The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 30

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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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The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 030
Villagers
“Gracious benefactor! Please forgive us!”
It was the woman I had saved from the disciples that night.
Her gaunt face still bearing the marks of her ordeal, she rushed forward and fell to her knees before me.
“How could I have failed to recognize you as the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect? I never imagined that someone of such noble station would personally intervene on my behalf…!”
The woman could not finish her words before she broke down in tears.
The villagers, who had been shocked to see the Minor Sect Leader moments before, now watched the weeping woman with bewilderment, wondering what on earth had transpired.
One of the villagers spoke to her.
“Stop your tears and explain what happened.”
“That older brother…”
“Child, be silent.”
The woman cut off her daughter, who had been abducted alongside her, and resumed her explanation.
Her voice still trembled with emotion.
“Five nights ago, I was abducted by a band of mysterious men and nearly suffered unspeakable horrors when a young nobleman appeared alone and rescued me. That… he slew every last one of those demonic creatures and saved both my life and my daughter’s. That savior was none other than the Minor Sect Leader standing here before you!”
“Gasp…”
“Is this truly so, Madam Zhang?”
The villagers bore expressions of disbelief.
The murmuring grew louder by the moment.
Even Namgung Eon stood with his mouth agape, staring at me.
Only Young Ho Bin nodded knowingly, as if he had expected this all along.
“It is true. At that time, the Minor Sect Leader revealed neither his name nor his position, and he adamantly refused any repayment. I could never have imagined that my savior would become the future leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect. I am unworthy and deserve death for my ignorance! Sob…”
The Minor Sect Leader of the Divine Sect—whom the world branded as the Demonic Cult—was merely a boy of twelve years, yet he had single-handedly confronted and punished the crimes of the disciples.
Even I, the one directly involved, found this dramatic tale difficult to believe.
And then.
“Madam, please raise your head.”
Now that matters had progressed this far, I could no longer remain silent.
“Those who were once disciples of our Main Sect fell prey to the schemes of wicked men and committed unspeakable crimes against these innocent villagers. It is not you who should beg forgiveness, but I myself.”
“…!!!”
After speaking these words, I bowed deeply to the woman. Gasps of astonishment echoed from all around.
The villagers had surely heard many rumors about the Sun and Moon Divine Sect and its Minor Sect Leader.
And now the very subject of those notorious rumors stood before these common folk, bowing his head in apology for his wrongs.
In this world where one’s station determined one’s fate, such a thing was nearly unimaginable.
“However, if you will permit it, I wish to first hold accountable those who bear true responsibility for this matter.”
“Minor Sect Leader…”
As I spoke, I subtly turned my gaze toward where the members of the Cheon San Sect stood.
And the villagers’ attention, which had been fixed upon me, suddenly shifted in that same direction.
It was a curious thing.
Just moments before, I had found the villagers’ hopeful gazes upon me difficult to bear.
But now…
“Wei Jin Ping, Sect Leader!”
I felt the support of dozens of villagers from Maehwa Village converging upon me with singular purpose.
And as I realized that I stood on their side, punishing the true villains who had stolen the innocent lives of women and children,
“As a Sect Leader guiding a martial faction—or rather, as a member of Murim before that—if you have anything to say regarding this matter, speak now.”
Even facing the Cheon San Sect Leader, whose martial prowess was undoubtedly far superior to mine, I spoke without a shred of fear.
Rather, my voice rang with unprecedented strength, and my chest swelled with confidence and courage as though I could accomplish anything.
“Nothing to say? That’s acceptable. I too am one who lets actions speak louder than words.”
And toward Wei Jin Ping, who still stood there with a furrowed brow, unable to utter a single word,
I stepped forward, my hand moving to the hilt of the Heavenly Demon Slayer at my waist.
An aura of imminent violence radiated from me, as though I might draw my blade and strike at any moment.
As the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect and the Cheon San Sect Leader seemed ready to cross blades, tension among the villagers reached a fever pitch.
Then it happened.
“Tch!”
Wei Jin Ping’s brow furrowed once more, and with a gesture to the Cheon San disciples around him, he spun on his heel and turned to flee.
Wei Jin Ping, the Cheon San elders, and the other disciples—none of them offered even a single excuse.
Without hesitation, they scattered like whipped dogs, hurriedly fleeing the village.
While I found the situation somewhat deflating, the villagers’ disappointment ran far deeper.
“They’re running away!”
“After causing all this, they just leave?”
“Those murderers! Worse than the Demonic Cult itself! Oh! I beg your pardon, Minor Sect Leader—I misspoke.”
“Shouldn’t we capture them?”
“Indeed. You lead the way!”
“Me?”
But the untrained villagers could do nothing but vent their fury.
Their gazes naturally turned toward me, but I merely glanced at their retreating forms once before shaking my head.
“Let them flee.”
“Minor Sect Leader?”
To be honest, even with Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon combined, capturing the Cheon San masters would be impossible for us alone.
But there was no need to voice such things openly.
“It would be a waste of steel to swing our blades at cowards. More importantly, our immediate priority is protecting the villagers and providing relief to the wounded. Young Ho Bin, Namgung Eon!”
“Yes!”
“Calm the villagers and aid those in need. And you villagers, hear me.”
The villagers, whose faces had been flushed with rage as they hurled curses after the Cheon San faction, fell silent and turned their attention to my words.
“The Sun and Moon Divine Sect shall surely deliver severe punishment for the Cheon San faction’s heinous transgression. I, Baek Yeon, the Minor Sect Leader, give you my word—trust and wait.”
After reassuring the villagers thus, I turned my gaze toward Namgung Eon with an appropriately dignified expression.
“Namgung Eon!”
“Yes.”
“I suspected as much—your visits to the Cheon San Sect were indeed to expose their crimes.”
“I apologize for acting alone without reporting to you first, Minor Sect Leader.”
“Think nothing of it. Your infiltration of the Cheon San Sect and retrieval of the decisive evidence made this matter far simpler—your contribution is substantial.”
“…Minor Sect Leader!”
As the villagers erupted in admiration, Namgung Eon bowed repeatedly toward me, offering his gratitude.
Then, his voice trembling with emotion, he turned to address the crowd.
“Listen well, all of you! I, Namgung Eon of the Namgung Family, stand before you in the same position as this woman! Had the Minor Sect Leader not sacrificed himself to save me, I would already be dead!”
“Wait, so that young master is from the Namgung Family?”
A villager’s murmur at just the right moment drew everyone’s attention, and Namgung Eon continued without pause.
“Indeed! And it is not merely I! Young Ho, the martial artist here, is also one of the countless souls whose lives the Minor Sect Leader has saved. Is that not so, Young Ho?”
“It is true. I live solely to repay the Minor Sect Leader’s boundless grace.”
“Nor is it only we two! Every disciple of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, and indeed all the common folk of Kangho, have received the Minor Sect Leader’s benevolence. Do you not know? The very foundation of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s three-hundred-year doctrine is the protection of the weak and the salvation of the people!”
Young Ho Bin was one thing, but how did such a small figure manage to speak with such confidence before so many people?
Both Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon were undoubtedly extroverts.
Capital E extroverts, at that.
In any case, the claim that “all the common folk of Kangho” had received my grace was a gross exaggeration.
Yet because the words emerged from such a dramatic moment, everyone listening nodded in emotion, and no one raised objections.
“Minor Sect Leader, you command our deepest respect.”
“You risked your very life for the sake of the people, did you not?”
“Now I see it—the Buddha himself, or rather, the Sage Myeong Joon, has manifested before us!”
The villagers who had been cursing the Demonic Cult moments before now praised me without exception, bowing their heads before me, some even wiping tears from their eyes.
With matters proceeding thus, I found no need to add further words.
“Such noble bearing….”
“At such a young age, not only formidable martial prowess, but also virtue and humility…”
“Truly worthy of being Minor Sect Leader! Without question!”
Afterward, the villagers sought out the bereaved families of the murdered women to offer condolences, and I, alongside Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon, visited each household personally to apologize once more and pledge our fullest support.
By the time the situation in the village had been sufficiently resolved, the sun was already descending toward the western horizon.
As I prepared to return to the Sect Headquarters, I noticed an elderly man who appeared to be the village chief or elder approaching Namgung Eon in what seemed like consultation.
Namgung Eon carefully approached me and spoke.
“The Village Elder wishes to host a modest banquet in gratitude for your grace, Minor Sect Leader. He asked me to seek your counsel on the matter, and expressed that your attendance would be the greatest honor.”
‘A banquet? What a dreadful prospect.’
For an introvert like myself, an invitation to attend a banquet is akin to being challenged to a duel.
Moreover, I had already been drained of all my energy throughout the day.
I fully intended to decline.
But then, Namgung Eon leaned close to my ear and whispered something carefully.
“Minor Sect Leader, in my judgment….”
After hearing Namgung Eon’s words, I reconsidered the matter of the banquet with the villagers.
I fell into thought for a moment, then, having steeled my resolve, I nodded.
“…That would be acceptable.”
“Yes, I shall convey your acceptance.”
As the delighted Namgung Eon went to inform them of my willingness to attend the evening gathering, the villagers all beamed with joy and warmth.

* * *
As the sun descended toward the horizon, the gathering place where everyone had assembled transformed into a banquet hall for the villagers.
The Village Chief and Village Elders took their seats at the head table alongside the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, his escort Martial Artist, and the Fifth Young Master of the Namgung Clan.
The guests from the Sun and Moon Divine Sect observed the villagers’ boisterous celebration while partaking in the evening meal they had prepared.
The villagers showed great interest in the Minor Sect Leader, who was both their honored guest and their benefactor, yearning to exchange even a single word with him.
However, the Minor Sect Leader’s solemn expression and dignified bearing, combined with an indescribable aura of intimidation, made it nearly impossible for anyone to approach him easily.
Whenever the Village Elders mustered the courage to address the Minor Sect Leader, Young Ho Bin, his escort Martial Artist, would politely interject, preventing the conversation from extending any further.
And just as the banquet’s atmosphere reached its peak, a group of women approached Namgung Eon.
“Young Master Namgung!”
“Ah, Seong Miss! Han Miss! What perfect timing!”
They were all women in their late teens to early twenties.
True to their nature as ordinary women from an ordinary rural village, they possessed wholesome vitality and unpretentious charm.
One of the women spoke to Namgung Eon.
“Your performance today was truly remarkable, Young Master.”
“What did I accomplish? Everything unfolded exactly as the Minor Sect Leader planned.”
“But you executed the Minor Sect Leader’s orders brilliantly, which is remarkable in itself.”
“Well, one could certainly see it that way! Haha.”
Namgung Eon, who bantered smoothly with the women, lived up to his status as a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, openly displaying the social charm he typically concealed.
Then, suddenly remembering something, Namgung Eon clapped his hands together.
“Ah, I shouldn’t be doing this. You should all go pay your respects to the Minor Sect Leader first!”
“Kyaa! That’s wonderful!”
Before Namgung Eon’s words had even finished, the women eagerly flocked toward the Minor Sect Leader.
Their initial approach to Namgung Eon had merely been a pretext; they had been waiting for him to introduce them to the Minor Sect Leader.
‘!!!’
At that moment, a subtle shift appeared in the Minor Sect Leader’s expression.
For an introvert like the Minor Sect Leader, simply sitting at such a banquet was an ordeal.
Moreover, watching a cluster of women approach with sparkling eyes filled him with dread.
However, the change was so subtle that no one noticed it.

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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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