88 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

**Chapter 88** The cold, stern visage of a beautiful woman watched intently as assassins exuding deadly intent approached her. Her vivid red lips parted. "Wi Jin," she called out. At that moment— Thunk! One of the assassins suddenly collapsed to the ground. Startled by the abrupt action, the other assassins hurriedly turned their heads. Standing behind the fallen assassin was a young man with strikingly handsome features. "Ghost Wolf Sword!" Swish! The assassins spun on their heels. Quickly clutching their daggers in reverse grips, they simultaneously targeted Wi Jin's chest. Yet, the sword in Wi Jin's hand merely flickered slightly, effortlessly deflecting their attacks to the side. Thump! A dull impact reverberated as the shock rippled through the assassins' bodies, causing them to jolt violently. However, the assassins didn't falter. Using the recoil to their advantage, they launched themselves off the ground and charged directly at the woman. Ssssshh! With an indifferent gaze, she watched as the distance between them swiftly closed. As their daggers were about to pierce her chest and neck— Whoosh! Suddenly, a shadow emerged from below, revealing a young girl with a cheerful expression. Her large, twinkling eyes, reminiscent of stars, were prominently striking as she spread her arms wide open. In her hands, something thin and shimmering caught the sunlight. "Silver Thread...?!" Alarmed, the assassins leapt back. But by then, the fine silver threads the girl wielded had already ensnared them completely. "Gasp!" "Ugh!" The taut threads gradually constricted, cutting into their flesh. Sliceshhh! In moments, a shower of blood rained down. "Are you okay?" The girl, with an expression of pure innocence that seemed at odds with her recent actions, looked up at the woman. "I'm fine." "Thank goodness." The woman, relieved, sighed and gently patted the head of the bright-eyed girl. "Well done, So Ryeong." "Hehe." So Ryeong beamed with delight at the praise, winding the crimson-stained threads meticulously around her hand, forming an intricate gauntlet. It was then that Wi Jin stepped in front of the woman. "My lady, more assassins are coming—" Before he could finish his sentence— Thud, thud, thud! Assassins poured in from all directions. "Stay behind me." Wi Jin stood firmly in front of the woman. "So Ryeong." "On it!" So Ryeong crossed her hands, utilizing the threads she had spread like a web to protect the woman. "Ready!" "We're moving out!" As Wi Jin's shout rang out— Boom! The two of them blasted off the ground, bursting through the door in an instant. "Huh? Finished over there?" Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Cheon Hwi crushed the neck of the last assassin still breathing as he heard the door shatter. Crack! Listening to the sound of neck bones breaking, he watched the lifeless body tremble before turning away to head outside. As he pushed the door open— "Aaagh! Spare m—gah!" Thunk! Sliceslash! A scene of chaos greeted Cheon Hwi. Mysterious assailants were wreaking havoc in the guest house, attacking three men and women. "Let’s see... One, two..." Pausing to count the assassins wildly attacking the trio— "Hmm?" Cheon Hwi found himself intrigued by the martial arts displayed by the youth and the girl as they swung their swords to shield the woman in the center. "That’s imperial martial arts." His eyes narrowed. 'That's the Eastern Chamber's sword technique and the Shadow Sand Hall's martial arts, isn’t it?' Recalling past encounters with masters from the imperial palace who had visited the Heavenly Demon Cult, a question arose. "Strange... Would imperial people really move around with so few numbers?" People from the imperial palace usually traveled with large entourages. Yet here they were, in such a small group. 'Are they on some secret mission, perhaps?' Watching them intently for a moment— 'Never mind, whatever they’re doing in Jianghu doesn’t concern me. The government can't intervene in martial affairs due to the non-aggression pact anyway.' Ending his observation, he leaned on the balcony railing. The fierce battle was tipping in the assailants' favor. While the attackers had free rein with their assaults, the girl and the young man were restricted, focusing on protecting the woman. 'All I care about are the ones who got in my way.' He vaulted over the railing with a swift motion. Thud! With Cheon Hwi's sudden descent from above, the assassins and Wi Jin alike were taken by surprise. "Huff, huff. Who are you?" Wi Jin asked, slightly out of breath. Ignoring his question, Cheon Hwi lightly raised his index finger. Swish! Instantly, a sharp gust swept through the darkness, slicing through the air. In that fleeting moment, the space itself seemed to tear. "Ugh!" A figure tumbled from the ceiling. Clutching a bleeding shoulder, the man stared with wide, pale eyes. "H-how did you..." "What are you rambling about?" Sneering at the assassin who had landed before him, Cheon Hwi seized his head. In a single swift motion, he twisted it completely around. Crack! A chilling sound permeated the guest house. A peculiar silence followed. All eyes fixated on Cheon Hwi, who held the lifeless body. "An assassin should remain silent till the end." He flung the body backward. With a wet thud, blood and innards spilled from the corpse, staining the floor. "Wow!" The girl jumped up, breaking the silence with her exclamation. With her reaction, those who had been in a daze began to slowly gather their wits. "W-what in the world?" "What happened here?" Shocked gasps erupted from Wi Jin and the woman who had been watching. The assassins swallowed hard. The young man who had appeared out of nowhere had merely gestured once. Yet, with that single gesture, an assassin had lost his life in an instant. A technique beyond recognition. Exchanging glances, the assassins realized their foe was no ordinary adversary, prompting their swift response. Smack! As if on cue, the remaining assassins scattered in every direction. "Trying to flee?" Casually raising his index finger, Cheon Hwi concentrated. Flash! All at once, a dazzling red light and a breathtaking flurry of blossoms bloomed in every direction. A mesmerizing spectacle, so captivating it momentarily snatched one's breath away. Yet, the aftermath was nothing short of horrific. Thud— Thud— Chilly corpses with holes bored into their foreheads lay strewn across the floor. "That's a relief for the soul," Cheon Hwi remarked as he brushed off his hands and stood up. "How did you do that?" The girl approached with sparkling eyes. As he looked down at the girl whose question seemed out of place in the current grave situation— "So Ryeong," the woman called out in a strained voice. Disappointed, the girl sulked back to stand beside the woman. "Thank you for your help," the woman approached to express her gratitude. Her cold countenance softened with a smile, warm enough to feel like a spring breeze in the heart of winter. "You saved our lives," Wi Jin added, bowing his head. It wasn't just a polite gesture. Had Cheon Hwi not intervened, it would not have been the assassins lying dead, but them. 'Though there is one last resort…,' Wi Jin thought, stealing a glance at So Ryeong, the girl clinging to the woman's waist like a cicada to an old tree. 'It's fortunate. It's better to avoid exposure at the moment for the future’s sake,' he concluded, shaking his head lightly to dismiss his thoughts, then bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your help," he said. Yet Cheon Hwi felt nothing about the thanks he was receiving. 'I wasn't planning to help them.' The reason he had killed the assassins was because they had attacked first, not because he intended to assist the group. The woman approached slowly. Her steady gaze was fixated on Cheon Hwi. "Forgive the trouble we caused." She met Cheon Hwi's eyes and asked, "May I have your esteemed name so we can properly thank you in the future?" "There's no need," Cheon Hwi replied, turning his body. 'Recovering sleep here is impossible.' The guest house was filled with the stench of blood. 'I should get going.' In an instant, Cheon Hwi disappeared. "...!" The woman stood speechless, staring at the spot where Cheon Hwi had vanished without a trace. "Wi Jin," she spoke. Wi Jin swallowed hard, responding, "Yes." "What did you notice?" "I felt nothing." The same question and answer as when they had dinner. But unlike then, Wi Jin's voice quivered slightly. The woman's eyes turned to Wi Jin. For the first time, her usually serene gaze showed a ripple of unease. Wi Jin cautiously asked, "Should I try to find out who he is?" "No, it's alright." The woman turned her head abruptly, glaring at the corpses with a tight expression. "We need to move quickly before more assassins come." * * * "Much has changed," Cheon Hwi observed as he arrived at the Mount Hua Sect, taking in the vibrant surrounding forest. Though the plum blossoms that had once bloomed when he left were gone, lush green trees greeted him. He paused momentarily to enjoy the landscape as he ascended. "Next... oh? Senior Uncle?" A voice called out as their eyes met. It was Jeok Geom, who was welcoming guests at the gate. "You've returned," Jeok Geom remarked, dashing over. Cheon Hwi squinted his eyes at the sight of Jeok Geom. "Haven’t been training properly lately, have you?" At Cheon Hwi's sharp words, Jeok Geom flinched and broke into a nervous sweat. "Well, it's because I've been managing the guests arriving at the sect recently. Ah! The Head told me to ask you to go to Zaha Pavilion as soon as you arrived." Cheon Hwi calmly glanced at Jeok Geom as he hastily changed the subject. Jeok Geom's forehead glistened with sweat, like a downpour, under Cheon Hwi’s scrutinizing gaze. "The Head Master is calling for me?" "Yes." "Do you know why?" "You should hear it directly..." "I see. Understood." Cheon Hwi said, turned his steps. 'Luckily, that passed.' Jeok Geom sighed in relief. But then— Suddenly, Cheon Hwi halted and turned his head. "What is it?" "Come find me later." The color drained from Jeok Geom's face at the words. "S-Senior Uncle!" Ignoring Jeok Geom's desperate call, Cheon Hwi kicked off from the ground. ‘Neglecting training because I’m not around, huh? Time to ensure discipline.’ As he thought about how Jeok Geom hadn’t improved, Cheon Hwi increased his pace. The scenery blurring past him as he advanced, Cheon Hwi soon arrived at Zaha Pavilion. "It's me." "Come in." The Head Master, seated inside Zaha Pavilion, welcomed Cheon Hwi warmly on sight. "Come on in." At his gesture, Cheon Hwi smoothly entered and took a seat. "Sorry for the urgent call." "So, why did you call for me?" Head Master chuckled at Cheon Hwi's straightforwardness. 'Still the same,' thought the Head Master, amused over how Cheon Hwi’s personality seemed untouched by the upheaval often brought by journeys through Jianghu. "Someone has visited our sect, eager to meet you." "Someone looking for me?" Cheon Hwi frowned slightly. ‘Called me for something like this?’ A sense of having rushed pointlessly flitted across his mind. ‘Could’ve explored a little more.’ The Head Master, watching the noticeable shift in Cheon Hwi's expression to annoyance, spoke. "Not an ordinary person." "Who is it?" The Head Master sobered, his expression turning serious as he cautiously spoke. "Have you heard of the Sacred Hand Divine Healer?"