13 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 13 “Hehehe.” Go Gyeong Ja, the elder of the Hangsan Sect, who had easily won in the martial contests this time, let out a laugh. Although it was a very small laugh, it was sufficient to perturb those seated nearby. The initially tense atmosphere was first broken by Mu Yeong Ja, the elder of the Taesan Sect. “I look forward to the future of the Hangsan Sect.” “We were fortunate this time.” Tae Gyeong Ja, who was watching the congratulatory exchange with the two sword sects who had defeated the Hwasan Sect, stiffened his face. As the only elder of the Sung Mountain Sect to taste defeat, he couldn’t bring himself to lift his head. ‘So everyone ground their teeth except our sect to defeat the Hwasan Sect.’ Having chastised himself, he soon softened his hardened expression. Then, with a wry smile, he extended a congratulatory remark to Go Gyeong Ja. “…Congratulations.” “Thank you.” Go Gyeong Ja replied with a smile. However, hidden within his curved eyes was a tinge of mockery. ‘The Sung Mountain Sect has also fallen.’ Due to the results of the Five Peaks Assembly four years ago, the Hangsan Sect had been treated as the lowest among the Five Sword Sects. But now, the circumstances had changed. “Hmmm…” The head of the Taesan Sect also did not have a pleasant expression. The leisurely laughter that had been hanging at his lips had long disappeared, and even his complexion was darkening. ‘I didn’t expect Jeok Jae to be defeated.’ Everything was completely off the mark. One win, two losses. If they lost once more, a disaster could occur wherein the sword sect that held the Five Peaks Assembly for the first time in twenty-eight years would face defeat. ‘I was truly arrogant.’ His mouth tasted bitter. What he thought would be a certain victory had turned quite the opposite. The skills of the other sects’ disciples had risen to an incomparable level. As the head’s face darkened, the expressions of the elders of the victorious sword sects brightened conversely. ‘Tsk tsk, it’s the end of the line.’ ‘Perhaps the hierarchy of the Five Sword Sects will change in the future.’ As they delved into thoughts anticipating the bright future that was soon to come. Whiir― A young boy, dressed in azure and white robes, ascended the martial stage with elegant movements. “Changwoonmiryubo...!” “What, why is a young boy….” Everyone was astounded. Changwoonmiryubo was one of the rare skills mastered by few in the Hyeongsan Sect. “He is Kang Woon, the second disciple of our sect.” Jeok Woo Ja, the elder of the Hyeongsan Sect, began to speak calmly, as if waiting for this moment. As if he had planned everything. ‘That sly fox!’ ‘He’s been hiding it all along.’ ‘Is this truly the Hyeongsan Sect?’ The three elders bit their lips. They had been quietly observing, all for this. Jeok Woo Ja, finding their reactions satisfying, gave a small smile. “The last match, it seems.” As he spoke, his gaze sank. Depending on the outcome of this match, the very future of the Five Sword Sects might conclusively change. Jeok Woo Ja’s eyes gleamed. ‘It’s not what it used to be.’ A young boy, wearing the Hwasan Sect’s robe, stepped onto the martial stage. “Senior brother!” “We trust you!” “Stay strong!” Cheers poured in from all sides. Amidst such cheers, Jeok Geom, the second disciple of the Hwasan Sect, froze under tension. ‘I must win.’ He had thought his turn would come ordinarily, but the situation was not lenient. ‘I absolutely cannot lose.’ He swallowed the gathering saliva in his mouth. Jeok Geom, the most promising among the second disciples, had high expectations from both the Hwasan Sect and his family, the Bipungsangdan. ‘Hahaha! From our family, a Daoist of the Hwasan Sect has emerged!’ He recalled his father, who had longed to become a martial artist but lacked the talent to learn martial arts. How joyous he had been, throwing a celebration, when found to be a disciple of the Hwasan Sect. That was not all. The Hwasan Sect had also supported him in every possible way. He felt the weight on his shoulders. ‘Everything rests in my hands.’ Feeling the tension, Jeok Geom approached Kang Woon, who stood in the center, and bowed respectfully. “I am Jeok Geom of the Hwasan Sect.” “I am Kang Woon of the Hyeongsan Sect.” The two exchanged light greetings, then turned to put adequate distance between themselves. Srrng― They drew their swords and stood facing each other. Cheon Hwi immediately predicted the outcome. “That’s a loss.” No, from the moment he laid eyes on Jeok Geom, the result of this bout was plain to see. Cheon Go, puzzled by Cheon Hwi’s sudden words, inquired. “...Who do you mean will lose, brother?” “Jeok Geom.” Cheon Hwi replied as if it was obvious, and Cheon Go furrowed his brow, quietly asking. “Why do you think that?” “Isn’t it obvious from just looking?” “Looking where? What do you see?” “The sword, I mean the sword.” Cheon Go’s gaze moved swiftly upon these words spoken in a weary tone by Cheon Hwi. What he saw next made Cheon Go’s eyes harden. As he observed, the sword was shaking. It was so prominent that even from this distance, it was evident. “To think he was so tense.” “If the sword is trembling that much, hasn’t he lost his composure due to nervousness? Can he even properly execute martial arts?” Cheon Hwi’s gaze fixed on Jeok Geom as he spoke. His state was utterly disarrayed. He was so nervous. Even his fingers holding the sword trembled. Kwak― His eyes were devoid of focus. Which meant his field of vision wasn’t clear, rendering his reactions to the opponent’s martial arts slow. “When nervous, even what is visible can become unseen, and what one could do becomes impossible. Coupled with stiffened muscles, the sword, which he normally handles well, wouldn’t move to his will, even if only subtly.” Cheon Go nodded slowly at Cheon Hwi’s explanation and then naturally voiced his thoughts. “Still, the tension should eventually subside as time passes.” Those nearby, secretly eavesdropping, nodded lightly at Cheon Go’s counterpoint. Cheon Hwi regarded them with disdain. ‘Sigh, even after seeing that, do they still think so? If the legendary Malko of the Hwasan Sect, who once placed us above even the Wudang and Shaolin, were to hear such words, he would surely cause an uproar.’ Indeed, Jeok Geom’s tension would subside eventually. But only after the match was over. The two, who had been glaring at each other from the martial stage, suddenly sprang forward. Their swords collided mid-air. Clang! Ching! The impact reverberated through the air. "Hmm." Watching this unfold, Cheon Go let out a low noise. Jeok Geom's sword veered in an odd direction, ending up with a bleeding cheek. It was just as Cheon Hwi had predicted. "It seems you were right, my junior." Cheon Hwi, observing the furrowed brow of Cheon Go, added more to his explanation. “The clear mirror and still water [referring to a state of inner peace and mental clarity] has been shattered. Since his sword isn’t moving according to his will, his sense of calm is disrupted, and even the principles of the sword techniques he knows falter.” Cheon Hwi commented nonchalantly. To demonstrate proper sword techniques, one's mind and body must be stable. But to lose one's calm? Everything would inevitably collapse. Suddenly, a burst of power erupted from Jeok Geom. With a force suggesting exploding plum blossoms, his energy surged towards the sky. “Haaap!” At that moment, Jeok Geom swung his sword. In contrast to before, his execution of the Nakyunggumbup (Falling Petal Sword Technique) was destructive. Ching! Ching! Watching Jeok Geom press aggressively, Cheon Go sighed with relief, lightly chuckling. “Looks like he’s finally relaxed.” “I don’t think that’s quite it.” Cheon Hwi disagreed firmly. Cheon Go’s expression solidified. “What do you mean?” “He’s not even paying attention to his opponent.” “Not paying attention…” “He’s so focused on executing his sword techniques, as if he’s practicing martial arts rather than observing what kind of swordplay or footwork his opponent is using.” Cheon Go’s gaze turned to the martial stage. Indeed, Jeok Geom was singularly focused on performing the Nakyunggumbup, regardless of Kang Woon’s actions. “Still, he’s applying pressure.” “Does it really look like he’s making progress?” “…” Cheon Go fell silent. In truth, he too found the situation somewhat strange. Though Jeok Geom persistently unleashed the Nakyunggumbup, Kang Woon, retreating backward, seemed untroubled. Cheon Hwi quickly continued. “One must understand who the opponent is and what kind of martial arts they are using. Only then can one discern when the opponent shows an opening and exploit it.” He recapped the principles of a combatant’s stance. "Hence, in knowing your enemy and oneself, you won't be imperiled in a hundred battles." Yet Kang Woon, as an opponent, was embodying this approach. ‘While the opponent surveys calmly, Jeok Geom is just swinging his own techniques wildly.’ A sigh escaped him easily. Jeok Geom’s skill certainly seemed superior to his opponent. But what point was there? In his rigid state, he couldn’t exhibit even half of his capability. Consequently, his judgment was clouded, and he repeatedly made errors he wouldn’t normally commit. ‘He lacks experience.’ As he reflected on this, Cheon Hwi appended. “Now the tables will turn against him.” No sooner did he conclude, the gaze of Cheon Go and the eavesdroppers drifted back to the martial stage. “Haaap!” With all his internal energy mustered, Jeok Geom aggressively attacked without respite. From the ilchosik (One Stroke Technique) Nak-hwa-yoo-su (Fallen Blossom Flowing Water) to Nak-yeong-gi-ryu (Falling Shadow’s Momentum). Jeok Geom relentlessly pushed Kang Woon by unleashing various movements of the Nakyunggumbup. Thud. Soon, Kang Woon was driven to the edge of the martial stage, and Jeok Geom lifted his sword high. Hwawook! He infused his sword with the explosive burst of energy and slashed down quickly. Unleashing the movement, Nak-yeong-gang-cheon (Falling Shadow of River Heavens), which his master had sternly advised never using unless his life was at stake. At that moment. Flash! Kang Woon’s eyes shone brightly. Readjusting his sword, he dashed into Jeok Geom’s exposed position, his abdomen and shoulders illuminated as he prepared the Nak-yeong-gang-cheon. Klang! Interrupted midway, the Nak-yeong-gang-cheon was deflected sideways. Suddenly, a sharp momentum radiated from Kang Woon’s sword, which had been defensively wielded until then. Sssshk! Slashed like a flash of light. In an instant, the tide of battle changed. “…” Those who had been covertly listening widened their eyes, witnessing the events unfold precisely as Cheon Hwi predicted. Cheon Hwi clicked his tongue. “Tsk, it's over.” As his words concluded. Klang! Jeok Geom’s sword shot into the sky. As the sword clattered to the ground, the disciples of the Hyeongsan Sect erupted into cheers. “Waaaah!” Conversely, the disciples of the Hwasan Sect stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the situation. Gradually coming to terms as they took in the scene, they began to murmur. “Oh.” “Senior brother…” To lose one’s sword is a disgrace more shameful than death to a swordsman. In shock, Jeok Geom’s gaze wavered. ‘My, my sword…’ At that moment, Kang Woon, wearing an apologetic expression, approached and respectfully clasped his hands together. “It was a good match.” Kwak! Jeok Geom clenched his fists tightly. While for sure the Kang Woon before him wasn’t an easy opponent, if he had fully mastered his martial arts, he could have won. ‘You fool! Losing so miserably because of tension, unable to perform any martial arts properly! You fool!’ He was angry at himself. More than anything, for succumbing to the pressure without properly showcasing his martial skills. He released his grip, biting his lips. Drip— His palms bled as his nails dug in from how tensely he had clenched his fists. Moving his blood-stained hands, Jeok Geom slowly took a bow. “…I have learned a lesson.” The Hwasan Sect disciples held their breath. Until they arrived at the Dolim Peace Arena. No, just before the first match, they were convinced this Five Peaks Assembly would be a celebration of inevitable victory. But where did they stand now? A series of shocking defeats. Confronted with the results, speechlessness settled over them, leading the once lively gathering into a silence suffused with stillness. * * * The Five Peaks Assembly came to an end. For the Hwasan Sect, the outcome was far from pleasing, yet it was immutable. A short while later, Hyun Sang, the head of the Hwasan Sect, slowly ascended the martial stage. ‘The prestige of our sect will surely diminish.’ Despite the sting left by the sect’s defeat, he had no choice but to step forward for the progression of the Five Peaks Assembly. “Would the victors please come up?” As soon as Hyun Sang concluded his speech, four young boys promptly ascended the stage. Observing the scene where all except Jeok Un were disciples from other sword sects, a bitter smile formed on the face of the head of the sect. “Congratulations.” “Thank you.” All four bowed deeply in unison. Watching the display of courtesy, the headmaster turned around, and a middle-aged Taoist, carrying an armful of swords, made his way up the stage. The swords he carried were specially commissioned rewards for the victors of this Five Peaks Assembly. Forged from the rare and desirable Baekryeon Jeonggang (Hundred-Refined Steel), they were swords that, while not reaching the legendary status of master swords, any swordsman would dream of wielding at least once. And there were four such swords. With reverence, the middle-aged Taoist presented the four swords to the headmaster. “Thank you.” Receiving the swords from the Taoist, the headmaster approached the lined-up victors. Eyeing each of them, he first approached Jeok Un of the Hwasan Sect, who had secured an early victory, and spoke. “Your Cheonryugumbup (Heavenly Willow Sword Technique) was impressive. However, I noticed your grip on the sword slackens when you swing it. If you work on that and build up your inner power, you'll be able to perform even better sword techniques.” “…Thank you.” Emotion welled up in Jeok Un as he received the headmaster's advice. “Hehe, why the long face on such a joyous day?” Speaking kindly, the headmaster continued to offer advice and hand over swords to each victor in turn, and they all received the swords with joy. At last, when he arrived at Kang Woon, he handed over a sword and spoke in a low voice. “Your footwork and swordsmanship were quite agile and swift. However, if you had infused a bit more of your inner power or taken one more step during your final strike, it would have been even better.” “Thank you for the advice.” Kang Woon bowed as he received the sword. Just then, as the headmaster was about to turn away. “May I say something to the venerable master?” The headmaster paused. Turning his attention to Kang Woon, he asked. “What would you like to say?” “I have long admired the plum blossoms swordsmen of the Hwasan Sect.” The headmaster's eyebrows twitched. Someone from the Hyeongsan Sect admiring the plum blossom swordsmen? There was an implication is his words. “If possible, may I be granted the opportunity to witness the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques executed by the stalwart swordsmen?” “...!” The faces of the Hwasan Sect's veterans hardened. Currently, the Hwasan Sect had no plum blossom swordsmen. And this fact was known to everyone who attended this assembly. What did it mean for him to speak such words? It was an insult to the Hwasan Sect! The headmaster stared intently at Kang Woon. “You speak of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?” “Yes, indeed.” Despite the silent pressure, Kang Woon stood firm. As their gazes locked. 'That person…' Over Kang Woon’s shoulder, small shoulders were seen trying to slip away from Dolim Peace Arena. Immediately, the headmaster laughed softly. “Very well.” Kang Woon was taken aback. The headmaster, observing his reaction, half-closed his eyes and added. “However, unfortunately, the current affairs have prevented the plum blossom swordsmen from staying in our sect.” “In that case…” “Instead, would it suffice if one of our first-generation disciples, who can perform the Plum Blossom Sword Technique flawlessly, demonstrated it?” The headmaster cut off Kang Woon’s words with a resolute voice. A slight furrow appeared on Kang Woon’s face. “A first-generation disciple, you say?” “Hehehe, fear not. The one I’m referring to is around your age.” The disciples of the Hwasan Sect murmured among themselves. “Someone who’s not a plum blossom swordsman but can perfectly execute the technique?” “Here, in this place?” “Who could it possibly be?” At that moment. Slight shift— The headmaster slowly turned his head. Everyone followed the direction of the headmaster’s gaze. And then, the headmaster spoke. “Isn’t that right? Cheon Hwi.” Suddenly, the young Taoist who was about to exit Dolim Peace Arena halted and turned back. The youthful face of the Taoist grimaced as all eyes focused on him, and he pointed to himself with his finger. “…Me?”