Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sword Immortal
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When martial enthusiasts across the world were asked which mountain range boasted the most treacherous terrain, Mount Hua was a name that never failed to come up.
Gazing up at the peak from right at the foot of the mountain, Cheon Sumyeong was left utterly speechless.
Not because of its size or ruggedness.
It was a matter of who owned Mount Hua.
The Mount Hua Sect—one of the pillars of the Murim Alliance.
"Are you sure this is our destination?"
After a long silence, Cheon Sumyeong finally managed to speak.
"Yes."
The response came back firm and immediate.
The Heavenly Demon at the Mount Hua Sect? Unthinkable.
The Demon Sword Sovereign at the Mount Hua Sect? Equally bizarre.
But above all, the Heavenly Demon bringing the Demon Sword Sovereign here? Utterly incomprehensible.
What on earth was he thinking, dragging him to this place?
No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't even guess at the man's intentions. So he cut straight to the chase.
"Why seek out the Mount Hua Sect?"
"Not the Mount Hua Sect."
"...Hm?"
Cheon Sumyeong couldn't hide his confusion at Hyeok Mulin's reply.
They were one step away from entering Mount Hua, yet it wasn't the sect he was after?
What nonsense was this?
"Then what brought you all the way here..."
"To be precise, I've come seeking the Mount Hua Sword Immortal."
A brief silence fell at Hyeok Mulin's follow-up.
The quiet stretched on before the corners of Cheon Sumyeong's mouth finally twitched upward.
"Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh...!"
Chuckling to himself on the spot for a good while, Cheon Sumyeong grinned as he spoke.
"You planning to wage war on the Murim Alliance, just you and me?"
The Heavenly Demon visiting the Mount Hua Sect with the Sword Sovereign in tow—a man under the Alliance's banner, no less.
In that scenario, only one outcome was possible.
A bloodbath.
Reducing the entire mountain to ashes without leaving a soul alive.
"You've got more fire in you than I thought."
It was tantamount to a declaration of war on the Murim Alliance, yet without a single subordinate in tow.
Cheon Sumyeong wasn't one to sit out a fight himself, so while Hyeok Mulin's boldness caught him off guard, it left him oddly satisfied.
But.
War?
Hyeok Mulin raised the end of his sentence in clear denial, his expression puzzled.
Cheon Sumyeong tilted his head.
"Not here to throw down with the Alliance?"
"Not right now."
"Then why come here?"
Frustrated, Cheon Sumyeong looped back to square one.
"That..."
Hyeok Mulin pointed a finger toward the summit of Mount Hua.
"You'll see when we get up there."
"...Understood."
Abandoning any hope of a straight answer, Cheon Sumyeong decided to follow Hyeok Mulin's lead for now.
He'd come this far on the man's whim already—backing out felt wrong.
And so they swiftly ascended Mount Hua.
A few others were climbing too, but none noticed Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Sumyeong brushing past them.
Reaching the sect's main headquarters in no time, they arrived at the entrance.
As they approached, Mount Hua Sect disciples guarding the gate blocked their path with wary eyes.
"State your purpose and identity."
Cheon Sumyeong glanced at Hyeok Mulin.
How would he handle them?
Curious about his approach, he watched as Hyeok Mulin bypassed the obstacle far more easily than expected.
"Tell Elder Sangseo that Hyeok Mulin has come. He'll know."
"To the Elder...?"
The disciples exchanged looks before one hurried inside to check.
"Please wait a moment."
Mentioning the elder made the disciple's tone instantly polite.
Soon after—not long at all—an elderly man came rushing from within.
The moment he saw Hyeok Mulin's face, Elder Sangseo broke into a smile and greeted him effusively.
"Lord Hyeok! How long has it been?"
"It's been a while."
"I've regretted sending you off in such haste last time. You've come at the perfect moment—perfect!"
Elder Sangseo was simply overjoyed at the return of one of Mount Hua Sect's esteemed guests.
"What brings you back here...? No, not here—come inside first. We'll talk comfortably within."
Leading Hyeok Mulin inside, Elder Sangseo finally noticed Cheon Sumyeong.
Studying him briefly, he turned to Hyeok Mulin.
"Who's this?"
"An acquaintance. We've been traveling together lately."
"An acquaintance..."
His gaze on Cheon Sumyeong turned chilly for a moment before softening with a nod.
"Well, if Lord Hyeok brought him, no need to worry."
The words hit Cheon Sumyeong like a shock.
No questions about name, title, or origin.
Just because he was with Hyeok Mulin, entry was granted.
'How much trust and goodwill has he built up here?'
Cheon Sumyeong was confident in hiding his identity.
With deliberate effort to suppress his demonic aura, only someone of equal realm could detect he was a demon.
Few in the Central Plains even knew his face.
Almost no survivors from the battles he'd joined in the past.
He'd been sure he could pass undetected—turns out, he didn't even need to try.
Mount Hua Sect's trust in Hyeok Mulin alone secured his entry.
'What exactly did he do to earn this?'
Questions about Hyeok Mulin multiplying, Cheon Sumyeong masked his bewilderment and followed slowly.
"Have you eaten?"
"Still hungry."
"Perfect timing. How about a meal first?"
"Sounds good."
At Hyeok Mulin's agreement, Elder Sangseo led them to Suyang Hall, serving each a warm meal.
He brought his own place setting and joined them.
"It's nothing fancy, but dig in."
Cheon Sumyeong looked down at the spread.
'Nothing fancy, huh.'
There was soup, rice, and a variety of dishes.
But something crucial was missing.
No meat anywhere—a typical Taoist vegetable feast.
Noticing the reaction, Elder Sangseo felt a twinge of apology.
Imposing sect rules on outsiders was harsh, but unavoidable.
Branch sects sneaked meat sometimes, but headquarters enforced the rules strictly.
No meat was even handled here.
'Probably not to their taste.'
Even young Taoists struggled to adapt.
As he looked up with regret—
Clack. Thud.
Chopstick sounds rang out.
'Hm?'
Raising his head slowly, Elder Sangseo watched the two men devour the vegetable meal without hesitation.
They handled it better than the Taoists, even.
Amazed, he didn't realize it wasn't so strange.
Cheon Sumyeong often entered long secluded training, surviving on endless abstinence pills.
Hyeok Mulin, in his past life trapped in the Heavenly Demon Secret Vault and this one constantly cultivating, had eaten more rations and jerky than proper meals.
To them, a warm vegetable spread was a rare delicacy compared to pills or dried provisions—no room for reluctance.
Unaware, Elder Sangseo assumed they were eating heartily to spare the sect's face and felt grateful.
As they finished, he spoke with a pleased smile.
"Thank you for enjoying it."
Bellies full, time for the main topic.
Elder Sangseo turned to Hyeok Mulin.
"So, what brings you here?"
"I have a message for the Sword Immortal."
"For the sect leader?"
His expression turned regretful.
"Bad timing, I'm afraid. The sect leader isn't here."
Unexpected.
The Mount Hua Sword Immortal that Hyeok Mulin knew rarely ventured out.
For him to leave the mountain?
"Something happen at the Murim Alliance?"
"Yes. I don't know the details, but with the Demon Cult's movements growing unpredictable lately, they're holding a conference there to discuss countermeasures."
Elder Sangseo had no idea.
The very man who'd driven the righteous sects and their leaders into such a frenzy was sitting right in front of him.
"How long until he returns?"
"Hard to say, but even at best, you'd need to wait a fortnight."
"A fortnight..."
Hyeok Mulin pondered, hand on chin—the timeframe awkward.
Glancing at him, Elder Sangseo ventured cautiously.
"If you've time to spare, could I ask a small favor of you, Lord Hyeok?"
"A favor?"
As Hyeok Mulin met his eyes, Elder Sangseo nodded.
"Yes. You've arrived at just the right moment."
Mount Hua Sect periodically invited renowned swordsmen from outside to instruct the disciples.
A one-day master for unique experiences.
It had proven effective.
A fresh perspective on the sword.
Years had passed since the last one—it was time for a new invitation, and here was Hyeok Mulin.
"Could you serve as a one-day master for the sect's young ones? If you do, I'll send word to the sect leader about your visit and urge his swift return."
Hyeok Mulin considered briefly.
Then he replied.
"Very well."
"Thank you! I'll prepare right away—"
"One condition."
Hyeok Mulin wasn't done.
Gazing steadily at Cheon Sumyeong, he continued.
"Allow this man to join me."
Cheon Sumyeong's pupils flickered, but Elder Sangseo simply accepted gladly.
"If you're taking the task, that's no issue at all."
Thus securing the pair, Elder Sangseo remained blissfully ignorant to the end.
That the men entrusted with Mount Hua Sect's future were none other than two sovereign masters of the Demon Cult.