22 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 22 Chunhui lifted his head, gazing up at the grand and stately pavilion. The Pavilion of Eternal Light, housing the history and martial arts texts of the Hwasan Sect, spanned three lofty stories. Each story boasted a distinctively spacious and well-defined area in proportion to its height. A unique structure where the higher you climbed, the more advanced martial texts you found. This was the essence of the Pavilion of Eternal Light. Chunhui had read most of the texts within this pavilion. ‘So there’s supposedly a new martial arts text in here?’ Chunhui's eyes narrowed with curiosity. With an inquisitive expression, he opened the door leading to the pavilion. Creak― As he stepped through the opened door, “You’ve arrived.” Hyeoncheong, who had been organizing the texts on the table, greeted Chunhui warmly. “Where is the martial text?” Hyeoncheong chuckled at Chunhui’s directness. “Just wait a moment.” Setting the book aside, Hyeoncheong rose from his chair and motioned Chunhui to follow him. “This way.” Walking with his hands behind his back, Hyeoncheong led the way. Watching him proceed, Chunhui wore a puzzled expression. ‘We’re not going upstairs?’ Instead of heading towards the stairs, Hyeoncheong began walking towards another part of the first floor. Step by step― Following Hyeoncheong from a distance, Chunhui set his feet in motion. Creak― Creak― With each step, the wooden planks groaned as he tread deeper inside. How much time passed as they walked? Chunhui gazed intensely at Hyeoncheong who was striding toward the far western wall. ‘That place…’ Upon reaching the obstructed wall, Hyeoncheong, his eyes sharp, examined the surroundings before carefully coming to a halt. “This is it.” Chunhui's eyes shone with a keen light as he shook his head, surveying the area. The space enclosed by bookshelves was somewhere he had been a long time ago—a place he had found curious back then. Subtly— He glanced downward. He had always had the suspicion that there was something beneath the first floor of the library. ‘There was something after all.’ As Chunhui regarded the floor with eyes full of intrigue, he was caught by surprise when Hyeoncheong crouched low. Hyeoncheong groped around as if to lift up the wooden planks, revealing something beneath. In that instant, Creak― An unusual noise echoed around them. Hyeoncheong straightened up, brushing the dust from his hands. “Remember this well: if you pull this chain, the arcane mechanism will activate.” Hyeoncheong indicated a metal chain hidden within the cracks of the wooden planks at the moment a peculiar sound reached them, and a bookshelf on the opposite side began sliding aside. A pitch-black hole emerged. Chunhui glanced into the abyssal void, then back at Hyeoncheong. With a curious smile, he said, “How interesting.” Hyeoncheong responded with a gentle laugh, observing Chunhui’s intrigued expression. “Watch your step as you descend.” With those final words of advice, Hyeoncheong entered the hole. And soon, he disappeared into the darkness. ‘An arcane mechanism in a place like this…’ Chunhui's lips curled upward. Typically, the Taoists dismissed such mechanisms as witchcraft, something to be shunned. Yet here was the Hwasan Sect, displaying such mechanisms... ‘This means there must be something important inside. There might be an even more exceptional martial arts text than I thought.’ Chunhui's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Shortly thereafter, he stepped forward. Setting foot into the hole, he felt something solid underfoot. Quickly, he infused his eyes with internal energy, dispelling the thick darkness. The brightened view revealed a passageway, igniting even more curiosity within him. The steps and the corridor leading downward were notably pristine, as if recently constructed. ‘This is quite elaborate.’ “I see we're almost there.” Chunhui’s steps quickened at Hyeoncheong’s words, reaching him from ahead. Descending the dark, abyss-like stairs stirred anticipation within Chunhui when suddenly— A burst! An overwhelming light engulfed him. Narrowing his eyes against the startling brightness, Chunhui peered ahead. ‘A dome…?’ An enormous underground dome had appeared before him. Countless luminous night pearls embedded into its walls and ceiling emitted a radiant glow. 'I didn't expect the space to be this large.' As he took in the dome much greater than he had anticipated before entering. “This place is a well-guarded secret, known only to the sect leader and a few elders of the Hwasan Sect. It’s called the Secret Fragrant Cavern.” Hyeoncheong, who had already arrived, explained as he awaited Chunhui. “What a magnificent cavern.” Chunhui marveled as he took in his surroundings. This was no ordinary place. The myriad of night pearls illuminating the dome, And the deep grooves etched into the walls, each carrying an extraordinary aura. ‘It wasn't carved by one person.’ Chunhui’s eyes settled as he scrutinized the intricate markings on the walls. ‘Are those words…?’ The chaotic markings on the wall were in fact scripts upon closer inspection. “The martial texts I spoke of last night are these.” “Where?” As Chunhui studied the markings, he turned swiftly with the wind. Then he spotted a stone table at one side of the dome. And atop it, old books. Step by step― Before he knew it, Chunhui stood in front of the books. These ancient texts seemed so fragile from age, they appeared ready to tear with the slightest mishap. His eyes narrowed as he inspected them. ‘Most are damaged beyond recognition.’ While scrutinizing the decrepit books, Hyeoncheong approached to elaborate. “These are martial texts from the early days of our sect. Many are so deteriorated or fragmented that they cannot possibly be practiced.” ‘That’s why they’re kept in this Secret Fragrant Cavern instead of the Pavilion of Eternal Light.’ With Hyeoncheong’s explanation, Chunhui finally understood why this underground cavern existed and why the texts were stored separately inside it. Practicing martial arts with severely missing scripts was a dangerous affair, risking one’s life. The incomplete texts were not only challenging to comprehend, but a simple mistake could lead one into a state of inner demon possession, turning them into a madman. ‘Still, they're in such terrible condition.’ Chunhui made a face as he examined the battered books, pushing a few aside. ‘What's this…?’ His hand stopped abruptly as he uncovered a martial arts text with a partially torn cover that captured his attention. The text was so damaged that most characters were faded, but the title printed boldly on the cover remained startlingly clear. “...Jade Ring... Mystique…” As Chunhui read the words aloud in fragments. “It’s the original version of the Jade Ring Mystique.” Hyeoncheong interjected, watching Chunhui's surprise mirror what he himself had felt years ago. Back then, like Chunhui, he had first laid his hands on this very text upon arriving in this secret cavern following the previous pavilion master. He had even instructed Seol Ran about it directly. "As you know, there is a Jade Ring Mystique version on the third floor of the Pavilion of Eternal Light, but it is merely an interpretation of this original…" Ignoring Hyeoncheong’s chatter, Chunhui opened the Jade Ring Mystique in his hands. ‘So this is the same as the Jade Ring Mystique I know.’ Chunhui's eyes grew sharp as he began reading the text’s formulas—similar to the one in the pavilion, yet with slight differences. ‘Did they base the pavilion’s version on this original?’ Chunhui’s mind raced through the text's formulas, insights, and its authenticity. Being more knowledgeable about the Jade Ring Mystique than anyone else in the current Hwasan Sect, he read through the martial text rapidly. "...the current version was reconstructed by borrowing patterns from other manuals..." Hyeoncheong trailed off, observing Chunhui fully engrossed in the martial text. ‘Incredible. His focus on the text is astounding…’ Impressed, he smiled before turning away. “I should leave for now.” While conversing with Chunhui was important, ensuring the secrecy of the Secret Fragrant Cavern was paramount. ‘This place holds the essence of Hwasan…’ Even if other martial texts of the Hwasan Sect were lost, those within this cavern must remain untouched. These were the foundational arts of Hwasan. ‘Thankfully, Chunhui seems interested here, he will surely aid in restoring the texts.’ Watching Chunhui fervently flipping through pages, Hyeoncheong sighed with relief and smiled warmly. This was more successful than he had anticipated. After a moment, he turned and retraced his steps back up the stairs. Step by step— Once Hyeoncheong had departed, Chunhui squinted at the pages. “Is that all? It ends here?” Startled to find the text incomplete, he flipped the book over, searching its back for more. But no further instructions were there. “No wonder the Jade Ring Mystique in the pavilion was restored so poorly.” He criticized sharply. His critique wasn’t directed at the restored text, but at the martial book itself. The original matched the formulas he knew, but it contained only the beginning while the crucial latter half, especially the Eight Trigrams, was mostly torn away. Without these, it couldn't be the same martial art. “Still, Hwasan Sect is lucky. If I hadn’t been reincarnated as a disciple here, restoring the Jade Ring Mystique would’ve been impossible.” Chunhui spoke confidently, puffing out his chest. And his confidence was warranted. He possessed unparalleled martial arts skills that spanned both ancient and modern times. Along with having seen the original Jade Ring Mystique skillfully demonstrated by an old master, restoring it was easier than turning a hand. It was truly a stroke of fortune for Hwasan Sect. ‘There’s no need to read more.’ Confirming that the text in his hand was Jade Ring Mystique, he tossed it aside. His gaze shifted to the martial texts in front of him. The Jade Ring Mystique was one of the most exceptional techniques among the ones he remembered. ‘If such a technique is stored here, the others must be of similar caliber.’ Chunhui's eyes twinkled like crescents. Filled with curiosity, he eagerly studied the tattered and worn books, feeling a rush of excitement he hadn’t felt in a while. What martial texts were deemed important enough to be stored separately in this underground chamber? “Time to read through them.” He said, reaching out to grab a martial book and began flipping through it. After deeply delving into the martial texts for roughly one hour. “...This one has quite a decent finger technique.” Chunhui wore a satisfied smile. The text in his hand was in a pitiful state, unrecognizable formulas scattered throughout, yet it possessed enough power to be considered an advanced martial text. “It resembles the Soul Destroying Finger technique, but with differences. Is this a righteous style technique, then?” Muttering to himself, Chunhui stroked his chin before intently examining the book again. Parts of the text were too damaged to decipher, with fragmented instructions interrupting the flow, yet this posed no significant hindrance to him. Thus. Chunhui extended the index finger on his right hand, channeling his internal energy according to the text’s formula. Boom! A flash pierced through the walls of the Secret Fragrant Cavern. “...Is that all?” Chunhui looked dissatisfied. The wall bore just a tiny hole, pathetically weak compared to what the martial text described. “It’ll be different once I restore the missing patterns.” A competitive glint shone in Chunhui’s eyes. He then counted the martial texts laid out in front of him, nodding to himself. “...Fourteen.” Counting the books needing restoration, his eyebrows arched with determination. “Hmm, it’ll take about two years.” Chunhui spoke confidently with a smile. But he was unaware. It would take five whole years to restore these fourteen martial texts.