Heal the Senior Brother (1)
“Huff!”
Gwang Urim was not one to startle easily, but this time was different.
To run into Hyeon Yucheon, Eum Ji-myeong, and Elder Jeong Inheon of all people at the pigeon coop where homing pigeons for letters were raised.
“I suspected... but no way... There really was a spy in our sect!”
Eum Ji-myeong, on the other hand, looked utterly shocked.
The remaining disciples after his senior and junior brothers had left were especially precious to him.
Even when Hyeon Yucheon had first claimed,
—The Murim Alliance was obsessed enough with our sect's martial arts to gang up on Master. There has to be a spy.
He had insisted there was no way.
Yet Hyeon Yucheon's assertion had proven exactly right.
“No, no! It wasn't me!”
The flustered Gwang Urim backed away, babbling excuses, but the three had already cut off all escape routes.
“If you're truly innocent, show us the letter in your hand.”
Hyeon Yucheon gave him a chance to prove his innocence, just in case.
“......”
Of course, there was no way he'd hand it over.
The letter detailed the emergence of the Demon Sword Ghost Lord's successor—complete with name and description.
“Hiyah!”
In the end, only one option remained.
Gwang Urim drew his sword and unleashed his martial art.
But it was not a Demon Sword Sect technique.
A gorgeous sword wind, elegant and leaving a lingering fragrance like plum blossoms.
Anyone could see it was Mount Hua Sect swordsmanship.
That's right.
This Gwang Urim was a disciple of Mount Hua Sect and a member of the Murim Alliance.
“You bastard!”
Eum Ji-myeong, who had always treated the disciples like family, flew into a rage, his blood boiling in reverse.
He wanted to step in and deal with Gwang Urim himself, but he couldn't.
Stagger!
His already poor condition worsened with the surge of fury, and he collapsed on the spot.
It was the early stage of heart devil intrusion.
“Ji-myeong!”
Plum Death Gentleman Jeong Inheon rushed forward to support him.
Seeing this, Hyeon Yucheon stepped up.
Gwang Urim, meanwhile, brightened at the hope of escaping if he could just take down Hyeon Yucheon.
I'm a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua Sect!
The pride of an orthodox martial artist ran deep.
Gwang Urim, from the famously arrogant Mount Hua Sect, was determined that even if Hyeon Yucheon had inherited the Demon Sword Ghost Lord's true legacy, he could dodge and flee with full effort.
Gwang Urim gripped his sword again and swung one of Mount Hua Sect's prides, the Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Swords.
He believed this ferocious sword qi blast would force Hyeon Yucheon back.
Of course, it was mere delusion on Gwang Urim's part.
The moment his folly peaked was but an instant.
Flash!
Hyeon Yucheon unleashed Thunderbolt Strike Kill, famed for its speed among the Formless Flash Quick Sword forms.
This technique wielded formless sword qi like crackling lightning, paralyzing foes as if electrocuted.
“Grrr!”
Hyeon Yucheon's formless sword qi was so swift that Gwang Urim collapsed on the spot, limbs twitching uncontrollably.
Hyeon Yucheon wouldn't miss the opening.
Mount Hua Sect is led by Jang Unhwi, Plum Wind Cloud—one of the Heaven's Five Venerables who harmed Master.
His enmity toward Gwang Urim burned fiercely.
Bam!
Hyeon Yucheon kicked Gwang Urim's jaw as he fell.
It wasn't mere venting.
“We must prevent suicide.”
From his master's memories, Hyeon Yucheon knew spies' habits well.
Cornered, they often bit poison hidden in their mouths to avoid leaking information.
He knocked him out swiftly to avert it.
His quick action paid off—they captured Gwang Urim alive.
“I'll leave the interrogation to Gyeon Jong-o... I'll go treat Ji-myeong.”
Jeong Inheon supported the ailing Eum Ji-myeong and left.
Torture and confessions suited Little Light Demon Gyeon Jong-o perfectly, so Hyeon Yucheon just nodded.
Now... the leak of my return is sealed.
“Any results from the interrogation?”
The next day, Hyeon Yucheon asked Jeong Inheon, who had come to him.
“Yes. Fortunately, he was the only spy in our sect, and the Murim Alliance planted him without much expectation.”
Relieving news amid worries.
Hyeon Yucheon could finally relax.
Still, he'd stay cautious about leaks.
“But... how's Senior Brother Eum?”
Hyeon Yucheon inquired.
Honestly, he'd looked unwell since they met.
And he'd staggered from the Gwang Urim incident.
“He's regained consciousness... Would you like to see him?”
No reason to refuse.
He needed to share the news with Eum Ji-myeong anyway, so he followed readily.
“Oh! Junior Brother Hyeon is here?”
Eum Ji-myeong, lying in the Demon Sword Sect's infirmary, sat up quickly upon spotting him.
His face seemed bright, but it couldn't hide his sickly pallor.
“Senior Brother, no need to push yourself.”
Hyeon Yucheon waved him down.
It pained him to see.
The shabby infirmary lacked proper physicians, and usable herbs or elixirs were depleted.
A stark reflection of the sect's state.
Soon, Jeong Inheon and Hyeon Yucheon relayed the interrogation results.
“Good. But... with the sect leader inauguration delayed because of me?”
That was Eum Ji-myeong's worry.
He felt guilty for holding it up due to his illness.
“It's fine. It takes time to assess the sect fully anyway. We'll hold it after.”
“I see. Don't be disappointed or run off seeing our poor state.”
As the mood warmed,
Hyeon Yucheon cautiously broached.
“Senior Brother Eum... Is something wrong with your health?”
Hyeon Yucheon had inherited his master's memories, experience, and wisdom fully.
Cheon Baeksang, the Demon Sword Ghost Lord, was profound not just in martial arts but myriad fields—his knowledge vast.
Thus, Hyeon Yucheon saw it at a glance.
Eum Ji-myeong suffered a grave illness.
“It's nothing. After Master vanished and with the sect's trials... a heart ailment came. But with you here, it'll vanish like mist.”
Eum Ji-myeong smiled, feigning strength.
How agonizing for a peak realm master like him?
Only his magnanimity held him; an ordinary man would've died from pent-up rage long ago.
Sadly, unlike his words, the illness was evident—he knew he wouldn't last, and so did Hyeon Yucheon.
Heart devils have no cure.
The only remedies: divine elixirs or transcending via realm breakthroughs—arduous paths.
So how to treat?
Then!
Hyeon Yucheon recalled the secret warehouse beneath Haeha Guest House, piled with elixirs.
“Wait! Senior Brother! I have a way.”
Finding the answer, he beamed.
A cure for his sole senior brother.
“Don't strain yourself. I'm fine...”
Eum Ji-myeong waved it off, believing only elixirs could cure him—and not wanting to burden.
“Strain? Even so... I'm the heir of Mangeum Clan.”
From Mangeum Young Master to Demon Sword Young Master.
But Mangeum Clan's hidden vast wealth remained.
Time to show its power.
“Sister Jeong! Sister Jeong!”
Leaving Demon Sword Sect, Hyeon Yucheon rushed to Haeha Guest House, calling urgently for Jeong Se-in.
“What's wrong?”
At the late-night summons, she emerged worried, eyes wide.
“It's like this...”
He briefly explained.
He had a senior brother, ill and needing elixirs.
“So, may I use one from the secret warehouse?”
Jeong Se-in smiled brightly at his request.
“It's not mine—it's all yours, Young Master Hyeon.”
“But you've guarded it devotedly for so long...”
“All my efforts were for you. No need to ask permission henceforth.”
Hyeon Yucheon was moved once more.
His senior brother, his master—perhaps he was blessed with good people.
He hurried to the secret warehouse.
Swipe!
Pressing his ever-carried crimson jade plaque—as expected.
It opened wide, like before.
Flash!
Blinding golden light gleamed again.
I don't need gold bars now.
Hyeon Yucheon entered the vast secret warehouse swiftly.
Beyond the golden mounds, his destination was elsewhere.
This warehouse, using all the space under Haeha Guest House, was immense—sorted into gold/silver ingots, silk/treasures, elixirs/superior herbs.
Naturally, he headed for elixirs and herbs.
“This refreshing scent!”
Passing rare silks and treasures, he caught the purifying aroma unique to elixirs.
Finally, face-to-face with them.
The original Hyeon Yucheon might've puzzled over which for Eum Ji-myeong, but he had the Demon Sword Ghost Lord's memories and knowledge.
Cheon Baeksang had once spoken to his second disciple, Eum Ji-myeong:
—Tsk tsk. Good nature, gentle... but your body harbors excessive hot fire qi.
One day, it'll consume you.
Stunned by his revered master's words, Eum Ji-myeong asked:
—Then how can this disciple escape that fire?
Cheon Baeksang replied:
—Suppress it. With a yin qi-rich elixir. Yes, Ice Crystal Herb would do.
And right here.
“Found it.”
Hyeon Yucheon located the elixir, crystalline like ice, emanating cold aura.
If Senior Brother Eum takes this...
His gnawing fire qi would vanish clean away—and for a peak realm master, it was a tremendous boon.
Boosting martial arts and inner power immensely.