Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua

Chapter 6

—–CROW—– 

“Famous in our sect…”

Hyeon-cheong continued to speak beside him, but not a single word reached Cheon-hwi’s ears.

Reincarnated as a Mount Hua disciple?

He still wasn’t entirely sure, but he was starting to accept it.

Reincarnation aligned with the meaning of eternal immortality.

But this was different.

‘What? Three hundred years later?’

He instinctively frowned.

He had thought only his condition had changed.

But out of nowhere, it was three hundred years later.

‘If they were going to reincarnate me, couldn’t they have done it properly? What is this?’

Three hundred years wasn’t a short time.

It was said that even in ten years, mountains and rivers change.  Three hundred years meant mountains and rivers would have changed thirty times.

Then.

Thud.

He felt a heavy weight on his shoulder, and a low voice followed.

“…Are you alright?”

The question snapped him back to reality.

He looked up to see Hyeon-cheong shaking his shoulder with a worried expression.

Seeing him, Cheon-hwi came to his senses.

Clearing his head of the dizzying thoughts, he moved his reluctant lips.

“I’m fine.”

Hyeon-cheong removed his hand from Cheon-hwi’s shoulder.

“Then… that’s good.”

Despite his words, Hyeon-cheong’s face was filled with anxiety.

But Cheon-hwi couldn’t afford to care.

Instead, he stared at Hyeon-cheong and asked,

“Are there any books in the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion that record the history of the Jianghu?”

“…The history of the Jianghu, you say?”

Hyeon-cheong looked bewildered by the unexpected question.

But he soon shook his head and replied,

“We don’t have a separate record of the Jianghu’s history.”

Cheon-hwi’s face hardened. But only for a moment, as Hyeon-cheong added,

“But we do have the Mount Hua Chronicles, which record the history of our sect.”

Cheon-hwi’s eyes narrowed.

That would be enough.

Having quickly made up his mind, Cheon-hwi looked up at Hyeon-cheong and asked,

“Do you know where the Mount Hua Chronicles are located?”

“They should be in the west corner of the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

After hurriedly thanking him, Cheon-hwi passed by Hyeon-cheong and descended the stairs with large strides.

Perhaps because he was anxious.

Tap, tap, tap—

As soon as he reached the second floor, he headed west without taking the time to look around carefully.

Then, as he quickly scanned the bookshelves.

‘Found it!’

He found it surprisingly easily.

His eyes sparkling, he focused on the bookshelf filled with Mount Hua Chronicles. At a glance, there were well over dozens of volumes neatly arranged.

‘The most recent one here is…’

His gaze stopped on the right side of the bookshelf.

Is that it?

He picked up the pristine white volume on the right, presumably the most recently written Mount Hua Chronicle, without hesitation.

He read for a while.

Thud.

A moment later, he closed the book.

“Sigh…”

A sigh escaped his lips.

He scratched the back of his head with a complicated expression and then cursed.

“Damn it, three hundred years really have passed.”

***

The next day.

The Immortal Peak of Mount Hua.

It was so high that the white clouds, which should have been in the sky, were precariously clinging to the peak.

And within the billowing clouds.

Whoosh—

There was a pavilion open on all sides.

Many people were gathered in the Cloud Pavilion, where the grand meeting of Mount Hua Sect was held.

“Everyone’s here.”

The Sect Leader, having arrived first, looked around at those seated after hearing Hyeon-il, the eldest senior brother of the Hyeon-ja generation.

Six people were sitting at the round table.

Most of the Hyeon-ja generation Taoists who supported the current Mount Hua Sect were present.

Three were absent.

Hyeon-jin, who had gone to the Murim Alliance a year ago with the promising Plum Blossom Swordsmen, Hyeon-cheong, who was staying in the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion, and Hyeon-do, who was immersed in training.

“Senior Brother Hyeon-cheong…”

“Haha, Junior Brother is at it again today.”

Hyeon-il chuckled and stroked his beard sheepishly, and a few others whispered.

“It’s a shame he couldn’t spare even a little time.”

While Hyeon-jin’s absence was unavoidable since he was at the Murim Alliance, they regretted the other two’s absence.

At least Hyeon-do had attended a few times.

But not Hyeon-cheong.

They expressed their disappointment with Hyeon-cheong, who hadn’t attended a single grand meeting despite staying at Mount Hua Sect.

“He should come out sometimes.”

“I’m worried he’ll collapse.”

It had been eight years since he confined himself to the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion.

After his youngest junior brother’s death, he had been so shocked that he hadn’t stepped out even once.

As the atmosphere grew somber.

“Then let’s begin the grand meeting.”

The Sect Leader lifted the mood.

“As you all know, the Five Mountains Gathering will be held at our sect in two months.”

Everyone’s expressions subtly stiffened.

This was the reason for the numerous grand meetings held recently in the Cloud Pavilion.

Mount Hua of the Western Peak.

Mount Tai Sect of the Eastern Peak.

Mount Heng Sect of the Southern Peak.

Mount Heng Sect of the Northern Peak.

Mount Song Sect of the Central Peak.

These five sects, known as the Five Mountains Sword Sects, gathered at each other’s sects every four years to exchange martial arts.

This was the Five Mountains Gathering, a grand meeting with a long tradition and history, now in its fifty-sixth iteration.

“Junior Sister, are all preparations complete?”

All eyes turned to Hyeon-ryeo.

As the Master of the Finance Pavilion, which managed Mount Hua Sect’s finances, she was in charge of all matters concerning the Five Mountains Gathering.

“As I mentioned in the previous meeting, we have renovated the dilapidated Plum Blossom Pavilion and prepared accommodations for all the visitors.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at her words.

“Oh, already?”

“That’s faster than expected.”

Hyeon-yang, the Master of the Martial Training Pavilion, who had been listening quietly, cautiously asked,

“Didn’t you say it would take more time?”

“It would have taken longer, but fortunately, the Flying Wind Merchant Group offered their help a few days ago.”

“Why would the current leading merchant group of Shaanxi Province…?”

“It’s Jeok-geom’s family.”

The Sect Leader added as if waiting for the question, and everyone nodded in understanding, realizing why that had happened.

Jeok-geom was a prominent disciple among the second-generation disciples and would be participating in the Five Mountains Gathering.

“…So, all the preparations mentioned in the previous meeting are complete.”

After a moment, she concluded.

“Good.”

The Sect Leader smiled with satisfaction.

“Hyeon-yang.”

At the call, the Master of the Martial Training Pavilion bowed his head.

“You called?”

“Have you selected the disciples who will participate in the Five Mountains Gathering?”

“Yes, I have.”

He raised his head as he answered.

“As I mentioned before, I have Jeok-geom, Jeok-un, Jeok-jae, and lastly, Seol-lan in mind.”

“Good.”

The Sect Leader smiled at the smooth progress of the preparations for the Five Mountains Gathering.  But his expression soon hardened, and he turned to Hyeon-il, who had been quietly observing, and asked,

“What’s the situation around us?”

Hyeon-il, the Master of the Flying Pavilion, who handled all the information in the world, answered readily,

“It’s the same as usual.”

While “same as usual” was a good thing in the current situation, the Master of the Flying Pavilion added with a displeased expression,

“Even the Zhongnan Sect, who would usually be up in arms the moment we held the Five Mountains Gathering, hasn’t shown any reaction.”

“…Is that so?”

The Sect Leader’s voice sank.

Everyone was surprised by the change in his usually benevolent and warm voice.

Then, one by one, they seemed to understand the underlying meaning of the Master of the Flying Pavilion’s words, and their faces hardened.

The first to react was the Master of the Martial Training Pavilion. Trembling with humiliation, he whispered, his eyebrows raised,

“They’re looking down on our sect.”

Although his voice was suppressed, the anger contained within was palpable to everyone.

“Haha…”

As the Master of the Flying Pavilion chuckled wryly, watching the Master of the Martial Training Pavilion suppressing his anger.

“What about the Hegemon Sect?”

The Sect Leader quickly changed the subject.

“They’re quiet too.”

“Do you think they’ll interfere?”

“Would they pick unnecessary fights?”

At the Master of the Flying Pavilion’s answer, the Sect Leader fell into thought. He could ignore the other sects, but he couldn’t ignore the Hegemon Sect.

They were the most powerful sect in Shaanxi Province, besides Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and Baek Gwi-seong, and they belonged to the Saheukryeon, their enemy.

“Please be on guard nonetheless.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

The Master of the Flying Pavilion nodded.

“Then, the second-generation disciples…”

The meeting continued.

About an hour later, the sun that had been above the Immortal Peak was now setting, casting a warm glow.

“This concludes the meeting.”

At the Sect Leader’s words, everyone stood up.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“I’ll be going now.”

After bowing to the Sect Leader, they left the Cloud Pavilion one by one and dispersed.

As Hyeon-ryeo bowed and was about to leave, the Sect Leader called out to her.

“Junior Sister.”

“Is there another problem, Senior Brother?”

Perhaps because the meeting was over, Hyeon-ryeo’s tone and voice were much more relaxed.

“Hahaha, I wouldn’t give you more work when you’re so busy. I just wanted to know how Cheon-hwi is doing.”

Hyeon-ryeo smiled.

“Cheon-hwi has been going to the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion every day recently.”

“The Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion… you say?”

The Sect Leader’s eyes widened.

The Cheon-hwi he knew had never shown any interest in martial arts.

But the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion?

After a moment of thought, the Sect Leader said with a look of realization,

“Now that his body has recovered, he’s taken an interest in martial arts.  Haha. We should let him learn our sect’s martial arts…”

“No!”

Hyeon-ryeo immediately rejected his suggestion.

“But if he’s showing interest in martial arts, wouldn’t it be good to let him learn…”

“Senior Brother! Are you out of your mind?  Cheon-hwi was hovering between life and death just a few days ago, and you want him to learn martial arts?!”

The Sect Leader flinched at Hyeon-ryeo’s sharp voice.

Hyeon-ryeo, who had always cherished and cared for Cheon-hwi, had become even more overprotective after he collapsed.

“And Cheon-hwi is already fourteen.  It’s too late for him to start learning now; it will only hurt him.”

Fourteen was considered a late age to start learning martial arts.

Moreover, he had been on the verge of death just a few days ago. And if he lacked talent…

His future would be a thorny path.

Therefore, Hyeon-ryeo desperately wanted to prevent him from learning martial arts.

She wanted Cheon-hwi to live a comfortable life.

“Junior Sister.”

The Sect Leader called out to her in a calm voice.

Seeing Hyeon-ryeo’s distorted expression, he whispered,

“As you said, Cheon-hwi is already fourteen. How long do you intend to decide his future for him? Do you want him to become someone who can’t stand on his own and relies on you?”

“That’s…”

Hyeon-ryeo fell silent.

She knew.

That blindly preventing him wasn’t the best course of action.  But after Cheon-hwi’s recent collapse, she had become anxious.

She was afraid he would collapse again.

The Sect Leader looked at Hyeon-ryeo’s conflicted face and said,

“So, why don’t you ask Cheon-hwi? If he wants to learn martial arts, we’ll let him. If he doesn’t, then we’ll leave him be.”

The Sect Leader smiled gently.

“Isn’t that what we should do for Cheon-hwi?”

***

“It’s been a while, Senior Brother.”

Seeing Hyeon-ryeo greet him as soon as she entered the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion, Hyeon-cheong put down the martial arts manual in his hand and looked up.

“It has been a while.”

“Cheon-hwi is…”

“He’s on the third floor.”

Hyeon-ryeo smiled, seeing Hyeon-cheong answer a beat before she even asked.

“Thank you.”

She turned towards the stairs and said softly,

“Please show your face once in a while. Your senior brothers are worried.”

“…I still have work to do.”

Hearing the same answer she had heard countless times, Hyeon-ryeo stared at him with a sorrowful expression and then climbed the stairs.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

‘The sound of cutting wind…? Cheon-hwi should be the only one in the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion right now.’

Drawn by the sound that shouldn’t be heard in the pavilion, her steps quickened.

The moment she reached the top.

“…!”

Her jaw dropped.

Cheon-hwi was there.

A martial arts manual in his left hand.

And with his right hand, he was executing a peerless technique she recognized.

‘T-That’s the Orchid Acupoint Striking Hand?’

She was stunned.

What was the Orchid Acupoint Striking Hand?

It was a technique known for its destructive power, among the top martial arts of Mount Hua Sect, but the verses describing its execution had been lost long ago.

‘When it was found, many of the verses were missing, and the original Orchid Acupoint Striking Hand was only passed down orally…’

Hyeon-ryeo’s eyes widened.

But what was this?

Cheon-hwi was demonstrating the Orchid Acupoint Striking Hand.

Exactly as it was described in the oral tradition.

—–CROW—–