Fist Demon of Mount Hua Episode 2

Spring Also Comes to Mount Hua 2

The spring on Mount Hua was fragrant.

The rich scent of plum blossoms rode in on the wind. Right now, plum blossoms were blooming all at once across Mount Hua.

Dam-ho walked through the fragrance. With every step he took, it felt as if the blossoms were settling around him.

He stopped for a moment and looked around.

Plum blossoms filled his view in every direction. The blossoms, now in full bloom, each showed off their brilliant beauty.

Dam-ho stretched out his hand. Then, as if by magic, a plum blossom petal was carried by the wind and landed on his palm. Dam-ho stared at the petal for a long time.

Spring was when Mount Hua’s plum blossoms reached their peak. That was why people naturally associated the Mount Hua Sect with plum blossoms, and perhaps for the same reason, many of its martial arts bore names containing the words “plum blossom.”

The Plum Blossom Fist and the Twenty-Four Movements Plum Blossom Sword were prime examples.

Because of this, people came to think of Mount Hua’s martial arts as light and graceful. And indeed, many of Mount Hua’s martial arts were actually like that.

The wind blew again, carrying away the plum blossom petal in Dam-ho’s palm. Dam-ho reached out, trying to catch it, but the petal slipped softly through his fingers.

Dam-ho clenched his fist tightly.

To him, the Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts were like that plum blossom petal.

They seemed close enough to grasp, yet could never be caught.

Dam-ho shook his head and began walking again.

After walking for quite some time, he arrived at Taiping Palace.

On Mount Hua, with its blade-like terrain, Taiping Palace was located on one of the few wide, flat areas.

Built in the image of the Thirty-Six Heavens of the celestial realm, Taiping Palace was enormous. Both the major and minor affairs of the Mount Hua Sect were handled here, and it was also where the sect’s disciples trained in martial arts.

Many people were training on the practice grounds. Their appearances varied widely, and so did their ages.

The youngest-looking ones appeared to be around twelve years old, while the oldest seemed to be in their mid-twenties.

“Hap! Hap!”

Thick beads of sweat constantly streamed down the faces of those shouting their battle cries.

The ones performing the Tiger Subduing Fist, the most basic martial art of the Mount Hua Sect, were the outer disciples. There was one man shouting sternly at those lay disciples.

“When you thrust your fist, you must put proper strength into it. Use every muscle in your body, like a crouching tiger springing forward.”

“Yes!”

At his thunderous, tiger-like voice, all the disciples training on the grounds answered in unison.

“Change from Crouching Tiger Leaves the Cave to Great Tiger Enters the World.”

“Yes, sir!”

Along with their reply, the outer disciples changed their forms. A fierce and violent momentum burst forth, like a tiger leaving its cave and leaping out into the world.

Dam-ho stopped for a moment and watched them train.

The instructor teaching the outer disciples was Jin-gyeong, a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect and a man known as a master of the Plum Blossom Fist.

He normally had a cheerful personality. However, when teaching martial arts, he became cold and unfeeling. Because of this, the outer disciples had given him an unpleasant nickname ‘the Poison-Hearted Asura’.

Jin-gyeong, who had been instructing the outer disciples, suddenly waved at Dam-ho.

“Junior Brother Cheon-gyeong.”

The martial artist who had been exuding an icy aura just moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a good-natured smile. Seeing this, Dam-ho shook his head slightly.

Cheon-gyeong.

That was the Daoist name he had received in the Mount Hua Sect.

It had already been three years since he received it, yet he still wasn’t used to it. It felt uncomfortable, like wearing someone else’s clothes.

Nevertheless, Dam-ho did not reveal these feelings and approached Jin-gyeong.

“What brings you here? Did you come to see this senior brother of yours?”

“I was on my way to Spirit Treasure Palace.”

“Spirit Treasure Palace?”

A strange light appeared in Jin-gyeong’s eyes.

Spirit Treasure Palace was where the books containing the Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts were kept. Since it was one of the most important places in the sect, it was heavily guarded, and the qualifications for entering were strict.

Naturally, outer disciples were forbidden from entering. Even among the main mountain disciples, only first-generation disciples and above were allowed inside.

Although Dam-ho was like a younger brother to Jin-gyeong, he was still a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Naturally, he was permitted to enter. However, in reality, there were not many useful martial arts manuals in Spirit Treasure Palace. Most of the books were Daoist scriptures related to the Dao.

The true supreme arts of the Mount Hua Sect could not be learned from books. The experience and enlightenment that could not be conveyed through a few lines of text were passed down solely through direct, personal instruction.

Dam-ho stopped for a moment and watched them train.

The instructor teaching the outer disciples was Jin-gyeong, a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect and a man known as a master of the Plum Blossom Fist.

He normally had a cheerful personality. However, when teaching martial arts, he became cold and unfeeling. Because of this, the outer disciples had given him an unpleasant nickname ‘the Poison-Hearted Asura’.

Jin-gyeong, who had been instructing the outer disciples, suddenly waved at Dam-ho.

“Junior Brother Cheon-gyeong.”

The martial artist who had been exuding an icy aura just moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a good-natured smile. Seeing this, Dam-ho shook his head slightly.

Cheon-gyeong.

That was the Daoist name he had received in the Mount Hua Sect.

It had already been three years since he received it, yet he still wasn’t used to it. It felt uncomfortable, like wearing someone else’s clothes.

Nevertheless, Dam-ho did not reveal these feelings and approached Jin-gyeong.

“What brings you here? Did you come to see this senior brother of yours?”

“I was on my way to Spirit Treasure Palace.”

“Spirit Treasure Palace?”

A strange light appeared in Jin-gyeong’s eyes.

Spirit Treasure Palace was where the books containing the Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts were kept. Since it was one of the most important places in the sect, it was heavily guarded, and the qualifications for entering were strict.

Naturally, outer disciples were forbidden from entering. Even among the main mountain disciples, only first-generation disciples and above were allowed inside.

Although Dam-ho was like a younger brother to Jin-gyeong, he was still a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Naturally, he was permitted to enter. However, in reality, there were not many useful martial arts manuals in Spirit Treasure Palace. Most of the books were Daoist scriptures related to the Dao.

The true supreme arts of the Mount Hua Sect could not be learned from books. The experience and enlightenment that could not be conveyed through a few lines of text were passed down solely through direct, personal instruction.

The reason the Mount Hua Sect, once flourishing as one of the Nine Great Sects, had declined so greatly was because it had lost all at once the experts of the previous generation who could pass on their enlightenment.

Although the current Mount Hua Sect was slowly recovering its former prosperity, it was still far from its golden age. In other words, there was a shortage of experts capable of giving proper instruction.

Above all, Sage Hyun-so, who had taken Dam-ho as his disciple, did not practise martial arts for some reason.

He was the only scholar-Daoist on Mount Hua.

That was also why everyone had opposed him when he said he would take Dam-ho in as his disciple.

What Mount Hua needed now were powerful martial artists. No matter how many disciples a scholar-Daoist who only studied scriptures took in, there was no way he could properly teach them martial arts.

That did not mean the other elders had the spare energy to look after Sage Hyun-so’s disciple either. On top of that, Dam-ho had a fatal weakness when it came to learning martial arts.

Sage Hyun-so had taken Dam-ho as his disciple despite everyone’s opposition.

Thanks to Sage Hyun-so’s seniority as an elder of the Mount Hua Sect, Dam-ho also became a first-generation disciple of the main sect. However, contrary to what one might expect, that became a major obstacle to receiving martial arts instruction. The elders who had opposed his acceptance were reluctant to teach Dam-ho martial arts.

“You really are diligent. If you keep working that hard, I’m sure you’ll be able to overcome your limits someday.”

Jin-gyeong’s gaze unconsciously moved towards Dam-ho’s left leg.

A fatal weakness for a martial artist.

It was a fact known to every disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.

Although Jin-gyeong said those words, he did not truly believe Dam-ho would be able to overcome his weakness. The martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect were not so simple that a cripple could master them.

Dam-ho noticed the pity in Jin-gyeong’s eyes. However, as if it did not bother him at all, he lowered his head.

“I will be going to Spirit Treasure Palace now.”

“Alright. Keep working hard.”

Dam-ho walked past Jin-gyeong and headed toward the back of the Spirit Treasure Palace.

“That cripple is a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect?”

“Can someone with a body like that even perform martial arts properly?”

The first generation disciples whispered among themselves as they watched his back.

“Which of you dares to talk during training?”

At Jin-gyeong’s scolding, the secular disciples clamped their mouths shut like clams.

But their voices had already reached Dam-ho’s ears.

Still, Dam-ho did not stop walking.

He had already heard such things countless times, and he was used to those gazes. His heart was not so weak that something of this level would shake him.

After passing Taiping Palace, he arrived at the Spirit Treasure Palace.

At first glance, the Spirit Treasure Palace looked ordinary, but a sophisticated mechanism existed at its entrance. Unless the martial artists guarding the Palace disabled the mechanism, no one could approach it.

The master of the Spirit Treasure Palace was Sage Hyun-mu, the senior brother of Sage Hyun-so and one of the elders of the Mount Hua Sect. The martial artists guarding the palace were first- and second-generation disciples taught by Sage Hyun-mu.

Jong-gyeong, a first-generation disciple, recognized Dam-ho.

“You came again today.”

“Senior Brother.”

“Are you looking to enter the Spirit Treasure Palace?”

“You really are persistent. Go on in.”

“Thank you.”

Dam-ho bowed his head and stepped inside the Palace. As he did, Jong-gyeong personally deactivated the mechanism.

Inside the Spirit Treasure Palace, rows of bookshelves filled with texts lined the room. The selection was diverse, containing not only texts detailing the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect, but also various secular books on other topics.

Although the palace was completely enclosed on all sides, a faint light filtered in from somewhere, allowing him to read the books easily.

Dam-ho’s fingers brushed along the volumes resting on the shelves. Although the Spirit Treasure Palace was said to house all the martial arts manuals of the Mount Hua Sect, the collection was smaller than expected. This was because a significant portion had been destroyed when the sect suffered a great calamity several decades ago.

He had been to this place countless times before. By now, he knew exactly where each book was located, even with his eyes closed.

Tap!

Dam-ho’s finger stopped on an old book. Without hesitation, he pulled it out.

Bamboo Leaf Hand.

That was what was written on the worn book.

It was one of the Mount Hua Sect’s most basic hand techniques, alongside Tiger Subduing Fist and Six Harmonies Fist. For this reason, it was mainly taught to outer disciples. It was not a martial art worthy of a first-generation disciple such as Dam-ho.

Nevertheless, Dam-ho could not take his eyes off the book containing the technique.

Bamboo Leaf Hand was largely made up of three forms.

Bamboo Leaf Cuts the Air.

Flying Leaf Travels a Thousand Miles.

Leaf Pierces the Sun.

Despite their grand names, each form was simple and efficient.

With his eyes fixed on the book, Dam-ho mimicked the Bamboo Leaf Hand form with his free hand.

Swish! Swish!

Stabbing, swinging, thrusting, and pulling—a series of movements flowed seamlessly together. The air inside Spirit Treasure Palace rippled with Dam-ho’s movements.

Even between the narrow bookshelves, he performed the Bamboo Leaf Hand form with ease. After completing the sequence from start to finish, Dam-ho looked back at the book and fell into deep thought.

Bamboo Leaf Hand is certainly fast. But it has almost no weight behind it, so until one reaches a certain level, it cannot produce proper power. That is its weakness.

However, once Bamboo Leaf Hand is performed at a high enough level, it is said to be as powerful as being struck by an iron hammer. It is said that, in the past, there was a Daoist in the Mount Hua Sect who could split a large boulder in two using only the Bamboo Leaf Hand technique.

But that was all a story of the past now.

The current disciples of the Mount Hua Sect regarded Bamboo Leaf Hand as nothing more than a passing lesson and did not study it deeply.

Had Dam-ho’s leg been fine, he probably would not have resorted to using Bamboo Leaf Hand. Bamboo Leaf Hand was one of the few Mount Hua martial arts that did not require separate footwork.

For Dam-ho, who was unable to learn kicking techniques or footwork properly, it was the closest thing to an ideal martial art.

Dam-ho stubbornly immersed himself in the forms and phrases that were already etched in his memory. Even in the darkness, his eyes shone coldly.

This was after his gaze had softened considerably.

When he had first come to Mount Hua, his eyes had been filled with nothing but venom. The venom in his gaze had been so intense that even the elders of the Mount Hua Sect had shaken their heads.

Five years had passed, and during that time, Dam-ho had grown older. His gaze had also become incomparably calmer than before. Because of that, people thought Dam-ho had mellowed a great deal.

But that was their misunderstanding.

Dam-ho had not mellowed at all.

He had merely gained enough patience to hide the look in his eyes.

Dam-ho could feel the beast sleeping within him.

An endlessly savage and cruel beast was breathing together with him. That beast was waiting for the day Dam-ho would finally let it out.

Suppressing the beast inside him, Dam-ho pulled out another book.

Tiger Subduing Fist.

This was the fist art currently being practised by the outer disciples in the Taiping Palace training yard. One of the basic martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect, it had simple forms such as Bamboo Leaf Hand, but was extremely powerful.

Once again, Dam-ho held the book in one hand while performing the moves with the other.

Thud!

The air burst apart from a punch that carried no internal energy.

It was fast and concise, and had considerable weight.

Tiger Subduing Fist was one of the martial arts that had existed since the beginning of the Mount Hua Sect. Even in the distant past, when the Mount Hua Sect first settled here on Mount Hua, Tiger Subduing Fist had existed, sharing its history with the sect.

However, over time, countless martial arts far more powerful than the Tiger Subduing Fist were created.

In the end, like Bamboo Leaf Hand, Tiger Subduing Fist fell into the position of a basic art practiced only by the Mount Hua Sect’s secular disciples. Everyone regarded it as nothing more than a stepping stone toward higher martial arts and did not study it deeply.

Even the elders of the Mount Hua Sect were no exception.

But Dam-ho approached Tiger Subduing Fist with almost obsessive persistence. The deeper his achievement became, the more he felt one particular question.

‘The Free Heart Cultivation Method is an unsuitable internal mental art for practising the Tiger Subduing Fist.’

The Free Heart Cultivation Method was a basic internal cultivation method practiced alongside Bamboo Leaf Hand, Tiger Subduing Fist, Six Harmonies Fist, and other basic arts. Secular disciples first learned the Free and Unfettered Heart Technique before they could begin studying Tiger Subduing Fist and similar martial arts.

The Free and Unfettered Heart Technique was certainly an excellent internal cultivation method. It was quite stable and did not conflict with learning higher-level cultivation methods later on.

For that reason, it was suitable for disciples with low achievement or beginners. However, it did not match well with Tiger Subduing Fist, Bamboo Leaf Hand, and the like.

Why?

Everyone learned the Free and Unfettered Heart Technique first, then naturally moved on to Bamboo Leaf Hand, Tiger Subduing Fist, and other arts.

But Dam-ho had doubts.

The question that had begun to form in his mind not long ago only grew larger with each passing day, like a snowball rolling downhill.

Dam-ho forgot the passage of time and immersed himself in Tiger Subduing Fist.

His mind was filled with countless questions, but the movements of his hands as he performed the technique were incomparably sharp.

And so, Dam-ho’s time flowed on endlessly.

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