18 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 18 Late evening, under the descending glow of the blue moonlight. Rustle― rustle― Jeok Geom, navigating through the obscurity shrouding the volcano-centered forest, was pushing through the underbrush. “Huff, huff.” Panting heavily from constant running, he perked up his ears to listen. Possibly due to the night, the surroundings were eerily silent. However, sporadic insect chirps and rustling echoed faintly. “Sigh―” Catching his breath while propped on his knees, Jeok Geom scanned his surroundings swiftly. The outstretched branches and leaves completely obscured the scenery already swallowed by darkness. Jeok Geom quickly summoned his internal energy of the Plum Blossom Arts, channeling it into his eyes. His vision gradually brightened. 'This is better.' Acknowledging the faint light filtering through the previously pitch-black darkness, he nodded slightly, focusing intently. “I was told it would be around here…” Jeok Geom scratched his nose while surveying the area. What brought him to this forest was a recent nuisance that had significantly increased—wolves. But none were in sight. With a puzzled expression, he recalled the conversation he had with Cheon Hwi after Hyun Do left. ― Then go catch a wolf first. ― …A wolf? He had asked, eyes wide with surprise at the unexpected task given to him. What he desired was martial arts training, not hunting. However, Cheon Hwi's response was firm. ― What, did you think I'd teach you martial arts straight away? ― Ah, isn't that the case? ― How can you train properly when you're too tense during sparring to even execute martial arts properly? ― That, that may be true, but what does that have to do with hunting a wolf… ― What's most necessary for you right now is practical experience. Though perplexed by the relation between practical experience and hunting a wolf, he couldn't question it. ‘What are you doing? Hurry up and go.’ He was ordered with a cold glance from Cheon Hwi, almost like an eviction notice. At that moment— Rustle― The bushes ahead shook violently, and soon enough, a wolf emerged. "Finally... here you are." Jeok Geom's face, initially lit with excitement at finally encountering a wolf, began to harden. Under the blue moonlight, the wolf's appearance was nothing short of terrifying. Growl— A fearsome sound escaped from between the wolf's sharp teeth stained with dark crimson blood, and raw, untamed killing intent emanated from it. 'This isn't something to underestimate.' Cold sweat trickled down Jeok Geom's back. Contrary to his earlier thought of it being just a mere animal, facing the wolf's chilling killing intent made him tense up unconsciously. 'It's just an animal, after all.' Snapping himself out of it, he swallowed nervously. Bang! The wolf lunged at him with astounding speed. "Gasp!" Stepping back hastily, Jeok Geom unsheathed his sword from his waist and swung it. Clang! In a moment, sparks flew as he and the wolf crossed each other. The wolf spun around, landing fluidly on its four legs. At that moment— “Ugh!” Jeok Geom groaned, lowering his head. Glancing at his right shoulder, he saw red blood seeping through the tear in his robe from the wolf's claws, dripping onto the ground. 'I let my guard down.' Witnessing a deeper wound than anticipated, a realization deepened in his eyes. It was a mistake. Had he not been so tense, he would've been able to strike the wolf without a scratch. At that moment— “……!” A sudden realization struck his mind like a bolt of lightning. The mistake he just made was similar to his experience after losing the Oagjiho match. Yet, he repeated the mistake again. And in an actual battle where his life was at risk, no less. “You fool.” Jeok Geom let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He finally realized why he was told to hunt wolves. To build mental endurance against tension and pressure. To train his resolve through real life-and-death combat situations. "I'm glad I sought learning from the master." Recognizing Cheon Hwi's hidden intentions, Jeok Geom's eyebrows arched into a crescent-moon shape. Afterward, he tore off the dangling sleeve forcefully, wrapping the bloodied hand and gripping sword tightly. This time, he charged forward first. Clang! Under the moonlight, bright sparks flared. While Jeok Geom battled fiercely with the wolf. Rush― Seol Ran frowned while chasing after the swift white rabbit. "…Was the rabbit always this fast?" She murmured, biting her lip. Having played tag with the rabbit for almost half a shijin, she shook her head firmly, recalling the instructions Cheon Hwi had given her. ― You go fetch a rabbit. ― Why am I to catch a rabbit instead of a wolf? At the time, she felt rather upset. Assuming that he thought a wolf was too perilous for her, hence being told to catch a rabbit. ― Why do you think? During the last sparring session, your footwork seemed lacking compared to your swordsmanship. Hearing this, she fell silent. It was exactly the same advice she received from an accident in Cheonhyang. And it wasn't just that. The explanation that followed pierced her heart like an arrow. ― In martial arts, keen sight and nimble foot movement are vital. And the timing's perfect as it's getting late. To hunt a quick rabbit at this hour, your eyes need to be sharp and footwork swift. You get that, right? Hearing the piercing words, Seol Ran blushed, hanging her head low. Though she was oblivious, it was she who sought guidance. Yet, she had belittled and even intended to refuse the effective methods Cheon Hwi suggested. Embarrassment overwhelmed her. But following Cheon Hwi's words, her embarrassment vanished, replaced by bruised pride. ― Make sure to catch it before dawn. The way he spoke insinuating she wouldn't be able to catch the rabbit before dawn fueled her determination. And now. Swoosh! Channeling energy into her soles, she leapt towards the fleeing rabbit with all her might. Dust dispersed in every direction. When her face hit the ground, Seol Ran frowned as she didn’t feel any sensation in her palms and lifted her head peering forward. Hop— hop— From a distance, the rabbit bounced in place, looking at her with a smirk. Upon making eye contact, it bolted away. This was already the fourth time for such an occurrence. Watching the rabbit's hopping gradually fade into the distance, Seol Ran’s face turned cold and stern. The rabbit suddenly halted its scamper, maintaining a safe distance while keeping a watchful eye on her, almost as if it were mocking her. “…….” Seol Ran glared at the rabbit that tilted its head sideways in mockery. Her voice emerged chilled with determination. “…I won’t let you escape.” * * * While the two struggled separately, Cheon Hwi lay sprawled atop a rock, humming softly. “Hm, hmm. Today, I'll finally have some meat.” The purpose behind assigning hunts to his two disciples was singular. He wanted to eat meat. However, fearing they might rebel if commanded straightforwardly, he concocted a plausible reason, and it worked. “Well, it's not entirely false.” Cheon Hwi murmured quietly to himself. After all, it was somewhat true. Imagining the taste of fresh meat after such a long time made his mouth water. “Sssip, when will they be back?” Sensing presences approaching, Cheon Hwi sat up. Appearing quite weary, Jeok Geom and Seol Ran were making their way up the mountain path. “Huff, huff. Master!” “Master.” Their voices reached him simultaneously. Upon a closer look, Jeok Geom was drenched in blood, while Seol Ran was covered in dirt. “We’ve brought them.” “…We caught them.” Exuding exhaustion from their hard efforts, the two carefully placed the hunted wolf and rabbit on the ground in front of Cheon Hwi. Jeok Geom, kneeling, lifted his head with a glimmer of understanding. “I realized your intention, Master.” He gazed up at Cheon Hwi with eyes brimming with admiration. ‘…Just like Gwi Ma.’ Cheon Hwi couldn’t help but see Gwi Ma’s reflection in Jeok Geom’s earnest gaze. ‘No. Gwi Ma is gone now.’ He shook his head, chasing away thoughts of the man who once admired him enough to join the Heavenly Demon Cult. The past and present had nothing to do with one another. “Is that so? As long as you understood.” Cheon Hwi replied dismissively. “Master Cheon Hwi lives up to his reputation,” Jeok Geom, still in awe, smiled contently. ‘I did well to seek Master’s guidance.’ While Jeok Geom basked in satisfaction— “…I fell short.” Seol Ran spoke apologetically. Though she initially questioned the command, she now admired Cheon Hwi’s insight and was impressed by his discernment. ‘It’s been immensely helpful.’ Chasing the mischievous rabbit for over a shijin had revealed her weaknesses to her. ‘I never realized how crucial footwork is.’ Previously, she believed heart methods and sword techniques were paramount in martial arts. Now, she knew differently. The importance and efficiency of footwork. If a sword’s reach doesn’t connect with an opponent, no prowess in inner strength or swordsmanship would mean anything. Cheon Hwi, seeing the sparkle in her eyes, glanced at the wolf and rabbit lying cold on the ground before them. ‘Tsk, is this all? Just one each?’ His expression soured. He had suspected they wouldn’t manage to hunt much, but just one of each? Then he quickly adjusted his expression. ‘Well, at least it’s something.’ He tried to think positively. After all, it was still meat. Compared to the tasteless Bigo Pill and grass he’s been eating for the past decade while unraveling the mysteries of the Immortal Domination Technique, this was a feast. Recalling the bland, astringent taste made his mouth cringe. “Ptoo.” Frowning, he spat on the ground, uncrossing his arms. ‘If it weren’t for the martial arts manuals in Mangyeonggak, I would have tasted this long ago.’ Indeed, he could have hunted anytime, but his ambition for martial arts mastery took precedence over cravings. Ambition overshadowed appetite. Cheon Hwi spoke again. “Now for the second command.” Their surprise at seeing him spit subsiding, both lifted their heads to focus on his words. “Yes.” “Yes.” After hearing their replies, Cheon Hwi leapt off the rock, landing with the grace of a falling feather, astonishing Jeok Geom and Seol Ran. Siii— A wide grin spread, revealing his white teeth. “Light a fire!” “Yes?” “Yes?” Their confused voices echoed. Eyebrow arched, Cheon Hwi repeated himself to the dazed pair. “Are you deaf? Start a fire.” “F-fire?” “I’ll do it!” Prompted by his urging, they snapped back into action, quickly gathering kindling and igniting a flame. A short while later. Crackle— Crackle— On the small campfire billowing acrid smoke, the wolf and rabbit were skewered, roasting on large branches. “Hm, hm.” Cheon Hwi hummed with satisfaction, watching the roasting meat, his mood lightened. ‘Now this is the smell.’ While he relished in joy, the anxious Jeok Geom and Seol Ran couldn’t sit still. Roasting the meat, both vigilantly scanned the surroundings to ensure they wouldn’t be caught in such a situation. Whoo— Startled by even the slightest breeze, they exchanged cautious glances. ‘Senior brother.’ ‘Junior sister.’ ‘You should say something, senior brother…’ Overwhelmed by Seol Ran's pressing gaze, Jeok Geom relented and spoke. “M-Master.” “What?” Perhaps due to the anticipation of eating meat after so long, Cheon Hwi's voice was exceptionally gentle. “Though the rules of our sect are freer compared to others, roasting meat and feasting on meat on the main grounds is quite… excessive…” “So?” Eep! Cut off by Cheon Hwi’s cold voice, Jeok Geom shrunk back. But Cheon Hwi wasn’t finished yet. “Are you saying we shouldn’t eat?” Sweat dripped from Jeok Geom’s forehead as he faced Cheon Hwi’s unwavering gaze. Cheon Hwi’s eyes, like an abyss, coolly reflected back at him. "Gulp. N-no, it’s not that." "Stop spouting nonsense and start moving your hands." "Understood." Jeok Geom quickly resumed roasting the meat. Soon, the delicious aroma wafted through the air as the meat finished cooking. Gulp— Both Seol Ran and Jeok Geom swallowed the saliva pooling in their mouths. Having been subjected to a diet of grasses for years on end, the sudden presence of the meat's aroma was overwhelmingly enticing. As the pair were momentarily dazed by the scent, Cheon Hwi was quick to grab a piece of the meat. The moment he bit into the perfectly roasted meat: ‘This is it!’ Juices danced in his mouth. Cheon Hwi, smiling brightly, chewed the meat in his mouth, his hands moving ever faster. After devouring half of the meat in one go, he patted his stomach with a satisfied laugh. “Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve indulged like this.” While he picked at his teeth, he glanced over at Jeok Geom and Seol Ran, letting out a quiet chuckle. “What are you doing? If you want to eat, just go ahead." "But Master, eating meat on the main grounds, no matter what... Gulp." "Eating meat on the main grounds is..." "If you don’t want to eat, then don’t." As Cheon Hwi teasingly threatened to toss the remaining meat into the forest— Thud. Jeok Geom and Seol Ran, who’d been watching, hurriedly grabbed onto the hand holding the meat. "Still, tossing it away isn’t right, is it?" "Senior’s right." "But you said you wouldn’t eat. Should I throw it away? What’s the point of keeping it?" Their eyes wavered incessantly before they reached out and cautiously took some meat. Putting it into their mouths— "……!" "……!" Their eyes widened as they slowly chewed and swallowed the meat. They soon began devouring the remaining meat greedily. Chew— gulp! Before long, Cheon Hwi approached the pair, who were satisfied and full, next to the pile of bones and ashes. "Was it good?" Jeok Geom and Seol Ran flinched. In their hunger, they temporarily forgot, but what they consumed was, indeed, meat. As guilt started casting a shadow over them for not resisting their appetite, darkening their complexions, Cheon Hwi leaned closer. "And now..." As they trembled slightly and lifted their heads, under the blue moonlight, Cheon Hwi's pearly whites captured their gaze. "Now you two are accomplices, huh?"