Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 93

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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 93
“Medicinal herbs?”
Jang Moon In stared at Cheon Hui, who had appeared so abruptly, with bewildered eyes.
“Why are you suddenly looking for those?”
“I thought I might try making some Spiritual Pills.”
In that moment, Jang Moon In felt his mind reel.
‘Making Spiritual Pills?’
Spiritual Pills were not something made easily.
Each sect had labored long and hard just to create a single Spiritual Pill.
And still, many sects failed to produce them.
‘But if it’s Cheon Hui…….’
The complicated expression on Jang Moon In’s face gradually transformed into one of expectation.
It was Cheon Hui, after all.
The one who possessed the Medical Arts that even the Divine coveted.
“You know how to make Spiritual Pills?”
“More or less, I could manage it.”
Cheon Hui spoke without much concern.
What was so difficult about making Spiritual Pills anyway?
‘You just put in medicinal herbs and draw out the vital essence contained within them, right?’
Meanwhile, Jang Moon In felt deflated by an answer that differed from what he had hoped for.
“In other words, you don’t actually know how to make them right now.”
“Well, strictly speaking, that’s true.”
“……But you have confidence?”
“Yes.”
Jang Moon In fixed his gaze upon Cheon Hui.
Most of his expectation had faded, but a spark of it still remained.
‘That’s right. With Cheon Hui, one never knows.’
That single spark was what allowed hope to kindle.
He who had brought Hyeon Do to his current level.
If it was Cheon Hui, who had transformed the Huashan Sect from its path of decline.
“Very well.”
Jang Moon In nodded with resolve etched across his face, speaking softly.
“Spiritual Grass and Spiritual Creature Materials will be difficult to procure, but I shall have the herb merchants gather medicinal herbs for you.”
“Understood.”
It was a somewhat disappointing result.
He would have preferred to obtain Spiritual Grass.
‘There’s nothing to be done about it.’
What he needed now was a large quantity of Spiritual Pills.
The Huashan Sect’s finances were far too strained to create Spiritual Pills from Spiritual Grass and Spiritual Creature Materials.
‘I’ll have to be content with this for now.’
That evening.
“I’ve brought a full load here.”
“Will this amount suffice?”
The Mountain Gate of the Huashan Sect bustled with activity.
This was because Jang Moon In had sent word to the Medicine Pavilion Master, who had summoned the herb merchants.
“Infinite Buddha. I am truly grateful.”
The herb merchants, who were setting down their baskets in response to Jang Moon In’s grateful words with a bright smile, suddenly startled and waved their hands in protest.
“Oh no, that’s not it.”
“Recently, the Immortal Masters have been dealing with the beasts for us, so medicinal herbs have become abundant.”
“Thanks to you, my wife and children can now gather herbs without worry.”
The herb merchants spoke with luminous smiles.
“Heh heh. Is that so?”
Jang Moon In, by contrast, smiled ruefully.
‘I never imagined it would turn out like this.’
The truth was that Cheon Hui had dealt with the beasts because he wanted to eat meat.
But such a fine result had come of it.
‘If I had known the beasts were causing them suffering, I should have taken action sooner.’
To those who had mastered Martial Arts, the beasts were creatures that could be dealt with at any time, but to the herb merchants, they were not.
‘……This was my fault.’
Dealing with the beasts was something that could always be done.
But he had not.
He had not even spared them a thought.
‘I’ve been so focused on the sect alone,’ he reflected.
Jang Moon In reproached himself as he watched the herb gatherers unable to hide their joy.
In his determination to strengthen the Huashan Sect, he had turned a blind eye to everything around him.
‘Hyeon Do, forgive me. How can the Huashan Sect claim its name if it does not aid the weak, no matter how strong it becomes?’
As self-recrimination washed over him, Jang Moon In recalled the teachings his master had once imparted.
‘The strong have always been meant to help the weak. How could I have forgotten this?’
Jang Moon In closed his eyes gently.
Then he bowed with reverence.
“Infinite Blessings. Should you ever face hardship while gathering herbs, please visit our sect at any time and speak of it.”
“Do you truly mean that?”
The herb gatherers’ faces brightened.
Though they had no immediate need for aid, simply hearing those words filled them with gratitude.
And the fact that it came from none other than the Master of the Huashan Sect made the promise weigh all the heavier.
“Haha. Then we shall trouble you with a visit when the time comes.”
“Your words alone are thanks enough.”
As Jang Moon In smiled warmly,
“Looks like he’s arrived already.”
Cheon Hui appeared just then.
“Oh my!”
“A—a ghost!”
Startled by Cheon Hui’s sudden appearance, as if a specter had leapt from nowhere, the herb gatherers shrieked and jumped back in place.
Cheon Hui, paying no mind to their terror, fixed his gaze on the gathering basket.
“Can I look at this?”
The startled herb gatherers flinched at his question.
“He is a disciple of our sect,” Jang Moon In said.
The herb gatherers gradually collected themselves, and upon confirming the Sect Robe that Cheon Hui wore, they patted their chests in relief.
“Ah, so you’re a young cultivator of the Huashan Sect.”
“Go ahead and look. What you see here are only the finest we have gathered.”
Hearing this, Cheon Hui picked up an herb.
And then—
Crunch.
He bit directly into the herb.
A bitter taste spread across his tongue.
‘Hmm. This one’s no good.’
He promptly discarded the chewed herb to one side and picked up another, chewing it.
“…What is he doing?”
“Perhaps he’s trying to discern their properties?”
“Just by chewing?”
“He’s a cultivator, after all.”
The herb gatherers, making a fuss, fell silent as they watched Cheon Hui’s sudden behavior.
“What?!”
“Wait, hold on!”
“Why—why is that in the basket?!”
Seeing the plant Cheon Hui was holding, the herb gatherers cried out in alarm.
Meanwhile, Cheon Hui stared at the plant.
‘This is different from the others, somehow.’
The plant in his hand was unlike the medicinal herbs.
Yet if asked what it was, he could not quite say with certainty.
‘Well, I’ll know once I taste it.’
Cheon Hui moved the plant toward his mouth.
“No, stop! Don’t eat that!”
“That’s a poisonous plant!”
The herb gatherers rushed to stop him, but it was already in his mouth.
“Hmm?”
A sharp, stinging pain shot across his tongue.
Poison Qi from the poisonous plant he had swallowed began to seep slowly through his body.
Cheon Hui’s face turned purple.
“Cheon Hui!”
Seeing Cheon Hui lost in what resembled an intoxicated daze, Jang Moon In lurched forward in alarm.
Then.
A sharp cry tore from his throat—
Cheon Hui drew up his Internal Energy.
The Plum Blossom Divine Art spread across his entire body in a subtle plum fragrance, driving the remaining Poison Qi within him toward a single point.
Then he extended his index finger straight ahead.
A single drop of black poison bead formed at the fingertip before falling with a soft plop to the ground.
Hiss—
As poisonous vapor wafted up to sting their nostrils, the medicinal herb gatherers, coming back to their senses, clapped their hands over their noses.
“Gasp!”
Meanwhile, Jang Moon In approached Cheon Hui.
“Are you… all right?”
Exhale—
Instead of answering, Cheon Hui expelled the Poison Qi from his mouth.
The noxious fumes scattered through the air along with a reek, swept away on the wind.
After a moment, Cheon Hui spoke.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
Cheon Hui smacked his lips, working his tongue.
The toxin was potent enough to numb the tongue, yet it carried far more vital energy than the medicinal herbs he’d consumed until now.
‘If I’m careful, this could be useful.’
Cheon Hui’s eyes gleamed.
Back in the Tianma Divine Sect days, there had been a Spiritual Pill made using toxic herbs.
It was the Guiquan Pill, which had been renowned throughout Zhongyuan at that time.
‘Those who took it suffered for days afterward, but their Internal Energy definitely accumulated.’
He recalled the demonic cultivators writhing in agony from retching and diarrhea after consuming the Guiquan Pill.
‘Though no one died from it, at least.’
Meanwhile, the medicinal herb gatherers were astounded to see Cheon Hui perfectly unharmed despite having eaten the poisonous herb.
What exactly was that toxic herb they’d just given him?
It was a poisonous plant called San Bisang, so deadly that merely chewing it would rot one’s organs and render speech impossible.
It was a plant no living soul would use unless they were intent on assassination.
Yet there he stood, completely unscathed!
Soon they began trembling without exception, all at once.
“Ah! A Young Transcendent!”
“We’ve wronged you by giving the Young Transcendent a poisonous herb!”
Then Cheon Hui approached them.
“Huh?”
“Eek!”
“…!”
Fearing that the Young Transcendent might strike them down as divine punishment, the herb gatherers were bracing themselves.
“What was that poisonous herb I just ate?”
An unexpected question came instead.
“Um, you don’t know?”
When Cheon Hui asked again, one of the herb gatherers suddenly snapped to attention.
“It’s San Bisang, sir!”
“Do you have much of it?”
The herb gatherers grew flustered.
“We have some, but only a little…”
“I have none myself.”
“Well, I need this.”
Hearing Cheon Hui’s quiet remark, the herb gatherers glanced at each other, exchanged meaningful looks, and then nodded in unison before crying out.
“I’ll try to find some!”
“If the Young Transcendent wishes it, I can provide anytime!”
“I’ll gather it however I can!”
“That would be wonderful.”
At their response, a satisfied smile played across Cheon Hui’s lips.
Sigh—
“You’re not angry, then.”
The herb gatherers heaved sighs of relief, pressing their hands to their chests.
“So next…”
Cheon Hui tossed the San Bisang into a pouch on his left side, then plucked another medicinal herb and chewed it.
This one might be usable?
Mm. That one’s no good.
This one we’ll need.
How many times did he chew and swallow like this?
Gulp—
After chewing and swallowing the last medicinal herb, Cheon Hui surveyed the plants divided into two piles and spoke.
“Buy everything on the left side here.”
Jang Moon In stepped forward.
“You don’t need the ones on the right?”
Cheon Hui didn’t spare a glance at the medicinal herbs cast aside on the right, and answered.
“No.”
“Understood.”
Jang Moon In approached the herb gatherers, who were staring at Cheon Hui with vacant eyes.
“We’d like to purchase the medicinal herbs on the left. What would be a fair price?”
The herb gatherers flinched and waved their hands frantically.
“Ah, oh no! Money isn’t necessary.”
“Mo—money? What money are you talking about?”
“We were careless and brought poisonous plants mixed in with the medicinal herbs, didn’t we?”
Indeed, it had been the herb gatherers’ mistake.
If disciples other than Cheon Hui had eaten them, it could have caused a catastrophe.
‘But that didn’t happen.’
Jang Moon In smiled gently.
“Heh, isn’t that just an accident?”
“Even if it was an accident, a crime is still a crime, isn’t it?”
“We beg your forgiveness for the transgression we’ve committed against the Young Transcendent.”
“But that would be losing face……”
Jang Moon In spoke with an uncomfortable expression.
“We implore you!”
The herb gatherers spoke desperately.
They had nearly killed a Cultivator of the Huashan Sect.
It was a debt that should be paid with their lives—and yet they were supposed to accept money on top of that?
It was something even beasts wouldn’t do.
“Ple—please, just accept it.”
“We want to be of help to the Young Transcendent.”
“Yes, hasn’t the Huashan Sect been disposing of wild beasts for us all these years? Wouldn’t it be proper to receive these herbs as repayment for that service?”
At the herb gatherers’ repeated pleas, Jang Moon In accepted with an awkward smile.
“…Heh, hehehe. I understand your sentiment.”
“Thank you!”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
You needn’t bow any longer.”
The herb gatherers continued their thanks while Jang Moon In smiled awkwardly and tried to stop them.
“This still won’t be nearly enough, though.”
Cheon Hui gazed at the pile of herbs.
The medicinal and poisonous plants, barely enough to reach his waist, were manifestly insufficient—by far—to produce a large quantity of Spiritual Pills.
‘I’ll have to ask the Bi Poong Trading Company.’
* * *
When he returned to the Mo-ok Quarters with the medicinal herbs, Seol Ran and Jeok Geom were waiting.
“You’re back?”
Seol Ran greeted him with a smile, and beside her, Jeok Geom forced a smile.
“I-I’ve prepared roasted wild boar meat.”
As Jeok Geom spoke, he hastily arranged the cooked meat on a plate.
“Put that away.”
As he set the sack down on the ground alongside his words, Seol Ran, upon seeing it, asked.
“What’s that?”
“Medicinal herbs.”
“Medicinal herbs?”
At this unexpected statement, even Seol Ran, who had shown no prior interest, harbored doubts—as did Jeok Geom.
“What do you need medicinal herbs for?”
“To make Spiritual Pills.”
Seol Ran’s eyes widened.
Making Spiritual Pills was difficult work—even she, a complete outsider to such matters, knew that much.
But.
‘If Master Cheon did it, he really might pull it off.’
She stood in the same position as Jang Moon In.
“You can make Spiritual Pills too?”
“No. I’m going to try now.”
“What?”
While Seol Ran stood there looking dazed, Cheon Hui pulled out the medicinal herbs bundled in a carrying cloth.
As Seol Ran examined the herbs with a puzzled expression, Cheon Hui turned his gaze to Jeok Geom.
“Jeok Geom.”
“Yes? Yes, sir!”
At the call, Jeok Geom shut his eyes tight.
‘Damn it! Not again today. I should have trained harder while Master Cheon was away.’
He recalled the one-sided beatings he’d endured over the past few days, all under the guise of training.
“Build a fire over there.”
“A fire, sir?”
Jeok Geom felt bewildered at the instruction that followed.
“You won’t?”
“Ah, understood!”
“And Seol Ran—bring me a pot full of water.”
“Right away.”
While the two of them carried out their orders.
“The materials are sufficient, but making a Spiritual Pill—that’s the real challenge.”
Cheon Hui recalled a text he’d read long ago.
The Spiritual Pill Manufacturing Method.
It was a secret manual from the Tianma Divine Sect containing the procedures for manufacturing several different Spiritual Pills.
“Let me see. What could I make with these?”
As he stood lost in thought, gazing at the herbs.
“The fire is ready, sir!”
Jeok Geom came running, his face blackened with soot.
Turning his head, Cheon Hui saw flames leaping fiercely from the dry wood.
“I’ve brought it.”
Cheon Hui gently placed the pot Seol Ran had brought over the fire.
“That should do for now.”
He called to mind a particular Spiritual Pill.
Then he dropped the medicinal herbs one by one into the pot.
And finally, he grabbed a handful of San Bisang and scattered it in.
“So this is how you make the Mad Demon Shaking Heaven Pill?”

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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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