Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 90

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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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Episode 90
Jang Mun In’s face clouded with perplexity as he received this unexpected visitor.
‘So she was Cheong Hae Seong Ju’s daughter.’
His gaze settled on So Hui.
Dressed without ostentation in robes of subtle elegance, she sipped her tea with restrained grace.
Even he, who had long since cultivated his Dao to remain unmoved by beauty, found his eyes drawn to her for a moment—she possessed that rare quality that transcended mere appearance.
Clink.
So Hui set down her teacup.
Silk embroidered with delicate silver ornaments traced elegant lines as it flowed with her movements, unhurried and fluid.
“Huashan Sect’s aid is desperately needed.”
So Hui spoke to the sect leader of Huashan with easy familiarity.
And Jang Mun In found himself accepting this natural tone.
The title “Military Commander” was a rank bestowed only upon daughters of the imperial family closest to the throne—so regardless of his position as leader of Huashan Sect, propriety demanded he bow his head to her.
Jang Mun In fell into thought.
‘This is difficult. Very difficult.’
The purpose of So Hui’s visit proved far graver than he had anticipated.
‘Cooperation with the imperial court.’
A throb of tension built behind his eyes.
Kangho and the imperial court maintained strict neutrality with one another.
Yet the So Hui before him now sought the Huashan Sect’s aid.
“Is your father gravely ill?”
“He’s managing for now.”
Belying her words, she gnawed at her thumbnail—a tell that she was anxious.
“But it’s only a matter of time at this rate.”
She was in a state of urgent desperation.
Her father, Cheong Hae Seong Ju, was in critical condition.
He continued to manage affairs of state as though nothing were amiss, but it was mere facade.
Beneath the resplendent Imperial Robe lay nothing but withered hands and legs, riddled with scars.
‘He needs treatment as soon as possible.’
She had summoned countless physicians, but none possessed the skill to cure her father.
Only the last physician had offered words tinged with hope.
Sin Ui, who had inherited the essence of the Tianzhong Medical Gate, might be capable of it.
She had wanted to act at once.
But she could not.
The imperial court was a battlefield.
Should word spread that Cheong Hae Seong Ju was gravely ill, the jackals lurking within the palace would descend—she could see it as clearly as if it were already happening.
Thus, the path she had chosen was to move in secrecy, unbeknownst to anyone.
‘Yet assassins are already on my trail.’
Her eyes darkened slightly.
She had moved with caution, she thought, but the assassins had attacked before she could even reach Huashan.
That they had learned of this errand meant the one who hired them was someone close to her.
‘At least reaching Huashan quickly was fortunate.’
It was the only stroke of luck she could claim.
Huashan was one of the Nine Factions and One Gang.
No matter how many assassins the imperial court sent, they dared not move against Huashan itself.
“Please protect us.”
“…Immeasurable Buddha.”
Jang Mun In, who had been quietly invoking his Sect Token, closed his eyes slowly.
‘This is difficult. A path forward or a path to ruin.’
Jang Mun In’s heart burned with inner turmoil.
For this was a matter of the imperial court.
‘Lives hang in the balance.’
Yet his deliberation was brief.
“…Very well.”
Jang Mun In accepted the request.
How could he turn away a filial daughter who had risked so much to save her father?
As a Daoist, such a thing was unthinkable.
“How may I be of service?”
“First, protect us. And could we say to outsiders that I’ve come seeking the counsel of a Daoist master at Huashan?”
“You intend to conceal that Cheong Hae Seong Ju is gravely ill.”
Jang Mun In understood.
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
So Hui set down her guard, relief washing over her face as she pressed a hand to her chest.
It was then that Jang Mun In spoke again.
“Still, while we can manage most things, we cannot simply command Sin Ui to come and go as we please.”
“I know that much.”
So Hui replied quietly.
“That part is my responsibility.”
Jang Mun In was about to acknowledge this when—
“No, I’m telling you I don’t want to.”
“Stop that and just learn it.”
A commotion erupted from outside.
“Enough already.”
“But learning it would be good—”
The bickering grew louder, and through the window, two figures came into view climbing toward Ja Ha Pavilion.
It was Cheon Hui and Sin Ui.
Jang Mun In’s eyes widened at the sight of them.
‘What on earth happened?’
The usually dignified Sin Ui was clinging to Cheon Hui without a shred of pride.
“You said you’d just teach me.”
“No, it’s fine, really.”
Cheon Hui shook off the clinging Sin Ui.
Exhausted by Sin Ui’s persistent attempts to make him take on a disciple, Cheon Hui headed toward Ja Ha Pavilion.
‘I need to tell Jang Mun In about this.’
He walked on, ignoring Sin Ui for a moment.
“Ah?”
His eyes met those of Jang Mun In and a woman watching through the open window.
‘Who is that woman?’
Cheon Hui’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Just as the woman caught sight of him and her eyes widened in surprise, she was about to speak—
‘Let’s pretend we don’t know each other.’
Cheon Hui sent a Sound Transmission at once.
The woman flinched slightly, studied Cheon Hui for a moment, then nodded with a startled expression.
“Why won’t you just learn it?”
Sin Ui continued talking all the while.
“I’m not interested.”
Cheon Hui cut him off flatly.
‘I’m busy enough taking in new Martial Arts as it is—I’m not about to waste time on Medical Arts.’
In the past, he had learned Medical Arts only after mastering countless Martial Arts within the Tianma Divine Sect, just as a pastime.
But to learn Medical Arts first?
That made no sense whatsoever.
‘I’d rather spend that time traveling Kangho and learning new Martial Arts.’
Now that the Tianma Divine Sect no longer existed as a framework, he was free to roam Kangho without restraint.
The Nine Factions and One Gang, the Eight Great Families, and those brutes from the Sa Hyuk Ryeon—or rather, the Five Great Sects.
Zhongyuan still held countless Martial Arts he had never seen.
Seeing Cheon Hui’s indifference, Sin Ui opened his mouth once more, determined to capture his interest.
“If you learned it, you’d find it quite useful. One of our school’s secret techniques involves a spiritual elixir that—”
Suddenly Sin Ui’s voice cut off.
When Cheon Hui turned his head, wondering if he’d finally given up, Sin Ui’s face had flushed crimson.
“How long have you been watching?”
His gaze fixed on Jang Mun In, who had approached without notice.
“I saw nothing at all.”
Jang Mun In quickly looked away.
Sin Ui covered his face with his palm.
At that moment, So Hui jumped to her feet.
“Sin Ui!”
At her loud call, Sin Ui frowned and turned to look at her, tilting his head in confusion.
“Hmm…?”
Her face seemed oddly familiar.
But as the name escaped him and he was reaching into the archives of memory,
“It’s been a long time since we met.”
From the voice that followed, he recognized who it was.
“The daughter of Cheong Hae Seong Ju, then.”
“That’s correct.”
At Sin Ui’s recognition, So Hui’s expression brightened considerably.
“Please excuse me.”
With a brief word to Jang Mun In, she slipped out of the Ja Ha Pavilion and rushed toward Sin Ui.
“I’ve been searching for you.”
“For me?”
Sin Ui spoke with obvious displeasure.
The imperial court made his skin crawl.
How many unspeakable horrors had he witnessed during his time there long ago?
The filthy spectacle of princes murdering their own blood in their struggle to seize the throne.
And that was hardly all.
The sight of three generations being annihilated to cut away potential rivals was enough to make one’s flesh creep.
Which was precisely why he had kept his distance from the imperial court.
“Elder.”
So Hui took Sin Ui’s hand.
She cast away her usual cold expression and, with eyes glistening faintly with tears, met his gaze and pleaded with him.
“My father is gravely ill.”
“And what of it?”
Sin Ui replied curtly.
Whether Cheong Hae Seong Ju lived or died had nothing to do with him.
“Please help me.”
“I refuse.”
Despite her continued plea, Sin Ui answered with unmovable firmness.
So Hui’s face darkened.
She had anticipated difficulty, knowing the history between Sin Ui and the imperial family, but this seemed hopeless even to that expectation.
Meanwhile, as the two spoke,
“What in the world is happening here?”
Jang Mun In asked Cheon Hui.
“He told me to become his disciple?”
When Cheon Hui replied with indifference, Jang Mun In started visibly and furrowed his brow.
“How could the Huashan Sect accept a disciple in such a manner…?”
“Exactly.”
Cheon Hui agreed emphatically.
“So please, would you talk him out of it?”
At Cheon Hui’s words, pointing at Sin Ui with his index finger, Jang Mun In nodded.
“Very well. Let me at least try to reason with him.”
The moment Jang Mun In was about to step forward,
Ragged breathing came from ahead.
Heavy, labored breaths echoed through the air.
“Ui Yak Dang Ju?”
The Ui Yak Dang Ju, who had come rushing forward with his Movement Technique already deployed, now blocked Jang Mun In’s path.
“You’ve come as well?”
“Actually, what Cheon Hui said is somewhat different from the truth.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Sin Ui told Cheon Hui that he need not become his disciple — only that he would receive his teachings.”
Jang Mun In wondered if he had misheard.
Sin Ui was the finest master under Heaven of this age.
Which made this claim all the more difficult to believe and comprehend.
“Why would he do such a thing with no benefit to himself?”
“It appears Sin Ui has been captivated by Cheon Hui’s talent.”
“Ah!”
At the Ui Yak Dang Ju’s words, Jang Mun In nearly found himself nodding along.
Cheon Hui’s talent.
It was a thing not merely remarkable but truly astounding.
And yet something troubled him.
‘But Cheon Hui’s talent lies in Martial Talent — it has nothing whatsoever to do with the Medical Arts.’
As Jang Mun In’s confusion deepened, he turned to Ui Yak Dang Ju and asked.
“Did Cheon Hui have talent in the Medical Arts?”
“You didn’t know?”
Ui Yak Dang Ju spoke excitedly.
“A talent unparalleled in All Under Heaven.”
Though he hadn’t fully grasped the exchange between Sin Ui and Cheon Hui just moments before, he had witnessed the Medical Arts demonstrated afterward.
“…It may even surpass my own.”
At Ui Yak Dang Ju’s confident words, Jang Mun In’s thoughts stuttered—uncertain whether to rejoice or despair.
‘So he possesses not only Martial Arts, but also a heaven-given talent in the Medical Arts.’
It was astonishing.
Martial Arts and Medical Arts—mastering either alone consumed a lifetime.
Yet Cheon Hui, at his tender age, had already reached considerable heights in both.
Just then.
“I won’t.”
Sin Ui pushed away So Hui, who was pleading earnestly with him, and clung to Cheon Hui instead.
“Try learning from me. You won’t lose anything.”
“I said I won’t.”
“Master.”
“I’m not going.”
So Hui pursued Sin Ui.
Sin Ui pursued Cheon Hui.
The three of them chased one another like children playing tag, each hurling one-sided pleas.
Then Cheon Hui lifted his head with an expression of utter exasperation.
“I’m a disciple of the Huashan Sect. I’m already overwhelmed learning the Huashan Sect’s Martial Arts.”
Jang Mun In suppressed a smile.
‘Overwhelmed learning the Huashan Sect’s Martial Arts.’
Cheon Hui had not only mastered all the Huashan Sect’s techniques, but had even recovered and learned the ancient practices to their fullest.
Just then, Cheon Hui fixed his gaze on Jang Mun In.
“Isn’t that right?”
Jang Mun In met those eyes demanding agreement and replied awkwardly with a forced smile.
“Ha, ha-ha. That’s true.”
“Martial Arts, nonsense.”
Sin Ui snorted dismissively.
“This boy was sent down from heaven to learn the Medical Arts. If he studied my techniques, he’d be called the reborn Hua Tuo himself, and become a physician remembered through the ages.”
“That’s not so.”
This time Jang Mun In responded immediately.
Reborn Hua Tuo?
Cheon Hui was not a figure to be satisfied with merely that.
“Cheon Hui will become a master whose name endures in our sect’s history.”
“You don’t seem to understand the talent for the Medical Arts this boy possesses.”
“I may not know his talent in the Medical Arts, but I know his talent in Martial Arts.”
Sparks flew in the eyes of the two men locked in a stare.
“Throughout all time, his astounding talent can be counted on the fingers of one hand—”
“Cheon Hui’s talent rivals even the ancient Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng themselves—”
As Jang Mun In and Sin Ui suddenly launched into passionate discourse on Cheon Hui’s talents, the boy himself quietly slipped away.
“Fine, never mind. Do as you see fit.”

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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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