Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 87

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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 87

 

 

Several days into their flight.

Having fled into the wilderness where there wasn’t even a wall to shield them, they had to run through forests and splash through ditches.

They weren’t given a moment’s rest. As if knowing exactly where they were going, the moment their steps slowed even slightly, enemies would burst from the forest to tear at their weakest flesh first.

By the time they realized they were being herded, it was already too late.

A desperate last stand?

There were few warriors left who could fight, but having fled this far… they were almost at the Yangtze River…

Flight itself became their goal as they desperately reached the Yangtze River.

And at that moment, they had no choice but to stop.

Though the distant flowing waters were right before their eyes, they could go no further.

On the mountain ridge.

A wall greater than any that had blocked their path thus far stretched long, waiting for them.

An expressionless face.

Indifferent eyes that showed not a trace of emotion.

Zhuge Domyeong, dressed in a starched light yellow martial robe with stiff creases, blocked their path with both hands supporting a giant sword.

In contrast, Mok Jaun, his clothes soaked with sweat and hanging limply, looked at him with a shadowed expression.

“Damn it…”

That single curse represented all his feelings.

They couldn’t turn back, nor could they change direction.

Behind them was already blocked by Blood Shadow Pavilion warriors.

 

-The opponent is the Zhuge Family. It won’t be just about strength, so you must observe everything carefully.

 

The image of So Rokpa giving worried counsel flashed through his mind.

He should have listened more carefully…

But what use was regret now?

He looked back but couldn’t see him.

His injuries had been severe, so he must have been abandoned somewhere along their flight.

He was either captured or dead.

“…Damn it all.”

Just as his face contorted with frustration.

Thud!

Zhuge Domyeong stepped forward and struck the ground forcefully with his giant sword to draw attention.

“I am Zhuge Domyeong, Hyeonho Dan Leader of the Zhuge Family. Who is in charge here?”

His heavy voice echoed.

Perhaps because his expression never changed, the weight of his words seemed to press down on their heads.

It made sense they wouldn’t recognize each other.

The martial families hadn’t interacted for a long time.

Especially the Zhuge Family, who had been practically confined to Yungzhong Mountain due to external forces, had only heard rumors about warriors from other families but never seen them directly.

“That’s me. I am Mok Jaun, Regional Lord of Gangmu Hall of the Namgung Family.”

“I see.”

Zhuge Domyeong nodded slightly in acknowledgment and spoke to him.

“The fight is over. I recommend you surrender now.”

“Surrender?”

“Yes.”

“Hah, what crazy talk. You’re telling me to bow my head to the likes of Zhuge? Rather than endure such humiliation to preserve my life, I’d choose death here and now.”

His eyes gleamed with venom, showing no intention of giving up, and Zhuge Domyeong spoke.

“Mok Jaun, how is that humiliation? If you can save your subordinates by setting aside your pride, you should feel proud instead.”

“What?”

“Are their lives worth less than your pride as an elder? If it were me, I would save my subordinates’ lives even if it meant facing punishment for defeat. That is the role of a leader. So surrender now. Let them return to their families’ embrace.”

At his calm words spoken with an expressionless face, Mok Jaun couldn’t help but glance around.

His subordinates were wavering.

They were exhausted.

Exhausted enough to want to end this fight immediately.

He had struck at that psychology.

Damn it…

To be manipulated like this.

But he couldn’t kneel without even fighting properly or achieving anything.

Being prepared for punishment for defeat?

That was something said without knowing the Namgung Family’s atmosphere.

Defeated generals were never forgiven.

Even if they were elders.

To keep his position at minimum, he absolutely could not submit.

He needed another way.

To preserve his pride and return safely…

“Zhuge Domyeong.”

“Speak.”

“I acknowledge defeat.”

“…”

“But I cannot kneel so pathetically.”

“What do you wish to say?”

“You too are a warrior of the Orthodox Sects, so I believe you know propriety. As a leader, please grant me the Three Yielding Ritual.”

“Hmm…”

There is a saying called the Three Yielding Ritual.

Originally meaning to decline the throne three times, it’s also interpreted as showing concession and humility to one’s inferiors.

In the martial world, it’s used when the weak wish to assert their will against the strong.

Usually meaning ‘If you withstand three attacks, I’ll listen to your words,’ it was a tradition that had long been customary in the Orthodox Sects.

“If I withstand three attacks, let us go. Haven’t you already claimed victory? Haven’t you already confirmed the Zhuge Family’s presence in the world?”

“…”

Zhuge Domyeong fell silent for a moment.

Mok Jaun was now trying to preserve his last bit of pride.

Should he accept?

Or should he refuse?

A long, long deliberation continued.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Munhyeon, who had been listening to the conversation from behind, smiled wryly.

Oh my, that cunning bastard.

What’s this about Three Yielding?

He’d heard it plenty of times.

It was the same when he’d ventured into the Central Plains for martial duels.

Orthodox Sect bastards always did this after losing.

But he could easily read the man’s vile thoughts.

It meant he wouldn’t accept defeat gracefully.

Since a defeated general had brought up the Three Yielding Ritual, if they refused, the Zhuge Family would inevitably face ridicule from the world.

Word would spread throughout the world.

A victory obtained by borrowing the power of unorthodox sects and relying on strategy.

That absolutely cannot be allowed.

I’d rather crush them even more perfectly with that Three Yielding Ritual.

Zhuge Munhyeon left the formation and approached Zhuge Domyeong.

“Wh, Munhyeon. What’s wrong? Where are you going again?”

“What kind of scheme is he plotting now…”

“Shouldn’t we stop him?”

“Who? How?”

While Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping could only stomp their feet helplessly.

“Uncle.”

“Munhyeon?”

“Nephew, though it may be rude, may I speak a word?”

He bowed his head and asked for permission first.

In a voice loud enough to be heard by all of the Zhuge Family, Blood Shadow Pavilion, Beggar’s Sect, and Namgung Family filling the mountain ridge.

Because he was the leader.

“Speak.”

“Please allow it. The Three Yielding Ritual.”

“The reason?”

“Doesn’t it say that a gentleman cherishes virtue while a petty man cherishes profit?”

It means a gentleman thinks of virtue, while a petty man thinks of gain.

I’ve read some books.

When necessary, I can speak difficult words quite well too.

It means I’m not someone who leads with fists first.

“Also, it’s said that a gentleman remains steadfast in poverty, while a petty man becomes base when poor.”

It means a gentleman remains firm even in hardship, while a petty man becomes vile when in difficulty.

There’s no way Zhuge Domyeong wouldn’t know that meaning.

Even Mok Jaun, who was an elder, knew that much as his face turned bright red.

The Namgung Family had committed the senseless act of invading Hubei Province for profit alone and attacking the Main House’s allies.

The Zhuge Family couldn’t stand by and achieved victory through strategy alone to avoid bloodshed, but they still don’t recognize their wrongs and are only scheming to flee with words of the Three Yielding Ritual.

However, just because the petty Namgung Family acts that way, how could the gentlemanly Zhuge Family act the same?

…That’s what he expressed very concisely.

Very satisfying.

He was quite befitting of a Zhuge Family descendant.

Zhuge Domyeong seemed pleased with his nephew’s eloquence, showing a satisfied expression.

Uh, that’s a bit…

When you force a smile, you look angry.

Anyway!

“The strong shamelessly and mercilessly slaughtered the weak Somun sects without knowing shame, yet they don’t recognize the Main House’s mercy and beg to live like that, so please grant it. They say even the wishes of the dead are granted.”

His words flowed like water.

Zhuge Domyeong slowly nodded.

Now, the stage is set…

“However! How can you perform the ritual of three yieldings in your current state? That’s what you’ve been worrying about, right?”

At those words, Zhuge Domyeong had an expression like ‘Huh? Me?’, but Zhuge Munhyeon continued speaking.

“As expected of you, Uncle. Indeed, as a gentleman, you must think it unfair to defeat such an exhausted opponent.”

“…”

“Naturally, we should give them time to prepare. And when they recover, I’ll face them.”

“You…?”

When Zhuge Domyeong looked at him questioningly, Zhuge Munhyeon slightly raised the corner of his mouth and winked.

He knew Zhuge Munhyeon’s abilities.

Though young, perhaps there was no longer any master in the Zhuge Family who could match him.

That nephew was asking with his eyes.

Leave it to me, won’t you? After all, this is a knot of enmity that I twisted.

So he answered with his eyes.

Are you confident?

Unspoken words passed between them through their gazes.

But confident?

Are you asking me about confidence now? To someone who has lived their entire life on confidence alone?

Zhuge Munhyeon smiled and spoke loudly enough to echo through the mountain ridge.

“Moreover! It’s said that you don’t use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.”

You can’t use a knife for slaughtering cattle to kill chickens.

It’s a phrase even neighborhood kids use often, almost like a popular saying.

Sometimes there are fools who use it wrong and bring ruin upon themselves, but when used by someone with power, it’s perfect for humiliating the opponent.

“How could Uncle, who represents our Family Head, step forward against a defeated general? If you entrust it to your nephew, though lacking, I will do my best.”

The corners of Zhuge Domyeong’s mouth watching his nephew twisted strangely and twitched.

Really, you look angry, you know?

Please don’t smile.

My nephew is being so serious here.

I’ve set up the entire stage, so now you just need to go along with it.

At the gaze that looked up slyly, Zhuge Domyeong, with an expression that made his thoughts completely unreadable, spoke indifferently.

“Munhyeon.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a greenhorn who just had his coming-of-age ceremony. Your skills could still be called insignificant.”

…Excuse me?

Well now, no matter how much I set up the stage for you, to go that far.

Uncle acts quite well too.

Because of his expressionless face, everything he says sounds sincere.

“I understand your desire to achieve merit, but I worry whether putting forward my lacking nephew might be disrespectful to the opponent.”

“I, I will do my best.”

“Mm, good. Then do as you wish.”

“…Yes.”

Permission was granted with difficulty(?).

After bowing to Zhuge Domyeong once more, he turned toward Mok Jaun, whose face had turned red and blue from waiting and waiting.

“And so… I have been assigned to handle the Three Yielding Ritual. However, since performing the ritual while exhausted would not be proper, I will give you time to recover.”

“…”

Mok Jaun’s face looked ready to explode at any moment.

He already knew this was the very person who had defeated Nine Wall Sword and So Rokpa…

He had twisted the atmosphere strangely by wagging his three-inch tongue.

He had lowered himself to elevate the Zhuge Family.

The Zhuge Family had fulfilled their duty through the Three Yielding Ritual, and even if they lost, it would be considered due to a sixteen-year-old youth’s recklessness. If they won, people would say the sixteen-year-old youth was remarkable.

It had become a fight where nothing could be gained.

Grind.

Since he had requested it himself, there was no turning back now.

However, you’ve looked down on me too much, boy.

An elder of the Namgung Family…

“…Thank you. I’m grateful for your family’s consideration.”

“Don’t mention it…”

Zhuge Munhyeon smiled annoyingly with a face full of brightness.

Namgung Ah, go ahead and struggle.

The rumors that will spread throughout the Central Plains with your defeat will become even greater.

That the Zhuge have been revived.

And that I’ve become strong enough that I no longer need to bow and scrape under others.

Ah, but don’t worry—I won’t kill you.

After all, your head as the Leader will probably fetch the highest price.

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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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