Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Perfect Revival (1)
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Eul Seung-je, the elder of Flame Flower Hall, and Chu Jeong-yong, the hall leader, prostrated themselves side by side.
Eul Seung-je didn't stop there.
Swish!
He shot a meaningful glance at his subordinates, who were hesitating awkwardly.
At that, all the Flame Flower Hall warriors dropped to the ground as if they had been waiting for it and shouted.
"We beg for the Heavenly Demon's mercy!"
"Please forgive us!"
"We're sorry!"
Though their sudden surrender meant their cries weren't unified, this was the moment Flame Flower Hall fully submitted to the single Heavenly Demon, Gunryong.
Considering that Flame Flower Hall was one of the Ten Great Powers representing the unorthodox sects, this was an astonishingly swift conquest.
This outcome was, of course, possible only because of Eul Seung-je, who remembered and honored the spirit of Flame Flower Divine Lord Eul Baek-hyeon. Had they resisted to the end, it might have dragged on much longer.
'At first, I was so furious I wanted to sweep away all their Extreme Yang arts and everything else.'
That was the Heavenly Demon's true feeling.
Especially when he dreamed of the past at the inn and memories gradually resurfaced, his disappointment and sense of betrayal toward Flame Flower Divine Lord had been immense.
But seeing these descendants left behind, genuinely repenting, softened his cold heart a little.
And like Yang U-ryang, who had left behind descendants, Eul Baek-hyeon had done the same, creating someone who remembered him—and that allowed for some leniency.
"Is this sincere?"
The Heavenly Demon asked, his anger mostly subsided but his face still stern as if it weren't.
"Of course. From now on, Flame Flower Hall will support the Heavenly Demon and the Demonic Cult's path and offer our aid."
Hall Leader Chu Jeong-yong seemed to have done a lot of soul-searching as well.
Rather than just because Eul Seung-je told him to, it was likely because facing the Heavenly Demon directly, he had felt the vast gap—a realm beyond heaven.
"Good. Then..."
The Heavenly Demon finally stated his purpose.
"Can you share the incantation for the Hot Yang Breathing Method?"
"Wha-what?!"
"That's..."
At the Heavenly Demon's shocking request, Chu Jeong-yong and Eul Seung-je—who had been ready to hand over their livers and gallbladders—were utterly stunned and couldn't close their mouths.
Ooooh!
The Flame Flower Hall warriors were just as shocked.
And rightly so, for the Hot Yang Breathing Method was none other than Flame Flower Hall's signature internal art, one of the supreme Extreme Yang techniques created by its founding hall leader, Flame Flower Divine Lord Eul Baek-hyeon.
"Hall Leader, even if we're indebted to the Demonic Cult, isn't that going too far?"
"Not just any technique, but the Hot Yang Breathing Method itself?"
As the hall's leadership jumped in panic, Eul Seung-je's shaken eyes began to calm.
"Very well!"
Incredibly, Eul Seung-je agreed readily—before even getting permission from Hall Leader Chu Jeong-yong.
Chu Jeong-yong looked at him in shock.
His gaze mixed curses, anger, bewilderment, and worry.
"Hall Leader, the Hot Yang Breathing Method is a technique personally created by our ancestor Eul Baek-hyeon and passed down through the Eul clan. Of course, it requires the hall leader's approval, but since it's the Eul clan's art—and given how much our ancestor regretted his actions—I believe it's fine to share the incantation."
"Elder Eul! Are you serious?"
As Chu Jeong-yong refused to accept it, Eul Seung-je looked exasperated, as if asking if he still didn't get it.
"Hall Leader, haven't you experienced the Heavenly Demon's martial prowess firsthand? Frankly, he must possess internal arts several—no, dozens of times superior to our Hot Yang Breathing Method. The fact that he's asking for our incantation is surely to test Flame Flower Hall's loyalty. And do you think the Heavenly Demon will spread it everywhere?"
Age brought wisdom—the proof of enduring life's harsh storms for so long.
"Th-that's..."
Chu Jeong-yong couldn't properly refute Eul Seung-je's shrewd, logical words.
"I promise as Elder Eul says. I won't leak it carelessly and will share it only with the one person who needs it."
Moved by Eul Seung-je's heart, the Heavenly Demon explained the situation.
One of his comrades had a severe injury requiring an Extreme Yang art.
Once treatment was complete, they would erase the incantation from their minds, and even Yang Hui-gun, healed by the Hot Yang Breathing Method, would forget it.
"I stake the honor of this Heavenly Demon on it."
When even the First Heavenly Demon said this much, Eul Seung-je was fully convinced.
With Eul Seung-je convinced, it was only a matter of time for Chu Jeong-yong—and eventually!
"Then... I trust you."
Chu Jeong-yong nodded as well.
And so Eul Seung-je personally recited the full incantation of the Hot Yang Breathing Method.
"Thank you."
Sharing an internal art incantation more precious than life to a warrior melted away the Heavenly Demon's long-held resentment like snow in the sun.
Memorizing the Hot Yang Breathing Method's incantation, the Heavenly Demon hurried to treat Yang Hui-gun.
"This is not even one-tenth the amends for past wrongs, but please take care of us going forward."
Eul Seung-je bowed repeatedly, seeing the Heavenly Demon off until the very end.
Did the Heavenly Demon take a particular liking to such an Eul Seung-je?
There was a saying: "He who ties the knot unties it."
In the end, Eul Seung-je had resolved the wrongs committed by Eul Baek-hyeon, so the Heavenly Demon's heart eased somewhat.
"See you next time."
With that, the Heavenly Demon departed.
"Elder Eul! Even so, how can you side with the Demonic Cult like that...?"
Just as Chu Jeong-yong's emboldened voice rose.
"Do you still not understand?"
Eul Seung-je looked at him with eyes that saw far ahead.
"The revival of the Demonic Cult and the Heavenly Demon's emergence... for Flame Flower Hall, it's nothing but profit—no losses whatsoever."
Due to its location in Henan Province, Flame Flower Hall had been slowly, steadily declining.
For example, a hundred years ago, it had been stronger than now and still ranked at the bottom of the unorthodox Ten Great Powers.
Opinions to exclude it from the Ten Great Powers were commonplace.
And now, the emergence of the Demonic Cult and Heavenly Demon, enough to upend the entire martial world?
"This is our second chance."
Eul Seung-je was certain.
There was genuine remorse and guilt toward the Heavenly Demon, but he also believed this was a chance to revive Flame Flower Hall.
The first chance had been during Flame Flower Divine Lord's era, chosen by the First Heavenly Demon—this was the second.
"With such a supreme leader, how strong must the subordinate needing the Hot Yang Breathing Method's incantation be? Moreover, many fractured forces still remember the Demonic Cult's past glory."
"Mm, you're right. As expected of you, Elder Eul."
Finally recognizing Eul Seung-je's shrewdness, Chu Jeong-yong acknowledged and accepted it.
"If the new Heavenly Demon absorbs the Demonic Cult's remnants and fractured forces, then surely..."
Eul Seung-je continued with a confident smile.
"It won't be the current orthodox vs. unorthodox divide! We can recreate the three-way power structure of old: orthodox, unorthodox, and Demonic Cult."
If that happened, Flame Flower Hall—which had foreseen and aligned with the Demonic Cult's revival early—would have struck great fortune.
The Heavenly Demon successfully obtained the incantation for the Hot Yang Breathing Method, Flame Flower Hall's famed internal art brimming with fiery energy.
He retraced his steps in haste.
Having gotten what he wanted from Flame Flower Hall, his only remaining thought was to save Yang Hui-gun somehow.
-Heaven-Defying Soaring Art!
The Heavenly Demon dashed onward relentlessly.
He raced madly back to Yoneung's lands and reached the peak of Dome Green Mountain.
"Heavenly Demon!"
"Gunryong has returned!"
They had waited without end. Seeing the Heavenly Demon appear, Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa, along with Merciless Killer Yu Cheon-baek and Sogang—all rose to greet him.
"I wonder... how it went?"
"He looks fine on the outside..."
"Eh, even for Gunryong, this one might've been tough."
Even the Ghost Sword Manor family, who knew the Heavenly Demon's capabilities best, watched pessimistically.
"Cheon-baek!"
"Yes, Gunryong."
"Prepare for treatment immediately!"
At those words, joy lit up the faces of Yang Dae-un, Yang Yeon-hwa, and even Yu Cheon-baek.
Ordering treatment preparation meant he had secured the Extreme Yang art for a full cure, right?
As everyone brimmed with anticipation.
"I succeeded in obtaining the incantation for the Hot Yang Breathing Method, an Extreme Yang internal art, from Flame Flower Hall."
Woooow!
No sooner had the Heavenly Demon finished than Ghost Sword Manor erupted in joyous celebration, like a festival.
Yang Yeon-hwa and Yang Dae-un even teared up.
"Thank you, truly thank you."
"Now we don't have to worry about Brother Hui-gun anymore."
"It's too early to relax. We haven't started treatment yet."
Brushing past the two already toasting victory, the Heavenly Demon began the treatment.
"Understood!"
With a beaming face, Yu Cheon-baek rushed to where Yang Hui-gun lay.
The Heavenly Demon's round trip to Flame Flower Hall in Henan had taken just over a month.
During that time, Yu Cheon-baek had kept his word.
Drip, drip!
Though faint, Yang Hui-gun's complexion and breathing had improved steadily, showing stability.
From a mummy-like, withering state, he now resembled an ordinary patient.
"Cheon-baek, you're truly divine!"
Amazed by the tremendous progress in just a month, the Heavenly Demon praised Merciless Killer Yu Cheon-baek.
"I'm not satisfied yet. With the Extreme Yang internal art added..."
Blushing at the praise yet confident as a physician, Yu Cheon-baek replied.
"I guarantee perfect revival. Shall I wake Young Master Yang Hui-gun's mind so he can learn the Hot Yang Breathing Method, and give him some time?"
"No. I'll handle that."
The Heavenly Demon said confidently.
Even without Yang Hui-gun consciously learning it, imprinting the incantation into his subconscious mind would suffice.
Of course, only the Heavenly Demon could do this.
"I-is that possible?"
Yu Cheon-baek, a skilled warrior and physician, looked at him dubiously.
"Just as you're a master of medicine, I'm a master of martial arts. What's impossible about it?"
His brimming confidence brought a smile to Yu Cheon-baek's face.
Now, all preparations were complete.
"Alright. Let's begin!"
The Heavenly Demon declared boldly.
Thus began the full treatment of Yang Hui-gun, Ghost Shadow Sword—hailed as the reincarnation of Loyal Ghost Sword Yang U-ryang and possessing the same peerless Body of Limitlessness talent.
Pa-ba-ba-bat!
The moment treatment started, Yu Cheon-baek displayed dazzling hand movements, performing acupuncture like a possessed god.
The Heavenly Demon inwardly admired the sight once more, closely monitoring the process.
Yu Cheon-baek inserted needles from the crown of Yang Hui-gun's head to his perineum, opening all vital points wide to the gates of life.
"Now!"
At Yu Cheon-baek's cue for the perfect moment, the Heavenly Demon flawlessly imprinted the Hot Yang Breathing Method incantation into Yang Hui-gun's mind, comprehensible even in unconsciousness.
And that wasn't all.
Yang Hui-gun, Ghost Shadow Sword—the Heavenly Demon's new right arm—would not only revive but likely emerge as a far superior martial artist than before.