Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 318

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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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318
Fire
At Muhyeol, the easternmost edge of Hubei, those seeking to cross the Yangtze River had begun to gather.
Not merely a handful.
Merchant caravans and escort agencies had come to transport goods, while vagabonds lingered in the shadows of dark alleys, hoping to be hired by them.
And to profit from these arrivals, merchants spread their wares across the streets, and storytellers peddled their tales……
As the saying goes, people draw people.
As crowds gathered, the streets of Muhyeol thrummed with an extraordinary vitality.
It showed no regard for day or night.
If anything, the true character of Muhyeol revealed itself only after dusk.
The sun descended, and the moon rose.
Night had arrived.
Yet the streets of Muhyeol blazed as if rejecting night’s approach.
Lanterns crowded every corner.
Red and yellow light scattered across the vision, rendering it hazy.
A burst of stimulating brilliance wholly illuminated the streets.
It seemed a street where night never came.
Such splendor was more than enough to capture the eyes of outsiders visiting Muhyeol.
And seizing the moment, boys appeared from nowhere and approached them with invitations.
“Won’t you visit our inn? On a night like this, Hong A Ju is perfect!”
“Guest! Our inn’s Five-Spice Braised Pork is truly exceptional. One taste and you won’t regret it.”
They were soliciting customers.
“Come along now!”
“This way!”
Enchanted by their skillful pitches, all stepped into the most brilliantly lit street.
And in that instant.
“Ah!”
“Extraordinary!”
They had fallen into another world.
From all directions flowed the rich aroma of food and wine, stimulating their senses, and at every turn courtesans beckoned alluringly from pleasure houses.
“Gulp—is this the Peach Blossom Spring?”
“I never knew Muhyeol could be this magnificent.”
Those who had arrived gazed with widened eyes.
Their excitement had not yet faded.
It was perhaps inevitable.
Most of those gathering in Muhyeol were those who had endured long journeys.
For such people, these dazzling streets were temptations difficult to pass by.
This was especially true of the vagabonds.
Those who earned and spent by the day had no reason to resist desire.
Within moments the street teemed with people, and the air filled with boisterous chatter.
The same was true of Hwacheonru, the most renowned pleasure house on this street.
The topmost floor of Hwacheonru.
Ting— ting—
A man seated in a room where lovely melodies flowed raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.
“Ahh, splendid. Truly splendid.”
The appearance of the man who emptied his cup with admiration was shabby.
His worn Martial Robe bore the marks of numerous patches, and flecks of dried blood scattered across it, making him look like he’d come from a bandit’s den.
It was a most peculiar sight.
Those who ascended to the topmost floor of Hwacheonru were typically wealthy aristocrats or the heirs of powerful families.
The man, whose attire clashed entirely with the elegant chamber, extended his cup.
Upon seeing this, Ju Weol Hyang, who knelt before him with practiced grace, carefully lifted a wine bottle and poured.
Splash—
A subtle aroma of wine diffused through the air.
“Fine wine indeed.”
“It is Hong A Ju, personally brewed by the Young Girl.”
“Haha! So that explains the excellent taste.”
The man burst into laughter.
Ju Weol Hyang’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
There was something subtly discordant about his laugh.
It was as though it grated against the nerves.
And it wasn’t only she who felt it.
Twang—
The music jarred.
The elegant woman in the ornate silk robe, who had been plucking the guqin with fluid grace, fumbled.
Recognizing her mistake, she went ashen, bowing her head deeply.
“I—I apologize, sir!”
She pressed her palms together, trembling violently as she kept her head bowed.
“Ha ha, it’s fine. People make mistakes, don’t they?”
The man smiled at her, a faint smirk playing at his lips.
Then he tilted his head slightly to one side.
Toward Ju Weol Hyang.
“Don’t you agree? Ju Weol Hyang.”
“I’ll discipline her separately afterward.”
Ju Weol Hyang answered, bowing her head as well.
Sweat beaded along her spine.
When the woman had fumbled, Ju Weol Hyang’s heart had lurched.
This man was a cold-blooded killer who wouldn’t hesitate to take a life the moment his mood soured.
The man withdrew his gaze from Ju Weol Hyang and fixed it on the woman at the guqin.
Her hands still wouldn’t stop shaking.
“Hmm. You won’t be able to play in that state.”
“I—I…”
The woman stammered.
Fear had seized her.
The man withdrew his gaze and waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough music. Leave us.”
At his words, the woman flinched and looked to Ju Weol Hyang.
Lost in her own uncertainty, she looked to Ju Weol Hyang, who narrowed her eyes and barked an order.
“What are you dawdling for? Didn’t the master just tell you to leave at once?”
“Y—yes, understood!”
The trembling woman hastily gathered the guqin and backed out of the room.
Once the door closed, Ju Weol Hyang bowed to the man once more.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Ha ha. Right now, you’re not merely a guest to me—we have a transaction between us, don’t we?”
A chill ran down Ju Weol Hyang’s spine.
The unspoken meaning was clear: if you weren’t bound by this deal, she’d be dead.
“Now then, what of the information?”
The man took a sip of wine and spoke.
At his words, Ju Weol Hyang reached into her voluminous sleeve and drew out a sheet of paper.
“Here it is.”
The man took the paper.
And as he was carefully scanning it,
“Ju Weol Hyang!”
A shout suddenly came from outside.
“What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you we have an important guest?”
Ju Weol Hyang cried out urgently.
Even as she did, she watched the man’s expression.
His eyebrows had tightened slightly.
He was displeased.
‘Dangerous.’
Sweat broke across Ju Weol Hyang’s forehead.
The powder on her face was running, drenched with perspiration.
“That is…”
The man who had shouted from outside wasn’t leaving; instead, he awkwardly tried to continue speaking—but in that very instant,
Bang!
The door burst open, and a massive man, nearly the size of a bear, stormed in with heavy breathing.
His voice dripped with irritation.
“So you’re the bastard who’s monopolized the top floor for ten days?”
“Dok Gwi Su, the master swordsman?!”
Ju Weol Hyang gasped, her voice barely steadying.
The man who had appeared was counted among the foremost vagabonds in Muhyeol and was a regular patron of the Hwacheonru.
“What in the world are you doing? Can’t you see we’re entertaining a guest?”
Ju Weol Hyang rushed to stop him.
It was to save him.
But rather than heeding her, Dok Gwi Su felt his anger flare white-hot.
He was once a vagabond who roamed All Under Heaven, a man who belonged nowhere.
Yet he had fallen for this woman, Ju Weol Hyang, and settled roots in Muhyeol.
Now she was rebuking him and shielding that wretched creature—no wonder his rage burned.
“You wretch!”
Dok Gwi Su’s Martial Robe billowed.
His martial power, seething with fury, surged through the room in an instant using the Dok Gi Cheol Gong.
“You will…… Ngh!”
His words caught short in his throat.
Without warning, figures in ashen Martial Robes appeared and clamped his mouth shut.
‘When?!’
His chest seized in panic.
He had sensed nothing—no footstep, no presence, nothing until his mouth was already sealed.
The meaning was unmistakable.
The gap between his martial prowess and theirs was immeasurable.
“You’re interrupting my leisure.”
A frigid voice spilled out.
From the mouth of a man with eyes half-closed.
His expressionless gaze held steady on Dok Gwi Su.
His lips parted.
“Who is this man?”
“He is called Dok Gwi Su, sir. A vagabond currently holding sway in Muhyeol.”
“This one?”
The man’s brow furrowed.
“Tsk. In my active days, insects like this couldn’t even dare speak their names.”
At that moment.
Crack—
A hairline fracture appeared in the cup he held, then crumbled to powder in an instant.
The dust, tinged with the murky light of a lantern, scattered on a wind that came from nowhere.
“……!”
Dok Gwi Su’s eyes flew wide open.
His face drained of all color at once.
Killing intent flooded through him.
Death hovered before his eyes.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
He cried out with bloodshot eyes.
But the hand sealing his mouth held firm, choking back his cries.
As Dok Gwi Su stood muzzled, cold sweat streaming down his face.
“Sir. This man is a valued patron of our establishment. Might you show him mercy?”
Ju Weol Hyang spoke softly.
Dok Gwi Su was a heavy spender, and she could hardly afford to ignore him.
But.
“I’ll count this as a favor granted.”
Only his cold voice answered.
“Or were you thinking of making an enemy of me?”
Ju Weol Hyang fell silent and withdrew.
The man studied her briefly, then rose from his seat.
He walked toward Dok Gwi Su, who was now weeping, hands clasped behind his back.
“I’m curious what poison will spill from that mouth of yours.”
The two martial artists released their grip on Dok Gwi Su’s mouth at once.
Thud!
Dok Gwi Su immediately fell to his knees.
“Forgive me! My eyes were blind, and I failed to recognize your distinction…….”
“That’s odd. From where I stand, those eyes looked perfectly keen from the moment you opened them.”
The man regarded him steadily as he spoke.
Dok Gwi Su’s words abandoned him.
Watching the man’s tongue-tied panic, the man’s lips twisted into a smirk.
At the same moment, his sleeve billowed.
Splash!
Blood sprayed in all directions.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Dok Gwi Su screamed.
His eyes had gone hollow, streaming blood in grotesque torrents.
The man smiled at it.
It was a smile steeped in killing intent.
“Now that you’re blind, perhaps you understand.”
“Ghaaaaahhh!”
Rather than words, the man let out a terrible sound, watching Dok Gwi Su thrash about, tears of blood streaming down his face, before his expression shifted to one of utter boredom.
“Dispose of him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Understood.”
Two martial artists led him away and vanished.
It was over in an instant.
“The wine has lost its taste.”
The man clasped his hands behind his back and turned away.
Ju Weol Hyang swallowed dryly.
Silhouetted against the gentle moonlight and the hazy glow of lanterns, his form seemed beautiful and terrible all at once.
The man glanced back at her and spoke.
“I’ll be counting on you next time as well, branch chief.”
Ju Weol Hyang bowed her head deeply.
“As you wish, sir.”
By the time she raised her head again.
…….
The man was already gone.
Only then did Ju Weol Hyang release a trembling breath.
“Chil Yo Seon, Wind Blade…….”
She murmured his alias, shaking her head slowly, and struggled to her feet.
For a moment she swayed.
“Luzhou!”
The man waiting by the door, trembling violently, rushed forward to steady her.
But before he could, she steadied herself and spoke.
“I’m fine.”
She forced strength into her unsteady legs, and with a hoarse voice, she turned to the man still standing awkwardly at the threshold.
“First, gather intelligence on the Maehwa Sword Association and the Lightning Blade.”
* * *
Winter had passed, and spring had arrived.
Though cold winds still blew from places, carrying the chill of winter, the sunlight overhead felt warmth unlike before.
And beneath that warmth.
Dust rose in billowing clouds.
Hundreds of horses thundered down the road, creating the sight.
“Tsk, a carriage would’ve been nicer.”
Cheon Hui, holding the horse’s reins, grumbled.
Perhaps because the mission was urgent.
Or perhaps because there were so many people carrying it out.
No carriage would do—everyone had to ride horses.
‘At least it’s close, so that’s something.’
“Master.”
As Cheon Hui was calculating the distance to Muhyeol, Cheon Hyang rode up alongside him.
Whether she’d ridden before or not, she guided her horse smoothly, drawing close to Cheon Hui and speaking in a low voice.
“So from now on, we belong to the Myeoljjeol Corps?”
“Well, more or less.”
Cheon Hui answered casually.
He couldn’t simply abandon the Hwa Ryeong Dan, who had come to aid him.
So as a temporary measure, he’d incorporated both the Hwa Ryeong Dan and Cheon Hyang into the Myeoljjeol Corps.
Following the First Squad under Ho Gwang Gae’s command and the Second Squad under Dan Ri Gwan Cheon, they would form the Third Squad.
Meanwhile, upon hearing Cheon Hui’s answer, Cheon Hyang scratched her head awkwardly.
It was unexpected.
Originally, she had planned to help Cheon Hui in a separate capacity.
But somehow, she and Hwa Ryeong Dan had ended up affiliated with the Myeoljjeol Corps as if they belonged there.
“Do you think the others will say something about it?”
She glanced backward slightly as she spoke.
She’d heard that the Myeoljjeol Corps selected only a few elite warriors through rigorous trials.
So if she and Hwa Ryeong Dan suddenly became members without going through that selection process, those who had failed the test would hardly view them favorably.
Even now, several people behind them were watching her and Hwa Ryeong Dan with cold, resentful eyes.
Cheon Hui followed Cheon Hyang’s gaze backward, then spoke as if tossing the matter aside.
“What does it matter what they say? It’s my unit anyway.”
He paid no attention to their reactions.
After all, the Myeoljjeol Corps was a unit he could run as he pleased.
“Why? Does it bother you? You don’t have to stay—would you rather go back now?”
Cheon Hui spoke as if irritated.
He was already tired of looking after them one by one, so if she agreed to leave, he was prepared to send her off immediately.
At that, Cheon Hyang let out a quiet laugh.
She had read his expression.
“No, never mind.”
She wiped the smile from her lips and spoke.
“If I left because of that, it would feel like I was backing down, and I hate that even more.”
Watching Cheon Hyang’s competitive fire kindle with her words, Cheon Hui let out a small laugh.
“Then shine in this mission. Once you build a reputation, they’ll all keep quiet.”
Kangho was a world of survival of the fittest.
So displaying strength was all that mattered.
“You’re right.”
Just as Cheon Hyang gave a small nod,
clip-clop, clip-clop.
A horse that had been riding ahead suddenly slowed its pace and drew closer.
It was Ok Gi Rin.
With a gentle smile on his face, he looked between Cheon Hui and Cheon Hyang in turn before speaking.
“Infinite Buddha. If it’s no trouble, might this humble one join your conversation?”
He asked with evident good intentions.
Cheon Hui smiled back at him.
Then he let fall a firm voice.
“No.”

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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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