Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Persistent Temptations
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"......Is that all?"
Danmokrin asked cautiously, unable to hide her disappointment.
"Is there more?"
Cheonhwi's response was not what she wanted.
"But Senior Brother, you saved me......"
"That was just a transaction, wasn't it?"
"......"
Danmokrin was at a loss for words.
She thought Cheonhwi was the benefactor who had pulled her from the brink of death, a destined partner sent from the heavens.
But the man she saw as fate itself.
'......doesn't even care about me.'
Danmokrin's expression fell.
"I see......"
She mumbled, her shoulders slumping weakly as she turned and fled like she was running away.
"You're a bad guy."
Princess Sohee's voice came from nearby.
"Even I could tell she had feelings for you. And yet you cut her off so coldly......"
Cheonhwi smirked as he listened.
He knew that much.
'I'm not an idiot.'
How could he miss the way she looked at him, her eyes dripping with honey?
"I'm a Daoist."
"......I heard Mount Hua Sect Daoists are lenient about marriage."
"So you're saying I should get married?"
"No, not that far......"
Cheonhwi glanced at Princess Sohee, who was flustered, then at Danmokrin's retreating back.
'Her head's full of flowers.'
Danmokrin was an incredibly pure woman, innocent to the ways of the world.
That's why she'd deluded herself.
When she was deep in despair, he had appeared by chance.
And she took it as fate.
'When it was just coincidence.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, as the Iron Sword Wanderer prepared to leave Mount Hua Sect, Danmokrin and Hyeonryeo came out to see him off.
"Hahaha, I was trying to slip away quietly."
"How could we let you go like that?"
Hyeonryeo smiled faintly, looked up at the Iron Sword Wanderer, and bowed politely with deep respect.
"Amitabha. Thank you for bringing Rin all the way to our distant Mount Hua Sect."
"Hoho, no need to mention it......"
The Iron Sword Wanderer scratched the back of his head awkwardly and clasped his fists in salute.
"......Thank you."
The Iron Sword Wanderer smiled happily.
'Grateful to Mount Hua Sect.'
Honestly, he hadn't expected them to accept Danmokrin as a disciple so readily.
No matter her exceptional talent or the fact that she'd severed ties with her clan, the disadvantages outweighed it.
The scrutiny and suspicion from the other Nine Great Sects.
And now Mount Hua Sect had opened its gates, effectively declaring to the martial world that they were re-entering the fray.
"Thank you for taking Rin as a disciple."
"It's only natural."
A smile spread across the Iron Sword Wanderer's lips.
This reaction was good.
The way they acted as if nothing mattered, no matter what troubles might come later.
'This is a true Daoist.'
Mount Hua's Divine Sword, Cheonhwi, the Sect Leader, and more.
The Daoists of Mount Hua Sect he'd observed over the past three days were clearly different from the worldly monks and priests mired in secular affairs.
Not just in Dao and chivalry.
But in sentiment as well.
Neither rigid nor soft.
Flexible Daoists, through and through.
'The kind you want to befriend.'
He shook his head mid-thought.
'But that's not possible.'
It might have been in the old days when the righteous sects were united, but not in this reality.
Danmok Clan and Mount Hua Sect were enemies.
Getting closer was impossible.
Hyeonryeo, and now even Danmokrin.
'I hope it doesn't come to that......'
He couldn't be certain.
He could only pray.
That they wouldn't become enemies.
The Iron Sword Wanderer gave a bitter smile and patted Danmokrin's head, which had been bowed low since earlier.
"What's wrong?"
"Uncle...... I'm sorry. If I hadn't been so stubborn......"
"Sorry for what?"
"Severing ties......"
"Do you regret it?!"
The Iron Sword Wanderer's voice rose.
"Did you sever ties and become a Mount Hua disciple with such half-hearted resolve?"
"That's......"
"What do you hope to achieve with such middling determination?"
The Iron Sword Wanderer glared at Danmokrin.
He'd only stayed at Mount Hua for three days, but he had seen through the relationship between Danmokrin and Cheonhwi.
No, anyone who saw them talking would know.
It was Danmokrin's one-sided crush.
"Do you want to lose him?"
Danmokrin bit her lip hard.
The woman named Sohee she'd seen yesterday.
And the looks from Mount Hua's female disciples watching Cheonhwi weren't ordinary either.
Danmokrin snapped her head up.
Beneath her slightly raised eyebrows, her eyes burned with determination.
"No."
"That's right."
Having reminded her it wasn't a good situation, the Iron Sword Wanderer removed his hand from her head and stepped back.
"Then let's go before the mountain gate grows too quiet."
"......Take care."
"I'll take care for the sake of hearing good news later, so don't worry."
He grinned playfully, passed the blushing Danmokrin, and stood before Hyeonryeo.
Then he bowed deeply toward her and made his request.
Like a father entrusting his daughter.
"Please take good care of Rin."
Hyeonryeo's lips curved into a warm smile at the heartfelt farewell.
"Worry not."
Hyeonryeo smiled brightly and bowed.
"Amitabha. May your journey be free of great mishaps."
"Hahaha, no need to worry about that."
The Iron Sword Wanderer laughed heartily.
"Fairy, I pray you stay healthy as well."
Moments later, the Iron Sword Wanderer departed Mount Hua Sect, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
Hyeonryeo and Danmokrin stood like statues.
Soon, he was out of sight.
"Let's head back."
"Yes."
At Hyeonryeo's words, Danmokrin stared until he was completely gone, then slowly turned away.
'No holding back on means or methods.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After parting with the Iron Sword Wanderer, Danmokrin's offensive, which had quieted briefly, resumed in full force.
"Senior Brother!"
Every morning, she sought out Cheonhwi and began her most powerful seduction, stronger than anything under heaven.
"I've read a martial arts manual called the North Wind Legs. Want to hear about it?"
Martial arts.
And that choice was effective.
"North Wind Legs? What kind of technique is it?"
Cheonhwi, who normally wouldn't even listen to Danmokrin, fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
"It's a kicking technique used by a mysterious ronin from the north called the North Wind Guest......"
Cheonhwi perked up his ears.
Kicking techniques were similar to leg arts but focused solely on destructive power and speed over precision.
'Kicking technique, huh? Haven't heard that in a while.'
Most martial arts focused on hands—swords, blades, spears, fists—making foot techniques rare.
Hands could move freely, but feet were harder.
Leg arts existed here and there, but pure kicking techniques were unheard of.
And the North Wind Legs she was describing were no different.
'It seems simple, but combined with footwork, it unleashes unimaginable destructive power.'
He recalled an old man from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult who had risen from mere cultist to elder.
Mailseok of the Yin Wind Demon Call.
Called the demon who summoned阴 winds, even past eighty, his body was rock-hard.
Arms, chest, back—all muscled, but his legs were masterpieces.
'That Mountain-Splitting Kick he unleashed with those legs was something else.'
His horse-like thick-muscled legs cleaved wind and mountains with a single swing.
Of course, North Wind Legs weren't that extreme.
A bit lacking as an advanced technique, but a good kicking art nonetheless.
'Especially compared to Mount Hua Sect.'
Mount Hua had few leg or kicking arts.
Just basics like the Leopard Tail Kick from the Nine Palaces Step.
Or the Minor Leaf Kick.
Even as a sword sect, it was serious.
'What do they do without a sword?'
Leg arts weren't sword-related, but what-ifs existed.
A shoulder wound or unusable arm could happen.
'Should I make one?'
The old Cheonhwi would have ignored it as a hassle.
But now he was considering it.
He hated seeing Mount Hua looked down on.
After pondering briefly, Cheonhwi looked at Danmokrin.
"What's the incantation?"
Seeing Cheonhwi show interest, Danmokrin's face lit up like the sun in mid-heaven.
"The incantation for North Wind Legs is......"
As Danmokrin recited the North Wind Legs incantation, others watched them.
"Wijin. What do you think of that?"
Princess Sohee frowned.
This was the man who ignored her no matter what she said.
But now?
He was actively engaging.
"......They look quite close."
Sim Wijin, equally surprised, murmured lowly.
"What's it about?"
"Probably martial arts......"
"You think so too?"
Princess Sohee's eyes darkened.
Soon, black flames surged in her pupils, and she spoke.
"You know a lot of martial arts, right?"
"As an imperial warrior, I know a fair amount......"
Sim Wijin startled mid-sentence.
He sensed the intent behind the question.
"But Princess, if I reveal imperial arts carelessly, they could......"
"Who said anything about imperial arts?"
Princess Sohee glared.
"You must have learned others too."
Sim Wijin snapped to attention.
The martial world and the imperial court were untouchable.
Thus, those operating in the jianghu learned separate arts to avoid imperial traces.
"Follow me."
Princess Sohee took the lead.
"Young hero."
At her call, the two turned.
"Interested in imperial martial arts?"
Interested?
What a silly question.
"Of course."
"Good."
A smile spread across Princess Sohee's lips.
"Wijin."
"Understood."
Sim Wijin drew his sword immediately.
The well-maintained blade moved dramatically.
Whoosh—
A light swing.
Yet falling plum blossoms swirled around the sword, creating a flesh-cutting vortex.
Hm?
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
Pine Wind Sword Art.
The signature art of the Pine Wind Sect, once dominant in the central plains.
Then they vanished overnight.
'Connected to the imperial family?'
After a few swings, Sim Wijin sheathed his sword and caught his breath.
"What do you think?"
"Nice sword art."
Princess Sohee inwardly cheered at Cheonhwi's first real interest.
'But one isn't enough.'
To seal his interest, Princess Sohee spoke.
"The Imperial Martial Repository has many more. Want to come see?"
She tested him subtly.
"No."
Only firm refusal returned.
See what?
He was curious about the Imperial Martial Repository's arts, but not about getting tangled with the imperial family.
'I'd rather sneak in.'
Cheonhwi shook his head, recalling the mosquito-like imperials.
Excrement is avoided not out of fear, but disgust.
Princess Sohee, unprepared for refusal, panicked briefly.
"I see?"
But she retreated quickly.
'Can't rush it.'
She'd just found something Cheonhwi was interested in.
"How about other martial arts then?"
"That works."
Princess Sohee signaled Sim Wijin.
Sim Wijin nodded with a resigned expression and raised his sword again.
'......This guy.'
Meanwhile, Danmokrin recalled Princess Sohee's words and glared at her.
'......Trying to take Senior Brother?'
She quickly positioned herself beside Cheonhwi.
"Senior Brother, forget that. I know other arts too."
Cheonhwi turned immediately.
"What arts?"
"This one's an external art......"
Princess Sohee jumped in without missing a beat.
"If it's external arts, we have some too......"