Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 175

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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 175
“Chief Commander?”
Cheon Hui’s brow furrowed.
He’d come because the Sect Master had called him urgently, only to find himself saddled with a tiresome appointment.
“You said before you wouldn’t do this.”
“I know, and I apologize. But right now, you’re the only one I can entrust with this.”
The Sect Master spoke with genuine urgency.
He had begun preparing the Armed Forces Unit based on the growth of the second-generation disciples, but truthfully, that plan was meant to unfold at least a year from now.
The second-generation disciples had grown, yes, but their numbers hadn’t increased proportionally.
Yet the failure of a joint operation and injury to the Master of Wulian Pavilion had made the Armed Forces Unit feel suddenly necessary, forcing the timeline forward.
Rushing it ahead might have been premature.
No—it definitely was premature.
But there was no choice.
The sect had only just begun to soar; they couldn’t afford to have their wings snapped and fall back down.
“But why me?”
Cheon Hui made no effort to hide his reluctance.
“Wouldn’t it be better for someone of higher rank than a mere disciple like myself to hold such an important position?”
“That would ordinarily be so, but…”
The Sect Master gave a wry smile.
At that meeting, when he’d announced Cheon Hui’s appointment as Chief Commander, most of the elders—save for a few—had strongly objected.
“How can such a weighty post be entrusted to a first-generation disciple?”
“The other Nine Factions will surely mock us!”
“I agree. If we’re talking about commanders of three separate units, I understand, but Chief Commander? Isn’t that overstepping?”
Most had echoed Cheon Hui’s own words.
But the Sect Master had brushed aside their objections and pressed forward with his decision.
His reason was singular.
“How else will the sect grow stronger? For my disciples—for all of you—to become truly strong, we need his abilities.”
The Sect Master fixed Cheon Hui with a steady gaze.
The Armed Forces Unit, whatever its name, existed fundamentally to foster the disciples’ growth and safety.
And there was no one else suited for that role but Cheon Hui.
He possessed both martial and scholarly excellence, and the gift of command besides.
And when one considered the remarkable progress of disciples who had studied under him…
‘Things will be different this time.’
Cheon Hui clicked his tongue softly.
‘Well, that much is true.’
Seeing the shift in Cheon Hui’s expression, the Sect Master added words calculated to tempt him.
“The purpose of forming the Armed Forces Unit is, above all else, the growth of our disciples. I ask only that you lay that foundation. After that, you may step down whenever you wish.”
“Whenever I wish?”
It was hard to believe.
The Huashan Sect’s elders were known for their rigidity and orthodoxy.
Cheon Hui asked with evident skepticism.
“Is that even possible? No matter what, the other elders surely wouldn’t let someone simply abandon such a position.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll handle the elders however necessary.”
The Sect Master spoke with firm resolve.
At present, Cheon Hui’s presence was the single most crucial element in establishing the Armed Forces Unit.
That was why he had to install him as Chief Commander, and so the Sect Master had made his proposal by eliminating everything Cheon Hui disliked.
Even if it meant overruling the elders’ opinions.
And that approach had begun to sway the heart of Cheon Hui, who had initially recoiled from the idea.
“Hmm. Merely lay the foundation, you say…”
Cheon Hui stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The proposal was actually quite reasonable.
In fact, it might work out rather well.
The Huashan Sect was weaker than he’d hoped, which was why he’d wanted to accelerate their growth.
If he became Chief Commander of the Armed Forces Unit, he could train everyone at once.
And he could step down whenever he wished.
It was a proposal without downside.
‘Though it will certainly be troublesome in the meantime.’
Cheon Hui’s brow twitched slightly.
There was an enormous difference between teaching three people and teaching dozens.
After a moment’s thought, Cheon Hui finally spoke.
“Then we’ll proceed that way.”
“Much obliged.”
At Cheon Hui’s affirmative answer, the Sect Master’s expression grew easier, and he smiled.
“But in exchange, I’ll need full authority over everything—from selecting each Unit Commander of the Armed Forces Unit to their training.”
Cheon Hui appended the condition.
“Of course that goes without saying.”
The Sect Master nodded.
From the moment he’d considered the position of Chief Commander, he’d already accounted for that much.
But it didn’t end there.
“And from now on, don’t interfere with anything I do regarding the Armed Forces Unit.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes grew cold and sharp.
“No matter what I do.”
* * *
On Samong Field, the Maehwa Sword Masters and second-generation disciples stood in disarray.
“What is this about?”
“Why have we all suddenly been called together?”
Those gathered felt uneasy.
After the failure of the joint operation, calling everyone suddenly meant this was no ordinary matter—they sensed it instinctively.
That was when it happened.
The Sect Master arrived with several Elders, walking slowly to stand before them.
“Is everyone here?”
The Sect Master’s voice fell calm and measured.
Following that, the Elders lined up behind the Sect Master, and the atmosphere turned solemn.
Overwhelmed by that gravity, all the disciples straightened their spines and held their breath.
The Sect Master regarded them with an approving expression and began to speak.
“You must be curious why I’ve called you all to Samong Field so suddenly.”
Heads nodded here and there. At the same time, shadow fell across their faces.
The Sect Master and the Elders read the anxiety in their expressions and smiled wryly.
But that smile faded quickly; the Sect Master erased it and swept his gaze across the disciples once more.
Then, channeling his inner power into his words, he spoke.
“This time, our sect intends to establish a new Armed Forces Unit. There will be three units in total, each called the Martial Flourish Unit, the Flying Sword Unit, and the Flower Spirit Unit.”
“An Armed Forces Unit?”
“Three of them, no less?”
The disciples stirred.
Their hearts began to thunder.
What could it mean that he spoke these words here, now?
Several of them swallowed hard.
The Sect Master continued calmly.
“And the members who will belong to this Armed Forces Unit are none other than you.”
The disciples caught their breath.
Considering the current state of the Huashan Sect, the Sect Master’s words weighed all the more heavily upon them.
The Sect Master fixed his gaze upon the tense disciples and parted his lips.
“You must have many questions. But such matters will be explained by the one appointed as Chief Commander this time, so ask him instead.”
When curiosity bloomed on every face.
“Then allow me to introduce the temporary Chief Commander who will organize this Armed Forces Unit.”
As he spoke, the Sect Master turned his head.
Every eye moved as if drawn, following his gaze.
Footstep—footstep—
Those who saw the figure that appeared with those sounds were bewildered.
“An immortal?”
“Master Cheon Hui?”
“Why would Master be…?”
Cheon Hui, standing beside the Sect Master, smiled faintly as he watched the confused disciples.
“All familiar faces.”
At Cheon Hui’s words, the disciples flinched.
“I’ve ended up taking on the role of Chief Commander. Since I’m only laying the groundwork and will step down later anyway, there’s no need to worry too much.”
When Cheon Hui openly stated he would relinquish the position later, not only the disciples but even the Elders stirred with great commotion.
“Sect Master, what is this?”
“What does that even mean…?”
“Surely it’s not truly temporary.”
The Sect Master dismissed their doubts outright.
“Let’s see it first.”
……
Some of the Elders wanted to say something, but they closed their mouths at the Sect Master’s words.
Since the Sect Master himself, along with the Wulian Pavilion’s master, Hyeon Ryeo, and Hyeon Cheong, had all actively pushed for Cheon Hui, it was already decided.
Instead, they swallowed their discontent and anger in silence.
‘How can he be so lacking in responsibility.’
‘This is why you shouldn’t put a young boy in such a heavy position…….’
‘Martial prowess and character are different things, yet the Sect Master seems to have forgotten that.’
Meanwhile, Cheon Hui continued with what he had to say, regardless of whether they grew agitated or not.
“Well, for now, I’m thinking of selecting three Unit Commanders first…….”
The disciples tensed at once.
Selecting Unit Commanders was no ordinary matter.
The Maehwa Sword Masters, in particular, grew even more alert.
They were confident that the Unit Commanders would be chosen from among themselves, the most martial of all.
“It’d be best to do it now, wouldn’t it?”
As Cheon Hui spoke, everyone tensed.
Most of them were steadying their breath, thinking it would surely be decided through a martial competition.
“Then from now on, you fight each other.”
An unexpected statement rang out.
“What?”
“I’m sorry……?”
Cheon Hui looked at the bewildered disciples, then continued in a cold tone.
“The last three standing here will become the Unit Commanders of the Armed Forces Unit.”
The disciples stirred with unease.
Normally, it was customary to test skill through a martial competition.
But to suddenly tell them to just fight like this.
The confusion wasn’t limited to the disciples alone.
“……Is this what you mean by the strongest survives.”
“But shouldn’t we consider character when selecting Unit Commanders?”
“This is the Armed Forces Unit. Nothing is more important than martial prowess.”
“Even so, deciding Unit Commanders in such a rough-and-tumble manner…….”
“In the Murim Alliance, the Unit Commanders are selected through martial competitions and trials. Yet how can you choose by such a method……”
The Elders’ expressions diverged sharply.
Though some voiced their support, the negative reaction was still the majority.
‘Words alone won’t work, it seems.’
Watching the surrounding reactions, Cheon Hui shifted his gaze toward Jeok Geom and Seol Ran.
And he sent a sound transmission.
‘Move.’
The two, who had already heard about this in the morning, nodded and set themselves in motion.
Shing—
The two drew their swords.
“Jeok Geom, you too?”
“And Seol Ran?”
The disciples flinched.
Jeok Geom and Seol Ran, seeing their reaction, exchanged fist salutes with each other and spoke.
“I look forward to this. Senior.”
“I look forward to this. Senior Sister.”
The two faced each other first.
It was like the sparring matches they did every day before this.
But now, unlike the many martial competitions of the past, their very mindset was different.
Especially for Jeok Geom.
‘Can I win?’
He had watched Seol Ran’s growth most closely over the past five days, and he swallowed hard against the tension.
Seol Ran felt the same way.
‘What incredible momentum. Is this what he becomes when he’s fully absorbed the Baekgeum Pill’s power.’
Unknown to Jeok Geom, Seol Ran’s eyes now gleamed at the aura he was radiating.
“Then.”
“Then.”
The moment the two uttered the same word.
Clang!
The metallic sound burst forth like an energy blast.
The disciples nearby startled at the shockwave, flinching backward.
It was then that Cheon Hui spoke again.
“Oh, and one more thing—from now on, anyone who falls first or doesn’t fight properly will have extra training sessions with me later.”
His voice was soft.
But it pierced their ears, swallowing the sharp metallic ring beneath it.
At the same time, a chill ran through them.
‘Fall first and you’re done for!’
‘What kind of hell is he planning to put us through?’
Just as the nightmares of An Hyang Dan and the body-transformation technique flickered through their minds—
“Ha-ha-ha! That’s my teacher for you!”
Cheon Hyang burst out laughing.
Whatever amused her so greatly, she laughed until tears streamed down her face, then drew her sword.
She pointed at Jeok Geom and Seol Ran.
“But do we really have to do martial matches like that?”
“Why would you do such a thing? It’s not as if the enemy will grant us one-on-one duels.”
Cheon Hui’s lips twisted into a smile.
“Ah! So that’s why the joint operation ended in failure and you had to retreat.”
The Maehwa Sword Masters went rigid.
They never imagined he would bring up the joint operation.
Cheon Hyang’s expression hardened as well.
She too had participated in the joint operation, but in the end they had been routed and forced to withdraw.
“What you’re saying, teacher, is that we shouldn’t choose our methods?”
Cheon Hui clapped his hands and spoke.
“Exactly! And as expected, you understand me best, teacher.”
“Heh-heh. Is that so? Fine.”
Cheon Hyang immediately drew up her inner power.
“Since the Unit Commander is here watching, I’ll run wild exactly as you wish.”
With those words, she radiated her momentum outward.
But it wasn’t just her.
Those who had felt the threat of death in Cheon Hui’s words sharpened their guard completely.
And that atmosphere spread gradually, slowly coloring all of Samong Field.
Soon one by one, they drew their blades.
Clang! Screech!
The sound of clashing steel echoed from all directions.
“Forgive me, teacher! But I have to survive too, don’t I?”
“Ugh! I-I have to make it out alive too!”
“T-teacher!”
“My apologies!”
The disciples tangled together in combat.
Soon Samong Field was filled with fighting, every last one of them engaged—
“Too honorable.”
Cheon Hui watched with a disapproving gaze.
Perhaps it was because their nature was orthodox.
They fought one-on-one without resorting to coordinated attacks or ambushes.
“I wanted real combat, not this.”
Just as he was furrowing his brow—
“Ah!”
Suddenly struck by a good idea, Cheon Hui grinned wickedly.
Then he crouched down and picked up the small pebbles scattered across the ground.
“If it doesn’t look like real combat, I’ll just make it real combat myself.”
As he spoke, he flicked his fingers.
Whoosh!
In an instant, dozens of pebbles shot through the spaces between the fighting disciples.
Thwack! Thwack!
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
Groans erupted from all around.
And that was only the beginning.
In particular, he subtly struck several of their blades mid-swing, twisting their trajectories elsewhere entirely.
“Gasp!”
“……?!”
A few of them, caught off-guard by sudden attacks from an unknown direction, flinched and dodged away.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, no! I didn’t do that! My blade suddenly received an impact, and……”
Those who had been attacking were equally bewildered. Their blade trajectories had suddenly twisted without warning.
“Someone just touched my sword……”
“It must be a surprise attack……”
As several of them rushed to clarify the misunderstanding through hurried dialogue.
“That won’t do,” Cheon Hui muttered.
He flicked another stone.
Bang! Bang!
“Hey! Another attack? Fine then, let’s see who dies first!”
“What are you saying? You were the one who just struck my head from behind! I’m telling you I didn’t do it, and you’re throwing a fit and doing this?”
Under Cheon Hui’s relentless barrage of stones, the disciples began to distrust one another.
“Come on, all of you! Did you really think I’d just collapse from a sneak attack?”
“The guilty party always hollers first! So it was you!”
“Argh! Come at me!”
And so, before long, they tangled into a chaotic brawl across Samong Field.
“There we go.”
Looking down at the now-chaotic Samong Field, Cheon Hui smiled with satisfaction, folding his arms across his chest.
“Now this is worth watching.”

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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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