Chapter 248 – Friend…(2)

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Deep in the valley below Mount Hua’s Cloud Terrace Peak lay Compassion Cave. Compassion Cave was one of Mount Hua’s secret locations, situated in the most treacherous area.

Compassion Cave, where the fourth-generation ancestor Sage Woon-hyeon had trained, contained a space so vast it was hard to believe it was underground. When the huge stone door operated by mechanisms was lowered, it completely isolated from the outside, so when Mount Hua Sect faced crisis, disciples would take refuge here to plan for the future.

That’s why Myung-kyung and Han So-yu led some second-generation disciples and all third-generation disciples to take refuge in Compassion Cave.

“Senior Uncle!”

“Sob!”

Most of those who took refuge in Compassion Cave were third-generation disciples and below. They were mostly boys who hadn’t come of age yet, just beginning to learn martial arts.

Though they were Mount Hua’s future, they were still young trees that hadn’t even properly sprouted. They didn’t know what to do in the sudden crisis.

“Sigh!”

Han So-yu softly sighed watching the third-generation disciples. A few second-generation disciples were trying to comfort the crying children, but it wasn’t enough.

That’s when it happened.

“Who said you could cry? You are disciples of the prestigious Mount Hua. How can you cry at just this much when you should remain firm and unbroken in any crisis? Remember who you are.”

Myung-kyung’s stern voice echoed in Compassion Cave.

Even in the darkness, Myung-kyung’s eyes shone brightly.

Among those present, except for Han So-yu, no one had higher rank than him. Moreover, he was the disciple of Sage Hyeon-geom, Mount Hua’s greatest swordsman. Naturally his martial arts were also the strongest, so his words carried absolute authority.

The sobbing sounds from all around quieted down.

Han So-yu spoke softly to Myung-kyung.

“Well done, junior brother.”

“No.”

“I know your heart is also troubled. But we have no choice.”

“Sigh!”

Myung-kyung let out a soft sigh.

In his heart, he too wanted to take up his sword and fight the demon cultists. But he couldn’t. It was because of his master Sage Hyeon-geom’s strict orders.

His assigned mission was to protect the young disciples who were Mount Hua’s future. So he had to stay in Compassion Cave, suppressing his indignation.

Han So-yu patted Myung-kyung’s shoulder and said:

“It will be alright, junior brother.”

“Senior sister.”

“We defeated the Demon Cult before. It will be the same this time. Don’t worry.”

Han So-yu tried to smile brightly. But she couldn’t completely hide a certain stiffness.

She too had anxious feelings like Myung-kyung. But being the highest-ranked person here, she always had to show composure.

Rumble!

Slight vibrations were felt from the walls and floor.

***

“Everyone give it your all. Drive back the demon cultists. That’s the only way to save Mount Hua.”

Sage Hyeon-cheon shouted loudly encouraging his disciples.

His usually elegant appearance was completely gone, and with disheveled hair and blood stains all over his body, Sage Hyeon-cheon looked like an evil spirit.

Though usually showing dignity befitting Mount Hua Sect’s leader more than anyone, at this moment his eyes were bloodshot as if about to shed tears of blood.

The Mount Hua Sect he had so carefully nurtured was crumbling. The elders of his Hyeon generation were falling while coughing blood, and the Kyung generation disciples were sprawled on the ground crying out in pain.

All these sights were like sharp daggers stabbing Sage Hyeon-cheon’s heart.

“I’ll never forgive you. You vicious ones!”

“Give me your head, fool!”

“Hyah!”

Two Demon Cult masters charged at Sage Hyeon-cheon.

At that moment, a sunset-colored haze rose from Sage Hyeon-cheon’s hands.

Bang!

“Ugh!”

“Ahhh!”

When Sage Hyeon-cheon waved his hand, sunset-colored energy burst forth, and the charging Demon Cult masters flew away like bloody pulp.

“How dare you! How dare you!”

Sage Hyeon-cheon’s shoulders shook.

What he had unleashed was the Violet Mist Energy based on the Violet Mist Divine Technique that only Mount Hua Sect’s leader could learn.

The Violet Mist Divine Technique was one of Mount Hua Sect’s greatest arts along with the One Character Wisdom Sword. However, it was extremely difficult to master, and few among Mount Hua Sect’s historical leaders had mastered it.

Sage Hyeon-cheon too had only reached 70% mastery of the Violet Mist Divine Technique, not full mastery. Being busy with various affairs as Mount Hua Sect’s leader, he hadn’t had time to focus on martial arts.

Still, he thought it didn’t matter. Because Mount Hua Sect had an outstanding warrior like Sage Hyeon-geom. As long as Sage Hyeon-geom was there, he thought Mount Hua would always be safe. But now Sage Hyeon-geom was struggling against some old man.

Everything was at its worst. Even now, Mount Hua Sect disciples were falling while bleeding. In such a situation, there wasn’t much Sage Hyeon-cheon could do.

“Hyeon-cheon, you fool! You’re mine.”

At that moment, someone approached Sage Hyeon-cheon emanating rough killing intent. The man at least two heads taller than others was Mad Demon Hall Master Hwang Yeol.

Over ten Mount Hua Sect disciples had already died by Hwang Yeol’s hands. His entire body was stained red with the blood of those he had killed.

“You!”

“Being this weak, how can you maintain your sect’s legacy? Fool.”

“How dare you!”

“Hehe! Today Mount Hua Sect will be annihilated. I, Hwang Yeol, will make it so.”

“Will you not shut that mouth? Hyah!”

Unable to endure Hwang Yeol’s provocation, Sage Hyeon-cheon unleashed Violet Mist Energy. The sunset-colored energy rushed like a wave toward Hwang Yeol.

“Hah! Violet Mist Energy. A great technique indeed. But no matter how great a divine technique is, it’s meaningless if not mastered.”

Hwang Yeol’s fist swung fiercely. At that moment, powerful fist energy erupted and clashed with the Violet Mist Energy.

Bang!

With the explosion, both their bodies jerked simultaneously.

Sage Hyeon-cheon’s face turned pale white and blood appeared at his mouth. He had suffered internal injury from just one clash. Meanwhile, Hwang Yeol was unharmed.

“Hah! Heaven-Collapsing Blood Flower.”

Hwang Yeol threw three consecutive punches. Three streams of energy shot toward Sage Hyeon-cheon’s vital points.

Sage Hyeon-cheon too unleashed the ultimate move of the Violet Mist Divine Technique.

“Violet Shadow Red Sky.”

His body was instantly wrapped in a membrane of red energy.

Rumble!

“Ugh!”

Sage Hyeon-cheon’s body staggered from the massive pressure felt throughout his body. Hwang Yeol sneered at such an Sage Hyeon-cheon.

“The moment a warrior neglects martial arts, their life as a warrior is as good as over. Seems you’ve let go of martial arts while playing at being a prestigious sect leader, fool.”

“N-nonsense.”

“Hehe! Is it really nonsense?”

Hwang Yeol drew up even more internal energy. The pressure Sage Hyeon-cheon felt increased further.

Sage Hyeon-cheon’s expression twisted.

Hwang Yeol’s venomous words were subtly digging into his heart. While denying everything he had pursued his whole life.

Bang! Bang!

Hwang Yeol’s fist energy continuously pounded Sage Hyeon-cheon’s Violet Mist Energy. With each hit, Sage Hyeon-cheon’s confidence crumbled bit by bit.

The situation was not turning out well.

Sage Hyeon-geom knew this fact too but couldn’t move. Because of one warrior in front of him.

Cheon Oh-kyung was blocking his way with sword drawn.

Though they had clashed several times already, Cheon Oh-kyung stood without even his breathing becoming rough. Sage Hyeon-geom appeared equally calm, but that was just his outward appearance.

While he was held up by Cheon Oh-kyung, Mount Hua Sect was crumbling. Though Mount Hua Sect disciples were fighting hard, they were overwhelmed.

As Mount Hua Sect disciples’ defense line broke, Demon Cult warriors penetrated to Mount Hua Sect’s main locations. They destroyed halls and set fires.

Great Peace Palace burned first, followed by flames rising from True Warrior Palace where he had been hall master.

And…

“Even Spirit Treasure Palace.”

Sage Hyeon-geom closed his eyes.

Spirit Treasure Palace housed many of Mount Hua Sect’s symbolic Taoist scriptures and martial arts manuals. The burning of Spirit Treasure Palace meant no different from the disappearance of Mount Hua Sect’s spirit and martial arts to be passed down to future generations.

Of course, the supreme martial arts would be transmitted through people, but with so many Mount Hua Sect masters having lost their lives, some martial arts would inevitably be lost.

When martial arts are cut off, it’s no different from the martial legacy of Mount Hua Sect being severed.

‘Oh, Great Primordial Heavenly Lord, please protect Mount Hua Sect.’

Calling upon the Great Primordial Heavenly Lord whom he had never sought in life, Sage Hyeon-geom opened his eyes. In his eyes wavered wisdom and sunset colors.

Cheon Oh-kyung spoke while looking at such an Sage Hyeon-geom.

“Remarkable. Indeed Mount Hua’s sky is high and vast.”

“The same goes for me, Master. I truly didn’t know the Demon Cult had such a master as you.”

“Now that we know each other’s skills, shall we bring this to an end?”

Cheon Oh-kyung raised his sword pointing at Sage Hyeon-geom.

Sage Hyeon-geom too nodded and raised his sword high.

The only thing he believed in was the One Character Wisdom Sword.

It was thanks to the One Character Wisdom Sword that he had been able to fight equally with Cheon Oh-kyung until now.

There were regrets.

‘If only I had realized the One Character Wisdom Sword a bit earlier. If only I had met that child, Cheon Gyung, a bit earlier. No, if only I had embraced that child a bit more warmly. If only I had been a better senior brother to Hyeon-so…’

The regrets were endless. It meant he had many lingering attachments to the world. But Sage Hyeon-geom boldly cut off all those attachments.

He became one with the sword.

Not just simple unity of sword and body, but feeling the sword and even his spirit becoming the sword.

Whoosh!

The sword in his hands cried out.

Sage Hyeon-geom entrusted his body to the sword’s cry.

Watching this sight, Cheon Oh-kyung’s expression hardened.

He too was a warrior who had mastered the sword to the extreme. He couldn’t help but know what Sage Hyeon-geom’s appearance meant.

He gripped his sword tighter. Cheon Oh-kyung’s sword too responded with a cry.

Sage Hyeon-geom’s sword and Cheon Oh-kyung’s sword cried out almost simultaneously.

Boom boom!

The cries of the two swords merged and resonated.

“Ugh!”

“M-my ears…”

Warriors nearby had their eardrums burst from the swords’ resonance. They quickly covered their ears and retreated. They too instinctively felt something terrifying was about to happen.

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-geom drew his sword.

Swoosh!

His sword cut through the air, and the world split in two.

Cheon Oh-kyung gripped his sword and threw his body into it.

Crack!

Like a salmon swimming upstream against fierce currents, his sword fluttered. The fierce current that seemed about to sweep away everything split before his sword.

Stab!

A small sound rang out afterward. And everything disappeared.

The fierce rapids that had been raging so violently, the world that had seemed split in two. As if it had never happened, silence came to the world.

“…”

In the terrible stillness, the two looked at each other’s faces.

A regretful light appeared in Cheon Oh-kyung’s eyes.

“If your insight had been just a bit higher, I would have been the one to fall.”

His sword was pierced through Sage Hyeon-geom’s chest. Exactly where the heart was located.

Sage Hyeon-geom’s extended sword had split in two and stopped in front of Cheon Oh-kyung’s chest.

Gulp!

Sage Hyeon-geom vomited blood.

Vitality was gradually disappearing from his face. As his consciousness faded, Cheon Oh-kyung’s regretful voice was heard.

“So this is the end of thousand-year Mount Hua. Who else could carry on Mount Hua’s spirit?”

His muttering scattered in the wind.

At that moment, Sage Hyeon-geom smiled.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Mount Hua will absolutely not end like this. There is… someone else who will carry on Mount Hua’s legacy… spirit.’

On Sage Hyeon-geom’s blurring retina, one man’s image formed.

The one who had given him the key to overcome the wall.

The man the world called Fist Demon.

That’s why he could die smiling.

Cheon Oh-kyung couldn’t see Sage Hyeon-geom’s smiling face as he turned to descend the mountain.