Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 69

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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 69

 

 

‘Damn, shit.’

Even though he wanted to dodge or block, his body was already out of control, and Zhuge Munhyeon’s fist was truly in its element.

Thwack! Crack! Smash!

Namgung Cheonwoong was getting beaten so thoroughly it brought to mind the saying about getting dusty on a rainy day, while the sons of the Zhuge Family and Cheonpungjo of the Namgung Family could only stare blankly.

Nine Wall Sword is… getting beaten?

Without even being able to resist once?

In the process, they learned for the first time that a person could bounce like a ball.

But the fist showed no signs of stopping. Like a child playing with a ball, he kept bouncing Namgung Cheonwoong around.

It was surprising that he defeated a Supreme Peak martial artist, but…

At this rate… what if he dies?

“Mu, Munhyeon!”

Zhuge Munho cried out in a panicked voice, horrified.

“Hm?”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been swinging his fist with enthusiasm like a musician intoxicated by his own performance, finally came to his senses only after seeing Namgung Cheonwoong collapsed on the ground like a bloody mess.

“I got too excited. Ahem!”

He smiled awkwardly and looked at his juniors(?) who had their mouths agape in shock.

Are you that proud?

Do you find me admirable?

I know, I know.

Since Zhuge has surpassed Namgung, your hearts must be so full it’s hard to breathe.

However.

‘Is this something to smile about after turning someone into that state?’

Zhuge Munho’s reason for being shocked was completely different.

It is impressive, though.

He never thought he would actually defeat Nine Wall Sword.

But even his swelling heart couldn’t dispel his worry about what would follow.

What about Cheonpungjo?

They began showing killing intent at the sight of Namgung Cheonwoong collapsed at Zhuge Munhyeon’s feet.

Those called the elite of the Namgung Family.

“Damn it!”

Zhuge Munho had no other choice.

Though he was frustrated to death wondering why the outcome always turned out this way when he got involved with this damned bastard, he had to fight alongside him now.

Drawing his sword, he immediately ran out and stood as if protecting Zhuge Munhyeon’s side, pointing his sword at Cheonpungjo.

“Hy, Elder Brother…”

“Fuck…”

“Damn it…”

Gwan Hwiping was the same.

What else could he do besides curse?

Even if he disliked it, they were ultimately blood relatives…

But seeing his brothers like this, Zhuge Munhyeon wiped the blood from his fist and spoke bluntly.

“Hm? What are you doing right now?”

“Don’t you know? The opponents are Cheonpungjo!”

“So what?”

“What do you mean so what?”

How can he be so thoughtless?

Why does he look like he hasn’t thought about the consequences at all!

“Munhyeon, since Nine Wall Sword has ended up in that state, Cheonpungjo won’t stay still. Even if we can’t be of much help, we’ll fight together.”

“What?”

“Gwan Hwiping! Flying Swallow Small Sword Formation!”

“Don’t call it that!”

Though annoyed by Zhuge Munho’s words, Gwan Hwiping formed a diamond-shaped formation centered on Zhuge Munhyeon.

Watching their actions, the expressions of surprise from earlier flashed through Zhuge Munhyeon’s mind.

Hmm, you guys perhaps…

That surprised expression earlier wasn’t respect and awe?

You were just shocked because you feared the consequences?

And you call yourselves blood brothers!

Sighing deeply, Zhuge Munhyeon pushed aside Zhuge Munho who was blocking his way and stepped out of the formation.

“Mu, Munhyeon! We’ll…”

“Fight what fight? Those guys are also martial artists with decent reputations, do you think they’re thoughtless?”

“Huh?”

“And… no, never mind.”

If you fight, you’ll win.

…he almost said.

These guys roll under him every day, so they don’t seem to realize how strong they’ve become.

But there’s no need to make them arrogant by saying it unnecessarily.

“Follow me.”

Passing by the bewildered Zhuge Munho, Zhuge Munhyeon sheathed his sword and approached Cheonpungjo.

“When he wakes up, tell him not to forget his promise. If he doesn’t keep it, then I’ll really come to collect an arm or leg.”

“…”

Then he leisurely walked through Cheonpungjo.

He’s really crazy.

What’s he going to do if he gets attacked like that?

But Cheonpungjo only glared and didn’t block him. Rather, they stepped aside left and right as Zhuge Munhyeon’s steps reached them.

“What are you doing? Not coming?”

“…”

“Hurry up. I’m hungry. Don’t forget to bring those iron rings.”

Behind Zhuge Munhyeon who was waving his hands as he walked, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping each grabbed an iron ring and walked while completely intimidated and watching for reactions.

“Straighten your shoulders, you bastards! We’re just walking down a path, why are you so scared?”

“Huh?”

A path?

This is a path between a mountain of blades and forest of swords!

Walking closely behind Zhuge Munhyeon, they looked back several times in surprise even after getting far away.

In case they might chase after them…

 

* * *

 

When what was once one splits apart and fights, movements arise to unite as one again.

Such is the principle by which the world has flowed.

When a country falls and powerful figures from various regions fight to have more, a crane among chickens would conquer the world and create a new unity.

The current Murim is in such a situation.

Small factions have been in chaos, repeatedly taking and being taken from for a long time.

As the protected weak decreased, medium and small powers slowly began new dreams.

Unification of All Under Heaven.

Those with power began to stretch their limbs, seeking to become masters of the world.

Those who had left the secular world were somewhat slow, but those who moved according to worldly gains were swift.

Those who were once called prestigious families and had preserved their power intact, or those who had grown their influence in the shadows…

One of those in such ranks was the Namgung Family of Anhui.

With their main house in the castle city of Hefei, they recalled the branches that had extended outward during chaotic times to strengthen their foundation.

They reduced unnecessary expenses, avoided reckless fights, and raised and developed their warriors.

They endured bandits appearing everywhere and rampaging as if the world belonged to them, building their strength in silence for generations.

After such generational efforts.

They finally bloomed.

The current Family Head Namgung Cheongeuk mastered one of the family’s sword techniques, the Emperor Sword Form, and finally reached the realm of strong qi.

 

-The time ordained by Heaven has come. Spread the will of the blue sky across ten thousand li.

 

At that resounding voice, the Namgung Family warriors who had accumulated and could no longer hold back spread throughout all of Anhui.

Was their effort only applicable to the Family Head?

How many warriors must have sweated blood to raise that one person?

The trunk grown from strong roots was thick enough to withstand harsh winds, and its branches instantly created shade that would cover all of Anhui.

The Namgung Family, having quickly subjugated the areas around Hefei, began to dream bigger dreams.

Conquest of All Under Heaven.

Becoming the master of a new world.

But how could only the Namgung dream such dreams?

In Shandong to the north, the momentum of the Huangbo Family, who had subjugated the Yue Family, was fierce.

To the south, the Sword Empress of Mount Putuo at the edge of Zhejiang Province was still in high spirits, and the unorthodox groups of Jiangxi began forming alliances.

The power that had extended with good momentum could not leave Anhui.

If they clashed with any of them, someone would inevitably gain the fisherman’s profit.

The breakthrough strategy was precisely the Zhuge Family.

They had to grasp them in their hands before anyone else.

It was a problem for now, but to become master of All Under Heaven, it was absolutely necessary.

Namgung Cheongeuk swiftly dispatched an envoy.

If persuasion didn’t work, he hoped they would bring them back even through threats.

However…

 

* * *

 

The Great Hall filled with those wearing purple-blue robes.

In any family, it’s not often that the Family Head personally presides over meetings.

Usually, major and minor affairs are handled at the level of the Young Family Head or Elders.

But the reason Family Head Namgung Cheongeuk had summoned all retainers staying at the main house was because of a letter sent by the envoy group that had gone to the Zhuge Family.

Namgung Cheongeuk looked at the messenger who had brought the letter held in both hands. Even without reading the contents yet, his expression was not very bright.

The sender was the problem.

Namgung Yu, who had been sent together to the Zhuge Family.

Why was it him and not Namgung Cheonwoong, the representative of the envoy group?

It surely meant something unpleasant had happened.

“San.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Read it.”

“Yes.”

At Namgung Cheongeuk’s words, Young Family Head Namgung San approached the messenger and tore open the sealed letter.

It was a long letter.

He couldn’t tell what the contents were yet, but seeing Namgung San’s expression change to an unpleasant feeling, the guess seemed correct.

“State the contents.”

“Th-that is…”

Namgung San frowned and hesitated to speak.

The situation seemed much worse than expected.

However.

“Speak.”

“…Yes.”

At the Family Head’s repeated command, Namgung San let out an imperceptible sigh and cleared his voice.

“I report to the Family Head. Though I should hurry back to inform you…”

The contents of the letter that Namgung San conveyed to everyone were enough to silence the Great Hall.

However, the silence didn’t last long, and soon murmuring filled the Great Hall.

The defeat of Nine Wall Sword.

It was because of the content that he was staying with a physician in Wuhan, Hubei Province, to heal his serious wounds.

Moreover, the one who had dealt him defeat was said to be the son of the Zhuge Family who had just undergone his coming-of-age ceremony.

“…At that time, Yu was unconscious after being defeated by the same person, but according to Cheonpungjo, the martial duel was fair and the Group Leader did his best.”

It was shock after shock.

None other than Nine Wall Sword.

Though he couldn’t be called a supreme master, he was one with outstanding skills and led the Changung Sword Unit, one of the main house warrior units representing the Namgung name.

Such a person was defeated by a sixteen-year-old descendant of the Zhuge Family who had just come of age? While giving his all?

Crack.

Whether from rising anger, the sound of the armrest seeming to break under his clenched grip made Namgung San pause his words.

The murmuring gradually subsided, and soon a deathly silence flowed through the Great Hall.

“…Is that the end?”

“No.”

“Continue.”

“…Yes.”

For Namgung San, his throat felt rough as if he had swallowed thorns.

Wasn’t every single part of the letter’s contents touching the Family Head’s nerves?

“The envoy group could not overcome the formation technique deployed by the Zhuge Family and couldn’t even enter their main house on Yungzhong Mountain.”

“…”

“Also, Family Head Zhuge Dowon said…”

Crack!

Finally, the armrest broke.

Namgung Cheongeuk’s eyes were bloodshot, and the retainers instinctively shrank back at his anger.

The envoy group sent to bring back the Zhuge Family had suffered the humiliation of being driven away without even setting foot in their main house, so how great must his anger be?

But he didn’t express it.

Namgung Cheongeuk forcibly suppressed and swallowed his anger, then looked down at his retainers with a cold expression.

“Our nose was bitten by a little rat, so are we cats instead of tigers?”

“…”

“Whether persuasion or intimidation, I thought Nine Wall Sword and twenty from Cheonpungjo would be enough against the declining Zhuge Family… Now we’ve suffered humiliation without even being able to attack.”

His quiet muttering seemed to be asking everyone.

Moreover, the subtle anger in his voice pressed down on the Great Hall, making everyone’s hearts feel stuffy.

“Hyeonyeong Regional Lord.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

At Namgung Cheongeuk’s call, Namgung Jin, head of the Hyeonyeong Pavilion that collected and processed all information for the Namgung Family, gulped and answered.

“Didn’t you say that Zhuge was blocked by Wudang to the north and unorthodox sects elsewhere, barely guarding the foothills of Yungzhong Mountain? That it wouldn’t be strange if they collapsed at any time. But you didn’t know that place was an iron fortress that even Nine Wall Sword couldn’t penetrate?”

“Th-that is…”

“You said the Family Head hadn’t surpassed the level of Ui Qi and among the warriors below him, those who had reached Tan Qi could be counted on one hand… What do you mean a mere sixteen-year-old brat defeated Nine Wall Sword?”

“…”

Though it was a calm voice, knowing it was tantamount to interrogation, Namgung Jin’s face darkened by the moment.

It was the Family Head’s decision to send an envoy to the Zhuge Family, but it was Namgung Jin who had conveyed the information in that process.

“Hyeonyeong Regional Lord. If none of your words, which should serve as my eyes and ears for making decisions, are correct, then who should I trust from now on?”

“…I will step down.”

“Is that alone sufficient?”

“I will step down and start over from the bottom.”

“Good. Do so.”

At those emotionless words, Namgung Jin stepped forward to the center, removed his purple outer robe, folded it neatly, and placed it at his feet.

Having removed the purple robe that symbolized his position as an Elder, he had accepted his dismissal.

No one pitied him as he bowed respectfully and left the Great Hall, nor did anyone object to the Family Head’s decision.

Rather, they accepted it as completely natural. Since they had to navigate through turbulent times, even small mistakes could not be tolerated.

Merit was highly praised and faults were coldly reprimanded. That was the new rule that had brought the current Namgung Family to where it was.

“Recommend the next Hyeonyeong Regional Lord.”

Namgung Cheongeuk immediately sought to fill the position, and the retainers ruthlessly abandoned Namgung Jin.

“How about Seo Maengdo?”

“Suitable. From now on, the Hyeonyeong Regional Lord is Seo Maengdo. Take your position.”

It was a swift personnel change.

The summoned Seo Maengdo immediately picked up the purple robe that Namgung Jin had removed and put it on.

Watching this scene, Namgung Cheongeuk rose from the Grand Master’s Chair with its broken armrest.

“Young Family Head.”

“Yes!”

“Discuss with the retainers to establish countermeasures and report to me. How we should handle the Zhuge Family matter. This time, properly… Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

The retainers who had remained silent until Namgung Cheongeuk left the Great Hall with his robes fluttering finally let out deep sighs and released their frustration only after the door closed.

“Now then, let’s discuss follow-up measures as the Family Head instructed.”

At Namgung San’s words organizing the arena, the retainers who had kept their mouths tightly shut under the Family Head’s pressure immediately began voicing their opinions.

The first was Mok Jaun, the Gangmu Regional Lord, whose duty was to manage and coordinate the subordinate martial artist units.

“Young Family Head, although this matter ended in painful failure, we didn’t gain nothing.”

“How so?”

“First, while the young man who defeated the Nine Wall Sword is indeed remarkably skilled, we cannot assume all martial artists of the Zhuge Family are the same.”

“Hmm, that makes sense. If they had cultivated power through martial arts, there would have been no need to install formation techniques to protect Yungzhong Mountain. They must have needed the formation’s help because their strength was insufficient.”

“Exactly. Although we suffered the humiliation of being unable to obtain the Zhuge Family and had to withdraw, thanks to that, we gained somewhat more information about the Zhuge Family.”

“Information?”

“According to the letter, didn’t Zhuge Dowon say that with their own strength they lack the capacity to face the Main House, so they would activate formations to defend while seeking to borrow others’ power?”

“Hmm, that could be one way to see it.”

“Also, the fact that they didn’t mention any specific faction could be interpreted to mean they haven’t yet formed alliances with other forces.”

Just as heads were nodding at Mok Jaun’s words, Namgung Gang, the Council Chairman who represented the elders’ will, came forward with a rebuttal.

“Mm, the Gangmu Regional Lord’s speculation is quite reasonable. But we cannot just leave it at that. How can we remain idle after suffering such humiliation? Moreover, the Zhuge Family, having realized our intentions, will move swiftly. We might end up only doing others a favor.”

“I understand. We absolutely cannot leave them alone.”

“Do you have a solution?”

At the question from the Council Chairman, the family’s greatest elder, all the retainers’ gazes gathered, but Gangmu Regional Lord Mok Jaun answered with a calm smile.

“They are already no different from a turtle that has hidden its body in a hard shell. Moreover, since the Nine Wall Sword and Cheonpungjo could not overcome the formations and mechanisms, attacking Yungzhong Mountain would be useless.”

“Couldn’t we do it if we tried?”

“Of course, if we mobilized all of the Main House’s forces. But many forces have already been dispatched to block the Huangbo Family in the north and to prevent the northward advance of the Bota Gate and Evil Sect alliance in the south. We cannot recall them just to strike at the Zhuge Family.”

“Ha! Frustrating person. If you have an answer, speak your mind in detail.”

As everyone frowned at his continued delays, Mok Jaun spoke with cold eyes.

“Anyway, their shell is only limited to Yungzhong Mountain.”

“What?”

“It’s not like mechanisms or formations have legs to move around.”

“What do you mean?”

“If they’re prepared to blockade Yungzhong Mountain, we can blockade the exterior of that shell. So that the Zhuge Family becomes isolated from us, not from the Evil Sects.”

He was talking about blockading the Zhuge Family’s exterior.

“Young Family Head, what do you think?”

“Hmm.”

At Mok Jaun’s words, Namgung San frowned as if pondering.

It wasn’t a bad strategy.

Yungzhong Mountain was surrounded by Wudang to the north and Evil Sect forces in all other regions.

If they established branch offices in those Evil Sect regions and controlled the crossroads, the Zhuge Family would be completely isolated.

They couldn’t seek help from other forces either.

The Namgung Family would be attacking Evil Sect forces to expand their territory, not attacking the Zhuge Family.

Moreover, while he couldn’t speak for the south of the Yangtze River that crossed Hubei Province, the Evil Sects in the north hadn’t yet united.

They could sufficiently pacify them without necessarily investing many forces.

“Once we begin controlling the flow of supplies, the Zhuge Family won’t be able to hold out long. They’ll probably have to crawl out of their shell and kneel on their own. Moreover, when we begin moving south in earnest after that, the Main House will have established a foothold to dominate Hubei Province.”

At Mok Jaun’s words, the deep furrows in Namgung San’s brow smoothed out completely.

Hubei.

That place corresponded to the central point of All Under Heaven.

Hadn’t the Orthodox Sect alliance established itself in Wuhan for generations? Since the Yangtze River flowed there, they could extend to anywhere in All Under Heaven.

The retainers were already nodding and agreeing with Mok Jaun’s strategy.

“Excellent. I’ll obtain the Family Head’s approval. Elders, please establish detailed plans centered around the Gangmu Regional Lord.”

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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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