Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 177

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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 177
“H-huff, huff! Grand Elder, c-couldn’t we just take a carriage?”
Cheon Yi Gae looked down at Jin Gae and furrowed his brow.
“An information agent this frail? Tsk, tsk.”
Cheon Yi Gae clicked his tongue.
While the Gae Bang placed less emphasis on martial arts than the other Nine Factions and One Gang, they did not ignore it entirely.
Gathering information inevitably led to conflict in Kangho, and overcoming such encounters ultimately required genuine martial prowess.
Cheon Yi Gae spoke, his brow still furrowed.
“I’ve heard from the Leader that you’re the finest information agent among those in the Gae Bang. But with that level of skill, you’d be fortunate to avoid assassination—let alone become the Leader.”
“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
Jin Gae pushed out his lips in protest.
He knew well enough that his martial arts were lacking.
Among the information agents, his prowess fell far short of his brothers and sisters.
But assassination—wasn’t that too much?
Jin Gae voiced his complaint.
“Harsh? Kangho is not a forgiving place.”
Cheon Yi Gae had no intention of backing down.
If anything, he grew more cutting in his words.
“Open your eyes and see clearly. Haven’t we already wasted this much time because your movement technique is inadequate? If you’re like this now, how will you ever seize important intelligence later?”
“That is……”
“No matter how much you call yourselves an intelligence sect, the Gae Bang is still a faction of Kangho. Do you truly think you could become the Leader with your current skill?”
Faced with Cheon Yi Gae’s relentless words, Jin Gae could only bow his head deeply.
Every word was true.
“The Leader was watching over me, so I had some hope……. Ugh!”
Cheon Yi Gae muttered in frustration.
Yet even as he grumbled, he quickened his pace and pressed forward.
Not a moment could be wasted.
How long had they been traveling?
Cheon Yi Gae and Jin Gae arrived at Huashan.
“Finally here……. Wait? That p-person……!”
Cheon Yi Gae’s eyes widened at the sight of someone, and he seized Jin Gae by the nape of the neck.
“Ugh! W-why are you doing that?”
“Shh! Quiet.”
“Huh? S-sudden—mgh!”
Cheon Yi Gae clamped his hand over the chattering Jin Gae’s mouth, swallowing hard as he watched an old man walking carefully along the mountain path.
‘G-Gwang Hyeol Ma?’
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Though his face had grown more lined and his hair and beard had turned white, that piercing gaze and commanding presence matched almost perfectly the bearing he had possessed when he once shook Kangho.
Shortly after, the man presumed to be Gwang Hyeol Ma entered an inn on the mountain path.
‘That place is……?’
Cheon Yi Gae released his grip on Jin Gae’s mouth and walked toward the inn.
“Follow me.”
The moment the two of them stood before the inn’s entrance.
“Aaaaghh!”
A martial artist flew out through the doorway, tumbling across the ground before collapsing at their feet.
“What in the—”
“Gasp!”
The two stood staring at the unconscious martial artist with bewildered faces.
“Don’t think that entering the inn will end any differently than being kicked out.”
An old man emerged from the doorway.
He had been speaking to the fallen martial artist, but when his gaze met Cheon Yi Gae’s, his expression hardened.
Precisely because he had noticed the knot hanging at Cheon Yi Gae’s waist.
“A knot? The Gae Bang?”
“……Yes, sir.”
Cheon Yi Gae was just about to ready himself for a confrontation.
“If you’re looking for a fight, I’ll throw out the Gae Bang or anyone else. If you’re here to eat, keep quiet.”
The old man issued his warning and returned inside.
He did nothing more.
‘……He’s just backing off?’
Cheon Yi Gae’s eyes widened in surprise.
Gwang Hyeol Ma was the sort who, once his eyes flipped, would fight without a second thought for the Nine Factions and One Gang or the Murim Alliance—a creature of pure combat, like a fighting cock.
He was not a man to withdraw.
‘Gwang Hyeol Ma… isn’t it?’
Cheon Yi Gae, who had been staring blankly at the door where the old man had disappeared, shook his head.
‘No. Still, one can never be too careful.’
Whenever even a shred of doubt crept in, he had to stay alert and tense.
How many times had he let his guard down only to be blindsided?
‘Just like during the Divine Brush Gathering.’
Jin Gae, whose neck was still in Cheon Yi Gae’s grip, laughed awkwardly.
“Um, you can… let go now…”
Cheon Yi Gae released Jin Gae’s neck.
“Follow me.”
The moment Cheon Yi Gae stepped into the inn, he was struck speechless by the sight before him.
“Here, here! The water container is right here!”
“Sell me one too!”
The inn was swarming with people eager to buy embroidered pouches adorned with Qing Maehwa flowers rather than those dining.
“What… what is all this?”
“What in the…”
Jin Gae, who had followed him in, stood with his mouth agape, equally bewildered.
“Is this your first visit?”
The Inn Attendant approached with a smile.
“Well, yes, but what are they all doing over there?”
At Cheon Yi Gae’s question, the Inn Attendant’s eyes gleamed, and he launched into his explanation.
“That’s the specialty of our Maehwa Inn—the Qing Maehwa Water Container!”
“The Qing Maehwa Water Container?”
“Yes!”
The Inn Attendant nodded vigorously.
“It’s been recognized by the Huashan Sect!”
“What…?”
For a moment, he let out a dumbfounded sound.
Recognized by the Huashan Sect?
What kind of strange… no, wait.
Cheon Yi Gae rested his chin on his hand, his eyes gleaming.
‘This is clever. They’re borrowing a sect’s name to sell their wares, aren’t they?’
Cheon Yi Gae’s mind raced. Breaking it down piece by piece, it was actually a rather brilliant business strategy.
‘If our Gae Bang sold threads this way, we’d make a fortune…’
But his brow immediately furrowed.
‘Damn it. Gae Bang won’t work.’
He abandoned the idea on the spot.
Even if it weren’t the Huashan Sect, what was the common perception of Gae Bang?
The faction of beggars.
Who would scramble to buy something bearing that name?
‘I wouldn’t buy it myself.’
The Inn Attendant, observing Cheon Yi Gae’s click of disapproval, tilted his head in curiosity.
“Would you like something to eat, then?”
“Yes.”
“Then please follow me!”
After being led to a seat by the Inn Attendant, Cheon Yi Gae surveyed his surroundings.
“Business is thriving here.”
The inn was packed with people.
Since more than half of them were buying things and leaving, business wasn’t merely good—it was booming.
‘Was this inn founded by the Huashan Sect?’
The thought naturally drifted in that direction.
The name Maehwa Inn alone suggested a deep connection to the Huashan Sect, and now they were selling Qing Maehwa Water Containers to boot.
‘Ah, right! That’s not what matters now.’
Cheon Yi Gae snapped back to his senses.
He had come to the inn instead of pressing on toward the Huashan Sect in pursuit of Cheon Hui because there was a chance Gwang Hyeol Ma might be here.
His gaze fixed on the old man he presumed to be Gwang Hyeol Ma.
Then.
‘What is it?’
The Sound Transmission struck his ear like a blow.
‘A master! A true master!’
In that instant, cold sweat broke across his skin.
Someone skilled enough to transmit Sound Transmission—the chances that this man was Gwang Hyeol Ma had just climbed considerably higher.
‘My apologies. You resemble someone I know, so I was staring.’
The elderly man’s eyes—full of displeasure—fixed on Cheon Yi Gae in warning before he raised the wine bottle and drained it in a hearty gulp.
Cheon Yi Gae tilted his head.
‘Is he not actually Gwang Hyeol Ma? But his appearance matches perfectly….’
His mind was growing muddled by the difference between this man and the Gwang Hyeol Ma he knew, when suddenly—
“The Cooperation Head has arrived!”
“What a blessing! The Taoist Master we hear so little from these days has come to us!”
“Wait, who is that? Who is that person?”
The inn erupted into commotion.
Cheon Yi Gae turned his head toward the commotion and his eyes widened at the sight of the newcomer.
“That person—that’s the Taoist Master?”
* * *
“Cooperation Head, it has been a long time.”
As Cheon Hui entered the Maehwa Inn, O Chief Manager broke into a beaming smile.
“Business must be thriving.”
“Ha ha ha, it is all thanks to you, Cooperation Head.”
At this moment, he was happier than anyone else in the world. Not only was business flourishing, but recently several trading companies had even begun requesting bulk purchases from him.
Then Cheon Hui spoke.
“I need certain items at once. Can you procure them for me?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Then please wait a moment.”
O Chief Manager’s expression grew grave.
He glanced about the room, then leaned toward Cheon Hui and lowered his voice.
“Please follow me.”
O Chief Manager and Cheon Hui climbed to an upper floor and sat at the most secluded table.
“…What sort of items do you require?”
“Medicinal herbs and poisonous plants.”
His expression stiffened in an instant.
Medicinal herbs he could understand, but poisonous plants…that was another matter entirely.
O Chief Manager asked carefully.
“…Poisonous plants as well?”
“Yes.”
O Chief Manager swallowed hard.
Procuring poisonous plants was a delicate affair. Yet he did not ask why.
With Cheon Hui, trust had long since evolved into something deeper—they were fellow travelers on the same vessel.
The only thing he needed to ask was one.
“What varieties would you prefer?”
“Whatever you can get. All of them.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes grew sharp and cold.
“All of them, you say?”
“Yes. Any kind will do. As long as they are poisonous plants.”
O Chief Manager nodded firmly.
“Understood. I will procure as many as I can in the shortest time possible.”
Cheon Hui let out a quiet laugh.
“Then I’m counting on you.”
O Chief Manager’s eyes widened slightly.
‘Counting on me!’
It was the first time he had ever heard such words from Cheon Hui. His spirits lifted and he replied with an eager tone.
“Ha ha ha! Leave it to me!”
As O Chief Manager chatted with Cheon Hui in low tones, he suddenly burst into laughter, and the inn stirred with curiosity.
“What news came from the Huashan Sect?”
“Has some new product emerged?”
As those listening intently filled their minds with countless speculations—
“Then I shall hurry and procure them.”
O Chief Manager rose abruptly and headed downstairs.
“You’re finally here?”
Instead, Cheon Yang Gong strode forward with heavy steps.
His brow furrowed, Cheon Yang Gong set down a wine bottle on the table and took his seat.
“Where have you been?”
“Business.”
“Hmph, what business?”
Cheon Yang Gong snorted derisively.
“More importantly, when were you planning to teach me the next verse of the Gu Yu Ma Hwa Gong?”
“Following the Fire Danger and Earth Command, we reach the achievement of sacred flame……”
Cheon Hui recited the verse of the Gu Yu Ma Hwa Gong in an open space as though annoyed.
“You crazy bastard!”
Cheon Yang Gong was momentarily flustered, but just as he hurried to commit the verse to memory—
“That should be enough, no?”
Cheon Hui, who had been reciting the verse, fell silent.
“What?”
Cheon Yang Gong stared at him in disbelief, then his brows shot up sharply.
“Just one stanza……?”
“When did I ever promise to teach you everything at once?”
“What did you say?”
At words that seemed almost like mockery, Cheon Yang Gong trembled with barely contained rage.
“But just one stanza is far too little, isn’t it……!”
“What? So you don’t want to learn?”
Cheon Hui spoke with a smirk.
In that instant, Cheon Yang Gong’s displeasure surged, and the corners of his mouth drooped sharply. His gaze grew piercing as well, yet—
……
he said nothing.
Rather, he could not.
Without Cheon Hui’s teaching, he would never master the Gu Yu Ma Hwa Gong.
“For now, be satisfied with that much.”
Cheon Hui watched Cheon Yang Gong gnash his teeth, then let out a soft laugh.
“If you keep the Maehwa Inn well the next time, I’ll teach you the next verse.”
As Cheon Hui began to rise, Cheon Yang Gong’s eyebrows twitched.
“Where are you going now?”
“Where else? To the Huashan Sect.”
Cheon Hui regarded him with a cold gaze.
“You have ears too, don’t you? You know well enough what state the Huashan Sect is in.”
“You mean the Huashan Sect has retreated?”
“Well, you did hear about it after all.”
“……Was that rumor actually true?”
“Would I lie?”
Wrinkles deepened on Cheon Yang Gong’s brow.
Staying at the Maehwa Inn had made him well-informed of the world’s rumors.
So he had indeed heard that the Huashan Sect had retreated, but……
he had not accepted it at face value.
Rather, it had seemed impossible to believe.
‘With that monster present, how could they retreat?’
As long as that horned demon existed, the Huashan Sect should be the most fearsome place imaginable.
Then Cheon Hui rose from his seat.
“So you just watch over this place well.”
……Tsk.
Cheon Yang Gong clicked his tongue.
“Understood.”
“If anyone comes to harm or anything seems amiss at the inn the next time I visit, you’ll let me know, yes?”
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, the Maehwa Inn is safe. Unless a monster like you shows up.”
“Then there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Cheon Hui spoke with complete certainty, took a few steps forward, then stopped.
His gaze fixed on the table.
“What are you doing there?”
Cheon Yi Gae and Jin Gae, who had secretly followed to this floor and were hiding in tense silence, broke into awkward smiles as their eyes met Cheon Hui’s.
“Ha, ha ha. Long time no see.”
“Oh, it’s been a while, Cooperation Head Cheon Hui.”
“Not that long, really.”
At Cheon Hui’s indifferent reply, Cheon Yi Gae let out a series of fake coughs and smacked his lips.
“Ahem, ahem. But there’s something I wanted to ask you about…….”
However, Cheon Hui paid no attention and moved to leave.
“Wait, just a moment. You there! I just want to ask you something.”
Cheon Yi Gae made as if to grab the hem of Cheon Hui’s robe as he departed.
“What is it?”
Cheon Hui asked in an impatient tone.
At that, Cheon Yi Gae glanced at Cheon Yang Gong with a bright expression, then whispered in a low voice into Cheon Hui’s ear.
“Who is that fellow?”
“Someone who keeps the inn.”
Cheon Yi Gae tilted his head.
“Keeps the inn? Then it’s true he isn’t Gwang Hyeol Ma after all…….”
Cheon Hui’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Gwang Hyeol Ma? Who’s that?”
“A Demon Master from two generations back. A vicious one who destroyed three entire factions…….”
Interesting—so he did have a notorious reputation.
Cheon Hui glanced at Cheon Yang Gong.
With that level of martial prowess and a half-mastered Gu Yu Ma Hwa Gong, it would be strange if he didn’t have an ill name.
‘Hmm, still, if even Gae Bang’s Grand Elder doesn’t know him, he’s probably been forgotten long ago. In that case, no one will recognize him staying in an inn.’
Cheon Hui smiled slightly.
“If a Demon Master had such a notorious reputation, he’d be causing trouble by now. Would he really stay quiet keeping an inn?”
“Well, that’s true…….”
Just as Cheon Yi Gae was still watching Cheon Yang Gong with a skeptical expression, playing a bamboo flute.
“Chief Manager O?”
A familiar voice struck Cheon Hui’s ear.
‘That voice…….’
When Cheon Hui turned and looked down to the first floor, a recognizable face stood by the door.
‘The master of Bi Poong Trading Company?’

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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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