56 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

### Chapter 56 Swapping his traditional martial arts attire for a simple gray outfit provided by the merchant leader, Cheonhui gazed up at the three-story building before him. "Is this the place?" His eyes briefly lingered on the signboard that read "Eunryong Jinmi (誾香眞味)" before shifting away. "It seems so." The building was intricately decorated with colorful lanterns, and a fragrant aroma wafted out from its wide-open doors. "This is it." Like a moth drawn to a flame, Cheonhui took a decisive step toward the illuminated entrance. "Welcome to Eunryong Jinmi." The greeter, standing at the door, bowed politely as he spoke. "Where would you like to be seated?" Recalling the merchant leader’s words, Cheonhui responded confidently. "The top floor, please." He immediately produced a silver ingot from his pocket. "Oh! How many of these...?" The greeter's eyes widened as he counted the generous amount of silver, far exceeding what was necessary for the top floor seating. "With this, there's more than enough..." Gulping down his surprise, the greeter realized this was no ordinary patron despite the plain outfit. His eyes gleamed at the unexpected boon. "Struck it lucky!" With utmost deference, he led Cheonhui inside. "Please, follow me. Fortunately, there aren't many guests on the top floor today, so you can enjoy your meal in peace." Moments later, Cheonhui found himself on the third floor, the topmost level of Eunryong Jinmi. He took a moment to survey his surroundings from a seat by the window. "Nice and quiet." As the greeter had promised, the third floor was mostly empty, save for a lone couple sitting across the room. "An unusual pair." Cheonhui found his gaze unintentionally fixed on them. Typically indifferent to anything non-martial, the unlikely pairing piqued his curiosity. The man caught his eye first—a middle-aged figure with eyes glowing like embers. "A manifestation of inner power?" His glance naturally shifted to the woman seated opposite. "A maiden? Or a girl, perhaps?" Despite sitting down, the girl was notably short—a head and a half shorter than the average adult male. Yet, what captivated Cheonhui's attention was her peculiar appearance. "Eating like that?" The girl wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled low, but it was no ordinary hat. Its brim was lined with dense black veils, completely obscuring her face. Each time she lifted the veil to eat, her strange behavior was almost mesmerizing. "How can she eat like that?" Just then, the waiter approached him. "Is there anything you'd like to order?" "The chef's specialty and the finest wine." With that, Cheonhui handed over another silver ingot. The waiter's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Ah, you're too kind, sir!" He bowed deeply before continuing. "How about the Qingzheng Wuchang fish? It's one of our chef’s pride—they say its special taste is unmatched. And as for the wine, we've got the renowned Gujing Gongjiu, known for its exquisite flavor..." "Surprise me," Cheonhui interrupted. "Understood! I'll inform the chef to prepare it as swiftly as possible!" As the waiter vanished with a spring in his step, the girl seated across swallowed her food and whispered. "...A mysterious one, isn't he?" Her voice was as coarse as grinding steel, deep and gravelly—unimaginably belonging to such a young girl. "But she spoke." "Are you referring to him?" "Yes." The middle-aged man set his chopsticks down and studied the young man who had just ascended the stairs, showing mild surprise. Observing the young man lost in thought by the window, the man absentmindedly stroked his beard. "Hmm." His eyes grew contemplative, the girl's observation mirroring his thoughts. The young man wore a mundane martial outfit, yet his cold and sardonic expression exuded a unique aura. "For someone who never gave the Jade Kirin a glance, this interest of yours..." Despite his seemingly perplexed tone, a faint smile danced on the man's lips. His usually indifferent ward showed interest in someone, and he secretly welcomed it. Nonetheless, he examined the youth closely. "Handsome enough, but..." The man attempted to gauge the youth's appearance and inner power. "Has he not trained in martial arts?" He frowned, shaking his head. He sensed no martial energy whatsoever from the youth. "That's unfortunate. If he had, I might have insisted on an introduction." As a wave of regret washed over the man, he couldn't tear his gaze from the youth. "What is he staring at?" Cheonhui met his gaze with an unyielding stare. Momentarily caught off guard, the man awkwardly averted his eyes with a sheepish smile. "Your meal's here, sir." Fortunately, the food and wine arrived at just that moment. The aroma wafting from the plate invited Cheonhui to grab his chopsticks for a taste. Rightly celebrated, the Qingzheng Wuchang fish met its reputation with a rich, savory depth. He followed it with a sip of the Gujing Gongjiu. "Yes, this is the stuff." Was it the lapse since he'd last had it, or simply the merits of its renown? Whatever the reason, the wine's taste was exquisite. "Meat always goes best with some good alcohol." Savoring the pairing, Cheonhui continued to enjoy his drink. But as he was about to pour another, his brows furrowed instinctively. He snatched up the bottle and plate just as— Boom! A thunderous noise rocked the room, halting all movement within the tavern. "You thought you could escape so easily!" Cheonhui grinned, balancing the upturned plate and wine bottle, as he watched the commotion unfold. "A perfect appetizer has arrived." The couple's dining table was split in half, interrupted by the abrupt intrusion. "What is the meaning of this?" The middle-aged man placed his chopsticks down calmly, but his gaze lifted sternly to meet the four new arrivals. Each man bore a fierce countenance, radiating malevolence as they focused on the couple. The largest of the men hefted a massive axe onto his shoulder and sneered. "Hah, asking what we're doing? Didn't you kill our youngest?" His booming voice, laden with power, reverberated throughout the tavern, but the pair remained unfazed. "...So you're what's left of the infamous West Coast Five Fiends," the girl’s raspy voice sounded, as she glanced at the split table before raising her head indifferently. ‘West Coast Five Fiends? Only fools glorify themselves with grandiose titles,’ Cheonhui mused with a wry smile. Yet, had anyone dining on the lower floors overheard, they would have fled in terror. The Five Fiends were notorious, their cruelty so grave that even the authorities had given up on them. The middle-aged man rose from his seat. "The arrogance is astounding." "Hah, the only arrogance is yours," scoffed the burly man, as the girl subtly nodded, her veil shifting. "Like that pervert, you too seem beyond redemption." "What? Redemption?" The man let out a derisive laugh. "I'll show you redemption first-hand!" "No need for chatter," interjected a short, emaciated elder with a gruff voice. "Just kill the old man. And as for…" The elder pointed a bony finger at the girl, licking his lips. "Handle her delicately. Not a single scratch." "You planning to keep her for yourself again? Isn't that a bit much?" grumbled the burly man, referred to as Sa-je, though he didn’t seem intent on defying the elder’s orders, gripping his axe with purpose. "Chet, it’s my turn next." Watching their frivolous banter, the middle-aged man's voice cut sharply through the air. "Your delusions are pitiful." A sword materialized in his hand seemingly out of nowhere. "In the end, you'll all perish by my blade." His voice, heavy and profound, matched the oppressive tension in the air. Yet the remaining Fiends didn’t falter. "Bluster." "All at once!" commanded the elder. Two of the men lunged simultaneously, brandishing grotesque blades and axes. "Die!" Their ferocious intent momentarily shook even the girl. Crash! The wooden floor split, screams echoing from below. "Aaaah!" "What's going on?" As chaos erupted in the tavern... "That technique resembles the one from the Sun Palace, doesn’t it? Maybe a bit different… The one at the Sun Palace felt more ominous, I think?" While Cheonhui mused over the unfolding fight, sipping wine leisurely... "What a pitiful creature." A shadow loomed over him. As Cheonhui looked up, he saw a large bald man, a huge saber slung over his shoulder, looking down at him. "Tsk, blame your luck for dining here today." Cheonhui nonchalantly pinched his nose. "Ugh!" The breath from the bald man was repugnant, enough to nauseate. "How dare you..." "Your breath stinks. Shut your mouth, will you?" The bald man’s face turned beet red. "You little...!" In a rage, the man’s head flushed as he hefted his saber—but before he could swing it, there was a sudden thud. The sound was followed by a burst of crimson from the bald man's chest. "Second Brother!" "Elder Brother!" Even as the remaining Three Fiends cried out, the balding man’s body slowly collapsed forward. His expression was one of bewilderment, unable to comprehend his situation, yet life had already left him. Boom! The large man's body fell loudly to the ground. "E-Elder Brother!" "What on earth?" "How did this happen?" The remaining Fiends, now reduced to three, stood frozen, staring at Cheonhui in shock. "You're distracted at such a time." As Cheonhui's words hung in the air, the Three Fiends recoiled in panic. Whoooosh! A gust of wind blew through as a streak of blue light cleaved the three in half. "Ack!" With a final groan, the three fell, the once-feared West Coast Five Fiends obliterated in an instant. "You are..." The middle-aged man, Danmok Jinkang, who had vanquished them, began to speak but hesitated. "...!" The young man who had just been leisurely sipping wine moments ago had vanished. As if he had been nothing but an illusion. Danmok Jinkang stood bewildered. "He left just like that." The girl murmured softly. "Did you know he was a master?" "No," she replied decisively, drawing a surprised glance from Danmok Jinkang. Since birth, she possessed acute sensing abilities, a gift that allowed her to perceive the essence of anyone standing before her, even the heads of the world's great clans. "Are you serious?" "Yes. Not even as he moved did I sense anything." Her eyes lingered on the empty table, lost in thought. It was astonishing to her as well. She had always believed nothing in the world could elude her perception. Yet the young man earlier had been... "Like he wasn’t there." His presence had been almost non-existent, faint to the point of forgetfulness. To feel such an unfamiliar sensation was an extraordinary experience for someone accustomed to perceiving the world’s energies. "But when he took action..." Recalling the moment sent a shiver across her skin, her heart pounding. She had witnessed it—a colossal presence overwhelming the West Coast Fiends. "His presence enveloped the entire world." Her veil fluttered lightly. Behind it, her eyes turned from the table to the horizon outside. Beneath the starlit sky, where the once formidable youth had glimmered like a fleeting star before disappearing. "Just who is he?" Meanwhile, back at the inn, Cheonhui swiftly dispelled any remnants of intoxication. "The taste of the wine was ruined." He lay in bed, thinking of the unfinished meal and drink. "But something's odd." Clear of the alcohol's effects, idle thoughts surfaced, particularly his recollection of the mysterious energy emanating from the girl as she watched him defeat the Fiends. "How are you still alive with a body like that?"