Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 51

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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 51

“Hey there, set up the retaining wall before removing those stones. Why are you touching that? What kind of digging is that! Good grief, move aside!”

Zhuge Munhyeon took direct command of the earth excavation work to clear the collapsed debris, breaking into a sweat.

Naturally, no one could afford to slack off.

The moment someone got distracted, Zhuge Munhyeon’s sharp-eyed reprimand would come crashing down.

“You there, are you playing around right now? Everyone else is working! Is that shovel just for decoration?”

“S-sorry, sir.”

Martial artists naturally have good eyes and ears.

They just don’t usually use them, but once they put their minds to work, the workers in front of the secret cave couldn’t escape Zhuge Munhyeon’s perception.

Even while digging himself, he skillfully managed the work like a puppeteer controlling the excavators’ bodies with invisible strings.

Thanks to this, the debris was cleared in no time.

When the cleanup was finished and retaining walls were erected everywhere, Yeonghwa couldn’t hide his amazement.

The place that had been full of dirt and rocks just moments ago…

“Incredible! Truly remarkable. To think the progress could be this fast!”

“Even with natural talent, this would be difficult. That’s work sense. People who can organize a worksite so cleanly in an instant are extremely rare. That boy can only be seen as someone born to become a master craftsman.”

“It certainly seems that way. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Pardon?”

“What more is there to see? Munhyeon possesses such outstanding skills, and with Baek Mu, who has long held the position of Grand Forge Master in the Zhuge Family, also present, I can trust and leave it in your hands. Thanks to this, I should be able to handle the backlogged work at Woojin Palace as well.”

“Ah, I understand. I’ll take responsibility and complete the secret cave repairs.”

“Thank you.”

After seeing off the departing Yeonghwa and returning, Baek Mu’s mouth stretched from ear to ear.

In that brief moment, the progress had increased even more.

Digging with shovels and pickaxes, quick analysis of geological conditions and response methods…

“Munhyeon.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to have experience managing people?”

He did.

About ten thousand? Or perhaps more?

From atop high cliffs, he had looked down at the gallant warriors of the demon path running in groups and controlled all their movements with a single finger.

But Zhuge Munhyeon wore a modest expression as he spoke.

“It’s probably because of my experience commanding battles at the Yanghyeon Branch. I was in charge of the assault team and commanded Elder Brother Munho and Elder Brother Gwan Hwiping.”

“Haha, how could that compare?”

Baek Mu stroked his chin and laughed.

Just four people?

And operating an assault team?

That was nonsense.

Without experience commanding large numbers of people, the previous work couldn’t have proceeded so smoothly, yet Zhuge Munhyeon was as skilled as if he had long experience commanding from above, despite this being his first time.

Meanwhile, his individual abilities were lacking in nothing.

He was a natural.

While there were those with extensive knowledge of mechanical arts, none were skilled in such basic labor as well.

Of course, what satisfied him wasn’t just Zhuge Munhyeon’s skills and work sense.

The more experienced workers tend to be stubborn, rarely listening to those they consider inferior. If someone has high status but is young, they’re often ignored even more.

But look at this.

He had them under control in an instant and was smoothly proceeding with the work.

‘If this job goes well, our relationship with Wudang will become closer, and my will might reach the main house.’

He had already thought of a position.

Chief craftsman of Heavenly Workshop.

A position to assist himself as Regional Lord.

So what if he was the Military Strategy Hall Master’s son?

From what he’d heard, despite being asked about his intentions multiple times since childhood, he had said he didn’t want to become a formation master.

Then naturally, he should follow in his own footsteps.

And wasn’t he from the direct line?

The mechanical arts, which had been treated as subordinate techniques or appendages to formation arts, would finally come to the forefront.

It was mechanical formation arts to begin with.

They weren’t called formation mechanical arts.

From the start, it shouldn’t have been under Military Strategy Hall but should rightfully be Heavenly Workshop Hall.

Zhuge Munhyeon would be the person to mark that starting point.

Wouldn’t the Military Strategy Hall Master oppose this?

With his own son serving as Regional Lord, how could he?

He would surely provide abundant financial support as well.

Thus, the reconstruction of the Zhuge Family would begin with Heavenly Workshop.

‘Hehehe, that boy is Heavenly Workshop’s lucky charm. A lucky charm. I was already worried about not having anyone suitable to entrust with succession. Living earnestly has brought heaven’s help. I’ll definitely get that boy established in Heavenly Workshop.’

Unaware that Baek Mu was hatching such schemes(?), Zhuge Munhyeon pressed forward with the work.

It wasn’t something he couldn’t handle.

Actually, it was a bit bothersome at first, but once he started, his heart began to race.

Not because the work was going well.

Hyeoncheonja’s secret cave.

Wasn’t he standing right in front of it now?

Soon, the uncollapsed portion of the secret cave would reveal itself.

Then he could meet him.

Hyeoncheonja Yu Gilcheon.

Though his physical form had vanished, the traces he left behind would remain intact.

With traces of unfulfilled dreams right before his eyes, his heart couldn’t help but grow impatient.

But he had to be meticulous.

The collapsed secret cave could collapse again with even a small mistake. If by any chance he went inside and it collapsed, he’d be trapped with no way out.

“There, reinforce it a bit more.”

“Yes!”

Seeing him point out even easily missed details, Baek Mu unconsciously nodded.

He was fully developed, doing things on his own without being told. Fully developed.

It was just as the sun was about to set after the long work session.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, Zhuge Munhyeon shouted loudly, bringing the workers to a halt.

A single metal rod protruding from the debris.

To some, it might just be something to pull out, but to members of the Zhuge Family, it had entirely different meaning.

“Grand Forge Master!”

“Yes! We’ve finally completely cleared the debris.”

Turning to look, Baek Mu had also seen the metal rod and approached with a thoroughly tense expression.

It was a trace of mechanical devices.

Finally, the entrance.

“Munhyeon, step back for a moment. From here on, I’ll examine it myself.”

“Yes.”

At Baek Mu’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon immediately stepped back.

Though he wanted to clear it right away and enter inside, an accident might occur. Even though it had collapsed, they needed to confirm whether the mechanism’s functions remained.

“Now, now, it’s dangerous so all excavators please step back. Since it’s a collapsed mechanism, it’s difficult to predict.”

“Yes!”

The earth excavation workers moved far away. Only Baek Mu and Zhuge Munhyeon remained near the secret cave.

“Hmm, the gears are still engaged.”

“Does that mean it’s still operational?”

“It’s possible. First, we need to examine which part it is.”

“Yes.”

Baek Mu, who had been carefully touching the iron rod embedded in the ground, called for the Military Strategy Hall scholar who was on standby.

“Check this. The gears seem to be engaged, so it shouldn’t have been pushed from inside.”

“Yes, Grand Forge Master.”

Yang Hun, who was in charge of designing mechanical devices for the Military Strategy Hall, and Yeo Mungi, who came as his assistant, descended with rolled-up bundles of paper.

Dozens of old papers spread on the ground were secured with paperweights, and several books were opened.

These were related to the mechanisms and formations installed in Hyeoncheonja’s secret cave long ago.

Since it was such an old matter and no records were kept at Hyeoncheonja’s request, quite a lot of time passed for the analysis.

After measuring the distance from the cave entrance to where the iron rod was found and searching for related information, the types of installed mechanisms and formations were narrowed down to a few possibilities.

“Hmm, it seems to be a shooting needle trap.”

“Shooting needle trap?”

“Yes.”

“Then it would be around the middle section.”

“That’s what our analysis suggests.”

“But if it’s installed this way, it should be the type that prevents external intrusion?”

“It’s an internal release system.”

“Tsk, that’s the worst case.”

Baek Mu frowned at Yang Hun’s words.

“Why? Is there some problem?”

“Well…”

As Baek Mu struggled to find words to explain, Yeo Mungi, who was beside him, spoke calmly.

“You know there are two main ways to release formations, right?”

“Ah! Don’t tell me mechanisms are the same?”

“Yes.”

He already knew this from his studies.

When the installer, not an intruder, wants to release a formation, they use methods to neutralize the axis from inside or outside.

However, the internal method is a bit tricky.

Since the end of the axis is inside, one must enter the formation to release it.

If the axis is tampered with from outside, the formation undergoes infinite changes and goes berserk.

In other words, mechanisms work the same way.

What’s installed in the secret cave won’t lose its effect unless someone inside releases it.

But if one enters recklessly, the mechanisms will exert their original power and attack the intruder.

“Finding and releasing them one by one will take quite some time.”

“Pardon?”

“There’s no choice, is there? Wudang wants the Cheongyang Sword… Let’s stop the work for now. I need to meet Palace Master Ujin and tell him that the time needed to neutralize the mechanical devices will be somewhat lengthy.”

“Lengthy? Then exactly when will…”?

“Well, if it’s short, a month, but if it’s long, it could take up to a year.”

“A, a year?”

“Yes. Originally, repairing broken mechanisms requires patience. Remember this well. The most important thing is safety.”

“…”

“Then for now, set up boundary lines around the area and put up warning signs. I’ll go see Palace Master Ujin.”

Baek Mu patted his shoulder and left the work site.

The workers began driving stakes and setting up boundary lines in perfect order.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s eyes trembled as he stared at the cave entrance.

We’ve come this far…

A month, maybe even a year more to wait?

* * *

Night when darkness settled in every corner.

Wudang’s night was much darker than other places since no torches were lit due to fire hazards.

What illuminated the surroundings were only the moon and stars in the sky, and the dim lanterns lighting the pavilions.

Following Zhuge Munhyeon’s usual principle that cultivation shouldn’t cease even in that small light, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping had just finished their horse stance and were about to start formation training.

But then.

‘Why does his face look like that again?’

‘Damn, what’s bothering him now?’

‘The training intensity isn’t going to increase, is it?’

Gwan Hwiping, whose heart now raced at even small changes in Zhuge Munhyeon’s expression, naturally looked at Zhuge Munho.

Elder Brother, you ask him.

At that look, Zhuge Munho thought.

Do you think my heart is made of iron or something?

“Ahem! Break time’s over! Let’s enter the formation.”

“…”

Gwan Hwiping could only sigh at his elder brother’s cunning as he quickly slipped into the formation.

Right, formation training would be better.

If he stood out unnecessarily, who knows what hardships he’d face.

Swoosh, swoosh swoosh.

The Jinbu Hermitage pavilion where everyone had disappeared.

Zhuge Munhyeon, resting his chin on his hand, wore an expression full of irritation.

“A year? A yeeeear?”

It was just a possibility that it could take that long, but it wouldn’t leave his mind.

How can I wait for that?

If he hadn’t come at all, it would be one thing, but he’d managed to come to Wudang and even cleared all the debris from the cave entrance.

It’s right in front of me, I just need to go inside!

“This isn’t right. This isn’t right.”

No matter how he thought about it, that was the case.

Safety my ass…

He’d never worried about his life before.

“Right, they said I just need to find the Cheongyang Sword anyway. They said nothing else was needed.”

Zhuge Munhyeon, whose eyes had become bloodshot from the strain of glaring fiercely into the empty darkness, muttered lowly.

Having encountered a problem, he knew the solution was clear, so he quickly finished rationalizing to himself.

“Right, fate. Why wait for that? Will heaven help if I just sit still? No. That’s not right. They say ‘Do your best and await heaven’s will.’ If you don’t prepare yourself, why would heaven help? Fate… isn’t something you wait for, but something you create yourself.”

Was it because he’d made up his mind that way?

A voice from somewhere stimulated his greed.

Go! Hurry and go check!

Zhuge Munhyeon was already standing, and in his hand was an iron shovel.

Then, like someone intoxicated by a thick fragrance, he stepped forward with an entranced expression and disappeared into the darkness toward Yangbu Hermitage.

No one witnessed his movements.

The temple servant who tended the pavilions had returned home when evening came, and there was no one watching due to their thick friendship.

Those staying with him had entered the formation to train, avoiding any troubles that might arise.

“Right, it’s not like I’m endangering anyone. Formations, mechanisms, whatever – I’ll just break through that stuff and find the Cheongyang Sword.”

Wudang would find their ancestor’s weapon, and he would find whatever Yu Gilcheon had left behind.

He who had once been the Heavenly Demon originally had a personality that absolutely had to do whatever he wanted, and had no patience.

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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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