Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11
“Hah… huff!”
Cheon So-hyun’s chest heaved as he drew in ragged breaths.
He had been repeating Shaolin’s foundational martial forms hundreds, thousands of times, refining his techniques. His muscles burned like molten fire, and his entire body felt impossibly heavy—even drawing breath had become a struggle.
“Phew. I’m going to die like this, seriously.”
He had always willingly undertaken grueling training and earned the reputation of being a madman. Yet even by his own standards, this training regimen felt excessive. His entire body trembled as though he might collapse from exhaustion at any moment.
Still, Cheon So-hyun did not stop.
“Let me try once more.”
Whoooosh!
As I steadied my breathing, I awakened my inner qi. The surging energy began infusing vitality into every corner of my body.
Like a single spark igniting an entire continent, vigor spread throughout my frame.
‘How remarkable this is.’
My exhausted body recovered so rapidly. The fatigue hadn’t completely vanished, but the relief alone was sufficient.
The innate constitution I’d never experienced in my previous life—the Heavenly Bones and Divine Physique—blazed with explosive vitality on its own.
Boom!
In turn, I discovered a thread of insight to resolve my incomplete dantian.
‘If quantity is lacking, then quality shall suffice!’
Martial prowess is determined not by volume but by depth. Even a handful of qi, if it possessed the profundity of the ocean, could elevate one to the ranks of absolute masters—such was my martial philosophy.
Thus, I lost myself in time, seeking ways to maximize the efficiency of my qi.
I devoted attention to perfecting my techniques, refining my energy again and again, pursuing the highest purity without obsessing over quantity.
While absorbed in this training,
“Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
Sa Ma-ryang approached cautiously and spoke.
“The promised day has arrived. Shall we depart soon?”
Cheon So-hyun wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at him.
“Already? Wait a moment. I reek terribly—I need to wash first. And what’s become of these clothes?”
“Of course, sir.”
Cheon So-hyun tore away the tattered sleeves and headed toward his quarters. Sa Ma-ryang watched his receding figure intently.
‘Truly remarkable.’
How many grueling sessions of training had he endured? His martial robes, drenched in sweat and dried by heat repeatedly, had become so brittle they seemed ready to crumble.
‘His resolve has solidified.’
Determination. The spirit to achieve great things regardless of sacrifice—I felt it all. His willpower toward his goal exceeded my expectations.
‘He understands it.’
Within the Cheonma Divine Cult, what matters most for realizing one’s ambitions is neither status nor bloodline.
The Cheon Family origin merely granted a voice. Ultimately, it is individual authority that lends weight to one’s words.
What’s more remarkable is that he hasn’t merely devoted himself to training these past two weeks.
He searched through countless records to find justification, and with unexpected ingenuity, he even produced answers worthy of becoming a beacon.
Concrete paths would emerge only after the council convenes, yet Sa Ma-ryang could not suppress his admiration.
‘I must not fall behind.’
This was merely the first step.
Sa Ma-ryang steeled his resolve with newfound determination.
* * *
The Main Hall and Songeum Pavilion, situated between the inner and outer fortresses of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
“If you so much as show a flaw to our distinguished guest today, you won’t get off with mere punishment—your heads will roll! Do you understand?!”
At Ruju’s thunderous cry, roughly twenty Jeom So-i responded in unison.
“Yes, sir!”
Jo Maeng-gil, the Master of Songeum Pavilion, swept his gaze across the hall with blazing intensity even after hearing their resounding affirmation.
‘About half a watch remains, I’d say.’
In half a watch, the fate of Songeum Pavilion would be sealed!
Either he would file for closure and watch the establishment torn down through tears, or word would spread throughout the Divine Sect and branch establishments would flourish everywhere.
Jo Maeng-gil wiped the sweat trickling down his brow.
‘The, the Cult Leader’s son is coming….’
Days ago, when some man had arrived proposing to reserve the entire Main Hall, I had genuinely wanted to kick him out on his rear.
This floor with its divided spaces was one thing, but to reserve the entire Main Hall that could easily accommodate two hundred people?
Yet I quickly came to understand.
-What? A, a prince is visiting?!
At that moment, my mind had been utterly consumed by confusion.
‘A, a prince? What’s a prince? It doesn’t sound like food? Could he have said something else? No, I’m certain I’ve heard it somewhere….’
And once I grasped whom he meant, I forgot all dignity as a pavilion master and shrieked with my mouth agape.
-I, I’ll prepare everything!!
From that moment on, Songeum Pavilion entered a state of emergency.
Though I had never laid eyes upon him, within the sect, the only person who could be called a prince was the Cult Leader’s own child.
“Not a single flaw can be shown!”
“Yes!”
“Hey! What’s that over there!! Why is there still dust?! Are you awake or asleep….”
It was then.
Creak.
The Main Hall’s door opened slowly, and at that very moment, Jo Maeng-gil raised his voice and bowed deeply.
“Heavenly Demon’s Return! Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate! Welcome to Songeum Pavilion!”
“Welcome to Songeum Pavilion!”
The Jeom So-i all shut their eyes tight and bent their waists in unison, echoing his words.
“Hmm? What’s this? Did you prepare this? Should I have acted more surprised?”
“No, sir. I’m not entirely sure myself….”
At the softly spoken voice, the Jeom So-i exchanged glances while keeping their waists bent.
‘Two people came?’
‘I thought at least thirty would arrive?’
‘Could they be the wrong people?’
Jo Maeng-gil slowly raised his head, gauging the situation carefully.
“It is an honor to meet you for the first time! I am Jo Maeng-gil, Master of Songeum Pavilion.”
A man in white robes spoke with a bewildered expression.
“…Yes, this is my first time meeting you as well.”
Sa Ma-ryang answered reluctantly, his face filled with confusion.
‘Why is the Main Hall giving such an extravagant welcome?’
As if everyone had rushed out, Jeom So-i and her attendants stood in three rows, bowing at right angles.
Did they know the Third Prince was visiting?
‘The date was set by the Military Council. There’s no way information could have leaked?’
At that awkward response, Jo Maeng-gil’s pupils flickered for a moment.
“Are you perhaps… not the guest we had scheduled for today?”
“We did make the reservation two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks?”
“Yes.”
Crack.
Jo Maeng-gil clenched his fist tightly. He had just realized he had bowed to the wrong people. The reservation for the Prince had only come in four days ago.
‘Damn it!’
As anger surged through him, Jo Maeng-gil called out to Jeom So-i irritably.
“Hey!”
“Yes?!”
“Was there a reservation that came in two weeks ago?”
“P-please wait a moment.”
Jeom So-i hurried over and rummaged through a drawer, then pulled out a ledger and quickly flipped through it.
“Ah! It says here that three guests are scheduled to arrive during the hour of the Rooster.”
“You stupid fool! What have you been doing all this time, only telling me now?!”
Jo Maeng-gil shouted harshly, venting his frustration on Jeom So-i.
“You take responsibility and explain the situation to send them off! This is supposed to be an important day, what are you all doing, you idiots?”
Originally, it was Jo Maeng-gil’s, the Main Hall manager’s, responsibility to oversee and manage all operations of the Main Hall. However, consumed by the fact that the Cult’s successor was coming, he had completely overlooked other reservations.
Besides, this floor operated on a reservation system and was usually quite empty anyway, so he had never paid much attention to it. Whenever someone with a reservation showed up, he would simply have Jeom So-i handle the arrangements.
For Jeom So-i, the sudden trouble was unfortunate, but given the circumstances, she could only bow apologetically.
“I sincerely apologize. Due to circumstances at the establishment today, we cannot serve customers…”
“What is this nonsense?”
The man in the black robe looked around the Main Hall in disbelief.
“You cannot serve customers? Yet the tables are polished to a shine and the dishes are laid out neatly—what kind of excuse is that?”
“That is… well…”
“From what I gather, it seems some important guest is arriving, but no matter how important, this is unreasonable.”
The man’s gaze turned toward the portly Jo Maeng-gil.
“Is this how you conduct business?”
Jo Maeng-gil frowned, clearly displeased.
‘This green young punk… dares to lecture me?’
He opened his mouth, his mood thoroughly soured.
“It’s my establishment, so I do as I please. What are you going on about? Regardless of what you say, we’re not serving alcohol today, so come back next time.”
He nodded and pointed toward the back.
“If you’re really so disappointed, I’ll even give you a bottle of Baekju to take with you as you leave.”
The man in the black robe let out a hollow laugh.
“This is absurd. Are you possessed by a demon or something? How can you lack such basic judgment?”
“What?! This green little brat dares to—”
Boom!
Jo Maeng-gil’s body flew through the air with a dull thud, crashing through several tables before embedding itself in the wall, sending dust billowing into the air.
“…!”
Jeom So-i and the others stood frozen, their mouths agape. Sa Ma-ryang was no different.
‘What… what was that?’
The Third Prince had thrown a punch at Ruju.
“R-Ruju!”
Jeom So-i and the others murmured in confusion, and among them, Suk-su, whose expression looked particularly fierce, spoke up.
“What in the world are you doing…?”
As he reached out to grab the man by the collar, Sa Ma-ryang suddenly shouted.
“Stop!”
“…?”
“How dare you commit such atrocities against a guest of this establishment!”
Suk-su stared at him with bewildered eyes.
“Do you even know who the guest we’ve been waiting for is?”
“It doesn’t matter who it is.”
“…?”
“This person is the Third Prince of our Divine Cult!”
Cheon So-hyun looked at Sa Ma-ryang with a dumbfounded expression.
Just claiming he was the Third Prince wouldn’t make anyone believe it…
“H-huh!”
Thud!
An absurd scene unfolded. Suk-su, still wearing his apron, dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground.
“The Heavenly Demon returns! Ten thousand demons bow in reverence! We greet the Third Prince of the Divine Cult!”
Jeom So-i and the others followed suit, dropping to their knees.
“We greet the Third Prince!”
Ruju, who had regained consciousness, was also pressing his forehead to the ground.
“Ah! I-I’m so sorry! This humble one failed to recognize a divine being! I have committed an unforgivable sin! My deepest apologies!”
Cheon So-hyun stared at them in disbelief.
‘They just… believe it?’
Did the Demonic Sect have laws like the imperial court, where impersonating royalty meant execution of nine generations? The sight of them all trembling with their heads bowed was utterly bewildering.
“Tell me, innkeeper. What if I’m not the Third Prince?”
“Eh? W-what do you mean by that, my lord?”
“It seems you’re quite the character, but with all this noise, how could anyone sleep properly?”
Jo Maeng-gil’s shoulders trembled as if seized by convulsions.
“In the Cult, who would dare impersonate the young master? Lightning would strike them from heaven itself….”
‘How absurd.’
Cheon So-hyun replied quietly.
“Never mind. Just show me the way.”
“…Are you sparing us?”
“My cultivation has deepened recently. I’ll consider the destroyed table payment for your lives. From now on, conduct your business with propriety.”
“Th-thank you, young master!”
One of the Jeom So-i hesitantly got to his feet.
“Young master, I shall escort you this way.”
As Cheon So-hyun followed the escort upstairs, a sudden thought made him call out.
“Ah! That baekju you said I should take with me—I must taste it first. Bring it up at once.”
A gurgling sound echoed from below. Peering over the railing, I saw Ruju with his belly exposed, foaming at the mouth.
Was shame finally catching up with him?
Cheon So-hyun’s head nodded of its own accord.
“At least he has some shame. There’s hope for redemption.”
“…Pardon? Young master, what do you mean?”
Cheon So-hyun let out a soft laugh.
“Forget it. Such things exist. Let’s go up.”
Soon the two entered a spacious chamber.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first time in the Demonic Sect’s main hall since I fell here.’
The Demonic Sect’s main hall was dim and gloomy—precisely suited for demons to conduct their secretive dealings.
Having arrived earlier than the appointed time, I was exchanging various remarks with Sa Ma-ryang when
a voice came from outside the door.
“I shall enter.”
Sa Ma-ryang tilted his head and answered.
“Yes.”
Immediately, a middle-aged man in a white robe entered. The unexpected atmosphere caused Cheon So-hyun’s brow to furrow slightly.
‘What is this?’
I could tell at a glance this was no ordinary greeting. His complexion suggested considerable fatigue, yet his eyes gleamed with a piercing brilliance, as though veiled in dizziness.
Most peculiar was how his gently falling eyes and thick brows resembled Sa Ma-ryang in some indefinable way.
Sa Ma-ryang shot up from his seat with a visibly stiffened expression.
“W-what brings you here?!”
“Is this a place I shouldn’t have come?”
“That is not it….”
Who could this man be?
Though the depth of cultivation differed markedly, the qi flowing from him resembled Sa Ma-ryang’s as much as his appearance. It seemed he had learned the same school of inner cultivation.
Only after the middle-aged man had taken his seat did he introduce himself.
“This is our first face-to-face meeting. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Chief Military Commander Sa Ma-hyuk.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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