Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 23

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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 23
Boom!
“Ugh—”
“S-stop…! I-I was wrong. Please spare me…!”
“What? What did you just say? Did I mishear you?”
“I-if you just spare me, I’ll…!”
Whoooosh!
Cheon So-hyun’s descending palm strike drove straight through the crown of his head.
“You dare slander me like that? Do I look like someone who kills indiscriminately?”
“Nngh—”
The Disreputable-Looking Man felt the world spinning violently from the excruciating pain.
He couldn’t gather his wits at all.
Why was he so impossibly strong?
After the deception was exposed, the disciples of Ja Gwi Moon immediately launched a coordinated assault. Judging that he must be exhausted from the direct combat they’d witnessed, they seized the opportunity and rushed him all at once—the result was utterly devastating.
How did someone who climbed up a cliff end up with the map?
Cheon So-hyun dusted off his hands and looked down at them.
“So what does Ja Gwi Moon actually do? Tell me the truth, and I’ll let you live.”
“Y-you really mean it? Then…!”
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed as he heard the man’s words.
“Loan sharking? That’s all?”
“Yes, that’s all. We can give you as much money as you want, so please show mercy.”
“Of course I’ll show mercy. I’m basically a corpse without compassion. In that sense, you lot are quite fortunate.”
“Thank you…!”
Thud! Smack!
Cheon So-hyun grabbed the slit-eyed man and pummeled his abdomen mercilessly.
“Oof! Huff!!”
Sub-Sect Leader Geum So cried out in shock.
“W-what! What are you doing! Didn’t you just say you’d spare us!”
“Stop your whining. I said I’d spare you.”
“But then why—!”
“You have to pay the price for fleecing merchants. Thirty times the principal as interest? These parasites are everywhere.”
“Nngh…!”
“H-how is that any of your concern…?”
“It’s my concern. I learned martial arts to guide people like you. Consider this your chance for repentance—accept it gracefully.”
“You’re just beating us up!”
“Right, that’s exactly what it’ll look like.”
There was a saying: the eyes of a pig see a pig, and the eyes of Buddha see Buddha.
How could teachings born from profound Buddhist compassion be judged through the eyes of a demon? Such was the paradox.
Thud! Thud! Smack!!
Cheon So-hyun continued his instruction, methodically shattering their lower dantians one by one.
“Phew.”
In my past life, my inner energy never depleted, so I would never have resorted to such crude methods. But I had no choice.
Crash!
Having shattered even the final disciple’s dantian, he brushed off his hands and stood.
“Take this precious lesson to heart and repent.”
“Ugh.”
As Cheon So-hyun turned his head, he saw a man sitting in lotus position, treating his internal injuries.
Just then, the man exhaled a white breath and rose, offering an apology.
“I… I’m truly sorry. I thought you were working with those bastards and had come to ambush us. I never imagined an innocent person would appear at that moment.”
Cheon So-hyun waved his hand dismissively.
“It doesn’t matter.”
In truth, no lingering resentment remained. How could I, having become a Buddhist, harbor petty grudges?
Kang Hyun rubbed his ribs and murmured softly.
“I’ve beaten him thoroughly enough that you must be satisfied now.”
“What did you say?”
“Ah, nothing. Anyway, I haven’t seen your face around here before. What brings you to these parts? You don’t look like a herbalist.”
“I came looking for something. I came up here with firm resolve, but I never expected to encounter bandits right away.”
Kang Hyun laughed awkwardly.
“Well, I may look like this, but I’m not actually a bandit. Though I must say, you seem to have quite a bit more age than your appearance suggests.”
“Far more than you’d think. Why? Should I start being more formal?”
Kang Hyun waved his hand.
“No, I was just curious. Anyone who can fight well is my elder, after all. I’m not so shameless as all that, so please don’t misunderstand. Ask me anything you’d like—there’s no one around here who knows this region better than I do.”
Cheon So-hyun asked without much expectation.
“Then do you know about Unam Peak? It’s quite a distance from here.”
“Of course I do. That’s where I live.”
“Oh, really? Then…”
Kang Hyun glanced at the fallen Ja Gwi Moon disciples and lowered his voice.
“There are too many ears listening. Let’s move over there and talk. I’ll answer everything I know.”
“Let’s do that.”
Walking along the quiet forest path, Cheon So-hyun organized his thoughts. Recalling Yi Ma-je’s characteristics from the scroll, he asked directly.
“You live on Unam Peak?”
“Yes, that’s right. I could say it’s in the palm of my hand.”
“Then have you ever heard of someone named Hwa Do-myung living in seclusion there? A swordmaster with a large frame and black hair, supposedly.”
Kang Hyun stopped walking and stared at him with a hardened expression.
“…Hwa Do-myung?”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyun’s eyes sharpened instantly. He revealed subtle wariness as he asked.
“Why are you looking for him? And who are you, anyway?”
Sensing the palpable killing intent, Cheon So-hyun’s eyes gleamed.
“I’m called Cheon So-hyun. It seems you know something.”
“Wait, Cheon So-hyun? The Cheon Family?! You’re saying the Cheon Family?”
As Cheon So-hyun nodded, Kang Hyun asked again with a bewildered expression.
“So, so you’re telling me that the Cult Leader’s own child came all the way here alone?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Why can’t you believe what people tell you?”
“It’s stranger to believe it easily! Do you know how remote this place is? Um, if you don’t mind me asking, could you perhaps show some kind of identification token or….”
Cheon So-hyun pulled out a pouch and showed it to him. It was a small bag embossed with the form of a dragon. In the Demonic Sect, such a pattern was granted only to the bloodline of the Cheon Family, making it sufficient proof of identity.
“Damn it!”
Kang Hyun tore at his hair and cursed. Then, startled, he quickly bowed at the waist.
“My apologies. I have been disrespectful. I grew up in the mountains and failed to recognize you properly.”
“Never mind.”
Since I was no longer particularly surprised by the fuss over being called a successor, I simply waved my hand dismissively.
“It doesn’t matter. Just tell me what you know.”
“You’re just letting this pass? What if I end up dragged to Thunder Prison and spend the rest of my life there….”
“That won’t happen, so stop worrying about it. Why? Do you want it to?”
“No, of course not.”
Kang Hyun gazed at me intently for a moment, then laughed.
“Ha ha, I thought your straightforward manner suggested a generous spirit, and indeed you are a true man of character. Then I shall reveal everything I know.”
The way he shifted his demeanor was like watching a martial technique unfold before my eyes.
“Do you know exactly where he’s in seclusion?”
“How could I not?”
Kang Hyun whispered.
“The person you’re searching for is actually my master.”
“Hm?”
I studied Kang Hyun carefully.
“Your master?”
“Yes, I am Kang Hyun, a disciple of Yi Ma-je.”
Whether he truly was a disciple or not, the moment he uttered the name Hwa Do-myung, the alias Yi Ma-je spilled forth.
‘Yi Ma-je had a disciple?’
This was news I hadn’t heard from Sa Ma-ryang. The fact that even the Military Council hadn’t grasped this made it difficult to believe outright.
While I regarded him with suspicion, Kang Hyun asked.
“May I ask you just one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Earlier, you said that even the Ja Gwi Moon taught martial arts to guide people like me, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“What is your standard for ‘people like me’?”
When Cheon So-hyun offered no answer and simply looked at him, Kang Hyun let out a dry cough.
“Ahem, I’ve learned so little that there’s much I don’t know. Was that perhaps a rude question?”
“Well, it’s both rude and difficult to answer simply. Hmm, the standard….”
For some reason, his eyes seemed quite earnest. I studied him and gave a sincere answer.
“There are many standards, but the most important one is whether you’ve abandoned the moral line that defines a human being, or not.”
“Erased? You mean they didn’t cross the line?”
“Right, crossing the line is something I can understand.”
“….”
“Stealing food because you can’t bear crushing hunger, or seeking revenge against an enemy for various reasons—I wonder if I wouldn’t have done the same. There’s room for empathy in such cases.”
“Then what do you mean by those who were erased?”
“Those who lack the very awareness that they’re committing evil acts. Communication becomes impossible with them, and they commit deeds that shouldn’t be resolved that way without hesitation.”
Kang Hyun’s eyes trembled slightly.
“You learned martial arts to exterminate such people, Master?”
“In summary, yes. But why are you asking that?”
“I’m curious about what kind of person came seeking you. It’s such a rare occurrence, and as your disciple, I should know at least that much.”
“So, can you guide me?”
The scroll had five locations marked where Yi Ma-je was likely to be. Rather than search each one and waste the entire day, I thought to ask my disciple for guidance while I had the chance.
“I’m not sure why you’re looking for him, but honestly, guiding you isn’t difficult. The problem is that Master avoids external contact so much that even if you meet, conversation will be hard.”
“Hmm.”
It wasn’t entirely wrong. Yi Ma-je might refuse the meeting itself.
“It sounds like you have a method?”
Kang Hyun’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ll guide you to his residence and try to persuade him so we can have a smooth conversation. In exchange, I ask for one favor.”
“A favor?”
“It’s shameless of me to ask for a favor when I’m the one who was rude, but after hearing what you said, I feel our intentions align.”
“So what’s this favor?”
A gleam appeared in Kang Hyun’s eyes.
“Annihilate Ja Gwi Moon.”
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
What nonsense was he spouting out of nowhere?
“Annihilate them?”
“Exactly as I said. Go there, uproot them completely, burn them to ashes and eliminate them. They’re all bastards—or rather, just as you said, they’re people who’ve erased the line, so let’s annihilate the entire sect.”
“Because they manipulate ledgers and extort money?”
“Extorting through loan sharking isn’t even worth mentioning as an evil act. Those lunatics actually buy and sell people.”
At such outrageous words, Cheon So-hyun’s brow deepened.
“You’re saying they engage in human trafficking?”
“Yes. I had a dispute with a servant before and we clashed, but then a whole mob of them came with their heads spinning, spouting nonsense about selling me off. I found it suspicious—how do people hiding in mountain valleys carry proper weapons? It seemed genuine, so I plan to investigate properly.”
Cheon So-hyun stared at him intently. He didn’t seem to be lying, but there were several questionable points.
“So you’re saying there are people within the sect engaging in such acts? Is that even possible?”
“Of course it’s impossible. That’s why they hide and live in secret, isn’t it? Even here, it’s borderland closer to the Central Plains than the Inner Fortress.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded slowly.
‘Is it because the territory is so vast?’
The Nine Sects and Five Great Families wield tremendous influence in their respective regions, but one cannot definitively say there’s not a single member of the Black Path among them.
The territory is simply too vast.
What then of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?
I had come to truly understand just how vast the Ten Thousand Great Mountains were as I rushed through them.
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
“Then why not just call your master or the people from the Law Enforcement Hall? What’s the reason you want me to come with you?”
“That’s….”
Kang Hyun’s eyes darted about. It seemed he had something he wished to conceal, and his expression grew complicated.
“May I speak honestly?”
“You should be honest.”
“It’s because I don’t wish to trouble my master with my personal affairs. I’m not even known publicly as his disciple, and he’s currently in seclusion to refine his martial arts—I simply don’t want to burden him unnecessarily. Besides, I don’t even know where those bastards’ headquarters are located.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? You don’t know where their base is?”
When Cheon So-hyun sent me a sharp gaze as if mocking me, Kang Hyun laughed awkwardly.
“Haha, well… we can find out as we go! Among those scattered about, there’s one called Geum So who holds the position of Sub-Sect Leader. If we track him down and annihilate the sect, he won’t even realize he’s being followed since he paid no attention during the fight.”
“What about the Law Enforcement Hall?”
Kang Hyun maintained silence as if choosing his words carefully, then spoke briefly.
“I simply cannot trust them.”
Did he harbor some personal grudge?
Somehow, Kang Hyun seemed far more displeased when mentioning the Law Enforcement Hall than Ja Gwi Moon. I realized that his hesitation stemmed ultimately from issues related to the Law Enforcement Hall.
“If you’re unwilling, you’re free to refuse. I’ve sustained some injuries, but I’m more than capable of handling such rabble alone. There’s an inn below, so please rest there and I’ll return shortly.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded as he reached his conclusion.
“They’ve certainly crossed the line. Regardless of what’s possible, eliminating them is the right thing to do. Let’s go.”
“Pardon? You’re going?”
“Some of them will have regained consciousness by now, so we need to check immediately.”
Kang Hyun followed after him, blinking his eyes.
‘He’s going just like that?’
It was a question that arose because there were many aspects that seemed difficult to believe even from my own perspective.
I had thought more persuasion would be necessary.
Unlike myself, who wielded dual blades, my master was a sword cultivator. While broad guidance might be possible within a general framework, the difference in disciplines made it difficult to readily accept the claim of being a disciple.
Moreover, for a disciple of someone who was in seclusion to avoid commotion to suggest annihilating an entire sect seemed almost absurd.
So I had prepared several arguments for persuasion….
Since he didn’t seem like the type to act without thought, Kang Hyun asked carefully.
“That… it’s a bit awkward for me to ask, but are you simply accepting that I’m your disciple?”
Cheon So-hyun stopped walking and turned around.
“I have to believe. I’m not the type who suspects people or does such things. My cultivation runs too deep for that.”
“Pardon? What if you’re greatly deceived? If Ja Gwi Moon and everything else are all lies….”
“That’s not something I should worry about—it’s something you should worry about.”
Cheon So-hyun chuckled softly and looked at me. At that resolute gaze, Kang Hyun unconsciously swallowed hard.
….
“If you’re lying, I’ll strip you bare down to your undergarments and drag you all the way to the Law Enforcement Hall. It had better be the truth.”

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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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