Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Book 3. The Era of Dragons and Tigers (3)
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184
True Person Hyun-gwang was one of the present-generation elders of the Mount Hua Sect. With his inherently quiet disposition and being the youngest among the present-generation elders, he rarely stepped forward in public affairs.
As a result, few people in the Mount Hua Sect, aside from the core disciples, even knew of his existence.
True Person Hyun-gwang seldom ventured beyond the sect's mountain gates. Yet here he was, not only having left Mount Hua but staying in Luoyang of Henan Province.
He was lodged at the Huayang Inn near Luoyang's south gate. The Huayang Inn was the largest and most luxurious establishment in Luoyang, a place where the poor or wandering ronin wouldn't dare set foot.
True Person Hyun-gwang was staying in one of its annex buildings.
“Whew! I thought I'd never leave Mount Hua in my lifetime.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“Is something troubling you, Master?”
Ho-kyung, who was right beside him, asked.
Ho-kyung was True Person Hyun-gwang's sole disciple. He shared his master's quiet nature and had accompanied him to attend to his needs.
Ho-kyung had spent his entire life on Mount Hua. This was his first time venturing beyond the mountain gates.
True Person Hyun-gwang looked at Ho-kyung with a gentle smile.
“It's nothing. Are you comfortable here?”
“Yes.”
“I've dragged you into this inconvenience.”
“No. I'm happy to be with you, Master.”
“Even if it's just words, I'm grateful.”
“It's not empty words.”
“I know.”
For a moment, the purity of his disciple eased True Person Hyun-gwang's worries.
True Person Hyun-gwang had descended from Mount Hua to Luoyang precisely to make contact with the Shaolin Temple.
The Mount Hua Sect Leader, True Person Hyun-cheon, desired closer cooperation with Shaolin. He judged that allying with Shaolin—the North Star of the martial world—would make it easier to counter the Demonic Cult.
Currently, Mount Hua's key figures were all occupied with other critical duties and had no spare time. Thus, the relatively idle True Person Hyun-gwang had been sent to discuss cooperation with Shaolin.
Ho-kyung asked,
“Master, so you're heading to Shaolin tomorrow?”
“We're not going up to Shaolin.”
“Pardon?”
Ho-kyung wore a puzzled expression, unable to grasp it immediately.
“Shaolin will send someone here.”
“To this place?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don't know the details, but it should be a key figure.”
“Wouldn't it be simpler for us to just go there?”
“There are surely eyes of the Demonic Cult here too. If they learn of Mount Hua contacting Shaolin, do you think they'd stay quiet?”
“I see.”
Only then did Ho-kyung nod in understanding.
Having lived his whole life within Mount Hua's protective fold, Ho-kyung was exceedingly pure. He knew nothing of the world's filth or schemes.
True Person Hyun-gwang wished, as much as possible, to keep his disciple free from the world's stains. But with the chaos unfolding, he couldn't cling to that selfish desire forever. It was a regret that gnawed at him.
True Person Hyun-gwang gazed out the window.
The Demonic Cult's emergence had plunged the land into turmoil everywhere. Yet Luoyang seemed like another world, ablaze with nightlife.
It was certainly more subdued than before, but countless people strolled the night streets, drinking and enjoying entertainments.
True Person Hyun-gwang couldn't quite comprehend the sight. To him, who had lived his life in the mountains, the common folk's behavior felt alien.
“By the way, have you heard that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“About Senior Brother Un-kyung.”
“Hm?”
True Person Hyun-gwang tilted his head. Ho-kyung continued.
“They say Senior Brother Un-kyung is staying in Sakju.”
“Why would that child be in Sakju? Is he looking for Senior Brother Hyun-so?”
“I don't know about that. But he sent word that he'll be staying there for the time being.”
“Hmm.”
True Person Hyun-gwang's expression hardened.
True Person Hyun-so was his senior brother. But they weren't close. Their masters differed, and both disliked complications.
Thus, even knowing True Person Hyun-so was struggling with taking in Dam-ho as a disciple, he hadn't stepped in to help. Those events lingered as a burden on his conscience.
“I wonder if he's doing well. I hope nothing happens to him.”
“What could possibly happen? He's still an elder of Mount Hua.”
“But without martial prowess, he lacks even basic self-defense.”
“I can't fathom how a Fist Demon could come from under such a person.”
Ho-kyung knew of Dam-ho too.
The Mount Hua disciple with the limp.
The elders had shunned Dam-ho, and the disciples had mocked him.
Shamefully, Ho-kyung had been one of them. Seeing the limping Dam-ho, he'd thought him a cripple tainting Mount Hua's legacy.
So when Dam-ho hadn't returned to Mount Hua thirteen years ago, Ho-kyung hadn't felt much regret. He'd even forgotten Dam-ho existed.
That forgotten Dam-ho had resurfaced mere months ago.
The Fist Demon, who had terrorized the martial world by felling countless warriors, was none other than Mount Hua's disgrace, Dam-ho.
At first, he couldn't believe the rumors. But when Mount Hua's top prodigy, Myeong-kyung, admitted defeat to Dam-ho, he had no choice but to accept it.
Dam-ho, despised by all, had become an absolute master, recognized not just by Mount Hua but the entire world.
Though publicly ostracized by the martial world, his overwhelming might was undeniable.
True Person Hyun-gwang sighed.
“Whew! We were all wrong. How could cultivators of the Dao judge and shun someone by mere appearance?”
“I'm ashamed too. I kept my distance from Junior Brother Cheon-kyung just because of how he looked.”
“How can we have the face to bring that child back to Mount Hua now? I truly can't understand the Sect Leader's thinking. Moreover, hasn't the Murim Alliance named him a public enemy?”
“They must think they can bear that much. They don't fully trust the Alliance anyway.”
“True. People play tricks to get their way, but I never thought Mount Hua would stoop to this.”
True Person Hyun-gwang shook his head just then.
Knock knock!
Someone rapped on the annex door.
As tension flickered in True Person Hyun-gwang and Ho-kyung's eyes, a voice called out.
“True Person Hyun-gwang, I am Gwang-hae from Shaolin.”
“Gwang-hae?”
True Person Hyun-gwang and Ho-kyung exchanged glances.
The Gwang-generation were Shaolin elders.
True Person Hyun-gwang hurriedly opened the door. There stood an old monk with a white beard reaching his chest.
Nine red prayer beads marked his forehead, and wisdom shone in his eyes.
No explanation was needed to sense he was a Shaolin monk.
“Amitabha! I am Hyun-gwang from Mount Hua. It is an honor to meet a Shaolin eminent monk.”
“Eminent monk? Hardly. Senior Brother Gwang-mun was supposed to come, but he suffered an unexpected injury, so I came in his stead.”
“Oh no! What happened?”
Gwang-hae offered only a bitter smile in response.
It wasn't widely known, but Shaolin had suffered heavy losses. Recently, intruders had gravely wounded not only the One Hundred Eight Arhats but Elder Gwang-mun as well. Even So-cheon, hailed as Shaolin's hope, lay severely injured and under treatment.
The culprits numbered just two. But effectively, one man had inflicted the damage on Shaolin. The temple was now like a house in mourning.
Shaolin had chosen Luoyang as the meeting place to avoid revealing their wounded state.
Behind Gwang-hae stood a dozen young Shaolin monks—first- and second-generation disciples who had come with him. They eyed True Person Hyun-gwang and Ho-kyung with curiosity.
True Person Hyun-gwang said to Ho-kyung,
“Go outside and guard the annex with them.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ho-kyung stepped out at once.
It was his master's consideration, giving him a chance to bond with Shaolin's young monks. Though Ho-kyung preferred quiet, he couldn't ignore the gesture.
“Amitabha!”
The young Shaolin monks welcomed Ho-kyung with smiles.
With the disciples gone, True Person Hyun-gwang and Gwang-hae sat facing each other to begin discussions.
As representatives of Mount Hua and Shaolin, they conveyed their sects' positions and began coordinating views.
Meanwhile, Ho-kyung chatted with the Shaolin disciples at the annex's front gate.
“How is Mount Hua faring? Being up front must make you quite uneasy.”
“Indeed. Especially after the events thirty years ago, we're reacting even more sensitively.”
“I see. With the Demonic Cult's invasions intensifying, it's worrisome.”
“The Murim Alliance will hold them back, won't they? After all, it's the united force of the entire martial world.”
“Amitabha!”
Whether Shaolin or Mount Hua, the anxiety was the same.
Above all, Ho-kyung and the Shaolin disciples were still young. Youth brought boldness, but before an uncertain future, their hearts and bodies shrank inevitably.
As they conversed idly,
“Pardon me, but is this the place where the secret meeting between Shaolin and Mount Hua is happening?”
“Gasp!”
The sudden voice made Ho-kyung and the Shaolin monks jump in shock.
Turning, they saw a red-haired, red-bearded elder grinning right before them.
Behind him stood over a dozen warriors.
“Wh-when?”
Disbelief crossed Ho-kyung's face.
Though chatting leisurely, their senses hadn't been fully dulled. Yet the elder and warriors had slipped right up to them undetected.
If the elder had willed it, they would already be dead.
Ho-kyung swallowed dryly and asked,
“Wh-who are you, elder?”
“Heh heh! Impudent juniors lacking manners. I asked first, didn't I? Is this where Shaolin and Mount Hua are meeting?”
Ho-kyung and the monks exchanged looks. The elder burst into a broad grin.
“Looks like I asked something pointless. With those bald heads right in front of me, of course you're from Shaolin. And you must be from Mount Hua.”
The elder was still smiling. But at that smile, Ho-kyung and the monks felt an inexplicable terror and shuddered.
They unleashed lightness skills to leap back, shouting,
“It's an attack!”
“Tsk! Such rude brats.”
The elder waved his hand lazily, as if swatting a fly. Simple as it was, immense inner force surged within.
Boom!
The air exploded from the intense shock.
“Urk!”
“Hup!”
Ho-kyung and the monks vomited blood and dropped to one knee.
Black Heart Demonic Hand—that was the name of the elder's technique.
A one-man transmission art, boasting tremendous power.
“Ho-kyung!”
“Hyun-cheon, Un-cheon!”
True Person Hyun-gwang and Gwang-hae burst out.
Seeing their fallen disciples, they unleashed their signature techniques at the elder without hesitation.
Plum Blossom Pure Heart Palm and Enemy Extinguishing Claw.
Top-tier ultimate arts of Mount Hua and Shaolin.
Boom!
The immense energies from their palm strikes surged toward the elder.
Kwang!
But their techniques were effortlessly shattered by the elder's Black Heart Demonic Hand.
“Urgh!”
“Amitabha!”
They staggered back with heavy thuds. Deep footprints marked the ground where they stood.
A radiant smile lit the elder's face.
“Pointless resistance will only heighten your suffering.”
“Who are you?”
True Person Hyun-gwang wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and demanded.
“Why ask when you already know?”
“Demonic Cult?”
“My name is On Sang-cheon.”
On Sang-cheon neither confirmed nor denied. He merely wore a subtle smile.
From the reaction, True Person Hyun-gwang was certain he was from the Demonic Cult. Who else would attack them?
On Sang-cheon spread his arms wide. His hands darkened ominously. Sensing the dire aura, True Person Hyun-gwang and Gwang-hae exchanged glances and launched a joint assault.
Boom!