Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 41
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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 41
The one most flustered by Zhuge Munhyeon’s cold gaze toward the midnight intruders was Sayo.
It wasn’t because of the sudden attack.
‘Ah, these crazy bastards…’
I had almost convinced them all, I had barely managed to calm that monster down, so why now!
How deplorable.
‘Did eating hot meals and filling your bellies with some fat cloud your judgment, you fools?’
How could former Gaebang members be so thoughtless?
If they had controlled the Dangang District territory, they should have grasped basic information about those living within it. Moreover, this wasn’t just any commoner, but a musician leading the Dangang District Artists’ Association and a relative by marriage of the Zhuge Family.
Above all, he was the maternal grandfather of the unknown monster called Zhuge Munhyeon.
Ah, did they perhaps trust in Wudang?
That within their territory, even the Zhuge Family couldn’t cause a disturbance recklessly?
Ridiculous nonsense.
To be clear, Dangang District is not Wudang’s territory.
Those who have left the secular world may form relationships with families that seek their help, but they don’t control nearby regions like martial family clans do.
There are places called Zhuge Family â—‹â—‹ Branch, but there’s no such thing as Wudang Sect â—‹â—‹ Branch for that reason. At most, there are only lay disciples or martial halls.
Even if the world had changed and they established branches, the Wudang Sect couldn’t interfere when the Zhuge Family’s relatives were attacked.
So it was utterly absurd that these former Gaebangdo members had made such a judgment.
“Hehehe, look at these bastards? They finally came to find us themselves?”
Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes began to glitter with murderous intent.
That aura was so menacing that just being beside him was enough to make one’s body shrink.
Now it couldn’t be stopped.
I had barely gotten a chance to try saving them, but they had thrown it away themselves.
The strength left the hand that had been gripping his sleeve, dropping limply. Along with a sigh, her head also drooped deeply.
That’s when it happened.
Click, thud!
The hopeful sounds of something being released and falling to the floor came in succession.
“…Huh?”
When she raised her head in puzzlement, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping, who had removed the iron rings from their wrists and ankles, were making refreshed expressions.
Why were they doing that?
“Munhyeon! You stay put.”
“What?”
“As they say, why use an ox-slaying blade to kill a chicken?”
Just as the blade for killing chickens differs from that for killing oxen, everything has its appropriate use.
So you guys are the chicken-killing blade?
When Zhuge Munhyeon looked at them with a frowning face, Zhuge Munho subtly avoided his gaze while speaking confidently.
“I understand you’re angry, but do you really need to concern yourself with mere lackeys?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Leave those bastards to us elder brothers, and you take care of our relative elder. Harming our relative elder is absolutely unforgivable as a member of the Zhuge Family! I shall eliminate those bastards with my own hands!”
Before he could say anything, Zhuge Munho approached the intruders with a determined expression.
…I shall? What’s with that?
Did you want to look cool?
“Let’s go!”
“Yeah!”
“These bastards, how dare they break down the front gate?”
Then Gwan Hwiping rolled up his sleeves and followed.
Having missed his timing to step forward because of this, Zhuge Munhyeon could only make an incredulous expression.
“Well I’ll be, why are they getting angry?”
He wanted to tear apart all the bastards who had come, but since they were stepping forward for the sake of his relative elder…
His angry heart softened slightly.
“Elder Brother Munho.”
“Yeah?”
“If you go easy on them, you’ll die.”
“O-of course!”
Zhuge Munhyeon withdrew his aura with a reluctant expression, and Sayo, who had been full of worry, brightened at the sound transmission that came at that moment, precious as gold.
[This should work, right?]
It was Zhuge Munho.
He had understood her feelings.
[As you heard, Munhyeon is watching, so I can’t go easy on them.]
[I won’t ask for much. Just let them live.]
Sayo, who had responded, finally let out a sigh of relief.
At least they wouldn’t die.
That was enough.
Since the Palmun Gang had made the first mistake, even if the suppression process was somewhat excessive, there would still be sufficient possibility for persuasion.
Of course… she couldn’t guarantee the lives of the leaders.
“You bastards.”
“…?”
“Do you at least know where this place is before coming here?”
When Zhuge Munho approached and pointed his sword with flashing eyes, Yeom Dongmin, the squad leader of the Palmun Gang commonly called Wildcat, smiled mockingly.
“Would we have come without knowing? Looking at you, you’re Zhuge Family brats.”
“…Brats?”
“That’s right, little boy.”
At Yeom Dongmin’s words, Zhuge Munho’s anger seemed ready to burst through his forehead.
“These bastards… you knew this was the home of the Zhuge Family’s relative and still did this? We tried to resolve this nicely…”
“Pfft! Relative my ass. He wasn’t even being treated properly. And what’s the Zhuge Family? Do you think we’d care about some crumbling family?”
“Ah, is that so?”
Zhuge Munho was smiling, but inside, a thousand fires were burning.
That was reality.
That’s how the martial world viewed the current Zhuge Family. Being ignored even by Gaebangdo members who had fallen to the level of mere branch offices and become destitute.
“But hey, Zhuge brat. Do you four think you can do something to us? Tsk tsk, when young ones act up without knowing the world, this is what happens to their family.”
For some reason, his expression was full of confidence.
“Do you know who I am?”
“…”
“I’m currently serving as the Right Chief of the Palmun Gang, but I’m Yeom Dongmin, a Three-Knot disciple who once belonged to Gaebang.”
Though Yeom Dongmin’s murderous intent, which had been mocking and sneering throughout, extended and wrapped around his body, Zhuge Munho remained calm.
It was because he lived with someone truly frightening.
And Right Chief?
Three-Knot disciple?
So what?
He had only learned about the Palmun Gang’s existence today.
“Hah, anyway, you knew this was the home of our main family’s relative and still attacked? Then that’s settled. That means you’re prepared for the consequences.”
“What’s that? Prepared? Kahahaha! Look at these crazy bastards! These wet-behind-the-ears brats…”
“…”
“Bastards who don’t even know how the world works killed eight people to save one old man, and even blew up our gang’s building with explosives? You’re the ones who need to be prepared.”
“Huh?”
At those words, Zhuge Munho couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
He had expected them to rampage, but…
They destroyed buildings too?
It couldn’t have been explosives in the midst of it all.
They must have smashed it by beating it down.
What a terrifying guy.
How thoroughly did he smash it that they’d mistake it for explosives?
It was when he was having such thoughts.
“Hah, I went to the trouble of saving you from that monster, and you don’t even know gratitude, just babbling on and on…”
“Elder Brother Munho! How long are you going to listen to such nonsense?”
“Damn it! Can’t you feel that monster’s gaze? He’s been glaring at us! Just finish this quickly!”
Gwan Hwiping threw out a word each with an irritated voice, urging them to fight.
The younger brother was glaring at them.
If they didn’t start, they themselves would be in danger.
“You heard them? Stop the conversation?”
“What?”
“You’re really lucky. It’s us who stepped forward, not that guy.”
“What do you mean…”
It was the moment Yeom Dongmin frowned.
Swish!
Suddenly his vision flashed and he felt a burning sensation on his cheek.
Drip.
Yeom Dongmin, who brought his hand to the flowing sensation, realized it was blood.
And.
“Huh?”
Zhuge Munho was even more surprised.
He had just tried it once, but he never thought it would actually work.
The younger brothers beside him also had startled expressions seeing the blood flowing from Yeom Dongmin’s cheek.
“Hey, guys. This actually works?”
“R-really?”
It was the result created by the difficult and bothersome cultivation.
And that was enough to ignite a fierce flame in their hearts.
Though they had vaguely sensed it, it was as if they had confirmed with their own eyes that they had truly become stronger.
Meanwhile, what they held in their hands were weapons carefully selected from the Heroic Martial Armory, items made by master craftsmen and steeped in history.
Zhuge Munho, whose confidence had surged to overflowing in an instant, spoke to Yeom Dongmin.
“I’ll spare your life.”
“…!”
Zhuge Munho kicked off the ground and charged forward, with Gwan Hwiping chasing after him. At the same time, the Gaebangdo—no, the Palmun Gang’s martial artists—all rushed in at once.
But Yeom Dongmin couldn’t move.
What had left a wound on his cheek wasn’t sword energy.
It was sword wind created by the swung blade.
But harming someone with sword wind alone is much more difficult than using sword energy.
Because that speed must exceed the limits of the physical body.
C-could it be these guys weren’t just youngsters?
Dry saliva went down his throat with a gulp.
What if all four of them had reached a realm beyond sword energy?
With the current numbers, it would be impossible…
Thwack! Splat! Crash!
Impossi…
“Whew, now you’re the only one left?”
“…”
Just four of them had beaten down the dozen or so former Gaebangdo members in a few breaths.
“H-how…”
“Did becoming a ruffian make you that dull to rumors?”
Zhuge Munho chuckled at the surprised Yeom Dongmin.
“Haven’t you heard that the Zhuge Family has been rising again, starting with destroying Honyeon Territory not long ago?”
“Honyeon Territory was destroyed?”
“That’s right. We were the main players in that.”
“T-that’s…”
At those words filled with pride, Yeom Dongmin finally came to his senses.
He had messed with the wrong people.
The moment he abandoned the Beggar’s Sect path and chose a new one, he had become ignorant of rumors.
‘Damn it…’
Since an important guest was visiting, Palmun, the leader, was personally entertaining them.
He had secretly given orders upon hearing news that the branch building had collapsed… but now he was about to be massacred by the Zhuge Family’s young masters.
Most importantly, recalling their conversation, that guy in the back who had been glaring with a grim expression the whole time was stronger than the one who used sword wind.
This wasn’t the time to fight.
Palmun, who was attending the banquet and entertaining guests, knew nothing, so he had to inform him quickly.
Yeom Dongmin glanced at his fallen subordinates and turned around without further hesitation.
“That bastard?”
Zhuge Munho frowned at his action of abandoning his subordinates and fleeing, and tried to chase after him urgently.
But there was a shadow that moved before him.
Swoosh!
Just one step.
Sayo, who leaped at tremendous speed, reached out toward Yeom Dongmin.
Ping!
With a sound of piercing air, a sharp secret blade wrapped around Yeom Dongmin’s body and was firmly embedded in the ground.
“Gah!”
Yeom Dongmin let out a single scream and was pulled in the opposite direction from where he was running.
It was because of the silver thread connected to the secret blade.
And.
Crack!
Sayo’s knee slammed into his fallen face.
“You damn bastard! Abandoning your subordinates and trying to run away alone!? What kind of Three Knots disciple are you!”
Seeing her mercilessly trample the fallen Yeom Dongmin, she seemed very angry.
Well, she had strong pride in the Beggar’s Sect.
Anyway, they had completely subdued all the villains who had trespassed on the manor.
But then.
“…What are you doing right now?”
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had only been watching, spoke in a chilly voice.
What’s this killing intent?
Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping felt a creepy sensation and seriously wondered if they had done something wrong.
“Munhyeon, what do you mean? We knocked them all down.”
Unlike Zhuge Munho who spoke with an awkward smile.
“Well, we were a bit late, weren’t we?”
“That’s right. It’s all because Elder Brother had that pointless conversation.”
“Exactly. What’s with having a conversation.”
Gwan Hwiping blamed Zhuge Munho and shook his head.
Those bastards only thinking of saving themselves…
But Zhuge Munhyeon’s answer was completely different from what they expected.
“Knock them down? Who said that?”
“Huh?”
“I’m pretty sure I said not to go easy on them, didn’t I?”
“…Then?”
“Of course we have to kill them. Why? They’re not even martial artists, just evil bandits who attacked the manor – you think it’s okay to forgive them with just that much?”
“…”
“What? Can’t do it? Then I’ll do it myself.”
Zhuge Munhyeon had left it to them since they stepped forward, but from the beginning he never had any intention of letting those men live.
He picked up the Silver Cold Staff and rose, approaching the fallen men, but no one could stop him.
With such murderous intent radiating from him, how could anyone dare to intervene…
But just then, a second chance to save the Beggar Sect members arrived.
“Cough, cough. Munhyeon.”
“…!”
A voice flowing out as the door was thrown open stopped Zhuge Munhyeon’s steps.
Baek Hanseong had awakened, his sleep acupoint released thanks to the physician who had received excessive payment doing his utmost to care for him.
And his voice gently subdued the beast that had been radiating killing intent.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes, my boy. Are you alright? You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then that’s all that matters.”
Tears streamed down Baek Hanseong’s aged face as he embraced Zhuge Munhyeon.
He had been worried even while unconscious.
Before falling asleep, he had seen his grandson who had come to rescue him…
Thanks to this, the monster withdrew his killing intent and regained his composure, while Sayo and Zhuge Munho sighed in relief, patting their chests.
Heaven had helped them.
The front courtyard of the manor had nearly been covered in blood and flesh.
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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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