29 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

**Chapter 29** To the west of Hamyang-hyeon. On a quiet street devoid of halls or pavilions, a colossal building stood tall. Three stories high. The pristine structure, seemingly newly erected, was none other than the Baekwang Gate, which recently gained fame as the new dominant force in Shaanxi. "It's chilly." Jang Sam, the guard of the gate at Baekwang Gate, murmured as he rubbed his hands together. "Haha, isn't it evening now?" responded Chuk Ko, who was also guarding the gate, chuckling. Jang Sam shrugged in agreement. After a brief exchange, a glint appeared in Jang Sam's eyes. "But did you hear about it?" Pausing his hand rubbing, Jang Sam spoke in a serious tone. "There's chaos because the news of Paekyungdan attacking the Bipungsangdan has been cut off." "Chaos?" Chuk Kang chuckled lightly. "Maybe they're just having a drink after wrapping things up. You know, Lord Taesan Ilgwon enjoys his liquor." "Hahaha, perhaps so..." Their laughter was cut short. Shapes loomed closer, emerging from the darkness ahead. Step— Step— The approaching silhouette was revealed under the lights of Baekwang Gate. "Huh? Taoshi?" Jang Sam tilted his head. In five years of guarding the gate, not once had a Taoist visited Baekwang Gate. 'Do Taoists wear such dark robes?' Jang Sam observed the Taoist clad in a rare blend of black and red, cautiously inquiring, "What brings you to our gate?" "Here to see the gate master." The Taoist's tone and demeanor were far from courteous, stirring anger in Jang Sam and Chuk Ko. "You insolent fool!" "How dare you speak about our gate master like that...!" The Taoist, Cheonhui, nonchalantly regarded their reddened, angry faces. "Quit your yapping. Is the master inside or not?" "You scoundrel!" "I'll teach you some manners!" Just as they drew their swords in rage— Boom! A massive explosion shattered the silence. "What the, what was that!" "What's going on?" Patriarchs of Baekwang Gate, who were deep in slumber, hastily donned their martial garb, rushing out in alarm. They were struck dumb by the scene before them. "The gate..." The massive gate that guarded Baekwang Gate for over twenty years lay in ruins, nothing but dust swirling around. A succession of warriors appeared next. About sixty warriors wearing gray martial robes marked with the character '中' (Middle) on their chest. They were part of the Paechongdan, one of the three martial divisions of Baekwang Gate. Without hesitation, they lined up like a wall, passing by the other members. A middle-aged man with a sharp gaze, the leader of Paechongdan, approached the destroyed gate. Once renowned as a formidable swordsman in Shaanxi, Blood Killing Swordsman frowned as he surveyed the scene. "What on earth is..." At that moment— Step— Step— Footsteps echoed. Through the heavy dust, a figure emerged. "You could have just answered." Cheonhui, who had shattered the door, locked eyes with the Blood Killing Swordsman standing in front. "How dare you...?" As the man spoke sternly, Cheonhui seized the opportunity to ask, "Are you the master of this place?" The Blood Killing Swordsman's eyebrows shot up. "You insolent wretch! You are not fit to meet him!" "Then never mind." Cheonhui walked past him without hesitation. "This little... how dare you!" The Blood Killing Swordsman, infuriated by such disrespect, prepared to draw his sword. Whoosh— Much quicker, Cheonhui's fist landed squarely on the man's face. Thud! "Gah!" The Blood Killing Swordsman's head snapped to the side. Perhaps due to the direct hit, his body collapsed, and he dropped to his knees before falling weakly to the ground. Groan— His face was a mess. The nose was broken, collapsing inward, and teeth scattered across the floor. "Master?!" Just as the Paechongdan expected a display of bloodshed by their leader, the tables unexpectedly turned, shocking the warriors into silence. Step— Step— Cheonhui calmly walked over the fallen Blood Killing Swordsman and entered Baekwang Gate. The shocked members of Paechongdan flared with anger. "He dared to lay hands on our leader!" "This bastard!" Infuriated by Cheonhui's insult, the members unsheathed their blades and charged forward. Thud, thud, thud! Observing their fervent assault mixed with profanity, Cheonhui lazily kicked up the fallen sword of the Blood Killing Swordsman. Whoosh! With a deft catch of the airborn sword, Cheonhui summoned internal power from his Plum Blossom Art, channeling it into the weapon. Instantly, an astonishing transformation took place. Crack! Unable to withstand the overwhelming energy of the Plum Blossom Art, the sword began to crack ominously. Eventually, the sword succumbed to the power. Boom! An explosion resounded as it shattered. "What, what was that!" "......!" The members of Paechongdan were thrown into chaos as the shards shot out like deadly raindrops. Some turned their backs to escape. Others raised their weapons defensively. But before they could react— Thud, thud, thud! The fragments tore through them. Faster than retreating, the shards pierced their bodies, and weapons raised for defense shattered. "Gah, gaaaah." "S-save me!" The air was filled with screams, if only for a moment. Quickly, they subsided. Replaced by faint groans and desperate pleas for mercy. "This is quite something. Useful against small fry like these." Cheonhui tossed away the hilt, the only part left of the sword, and surveyed the surroundings. The battle had concluded in an instant. A third of Paechongdan lay dead, without even feeling pain, felled by the fragments. Were the remaining two-thirds unharmed? No, they weren't. Though barely alive, their condition was grim. They faced either imminent death or a life of crippling injuries. Trembling— Witnessing the pandemonium unfold, the members of Baekwang Gate shivered in fear. "What-what is this..." Their expressions were filled with disbelief and terror. It had been merely a fleeting moment. From the instance the young Taoist kicked the sword to the current devastation. Cheonhui turned his head. "Where's the gate master?" The members of Baekwang Gate collectively held their breath. The statement, which would have incited fury just moments before, now elicited no response; those who witnessed Cheonhui's prowess were too paralyzed to act. Noticing their silence, Cheonhui furrowed his brow. "Hmm, surely not everyone is mute." Muttering to himself, he stomped his foot. Whoosh! He vanished from sight. Cheonhui swiftly maneuvered through the ranks of the Paechongdan warriors. "......!" As soon as one of the members realized Cheonhui's presence, he widened his eyes. Cheonhui abruptly grabbed the man's face. Gradually, Cheonhui's fingers exerted pressure on the man's head. "Aaaargh!" As the others watched the man scream, Cheonhui nodded and relaxed his grip. He locked eyes with the trembling man, now full of fear, and gently asked again. "Where is the gate master?" "In-inside..." The moment Cheonhui received the answer, he reapplied pressure with his fingers. Snap! "So, inside, huh?" He tossed the corpse aside and looked up at the pavilion of Baekwang Gate. The nearby members, who had been holding their breath during the entire exchange, began to retreat silently. Cheonhui stroked his chin as if pondering. Those attempting to flee found themselves smiling awkwardly when Cheonhui's gaze fell upon them. "Where are you going?" Cheonhui's hand moved. Snap! Thud! A one-sided massacre unfolded. The members who witnessed Cheonhui's brutal efficiency shivered in fear. "You damn monster!" "Do you even consider yourself a Taoist?" "A Taoist shouldn't act so ruthlessly!" Cheonhui glanced at them with an incredulous expression. Perhaps emboldened, one member pointed a finger at Cheonhui and shouted. "If word of this spreads, you'll be— Aaaagh!" Crack! Cheonhui snapped the man's finger back. "Who do you think you're pointing at?" He then grabbed the man's throat, lifting him off the ground. The man stared into Cheonhui's deep, abyss-like eyes and cried out. "Do you think the orthodox sects will let you off if they learn about this atrocity you've committed?" "Is that so?" Cheonhui tightened his grip. Snap! The neck broke with a single motion, and the man's lifeless body hung limply. Tossing aside the corpse, Cheonhui turned to the remaining members of Baekwang Gate and warned them. "Then again, if I kill all of you, no one will know I did this, right?" Their faces turned pale. This was no Taoist. They might've disliked the orthodox sects, but they at least had a sense of boundaries. This man, however, seemed to have none. Even the unorthodox sect wouldn’t go this far. At that moment— Creak— A middle-aged man with an impressive beard appeared through the partly open door. With a strong build and a confident air, he stood boldly before them. As Cheonhui observed the man who emerged so confidently, a smirk twisted one corner of his lip. "Are you the gate master?"