Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 258

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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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258
Fire
Gun Sa observed Hyeon Do, whose eyes had widened in surprise at the unfolding situation, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
‘Everything is proceeding as planned.’
In the Murim Alliance council about to convene, the most vital thing was control of the initiative.
And the key to that initiative rested in no other hands than those of the Huashan Sect.
Having repelled the Nok Lim, their standing had risen to touch the heavens, and they possessed justification for this war against the Sa Hyuk Ryeon as well.
‘And if I draw in Huashan, I can draw in Gae Bang along with it.’
His gaze shifted toward Yong Ju Gae.
The man bore an uneasy expression, yet he too would ultimately follow his words.
‘There is a reason he cannot possibly refuse—the chance to flush out the traitor hidden within the Alliance.’
Though reluctant, the Gae Bang master had no choice but to accept the proposal.
‘So now that I’ve won over the two most important figures in the Murim Alliance council…….’
Gun Sa rose to his feet, turning from the two men.
“Then I’ll trouble you with this.”
“You’re leaving already?”
At Hyeon Do’s question, Gun Sa glanced toward the outside.
“Staying here any longer will only draw unwanted attention.”
True enough—those gathered outside were already stirring visibly at Gun Sa’s appearance.
“Why is Gun Sa in the Huashan Sect’s quarters?”
“Are they discussing the upcoming Murim Alliance council?”
“Could we have already fallen behind…….”
The Nine Factions and One Gang masters who had arrived grew watchful upon spotting Gun Sa, and noticing their wariness, he spoke.
“We’ll meet at the Murim Alliance council.”
With those words, Gun Sa bowed his head and was turning to leave when—
“Wait? You’re just going to slip away like that?”
A lazy voice suddenly cut through, and Gun Sa could not help but stop.
“Didn’t you say you owed me something in return?”
As he turned, Cheon Hui—who had been silently listening to the entire conversation—yawned, his eyes glistening with the edges of tears as he looked at Gun Sa.
“I even sat through this tedious talk and waited all this time because of that.”
After a long yawn, Cheon Hui wiped away the tears gathering at the corner of his eye with his index finger and spoke.
‘I forgot because things were going so well.’
Gun Sa straightened the body he had begun to turn and opened his mouth.
“My apologies. The matter between us can be addressed later…….”
“Ah, what’s this ‘later’ business? Let’s talk about it right now.”
Cheon Hui cut short Gun Sa’s attempt to postpone the conversation.
“Whatever it is, it can’t be more important than what you just discussed, right?”
…….
Gun Sa’s eyes grew cold and sharp.
It seemed terribly immature for him to have heard just how significant the conversation had been, yet still request praise for his contribution.
‘Perhaps I’ve judged him too generously.’
Having quietly lowered his assessment of Cheon Hui, Gun Sa spoke.
“You distinguished yourself with a great achievement in driving back the Nok Lim Dae Je. I called you here to reward you for that.”
“You said it was about our cooperation all this time, but now you’re only mentioning the attack on Nok Lim?”
Cheon Hui burst into laughter.
The intent behind those words was obvious enough.
The Murim Alliance had failed to render aid to the Huashan Sect, so he was offering compensation.
‘He’s just saving face. And he deliberately called me to learn more about me under the pretext of offering a reward.’
His meaning was transparent to read.
‘Though he probably never intended to hide it in the first place.’
Cheon Hui’s expression twisted slightly as he regarded the impassive Gun Sa.
“So this is essentially a bribe, saying that your failure to help this time should be overlooked?”
“Cheon Hui!”
“Ha ha! You’re merciless, aren’t you?”
Hyeon Do was startled, and Yong Ju Gae laughed.
And Gun Sa—
“If you put it that way, yes.”
—admitted it with surprising frankness.
Cheon Hui tossed out his next words as if finding Gun Sa’s reaction tedious.
“So what exactly are you going to give me?”
“I’ll give you a chance to take one item from the Murim Repository.”
“What? The Murim Repository?”
Yong Ju Gae’s eyes widened slightly in that instant.
“How could you possibly open that place…….”
Cheon Hui asked, feigning surprise at Yong Ju Gae’s reaction.
“Is it somewhere important?”
“It’s where the Murim Alliance keeps all the Divine Weapons they’ve collected over decades, stored separately. But without the Alliance Leader’s authority, no one could enter that place.”
In the moment Yong Ju Gae’s eyes narrowed with suspicion toward Gun Sa.
“The Alliance Leader has granted permission.”
Gun Sa answered as if he’d been waiting for the question.
“The Alliance Leader……?”
The furrow between Yong Ju Gae’s brows deepened.
The Murim Repository had opened so rarely in his long life that he could count the times on one hand.
Yet to open such a place…….
‘Is the Alliance Leader taking notice of this one?’
Meanwhile, Cheon Hui—who had no intention of dwelling on the deeper details—stroked his chin thoughtfully at Yong Ju Gae’s words.
“A place where Divine Weapons are collected, you say?”
His eyes, which had been thoughtful, now glimmered with light.
Lucky timing. He’d been needing a blade anyway.
Cheon Hui nodded and rose to his feet.
“Then let’s go right now.”
“……Now, you mean?”
“There’s an old saying—strike while the iron is hot. Better to finish things quickly than put them off, wouldn’t you agree?”
Gun Sa gazed intently at Cheon Hui, who appeared to have no particular concerns.
The situation was delicate.
Yet this young man before him seemed utterly indifferent to such matters, focused only on securing what was his.
‘……Still so young.’
Gun Sa withdrew his gaze and rose from his seat.
“Follow me.”
He turned and stepped out of the pavilion without delay.
“Gun Sa!”
“What brings you here…….”
“It’s been a long time.”
A commotion erupted outside.
Cheon Hui, watching Gun Sa’s departing back, wore a cold smile.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
Cheon Hui bowed to Hyeon Do without waiting for a response and stepped out of the pavilion.
Another stir immediately rippled through the surroundings.
“……Who is this young one?”
“One of the Plum Blossom Divine Art?”
His gaze tangled with those of the Nine Factions and One Gang representatives who had been regarding him with confusion.
Most were faces he’d never seen, though a few were acquaintances of old.
‘Well, they’ve got some nerve showing their faces.’
Cheon Hui deliberately fixed his stare on the Jongnam disciple Chung U Ja and the Wudang disciple Mok Young Ja, with whom he’d clashed before.
“It’s been a while.”
“Ahem. Oh, yes, quite a while indeed.”
“Hem. Good to see you again, it has been.”
Both men let out awkward coughs and turned their heads away uncomfortably.
‘So they still have some conscience, then.’
Cheon Hui smiled faintly to himself and began to pass them. But at that moment, figures moved to block his path.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
“Infinite Buddha.”
A Buddhist monk in crimson robes and an elderly Daoist in blue sect robes stood before him.
“Glad to…….”
“The Daoist of Plum Blossom Divine Art…….”
Just as they were about to speak.
“Those who have words to share may come inside.”
Hyeon Do’s voice came from within.
Hyeon Do, who had been watching the scene outside through the window, offered these words for Cheon Hui’s sake.
“Ahem.”
“Excuse me.”
The two who had been blocking the way paid Cheon Hui scarcely a glance before rushing inside toward their true objective.
‘These fools are amusing.’
Watching them stream inside like a swarm of ants, Cheon Hui could not help but smirk.
The sight of them scurrying about was laughable.
‘Faster than flipping one’s palm.’
When he had visited the Murim Alliance before, they had dismissed the Huashan Sect entirely, looking down on it with contempt.
But what of now?
They were hurrying toward him like competitors racing for advantage, as though flames had been set at their heels.
Some were even employing Speed Techniques as they sprinted forward.
And this shift had come to pass because the Huashan Sect had brought down Baek Gwi Seong and repelled the assault of Nok Lim.
“Harmony? No, in the Kangho, it’s clear — nothing matters more than power if you want to earn recognition.”
Having let his true thoughts spill from his lips, Cheon Hui hurried after Gun Sa, who was moving ahead.
* * *
The Murim Pigoand had earned its name for good reason.
Gun Sa led him through the Alliance’s grandest pavilion, passing through several doors in succession.
And then, the final door opened.
Before them stretched an endless flight of stairs descending into darkness.
“Mind your step as you follow.”
As Gun Sa descended carefully, Cheon Hui followed down the seemingly bottomless staircase, absently picking at his ear.
‘I thought I’d die from the noise.’
Recalling the commotion he had endured on the way here, Cheon Hui clicked his tongue softly.
The eyes of the crowd had been unbearably fixed upon him.
Which was hardly surprising.
After all, he—the renowned Master of the Plum Blossom Divine Art, whose name reverberated through the entire Kangho—was moving together with Gun Sa, who had remained sequestered until now.
It would have been strange if attention had not focused upon them.
Then Gun Sa asked:
“What does the young master think of this coming war with the Sa Hyuk Ryeon? Would you prefer that we fight? Or would you rather see the negotiations with Sa Hyuk Ryeon come to naught?”
Cheon Hui, without so much as glancing back at Gun Sa, let out a short laugh at the question.
“Why do you ask?”
“I wished to hear the opinion of the one who struck down the Nok Lim Dae Je.”
“Well, if I had to choose between the two, fighting would be preferable.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Gun Sa, having uttered those pregnant words, nodded—and in that very moment:
“We’ve arrived.”
As the endless stairs came to an end, a radiant light spilled into view.
‘This must have taken considerable labor to excavate.’
Cheon Hui surveyed his surroundings.
It did not appear to be a natural cavern; rather, it seemed the work of human hands—the earth deliberately tunneled and carved, with wood paneling fitted skillfully throughout, and silk hangings draped across the walls in places.
‘It has the feel of the Tianma Library.’
As he paused to take in the sight:
“Mm?”
Cheon Hui sensed something and turned his gaze across the chamber.
Two massive iron doors stood before him.
Between them sat a single chair, and in that chair dozed an old man whose white hair was thick as snow.
‘A gatekeeper, then?’
Cheon Hui glanced at the old man and asked:
“But why are there two doors?”
“The right door leads to the Murim Pigoand, where the young master will enter. The left door is the Bicheon Seogo—the Murim Alliance’s repository where Secret Martial Arts Manuals are gathered.”
“A place where Secret Martial Arts Manuals are kept?”
Cheon Hui’s eyes immediately fixed upon the left door.
At the mention of Secret Martial Arts Manuals accumulated over the long years by the Murim Alliance, his curiosity kindled of its own accord.
“It seems you have some interest in the manuals.”
“The secrets do catch my eye more.”
Cheon Hui fixed Gun Sa with a direct gaze.
“Is it not possible to enter there instead?”
“I’m afraid the matter has already been decided.”
“Pity. I really would have liked to.”
As Cheon Hui made a face of regret, clicking his tongue, Gun Sa approached the old man.
“Elder.”
“Oh my, I must have dozed off.”
The old man rubbed his eyes and opened them, fixing his gaze on Gun Sa.
“Hmm? Isn’t this Gun Sa?”
“It’s been a long time since we last met.”
“Ha ha, indeed it has. But what brings you here?”
“I’ve brought a guest.”
“Ha ha, a guest?”
The old man rose slowly from his chair.
“Ah, my.”
With a soft groan, he rubbed his lower back and smiled at Cheon Hui.
“Well now, a young guest indeed.”
The old man looked up at Gun Sa.
“Which section are you entering?”
“The Murim Pigoand.”
“How many items?”
“One.”
“I see.”
The old man nodded, then approached the right door and moved his hand.
In that instant, Cheon Hui’s eyes gleamed.
‘An Array Formation? There’s a subtle inner power infused in it.’
As he examined the door with keen eyes, the iron gate that had been closed began to open.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—
As if an earthquake were shaking the earth, the ground and ceiling trembled.
Then, presently, the iron gate swung wide, revealing the sight within.
‘Oh, this is quite impressive.’
Beyond the iron gate lay another cavern, and there, all manner of weapons were arrayed in meticulous order.
The old man entered, speaking as he went.
“Follow me carefully.”
The moment Cheon Hui stepped inside.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—
The iron gate began to close again, and Gun Sa, who remained outside, spoke.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
The moment those words left his lips, the door shut.
Just as darkness was about to descend.
Flash!
Night-Illuminating Pearls glowed from all sides.
The old man swept his gaze across the weapons scattered about, then clasped his hands behind his back.
“Go ahead, look to your heart’s content.”
“May I touch them?”
“Ha ha, you may. Though you should be careful as you handle them. Some of these weapons carry Demonic Energy, or possess otherworldly presence.”
Cheon Hui smiled quietly.
He didn’t need to be told—he already knew.
After all, from several of the many weapons in this space, he could sense an edge of sharp and potent force.
‘There’s pleasure in examining each one.’
With a crooked smile playing at his lips, Cheon Hui turned and moved deeper into the chamber.
“Well then, let me have a proper look around.”

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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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