Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 23

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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 23
The western archive on the first floor of Mankwonggak.
Thud—thud—
In the quiet archive where no soul could be felt, footsteps suddenly echoed through the silence.
Thud.
A young man emerged from below without warning.
Pale skin and sharp, defined features.
A handsome youth of six feet, the kind whose beauty would draw favor from anyone.
It was Cheon Hwi—five years having passed, now nineteen years old.
“So this is finally the end of it.”
Standing straight, he gazed at the stairs—the only means to reach Amhyang Bidong—and found himself clicking his tongue without thinking.
With that, both of Cheon Hwi’s eyebrows rose sharply.
His expression brimmed with irritation, yet thanks to his beautiful features, even that frustration carried a strange allure.
“It took longer than I expected.”
He muttered quietly to himself.
His original estimate had been two years.
Yet five years had slipped away, a result far beyond his calculations.
‘Though one of them ate up the bulk of the time.’
Cheon Hwi recalled the sword technique among the fourteen Martial Arts Manuals that had given him the most trouble.
The other martial arts had taken little more than a year, but that final remaining technique had consumed most of his time.
As he briefly lingered on the thought of that sword technique, a quiet laugh escaped his lips.
Though it had troubled him, he had ultimately succeeded in restoring it—and today marked the end of everything.
“Haa, it’s done. It’s finally done.”
As Cheon Hwi stretched his arms and spoke, he skillfully reached out and sealed the passage leading to Bidong before turning away.
He naturally surveyed his surroundings.
The interior of Mankwonggak had not changed in five years.
Archives on all sides were filled with books, and the silence was unbroken.
Of course, there had been times when many disciples crowded these halls in bustle, but that was fleeting—day by day, their numbers fell sharply until it had become this quiet.
‘I won’t have reason to come here anymore.’
He took in the interior of Mankwonggak with his eyes.
He had spent five years in this place.
Somehow, affection had taken root.
“I’ve been here quite a long time.”
Lost in sentiment, he methodically recalled all he had done.
Martial Arts restoration, martial arts restoration, martial arts restoration……
In an instant, his eyes grew cold.
“……Not enough to warrant attachment.”
Thinking back, whenever he came to Mankwonggak, he would first report the restored martial arts to Hyeon Cheong, then spend the entire day devoted solely to restoring martial arts in Amhyang Bidong.
Yet he harbored no resentment.
Thanks to it, he had mastered the martial arts of the Orthodox Sects.
“Then I suppose I should go.”
He turned sharply.
Today marked the end of everything.
Both reporting the restored martial arts to Hyeon Cheong and visiting Amhyang Bidong.
Whoosh—
He took long strides forward.
Cheon Hwi arrived instantly at the entrance of Mankwonggak and tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Hmm? Where did he go?”
As he searched for Hyeon Cheong, who would normally be guarding the door, he recalled something from this morning.
“Ah! He said he was attending the Grand Council today, didn’t he? He moves about freely now.”
Staring at the desk where books were neatly organized, Cheon Hwi fell into thought.
Five years ago, Hyeon Cheong had refrained from outside activities and devoted himself solely to martial arts restoration.
But thanks to Cheon Hwi’s restoration of the Martial Arts Manuals, he had gained more freedom, began to engage in outside activities, and now attended the Grand Council frequently.
“Today was supposed to be the new martial arts order. Well, if he needs it urgently, he’ll find his way here.”
Recalling Hyeon Cheong, who had visited daily to record the principles of the restored martial arts, Cheon Hwi walked toward the door.
Creak—
Shortly after, Cheon Hwi pushed open the firmly shut door of Mankwonggak and stepped outside.
The outside was still sparse and quiet.
And the expansive view opened to reveal Hwasan’s beautiful landscape.
The fifth spring he was greeting.
Plum blossoms bloomed profusely across Hwasan, their rich fragrance carried on the wind that tickled the tip of his nose.
Wheee—
Savoring the familiar landscape and stillness, Cheon Hwi walked toward Nagan Peak.
‘Then I should organize the martial arts they newly developed in Amhyang Bidong as my foundation…….’
While walking, he was arranging and refining the martial arts techniques that Amhyang Bidong had perfected over this time.
Clang! Clang!
The sharp metallic ring echoing from afar shattered his reverie.
In his unobstructed view, he saw the compound and courtyard he saw every day.
In the courtyard, now far wider than it had been five years ago, a man and woman were engaged in a martial bout.
A handsome man with a soft smile and a beautiful woman with cold, distant features.
It was Jeok Geom and Seol Ran, fully grown now.
As they practiced the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Seol Ran withdrew her blade and stepped back.
“Your sword seems unsteady today.”
“Ha. My mind must have wandered.”
Jeok Geom laughed sheepishly.
Watching him, Seol Ran sheathed her sword and asked with a worried expression.
“……Is it because of the rumors?”
Jeok Geom’s expression darkened instantly.
Unable to hide his unease, he sheathed the blade in his hand and nodded slightly.
“I can’t help but worry.”
Jeok Geom recalled the rumors circulating through the Martial World, and his agitation showed plainly.
“Sigh……. They say the Paegang Sect is targeting our school.”
“Don’t worry so much, brother.”
Seol Ran approached Jeok Geom and sought to comfort him.
“Even the Paegang Sect won’t dare engage our sect in open combat.”
Perhaps because she had grown close to Cheon Hwi while serving him, she—who had once been cynical about everything—now found herself consoling Jeok Geom.
“Besides, didn’t the Sect Leader convene a Grand Council precisely because of this?”
At Seol Ran’s forceful words, Jeok Geom’s anxious heart began to settle.
“You’re right, sister.”
“Our duty now is to train our martial arts, ready for any task that may come…….”
As the two began discussing the Grand Council that would soon unfold,
‘Hm? A Grand Council?’
Cheon Hwi, who had been approaching, perked up his ears. At that moment, a single word from their conversation began circling in his mind.
‘What? A Military Deployment too?’
* * *
The Grand Council was being held in Unjung Pavilion.
Though many years had passed, Unjung Pavilion remained unchanged, yet inside a distinctly sharp atmosphere hung heavy.
“Everyone has gathered.”
The Sect Leader, seated at the head of the hall, spoke.
In that instant, those seated around the vast table wore grave expressions.
Seeing the serious gathering, the Sect Leader gave a glance to Hyeon Ryeo.
“A few days ago, the Bifung Merchant Company sent word requesting our aid.”
As if waiting for his cue, Hyeon Ryeo spoke.
“What sort of aid?”
“……They are asking for protection from attacks by the Paegang Sect.”
A cold silence fell over the pavilion.
Immediately after, an aura so fierce it seemed impossible from a Daoist sect filled Unjung Pavilion.
As that presence grew stronger,
“The Bifung Merchant Company is the family house of Jeok Geom, a disciple of our sect.”
Hyeon Ryeo added.
“Are you saying we must help them?”
“I am.”
“Is that your thought as Hyeon Ryeo, or as Master of Jaeryeong Pavilion?”
“Both.”
Hyeon Ryeo answered firmly.
“Good.”
With his answer, the Sect Leader turned his head and swept his gaze across the entire assembly as he spoke.
“What do you all think?”
“I agree.”
“How could we sit idle when the Bifung Merchant Company, who once aided our sect, is being threatened by the Paegang Sect—those heterodox villains?”
“Of course we must help.”
He replied as though he’d been waiting for the question.
Hyeon Cheong, who had been watching from the end of the row, felt the same way.
“To refuse aid from the Bifung Merchant Company would bring shame upon our sect.”
After hearing unanimous approval, the Sect Leader promptly shifted the conversation.
“Then, who do you think we should send to the Bifung Merchant Company?”
At that moment, Hyeon Heo raised his hand sharply.
The Sect Leader and the others turned their gaze to him, noting how Hyeon Heo had grown his beard even more impressively over the past five years.
Hyeon Heo waited until all eyes had fixed upon him before he spoke.
“I believe we should send the Plum Blossom Sword Masters who were selected this time.”
“Hmm…….”
“Indeed.”
“There’s no one else for it.”
Most were in agreement.
Yet not everyone shared the same opinion, and a few voices rose in opposition.
One of them was Mu Ryeon.
“But they’re still too young for a Military Deployment. It’s scarcely been a year since they became Plum Blossom Sword Masters, and they haven’t yet mastered the Plum Blossom Sword Technique properly.”
“You still regard the Plum Blossom Sword Masters as children.”
Hyeon Heo spoke coldly.
“However young and inexperienced they may be, once they’ve become Plum Blossom Sword Masters, they are the face of our sect. If we ourselves say they are inadequate, how could anyone in the world place their trust in them?”
“That is…….”
Pierced by that argument, Mu Ryeon swallowed the rest of his words and closed his eyes.
In truth, he knew it himself.
That Hyeon Heo was right.
Yet he remained uneasy.
Afraid that by some misfortune, the Plum Blossom Sword Masters sent on this deployment might suffer as Hyeon Gang had.
Then Hyeon Heo’s voice reached him.
“We must trust them first.”
Mu Ryeon opened his eyes, which he had kept closed.
It was time now to release them from his hands, to have faith in his disciples.
“Your words are correct, Senior.”
Watching Mu Ryeon concede more readily than expected, Hyeon Heo smiled gently and turned to address the Sect Leader.
“Moreover, this generation of Plum Blossom Sword Masters includes Jeok Geom. This is an opportunity to let them gain experience in the Martial World and visit his family as well, making him the most suitable choice.”
Just then, Bi Gak chimed in in agreement.
“You’re right—having the Plum Blossom Sword Masters go would be most appropriate.”
As those who had opposed began yielding one by one to the consensus,
“Does anyone have another view?”
the Sect Leader asked, surveying the room.
This time, no one objected.
“Then we shall send the Plum Blossom Sword Masters. That settled…….”
The Sect Leader’s eyes brightened.
Sending the Plum Blossom Sword Masters was as good as decided. But what he was about to ask was the most crucial matter.
“Now, who should we send to command the Plum Blossom Sword Masters?”
Everyone fell silent.
The Daoists of the Elder generation were needed to guard Hwasan and could not step forward.
Thus they had to select from the Daoists of the Middle generation, yet most of them held important positions and could not easily leave.
As they considered those without such obligations, Hyeon Heo made the first suggestion.
“What of Cheon Su?”
“That won’t do.”
Hyeon Ryeo immediately voiced his objection.
Cheon Su, as the deputy director of Jaeryeong Pavilion, possessed exceptional talent and was indispensable.
“The current financial management issues require his attention; we cannot spare him.”
No one countered that argument.
Everyone was already aware that Hwasan’s finances had grown dire of late, and there was nothing to say against it.
Then Bi Gak, as if recalling someone, clapped his hands and opened his mouth.
“Then what of Cheon Hyang? Hasn’t he just returned after finishing some family matter? He has experience traveling the Martial World, so wouldn’t he be well-suited for this task?”
This time, Mu Ryeon shook his head.
“Cheon Hyang’s health is not good at the moment. I’m uncertain what happened within his family, but when he returned to the main hall, he was already carrying internal injuries.”
In that instant, everyone fell silent.
Aside from those two, there was no one among the Middle generation who could be entrusted with this task.
“Our sect has far fewer members than in the past.”
The Sect Leader, who had been observing, smiled bitterly.
In earlier years, talent had overflowed, and he could choose who to send on missions.
But now there weren’t even enough capable people to dispatch, let alone pick and choose.
“Yet I can hardly summon Cheon Yu back from the Murim Alliance…….”
He was voicing his frustration about Cheon Yu, the sect’s first disciple, who had been dispatched due to recent events at the Murim Alliance, when a quiet voice cut through.
“I’ll take that mission.”
As several cultivators turned their heads at the soft interruption, Cheon Hwi stepped forward with quiet confidence, drawing every eye.

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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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