Fist Demon of Mount Hua Episode 12

Dam-ho knelt on the ground, his shoulders trembling.

His lungs expanded as he gulped down fresh air, while his heart hammered so violently that it felt ready to burst. Gripping his shaking legs with both hands, he struggled to bring them under control.

Once his breathing had steadied, Dam-ho raised his head and looked ahead.

The rock marked with a small circle stood before him.

Day after day, he had leaped toward that rock without pause.

His target was the circle drawn on its surface. Countless times, he had thrown himself forward, attempting to drive his fist into that exact spot.

In the beginning, his fist had not even come close. He would often land far to the side of the line drawn across the ground.

To jump correctly.

To move in a straight line.

He first needed to understand his own body with absolute precision. He had to learn the angle of his deformed leg, the way his muscles contracted when he pushed off the ground, and the amount of weight his legs could endure.

It took him nearly a month simply to correct his direction.

Only after that did he begin increasing the distance little by little.

That was when the true torment began.

Every time he pushed against the ground with his twisted leg, unbearable pain tore through him. It felt as though the entire limb was being wrenched apart and the muscles inside were being ripped to pieces.

Even so, he clenched his teeth and continued jumping.

He forced himself to grow accustomed to the pain until, at some point, it seemed to vanish.

Or perhaps he had simply forgotten how to feel it.

It took him one month to reach a distance of one zhang, roughly three meters, and another two months to double it.

Then, today, Dam-ho had finally succeeded in driving his fist into the circle on the rock.

The blood dripping from his hand was proof of his success. The impact had torn the skin from his knuckles.

“Whew.”

Dam-ho rose to his feet.

He had only just climbed the first step toward his goal. Countless more remained ahead of him.

He could not afford to sit down and rest merely because he had taken a single step forward.

Dam-ho drew a new line on the ground, extending the distance from the rock by another zhang.

‘Faster. Stronger.’

Simply reaching the rock was not enough.

He needed to strike with enough strength and internal energy to shatter the enormous boulder in a single blow.

Pah!

Dam-ho launched himself forward once more.

Droplets of sweat scattered through the air behind him.

Even after night fell, Dam-ho did not rest.

He consumed the Surging Yang Elixir and circulated the Heavy Sky Heart Technique, steadily accumulating internal energy within his dantian with each passing day.

Sage Hyun-so sat beside him as he cultivated.

An open book rested before the sage.

It was an empty journal, its pages completely blank.

Sage Hyun-so dipped his brush in ink and began moving it across the paper. The empty pages slowly filled with drawings of human figures and detailed written explanations.

For the past four months, he had spent every single day discussing martial arts with Dam-ho.

Through those endless discussions, the two of them had finally established a clear direction and foundation for the techniques they wished to create.

Now, Sage Hyun-so was recording the results.

Not a single stroke could be made carelessly.

This book was being written for Dam-ho.

No matter how clearly one understood something in the mind, or how deeply it had been absorbed through training, seeing it organized in writing offered an entirely different kind of understanding.

“Hoo.”

At last, Sage Hyun-so lowered his brush.

The booklet, once empty, was now filled with illustrations of martial movements and small, intricate notes explaining each one.

For a long while, Sage Hyun-so stared at the completed book, complicated emotions churning within him.

“I don’t know whether I’m doing the right thing.”

The martial arts recorded within the book were saturated with killing intent.

They were so ruthless that it was difficult to believe they had been created within Mount Hua, a Taoist sect.

Perhaps it was because of Dam-ho’s disposition.

Or perhaps Sage Hyun-so himself had been overwhelmed by emotion when they first began developing the techniques.

He had wanted to prove something to the sect leader and Sage Hyun-geom, both of whom had disregarded Dam-ho.

Driven by that resentment, he had drawn upon the hidden Bloody Sky Kick and attempted to combine it with several other martial arts.

Since the resulting techniques had nothing to do with Mount Hua’s traditional teachings, he had felt no hesitation at the time.

However, as the months passed and his anger gradually subsided, Sage Hyun-so began to view his work more objectively.

Once fully refined and completed, these martial arts would undoubtedly possess terrifying power.

But the techniques contained within the book lacked the mercy and restraint that a true martial artist ought to possess.

“I must have been blinded by anger. To place such overwhelming killing intent into the martial arts my own disciple will learn…”

Sage Hyun-so slowly shook his head.

Nevertheless, he was not overly troubled.

The martial art was still nothing more than a concept.

Only a handful of techniques had been roughly outlined, and no one could say when the entire system would finally be completed.

Even under the most optimistic circumstances, it would take decades. At worst, several generations might have to devote themselves to the task.

Creating an entirely new martial art was never easy.

Perhaps by the time Dam-ho finally perfected these techniques, he would already be an old man. By then, the anger and killing intent burning within him might have faded considerably.

“Hoo.”

At that moment, Dam-ho finished circulating his internal energy and opened his eyes.

A faint gleam flashed within them before quickly disappearing.

He felt that he had finally grasped the true nature of the Heavy Sky Heart Technique.

The internal energy produced by the technique possessed extraordinary weight. It was simple yet profound, heavy without being sluggish.

Without the aid of the Surging Yang Elixir, he would never have comprehended its essence so quickly.

Only now did Dam-ho fully understand why his master had instructed him to learn both the Heavy Sky Heart Technique and the Bloody Sky Kick.

The two martial arts complemented each other so perfectly that it seemed as though they had originally been created as a single art.

If he could master both and incorporate them into the new martial art they were developing, the power released would be tremendous.

Sage Hyun-so smiled as he watched Dam-ho.

“Once you can channel that heavy energy into your fist, very few people will be able to stand against you.”

Dam-ho lowered his head respectfully.

The road before him was shrouded in darkness, but Sage Hyun-so remained the light that guided him forward.

He was the lone torch that showed Dam-ho where to place his next step.

“Take this.”

Sage Hyun-so held out the booklet.

“What is it?”

“It contains the concepts and ideas we developed together. Whenever you find yourself unable to progress, read through it carefully and reflect on what is written.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Dam-ho received the book respectfully with both hands.

Although several pages had been filled, far more remained blank.

“We may have started creating this martial art together, but it will be your responsibility to complete it. How it develops from this point onward will depend entirely on you.”

“I will remember your words, Master.”

Afterward, Dam-ho and Sage Hyun-so spent a long time discussing the martial arts recorded in the book.

Dam-ho explained the realizations he had gained through training, while Sage Hyun-so used everything he knew to answer his questions and resolve his uncertainties.

A faint smile formed on Dam-ho’s lips.

The martial art was still in its earliest stages, and he had no idea how harsh or difficult the path ahead would become.

But at that moment, none of that mattered.

He was simply happy to be there with his master.

“Phew.”

Mak Gwang, the chief escort leader of the Northern Road Escort Agency, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Although a cool breeze blew across the land, the fierce sunlight still caused sweat to stream down his face.

“It seems spring is nearly here. The flowers must already be blooming throughout the Central Plains.”

The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

Just then, a younger escort warrior rode up beside him.

It was Im Ho-ryeong, an escort warrior in his early thirties whom Mak Gwang regarded like a younger brother.

“You must be missing your wife already, Brother.”

“Wouldn’t you be? We’ve been away for seven months. I’m desperate to smell my wife’s scent again.”

“I feel the same. I can’t wait to return home and see my wife and children.”

A wistful expression appeared on Im Ho-ryeong’s face.

Their trading expedition to the Western Regions had been a long one.

The Northern Road Merchant Group had undertaken this important journey in hopes of securing the most profitable trade route between the Central Plains and the West.

In truth, seven months was not particularly long for such an expedition. A round trip to the Western Regions usually took more than a year.

They had traveled quickly and made every possible effort to avoid delays.

Thanks to that, they had successfully established trade relations with the western merchants.

Now that the foundation had been laid, the Northern Road Merchant Group was certain to grow even further.

The two men turned and looked behind them.

Hundreds of people and countless wagons followed in a long procession.

They were merchants from the Northern Road Merchant Group and escort warriors from the Northern Road Escort Agency.

Bright smiles could be seen on nearly every face.

Their mission had ended in success, and their return journey to the Central Plains was filled with hope.

They were currently passing through Xinjiang Province near Lop Nur.

The Yumen Pass, the gateway into Gansu Province and the Central Plains, was no longer far away.

As long as they continued at their current pace, they would enter Gansu within ten days.

From there, it would still take roughly another month to reach Hubei Province, where the headquarters of the Northern Road Merchant Group was located.

Even so, now that the Central Plains were within reach, everyone’s steps felt lighter.

Mak Gwang asked,

“Where is the group leader?”

“He’s resting inside the carriage.”

“I suppose he must be exhausted. He’s endured an incredible amount of pressure throughout this journey.”

“Now that we’ve accomplished our objective, I’m sure he can finally rest without worry.”

Oh Seung-kyung, the leader of the Northern Road Merchant Group, was an outer disciple of the renowned Wudang Sect in Hubei Province.

Thirty years had passed since he first began working as a merchant, relying only on the martial arts he had learned from Wudang and the sword at his side.

During that time, he had built the Northern Road Merchant Group into the most powerful merchant organization in Hubei Province.

To protect the group and its caravans, he had also established the Northern Road Escort Agency and appointed Mak Gwang as its chief escort leader.

“Let me congratulate you in advance, Brother.”

Mak Gwang glanced at him.

“For what?”

“When we return to Hubei, you’ll officially be appointed head of the Northern Road Escort Agency, won’t you? I’m congratulating you ahead of time.”

“You fool. That will only happen if we return safely.”

Oh Seung-kyung had already promised to appoint Mak Gwang as the head of the Northern Road Escort Agency once the expedition was successfully completed.

For a man who had begun his career as an ordinary escort warrior, there could be no greater honor.

“We’re practically back in the Central Plains already. What could possibly happen now?”

Im Ho-ryeong chuckled, and Mak Gwang responded with a faint laugh of his own.

It was at that moment.

Swish!

A sharp sound suddenly tore through the air.

“Argh!”

A scream erupted from among the escort warriors immediately afterward.

Mak Gwang and Im Ho-ryeong’s expressions changed.

“What was that?”

They spun around and saw an escort warrior tumble from his horse with an arrow lodged in his body.

“An ambush? Who the hell is attacking us?”

Just then, more than a hundred figures wearing black wind cloaks appeared atop a nearby hill.

“Who are they?”

Mak Gwang and Im Ho-ryeong drew their swords, their expressions tense.

The aura radiating from the strangers was anything but ordinary.

Oh Seung-kyung, who had been resting inside the carriage, quickly emerged. He glared at the attackers and shouted,

“I am Oh Seung-kyung, an outer disciple of the Wudang Sect and leader of the Northern Road Merchant Group! Who are you, and how dare you attack us?”

Oh Seung-kyung deliberately invoked the name of the Wudang Sect.

Wudang was one of the Nine Great Sects and among the most prestigious factions in the Central Plains. He hoped its reputation would be enough to intimidate the attackers.

However, their response completely defied his expectations.

The man standing at the front of the group curled his lips into a sneer.

“Wudang? So what?”

“How dare you mock the Wudang Sect!”

Rage surged through Oh Seung-kyung.

There were many insults he could tolerate, but he could never overlook someone showing contempt for the sect that had taught him martial arts.

The leader of the attackers slowly approached Oh Seung-kyung and his men.

“You certainly take great pride in Wudang. But even the mighty Wudang Sect did not dare make a sound when we ruled the land.”

“What?”

Suspicion appeared on the faces of Oh Seung-kyung, Mak Gwang, and the others.

The man removed his black cloak, revealing a distinctive emblem engraved upon his chest.

It depicted a roaring flame.

The moment Oh Seung-kyung and his men saw it, their expressions changed dramatically.

“That emblem… the Holy Flame?”

Oh Seung-kyung’s face turned pale.

“Are you from the Demon Sect?”

The Demon Sect was an organization believed to have been destroyed twenty years earlier.

It was regarded as the source of all evil beneath the heavens.

Back then, the entire Central Plains had united to drive the Demon Sect out.

After three years of brutal warfare, the martial world had finally succeeded in destroying it.

However, the victory had come at a terrible price.

Many sects had lost most of their strength, while others had been wiped out entirely. Countless factions had never recovered from the damage and eventually collapsed.

A cold sneer appeared on the attacker’s face.

“Now you understand why the name Wudang means nothing to us.”

“Do you truly belong to the Demon Sect?”

“You’ll learn the answer soon enough.”

The man raised his hand and gave a signal.

At once, the martial artists standing behind him surged forward as one.

They descended upon the Northern Road Merchant Group and the Northern Road Escort Agency, and a one-sided massacre began.

Oh Seung-kyung’s face twisted with despair.

He exchanged a glance with Mak Gwang.

No words were needed.

They both understood what had to be done.

Mak Gwang turned toward Im Ho-ryeong.

“Ho-ryeong.”

“Yes, Chief Escort Leader.”

“No matter what happens, you must survive.”

Im Ho-ryeong stared at him in disbelief.

“What are you saying? I’ll fight beside you until the very end.”

“If they truly belong to the Demon Sect, none of us will leave this place alive.”

Mak Gwang’s voice was grim.

“But someone must escape and warn the Central Plains that the Demon Sect has returned. You are the only one among us with any chance of getting away.”

“Chief…”

Im Ho-ryeong’s face contorted in anguish.

“Please, Ho-ryeong. I’m counting on you.”

Oh Seung-kyung and Mak Gwang turned their backs on him and walked toward the battlefield.

Their faces were filled with grim determination.

On that day, the Northern Road Merchant Group and the Northern Road Escort Agency disappeared from the world.