The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 32

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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 32

Grandmother, what’s your relationship with the physician?

Don’t tell me it’s something like that… right?

Even at face value, our grandmother looked at least 10 years older.

No matter how trendy older woman-younger man couples are these days, this couldn’t be it.

Objectively speaking, grandmother isn’t exactly a stunning beauty, right?

Shin Seolha, don’t overreact.

There must be some other circumstances.

“Actually, your grandmother and I were childhood friends. We briefly attended the same Martial Arts School together.”

“Martial Arts School?”

Unexpectedly, it was Pyo Jin-yang who stepped forward to explain.

He explained to me on behalf of the flustered grandmother.

“Then one day, Shin Geum suddenly disappeared. It was only much later that I heard she had moved away. I was quite disappointed back then. I had forgotten about it for decades, until a few years ago when I happened to stop by a noodle shop…”

“Could that noodle shop be the one our grandmother runs…!”

“That’s right. I recognized her immediately at first sight. Her face from back then was still there.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. After all those decades, you must have really good memory!”

Isn’t this totally like a movie story?

I’ll call it ‘Finding First Love’ in my head.

“What was the name of that Martial Arts School?”

Unlike me who was impressed, Eok I-geon’s eyes were full of suspicion.

At his nephew’s interrogation-like tone, Pyo Jin-yang flared up again.

“Why does the name of the Martial Arts School matter? I’ve reunited with a friend after decades!”

“Are you certain she’s a friend? Forgive me, but there seems to be quite an age difference between you two.”

“Our grandmother looks older because she’s had a hard life. She raised me all alone after my parents passed away.”

Even to my eyes, grandmother definitely looked older, but hearing Eok I-geon say it made me feel upset.

Grandmother had lived looking after only me.

She would wake up at dawn to open the noodle shop and close the store latest in the neighborhood.

And that was for 17 years without a single day off.

Though she was in good health for her age, living like that for 17 years couldn’t have been easy.

Whenever I see grandmother’s wrinkles, I miss the dermatology clinics of South Korea.

Who would understand my desire to smooth them all out with modern medical technology?

“Grandmother, it must have been hard because of me, right? Don’t worry anymore. I’ll live taking care of you for the rest of my life.”

“Yes, that’s right. You’re all I have.”

A smile finally bloomed on grandmother’s face, which had been subdued by Eok I-geon’s questions.

“Grandmother, you were able to enter Headquarters before because of the physician, right?”

“Huh?”

“Sook told me that normally just anyone can’t enter. But grandmother came to see me twice. I was wondering about that. Now I understand.”

Something that had been bothering me was finally resolved today.

I should ask about the elixir separately when grandmother and I are alone.

It felt awkward to ask with Eok I-geon present.

His suspicious gaze toward grandmother was still there.

“I think I misunderstood something. I unintentionally committed a discourtesy.”

What? Has Eok I-geon gone crazy?

When was he being suspicious just now, and why is he suddenly apologizing?

And what’s with the formal speech?

Could it be because she’s his uncle’s friend?

No, Eok I-geon was absolutely not the type to speak formally just for that reason.

There must be some other ulterior motive.

“Not at all. It was a situation that could easily cause misunderstanding. And though she may be a childhood friend of the physician, she’s just an ordinary old woman running a small noodle shop. Please speak casually, Young Master.”

Grandmother also seemed uncomfortable with Eok I-geon’s manner of speaking.

She kept bowing her head to Eok I-geon and replied as if she were a criminal.

“Then I shall take my leave now. I need to prepare for business.”

“I’ll visit the noodle shop soon.”

“Yes, physician. Seolha, I’ll see you soon too.”

“Yes, grandmother. Take care.”

After greeting Pyo Jin-yang and Eok I-geon in turn, grandmother quietly left Maeuigam.

I already miss our Shin Geum.

It was then that Eok I-geon made a surprising suggestion as I looked wistfully at the spot where grandmother had been sitting.

“How about Seolha takes today off to rest at home?”

“…May I really do that?”

“Keep in mind that the leave is exactly one day.”

“Thank you! Young Master, thank you so much!”

Since it was an unexpected home leave, I repeated my thanks twice and hurriedly followed after grandmother.

“…”

“…”

After Seolha left, silence lingered in the Inner Chamber for a while.

Neither Eok I-geon nor Pyo Jin-yang readily opened their mouths, just staring intently at each other.

How long had it been like that?

“Who is she?”

It was Eok I-geon who spoke first.

“If you’re going to talk about the Martial Arts School, please don’t continue. You don’t think I’m naive enough to believe that story at face value, do you?”

“It’s true that she’s my friend.”

Pyo Jin-yang didn’t think Eok I-geon would let this slide either.

His nephew was famous at the academy for his outstanding martial arts skills, but his intellect was equally exceptional.

“Is it a disguise?”

“…”

“If she’s close enough to have a private meeting with uncle, she can’t possibly be an ordinary person. Yet such a person runs a noodle shop? Hiding from what?”

Though Pyo Jin-yang gave no answer, Eok I-geon continued speaking.

“Please tell me what she’s been afraid of for 17 years that she’s been hiding.”

“…That’s not something you need to know.”

“I would have agreed if it weren’t for Seolha.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s Seolha’s only family. Your friend happens to be my maid’s grandmother. So shouldn’t I know too?”

It was a statement that didn’t quite make sense at first.

When had this boy ever cared about a maid’s affairs to say such things?

Though others called him the courteous Prince Lee, Pyo Jin-yang knew better than anyone that his nephew was cold-blooded.

“Is Seolha safe?”

“Is that what worries you most?”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t unfounded concern.

He should have realized it from when the boy brought a child with only minor external injuries and talked about internal injuries.

This guy has fallen hard.

“Haha! Hahahaha!”

Since he thought he’d never see this from Eok I-geon, Pyo Jin-yang suddenly burst into laughter.

How is it that all men’s blood is so similar?

And there was no greater sense of shared fate than this.

The boy had fallen for the granddaughter, while someone else had fallen for the grandmother.

“What a pitiful situation.”

“Are you saying Seolha is pitiful?”

“That’s enough. As long as you keep your mouth shut, Seolha will be safe. So don’t ask any more questions.”

“Won’t you really tell me anything about Seolha’s grandmother?”

“When the time comes, you’ll know.”

“Uncle!”

“It’s a long story. One I cannot carelessly speak of.”

Pyo Jin-yang was more resolute than ever.

Judging that no matter what he did, he wouldn’t be able to get his uncle to open up, Eok I-geon ultimately had no choice but to back down.

“Then please promise me just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“If a situation arises where Seolha’s safety cannot be guaranteed, please tell me first then. I cannot remain knowing nothing.”

“Understood.”

“You must do so.”

“I won’t go back on my word.”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask lastly.”

Eok I-geon confessed to Pyo Jin-yang the real reason he had come to Maeuigam today.

“Those mysterious energies that were spread throughout Seolha’s body. You would know better than anyone, Uncle, but that’s absolutely not a technique just anyone can perform. Seolha now possesses internal energy exceeding sixty years’ worth. Concealing such an enormous amount of spiritual medicine without it showing—isn’t this a procedure only possible for a skilled physician with deep understanding of the human body, or someone possessing profound martial arts?”

“Or perhaps both.”

Pyo Jin-yang replied calmly without showing much surprise.

“…Did you know?”

“I only heard about it.”

“You heard about it?”

Eok I-geon, who had been tilting his head in confusion, soon realized something and straightened up.

“It was Seolha’s grandmother. Just what exactly is that person’s identity…”

“That’s far enough. Don’t think or speculate beyond that.”

“I understand one thing.”

“…”

“That she’s a much bigger figure than I expected.”

Despite being in the same space, he hadn’t noticed her presence at all.

That meant Seolha’s grandmother was a terrifying master with internal power so formidable that he couldn’t even dare to challenge her.

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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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