70 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 70 "The Supreme Elder? No wonder he seemed unusual." Only now did it all start to make sense. His remarkable martial skills and the fact that a famed warrior would defy orders to accept him—even that. Yet, there remained questions that begged answers. Why had he become a recluse, shut away in a back room? Had he been ousted from his position as the clan head? At that moment, the Supreme Elder's face crumpled in an instant. It was the most visibly irritated expression he had shown thus far. "What did you just call me? Supreme Elder? Haven't I told you countless times not to address me like that?" His voice roared like a never-ending waterfall, filled with a mix of loud anger, causing Namgung Jinkyung to hastily bow his head. "My apologies, grandfather." "As long as you understand." However, despite his words, the Supreme Elder’s face remained stern. When Namgung Jinkyung awkwardly raised his head. "More importantly, why is your face in such a state?" The Supreme Elder, having noticed Namgung Jinkyung's bruised and battered face, asked in surprise. The once handsome features were now marred with bruises. "Haha, these injuries, you mean?" Awkwardly laughing, Namgung Jinkyung touched his bruised cheek. "They are my own karma." "Karma?" "Yes." Seeing Namgung Jinkyung respond so cheerfully despite his own battered face, the Supreme Elder refrained from inquiring further about it. "So why have you returned after staying away from this place for half a year?" "I returned to introduce a guest..." As Namgung Jinkyung began to answer, he abruptly turned his gaze to Chun Hui and laughed. ‘Why is he looking at me?’ Chun Hui, perplexed by Namgung Jinkyung’s sudden gaze, simply returned the stare. "No, I came to introduce this place to my friend." He made an even more surprising statement. 'What, friend?' "A friend, you say?" For a moment, Chun Hui thought he had spoken aloud. But it was someone else who had spoken. "You mean the disciple of the Mount Hua Sect is your friend?" The Supreme Elder, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, pointed at Chun Hui and asked. "Yes." "Aren't the relations between our clan and the Nine Sects quite strained?" Namgung Jinkyung, still laughing, glanced at Chun Hui. "What do strained public relations matter? He is a friend with whom I've connected genuinely." "Are you saying we're friends?" Unable to hold back, Chun Hui interrupted. "Ah, weren’t we?" "What are you talking about?" He cut him off abruptly. Friends? They've merely sparred a few times—certainly not enough to form a bond as friends. Contrary to Chun Hui's thoughts, Namgung Jinkyung seemed genuinely convinced they were friends, and visibly wavered. "But didn’t we bond sincerely through our sparring?" "Eh? When did that happen?" "Didn't we during our sparring matches?" "That was just sparring." "This can't be…" Shock rendered Namgung Jinkyung speechless as he fell to his knees, overwhelmed. "So it was all my misunderstanding." Muttering, Namgung Jinkyung suddenly lit up with determination and sprang to his feet. "In that case!" His shout was loud enough to hurt ears as he strode forward with confidence. "How about we become friends starting today?" What? While Chun Hui was left dumbfounded, the Supreme Elder approached, chuckling jovially. "Hahaha. I'm delighted that the young master of our clan is forming a close friendship with a Taoist from the Mount Hua Sect!" After laughing heartily, the Supreme Elder suddenly turned serious and asked Namgung Jinkyung. "But are you sure about this? Being friends with a Mount Hua Sect Taoist might distance you from the succession you so desire..." Namgung Jinkyung shrugged. "Perhaps before, but I’m no longer concerned with succession or any such matters." "You are?" The Supreme Elder widened his eyes in surprise. "Yes." "You were once so eager to become the heir despite my advice against it." "I was a frog in a well, unable to see beyond what was right in front of me." The Supreme Elder stared at him in astonishment. "You mean our clan is the well?" "Compared to the world, it's indeed a well, isn’t it?" Namgung Jinkyung sheepishly scratched the back of his head as he observed the Supreme Elder closely. "Hahaha!" The Supreme Elder threw his head back and let out a booming laugh that echoed through the room. "You're right! Compared to the world at large, our clan is just a small well." His laughter subsiding, he regarded Namgung Jinkyung with a much softer gaze. "You've changed a lot." "I believe so too." The exchange, as natural as if it had always been, made the old man chuckle even further. "Such a positive change." "It's all thanks to Chun Hui, the little Taoist." 'Me?' Chun Hui looked at Namgung Jinkyung with surprise as his name was suddenly mentioned. Their eyes met, and Namgung Jinkyung gave a smile, a refreshingly bright and clear smile Chun Hui had never seen before. At that moment, the Supreme Elder directed his attention to Chun Hui. "Thank you for broadening the perspective of this foolish grandson of mine." "I didn't really do anything to warrant that." "Hahaha! Such modesty is typical of a Taoist." He really hadn't done anything. Yet, the Supreme Elder, already caught up in his own assumptions, looked upon him warmly. "Come to think of it, we haven't formally introduced ourselves. I am Namgung Hansang. Once, I was known as the Thunderbolt Sword..." As if realizing he had said too much, he hastily added. "That title was from so long ago; you probably wouldn't know it." "Thunderbolt Sword…?" Despite his words, as soon as he heard that title, a piece of information sprang into Chun Hui's mind. The former clan head of the Namgung family. And the Thunderbolt Sword. There was only one who matched that description. "You were one of the former Five Sword Masters under Heaven." "How could you know... I thought no one would remember a title from before the Three Defeats of the Nine Provinces." The Supreme Elder couldn't hide his pride as his lips twitched with satisfaction. No wonder he was so powerful. Chun Hui finally understood the man's martial prowess. Despite speaking lightly, the title of "Five Sword Masters under Heaven" was indeed quite significant. The Five Sword Masters under Heaven were those who dominated before the era of the Three Defeats of the Nine Provinces. Their skills were said to rival the finest, capable of shaking the heavens with their prowess. "Yet here I am now in this state..." Chun Hui observed the Supreme Elder, his face gradually showing sympathy. 'He must feel a profound sense of loss.' Could the Supreme Elder read his thoughts? His expression turned peculiar. "What is that look in your eyes?" "What look?" "It seems as though you're pitying me..." The Supreme Elder caught himself mid-sentence and shook his head from side to side. 'That can't be.' Who in the world would look at him with pity? "No, it's nothing." The Supreme Elder dismissed it with another shake. "More importantly, could you tell me your name, or rather, your Taoist name?" "Don't you already know it?" "I want to hear it directly from you." The Supreme Elder's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Faced with the elderly man's expectant gaze, Chun Hui spoke up. "It's Chun Hui." "Chun Hui. A fine Taoist name indeed." Nodding with satisfaction, he spoke in a lower voice. "Is there anything you desire?" "Excuse me?" "Given my current situation, there are limits to what I can do, but I'll assist with anything you need." 'Something I desire?' The answer was obvious and needed no hesitation. "In that case, please spar with me." "Spar?" The Supreme Elder opened his eyes wide in surprise, prompting Chun Hui to continue. "I've always wanted to witness the swordsmanship of the Namgung family, reputed to be the best under the heavens." The praise brought a wide smile to the Supreme Elder's lips. "Hahaha, our family's swordsmanship is indeed highly regarded." A smile also appeared on Chun Hui's face. 'Compliments really make him happy.' Martial artists always took pride in their school's martial arts, and it was even more pronounced when it was their family. "Very well. After all, you have helped us." The Supreme Elder agreed heartily. 'It was worth the wait.' Chun Hui had debated whether to leave several times during the lengthy conversation, but in the end, waiting proved worthwhile. 'To witness the martial arts of someone of his caliber—this will be exceptional.' Chun Hui's mouth widened with anticipation. "Could I see it right away?" "Haha, you seem quite confident." "What can I say, that's my only skill." The Supreme Elder chuckled at the young Taoist's youthful bravado. He was undeniably talented, but also still so young. "While your skills are extraordinary, overconfidence can be a significant weakness in the martial world." "I've never experienced that, so I can't relate." "Then I'll enlighten you." The Supreme Elder extended a hand towards Namgung Jinkyung, who had been quietly observing. "Could I borrow a sword?" "Here it is." Namgung Jinkyung promptly handed over his sword. For a swordsman to hand their blade to someone else was unthinkable, but as they were grandfather and grandson, it was different. The Supreme Elder drew the sword. Srrrng— Out of courtesy, Chun Hui also unsheathed his sword and spoke quickly. "Oh! Could you tell me what martial art it is before demonstrating?" "Is there a need for that?" "I’d like to fully understand what I'm witnessing." "You seem very interested in our family's martial arts." "…Indeed, I am." Chun Hui's eyes deepened. For a brief moment, his eyes turned as dark as a bottomless pit, but they reverted so quickly that no one noticed the sinister glint. "Then I shall show you one of our techniques, the Thirteen Lightning Sword Arts…" Just as the Supreme Elder was poised to demonstrate the technique. "Oh! I've seen that one already." Chun Hui interrupted. "I saw him perform it." As soon as he said that, Chun Hui swung his sword and added. "Like this, right?" Swish! The flash of the sword passed by the Supreme Elder's side. "…!" The Supreme Elder's eyes widened in astonishment. The sword movement just now was indeed the Thirteen Lightning Sword Arts. If it had been performed with proper internal energy, it would have been flawless! "How did you manage the Thirteen Lightning Sword Arts…" Chun Hui smiled faintly, looking at the bewildered Supreme Elder. "I told you, I watched him do it." He gestured towards Namgung Jinkyung, who was similarly taken aback by Chun Hui’s display of the technique. "Did you just imitate it?" "Yes." The Supreme Elder’s face hardened slightly as he regarded Chun Hui's self-assured expression. "…The Thirteen Lightning Sword Arts is such a profound sword art, it's difficult even to grasp much less mimic after just a few observations. How could you…" 'Ah, that?' Chun Hui chuckled softly. Martial artists had a strong sense of pride in their martial skills. Having someone replicate their cherished technique so easily might indeed wound their pride. "To be fair, it’s a highly advanced technique, so one or two times wasn't enough to understand it." Noticing the Supreme Elder’s expression relax a little, Chun Hui added. "So, I watched it maybe six times? By then, I started to get the hang of it."