40 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Episode 40 Rustle! Suddenly, seventy men appeared from all directions on a small hill overlooking the Bi-Pung Trading Company, like mushrooms sprouting after rainfall. "What is this?" "How could this be..." Clad in entirely white garments, the men grimaced at the sight of the prune ground and dozens of decaying corpses. The bodies were peculiar. There was no sign of struggle, and holes in the crowns of their heads pierced straight down to the groin area, as if skewered from above. It was as if a sword was thrust down like a skewer from above. At that moment, the group parted. Swoosh— A man emerged from between them. He appeared to be in his early to mid-thirties, a gentle-featured middle-aged man. Aside from his jet-black hair, eyebrows, and eyes, he was wrapped entirely in white cloth, exuding a unique aura. He was none other than the sole disciple of Baek-Gwi Castle’s master and the Southern Commander, So-Baek-Gwi (Little White Ghost). —Did you call me, Master? —We've lost contact with the Sa-Hon Unit. —...! —Take the Baek-Gwi Brigade and find out what's happened. So-Baek-Gwi recalled the instructions given to him. It was a direct order from none other than his master. Moreover, being accompanied by the Baek-Gwi Brigade highlighted the gravity of the situation. ‘...The Sa-Hon Unit was supposed to gather here.’ Before leaving, thanks to reviewing the letters sent by Eunsu Cham-Sal, he moved to the gathering location of the Sa-Hon Unit. But what was this? The place was filled with corpses wearing black masks. So-Baek-Gwi stepped forward with his left foot. Swoosh— His walking style was peculiar. Despite taking steps, there was no sound, and he did not waver. He moved silently forward, like a ghost with no feet. If seen at midnight, it would surely have been mistaken for a haunting. This was the Baek-Gwi Night Walk, a mysterious martial art that once shook the martial world, created by the legendary master Baek-Gwi Castle. Tap. In an instant, So-Baek-Gwi knelt between the corpses. He began to remove the masks. “...This!” His eyes trembled. The face hidden under the mask was familiar. No, not just familiar. It was someone he encountered often within Baek-Gwi Castle. “Was it the Sa-Hon Unit?” Upon confirming the corpse's identity, his face was filled with fierce anger. His gentle expression instantly turned sharp, exuding a chilling aura of intent to kill. “Grrk!” “N-Northern Commander, sir!” The subordinates around him turned pale and knelt in response to the killing aura. “Retract your killing intent.” A stern voice commanded, pressuring him. Turning his head, he saw a man standing who was between middle-aged and elderly. The man's face was stern. Yet, despite the stern expression, his gaze was chilling. He was the Eastern Commander of Baek-Gwi Castle. Among the four commanders, he was renowned as the mightiest, known as Su-Cham Black Sword. Eyeing So-Baek-Gwi from head to toe with eyes like a predator stalking prey, he spoke slowly. “Calm your mind and consider why the Sa-Hon Unit died here.” “...!” So-Baek-Gwi’s face momentarily stiffened. Swept by rage, he hadn’t grasped the situation clearly. “Thank you, elder.” “No matter how shocking the event, maintain your composure with an icy cold rationality.” With the man’s counsel, So-Baek-Gwi cooled his gaze and mulled over the situation. “It seems there’s a master at the Bi-Pung Trading Company who sensed the presence of the Sa-Hon Unit.” As So-Baek-Gwi finished his thoughts, the man nodded, his gaze sharp. “That’s not all.” The man's voice was lowered as if plunged into the depths of the Yangtze River. “There are no traces of the bodies being tampered with.” “...?!” Upon hearing this, both So-Baek-Gwi and the Baek-Gwi Brigade lined up behind him flinched. The martial world was a place brimming with grudges and feuds. Especially in affairs related to clans, one would take extreme measures to avoid entanglements. That involved using specialized powders to dissolve the bodies or burying them. Yet here, the bodies were left untouched. An action incomprehensible by martial world standards. “Unless the opponent is a fool, they would have realized we were aware of Baek-Gwi Castle’s arrival. And yet, they left the corpses. That implies...” The man's voice slightly quivered. “They are either an unparalleled master who doesn’t even consider the Sa-Hon Unit a concern, or they’ve intentionally left traces to draw us out.” The words were spat out coolly. Whichever reason it was, this mysterious adversary was underestimating Baek-Gwi Castle. “This also means they might have already noticed us.” The man turned his gaze. His eyes fixed on the Bi-Pung Trading Company, not yet completely restored. Swoosh— From Eunsu Cham-Sal's body, heat rose, and the air wavered. Just then, someone rushed in. “L-Lord Commander!” “What is it...?” Upon hearing the frantic voice, So-Baek-Gwi turned his head and froze. There lay a corpse with its face shattered. Though the left side of its face was so hollowed it was unrecognizable, it was undeniably familiar. “...Eunsu Cham-Sal?” “What did you say?” Su-Cham Black Sword reacted. Standing beside So-Baek-Gwi before he realized, he scrutinized Eunsu Cham-Sal’s body, his eyes widening in shock. “These marks... Bi-Roi Do?!” Seeing the evidence, Su-Cham Black Sword seemed unable to believe his own words. It was utterly implausible. The Bi-Roi Do was Eunsu Cham-Sal’s supreme technique. Yet here, he fell victim to his own move. And next to him, scrutinizing the corpse with narrowed eyes, was So-Baek-Gwi, equally perplexed. At first glance, it appeared to be a mere projectile that shattered his head, but the unique burn marks and lingering energy were unmistakably those left by Bi-Roi Do. “Why would Eunsu Cham-Sal fall to Bi-Roi Do?” As So-Baek-Gwi’s voice bore a note of bewilderment, Su-Cham Black Sword furrowed his brow and muttered. “Did the opponent reverse the Bi-Roi Do?” The first thought that came to mind was it had been countered. “I don’t think so.” So-Baek-Gwi refuted. “The marks here surpass the Bi-Roi Do that Eunsu Cham-Sal had mastered in the past.” The scorch marks left on Eunsu Cham-Sal's corpse from the Bi-Roi Do far surpassed any level he was perceived to have reached. "Eunsu Cham-Sal might have been concealing his true capabilities all along." "Even if that's the case, to counter a Bi-Roi Do of this caliber, it would require at least a Sword Sage of Wudang Mountain." "What are you implying?" "The opponent executed the Bi-Roi Do." So-Baek-Gwi's reasoning was logical to some extent. Eunsu Cham-Sal was a man of mysterious past. Perhaps his fellow disciple, staying inadvertently at the Bi-Pung Trading Company, encountered him, leading to a clash. Of course, this was merely conjecture. How could mere observation of a corpse provide all the answers? The sense of mystery only deepened. Thus, So-Baek-Gwi added his thoughts. "Of course, this is just a hypothesis." "I see." Su-Cham Black Sword bit his lip in frustration. Despite the numerous leads, they could not grasp a concrete understanding. "Even with all these clues, we've learned nothing. It seems we must move directly to find out." Su-Cham Black Sword's gaze shifted. The focus of all these mysteries converged onto one place. The Bi-Pung Trading Company. * * * "What makes them any different?" At Chun Hui's unexpected remark, Ha Woo-Jin, who was observing beside him, tilted his head in confusion. "What did you say?" "Nothing." Chun Hui shrugged it off and glanced at Ha Woo-Jin, who stood close by. It had already been seven days since he personally met Go Gyeong and lingered at the Bi-Pung Trading Company. Initially awkward, Ha Woo-Jin eventually ingrained himself into the Bi-Pung Trading Company without even realizing it. Of course, there were still aspects that felt strange. One such aspect was the intense training Chun Hui imposed on the Mae-Hwa Swordsmen. Having witnessed Chun Hui's training, Ha Woo-Jin was left stunned. It seemed more like torture than training. And it didn’t end there. During meals, the supposedly vegetarian Daoist was instead enjoying meat dishes, leaving Ha Woo-Jin bewildered. Alarmed, he attempted to guide Chun Hui back to the right path, offering advice and assistance, all to no avail. Understandably so. The attempt to change what the Mount Hua Sect had failed to do in five years in a mere week seemed impossible. Even the wise Hyun-Do advised letting go, yet he remained persistent. "Thou shalt eschew killing. Even a small ant’s life is precious..." Ha Woo-Jin clung to Chun Hui’s side, reciting Daoist teachings. Their original goal of investigating the villain of the Pae-Wang Society had been all but forgotten, replaced by a fervent desire to reform Chun Hui. And as for Chun Hui himself… 'At least they seem like suitable opponents.' He barely listened to Ha Woo-Jin's preaching and observed the panting Mae-Hwa Swordsmen, along with Jeok Geom and Seol Ran wielding their swords. Simultaneously, he compared them to the men outside exuding ominous and sinister auras. 'Apart from the two generating intense pressure, individually, these folks are slightly better.' With contemplation, he shifted his gaze. He observed Hyun-Do engaged in visualization training and Ha Woo-Jin continuing his lecture, stroking his chin thoughtfully. 'With the addition of these two, it would be just right.' Casually evaluating, he nodded. Though capable of handling them with ease, he deliberately refrained. 'They need to gain experience, after all.' He had vaguely known the Mount Hua Sect was weak, but this realization struck deeply as he playfully trained the elite Mae-Hwa Swordsmen. 'Without me, Mount Hua will perish.' It might have seemed arrogant, but unfortunately, it was the truth. Though partly due to Mount Hua's frailty, Chun Hui's strength was exceptionally superior. 'Mount Hua must grow stronger for me to roam the martial world at ease.' Though a respectable sect, Chun Hui found life at Mount Hua agreeable. Occasionally, there were no assassins targeting him, no poisoners attempting to taint his food, nor any clandestine schemers plotting behind his back. No one demanded anything troublesome either. What a pleasant lifestyle it was. Compared to his past life as the Lord of the Heavenly Demon Cult, it was marvelously convenient. Chun Hui believed Mount Hua needed to be even stronger to sustain this current life. 'If only it were as strong as the Heavenly Demon Cult.' It was an unfounded thought. In the martial world, spanning thousands of years of history, no single clan could surpass the Heavenly Demon Cult. Not even Shaolin, nor any force from the Nine Continents, had bested the Heavenly Demon Cult. To anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about the martial world, it would sound like nonsense. But Chun Hui was different. 'It should at least reach that standard.' For him, as a former lord of the Heavenly Demon Cult, that was his benchmark. "Huh?" Chun Hui then directed his gaze towards the main building. His eyes, hazy like tarnished silver, were dyed crimson by the last burst of today’s setting sun. "Still, they arrived quicker this time." His eyes, sharpened to a blade’s edge, honed in on the hidden figures cloaked within the radiant sunset. Watching their approach, Chun Hui addressed the fallen Mae-Hwa Swordsmen. "What are you doing? Get up already." They gave no response, remaining motionless. Usually, Chun Hui would have booted them awake, but this time he refrained. Instead, he offered an advisory remark. "If you rise late, it'll only be harder on you." As soon as he finished his statement. Boom! A loud crash sent the walls of the Bi-Pung Trading Company crumbling down. "What? What's happening?!" "What's the commotion?" The Mae-Hwa Swordsmen sprang to their feet in shock. But flames had already engulfed the Bi-Pung Trading Company from all sides. Whoosh! To make matters worse, the wind fanned the flames, accelerating their spread. "I told you. It’ll only be troublesome for you if you’re slow." Chun Hui's words left the Mae-Hwa Swordsmen wide-eyed with bewildered realization. "A-an attack?" Just barely rebuilt, the Bi-Pung Trading Company started succumbing to the flames again. "Eeeek!" "It's an attack!" In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted as people scattered frantically, rushing outside. Thump, thump. At that moment, about forty martial artists sprang up like bamboo shoots among the broken wall, blocking any escape routes. "Gasp!" "P-please, spare us!" The servants of the Bi-Pung Trading Company, watching the martial artists exude a fierce killing intent, trembled with fear. Step—step— Footsteps echoed through the smoke, and So-Baek-Gwi emerged among the martial artists. "Where are you hurrying off to?"