Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 73

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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 73

 

 

When Sayo and Zhuge Munhyeon arrived, Zhuge Dowon had been delighted to welcome them and ordered tea to be prepared, but his face hardened upon hearing about the Namgung Family’s movements.

“For now, the Bang Leader said he would investigate more thoroughly and instructed us to inform the Family Head first.”

“Hmm…”

“It could be seen as simple information gathering, but what concerns me is that Mok Jaun is leading the Azure Sky Sword Unit.”

At Sayo’s words, Zhuge Dowon nodded with a heavy expression.

If it were for expanding commercial interests or understanding regional affairs, the Azure Sky Sword Unit should be led by someone from the General Administration handling financial matters or an elder from the outer hall.

But the Strongarm Pavilion Lord.

He held the position of overseeing all martial artist units of the Namgung Family on behalf of the Family Head.

Such a person’s movements were typically connected to war.

Above all, weren’t they investigating demonic sects? That could be seen as preparing for an attack.

“Is Namgung trying to expand their territory into Hubei Province?”

“That’s what the Bang Leader is speculating.”

“Do you happen to know about the regions they’re investigating?”

“We can’t specify. They’re investigating all areas except the Heukgang Gate’s sphere of influence south of the Yangtze River.”

Heukgang Gate.

A massive demonic sect force occupying southern Hubei Province, with whom Sayo had a bitter relationship.

She had said she was driven north after being betrayed by sect members who had joined hands with them.

“So they plan to avoid friction with Heukgang Gate.”

“That would be burdensome for the Namgung Family too. We can only speculate there might be a secret agreement. Since it’s beyond our reach, we have no justification to investigate. What do you plan to do now?”

“Well… since they’re only gathering information and haven’t shown any particular movements yet…”

“But if they take over the demonic sect territories, it could become a serious problem.”

“That’s true.”

The Zhuge Family was just beginning to accelerate their reconstruction.

They would soon need to expand southward.

But if the Namgung Family attacked the demonic sects first and established themselves there?

The Zhuge would be forever blocked.

“Family Head, their intention is clear. You know, don’t you? The martial world never lets grudges slide…”

“Hmm…”

At Sayo’s words, Zhuge Dowon’s face grew increasingly dark.

“Just because we expelled an envoy…”

At those words, Zhuge Munhyeon’s body flinched.

Because he knew that wasn’t the only reason.

Nine Wall Sword…

His hand had been a bit excessive.

After meeting a proper opponent for the first time in a while, his excitement just wouldn’t subside.

It must be retaliation.

But they couldn’t protest to the Namgung Family.

Their target wasn’t the Zhuge Family but the demonic sects.

“Sayo.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

“I understand your meaning well. Tell the Bang Leader I’m grateful and ask him to keep track of future developments.”

“Understood.”

Despite his mental concerns, Zhuge Dowon smiled warmly and turned his head to speak.

“Munhyeon, I’d like to have tea with you since you’ve come to visit, but the timing isn’t good. Go back for today.”

“…Yes. I’ll take my leave.”

Seeing the Family Head’s complex state of mind, Zhuge Munhyeon left the Family Head’s Hall without another word.

And as soon as they came out, messengers began moving busily.

Not just one or two, but even servant girls were mobilized.

“It looks like a family meeting will be held.”

“Indeed.”

At Sayo’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon nodded.

Countermeasures were needed for Namgung’s movements.

They had just driven away wolves, only to have tigers suddenly come calling…

So his insides were boiling with anger.

‘These bastards.’

He had so kindly given them a warning, yet this is how they respond?

But Zhuge Junggi was wearing that mocking expression again.

His eyes were exactly the same as before.

Like when he had told him about the Namgung Family’s intentions…

He had a peculiar habit.

But he had certainly grasped something from observing the current situation. Like sitting at a go board and calculating every possible move the opponent could make.

He should probably listen to what he had to say.

“Sayo.”

“Yes.”

“Could you possibly relay information about the Namgung Family’s movements to me separately?”

“It’s not difficult… Yes, I’ll do that. But what was that favor you mentioned before?”

“I’ll tell you about that later. Go on now. You must be busy.”

“…Yes.”

Sayo hurriedly bid farewell and left.

The situation with the Namgung Family might develop urgently. Now even Gaebang staying on Yungzhong Mountain shared the same fate as the Zhuge Family.

‘Damn, I wanted to look into those Banxian bastards…’

It would probably be better to postpone that for a while.

The Namgung Family came first for now.

 

* * *

 

“Oh? You brought him back again?”

“Yeah.”

When they returned to the manor, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping looked at them with tilted heads.

“Everyone gather around for now.”

“…?”

Sitting under the shade of the ginkgo tree, Zhuge Munhyeon released the pressure points he had used to subdue Zhuge Junggi.

“Hey, this…”

He immediately wanted to glare and demand ‘What the hell is this supposed to be! Why drag a person around making them eat dust only to come back again!’, but the atmosphere…

Zhuge Munhyeon, who was quietly looking at him, wasn’t particularly angry or frowning, but somehow he felt intimidated.

Surely he couldn’t be that oblivious?

If he said anything here, it seemed like something unpleasant would happen to him, so he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and look innocent.

“Now, tell me.”

“What?”

“You heard everything at the Family Head’s Hall. You seem to have some thoughts?”

“Well… thinking doesn’t make everything work out. The adults will decide anyway.”

“It’s fine. Tell me.”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Junggi frowned, then soon sighed and shared his thoughts.

“I’ll keep it simple by assuming the worst-case scenario. It seems the Family Head is already having similar concerns.”

“Right.”

“If the Namgung Family clears out the unorthodox factions in northern Hubei Province and establishes a branch office, the Zhuge Family will be isolated.”

“…”

“Protesting would be impossible. This is a fight between orthodox and unorthodox factions, not an attack on the Zhuge Family. Rather, if we make an issue of this, it would only damage the Zhuge Family’s reputation. Since the Zhuge Family lacked power, we’ve essentially left things alone until now. Publicly, opinion would form that the Zhuge Family should be grateful to the Namgung Family.”

“Hmm…”

Those were valid points.

As he was nodding his head, Zhuge Pyeong spoke as if it were a simple matter.

“Then couldn’t we just attack the unorthodox factions first?”

“Oh, that’s right! There was that method.”

“See what I mean about that guy? He gets smart sometimes. He’s an intermittent genius, I tell you.”

When Gwan and Hwi clapped their hands, calling it a brilliant idea, Zhuge Munhyeon frowned.

Sigh, those guys…

How could they only think about what’s right in front of them?

But he couldn’t blame them.

Had they always been narrow-minded from the start?

When they were young, these were guys who had each been called prodigies quite often. It’s just that after becoming martial artists, they devoted themselves entirely to cultivation and stopped thinking about other things.

Isn’t it true that words you don’t use often don’t come to mind?

Talent is the same way. If you don’t use it, it deteriorates. Your thinking becomes narrow too.

Gwan Hwiping had this tendency even more severely.

Should I say it’s inversely proportional?

The more excellent his martial arts became, the more rigid his mind grew. As if his brain was gradually transforming into muscle too.

“You understand.”

“…”

“These are guys who had no choice but to become martial artists in the Zhuge Family.”

“Ah!”

Zhuge Junggi seemed to understand Zhuge Munhyeon’s words immediately, exclaiming and nodding his head.

Gwan Hwiping felt somehow offended.

It wasn’t an insult, but it felt like one somehow?

“Ahem, Junggi.”

“Yes, Elder Brother.”

“Hearing your words, it seems there are reasons we can’t attack.”

“Yes. Probably not just me, but the Family Head council is having the same concerns.”

Zhuge Munho continued the conversation in place of the dejected Gwan Hwiping, and Zhuge Junggi nodded at his question.

Zhuge Munhyeon was already thinking the same thing.

The reason they couldn’t attack the unorthodox factions immediately.

“A shortage of martial artists.”

“As expected… you understand well.”

Zhuge Junggi smiled wryly.

Even though the atmosphere had improved recently, the Zhuge Family’s problems weren’t completely resolved.

The most serious among them was the shortage of martial artists.

It couldn’t be solved immediately.

It takes quite a lot of time to raise martial artists.

At minimum, five years.

And even that was only possible if all the Cheonseong Pavilion graduates grew into martial artists.

But they couldn’t force career decisions arbitrarily.

Someone had to fill positions as formation masters, scholars, and administrators.

In other words, there was no way to stop the Namgung Family’s movements.

Even if they moved immediately, they couldn’t be faster than the Namgung Family.

And if they caused friction with the Namgung Family over this matter, it would be tantamount to giving them an excuse to attack. Moreover, they would want to escalate things. To take over the Zhuge Family.

When that time came, it would be difficult to ask other forces for help.

Even Wudang couldn’t help.

They couldn’t ignore justification either.

“Damn, it’s a dead end. We can only watch.”

“Mm.”

Zhuge Munho nodded with a serious expression at Zhuge Munhyeon’s words.

The Zhuge Family might be isolated again.

Before they could even properly stretch their limbs.

“Still, it’s fortunate we secured Dangang District.”

“What?”

“The south will be blocked, but the north is open.”

At Zhuge Munho’s words as he patted his chest in relief, Zhuge Munhyeon made a pathetic expression.

This guy like Gwan Hwiping!

Is this the time to feel relieved?

Why are you finding your own compromise and achieving a mental victory?

This isn’t even a family trait…

Whatever the Zhuge Clan members thought, this was absolutely something he couldn’t stand by and watch.

How could he endure the Namgung bastards holding a blade to their throats?

Meanwhile, they were ignoring apologies and compensation.

Zhuge Munhyeon’s insides began to boil as he looked at Zhuge Junggi with fierce eyes and asked.

“You have a method, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Right, you definitely have a method. You must have already assumed what will happen and looked several moves ahead.”

“Well…”

“Tell me. The method you’re thinking of.”

At the almost threatening words, Zhuge Junggi sighed and shook his head.

“A method… there is one. But it’s a method we can’t use.”

“Why not?”

“Because it won’t be accepted.”

“What?”

“Probably the Family Head and elders have already thought about it at least once in their hearts. But no one can speak it aloud. Even though the distinction between orthodox and unorthodox has disappeared from the world, the orthodox faction is still the orthodox faction.”

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been pondering those words, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“You? Could it be?”

“Now you understand? But you can’t do it either, right? So give up. Fighting the Namgung Family was reckless from the start.”

“…”

Zhuge Junggi wore a mocking smile.

However.

“Really, why didn’t I think of that? There’s such an easy method. Come to think of it, we could move much faster.”

“Huh?”

Zhuge Junggi couldn’t hide his incredulous expression at Zhuge Munhyeon’s brightened appearance.

He had definitely thought the same thing.

But why was he happy about it?

No, from his current expression, it looked like he would actually carry it out.

“As expected, you’re quite something. I was just thinking we should beat them all up… This is why people need diverse experiences.”

What if it were the Demon Cult?

Unorthodox factions?

They probably would have swept them all away.

The Namgung Family would have been the same.

But as Zhuge Junggi said, the distinction between orthodox and unorthodox was meaningless in today’s world.

Everyone had to find their own way to survive.

Talk about Orthodox Sects this and Unorthodox Sects that—it’s all just outdated nonsense.

The threat of the Namgung Family.

The Zhuge Family lacking sufficient numbers of warriors.

The solution is exactly one, just as Zhuge Junggi said.

Recruitment.

Embracing the Unorthodox Sect forces currently surrounding the Zhuge Family.

Depending on the situation, persuasion can be easier and faster than attack.

“Hehehe, that’ll work. That’s exactly what we need to do.”

When Zhuge Munhyeon began grinning with his mouth stretched wide from ear to ear, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping felt uneasy for some reason.

Whenever he made that expression, he used to cause major incidents.

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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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