Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 54
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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 54
He couldn’t read the diary except for part of the first page.
Crack, crackle.
The cave walls were splitting as if they would collapse at any moment.
What had barely held together after collapsing once in a heavy rain was now vibrating as the mechanisms activated.
“Damn it, they’re not giving me time. Time…”
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been trying to carefully examine and read to find clues about Ascension to Immortality, hurriedly stuffed the Hyeoncheon Records into his chest and picked up the Cheongyang Sword.
It would be troublesome if it collapsed.
He wasn’t a mole – what skill did he have to escape?
Well, since he had taken the Cheongyang Sword that he would return to Wudang anyway, he could read the diary slowly when he had time.
That’s what the movies showed.
If he obtained something, it would be his destined connection…
And taking this much should be fine.
Logically, since they had recorded him as a villain, they should take responsibility for that.
“If it’s only about Wudang, I can return it after reading.”
Zhuge Munhyeon searched around for a mechanism release device.
According to Yeo Mungi, it should be inside…
He couldn’t just leave.
He had nearly died coming in, and didn’t want to experience that again.
The problem was.
“Huh, there isn’t one?”
He couldn’t see anything like a device to release the mechanisms inside the cave.
Crack! Thud!
Damn it!
Parts were already falling…
His heart grew urgent.
At this rate, he’d be crushed to death.
Ah, I should have listened to Baek Mu…
Being greedy for nothing.
At that moment.
“Could it be… the door?”
Zhuge Munhyeon recalled the thunderous sound that had echoed when the iron door opened.
But his feet wouldn’t move easily.
What if he was wrong? What if the mechanisms and formations activated again while the secret cave was collapsing?
However.
Thud! Rumble!
Due to the cave beginning to collapse, he couldn’t continue pondering any longer.
“Yu Gilcheon, you damn bastard!”
The good feelings vanished completely, and Zhuge Munhyeon immediately threw his body outside the iron door.
Fortunately, the mechanisms didn’t activate.
It seemed the iron door was correct.
Well, he must have some conscience.
After writing about connections and such, he wouldn’t have blocked the exit path.
“But why isn’t anyone coming? The second disciples who were guarding outside must have reported…”
Naturally, the surprised Wudang Sect or Zhuge Family should have organized a rescue team to come save him.
As he ran with relief, a feeling of disappointment washed over him.
“Damn bastards, what’s the use of teaching martial arts? This is why you shouldn’t carelessly take in black-haired beasts…”
While grumbling throughout, the secret cave collapsed sequentially from the inside, and Zhuge Munhyeon escaped at maximum speed.
But.
“Huh?”
Outside was empty.
Why was no one there?
Forget the rescue team – even the second disciples who had been there before he entered the secret cave were nowhere to be seen.
Don’t tell me these bastards, their duty hours…
Did they not even report because they were afraid of getting in trouble?
These damn bastards.
If his skills had been even slightly lacking, he would have died right there in the secret cave.
And at that moment.
Rumble, crash!
The secret cave completely collapsed.
A thunderous sound, and vibration.
Yet there was no reaction whatsoever.
“Strange, did something happen?”
Tilting his head in puzzlement, Zhuge Munhyeon immediately walked toward the pavilion of Jinbu Hermitage where he was staying.
Having run that much was enough.
He could walk while catching his breath for a moment.
But somehow the atmosphere of Wudang Mountain was getting stranger.
Weren’t there lights filling the distant mountain ridge?
What would they do if a forest fire broke out…
Having no way to know what was happening, he was approaching Jinbu Hermitage with only puzzlement when.
“Munhyeon!”
Zhuge Munho, who had been pacing outside, spotted him and rushed over.
So they had been looking for him.
Now he had to explain.
That he had entered the secret cave that supposedly took a year and retrieved the Cheongyang Sword and Hyeoncheonja’s remains.
Just as he was about to make a proud expression.
“You, your clothes…”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“How so? You’re wearing a robe?”
Zhuge Munho, who had been tilting his head because it looked as worn as something picked up from the street, suddenly came to his senses and spoke again.
“Big trouble. Really big trouble.”
“Ah, about how that happened…”
“Dojang Mujin has gone mad.”
“Mujin… huh?”
What was this about now?
Suddenly Mujin going mad?
So they weren’t looking for me?
“From what I heard, he suddenly emitted a blood-red light… oh, it was complete chaos.”
“Blood-red light? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know well either. Wudang was keeping it quiet, so I couldn’t hear the details.”
“…”
“It seems Dojang Mujin was cultivating in the abandoned Taiji Cave, but suddenly came out and attacked Wudang disciples.”
“He attacked the disciples?”
“That’s what they say. It was complete chaos. All the Wudang elders came rushing out, and all the first disciples are also mobilized searching for Dojang Mujin. They told us not to move an inch.”
At that moment, the disappointment in Zhuge Munhyeon’s mind disappeared and one answer along with several questions arose.
The reason why the second disciple wasn’t there.
Since such a thing had happened at Wudang, naturally they couldn’t have informed him that he had entered the secret cave.
No, they wouldn’t have even had time to worry about it.
But why on earth did Mujin…?
What did he do in Taiji Cave that made him attack his fellow disciples?
“Actually, I was so curious that I asked the Taoist boy who tends the pavilions, and he said that Taoist Mujin revealed his demonic nature. Even the sect leader couldn’t recognize him.”
“What?”
“Long ago, the Heavenly Demon died in Taiji Cave, and something he left behind must have made him like that.”
His mind went blank for a moment at Zhuge Munho’s words, who knew relatively detailed information despite saying he hadn’t heard much.
But Taiji Cave, Heavenly Demon, demonic nature… Mujin?
And one old memory flashed through his mind.
“Ah!”
He had forgotten.
That was an enlightenment gained in just an instant.
That’s how people are originally.
When death approaches, they try to leave something behind.
Yu Gilcheon left a diary called the Hyeoncheon Chronicles, and the Heavenly Demon of that time left behind the enlightenment he gained in his final moment.
‘…Mad Soul Art.’
While looking at the writing carved on the wall, he thought this wasn’t right.
It was a martial art that skipped the refining process because it was momentary enlightenment.
In other words, it was excellent but incomplete martial arts.
He was going to erase it because he didn’t know what would happen if those Wudang disciple bastards discovered it after he ascended to immortality.
But.
‘I just blocked it with stones because I felt it was a waste at the last moment… Could it be that guy named Mujin found that?’
It couldn’t be otherwise.
The blood-red eyes he had seen in him.
The story about him going berserk, emitting blood light and causing chaos.
“This crazy…”
So that acquired reason was me?
It’s karma.
Bad karma at that.
One martial art that he had carelessly left behind and forgotten had ruined the life of a Taoist with a bright future.
Wh-what should I do?
I don’t know how much that guy obtained, but once he passes through demonic possession and enters true demonization, it can’t be reversed.
Because he won’t stop until he burns up all his true essence.
“That Heavenly Demon bastard really is a villain among villains. How does he cause such trouble to Wudang even after death?”
“Trouble? That’s shit, shit. He completely smeared shit and left.”
“I really can’t imagine what he was like in the past. Good that he died. Good that he died. No wonder everyone paid respects to the Sword Release Pool that Wudang made.”
Gwan Hwiping, who was nearby, chimed in with comments.
These bastards!
When they don’t even know properly?
And Zhuge Munho asked as if he had just remembered.
“By the way, where are you going?”
“…”
How quickly he asks.
But that’s not the problem right now.
I’m already recorded as some kind of villain, and at this rate I’ll become a sinner for all eternity.
In the meantime, those bastards like Gwan Hwiping who specialize in complaints and dissatisfaction found out, so how much will they chatter about it in the future…
Ah, fuck, really!
Me back then, why the hell did you leave such a thing?
You should have just erased it instead.
“Munhyeon, why is your expression…”
“Where?”
“Huh?”
“Where did that guy named Mujin go!”
“Well, I don’t know that.”
“…”
Zhuge Munho blinked and stared at him.
Well, there’s no way he’d know.
They were told not to budge from Jinbu Hermitage…
I need to find him.
Because only he would know how to stop Mujin.
‘Sigh, so this is how I learn that whoever ties the knot must untie it.’
Zhuge Munhyeon, who had contorted his face, immediately turned his body.
“You guys, don’t move and stay here.”
“Well…”
“Absolutely don’t come out! Got it?”
“…Hey! Where the hell are you going!”
Without time to answer Zhuge Munho’s question, Zhuge Munhyeon immediately ran toward the mountain ridge.
Damn it, where would I go?
I’m going to clean up the shit I made, you bastard!
He didn’t know Mujin’s location, but if he followed the torches that seemed to be searching for something, he could meet him.
When Zhuge Munhyeon kicked off the ground, flew up, stepped on tree branches and disappeared in an instant, Gwan Hwiping asked Zhuge Munho who was left behind.
“Elder Brother, why is that guy acting like that again?”
“Where is he suddenly going?”
“I tell you, that guy is sick. Wudang told us to stay put, but what kind of trouble is he trying to cause again…”
Zhuge Munho’s face hardened at their words as they shook their heads.
Could Munhyeon be… trying to help Wudang?
Well, he’s that kind of guy.
He can’t stand seeing injustice or difficulties.
Above all, what if they could provide even small help to Wudang?
“I was stupid. That guy Munhyeon calculated even that in a short moment. Pretending not to know about difficulties when told to stay put.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Gwan Hwiping!”
“…?”
“Remove your iron rings and follow me! Let’s chase after Munhyeon!”
“What? What do you mean? Both Wudang and Munhyeon told us to stay put.”
“You bastards! Aren’t you coming quickly?”
When Zhuge Munho shouted and ran out, Gwan Hwiping stuck out his tongue several times and chased after him.
‘What a pointless fuss.’
‘Exactly.’
‘I tell you he’s been influenced.’
* * *
It’s complete chaos.
Injured people were overflowing everywhere.
A dignified Taoist had suddenly gone berserk with demonic nature and rampaged while attacking his fellow disciples…
They probably felt like they were struck by lightning out of nowhere. In the meantime, if he was a disciple of Purple Heaven Palace, his position would have been quite solid.
“Argh! This is really driving me crazy!”
It wouldn’t have been just once.
Just reading the incantation formula once wouldn’t cause demonic nature to explode in an instant.
He must have repeated it countless times.
Gwanghon Formula.
That was a type of martial art that touched upon human desires.
Once he reached a certain level and became unable to control his emotions, he would have been swept up in anger and hatred, which are the first to react among the five desires and seven emotions. And unable to overcome greed, he would have continued to crave more…
“Which way did he go?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking which way Dojang Mujin went!”
When he shouted angrily asking for his whereabouts, Wudang’s injured disciples flinched in surprise and pointed somewhere with their fingers.
“Th-that way… The Elders went after him.”
As soon as he heard those words, Zhuge Munhyeon ran without looking back.
This bastard… went to the village?
Damn it! Of all places, why there?
Stupid Wudang bastards!
They should have stopped him somehow!
Did they learn sword formations just for show?
But knowing that the cause lay with himself, Zhuge Munhyeon ran even harder.
My stamina has dropped from going in and out of the secret cave…
How long had he been running like that?
Kwaaaaang!
A rough shockwave and explosive sound came from a place he had passed by.
Without hesitation, he changed direction and ran to where there was Mujin with a grotesque smile, emitting blood-red light, and on the opposite side, Wudang’s Elders were in confrontation, having formed an encirclement.
Thank goodness.
Really thank goodness.
He was caught before reaching the village.
He didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened if that crazy bastard had gone down to the village.
“Palace Master!”
“…Munhyeon? How are you here? And what is that appearance?”
Yeonghwa, one of the Elders forming the encirclement, showed a surprised expression.
Since he was wearing Hyeoncheonja’s robe, it was understandable that she’d be bewildered.
An explanation was needed, but there was no time now.
The blood-red light had become too intense… he was about to enter true demon state.
Then there would be no method other than killing him.
“Huff, huff… I’ll explain later, so please leave this to me now.”
“What?”
“Then will you kill him?”
At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words as he grimaced heavily, Yeonghwa couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
They could never kill Mujin.
They would think everything was because of the Heavenly Demon, and the disciple was not at fault.
If they had intended to kill him, they wouldn’t have let him come down the mountain in the first place.
But they can’t stop him.
The one who knows that method.
“I! Only I know the way to save Mujin!”
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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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