Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 113

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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 113
“Brother! I’ve brought the tea!”
Jong Hyeon set the teacup down before Cheon Hui, then looked up at him with eager, gleaming eyes, waiting for orders like an obedient dog.
“You can go now.”
Cheon Hui’s words made Jong Hyeon flinch.
“Is there nothing else you require?”
“Nothing in particular.”
Jong Hyeon, who had been drooping, suddenly brightened, as if remembering something.
“What about a snack, then?”
“A snack?”
“Yes! Master brought back some candied fruits from the market this time.”
“Those are for you to eat, aren’t they?”
“Well, that’s true, but……”
Jong Hyeon clenched both fists and fixed his gaze directly on Cheon Hui.
“I’d like to eat them together with you.”
“Is that so? Then go ahead.”
“Really? You mean it?”
“If you’d rather not, forget it.”
“No, no! I’ll go fetch them right away!”
Fearing Cheon Hui might refuse again, Jong Hyeon bolted from the room in haste.
“How much longer will he keep this up?”
Cheon Hui watched Jong Hyeon’s figure disappear as the door closed, then sipped his tea.
The sparring match from four days ago.
After gaining some insight from that bout, Jong Hyeon had taken to calling Cheon Hui his sworn brother and willingly handled any difficult task.
Of course, Cheon Hui paid no mind to such declarations and ignored them altogether.
‘Ha, this is rather amusing.’
Once Ha U Jin began joining in as well, Jong Hyeon’s behavior grew ever more audacious.
“I should leave soon.”
As time passed and both Jong Hyeon and Ha U Jin grew increasingly clingy, Cheon Hui found himself wondering when he might depart the Jongnam Sect.
‘They say even a tiger will come if you speak its name.’
Knock. Knock.
“May I enter?”
Ha U Jin happened to visit at that very moment.
“Come in.”
Ha U Jin entered and handed Cheon Hui a scroll he’d been holding.
“A letter has come for you.”
“For me?”
Cheon Hui tilted his head in confusion.
His presence at the Jongnam Sect was unknown to anyone.
‘Who could it be……’
The moment he received the scroll, he knew exactly who had sent it.
The pattern drawn on the scroll.
It was identical to the mark he had given to the Branch Director.
‘So they figured it out.’
Even so, the Information Network had somehow learned of his presence at the Jongnam Sect and sent word.
‘Let’s see then.’
He unrolled the scroll at once.
Inside, there was only a single character written.
And it was a welcome one.
Complete (完).
Cheon Hui smiled and looked toward Ha U Jin.
“I think I need to leave now.”
“Already?”
“There’s something I need to do.”
Ha U Jin, about to dissuade him, simply nodded with a reluctant expression at those words.
“Still, shouldn’t you at least tell the Sect Master and Jong Hyeon……”
“Could you tell them directly? I’m afraid I need to hurry.”
Ha U Jin hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Cheon Hui’s expression, gave a nod.
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“Take care on your way.”
“If we meet again, we will.”
“So be it.”
After exchanging a brief farewell with Ha U Jin, Cheon Hui departed the Jongnam Sect without delay.
Whoosh—whoosh—
Deploying the Cheong Un Shin Beop, renowned as the swiftest technique among the Huashan Sect’s martial methods, Cheon Hui arrived at the Hao Moon branch in Shenxi.
‘He came out himself.’
Spotting the Branch Director of Shenxi waiting at the entrance, Cheon Hui came to a halt before him.
“……!”
The Branch Director appeared startled by Cheon Hui’s sudden appearance, but swiftly composed himself and offered a gentle smile.
“We have been expecting you.”
The Branch Director exchanged formal greetings and then guided him inside.
He withdrew a sheet of paper from his robe.
“What is written here details the identities of those who occupied the inn. And…….”
The Branch Director produced a thick dossier from his sleeve and held it before him.
“This dossier contains information regarding them.”
“You work quickly.”
Cheon Hui spoke with genuine admiration.
For Hao Moon to gather intelligence in merely two days surpassed the information networks of most martial sects.
“You are too kind.”
Cheon Hui examined the paper and dossier in turn, then opened his mouth.
“The fact that you mention them separately suggests they carry different prices, I presume?”
The Branch Director nodded.
“The paper has already been paid for in advance, but this dossier carries a considerable price.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes narrowed.
The advance payment itself had been quite expensive.
If the dossier’s price was incomparable to that, it surely meant they were no ordinary sect.
“How much?”
“One Gold Token.”
Cheon Hui’s brow furrowed.
It was a higher price than he had anticipated.
One Gold Token was equivalent to roughly half a year’s operating expenses for a major sect.
‘Hmm, I wonder if I can borrow it on the Gold Token.’
Cheon Hui recalled the Gold Token he had received from the proprietor of the Bi Poong Trading Company.
Just as he was about to sink into deliberation—
“If payment is a concern, might you consider a trade instead?”
“A trade? What do you mean?”
“You would sell me information.”
“I have nothing worth selling.”
“No. You do.”
“What would that be?”
In that instant, the Branch Director’s eyes grew sharp.
As if he had been waiting for this very moment, he saw through Cheon Hui entirely and spoke.
“Your Dao Name, Master.”
“My name?”
Cheon Hui stroked his chin.
‘If it’s my name, wouldn’t they already know it?’
An organization that gathered information so swiftly would surely have uncovered his identity by now.
Yet to speak in such a manner…….
‘Ah, I see.’
The corners of Cheon Hui’s mouth twisted upward.
There was only one thing this man desired.
A connection.
Unable to provide information freely, he was proposing to forge a bond through the transaction of purchasing his name.
“It seems you’ve grasped quite a bit about me.”
“Only the tip of the iceberg, I assure you.”
“Yet you make such an offer nonetheless?”
“Because I am certain you are no ordinary person, Master.”
“Your eye for talent is sharp.”
The Branch Director’s eyes gleamed.
Cheon Hui’s unwillingness to deny, and the calm certainty in his words, planted deep conviction in the Branch Director.
“My eyes played no small part in my rise from insignificance to Branch Director of Shenxi.”
“Is that so?”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment in silence.
“I am Cheon Hui.”
Cheon Hui met the Branch Director’s eyes and revealed his Dao Name.
The Branch Director showed no surprise, as if he’d already known, and smiled faintly as he spoke.
“It is an honor to hear the great master’s illustrious name.”
The Branch Director handed Cheon Hui papers and a thick dossier along with his words.
“Should you ever need our services again in the future, I hope you will visit our branch. We will deliver information more reliably and swiftly than Gae Bang.”
“More than Gae Bang? You’re confident of that?”
“Our Hao Moon gathers all manner of information in this world.”
“Still, Gae Bang has an enormous number of operatives.”
At Cheon Hui’s remark, the Branch Director offered a meaningful smile.
“Hao Moon is no mere shadow, either.”
“Oh?”
Satisfied by the confidence in his words, Cheon Hui nodded in approval.
“Good. When I have need to purchase information in the future, I’ll seek out Hao Moon first.”
“Thank you.”
The Branch Director bowed his head.
Cheon Hui left him behind and departed the branch, unrolling the papers at once.
“What?”
The moment his eyes fell upon the words, his brows knitted together.
The papers listed a faction he had never once considered—something entirely unexpected.
“The Nine Dragons Gang?”
Cheon Hui tilted his head in confusion.
The Nine Dragons Gang had once been called the overlord of Lak Nam County, but now found itself pushed aside by the Gui Tian Men, relegated to second place.
‘Weren’t they part of the Murim Alliance?’
Cheon Hui dredged up the scattered information he held about the Nine Dragons Gang.
An Orthodox Sect belonging to the Murim Alliance.
And the current Gang Master, known as Gu Long Fei Huan, was said to be a master of martial technique and renowned as an expert.
Which made this strange.
“An Unorthodox Faction? But the ones in the inn reeked of Evil Qi.”
Most of those in the inn had emanated faint traces of Evil Qi beneath their killing intent.
“This has a foul odor to it.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes narrowed to slits at once.
A stench—a vile and suffocating stench.
“I need to know what this is about.”
Cheon Hui opened the dossier immediately.
The thick volume contained detailed information about the Nine Dragons Gang.
The Gang Master’s activities and the sect’s recent developments.
Not merely that.
It even recorded why the disciples of the sect had recently ventured outside their territory.
He turned through the pages, reading as he went.
Thap.
Shortly after, he closed the dossier.
“……The price was worth every coin.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes grew dark and cold.
The dossier contained not only why they had moved, but their very purpose.
In light of this, he marveled at Hao Moon’s intelligence capabilities, and in an instant understood why the Branch Director had been so confident.
Every mundane fact about the Nine Dragons Gang, down to their darkest secrets, was recorded in meticulous detail.
Information so damning that if the Gang Master were to discover it, he would cause an uproar.
And most critically—someone currently staying with the Nine Dragons Gang had commissioned the Gang Master to assassinate Prince Sohee.
“I must hurry.”
Cheon Hui drew his Internal Force to bear.
While that person still remained in the Nine Dragons Gang, he had to uncover everything about the conspirator pulling the strings.
Whoosh!
The papers and dossier, engulfed in the Sammai Jin Hwa technique, turned to ash and scattered into the sky, while Cheon Hui’s form vanished in a blur.
* * *
The Jeok Hwa Tower in Lak Nam County.
The Jeok Hwa Tower, a pleasure house built in the style of the plum blossoms from nearby Huashan, was renowned for three extraordinary attractions.
First was the Fire Wine, a premium liquor that the courtesans brewed themselves, unique to the Tower. Second were the musical performances and calligraphy displayed by courtesans skilled in both martial and artistic pursuits.
And the third was perhaps the most celebrated of all—the person who occupied the highest chamber of the Tower itself.
Any resident of Lak Nam County knew her name: Myeong Wol, the dance courtesan of Jeok Hwa Tower, who bore the title “First Beauty of Shenxi.”
It was rare for Myeong Wol to receive a guest alone—no more than a handful of times each year—and today was one of those exceptional days.
“Please, have a drink, sir.”
At the graceful lilt of Myeong Wol’s voice, the middle-aged man with thin whiskers broke into a broad grin, raising his cup high.
“Ha! With Myeong Wol pouring, even this potent Fire Wine tastes remarkably refreshing.”
“Oh, you’re such a charmer, sir.”
Myeong Wol tapped his chest playfully with her hand and covered her lips with her sleeve.
In the same moment, her eyes drifted sideways to study the man seated across from them—an older gentleman in a black and white martial robe who sat alone, ignoring the courtesans and downing his drink without ceremony.
‘What is he doing here?’
The question troubled her deeply.
And with good reason: a man dressed in black and white martial robes was the last person one would expect to find in such a place.
Gu Long Fei Huan, Gang Master of the Nine Dragons Gang.
A man utterly divorced from pleasure houses and anything connected to women.
Yet here he was, at Jeok Hwa Tower.
Accompanied by a middle-aged man she’d never seen before.
“Pour me another!”
The middle-aged man thrust his cup forward.
Myeong Wol quickly seized the bottle and poured slowly and carefully into his cup.
“Ah! Excellent, excellent! Ha ha!”
The middle-aged man reached out to pull her into an embrace.
But—
“Sir, your strength is overwhelming.”
Myeong Wol deftly slipped away.
His expression hardened in an instant.
“……Are you saying you dislike my embrace?”
“No, no, not at all, sir.”
Cold sweat had begun to bead on Myeong Wol’s forehead when—
“Honored guest, when you visit us, hearing Myeong Wol’s string performance is a particular pleasure.”
The Gang Master came to her rescue.
“Ah, that’s right! Distracted by the presence of such a distinguished gentleman, I forgot entirely that I should be demonstrating my string performance for him!”
“Mm, indeed.”
Though it was a transparent excuse, the middle-aged man seemed perfectly satisfied to hear it from so fair a beauty, nodding his head in approval.
“Then play for us.”
“Yes, sir.”
Myeong Wol caught on immediately, rose from her seat, and retrieved the guqin placed in the center of the room, settling it across her lap.
From within her sleeves emerged delicate, graceful hands.
Her pale fingers moved slowly across the strings.
Ting—ting—
Two brief notes.
Yet with just those two sounds, the bustling noise of Jeok Hwa Tower fell into profound silence.
It was not merely this chamber.
The sound drifted down to the floors below, and the courtesans who had been performing naturally ceased their playing, their ears pricked forward.
To abruptly stop a performance would ordinarily be cause for a guest’s displeasure, yet no one harbored such a thought.
The string melody that had reached their ears had captivated them entirely.
When the brief performance ended—
Ting—
The final note lingered in the air with profound resonance, and Myeong Wol smiled softly.
“How was it?”
The middle-aged man came back to himself.
“Remarkable playing! Ha, with such skill, one might even say fit for the imperial…. Ahem.”
Myeong Wol’s eyes widened.
‘The imperial court? Then this middle-aged man is…?’
It was then.
‘Forget what you just heard.’
A voice, frigid as ice, struck directly into her mind.
‘The… the Gang Master?’
She felt the presence behind her but did not dare turn to look.
He simply tried to lower his head, desperate to hide the way his complexion had turned ashen.
That was when Gu Long Fei Huan rose to his feet.
“Your Excellency, it’s time we were going.”
“Already?”
The Middle-aged Man spoke with evident reluctance.
“Time is short.”
But Gu Long Fei Huan’s tone brooked no argument.
“And he has even less time to wait, does he not?”
At Gu Long Fei Huan’s words, the Middle-aged Man clicked his tongue in disappointment and stood.
“Fair enough.”
As the two made ready to depart, the courtesans beside Gu Long Fei Huan and Myeong Wol hastened to bid them farewell.
“Go safely.”
“We’ll see you next time.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Of course! Come back and visit us again soon!”
The Middle-aged Man laughed loudly, his reddened nose prominent, and took his leave, with Gu Long Fei Huan following silently behind him.
Moments later, the sound of their footsteps descending the stairs faded, and Myeong Wol and the other courtesans exhaled in relief.
“That was close.”
At Myeong Wol’s words, Cheong Hwa, who had stood to Gu Long Fei Huan’s left, pressed a hand to her chest as her heart still hammered wildly.
“I was truly startled! Who could have imagined that Gu Long Fei Huan himself would visit our pleasure house?”
“There were no slip-ups?”
“No.”
“No.”
As both answered swiftly, Jeok Hwa, who had stood to Gu Long Fei Huan’s right, posed a question.
“But who was that Middle-aged Man?”
“We’ll have to find out now.”
Myeong Wol arched her eyebrows.
“Go at once and tell the Hao Moon disciples to learn that man’s identity.”

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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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