The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 71

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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 71

I barely touched my breakfast before finally putting down my chopsticks.

Originally, I had planned to skip the meal entirely and go see Grandmother as soon as dawn broke, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse Sook’s request.

Since I had skipped dinner last night, Sook’s worry was beyond measure.

“Seolha, eat just a little more. Please?”

“I think I’ll get indigestion. Sorry.”

Normally I would have wanted to do that too, but strangely my heart felt uneasy.

What was it about that portrait?

I’m not even the real Shin Seolha anyway, so I don’t know why it bothers me this much.

“I’m going to visit home for a bit.”

“Now? By yourself?”

My guard Seo-ryeon hadn’t started work yet.

“I’ll just see Grandmother and come right back.”

“Alright. While you’re there, you can eat the noodles and dumplings Grandmother makes.”

“Sure.”

Since I had no appetite, I doubted even that would go down well, but I gave a half-hearted response, changed clothes, and left Yeong-eun Hall.

As soon as I passed through the gate, I used Mabang Bicheongang to arrive at the shop in an instant.

“Grandmother? Grandmother!”

But I couldn’t see Grandmother, who should have been busy preparing for business.

“Has she not returned from the market yet?”

It was already quite late for that, but I decided to wait for now.

If I went out looking and we missed each other, that would be a disaster too.

But after one moment passed and then over half a hour, Grandmother still didn’t appear.

Our Shin Geum isn’t the type to be this irresponsible.

Could something have happened to her?

Grandmother’s disappearance was a problem I had never once considered.

Shin Geum’s existence had always been a given to me.

What should I do?

Should I wait longer?

Or should I go out and look for her now?

If so, it would be faster to get help rather than go alone.

“Elder Ma!”

While pacing anxiously inside the shop, I suddenly remembered Grandmother’s old friend.

I was confident that person would surely help me.

‘No.’

Maybe I was just thinking too negatively due to baseless anxiety.

Like a few days ago, she might have simply gone to a funeral home or something.

This is Grandmother who has been doing business in this neighborhood for a full 17 years. I decided to first go around to nearby shops and ask people.

Let me start with Mr. Wang next door!

Just as I hurriedly opened the shop door and rushed out.

“I greet the First Miss!”

Some man saw me and quickly bowed in greeting.

“…Who are you?”

“I am Hyeok Ri-cheon of the Cheonhyeol Yeo Clan. It’s an honor to meet you!”

“I see. Nice to meet you. But did you come looking for our shop?”

The only thing in the direction the man was heading was the noodle shop.

I was about to tell him to come back another day since Grandmother wasn’t here today.

“Yes, I came at the request of your grandmother, First Miss.”

Unexpected words came out of Hyeok Ri-cheon’s mouth.

Grandmother?

“You don’t mean my grandmother, do you?”

“That’s correct. And please speak more formally.”

“Did you see my grandmother? Where is she now? What was this request she made?”

Excited by the sudden news about Grandmother that fell like a bombardment, I approached this Hyeok Ri-cheon closely.

He seemed flustered for a moment, then answered calmly.

“Your grandmother is currently at the Yeo-ga. Due to circumstances, she cannot open the shop and asked me to hang a ‘closed for business’ sign.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

I couldn’t understand a word of what the man was saying.

Why would Grandmother suddenly be at the Yeo-ga?

And closed for business?

Our Shin Geum had been doing business for 17 years without a single day off.

Not only because she had good stamina, but she was pathologically unable to rest.

“Then I’ll be going now…”

The man who greeted me while I was bewildered actually hung a ‘closed for business’ sign on the shop door as if to prove his words.

Then he bowed politely again and tried to pass by me.

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes, First Miss.”

“You said your name was Hyeok Ri-cheon?”

“That’s right.”

“If you have time, could I ask you to guide me? I don’t know where the Yeo-ga is located.”

“Of course. I would be delighted to assist the First Miss.”

Hyeok Ri-cheon gladly agreed to my request with great pleasure.

So I followed him to the unplanned Cheonhyeol Yeo Clan.

The Yeo-ga, located quite far from the noodle shop, was different from the entrance as befitting a demon clan representing Maegyo.

The evil spirit carved on the gate gave a desolate feeling while strongly giving the impression that this was a place not to be approached carelessly.

The entire manor was surrounded by high walls, making it look like some kind of fortress.

“Could you wait here for a moment?”

The place Hyeok Ri-cheon brought me to was a pavilion with a lavishly decorated interior.

“Please hurry.”

Since Grandmother’s safety was at stake, I somehow couldn’t feel at ease until I saw her face.

Yeo Gong, the head of the Yeo-ga whom I had never met.

Grandmother was currently meeting with him privately, he said.

The reason was obvious.

They wanted to use Grandmother to recruit me, Cheonma’s disciple.

This was what Eok I-geon always worried about.

The Six Great Demon Clans were important pillars supporting the Cheonma Sect.

Those six families always tried to maintain a tense balance, but depending on who the current head was or what figures or forces supported the family, the order of superiority could be determined.

Of course, even among the Six Great Demon Clans, the Hyeon-ma Tak Family was always an exception.

As the family with the longest history in Maegyo, the demons’ loyalty toward them was tremendous, and in response, the Tak Family’s military power known to the world was said to be strong enough to easily handle even a large sect alone.

I don’t know the deep circumstances of the Yeo-ga, but perhaps they want to surpass the Tak Family through me?

‘They’re putting effort into the wrong place.’

I was just an extremely ordinary girl who was lucky enough to become Cheonma’s disciple.

Meaning there would be absolutely no benefit even if I sided with the Yeo-ga.

Grandmother would handle things well with her personality, but I also thought I should conduct myself well in the future so as not to give the Yeo-ga false hopes.

“But what’s taking so long to handle? No one’s coming either.”

It seemed like a long time had passed, but there was no word from Hyeok Ri-cheon.

Should I go out and look for myself?

Just as I made up my mind and was about to leave through the door.

“It is an honor to escort the First Miss.”

Suddenly, a group of maids appeared. They bowed respectfully to me and placed a large amount of food on the table.

“What is all this?”

“We prepared this thinking you might get hungry while waiting. The grandmother personally requested it, saying her discussion with the family head might take a while.”

“Our grandmother said that?”

“Yes, First Miss. If there’s anything lacking or you need anything else, please call us anytime. We’ll be waiting outside the door.”

The maid finished her duties with an impeccable attitude and quietly withdrew, walking backwards.

This is ridiculous.

Very much so.

I thought Grandmother would come to see me right away once I got here.

Our Shin Geum would naturally do that and more as soon as she heard I had arrived.

‘Something stinks.’

I couldn’t define exactly what it was, but there was a strong fishy smell in the air.

Is Grandmother really here?

For the first time, I had doubts about something I hadn’t questioned once during the journey here.

‘But Yeo-ga has no reason to lie to me, right?’

If only I had a cell phone, this would be resolved quickly.

Something that could be easily solved with a location tracking app – being in this situation was so frustrating I could go crazy.

“Grandmother…”

Many things had been confusing since yesterday.

It started with the portrait, but what troubled me more than that was Grandmother’s absence.

Grandmother, where exactly are you?

You’re not in some dangerous situation, are you?

‘No, that can’t be!’

Our Shin Geum was a strong person.

She absolutely, absolutely wouldn’t be in danger.

I decided to wait a little longer and then decide my remaining actions based on how Yeo-ga handled things.

Whatever the case, they wouldn’t dare touch me, Cheonma’s Disciple.

If they truly had deceived me, Yeo-ga would have to pay the price for it.

One hour before Seolha arrived at Yeo Gong’s house.

Shin Geum had taken refuge at the Tak Mansion, not Yeo-ga.

“Tak Ga-ju was right. Today their goal was focused solely on finding out who I am.”

“So it came to that after all.”

Though he had expected it, Tak Joong-hak’s expression was serious.

“It’s my fault. I should have been more careful at the noodle shop that day…”

“What can be done about Yeo Gong’s martial arts being naturally sensitive to energy? This would have happened eventually, so don’t blame yourself too much.”

“I don’t care what happens to me. As long as our Seolha can be safe, I’d charge into Yeo-ga right now and take his head!”

A killing intent never seen before flowed from Shin Geum.

The instincts she had hidden from her granddaughter Seolha were gradually awakening.

Her eyes flashed like a demon as she recalled the dawn battle.

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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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