Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

—–CROW—– 

 

Mao-shi (5-7 a.m.).

 

Hyeon-ryeo, having risen early, hastily finished her breakfast and immediately headed towards the Medicine Hall.

 

“He should wake up today…”

 

Walking with anxious eyes, she entered the Medicine Hall.  As she walked skillfully towards where Cheon-hwi was, she felt a sense of unease.

 

The inside was too quiet.

 

Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

 

Tap, tap, tap—

 

Her steps quickened. Finally reaching the room where Cheon-hwi lay, she slid open the door.

 

“…!”

 

She rushed to the bedside.

 

Cheon-hwi, who should have been lying there, was gone. Only the empty bed greeted her.

 

“…He’s awake.”

 

Her expression brightened.

 

But only for a moment.

 

“But to already be moving around…”

 

With a hardened expression, she hurriedly left the room and began checking the surrounding closed doors, opening them one by one.

 

As she opened all the doors.

 

Whoosh—

 

She spotted the back door, where a breeze was entering.

 

Then, a small figure in the distance.

 

Dash!

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, she executed the Jade Ring Mystic Steps.

 

Whoosh—

 

“Hwi-ya!”

 

At her resounding voice, the figure turned, and Cheon-hwi’s face came into view.

 

Her face, previously filled with anxiety over Cheon-hwi’s disappearance, gradually brightened.

 

Hug!

 

She embraced him tightly.

 

‘W-What’s this?’

 

Just as he was bewildered by the sudden situation.

 

“You’ve regained consciousness.”

 

With Cheon-hwi’s face buried in her chest, she choked back tears and, unknowingly, tightened her embrace.

 

“G-Gah!”

 

The initially comforting hug gradually turned painful, and now his head felt like it was about to explode.

 

“C-Can’t… breathe…”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I-I’m suffocating…”

 

Hyeon-ryeo quickly released her hold.

 

Now able to breathe, Cheon-hwi took a deep breath in and out.

 

“Phew…”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Hyeon-ryeo said, wiping her tears.

 

‘Huh?’

 

At the familiar voice, Cheon-hwi stared at her.

 

A beautiful, middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her forties.

 

Her hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a robe with plum blossoms.

 

‘This woman is Hyeon-ryeo?’

 

He immediately recognized her because hers was the only voice he had heard every day since regaining consciousness.

 

As he was carefully observing her, she brought her face closer.

 

Her tear-filled eyes captivated his gaze.

 

“Are you alright now?”

 

“Of course I’m alright… Oh.”

 

Mid-sentence, he realized his mistake.

 

“I-I’m… alright.”

 

He quickly swallowed his words and forced a smile, turning up the corners of his mouth.

 

‘To think I’d be speaking formally to that loud-mouthed female Taoist.’

 

Goosebumps erupted all over his body.

 

Watching him, Hyeon-ryeo asked with concern in her eyes.

 

“Are you really alright?”

 

Seeing her dubious expression, Cheon-hwi stretched his lips into a wider smile.

 

“I’m… really… alright.”

 

Perhaps because he wasn’t used to it,

 

His mouth felt like it was about to cramp.

 

‘Damn it! This is hell!’

 

Hearing Cheon-hwi’s awkward tone, Hyeon-ryeo narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

 

“Let’s have the Medicine Hall Master check you over properly.”

 

As soon as she finished speaking.

 

Whoosh!

 

Suddenly, his body was lifted.

 

‘Is this that loud-mouthed Taoist’s technique? No, it’s different from what I know?’

 

Just as he was about to recall the graceful hand movements he had glimpsed for a moment, Hyeon-ryeo kicked off the ground.

 

Whoosh—

 

The scenery blurred as they moved swiftly.

 

Cheon-hwi’s eyebrows furrowed.

 

‘What’s this now? This is definitely the old woman’s Jade Ring Mystic Steps, right, the one who came with the loud-mouthed Taoist?’

 

The movement technique she was using was peculiar.

 

She moved smoothly like the scattering plum blossom petals, but her footsteps left a strangely intricate pattern.

 

But he didn’t like it at all.

 

‘Why is she using it like this?’

 

Tilting his head at the martial art that was different from what he knew, he was trying to analyze the movement technique Hyeon-ryeo was using when…

 

Thud.

 

The swaying stopped, and his feet touched the ground.

 

‘Huh, already over?’

 

Just as he was clicking his tongue in disappointment.

 

“Cheon-go, Junior Brother.”

 

‘Cheon-go? Ah! The Medicine Hall Master who treated me?’

 

He followed her gaze, and a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance approached.

 

“Senior Sister, that sound just now… Huh? Disciple!”

 

As the middle-aged man approached, Cheon-hwi’s gaze gradually moved upwards.

 

Cheon-go, the middle-aged man, was quite large.

 

Over six feet tall with tanned skin.

 

Despite his smiling face, his body hidden beneath his robe was toned and muscular.

 

Is he really a doctor?

 

As Cheon-hwi stared at the middle-aged man with suspicion, Hyeon-ryeo spoke.

 

“Could you check his condition?”

 

“Of course, it’s my duty.”

 

He knelt down and placed his large, cauldron-lid-like hand on Cheon-hwi’s wrist to check his pulse.

 

‘…It doesn’t matter.’

 

He could have shaken off the hand if he wanted to when it reached out, but he didn’t.

 

What would someone who couldn’t even recognize the Yin Yang Great Spirit Blocked Meridian know just by checking his pulse?

 

After a moment.

 

‘Oh?’

 

Cheon-hwi’s narrow eyes widened.

 

Because of the unexpectedly skillful pulse-taking.

 

‘To check the pulse of the entire body… He’s much more knowledgeable in medicine than I thought?’

 

He stared with slightly surprised eyes.

 

He had slightly underestimated him due to his appearance and the preconceived notion of him being a Taoist, but his skills were unexpectedly proficient.

 

Stealthily—

 

Cheon-go calmly removed his hand from Cheon-hwi’s wrist.

 

Then, stroking his chin, he fell into thought.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Seeing this, Hyeon-ryeo became flustered.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“Oh, no.”

 

Waving his hands hurriedly, Cheon-go looked at Hyeon-ryeo and Cheon-hwi alternately and smiled again.

 

“In fact, his condition is better than anyone else in our sect.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

After repeatedly receiving confirmation that he was fine, Hyeon-ryeo bowed deeply with tears in her eyes.

 

“Ah, the Heavenly Lord has helped us.”

 

“Truly blessed by heaven’s fortune.”

 

Seeing the two bowing respectfully towards the sky, he felt dumbfounded.

 

‘Heavenly Lord my ass. What’s with the Heavenly Lord and heaven’s fortune? This was all accomplished by my own power.’

 

What was this about the Heavenly Lord and heaven’s fortune?

 

The thought that his efforts were being disregarded made Cheon-hwi speechless.

 

As he watched the two bowing with a bewildered gaze, Hyeon-ryeo, who had been bowing her head, looked up.

 

“I should inform the Sect Leader.”

 

Before she could finish speaking, Hyeon-ryeo executed the Jade Ring Mystic Steps she had demonstrated earlier.

 

As Cheon-hwi watched her back disappear in an instant.

 

Grab—

 

A thick hand grasped his shoulder.

 

“It’s truly fortunate, Disciple.”

 

He looked up to see Cheon-go smiling.

 

“You’ll be able to move around freely now.”

 

Cheon-go felt a sense of pride.

 

On cold days like this, his disciple always relied on the Medicine Hall.

 

It always pained him to see that, but now he no longer had to worry.

 

His disciple’s meridians were robust and full of energy, and his muscles were flexible and tough.

 

It was a transformation so dramatic that it was hard to believe it was the same Cheon-hwi who had been ailing every day.

 

‘Fortunately, thanks to the Purple Essence Pill, my meager medical skills were able to…’

 

Thinking about the situation then, he stroked his chin in sudden thought.

 

He carefully examined Cheon-hwi’s body from head to toe.

 

‘But even the Purple Essence Pill shouldn’t have such an effect, should it? Or is it because the disciple hasn’t learned martial arts that he’s undergone such a change? Or is there another effect of the Purple Essence Pill that I don’t know about…?’

 

Cheon-go’s eyes, gleaming dangerously, scanned Cheon-hwi’s body without hesitation.

 

And Cheon-hwi felt a chill run down his spine under such a gaze.

 

‘What’s with that creepy stare? Don’t tell me… Is he a pederast?’

 

Quickly putting distance between them, he grimaced.

 

Goosebumps erupted all over his body.

 

Knowing the behavior of pederasts from his time in the Heavenly Demon Cult, he shuddered.

 

Noticing Cheon-hwi’s wariness, which stemmed from a misunderstanding of his curious gaze, Cheon-go tilted his head and spoke.

 

“Huh? Disciple? What’s wrong?”

 

Just as Cheon-go, sensing something amiss, was about to approach Cheon-hwi again.

 

“Haha, you’ve truly recovered.”

 

An elderly man with white hair and a white beard appeared.

 

Cheon-go, who was about to approach Cheon-hwi, stopped in his tracks upon seeing the elderly man and hurriedly bowed.

 

“Greetings, Sect Leader.”

 

“Hahaha, it’s been a while.”

 

The elderly man spoke with a gentle smile and turned to Cheon-hwi, beaming.

 

Cheon-hwi’s eyebrows twitched as he looked at the elderly man with crinkled eyes.

 

‘This is the current Sect Leader of Mount Hua?’

 

He tilted his head.

 

‘Is he really the Sect Leader? He’s ridiculously weak compared to that loud-mouthed Taoist from back then?’

 

He compared the current Sect Leader to the loud-mouthed Taoist who had visited during the height of the conflict between the Central Plains and the Heavenly Demon Cult.

 

The man who had identified himself as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua back then was a supreme expert who had reached the Heavenly Martial Realm.

 

And what about his reputation?

 

Thirty years ago, he was defeated by that Taoist and fled, vowing revenge.  Despite this, he was still revered in the Central Plains and called the Plum Blossom Divine Sword.

 

His strength and reputation were enough to overshadow the humiliation of defeat.

 

‘Because of that single loud-mouthed Taoist, even Shaolin and Wudang had to step back.’

 

But the current Hyeon-sang…

 

He couldn’t help but turn his head away.

 

The current Sect Leader’s level might not be as high as the loud-mouthed Taoist’s.

 

But Cheon-hwi didn’t expect him to have such a weak presence.

 

‘The Sect Leader of Mount Hua is this weak, and one of them is a pederast? Tsk tsk, they said Mount Hua would become stronger, but it’s completely messed up.’

 

Just as he was thinking these words that would have given the Plum Blossom Divine Sword a seizure if he had heard them.

 

Stealthily—

 

Hyeon-sang smiled and took a step forward.

 

His robe fluttered for a moment.

 

His long white hair, tied back with a white cloth, swayed like a horse’s tail, and in an instant, Hyeon-sang crossed the distance.

 

Standing before Cheon-hwi, he reached out a wrinkled hand and stroked his head.

 

Stroke— Stroke—

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Being treated like a child by Hyeon-sang infuriated him, but he held back.

 

‘Right now, I am Cheon-hwi… I am Cheon-hwi. I am Cheon-hwi of Mount Hua Sect right now!’

 

He suppressed his churning emotions.

 

After quickly calming his turbulent mind and body, he looked up and met Hyeon-sang’s eyes.

 

“Greetings… Sect Leader.”

 

“It’s all thanks to Senior Brother allowing him to take the Purple Essence Pill.”

 

Hyeon-ryeo appeared and interjected.

 

Looking at Hyeon-sang stroking Cheon-hwi’s head, she smiled gently.

 

“If it weren’t for the Purple Essence Pill, he wouldn’t have recovered like this. Don’t you agree?”

 

At Hyeon-ryeo’s question seeking agreement, Cheon-go clapped his hands and answered energetically.

 

“Oh, of course. Moreover, not only has the disciple recovered, but by some stroke of luck, he won’t collapse anymore.”

 

“Haha, that’s fortunate, truly fortunate.”

 

Hyeon-sang beamed. Meanwhile, Hyeon-ryeo subtly gestured to Cheon-hwi.

 

—You should thank him.

 

The meaning behind her gentle yet firm gaze didn’t sit well with him, but he had no choice but to speak.

 

It was true that the Purple Essence Pill had helped.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“It’s nothing. No matter how precious an elixir is, could it be more precious than the future of our sect?”

 

Hyeon-sang stroked his long white beard that reached his chest.

 

Then, removing his hand from Cheon-hwi’s head, he said,

 

“So don’t worry about it.”

 

‘Of course I won’t. Why would I worry?’

 

He had no intention of worrying about it anyway.

 

‘The Purple Essence Pill only helped a tiny, tiny, tiny bit. It was my outstanding knowledge that healed my body.’

 

After a moment, Hyeon-sang spoke.

 

“So, is Cheon-hwi alright now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Cheon-go nodded.

 

“He’s well enough to move around immediately.”

 

“Haha, the Heavenly Lord has helped us.”

 

Hyeon-sang looked down at Cheon-hwi.

 

“What do you want to do?”

 

His eyes suddenly sparkled.

 

This was the question he had been waiting for.

 

***

 

“Are you really alright?”

 

‘…This is really getting tiresome.’

 

This was the sixth time she had asked the same question.

 

On their way here, Hyeon-ryeo had repeatedly asked the same question.

 

But he didn’t show any sign of annoyance.  He forced a smile as he looked at Hyeon-ryeo, who was gazing at him with concern.

 

“Ha, haha. I’m alright.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Hyeon-ryeo looked at Cheon-hwi and the small pavilion behind him with a pitying gaze and shook her head.

 

“You still haven’t forgotten your master…”

 

‘What?’

 

Seemingly misunderstanding something, she choked back the rest of her sentence as her eyes welled up.

 

“Then I’ll be going.”

 

With those words, she left.

 

But as if reluctant, she kept looking back, repeating this almost five times before finally disappearing.

 

“Phew, she’s finally gone.”

 

Shaking his head as he looked at the hill where she was no longer visible, not even a shadow.

 

“Why is she so overprotective?”

 

Having lived his entire life in the Heavenly Demon Cult, he couldn’t understand it at all.

 

“I’ll stop thinking about it.”

 

He dismissed the bothersome thought.

 

“There’s something more important.”

 

Entering the pavilion, he was greeted by a surprisingly clean interior, unlike its shabby exterior.

 

‘I thought it would be a mess inside, but it’s relatively clean.’

 

He briefly looked around the interior and then plopped down in the center of the pavilion.

 

‘Let’s check my body’s condition.’

 

He slowly took a deep breath.

 

As the air he inhaled through his nose and mouth gradually spread throughout his meridians, and his entire internal body became as clear as day.

 

‘Huh? What’s this?’

 

He burst out in bewilderment.

 

His current body was completely different from when he had first recovered in the morning.

 

It was completely beyond his expectations.

 

—–CROW—–