Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua

Chapter 8

—–CROW—– 

Hyeon-do scrutinized Cheon-hwi.

‘His body has recovered.’

A relieved smile spread across his face.

Although he didn’t know Cheon-hwi well and hadn’t met him often.

He had visited Cheon-hwi when he collapsed and prayed for his recovery.

‘Because he’s Hyeon-gang’s disciple.’

Gazing intently at Cheon-hwi, he recalled Hyeon-gang, who was no longer in this world.

Eight years ago.

Hyeon-gang had embarked on a journey into the Jianghu with his newly appointed Plum Blossom Swordsmen disciples.

And that day, Hyeon-do entered secluded cultivation.

He was proud of Hyeon-gang, who was quickly catching up to him, but his competitive spirit as a martial artist was also ignited.

However, that was the biggest mistake of his life.

As soon as he finished his secluded cultivation six months later, he was met with shocking news.

“Your youngest junior brother and his disciples are dead.”

Those were the words Hyeon-ryeo, looking utterly devastated, uttered as soon as she saw him.

Enraged and heartbroken, he had raged about taking revenge.

But everyone stopped him.

The opponent was the Baek Gwi-seong.

One of the Six Royal Gates of the Saheukryeon, their influence was widespread throughout the land.

They told him that even if it was beyond Mount Hua’s power, they could ask the Murim Alliance for help, but the response they received was unexpected.

The Baek Gwi-seong had also lost Myeoljeol Sword and his Extermination Squad, so they proposed to let the matter rest, and the Murim Alliance accepted their proposal.

So, if they wanted revenge, they would have to wage a full-scale war between the sects.

He was furious and frustrated.

But to wage an all-out war?

He couldn’t bring himself to do that.

Unlike the Baek Gwi-seong, who had only lost Myeoljeol Sword and one of their six squads, Mount Hua had lost Hyeon-gang, their core strength, and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

A clear defeat was inevitable.

He couldn’t end the nearly five-hundred-year history of Mount Hua Sect with his own hands.

In the end, he gave up and asked Hyeon-ryeo,

‘Where is he buried?’

‘As per his last wish, his ashes were scattered over the skies of Mount Hua.’

His heart felt like it was breaking.

At the time, everyone had laughed at those words.

Saying what kind of last wish was that.

But no one in Mount Hua Sect could have predicted it would become a reality.

After that day, he couldn’t escape his grief for a long time.

If only he had gone with him!

If only he hadn’t entered secluded cultivation!

Regret tormented Hyeon-do.

He should have gone with them, no matter what.

But he had focused on secluded cultivation because of his petty competitive spirit, and because of that, he couldn’t even be there for Hyeon-gang and his disciples’ deaths.

Then, Senior Brother Hyeon-cheong abandoned everything and entered the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion.

‘It’s all because our sect is weak.’

His words before entering the pavilion had deeply shocked Hyeon-do.

‘If I become an absolute master, this will never happen again!’

He pulled himself together and devoted himself to training again.

To become an absolute master.

Perhaps thanks to his unwavering focus on training, putting aside everything else.

After six years, he finally reached the pinnacle of the Peak Martial Realm and was on the verge of the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Just one step away.

If he took that one step, he could reach the Heavenly Martial Realm and become an absolute master.

But.

‘It’s still out of reach.’

Even now, the wall of the Heavenly Martial Realm shimmered before him, but he couldn’t reach it.

For two whole years.

Thump—

Hyeon-do sat down on the floor.

He tapped the floor with his calloused right hand and said,

“Have a seat.”

Cheon-hwi sat down.

“Before learning martial arts, you must first build a foundation in cultivation methods, so I’ll teach you the Breathing Technique first.”

Hyeon-do immediately began to explain, recalling his own first experience learning martial arts long ago.

“The mind and body must be pure to receive proper energy. The beginning is to expel the stale energy, the old, stagnant energy accumulated within the body. Then, take a deep breath and absorb clean energy. This is the Breathing Technique…”

Exhale and inhale.

Despite the lengthy explanation, the conclusion was just those two things.

Yawn, when will this be over?

He blinked, bored by the tedious explanation.

But he had to pretend to listen.

Hyeon-do was staring intently at him with burning eyes.

After a while of pretending to listen and letting Hyeon-do’s explanation go in one ear and out the other.

“This is the Breathing Technique.”

Hyeon-do finished speaking.

Finally, it’s over.

As he was about to open his heavy eyelids.

“Now, try it.”

Hyeon-do said with a smile.

Even though the Breathing Technique was the foundation of cultivation methods, it was impossible to execute it after just one explanation, especially for someone who knew nothing about it.

Usually, they would demonstrate or channel their internal energy to help the learner grasp the Breathing Technique.

But he intentionally didn’t do that.

‘Teach Cheon-hwi martial arts.’

Since he had received this request from Hyeon-ryeo, who rarely asked him for favors, he intended to be thorough in teaching Cheon-hwi.

‘I’ll observe him first, and then I’ll channel my energy or help him feel the energy flow.’

That was his philosophy on teaching martial arts.

One action was more effective than a hundred words.

“Alright.”

Cheon-hwi sat cross-legged.

“Yes, yes. That’s the posture.”

Hyeon-do smiled with satisfaction.

It was a surprisingly good posture.

Most children couldn’t sit cross-legged properly, but Cheon-hwi maintained a perfect posture, like a Taoist who had been practicing for a long time.

‘He must have imitated his master.’

As he reminisced, seeing the cross-legged posture that resembled his youngest junior brother.

Inhale, exhale.

Cheon-hwi closed his eyes and repeated the breathing exercise several times.

After a while.

Sweep—

Cheon-hwi opened his eyes.

“I’m done.”

Hyeon-do nodded.

“That’s circulating energy. If you practice the Breathing Technique every day without fail, at some point, you’ll feel a different, unfamiliar energy…”

“Are you referring to the energy that enters through the mouth and touches the lower dantian?”

“Yes. Accumulating the energy that touches the lower dantian is internal energy… What?”

Hyeon-do stared blankly.

Feeling the energy on the first try?

That was absurd.

“W-What do you mean?”

“I’ve accumulated it in my lower dantian, just as you instructed, Senior Uncle.”

At Cheon-hwi’s words, he chuckled.

He must be joking.

“Haha. That’s a good one.”

“A joke?”

Hyeon-do, who had dismissed it as a child’s joke, froze as he saw Cheon-hwi’s expression.

His face was completely sincere.

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Give me your hand.”

Cheon-hwi extended his right hand.

Hyeon-do’s jaw dropped as he grasped Cheon-hwi’s thin, pale wrist and channeled his energy to check his lower dantian.

“…!”

He almost jumped to his feet.

Internal energy was accumulated in his lower dantian.

It was still minuscule, but it was pure internal energy.

“H-How?”

“I did as you said.”

“As I instructed orally?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impossible!”

“Huh? What do you mean, impossible?”

“How can you accumulate internal energy on your first try just by listening to the oral instructions?”

“Then did you ask me to do something impossible?”

Cheon-hwi tilted his head.

He was inwardly scoffing.

Testing him, with his meager skills?

Having realized Hyeon-do’s intention to test him, he pretended to be oblivious.

Unaware of Cheon-hwi’s thoughts, Hyeon-do shook his head and muttered,

“I was going to help you if you were stuck. I was going to channel my energy to guide the energy flow, but…”

Lost in confusion, Hyeon-do voiced his thoughts, then he suddenly came to his senses. He tightened his grip on Cheon-hwi’s wrist.

Squeeze—

“The Heavenly Lord didn’t just take my youngest junior brother!  Hahahaha!”

Cheon-hwi stared at Hyeon-do, who suddenly burst into laughter, with a bewildered expression.

Was he crazy?

Hyeon-do, laughing heartily with unrestrained joy, released Cheon-hwi’s wrist.

That hurt.

Cheon-hwi shook his throbbing wrist.

Hyeon-do’s red handprint was clearly visible on his swollen wrist.

Hyeon-do looked at Cheon-hwi rubbing his wrist and said,

“I’ll teach you a cultivation method.”

It was an unprecedented statement.

Usually, even after accumulating internal energy, it was customary in Mount Hua Sect to familiarize oneself with the Breathing Technique before learning a cultivation method.

But Hyeon-do skipped that process.

‘Not only did he sense the energy with a single attempt at the Breathing Technique, but he also accumulated internal energy in his lower dantian. What an astonishing talent.’

It would be a waste to let such talent stagnate by wasting time on the Breathing Technique.

‘I’ll explain it to Senior Brother Sect Leader later; he’ll understand.’

Cheon-hwi looked at Hyeon-do, lost in thought.

‘Huh? I heard righteous sects learn martial arts step by step. Is Mount Hua different?’

It was an unconventional move, ignoring tradition for a single person, but Cheon-hwi didn’t think much of it.

“I’ll teach you the Plum Blossom Energy Cultivation. It’s a cultivation method that only true disciples of our sect can learn, and it’s the foundation of all our martial arts.”

Hyeon-do’s explanation continued.

But this time, it wasn’t boring.

It felt different from reading it.

He had read about the Plum Blossom Energy Cultivation in the manual, and the verses were exactly the same.

However, Hyeon-do added his own interpretations to make it easier to understand, and that’s what kept him interested.

“Combine the internal energy into one…”

***

The next day, when Cheon-hwi returned from the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion, Hyeon-do was waiting for him.

“Senior Uncle?”

Hyeon-do held out a wooden sword.

“Take it.”

Cheon-hwi reflexively took the wooden sword.

Then Hyeon-do drew his sword.

The White Lotus Sword, which should have boasted a gleaming white blade, was dyed by the setting sun.

He raised his sword.

Sweep—

He was actually quite excited.

Because of what happened yesterday.

Cheon-hwi had grasped the oral instructions of the Plum Blossom Energy Cultivation and achieved the Microcosmic Orbit.

In less than an hour!

At that moment, he realized.

‘He’s a once-in-a-lifetime genius!’

He then made a plan.

To nurture Cheon-hwi into a master who would leave his mark on the history of Mount Hua Sect, no, the entire Jianghu.

“Watch closely. This is our sect’s Six Harmonies Sword Technique.”

Hyeon-do demonstrated the Six Harmonies Sword Technique.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

The sword swung powerfully.

Cheon-hwi, who had been staring at Hyeon-do as he talked and acted unilaterally, changed his expression as soon as the sword technique began.

The sword Hyeon-do wielded slashed in all directions.

The sharp White Lotus Sword, swung in every possible direction a human could move, seemed free and capable of responding to any situation.

But something felt unnatural.

Cheon-hwi intently observed Hyeon-do.

Trying to figure out what felt unnatural.

After a while, Hyeon-do sheathed his sword and said,

“Did you see that?”

“I did.”

“Then I’ll explain the movements.”

He raised his sword again.

And he began to explain, demonstrating the first move again.

“First, the first move, Six Harmonies Formation. Like this, step forward and raise your sword high. This is the starting posture. And in this state…”

After demonstrating all six moves, including the first move, Six Harmonies Formation, Hyeon-do sheathed his sword and said,

“Now, try it.”

Cheon-hwi adjusted his grip on the wooden sword.

A slight excitement rose within him as he held a sword after so long.

A sword, it’s been a while.

He executed the Six Harmonies Sword Technique.

After repeating it a few times.

This was the problem.

He found the reason why Hyeon-do’s Six Harmonies Sword Technique felt unnatural.

There was no connection between the moves.

Each move seemed complete on its own, but when the Six Harmonies Sword Technique was executed as a whole, the problem became apparent.

It would be better to use it like this.

Whoosh!

The Six Harmonies Sword Technique began to change.

The sword, which had been moving freely without any connection between the moves, began to flow and weave together.

Hyeon-do’s brow furrowed as he watched the transformation from beginning to end.

At first, he thought Cheon-hwi was wielding the sword decently as he was taught, but as time passed, the sword technique became increasingly worse.

‘He’s so unskilled.’

As they say, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. He felt a sense of regret.

‘No, too much is as bad as too little.  For a child who has never held a sword, this is more than satisfactory.’

He shook his head.

It was a bit disappointing, but it was alright.

‘Unlike internal energy cultivation methods, which require elixirs and talent, sword techniques can be mastered quickly with effort.’

Nodding, Hyeon-do strode towards Cheon-hwi, who was struggling with the Six Harmonies Sword Technique.

“That’s clumsy. Didn’t I explain the Six Harmonies Sword Technique?  When you swing like this, you have to raise your sword. You have to split the heavens to achieve true blossoming…”

“But isn’t it more natural to swing it like this?”

Normally, Hyeon-do would have been angry at being interrupted.

But since their meeting yesterday, their relationship had become much closer, to the point where Hyeon-do could tolerate Cheon-hwi interrupting him or speaking casually.

Hyeon-do stared intently at Cheon-hwi, who was looking at him as if asking ‘Why don’t you understand?’ and asked,

“What are you talking about?”

“Look.”

Cheon-hwi immediately demonstrated the Six Harmonies Sword Technique he had modified.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

At first glance, it looked similar to what Hyeon-do had demonstrated, but it lacked sharpness and the essence of the Six Harmonies Sword Technique.  The sword technique completely transformed.

“You!”

Hyeon-do’s eyes narrowed sharply as he watched.

“The Six Harmonies Sword Technique is a sword technique passed down through generations in our sect.  How dare you try to change it as you please? Are you trying to commit the sin of defying your master and ancestors?”

“But this is better.”

“You still don’t understand!”

He roared and drew his sword again, emanating internal energy.

“Watch closely and see how foolish you’re being.”

To make Cheon-hwi realize the gravity of his mistake, Hyeon-do imitated the Six Harmonies Sword Technique Cheon-hwi had just demonstrated.

First move, Six Harmonies Formation.

Second move, Six Harmonies Nine Flows.

As he was about to execute the third move, Six Harmonies Bitter Rain.

Whoosh— Whoosh—

He found himself drawn into it unconsciously.

After executing the completely transformed Six Harmonies Sword Technique to the end.

“…”

After a moment, Hyeon-do stood there, dumbfounded.

The trajectory of the Six Harmonies Sword Technique he had just executed was still vivid in his mind.

“Such a natural flow…”

Cheon-hwi approached Hyeon-do, who was still lost in the afterglow, and said,

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

—–CROW—–