Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 102

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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 102
The break of dawn, before the first light touched the sky.
Cheon Hui woke as he always did, washed quickly with cold water, and had nearly stepped out through the hut’s door when he paused.
“Hmm?”
His feet stopped mid-stride.
“Ah….”
There were uninvited guests waiting for him at the entrance.
“What brings you here?”
Hyeon Ryeo had positioned Dan Mok Rin beside her.
“I’ve come to introduce a new disciple I’ve taken.”
Cheon Hui tilted his head slightly.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t accept a Direct Disciple?”
He spoke with the memory of something he’d heard long ago, and Hyeon Ryeo smiled softly.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Her gaze, as she looked down at Cheon Hui, grew warm as it filled her eyes.
The reason she had never taken a Direct Disciple was that there was no one else she trusted to manage the Huashan Sect’s finances but herself.
But that had changed now.
Thanks to Cheon Hui, she had gained breathing room.
So when she began to consider taking a Direct Disciple, Dan Mok Rin arrived at her door.
A woman like herself—one who had severed all ties for the sake of a single person.
‘She shook my heart.’
By nature, she would never have involved herself in something so complexly entangled, but she thought it fate and stepped forward.
Dan Mok Rin was similar to her, yet different.
Unlike herself, the girl overflowed with talent.
Talent that could rival that of the Sword Saint.
‘Unlike me, this child will be able to become Cheon Hui’s pillar in days to come.’
Hyeon Ryeo’s lips relaxed into a smile.
“I hear you knew each other already.”
“Yes, we do know each other.”
“Then it works out well. While you handle the Huashan Sect’s affairs, could you stay with Rin?”
“That’s a bother.”
“I’m asking you. Right now, you’re the only one I can trust.”
Cheon Hui exhaled a sigh.
He already knew from past experience that if she showed her face like this, she would not back down no matter what.
“Understood.”
“Thank you. I’ll be going now.”
Shortly after Hyeon Ryeo left, only the two of them remained in the hut.
“Senior Brother.”
Dan Mok Rin approached with a broad smile.
Then suddenly her body twisted awkwardly, and she spoke to him.
“Ah! From now on, I should call you Senior Brother, shouldn’t I?”
Cheon Hui looked at the embarrassed Dan Mok Rin with displeasure.
‘She’s made herself useless with a pointless gesture.’
What had been the reason for his dealings with her?
It was for the power that the Dan Mok Clan wielded.
But Dan Mok Rin had severed ties with the Dan Mok Clan, and his available reserves of support had been cut down in an instant.
Now there was only Dan Mok Rin in front of him. No—
Including Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop, there were two.
‘Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop is better than nothing, at least.’
Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop was a master of the Wuji Realm and thus useful, but she was not.
Of course, it would have been different in the past.
She would have been a master then as well.
But what good was that now?
Having overcome the Taiyin Qi Deficiency Disease, the Internal Force she had accumulated had dispersed, leaving her at roughly the level of a third-rate master.
‘The one saving grace is that her talent is so exceptional she’ll become a master again.’
That was the only thing he could rely on.
Her Five Stars were already among the finest in All Under Heaven from birth.
And now that she had overcome the Taiyin Qi Deficiency Disease, her body had become flawless too, hadn’t it?
Whatever she learned, she would master quickly and build upon it without fail.
‘But that’s something for the distant future.’
Whoosh—
Cheon Hui brushed past her without a glance, though shame had brought her gaze to the ground.
“……Senior!”
Dan Mok Rin snapped back to herself and hurried after him, and within moments they both arrived at the Cliff Rock.
“What a beautiful view!”
As Dan Mok Rin took in the breathtaking landscape of the Huashan Sect spread below them, wonder flooded her voice.
Thump—
Cheon Hui sat down abruptly on the stone.
For a moment she was startled, but when she saw what he did next, her eyes widened like moons.
“Yungi Josik……?”
Yungi Josik was a meditation that severed spirit from body, something one entered in a state of absolute vulnerability.
Yet here, before her, he was performing it.
He would never do such a thing unless he trusted Dan Mok Rin completely.
She clasped her hands together, moved beyond words.
“You trust me.”
With that realization, she assumed her position to offer Beop Ho protection.
While Dan Mok Rin braced herself, eyes sharp with vigilance, ready to repay the faith Cheon Hui had shown her—
“So you’re up here.”
Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop climbed the hill.
“Uncle!”
Dan Mok Rin started forward in greeting, then caught herself and straightened instead.
“What is it?”
He was slightly taken aback; ordinarily she would have rushed to greet him with unguarded joy.
“I’m standing Beop Ho.”
Only then did Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop spot Cheon Hui behind her, hidden from view, and he smiled.
“Ha—you’ve entrusted him with your protection? Your bond grows closer by the day, I see.”
“Yes!”
Dan Mok Rin replied with spirited confidence.
To her, entrusting someone with Beop Ho was a declaration of trust.
And Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop thought the same.
But there was something both of them overlooked.
Even while performing Yungi Josik, Cheon Hui could not only sense what was happening around him but respond to it instantly.
So he heard every word of their conversation with perfect clarity.
‘Beop Ho, my fool.’
A faint scoff escaped Cheon Hui’s lips before he sank back into Yungi Josik.
‘First I’ll finish this meditation, then worry about the rest.’
Meanwhile, Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop gazed at Dan Mok Rin with such tender affection that a smile bloomed across his face like a plum blossom in spring on Huashan.
‘Such a joy to see.’
The darkness that had haunted her before, that weary detachment from the world—it had vanished, and every time he looked at her now, his heart lifted.
How fervently he had once prayed to witness this very change.
‘This is all thanks to Cheon Hui.’
In the gaze he turned toward the young man, an emotion beyond words took root.
‘If only Rin could find happiness with him…….’
Then, as memory of yesterday’s events stirred, he turned to Dan Mok Rin with a question.
“Is your new master treating you well?”
“She’s a wonderful person.”
Dan Mok Rin’s face lit with an radiant smile.
And indeed, Hyeon Ryeo was good—through and through.
In character and temperament both.
And that was hardly all.
‘Beyond that, she said she’d help with my situation involving Cheon Hui.’
The memory of last night, of laying bare to Hyeon Ryeo the true reason she had come to join the Huashan Sect, sent warmth flooding to her cheeks.
Hyeon Ryeo had pledged her full support, and now Dan Mok Rin’s hands clenched with resolve.
“Hm?”
At a voice that came from nowhere, both turned in unison—and froze at the sight of the old man’s face.
“Grandfather Shin Ui?”
“……Elder Shin Ui?”
Shin Ui, who had just climbed the hill, tilted his head as he looked at them both.
“What brings you two up here?”
“It’s been some time since we’ve seen you.”
Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop quickly took a respectful stance, but Shin Ui’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Never mind that. What are you two doing here? I distinctly remember you saying you’d return to the Dan Mok Clan.”
“This time, Lin has expressed a desire to join the Huashan Sect, so we’ve come to make the request.”
“What? Join the sect? Have my ears stopped working?”
Shin Ui’s face twisted in disbelief. He dug at his ear, then turned to look at Dan Mok Rin.
“You said you wanted to join the Huashan Sect?”
“Yes.”
Watching her answer with eyes as clear and unblemished as fresh snow, Shin Ui looked away.
“What nonsense is that girl spouting.”
Shin Ui spoke to Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop as though the whole thing were absurd.
“It is the truth.”
The reply that came back was startling.
“You’re saying such madness is possible.”
“I have severed all ties with the clan.”
“Severed? What do you mean, severed?”
Shin Ui’s eyes widened in surprise.
Who would sever ties with their own family to join a hostile sect?
“I thought no one in All Under Heaven was more reckless than I am, and yet here you are.”
Shaking his head in wonder, Shin Ui turned to Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop and spoke.
“Then have you severed ties as well?”
“No. I came only to escort her.”
“So you’ll leave that child here alone on Huashan?”
“Yes.”
“You’re more peculiar than I expected.”
“Rather, my absence is what keeps Lin safe now. Without me, there will be no trace of her movements.”
“Tsk, you’ve had a difficult time of it.”
“Ha ha, I wouldn’t say difficult.”
“Still, those people’s—wait—!”
Shin Ui suddenly cut himself off and hurled his body elsewhere.
“Is it finished?”
As Cheon Hui rose from completing his Yungi Josik, Shin Ui clung to him—and Cheon Hui asked with clear irritation on his face.
“Why have you come today?”
“Why come? Didn’t you say that when you had spare time, you’d study the healing arts?”
“I don’t have much spare time.”
At Cheon Hui’s words, Shin Ui grew urgent.
Somehow, he had to capture his attention.
“Don’t say that—look at this. This will surely make your eyes light up.”
“What is it?”
“With this sect’s Acupuncture—”
Meanwhile, the two watching them—Shin Ui and Cheol Geom Ki Hyeop—blinked their eyes wide in bewilderment.
“How did this happen?”
“To think that Shin Ui would cling to him like that…”
Who was Shin Ui?
A man who feared nothing in All Under Heaven. And yet he was stumbling over his words.
All to impart knowledge.
“Wait a moment.”
Shin Ui, who had been speaking, glanced around, spotted the two of them, and gestured.
“You two, come here for a moment.”
Both of them were taken aback by Shin Ui’s sudden call and gesture.
“Yes? Ah, understood.”
“Yes, yes.”
As the two drew closer, Shin Ui immediately turned to Cheon Hui and asked.
“You’ve noticed her condition has changed, haven’t you?”
At the question, pointing to Dan Mok Rin, Cheon Hui looked her up and down.
“I don’t see anything particularly changed.”
“Nothing changed? Look here. Hasn’t she grown considerably?”
Shin Ui pointed out various parts of Dan Mok Rin, and Cheon Hui’s gaze followed.
She had grown, certainly.
There was still something of the young girl about her, but now she looked like a woman of sixteen.
At the sudden weight of their appraising gazes upon her, Dan Mok Rin’s face flushed crimson.
“I, Shin Ui… I’m sorry.”
She spoke with embarrassment.
“You did well to help this child overcome her congenital affliction. However!”
Shin Ui paid her no mind.
He was too busy explaining.
“Her blood meridians were completely blocked. Without intervention, she’d never have grown to this extent.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Cheon Hui partly agreed.
Though Dan Mok Rin’s Taiyin Qi Deficiency Disease had been fully cured, her condition back then had been grave.
At that time, Shin Ui had spoken to Dan Mok Rin.
“How is your body feeling?”
“Better.”
“Any other pain?”
“Sometimes my stomach feels full, but…”
“The medicine I brewed for you?”
“I’ve already finished it all…”
“Tsk. I’ll make more for you.”
Shin Ui kneaded Dan Mok Rin’s shoulders and head, then swiftly inserted a needle.
“Keep your eyes closed and breathe steadily.”
Dan Mok Rin shut her eyes.
“Hoo…”
Shin Ui focused his concentration.
At that instant, Yin Qi gathered at the needle’s tip, and a cold frost began to form.
What? Qi Technique…?
Cheon Hui studied Shin Ui closely.
The remarkable Qi Technique woven into his deft hand movements flowed from the needle embedded in Dan Mok Rin’s body, stimulating her blood meridians and organs to move with renewed vigor.
Time passed in silence.
Swish!
Shin Ui withdrew the needle.
The frost-covered needle released a cold mist, gleaming pristine white.
It was the Yin Qi still lingering in her body.
Shin Ui flicked away the frozen needle while wrinkling his brow deeply.
“Tsk! You haven’t been managing yourself properly these past few days!”
Dan Mok Rin, now alert, looked troubled.
“I’ve been busy recently…”
“Never mind. I’ve purged the stagnant Yin Qi, so if you manage your body well from now on, that should suffice. Still, this alone isn’t enough—come find me later and receive acupuncture treatment from time to time.”
“Is that… truly all right?”
“I prefer to finish what I’ve started properly. It puts my mind at ease.”
Dan Mok Rin’s expression brightened.
Receiving treatment from Shin Ui was like plucking a star from the heavens.
And now he would do it intermittently!
“Thank you so much.”
Dan Mok Rin bowed her head with profound gratitude.
“There’s no need to make a fuss over something so trivial.”
Shin Ui spoke dismissively, but the beads of sweat dotting his brow—which he wiped away with his sleeve—betrayed how taxing the effort had been.
After that, he turned toward Cheon Hui, standing at a distance, with a confident expression.
“So, what do you think? Don’t you want to learn?”
The union of Qi Technique and medicine.
‘It is interesting.’
But that was all.
Cheon Hui, who had already demonstrated far greater things, felt no excitement whatsoever.
“No, thank you. I’m busy today.”
Shin Ui’s face twisted at hearing the exact same response as before.
“Didn’t you say you’d learn!”
“I said I would learn when I had spare time.”
“Which is why—”
“I need to go to the Maehwa Seven Pavilions.”
“What? The Maehwa Seven Pavilions…?”
In that instant, Shin Ui’s face flushed crimson.
“Didn’t you say that very thing before!”
“That was then. This is now.”
“……You scoundrel! Again!”
Cheon Hui finally lost patience with the erupting Shin Ui and took off in a single bound, striking the ground hard as he ran.
Watching Cheon Hui grow smaller in the distance, Shin Ui stomped his feet and shouted after him.
“You thundering fool! Get back here!”

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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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