Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 61

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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 61

 

 

The formation inspections that had continued for a month, once every three days, were proving to be of great help in cultivation.

Though the entire formation wasn’t activated, even the partial activation of certain sections conveyed a suffocating sense of pressure. He couldn’t even count how many times he’d narrowly escaped being trapped.

Why hadn’t they used this excellent cultivation method before?

Just as he was wondering about this.

“Ahh! Save me!”

“…”

“Aaaahhh!”

Gwan Hwiping, who had been following behind, must have mistepped and gotten trapped in the formation, causing another commotion.

I brought him along to do odd jobs…

Is he really a descendant of the Zhuge Family?

Even with iron rings on his limbs, how could he have entered and exited ten times yet still show no improvement?

Maybe I should make him skip meals until he does it properly.

“Sigh, Elder Brother Munho. Record the formation’s changes. I’ll go bring back those idiots.”

“Alright.”

After Zhuge Munhyeon clicked his tongue and went back into the formation.

“What a fascinating guy.”

Zhuge Munho couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Since returning from Wudang, he had begun receiving proper instruction in the Small Heavenly Star Technique and the family’s martial arts.

Though he was initially indifferent, he couldn’t help but listen attentively to the teachings that picked out only the essential points.

What kind of person is he really?

He could spot flaws in martial arts he’d never learned just by watching a few times, and guide him toward better directions.

When I asked in surprise, he said it was All Streams Return to Source.

He said that when you reach the pinnacle, you can see other martial arts to some degree.

It’s not like he’s some absolute master of the Zhuge…

But how could I not believe what I see with my eyes and hear with my ears?

And that time allowed him to feel and realize many more things.

His teachings completely transformed the attitude toward viewing and approaching martial arts. It felt like he explained things in an easy-to-understand way.

Thanks to this, he could feel himself getting stronger day by day.

How could that be possible?

Sometimes he seemed like a seasoned old master who had grown up in the murim.

“Sometimes he seems like a child too.”

That was the truth.

He’d never seen anyone as faithful to their emotions as that guy. What he likes, he likes, and what he dislikes, he absolutely won’t do even if Uncle Byeongjudang orders it.

There’s no stubborn person more stubborn than him.

Living closely together for cultivation every day, he came to know his personality roughly.

He’s a guy who does everything his own way, but if you can just communicate with him, there’s no one gentler.

When he can’t contain his anger, you just need to use Aunt as an excuse.

She’s the only person who can handle him.

“Well, it makes sense with Aunt. She cherishes him so much.”

Since he’d been seeing her often lately, he knew well how Baek Suhyeon treated Zhuge Munhyeon.

“Gwan Hwiping and those guys need to learn his personality too… They should have figured it out after getting beaten that much.”

Zhuge Munho chuckled and hurriedly wrote down his analysis of the formation techniques. He couldn’t just be doing nothing when Zhuge Munhyeon returned, or he’d get angry.

But then.

“…Who is it?”

A faint vibration sound.

At least ten or more horses were approaching.

When he turned his head toward where the sound came from, he could see dust clouds rising in the distance.

And shortly after.

“Deputy Branch Manager!”

“Yeomcheon?”

“Haha! Yes! It’s me, Yeomcheon.”

“How did you come to be here?”

It was the martial artist Yeomcheon who had been under his command when he was deputy branch manager of the Yanghyeon Branch.

But the joy was brief, as Zhuge Munho looked at those who came with Yeomcheon.

Warriors who all wore blue headbands on their foreheads.

‘Namgung Family?’

He could recognize them immediately.

Only they wore blue headbands with blue martial robes.

But what business did they have with the Zhuge Family?

Though he felt puzzled by the sudden visit, Zhuge Munho immediately approached them with proper etiquette and greeted them.

“I am called Munho of the Zhuge Family. What brings the Namgung Family to our main house?”

“I am called Namgung Cheonwoong. The people of Anhui often call me the Nine Wall Sword.”

At those words, Zhuge Munho couldn’t help but be quite surprised.

Nine Wall Sword?

Even though he’d been secluded in Yungjoong with limited information, he’d heard enough about him to know how excellent he was.

He was said to be one of the finest in the Namgung Family.

But he didn’t feel particularly good about it.

If he had come to visit the family as a guest, he should have properly dismounted his horse and approached, or at the very least, dismounted after hearing the greeting and responded.

But he was still on his horse.

Moreover, despite this being their first meeting, he was speaking down to him.

Was it because the etiquette differed between the scholarly Zhuge family and their martial family? Or was it the characteristic arrogance shown by someone who thought he possessed greater power?

“Deputy Branch Manager, didn’t you hear anything from the main house?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Namgung Family visited the branch office to announce their visit, so we sent a messenger bird to the main house…”

“Hmm.”

At Yeomcheon’s words, Zhuge Munho finally understood what had happened and nodded.

The formation inspections that had been conducted once every three days recently.

Though only by sections, when the formation was activated, Yungzhong Mountain was sealed off. Not even messenger birds could pass through.

Even if they had passed through after the formation was deactivated, the inspections continued, so news from within wouldn’t have reached him beyond the formation.

“It seems communication with the branch office wasn’t working properly. Today is during a formation inspection.”

“Oh my, I see. We didn’t even know that…”

Yeomcheon showed a flustered expression.

“It’s not your fault, so it’s fine. First, let me apologize to the guests who are waiting.”

“Yes.”

After dismissing Yeomcheon, Zhuge Munho apologized with a courteous expression.

“I apologize. It seems there was a small problem with our communication. We’re currently inspecting the formation, so entry is difficult. I’m sorry, but since there’s been no other contact from inside yet, could you wait for a moment?”

“Oh my, such a thing happened. Then notify them inside right now.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a formation we’re testing anew, so even we don’t have easy access yet. Someone who knows the formation well will come out soon, so even if it’s inconvenient, if you could just wait until then…”

Zhuge Munho apologized again as he spoke.

But then.

“Well, this is absurd.”

“…?”

“You say it’s difficult to enter and exit a formation that you yourselves set up? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Behind Namgung Cheonwoong.

A man of similar age walked forward, spitting out words filled with displeasure.

A youthful face.

‘But one whose status is not low.’

Despite his young age, stepping forward before warriors in their twenties meant his status was high.

Above all, Nine Wall Sword, who should have stepped forward to restrain him, merely watched.

‘They’re looking down on the Main House.’

Zhuge Munho gritted his teeth.

No matter how much power one possessed, no matter how great one’s family was, there were courtesies that should be maintained between each other.

But not doing so meant they considered themselves superior.

‘This Nine Wall Sword fellow isn’t as good as his reputation either.’

Though anger surged within him, such was the way of the world, so Zhuge Munho suppressed it and asked again politely in a voice that revealed no emotion.

“Who might you be?”

“Me? Namgung Yu.”

Using the Namgung surname meant he was from the direct line.

His sharp aura indicated he had undoubtedly cultivated martial arts to an exceptional level.

Even if he could understand and overlook Nine Wall Sword’s attitude as a senior, someone of the same generation should properly show respect…

But this was the current position the Zhuge Family held in the martial world.

Wasn’t a family’s prosperity more important than courtesy?

He had no choice but to endure…

“You may not understand, but such is the formation technique spread here. Unless it’s deactivated from within, no one can enter until contact is made from outside.”

“So you’re going to make us stand here like this?”

Namgung Yu snorted with mockery, but Zhuge Munho remained courteous.

“Therefore, I apologize. Someone who can guide you will return soon, so please wait until then. I will have him convey the situation to the Main House.”

“This bastard…”

Perhaps that composure displeased him?

As Namgung Yu frowned, Namgung Cheonwoong finally intervened.

“Yu, that’s enough.”

“Uncle!”

“Isn’t this the Zhuge Family’s situation? If they themselves cannot deactivate the formation, it wouldn’t be courteous for us to be stubborn either.”

“…Tch.”

Only after Namgung Cheonwoong’s words did Namgung Yu retreat with pursed lips.

His intervention.

That too was discourteous.

Though his words sounded reasonable, they contained subtle disdain for the Zhuge Family.

That’s when it happened.

Whoooosh! Thud!

The formation rippled, then something popped out and was slammed to the ground.

As if it had emerged from empty air where nothing had been.

“Ow, my back. That damn bastard really…”

The one who had been slammed to the ground and was getting up while stretching his back was Zhuge Pyeong.

His clothes were covered in dirt and his body was covered in bruises.

“Elder Brother Munho! Please do something about that guy! Why does he always use his fists… Huh… Who are you?”

Zhuge Pyeong, who had been grumbling while full of irritation, noticed the strange atmosphere and asked cautiously.

“They are people from the Namgung Family. Pay your respects.”

“N-Namgung Family?”

“That’s right.”

“Greetings. I am Zhuge Pyeong.”

Perhaps intimidated just by hearing the name Namgung, Zhuge Pyeong offered his greeting while bowing obsequiously.

Though he didn’t like his younger brother’s undignified attitude, what was the point of criticizing it?

He himself couldn’t even show anger at the opponent’s rudeness.

“Where’s Munhyeon?”

“He’ll be out soon. Dragging the kids by their hair.”

Zhuge Pyeong grumbled in a small voice, and just as he said, Zhuge Munhyeon soon emerged from the formation, dragging Gwan and Hwi by their hair.

“These brats, really, making people suffer because they can’t get out of one formation, what the hell?”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been venting his irritation while setting down Gwan and Hwi, glanced around.

He had sensed the presence that filled the area in front of the formation.

However.

“What’s this now?”

“…”

It was just a different expression due to different personalities.

Perhaps he didn’t recognize the Namgung Family’s attire.

Still, “what’s this now”…

Zhuge Munho found himself wearing a bitter smile without realizing it. Though it lacked courtesy, it felt refreshing inside.

But he couldn’t leave things as they were.

There was no telling what that fellow might say.

“Munhyeon, these are people from the Namgung Family. Pay your respects.”

“Namgung?”

Unlike Zhuge Pyeong, he just glanced at them briefly. He seemed to pay them no mind.

Though he hadn’t said anything in particular, such behavior naturally made the Namgung Family warriors frown.

‘Munhyeon, you really…’

Worried that something unpleasant might happen between them, Zhuge Munho felt pleased inside but quickly intervened.

“They seem to have business with the Main House. So go inside and deactivate the formation.”

“The formation… why?”

“Huh?”

Zhuge Munhyeon approached and covered his mouth with his hand while speaking into his ear.

“From what I can see, they don’t really seem like guests?”

“Huh?”

“If they were guests visiting someone’s home, shouldn’t they have dismounted from their horses?”

“…”

Zhuge Munhyeon had pointed out exactly what Zhuge Munho had swallowed and couldn’t bring himself to say.

But was this supposed to be a whisper?

His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear?

“You bastard! What did you just say!”

Namgung Yu frowned and got angry, while the Cheonpungjo warriors openly revealed their killing intent.

He had spoken for them to hear, and it seemed they had heard.

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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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