Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 74

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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 74
Hyeon Jin fell silent.
He was right.
What good was theory without practice?
The revised Nakying Sword Technique was demonstrably superior.
Cheon Hui turned away from Hyeon Jin, who stood motionless like a man struck mute, and fixed his gaze on Gu Gyeom Wui.
“So what will you do?”
He studied him directly.
“It seems the Nakying Sword Technique is your specialty. Do you want to learn this?”
“If I practice it, could I become stronger?”
“I can’t guarantee that.”
Cheon Hui gave no definitive answer.
Though it was indeed a progressive martial art as he said, it required proportionate effort and fortune to master.
Still.
“You’ll be better than before.”
Gu Gyeom Wui’s stern expression softened into a nod, and his eyes immediately brightened.
Moments later, he assumed a stance that seemed incongruous with his heavy build—graceful and magnificent—and began to ask Cheon Hui for guidance.
“Master, how is this?”
“Hmm. Twist your waist a bit more.”
“Like this?”
Cheon Hui stroked his chin, observing carefully.
The posture was sound, yet something felt amiss.
“Are you embarrassed right now?”
Gu Gyeom Wui’s face flushed red.
“It’s just that with my build being what it is, when I try to unfold such a delicate technique…”
“Then empty your mind instead. If you worry about such things, it’ll never end.”
Cheon Hui spoke further, watching Gu Gyeom Wui remain hesitant.
“To become an immortal, one must let go, release, and empty the mind—that’s what they teach.”
Gu Gyeom Wui’s eyes widened.
“That’s right—your words are true. I should empty myself, yet I cling to such things.”
Recalling the teachings of Daoism he had forgotten, Gu Gyeom Wui’s posture became noticeably more at ease.
At first, light and ornate, it seemed mismatched with his bulky frame, but as time passed, it began to blend naturally into him.
“That’s better now.”
When Cheon Hui turned to observe the result, Hyeon Jin had already recovered his focus.
“Could you offer me counsel as well?”
Cheon Hui saw the change in Hyeon Jin’s gaze and smiled with amusement.
“Of course.”
Before the words had even finished, Hyeon Jin pelted him with questions.
“Why do you deploy it this way here?”
“The Plum Blossom Shadow River? That form hides a heavy strike within an illusion—concealing inner force behind it, creating a dual threat with coordinated power…”
“Where there is light, there must be shadow. You mean to reverse the energy contained within and use it to your advantage.”
“Yes.”
Cheon Hui had explained the Plum Blossom Sword Technique simply enough, yet Hyeon Jin had already harmonized its subtlety with Daoist philosophy.
It made sense.
To inscribe it in a Martial Arts Manual, it would need to be systematized according to that philosophy.
Just then, Cheon Yu approached carefully.
“Master, might I receive some guidance as well?”
He’d already taken on two—what was one more?
“Of course.”
Cheon Yu smiled broadly and moved into position.
“It’s better to just observe the martial art, isn’t it?”
“That does make it easier.”
Cheon Yu promptly demonstrated his Mugong.
Light Movement Technique and Sword Technique, Palm Technique and Fist Technique.
Cheon Yu displayed considerable skill, and yet.
‘About half a step above Namgung Jin’s level, I’d say.’
For the first disciple of the Huashan Sect, it was disappointing.
‘In the past, I couldn’t have imagined this.’
The first disciple of the Huashan Sect on par with the second son of the Namgung Clan?
‘And the sword doesn’t suit him.’
Cheon Hui had grasped Cheon Yu’s disposition.
The moment he drew his sword, his balance crumbled—he couldn’t execute any true Mugong properly.
“Elder, you should abandon the sword instead.”
“Abandon the sword?”
“Master! Elder must become the next sect leader and learn the Jaha Sword Manual!”
At this shocking words, Hyeon Jin and Gu Gyeom Wui, who had been waiting their turn, flinched in alarm.
“You understand why, don’t you?”
Unexpectedly, Cheon Yu remained unmoved.
“I think I already know.”
“Ha. Still, I wanted your words to give me the certainty to be sure.”
“Then that’s good. Your disposition doesn’t suit the sword.”
“Ha-ha-ha.”
Cheon Yu burst into laughter.
It was something he already knew.
After becoming the first disciple, he had learned the Plum Blossom Sword Technique to master the Jaha Sword Manual, and even tried his hand at various other Sword Techniques.
‘Palm Technique and hand methods suit me better than Sword Technique.’
Watching Cheon Hui instantly grasp a disposition he had long concealed, he laughed.
‘Ha-ha. Even the sect leader didn’t see that.’
There was something trustworthy and reliable about the boy.
“Then in your judgment, what Mugong should I cultivate?”
“Hmm. It would be Palm Technique or Fist Technique, I’d say. Just looking at you, it seems you’ve been cultivating those two all along.”
“So weapons are out of the question?”
“They don’t suit you.”
Cheon Hui spoke decisively.
“Hearing you say it so bluntly is refreshing.”
Cheon Yu replied with easy candor.
“I’m glad then.”
As Cheon Hui spoke, he suddenly turned his head.
“Now, shall we come out?”
The Maehwa Geomsu who had been watching in secret after completing their evening preparations came rushing out.
Four Maehwa Geomsu emerged in total.
So Un Hyeon, Cheon Geuk, Cheon Gi, and Yeop Wol.
“Ha, ha-ha.”
“Master!”
“Why were you watching us so secretly?”
The Maehwa Geomsu scratched their heads sheepishly.
“Can you teach us too?”
Cheon Hui surveyed them carefully.
Their eyes, burning with eagerness, sparkled brighter than starlight in the night sky.
“Fine. But you all must follow my instructions—is that acceptable?”
“If it makes us stronger, we don’t mind.”
“That’s a small price to pay!”
All the Maehwa Geomsu answered as if it were obvious.
Seeing this, Cheon Hui’s lips curved slightly.
“Then I’ll take that as your consent.”
The moment they said they would follow his words, Cheon Hui began directing them entirely as he pleased.
“First, show me your Mugong.”
After roughly an hour.
Having observed everyone’s Mugong, Cheon Hui immediately pointed at each one and spoke.
“Cheon Geuk, go to the temple. So and Cheon Gi, come this way. Yeop Wol, go over there.”
Having divided the four Maehwa Geomsu into three groups, Cheon Hui opened his mouth.
“Yeop Wol, like the elder, abandon the sword and focus primarily on Palm Technique.”
Yeop Wol protested in bewilderment.
“But Master, I’ve devoted my whole life to Sword Technique—how can you ask me to learn Palm Technique?”
“For you, learning Palm Technique will bring faster achievement.”
“But as a disciple of the Huashan Sect, surely I should learn Sword Technique……”
Yeop Wol’s voice trailed off in reluctance.
Cheon Yu beside him was grinning, watching him with amusement.
“Ha-ha. If what you say is true, then I was never a disciple of Huashan after all.”
“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant.”
Cheon Hui glanced at Yeop Wol’s stubborn face, then let his voice fall flat and indifferent.
“Then do as you were doing. Just don’t regret it later.”
Watching Cheon Hui withdraw without resistance, Yeop Wol felt something unsettling settle in his chest.
Cheon Hui had cut matters short with decisive finality.
He needed to grow stronger quickly, and he had no intention of dragging along someone so stubborn.
“The issue with Cheon Geuk is his stamina.”
“Stamina?”
“Halfway through, I saw his breath coming all the way up to his throat.”
Cheon Geuk fell silent.
“His strength gave out midway, so his form wavered. With proper stamina, I suspect it would have unfolded quite differently.”
Whoosh—
A sword thrust with explosive force cut through the air, creating a vortex as it pierced toward the suspended moon.
“How can it be so different!”
Cheon Geuk burst out in admiration.
At the same time, he felt his trust and faith in Cheon Hui growing deeper.
“Could I… could I unfold it like that too?”
“Once you’ve built up your stamina, we’ll see.”
“I understand. So what should I be doing?”
“The Horse Stance is really the best option.”
At those words, Cheon Geuk’s face fell.
The Horse Stance—wasn’t that a fundamental basic exercise he’d already mastered as a child?
The thought of returning to it now filled him with embarrassment.
“Master, isn’t there some other kind of training I could do?”
“Would you rather run around that mountain all day?”
Cheon Geuk’s expression hardened immediately when he saw the tall mountain Cheon Hui pointed to.
“No, the Horse Stance really is the best.”
“Exactly.”
Cheon Geuk nodded reluctantly, as if swallowing something bitter, while Cheon Hui stroked his chin.
“Well then, let’s start with just one hour for now.”
“O-one hour?”
“And once your stamina improves, I’ll teach you a Sword Technique better suited to you than that one.”
“A Sword Technique?”
“It’s a Martial Arts Manual buried in the Mangyeong Pavilion of the Huashan Sect—quite an exceptional technique.”
Light flickered back into Cheon Geuk’s eyes, which had moments before shown reluctance at the prospect of the Horse Stance.
Cheon Hui observed this and nodded to himself.
The Mugong he intended to teach Cheon Geuk was the Shadow Snake Fist.
‘His stamina is lacking, but he has quick reflexes from what I glimpsed—it suits him well.’
There was only a small problem.
The Shadow Snake Fist was a Fist Technique.
It was indeed a Martial Arts Manual from the Mangyeong Pavilion, but it leaned more toward the Heterodox Schools than toward the Orthodox Sect. These were the two issues.
There was no helping it.
‘I’ll just create a new Sword Technique version.’
Two days would be more than enough for that.
He soon turned his body and fixed his gaze on So Un Hyeon and Cheon Gi, who were watching him with expectant eyes.
“Compared to the Mugong you’ve learned, you two seem to be lacking in the Light Movement Technique. Have you only barely grasped it?”
The two exchanged glances and spoke quietly.
“The Light Movement Technique may be lacking, but…”
“Light Movement Technique is… manageable.”
Cheon Hui’s expression turned incredulous.
“No. It’s the most important thing.”
“The Light Movement Technique?”
“Why is that so important?”
“If your opponent is strong, you need to run away.”
“Are you saying we should flee?”
Hyeon Jin, who had been quietly observing the situation from the side, suddenly spoke up in surprise.
“Or do you want to die a dog’s death?”
“Do you think we’re likely to meet such an end?”
“Yes.”
Cheon Hui spoke flatly and without emotion.
No matter how he looked at it, they were weak.
Everyone’s face flushed, but since it was Cheon Hui speaking, no one could offer a rebuttal.
“If that troubles you so much, just think of it this way—good footwork lets you evade your opponent’s attacks more easily and apply pressure in return.”
It was the sort of thing said with a magnanimous air.
Rather like offering three houses in the east in place of three in the west.
Yet because it was a more palatable way to frame it, the flushed faces improved slightly.
“Then look—see how much difference excellent Light Movement Technique makes.”
Cheon Hui moved at once.
Whoosh—
He vanished from their sight in an instant.
“Well?”
So Un Hyeon and Cheon Gi felt goosebumps erupt across their backs at the voice coming from behind them.
“H-how did you get behind us?”
“M-master?”
Cheon Hui walked through the space between them.
“What would happen if I were your enemy?”
They understood without being told.
They would be dead.
Both their throats convulsed sharply.
Watching the pair finally grasp the gravity of their situation, Cheon Hui dangled the carrot.
“Once you’ve improved enough, I’ll teach you this Light Movement Technique.”
“Really?”
“Truly?”
“Of course—after some training first.”
Just as both clenched their fists with renewed determination—
“Then you two should practice Horse Stance as well.”
“What? Horse… Stance?”
“Not Light Movement Technique?”
“Hmm? Light Movement Technique is preferable?”
A smile played across Cheon Hui’s face.
“Then would you like to circle that mountain once using Light Movement Technique? Your skills would improve considerably, I’m sure.”
It was far harsher than what he’d suggested to Cheon Geuk earlier.
“N-no. Horse Stance is better.”
“Yes, Horse Stance is surely the finest foundational training, isn’t it?”
The pair capitulated just as Cheon Geuk had.
“Then first, you and Gu—”
“Master.”
Yeop Wol approached hesitantly.
Behind him, Cheon Yu stood with a bright expression, his thumb thrust upward.
From whatever Cheon Yu had said to him, shadows hung beneath his eyes.
“I apologize for earlier. I also—”
“Will you give up the sword?”
“…I will follow your guidance, Master.”
“Good.”
Cheon Hui nodded.
“What you lack most, I noticed, is here. It’s so scattered you don’t even know where to begin.”
“That means—”
Cheon Hui smiled faintly.
“So we’ll do Horse Stance.”
Cheon Hui’s reasoning varied for each person, but in the end, what all of them reached was the same.
Later, after putting Hyeon Jin, Cheon Yu, and Gu Gyeom Wui through Horse Stance on a moonlit night, Cheon Hui clicked his tongue.
“Mugong, of all things—”
Though he had deliberately customized his approach for each one, the moment they unveiled their Mugong, he had settled on a single training regimen: Horse Stance.
“And their foundational physical strength is lacking too.”

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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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