The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 46

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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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The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 046
The Hunt
Beyond the Sun and Moon Divine Sect Fence at Gwangmyeong Hall lay treacherous mountains and ravines, which connected to the vast mountain range running through the western reaches of the Central Plains.
This hunting ground was the exclusive domain of the Sect Leader’s family.
“Minor Sect Leader. Use this bow. It’s the same kind they use for hunting in the imperial palace.”
The moment we arrived at the hunting ground at dawn, a middle-aged man with a commanding presence and a completely bald head offered me a bow with a warm smile.
This man was Jang Yeon Hwi, Baek Yeon’s maternal grandfather.
The bow he handed me was a fine piece—its lacquered wood gleamed brilliantly, and the bowstring appeared far more durable than ordinary ones.
I thanked him and accepted the bow.
“It’s truly an excellent bow. The craftsman has given the Minor Sect Leader a wonderful gift.”
“As expected, the Sect Leader has a discerning eye. Ha ha.”
The Sect Leader and Jang Yeon Hwi exchanged pleasantries, creating an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie between them.
To all appearances, they seemed no different from any other father-in-law and son-in-law relationship.
Though what thoughts lay beneath the surface, I could not say.
“Minor Sect Leader, what would you like to shoot with that bow?”
The Sect Leader asked me, and I fell into contemplation for a moment.
Truth be told, I harbored no fondness for hunting.
I could not fathom what meaning there was in shooting innocent animals with a bow and killing them.
“Father, Grandfather. In truth, I have little interest in hunting. So if you ask what I wish to shoot…”
“Hmm?”
But voicing such honest sentiments would be foolish.
“I wish only to plant an arrow in the neck of that despicable Martial Alliance Leader.”
“Hah!”
At my bold declaration, Jang Yeon Hwi gasped in surprise.
Two years had passed since my reincarnation as the Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon, and my performance in this role had grown refined.
The Sect Leader too seemed momentarily taken aback, but soon burst into hearty laughter.
I offered a slight smile and added a remark.
“However, today I shall do my best to capture something impressive, if only to meet my grandfather’s expectations.”
Needless to say, my objective for today’s outing remained unchanged from any other day.
To pass the hours without incident, minimize energy expenditure, and return to my residence to rest.
Whether the bow was good or poor held no interest for me whatsoever.
I had no intention of shooting it in the first place.
‘Thorough and perfect—I shall do nothing at all.’
Fortunately, I was unlikely to encounter anyone unexpectedly at the hunting ground, so achieving my goal today would present no difficulty.
Our party rode horses for some distance before entering a dense forest.
The path ended, and thick trees grew so densely that riding was impossible.
Everyone dismounted, tethered their horses to the trees, and began walking.
“Let us head that way.”
The Sect Leader and Jang Yeon Hwi, leading the way, carefully examined tree trunks and the ground, searching for traces of beasts.
I lagged slightly behind, merely feigning the pursuit of game.
Suddenly, So Cheong, who had been steadfastly at my side ever since we arrived at the Hunting Ground, posed a question.
“Minor Sect Leader. Did you know that tigers sometimes appear in this forest?”
“Tigers?”
I had heard tales of tigers inhabiting the regions near Kunlun Mountain and Cheon San.
In this world, it seemed that travelers passing along mountain paths and inexperienced hunters not infrequently fell victim to tiger attacks.
“I’ve heard they’re occasionally spotted in the deeper reaches of this mountain range, but this Hunting Ground is close to inhabited areas, so tigers shouldn’t venture here.”
“I see.”
I replied with deliberate nonchalance.
So Cheong smiled softly, her expression affectionate as she whispered in a voice only I could hear.
“Are you afraid of encountering a tiger?”
“What are you talking about?”
This sister knew me far too well.
Truth be told, since childhood I had harbored an inexplicable dread of ferocious beasts like dogs and cats.
Wild tigers—merely the thought made my hair stand on end.
Yet how could the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect reveal such cowardice over a mere tiger?
“Quite the opposite. Since we’ve come hunting, shouldn’t the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect at least return with a tiger pelt if I draw my bow?”
“Ha! Your ambition is truly remarkable, Minor Sect Leader!”
Having thus reaffirmed the dignified bearing befitting my station once more.
“Let us rest awhile!”
After walking for some time without encountering any notable game, our party settled down to rest.
We drank water, inspected our hunting equipment, and as we caught our breath, a sound of movement drifted from ahead.
“Shh.”
The Sect Leader brought a finger to his lips and quietly raised his bow, advancing toward the sound.
Jang Yeon Hwi followed, and the other escort Martial Artists gradually trailed behind them.
In an instant, only So Cheong remained beside me.
“It seems a wild boar has appeared. Aren’t you going to follow, Minor Sect Leader?”
“Wild boar meat has an unpleasant odor, so I’m not inclined to pursue it.”
“My, when have you ever tasted wild boar meat?”
“I read about it in a book.”
“Ah, I know you enjoy reading books!”
“I prefer roaming Kangho and vanquishing enemies. But since the time hasn’t yet come, shouldn’t I be reading books within the Palace? Truly, it’s maddening.”
So Cheong kept directing conversation toward me today.
Yet I maintained my portrayal of the ideal Minor Sect Leader flawlessly, and So Cheong seemed to accept my words at face value.
“Indeed, that makes sense!”
So Cheong sat at a distance, regarding me with an affectionate gaze.
I remained seated in formal posture, perfectly composed.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of trees and grass, while birdsong drifted intermittently like melodies.
The vista spread below the mountain brought a refreshing openness, and time flowed with leisurely grace, bestowing tranquility.
The vast spirit I had felt atop Kunlun Mountain last year stirred within me once more.
“Sister, do not wander off.”
“Where would I go? The Minor Sect Leader is here.”
“I spoke clearly.”
“I shall obey your command.”
After firmly instructing So Cheong, who wore a faint smile,
I closed my eyes and began circulating my inner energy through the Hyeon Ma Gyeong.
The pure spiritual essence of the mountain surrounded me, a sensation entirely different from cultivating within a chamber.
Whoooosh.
Two years into my inner energy cultivation, the Hyeon Ma Nae Hyang Sim Gong stood on the precipice of its final gateway—the reconfiguration of the Governing Vessel.
One more step forward, and all my meridians would intertwine, achieving the grand completion of the inner-directed heart technique.
Had the Holy Spirit of the Hall of No Mind returned, I would have already achieved completion long ago, but I harbored no impatience.
Merely circulating my inner energy in such a short span had allowed my cultivation to grow to a level where its flow could be sensed from outside.
Now that I thought about it, it had been quite some time since I last cultivated my inner energy before So Cheong.
‘How is it, sister? My strength?’
After completing one full circulation of the Hyeon Ma Nae Hyang Sim Gong, I opened my eyes slightly and stole a glance at So Cheong’s expression.
I had anticipated surprise, admiration, or reverence from her.
‘…What is that expression?’
Contrary to my expectations, So Cheong tilted her head slightly with a gentle smile, her eyes forming perfect crescents.
I never expected to witness that motherly smile of Baek So Cheong’s again here.
In any case, considerable time had passed, yet the hunters who had gone to catch the wild boar showed no sign of returning.
Perhaps because of what So Cheong had said earlier, an ominous premonition began to creep over me.
Because of that ominous premonition, my ears even picked up phantom sounds.
Grrrowwwl.
An auditory hallucination born from my vague fear of tigers.
And from the right, a massive tiger emerged, prowling toward where So Cheong and I stood.
Its savage roar, its dazzling striped coat, its rippling wild muscles—it felt as though a living tiger had drawn within arm’s reach.
“Minor Sect Leader. Do not move. Stay perfectly still.”
The problem was that this was no phantom or hallucination, but a real tiger.
Hah hah hah….
At this point, I could only manage a hollow laugh within my mind.
I had not asked for much, had I?
I merely wished to pass a single day without incident, yet was that truly so difficult?
I barely managed to steady my trembling voice as I spoke to So Cheong.
“There is no need for me to personally deal with such a creature.”
Even in this crisis, my mental fortitude in maintaining the Minor Sect Leader’s composure was truly remarkable, even to myself.
So Cheong drew the three-foot sword at her waist and positioned herself between the tiger and me, shielding me.
The raw presence of the wild tiger before my eyes was overwhelming.
A body twice the size of a human, moving with silent, graceful steps, and eyes blazing with ferocity.
How fortunate it was to have So Cheong at my side—words could not express it.
The world spoke of Baek Yeon, the Minor Sect Leader, as a peerless genius, but at this moment, So Cheong’s abilities far surpassed my own.
No matter how much a beast might be called the king of beasts, it remained merely a beast.
Growl.
A first-rate martial artist with internal energy exceeding sixty years of cultivation could subdue a tiger without difficulty if armed.
Unlike me, Baek So Cheong showed no trace of fear toward the beast.
A low rumble echoed from its throat.
The tiger planted its front paws firmly, ready to pounce at any moment.
Baek So Cheong stood her ground, her entire body enveloped in sinister demonic energy.
The instant the tiger moved even a single step, she would draw the sword at her waist and cleave it in two.
Had the beast’s wild instinct revealed the outcome of this confrontation?
Judging that victory was impossible, the tiger began to retreat slowly backward.
I was about to exhale in relief from where I watched behind So Cheong when it happened.
A sound of movement came from deep within the forest.
A dark shadow descended in an instant, and the tiger that had been facing So Cheong was suddenly hurled skyward.
The massive beast—twice the size of a human—spun through the air before crashing to the ground with a heavy thud, never to move again.
I stood frozen, unable to do anything but witness the surreal spectacle unfolding before my eyes.
‘Could it be…!?’
And there, standing before me.
I wondered if my eyes were deceiving me, but the overwhelming presence radiating from it confirmed this was reality.
Massive enough to dwarf the tiger that had stood before us mere moments ago—reducing it to the size of a small stuffed toy.
Gazing upon that wondrous, colossal form, its pristine white fur, and its eyes gleaming with an eerie luminescence, I could discern its identity.
‘The White Tiger?’
It was the White Tiger, one of the Four Divine Beasts spoken of in the legends of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
The White Tiger was a spiritual beast that guarded the Western Mountain Range of Murim, and I had once read a prophecy stating it would reveal itself when the Sun and Moon Divine Sect faced crisis.
Now that White Tiger stood before us, having killed the tiger with a single bite.
A deep growl.
The mystical, white, colossal form gazed down at me with piercing eyes, and the overwhelming pressure emanating from its body made it nearly impossible to move even a single finger.
The sheer magnitude of its internal energy was beyond comprehension.
“Hiyah!”
“Sister!”
Baek So Cheong lunged at the White Tiger with the singular resolve to protect me.
However.
The White Tiger merely turned its head to regard Baek So Cheong, and she suddenly collapsed as all strength drained from her body, losing consciousness.
“….”
I could not speak.
I could not even cry out, let alone rush to So Cheong’s aid.
Now the White Tiger’s gaze fixed upon me.
And yet….
A low rumble.
For some reason, I could sense the spiritual beast’s emotions through the gleam in its eyes, its extended front paws, and its lowered tail.
‘It’s afraid?’
My mind could not comprehend it.
I could sense it somehow.
This creature was afraid of me!
‘Haah.’
I steadied my breathing calmly and hardened my resolve.
A moment later, my lips parted slowly.
I fixed my gaze directly upon the beast’s eyes.
Long words were unnecessary for a creature.
“Kneel.”
Kuooo.
The inner force of the Hyeon Ma Nae Hyang Sim Gong erupted forth.
The White Tiger, whose eyes met mine, trembled and its front legs shook.
In that instant, I trembled equally, but that was not what mattered.
Moments later, the White Tiger’s massive body shrank back, and the mountain lord White Tiger prostrated itself flat before me.

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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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