Surviving as the Heavenly Demon’s Concubine - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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As mentioned earlier, this world was a fundamentally lawless martial arts setting where the Demonic Sect had triumphed, so visits from demon cultists to prestigious families weren’t particularly special.

The Sichuan Dang Family, positioned on the route from Mount Shiwandai—the Demonic Sect’s stronghold—to the Central Plains, held a position similar to a rest stop, making such visits even more common.

“Hehe. I can tell exactly what you’re thinking from your expression. You’re about to say it’s no big deal that guests came from Cheonryeon Mountain, right? But guests come in all kinds! Such an honored person graced us with their presence that Father even called the entire family together. You’re always so slow with information that you wouldn’t know anything at all.”

Dang Solin spoke with a smug air.

While the powerful first, second, and third wives had servants who diligently brought them information without being asked, there was no one to deliver news to Riser, the Head of the Household’s despised youngest daughter.

“This is the difference between you and me. Do you understand?”

Riser nodded and obediently acknowledged it.

“You’re absolutely right. If it weren’t for you, sister, I wouldn’t have known anything. Thank you for coming to tell me on purpose. I thought you were just showing off because you were born a mere four months earlier, but I sincerely apologize.”

“Uh… you really thought that about me normally…?”

“So how is this guest so special that you’re paying such attention to them, sister?”

Dang Solin, who had been feeling shock and betrayal at Riser’s sudden confession, quickly snapped back to attention.

“R-right. Listen to this. The guest who came this time isn’t just any random nobody. They’re supposedly the Palace Master of Cheonryeon Palace!”

“…!”

This time, even Riser couldn’t help but be surprised.

As the equation ‘demon cultist = guest from Cheonryeon Mountain’ indicated, Cheonryeon Mountain was one of the mountains representing the Demonic Sect.

Therefore, it was natural that Cheonryeon Palace, which bore the same name, was one of the most famous palaces in the Demonic Sect.

Though it couldn’t compare to the palaces where the real core figures like the Sect Leader, Left and Right Protectors, Five Great Demon Venerables, and Council of Elders resided. Those were on a completely different level.

At least among places accessible to outsiders, Cheonryeon Palace was the most influential and well-known location.

‘Why would the Cheonryeon Palace Master come to the Dang family?’

She had heard that if there was a talented individual with exceptional abilities, they would be sent to study at Cheonryeon Palace. Could it be that conversely, people from Cheonryeon Palace also came looking for outstanding talent?

If that were the case, this visit could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Riser.

‘If I’m from Cheonryeon Palace, I won’t starve no matter what work I do. Even if I leave Sichuan, it would be easier to establish myself since demon cultists help each other out.’

“I think they came to take away sister Chingryeo.”

Riser was disappointed by Dang Solin’s highly probable speculation.

Dang Chingryeo, the eldest daughter of the second wife, was known for being pretty and smart despite her lack of manners, and above all, renowned for her exceptional martial arts talent.

‘Ah. So close yet so far.’

But even this time, Riser didn’t despair.

Although the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being scouted by Cheonryeon Palace had gone to Dang Chingryeo, wouldn’t the overall nastiness index of the entire Sichuan Dang Family improve dramatically instead?

“Did you just call sister Chingryeo nasty…?”

“Oops. I should hurry. You said Father was calling for me.”

Thus, Riser was someone who could see the bright side even in difficult situations.

* * *

“Seventh child. How old are you now?”

The Head of the Sichuan Dang Family. Riser’s father, Dang Muncheon, asked.

“I apologize, but I’m the ninth child, and I’m sixteen years old, Father.”

She wasn’t particularly hurt by this.

Usually, Riser saw Dang Muncheon’s face about once or twice a year, and even then, she only glimpsed him from afar.

It would be too much to expect father-daughter affection to develop just by lining up with siblings during holidays and taking turns greeting him like a conveyor belt.

“Sixteen, you say.”

But Dang Muncheon’s attitude seemed somehow suspicious.

Come to think of it, why was he calling her aside for a private conversation? They weren’t even close.

‘This feels ominous.’

Could it be that since she was of age, he was telling her to leave the family and become independent?

If that were the case, she had been mentally prepared for it for a long time.

However, Riser planned to act as if she was completely unprepared for such devastating news and jump around in fear. That way, she could extract something more from him.

‘First, I should ask for the right to operate a pharmacy under the name of the Sichuan Dang Family. No, just in case, let’s not limit it to just a pharmacy. Dreams should be big. And if I ask for 200 taels of gold as business capital…’

“An appropriate age for marriage.”

“Pardon?”

“Have you had your coming-of-age ceremony?”

“I have, but…”

“Good.”

Riser was dumbfounded and could only blink her eyes.

‘Marriage? He’s telling me to get married?’

Of course, she knew she would eventually, but wasn’t this too early?

Marriage at sixteen? Even by this world’s standards, it was an early marriage.

Riser was about to flip the table and scream at the top of her lungs, but she calmed down when she caught sight of the hidden weapon slightly visible inside Dang Muncheon’s sleeve.

“F-Father. I’m deeply grateful for your concern, but I’m still lacking in many areas of study for marriage.”

“You needn’t worry about studying. You can continue your studies at Cheonryeon Mountain as well. There’s an elder from the Dang family who entered the sect earlier, so if you ask for guidance and instruction, he’ll gladly teach you. Though he has a somewhat eccentric temperament…”

“Father, Father.”

Riser interrupted Dang Muncheon’s words to get his attention, knowing it was rude.

“Did you say Cheonryeon Mountain?”

Dang Muncheon looked disappointed.

“I heard you were clever.”

“It’s not that I don’t know where Cheonryeon Mountain is. I’m asking why I would go there.”

“Didn’t your mother tell you anything?”

Riser paused for a moment, caught her breath, then spoke.

“…Mother passed away.”

“Hmm.”

Riser glanced down at the table.

It seemed like even if she flipped the table and screamed now, Dang Muncheon wouldn’t be able to draw his hidden weapon.

Setting aside Dang Muncheon’s shocking indifference (though it wasn’t really something to set aside, it was too late to fix it now),

she needed to understand the full story of how things were unfolding.

“So I came to hear the detailed circumstances.”

“Why from me…?”

“Because you seemed like you’d know best.”

Riser casually sat down at the tea table.

Across from her sat her eldest sister, nine years older, Dang Chingryeo, daughter of the second wife.

“Did I come to the wrong person?”

“No. You found the right person.”

Though she hadn’t expected to be confronted so directly by the person involved!

Dang Chingryeo crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, gauging where to start the story and how much would be appropriate to tell.

‘Hmm. She’s scheming.’

Riser looked at Dang Chingryeo with displeasure.

Even though the average personality of the Dang family was rock bottom, there were individual differences.

Though they were all rotten, the relatively honest Dang Solin was in the upper tier, while the naturally cunning Dang Chingryeo, who loved manipulating others, was clearly in the lower tier.

‘I’ll make her shut up the moment she opens her mouth.’

After maintaining silence for a while, Dang Chingryeo finally opened her mouth.

“This is all an investment in your future…”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Riser swiftly blocked Dang Chingryeo’s scheming.

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