Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 71

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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 71

 

 

Clack!

A stone is placed.

The old man frowned and stroked his beard while pondering deeply.

After long deliberation, as soon as he placed his stone, the boy immediately cut off the connection of the stone he had just placed, as if he had been waiting for it.

“Wow… such a move?”

“That’s incredible?”

“Yang Nodae can’t even put up a fight, can he?”

“Isn’t this a complete defeat?”

“They say the front waves of the Yangtze River are pushed back by the rear waves, Yang Nodae will find it difficult to recover now.”

“At this rate, won’t Myosu Gongja win the Yungjoong Chess King Tournament held at the end of the year?”

“That might be the case.”

At the spectators’ admiration, the boy looked at Yang Nodae with an extremely arrogant expression.

Yang Nodae wore a miserable expression as the territories he had painstakingly built crumbled and his stones were captured.

Go.

It was more than simple entertainment – it was a measure of one’s intelligence and insight, and a pastime where one’s strategic thinking was evaluated.

Therefore, the Zhuge Family values it very highly.

Scholars from the Military Strategy Hall participate in large numbers in the annual Chess King Tournament.

And Yang Nodae was someone who had once defeated the scholars of the Zhuge Family to claim victory.

But to be repeatedly defeated by a young master who appeared like a comet one day… could one even describe such devastation?

“Just one more game, just one more game.”

Perhaps because the reputation he had built over the years was too precious to give up, Yang Nodae pleaded with the boy.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“…”

“I don’t think there’s any point in trying again?”

“But…”

“Stop it. Yang Nodae, you’re no match for me.”

At the boy’s cold words, Yang Nodae’s shoulders drooped.

Though he couldn’t give up and kept clinging on, he too knew that he wouldn’t win even if they played again.

The boy’s playing style was ruthlessly cruel to a frightening degree.

No matter how much he tried to defend, the boy would instantly penetrate, cut off escape routes, and mercilessly tear him apart.

Even though Yang Nodae hadn’t gotten up yet, the boy looked around and said.

“Is there anyone else who would like to play?”

“…”

There was no answer.

When Yang Nodae, who had the best skills in the village, was defeated without being able to put up a fight, who would want to face the boy?

“Not bad.”

“Indeed. With that level of skill, he could really aim for victory in the Chess King Tournament, right? But who is he exactly? That level of skill is rare.”

“Well…”

For some reason, Zhuge Munho, who had been making a troubled expression, suddenly urged them to move.

“Let’s go. There won’t be any seats left at the tavern.”

“Huh? Why wouldn’t there be seats?”

“You never know.”

What a strange guy.

The tavern they were going to wasn’t a place with many customers. But no seats available…?

It was at that moment when he was turning around in puzzlement.

“Oh? Brother Munho!”

“…?”

The boy spotted Zhuge Munho among the spectators, jumped up, and came over to greet him.

“It’s been a while.”

“Indeed it has. But who might this person beside you be?”

“Ah, well…”

Zhuge Munho still had a troubled expression.

Why?

“Ah! Could you be Zhuge Munhyeon?”

“…Yes.”

When Zhuge Munho nodded with an awkward expression, the boy who had been looking him up and down slightly frowned.

Why exactly?

He was definitely a Zhuge since he wore a snow-white scholar’s robe, and his face seemed familiar so they must be acquainted, but he couldn’t remember at all.

“He’s Uncle Domyeong’s second son.”

“Uncle Domyeong’s… Ah! Then this guy is?”

“Yes, Mungi’s younger brother.”

Zhuge Munho let out a deep sigh and nodded.

He was probably recalling past events.

Seven years old, Ten Thousand Books Pavilion.

Zhuge Mungi had picked a fight with him, got beaten to a pulp, and shortly after left for the Tang Family with his aunt.

‘Hmm… Brother Munho had good reason to be troubled. He probably doesn’t have good feelings toward me.’

Of course, what happened back then wasn’t his fault.

But perhaps because he had seen Zhuge Domyeong defending him even after his wife and child left the family, he didn’t feel comfortable.

In situations like this, pretending not to know was the best strategy.

“…Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

As he tried to turn away subtly, Zhuge Junggi grabbed Zhuge Munho’s collar.

“You’re just leaving?”

“We have a prior engagement.”

“A prior engagement?”

Zhuge Junggi tilted his head sideways and looked at Zhuge Munhyeon.

He didn’t particularly harbor ill feelings.

He hadn’t gotten along well with his brother anyway.

When Mother suggested going to Sichuan, he had refused without hesitation.

If you did something wrong, you should apologize – why run away?

Rather, back then he had even wanted to meet this person called Zhuge Munhyeon once.

Hundred Day Speech – he began talking just a hundred days after birth.

Three Year Literary Brilliance – he learned to read at the age of three.

Even in the Zhuge Family, famous for having many geniuses, his talent was incomparable.

And that wasn’t all?

Childhood Martial Awakening – he had awakened his martial talent at a young age, making him a genius of the ages.

When it’s difficult to be born with even one talent, he was born with multiple talents, making him an object of admiration for the trainees at Cheonseong Pavilion.

But from what he could tell, it seemed like he was avoiding him.

He had just wanted to become friends.

Because of his brother…

Zhuge Junggi, who had become irritated for no reason, let sharp words slip from his mouth.

“Are you still holding onto what Brother Mungi said to belittle Aunt? That incident from over ten years ago?”

“What?”

“You seem rather narrow-minded, unlike what I’ve heard?”

Narrow… what?

This bastard thinks I’m some kind of pushover!

When Zhuge Munhyeon’s face slightly frowned, Zhuge Junggi felt a sense of ‘oh no.’

Damn, this temper of mine.

I wasn’t trying to pick a fight, but the words just came out wrong.

What do I do?

What should I say?

Inwardly anxious, he thought of a way to resolve the current situation.

That’s right! I’ll suggest playing a game of Go, even if I have to force it!

Naturally, excellent people tend to feel favorable toward other excellent people.

“If not, how about it? Playing a game with me.”

“What? Suddenly?”

“People say you’re the most outstanding descendant of the Zhuge Family, so naturally you must be good at Go too, right? Please teach me a thing or two.”

Ah, this isn’t right…

I wanted to become friends, but my words weren’t organized and just burst out.

Like father, like son.

He had grown up watching Zhuge Domyeong, the Hyeonho Dan Leader, who always had an expressionless face and was even clumsy at expressing emotions.

His words had become a provocation.

And depending on how you heard it, it was a provocation that seemed to carry the mocking tone of ‘Do you think you can match me?’

Naturally, the people around began to murmur.

‘Young Master Munhyeon playing Go?’

‘This is getting interesting.’

‘A match between Myosu Gongja and the Ten Excellences Young Master.’

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned as he missed the chance to escape due to people’s focused attention.

This damn brat…

Fine, whether it’s Go or fighting, I don’t back down from challenges that come my way!

“So, you want to play a game with me, is that it?”

“Something like that.”

“Really? Is that what you’re saying?”

When Zhuge Munhyeon trembled his fists and glared while approaching the Go board, Zhuge Munho became flustered instead.

“You’re going to play?”

“Yes.”

“Over a few words the kid said?”

“A few words? A few words?”

In the martial world, those few words can mean life or death.

When someone picks a fight, how can you just let it slide?

Whether it’s fighting or Go, when someone challenges you, it’s proper to face them in battle.

And it’s my belief to thoroughly crush them so they never dare challenge again.

But for some reason, Zhuge Munho grabbed his sleeve with a troubled expression and whispered in his ear.

“…Do you even know how to play Go?”

“What?”

“Stop it. Everyone’s watching… If you lose here, it’ll be really embarrassing.”

It was probably said out of concern for him.

Zhuge Munho had never seen him play Go before.

He must have thought I couldn’t play.

But such thoughts and words only irritated him more.

Wasn’t he confirming defeat before even fighting?

How does this guy see me!

Go?

I was once at a national master level.

Do only the Zhuge play Go?

The Demon Cult plays Go too.

Trapped far beyond the Central Plains with nothing to do but eat, sleep, shit, and cultivate, they play it tremendously.

I was the person who defeated all of them.

In other words, the Go King of the Demon Cult in my previous life!

That’s exactly who I am.

Smack!

Zhuge Munhyeon brushed off Zhuge Munho’s hand and sat across from Zhuge Junggi with the Go board between them.

You little brat!

I’ll fix that attitude of yours.

I will definitely win and fill my Resonant Acupoint with the blood collected from cutting off that ignorant, reckless tongue.

But seeing this, Zhuge Junggi was inwardly delighted, thinking he had finally gotten a chance to show off his talent to Zhuge Munhyeon.

But from listening to their conversation, it seems he’s not very good at Go… Should I show some consideration?

Yes, let’s do that. Originally, when playing Go, it’s basic to show consideration for your opponent by matching skill levels before starting.

“How many handicap stones should I give you?”

“What?”

“You seem to lack skill.”

It was consideration filled with sincere smile.

But he didn’t know what kind of personality Zhuge Munhyeon had.

This bastard is grinning and telling me to place handicap stones?

The provocation achieved maximum effect.

He really has a natural talent for making people angry.

Zhuge Munhyeon stretched his lips into a smile and glared coldly, directly rejecting Zhuge Junggi’s consideration.

“Young brat, you go first.”

“Me?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm, understood. Then let’s start enjoyably.”

Zhuge Junggi nodded and picked up a black stone, raised it high, then placed it down forcefully.

Thwack!

The center of the Go board, Tengen.

That’s even more infuriating.

Who are you to occupy the center and act up!

The moment the first stone was placed, a war of different dreams began between Zhuge Junggi, who wanted to become friends, and Zhuge Munhyeon, who never yielded in battle.

Clack! Clack-clack! Clack-clack!

There wasn’t even time to breathe.

Like warriors exchanging offense and defense, black and white stones were placed alternately without rest, instantly filling the Go board.

A fierce battle between dragons and tigers, evenly matched opponents.

Such words suited this match.

Both excluded defense entirely and poured out attacks madly to bite each other.

Territories formed and collapsed repeatedly, and the spectators couldn’t help but admire.

“Ah, look at that move!”

“It’s a ghost hand, a ghost hand!”

“He’s blocking that like that?”

The match developed with thrilling speed and nail-biting tension, racing toward its end in taut suspense.

‘As expected, amazing. To think he had such skill. Even though I’m going easy on him, for it to be this close.’

Zhuge Junggi couldn’t help but admire inwardly.

Indeed, an outstanding person is an outstanding person.

To think he could play Go this well too.

With his competitive spirit flaring up, Zhuge Junggi forgot his original goal of playing casually to draw attention and began to concentrate.

Of course.

‘Damn it! Why is he playing so well? What the hell is this bastard?’

For Zhuge Munhyeon, irritation was rising to the top of his head.

As time passed, he began to fall behind.

The broken formation had not been restored.

His great horse was about to be captured immediately, so what could he do about this?

If that gets captured…

He didn’t even want to think about it.

Who knows what this disrespectful bastard would say next, and the defeated should remain silent.

Lost in worry, his moves kept getting slower.

It was from that moment that a triumphant smile appeared on Zhuge Junggi’s lips.

He had sensed victory.

The damn bastard hadn’t even shed a drop of sweat.

He couldn’t lose like this.

Like this…

And with that desperate heart, Zhuge Munhyeon resorted to an underhanded method.

Swoosh-.

A subtle energy flowing over the go board.

So secretive that even Zhuge Munho watching from behind couldn’t detect it.

Clack!

The moment Zhuge Munhyeon placed his final stone, Zhuge Junggi’s face, who had sensed victory and was about to respond, turned pale.

“Half a point?”

“Wow! That was really a brilliant match.”

“You lost but fought well. To lose by only half a point against Young Master Munhyeon.”

He had lost.

Exactly by half a point…

But he was clearly winning?

Unable to believe his defeat, Zhuge Junggi examined the stones on the board with wide eyes.

And.

‘Why is that stone there?’

He discovered something strange.

Having memorized the position of every stone, he remembered exactly where he had placed each one.

Could it be?

Zhuge Junggi glared at Zhuge Munhyeon with a distorted expression.

No matter how important victory might be, how could he commit such a despicable act in the sacred game of go where they compete with their strategies!

“Don’t tell me you moved a stone?”

“What?”

“That stone is…”

“Hmm, still a young fellow.”

“What?”

“Well, at your age you wouldn’t want to admit defeat. Tsk tsk… Even so, trying to blame others for losing due to lack of skill. Pathetic fellow.”

“…”

“You played well. For you, it was a regrettable defeat.”

Zhuge Munhyeon stood up abruptly and turned away coldly, while Zhuge Junggi glared at him with clenched teeth.

Originally, respect and hatred are like the front and back of paper.

The moment Zhuge Munhyeon used underhanded methods for victory, all the desire to become close and the respect that had built up until now vanished from Zhuge Junggi.

‘I can’t accept this. Absolutely not… Just wait, I’ll definitely destroy you.’

Of course, through go…

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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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