Regressed by the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 8

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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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Returned to the Heavenly Demon.
Small Investments (3)
As Geon Ah-seong stepped out, he encountered Jun Pyo in the hallway, walking toward the chambers.
“Jun Pyo.”
“First Young Master. My respects.”
“Good, good. The boy’s growing well, isn’t he?”
“Ha ha ha, of course.”
“We should meet again soon. My brother’s so prickly, you know—let me buy you a drink or two to lift your spirits.”
“I’m always grateful for the Young Master’s kindness.”
Geon Ah-seong laughed meaningfully, patted Jun Pyo’s shoulder, and took his leave.
Only then did Jun Pyo wipe the cold sweat from his brow before entering Geon Ah-seong’s chambers.
Wherever he went, thin ice lay beneath his feet all the same.
*
*
*
I studied Jun Pyo sitting before me intently.
Jun Pyo was a man with an eye for profit.
A bat, ready at any moment to dart swiftly toward wherever power shifted—that was the kind of man he was.
In other words, he was the sort who would endlessly observe and probe, waiting patiently until his moment came to execute orders perfectly.
“You’ve kept the remaining funds safe, haven’t you? Excluding what we used last time?”
“Yes, of course. Anticipating that you might use it, I’ve kept it stored in promissory notes so it’s always accessible.”
“Good. Bring it here. I’m planning to spend it lavishly this time. I need to show them properly what it means to be the second son of Hwanggeum-jang.”
“Understood.”
It was roughly half the amount needed to purchase a thousand acres of land on the outskirts of Seong-do.
Even for a house like Hwanggeum-jang, bursting with wealth, it was a substantial sum to squander recklessly.
Yet Jun Pyo offered no objection, voiced no concern.
He simply listened in silence and slipped from the room.
No doubt this news would reach Geon Pyeong’s ears, and his grin would stretch from ear to ear.
On the surface, it would seem I was scattering this money for the Sacheon Yong-bong-hoe.
But the funds had another purpose entirely.
*
*
*
The Sacheon Yong-bong-hoe was an annual gathering where several Later-Period Magnates received invitations, where they came together to forge new deals and opportunities if their interests aligned.
But standing water grows stale.
As time passed, those attending the Sacheon Yong-bong-hoe had become mostly the offspring of established powers who had long roots in Sacheon—it had become little more than a stage for them to posture and parade their authority.
Naturally, Seol Ha worried for me.
“Why did you accept that invitation? It’s obvious the First Young Master didn’t invite you with good intentions. There’s the old conflict between you, too.”
“It’s amusing, isn’t it? If I’d stayed as Geon Gon, I’d never have been invited to such a place. Besides, it’s rather intriguing. And I don’t make a habit of declining challenges that come my way.”
“I’m finding it harder and harder to predict what you’re thinking these days.”
“But it’s interesting, at least, isn’t it?”
“That much is true.”
Watching Seol Ha chuckle softly, I found myself staring at her intently without realizing it.
Seol Ha didn’t notice my gaze, her eyes fixed on the carriage window instead.
She wore no elaborate ceremonial dress.
In nothing but her hair neatly arranged and a simple robe, it was hard to look away.
In her bewitching, cool beauty, there was only a tender smile for me—and I was lost in it for a moment.
So this is why everyone speaks of regression.
Around the time I’d lost myself, gazing at Seol Ha as the soft moonlight filtered through the carriage window and mingled with her presence.
The carriage came to a halt.
“Let’s go.”
My outstretched hand met Seol Ha’s delicate fingers as she grasped it.
I was certain once more.
One of the reasons I had returned was surely to witness and protect her brilliant future.
*
*
*
Seong-un-ru.
A grand estate of the Sacheon Dang-ga, built near the lake south of Seong-do.
Standing over the water’s edge, this estate sprawled like a small village, with several red pavilions radiating brilliant light into the night.
Elegant gray bridges connecting house to house arched overhead, and beneath them small pleasure boats drifted back and forth.
The grand entrance that rose imposingly at the avenue’s threshold was already crowded with arriving carriages.
“Everyone seems to be looking only at you, young master.”
“Do they? Is there something on my face?”
“I think your mask has slipped, young master.”
Watching Seol Ha tease me this way, I found myself pleased—the recent turns of events seemed to be awakening her original temperament, the person she’d truly been before.
Of course, Seol Ha’s assumption that the stares were aimed at me was mistaken.
Most of them were fixed not on me, but on her.
And with good reason.
Even in plain martial robes, Seol Ha outshone every lavishly adorned woman gathered here by leagues.
The term Beauty That Topples Kingdoms wasn’t an exaggeration for her appearance.
That was when it happened.
Just as we passed the carriages and approached the threshold of the gate.
Geon Pyeong appeared, dressed in attire as flamboyant as a peacock’s display, with a woman on his arm.
“Have you lost your mind? Keeping your brother waiting like this?”
I ignored Geon Pyeong’s provocation and instead addressed the woman beside him—a striking figure with sharp, observant eyes that studied me openly.
She was beautiful enough, though something about her carried an unsettling air of dissonance.
“I am Geon Ah-seong of the Hwanggeum-jang.”
The woman let out a small laugh and answered.
“Ah, the one with no real talent or ability, fond only of gambling and women? Your brother has told me all about you. I’m Ju Yeo-ran. A proper introduction at last, it seems.”
Throughout this exchange, Geon Pyeong’s eyes kept straying toward Seol Ha, stealing glances at her.
When he caught the edge of Ju Yeo-ran’s voice, he seemed to snap back to attention, then fussed unnecessarily with his clothing.
Ju Yeo-ran… where had I heard that name before?
I couldn’t quite place it.
After a moment of thought, it came to me.
This woman—she was the one Geon Ah-seong had desired as a marriage prospect.
The second daughter of the Ju Seong-ga, a martial house that had grown its influence across many spheres by leveraging deep family connections with the direct bloodlines of the Sacheon Dang-ga and handling the troublesome, unsavory tasks the Dang-ga preferred to avoid.
At that time, Geon Ah-seong must have fallen utterly for Ju Yeo-ran after catching only a glimpse of her in passing.
Because of this, he’d once lunged at Geon Pyeong and taken a beating all day long.
Ah, Geon Pyeong and she would eventually marry.
Though they would face ruin devouring each other in the end.
“Look at that expression. Why the displeasure? Go introduce yourself properly to your future sister-in-law. Unless you want to be buried in the ground.”
Apparently this was Geon Pyeong’s first little surprise.
He had brazenly stolen the marriage prospect Geon Ah-seong had been pursuing.
Had it been the old Geon Ah-seong, he would have been on the verge of seeing red at both Ju Yeo-ran’s mockery just moments ago and at the current situation.
And Ju Yeo-ran, having learned all this through Geon Pyeong, was now teasing Geon Ah-seong while pretending ignorance—
My existence as Geon Gon must have been a miscalculation on their part.
“Surely not. You two seem quite well matched. The lady is perhaps wasted on him, but they do suit each other well.”
Since achieving the Second Circle.
Since I’d committed to moving forward in earnest, I had no intention of wasting energy on petty theatrics anymore.
My calm response made Geon Pyeong’s brow twitch visibly.
He looked as though something had gone wrong.
“What are you doing? Our first guest arrives and you won’t even show her the way? Is there a problem?”
“This is really….”
Geon Pyeong’s face flushed redder by the moment, and Ju Yeo-ran burst into delighted laughter.
“You have a composure quite different from the rumors. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
The more favor Ju Yeo-ran showed me, the more Geon Pyeong’s expression turned the color of ash—it was rather entertaining to watch.
“You don’t seem to have a companion escort paired with you. I could serve that role instead.”
Ju Yeo-ran suddenly folded her arms.
“Miss Ju, you came with me, not him!!”
“Surely the young master won’t begrudge his brother—who’s attending the Sacheon Yong-bong-hoe for the first time—a little consideration?”
“That is….”
As Geon Pyeong faltered, I gave Ju Yeo-ran’s hand a light push away.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I already have an escort companion with me.”
“Do you? Who…?”
It was impossible to pretend otherwise.
Not when her beauty was so unmistakable.
“My escort and companion for the evening.”
Seol Ha’s eyes widened as I drew her hand into mine.
“Well then, shall we move to the banquet hall?”
Ju Yeo-ran’s expression, tinged with cold mockery, had become quite the sight to behold.
Just lead the way and stop your prattling.
Ju Yeo-ran went ahead with a scoff, and Geon Pyeong glanced between me and her before scrambling after her with an odd expression on his face.
“Young master, I’m here as your escort!”
“Not anymore. Besides, it looks like most people came without escorts anyway.”
Seol Ha’s cheeks flushed for a brief moment.
But still—would that person really be here at a time like this?
The possibility wasn’t altogether impossible.
*
*
*
The banquet hall was already loud with activity.
The Later-Period Magnates who knew each other gathered in small groups, tilting wine cups and conversing, while Geon Pyeong and Ju Yeo-ran, like birds competing for prey, made their way toward the people drawing the largest crowds.
I found a suitable spot and sat down with Seol Ha.
“Is it all right for me to be here?”
Seol Ha seemed bothered by the occasion and fidgeted constantly, glancing left and right.
“Where in this place is there anyone better than you? Myself included, of course.”
……
“If it bothers you so much, then do me a favor while you’re moving through this crowd.”
“What favor, sir?”
Seol Ha’s eyes lit up.
“Move through the crowd and find the person dressed most out of place here. Exclude the servants, attendants, dancers, and musicians who work here.”
“That’s rather cruel.”
“Hmm?”
“Right now—you’re speaking of me, aren’t you? You were the one who said we should go inside.”
……
I was left momentarily speechless, but then let out a hollow laugh.
It was an understandable misunderstanding.
“Exclude you as well. Find someone else.”
Seol Ha’s expression grew thoughtful.
“From the very beginning, you came here looking for a specific person, didn’t you?”
“If that weren’t the case, why would I deliberately show up at this garishly ornate and dreadfully uncomfortable banquet hall? Let’s finish this task quickly and head to our usual tavern. Their braised noodle broth is exceptional.”
“Understood.”
The moment Seol Ha left her seat having received my command, before long Geon Pyeong and Ju Yeo-ran approached with several others in tow.
They seemed determined to be a proper nuisance.
Their provocations and mockery through Ju Yeo-ran had failed, so they were apparently scheming some other method.
With a mind like that, they should at least pass the civil service exam.
Geon Pyeong’s history of attempting the provincial examination five times before his regression, each time failing despite his family’s aspirations for him to become their pride, was so well-known throughout Hwanggeum-jang that few remained ignorant of it.
Considering my current age, this would be his second failure.
I could understand Geon Pyeong’s obsession.
Nor was he alone in this.
Among martial artists of any standing, those skilled in academics and civil matters were treated with particular regard compared to those in martial disciplines, and passing the exam alone could dress them up brilliantly as cultured gentlemen with scholarly refinement.
Moreover, for a merchant-born commoner lacking in strength, authority, or intellect alike, Geon Pyeong’s inferiority complex must have been considerable.
“Allow me to introduce my younger brother, Geon Ah-seong.”
After Geon Pyeong’s formal introduction, Ju Yeo-ran let out a tinkling laugh.
“It appears you’re quite nervous, attending the Sacheon Yong-bong-hoe for the first time. Do relax. These gentlemen are people who will warmly embrace Lord Geon.”
“Haha indeed. As an older brother’s younger sibling, we certainly ought to treat you well. Pleased to meet you. I’m Yeon Gyu-baek, the young master of the Yubyeok Geom-ga.”
Yeon Gyu-baek, with his gentle features and sturdy build, was joined by another man with a more imposing air, who looked me up and down before laughing with what seemed like mockery.
“I am Jeong Hong-seon, the eldest son of Jeong Geom-mun.”
A woman with her hair braided up in two sections followed, adding with a playful expression.
“I’m a mystery. Hehehehe.”
Geon Pyeong was delighted.
“A mystery, I like it. Think you can guess? Ahahaha.”
While they laughed and carried on among themselves, I answered calmly.
“Geon Ah-seong. Formally, we meet for the first time.”
All five of them stared at me, as if expecting me to say more.
A silence stretched on.
What more could they want? I’d greeted them properly.
“After introducing such distinguished people, you carry yourself with such rudeness? Should we correct your manners here and now to make you see reason?”
As Geon Pyeong made to roll up his sleeves and leave, Yeon Gyu-baek stopped him, speaking in a pacifying tone.
“That’s enough, enough. Why would you scold your brother over such a trifle?”
“My apologies, Yeon Gyu-baek. The boy hasn’t matured yet.”
After waving his hand dismissively, Yeon Gyu-baek turned to me with a smirk.
“I hear the young master has quite a taste for beauty—surely a formal, stuffy gathering like this must feel rather cramped? You’d find it more enjoyable if things were looser, more wanton. Ha, I’m only joking, of course.”
……
It wasn’t a joke at all—it was a slip of the tongue.
I said nothing. It hardly deserved a response.
Seeing my silence, Yeon Gyu-baek stepped closer.
“Come now, share a drink with me. You’re the brother of Geon Pyeong, who is like a sworn brother to me—the least I can do is look after you properly, even if you seem a bit lacking. Besides….”
Yeon Gyu-baek leaned in and whispered low enough for only me to hear.
“I hear you lost the woman you were pining for to your older brother. That must sting. And as for that lovely escort you brought along—it seems she abandoned her master and slipped away. Who knows when she’ll return?”
I watched Yeon Gyu-baek quietly, noting the oddly pleased expression on his face.
So this is how they operate. How entertaining.
Now I understand exactly what Geon Pyeong’s second gambit was.

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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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