Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua

Chapter 14

—–CROW—– 

On the training ground of the Do-rim Plain.

Cheon-hwi, standing alone, frowned.

‘How did this happen?’

He replayed the recent events in his mind.

The Five Mountains Gathering, different from his expectations, had ended disappointingly, and he had been planning to return to the Ten Thousand Classics Pavilion to read more martial arts manuals.

But then, the Sect Leader suddenly called him and ordered him to fight a match.

‘He must have been desperate.’

He roughly understood the Sect Leader’s intentions.

Having been the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, he knew what the Sect Leader was thinking.

A match to avenge their humiliating defeat.

Judging by the reactions around him, it seemed to have worked.

There was even more attention on him now than during the Five Mountains Gathering.

‘How bothersome.’

Cheon-hwi slowly scanned the crowd.

Countless eyes were fixed on him from all directions.

The Mount Hua disciples were looking at him with anxious gazes, while the disciples of the other four sword sects were either sneering or looking at him with disbelief.

Perhaps it was natural.

He was only a fourteen-year-old boy.

And those gazes weren’t limited to the disciples.

The elders of the four sword sects, who had returned to their seats for this impromptu match, were quietly conversing amongst themselves.

“Did Mount Hua Sect have such a young first-generation disciple?”

As everyone shook their heads at Jeok-u-ja’s question, as if they had no idea.

“Ah!”

Go-gyeong-ja, the elder of Mount Hengshan Sect, let out a short exclamation, as if he had remembered something.

“Do you know something?”

At Mu-yeong-ja’s prompting, Go-gyeong-ja nodded and whispered quietly,

“You know, the rumor about the Plum Blossom Sword Hero taking in a newborn as his disciple?  I believe that child’s title was Cheon-hwi.”

“The Plum Blossom Sword Hero…!”

“You mean the disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Hero?”

Everyone’s eyes changed instantly.

The Plum Blossom Sword Hero was a name etched deeply in their memories.

He had appeared like a comet at the Five Mountains Gathering in the past, showcasing overwhelming skill and becoming known as the future leader of Mount Hua Sect.

If he and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen he led hadn’t fallen to the attack of the Hundred Ghosts Castle eight years ago, Mount Hua Sect’s influence wouldn’t have declined so much.

“Then that child is…”

“The disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Hero?”

The elders of the four sword sects tensed.

Although he was a child, the fact that he was the disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Hero made them see him in a different light.

As they were looking at Cheon-hwi.

Thud.

Kang-un stepped onto the training ground.

He, like Cheon-hwi, wasn’t pleased with the current situation.

In fact, he knew.

That Mount Hua Sect couldn’t accept his proposal because they had no Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

In other words, it was a provocation.

To tarnish Mount Hua Sect’s reputation and elevate his own and Mount Heng Sect’s.

But the situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Sweep—

Kang-un looked at the boy in front of him.

A boy a head shorter than him.

A small, delicate-looking boy, seemingly no older than twelve or thirteen, with a sword almost dragging on the ground at his side.

Kang-un frowned at the boy, wondering if he could even lift the sword properly.

‘To make me face this little kid instead of a Plum Blossom Swordsman.’

“Sigh.”

He sighed deeply and shook his head.

‘If it were a Plum Blossom Swordsman, I would at least gain some reputation. There’s nothing for me to gain from winning this match.’

He approached Cheon-hwi.  Although he was annoyed, he clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.

Even though his opponent was much younger, he was still a senior disciple.

“Pleased to meet you.”

Flick—

Cheon-hwi glanced at him and casually returned the gesture, as if he couldn’t be bothered.

Kang-un’s face crumpled.

‘This kid…’

But he forced a smile and lowered his hands.

As he stepped back, he muttered quietly in an annoyed tone,

“I’ll end this quickly.”

It was a quiet whisper.

But Cheon-hwi, with his enhanced hearing, heard it.

‘Look at this guy.’

One corner of his mouth twitched at Kang-un’s condescending tone.

‘He’s just what I need to vent my frustration.’

He needed to let off some steam.

He had come to see the Five Mountains Gathering, a grand meeting of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, but all he saw were children fighting.

There was no proper display of martial arts, nor was it intense.

‘I wouldn’t have come all the way here to watch this if I had known.’

He was already annoyed, and now he had to fight a match with a kid who was barely old enough to hold a sword.

Although he had accepted the Sect Leader’s order, he couldn’t help but feel even more irritated.

Step— Step—

The two, lost in their own thoughts, stood facing each other, five steps apart.

After staring at each other for a moment.

Shing—

Kang-un drew his sword first.

The pure white White Lotus Sword gleamed in the sunlight, and a powerful energy surged into the blade.

Kang-un looked at his sword for a moment.

Thud!

He kicked off the ground powerfully.

His body soared into the air.

Having no intention of holding back, he channeled his internal energy, executed the Revealing Cloud Graceful Willow Steps, and closed the distance.

The five steps between them shrunk instantly.

‘I’ll end this in one strike.’

He glared at Cheon-hwi.

Cheon-hwi was still standing still, seemingly unaware of his movement.

He swiftly swung his sword towards Cheon-hwi’s exposed shoulder.

Swish!

The air split, and his internal energy exploded.

Flying Cloud Surpassing Wind.

He executed his most confident move from the Wind Cloud Sword Technique.

Just as Flying Cloud Surpassing Wind was about to reach Cheon-hwi’s unguarded shoulder.

Clang!

“Gasp!”

Kang-un gasped, his expression freezing.

His opponent had effortlessly blocked his Flying Cloud Surpassing Wind, having drawn his sword unnoticed.

‘How…’

His eyes trembled.

He hadn’t seen him draw his sword, let alone swing it.

Sweat trickled down his forehead.

Thud!

He quickly retreated, regaining his composure.

Kang-un wasn’t the only one surprised.

The crowd watching the exchange on the training ground also expressed their astonishment.

Especially the Mount Hua disciples.

“D-Did he just block it?”

“Phew, that was close.”

“But how did he block it?”

They had been holding their breath.

Although the match between Cheon-hwi and Kang-un was arranged by the Sect Leader, they hadn’t expected Cheon-hwi to win.

The difference in their power was evident.

Kang-un was radiating a powerful energy, dominating the training ground, while Cheon-hwi’s energy was faint.

Like a rabbit before a tiger.

“Please, let the next attack pass safely as well…”

“Amitabha.”

As they watched the training ground with anxious expressions, clasping their hands together.

“How did he block it?”

“Senior Brother’s Wind Cloud Sword Technique…!”

The Mount Heng Sect disciples were startled.

Kang-un was unrivaled among the second-generation disciples.

It was natural for them to be bewildered that his swordsmanship was blocked by a young boy.

Then, one of the second-generation disciples burst out laughing.

“Hahaha, Senior Brother Kang-un must be going easy on him because he’s young.”

Now that he thought about it, it seemed to make sense. Otherwise, the current situation was difficult to comprehend.

“Hahaha, Senior Brother.”

“It was just luck.”

As the Mount Heng Sect disciples relaxed, reassured.

Drip—

Kang-un wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Contrary to what the Mount Heng Sect disciples thought, he hadn’t held back.

He had used all his strength.

To end the match in one strike.

‘But how did he block it?’

He swallowed and looked at Cheon-hwi.

The young boy was holding a long sword in his small hands.

Without any energy or aura.

‘…Was it luck?’

He narrowed his eyes.

It didn’t make sense unless it was luck.

‘There’s no such thing as luck twice.’

Kang-un channeled his internal energy.

The energy of the Clear Mind Art he had practiced since childhood enveloped him.

Whoosh!

His eyes, imbued with internal energy, shone sharply.

He glared at Cheon-hwi, as if to say he wouldn’t be careless again, and stepped forward with his left foot.

He executed the Revealing Cloud Graceful Willow Steps once more.

Slicing through the air, he tightened his grip on his sword and swung it towards Cheon-hwi’s unguarded side.

Swish!

Just as his sword was about to connect.

“…!”

Kang-un gasped.

Cheon-hwi, having tilted his head back, was looking right through him.

‘He saw my movements…’

Grin—

The corners of Cheon-hwi’s mouth curved upwards.

Flash!

A flash of lightning erupted.

Their swords clashed mid-air, and a struggle of strength ensued.

‘H-How can my Flying Wind Severing Sword be blocked like this?’

As Kang-un, flustered, tried to push harder with his sword.

“You said you wanted to see the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?”

A cold voice rang in his ears.

Then, a powerful force surged into Cheon-hwi’s sword.

Thud!

Kang-un was thrown backwards.

“What the…”

Kang-un muttered blankly.

The internal energy he just felt.

Although the amount of internal energy was small, it contained tremendous repulsive force.

‘It wasn’t luck…’

His face stiffened slightly.

But he quickly shook his head.

He finally understood why the Sect Leader had sent out this young boy.

He tightened his grip on his sword.

‘Mount Hua Sect is no ordinary sect.’

Cheon-hwi chuckled, watching Kang-un assume a proper stance, unlike his previous relaxed posture.

Then he channeled the Plum Blossom Divine Art.

Whoosh!

The internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art, which he had been suppressing, spread throughout his body, radiating a subtle aura.

A completely different energy and atmosphere.

Those watching the match gasped.

“S-Such energy.”

“Amazing skill for such a young age.”

Everyone was filled with admiration.

The aura and presence he was emanating now.

It was an overwhelming, domineering energy, completely opposite to Cheon-hwi’s usual demeanor.

“Was he hiding his true strength?”

“The Sect Leader didn’t request this match for nothing!”

The mood of the crowd gradually shifted.

The anxious gazes of the Mount Hua disciples turned into sparkles of anticipation, while the Mount Heng Sect disciples trembled.

“With this level of energy…”

“Could it be that Senior Brother Kang-un…”

Cheon-go, watching the match, also widened his eyes.

“It wasn’t a fluke.”

His eyes were fixed on Cheon-hwi.

He had thought Cheon-hwi had a good eye for martial arts, but he hadn’t known he possessed such exceptional skill.

Even now, the amount of Cheon-hwi’s internal energy he could sense was quite small.

But the aura and presence Cheon-hwi was emanating were overwhelming, belying his small amount of internal energy.

Enough to overpower Kang-un, who must have trained for at least ten years.

As he was thinking this.

‘Is that even possible?’

He expressed his doubt.

Knowing Cheon-hwi well, he couldn’t comprehend the current situation.

He knew Cheon-hwi had started practicing martial arts.

But his growth rate was absurdly fast.

‘Do the people watching this match know? That Cheon-hwi, radiating such an overwhelming aura, has only been practicing martial arts for a month?’

Cheon-go swallowed nervously and looked at Cheon-hwi with trembling eyes.

Whoosh!

Cheon-hwi’s figure suddenly disappeared.

“…!”

Kang-un’s eyes widened as he lost sight of Cheon-hwi.

Cheon-hwi, who had vanished in an instant, reappeared right in front of him.

“Hah!”

He quickly let out a shout and swung his sword, ready to counterattack.

He put all his strength into the swing.

But his sword didn’t reach Cheon-hwi.

Cheon-hwi, having drawn his sword, was effortlessly deflecting Kang-un’s attack.

Cheon-hwi, having deflected Kang-un’s sword with the Willow Branch Deflection technique, whispered quietly,

“Watch closely. This is the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.”

As soon as his quiet words ended.

Whoosh!

A powerful wind surged.

The red plum blossoms falling with the setting sun mingled with the wind Cheon-hwi created and began to engulf the world.

—–CROW—–