Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 77

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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 77

 

 

The messenger had never run this hard in recent memory.

Clutching the note brought by the carrier pigeon tightly in his hand, he ran toward the Great Hall until his breath reached his throat. His fierce urgency was so threatening that the startled guards of the Great Hall reflexively moved to stop him.

“Move aside! Urgent report, urgent report!”

They knew each other.

Among the messengers belonging to the Communication Office, this man was known for his usual politeness.

How urgent must it have been for him to speak informally?

What could the contents possibly be?

The guards quickly threw open the doors to the Great Hall where the retainers were in conference.

Without stopping his run, the messenger cut through the retainers who were in heated discussion and reached the Family Head in one breath.

Then he respectfully offered the note with both hands and shouted.

“An urgent message has arrived from the Yangban branch! It concerns the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”

“The Blood Shadow Pavilion?”

“The Yangban Branch Manager wrote and sent it personally.”

“Bring it here!”

Family Head Zhuge Dowon gestured urgently.

The Yangban branch bordered the Blood Shadow Pavilion.

Having already received a report from the Beggar’s Sect that the Namgung Family was attacking the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s subordinate sects while advancing north, they had been on high alert.

Only a few days had passed since receiving the first report from Sayo, but the Namgung Family’s movements were much faster than predicted.

The northward advance that began simultaneously with the assault.

Followed by the movements of the support forces dispatched to Wuhan.

The Blood Shadow Pavilion, caught without any means to respond, lost thirty percent of their subordinate forces to the Azure Sky Sword Unit of merely a hundred men, and Hubei Province was engulfed in unexpected warfare.

“Such a thing?”

As Zhuge Dowon’s face visibly contorted while reading the note, the retainers asked, unable to contain their frustration.

“What is it? What has happened with the Blood Shadow Pavilion now?”

“The Blood Shadow Pavilion has expressed their intention to submit.”

“What? Submit?”

“Their envoys came to the Yangban branch carrying white flags to express their intention to submit, and are currently moving south beyond the border. A detailed letter is on its way by express courier.”

“But how could this possibly…?”

The retainers stood speechless as if struck by iron clubs to their heads.

However, voices of opposition soon erupted.

“Submission in this situation?”

“You must not accept it.”

“That’s right. This is those bastards, threatened by the Namgung Family, scheming to drag us in.”

The Blood Shadow Pavilion’s intention to submit.

In normal times, it would have been readily accepted.

For the Zhuge Family, it would mean finally reclaiming territory lost long ago and establishing a foothold to expand southward.

But with the Namgung Family’s advance.

Accepting the Blood Shadow Pavilion in such circumstances would inevitably force them into battle. A full-scale war with the Namgung Family could even break out.

“You must refuse.”

“Of course!”

“Quickly send a carrier pigeon to convey your intentions to the Yangban Branch Manager!”

The more the retainers’ demands poured forth, the deeper Zhuge Dowon’s brow furrowed.

Easy to say, but it was clearly written at the end of the note.

This submission follows the Young Family Head’s recommendation…

What on earth could this mean?

Where did a Young Family Head who hadn’t even been appointed yet appear from to give such recommendations to the Blood Shadow Pavilion?

But then.

“Family Head!”

Another messenger arrived.

He wore patched rags that looked no different from tatters.

It was a messenger sent from the Beggar’s Sect, which had been given a section of Yungzhong Mountain.

“This is a note delivered from Uiseong where the Blood Shadow Pavilion is located. It was sent by Young Master Zhuge Munhyeon.”

“Munhyeon?”

“Yes.”

At the Beggar’s Sect messenger’s words, not only the Family Head but also Byeongjudang Master Zhuge Doyun nearby pricked up their ears.

A letter from that son out of nowhere?

Come to think of it, he hadn’t been seen for several days.

But lately he had been frequently away under the pretext of training Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping, so they hadn’t paid attention.

Since he had already undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, it seemed wrong to control him too much.

But as they say, once bitten by a snake, even a pot lid makes your heart race – as soon as the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s message arrived, this correspondence made him suddenly anxious.

Surely this boy hadn’t caused some trouble again…

Glancing around, he noticed the Family Head’s previously hardened expression as the corners of his mouth slightly lifted and twitched.

Seeing that he looked pleased… damn it, somehow the anxiety seemed likely to become reality.

Lately, hadn’t the Family Head been delighted with whatever that son did?

“It seems we must accept the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s request.”

“What!?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What on earth did Munhyeon say?”

At the startled retainers’ questions, Zhuge Doyun looked at the Family Head, desperately hoping it wasn’t so.

“It appears Munhyeon was the one who moved the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”

“What? Mu-Munhyeon…?”

“Moreover, he seems to have already moved to the front lines where the Namgung Family is advancing north. Even if we sent orders to stop, it would be too late. If Munhyeon begins fighting them, it would be no different from the Zhuge Family being deeply involved.”

“Ah…”

Worry appeared on the retainers’ faces.

Some didn’t hesitate to curse at the thoughtless descendant’s arbitrary action.

However.

“Listen!”

“…”

“I know you cannot help but feel troubled. However! I believe Munhyeon’s decision was for the family! I also think it was to make us realize something.”

“Realize something?”

“When the Namgung Family first made their move, we had already discussed the situation for when they would attack the Hubei Province’s unorthodox sects to expand their territory.”

As Zhuge Dowon’s voice resonated solemnly throughout the Great Hall, the retainers who had been voicing different concerns closed their mouths and listened.

Discussion about the future.

Opinions had been divided.

In the end, they knew they would be isolated because of the Namgung Family.

But none of them could bring themselves to suggest joining forces with the unorthodox sects to prevent the approaching future.

Oil and water.

It was due to the fixed notion that orthodox and unorthodox could not coexist, just as those two do not mix.

They knew the answer but couldn’t make the decision.

However.

 

Does the sail you raise, Family Head, unfurl by choosing its wind?

 

The message contained exactly those words, nothing more, nothing less.

It was a pointed remark.

It aligned with his earlier words about becoming not the sail, but the person who moves the sail.

It was time to make a decision for the family’s development.

If he wanted to become a great wind and blow in that direction, he would naturally have to adjust the sail’s direction to catch the favorable wind.

It was also like telling him to persuade the retainers so that this intention would be conveyed to them as well.

“When I refused the Namgung Family’s visit, I made up my mind. I decided not to be obsessed with distinguishing between orthodox and unorthodox anymore. Even if I become a scapegoat and receive everyone’s pointing fingers and curses, I will choose the path that develops and strengthens our family enough for our descendants to live with dignity. What do you all think? Are you afraid of being cursed for the sake of our descendants?”

“…”

“Even if it’s a false alliance, the Blood Shadow Pavilion showed good faith by withdrawing their warriors from the border, so we too must respond to them! From now on, the Zhuge Family will enter a wartime state and assist the Blood Shadow Pavilion!”

At his forcefully raised voice, the retainers no longer objected. They didn’t say it couldn’t be done.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Since the Family Head had solemnly decided his will, following without complaint was their duty.

Even if that decision would determine life and death and the family’s fate hung in the balance, just one word was enough.

“Command us!”

Toward the retainers who bowed and answered vigorously, Zhuge Dowon quickly conveyed his orders.

“Issue a mobilization order to all warriors of the family immediately and summon the Hyeonho Dan Leader. I will personally convey the orders. Also, have the Outer Hall Master tell the Namjang Branch Manager to do everything possible at the Demon Shadow Tower’s border so we can put our full effort into the war with the Namgung Family.”

“Understood.”

“Have the Yanghyeon and Joyang branches leave only the minimum number of warriors and assist the Blood Shadow Pavilion immediately.”

“Yes!”

“The Communication Pavilion should cooperate with the Beggar’s Sect to devise communication measures with the Blood Shadow Pavilion. It must be fast and close.”

“We will do so.”

“Since the Military Strategy Hall will have minimal forces remaining at the main house, recheck the Eight Formation Diagram and hurry preparations to activate it in case of emergency.”

“…”

It was a situation where everyone immediately responded as the Family Head’s orders fell.

However, Zhuge Doyun was just sighing with an expression as if bewitched by something.

“Byeongjudang Master!”

“…Yes?”

“My words… Haa.”

Zhuge Dowon, who had frowned, sighed and shook his head back and forth.

It was because he understood the Byeongjudang Master’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“Everyone go out. When additional matters arise, I will send messengers to give orders each time.”

“Yes! Family Head.”

After the retainers left, Zhuge Dowon approached Zhuge Doyun, who remained alone.

“Doyun.”

“…Yes.”

“This is a message Munhyeon sent.”

Zhuge Doyun, who received the message, stared blankly at its contents.

Something about sails…

Damn that sail.

The Family Head has been swayed again.

Lately, that son has been playing the Family Head like a fiddle.

“That boy seems like he won’t distinguish between orthodox and unorthodox. Since he knows the problem of our family lacking warriors, he must have come up with such a solution.”

“But…”

“I know, you must be worried. But look here. How desperate must he have been to call himself Young Family Head to the Blood Shadow Pavilion Master?”

“Young Family Head? That boy said that?”

“Yes.”

“How could that boy impersonate the Young Family Head unless he’s gone mad?”

“You’re being stubborn. I find that heart of his, wanting to help the family even while impersonating the Young Family Head, truly admirable.”

“Haa, if he’s admirable twice more, there won’t be any life left. What exactly is that boy that he would impersonate someone and visit the Blood Shadow Pavilion Master? Do you know what kind of place that is? If by any chance that unorthodox fellow had harbored ill intentions…”

“It would have been dangerous. But didn’t he succeed in persuading him in the end?”

“…”

“Why wouldn’t I be worried too? That child is like a son to me as well. So you pull yourself together too. If we manage to stop the Namgung Family! The Blood Shadow Pavilion won’t be the problem.”

“I know. The Demon Shadow Tower won’t last long either.”

“Right. They alone won’t be able to stand against us with the Blood Shadow Pavilion in our hands.”

“But that’s only if we manage to stop the Namgung Family. The Azure Sky Sword Unit numbers three hundred… And if it’s Mok Jaun, the Steel Martial Pavilion Master, since he surpassed bloodlines and rose to that position, he won’t hesitate to use any means necessary.”

“Hehe, you rascal. How is it that you, his father, have less faith in that child than I, his uncle?”

“…”

“He’ll do well, that boy will.”

Zhuge Dowon patted his shoulder comfortingly.

He only sees the good side.

Only the good…

But how could a father’s heart be otherwise?

Even when you trust, you worry, and if you don’t trust, you worry even more.

This damn boy, once this matter is over, I’ll break his legs with a switch and make him stay cooped up at home.

‘So please, he must return with an intact body that I can break the legs of.’

Zhuge Doyun continuously prayed for his son’s safety.

 

* * *

 

So Rokpa’s one eyebrow drooped crookedly as he led a hundred Azure Sky Sword Unit members as the Namgung Family’s vanguard.

“What? They’re gone?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

“It seems these bastards got scared and ran away.”

At his subordinate’s mockery, So Rokpa stroked his goatee that was grown sharp like horns.

After suppressing the sects near the Muju Official Road and rapidly advancing north, they arrived at Jongsang, where the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main branch was located, and joined up with other scattered attack units.

Since this wasn’t a minor affiliated sect but a place where the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main forces were deployed, they expected quite a fierce battle to unfold.

But there was no one in Jongsang County.

An empty branch office.

As his subordinate said, they might have gotten scared and fled.

Unorthodox sect bastards originally have no sense of loyalty anyway.

But what about the remaining belongings?

If they had gotten scared and fled in all directions, they should have taken at least some valuables with them, but it felt as if only their bodies had slipped away.

Something seemed strange.

“Cheongjo.”

“Yes.”

“Check the direction of their escape.”

“Understood.”

Cheongjo, who ran off, quickly returned with an answer.

“Reporting! After checking the vicinity, countless horse hoofprints and footprints are heading north. Also, they’re not scattered but grouped together.”

A cruel smile formed on So Rokpa’s lips as his eyes flashed.

Not escape but retreat.

It meant they intended to preserve their numbers.

And that was the same as having no other options.

“Anryuk County will be the same, so quickly relay the order and immediately form pursuit units. We must reduce their numbers as much as possible before the Regional Lord arrives with reinforcements! Chase them!”

“Yes!”

The Azure Sky Sword Unit warriors dashed north again with flashing eyes.

About one gak.

It was a distance they could definitely catch up to.

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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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