80 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 80 "Huh?" Returning to the accommodations of the Mount Hua Sect after a long time, Cheonhui was met with an unexpected scene. "Just this last sequence left! Hang in there!" "Huff, huff. Senior Brother. Please, I beg you, don't tell me how much is left. It just makes me more exhausted." "Ah, got it." At the center of the courtyard, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, with not a single one missing, were diligently practicing martial arts while sweating profusely. 'What's going on here?' Cheonhui approached them and spoke up. "It's been a while." In that moment, those worn out heads lifted as if their necks would snap. "Junior Brother!" "Cheonhui!" "You're finally back?" While everyone wore broad smiles, thrilled to end their drill at last. "There's still this sequence left, right?" Cheonhui's voice struck like a thorn. "Uh, yeah." "......Right." "We can catch up later." The faces of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen turned grim, but they quickly shook off their thoughts and regained their composure. "Just wait a bit more." "We'll finish up quick." Seeing them refocus brought a content smile to Cheonhui's face. 'Their skills might be lacking, but at least they've got the right mindset.' As he was observing them. "It's been a while." Hyunjin approached. Cheonhui, noticing Hyunjin's perfectly dry appearance as if he hadn't been training at all, asked softly. "Senior Brother, aren't you partaking in the practice?" "Ha, haha. I've already finished mine." "Hmm, is that so?" Cheonhui scrutinized Hyunjin from head to toe. 'He seems like he did...' Under Cheonhui's gaze, Hyunjin broke into a cold sweat and, realizing his slip, quickly changed the subject. "More importantly, did everything go well with what you had to handle?" "It all turned out fine." "That's a relief." Hyunjin heaved a sigh of relief. When Cheonhui had suddenly left a few days ago, claiming an urgent matter, Hyunjin had wanted to stop him but couldn't. 'And he even left his martial attire behind, wearing those plain clothes...' Even now, his curiosity about what had happened was gnawing at him, but. ‘He's not a kid anymore.’ He suppressed his curiosity with effort. Just then, Cheonhui brought up another topic. "Oh, and I'll need to prepare for a move as we're changing accommodations." "How do you know about that?" Hyunjin was taken aback by the sudden statement. The relocation of their quarters was a secret deal known only to the Deputy Leader and himself. "Only the Deputy Leader and I should know about it." "What?" Cheonhui frowned. "What do you mean?" “Wasn’t it you who brought it up? The Deputy Leader is arranging a new pavilion for us…” "Wait a minute." Cheonhui held Hyunjin’s gaze. "Please explain in detail." Faced with Cheonhui's cold eyes, Hyunjin flinched but soon nodded. "Understood." After hearing the full story, Cheonhui's eyes turned icy. ‘The relocation was already decided between the two of them?’ Lifting his head sharply, he glared toward where the Deputy Leader was. ‘Dare to use me as a pawn?’ * * * The next morning. Thud, thud. “Are you not coming out to welcome your guests?” The noisy disturbance prompted Cheonhui, who had just finished his morning meditation, to look out the window. Beyond the pavilion's gate, white-robed Taoists were banging on the door, shouting loudly. Bang! Bang! “Come out at once!” As their voices, laden with anger, resounded. Creak— Hyunjin and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen briskly opened the door in response to the commotion. “Namo Amitabha. What business brings the Taoists of the Jongnam Sect to our sect's quarters so early in the morning?” “What brings us here, you ask?!” “Oh, these shameless folks.” “They feign ignorance after pulling such a stunt.” Frowning at the Jongnam Sect's Taoists, who hurled accusations instead of greeting, Hyunjin and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen remained calm. “Are your words not excessive?” “You think it's excessive after what you've done?!” A middle-aged Taoist at the forefront shouted, his voice so loud that it hurt Cheonhui's ears even through the window. Watching the furious Daoist, Chunwooja, Hyunjin sensed the gravity of the situation and spoke softly. “What do you mean by ‘what we've done’?” “Feigning ignorance now, are we.” Chunwooja raised his eyes sharply. “Have you not tried to take over the pavilion that our sect is occupying?” “What, you came here for that?” Cheonhui found it absurd. Who did they think had seized it first? Contrary to Cheonhui's thoughts, Chunwooja burst out in anger. “Why target our pavilion instead of a new one!” Meanwhile, Hyunjin was left speechless. That the Jongnam Sect considered it their accommodations? Though he’d wanted to reclaim the pavilion that belonged to the Mount Hua Sect, it seemed impossible. He had intended to settle for a newly renovated pavilion. “We were planning to move to another pavilion…” “Wasn't it you who took it first?” Cheonhui appeared amidst them. His sudden emergence, as if he’d sprung from the ground, startled everyone. “The pavilion you're using originally belonged to us.” “Cheonhui.” Ignoring Hyunjin’s attempt to stop him, Cheonhui looked Chunwooja squarely in the eyes. “Am I wrong?” “That was long ago.” “You’re admitting to taking it.” Chunwooja's face twisted. “No, I did not admit it.” “Didn't you just confirm it?” “It was not taken but acquired.” "That's the same thing." Cheonhui didn't back down in the slightest. “It is entirely different!” Chunwooja's outburst echoed. “We earned our pavilion through long-standing alliances and reputation. You, a young one, know nothing yet run your mouth!” Watching Chunwooja shake with rage, Cheonhui smirked. Clearly, his bluster was an attempt to muddle the issue. “We’re moving just like you are.” Chunwooja snorted. “You think mere reputation can secure our pavilion?” As Cheonhui was about to respond, Hyunjin's voice crystal clear in his mind. 『Is this what you talked about yesterday?』 『Yes.』 『The place the Deputy Leader was referring to was another pavilion...』 『But it seems we have the right to reclaim the Mount Hua Sect's quarters.』 『That is......』 At Cheonhui's telepathic message questioning the meaning of his words, Hyunjin's gaze wavered. As Cheonhui mentioned, Hyunjin indeed wished to reclaim what was theirs—the past glory of the Mount Hua Sect, their rightful place. Among those desires was the pavilion illegally seized by the Jongnam Sect. 『...You're right.』 Hyunjin lifted his head abruptly. "Your words are harsh." His voice was cold as his eyes cast a reproachful glare. "Are you belittling our sect right now?" Hyunjin's sharp retort made Chunwooja slightly uneasy, as Hyunjin usually yielded without confrontation. 'Finally, he's showing some backbone.' Cheonhui, watching Hyunjin, felt satisfied. In the past, Hyunjin would have conceded immediately, but now he was far more resolute. "Is it so unsettling that we wish to reclaim our pavilion?" The Jongnam Sect practitioners stirred at the words. "What? Reclaim?" "That pavilion belongs to us!" "Indeed! We claimed it long ago, now attempting to seize it is unreasonable!" As the Jongnam Sect practitioners shouted and Chunwooja added his piece, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen could no longer hold back. "Are those words not excessive?" "You're undermining our achievements?" The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, outraged at the way their efforts were being dismissed, couldn't remain silent. "Endeavors? Surely you mean trivial missions? Ah! Perhaps you're referring to your recent dismantling of the Black Howling Demon?" Chunwooja mocked them further. "You've earned the strange moniker 'Mount Hua Seven Swords' and grew boastful, yet you still think that's enough to claim our accommodations?" Just as a few Plum Blossom Swordsmen couldn't contain their anger and began to move. "And what about toppling Baek Gwi Fortress?" Cheonhui intervened. Chunwooja narrowed his eyes. "Hmph. That was an operation the Haoujin of our sect was also involved in." "Oh! Right, that happened." Cheonhui recalled, shaking his head. "Seems words won't resolve this." Looking back at the unyielding Jongnam Sect practitioners, Cheonhui turned his head. “Why don’t you come out and settle this?” Cheonhui spoke in a low voice. “What?” “What are you…” Amid the confusion of those around, Cheonhui’s unexpected comment was dismissed as ridiculous, until. “Hahaha. Here I am.” Seolgeom, who had been hiding along the wall observing, walked forward with an awkward smile. Cheonhui glared at him coldly. "I understood you had already handled everything yesterday, so what is this?" "I did explain, however..." Seolgeom shrugged, meeting Chunwooja's angry gaze. “They wouldn’t believe what I said.” “Believe that drivel?” Chunwooja shouted angrily. “I never even received a report that the Su Dragon Fortress had fallen, much less word that the Mount Hua Sect was responsible! How could I possibly accept that?” This statement from Chunwooja was shocking. The collapse of the Su Dragon Fortress, attributed to the Mount Hua Sect, was unfathomable to Hyunjin and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. However, a single name quickly came to mind. 'Could it be!' Simultaneously, their eyes turned toward Cheonhui. As Hyunjin sent a telepathic message. 『Was that your doing?』 『Yes. I needed to boost reputation quickly to facilitate the relocation.』 Hyunjin was left speechless. Cheonhui had left without a word to topple the Su Dragon Fortress alone. ‘Why undertake such a perilous task alone…?’ Concern and anger welled up belatedly. ‘But it's already concluded…’ He could only shake his head in resignation. 『I'll ask for the full story later.』 Ending the telepathic exchange, Hyunjin boldly faced Chunwooja. “It was indeed the work of our sect.” Chunwooja's expression darkened at the sudden admission from Hyunjin. “My words are not falsehoods. Do you take me for someone foolish enough to speak blatant lies?” Seolgeom also added strength to his statement, all traces of his previous levity vanished as his eyes narrowed, his voice as cold as ice. “Perhaps it's time to accept the truth?” “So it was as such?” Chunwooja gritted his teeth. “Is this an attempt by the Deputy Leader and Mount Hua Sect to accuse us and push out the Jongnam Sect?” Faced with Chunwooja's wild claims, Seolgeom sighed and opened his mouth. “What would I gain from such antics?” “Hmph! Isn't it obvious? You intend to ally with the Mount Hua Sect!” Chunwooja glared fiercely, then turned his gaze to Hyunjin. “The pavilion cannot be surrendered!” “That pavilion belongs to us now.” Hyunjin remained firm. They had reputation and justification on their side, not to mention the support of the Deputy Leader, leaving no reason to retreat. Chunwooja’s eyebrow twitched. Hyunjin's change of attitude, someone who used to avoid direct confrontation, was irksome. "Are you saying the Mount Hua Sect is ready to make an enemy of our sect?" Hyunjin flinched momentarily at Chunwooja's words. Seeing this reaction brought Chunwooja immense satisfaction. ‘Yes, that's the current Mount Hua Sect.’ The proud Mount Hua Sect of the past, which once looked down on the Jongnam Sect, no longer existed. Hyunjin's face hardened as he spoke. “Must it come to that?” “It must.” At Chunwooja’s response, a long wrinkle formed on Hyunjin’s forehead. Traditionally, he would have taken a step back from the colossal Jongnam Sect. But now... ‘How much longer must we keep retreating?’ It was time to advance. "Is that the stance of the Jongnam Sect? Or yours, Chunwooja?" Chunwooja's lips curled in satisfaction. “It is the stance of Jongnam Sect.” “……” Straightening his chest, Chunwooja spoke, leaving Hyunjin to take a deep breath before responding. “…Unlike you, I cannot represent the Mount Hua Sect on my own.” Chunwooja smirked. “Then give it up and…” “But.” Hyunjin’s eyes widened. “If it leads to such developments, I will stand against Jongnam Sect, even if I stand alone.” “…!” Chunwooja feigned surprise. But it didn’t end there. The Plum Blossom Swordsmen marched out in force, standing in line beside Hyunjin with voices resounding with vigor. “I will follow as well.” “Senior, count me in too.” The tense atmosphere froze as the Jongnam Sect practitioners cautiously eyed the actions of their counterparts. "What do you think you're doing!" A thunderous roar echoed through the air, so powerful that it left both Jongnam and Mount Hua members dumbfounded, turning their bewildered faces toward the source of the voice. The origin of the booming voice was a man with a massive and robust build. If not for the martial robe he wore, one might have mistaken him for a bandit, given his fierce expression akin to that of a vengeful deity. "Elder Brother!" "Senior!" "The Mount Hua Divine Sword?!" The man was none other than Hyundo, the Mount Hua Divine Sword.