Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 101

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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 101
“You’re a disciple of Hye Gwang?”
Namgung Hu’s eyes flickered with an icy blue lightning. It was a turbid light where reason, fury, and confusion dangerously tangled together.
“Nonsense. He took a successor? With that cantankerous temperament of his… accepting some outsider who isn’t even a Martial Monk of Shaolin?”
Cheon So-hyun met his gaze without concern. Within those turbid eyes, a hint of killing intent surfaced.
Yet what emerged even more distinctly was a question—a desperate, consuming question that could never be resolved except in this very moment.
“Answer me!”
“My ears are ringing. As I said before, I received his teachings. I learned martial arts from him and had many conversations, during which I also heard tales about the Family Head.”
“Tales?”
Cheon So-hyun nodded.
“Whenever my Master mentioned the Family Head, he never hesitated to curse. He’s someone whose cultivation runs so deep that few could match it, yet it was such a peculiar thing that it left a deep impression on me.”
“…He cursed me?”
“He said that when you were young, seeing your arrogant and reckless behavior, he decided he couldn’t turn a blind eye and personally guided you. He said you were a fool who needed to be pruned early, lest you grow into something unpredictable, and that he broke both your arms completely. Is that true?”
Namgung Hu’s breathing became turbulent.
“His reckless words have gone too far. The fact that I clashed with that Strange Monk multiple times is known throughout the Realm. That hardly proves you’re Hye Gwang’s disciple…”
Cheon So-hyun smiled lightly and cut him off. He had successfully diverted his attention—now came the crucial part.
“Then it’s true you clashed six times?”
Namgung Hu’s pupils trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
“…What?”
The number of martial exchanges between Namgung Hu and Hye Gwang was publicly known to be five. Even within the Namgung Family, it was understood that way.
“You… you really are Hye Gwang’s disciple?”
“That’s what I’ve been saying. How many times must I repeat it before you believe me?”
“…”
“In the first place, wasn’t the reason the Family Head intervened in the martial exchange because he discovered similarities in our martial arts? Would that even be possible if I weren’t his disciple?”
Namgung Hu stared at him in silence, his gaze piercing.
The sixth exchange—it was a fact that could never be known unless Hye Gwang himself had spoken of it. That Strange Monk had sought him out alone, around the time he clashed with two of the Dark Lotus Society’s Eight Pillars and came to be called Divine Fist.
Namgung Hu’s confusion deepened further.
‘…A successor, truly?’
Among masters who discussed the Realm, it was relatively common for them to take outer disciples upon discovering brilliant martial talent.
It was the wish of all supreme masters that the martial arts perfected to their pinnacle be transmitted completely to later generations and continue to develop.
However, in the case of prestigious sects like Shaolin, the matter was different.
They strictly forbade the teachings—which were considered the history and roots of the sect—from leaking to the outside world.
Yet Namgung Hu could not definitively declare it impossible. Because it concerned none other than Hye Gwang.
‘That’s right… if it’s him…’
Unbecoming of a Martial Monk, he possessed a cantankerous temperament and a marked tendency to disdain formality and pretense. Considering that disposition, it wouldn’t be strange for him to have taken an outer disciple.
Moreover, the martial arts Namgung Hu had reacted to were not those of Shaolin, but Hye Gwang’s own unique techniques.
Through countless exchanges and endless reflection, he had grasped his habits and relentless combat methods, even his distinctive intent. It was by discovering fragments and recognizing their similarity that he had perceived the connection.
The implication was unmistakable.
“So… he truly looked down on me with contempt…”
As he exhaled a quiet sigh and murmured, Cheon So-hyun interjected as if exasperated.
“Don’t dig yourself into a hole before hearing me out completely.”
“…?”
“My Master found fault not with the Family Head’s martial prowess, but with his temperament.”
“…Temperament?”
Cheon So-hyun nodded.
“Even after repeated guidance, it never changed, so he said he’d given up entirely. However, regarding martial arts themselves, he actually acknowledged the Family Head.”
Namgung Hu’s voice fell heavily.
“You speak nonsense. Are you truly mocking me simply because you happen to be that man’s disciple?”
Realm’s finest Later-Stage Martial Artist, Shaolin’s greatest master, Realm’s supreme fist—and beyond that, even to the point where Hye Gwang ascended to Divine Fist’s position.
Namgung Hu had witnessed every step of that journey from beside him.
Driven by surging competitive spirit, he challenged him to duels, suffered devastating defeats, and challenged again—what tormented him most was….
The gap never narrowed; it only widened with each passing day.
“That man had nothing worth taking from me. The result was always the same. How dare you insult me with empty words….”
“That’s merely your perspective.”
“…What did you say?”
Namgung Hu’s eyes flickered with azure light. A sinister aura constricted Cheon So-hyun’s limbs, as if declaring he would tolerate no further insolence.
Yet Cheon So-hyun did not yield his momentum.
“A Buddhist who believes there is something to learn even from a beggar lying in the street—how is that narrow-minded? And what is this talk of a Strange Monk?”
He shattered the pressure with his own martial force, meeting his aura head-on.
“My Master walked his path alone, treated as a prodigy, a monster, a rare specimen set apart in another realm, even when called a Later-Stage Martial Artist. He did not seek recognition from others and was not shaken, but there were times when solitude weighed upon him, or so he once said.”
“….”
“Martial arts are refined through competition and exchange, through self-cultivation. Yet from a certain point onward, countless practitioners abandoned both external and internal challenges. That is why he welcomed the Family Head’s challenge.”
“Welcomed? You mean he acknowledged me?”
“That is not a question for me. Reflect upon it yourself. Was my Master ever a man with leisure enough to waste time on meaningless things?”
Cheon So-hyun fixed his gaze upon Namgung Hu. In those resolute, unwavering eyes, Namgung Hu felt the illusion of being pierced through entirely.
These were the words of his Master’s disciple, not Hye Gwang himself. Yet somehow, it felt as though Hye Gwang stood before him, reproaching him directly.
“Out of an old man’s concern, I ask—could the Family Head’s misfortune be connected to my Master’s passing?”
As the silence stretched, Cheon So-hyun shook his head slowly.
“What a lamentable state of affairs. I never imagined that someone my Master acknowledged would cling to the past and suffer so.”
Namgung Hu exhaled as if the wind had been knocked from his sails.
“…Enough.”
“As for the relationship between myself and my Master, I ask that you leave it unspoken. Surely that much is not difficult for the renowned Family Head of Namgung?”
Namgung Hu turned his head away in silence.
It was a matter not worth mentioning. Rumors about Hye Gwang circulating was something he himself found distasteful.
It was then.
Creak.
“Family Head!”
The Elders rushed urgently into the Family Head Hall, having tracked the traces of lightning here.
They had entered with concern that some terrible calamity might have occurred, but they narrowed their brows at the unexpected sight before them.
The Family Head’s complexion had brightened considerably, and Cheon Gang was dusting off his clothes as if the matter were of no consequence.
“Are you all right?”
Namgung Hu gazed at them intently.
He approached with worry and unease carefully concealed, and having confirmed even the distant aura of Namgung Seon-wi fading away, his complexion flushed faintly red.
“I’m fine. It seems I was mistaken… Let’s hurry with the cleanup.”
With those words, Namgung Hu departed.
And with this unprecedented shift in atmosphere, the Elders’ expressions brightened.
‘It’s different. I’m not sure why, but the atmosphere has definitely changed.’
‘…What on earth happened in the meantime?’
What was certain was that Cheon Gang had brought about some transformation.
“Cheon So Hyup.”
Namgung Myeong called out to Cheon So-hyun, suppressing the emotions welling up within him.
“You’ve worked hard. I’m not sure what conversation you had, but first I must express my gratitude. Your visit has been a great blessing to the Main Family.”
“So now you’re treating this country bumpkin with respect?”
At the pointed remark, Namgung Myeong let out a laugh.
“I apologize once more. I’ve painfully realized how poor my judgment is. Let me first release you from your restraints. After we’ve settled this chaos, I promise to repay you in some manner.”
The dark shadow that had lurked over the Family Estate had vanished like a lie.
For some reason, the Family Head seemed to have escaped the shadow of the heart demon, and the Crown Prince had completed the Imperial Sword Form, achieving his breakthrough.
It would be insufficient to treat and honor him merely as the Family’s benefactor. The other Elders’ reactions were not much different from Namgung Myeong’s.
“Is there anything you wish for?”
“Well, I’d prefer if the results of the martial contest didn’t spread to the outside world.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“There were many watching eyes, so it will eventually become known, but still, please do your best to delay it as much as possible. Is that difficult?”
Namgung Myeong answered awkwardly.
“No, it’s not difficult at all. In fact, it’s quite easy. But are you truly certain? If the results of the contest spread, you would surely gain considerable renown. Since your opponent was none other than the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be difficult to claim the top position among the Later-Stage Martial Artists.”
“I’m not interested.”
“…”
“Excessive ambition always invites disaster. So handle it well on your own. Blast it, there’s not a single part of me that doesn’t ache. I’ll be going now.”
Cheon So-hyun waved his hand dismissively and departed. At his nonchalant attitude, the Elders maintained their silence for a long while.
In truth, Cheon So-hyun’s wish was genuinely appreciated by the Namgung Family.
If news of the Crown Prince’s defeat spread, it would certainly lead to ridicule extending even to the gambling dens of the streets.
Like those dark days of the distant past when they were engulfed in shame from a devastating defeat, it would become the subject of gossip throughout Jianghu, suspicion of the Namgung would grow, and all manner of disturbances would arise.
Of course, the Namgung Family was not one to be shaken by such disturbances.
The concern was that even the slightest noise might interfere with the influence firmly rooted throughout Anhui Province.
In Jianghu, small flaws spread endlessly and lead to fractures, so it was certainly an element to be wary of.
“He is a man of uncommon depth. Even a fortune in gold would be insufficient recompense for such a matter.”
“Indeed.”
The Elders nodded one by one. A tempest of indescribable emotion swept through the Family Head Hall.
* * *
Namgung Hu stood by the window, gazing down at the Family Estate’s courtyard.
Moonlight quietly illuminated the darkness. Faced with this familiar yet strange sight, he felt acutely the reality of having maintained his seclusion for so very long.
How much time had passed like that?
When the cold air of dawn seeped through the window frame, Namgung Hu’s head turned at the sound of movement behind him.
“Did you not sleep well, or did you hit your head?”
Namgung Seon-wi, rising from the sickbed, gazed at Namgung Hu with a dazed expression.
“I’ve lived long enough to see all manner of days. It’s my duty to make courtesy calls without promise of return, but what brings you here?”
Namgung Hu opened his mouth to respond, then closed it. Various words circled in his mind, but he could not bring himself to speak them.
Yet Namgung Seon-wi’s face already bore the light of great solace.
The mere fact that Namgung Hu had emerged from the Family Head Hall, locked tight with bolts and chains, brought him joy.
“Did you witness my sword form?”
“…Yes.”
“What did you think?”
“Are you seeking my judgment?”
“Whatever it may be, I’m satisfied. I’ve drawn forth the Imperial Sword Form for the first time—speak your honest heart.”
“It was pathetic.”
Namgung Hu spoke his candid thoughts.
“A divine blade that shakes a warrior’s conviction and steals their breath—yet it was soft and light. Throughout the Main Family’s long history, there has never been an Imperial Sword Form so weak.”
…
“But in the end, it was your sword. What intention did you seek to embed within it?”
“I’m not certain. As I trembled beneath the weight of crushing defeat, waiting on the ground and breathing in dust, I felt a premonition—that I would truly lose if I continued thus.”
“And then?”
“I threw myself forward without hesitation. It was the defeat I had always longed for, so I displayed my sword form without reservation.”
“You sound as though you’re satisfied.”
“What more could I ask for?”
“…?”
“Even if I tremble in humiliation and lie sprawled upon the ground, if I simply rise again, there is always a next moment. Would this instant have come if I had merely remained seated in despair?”
“…I see.”
Namgung Hu, watching his son’s faint smile, turned his gaze toward the window.
“I have harbored a long-standing goal.”
He continued, observing the light of dawn gathering in the sky.
“I believed that surpassing that wall was the sole salvation of my life. It became my objective, then my realm of attainment, and finally the very foundation that sustained me. It was a fated collapse. I should have looked inward, yet I always fixed my gaze upon another.”
When he learned of Hye Gwang’s passing into the void, he had been engulfed in profound emptiness.
The figure he habitually gazed upon, the goal he had dreamed of his entire life, vanished without warning.
That futility swelled uncontrollably into a heart demon, and eventually a pitch-black darkness settled heavily upon his mind.
But now, instead of that abyssal darkness, a single azure blade shimmered in his heart.
The legacy of his ancestors, the resonance of divine power. The intention of the Imperial Sword Form.
“Your sword was… magnificent.”
At this candid admission, emotion flashed across Namgung Seon-wi’s eyes. It was his father’s true heart, heard for the first time in his life.
“How could it be anything but magnificent when taught by such a master? Have you escaped the heart demon?”
“Perhaps. It is too early to say with certainty. But through your sword, I have come to understand that what has upheld me all this time was not him.”
Namgung Hu withdrew a stack of papers from his bosom and held them out.
It was a crumpled, worn bundle of paper. Bloodstains clung to it as if bearing the weight of endless suffering.
“What is this?”
“Insights gained through continuous cultivation of Thunder Qi techniques. You’ve already achieved considerable success by manifesting your own martial philosophy, but your older brother and you haven’t reached perfection. That’s precisely where I found the shortcoming.”
“….”
“Thunder Qi burns more intensely and powerfully than any force in the Realm. Since you carry such a blessing within you, your Imperial Sword Form shouldn’t be limited to merely that level.”
It was sincere counsel delivered not as Family Head, but as a father and a senior swordsman.
“You certainly have no shortage of words for a son lying on a sickbed. Are you urging me to leave and train harder?”
At that quip, Namgung Hu finally burst into laughter.
“Cheeky brat.”
Namgung Seon-wi’s intent reached his father. And his father’s intent was conveyed back to his son.
The morning between father and son was breaking bright.
Namgung Seon-wi carefully gathered the bundle of papers.
“I’ll study it well, Father.”

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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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