Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 67

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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 66. When the Blood Star Shines—All Hold Their Breath—1
The first to pass through the Ten Direction Labyrinth was unexpectedly a young martial artist named Jo Gyeong Ui. He had just received the Blue Moon Sword from Yi Sin Poong and was beside himself with joy.
“Thank you, Master Yi. I cannot believe you would entrust me with such a treasure.”
“The treasure has simply found its rightful master. Please cherish the Blue Moon Sword.”
“Of course. I will treasure it as though it were my own body.”
“Much obliged.”
Yi Sin Poong’s thick palm patted Jo Gyeong Ui’s shoulder lightly. At this gesture, Jo Gyeong Ui gazed at him with even greater emotion.
“I am most pleased to have formed a connection with a martial artist of your caliber.”
“The honor is entirely mine, to possess the blade of a master such as yourself. Should you ever require the aid of my humble strength, please do not hesitate to summon me. I and the Unyang Martial School shall stand ready to serve you at any moment.”
“Ha! Your words alone bring me comfort.”
Yi Sin Poong burst into hearty laughter.
Jo Gyeong Ui was the current Headmaster of the Unyang Martial School.
From childhood he had demonstrated exceptional prowess in martial arts and had ascended to the position of headmaster before reaching thirty—a true prodigy.
In particular, he excelled with the blade, yet had long struggled to find a sword worthy of his talents. Now that he possessed a Treasure Sword like the Blue Moon, his joy knew no bounds.
Yi Sin Poong wore a satisfied smile.
The Unyang Martial School was among the largest martial academies in Nan Zhou. That its headmaster had essentially sworn fealty to him was no small matter.
To receive such an oath in exchange for a single blade was a profitable exchange indeed. After all, the Blue Moon Sword had never been a necessity for him.
Many eyes watched him with undisguised disappointment—those who had been defeated in competition against Jo Gyeong Ui.
Yi Sin Poong spoke to them.
“This was merely a diversion, yet I fear I have left many of you with regret.”
“Not at all, Master Yi. It was a splendid event.”
“Quite so.”
Though the crowd denied it in words, they could not wholly conceal their disappointed expressions. Yi Sin Poong read their hearts well.
“Then let me propose this: I shall host a Martial Arts Tournament on my birthday next year. The champion shall receive a Treasure Sword no less fine than the Blue Moon.”
“Huzzah!”
Before Yi Sin Poong had even finished speaking, a tremendous roar erupted from the crowd. They chanted his name, wild with excitement.
Nam Hak, observing from the platform, felt his expression harden like stone.
‘That cunning fox……’
At this Sixtieth Birthday Celebration he had wagered the Blue Moon Sword; at next year’s Return of Sixties Anniversary, he would offer another Treasure Sword as the prize.
It was a spectacle that could not fail to capture the attention of every martial artist.
It was now certain that the influence of Hong Ame Manor would expand further throughout Gansu Province.
The expansion of Hong Ame Manor was far from welcome to the Gongdong Sect. One master of Gansu Province should have been sufficient—the Gongdong Sect itself.
As Nam Hak regarded Yi Sin Poong with cold eyes, one of the Gongdong Sect’s disciples came rushing up.
“Elder Brother.”
“What is the matter?”
“I……”
The disciple whispered urgently into Nam Hak’s ear. His expression shifted at once.
“Is this truly so?”
“Yes. A physician is attending to him now.”
In that moment, Nam Hak’s eyes grew sharp as blades.
Below the platform, another figure approached Jo Gyeong Ui—Mo Jung Hyeon, his teacher and the head instructor of the Unyang Martial School.
Whatever Mo Jung Hyeon whispered, Jo Gyeong Ui’s complexion turned cold. He excused himself to Yi Sin Poong and departed in haste.
Nam Hak rose from his seat as well.
“Let us go. Where is it?”
“I shall show you the way.”
The disciple hurried ahead, leading him toward an annex of Hong Ame Manor.
Upon entering the annex, Nam Hak saw a man lying on a bed—a face he recognized.
“Sang Han.”
“Elder… Elder Brother?”
The man, upon seeing Nam Hak, tried urgently to rise. But his right arm was broken and mangled, leaving him powerless—he could only struggle.
“Rest yourself, Sang Han.”
“Elder Brother.”
The man was Yun Sang Han, an Outer Disciple of the Gongdong Sect.
“How did this come to pass?”
“I am ashamed.”
Nam Hak’s gaze burned with cold light, and Yun Sang Han’s face drained of color.
Nam Hak was the martial artist most revered by Yun Sang Han within the Gongdong Sect. He feared and respected him more than the other elders.
Though Yun Sang Han was himself a recognized talent, compared to Nam Hak he was but a drop against the ocean.
That he had not been admitted as an Inner Disciple was because he had long since understood the impossibility of surpassing the immense wall that was Nam Hak.
Nam Hak’s gaze turned toward Yun Sang Han’s right arm.
Yun Sang Han’s right arm hung twisted and broken, swollen dark with discoloration.
“Who did this?”
“Senior brother.”
“Who did this to you?”
“It’s my own failings. I don’t wish to make an issue of it.”
“Sang Han.”
“I’m sorry.”
Yun Sang Han closed his eyes.
Seeing him like that, Nam Hak pressed his lips together tightly.
Yun Sang Han had always been this way. Stubborn as stone, and once he made a decision, he never went back on it.
It had been the same in the Gongdong Sect. Everyone admired his talent and hoped he would become an Inner Disciple, but Yun Sang Han stubbornly went his own way.
Nam Hak had always liked him for it. Though they’d been separated into Inner and Outer Disciples, he’d never forgotten Yun Sang Han, not once.
“You don’t need to tell me. I will find whoever did this to your arm, and I will not let them walk free.”
“Senior brother.”
“I’m not one to make empty promises.”
“Please. This is my personal matter. I don’t want this to escalate any further.”
“You’re certain?”
“I am.”
The firmness in Yun Sang Han’s resolve made Nam Hak exhale quietly. He realized there was no way to persuade him further.
“Very well. I’ll respect your wishes. But tell me—who did this?”
“Senior brother.”
“Outer Disciple or not, your skill is no less than that of our First-generation Inner Disciples. Tell me what happened.”
“Well… the truth is…”
Yun Sang Han’s lips parted with a sigh.
“You’re late, brother.”
Bang Jin Bo, sitting on a bench in front of the Guest House, greeted Dam Ho.
The scent of oil clung to Bang Jin Bo’s clothes—a whole day in the kitchens had left it soaked into his skin.
Mixed with sweat, it might have been unpleasant, but Dam Ho didn’t so much as wrinkle his nose. It was proof of how hard Bang Jin Bo had worked.
“How’s the work?”
“Finished just now. Only need to come in until tomorrow. Ha ha!”
Without being asked, Bang Jin Bo launched into every detail of what had happened in the kitchens.
“The head chef is truly remarkable. However does he know so many secret recipes? I’ve been so busy trying to learn by watching, I can barely keep up. Today we made beef dumplings, and…”
Dam Ho listened quietly as Bang Jin Bo spoke. Bang Jin Bo grew more animated with each word.
While Bang Jin Bo was in the midst of his chatter,
“Come out, whoever is in there.”
A cold voice cut through the air from outside. Bang Jin Bo jumped, looking to Dam Ho in alarm.
“Brother?”
“Let’s go.”
Dam Ho rose without any sign of surprise.
As he opened the door and stepped outside, dozens of martial artists positioned around the Guest House courtyard came into view. Among them, he recognized several faces.
Jang Hak Gyeong and Mo Jung Hyeon stood at the front, with Jo Gyeong Ui and Yi Sin Poong arrayed behind them.
As Dam Ho emerged, Mo Jung Hyeon shouted.
“There he is. He’s the one who crippled Joa by breaking his body.”
Mo Jung Hyeon’s finger pointed directly at Dam Ho. Jo Gyeong Ui stepped forward.
The Blue Moon Sword hung at Jo Gyeong Ui’s waist. Whether it was because he now possessed the blade or for some other reason, confidence radiated from his face.
Dam Ho’s gaze fixed on Jo Gyeong Ui. The moment their eyes met, Jo Gyeong Ui flinched. Dam Ho’s blank stare felt somehow chilling.
But Jo Gyeong Ui straightened his shoulders.
This was Hong Ame Manor. Yi Sin Poong, the master of Hong Ame Manor, stood behind him, watching. There was no reason to feel intimidated.
Jo Gyeong Ui hardened his gaze.
“Why did you do it? This could have been settled with words.”
“I attacked first?”
Dam Ho asked quietly.
It was Jang Hak Gyeong, standing beside Mo Jung Hyeon, who answered.
“You attacked Joa without cause—you’re not going to deny that, are you?”
Jang Hak Gyeong’s neck flushed with anger.
The fact that Joa Sang Cheon had been crippled was of little consequence. Their connection had never been that strong, so no regret lingered.
But to let Dam Ho walk away would be to lose face entirely.
Jang Hak Gyeong was a deputy manager of the Large Merchant Guild, and Mo Jung Hyeon was the senior instructor of Unyang Martial School—both men who had lived beneath admiring gazes.
When had they ever suffered such humiliation? They’d considered letting it go, but found they simply could not.
They had to restore their wounded pride somehow. Only then could they sleep soundly.
So he’d devised a strategy: draw in Jo Gyeong Ui. It happened that Jo Gyeong Ui had cultivated a solid friendship with Yi Sin Poong.
By bringing in Jo Gyeong Ui, Yi Sin Poong naturally followed. For Jang Hak Gyeong and Mo Jung Hyeon, it was the best outcome they could have engineered.
They knew Dam Ho was formidable, but they hadn’t imagined they could simply dismiss Jo Gyeong Ui and Yi Sin Poong in the same breath.
Mo Jung Hyeon’s voice rose sharply.
“The man is surely a heterodox demon lord. Look at the murderous intent flowing from his eyes.”
“Precisely. He has mastered Demonic Cultivation—his vicious technique proves it beyond doubt.”
Jang Hak Gyeong nodded in agreement with Mo Jung Hyeon’s words.
Jo Gyeong Ui didn’t believe all of it. He knew Mo Jung Hyeon better than anyone else, even if he couldn’t speak to Jang Hak Gyeong’s sincerity.
Mo Jung Hyeon was the sort who cared more for temple offerings than scripture recitation. No doubt he’d given cause for this whole affair. Yet that didn’t mean Jo Gyeong Ui could simply ignore what the man was saying.
After all, he was the senior instructor of the Unyang Martial School and Jo Gyeong Ui’s right hand. He had to afford him a measure of dignity.
Jo Gyeong Ui turned to Dam Ho once more.
“Have you mastered Demonic Cultivation?”
…….
“Zuo Shang Tian’s lower spine shattered entirely. No Orthodox Sect technique could be so brutal. You owe us a clear explanation.”
“Why should I explain myself?”
“Because refusing to do so admits you’re a Demon Cultivator. Surely you know what becomes of such men in Jianghu?”
A smug gleam crossed Jo Gyeong Ui’s face. He glanced around, then lowered his voice.
“It doesn’t matter to me whether you are one or aren’t. I’ll make you into one either way.”
Mere possession of the Blue Moon Sword wasn’t enough to build a true reputation.
Having gone to such lengths to secure ties with Yi Sin Poong, he needed glory all the more.
Glory came through deeds and renown.
If he cut down an unprecedented Demon Cultivator with the Blue Moon Sword, the fame he’d gain would be immeasurable.
Atop the walls surrounding the Guest House, countless figures watched. Warriors who had attended Yi Sin Poong’s Sixtieth Birthday Celebration had followed the affair here.
They observed the unfolding situation with rapt interest.
No one wore a grave expression or voiced objection. To them, this was splendid entertainment.
The truth mattered little—they were here to watch and enjoy. They had settled comfortably along the wall-top, taking in every moment. If Jo Gyeong Ui proved himself before their eyes, his name would echo through Jianghu.
Jo Gyeong Ui whispered.
“So you’d do well to surrender peacefully. Unless you’d like to experience pain.”
But Dam Ho offered no reply.
“Brother!”
Bang Jin Bo, standing behind Dam Ho, glanced about nervously.
Countless eyes were fixed upon Dam Ho. Bang Jin Bo couldn’t fathom why this was happening.
Yet he believed in Dam Ho.
Though Dam Ho’s methods were harsh, he had never been the one to provoke a quarrel first.
This time would be no different. Bang Jin Bo held that conviction with absolute certainty.
As silence stretched on and Dam Ho still didn’t speak, Jo Gyeong Ui’s expression hardened into stone.
“Are you ignoring my words?”
“A dog’s barking deserves no reply.”
“What did you say?”
Jo Gyeong Ui’s brows shot upward, but Dam Ho paid him no mind.
His gaze turned toward Jang Hak Gyeong and Mo Jung Hyeon.
“They are true friends, then.”
“What?”
“They’ve wagered their lives for a friend.”
“You?”
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Mo Jung Hyeon and Jang Hak Gyeong retreated a step.
“But empty boasts draw blood in Jianghu.”
Dam Ho’s voice—desolate and piercing—rang out across the Guest House courtyard.
Crash!
“Ahhhhh!”
Thunder exploded, and someone’s scream tore through the night sky.

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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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