86 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 86 "A verbal sparring match...?" Cheon Hui’s expression was laced with disappointment. "Why not just spar for real?" His suggestion was met with dissatisfaction from Cheon Hui. Though they called it sparring in name, a verbal sparring was merely a technique where martial arts and moves were spoken aloud, and both parties had to imagine the outcome. It barely qualified as a duel. 'Exchanging blows with a real sword is always the best,' he thought. However, the Sword Saint of Mount Zhongnan was resolute. "Let’s keep it simple." "Tsk." Though discontent, he swallowed his grievance. It was clear that the Sword Saint had decided on having a verbal duel, as his eyes glimmered with anticipation and left no room for negotiation. 'Not ideal, but it’s better than doing nothing.' Reluctantly, he agreed, though his face showed his displeasure. "Tsk. Alright." Seeing Cheon Hui’s reluctant agreement, the Sword Saint smiled faintly. A moment later, the two sat down. The Sword Saint’s gaze, which had been fixed on the dust-laden table, shifted to Cheon Hui. "I’ll let you take the first move." "Very well." Promptly, Cheon Hui raised his index finger. The Sword Saint observed with interest as Cheon Hui instantly assumed the stance of a martial artist. 'His posture is flawless.' Usually, facing a master of such high caliber in a duel would make most people anxious. Even if it was just a verbal sparring. But Cheon Hui was different. He exuded confidence. It wasn't fearlessness; it was the confidence of a warrior who had absolute trust in his martial prowess. At that moment. Swoosh— Cheon Hui’s finger swept across the table. A perfectly clean, straight line divided the dust on the table with precision. The Sword Saint's eyes sparkled at the sight. "Is that your first move?" "Indeed." Cheon Hui executed the 'Mount Tai Press'. A simple move that merely cuts downwards from top to bottom. Even a third-rate swordsman wouldn’t typically use such a straightforward strike as their opening move. But employing it now signified... ‘He’s looking to probe.’ The Sword Saint quickly discerned Cheon Hui's intent. As he gently motioned his hand to divert the swiftly executed Mount Tai Press, he commented, "Then, I shall use 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' to entrap your Mount Tai Press." "How do you propose to do that?" In an instant, his hand movements became intricate as they expanded in all directions, forming a dense web-like structure. It was as if his gestures sucked up the dust on the table in one swift motion. The Sword Saint paused his movements before explaining ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads’. “'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' involves manipulating eight directional chaotic sword moves.” The Sword Saint's hand came to a halt. “A simple downward slash like Mount Tai Press will find itself trapped within.” “And you’ll counterattack as well, won’t you?” "...!" The Sword Saint's eyes widened. 'How could he know? Has he seen it before?' 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' was the most eclectic technique amongst the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords, and very few had comprehended it. 'Did he deduce it just from that moment?' As the thoughts nestled deeper in his mind, his gaze deepened. Meanwhile, Cheon Hui recalled watching the ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads’ unfold in the past. ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads, it’s certainly evolved.’ Long ago, an unnamed swordsman of the Mount Zhongnan Sect used chaotic sword techniques like a beast's claws to protect themselves. ‘Back then, it was purely defensive. Now, it’s both offensive and defensive.’ Cheon Hui reminisced about the Sword Saint manipulating the technique without channeling any inner strength mere moments ago. A languid flick of the wrist. ‘Yet, if a sword were involved, one couldn't overlook the technique.’ In his mind, he envisioned the Sword Saint employing ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads’ against multiple foes rushing from all directions. Flesh and blood spattering in every direction. Yet, the Sword Saint remained unscathed. Reflecting on this, Cheon Hui nodded. "Then, I'll proceed like this." "How do you intend to do that?" The Sword Saint coolly observed Cheon Hui's nonchalant demeanor. There were dozens of techniques he knew to counter the Mount Tai Press. He didn’t even need to resort to advanced swordsmanship. Yet, he deliberately chose to showcase the most unique and alienated technique among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords, the ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads’. The reasoning was simple. ‘Ten Thousand Secret Threads’ appeared flawless, combining offense and defense, but required significant internal energy for a proper execution. It had a clear weakness. He wanted to see if Cheon Hui could perceive it. ‘A top-tier master might falter attempting to break it. However, a supreme master would side-step a head-on confrontation and focus on outlasting.’ The Sword Saint waited patiently for Cheon Hui’s response. ‘What choice will he make?’ He anticipated what words would spill from Cheon Hui’s lips, eager to determine if he was facing a supreme master or not. Then. "Then, I'll execute 'Silent Step' to move in, followed by a counterattack using 'Falling Star'." Cheon Hui’s strategy was neither of the expected choices. He chose neither to break nor evade outright but instead used a footwork technique to close in before launching a counterattack. ‘A counterattack?’ The Sword Saint raised an eyebrow. "Do you believe you can evade 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' and counter successfully?" "Absolutely." As a frown began to crease the Sword Saint's forehead, Cheon Hui provided his reasoning. “'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' looks dense, but if you observe closely, it’s structured entirely on eight directions. By timing it just right when it swings from the upper angle, I can pivot with 'Silent Step' to dodge, and strike the opening with precision…” As Cheon Hui elaborated, the Sword Saint’s face reflected a growing curiosity. The logic was flawless. Timing a strike during the execution of 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' to exploit its vulnerabilities. However. 'An impractical strategy.' He could state it without doubt. To execute such an act theoretically required mastery of speed-focused footwork as well as proficiency in using a weight-heavy sword. It demanded exceedingly complex prerequisites. ‘A master of heavy swords wouldn’t typically hone a subtle foot technique like Silent Step.’ The heavy sword was contrary to all schools emphasizing sheer force in their wielding approaches. Conversely, Silent Step mastered agility, making them fundamentally incompatible. When wielding a heavy sword, practicality necessitated choosing force-focused footwork like 'Thousand Pound Push' over fleet-footed techniques. 'Though possible to master both...' It approached a ridiculous waste of effort. The two couldn’t coexist. Even if pursued, it would take years, if not decades, of arduous struggle. And who would willingly choose to endure such hardship, he wondered. ‘Still, there’s merit in considering it.’ The Sword Saint’s gaze shifted, taking on a new light. For a technique he once believed to be flawless in both offense and defense, 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' clearly had a weakness. Even though exploiting it was near impossible at this moment, one could never be too sure about the future. ‘A supreme master could potentially achieve it.’ The thought jarred him. ‘Could it be…?’ His eyes, fixed on Cheon Hui, wavered slightly. ‘Is it mere coincidence? Or something more…?’ Intently observing Cheon Hui, he shook his head, dismissing the notion, and raised his index finger. "Then, let me proceed like this." His voice carried a newfound weight. "I shall withdraw 'Ten Thousand Secret Threads' and execute 'Dragon Steps in Clouds'. Attacking from the flank will ensure no chance for counterattack." Noticing the serious turn in the Sword Saint’s demeanor, Cheon Hui’s lips curled into a smirk. ‘Seems I’ve finally piqued his interest properly.’ Having realized that the Sword Saint wasn’t fully engaging in the verbal sparring, Cheon Hui had deliberately chosen one of the most formidable counter-methods available. And this choice proved to be correct. ‘Now it feels like a real sparring match.’ With a determined gesture, Cheon Hui raised his finger. “Then, I’ll block like this.” “Hoho, just like that?” “Then I’ll do this.” “Hm. I’ll dodge and counter.” The exchange continued seamlessly. With each of Cheon Hui’s retorts, the Sword Saint found himself repeatedly expressing admiration. ‘How does he come up with such methods?’ His mastery and strategic insights were vast and structured, surpassing anyone the Sword Saint had encountered. ‘His martial understanding is already complete.’ He was impressed. To call him the best under heaven in the future? That didn’t do him justice. If he had both inner strength and martial skill at his disposal... It could be possible right now! Now that the Sword Saint understood the foundation of Cheon Hui’s earlier confidence, the warrior’s blood in him, long forgotten, began to stir fervently. ‘This isn’t someone to merely teach.’ Even though they only discussed martial arts, he acknowledged Cheon Hui as an equal in wisdom and raised his finger to attack once more. "With 'Cloud-bound Azure Dragon Steps'..." The casual demeanor of the Sword Saint faded into earnestness. And because of that... ‘He’s now revealing everything without reservation.’ Cheon Hui’s smile grew broader. In no time, they were absorbed in their verbal sparring, their passion enveloping the entire room. The duel continued unabated. They remained so engrossed in their exchange that they lost track of time. The moon set and the sun rose. Gradually, the world that had been shrouded in darkness began to reveal itself, and the sunlight crept into Cheon Hui’s room through the open window. "...Hoho, the sun's already up." The Sword Saint remarked quietly. He hadn’t noticed the passage of time. ‘Hoho, I intended to gauge his character, yet I became so engrossed in the sparring.’ He gently shook his head. For the first time in ages, the warrior within him had awakened, making him intoxicated with excitement. ‘Still, it wasn’t bad at all.’ He felt a sense of satisfaction. Though it wasn’t a real battle, the verbal sparring had allowed him to showcase everything he had after a long time. “Let’s wrap this up now.” “Already?” Caught a bit off guard by Cheon Hui’s question, the Sword Saint chuckled softly. “I too wish to continue, but don’t you think it’s best to conclude here for now?” “That’s disappointing.” “Hoho, there’s always something to be desired, isn’t there?” “Then, next time, let’s meet again and continue.” “Next time…” The Sword Saint found the notion of "next time" pleasing and savoring the word, smiled broadly. “Good. Next time, though, let’s not engage in just verbal sparring. Let’s cross swords for real.” --- The afternoon of the day after the Sword Saint of Mount Zhongnan departed. In a garden much larger than the one at their previous residence, Cheon Hui stood along with Cheon Yu and Gu Gyeomwi. “Come at me.” Cheon Hui beckoned with a flick of his finger towards Gu Gyeomwi and Cheon Yu, who were standing on the opposite side, poised in a tense stance. “Here I come!” “Let’s do this!” Gu Gyeomwi and Cheon Yu lunged at Cheon Hui simultaneously. Over their shared bouts with Cheon Hui, Cheon Yu and Gu Gyeomwi had grown proficient enough to act as one. “Senior Brother!” “All right!” They nodded to each other in sync. Thud! Thud! In an instant, they split in opposite directions. With a swift, calculated movement, Cheon Yu lunged at Cheon Hui from the flank, his torso lowered to aim a strike at Cheon Hui’s exposed side. At that very moment. “Not bad. You’ve gotten better.” Cheon Hui caught Cheon Yu by the head. Cheon Hui’s outstretched palm eclipsed Cheon Yu’s vision and began to engulf his consciousness. “N-no, not yet…” Barely clinging to his senses, Cheon Yu grasped Cheon Hui’s wrist and shouted loudly. “Brother Gu!” Immediately, a sharp gust was fired towards Cheon Hui’s back. Like a surging wave, the sword wind approached. A technique known as 'Plum Blossom Waves'. “Oh. Using your head now, huh?” Cheon Hui chuckled softly. Sacrificing flesh to cut bone. They had employed Cheon Hui’s favored strategy of using the art of deception and sacrificing strategically. ‘Back in the day, they wouldn’t have even considered such a tactic. They’ve grown.’ Cheon Hui swung his left hand. Boom! With a sound like the air had been crushed, Gu Gyeomwi’s body was flung backward. Thud! Thud! Thud! Bouncing a few times like a skipped stone, Gu Gyeomwi lay sprawled across the ground. Gurgle— The impact was so intense that foam trickled from his open mouth. “Ha, ha-ha.” Witnessing Gu Gyeomwi’s state through the fingers entrapping him, Cheon Yu awkwardly chuckled. “Ha, ha-ha. Wasn’t that good, Brother?” “Quite an admirable coordination. You successfully drew my attention and combined it with an ambush from Brother Gu.” “R-really?” “Yet, you need to hide your presence better.” Cheon Hui flexed his fingers. “G-gah!” As Cheon Yu, struggling in the grip, slowly lost his strength, he finally dropped limp to the ground. “Nevertheless, you’ve improved…” Speaking, Cheon Hui dusted off his hands. From their initial matches where they hadn’t managed to land a single hit before passing out, their growth had been quite remarkable. “Still, as the senior brother, he is indeed different.” His gaze landed on Cheon Yu. In the beginning, his progress had been sluggish. In fact, he was still considered slow compared to others. However, Cheon Hui, studying Cheon Yu closely, noticed the underlying change. ‘Is he hiding about thirty percent of his potential?’ Even though Cheon Yu appeared to hold back, Cheon Hui understood everything about him. ‘His internal energy techniques seem to have stabilized now.’ Cheon Yu's internal energy techniques differed notably from those of other Plum Blossom Sword disciples, or even the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect. And that made sense because he was the top disciple of Mount Hua. He had learned the Zhahashingoong. ‘I quickly adapted parts of the Zhahakumgyeol into a martial art form, and it fit quite well.’ Cheon Hui reminisced about the martial arts form Cheon Yu had just executed. Zhahakwongyeol. It was a new martial arts technique reinvented to suit Cheon Yu by adapting the Zhahakumgyeol. ‘I’ve only taught him two forms so far, but even with just those, he should be considered formidable in the martial world.’ It was no exaggeration to call the Zhahakumgyeol an absolute sword technique; even recreating a single move took significant effort. ‘There are still a few forms I haven’t crafted yet, but he should handle it more adeptly than the original Zhahakumgyeol.’ Having piqued his interest, Cheon Hui glanced around. Besides Cheon Yu and Gu Gyeomwi, who were sprawled on the ground, other Plum Blossom Swordsmen lay unconscious from previous bouts. “Now all that's left is martial training and physical conditioning.” There was nothing more to teach. All that remained was their own dedication and effort. Through practical experience, Cheon Hui merely expedited their progress. Just as he was about to rouse them, Hyeon Jin came rushing towards him hurriedly. "Cheon Hui!" Surprised by Hyeon Jin's unusual urgency, seeming unlike his usual calm demeanor, Cheon Hui tilted his head in curiosity. "Is something wrong?" Breathless from his run, Hyeon Jin thrust a scroll into Cheon Hui's hands. "A message. It arrived from our sect." "A message?" Cheon Hui took the scroll that was abruptly handed to him and unfurled it. “Hmm?” His brow furrowed slightly. “They want me to return immediately?”