108 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 108 A soft jingling sound resonated as beaded curtains swayed gently. "......" The tavern fell into a profound silence, as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed across its lively atmosphere. A group stepped through the curtains. The seven individuals boasted a remarkably unique appearance, which immediately drew attention. Foremost were two strikingly beautiful women. Following them was a charming young girl and an elderly man with a stern demeanor. Lastly, three young men trailed in. Their purpose in gathering remained a mystery, yet they wore satisfied smiles as they surveyed their surroundings. "After four days of riding, our horses are weary. If accommodations are available, we’ll stay here tonight," said one of the young men, Sim Wi-jin. "Finally, a chance to rest," another chimed in. "Sounds good." "I’m looking forward to lying on a bed instead of hard ground for a change." "Yay!" Their companions eagerly joined in, each voicing their agreement. The sole silent companion, Cheon Hui, scanned the tavern's interior with a keen interest. 'Interesting.' The ambience of the tavern was peculiar. Before their arrival, it buzzed with noise, yet their entrance brought about an immediate quiet. One might attribute this change to the arrival of new guests. However, the momentary glances exchanged told a different story. Those fleeting glances were tinted with wariness or even hostility. '...Let's just observe for now.' Cheon Hui stifled a laugh as he noticed guests quickly averting their gaze when he caught their eyes. "Welcome!" A man who appeared to be the innkeeper approached, energetically rubbing his hands together. "Ah, guests. Are you here for a meal?" "Is it possible to stay overnight as well?" Sim Wi-jin led the inquiry. "Ah, absolutely. Of course, you can!" The innkeeper's face lit up with expectation as he glanced over Sim Wi-jin and his party. "How many rooms will you need...?" "How many are available?" Sim Wi-jin inquired. "Currently, there are four, sir." Sim Wi-jin glanced towards So-hee, who nodded in agreement. "How much for all of them?" "For all of them?" The innkeeper's eyes widened. "Twelve mun." "Here you are, keep the rest for yourself," said Sim Wi-jin, handing over a pouch. The owner carefully examined the pouch, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Ah, noble patron! Allow me to show you some seats." With renewed energy, the innkeeper led them to an empty table. "I’ll prepare a grand feast." After the innkeeper departed, Shin Ui grumbled from his seat. "How much longer do we have to travel?" It had been four days since they had left the Hwasan Sect. Despite relentless travel by carriage, they hadn’t even reached the heart of Shaanxi, let alone Xi’an. Sim Wi-jin responded calmly, "It’ll take at least two months." "Two months at the least?" Shin Ui frowned. "Will it really take that long?" "It’s quite a distance, and it will take time." "Ugh." Shin Ui clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, turning his head abruptly, only for So-hee to approach him and speak up. "We'll find a way to get there faster. Wi-jin, is that possible?" Although a bit taken aback, Sim Wi-jin responded promptly under So-hee’s cold gaze, "Yes, it is possible." "Even if you manage that, it might save only a few days." Shin Ui pouted, displeased with the situation. He wasn’t fond of traveling to Qinghai Province. He clicked his tongue and glanced at Cheon Hui. "Why did you suddenly decide to go to Qinghai Province...?" "Then you didn’t have to come along," replied Cheon Hui with a sly smile. "It’s not too late. Would you like to return to the Hwasan Sect?" "......Are you serious?" "Yes." "What about the treatment?" "That’s not my concern." Cheon Hui commented casually. "My responsibility is to guard." "But you know the real reason for this journey." "Whether it’s for the real purpose or any purpose, I just follow the Sect Leader’s command." "......" Shin Ui felt at a loss for words and pressed his fingers against his forehead. "Sigh. What can I say to you?" Shin Ui regretted speaking to him. If Cheon Hui was the person he had come to know, he would genuinely stop speaking entirely. "No, I'm just joking." He hurriedly amended his statement. "It’s a pity then." Cheon Hui shrugged as if genuinely disappointed. Shin Ui’s frown deepened. He anticipated the response, but hearing it directly still left him unsettled. "You have no respect for your elders at all." "I believe this is ample respect." "This stubborn child." As Shin Ui pursed his lips, another voice approached them hesitantly. "Uhm, esteemed guests..." A server emerged from the kitchen, timidly bowing. "My apologies. The meal will take some time as it's quite substantial." "Haha, that's alright." "Take your time." Sim Wi-jin and Jeok Geom reassured the server, who then set down a tray. "I've brought some Longjing tea. Please enjoy it while you wait." With a face full of apology, the server placed a teapot and cups on the table. "Hahaha, it’s fine by us." "Longjing tea, it’s been a while." As everyone reached for the teapot, Cheon Hui extended a hand first, pouring himself a cup and sipping. "It’s quite a fine choice." "Oh, is it? Let me have some too..." "I’d like a cup as well." "And myself..." "I’ll pour it for you later." Cheon Hui dismissed the group's reaching hands with a smile, raising his gaze. "Isn’t this a little too careless?" "Excuse me?" "What do you mean by that?" "Senior?" "What do you mean?" The sudden statement from Cheon Hui bewildered his companions. Ignoring their confusion, Cheon Hui filled a cup with tea and handed it to the flustered server. "How about a cup?" "Oh dear, I couldn’t possibly drink a guest’s tea," the server declined, waving his hands. "It's fine, go ahead," Cheon Hui insisted. Despite the encouragement, the server continued to refuse, prompting a sly smile from Cheon Hui. "Why? Haven’t you prepared any antidote?" “What?” The server’s eyes faltered for a split second before he forced an awkward smile. "Sir, an antidote? I don’t understand what you mean…." All of a sudden, Cheon Hui’s finger emitted a radiant red glow. In an instant. Whoosh! The server dodged the light with startling speed, tilting his head just in time. "An assassin!" "Could it be this tavern!" The party finally understood the situation. Jeok Geom and Seol Ran unsheathed their swords, while Sim Wi-jin and So-ryeong jumped up to guard So-hee and Shin Ui. Wiping his wrinkled face, the server asked, "When did you notice?" "From the beginning." The server let out a sinister laugh. "Quite confident, aren’t you?" "Or perhaps you were just sloppy?" "Sloppy?" "As soon as we entered, you weren’t even able to hide your killing intent…." Cheon Hui shook his head, mocking them. "And those hands." "Hands?" "What kind of cook has such perfectly smooth and unblemished hands?" "……!" The server’s eyes wavered. "You noticed that in such a short moment…." "And by the way…." Cheon Hui lightly tapped his neck. "The fake face mask is sticking out." "What?!" As the server quickly touched his neck. "Busted." "……!" "You should have done a better job." The server bit his lip, but soon a chilling smile curled his lips. "…Hmph, foolish fool. Did you drink it despite knowing it was a trap?" He spoke confidently, convinced that recognizing the plot wouldn’t save them now that the trap had been sprung. ‘Once poisoned by the lethal Crane’s Red Crown, death arrives in mere breaths… Oh?’ Surprised, the server observed Cheon Hui, puzzled why, despite the expected deadly effects, Cheon Hui showed no change. "How can you consume the Crane’s Red Crown and still…?" "Oh! Was it Crane’s Red Crown?" "Crane’s Red Crown?!" "What is that!" Their companions, overhearing the exchange, recoiled in horror, quickly pulling away from their teacups. Crane’s Red Crown was notorious for killing someone before they could draw a few breaths after poisoning. Yet, this deadly substance had been mixed into the very tea they nearly drank! "No wonder it tasted slightly bitter," Cheon Hui remarked while extending his index finger. Suddenly, a globule of dark-green liquid formed at his fingertip and dripped down. Sizzle! A small hole burned through the wooden floor, emitting a black smoke. "Crane’s Red Crown…!" The server trembled violently. "Could it be you are immune to all poisons?" "Not completely." Cheon Hui twisted his lips into a grin. "At most, it's more like immunity to a thousand poisons." "You insolent…" Infuriated, the server shouted, "Kill them all!" At that moment, the patrons who had disappeared earlier lunged from all directions. Crack! Cheon Hui deftly dodged them using his agile martial arts, closing the gap with the server. "Hmph!" The server didn’t evade Cheon Hui’s fist; instead, he crossed his palms to meet it head-on. Boom! A loud explosion tore through the air. "Oh? You're still on your feet?" Cheon Hui commended the server, who merely staggered back after taking a direct hit from his fist. "Impressive." "…You cocky brat!" The man touched his face, then began tearing at it. Rip! "Why bother removing the mask now… Just put it back, will you?" Cheon Hui looked at the man’s face, then sighed with pity. Life must’ve been harsh. Individually, his features were decent, but together, they were a mismatched jumble. "Are you mocking me?" With bloodshot eyes, the man peeled off the mask, throwing it angrily. "Oh dear." Cheon Hui sighed involuntarily. "You should really keep it; maybe it’ll be useful?" "You insolent wretch!" The man charged at him furiously. Swish! Swish! Cheon Hui evaded his opponent's hands with slight head movements. Swoosh! He delivered a swift blow with his fist. Thud! The punch landed squarely on the man's mouth, shattering his lips and teeth. "Oh dear." Cheon Hui withdrew his fist, scratching his head in apology. "Did I go too far?" Looking at the man, now in a horrendous state, couldn’t have been more pitiful. "You… You vile creature," he sputtered through broken teeth, drawing something from his sleeves. In a flash, two glinting daggers caught Cheon Hui’s eye. "Impressive resilience, I must say." Cheon Hui dodged with a mere nod. Then he grabbed the man's throat. "Who sent… huh?" As he tried to meet the man’s eyes, dark blood trickled from the man's mouth, dripping onto his hand. ‘A suicide?’ He felt no pulse. Cheon Hui squinted at the open-mouthed dead man, noting a small dent in his molar. "Such a waste." He gazed down at the self-poisoned man's body. "The leader of these people must be formidable." The man wasn’t a mere assassin. Yet he chose to end his life upon mission failure, indicating that the one who ordered him was someone to fear. Cheon Hui surveyed his surroundings. Jeok Geom and Seol Ran were handling their attackers with ease. ‘No worries with them.’ His gaze landed squarely on So-hee. She was the only one in the group without martial arts skills and was under the protection of Sim Wi-jin. Meanwhile, So-ryeong was effortlessly toying with the attackers in front of them. ‘It seems the situation here is under control as well.’ Observing that the chaos in the tavern seemed to be winding down without his intervention, Cheon Hui slowly turned his head. "Mind coming out now?" Cheon Hui spoke to the air, though no response came. "This is getting annoying." With sudden speed, Cheon Hui drew a silent gleam from his waist and slashed through the air. "......Ugh!" Out of thin air, a masked man, eyes wide, materialized, only for Cheon Hui to raise his index finger. Snap! At that moment, a red flash burst forth, striking the masked man's body multiple times. Thud! The man, his life force subdued by Cheon Hui's pinpoint energy strikes, collapsed forward powerlessly. Cheon Hui then swiftly pressed the man's jaw, forcing his mouth open. "Hmm? No poison capsule here?" Confirming the absence of a hidden toxin, Cheon Hui let the man’s mouth close and removed his mask. Beneath the mask was a typical face, the sort one might see in any marketplace. Cheon Hui observed the young man and asked calmly, "Where are you from?" "......" "You don't want to talk?" "......" "My, you're a secretive one." Amused, Cheon Hui noticed the man blinking up at him. "For now, we should change locations." Casting a glance at the noisy brawl nearby, Cheon Hui lightly tapped the ground with his foot. The captured man's eyes widened in shock. ‘...A room?’ In the blink of an eye, the scenery had transformed entirely, into a confined room. As the man’s mouth gaped open in astonishment, Cheon Hui spoke again. “Let’s try this one more time.” He settled into a chair within the empty room, setting the man on the floor. Meeting the fallen man's eyes, Cheon Hui repeated his question. "Where are you from?" The same question as before, met with the same silence. "Let's see how long you keep your mouth shut." Raising his index finger again, Cheon Hui sent a controlled blast of energy into the man’s abdomen. Thunk! The man’s stomach churned violently. "......!" His face contorted with pain. "You're enduring this?" Cheon Hui’s eyes widened in surprise. He had used a painful technique from the Heavenly Demon Sect, forcing internal energy into pressure points to twist all muscles. Most would scream in anguish immediately. "This is the first time I've seen someone not even groan." A smile spread across Cheon Hui's face. "Proper training for an assassin, I suppose? Perhaps I should escalate the torture…." He pondered the various methods he had witnessed within the demon sect. Just then, the agonized man, overwhelmed with tears and snot, looked up. "Hmm? If it hurts so much, why not answer…." Seeing the man's silent suffering, it dawned on Cheon Hui, and he suddenly remembered. "Oh! That's right. I blocked his vocal cords earlier. No wonder he was so stoic." Realizing his oversight, Cheon Hui chuckled and released the pressure from the man’s voice. Immediately, the man sprang to life. "M-My good sir! I’m merely an innocent passerby with no ties to these attackers. I just happened upon this place…." Words spilled from the man's mouth like water from a burst dam. "P-please, spare me. I have a wife as cunning as a fox and children as innocent as rabbits waiting for me at home." Fearing for his life, the man pleaded desperately, despite thinking Cheon Hui might kill him or block his voice again. But Cheon Hui remained unmoved, watching him with detached interest. "Why should I believe that?" "Well, uh…." "You seem awfully skilled in stealth and speed for someone uninvolved." The man trembled, seeing no emotion in Cheon Hui's eyes. 'Damn it! Head of Intelligence, forgive me! No matter the orders, I must survive first, right?' Feeling the noose of death tightening, the man squeezed his eyes shut in resignation, shouting, "I'm with the Hao Moon!"