Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 83

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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 83

The manor that Blood Shadow Pavilion had used as their Jongsang Branch.

The place that should have been empty and desolate after its owner left was overflowing with guests.

The vanguard of the Azure Sky Sword Corps who had been advancing north while crushing the small sects under Blood Shadow Pavilion’s command only to suddenly find themselves stuck, and the reinforcements that had departed from Wuhan to support them from behind.

The Jongsang Branch manor occupied by three hundred warriors looked impressive enough to be mistaken for a mid-tier sect or higher.

But despite the fact that the atmosphere should have been high-spirited, it had sunk low.

Inside the manor.

The face of Gang Mu Regional Lord Mok Jaun, who had arrived leading the reinforcements, was clearly displeased.

“You lost…”

“I apologize. As the vanguard, I failed to fulfill my role properly, so I will gladly accept any punishment.”

So Rokpa, kneeling on the ground, bowed his head.

His injuries were severe.

His arms and legs were broken with splints attached, and bandages were wrapped around various parts of his body. Even with crutches, he couldn’t walk properly without support.

Most serious of all were his eyes that had lost their will.

“Was he that formidable?”

“…He was like a monster.”

“Hah… First Nine Wall Sword wasn’t enough, and now even you’ve ended up like this… The Zhuge Family has raised quite an exceptional fellow. A truly exceptional fellow.”

Repeating the same words while grinding his teeth, a chilling anger flashed through Mok Jaun’s eyes.

He didn’t want to acknowledge it.

That their pride, the vanguard of the Azure Sky Sword Corps, had been broken by a young martial artist from the Zhuge Family.

However.

“Regional Lord.”

“Speak.”

“He’s not just exceptional.”

“What?”

“Having fought him, he was beyond what can be easily described.”

So Rokpa even trembled as if recalling that battle.

Zhuge Munhyeon.

He had perfectly recreated the core essence of his martial arts. As if he had known it all along.

Moreover, during the fight, he had easily broken down those martial arts and taught them to him.

It was incomprehensible.

Both grasping the key principles of someone else’s martial arts after seeing it once, and easily breaking down those principles to teach them again.

Also, he had spared him because he was confident.

Confident that he could easily win even if he returned stronger…

Furthermore, it was clear that bastard hadn’t drawn out his full power even against him.

That meant at minimum Ui Qi.

Perhaps even beyond that.

Thinking this way, fear washed over him.

Considering his age, it should be absolutely impossible, but if by any chance he had stepped into the realm of Gang Qi… all the Namgung Family warriors who attacked Hubei Province would die.

Three hundred?

Numbers are meaningless against a martial artist who has transcended the human realm.

Because they can cut down dozens of warriors with a single sword strike.

A Gang Qi martial artist can only be stopped by another Gang Qi martial artist. Therefore, the very existence of such a martial artist determines a family’s fate.

“Also, he wasn’t the only one.”

“What do you mean?”

“At first I thought there was only one, but the martial prowess of those who came with him was also formidable. They were of similar age… One of them was a mature Tan Qi martial artist, sufficient to be called peak-level, and the others…”

“Shut up!”

At So Rokpa’s words, Mok Jaun couldn’t contain himself and shouted angrily. The energy carried in his sound wave was enough to create whistling winds.

The pressure bearing down on his injured body was at an unbearable level, but So Rokpa thought he had to convey exactly what he had seen.

Because countless lives depended on a single wrong decision.

“Regional Lord.”

“…”

“Please request help from the Main House. The situation feels strange. It’s not because I was defeated. It seems we may have misjudged the Zhuge Family.”

“You, you bastard!”

Even though he glared with bulging eyes, So Rokpa spilled out everything he wanted to say until the end.

“They seized Blood Shadow Pavilion at the same time as confirming the Main House’s offensive. If the Zhuge Family has indeed changed from what we know…”

“You bastard! Didn’t I clearly tell you to shut up!”

Mok Jaun could no longer listen to the words that followed.

Only the vanguard had collapsed so far.

A proper battle hadn’t even begun yet, so how could he voice concerns and lower morale?

Most importantly, his position was at stake in this battle.

Like So Rokpa, despite being from an external branch, he had risen to the position of Gang Mu Regional Lord, proudly overseeing the Namgung Family’s warrior corps while surpassing the direct lineage.

But he still had a long way to go.

Even if he couldn’t become Family Head, he intended to rise to the position of Grand Elder, second only to one and above ten thousand.

This expedition to Hubei was an important battle that would pave that path.

Expanding territory into Hubei and receiving the surrender of the blockaded Zhuge.

Establishing themselves as the leader among the Central Plains martial families that had once been called the Five Great, Six Great, or Seven Great depending on each generation’s rise and fall.

Furthermore, in the future, they would unite the Nine Sects and claim the leadership of the collapsed Orthodox Alliance.

Truly the greatest family under heaven.

Hubei was the first step toward ascending to such greatness, and he had to be the one to achieve that history.

But, but…

“Pathetic fool. Your very tone already acknowledges the enemy.”

“Regional Lord. That’s not it. Please listen carefully to my words and…”

“Shut up! You’re just that mediocre! Though you seemed similar to me, having risen from an external branch to the position of Azure Sky Sword Corps deputy commander, I was going to make you my Left Palm…”

“Regional Lord…”

“I don’t want to hear it! If you lost, you should be grinding your teeth in determination to win… How dare you tuck your tail between your legs and tarnish the Namgung Family’s name! I can no longer listen to your whimpering, so withdraw!”

Mok Jaun abruptly turned his head away.

So Rokpa, who had been looking at him for a long while, could no longer say anything and hung his head low.

What face did a defeated general have to be stubborn?

However.

“Regional Lord, even if you have closed your ears, please remember these words. The opponent is Zhuge. Surely strength won’t be everything. Please observe thoroughly and make the right judgment.”

So Rokpa stood up with a gloomy face.

Though there were movements to support his staggering form, he raised his hand to stop them and stood alone while gritting his teeth, then bowed toward Mok Jaun.

“I will now withdraw. Also, taking responsibility for leading us to defeat, I will step down from my position as deputy commander. I hope you achieve your lofty goals.”

Though he was courteous despite his discomfort, Mok Jaun didn’t spare him a single glance.

Namgung doesn’t care for those who have become unnecessary.

Even if they’re family.

That was the will of the Family Head who had established a new Namgung to move forward.

‘Foolish thing… I could have overlooked a single defeat.’

Mok Jaun frowned at the sound of staggering footsteps moving away.

But it was the same fate.

Though they had penetrated deep into Hubei Province, they had only occupied the lands where a few small sects had resided and two branch offices.

They hadn’t even seen Blood Shadow Pavilion’s main pavilions.

How was this different from Nine Wall Sword’s situation, being driven away from the entrance of Yungzhong Mountain?

Due to his failure to properly assess the situation in Hubei Province during that incident, the current Regional Lord Namgung Jin was expelled.

If even those who follow the bloodline face such circumstances, how much worse must it be for those who follow an outside surname?

If he returned like this, his fate was as clear as fire.

He would be expelled from his position as Regional Lord.

No matter what achievements he had accomplished before.

‘Zhuge… you bastards…’

His eyes stung.

That name bothered him like a thorn embedded in his eye.

However.

“If you chose the path of evil, you must be annihilated. You should know how wrong that choice was…”

Mok Jaun, grinding his teeth furiously, called over a nearby warrior, Namgung Hwan.

“Second Captain, listen.”

“Please give your orders.”

“Go immediately and capture the beggars wandering around this area.”

“…”

“If they don’t listen, beat them and bring them here. I need to know the atmosphere in Hubei Province in detail before starting the fight.”

“Understood.”

Namgung Hwan bowed his head without question and left the manor with several subordinates.

“First Captain, immediately deploy patrol units around the manor and establish a perimeter. If anyone is spotted surveying the area, kill them regardless of reason.”

“Yes!”

* * *

A great commotion broke out.

With the manor’s vicinity controlled by sword-wielding warriors, nearby villagers locked their doors in terror and watched nervously.

The beggars who had been gathered together enjoying their meal of scraps in gourd bowls also met with sudden disaster.

Warriors who appeared out of nowhere began beating them with scabbards without warning, and they had no way to resist.

Among the group of beggars who were gathered in one place, battered and bruised, a cold sword blade was pointed at the neck of the oldest-looking one.

Having already been beaten, there was no way he could resist.

“Oh my, honored warrior. Why are you doing this to pitiful people like us?”

He tried to appeal to sympathy as much as possible, but what returned was a cold gaze and an icy voice.

“Are you the leader of the beggar gang in this area?”

A leader was a position that commanded the beggars living based in one village.

It was a rank below the branch leaders who were in charge of multiple regions.

At Namgung Hwan’s question, the beggar nodded frantically.

“That’s right. I am Gwak Chu, the leader of Jongsang County.”

“Were you a Gaebangdo?”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t make me ask twice.”

His presence was fierce.

As killing intent was added to the sword aura of the blade, Gwak Chu, who felt goosebumps rising, quickly answered.

“I was at one time, but as you know, after the Beggar’s Sect collapsed, we all scattered…”

“Still, you must have contact with nearby regions?”

“These days, not really…”

“If you don’t have contact, you die.”

As the sword blade was thrust forward and he felt a sharp sensation on his neck, Gwak Chu hastily answered.

“I do! I was originally an information broker in Hubei. Whatever information you need, just tell me and I can find out.”

Whether he was trying desperately to survive or actually had such abilities, Gwak Chu earnestly proclaimed his usefulness, and fortunately the sword was withdrawn.

“I am Namgung Hwan from the Namgung Family.”

“Oh my, I didn’t recognize such an esteemed person and committed a great discourtesy. You fools! Hurry and pay your respects!”

At Gwak Chu’s words, the group of beggars buried their heads on the ground and bowed.

“If you were formerly a Gaebangdo, you understand the current situation?”

“Of course, of course! No one is faster than us when it comes to market rumors.”

“…”

“I know well that three hundred from the Namgung Family’s Blue Sky Sword Unit advanced north from Muju Official Road and dealt with the minor sects under Blood Shadow Pavilion. I am very grateful. Thanks to that, all the wicked Blood Shadow Pavilion bastards in Jongsang fled, so we can beg in peace, can’t we?”

“Good that you feel that way.”

“Of course it’s good. But the need for contact with nearby regions… is it because of information about Blood Shadow Pavilion?”

“The Regional Lord will ask those questions. Follow me.”

“Regional Lord, you mean…? Are you perhaps referring to the great hero Mok Jaun, the Gangmu Regional Lord?”

“Your ears seem to be open.”

“Ah, what an honor! To think I can meet such a precious person directly!”

Gwak Chu wiped his eyes with his sleeve as if unable to contain his overwhelming emotions.

The sight was so amusing that the Namgung Family warriors couldn’t help but smile.

“I will help. If you’re fighting those damn Blood Shadow Pavilion bastards, I, who was once a Gaebangdo, should naturally help.”

“Quite likeable. If you do your job well, you’ll receive adequate compensation.”

“Oh my, no compensation is needed. When you’re creating a world where we can live in peace, what compensation do we need?”

Gwak Chu stood up with a bright smile and followed behind Namgung Hwan with his shabby gait.

And.

[Tell the Small Leader. The dog has taken the poisoned bait.]

Gwak Chu’s secret sound transmission was conveyed to the Bangdo.

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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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