Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 95

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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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Chapter 94. Dragons and Tigers Gather in One Place—Part 1
A cool breeze swept across the ridge, scattering leaves into the air like whispers.
An elderly Daoist watched the sight and murmured to himself.
“It’s become true summer now. This summer will be scorching.”
Hyun Cheon the Daoist Immortal.
That was the Daoist Name of this old man.
He was no ordinary Daoist. His true identity was the Sect Leader of the great Hua Shan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
From the upper chamber where Hyun Cheon dwelt, all of Hua Shan could be seen. The view of the mountain from this place was, without exaggeration, sublime.
“If I were to step down from the position of Sect Leader, I would miss this view above all others.”
“It is still too early for you to retire, Master.”
A middle-aged Daoist seated across from Hyun Cheon at the table spoke up.
His Daoist Title was Mu Gyeong.
He was the First-generation Disciple of the Hua Shan Sect and the man whom it was all but certain would soon inherit the position of Sect Leader.
The years had made Mu Gyeong only more seasoned.
He possessed the kind of weight and gravitas that would be entirely fitting for one to lead the Hua Shan Sect. Hyun Cheon held such a man in profound trust.
As proof of this, most of the sect’s affairs—both great and small—were now handled by Mu Gyeong himself. And of course, at his side was always his trusted disciple, Un Gyeong.
The disciples of Hua Shan held Mu Gyeong in deep regard. His handling of matters was so fair and equitable that not a single disciple of the sect disliked him.
Un Gyeong, by contrast, was austere. He always assessed every situation with cold clarity and guided affairs in the most rational direction.
The two men were perfectly complementary to each other. With both of them in good health, the future of Hua Shan was assured—such was the consensus of those who knew.
Because Mu Gyeong and Un Gyeong were there, Hyun Cheon could even speak the word “retirement.”
“Are you not already in a state of semi-retirement? I can enjoy this leisure precisely because you and Un Gyeong are handling things so well.”
“Your shadow is still necessary, Master.”
“I am grateful that you speak such words.”
Hyun Cheon smiled.
“They are not mere flattery. I still lack much.”
“No one is born perfect, Mu Gyeong.”
“Master.”
“When I first inherited the Hua Shan Sect, many things were in disarray. Those were truly dark times. But now, much has changed.”
No one speaks of Hua Shan as the lowest of the Nine Great Sects anymore. The Hua Shan Sect of today possessed formidable martial strength that ranked among the highest of the Nine Great Sects.
Much of this transformation was due to Hyun Cheon’s efforts. And Mu Gyeong knew this better than anyone.
That is why he respected and trusted Hyun Cheon above all others, and followed him faithfully. To him, Hyun Cheon was far more than merely his Master.
“Hua Shan must remain a great mountain, unshaken by any wind. Nothing holds greater value than Hua Shan. Do you understand?”
“I shall remember it always.”
“That will do.”
Hyun Cheon’s face brightened with a satisfied smile.
“Now we need only climb a little higher. The summit is near. When the Murim League is established, much will change. Once we pass through this critical juncture, Hua Shan will rise to firm ground once more.”
“It shall be so.”
“Yes! And after that, I will pass the position of Sect Leader to you and retire at last.”
Hyun Cheon’s gaze, which had been sweeping across all of Hua Shan, came to rest on one particular place.
It was Un Dae Bong, where the Jin Wu Gung stood—the very symbol of the Hua Shan Sect’s martial might.
“I wish Hyun Gyeom had come.”
“That cannot be helped. He has gone to gain deeper enlightenment in his martial practice.”
“Yes, it is unavoidable.”
“But with Hyun Mu there, things will be handled well.”
“Yes, Hyun Mu is someone we can trust.”
Hyun Mu was a disciple of Hyun Cheon. Though not comparable to Hyun Gyeom, his martial skill ranked among the highest in the Hua Shan Sect.
More than anything, Hyun Mu possessed a rational and composed temperament. He was never shaken when dealing with anyone, and thus could negotiate with other sects in a manner most advantageous to his own.
“And with Myeong Gyeong there as well, there should be no cause for great concern.”
“That is true. I was worrying needlessly.”
At the mention of Myeong Gyeong, a smile played at the corner of Hyun Cheon’s lips.
Myeong Gyeong was a disciple personally cultivated by Hyun Gyeom, who was called the greatest master of the Hua Shan Sect.
When Hyun Gyeom took him on—not a First-generation or Second-generation Disciple, but a common Outer Disciple from a secular family—there was much talk and criticism. But as time passed, everyone came to know the truth.
Myeong Gyeong was a rough gem hidden in the mud.
As Hyun Gyeom carefully polished away the clay, a brilliance emerged that outshone any jewel ever faceted.
His talent with the blade was so fearsome that even the First-generation Disciples of the sect—those who had trained for so long, like Mu Gyeong and Un Gyeong—trembled at his prowess.
The pairing of an excellent master with a gifted disciple produced results that defied belief.
The phrase “Daily Renewal Upon Daily Renewal” seemed to exist for Myeong Gyeong alone.
In merely twelve years, Myeong Gyeong had become the most formidable martial practitioner among the First-generation Disciples of Hua Shan.
Even the proud Mu Gyeong and Un Gyeong could only surrender entirely to such talent, conceding every advantage.
Hyun Gyeom had at last sent his disciple Myeong Gyeong out into the world.
It was to let him gain experience.
The world’s lessons would make him all the more resilient.
“Myeong Gyeong will surely become Hua Shan’s guardian sword. Once he’s established himself, his strength will be invaluable as you lead the sect forward.”
“I understand.”
“Handle Myeong Gyeong well.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You may go now.”
“Then…….”
Mu Gyeong bowed to Hyun Cheon and stepped outside.
Sigh.
Once through the chamber doors, Mu Gyeong exhaled deeply.
A middle-aged Daoist who had been waiting outside approached him.
“Senior Brother.”
“Did you wait long? Un Gyeong.”
“Not at all.”
The Daoist shaking his head was Un Gyeong, Mu Gyeong’s junior. While Mu Gyeong had been speaking with Hyun Cheon, Un Gyeong had kept vigil outside.
Time flows with perfect impartiality—even Un Gyeong’s temples now carried threads of silver. Yet his gaze had grown deeper, sharper, more crystalline with each passing year.
“And your master?”
“His mind contains but a single word.”
“Hua Shan.”
“Precisely—nothing but the sect consumes his thoughts.”
“With the Murim League’s launch imminent, he must be even more anxious.”
Mu Gyeong nodded at Un Gyeong’s words.
The two walked forward side by side.
“First Elder, you’ve emerged?”
“We bow before the First Elder.”
First-generation and Second-generation disciples alike offered their respects.
A shadow suddenly fell across Mu Gyeong’s eyes. Un Gyeong knew its source.
“Are you thinking of Dam Ho again?”
“It was my fault. I abandoned him.”
“It was not your fault, Senior Brother. Anyone would have made the same choice.”
“Had I listened to you, had I never taken him with me in the first place…….”
Regret saturated every word Mu Gyeong spoke.
For twelve years, not a single day had passed without him reliving that memory. So he had driven himself relentlessly, honing his discipline—without such torment, he could not have endured it.
Suddenly Mu Gyeong’s gaze turned toward Un Dae Bong. At its peak stood Jin Wu Gung. But it was not the summit that held his attention—it was the mountainside, halfway up.
“And your master’s master?”
“Unchanged. Since that day, she has not set foot outside her dwelling.”
Sigh.
Mu Gyeong let out a long breath.
His heavy sigh echoed through the scorching summer sky.
＊＊＊
Dam Ho left the inn and made his way to Cheonha Jeil Ru—the branch office of Ha-o Gate in this region.
Un Jung greeted him at the entrance.
“Welcome. The Proprietress awaits you inside.”
Dam Ho regarded her in silence. Un Jung’s smile became uncomfortable.
Though this was only their third meeting, his expressionless face was something she could not grow accustomed to. Those eyes—devoid of all feeling—sent a chill down her spine each time.
“This way.”
“Yes, please follow me.”
Dam Ho followed Un Jung deeper inside.
“Oh! You mustn’t touch that!”
“Haha! My, how dignified you are!”
Though the evening was still young, the halls of Cheonha Jeil Ru brimmed with the laughter of courtesans.
Through open doorways, men with their faces buried against the bosoms of women glowed with heat. The rooms themselves shimmered with warmth.
No man could resist such an atmosphere.
Un Jung, walking ahead, stole a sidelong glance at Dam Ho. But he paid the rooms no attention whatsoever, his pace never faltering.
‘As I thought—that man is not one to be captivated by such things.’
Un Jung felt a peculiar sense of relief wash over her.
Shortly after, the two arrived at Gi Ye Hwa’s chamber.
“Welcome.”
Gi Ye Hwa greeted Dam Ho with a smile.
Gi Ye Hwa’s smile, striking as she was, filled the room with an intoxicating air.
Her laughter made Un Jung’s heart quicken—not the laughter of an unguarded woman, but something else entirely.
It was the Tianxiang Xiao, a supreme art that could entrance one’s opponent through a smile alone. At present, Gi Ye Hwa was the only courtesan in Ha-o Gate capable of deploying it.
Un Jung felt a start of surprise. This was the first time she had witnessed Gi Ye Hwa use the Tianxiang Xiao.
Any ordinary man would have fallen to his knees in that instant, begging for her affection. But Dam Ho’s eyes remained utterly cold.
The Tianxiang Xiao had no effect on Dam Ho.
Gi Ye Hwa let out a subtle sigh.
“You truly are a cold one. Well then—what brings you here today? I was under the impression our arrangement had concluded.”
“Track down Jo Yun San’s whereabouts.”
“So you haven’t found him after all?”
…….
“From what I’ve gathered, Jo Yun San seems to possess a meticulous nature. Such a man would never reveal himself easily.”
“And?”
“It may take time.”
“Time is no concern. Ten years, a hundred years—it matters not. You need only find him.”
Gi Ye Hwa exhaled slowly. “Anyone who becomes your enemy will never know a day’s peace. You forget nothing, and your vengeance is absolute.”
She sighed softly.
There was something strikingly alluring in her sorrow. Yet it failed to move the frost in Dam Ho’s eyes.
Gi Ye Hwa studied him directly.
He remained as cold and expressionless as before. She found herself wondering, inexplicably, whether this man possessed human emotions at all.
All rumors concerning him were sinister. Since he had first appeared in Shin Kang, blood had never dried from his hands.
Death attended him wherever he went, and countless souls had wept crimson tears. Perhaps Dam Ho was the first martial practitioner to amass such a fearsome reputation in so brief a span.
For now, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were preoccupied with their gathering in Honam Province and paid him no heed. Yet should they gain leisure in the future, it would be no surprise if he were declared a public enemy of the Gang Ho itself.
“So time is truly no concern to you?”
“It is not.”
“Understood. Then it’s worth attempting. One question, though—did the Hyeok Ho Dan plunder your home as well?”
…….
Dam Ho gave no answer. Yet silence sometimes conveyed more than a thousand words.
‘He bears a grudge against both Jo Yun San and the Hyeok Ho Dan.’
Dam Ho looked exactly as he had upon entering. His gaze was unchanged, his expression unmoved.
And that made it all the more chilling.
She realized that to make an enemy of such a man was to surrender any hope of peace. Gi Ye Hwa felt a strange pity for Jo Yun San.
Gi Ye Hwa’s eyes grew cold.
“And what price will you offer for this service?”
“A price……”
“With what you learned about Jo Yun San and the Hyeok Ho Dan, the Myo An Seok’s value is exhausted. For a new arrangement, a new price is required. That is the Merchant Code.”
Dam Ho withdrew something from his garments and placed it upon the table.
“What is this?”
Gi Ye Hwa’s eyes wavered for an instant.
Another Myo An Seok.
Smaller than the one Dam Ho had offered before—yet it burned with a more luminous and brilliant light. It was a stone of far superior quality.
When Dam Ho had escaped the underground cavern, he had brought two Myo An Seoks with him. This was the last.
It would fetch a far higher price than the first. No wonder Gi Ye Hwa’s eyes trembled.
Dam Ho believed she would accept the bargain. But what emerged from her lips was something entirely unforeseen.
“I don’t need the Myo An Seok.”
…….
“I have a different request instead.”

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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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