Surviving as the Heavenly Demon’s Concubine - Chapter 24
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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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“What nonsense is this about imprisonment records being erased?”
Mujin asked back with a bewildered expression.
It wasn’t writing done with demonic energy, and already written records couldn’t just disappear on their own.
“I misspoke earlier. It wasn’t erased, it was deliberately removed.”
Tak Jinkang, the deputy commander of the Black Wolf Corps responsible for the Demonic Sect’s security, boldly corrected himself.
At least in this matter, he bore no responsibility whatsoever.
“A noble person whose name cannot be revealed said that great merit can cover sins. That young lady saved the life of the Cheonma bloodline and helped achieve blocked accomplishments, so she has earned enough merit to cover her crimes.”
Mujin, who understood the whole story, let out a sigh.
“Mother erased it.”
“It’s something she does often.”
Seo Yeon Khatun, Mujin’s birth mother, was an expert at erasing various criminal records due to her son who constantly went in and out of Noeok.
This time too, she had stepped in to cover up Mujin’s theft, and upon hearing Riser’s suspiciously heroic testimony, she had shown her favor.
‘I was going to get her out myself.’
Mujin clicked his tongue regretfully.
He didn’t know what the truth was, but officially Riser had saved his life.
In such a situation, if Mujin had saved her life when she was facing execution, he could have cleanly settled their debt.
“Can’t be helped. I’ll have to loosen some pocket money as a token of gratitude.”
“How surprising that you have pocket money left. I thought you spent it all at gambling houses and pleasure quarters as soon as you received it.”
Mujin kicked Tak Jinkang’s back of the knee hard, making him kneel on the spot, then roughly grabbed his topknot with one hand and forcibly lifted his head.
“Does Deputy Commander Tak think I’m easy?”
“W-when you’re in prison, somewhat, but not now…!”
Mujin rolled his eyes, clicked his tongue with a “tsk,” and released the topknot as if throwing it away.
Tak Jinkang, who almost fell but barely managed to steady himself, stood up again and looked at Mujin with a tragic expression.
“If I go bald, Magong-ja must take responsibility for life.”
“Don’t say such disgusting things. What responsibility between men.”
Mujin said with distaste.
Despite his frequent criminal activities and rough behavior, Mujin was strangely popular with his subordinates.
While possessing miraculous martial arts skills befitting the Cheonma bloodline, his unpretentious and unadorned personality, unlike typical Cheonma bloodline members, created a unique charm.
‘I’ve never treated these guys well, so why do they cling to me like this?’
The person himself didn’t know the reason and wasn’t particularly pleased about it.
“If there are no imprisonment records, bring something else. Investigation reports, interrogation records, personal details – anything will do.”
“As expected, your experience shows in knowing so many document types. But it’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“The noble person whose name cannot be revealed…”
“Tch.”
Seo Yeon Khatun’s thorough personality had tied Mujin’s hands.
She had completely organized all records that could be used as evidence, making them perfectly disappear from this world.
“Then what about the investigating officer?”
“The lady personally transferred all related personnel to different posts. Since they were promotions, everyone should be satisfied.”
“She went that far?”
Mujin instantly felt overwhelmed.
‘This is troublesome. Finding that woman won’t be as easy as I thought.’
He could ask Seo Yeon Khatun directly, but it would be useless. Obviously, she wouldn’t have cleaned things up without proper verification.
Anyone else who might know…
【”How ridiculous. Then I’m Cheonyang Seol.”】
【”I’ve met her before. Even received a gift.”】
【”She gave it to me when I sang.”】
“Ah!”
“Why are you suddenly shouting?”
“Shut up. I have somewhere to go, so handle your work.”
Regardless of what Tak Jinkang asked, Mujin was absorbed in his own thoughts. The one clue he had barely recalled was much more important.
“Where are you going?”
“To see my sister.”
First Princess Cheonyang Seol.
In this vast Mount Shiwandai, the iron-blooded older sister who was second only to father in fearsome reputation.
According to Riser, Cheonyang Seol had been moved by her song and even gave her a gift, so there was a high possibility she remembered at least the name or face.
‘Though it seems like a lie.’
In Mujin’s view, Riser’s honesty wasn’t very trustworthy.
She had the audacity to impersonate Cheonma bloodline.
She had bewitched several people with cleverly fabricated testimony and leisurely escaped from prison.
Though it couldn’t be verified since the records were erased, the charges she was brought in for might not have been attempted murder but fraud.
Nevertheless, Mujin had no choice.
In the current situation, there was only one person who might know even a little about Riser.
“It sounds interesting, can’t I come along?”
“No.”
Mujin spoke with an expression as stern as Cheonyang Seol when she scolded him.
* * *
‘This actually works.’
Sunlight bursting over the horizon filled the entire room with dazzling splendor.
The vivid golden waves coming through the window flowed over the tilted balance scale, colorful medicinal ingredients on plates, and the inkstone filled with ink, washing away all darkness without a trace.
Riser slowly blinked her half-closed eyes and lowered her gaze to the books spread on the desk.
「Dang Ri-seo’s Eulshik Ojamsan – Antidote Formula」
The large book was densely filled with medicinal ingredients needed to make antidotes and their quantities, methods for preprocessing each material, the time medicinal effects of raw materials lasted, precautions during pharmaceutical preparation, and a strictly calculated pharmaceutical plan considering all these factors.
“It’s too rough to call it complete… but it can’t be helped.”
Riser pressed her index finger firmly against her brow to overcome fatigue, then took out a palm-sized booklet and began copying the ingredient names.
“Snow Ridge Ice Silkworm cocoon, White Night Tree sap, Golden Thread Grass harvested in complete form, Black Spirit Mushroom grown in Jeokamhyeol…”
Suddenly Riser became worried.
‘Will I be able to get paid for the medicine?’
It was because the ingredients were all rare medicinal materials that were difficult to find and even harder to harvest, like a direct excerpt from a list of precious herbs.
It might look like she was trying to overcharge Namgung Yeonhwa for a quick profit, but that really wasn’t the case.
‘If I had just a little more time and budget, I could have found ways to substitute with cheaper materials.’
The types and quantities of medicinal ingredients brought from the Dang Household were limited, and the number of experiments was also restricted, so it couldn’t be helped.
In her haste, she had used expensive and precious ingredients with guaranteed effects to create the formula, making each ingredient luxurious enough to rival medicine presented to an emperor.
Riser earnestly hoped that Namgung Yeonhwa was a daughter who received abundant love from her family.
Considering the cost of medicinal ingredients consumed during experiments, it had to be so.
If not, Riser would suffer tremendous losses…
“…If she were a precious daughter, she wouldn’t have been sent as a concubine either.”
It was a dark truth she preferred not to think about.
‘But it’s unreasonable for me to bear Namgung Yeonhwa’s medicine costs, isn’t it?’
Already tired, realizing she likely wouldn’t receive proper compensation made Riser’s irritation surge.
When she thought about it, Riser was the real victim here.
Wasn’t Namgung Yeonhwa suffering from her own schemes after trying to play dirty tricks on Riser? Meanwhile, Riser had been falsely accused and even faced execution.
Then she was barely released, only to stay up all night making medicine and now pay for it herself?!
“Ugh…! This is so unfair, isn’t there someone I can pass this to?”
Riser crossed her arms and racked her brain.
If the Namgung Clan ultimately turned their backs on Namgung Yeonhwa, who would be the next guardian responsible for her welfare?
“Ah!”
Riser immediately picked up her brush and began writing a letter to Cheonryeon Gungju Sangkwanbaek.
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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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