Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 252

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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 252
“……It seems more serious than I thought.”
A single long, thin crease formed between the brows of Chu Gye Gwang, the commander of the Hyeopwi Team, as he gazed upon the shattered Mountain Gate.
A gate was the face of a faction.
And when it came to the Mountain Gate of the Huashan Sect—one of the Nine Major Sects and Four Unorthodox Schools—its significance ran deeper than words could measure.
Yet that gate now lay in ruins.
“This won’t be simple.”
A bitter smile escaped him unbidden.
‘Of all the tasks to be assigned, why this one?’
Chu Gye Gwang suppressed a sigh that threatened to rise from his lower dantian.
Then it came.
Thump—thump—
The sound of footsteps echoed.
From beyond the broken gate, two Daoists were approaching.
The tall Daoist walking behind was a face he knew well.
Hyeon Do, the Divine Sword of Huashan.
He represented the Huashan Sect in the current Murim Alliance and was a supreme master who had handled many weighty affairs.
And the elderly Daoist at the front was someone Chu Gye Gwang had never encountered before.
Yet he grasped the man’s identity at once.
A gentle but weighty Ki Path.
Combined with the subtle way Hyeon Do had stepped back half a pace.
One with any sense could not fail to understand.
‘So this must be Hyeon Sang, the Sect Master of Huashan……’
Chu Gye Gwang immediately performed the Fist Salute.
“It is an honor to meet the Sect Master of Huashan. I am Chu Gye Gwang.”
For a moment, those watching from near the gate eyes widened in surprise.
“Chu Gye Gwang?”
“Could it be……?”
The name was one that anyone with even a foothold in Kangho could not fail to recognize.
Chu Gye Gwang of the Soyo Sword.
He commanded and bore responsibility for the Hyeopwi Team, one of the Four Divisions of the Murim Alliance.
At that moment, Hyeon Sang spoke flatly.
“Pleased to see you.”
Chu Gye Gwang’s expression darkened at once.
It was the worst possible response.
‘I would have preferred if he’d raged at me.’
He had harbored no hopes of being welcomed.
Yet the absence of even anger meant something far worse—it meant he was more furious than at any other moment.
Chu Gye Gwang quickly lowered his head.
“Forgive me for arriving late.”
It was a plain apology, offered without unnecessary excuses about rushing or distances traveled.
……
Hyeon Sang gazed down at the bowed crown of Chu Gye Gwang’s head for a moment, then let out a sigh.
“Ah. Very well.”
Hyeon Sang’s expression softened slightly.
“You bear no fault. It is the Murim Alliance and the Gae Bang who failed to gather information.”
At those words, those from Gae Bang who had been secretly observing the scene hastily averted their eyes.
Chu Gye Gwang slowly raised his head.
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Hyeon Sang’s voice turned cold once more.
“My consideration extends only to you. The Alliance will be held accountable for this matter.”
Chu Gye Gwang’s expression became grim.
It was exactly as he had anticipated.
‘Then……’
Chu Gye Gwang carefully reached into his robe and withdrew a scroll.
At first glance, the paper was unmistakably antique.
And the golden silk binding it was like a work of art itself.
Hyeon Sang’s eyes narrowed.
“What is this?”
“I received an urgent dispatch this morning…… sent directly to the Sect Master by the Commander.”
“An urgent dispatch……?”
Hyeon Sang’s brow furrowed.
If the Murim Alliance had sent it with such urgency, the contents were bound to be grave.
“Do you know what it says?”
“I think it best you read it yourself rather than hear it from me.”
At those words, Hyeon Sang took the scroll and unrolled it.
His eyes grew wider as he read the contents within.
Hyeon Sang read through the characters with trembling pupils, and once he had confirmed the final line, he rolled the scroll closed again.
“……Is what’s written here true?”
“It is.”
Hyeon Sang’s gaze darkened with weight.
“We need to discuss this in detail.”
With that, he turned sharply away.
“Follow me.”
Chu Gye Gwang nodded and glanced briefly behind him.
He spoke in a low voice to his subordinates, who stood tensely at attention.
“All of you wait here.”
“We accept your orders.”
When the man in the center answered, Chu Gye Gwang quickly pursued Hyeon Sang.
Moments later, the two arrived at Ja Ha Pavilion.
As Hyeon Sang took his seat, he spread the scroll he held across the table and let his voice fall low.
“Are they proposing war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon?”
“Nothing is yet confirmed.”
Chu Gye Gwang answered gravely.
“They mean to convene a Murim Grand Conference to hear the opinions of the Nine Factions and One Gang, as well as other sects, and then decide gradually from there.”
“The Alliance coming out in full force against Sa Hyuk Ryeon…… it appears they’re signaling their resolve not to let our sect’s attack pass unanswered.”
“That is correct.”
“Heh, I see.”
Hyeon Sang let out a short laugh, but his expression hardened immediately after, and he parted his lips to speak.
“But do you truly believe our sect will be pleased by such action?”
The words Hyeon Sang uttered swept coldly across Chu Gye Gwang’s body like a bitter winter gale.
“They waited until everything was over before volunteering to fight. If our sect had failed to stop Nok Lim’s assault and had met with faction destruction, it appears they would have simply let it slide.”
Hyeon Sang’s eyes grew deathly still.
“What do you make of it?”
“…….”
Chu Gye Gwang fell silent.
What Hyeon Sang had just said matched exactly what he himself had felt upon receiving the urgent dispatch and hearing its contents.
‘There is no way forward.’
His task was to persuade the Sect Master and ensure that Huashan Sect participated in the Murim Grand Conference.
But with such a sharp reaction before him, how could it possibly succeed?
Chu Gye Gwang shook his head slightly.
No matter how he racked his mind, he could think of no way to persuade him.
At length, he rose from his seat. If he said more here, it might backfire entirely.
“On behalf of the Murim Alliance, I apologize once more for this matter.”
He lowered his head again, then slowly raised it, meeting Hyeon Sang’s eyes as he spoke.
“But please understand one thing: the Murim Alliance has done all it could. It is true we fell short in some regard, and I carry regret for that.”
As he finished those words and was preparing to turn away with a respectful fist salute, wondering how he would report this failure,
“……May I ask just one thing?”
Chu Gye Gwang paused and answered.
“Please, ask.”
“What position do you think the Murim Alliance currently holds our sect in?”
“Why do you suppose the Sect Master is holding this Murim Grand Conference?”
It was an answer that came back as a question.
Had the Murim Alliance not cared about Huashan Sect, there would have been no need to wage war against Sa Hyuk Ryeon.
As it had been before.
But now they speak of opening a Murim Grand Conference to seriously discuss war with Sa Hyuk Ryeon.
In other words, it meant the Murim Alliance regarded Huashan Sect as a crucial power worth the risk of an Orthodox-Unorthodox War.
Hyeon Sang closed and opened his eyes slowly.
“Good. I shall let this matter pass, this once.”
Chu Gye Gwang’s expression, which had been resigned, suddenly brightened.
“Thank you…….”
“In exchange, I ask one thing of you.”
Hyeon Sang cut off his thanks.
“I’d appreciate it if the Murim Alliance could tighten its information gathering so that something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Chu Gye Gwang nodded vigorously.
“……I’ll relay it to the Alliance.”
Once those words were spoken, the tension that had gripped the room eased slightly.
“When do you plan to depart, then?”
Chu Gye Gwang glanced out the window.
The sun had already begun to sink, and it looked as though it would soon disappear behind the mountains.
“It’s growing late today, so it would be best to depart tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow morning…… that’s rather soon.”
Hyeon Sang let the words drift from his lips, then turned his gaze toward the window and continued.
“This time, could we send just one representative to the Murim Conference? As you can see, our sect is in poor condition, and it’s difficult to spare many disciples.”
“That’s no problem. Though, given the importance of the position, sending just anyone wouldn’t…….”
“Don’t worry about that. The one attending the Murim Conference will be Hyeon Do.”
Chu Gye Gwang nodded.
The Divine Sword of Huashan would be more than sufficient.
“Then I’ll rely on you. Oh!”
Chu Gye Gwang, about to leave with his farewell, suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth.
“I’ve just recalled something I nearly forgot.”
Chu Gye Gwang spoke in haste.
“The Commander has requested a meeting with Cheon Hui, the junior headmaster of the Maehwa Sword School.”
Hyeon Sang’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“For what reason?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected sharpness in his tone, Chu Gye Gwang was inwardly startled, but he quickly concealed his emotion.
“He said he wishes to repay the cooperative actions you’ve built up together.”
“Repay……?”
Hyeon Sang stroked his beard.
A reward from the Murim Alliance’s Commander would surely be no trivial matter.
“I’ll pass the message along to Cheon Hui.”
“I’d be grateful.”
Shortly after Chu Gye Gwang departed, Hyeon Sang summoned Hyeon Do and Cheon Hui to the Ja Ha Pavilion.
“You called for us?”
“Did you need something?”
“Let me explain why I’ve called you. The matter from the Murim Alliance just now…….”
Time being pressing, Hyeon Sang began his account and quickly explained what had transpired.
Once he finished, Hyeon Do struck his chest and spoke.
“I’ll conduct the Murim Conference well, so you needn’t worry.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Hyeon Sang regarded the confident Hyeon Do for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Cheon Hui.
“What will you do?”
“I don’t mind either way…….”
After a brief pause, Cheon Hui gazed steadily at Hyeon Sang.
“Will you be all right?”
It was a question laden with much weight.
Hyeon Sang let a smile cross his face.
“Don’t worry yourself.”
Even having heard the answer, Cheon Hui regarded Hyeon Sang with lingering doubt.
When the Nok Lim attacked, if he hadn’t been there, wouldn’t the sect have faced annihilation?
And yet, he was saying not to worry.
It was a wholly unconvincing answer.
Hyeon Sang seemed to read that thought in Cheon Hui’s expression, and he smiled gently before speaking.
“Will such an attack happen again?”
“The first time is hard, but the second is easy.”
“Hmm. I suppose so.”
Hyeon Sang, stifling a cough, found himself laughing despite himself at Cheon Hui’s words.
‘He’s changed quite a lot.’
The old Cheon Hui would have left in a flash without a second thought for Huashan Sect’s troubles, let alone listened to a word.
Hyeon Sang, who had been laughing, opened his mouth.
“The Alliance said they’d help.”
“Hmm… is that so?”
Cheon Hui regarded Hyeon Sang with an expression suggesting he found it less than entirely reassuring, then shrugged.
“Well, if they’re willing, that’s fine.”
Cheon Hui rose from his seat.
“You said we’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Understood. I’ll head out first, then.”
Leaving Ja Ha Pavilion behind, Cheon Hui was climbing the mountain path toward Nagan Peak when he tilted his head at a long shadow cast across his path.
Someone stood at the fork in the road, silhouetted against the sunset.
“What are you doing there?”
“Wanted to have a word with my junior.”
Cheon Yu, who had been backlit by the sunset, rummaged through his Sect Robe and produced two Wine Bottles.
“How about a drink? It’s been a while.”
Shortly after, the two were sitting on a cliff overlooking Huashan.
“This one’s for you, junior.”
Cheon Yu retrieved a Wine Cup from somewhere and set it before Cheon Hui, pouring.
Glug, glug—
The stream flowing from the Wine Bottle into the cup caught the sunset in its shimmer.
After a moment, Cheon Yu set the bottle down.
“Go on, drink.”
Cheon Hui, taking hold of the cup, spoke.
“You managed to sneak this all the way here. If anyone caught you, you’d catch it from all sides.”
“It was quite the effort. I did all sorts of things to keep our Master from noticing.”
Cheon Yu shrugged once more, then poured for himself as well, and spoke.
“So you’re heading to the Murim Alliance?”
“They’re supposedly giving me a gift, so I should go receive it. Seems wasteful not to.”
Cheon Hui, speaking casually, brought the cup to his lips.
Mmm, it’s been a while.
The drink tasted good—he hadn’t had any lately because of all the business with Nok Lim and such.
Warm and smooth.
While savoring the warmth of the rough wine,
“Ahh.”
Cheon Yu, having emptied a full cup in one go, looked at Cheon Hui.
Then he spoke slowly.
“Don’t worry about Huashan. Just go and come back safe.”
‘The senior and junior are saying the same thing,’ Cheon Hui thought.
Just then, Cheon Yu’s expression grew serious as he continued.
“If it looks like something’s going to happen, I’ll make sure everyone escapes before it does.”
It was a statement others would have mocked.
The First Disciple of the Huashan Sect declaring that he’d flee if danger arose.
But Cheon Hui was satisfied.
Better to run like that than to die foolishly insisting on a fight.
Survival always came first.
“Right.”
“See? Good idea, yeah? Ha-ha-ha!”
Cheon Yu laughed heartily.
“That’s what I like about you, junior—we think alike. When I say things like this, the Master and Mistress get all worked up asking where I got such talk.”
“You have to survive first. Everything else comes after.”
“That’s exactly what I think.”
Cheon Yu nodded with a smile on his face.
Then, setting his cup down for a moment, he leaned close to Cheon Hui’s ear and whispered very quietly.
“Since we’re on the subject—could you tell me how to remove these Iron Restraints? If something happens, I’ll need to be able to break free, won’t I?”
Cheon Hui laughed at the question that came so perfectly timed, as if Cheon Yu had been waiting for just this opening.
“You think there’s a special method?”
Cheon Yu pouted.
“Aw, forget it. I didn’t expect anything anyway. So it means only the senior can unlock them, huh?”
“Once you reach a high enough Realm, anyone can do it.”
“Easy for you to say—that’s hardly a simple thing.”
Cheon Yu replied with an air of disbelief.
“Then I’ll assume you’ll unlock it for me later, Master.”
Cheon Yu raised the wine cup to his lips once more, and with a slightly flushed face, he spoke again.
“Which is why, to undo this, you need to take better care of yourself.”
The words carried a quiet sincerity that made Cheon Hui feel strangely flustered. He looked away from Cheon Yu and sipped at the wine, which lay bathed in the glow of sunset.
‘Not a bad feeling, actually.’
And with that, their conversation came to an end.
Only the soft sound of wine being sipped remained.
Until darkness fell over Huashan.
Leaving behind a very deep note of wine in the shadows.

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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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