Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 9

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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 9. The Disciple Gazes Upon the Master, and the Master Comforts the Disciple—3
Chui Yun Palace.
It was the name of the Daoist temple situated at the summit of Yeonhwa Peak on Huashan. What made this temple, tinged red throughout, extraordinary was that it served as the residence of the Sect Master of the Huashan Sect.
From Chui Yun Palace, all of the Huashan Sect lay visible at a glance—the towering peaks and, far beyond them, even Hwa-eum County. What was particularly splendid was the profusion of stars that unfolded when night fell, and the sunrise that arrived each dawn.
The current Sect Master of Huashan was Hyeon Cheon. For the leader of the Great Huashan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, he was relatively young—only in his early fifties.
Hyeon Cheon had assumed the mantle of Huashan’s Sect Master without any prior preparation when he was in his thirties; two decades had already passed. Throughout that time, he had earned the reputation of being the finest leader the Huashan Sect had ever known.
Seated across a small table from Hyeon Cheon was a middle-aged Daoist. This Daoist, who radiated an aura sharp as a blade, was none other than Hyeon Geom.
Hyeon Cheon set down the tea cup he held and spoke.
“Your disciple’s achievement is remarkable. At last, the Huashan Sect has a true master to rival any other. I can rest easy now.”
“There is still much ground to cover. To restore the former glory of Huashan, I must pursue the Way with greater dedication.”
“Most reassuring.”
Hyeon Cheon smiled as he regarded the taciturn Hyeon Geom.
‘Your disciple’s achievement is no trivial matter. The restoration of Huashan’s radiance is no longer distant.’
Martial strength was the true measure of a sect’s prosperity.
For a sect to flourish, one needed a single Absolute Master far more than a hundred mediocre ones. What Huashan required now was precisely that—one Absolute Master.
“You have labored greatly. The path you walk shall become the path Huashan walks. Never forget that I stand always in your corner.”
“It is by your sacrifice that I stand here. Without you, I could never have restored the ruins of Huashan so swiftly.”
“We have both borne our share of hardship.”
Shadow fell across Hyeon Cheon’s eyes.
When he had become Sect Master two decades ago, everything was bleak. The masters of the previous generation who should have guided the next were all dead, and the sect’s continuity hung by a thread.
He had not known how to salvage anything. His chest felt hollow, and tears flowed without restraint.
Something had to be done. Hyeon Cheon poured everything he had into Huashan’s restoration. In doing so, he found no time to cultivate his own martial arts.
Hyeon Cheon had been forced to choose. So he abandoned martial arts. Instead, he channeled everything toward Hyeon Geom, the most talented among his siblings—the sect’s secret texts, even the precious Spirit Medicine that remained.
Though the Jahashin Gong, which only a Sect Master could master, could not be transmitted to him, Hyeon Geom had gained insights scarcely less valuable.
While Hyeon Geom devoted himself to cultivating martial arts, Hyeon Cheon labored ceaselessly for Huashan’s revival—meeting with Lay Disciples to request aid, traveling to other sects to secure their cooperation.
Thus he had lived those twenty years in a frenzy, and in the end, brought about the Huashan of today. Hyeon Geom knew this full well. That is why he held Hyeon Cheon in deeper reverence than any.
“Now that you have emerged from your Closed Seclusion, we have new strength to work with.”
“From now on, I shall aid you, Elder Brother.”
“Merely hearing it brings comfort. Now all that remains is to nurture a disciple worthy of inheriting your achievement. I cannot govern Huashan with ease until a Second Generation Huashan Sword Immortal emerges. The selection of your disciple is progressing well, I trust?”
“It proceeds well.”
“Good fortune smiles upon us. I shall bestow a Plum Blossom Divine Pill upon your chosen disciple.”
“I am grateful, Sect Master.”
The Plum Blossom Divine Pill was Huashan’s finest Spirit Medicine, granted only to those destined to become Sect Master.
The method of its creation had been lost; no more could be made. Only two remained. To bestow such a treasure upon Hyeon Geom’s chosen disciple spoke volumes of the hopes placed upon them.
Hyeon Cheon smiled.
This was the matter of finding one worthy to inherit the achievement of the Huashan Sword Immortal. It was a grave responsibility not to be treated lightly.
“Is there anyone among the First Generation Disciples who catches your eye?”
In that instant, a faint furrow appeared between Hyeon Geom’s brows. He recalled what had happened earlier that afternoon.
That intense gaze fixed upon him would not fade easily from memory.
Hyeon Geom shook his head.
“The First Generation Disciples have already reached a certain level of completion. For them to inherit my martial arts from such a state would prove most difficult.”
“Do you intend to look among the Second Generation and Lay Disciples as well?”
“Talent requires no regard for hierarchy. To become a sword befitting the Renowned Sect of Huashan demands nothing less than perfect aptitude and sweat-earned effort.”
“That stands to reason.”
Hyeon Cheon nodded slowly.
The two men were smiling when—
Crash!
The doors of Chui Yun Palace burst open. And the figure that emerged was Hyeon So, his face flushed crimson with agitation.
“Hyeon Geom.”
He fixed a fierce glare upon Hyeon Geom.
Hyeon Geom’s expression remained remarkably composed. But Hyeon Cheon’s reaction was altogether different.
“What is the meaning of this, Hyeon So? Surely you do not forget where you stand, to raise your voice in such manner?”
“I came because I was told you were here, Sect Master.”
At Hyeon So’s vehement outburst, Hyeon Cheon turned his gaze to Hyeon Geom, his eyes wordlessly asking for an explanation.
Hyeon Geom spoke.
“You have come on account of your disciple?”
“Yes! For what reason have you so thoroughly broken that child? What harm did that child ever do to you?”
“There was no such harm.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Hyeon So glared at Hyeon Geom as if he might devour him whole.
Hyeon So had never shown even a flicker of emotion in all his years at Huashan Sect. This was the first time he had revealed his feelings with such fury.
Confronted with his beloved disciple’s injuries, Hyeon So lost his composure. He had come to this place seeking the one responsible for bringing his student to such a state.
Even in the face of Hyeon So’s rage, Hyeon Geom remained unmoved.
“Because that is the path best for the child.”
“You call crippling her the path that’s best for her?”
“No—abandoning martial arts is what’s best for the child.”
“What kind of senseless talk is that?”
Hyeon So brought his fist down upon the table. The impact sent teacups clattering to the floor.
“Brother, compose yourself,” Hyeon Cheon interjected.
Hyeon Cheon frowned and raised his voice, yet Hyeon So paid him no mind, his gaze fixed entirely on Hyeon Geom.
“Why would abandoning martial arts be best for her?”
“Do you truly not know?”
“I don’t. Truly, I don’t.”
“Is she not lame? How can a child with a limp master the martial arts of Huashan? I myself regret the waste of her talent, but there was no help for it.”
“A limp means she cannot study martial arts?”
“In other sects, perhaps—but Huashan’s martial arts are not so forgiving as to be learned by the crippled.”
“Brother! I am truly disappointed in you. How can the First Sword of Huashan speak such words?”
“Why should the First Sword of Huashan be forbidden to speak them?”
For the first time, anger flickered across Hyeon Geom’s expressionless face.
He stepped toward Hyeon So.
“I tell you, I would do anything for the glory of Huashan Sect.”
“And what has that to do with destroying my disciple?”
“Did I not say? For the child’s sake. It is better she abandon such futile dreams.”
“That is sophistry.”
“How is it sophistry? You know as well as I do how arduous and bitter the path of martial arts is. Why else would Cheon Gung Ja have chosen for you the path of a scholar official instead of transmitting his martial arts? Tell me that.”
Hyeon So’s face contorted.
“Brother!”
“Even now, I cannot fathom Cheon Gung Ja’s choice. Why he selected you, lacking as you were in martial talent, and in doing so denied opportunity to other gifted disciples—I truly cannot understand it.”
“That is…”
Hyeon Geom’s face had flushed crimson. Seeing him thus, Hyeon So could only close his eyes.
‘Does Elder Brother still carry that wound from so long ago in his heart?’
It had been more than forty years.
When Cheon Gung Ja, then Huashan’s finest master and a swordsman of renown throughout the realm, took a disciple, it was the paramount concern of the sect. Every disciple naturally wished to become his student.
Hyeon Geom had been the most prodigious talent of that time. He had been certain he would become Cheon Gung Ja’s disciple.
But the one Cheon Gung Ja chose was Hyeon So—and rather than transmit his martial arts to this carefully selected disciple, he had him walk the path of a scholar official.
It was a wound that could never heal for those gifted disciples who had yearned to become Cheon Gung Ja’s student. And of all of them, none had been more devastated than Hyeon Geom.
‘If only I had studied under Cheon Gung Ja, Huashan would not be facing such hardship now.’
Hyeon Geom’s fist clenched tight.
He had traveled so long a path to reach his present mastery. The shorter road had been right before his eyes all along.
“I did not wish for my brother’s disciple to take a long and winding road to learn the truth. I wanted to show her swiftly that the Martial World is not kind enough for the lame to survive. So I used somewhat extreme methods. For that, I am sorry. But even now, I do not regret that decision.”
Hyeon Geom’s unwavering gaze and resolute tone dealt a profound blow to Hyeon So’s heart. His bloodshot eyes bore witness to this fact.
Hyeon So turned his gaze to Hyeon Cheon.
“Sect Leader, what do you think? Do you believe Elder Brother speaks rightly?”
At his brother’s question, Hyeon Cheon closed his eyes slowly. Hearing both sides, he could already sense the gravity of the situation.
The Sect Leader of Huashan could never allow himself to favor one side over the other. The dilemma was that troubling.
Hyeon Cheon asked Hyeon So, “You speak of the child your disciple brought back five years ago?”
“Yes. Did you not yourself permit her entry into the sect? If so, is she not a full and rightful member of Huashan? Is it truly so wrong for her to study martial arts? Please, tell me.”
“……”
Hyeon Cheon fell into deliberation.
He understood that the moment of choice had arrived.
Upon which side he stood now would determine Huashan’s future path.
‘The Huashan I desire is a perfect Huashan. A perfect sect, unmoved by any external influence.’
In that moment, Hyeon Cheon made his decision.
“It was my error to accept that child five years ago. Had you not entreated me so earnestly, I would never have taken her as a disciple of Huashan.”
“Sect Leader?”
Hyeon So cried out in shock. But Hyeon Cheon continued without pause.
“On the day Cheon Gyeong awakened, I saw in that child’s eyes a thirst for vengeance and a murderous intent that no young child should possess.”
The memory of that day returned to Hyeon Cheon with such vividness that he trembled slightly.
The eyes of one who had taken a life.

A twelve-year-old child possessed eyes capable of killing anyone if necessity demanded it.
“If that child learns martial arts properly, he will surely bring calamity upon the Huashan Sect.”
“This makes no sense…….”
“I support Hyeon Geom’s decision. So do not raise this matter again. Hyeon So.”
“Sect Leader!”
“I have made my decision. Let that be understood.”
“How could you——”
“I will not interfere with how you care for your disciple, but I forbid you to teach him any further martial arts of the Huashan Sect.”
The words struck Hyeon So like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
“Sect Leader!”
“This is a decision made by me as Sect Leader of the Great Huashan Sect. It will not be reversed.”
Hyeon So collapsed where he stood, his shoulders trembling with small, involuntary spasms.
Hyeon Geom’s eyes were ice-cold, while Hyeon Cheon’s held a glimmer of compassion. Yet neither had any intention of reconsidering the verdict.
After a long silence, Hyeon So rose unsteadily to his feet.
“Yes. I understand your will, Sect Leader.”
In that brief span of time, Hyeon So’s face had grown haggard, bearing the marks of profound inner turmoil.
He looked between the two of them in turn.
“Watch and see. Cheon Gyeong will not give up so easily. Someday, that child will prove how wrong your prejudices are.”
“I hope that proves true.”
“Guide that child well and see him become an excellent Scholar Official. It would be best for him, if nothing else.”
Hyeon So smiled in reply, but it was a sorrowful smile.
He turned and walked out of Chui Yun Palace. Hyeon Cheon and Hyeon Geom watched his receding figure in silence.
Hyeon So’s form seemed fragile enough to collapse at any moment. Yet he pressed forward with unwavering resolve.
He had found a reason never to fall.
‘Cheon Gyeong, I will never abandon you.’

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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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