Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 14. Sometimes Unexpected Guests Come Calling—Part 2
Mu Gyeong, recognizing Dam-ho, faltered over his words.
“D-Disciple. Are you… alright?”
“I am much improved, thank you.”
Dam-ho’s reply came flat and emotionless. The coldness of his answer made Mu Gyeong’s face tighten with discomfort.
He wasn’t alone in that reaction. Most of the Huashan Sect disciples gathered before Chiwoon Palace wore the same troubled expression.
For the past year, not a soul had sought Dam-ho out. True, there were reasons left unspoken for that absence, but neither did it erase the guilt that clung to them.
“How have you been getting on?”
“I have been recovering from my wounds.”
Dam-ho’s answer was spare. Mu Gyeong sensed in the flatness of his tone a clear wish not to continue the conversation.
Hmm.
Mu Gyeong scratched his head, finding nothing more to say.
That was when it happened.
“It seems you are also a disciple of the Huashan Sect.”
A soft voice drew Dam-ho and Mu Gyeong’s attention. Both turned toward its source.
It was a young woman, appearing slightly younger than Dam-ho. Her face was refined and striking—delicate features paired with an elegant figure, and her eyes held a depth that was unmistakable.
Dressed in robes as white as fresh snow, her composed beauty stood out all the more.
Bewilderment flickered across Dam-ho’s eyes. He had never seen this person among the Huashan disciples before.
‘A newly accepted student, perhaps?’
But the answer that followed proved quite different from his guess.
“I am Yeon So-ha, a disciple of the Wudang Sect.”
“The Wudang Sect?”
“I came to visit Huashan with my Master this time. And you are…?”
“Cheon Gyeong.”
“Are you also a disciple of Huashan?”
“He is the First Disciple of Huashan, in fact.”
It was Mu Gyeong who supplied the answer.
At his words, Yeon So-ha nodded.
“Ah, I see. It’s good to meet you, Cheon Gyeong.”
Dam-ho gave a slight bow.
In that instant, something shifted in Yeon So-ha’s eyes. There was something in Dam-ho’s bearing that differed subtly from the Taoist Priests she had observed so far.
Dam-ho glanced at Mu Gyeong, silently asking why Yeon So-ha had come.
Mu Gyeong offered an explanation.
“As you see, someone from the Wudang Sect has arrived.”
“For what purpose?”
“I’m not certain. They appeared quite suddenly…”
Mu Gyeong himself was equally at a loss.
Dam-ho’s gaze shifted to Yeon So-ha, and she smiled in return.
“I’m not yet in a position to say, I’m afraid.”
Her eyes turned toward Chiwoon Palace.
Inside the palace, Hyeon Cheon the Immortal sat face to face with a Taoist Priest of similar age. This priest carried an air distinctly different from the Huashan Taoists—he wore a Taoist Crown and robes embroidered with the Eight Trigram pattern, radiating an uncommon gravitas.
Hyeon Cheon and the priest smiled at one another, though their smiles were curiously stiff.
Then Hyeon So the Immortal entered.
“Sect Master, you summoned me?”
“Come, come. Sit, Disciple.”
Hyeon Cheon finally relaxed his rigid expression and offered a genuine smile.
“What is this about?”
“First, let me make an introduction. This is the Immortal Cheong-heo of the Wudang Sect.”
“The Wudang Sect?”
Surprise flickered across Hyeon So’s face, but courtesy demanded introductions first. He clasped his fists in respect.
“I am Hyeon So of the Huashan Sect. An honor to meet you, Immortal Cheong-heo.”
“The pleasure is mine, Hyeon So. I am Cheong-heo of Wudang.”
Cheong-heo rose and returned the formal salute.
“What brings the Wudang Sect to our humble sect?”
“Sit first, please. The Immortal Cheong-heo will explain everything.”
At Hyeon Cheon’s words, Hyeon So took his seat.
Hyeon So paid little attention to the politics of the Martial World. Had he been even slightly more attentive to such matters, his reaction to Cheong-heo would have been far less restrained.
Cheong-heo was the most outstanding martial master the Wudang Sect had produced in decades. He was particularly skilled in the sword arts of his sect, and his prowess was said to rival that of the First Sword of Hubei himself.
Cheong-heo studied Hyeon So’s face intently. While his gaze was piercing, Hyeon So met it without flinching.
Then Cheong-heo smiled.
“Infinite Buddha! You say you’re a disciple of the Sect Master, and the Taoist Power you emanate is truly formidable.”
“To attribute Taoist Power to someone like me, a mere woodcutter priest—that’s hardly fitting.”
Hyeon So waved his hand dismissively. A flush of red crept across his clear face. The gesture looked precisely like a child blushing with embarrassment.
“Contain virtue in depth, and you compare to an infant. Those who have accumulated deep virtue are indeed like children.”
At Cheong-heo’s words, a furrow deepened between Hyeon Cheon’s brows.
‘Is Cheong-heo of the Wudang Sect truly holding the disciple in such high regard?’
Cheong-heo was a Taoist whose renown spread even within the Wudang Sect itself. His reputation ran deep not merely for Sword Technique, but also for his mastery of Taoist scripture and doctrine.
For such a man to speak in such high praise of Hyeon So, Hyeon Cheon could not help but regard him with fresh eyes.
Hyeon So, his face burning, stammered his reply.
“But what business brings the Wudang Sect to visit our humble school?”
“I fear I’ve been discourteous. The truth is, I’ve come seeking the aid of the Huashan Sect.”
“Aid for our school, you say?”
“Yes. Most urgently, in fact.”
A glimmer of suspicion crossed Hyeon So’s features.
Both the Wudang Sect and the Huashan Sect were members of the same Nine Great Sects. Yet the fortunes each currently enjoyed differed as vastly as heaven and earth.
The Wudang Sect stood at the height of its prosperity, while Huashan had only recently begun to emerge from decline and gather strength for its ascent.
In influence within the Martial World and in the strength they commanded, Huashan could not remotely compare to Wudang. For such a mighty sect to claim need of Huashan’s aid seemed utterly bewildering.
“What matter could possibly warrant this?”
“That is……”
Cheong-heo’s face grew troubled. It was Hyeon Cheon who answered in his stead.
“Traces of the Demon Cult have been discovered.”
“The Demon Cult?”
Hyeon So’s eyes widened to their utmost. He stared at Cheong-heo with an expression of profound disbelief.
“It is fact. Difficult though it may be to credit, their traces appear to have surfaced.”
“What do you mean?”
“A lay disciple of our sect operates the Buk-ro Escort Agency. They were ambushed by strange assailants on Won-haeng Road and annihilated utterly.”
“That cannot be……”
“All perished save one—a dispatch carrier named Im Ho-ryeong, who barely escaped and sent a Dispatch Document stating: ‘We were attacked by the Demon Cult.'”
“The Demon Cult……”
Hyeon So closed his eyes slowly. His eyelids trembled faintly.
That single phrase—the Demon Cult—contained within it countless meanings, and beneath all of them lay an emotion of dread that swept through his mind once more.
How could he forget that name?
Decades past, the Martial World had run red with blood because of that single name. Countless lives were lost; great sects fell to ruin.
The schools of the Martial World had pooled their strength to drive out the Demon Cult, and after more than a decade of warfare, they had finally succeeded in annihilating it. The blood spilled and the sacrifices made before that victory could never be measured in words.
“Is it truly the Demon Cult?”
“That is what must be verified.”
“How so?”
“We cannot announce to all under heaven that the Demon Cult has returned merely on a single Dispatch Document.”
“So you must verify the truth directly, then?”
“Indeed.”
“But why come to us?”
“We require assistance. Of the territories nearest to where the escort agency fell, Shanxi Province is closest to our home.”
“I see……”
“We have also sent word to the Jongnam Sect. They will surely dispatch men as well.”
“I understand.”
Now Hyeon So grasped why Cheong-heo had come to Huashan in person.
Whether the Demon Cult had truly launched the assault remained uncertain, but for Wudang to investigate alone would be to bear a burden far too heavy.
Hyeon Cheon opened his mouth once more.
“Our sect has decided to accept Wudang’s request and dispatch disciples accordingly.”
“But why myself?”
Hyeon So’s expression shifted to bewilderment.
If the Sect Master had decided, the matter was settled. Huashan had many skilled in Martial Arts, and they would surely prove of service to Wudang’s endeavor.
The problem lay in this: he himself was a scholar-official ignorant of Martial Arts. He could not fathom why the Sect Master would summon someone like him.
“You must go.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“As you know, the conflict with the Demon Cult ended two decades past. The reality is that few in the Martial World today retain clear memory of those times. Even if we find traces they left behind, there are precious few who could recognize them as the work of the Demon Cult’s Martial Arts.”
“So you’re sending me for this reason?”
“Just so. Though you have not studied Martial Arts, your discernment is second to none, is it not? You should still be able to tell the difference.”
“Yes……I suppose I can.”
How could he forget? He had seared those images into his memory while collecting the bodies of Master Cheon Gung-ja and countless others.
The wounds left by the Demon Cult’s martial arts were still distinguishable even with his eyes closed.
Hyeon Cheon nodded and looked toward Cheong-heo.
“Hyeon So is a scholar-official of our sect, tasked with recording and remembering everything. With his discernment, he should be able to distinguish whether they are truly Demon Cult members.”
“How fortunate. Since the Huashan Sect fought most fiercely against the Demon Cult, I believed you would know them best of all.”
“Your words are most generous.”
In that instant, a cold smile crossed Hyeon Cheon’s lips. The moment Cheong-heo saw it, he felt his stomach drop.
Hyeon Cheon’s voice turned to ice.
“I wonder how the elders of your sect are faring these days?”
“They are…… well.”
“While they yet live, treat them well. Do not lose them all at once and regret it, as we have done.”
A flicker of discomfort crossed Cheong-heo’s face. But it passed quickly, and soon he had recovered his composure.
“I shall remember your counsel well, Sect Master.”
“Thank you. For listening kindly to this useless old man’s words.”
“How could such a thing be? All your counsel is for the good of our sect.”
“You may depart early tomorrow morning. By then, I shall have the disciples ready to be dispatched.”
“Should any conflict arise, the Wudang Sect will take the lead. So there is no need to worry overmuch.”
“You have my gratitude.”
Hyeon Cheon’s gaze now turned toward Hyeon So.
“Mu Gyeong and Un Gyeong should go with you.”
“You mean the first and second disciples of the Huashan Sect—you would send them together? If anything were to happen to them, the Huashan Sect would have no future.”
“That is precisely why I send them. To lead the Huashan Sect forward, must they not overcome such dangers on their own?”
“Hmm!”
At Hyeon Cheon’s resolute reply, Hyeon So let out a stifled sound.
He saw in Hyeon Cheon’s eyes a firmness and ruthlessness he had not expected. Noticing his gaze, Hyeon Cheon smiled.
“Do not worry yourself. The Wudang Sect and the Jongnam Sect will be with you. There is no danger.”
“Understood. Then I shall take my leave and descend the mountain. And…….”
Hyeon So hesitated a moment, his words catching short, and both Hyeon Cheon and Cheong-heo looked at him with puzzlement.
After a brief pause, Hyeon So finally spoke.
“I wish to bring my disciple along on this expedition.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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