The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 163
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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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Chapter 163
“So all the trading companies have finally stopped doing business with us?”
Yang Gun-cheol clenched his fist upon hearing the report from his son and clan leader, Yang Jeon-su. His face showed both despair and anger.
“How long can we hold out?”
“We can probably manage for about three months. But the bigger problem is that various interests within our main territory are becoming unstable.”
“Even though I was the former Alliance Leader…!”
The Shinchang Yang Clan had rapidly expanded its power when Yang Gun-cheol became the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
Having grown so quickly, if they didn’t handle this situation promptly, their collapse could happen just as swiftly.
“Of all times…”
The Shinchang Yang Clan, Moyong Family, and Namgung Family.
These three families were like a tripod at first glance.
The kind of tripod that loses balance and topples over when one of its three legs breaks.
So whenever two families had problems, the third would appropriately mediate.
In truth, those problems were usually trivial matters.
But this time was completely different.
All because of that one grandson.
Previously, the Namgung Family would have played the mediator role, but they were currently drowning in their own troubles.
Even if only half the rumors were true, too much blood had been spilled.
With that scale of incident, the Alliance couldn’t just stand by and watch.
Soon there would be an official dispatch of either the Dark Four or the Iron Blood Squad, and even the mighty Namgung Family couldn’t avoid investigation.
They said everyone had witnessed blood flowing like rivers in Seongdo Hapbi and the entire Namgung Family territory covered with corpses.
Naturally, Namgung Cheon couldn’t move easily, which meant the Shinchang Yang Clan had to resolve this matter on their own.
‘Should I bring out the ledger?’
Yang Gun-cheol had a ledger he’d been secretly maintaining since his days as Alliance Leader.
It contained the shameful secrets of the three families, intertwined like a spider’s web.
It was a self-preservation measure prepared by Yang Gun-cheol, the weakest of the three.
‘Not yet.’
If he revealed the ledger to the world, the Moyong Family would back down, but the outcome would be catastrophic.
And the end of that catastrophe would be…
‘The downfall of our main family.’
But he couldn’t just sit there and take it.
‘This is the family I built with my own hands!’
Always yielding because they were the weakest had led to this situation.
For the main family to establish itself completely, they needed to handle this current crisis well.
The secret ledger.
‘Use it as leverage, but don’t actually deploy it.’
Sometimes a sword in its sheath is more frightening.
‘We need to praise the Moyong Family while making bigger concessions ourselves.’
This seemed like the best option for now.
A strategic retreat for the future.
Just as Yang Gun-cheol was organizing his thoughts.
“Grandfather, I’ll go to the Moyong Family.”
Yang Ja-seong showed his firm resolve and requested permission from Yang Gun-cheol.
“I’ll definitely secure the engagement!”
“In this situation, if you go to the Moyong Family, they’ll be absolutely delighted! How can the young clan leader be so thoughtless!”
“If I just marry Cheong-a, won’t all of this be resolved?”
“You fool! If that were possible, we wouldn’t be in this mess right now!”
“Grandfather, Cheong-a and I have already slept together.”
“You think that’s something to brag about…!”
“Namgung San saw it, Mo Yong-hu saw it, the Peng Brothers saw it, and so did Jegal Mu-geuk and Yeon U-seong. The Dang Family was there too. Don’t you understand what that means?”
Yang Gun-cheol, who had been listening halfheartedly, suddenly had a spark of interest in his eyes.
“If word spreads throughout the neighborhood.”
“Then?”
“No one will take Cheong-a. Moreover, with Cheong-a’s personality, would any ordinary family catch her eye?”
For once, his bear-like grandson’s mind was working like a fox.
Did he really like Mo Yong-cheong-a that much?
“Didn’t you say there’s opportunity in crisis? If the marriage with the Moyong Family succeeds, our main family can make a great leap forward. I will definitely bring back the engagement!”
Yang Ja-seong declared confidently.
He had already decided that Mo Yong-cheong-a was his woman.
Yang Ja-seong was completely focused on fulfilling the unrequited love he’d harbored his entire life.
“When will you leave?”
Finally, Yang Gun-cheol gave his permission.
“I can leave right away.”
At Yang Ja-seong’s answer, Yang Gun-cheol nodded and called his son.
“Jeon-su.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Prepare the gifts. Even for the Moyong Family, make them so expensive and splendid that their jaws will drop.”
“Understood.”
Having found a solution, Yang Gun-cheol’s lips curved up slightly.
‘A few pages from the ledger should be enough to make them understand.’
He had no intention of dying alone.
Yang Gun-cheol was confident that the Shinchang Yang Clan would survive as long as the Namgung and Moyong families didn’t face complete destruction.
In Yang Ha-rin’s residence, a mat was spread in the center of the garden with a table set upon it.
“Seo-ryeon, isn’t it so beautiful?”
“Yes, Lady Seolha. I think this is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful sight!”
Love of flowers was universal among women.
When Seo-ryeon clasped her hands in admiration, Yang Ha-rin’s shoulders perked up.
“Actually, you know. My family doesn’t really like that I tend flowers.”
Ah, so that’s why she was so happy when I said they were pretty.
“Why don’t they like it? Isn’t it fine to have a hobby like this?”
At Seo-ryeon’s question, Yang Ha-rin hesitated before answering.
“They just say it’s useless…”
“What? Useless! The moment I entered the garden, I thought I’d come to paradise!”
“They believe such things should be left to servants. They say I should spend that time training martial arts instead.”
“Ah…”
“In our house, Grandfather’s word is law. He lets me do whatever I want, but flowers are kind of an exception. Well, I still do it secretly though.”
Yang Ha-rin, who had been speaking in a gloomy tone, looked at us and smiled brightly.
“That’s why I was so grateful to you, Seolha. You’re the first person to look at my garden and call it beautiful.”
This was the moment I finally understood why she had insisted I stay overnight to see her four o’clocks.
“Hey! I mean… Sister Seolha!”
Huh! Sister all of a sudden?
“I’m going to call you sister now. You’re a year older than me!”
“…Wouldn’t it be more awkward to change that now?”
Honestly, Yang Ha-rin’s casual speech didn’t particularly bother me.
I was already used to it, and the word ‘sister’ was actually giving me goosebumps.
“I actually wanted a sister more than a brother.”
…Is that so?
“Don’t you like it? You don’t want to be a sister?”
Yang Ha-rin’s expression immediately turned sullen.
If she couldn’t sleep here tonight, things would get complicated.
“N-no way I’d dislike it! I’m fine with everything! Ha-rini can do whatever she’s comfortable with.”
Ah, I felt like I was going crazy from the awkwardness, but I naturally covered my twitching lips with my hand and gave permission.
“Seolha unnieee!”
As if moved by my consent, Yang Ha-rin suddenly hugged me.
With her coquettish voice and rubbing her cheek against my face, I froze solid, not knowing how to react.
It wasn’t long ago that we were fighting and calling each other names at the Dang Family, so how did it come to this?
‘Hey, instead of just drinking, could you please stop her?’
Eok I-geon, would you have done the same if Yang Ha-rin were a man?
Cheon-gang and Seo-ryeon were too much as well. They were showing me their backs, but I knew they were laughing.
“Unnie is pretty and has strong martial arts!”
Yes, that’s all true, so could you please let go of me now?
“Being poor is a bit of a flaw, but it’s okay! I can help you out!”
The kid was doing well but then suddenly went off track.
And just because I don’t say anything doesn’t mean I don’t have way more money than you!
“Instead of doing this, let’s drink, unnie! Today’s the day we became sworn sisters!”
…It wasn’t just calling me unnie, but we became sworn sisters?
Not even noticing my confusion, Yang Ha-rin excitedly drank one cup after another by herself.
Naturally, she got completely drunk in no time.
“Unnieee!”
“Yeah?”
“Unnie!”
So what is it!
“You absolutely have to sleep with me! If I wake up tomorrow and you’re gone, Ha-rini will be angry!”
“Okay, I won’t leave. I’ll sleep here.”
That was my goal anyway.
“I’ve prepared the sleeping quarters.”
When I carried Yang Ha-rin into the room, a maid guided us to the bed.
“Thank you. Then don’t worry about us and go ahead. I’ll go to sleep right away too.”
After dismissing all the maids, a sly smile crept across my lips.
Wasn’t this the moment I had been waiting for?
After confirming through my qi sense that no one was around, I lightly leaped up onto the beam.
Then I quietly crawled toward the corner that met the roof.
‘Found it!’
In a clever spot where human eyes and hands couldn’t reach, a wooden box was hidden.
When I took it out and opened it, there was a ledger carefully wrapped in oiled paper to prevent moisture damage.
Wow, this was really here.
No one would have expected that the ledger containing the dirty secrets of the Namgung, Moyong, and Shinchang Yang families would be hidden in his granddaughter’s quarters.
In the original story, Yang Gun-cheol used this to get what he wanted. Though he eventually met his end in the finale.
How should I use this to make things more interesting?
‘First, I should copy it, right?’
If Yang Gun-cheol came looking for it and found it missing, he’d obviously suspect me first.
I took the ledger in hand and quickly headed to the guest hall.
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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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