Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 256

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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 256
A carriage and dozens of horses entered Wuhan, where vast plains stretched endlessly.
Inside the carriage, Cheon Hui gazed out the window.
A single fortress stood solitary on the plain—the Murim Alliance came into view at once.
“Still the same.”
“It took about two weeks. We arrived faster than expected.”
As Cheon Hui murmured this, Hyeon Do beside him spoke quietly.
Perhaps it was the result of alternating between sleeping under the stars and night travel.
The party managed to reach Wuhan considerably faster than they had anticipated.
“Wow!”
Unlike the composed pair, Jong Hyeon pressed his face against the window, his eyes alight with wonder.
For Jong Hyeon, who had long traveled only around Jongnam and Shenxi, the sight of the Murim Alliance—vast as a great fortress—stirred an excitement almost beyond words.
“It’s so huge….”
As the Security Guard Unit members riding alongside the carriage let out soft laughs at his genuine amazement,
the carriage came to a halt with a lurch.
The carriage had reached the main gate and stopped with a shudder.
“The Security Guard Commander…?”
The gate sentries were quite startled to see the Security Guard Commander—who led one of the Murim Alliance’s four military directorates—sitting in the coachman’s seat, but they quickly nodded and opened the gate.
“Please enter.”
Chu Gye Gwang opened the gate briskly, then let out a quiet laugh as he saw the gate sentries standing rigidly in neat rows on either side.
‘They must have been given advance notice.’
Chu Gye Gwang nodded once, then took the reins again and urged the carriage forward.
Clop-clop, clop-clop—
The carriage moved ahead and passed through the gates.
“Wow!”
Jong Hyeon’s eyes went wide.
There was a fortress within the fortress.
Inside the Murim Alliance, countless pavilions were arrayed closely together, and small streets connecting them were scattered throughout.
And there were many people.
“There’s so many!”
As Jong Hyeon’s excitement bubbled over,
“Hmm?”
Cheon Hui noticed something as he looked upon the Murim Alliance’s scenery, the same as when he had entered before. His brow furrowed.
“The atmosphere is quite different.”
Among the people moving through the streets, a very subtle current of tension flowed.
“Edges are sharpened all around.”
Hyeon Do, too, seemed to have read the atmosphere within the Murim Alliance, as his expression hardened ever so slightly.
“…It must be because of the Murim Conference.”
Ha U Jin, who had been silent until now, spoke as he observed the sharp atmosphere of the streets.
“Since it is a matter upon which the very existence of the Murim Alliance depends, as the Grand Coordinator mentioned, everyone’s nerves must be on edge.”
Whether he was paying attention to the interior of the carriage or not, Chu Gye Gwang added his explanation.
Yet since this was his first time experiencing such an atmosphere within the Murim Alliance, his expression was somewhat complicated.
As they continued through the unsettled streets, commotion erupted around them.
“Is that…the Security Guard Commander pulling the carriage?”
“That can’t be right….”
The people recognized that the figure on the coachman’s seat was Chu Gye Gwang, the Security Guard Commander.
The crowd erupted in bewilderment.
The Security Guard Commander was a high-ranking official in the current Murim Alliance, renowned for both his martial prowess and reputation.
For such a man to be pulling a carriage—
whoever rode within could be no ordinary person.
“Who exactly is he carrying…?”
“Could it be someone who will take a central role in the Murim Conference?”
The crowd’s gaze fixed upon the carriage.
But the windows had grown firmly shut, offering them no answers.
“I wanted to see more….”
“You’ll get to see directly soon enough. Be patient a little longer.”
Ha U Jin patted Jong Hyeon’s head as he complained, then turned to Chu Gye Gwang and spoke.
“Can you let us down once we pass through that street?”
“That way, you mean?”
“That’s right.”
“But if you step down here, everyone’s attention will be drawn to us.”
“It doesn’t matter. And if we draw their eyes, won’t the path ahead be smoother for us?”
There was truth in that.
But it amounted to using Ha U Jin and Jong Hyeon as bait, didn’t it?
As Chu Gye Gwang hesitated over what to do, Hyeon Do spoke up.
“If you’re doing it for our sake, there’s no need.”
“No, it’s not that.”
Ha U Jin shook his head.
“I have a matter to attend to, so I mentioned it.”
“A matter? Is it urgent?”
“Yes, it is.”
Ha U Jin answered with a firm expression.
“Then we have no choice.”
Hyeon Do turned to Chu Gye Gwang and spoke.
“Stop the carriage.”
“……Understood.”
Soon, the carriage came to a halt on the street at Ha U Jin’s request.
“Hmm? What’s going on?”
As a few people on the street glanced toward the carriage that had suddenly stopped.
“I’ll be going ahead, then.”
Ha U Jin bowed to Hyeon Do, then turned his gaze to Cheon Hui, regarding him steadily before offering a smile.
“See you later.”
“Safe travels.”
As Ha U Jin descended, Jong Hyeon hesitated and looked up at Cheon Hui.
“See you later, brother.”
Cheon Hui waved his hand at the farewell and spoke.
“Yes. Go well.”
Jong Hyeon then turned to Hyeon Do, who was gazing at him intently, and bowed deeply.
“Until we meet again, sir.”
“Ha ha, let’s see each other again soon.”
Hyeon Do chuckled warmly at Jong Hyeon’s bow.
Though the journey had lasted only about two weeks, it had been enough for them to grow close.
Especially since Hyeon Do had taken a liking to them upon hearing they were Cheon Hui’s sworn brothers.
“Travel safely.”
As he spoke, Hyeon Do tapped Jong Hyeon’s head gently with his broad palm.
“Hehe.”
Jong Hyeon, delighted by the touch, soon gathered himself and rose from his seat.
“Well, I’ll be off!”
With those words, Jong Hyeon climbed down from the carriage and offered an awkward bow.
“Thank you for the ride.”
Once Ha U Jin and Jong Hyeon had taken their leave after bowing to Chu Gye Gwang and all the Security Guard Unit members, Chu Gye Gwang began driving the carriage again.
Now the crowd’s attention shifted from the carriage to the two men inside.
“The Swordmaster of Fei Yan……?”
The crowd tilted their heads in confusion.
Though the Swordmaster of Fei Yan was indeed a skilled expert of considerable renown, it was difficult to imagine he was important enough for the commander of the Security Guard Unit to serve as his driver.
As people’s attention turned elsewhere, the carriage moved forward faster than before.
A moment later.
“We’ve arrived.”
Chu Gye Gwang brought the carriage to a halt.
Cheon Hui and Hyeon Do descended at once and gazed up at the Pavilion before them.
“It’s been a while.”
Gazing at the Pavilion they had acquired through their decisive victory over the Jongnam Sect, Hyeon Do murmured softly.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Chu Gye Gwang, having completed his duty, offered his farewell.
“Must you go so soon? Why not stay for some tea before you go?”
At Hyeon Do’s suggestion, Chu Gye Gwang wore a slightly embarrassed smile and shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I have reports to file now……”
“I see.”
Having grown considerably closer during their time together on the journey, Hyeon Do spoke with a note of regret.
“Then we’ll see each other again soon.”
“I’ll seek you out another time.”
Starting with Chu Gye Gwang’s bow, the Security Guard Unit members one by one offered the Fist Salute.
“It’s been a pleasant journey.”
“Would it be alright to visit you later?”
“Of course. Yes. If time permits.”
Cheon Hui waved off their farewells perfunctorily, though their eyes gleamed as they watched him.
After a long spell of bowing and goodbyes.
“Then please, rest yourselves.”
Chu Gye Gwang led the carriage out.
The Security Guard Unit members filed out after him, and in their wake came silence—a sudden, heavy quiet that settled over Hyeon Do and Cheon Hui.
“……Peaceful, at last.”
Hyeon Do murmured.
The constant bustle had given way so abruptly to stillness that there was something forlorn about it, a kind of melancholy that lingered in the air.
Yet for Cheon Hui.
“Now I can breathe.”
He wore the expression of a man finally unburdened, his voice light with relief.
“I don’t know what they found so endlessly fascinating. Tsk. I thought they’d bore holes right through me with how hard they stared.”
Recalling the looks the Security Guard Unit had cast at him throughout the journey, Cheon Hui clicked his tongue.
Of course, he knew their intentions were harmless.
Their gazes held nothing but goodwill.
But.
‘It wasn’t just a day or two, either.’
Reflecting on it, Cheon Hui’s brow furrowed.
It had been a fortnight.
Whatever had captured their interest so thoroughly, the Security Guard Unit had not taken their eyes off him for a single moment during those entire fifteen days.
While eating, while sleeping.
He’d tried to ignore it, but when not just one or two but a whole contingent of men fixed their eyes on him with such intensity, how could anyone possibly pretend not to notice?
“Now I can finally stretch my legs.”
Relieved to be free of their scrutiny at last, Cheon Hui turned toward the Pavilion.
The moment his hand reached for the door latch.
“Hm?”
Cheon Hui’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s an old man doing in here?”
Sensing the aura emanating from inside the Pavilion, Cheon Hui clicked his tongue and thrust the door wide open.
Inside the Pavilion, which now lay fully exposed to view.
At its far end, seated at a round table, was an elderly man.
He was remarkably unkempt.
No—unkempt hardly did it justice.
His greasy hair was matted together like earth and gleamed dully; his garments were so caked with grime in such quantities that it seemed improper to even call them clothes.
“Why does everything itch so much? Ugh.”
The old man, who had been scratching at his head for some time, caught sight of Cheon Hui and Hyeon Do entering the Pavilion and broke into a grin.
Yellowed teeth flashed.
“Ah? You’ve arrived?”
A raspy voice filled the space.
“What brings you here?”
“What brings me? Why, I had something to discuss, naturally. Ah, yes!”
The old man paused mid-sentence and looked past Cheon Hui as he spoke.
“So, how was Huashan? Did you enjoy your visit, Hyeon Do?”
Hyeon Do, who had followed in behind, saw the old man and his mouth fell open in shock.
“Yong Ju Gae……?”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
Hyeon Do composed himself, collecting his startled emotions.
“We arrived faster than I anticipated, so I didn’t expect you to be waiting, sir.”
“Haha, as you see, I remain the one who runs things at Gae Bang.”
Yong Ju Gae let out a pleased chuckle.
“How could I not know the moment you reached the Murim Alliance?”
At Yong Ju Gae’s confident words, Hyeon Do nodded and opened his mouth to speak.
“Then…… what matter brought you to wait here for us, may I ask?”
“Why, to have a serious discussion about this Murim Conference, of course.”
Yong Ju Gae wiped his scratching fingers on his rags as he continued speaking.
“But what are you standing there gawking for? Come sit down already.”
Around the time Yong Ju Gae spoke as though this place were his own quarters, Hyeon Do’s eyes narrowed.
“If it’s about the Murim Conference, I’ll have to pass. You two talk among yourselves.”
Cheon Hui turned on his heel at once.
‘They can sort it out on their own.’
Just as Cheon Hui was heading toward his room, unwilling to be dragged into tedious affairs—
“Eh? Where are you going?”
Yong Ju Gae furrowed his brow as he spoke.
“Going? To my room. I’m not even attending the Murim Conference anyway.”
Cheon Hui shrugged as he replied.
‘Why would I need to be there for that conversation.’
The Murim Conference was a gathering where only one important figure from each faction participated, so there was no reason for Cheon Hui to attend.
“Don’t be like that. Come sit here.”
“Why?”
Cheon Hui asked, making no effort to hide his annoyance.
“Why, you ask? Because you’re the most important one here, that’s why.”
Yong Ju Gae spoke with an incredulous expression.
“Don’t you know the entire Murim Alliance is buzzing about you more than anyone else?”
“I don’t.”
Cheon Hui answered as though it were obvious.
“I just arrived at the Murim Alliance. When would I have had time to hear gossip?”
Faced with Cheon Hui’s impeccable logic, Yong Ju Gae’s words caught in his throat.
“Ach, ahem. Surely the rumors have spread throughout Kangho by now, not just the Alliance?”
“I avoided people the whole way here and slept rough, so I wouldn’t know.”
“……Tsk, well, if that’s the case, I suppose there’s no help for it.”
Confronted with answer after unexpected answer, Yong Ju Gae scratched his head awkwardly.
“In any case, circumstances being what they are, I wanted to hear your thoughts as well.”
“It’s tedious.”
Having spent all his time sleeping rough as he’d just mentioned, Cheon Hui wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed immediately.
He had no desire to listen to complicated talk.
But then Hyeon Do spoke.
“Let’s hear him out. This isn’t something we can simply brush aside, is it?”
“Fine, fine. I’ll listen for a moment.”
Though Cheon Hui continued to resist Yong Ju Gae’s words, he followed Hyeon Do’s without objection—something that stung Yong Ju Gae briefly, though he shook his head.
‘So he obeys the Daoist master readily enough because of his sect? Perhaps I should win over Hyeon Do first if I want to get my hooks into him later.’
While Yong Ju Gae smiled cunningly to himself, Hyeon Do and Cheon Hui took their seats at the table.
“Ahem, you’re settled?”
Yong Ju Gae, facing the two of them across the table, began in earnest.
“You know what purpose the Murim Conference serves, I take it?”
Hyeon Do nodded while Cheon Hui let out a thin yawn before opening his mouth.
“Because of the war with Sa Hyuk Ryeon, supposedly.”
“Precisely.”
Yong Ju Gae nodded.
“But doesn’t something strike you as odd about it?”
“What do you mean?”
“What is it?”
“The Alliance Lord and his strategist have maintained the Murim Alliance’s safety and balance all this while. That’s been a long time. But now suddenly we’re at war with Sa Hyuk Ryeon? It doesn’t align with their conduct up until now.”
Hyeon Do’s eyes opened slightly wider.
“I heard it was for the sake of defending their own sect.”
“That much is true. But even accounting for that, isn’t the response excessive?”
Yong Ju Gae’s gaze grew sharp and intent.
“There’s certainly some ulterior purpose. Something.”
“So what is it?”
Cheon Hui asked with evident disinterest.
“How would I know?”
“Aren’t you the leader of Gae Bang?”
“Being the leader of Gae Bang doesn’t mean I can pluck thoughts from someone else’s head.”
“A moment ago you sounded so confident.”
Cheon Hui, speaking as though exasperated, looked at Yong Ju Gae and asked.
“So what are you trying to say?”
“Perhaps that’s why a visitor will come to the Huashan Sect.”
“A visitor?”
Cheon Hui repeated the question.
“Are you there?”
A detached voice drifted from beyond the door.
Yong Ju Gae’s eyes narrowed at the sound, his gaze fixing on the entrance.
“I didn’t think he’d come in person.”
Hyeon Do, too, turned toward the door, his voice tinged with surprise.
“…Je Gal Gong?”

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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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