The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 201
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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 201
The Hao Clan mansion located near Soho.
The five leaders of Sa Do-ryeon who had withdrawn from the Namgung Family gathered in one place.
Ho Jeon No Yeom-baek sat with his eyes closed and arms crossed, while Sang-gwan-su, Cheok Gwang, and Mak-gon were watching his mood.
‘Hmm….’
Only Dok-sin-gun Sa-gun-myeong, who had been defeated in his fight with Dang Yeong-ryeong, sat a little apart with a crumpled expression, continuously drinking alcohol.
Sa-gun-myeong’s clothes were covered in soot marks everywhere, and his hands and face even bore small burn scars.
Without the efforts of his subordinates to rescue him from outside, he would have been a dead man tonight without question.
“Ahem!”
As the silence continued, Sang Gwan-su finally cleared his throat and began to speak.
“Ho Jeon.”
“Speak.”
Only then did No Yeom-baek uncross his arms and open his eyes.
“First, it’s deeply regrettable that we failed to obtain Gan-jang.”
What Sa Do-ryeon had targeted were Gan-jang, Mak-ya, and the Honcheongi martial arts manual.
Since they had obtained two out of three, it could be considered more than half successful for Sa Do-ryeon as a whole.
“I’m fine, so don’t look at me like that.”
“…Are you really okay?”
Cheok Gwang asked cautiously in a lowered voice.
“Haha! To think there’d come a day when the Dragon King would read my mood.”
“I’m watching too.”
When No Yeom-baek burst into laughter, Tal Baek-sal Wang Mak-gon awkwardly added.
“Were we always this close? I thought everyone put their own interests first.”
“That’s because you’re the Ho Jeon.”
“…?”
“Sa Do-ryeon has no leader, but if someone had to represent the alliance, wouldn’t it be you, Ho Jeon? You’re the only Ten Supremes among us.”
“I’m still trembling.”
Nodding at Sang-gwan-su’s words, Cheok Gwang patted his chest. Inside it was the Honcheongi he had taken from Namgung Cheon.
“But didn’t you let go even though you had Gan-jang in your grasp?”
“If it were me….”
Mak-gon trembled and clenched his fist.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have let go. What kind of sword is that!”
Even after obtaining Mak-ya, Mak-gon’s greed knew no bounds.
“That’s the difference between you and me.”
No Yeom-baek’s eyes and tone became calmly subdued.
“I’m already one of the Ten Supremes. Gan-jang would be nice to have, of course. But nothing would change without it. So let’s stop this talk.”
No Yeom-baek had given up Gan-jang solely for his granddaughter Seolha.
If he hadn’t met that girl, it might have been different. But to him now, a legendary sword was no longer important.
“Thank you.”
Sang-gwan-su, who had been listening to No Yeom-baek’s words, stood up and bowed with cupped fists.
“Thanks to you, we could complete our mission without making an enemy of the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“What thanks.”
“Of course we should be grateful!”
“That’s right!”
No Yeom-baek jumped up to stop Cheok Gwang and Mak-gon from also standing.
“Ah, really, why are you all acting like this? I said it’s fine! I understand your feelings well enough, so stop it!”
Since it wasn’t originally done for Sa Do-ryeon, No Yeom-baek felt somewhat awkward about the situation.
“Anyway, since we’ve seized Mak-ya and Honcheongi, the operation was successful. That’s enough. Our alliance also needs to move beyond profit sometimes, doesn’t it?”
Just as the atmosphere was about to become solemn due to Ho Jeon’s magnanimous spirit.
“That won’t do!”
Tal Baek-sal Wang Mak-gon cried out in opposition.
“Aren’t we Sa Do-ryeon? We’re Seopa, neither righteous nor demonic! We unite for profit and move according to profit. That’s why Sa Do-ryeon’s only rule is death for betrayal, isn’t it?”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“A favor token! If we’re comparing it to Gan-jang, it should be worth at least a favor token.”
Mak-gon said while stroking Mak-ya.
“Salmak will issue one.”
If it weren’t for Ho Jeon, Mak-gon could never have obtained Mak-ya.
“That sounds good. Jang-gang will also issue one.”
Moved by Mak-gon’s great resolution, Cheok Gwang readily agreed.
“Yunnan will return the favor token to Nok-rim. I can’t accept it when I gained nothing.”
Sa-gun-myeong, who had been drinking alone, also joined in and conscientiously gave up his favor token.
“This is truly heartwarming to see.”
Sang-gwan-su smiled broadly and summarized the situation.
“Then, gathering everyone’s intentions, Yunnan Poison Valley will return the favor token received from Nok-lim Sip-pal-chae, and Salmak and Janggang Surochaek will each issue one favor token to Nok-lim Sip-pal-chae. Does everyone agree?”
“Thank you.”
It would be strange to refuse favor tokens being offered.
When No Yeom-baek readily accepted, Cheok Gwang and Mak-gon finally leaned back comfortably.
“It seems Sa Do-ryeon is becoming even more tightly bonded.”
Mak-ya and Honcheongi had fallen into their hands.
It would be a lie to say they weren’t excited about how the martial arts world’s situation might change in the future.
After thoroughly enjoying Soho’s night view, I slept soundly in the cabin as if I were on a cruise trip and woke up.
As if anticipating that my stomach would be upset, when I came out to the deck early in the morning, hangover remedies were prepared in abundance.
“Wow, did Grandfather prepare this too?”
“I prepared it hoping to score some points with my granddaughter. Do you like it?”
“Of course! Grandpa Tak is the best after all!”
“There’s quite a bit of competition these days. It seems maintaining the position of maternal grandfather isn’t easy either.”
“Puhup!”
I burst into laughter from the morning at Grandfather’s exaggeration.
“How can you say such things? The fact that you’re my maternal grandfather is undeniable.”
“Exactly!”
Grandpa Tak exclaimed in agreement at my words.
“Am-wang is a great-grandfather with no blood relation, and it’s not even certain that Ho Jeon is a real grandfather, so I don’t know why everyone’s making such a fuss!”
As if he had a lot built up, Grandfather sat me down and passionately argued point by point in detail.
“They all don’t know their place, tsk.”
‘Hmm, this is quite refreshing!’
I diligently ate my hangover cure while nodding whenever I had the chance.
I felt that playing along like this would help lower Grandfather’s stress levels.
“Tak Ga-ju.”
It was then that Eok I-geon, who was eating beside me, said something strange.
“Shouldn’t you tell Seolha now?”
“…Tell me? What?”
I put down the bowl I was drinking soup from and looked back and forth between Eok I-geon and Grandfather.
I immediately felt a chill.
It was because Grandpa Tak started avoiding my gaze.
“…Please tell me, Young Master. What happened?”
“Last night.”
“Yes.”
“Sa Do-ryeon attacked the Namgung Family.”
Sado-ryeon?
Why is Sado-ryeon suddenly coming up here?
When I made an expression showing I didn’t understand, Eok I-geon asked.
“Why do you think Elder Ho Jeon appeared in Hefei?”
“Well, he must have had some business there.”
From our first meeting, he had been disgustingly clingy, so I hadn’t had time to think seriously about that side of things.
But if that business was related to the Namgung Family…
“Are you saying Sado-ryeon was after the Gan Jiang and Hun Tian Qi?”
“They also stole the Mak Ya from the Moyong Family.”
What!
They got their hands on Mak Ya too?
This isn’t the plan I set up?
I had only intended to use Yang Gun-cheol’s corruption ledger to pit the Moyong Family against the Shinchang Yang Clan, and use Hun Tian Qi to drive a wedge between the Namgung Family and Moyong Family.
It would be good if they destroyed each other while fighting, and my main goal was to find an opportunity to expose the real culprit behind Geommyeong Mountain Manor.
Nowhere in that plan did I account for Sado-ryeon’s intervention.
Is this what they call the butterfly effect?
I was honestly flustered that things had grown beyond my expectations.
“So what about Gan Jiang and Hun Tian Qi? Did those also fall into Sado-ryeon’s hands?”
“Before the operation, Ho Jeon proposed a deal.”
“Bandit Grandfather did?”
“He said he would give up his share of Gan Jiang.”
It’s because of me…
I could tell without even asking.
“He said it was repayment for raising you.”
“That means Grandmother knew everything too?”
Now I’m starting to understand.
This was all a rigged game played behind my back!
Cheon-yeong didn’t go to handle personal business – he deliberately hid himself to cut off information from me.
“Cheon-yeong came and went at dawn.”
See, I told you so.
“Namgung Myeong confessed.”
“Huh? Confessed?”
Don’t tell me he turned himself in, saying his own family was responsible for destroying Geommyeong Mountain Manor?
That would be amazing!
“Unlike his father, his nature doesn’t seem to be vicious.”
Yes, that’s what it seemed like.
I still remember his gentle tone when he worried about me despite my maid status.
“The message is that Namgung Cheon suffered severe injuries from Sado-ryeon’s joint attack and is currently hovering between life and death.”
“That’s quite satisfying.”
But it would be troublesome if he died right away.
Namgung Cheon needed to realize what suffering truly meant a bit more.
“Grandmother is safe, right?”
“Of course. Since we caught the real culprit, she must be feeling very relieved right now.”
“This isn’t the time to be sitting here.”
I shot up from my seat, forgetting about the hangover cure and everything else.
The culprit behind Geommyeong Mountain Manor that I had so desperately wanted to find was finally revealed.
Grandpa Tak said Grandmother would feel relieved, but I knew our Shin Geum’s heart the best.
Even if she felt unburdened, her heart wouldn’t be entirely at ease.
I ran at full speed toward Hefei to see Grandmother.
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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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