m bored from walking all this time.”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Munho immediately prepared to run, while Gwan Hwiping made an expression of disbelief.

‘This crazy bastard finds even walking difficult.’

‘That guy is completely sick, sick.’

‘Just go get yourself a beggar wife!’

Those who had been pouting hesitated with bewildered expressions when Zhuge Munhyeon drew out the Silver Cold Staff he had tucked behind his back.

Don’t tell me he chose an iron club among all those many weapons just for this purpose?

Really vicious.

But.

“If you’re slower than me… know that your buttocks will be on fire.”

Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping, startled out of their wits, began running frantically. While wearing those heavy iron rings.

“That’s more like it.”

Zhuge Munhyeon grinned wickedly and quickly followed behind them.

Thwack!

Zhuge Pyeong, who got his buttocks struck hard, screamed and overtook the group.

Their running speed became even faster.

See, they could do it but just weren’t doing it.

This is why he had no choice but to push them.

Even if not to the extent of the student surpassing the master, if they wanted to achieve constant self-renewal, they had to diligently increase their cultivation intensity.

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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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