Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 74

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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 74

 

 

Once a decision is made, I act.

It’s always been that way.

Hesitation eats away at time and only breeds more worry.

Above all, why should I just stand by and watch the nearby Unorthodox Sects get devoured by the Namgung Family?

When it comes to delicious things, I must have them first, even if it kills me.

Whether there’s poison inside that causes problems or not.

Treatment comes later.

What if treatment isn’t possible?

It won’t be too late to solve that after driving out the Namgung Family bastards first.

Zhuge Munhyeon shot up and looked at Zhuge Junggi with eyes filled with strange fervor as he spoke.

“Junggi.”

“Yes?”

Zhuge Junggi flinched and reflexively answered, then immediately frowned.

Damn, he had accidentally used respectful speech due to that terrifying gaze that suddenly flew at him.

“There’s a way to persuade them, right?”

“Persuade? You’re really going to do that?”

“Yes.”

“You, you crazy…”

Flustered, Zhuge Junggi found himself completely speechless.

He had even explained that while it was the only method, it was absolutely unusable.

“Do you think the elders will permit it?”

“They won’t.”

“Then what persuasion are you talking about? Nothing can be done without the elders’ permission.”

“Do you think we have the luxury to waste time on armchair theorizing right now?”

Of course not.

The Namgung Family’s movements would tighten around the Zhuge Family moment by moment.

“Once a decision is made, don’t hesitate. Just look ahead and run. Even then, it’s questionable whether we’ll succeed.”

“But…”

“Instead of making time for excuses about why it won’t work, think of ways to persuade them.”

This was like playing music to deaf ears.

Since they couldn’t communicate at all, Zhuge Junggi stared blankly at Zhuge Munhyeon.

“If the elders find out…”

“Right now, the Zhuge Clan needs a catalyst.”

“A catalyst?”

“Yes, a catalyst to break the shell that keeps us bound by the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox, preventing us from even establishing necessary countermeasures.”

“…”

“So it’s act first, report later. We do it first before they can object and scold us. It’s not like we’ll be at a disadvantage anyway. Right?”

“A-act first? Are you really insane?”

“I have good initiative. Above all, as you said, this isn’t a world where we can debate stuffy things like the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox. If we miss our chance worrying about such things, we’ll get devoured. By then, regret will be too late.”

“But you want us to do it ourselves?”

“It’s enough.”

“We’re only five, no, six including me, and I’m not even a martial artist!”

“You can’t fight as a martial artist. But you have the ability to recruit martial artists we can use as fighting power, right? And this is just a catalyst, I tell you.”

At the sight of Zhuge Munhyeon grinning, Zhuge Junggi could only blink with his mouth agape.

“First, we’ll use the recruited forces to stop the Namgung Family.”

“Stop them? What are you talking about? You said it was a catalyst?”

“Right. But it’s a somewhat strong catalyst. When they learn that we’re involved in the fight with the Unorthodox Sects, the Main House will have no choice. At least the Family Head I know isn’t someone who would just watch when family is in danger.”

“What if an all-out war breaks out with the Namgung Family?”

“Let it happen.”

“What?”

“Do you think the Namgung Family can use their full strength?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know too, right? Why the Main House couldn’t fight the surrounding Unorthodox Sects all this time.”

“Well, that’s…”

“The Namgung Family is on an expedition. In the end, they can’t use their full strength. They have to protect Anhui. If they deploy more martial artists than necessary to fight us, they might get their home base robbed.”

That was correct.

However.

“Even so, what if they give it their all?”

“Then we’ll have to ask Wudang for help.”

“What? Wudang? You think they’ll help us?”

“Yes.”

“Under what justification!”

When Zhuge Junggi shouted angrily, Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and answered.

“You don’t know Wudang, do you?”

“What?”

“Right, Wudang doesn’t like evil heretics. But they believe that even villains need to be guided.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“The moment we make them believe we recruited and guided them, the Unorthodox Sects become forces that have returned to the Orthodox path.”

“They’ll never believe that!”

“They will.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because they believe without doubt that I can do such a thing. No one knows that I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“Wh-what does that mean?”

Zhuge Junggi didn’t know about the relationship between Wudang and Zhuge Munhyeon.

What the family knew was only fragmentary information that Zhuge Munhyeon had played a major role in establishing friendly relations with Wudang.

But to Wudang, Zhuge Munhyeon was someone who harbored thoughts of returning even disciples fallen to demonic ways back to goodness.

Guiding some Unorthodox Sect bastards would be nothing.

Just ask the Beggar’s Sect to send a letter to the sect leader and that’s it.

This must be why the elders nagged about living virtuously. Regardless of what’s inside, appearances are incredibly important.

Though I was the Heavenly Demon in the past and still retain that nature, the me that others see is righteous, considerate… anyway, such a son of the Zhuge Family.

“Trust me. And from now on, rack your brains hard. We’ll have to meet and persuade the Unorthodox Sects soon.”

“Persuade? You’re telling me to take on that role?”

“As expected, you catch on quickly.”

“I’m still just a trainee at Cheonseong Pavilion!”

“I know. But what does that matter? What does position matter when it’s for the family? What does age matter?”

“It matters! What will you tell the Unorthodox Sects? To persuade them, I need a position that can represent the Zhuge Family…”

“It’s fine, that part.”

“What?”

“You see him?”

Zhuge Munhyeon pointed at Zhuge Munho with his finger.

“He’s someone who will soon become the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family.”

“What?”

At those words, not Zhuge Junggi or Gwan Hwiping, but Zhuge Munho’s eyes widened.

Young Family Head? Me? When?

No, why are you deciding that on your own!

“Even if you have something to say, don’t say anything right now. I’ll definitely make it happen.”

Zhuge Junggi looked at him with eyes demanding an answer, but Zhuge Munho only frowned without giving any response.

That’s how people are.

Once a certain thought becomes imprinted on one’s ego, it’s not easy to escape from it.

Zhuge Munho still couldn’t overcome Zhuge Munhyeon’s overwhelming presence. Especially when he had such murderous eyes, even if he tried to speak, his mouth wouldn’t open.

‘Elder Brother, are you becoming the Young Family Head?’

‘When exactly was this decided? Did you get a promise from the Family Head behind our backs?’

‘And what do you mean by persuading the unorthodox faction? Please tell me it’s not what I’m thinking?’

Even at Gwan Hwiping’s anxious whispers, Zhuge Munho only wore a dazed expression like someone whose soul had left their body.

Recruiting the unorthodox faction, Young Family Head…

Preemptive measures…

Ah, who can stop this crazy bastard?

I should hurry to the Family Head and expose what this guy is trying to do, but my feet won’t move.

“Then let’s visit the Beggar Sect first.”

“Huh? To the Beggar Sect? Now?”

“Isn’t that obvious? From now on, it’s a speed battle. Since we’ve brought it up, we should start right away.”

“…”

“What are you doing? Move.”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s extraordinary drive, Gwan Hwiping and Zhuge Junggi’s faces contorted.

“Uh, um… Munhyeon. Shouldn’t we pack some luggage?”

When Zhuge Munho spoke up as their representative, Zhuge Munhyeon grinned and gripped the silver staff tucked at his waist.

“Why? Are you going to use packing as an excuse to tattle to the adults?”

“…”

“If you’re thinking of doing that, just say so. I’ll make sure you can’t wake up for about three days. Ah, if it’s for the family… a sacrifice should be fine, right? Something like ‘We honor the soul who threw away their life like grass for the family’ would be good enough, wouldn’t it?”

No one could oppose a madman.

Why did we have to meet this guy…

Seeing Gwan Hwiping and Zhuge Munho hanging their heads and following behind, Zhuge Junggi flared up and shouted.

“No, why isn’t anyone stopping this crazy act? Trying to move around without the adults’ permission? Fine. If no one else will do it, I will! I absolutely cannot stand by and watch this madness!”

“…”

Those spirited words he shouted.

Thwack!

And the silver staff that was swung.

Zhuge Junggi collapsed from the shock of being struck on the head.

“I’m not someone who asks for permission from anyone. I move by my own will. Long ago and now too.”

At that quiet voice…

‘You should say such things before knocking someone unconscious.’

‘As if he heard it well.’

‘Why don’t the ghosts take this crazy bastard away?’

Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping cursed Zhuge Munhyeon inwardly while looking at their fallen youngest brother(?) with wistful eyes.

Junggi.

There’s one thing you got wrong – we’re not refusing to do it, we can’t do it.

Because we’re afraid of ending up like you.

“Carry him.”

“…Yeah.”

“Really, the young one is causing trouble by not listening.”

At those grumbling words, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping had the same thought.

You’re the only one who would say that…

 

* * *

 

People say that with the Yangtze River as the center, the north is orthodox faction territory and the south is unorthodox faction territory.

However, what precisely divides that boundary is not the river but a road.

The Muju Official Road connecting Wuhan in the east and Jingzhou in the west.

Along the straight road stretching about five hundred li, north and south were divided and orthodox and unorthodox factions opposed each other.

Although there were numerous unorthodox faction forces in the north too, unlike the south which was united around the Black River Gate, they remained divided into several forces without being consolidated.

Among them, the largest were the Blood Shadow Pavilion and the Demon Shadow Tower.

“What do you mean? The Namgung Family bastards attacked the Black Forest Gang!”

Blood Shadow Pavilion Lord Ok Sayeong was so shocked by the messenger’s report that he jumped up from his seat.

The Black Forest Gang was one of the small forces under the Blood Shadow Pavilion located near the Muju Official Road.

“It’s not just the Black Forest Gang. The Poison Dragon Gang in Cheonmun County, the White Night Party in Hancheon County, and even our pavilion’s branch office have fallen.”

“What?”

Ok Sayeong couldn’t hide his repeated shock.

“So? Where is the Namgung Family now? How is the situation developing?”

“Their movements are too swift to track. Judging by the places from which reports haven’t arrived, it seems the entire area near the Muju Official Road has already fallen into their hands. They appear to be continuing their northward advance.”

“What? How on earth…”

Ok Sayeong’s legs gave out and he collapsed with a thud.

His head was throbbing.

It’s not like those bastards suddenly went crazy, so why did they come all the way to Hubei to attack them?

He was already boiling inside from recent news that the Zhuge Family had destroyed the Honyeon Territory in Joyang County and taken control of Dangang District.

But now suddenly the Namgung Family?

There wasn’t even any particular grudge, was there?

“What the hell happened? Is there someone among our subordinates who got entangled with a descendant of the Namgung Family?”

“I, I’m not sure about that.”

“Damn it! Then why the hell are these bastards suddenly causing this chaos!”

Cursing was inevitable.

There had been no declaration of war and he had no idea why they had attacked.

Even getting slapped out of nowhere on the street wouldn’t be this bad.

He couldn’t ask for help from the nearby unorthodox faction force, the Demon Shadow Tower.

They would welcome the collapse of the Blood Shadow Pavilion, which they had been competing with, with both hands raised.

“Yonghwa!”

“Yes.”

“First, hurry and send word to our subordinate forces to prepare for surprise attacks, and also contact the Namgung Family to inquire about the current situation.”

“Understood.”

“Mukju! You go right now and catch some nearby beggars. We need to assess the Namgung Family’s scale and movements.”

Difficulty appeared on the face of Mukju, who was designated by Ok Sayeong.

“Regional Lord.”

“What?”

“Well… those beggar brats haven’t been seen in the area for several days now.”

“What? What do you mean? The ones who were begging in groups just a few days ago suddenly disappeared?”

“I have no way of knowing why…”

“Damn it! What the hell have you been doing all this time!”

Mukju couldn’t answer and only frowned.

Who pays attention to beggar movements these days? And would he have known the Namgung Family would attack? They stayed quiet all the time, but now that trouble has erupted, they’re making a fuss for no reason.

That’s when it happened.

“Regional Lord.”

“What!”

A messenger who had rushed in through the main gate cautiously spoke up.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. He says he urgently needs to see the Regional Lord…”

“Who the hell? What bastard is looking for me in such a busy situation! Tell him to get lost right now!”

Despite Ok Sayeong’s furious shouting, the messenger who didn’t back down spoke with a troubled expression.

“Well… he revealed himself as the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family.”

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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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