Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 81

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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 81

 

 

The defeat of So Rokpa, the head monk, delivered an indescribable shock.

The fact that he, the leader of the Blue Sky Sword Corps, had been helplessly defeated by a young man was more than enough to crush their morale into the ground and grind it to dust.

No one could speak or move.

But this wasn’t a simple fight that would end with just one clash. This wasn’t a martial duel between warriors, but a war between factions.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

With the thunderous sound of hoofbeats shaking the earth, fifty warriors who had failed in their pursuit of the Anryuk Branch warriors arrived.

This was expected.

They were just a bit faster than anticipated.

“Damn, again?”

“Munhyeon, will we be okay with just us?”

“Including the ones who stayed behind, there are more of them than before?”

Gwan Hwiping gripped his sword tighter while maintaining his position despite his worries.

“Munhyeon, this time it really seems difficult to handle alone. Let us help.”

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled as Zhuge Munho approached with fierce, flashing eyes.

Not because of his words, but because of his expression and gaze.

They had changed.

Those who had cowered before strong opponents without even trying to fight had finally broken out of their shells.

It was probably because they had watched him fight.

Sometimes such battles ignite fire in a warrior’s heart.

But what to do?

The objective had already been achieved.

Since the warriors from Jongsang Branch and Anryuk Branch had successfully escaped without casualties, there was no need to fight recklessly.

Zhuge Munhyeon looked at the fifty warriors approaching.

A considerable number.

If his internal energy were overflowing, it might be different, but he wasn’t at that level now.

Moreover, a tired body and insufficient internal energy always create unexpected situations.

Even a moment’s hesitation could result in injury.

It would be hard to guarantee the lives of the Zhuge Family’s adorable(?) little ones.

Should he retreat?

He considered it briefly, but he had always fought by advancing forward. He didn’t want to fight while being chased with his back to the enemy.

“Everyone listen carefully.”

“…”

“I absolutely must defend this place, you see? So stick close behind me and fight.”

“Understood.”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping gripped their weapons tightly.

For Yangmun, the squad leader of the Blue Sky Sword Corps who had just arrived, it was nothing but bewildering.

What on earth was this…

The number that should have been over fifty was only half that. Even among those, most were injured.

And what were those five standing in a wedge formation blocking the way? Could it be that fifty members of the Blue Sky Sword Corps led by So Rokpa had been stopped by those young brats?

Before his questions, he needed to find So Rokpa first.

“Where is the Deputy Leader!”

“…”

At Yangmun’s shout, the warriors flinched and stepped aside.

So Rokpa lay unconscious and collapsed.

“Wh-what is this?”

He was brutally beaten as if he had been severely thrashed. It was surprising that he was still breathing.

Who on earth?

His bewilderment soon turned to rage.

“You crazy bastards! The Deputy Leader is in this state and you just stood there watching!”

“Th-that is…”

When he got angry, they should have knelt down, bowed their heads, and begged for forgiveness, but they only hung their heads weakly.

There was no fighting spirit in their eyes.

They looked as if they were sick of something.

Such a sight made Yangmun even angrier.

How could the Blue Sky Sword Corps, which should dominate All Under Heaven as the main force of the Namgung Family, look like this?

“Th-these… idiots!”

Bursting with frustration, he immediately drew his sword.

“What are you doing! Capture those bastards right now!”

Just as he was about to start fighting with a roar.

One of the Blue Sky Sword Corps warriors pointed somewhere and said.

“Squad Leader Yang.”

“What!”

“Dust is rising.”

“What?”

The forest behind Zhuge Munhyeon.

Thick dust clouds were getting closer and closer.

Judging by the range of the dust, quite a large number of warriors seemed to be approaching.

“Damn it…”

“Squad Leader, with that many, it’s difficult for us alone. Since the Deputy Leader has also fallen, for now it would be better to retreat and reorganize our formation…”

“Damn!”

The fifty that Yangmun brought, and the slightly over twenty warriors who were here.

But they were severely injured and had even lost their fighting spirit.

Now that So Rokpa, the strongest of the vanguard and the one with decision-making authority, was absent, a frontal confrontation was not a good choice.

“…We retreat. Put the Deputy Leader on a stretcher.”

“Yes.”

Yangmun ground his teeth and spoke toward Zhuge Munhyeon.

“I’ll remember your faces.”

“…”

Zhuge Munhyeon chuckled at the sight of the Blue Sky Sword Corps retreating with wary eyes along with those words.

Let’s see about that.

It seems the expressions used remain the same even when generations change.

But usually, the guy who said those words would charge first when they met again and end up dying…

There was no need to pursue them.

A cornered rat sometimes bites the cat, and it would be troublesome if they joined up with the reinforcements that had departed from Wuhan.

It was better to catch their breath and reorganize their formation.

Especially since the Blood Shadow Pavilion warriors had arrived as well.

“That’s a relief.”

“I was worried about what would happen if we had to fight…”

“Phew, we won.”

Gwan Hwiping watched the Namgung Family warriors retreating in the distance, stroking his chest in relief and joy.

“Munhyeon, you worked hard.”

“Hard work, what…”

He nodded at Zhuge Munho’s words.

The first victory.

It holds great significance.

Above all, this battle began to save the Blood Shadow Pavilion warriors. Having saved them and driven off the enemy, it proved the Zhuge Family’s capabilities.

Of course, the Namgung Family, now thoroughly enraged by this defeat, would surely clash with them again…

And then.

“Is everyone alright?”

Sayo and Zhuge Junggi suddenly emerged from the forest, followed by the Blood Shadow Pavilion warriors.

But their numbers…

“This is all? Wasn’t the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main force coming?”

“The main force is still on its way. We hastily gathered those who had escaped from the Jongsang Branch and came.”

“What?”

How strange.

It wasn’t just some trivial dust cloud.

It felt like at least hundreds were charging toward them…

Zhuge Munhyeon soon realized why so much dust had risen despite the small number of people.

The tree branches attached to both sides of the horses that Zhuge Junggi and the Blood Shadow Pavilion warriors had ridden.

This guy had imitated his ancestors’ trick.

“Did you deliberately raise dust?”

“What else could I do? You said only five were going to block them… Anyway, the Namgung Family wouldn’t have information about our movements, and when I asked the Beggar’s Sect, they said the reinforcements that left Wuhan would still take quite a while to arrive, so I had to use such tactics.”

At Zhuge Junggi’s grumbling, Zhuge Munhyeon shook his head.

In many ways, he was an impressive guy.

He had devised a perfect strategy by utilizing the fact that the forest blocked distant vision and the Namgung Family’s situation.

“Fortunately, it seems you won.”

“Well…”

“Phew, it was a hastily improvised tactic since the Azure Sky Sword Unit seemed to be held up, but it worked well.”

Zhuge Junggi sighed in relief, patting his chest.

Indeed, that would be the case.

If they hadn’t been blocking the path here, the combined Azure Sky Sword Unit would have passed through the forest and rushed toward the Blood Shadow Pavilion before they could arrive, leaving no time to employ any strategy.

To improvise a strategy according to the situation – truly a remarkable fellow.

Unlike his elder brother…

“But it’s really amazing. How did you manage to block them with just five people?”

“…”

As Zhuge Junggi clicked his tongue in admiration, Zhuge Munhyeon looked at him with half-closed eyes.

What was done well was done well, but there were definitely things that needed to be addressed.

“Hey, but how long are you going to keep speaking informally to me?”

“I’m going to continue?”

“What?”

“We’re only one year apart anyway. You do it to your elder brothers too.”

“…”

His expression seemed to say, ‘Why are you pointing out such trivial things?’

Really had no manners.

Am I the same as you?

Though he thought they were different, there were indeed similarities between the brothers.

They were exactly alike in their lack of manners.

What’s the point of arguing with a kid?

Zhuge Munhyeon sighed and turned his gaze away.

“Sayo, how is the situation at Blood Shadow Pavilion?”

“The warriors from the northern front have completed their return, and the Blood Shadow Pavilion Lord is moving with full formation.”

“Tsk, moving only now. How cunning.”

“Well…”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s grumbling, Sayo smiled bitterly.

As he said, when Zhuge Munhyeon moved to save the branch warriors, Ok Sayeong should have immediately sent the main pavilion’s warriors to help him.

Regardless of the northern warriors’ return.

But he had observed the situation.

How the Zhuge Family, who had received their pledge of allegiance, would move.

Whether they would attack the now-empty northern front contrary to their promise, whether they would truly show movements to help them.

He had thought according to his own standards.

Since betrayal was routine for them, they could only see what they expected to see.

Well, it was understandable. If by any chance the Zhuge Family hadn’t helped, they would have suffered even greater losses.

And in one way, it worked out well.

Thanks to this, they would have nothing to say to the Zhuge Family.

“Anyway, if Ok Sayeong is moving, that means the main house has also started moving?”

“Yes. Young Master Junggi made contact with them.”

“Junggi did?”

“Yes. By impersonating Young Master Munhyeon’s name.”

“What?”

“He said it would be delivered much faster that way.”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned as he looked at Zhuge Junggi.

“This bastard, going so far as to impersonate my name?”

“Someone who impersonated the Young Family Head shouldn’t be saying that, you know?”

“Who impersonated the Young Family Head? That was Elder Brother Munho’s doing! This guy! Talking back is just routine for you!”

At those words, Zhuge Munho couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

When he was the one who ordered it…

But he didn’t particularly want to get involved in their fight.

“Anyway! I told the main house to secretly move the Hyeonho Unit and have them standby to get behind the Namgung Family’s support forces.”

“Behind them?”

“Are we going to let them escape?”

“What?”

“You were planning to win anyway, weren’t you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Then we need to completely cut off their lifeline. Then we’ll reclaim all the territory they took. Hehehe.”

“…”

At the sight of Zhuge Junggi looking excited as if his head was filled with strategies, Zhuge Munhyeon could only let out a hollow laugh.

As befitting a descendant of the Zhuge Family, did he enjoy using his brain that much?

It was the same expression he had when playing Go.

It would be a strategy of pretending to pour out merciless attacks while secretly penetrating the opponent’s weaknesses to cut off their lifeline.

Anyway, despite his lack of manners, he was exceptionally capable.

He had no choice but to leave the strategy to him.

“Let’s go back for now. We need to plan how to drive out the Namgung Family together with the Blood Shadow Pavilion Lord.”

“Of course we should. But before that…”

Zhuge Junggi looked at Sayo and spoke.

“Miss Sa.”

“Yes?”

“Could you spread some rumors in the areas occupied by the Namgung Family?”

“What kind of…”

“That the Blood Shadow Pavilion and Demon Shadow Tower have pledged allegiance to the Zhuge Family and will drive out the Namgung Family that invaded Hubei Province.”

“What? But the Demon Shadow Tower is…”

“They’ll believe it. Until they can verify it. They already know that Blood Shadow Pavilion has pledged allegiance to us. A brief moment to demoralize them is enough anyway.”

“…”

“Above all, because they were confident of victory, they penetrated too deeply into Hubei Province. The way back is too long. They left nothing behind in the places they passed through. In such a situation, when they learn that the main house’s Hyeonho Unit has moved to the rear and blocked both land and water routes?”

They would wither and die with nowhere to escape.

At Zhuge Junggi’s words, Zhuge Munhyeon found himself nodding without realizing it.

“Wait, that strategy is good?”

“Right?”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Junggi’s eyes sparkled as if he had been acknowledged.

“If we do it well, we could isolate three hundred martial artists from the Namgung Family deep in Hubei Province.”

“Oh? You understood my strategy properly. But it’s not complete isolation. We need to open up escape routes bit by bit. In the direction we want, that is. And if we can capture them as prisoners, we’ll have the upper hand in future negotiations.”

“Negotiations?”

“Of course. Can we just send them back? We need to hold them until negotiations are over.”

“Hmm, that’s true. We just sent them back and ended up in this mess. Really, these guys treat promises like rice cakes.”

Zhuge Munhyeon frowned and grumbled.

Even verbal promises are promises, yet these bastards sent swords instead of apologies and compensation.

This time, he absolutely won’t let it slide.

He must receive money through negotiations first and then… Huh?!

“Wait a minute, if we capture those guys as prisoners and get just ten nyang per head… there are about three hundred of them… Gasp! Three thousand nyang?”

“Huh?”

Zhuge Junggi felt something was off.

Somehow things were flowing in a completely different direction from what he had thought.

Per head?

“Damn! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have killed those guys earlier! That was all money…”

“…”

“Huh? What?”

“No, it just sounds like you’re planning to take money for each captured martial artist before handing them over.”

“Wasn’t that the negotiation you were talking about?”

At Zhuge Munhyeon’s words, Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping let out sighs.

And.

“You crazy bastard! Are we Unorthodox Sects? What the hell do you mean per head! Do you think I devised this strategy for that reason?”

Zhuge Junggi, who had been staring blankly, lost his reason and went wild, but it didn’t register.

In Zhuge Munhyeon’s mind, ‘per head’ was already engraved.

Hehehe, those Namgung Family bastards.

I may have lived a life detached from money, but this time I’ll squeeze it out of them tenaciously. Per head!

“Let go! Let me go! I’m going to fix that bastard’s habits today!”

And seeing that sinister smile, Zhuge Junggi became even more enraged and shouted, while Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping sighed repeatedly.

They weren’t holding him back.

Nobody was…

If you can fix his habits, then go ahead and do it.

Don’t just shout.

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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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