Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 93

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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 93

 

 

After the Young Family Head appointment ceremony ended, Zhuge Munho moved his residence to Waryongheon (Crouching Dragon Pavilion) within the main house.

A dragon lying in wait, hiding its body while preparing for the future.

Hah, what a fine name.

Anyway, these Zhuge folks—perhaps because their scholarship runs deep, they’re really good at naming things.

Now Zhuge Munho had to stay at Waryongheon and learn everything about how the family operated in order to engage in post-war settlement negotiations with the Namgung Family, and he also had to study the Namgung Family thoroughly without missing anything.

As they say, you must know your enemy and know yourself to avoid being outmaneuvered in negotiations.

The various departments, halls, and pavilions under the Zhuge Family.

Key core personnel attached themselves to him to teach him.

Cultivation?

They had to make allowances for that much.

Instead.

“This is Mujin, who will be training with us from now on. You all know his face and name, right?”

Mujin came to stay with them.

It was natural that the Family Head and retainers, having received a request from Wujin Palace Master Yeonghwa, welcomed him with open arms.

A disciple of Wudang staying like a guest scholar?

How could they refuse this?

More than anything, he personally thought it wasn’t a bad choice either.

The one who had obtained the insights he left behind in his later years—it might be a fateful encounter or an ill-fated connection for him, but when you think about it, he was his first disciple.

He had tried raising a few before, but back then he had raised someone who would bring him death, whereas recently his heart had changed a little.

It was because of Zhuge Munho and Gwan Hwiping.

Should he say there was satisfaction in raising them?

‘Well now, they say you never know how a person’s fate will turn out. Living in a gentleman’s household, I’m learning all three joys.’

These were the words of Master Mencius, who once made quite a name for himself with his writing.

The Three Joys of a Gentleman.

Parents both alive and brothers without trouble—having both parents still living and brothers all safe, with harmony among family members, this is the first joy.

He could fully empathize with that.

Obtaining the talented youth of All Under Heaven and educating them to contribute to the future—this is the second joy.

He was increasingly feeling this lately.

And third.

Looking up to Heaven without shame—having not a single point of shame when looking up to Heaven…

“Ahem! What three joys? How can a person have them all? Two joys are enough. Yes, that’s right.”

Zhuge Munhyeon attempted self-rationalization, saying that having everything was greed.

“Anyway, get along well with each other. Teach him if there’s anything he doesn’t know.”

“…Yes.”

The response was somehow lukewarm.

Well, a Taoist from Wudang who had lived a life without desires wouldn’t be comfortable around worldly people.

But don’t they say that rubbing shoulders together gradually builds friendship?

It was fine if they occasionally clashed due to different opinions.

At a young age, affection grows through fighting.

“Hmm, anyway, since we need to assist Elder Brother Munho who has become the Young Family Head, we need to decide on a leader among you… I think it would be best if you do it, Elder Brother Gwan-i.”

At those words, Zhuge Gwan’s face contorted.

Elder Brother you…

What country’s etiquette was this supposed to be?

And what was he trying to make him do again… Huh?

Wait, what did he just tell me to do?

Assisting the Young Family Head… Then the leader of his personal guard unit? The kind of position that would have tremendous authority later when Elder Brother Munho becomes Family Head?

“You, not me?”

“I’m excluded.”

That made sense.

They couldn’t seat the family’s greatest master as the Young Family Head’s guard captain.

Then?!

Am I really becoming the guard captain?

When Elder Brother Munho becomes Family Head… the position right below him!

They say joy comes after sorrow—after suffering to death under this damned younger brother, such fortune comes.

Zhuge Gwan felt like his whole body was tingling.

“But remember this. Authority always comes with responsibility.”

“…Yes.”

Zhuge Gwan, barely managing to calm his twitching lips, nodded vigorously.

Now I’m the guard captain.

The captain of Gwan Hwiping!

“I’m going to the Beggar’s Sect headquarters since Sayo called for me, so Elder Brother Gwan-i, go find Elder Brother Munho and tell him you’ve become the leader, and Elder Brothers Hwi and Pyeong, show Mujin around the streets near the manor.”

“Yes!”

After Zhuge Munhyeon left the manor, Zhuge Gwan ran excitedly to Waryongheon.

The remaining Mujin couldn’t help but wear a slightly tense expression.

He felt like an isolated island.

Since he had seen their faces before, he couldn’t say they were strangers, but having lived only on the mountain, receiving training together with others wasn’t familiar to him.

Meanwhile, on his first day as a guest scholar.

Naturally, it’s human nature to be cautious.

“Elder Brother Mujin.”

“…Yes?”

When hands were suddenly placed on his shoulders, Mujin flinched in surprise.

Elder Brother Mujin?

That wasn’t a name but a Taoist name…

Could it be that they were already trying to assert dominance just because Zhuge Munhyeon wasn’t here?

But then.

“Why on earth did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

“Why did you make the decision to abandon Wudang and come to the Zhuge Family, and to that damned bastard no less, to receive training?”

“…?”

Somehow the conversation was strange.

Hwi and Pyeong shook their heads and sighed.

“You made a mistake. You really made a big mistake.”

“No, what do you mean?”

“The Wujin Palace Master is too much as well—how could he entrust a disciple to such a wicked bastard? And a disciple of Jasogung rather than Wujingung at that… What an irresponsible person.”

His head went blank.

What on earth were they talking about?

Zhuge Munhyeon was someone who had rendered great service to Wudang, and personally was a benefactor who had saved his life.

Moreover, when he was about to give up everything because he had demonic arts in his body, he was the person who opened a path for him to live on.

Yet these so-called brothers were badmouthing him as soon as he left?

Even though it was his first day, he couldn’t tolerate that.

“Look here, how can you say such things? Though I’m a Taoist who left the secular world young and may not know as much as you all, I’ve still read enough to know that brothers are like hands and feet.”

“…”

It means that brothers are like hands and feet—once lost, they can never be regained.

Hwi and Pyeong nodded their heads.

That’s right, they’re no different from hands and feet.

They use them like limbs and beat them like limbs too.

“Moreover! Doesn’t it say ‘Brothers and sisters are born from the same energy, elder brothers should be friendly and younger brothers respectful, without daring to harbor anger or resentment’? But how is it that you two…”

“Look here. Do you think we don’t know what that means?”

“…”

“We know it! Brothers and sisters are born receiving the same energy from their parents, so the elder should love the younger like a friend, and the younger should respect the elder… that’s where the problem starts!”

Zhuge Pyeong, who had been calm, suddenly shouted in indignation.

“Respect? Respecccct? Damn it all! What the hell is respect anyway? Is it the same word as attack?”

Zhuge Hwi foamed at the mouth as he threw a tantrum.

What’s this?

Why are they reacting like this?

“Hah, right. What would Master Mujin know? That damn bastard saved your life… so of course you’d think you owe him gratitude for now.”

“…”

“Fine, then go ahead and try being nice to him. Within ten days, you’ll definitely be cursing that bastard with the same heart as us.”

Zhuge Pyeong was confident.

“Ten days? I’ll bet my little finger on five days.”

“Right, no wait, no. One day! Just one day! What do you mean five days? Why have you become so generous? Has your patience grown during this time? Didn’t you hear earlier? He already started speaking informally.”

The two began betting on dates as if they were sitting at a gambling table.

Mujin couldn’t adapt to this at all.

Infinite Buddha… but he’s been speaking informally since we first met.

 

* * *

 

“Danpung County?”

“Yes. It’s probably a place you’re hearing about for the first time. We found someone there who remembers details about the Ascension Method.”

“Really?”

His eyes lit up instantly.

Finally, he was hearing the news he had been waiting and waiting for from Sayo.

Danpung County.

North of Muju Official Road, it’s a small village by the Yangtze River, so as Sayo said, it’s a place name he’s hearing for the first time. Probably no one in the Zhuge Family would have heard of such a place name either.

How clever that there was one place nearby.

Well, they said they combed through all under heaven like searching for lice back then, so there’s no guarantee there wouldn’t be places in Hubei Province where the Ascension Method was discovered.

And the Beggar’s Sect had handled all those communications…

“How did you find out?”

“While making inquiries, we found a retired senior from our sect.”

“A retired senior?”

“Yes. It seems he lived an ordinary life after the Beggar’s Sect collapsed. Now he makes and sells bamboo mats for a living.”

“Hmm, he must be quite elderly.”

Since sixty years have passed…

“He’s ninety.”

“Huh?”

“Ninety years old.”

“He’s lived a long… wait, wait a minute. Did you say ninety?”

“Yes.”

“He’s still alive, right? He’s not ill anywhere, is he?”

“So far, yes.”

“…”

So far. But that meant no one knew what might happen after that.

For an old man who has lived to ninety, each day is different… This means there’s no time to delay, right?

“Is there anyone who knows the location where he is?”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a branch office in Danpung County yet, so the Hyogam Branch is looking into it.”

“I’ll go right away!”

“What? Right now?”

“He’s ninety! Even while traveling there, each day will be different for him…”

“No, there’s no reason to rush that much… If you wish, we’ll bring him here. He is an elder of the Beggar’s Sect after all.”

“That won’t do! What if he gets hurt on the long journey!”

“…”

“Anyway, send word immediately. I’m going to visit him right now.”

Seeing him even snorting with determination, Sayo shook her head.

Who could stop him?

“Understood. And if we find the old branch offices that were spread throughout Hubei Province, it would be a bit easier…”

Sayo wanted to say that finding the old branch offices or people who were there at the time would make it easier to find records from sixty years ago, but Zhuge Munhyeon had already disappeared.

“What’s he so urgent about… It’s not like he’s actually trying to ascend to immortality.”

She could only shake her head.

But the Ascension Method…

Whether it was pure academic desire or something else for him, it wasn’t a bad thing for the Beggar’s Sect either.

To find the Ascension Method he wanted, they had to go back sixty years in time.

They had already begun finding and restoring the old branch offices in northern Hubei Province for his sake.

The Beggar Sect members were moved.

Just as the Zhuge Family was reviving past glory, they too felt like they were reviving past glory.

And they had to search all of the Central Plains.

In that process, if they could rally their forces and bring the old branch offices back into the world, the scattered Beggar’s Sect might become one again.

People with memories from sixty years ago would mostly be elders who remembered the Beggar’s Sect’s past days.

They would rally the Beggar’s Sect through them.

Before long, Zhuge Munhyeon’s search for the Ascension Method was becoming a necessary task for the Beggar’s Sect as well.

They were extending their reach toward all under heaven.

Just like in the past when they watched over the entire Central Plains.

“We will definitely find it for you, Young Master Munhyeon. For your sake and for the Beggar’s Sect’s sake as well…”

 

* * *

 

“Where are you going?”

“Danpung County.”

“Danpung? Is there such a place?”

Zhuge Munho tilted his head.

For him too, the name Danpung County would be something he was hearing for the first time.

“You’re really unpredictable. Just a moment ago you had Gwan report that he should be made into a guard unit.”

“Report it that way. Forming a personal guard unit is the Young Family Head’s authority, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but… I heard Gwan-i is the guard captain?”

“That’s right.”

“Right? Not you?”

“Could you handle it?”

“Well…”

It wouldn’t be manageable.

Not just himself, but could the Family Head, no, could any adult in the Zhuge Family handle that guy?

The only one in the family who could restrain that guy… Aunt, perhaps?

“I like being free. Like now. So just consider me as a martial artist under the Young Family Head.”

“You rascal…”

“And I’m going out to get some fresh air for a while, so study hard while I’m gone.”

“The wilderness?”

“That’s right.”

“So that’s why you came to find me. You need my permission.”

“You know me well.”

Zhuge Munhyeon grinned at Zhuge Munho’s grumbling appearance.

Why would I have put you in that position for no reason?

He still hadn’t decided on his path. Of course, there were many places he had his eye on, but he had declined them all.

The family clan had found its place and the Young Family Head had been appointed, so now it was time to realize his own dreams.

Ascension to Immortality, and revenge against those traitor bastards.

For that, it would be better to move individually without interference from the family clan, so it was convenient to be under the Young Family Head.

That’s why he came to find Zhuge Munho.

He would become his excuse going forward.

“When will you come back?”

“Well. It might take a long time, or I might come back soon.”

“There’s a meeting with the Namgung Family coming up soon though?”

“That’s something the Young Family Head should handle himself.”

“Hey, you bastard! Are you really going to say something so irresponsible?”

“You need to stand on your own. How long are you going to cling to my coattails? Handle that level of negotiation yourself. We’re in the superior position anyway.”

“You said I was your subordinate?”

“You know it’s just an excuse.”

“This bastard, really… Still, you’ll come back on time, right?”

“We’ll see.”

“Hey!”

“Anyway, I’ve told you my destination, so I’ll be going now.”

“W-wait a minute, Mun…”

Before he could say anything more, Zhuge Munhyeon had already gone outside. What a guy, really like the wind.

“Haah, that unstoppable bastard.”

Zhuge Munho, who had been sighing, suddenly felt anxious.

“…He’ll still come back on time though, right?”

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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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