Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 75

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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 75

Blood Shadow Pavilion Great Hall.

Ok Sayeong welcomed the guests who had come from the Zhuge Family along with his leaders.

He hastily arranged his formal attire and sat in his chair, watching the men walking into the great hall.

There was no need to appear impatient.

Even if he had expectations that this meeting might help solve the problems caused by the Namgung Family’s attack.

But somehow the faces of those who entered made him frown.

Six in total.

The one walking at the front, calling himself the Young Family Head, was one thing.

But the one beside him, and the one next to that one too…

They were all kids.

Young men who at most seemed to have just passed their coming of age.

Ok Sayeong felt disappointed, thinking that since he was called the Young Family Head, he would have brought along at least one notable martial artist, if not an elder.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for allowing this meeting.”

“Though we may be enemies, we share Hubei, so I cannot turn away guests at my door.”

Ok Sayeong hid his true feelings and smiled.

“But Young Family Head? I was unaware of the news and failed to send congratulations.”

“Well, that’s…”

Because it’s not true.

This was just a title Zhuge Munhyeon had taken on to open Blood Shadow Pavilion’s closed doors without minor conflicts.

But he had already come this far.

There was no need to show a intimidated appearance before the enemy leader.

“I believe congratulations are not the issue right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you been attacked by the Namgung Family?”

“…”

“Black Forest Branch, Poison Dragon Branch, White Night Hall, and even the southern Gyeongsan Branch have fallen.”

Ok Sayeong’s brow furrowed at Zhuge Munho’s words, which accurately assessed the situation with a confident expression.

It seemed the Zhuge Family already knew.

“So? Did you come here to scratch at my wounds?”

Ok Sayeong immediately glared with murderous intent, but Zhuge Munho continued with a slight chuckle instead.

“How could that be? But since the situation is urgent, wouldn’t it be better to listen to the explanation calmly first? And please dispel this intimidating atmosphere too. I might become unnecessarily intimidated and fail to speak properly.”

At Zhuge Munho’s grinning words, Ok Sayeong’s eyes trembled.

Damn bastard.

Intimidated?

His voice and attitude were nothing but confident…

But he couldn’t easily dismiss his words.

From the way he spoke, he seemed well-informed about the Namgung Family’s affairs.

“Indeed, the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family. I see you in a new light. To be so composed even in enemy territory.”

“You flatter me… If you’re going to move locations, since we’ll need to talk a lot, it would be good to prepare some alcohol so our throats don’t get dry.”

…Because Zhuge Munhyeon’s sound transmission from behind kept ringing in his ears, Zhuge Munho could only smile bitterly.

Damn bastard, am I a parrot?

If you’re going to do that, why don’t you act as Young Family Head and speak directly!

Of course, he didn’t know that Zhuge Munhyeon had deliberately put him forward with the distant future in mind.

And Zhuge Munhyeon was truly thinking of placing Zhuge Munho in the position of Young Family Head.

Though his martial arts talent was somewhat lacking, he was someone who worked harder than anyone.

Ten years? Or maybe twenty years?

By then he would surely reach the realm of Gang. If not, he would push him to achieve it.

His strategic thinking was also adequate.

Since the Zhuge Family was full of intelligent people anyway, there were plenty who could become strategists.

Meanwhile, seeing him endure under me without complaint… no, expressing only very slight complaints, showed his character was quite excellent.

He would listen to various opinions and make the right choices.

If not this guy, who should be Young Family Head?

Much better than someone as arbitrary as me.

Most importantly, if I became Young Family Head?

It would mean immediate war.

Whether the subordinates lived or died.

After pondering briefly, Ok Sayeong nodded with a stern expression.

Right now, there was no guest like the Zhuge Family.

They were his only lifeline.

Whatever reason they had come for, he needed to lead the conversation well to create a situation where at least the forces deployed at the northern border could move.

“Good. Let’s do that. I’ve kept my guests standing too long.”

“…”

“I must entertain the guests from the Zhuge Family for a while, so everyone withdraw and maintain emergency standby. If the situation changes, report immediately without delay.”

Ok Sayeong, having given orders to his leaders, guided the guests to the back garden.

A pavilion standing alone in the spacious back garden was quite elegant. Perhaps fearing assassination, no rocks or trees that could hide assassins were planted around it.

“Now, speak. It seems you’ve brought words I want to hear?”

“I don’t know if they’re words you want to hear, but one of my subordinates will speak next.”

“…?”

“He’s knowledgeable in intelligence and strategy.”

Zhuge Munho stepped back slightly and glanced at Zhuge Junggi.

Zhuge Junggi’s expression had been poor the entire time.

And for good reason – he had briefly lost consciousness, awakened at the Beggar’s Sect, resisted and lost consciousness again, only to wake up already in front of Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main gate.

It seemed like he had only blinked, but locations changed rapidly as if space itself was being folded.

[What are you doing? That guy is waiting.]

While he was hesitating, Zhuge Munhyeon from behind poked him with the Silver Cold Staff, making him step forward ahead of the group.

Ah, these crazy bastards actually went through with it.

“Hmm, the young friend seems quite capable. Though he doesn’t even seem to have reached adulthood yet, to handle strategy and intelligence under the Young Family Head.”

“…”

Receiving Ok Sayeong’s full attention, Zhuge Junggi let out a deep sigh.

Now there was no way out.

Though he seemed to be suppressing it, Ok Sayeong’s expression was full of curiosity.

And most importantly, if he kept his mouth shut, it wasn’t Ok Sayeong but Zhuge Munhyeon who might do something unpredictable.

He already knew the situation.

When he briefly awakened at the Beggar’s Sect and heard the explanation, he had learned everything about what was happening.

“Sigh, let me first explain the situation Blood Shadow Pavilion is facing.”

“…”

“Currently, one hundred members of the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Sword Corps are divided into four groups of twenty-five each, advancing north through Uiju Pass Road, Muan Pass Road, Jamgang, and Hancheon Valley. By now they’re much further north than we initially assessed… Um, could you provide a map?”

Before he had even finished speaking.

Ok Sayeong hastily gave orders to bring a territorial map centered on Blood Shadow Pavilion.

Damn it, because everything Zhuge Junggi said was correct.

Since it also had Blood Shadow Pavilion’s major organizational chart drawn on it, it was something that shouldn’t be shown to the Zhuge Family, but when they had grasped all of the Namgung Family’s movement routes, what was there to hesitate about?

“As you can see from their movements, at first it appears they’re scattered attacking simultaneously, but actually they’re converging in this wedge formation. The four will soon become two, and looking at their movement routes, they’ll soon strike the branches at Jongsang and Anryuk. And when those become one? It will be directly here at Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main base.”

“…!”

As Zhuge Junggi pointed to the power map with his hand and explained, Ok Sayeong, who had been listening, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

If Jongsang and Anryuk are attacked, a path opens up.

The Namgung Family, having pierced through the center like a wedge, would reach the Blood Shadow Pavilion in half a day.

“Considering the strength of the Namgung Family’s vanguard currently attacking, they likely suffered almost no damage during their northward advance. Each branch will face attacks from roughly fifty warriors… can you stop them?”

Ok Sayeong gritted his teeth, unable to answer.

“Furthermore, after those two branches fall, they’ll immediately move toward the main base. Even if some die or get injured, the Namgung Family’s losses won’t exceed thirty.”

“Hmm…”

“But their reinforcements have already arrived in Wuhan.”

“R-reinforcements have come?”

“That’s right. The number of additional warriors is roughly two hundred. In other words, the total number of warriors deployed in the Honam region is about three hundred. That’s half of the Azure Sky Sword Corps.”

T-three hundred?

And these aren’t just nameless nobodies, but the Azure Sky Sword Corps, called the Namgung Family’s main force.

Even their lowest-ranking warriors are at the Hyeon level…

“Moreover, the one leading them is Mok Jaun, the Martial Hall Lord who oversees the Namgung Family’s warrior corps, a Supreme Peak martial artist called the ‘Moon Sword’ in Anhui. And currently leading the vanguard attacking the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s subordinate branches and the Somun Sect is So Rokpa, deputy commander of the Azure Sky Sword Corps, who is also a Supreme Peak martial artist.”

“…”

“But what about the Blood Shadow Pavilion? Most of your forces are deployed to the north to keep us in check. Also, some are at the western border with the Demon Shadow Tower.”

Zhuge Junggi explained while pointing to each location on the map with his finger.

He was right.

The Blood Shadow Pavilion’s forces were concentrated in the north and west.

There had been no major threats from the south, and they never even imagined the Namgung Family would attack.

“So I ask again. In the current situation, does the Blood Shadow Pavilion have any clever plan to stop the three hundred Azure Sky Sword Corps warriors?”

“…”

At Zhuge Junggi’s words, Ok Sayeong pressed his lips tightly together and frowned.

Throughout his speech, there was no wavering in his eyes or expression.

Surely these were words based purely on objective facts, excluding personal opinions.

‘When did Zhuge gain such intelligence capabilities…’

It didn’t make sense.

At most, they had only annihilated the Honyeon Territory in Joyang County and opened the eastern route.

How could these people, who had been blocked by the Blood Shadow Pavilion and Demon Shadow Tower in the south and west all this time, know so much about southern affairs?

“So, what are you trying to say?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

“…”

“That without gathering the northern forces, you absolutely cannot stop the Namgung Family’s attack.”

“Who doesn’t know that!”

He ended up shouting loudly.

Being in a dilemma where he had to stick his neck out and wait for the blade, he unconsciously channeled his internal energy, causing energy waves to spread out fiercely.

Crack!

The drinking table he struck with his palm shattered, breaking the wine bottles and spilling the side dishes.

Even the pavilion’s pillars and wooden floor cracked.

However.

“Geez, why are you getting angry for no reason? What if someone gets hurt?”

“…?”

Another youthful face.

Zhuge Munhyeon, who had stepped in front of Zhuge Junggi, frowned and grumbled.

Ok Sayeong, who had momentarily lost his reason in anger, suddenly came to his senses. It was a mistake made from frustration. But then he felt puzzled.

Ok Sayeong was a master of Ui Qi.

The energy wave he had unleashed was fierce enough to destroy the drinking table, create chaos, and crack the pavilion’s pillars, yet none of the Zhuge Family members suffered any damage.

Slightly tousled hair and collar edges.

That was all.

It wasn’t that he had blocked it in the process.

If that were the case, there would have been wounds on the others’ bodies.

Then could it be… that he had deflected it while enveloping the entire space?

That was impossible.

For that to be possible, his internal energy would have to surpass his own, but could this young man before him possess such profound internal energy?

“Hey, instead of just staring like that, how about cleaning up the surroundings first? It’s making me feel unnecessarily murderous.”

“Ah…”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Ok Sayeong finally looked around.

The warriors who had been guarding the area had approached in response to his anger. They looked ready to draw their swords and attack the Zhuge Family members at any moment.

“Stand down.”

“…Yes.”

After dismissing the warriors, Ok Sayeong let out a deep sigh to calm his internal energy and apologized.

“I’m sorry about that. Since you know everything, I won’t hide it. I’m not in a position to act leisurely…”

“…”

“You’re right. Unless we withdraw the warriors from the northern and western border points, we cannot stop the Namgung Family. Even if we do withdraw them, it’s uncertain whether we can stop them.”

Deep furrows formed on Ok Sayeong’s brow.

If they pulled back their forces to face the Namgung Family, the Zhuge Family and Demon Shadow Tower would immediately attack.

In the end, they would collapse without being able to do anything.

But then, Zhuge Munhyeon smiled and said to Ok Sayeong.

“But what if you form an alliance with the Zhuge Family?”

“What?”

“Withdraw the warriors from the north. We’ll help block the Namgung Family’s northward advance until then.”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“However, only if you swear from now on to become a subordinate force 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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