The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 42

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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 042
That was how things were back then.
But I couldn’t very well break down and cry immediately after winning the martial tournament, could I?
That would look far more pathetic than refusing the match altogether.
“I was merely fortunate.”
I attempted to project the composed demeanor befitting a victor.
Even as I worried whether anyone might notice the cold sweat trickling down my face.
“At such a young age, possessing such formidable martial prowess, and yet so humble! Truly, the Minor Sect Leader’s reputation for commanding heaven and earth is well-deserved.”
Do Woon continued spouting comfortable platitudes, oblivious to my true state of mind. Separate from my irritation at his words—
‘But something about this doesn’t sit right with me, no matter how I think about it.’
Of course, I hadn’t been entirely without strategy.
Not long ago, through cultivation at the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Site, I had successfully reached the late Second Tier realm.
While I couldn’t wield sword energy with complete freedom, I could at least crudely imitate it.
To be precise, I could concentrate inner energy resembling sword energy onto a single section of the blade.
Though this technique held little practical value in actual combat, I had believed it would prove effective in this tournament.
Yet I couldn’t believe such a minor trick could bridge the gap between cultivation realms.
Could that man possibly be…?
“Wait, then what becomes of the marriage arrangement between Ha Yeon Ryeong and Do Woon?”
“Sect Master! Will Ha Yeon Ryeong truly be betrothed to the Minor Sect Leader?”
At that moment, several disciples of the Kunlun Sect recalled the original purpose of this tournament and questioned Ha Seung Ji.
“Indeed. The betrothal is…”
Ha Seung Ji trailed off, his gaze turning toward Ha Yeon Ryeong.
Ha Yeon Ryeong continued blinking her wide eyes in disbelief that I had truly defeated Do Woon, until she felt her father’s stare and her mouth fell slightly open.
“Ah, well, that is…”
She then looked toward me with an expression of utter bewilderment.
All eyes that had been fixed on Ha Yeon Ryeong now turned toward me.
My introverted nature’s instincts surged violently, and my head began to spin, but I had to speak my piece, didn’t I?
I declared before them all in a clear voice.
“There will be no betrothal. I had no intention of marrying the young lady from the start.”
Before my words had even finished, murmurs began rippling through the crowd, so I quickly added what came next.
“The reason I participated in this tournament was, first, that as a martial artist I did not wish to avoid another’s challenge to combat, and second…”
I paused meaningfully to convey that this was the most important reason, then spoke with emphasis.
“I believed it was wrong for the young lady, at such a tender age, to be betrothed to someone against her will.”
Everyone gasped in shock, their mouths falling open.
“Don’t you truly understand? The young lady from the Ha family has no desire whatsoever to marry me. She merely made excuses because she dislikes being forced into marriage with a man chosen unilaterally by her family.”
I simply spoke my honest feelings without reservation or calculation.
But why were they so astonished?
In this world, marriage was conventionally arranged according to the political calculations of one’s family.
Especially so when it came to a daughter’s marriage.
To these people, my very notion that ‘a young girl should not be forced to marry someone against her wishes’ was utterly shocking.
Moreover, the fact that there existed a man willing to engage in martial combat against an opponent far stronger than himself to assert this claim was even more astonishing.
And that man was none other than the Minor Sect Leader of the Il-Wol Divine Sect—the very organization that all of Kangho branded as the Demonic Cult.
It was a revelation that left one speechless, capable only of admiration.
“Therefore, I humbly beseech the Sect Master to respect your daughter’s wishes.”
Ha Seung Ji nodded slowly, as though he had arrived at some profound understanding.
After a long moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth and spoke to his daughter.
“Ha Yeon Ryeong. Is it that you do not wish to marry Do Woon?”
Ha Yeon Ryeong, who had been gazing at the ground, lifted her head and met her father’s eyes directly as she answered.
“Yes, Father. I apologize.”
“There is no need for apology. Rather, I am the one who should be sorry. To think I was about to dictate the most important decision of your life through my own stubbornness.”
“Father….”
Witnessing the genuine sincerity flowing between father and daughter, I found myself unable to suppress a warm feeling in my chest.
Baek So Cheong’s eyes were even glistening with tears.
But then.
“Then, your statement about wishing to marry the Minor Sect Leader was not sincere either?”
“Yes, Father. It was merely an excuse.”
I thought to myself that he was asking the obvious, yet it seemed prudent to clarify such matters explicitly.
With this, I would finally be able to escape from this troublesome marriage discussion….
“That was the case then.”
Hm?
“But now, I have come to truly desire it. Father. I wish to marry the Minor Sect Leader.”
Ha Yeon Ryeong’s face flushed crimson as a radish, and she bowed her head deeply.
I received her words as though struck by a hammer to the skull.
Unfortunately, everyone except myself began to cheer at her declaration.
Applause erupted, and some even began to whistle.
Even Namgung Eon clapped his hands while looking toward me.
Of course, upon seeing the murderous glint in my eyes, he immediately stiffened in alarm and returned to a proper stance.
“Minor Sect Leader. What say you?”
Taking advantage of the chaos, Ha Seung Ji had already posed the question to me.
“What do you mean by ‘what say I’…?”
“I am asking whether you have any desire to marry Ha Yeon Ryeong.”
At Ha Seung Ji’s words, my vision seemed to darken.
It was not so much that I disliked the idea, but rather that I had never given it any thought whatsoever.
Baek Yeon was only twelve years old—marriage was unthinkable.
Well, not immediate marriage, but rather a betrothal.
Still, even in my previous world, I had never contemplated marriage, and I found myself at a complete loss for words.
‘Thinking about it coldly, it is not entirely unfavorable….’
The other party was none other than the sole daughter of the Kunlun Sect Leader, one of the ten great martial factions of Kangho.
From a political standpoint, she was more than adequate as a marriage prospect, and Ha Yeon Ryeong herself, despite possessing a somewhat tomboyish air, did not seem like a bad child.
It was also evident that in a few more years, when she reached marriageable age, she would blossom into quite a beauty.
It was true that such a thought had crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly dismissed it.
‘…What nonsense! Marriage? What kind of ridiculous drivel is that?’
Had I not just said so myself?
A marriage based on practical calculation was absolutely out of the question for me as well.
There was no guarantee that Ha Yeon Ryeong would want to marry me after seeing my true self, not this fabricated appearance before her.
“I’m afraid I haven’t given it much thought, so it would be difficult for me to give you a proper answer. Besides, Yeon Ryeong and I only met for the first time yesterday, so we know nothing of each other, do we?”
As I deflected thus, sighs of disappointment erupted from various corners of the hall.
I could see Namgung Eon’s expression of regret as well.
Ha Seung Ji nodded slowly, lost in thought for a moment.
Then he spoke slowly to his daughter.
“Yeon Ryeong. When the Minor Sect Leader returns to the Il-Wol Divine Sect, you shall go with him.”
“Pardon?”
What in the world was he saying now?
“I intend to give you both time to come to know each other. And to pay respects to the renowned Sect Leader of the Kangho.”
“Is that truly acceptable?”
Ha Seung Ji, who had been gazing warmly at the delighted Ha Yeon Ryeong, now turned to me with a question.
“You have no objections, Minor Sect Leader?”
No, of course not.
That was what I wanted to say.
But….
“…Very well.”
Unable to bring myself to refuse before the hopeful father and daughter, I found myself uttering those words instead.

* * *
“Though it may be presumptuous to say, this is the first time I’ve witnessed the Minor Sect Leader appearing flustered.”
“Namgung Prince! What insolence toward your lord?”
“I am certain of this: no master in Kangho, no matter how formidable their blade, could make the Minor Sect Leader tremble. Yet when a beautiful young lady extends a proposal of marriage, it seems an exception is made.”
“Hmph!”
“Namgung Eon.”
“Yes, Minor Sect Leader.”
“Do you truly wish to die?”
“My apologies….”
Even after returning to the residence, the members of the Il-Wol Divine Sect continued to recall what had transpired moments before, their careless remarks spilling forth.
Baek So Cheong was no exception.
“Minor Sect Leader, I know not of other matters, but your permission for Ha’s young lady to follow us to the Divine Sect was truly unexpected. How did you arrive at such a decision?”
Sigh….
Even now, I wonder why I could not refuse Ha Yeon Ryeong’s request to visit the Divine Sect.
Perhaps those who are not introverts would never understand my decision, no matter how I explained it.
Yet for a power introvert, refusing another’s request is no simple matter.
Though I clearly foresaw that accepting their request would place me in an exhausting situation, rejecting it outright in that very moment would consume far greater energy.
Still, I could hardly explain such introversion to Baek So Cheong.
“What is so remarkable about taking in one guest at the Main Sect? Why make such a fuss?”
“Indeed, it would have been difficult to refuse her outright when she held such earnest expectations.”
“Precisely my point.”
“Moreover, she is quite beautiful. Those dark, luminous eyes, those delicate lips—even if I were a man, I suspect I would….”
“Sister…!”
It was then.
Following a knock upon the door came a hesitant voice.
“Minor Sect Leader, may I enter for a moment?”
Baek So Cheong, recognizing the voice’s owner at once, suppressed her laughter and spoke.
“Namgung Prince, Young Ho, I believe we should excuse ourselves.”
“Yes, Baek Young Lady. It seems the two of you require time to become better acquainted….”
Namgung Eon mumbled words he could not quite finish, then met my gaze, flinched, and departed the chamber with the others.
As the door opened, Ha Yeon Ryeong entered cautiously, her face slightly flushed, her words hesitant.
“I have caused you considerable trouble, Minor Sect Leader. I scarcely know how to express my gratitude….”
“There is no need for such formality.”
I had merely exercised the virtue of humility, yet even such simple words seemed to move her deeply.
Feeling both embarrassed and burdened by the silence, I hastened to continue.
“I imagine you must be concerned about how Do Woon will receive this news.”
“Do Woon, you mean?”
“Indeed. He had been anticipating a marriage with you….”
I knew that Do Woon harbored dark intentions beneath his composed exterior.
I debated whether to reveal this to Ha Yeon Ryeong, but ultimately decided it was better to speak the truth.
It’s better to know than to be blindsided later.
“Actually, about this man Do Woon….”
But when I recounted what I’d overheard Do Woon say that day, Ha Yeon Ryeong’s reaction was unexpected.
“Haha. So Senior Brother Do Woon said that, did he?”
“Hmm…. You don’t seem surprised, Young Lady Yeon Ryeong.”
“No, it’s very much like Senior Brother Do Woon. Minor Sect Leader, I hope you’ll come to understand him.”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Ha Yeon Ryeong smiled and continued.
“The truth is, Senior Brother Do Woon didn’t want to marry me either.”
“What do you mean?”
“At the Martial Tournament back then, there was a formidable outsider who was predicted to win. But though he had some skill, his character was absolutely despicable. Senior Brother Do Woon deliberately won the tournament because he couldn’t bear to see me marry such a man.”
And what followed from her lips was nothing but astonishment.
“Because I’m the Sect Master’s Daughter, we became of the same generation, but Senior Brother Do Woon has been like an uncle to me since childhood—I could never bring myself to marry him. Besides, Senior Brother Do Woon already had another woman in his heart.”
“Then, what you’re saying is…?”
“Senior Brother Do Woon must have known you would pass through there, and deliberately had that conversation loud enough for your ears to hear. He knows well how righteous and compassionate you are….”
So Do Woon had pretended to be a villain, deliberately drawing me into action?
Wait. Then not only did he request a match with me, but he also intentionally lost—was that all for this reason?
To bring Ha Yeon Ryeong and me together?
“So really…, when you think about it, it’s all thanks to Senior Brother Do Woon. That I got to meet you like this.”
After finishing her explanation, Ha Yeon Ryeong murmured as if lost in a dream.
Beyond the door, the Uninvited Guest was surely listening to her words, yet she seemed utterly unconcerned.

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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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