Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 91

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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 91
“Huff, huff.”
Cheon Hui, who had been practicing Qi Circulation and Breathing against the stone wall, frowned as he watched Shin Ui approach, worn out from climbing the mountain path.
“How did you find this place?”
“The Medicine Hall Master told me.”
“The Medicine Hall Master?”
Cheon Hui’s face twisted in displeasure.
‘No help at all.’
Just as Cheon Hui was dropping his assessment of the Medicine Hall Master to rock bottom.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Shin Ui, breathing slowly to compose himself, looked at Cheon Hui and spoke with emphasis.
“It is a tremendous loss that you do not study medicine.”
Shin Ui spoke with a grave expression, but—
“There are times when loss is inevitable.”
Cheon Hui waved his hand dismissively.
Not this again.
He’d heard it so many times he’d lost count, and by now it made him want to scream.
Despite the refusal, Shin Ui pressed on, opening his mouth once more.
“Did not the Sect Master himself agree?”
There was the problem.
Cheon Hui narrowed his eyes.
He’d expected the Sect Master to refuse, but instead—whatever he’d heard—the man was actively urging him to study medicine.
“Ah, yes, yes. I understand.”
Shin Ui reacted to what seemed like a positive answer.
“Then, which branch should we—”
“I’ll learn when I have time.”
“…What?”
Cheon Hui unfolded his crossed legs and spoke.
“I need to practice martial arts today.”
“Then when, roughly, will you be finished?”
“I don’t know.”
Shin Ui was taken aback slightly.
“Then, would it not be possible to learn a little before your martial practice?”
“After I do some Qi Circulation and Breathing first.”
Just as Shin Ui was about to be flustered by this utterly unexpected evasion—
“Elder.”
So Hui and her companions approached.
What are they doing here now?
Nagan Peak was generally where the elders of the Huashan Sect resided.
So only distinguished guests typically visited.
‘Everyone’s showing up.’
Just then, So Hui caught her breath.
Perhaps from climbing such a high peak.
She brushed her damp hair back once, retied it, then slowly approached Shin Ui.
“Elder.”
“I already said no.”
Cheon Hui stared at Shin Ui with an expression of exasperation.
It was just like what had happened between him and Shin Ui moments before.
“Hmm?”
Then, all at once, he stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Shin Ui was completely helpless against So Hui’s relentless persistence.
“What if I paired those two together?”
Just as the thought struck him as a brilliant solution—
“Pair together for what?”
A voice suddenly rang out from below.
Looking down, he saw a young girl gazing up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Oh!”
At once, she looked behind her and spoke.
“Wi Jin! That’s the person from back then!”
Wi Jin hurried over and bowed respectfully.
“My apologies. She’s still young and hasn’t learned proper manners yet.”
“Young?”
Cheon Hui let out a quiet laugh.
‘Young and doesn’t know manners—that’s rich.’
He didn’t believe a word of it.
The girl before him looked perhaps fourteen or fifteen, but the martial skills she’d displayed earlier were anything but ordinary.
‘More like she was never taught manners in the first place.’
What she’d unleashed was the martial art of the Black Assassin Organization.
The dirty work of the imperial household.
The Black Assassin Organization raised abandoned women and primarily employed them for intelligence gathering and assassination through seduction—that was what the organization did.
And for that reason, at such a young age, martial training took priority over etiquette.
‘And with those skills…….’
He recalled the martial art the girl had displayed.
That distinctive technique performed with a silver cord.
‘Only the leader of the Black Assassin Organization learns that secret art.’
Cheon Hui studied So Ryeong closely.
‘Hmm, so is this girl the one who will become the new leader of the Black Assassin Organization? She certainly has the skill, but it’s still incomplete.’
Just then their eyes met.
“Hmm? What is it?”
Feeling his gaze, So Ryeong lifted her head and smiled with innocent guilelessness.
“Nothing at all.”
Cheon Hui cut the conversation short immediately.
Since ancient times, nothing good had ever come from involvement with the imperial household—not once.
‘Those arrogant bastards, living only to lord their superiority over others.’
The thought made him sick.
‘And they threw such a fit when I wouldn’t bow to them.’
Memories of the past surfaced.
Once, when the imperial household felt threatened by the power of Kangho, they sought the aid of the Barbaric Outsiders to reduce their numbers.
And the Tianma Divine Sect had refused.
The Tianma Divine Sect was a sect that revered its own Sect Master.
To serve the Emperor of Zhongyuan would have been absurd.
But the other Barbaric Outsider sects were not like the Tianma Divine Sect.
They coveted the conquest of Zhongyuan.
Even if it meant submitting to the imperial household.
‘But why did they attack our sect then?’
He shook his head.
He could speculate that the existence of the Tianma Divine Sect had grated on them, but he couldn’t say with certainty.
‘Well, at least it showed the sect’s strength and allowed us to live in peace afterward.’
Those were the days when he had become Sect Master of the Tianma Divine Sect and earned his fearsome reputation.
He had crushed the entire alliance of Barbaric Outsider sects that attacked at the imperial household’s instigation and sealed their gates.
The epithet he’d gained then: the Absolute Heavenly Demon.
He had become known as the absolute sovereign of the Nine Provinces and Eight Emperors, not only among the Barbaric Outsiders but throughout Zhongyuan as well.
‘But that very title brought me suffering too.’
The imperial household, unwilling to admit their defeat, had harassed him relentlessly.
Not openly, but in secret.
‘They even cut off trade with the merchant guilds, and there was a time when I suffered greatly because of it.’
Thinking of it now kindled his anger.
Enough. That’s enough.
He pushed the fury aside.
He was no longer Sect Master of the Tianma Divine Sect.
And now there was no reason to be entangled with the imperial household again.
“But I never expected that you, the Sect Master—or rather, the Taoist Master—of Huashan would be a Taoist priest.”
Wi Jin spoke with a smile, as if hoping to establish rapport.
Looking at him ask so, as if to strengthen their friendship, Cheon Hui replied quietly.
“I wasn’t wearing the Sect Robe back then.”
“That’s not what I meant…….”
Wi Jin trailed off mid-sentence.
After looking around, he drew close to Cheon Hui and whispered near his ear.
“The fact that you ate meat and drank alcohol…….”
“Let’s not bring that up.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Let’s pretend this never happened.”
Cheon Hui spoke with confidence.
“But you said you’d repay a debt of gratitude.”
“Well, yes, but——”
“So let’s just forget about it.”
……
Wi Jin’s jaw fell open.
He’d expected some explanation or excuse, but there was none.
The boy was simply and boldly proposing to sweep it all away.
“Ha-ha-ha!”
At such straightforward honesty—rare to see from the imperial household—Wi Jin burst into hearty laughter.
“Understood.”
“Oh, and please keep this quiet.”
Cheon Hui’s eyes flicked toward So Ryeong.
Catching the implication of that glance, Wi Jin nodded vigorously.
“You needn’t worry.”
With those words, Wi Jin withdrew.
As Cheon Hui turned to head back toward the shelter——
“Where are you going?”
Shin Ui caught up with him.
So Hui followed at Shin Ui’s heels.
“I had a request for you.”
“Granted. But this is more important.”
Shin Ui didn’t spare So Hui a glance as he spoke, instead pressing close to Cheon Hui.
“I’ll teach you the basics. It won’t take long—just a moment of your time.”
Watching Shin Ui speak so earnestly to Cheon Hui, So Hui’s eyes narrowed.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
In that instant, Cheon Hui caught the piercing quality of her gaze, as if she were peering into his thoughts.
“Elder!”
The Medicine Hall Master came rushing over, waving his hand.
“Didn’t you promise to help the Medicine Hall today?”
The bridge of Shin Ui’s nose twitched.
“Already?”
“Everyone’s waiting now.”
Shin Ui pressed his palm to his forehead.
Then he looked at Cheon Hui and spoke.
“If you wish to learn, come to the Medicine Hall.”
“Yes.”
Cheon Hui gave a perfunctory answer and fixed the Medicine Hall Master with a steady stare.
“Master.”
“What is it?”
“Did you tell him where I’m staying?”
The Medicine Hall Master broke into a cold sweat under Cheon Hui’s expressionless gaze.
“I only mentioned your quarters because he said he’d help the Medicine Hall if I——”
Cheon Hui watched in silence as the man’s eyes darted away, aware of his own transgression.
“I’ll be telling the Sect Master.”
“……Student. Please, just this once.”
“Tell it to the Sect Master.”
“P-please!”
The Medicine Hall Master pleaded desperately, but Cheon Hui ignored him and continued down the mountain path.
As he descended the trail——
He stopped.
Cheon Hui halted mid-step.
So Hui and her entourage had been following him the whole time.
“Is there something you need?”
“Could we talk for a moment?”
So Hui addressed Cheon Hui.
“I don’t have much to say.”
“Are you interested in Cheonghasung, by any chance?”
Cheon Hui let out a soft chuckle.
Trying to tempt me?
He grasped her purpose at once.
She’d failed to sway Shin Ui, so now she meant to draw in the object of his interest—himself—and bring him along. The ploy was transparent.
“I’m afraid not.”
Despite his refusal, So Hui remained unmoved.
“Once you visit Cheonghasung, you’ll enjoy every delicacy under heaven and the finest wines.”
Delicacies and fine wine?
For a moment, he wavered.
But then.
‘That’s hardly enough to sway me.’
The prospect of visiting Cheonghasung, with all its imperial connections, held no real appeal for him.
“I’m a Daoist, you see.”
The lie rolled off his tongue without hesitation, and So Hui’s composure cracked.
“But back then…….”
“I’m sorry—me?”
Cheon Hui spoke with disarming innocence.
“When have we met before?”
So Hui’s mouth went shut.
If she claimed they’d met here, she’d be contradicting everything she’d just said.
For a member of the imperial family, such humiliation was unthinkable.
‘I’ll have to find another approach.’
She had no choice but to retreat.
“……Very well. We’ll take our leave for now.”
With that, she departed with her entourage.
Tsk.
Cheon Hui clicked his tongue, watching them recede into the distance, his brow furrowed.
“Another troublesome leech has attached itself.”
* * *
When Cheon Hui returned to his quarters shortly after, someone was waiting inside.
“You’ve returned in good health.”
It was Hyeon Cheong.
“……It’s been a while.”
He’d been hoping for rest.
“What brings you here?”
Cheon Hui looked up at Hyeon Cheong with weary eyes, then dropped heavily into a seat.
“This isn’t a social call, I take it.”
“Ha, as sharp as ever.”
Hyeon Cheong smiled thinly.
“I’ve come seeking a favor.”
“A favor?”
Hyeon Cheong got straight to the point.
“Could you help with my disciples’ training?”
“Training?”
The unexpected request caught him off guard.
“I heard the Master of Wulian Pavilion benefited from your assistance.”
Assistance?
“A unique external martial art, I’m told…….”
“Ah! The Transformation Body Technique?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“You want me to teach it?”
“No, rather than the Transformation Body Technique itself, I need guidance on teaching. This is my first time instructing disciples, and I’ve run into some difficulties. If you have the time, would you be willing to help?”
Teaching, he said.
Ordinarily, he would have dismissed such a request, but today something in him tilted toward agreement.
‘I’ve assessed the Plum Blossom Sword Masters well enough, but what of the others?’
Cheon Hui’s stated goal: the Supreme First Sect Under Heaven.
To achieve that ambition, the disciples’ strength was essential.
‘It wouldn’t hurt to take stock of how far they’ve come.’
After a brief moment of thought, he nodded.
“Let’s go.”

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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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