59 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 59 "If we die anyway, everything becomes meaningless. Rather, I should offer myself..." She pondered deeply before quietly proposing her plan, casting a sideward glance at Cheonhui. This was the boldest proposition Dan Mok-rin could make. "Unlike the other Nine Great Sects, the Huashan Sect allows marriage unless one desires to become Sect Leader..." Her cheeks turned slightly pink. "But would he accept me?" This was a gamble of a lifetime. Cheonhui, being dedicated to his training, might not be interested in romance, or if contrary to her expectations, he desired the position of Sect Leader, her offer would be in vain. With bated breath, she awaited Cheonhui's response, and finally, his lips parted. "All of it... sounds fine." Contrary to her tension, Cheonhui responded nonchalantly, almost indifferently. He hadn't expected much anyway. Even if she gave her all, what grandeur could it possibly bring? He was only after one thing. The name of the Danmok family was a reserve power for when and if an issue arose in the Huashan Sect in his absence. "Moreover, if the daughter asks for help, the family will surely come. And there's also the martial arts..." In contrast to Dan Mok-rin's complex thoughts, what Cheonhui wanted was far simpler than what she had eliminated from consideration. Meanwhile, after receiving a positive answer, Dan Mok-rin's expression grew complicated. "Just surviving until tomorrow was tough, and now I might be getting engaged..." The rapid progression of events in just a single day made her chuckle softly. It was then that Cheonhui spoke. "Lie down." "What?" "You asked for help, didn't you?" "Oh, alright." In a fluster, Dan Mok-rin quickly complied, starting by removing her hat. Her black-and-white streaked hair tumbled down, revealing the youthful face of a girl who looked around fourteen. With eyes full of intellect and a prominent bridge of her nose, it was evident to anyone that she would grow into a beauty. "Her growth must have halted, huh?" However, Cheonhui's thoughts remained calm. Having been surrounded by many women trying to tempt him in the Demonic Cult, Dan Mok-rin's appearance didn't hold his gaze. Just a young girl. That was all. Dan Mok-rin placed the hat beside her and looked up at Cheonhui. "So indifferent." She was startled by the lack of emotion in his eyes. Men who had seen her before usually looked at her with deep affection or pity. Yet Cheonhui, sitting in front of her now, showed neither goodwill nor sympathy. It was as if he was looking at a mere pebble. Ironically, this lack of interest brought her a sense of relief. "If it's him..." As her fondness for him deepened. "Let's begin, then." Cheonhui sat down beside her and gently placed his hands on his lower abdomen. With a soft vibration, a powerful aura enveloped them both as he activated the Plum Blossom Divine Art. With his aura extended, Cheonhui examined Dan Mok-rin closely, who lay there with her eyes closed, seemingly under its influence. "She lost herself in the flow." He sensed the flow of blood vessels beneath her skin. Her body was in an alien and chaotic state. Her blood vessels were thinner than usual, her muscles and bones frozen, and her dantian felt like a hollow cavern. It was far from normal. Her condition resembled a lifeless corpse. The yin energy had invaded so deep, it seemed to have permeated her marrow. "She might not have long to live." Upon careful inspection, he realized the gravity of her situation. To heal her would take days. The abundant internal energy in her dantian was frozen by the sinister yin energy, piercing her innards like sharp thorns. "This must cause immense pain regularly." As if to prove his thoughts, her eye muscles started to twitch involuntarily. Even her breathing wasn't natural, her chest heaving greatly as she lay there. Watching her, Cheonhui urgently infused his qi. While the Plum Blossom Divine Art's qi smoothly coursed through her blood vessels and muscles: Thud! Dan Mok-rin's body convulsed violently. The yin energy, which dominated her body like a dormant creature, resisted the intrusion of his qi. "Is it resisting?" Understanding the yin energy's attempt to counter, Cheonhui stretched out his index finger towards it. Bang! The moment his fingertip made contact with her abdomen, the once-fierce yin energy dissipated quickly, as if its power was just an illusion. "If one blood vessel holds this much..." Cheonhui's eyes deepened. The intensity and profoundness of the energy held within just one vessel was immense. Just as he was about to address another concentration of yin energy, the energy that seemed to have disappeared suddenly began raging. Boom! There was no time to react. The yin energy infiltrated her body like an avalanche, running rampant. Rip― The violent energy shredded her garments and spread ferociously, revealing its savageness to Cheonhui. The surrounding area froze as the energy, almost possessing a will of its own, transformed into a spear and aimed at Cheonhui's neck. Cheonhui's eyes turned icy. "Aiming for me?" The audacity of mere yin energy to dare target him was intolerable. Immediately, he infused his index finger with internal power. He then slowly pierced towards the rapidly approaching spear of yin energy. Smash! Unexpectedly, it shattered like glass, scattering remnants in all directions. "Where do you think you're going?" Cheonhui promptly drew the remnants back towards him. "It's mine now." A sly smile crept onto Cheonhui's lips. The yin energy within the Lunar Energy Restriction Body was purer and more potent than any elixir. If he absorbed it all... His mouth watered at the thought. "Nice..." He then proceeded to draw all surrounding yin energy towards him using the Plum Blossom Divine Art. A while later, Cheonhui ended his cultivation with a satisfied smile. "I've absorbed a lot." Surveying the internal energy accumulated in his dantian with satisfaction. "Oh! Is she healed?" Late in realizing his actions, he turned his gaze. Dan Mok-rin lay in the same position. But something was distinctly different from before. The clothing she was wearing had been shredded, leaving her bare before him. Yet, Cheonhui's gaze remained indifferent. He had seen enough of a woman's body to not be swayed easily, and his dedication to his training was far too firm for mere allure to distract him. "Hmm." He calmly assessed her from head to toe, then gave a nod. "This is good." The features that had previously twitched with pain were now calm, and her breathing, which had been irregular, was now smooth, as if she were peacefully asleep. At that moment, her eyelids fluttered. "Ugh..." She groaned softly as she began to stir. Upon waking, she touched her body all over, muttering in bewilderment. "I'm not in pain." Cheonhui approached her, speaking soothingly. "You're awake." "Sir?" As she moved to sit up, the cloak that had been covering her clothes slipped off, causing her to freeze. "Eek!" With a shriek, she hastily turned around, swiftly pulling the cloak tightly around her, desperate to hide from his view. Cheonhui looked at her with a hint of disdain. "Why all the fuss over something like that?" He couldn't quite understand. His perspective on such matters differed from most. Watching her flush crimson with embarrassment, Cheonhui nonchalantly remarked, "I'll leave first, then." * * * About twenty days later, their carriage arrived in Wuhan, having passed through the Hubei province. "Haha, thank you for bringing us all the way to Wuhan." "It's nothing." Dan Mok-jin waved his hand dismissively. Over the course of their journey, the two had grown quite close and were now friendly in their conversations. "You've saved Rin's life. How could we part ways halfway through?" Dan Mok-jin slyly glanced forward. Seeing his daughter, Dan Mok-rin, seated beside Cheonhui brought a smile to his lips. Initially, it had been Dan Mok-rin sitting beside him, but from the second day onward, things changed. "Haha, who would've thought she'd want to sit next to him?" Due to Dan Mok-rin's discreet request, Dan Mok-jin sat alongside Hyeon-do, while Dan Mok-rin seated herself next to Cheonhui, subtly. When she first sat beside him, Dan Mok-rin had been tense, but after twenty days, sitting together felt natural. Watching the narrowed distance between Dan Mok-rin and Cheonhui, he was pleased. "Ah, they suit each other well." His initial assessment of Cheonhui had long faded; he now regarded Cheonhui as a suitable match for his daughter. "Even a Huashan Sect master, as long as he doesn't aim to become the Sect Leader or follow a strict Taoist path, can marry." Considering the relatively more relaxed marriage practices of the Huashan Sect compared to other sects, he smiled contentedly. On the day they met, Cheonhui had enjoyed both wine and meat, marking him as one who indulged in worldly pleasure. It seemed unlikely that he would pursue either the position of Sect Leader or a strict Taoist path. "And then you wield the quick sword like this." Dan Mok-rin extended her index and middle fingers, creating a peculiar flow in front of her. A downward slicing motion. Yet, the simplicity of the gesture belied its deep and profound implications. "It's a sword technique that cuts through muscles and bones." Cheonhui quickly grasped the depth of the technique, inciting a smile from Dan Mok-rin. "Yes, the Yakasha Beast Soul Sword immobilizes opponents by severing their muscles and bones..." Cheonhui watched Dan Mok-rin excitedly explain. "Her personality has changed quite a bit." It wasn't just her personality that had altered. The grim aura she once carried had shifted. "This technique became famous due to an assassin feared throughout the martial world." "And what about its principles?" "The principles are..." Dan Mok-rin recited the core tenets. "Hmm. An assassin’s sword technique, is it? Being a family martial art, it's distinct from Taoist arts." While Cheonhui was lost in thought. Swish— Dan Mok-rin subtly glanced at Cheonhui's profile. His sharp nose and gleaming eyes. Usually indifferent, he showed interest in martial arts. Overjoyed by his reaction, she shared more of her martial knowledge. "Since you may become my spouse, accumulating goodwill for an engagement..." As she daydreamed about the future, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Neigh! The carriage rattled to a stop. The driver pulled back the curtain separating them from the driver’s seat and announced. "We have arrived." "Already?" Dan Mok-rin said dejectedly. Having been chatting happily, she glanced at Dan Mok-jin. "No." Dan Mok-jin firmly stated. They had arrived in the martial world's headquarters, almost enemy territory. If it were discovered that they were members of the Danmok family, it could spell danger. Dan Mok-rin spoke bitterly. "…It's a shame." Looking at Dan Mok-rin, who was speaking to him, Cheonhui nodded. "It is a bit disappointing." "Right?" Dan Mok-rin's face brightened instantly. Believing Cheonhui, like her, was reluctant to part, her heart fluttered, inexplicably lifting her spirits. However, Cheonhui's sentiment was different from hers. "Too bad. I think she knows a lot of other martial techniques, and I haven't absorbed all the yin energy remaining in her body yet. Oh well." While Dan Mok-jin gazed warmly at the two, Hyeon-do, sitting next to him, recited a Buddhist chant. "Amitabha. Where there is a meeting, there is also a parting. We must look forward to our next meeting." "Hahaha, true words indeed." Dan Mok-jin took a moment to clasp his hands together in respect. "I look forward to our next reunion." Dan Mok-rin nodded in agreement. "I too look forward to it. And by then..." She glanced at Cheonhui. "I will repay your kindness." "You must." Cheonhui replied earnestly, just as Dan Mok-jin grasped his hand firmly. "If matters arise, seek me through the Hao Gate." "Hao Gate? Where is that?" "Haha. The Hao Gate is..." As Dan Mok-jin began to explain. "We're short on time." The driver urged. "You'll know in due time." Hurriedly, Dan Mok-jin explained as Hyeon-do and Cheonhui quickly alighted the carriage. Whinny— The carriage immediately set off again. Without Cheonhui and Hyeon-do, the inside of the carriage felt awkward and empty to Dan Mok-jin. For a moment, he stood there dazed, but then he shook his head vigorously to clear his mind. "Hwasan Divine Sword and Cheonhui... The Huashan Sect isn't one of the Nine Great Sects for nothing." Despite being fond of the two, Dan Mok-jin couldn't help but worry. The appearance of a supreme swordsman and a divine saint in the Huashan Sect was bound to cause upheaval in the martial world. "I should foster ties with the Huashan Sect." "Yes, of course," Dan Mok-rin responded immediately, causing Dan Mok-jin to chuckle. "Do you fancy the young hero?" Her cheeks turning rosy, Dan Mok-rin gave a small, affirming nod. Was it because he saved her life or because his demeanor towards her was unlike others'? She had grown fond of Cheonhui. Watching her eyes still glued to the window where Cheonhui disappeared from view, Dan Mok-jin spoke softly. "As much as it's a shame to part, we'll postpone our reunion with them for another time. We must first meet the Divine Doctor." Dan Mok-jin reminded her of the original reason for their journey. Cheonhui had mentioned that although her condition improved, she still needed medical attention. "He mentioned she only needed to regain her strength with basic treatment," Dan Mok-jin thought. But he had chosen otherwise. Meeting the Divine Doctor seemed like the wiser course. "...Okay," Dan Mok-rin responded half-heartedly, letting his words drift past her ears as she continued to look intensely at the increasingly distant figure of Cheonhui through the window. In brighter days, she had been lively and cheerful. Yet, the past two years had left her depleted, disillusioned with the world. "Just days ago, my world was a dark void with no light." Though she hadn't expressed it to Dan Mok-jin, her condition had been dire. Her internal energy had slipped beyond her control, leaving her struggling even to walk. She had only been able to hold on through sheer willpower, but even that was waning. At times, she'd even thought of ending her own life. And then, a light appeared in her darkness. The destined light named Cheonhui. Recalling Cheonhui with intense eyes, she parted her lips, stained crimson like blood. "I'll definitely find you." At that moment, Cheonhui, en route to the Martial Alliance, paused in his tracks. "What was that?" He felt a shiver down his spine, a sensation that vanished as quickly as it came. Frowning, he wondered, "Is someone watching me?"