Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 141

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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 141
“This is fine.”
Cheon Hui smiled softly as he tilted his cup.
The liquor Yang Jo Gang had brought was quite clean, flowing smoothly down his throat.
“I know little of spirits, but I’m told the Administrator went to considerable lengths to procure this one.”
Yang Jo Gang, likewise raising his cup, regarded Cheon Hui with a steady gaze.
“Has the Four Demons come to this clan?”
“I heard just now.”
“And yet you remain at ease.”
“Would you prefer I panic instead?”
Cheon Hui chuckled, a hint of mischief in his voice.
“Only now you mention it?”
Yang Jo Gang let out a low laugh as well.
After a moment, he spoke again, his tone measured.
“Do you know why they’ve come?”
“To find me, surely.”
“You grasp the matter well.”
“What else could it be? If they meant to wage war against the Shinchang Yang Clan, they wouldn’t have slipped in so quietly.”
Surprise flickered across Yang Jo Gang’s eyes.
“You’re sharper than I expected.”
“Shouldn’t that be obvious? If I couldn’t see that much, I’d deserve to bite my own tongue and perish.”
“Yet in this world, countless fools fail to grasp even such obvious things. Some, for instance, would dare to stand alone against a great sect.”
Yang Jo Gang’s gaze pierced through Cheon Hui.
It was a look almost of reproach.
But Cheon Hui, the subject of this scrutiny, brushed it off lightly without concern.
“That’s because it’s a fight I can win.”
“You speak with confidence.”
Yang Jo Gang gave a hollow laugh.
“But that’s not the real matter. Let’s set it aside for now…….”
Yang Jo Gang murmured quietly, then raised his cup slowly. After drinking, he spoke.
“They demanded that I hand you over.”
“And you refused?”
Did you already know?”
“I could feel it in the rejection you gave off.”
“You could feel…….”
Yang Jo Gang’s eyes widened, then narrowed.
‘So he’s more skilled than I thought.’
Yang Jo Gang had just realized his earlier concern had been unnecessary.
“There wasn’t really any need for that.”
Cheon Hui spoke as if disappointed.
He would have preferred to fight.
More precisely, he wanted to dispose of them quickly.
‘I’m growing weary of waiting.’
Waiting for their attack was a matter of days.
He had no intention of waiting much longer.
But seeking out the Il Wol Mun himself seemed even more troublesome.
Yang Jo Gang found this attitude baffling, yet he smirked and drank again.
“……You are truly unusual.”
With those words, he poured more liquor.
His face wavered in the transparent spirit that filled the cup.
Soon he asked Cheon Hui a question.
“……They say you’ve inherited the teachings of the Sa Hwang Jeon. Is that true?”
“The teachings of the Sa Hwang Jeon……?”
Cheon Hui paused a moment, thinking.
‘Sa Hwang……? Ah, the Blood Demon Emperor!’
Cheon Hui replied, having just made the connection.
“I have mastered the Janbak Jan Hyeol Jo.”
“The Janbak Jan Hyeol Jo?”
Yang Jo Gang’s brow furrowed.
“……I see.”
Cheon Hui let out a small laugh as he watched Yang Jo Gang, whose brow was creased with wrinkles, and spoke.
“Does it feel wrong, practicing an Evil Faction technique?”
“Wrong? No. It’s just strange to see martial arts that have fallen out of use. That’s all.”
“Still, they’re Evil Faction techniques.”
“What does it matter whether you follow the Sa Hwang Jeon or belong to the Evil Faction? Even the backbone of the Orthodox Sect—the Nine Major Sects and the Eight Great Clans—have fractured and now regard each other as enemies.”
Yang Jo Gang let out a quiet chuckle.
“Forget Orthodox, forget Evil—what matters most right now is that you saved my daughter. Isn’t that the real issue?”
“You’re not curious about who I am?”
“I am curious.”
Yang Jo Gang narrowed one eye.
“So you’ll tell me?”
“No.”
“Then why ask?”
Yang Jo Gang grumbled but didn’t press further.
‘Interesting. I thought he’d at least demand to know my identity, but he’s letting it go.’
Just as Cheon Hui was about to smile at this surprisingly easygoing response—
“Still, the Il Wol Mun won’t give up. They’ll keep coming for you. By now, they’re probably waiting outside for you to step out.”
Yang Jo Gang spoke with a grave expression.
“That would be expected.”
Cheon Hui shrugged.
It was inevitable—the established course of things.
With the Il Wol Mun, there was no going back. He’d already made an enemy of them beyond reconciliation.
Until one side died or the Il Wol Mun faced complete destruction, it would never end.
“So what will you do now? If you stay in this residence, I can protect you. But if you leave, I can help for a few days at most—I can’t be there for you every single day.”
Yang Jo Gang’s expression grew serious.
In truth, he wanted to keep helping.
Wasn’t Cheon Hui the savior of Yang Se Ryeong?
But he was the patriarch of the Shinchang Yang Clan before he was a father.
Could he really assign clan members to guard even a benefactor indefinitely?
As patriarch, it was something he shouldn’t do.
‘……Then that’s the only way.’
A gleam kindled in Yang Jo Gang’s eyes.
Fortunately, there was one option.
But accepting it or not was entirely the other person’s choice.
Soon he voiced it.
“So how about this instead?”
“What?”
“Join this clan. Won’t you?”
Cheon Hui doubted his ears.
What? Join where?
“Join the Shinchang Yang Clan?”
“That’s right.”
Seeing Cheon Hui’s look of pure bewilderment, Yang Jo Gang explained.
“If you become a member of this clan, I can help you whenever you leave—and the Il Wol Mun won’t dare attack you so carelessly. Ah!”
Yang Jo Gang, who had been speaking gravely, suddenly caught himself and hurried to add more.
“Ah! Of course! Don’t get the wrong idea! I’m asking if you’d be willing to become a guest of this clan. As for anything between you and my Se Ryeong…!”
He spoke with emphasis on certain words, his eyes wide as he cried out.
“Don’t even dream of it!”
“I wasn’t thinking anything like that.”
“What? You weren’t thinking? Are you saying my Se Ryeong doesn’t interest you?”
What on earth was he saying now?
Meanwhile, Yang Jo Gang continued to sputter indignantly.
“She’s only been confined to this residence for a few years. If she were to go to Gansu now, she’d be hailed as the Foremost Beauty of Gansu.”
Why was he acting like this?
Cheon Hui watched Yang Jo Gang waving his arms about and laying into his passionate defense, utterly speechless.
A moment ago he was saying not to even dream of it, and now he was angry that Cheon Hui wasn’t interested. Where was the logic?
Which way was he supposed to go?
“……No! What does being the Foremost Beauty of Gansu matter! She’s destined to be the Foremost Beauty of All Under Heaven…!”
As Yang Jo Gang continued to boast about his daughter, Cheon Hui simply shook his head.
“Either way, I’ll have to decline that offer.”
Yang Jo Gang’s words halted at the unexpected refusal, and his brow drew tight.
“Isn’t it a sound proposal for you as well?”
His eyes deepened.
“Or do you have somewhere to return to?”
‘Somewhere to return to?’
In that moment, the Huashan Sect and its disciples flickered across Cheon Hui’s mind before swiftly dissolving.
A faint laugh escaped him.
To think he’d pictured Huashan first at the mention of a place to return to—not the Tianma Divine Sect.
His gaze turned eastward.
‘……Perhaps it’s time to go.’
Meanwhile, Yang Jo Gang’s eyes widened.
In that fleeting instant, he had caught a smile bloom and fade at the corner of Cheon Hui’s mouth.
“Ha-ha-ha. I’ve done something foolish, haven’t I?”
He raised his cup with a hearty laugh.
“Forget my proposal.”
Cheon Hui lifted his own cup in response.
“That was already my intention.”
* * *
The next morning, Yang Se Ryeong knocked on the door of the Separate Residence as she always did.
“Great Hero, breakfast is prepared.”
……
Ordinarily, an answer would have come.
But today, strangely, there was only silence from within—not a word in response.
“Great Hero……?”
Yang Se Ryeong tilted her head, puzzlement crossing her face as she knocked again.
Yet again, nothing answered her.
“Could it be……?”
Sensing something amiss at last, she pushed the door open in haste.
At that same moment, she stood transfixed.
Upon opening the door, what greeted her was not Cheon Hui leisurely sipping tea as always, but an empty chamber.
“G-Great Hero?!”
By the time she had regained her senses and begun searching the room and its surroundings—
“If I’m heading to Qinghai City, it should all be finished by then.”
Cheon Hui, whom she was desperately seeking, had long since departed the Shinchang Yang Clan and was already walking the main road toward Qinghai City.
‘With this much time having passed, it would be strange if it weren’t finished.’
Dozens of days had gone by since he’d parted from his companions.
He’d had more than enough time to have already arrived in Qinghai City long ago.
Cheon Hui quickened his pace slightly.
With each step he took, the two swords hung at his waist swayed noticeably.
‘But first, I need to deal with those bastards.’
Cheon Hui’s lips twisted.
In the same breath, he altered course and slipped into a nameless mountain path.
After walking for roughly an hour—
Stop.
Cheon Hui came to a halt.
“This distance should be sufficient…….”
He then turned his head and spoke.
“Why don’t you come out now?”
The moment those words left his lips, two figures emerged.
They were none other than Do Ol and Goong Ki, who had visited the Shinchang Yang Clan the day before.
The diminutive Do Ol stepped forward with a flash of his narrowed eyes.
“You knew we were here, yet you came this way directly?”
“When you’re radiating killing intent so openly, it’d be stranger not to notice.”
At those words, Goong Ki smiled.
“A charming child, isn’t he?”
“That fool you mean?”
“The innocence unmarred by the stains of Kangho—don’t you find it delightful?”
“Innocence, my foot. That’s just foolishness.”
As Cheon Hui watched the two exchange their pointless words, he scratched his ear and spoke up.
“Stop babbling and come on.”
Do Ol and Goong Ki let out a quiet laugh.
From their perspective as seasoned figures of the Gangho, Cheon Hui’s behavior looked like the reckless confidence of a child.
“Do you even know who the leader is before spouting such nonsense?”
Do Ol asked with a sneer.
“Hmm? Aren’t you the Four Demons?”
Cheon Hui answered in a lazy tone.
“Ha ha ha! You know we’re the Four Demons and still carry yourself like that…….”
Do Ol burst into raucous laughter.
The Four Demons was a name that reigned over the current Gangho in terror.
Yet here was such a reaction.
He had come out of curiosity to see the man who had brought down Hondon, but this one was proving far more entertaining than he had anticipated.
“I never thought you’d be this amusing.”
Do Ol radiated killing intent.
In that instant, the grass around them trembled.
Following that, birds resting on the branches took flight in panic, soaring high into the sky.
“If I may also…”
Goong Ki moved to take her position beside him.
“Get lost. This one is mine.”
Do Ol warned, spreading killing intent around him.
“If you think you’re going to interfere, you’ll have to stake your life against me first.”
It was a threat more than a warning.
“He brought down Hondon.”
Goong Ki did not back away.
“So? You want to join forces with me?”
“That’s right.”
“I’d sooner bite off my own tongue and die than combine forces with the likes of you.”
While the two continued their serious exchange.
“How long are you two going to keep talking?”
Seeing that the conversation showed signs of dragging on, Cheon Hui finally lost patience and spoke up.
“Whether it’s just you or both of you doesn’t matter—so come on. Or should I come to you first?”
At his next words, tendons flexed across both their foreheads, and their expressions twisted sharply.
“I’ll be the first to face you, so step aside.”
“……If it becomes dangerous, I’ll step in.”
“You think the leader will be in danger?”
“That’s something we can’t know for certain.”
Do Ol turned his head abruptly.
Then he drew his sword cleanly from its ornate scabbard at his waist.
‘Built more for thrusting than cutting,’ Cheon Hui observed.
Cheon Hui studied the blade he had drawn.
The blade was remarkably narrow.
At that moment, Do Ol pointed at Cheon Hui with the tip of his slender sword and spoke coldly.
“Draw your weapon as well.”
“There doesn’t seem to be much need, but if you insist…….”
The moment he reached for the Baek Ryeon Geom.
Screeeech!
The Ma Geom, which had been quiet until now, could no longer contain itself and released Demonic Energy.
‘Hmm? You want me to draw you?’
The Demonic Energy rippled in response.
‘This might be interesting after all.’
Cheon Hui’s lips twisted into a smile.
He was spreading the Sa Gong to conceal his identity, but adding Demonic Energy to the mix was manageable.
Besides, he had been thinking of delaying his visit to the Il Wol Mun anyway, and this disturbance was perfectly timed.
His hand, which had been reaching for the Baek Ryeon Geom, twisted instead, and he slowly grasped the hilt of the Ma Geom.
And as he drew the blade.
Screeeech!
Dense Demonic Energy poured forth from the sword.
As if announcing its emergence into the world at last, the Demonic Energy spread in all directions, devouring the very space around it.
“……!”
“What is that!”
Faced directly with such vile Demonic Energy, Do Ol and Goong Ki found themselves instinctively stepping backward, their eyes wide open.
A darkness that seemed to swallow even the sunlight pouring down from above.
The moment they witnessed that darkness, both their hearts raced and their breathing quickened.
It could be no other way.
The darkness that figure was radiating now—it was the most alien and destructive Demonic Energy in all Under Heaven!
“Demonic Energy……?!”
“Why would Demonic Energy be in Zhongyuan?”

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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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