Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 209

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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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Episode 209
Un Hyeong Bi Gaek and Dang Jeok narrowed their eyes.
As members of the Sa Cheon Tang Family, they were accustomed to warmth and attention wherever they went.
But what was this?
The muscular young man who emerged from the gate paid them no mind whatsoever, instead rushing toward the other two with open arms.
‘How dare he ignore us?’
Dang Jeok, his face gone cold, turned to the Je Gal Clan warrior standing beside him.
“Who is that man?”
The warrior, following where Dang Jeok’s finger pointed, looked at Je Gal Seong Hyeon and answered.
“He is the third young master of our clan, sir.”
“The third young master?”
Dang Jeok’s eyes went wide.
The third young master of the Je Gal Clan was someone who had never become widely known in Kangho.
He never attended the grand gatherings, and had never ventured out into Kangho society.
It was only vaguely understood that the Je Gal Clan kept him hidden for his protection.
‘And he looks like… this?’
Bewilderment flickered across his face.
Who in their right mind would take this man for the third young master of the Je Gal Clan?
Bronze skin and ill-fitting garments could not conceal the robust musculature beneath.
And that boisterous voice of his rang out through the courtyard like thunder.
‘…Surely that’s not a lie?’
Finding it difficult to believe, he studied the Je Gal Clan warrior with suspicion.
Yet the warrior’s eyes, as they rested on Je Gal Seong Hyeon, gleamed with unmistakable pride.
It was just as his brow began to furrow deeply.
“Then who are those two?”
A low voice cut through the air.
Un Hyeong Bi Gaek, who had drawn near without warning, fixed a sharp gaze upon Cheon Hui and Dan Mok Lin.
“My apologies.”
The Je Gal Clan warrior bowed his head.
“I know nothing of those two.”
“Is that so?”
Un Hyeong Bi Gaek closed his eyes, then opened them.
Wiping away the murderous intent from his presence, he gestured to his subordinates before issuing a command.
“Begin unloading the goods.”
“Understood.”
The Sa Cheon Tang Family warriors moved with precision, unloading items from the carriage.
Bolts of silk and ornate wooden chests.
As Un Hyeong Bi Gaek inspected the various items and the Je Gal Clan warrior hurriedly recorded them on the manifest, he spoke.
“We shall return in four days, then.”
Startled by this unexpected announcement, the Je Gal Clan warrior stopped writing and looked up.
“Will you not stay at our clan?”
“Are you not still in the midst of preparations?”
“That is true, but… surely there is a Separate Residence for guests—”
“There is no need for such consideration. We shall lodge at the nearby inn instead.”
“We are grateful for your thoughtfulness.”
“Then we shall take our leave.”
With those words, Un Hyeong Bi Gaek climbed into the carriage.
Dang Jeok, following him up, spoke with a furrowed brow.
“Uncle. If we let this pass again—”
“What, then? Would you have us fight?”
Un Hyeong Bi Gaek’s voice dropped low.
“This is the Je Gal Clan compound. And with the Sixtieth Birthday Celebration approaching, it would be foolish to cause a disturbance here. What would others think?”
As Dang Jeok’s expression darkened with displeasure, Un Hyeong Bi Gaek added to his words.
“But should we encounter them elsewhere, away from Je Gal lands, you may do as you wish.”
In that instant, Dang Jeok’s eyes grew cold and sharp.
He understood what Un Hyeong Bi Gaek meant.
“I understand.”
Dang Jeok’s lips twisted slowly into a smile.
As he thought of Cheon Hui and Dan Mok Lin, who remained behind, a sinister smile settled across his face.
‘I shall see them again soon enough.’
After a moment, the Sichuan Tangga carriage departed.
But Je Gal Seong Hyeon and Cheon Hui were too occupied with conversation to pay attention to its leaving.
“I hardly dared believe that Cheon Hui would actually come,” Je Gal Seong Hyeon said.
He could not hide his excitement.
From what he had seen of Cheon Hui before, the man detested any troublesome obligation, so when he’d sent the invitation, he’d assumed it would go unanswered.
Yet here Cheon Hui stood, having come without hesitation.
Watching the broad-framed Je Gal Seong Hyeon repeatedly bow his head, Cheon Hui let out a quiet laugh.
“I’d been wondering when I’d finally visit. I’ve been curious about the Je Gal Clan for some time now—thought I’d like to see it for myself.”
“Is that so?”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s expression brightened as he released the grip of his clasped hands.
It pleased him that Cheon Hui took interest in the Je Gal Clan.
“As for touring the main household, have no worry. I shall treat you with every courtesy, as I promised before.”
As he spoke with emphasis, his gaze shifted to Dan Mok Lin, who wore a face veil, and he inquired casually.
“But who might this lady be?”
Dan Mok Lin offered a light fist salute.
“Long time no see, Je Gal.”
“Ah! So it was you, Lin.”
The moment he heard her voice, Je Gal Seong Hyeon recognized her and hastily returned the salute with a greeting.
“It’s been far too long.”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon offered his greeting with an impassive expression, though inwardly he was taken aback.
He had assumed Cheon Hui would come alone, or perhaps accompanied by Jeok Geom or Seol Ran.
But to think he came with her.
“Seeing you arrive together, it appears the two of you have grown quite close,” he ventured.
“I—is that so?”
Hearing her reply, Je Gal Seong Hyeon chuckled inwardly.
There was unmistakable brightness in Dan Mok Lin’s hesitant voice.
His gaze returned once more to Dan Mok Lin.
Though the face veil that fell to her shoulders concealed her features entirely, he could vividly picture the pleased smile blooming beneath it.
How fortunate.
Je Gal Seong Hyeon found himself smiling naturally.
Even someone as oblivious as himself could see that she harbored feelings for Cheon Hui.
And he was not alone in this observation.
Anyone who witnessed the two of them at that time could not help but notice.
Her glances and attention toward Cheon Hui were so blatantly obvious.
In contrast, Cheon Hui seemed entirely indifferent—almost pitifully so.
The dynamic between them had been painful to behold at the time.
While Dan Mok Lin kept reaching out, desperate to remain near him, Cheon Hui responded only with cold dismissal.
Recalling those days and now observing how much closer they had become, Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s lips curved upward.
“But Cheon Hui—wouldn’t it be better to step inside and continue our talk?”
“That would be best.”
Cheon Hui nodded in agreement.
Owing to Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s striking appearance, all eyes nearby had turned toward them.
“Then allow me to carry the luggage,” Je Gal Seong Hyeon said.
He took the bags that Dan Mok Lin had been holding and, with a casual heave, settled them across his broad shoulders.
Carrying the luggage as easily as a carpenter might, he looked down at Cheon Hui with a contented smile.
“Let’s head inside quickly. There’s someone I’m eager to introduce you to—the sooner, the better.”
“And who would that be?”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon smiled at Cheon Hui’s question, his mind clearly on someone, and answered.
“My elder brother.”
* * *
In one of the Separate Residences within the Je Gal Clan compound.
Seated in a chair, Je Gal Seung Ho absently scratched the top of his head with the fan he held in one hand.
“Someone he wants to introduce,” he murmured.
In earlier times, such a thing would have been unthinkable.
It was only natural—Je Gal Seong Hyeon had never ventured out of the clan before, so all his connections had been limited to people within the family.
“And now he’s making introductions with outsiders left and right. The boy has certainly changed. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say he changed long ago.”
A wry smile crossed his face.
He was recalling the time when Je Gal Seong Hyeon had returned from his assignment.
No one within the clan had recognized him then.
When Je Gal Seong Hyeon first came back, not a single person in the household had known who he was.
Not just himself, but even his father.
And there was good reason—the changes were anything but ordinary.
His skin, pale as chalk from so long without sunlight, had darkened to a weathered tan, and his once-lean frame had filled out with muscle.
At first glance, he’d looked like a bandit.
‘It was confusing at the time, but looking back now, it was rather amusing.’
He smiled at the memory, then set down his fan.
“Still, I’m curious who it could be.”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s departure had been shrouded in secrecy; when he left and where he went had never been properly disclosed.
“It must be someone connected to where he went.”
Then.
The door swung open—
Je Gal Seong Hyeon strode into the Separate Residence with his shoulders laden with bundles, moving with a long, eager gait.
“Older brother! You were waiting for me.”
Je Gal Seung Ho, watching Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s animated expression, let out a quiet laugh.
Though his frame had grown tremendously, his face and spirit remained unchanged from before.
“Didn’t you tell me to wait? More importantly, you said you wanted to introduce someone—where are they……? Grand Master?”
As he spoke and raised his head, Je Gal Seung Ho caught sight of the man and woman behind Je Gal Seong Hyeon and forgot what he was saying, his mouth falling open.
“What? Older brother? Why are you—”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon, startled by his vacant, slack-jawed stare, was about to step forward when—
Footsteps echoed—
Someone passed by him.
It was Cheon Hui.
‘My suspicion was correct.’
Cheon Hui had already guessed who it was when Je Gal Seong Hyeon called him “older brother,” and now he spoke to Je Gal Seung Ho.
“It’s been a long time.”
“It’s an honor to see you again, Grand Master!”
Je Gal Seung Ho leapt to his feet.
He bowed his head in greeting to Cheon Hui, then spoke with a bewildered expression.
“Grand Master, how did you come to be here……”
“Why? Is there a problem with me being here? You said you’d visit the Je Gal Clan later.”
Cheon Hui recalled what Je Gal Seung Ho had said before and spoke plainly.
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
Je Gal Seung Ho said, visibly flustered.
“It’s just surprising that the Grand Master, who was reluctant to reveal his identity, would visit our clan in person.”
“That’s my prerogative.”
“Ha, well, that’s true enough.”
Je Gal Seung Ho laughed, seeing that same unshakeable confidence he’d always known.
“So you and Seong Hyeon already knew each other?”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon interjected between the two of them.
His expression was bewildered as he looked back and forth between Je Gal Seung Ho and Cheon Hui.
It was strange.
Cheon Hui and Je Gal Seung Ho seemed to have no connection whatsoever, yet here they were acquainted.
Je Gal Seung Ho nodded at the question.
“Do you remember what I told you before? Back when Ilwol Moon was chasing me……”
“We had a brief karmic connection.”
Just as Je Gal Seung Ho was about to elaborate on the past, Cheon Hui cut him off.
“Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, the Grand Master is correct.”
Reading Cheon Hui’s reluctant tone and expression, Je Gal Seung Ho lowered his voice near Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s ear.
“I’ll explain the details later.”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon was nodding when—
“By the way, is there any food? I’ve been waiting in the carriage this whole time and haven’t eaten.”
Cheon Hui said with a slight grumble.
During the journey so far, he’d eaten well, but this time he’d been waiting in line since dawn and had gone quite a while without eating, his stomach hollow.
At Cheon Hui’s complaint, Je Gal Seong Hyeon quickly set down his bundles and turned his body.
“I’ll have a meal prepared at once.”
“No, wait a moment.”
As Je Gal Seong Hyeon was about to leave, Je Gal Seung Ho stopped him urgently.
“It’s not mealtime. We’re preparing for a banquet right now, so getting another meal ready will take time.”
“Then what should I do……”
Je Gal Seong Hyeon’s expression darkened.
He had promised to serve Cheon Hui with utmost care, yet from the start he’d been blocked.
Then Je Gal Seung Ho smiled.
“Is there some rule that meals must be taken only within the clan?”
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Cheon Hui.
“Great Hero. Might dining outside be acceptable? As it happens, Young Master Peng Cheol Wi and Young Mistress Hwang Bo So Hyeon are also staying at an inn nearby for the celebration, and dining together would be……”
“That suits me fine.”
Cheon Hui rose before Je Gal Seung Ho had even finished his sentence.
“I’ll show you the way then.”
Je Gal Seung Ho stood up at once.
“Will the food be decent?”
“Not quite as good as our clan’s kitchen, but it’s among the best in the area.”
“Then I’m looking forward to it.”
Just as Cheon Hui was about to rise and follow.
“Master.”
Dan Mok Lin, who had remained silent since arriving at the Separate Residence, spoke for the first time.
“Now that we’ve arrived at the Je Gal Clan, shouldn’t we change into proper robes?”
Ah, right—the Sect Master had said to wear the sect robes when arriving at the clan.
Remembering the Sect Master’s instruction he’d momentarily forgotten, Cheon Hui scratched his head.
What a bother. But there’s no avoiding it.
“Let’s change our clothes first.”
A short while later, the two emerged from their room dressed in sect robes, their luggage left behind.
“These sect robes really are better than the originals, I’ll admit.”
“Without the face veil, they feel a bit strange, though.”
Je Gal Seung Ho, seeing the two in their changed attire, froze.
‘What…… what is this……?’
Sect robes in the contrasting colors of black and white.
And the pattern embroidered on those robes seized his attention.
‘Is that a plum blossom……? No, it couldn’t be!’
With eyes wide open, his lips trembling slightly, he asked Cheon Hui.
“You…… Great Hero. Are you perhaps a Daoist of Huashan?”
“I am. Didn’t you know?”
Hearing Cheon Hui’s casual reply, Je Gal Seung Ho let out an internal shout.
‘How was I supposed to know?!’

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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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