The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 112

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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 112.
As Heuk Pyo’s large eyes flickered with excitement, Si Bi lowered his head in fear.
“I… I must return quickly.”
“No, wait! Listen here! Si Bi!”
Despite Heuk Pyo’s attempts to stop him, Si Bi spun around in panic and fled from the Jaha Secret Chamber.
“Young Master.”
Beads of sweat dotted Heuk Pyo’s forehead as he gazed toward Bu Eunseol.
“According to what Si Bi said, it appears you have become engaged to the Palace Lord’s daughter of Shin Nyeo Gung.”
“I heard as much.”
Bu Eunseol remained composed even in this unexpected situation.
“First, I need to gather more precise information.”
Stepping outside the Jaha Secret Chamber, Bu Eunseol questioned a passing attendant of Shin Nyeo Gung once more, seeking detailed information about the Bowon Divine Pearl.
―The Palace Lord said that the man who becomes the Palace Lord’s daughter’s husband must possess both wisdom and exceptional martial skill. That is why the Heavenly Twenty-Four Formation was created.
―After giving the Bowon Divine Pearl to the Palace Lord’s daughter, he instructed her to select a hero of her choosing from among those who pass through the Heavenly Twenty-Four Formation.
―Until three years ago, not only the Palace Lord’s daughters of the Seven Great Secret Palaces but also heirs of renowned sects flocked to our palace. Yet none of them ever passed through.
Bu Eunseol finally grasped the entire situation.
In simple terms, the Heavenly Twenty-Four Formation was a trial gate created to find a suitable match for the Palace Lord’s daughter.
The Bowon Divine Pearl was a betrothal gift given when selecting a spouse from among those who passed the trial gate.
“It seems I have fallen into the Su Gyeong Jeon Master’s scheme.”
For the first time, Bu Eunseol recognized that I had made a grave mistake.
During my time in the Guusal Unit, even for minor missions, I always gathered extensive information before taking action.
But now, eager to fight Jeong Cheon quickly, I had handled matters carelessly without proper investigation.
This was a painful blunder on my part.
“What should we do now?”
At Heuk Pyo’s question, Bu Eunseol glanced toward the exit of Shin Nyeo Gung.
And I narrowed my eyes.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems. Since entering the Murim, for the first time I resolved to flee.
Yet even that resolute determination was destined to fail.
Before Bu Eunseol could move, Namgung Sae-ah in a brilliant azure robe approached with quick steps from the opposite direction.
“There you are.”
Rustle, rustle.
And behind her, a woman in white walked toward them, accompanied by her attendants.
“Is that her?”
A beautiful middle-aged woman with her hair elegantly coiled like clouds appeared beside Namgung Sae-ah.
From her entire figure, clad in a snow-white martial robe, emanated an aura as noble and solemn as a white plum blossom.
Upon meeting the middle-aged woman, Bu Eunseol could discern her identity at a glance.
‘The Palace Lord of Shin Nyeo Gung?’
Not only did her bearing radiate tremendous presence, but her eyes were an exact replica of the Palace Lord’s daughter I had seen earlier.
“Eunseol.”
Namgung Sae-ah approached Bu Eunseol and gestured toward the middle-aged woman as she spoke.
“The Palace Lord of Shin Nyeo Gung herself. Come, offer your respects.”
Yeon Ja Mi, the Palace Lord of Shin Nyeo Gung.
She had finally arrived—the Palace Lord renowned not only for her exceptional martial prowess but also for pioneering formation mastery that stood unrivaled in the Murim.
“As a wanderer, I, Seol So, offer my greetings to the Palace Lord.”
Yet Bu Eunseol did not bow deeply; instead, she merely inclined her head in a respectful gesture.
Namgung Sae-ah was taken aback by this, but Yeon Ja Mi coldly waved her hand.
“That will do.”
She then fixed her gaze upon Bu Eunseol, her brow furrowing slightly.
“You passed through the Twenty-Four Heavenly Formation?”
“I did.”
Yeon Ja Mi regarded Bu Eunseol’s curt response with displeasure, and her eyes narrowed with barely concealed irritation as she turned to Namgung Sae-ah.
“Where is So Gung Ju?”
“She rests in her quarters.”
A low hum escaped her lips.
She then looked back at Bu Eunseol and spoke with icy coldness.
“Let us move to a more suitable place for this conversation.”
Following Namgung Sae-ah’s guidance, I relocated to the Pavilion in the Star Courtyard, situated at the outer reaches of Shin Nyeo Gung.
Beneath the warm sunlight, the exquisite garden bloomed with rare flowers, and before it lay a small Pond.
…
Within the Pavilion, Bu Eunseol and Yeon Ja Mi sat facing one another.
Fragrant tea rested upon the table between them, yet I gazed ahead without so much as glancing at it.
“Where is your master?”
After a prolonged silence, this was Yeon Ja Mi’s opening question.
“I cannot disclose such details due to circumstances.”
In the Murim, those who concealed their origins were commonplace.
Yet she opened her mouth again, her eyes betraying clear dissatisfaction.
“I hear fist techniques are your specialty?”
“They are.”
From the sharp, tightly controlled tone of her voice, it seemed she was displeased even by the fact that Bu Eunseol employed fist techniques.
“You live as a wanderer?”
“I do.”
Yeon Ja Mi took a sip of tea and muttered softly.
“A master who allows his disciple to live as a wanderer must be utterly unremarkable.”
Upon hearing this, my eyes flickered with a subtle change.
It was not born of anger.
Rather, a strategy had suddenly crystallized—a way to escape from this trap that had seemed utterly inescapable.
‘The Palace Lord dislikes me from the start. Then this becomes far simpler.’
With this realization, my heart grew calm, and I regained a measure of composure.
“Where did you hear of the Preservation Divine Pearl?”
At Yeon Ja Mi’s question, my mind began to race rapidly.
‘If I mention Jeok Cheon Mak Ji, I’ll earn her wrath.’
Shin Nyeo Gung had earned its reputation through formation mastery, but it remained merely one of the Murim Seven Great Secret Palaces.
Yeon Ja Mi, the Palace Lord, was a supreme female master who stood shoulder to shoulder with the greatest experts of the Murim. If she were to act in anger, I could not possibly contend with her.
“I learned of it by chance.”
“By chance? Speak precisely.”
“The Wanderer Market circulates many high-grade pieces of information. I was fortunate enough to hear about the Boowon Divine Pearl from an elderly information broker.”
“Hmm.”
It was an unconvincing explanation. Yeon Ja Mi furrowed her brow slightly and spoke again.
“So Gung Ju suffered poor health in childhood and remained within the palace throughout. Thus, she remains as innocent as a child, unfamiliar with the ways of the world.”
“I see.”
“That is why I installed the Heavenly Twenty-Four Formation. At minimum, to find a suitable match for that child.”
She took a sip of tea and spoke coldly.
“And I instructed that the Boowon Divine Pearl be given to anyone who passes the Heavenly Twenty-Four Formation and pleases my eye.”
Yeon Ja Mi, who had been staring intently at Bu Eunseol’s face—now blurred by her transformation technique—furrowed her brows once more.
“However, that was merely this Palace Lord’s intention. It was not So Gung Ju’s.”
She paused briefly before speaking again.
“I heard you used your inner force to manipulate the formations and break through the array. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
“I see. However, such a method hardly proves your martial prowess.”
I no longer needed to hear more to understand what she was driving at.
Yeon Ja Mi was making excuses.
‘How fortunate. Truly fortunate.’
The more hostile her gaze became, the more delighted I felt.
Without the Palace Lord’s consent, marriage to So Gung Ju could not be established.
“It seems the Palace Lord does not favor me.”
Having regained my composure entirely, I took a sip of the now-cold tea.
Yeon Ja Mi then laughed coldly and shook her head.
“Do not worry. This Palace Lord is not one to speak with forked tongue. It is merely that your martial skill has not been properly demonstrated.”
A glimmer of interest appeared in my eyes.
‘So there is something else she desires from me.’
“What would you have me do?”
At my question, Yeon Ja Mi spoke quickly.
“Are you willing to test yourself against this palace’s Ja Mo Spear Method?”
“Ja Mo Spear Method?”
“It is one of this palace’s protective martial arts. The three lords of Su Gyeong, Mu Ryeong, and Ja Bu all practice it.”
“You mean the three lords each learned a portion of the martial art?”
“No—the Ja Mo Spear Method is originally a martial art meant to be unleashed by three people simultaneously.”
I had never experienced Shin Nyeo Gung’s martial techniques before.
Moreover, hearing of a spear method wielded by three people at once, I felt my mouth water as though presented with a delicious feast.
“You mean I should face them in combat.”
“Indeed. Of course, I’m not suggesting we determine victor and vanquished—merely to demonstrate the extent of our martial prowess.”
“I accept.”
Bu Eunseol answered without hesitation, and a sweet smile bloomed across Yeon Ja Mi’s lips.
“Truly?”
As Bu Eunseol gazed upon Yeon Ja Mi, a radiant smile had already settled upon her own face.
“With pleasure.”
* * *
Within the Medicine Hall of Shin Nyeo Gung.
At its center stood a transparent bed, upon which Nam Goong Woon sat in lotus position, his entire body bristling with acupuncture needles.
“What? Since when does such a rule exist? A martial exhibition?”
Upon hearing the words of Bu Eunseol and Heuk Pyo standing opposite him, he suddenly leaped to his feet and cried out.
“I survived the formation trial, and now they demand a martial bout? This is utterly unreasonable!”
As he sprang up, the needles adhered to his body flew outward in all directions.
At this, an elderly woman who had been organizing acupuncture supplies in the distance approached with an irritated huff.
“You wretched creature! How many times must I re-insert these needles because of you?”
“Ah, I see. My apologies.”
“If you move even once more, I shall absolutely refuse to place the Primordial Golden Needles upon you!”
The old woman huffed irritably as she seated Nam Goong Woon once more and inserted the golden needles into his body.
Thereupon, Nam Goong Woon remained perfectly still, moving only his lips with utmost caution.
“Brother Eunseol, please reconsider. Once these needles are placed, I shall immediately confront my aunt about this matter.”
Observing him in his excited state, needles scattering about, Heuk Pyo shook his head.
“Young Master, you need not concern yourself.”
“What? You’re not worried?”
“It is simply that our Young Master has always enjoyed combat.”
“Enjoyed combat? What do you mean?”
Nam Goong Woon rolled his wide eyes upward to gaze at Bu Eunseol.
The faint smile upon her face suggested that Heuk Pyo’s words were far from mere nonsense.
“Hmm?”
Yet Nam Goong Woon suddenly noticed something circular wrapped around Heuk Pyo’s wrist and his eyes widened.
“Is that not the Dang Family’s concealed weapon—the Blood Linking Ring?”
At Nam Goong Woon’s question, Heuk Pyo hastily concealed his sleeve and spoke with embarrassment.
“You are well-informed, Young Master.”
“That weapon is primarily used by members of the Dang Family. Were you once one of their people?”
“No, rather—the Third Young Master taught me both this Blood Linking Ring and the techniques to wield it.”
“The Third? You mean Dang Gon?”
“Do you also know the Third Young Master, Young Master?”
At Heuk Pyo’s words, Nam Goong Woon nodded slightly.
“I encountered him several times during gatherings of the three families in my youth. However, his temperament was so reserved that we never developed a close relationship.”
He blinked and regarded Heuk Pyo intently.
“I heard recently that he became the Palace Lord of the So Family, but surely you are not the Black Wind who invaded Blood Poison Valley alongside Dang Gon?”
“The Black Whirlwind?”
“There’s talk of a young man who led the Dang Family’s masters into Blood Poison Valley alongside Dang Gon.”
‘Has such a rumor already spread?’
Heuk Pyo was momentarily startled, but he waved his hand dismissively.
“That cannot be. I lack the skill for such a feat.”
“Now that I think about it, they say this young man’s movement technique is extraordinarily swift?”
“That cannot be. My lord. My movement technique is quite mediocre.”
Heuk Pyo broke into a cold sweat.
Rumors, by nature, always reach their subject last—much like how one who loses renown fails to perceive it slipping away.
“But why do you keep saying ‘my lord’ at the end of every sentence? Just call me brother instead. Haha.”
“I? How could I presume to—”
“What does it matter what we call each other? We’ll be traveling together for quite some time anyway. Hahaha.”
Nam Goong Woon, despite his lineage as a descendant of a great family, paid little regard to the hierarchies and protocols of the Murim.
Such informality suited a free-spirited wanderer, yet it stood at odds with the solemnity expected of a great family.
Perhaps it was this very casualness that earned him the reputation of being the Nam Goong Family’s reckless heir.
“Then I shall address you as Young Master.”
“If you truly dislike it, so be it. Do as you please.”
Nam Goong Woon clicked his tongue with disappointment and turned to Bu Eunseol.
“Since we’ve come this far, shall we drop the formalities between us?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened, and Nam Goong Woon grinned as he spoke.
“I am twenty-one this year, so I shall call you Elder Bu. How does that sound?”
“I refuse.”
Nam Goong Woon’s expression stiffened slightly.
Someone was actually rejecting sworn brotherhood with the blood of the Nam Goong Family, one of the great powers of Tianxia.

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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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