Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua

Chapter 23

—–CROW—– 

The western library on the first floor of the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion.

Step— Step—

Footsteps echoed unexpectedly in the quiet library where not a single presence could be felt, and then.

Step.

A young man emerged from below.

Fair skin and distinct features.

A handsome young man, six feet tall, with an attractive appearance that would charm anyone.

It was Cheon-hwi, now nineteen years old, after five years had passed.

“This is finally over.”

He stood up straight, looked at the stairs leading to the Hidden Fragrance Secret Cave, and clicked his tongue.

His eyebrows shot up.

His expression was laced with irritation, but perhaps thanks to his handsome features, even that looked charming.

“It took longer than I expected.”

He grumbled softly.

He had initially planned for two years.

But five years had passed, far exceeding his expectations.

‘Though one of them took some time.’

Cheon-hwi recalled the sword technique that had troubled him among the fourteen manuals.

While the other techniques had only taken a little over a year, the last remaining sword technique had consumed most of his time.

A chuckle escaped his lips as he thought about the sword technique.

Although it had been challenging, he had successfully restored it, and today, it was all over.

“Finally, it’s over, it’s over.”

Cheon-hwi stretched and skillfully closed the passage to the secret cave, then turned around.

He naturally scanned his surroundings.

The interior of the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion hadn’t changed since five years ago.

The surrounding bookshelves were filled with books, and the atmosphere was utterly silent.

Of course, there had been times when many disciples flocked to the pavilion, making it bustling, but that was only temporary. The number of disciples had gradually decreased, resulting in this quiet atmosphere.

‘I won’t be coming here anymore.’

He took in the interior of the pavilion.

It had been five years since he started staying here.

He had grown attached to the place.

“It’s been quite a while.”

Lost in thought, he reminisced about what he had been doing.

Restoring martial arts, restoring martial arts, restoring martial arts…

His expression suddenly soured.

“…It wasn’t worth getting attached to.”

Come to think of it, whenever he came to the pavilion, he would report the restored martial arts to Hyeon-cheong and then spend the entire day restoring martial arts in the Hidden Fragrance Secret Cave.

But he wasn’t dissatisfied.

Thanks to that, he had learned Orthodox martial arts.

“Then let’s go.”

He turned around swiftly.

It was all over today.

Reporting the restored martial arts to Hyeon-cheong, visiting the Hidden Fragrance Secret Cave.

Sweep—

He strode forward.

Arriving at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion in an instant, Cheon-hwi tilted his head.

“Huh? Where did he go?”

As he looked for Hyeon-cheong, who usually guarded the entrance, he remembered something from that morning.

“Ah! He said he was attending the grand meeting today? He’s getting around quite a bit now.”

Cheon-hwi looked at the neatly organized desk and fell into thought.

Five years ago, Hyeon-cheong had refrained from outside activities and focused solely on restoring martial arts.

But perhaps because he had more free time thanks to Cheon-hwi restoring the manuals, he had started engaging in outside activities and now even frequently attended grand meetings.

“It was my turn to report the new martial arts today. Well, if it’s urgent, he’ll come looking for me.”

Recalling Hyeon-cheong, who visited him every day to record the verses of the restored manuals, Cheon-hwi walked towards the door.

Creak—

A moment later, Cheon-hwi opened the tightly closed door of the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion and stepped outside.

The outside was still quiet.

The beautiful scenery of Mount Hua unfolded before his eyes.

It was the fifth spring he was witnessing.

Plum blossoms were in full bloom on Mount Hua, and the strong fragrance of plum blossoms tickled his nose, carried by the gentle breeze.

Whoosh—

Cheon-hwi enjoyed the familiar scenery and silence as he walked towards Nakan Peak.

‘Then I’ll focus on the martial arts I newly created in the Hidden Fragrance Secret Cave…’

As he walked, organizing the martial arts he had refined and completed in the secret cave.

Clang! Clang!

His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of clashing metal coming from afar.

He saw the familiar hut and courtyard in his clear vision.

In the courtyard, which had become much wider than five years ago, a man and a woman were sparring.

A handsome man with a gentle smile and a beautiful woman with a cold expression.

It was Jeok-geom and Seol-ran, now grown up.

Seol-ran sheathed her sword and stepped back as they sparred with the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

“Your swordsmanship is shaky today.”

“Haha. I must be distracted.”

Jeok-geom smiled sheepishly.

Seol-ran sheathed her sword and asked with a concerned expression,

“…Is it because of the rumors?”

Jeok-geom’s expression darkened instantly.

Unable to hide his anxiety, he sheathed his sword and nodded slightly.

“I’m worried.”

Jeok-geom fidgeted anxiously, thinking about the rumors circulating in the martial world.

“Sigh… To think the Hegemon Clan is targeting my family.”

“Don’t worry too much, Senior Brother.”

Seol-ran approached Jeok-geom and comforted him.

“Even the Hegemon Clan will avoid a direct confrontation with our sect.”

Perhaps because they had grown closer while serving Cheon-hwi, Seol-ran, who had been cynical about everything, was comforting Jeok-geom.

“Besides, the Sect Leader even convened a grand meeting because of this, right?”

Jeok-geom calmed down at Seol-ran’s encouraging words.

“You’re right, Junior Sister.”

“What we need to do is train our martial arts and prepare for any possible missions…”

As the two were discussing the upcoming grand meeting.

‘Huh? A grand meeting?’

Cheon-hwi, approaching them, pricked up his ears.  One word in their conversation caught his attention.

‘What?  A mission to the martial world?’

***

The Cloud Gazing Hall, where the grand meeting was being held.

Although the Cloud Gazing Hall remained unchanged over the years, a tense atmosphere filled the room.

“Everyone’s here.”

The Sect Leader, seated at the head of the table, spoke.

Everyone around the large table wore serious expressions.

The Sect Leader looked at Hyeon-ryeo, and

“A few days ago, the Swift Wind Trading Company requested our help.”

Hyeon-ryeo spoke as if waiting for his cue.

“What kind of help?”

“…They requested protection from the Hegemon Clan’s attacks.”

A chilling silence fell.

Then, a fierce aura, unlike anything expected from a Taoist sect, filled the Cloud Gazing Hall.

As the aura intensified.

“The Swift Wind Trading Company is the family of Jeok-geom, our disciple.”

Hyeon-ryeo added.

“Are you saying we should help them?”

“Yes.”

“Is that your opinion as Hyeon-ryeo, or as the Finance Manager?”

“Both.”

Hyeon-ryeo replied firmly.

“Alright.”

The Sect Leader nodded and looked around at everyone.

“What are your thoughts?”

“I agree.”

“How can we stand idly by while the Swift Wind Trading Company, which has helped our sect, is threatened by the Hegemon Clan, a group of evil-doers?”

“Of course we should help them.”

They all voiced their agreement as if waiting for the opportunity.

Hyeon-cheong, sitting at the end of the table, also agreed.

“Refusing to help the Swift Wind Trading Company would tarnish our sect’s reputation.”

After hearing everyone’s unanimous agreement, the Sect Leader changed the subject.

“Then who do you think should be dispatched to the Swift Wind Trading Company this time?”

Hyeon-heo raised his hand.

The Sect Leader and the others turned their attention to Hyeon-heo, whose beard had grown even more impressive than five years ago.

Hyeon-heo waited for everyone’s attention to be focused on him and then spoke,

“I believe we should send the newly selected Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”

“Hmm…”

“Indeed.”

“There’s no one else but the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”

Most of them agreed.

However, not everyone shared the same opinion, and there were some objections.

One of them was the Martial Arts Instructor.

“But they’re still too inexperienced for a mission to the martial world. It’s only been a little over a year since they became Plum Blossom Swordsmen, and they haven’t fully mastered the Plum Blossom Sword Technique yet.”

“You still see the Plum Blossom Swordsmen as children.”

Hyeon-heo said coldly.

“No matter how young or inexperienced they are, once they become Plum Blossom Swordsmen, they represent our sect. If we say they are lacking, who in the world will trust us?”

“That…”

The Martial Arts Instructor swallowed his words and closed his eyes, struck by Hyeon-heo’s pointed words.

He knew that Hyeon-heo was right.

But he was worried.

He was afraid that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, venturing into the martial world, might suffer the same fate as Hyeon-gang.

Then Hyeon-heo’s voice echoed,

“We must be the first to trust them.”

The Martial Arts Instructor opened his eyes.

Indeed, it was time to let go and trust his disciples.

“You’re right, Senior Brother.”

Hyeon-heo smiled gently as he saw the Martial Arts Instructor readily concede and addressed the Sect Leader,

“Moreover, Jeok-geom is among the new Plum Blossom Swordsmen.  He can visit his family while gaining experience in the martial world, making him the most suitable candidate.”

The Records Keeper chimed in,

“Indeed, it would be most appropriate for the Plum Blossom Swordsmen to handle this.”

As those who had objected began to agree.

“Any other opinions?”

The Sect Leader asked, looking around.

This time, there were no objections.

“Then we shall dispatch the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.  Now…”

The Sect Leader’s eyes gleamed.

It was a given that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen would go. But his next question was the most crucial.

“Then who do you think should lead the Plum Blossom Swordsmen?”

Everyone fell silent.

The Taoists of the Hyeonja generation couldn’t leave, as they had to protect Mount Hua Sect.

Therefore, they had to choose someone from the Cheonja generation, but most of them held important positions and couldn’t leave the sect.

As they were considering those without official positions, Hyeon-heo made the first suggestion.

“How about Cheon-su?”

“That won’t do.”

Hyeon-ryeo immediately objected.

Cheon-su was the Deputy Finance Manager, a brilliant mind and an indispensable asset.

“He can’t leave his post due to the ongoing financial management issues.”

No one could refute her words.

Everyone knew that Mount Hua Sect’s finances were in a dire state, so they couldn’t argue with her.

Then the Records Keeper, as if he had thought of someone, clapped his hands and spoke,

“Then how about Cheon-hyang? Didn’t he just return after finishing his family matters?  He has experience in the martial world, making him suitable for this task.”

This time, the Martial Arts Instructor shook his head.

“Cheon-hyang is not in good condition.  I don’t know what happened to his family, but he was already injured when he returned to the sect.”

Everyone groaned.

Besides those two, there was no one in the Cheonja generation they could entrust with this task.

“Our numbers have dwindled compared to the past.”

The Sect Leader smiled bitterly.

In the past, they had an abundance of talented individuals, and they had to choose whom to send on missions.

But now, they didn’t even have enough people to send.

“And we can’t call back Cheon-yu, who’s at the Martial Alliance…”

As he was expressing his frustration, mentioning Cheon-yu, a disciple dispatched to the Martial Alliance due to recent events.

“I’ll take that mission.”

The elders turned their heads at the calm voice that interjected, and their eyes fell on Cheon-hwi, walking confidently towards them.

—–CROW—– 

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