The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 43

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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 043
Return to the Divine Sect
It was the day the Sun and Moon Divine Sect delegation departed for the Sect Headquarters.
Ha Yeon Ryeong wore a pale yellow silk robe instead of her usual martial robes, and adorned her hair with a jade ornament.
Just before departure, she visited the Memorial Hall where the spirit tablets of the recently deceased Kunlun disciples were enshrined and paid her respects.
“Senior Brother Do Seung, Cheon Ho, and Junior Brother Cheon Seung. This is the first time since my birth that I’m descending the mountain. I’ll return safely and in good health.”
Afterward, she exchanged farewells with her father Ha Seung Ji, her senior and junior martial siblings, and her master teachers.
Rather than sadness at leaving Kunlun Mountain, where she had lived since childhood, she seemed filled with anticipation.
Do Woon was clinging closely to a plump woman’s side when he spotted me, cupped his fist in salute, and smiled.
Indeed, he did have definite preferences.
Seeing honey dripping from Do Woon’s eyes, it seemed the woman Ha Yeon Ryeong had mentioned—the one Do Woon harbored feelings for—was this very woman.
“Minor Sect Leader. Ho Bin earnestly wishes to visit the Divine Sect in person and pay respects to the Sect Leader, but I must ask your understanding given the pressing duties of our sect. I would be most grateful if you would convey this sentiment to the Sect Leader.”
“Of course, Sect Master. We are deeply indebted to you.”
Thus our delegation, accompanied by Ha Yeon Ryeong, departed from the Kunlun Sect’s mountain gate toward the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
Ha Seung Ji, the Sect Master, assigned one Kunlun elder and three first-generation disciples as our escort, pledging to protect us until we arrived at the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
It was understandable for him to worry, given that his only daughter had been kidnapped by some madman not long ago.
However, I knew with certainty that we would not encounter Yu Gwan Ji again during our journey.
Just before our departure, I had received a reply to the letter I had sent to the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
It contained the following:
【The Sect Leader has decided to summon the Protective Dharma King to hear accounts regarding matters related to the Minor Sect Leader, and he will arrive shortly.】
It seemed the writer had refrained from being explicit, likely concerned about who might see the letter.
Given that I had mentioned Gwangheosan, the Protective Dharma King in question naturally referred to Yu Gwan Ji.
In other words, the Sect Leader had decided to hear both sides directly regarding what had transpired between Yu Gwan Ji and myself.
This meant that all that remained was to arrive at the Sun and Moon Divine Sect and convince the Sect Leader of the justness of my actions.
Though that too might prove no simple task.
“Minor Sect Leader. What manner of person is the Sect Leader?”
On the road to the Sect Headquarters, Ha Yeon Ryeong asked me this question several times, her expression anxious.
She too was a person of the Righteous Sects.
It was only natural she would be nervous about meeting directly the Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, whom the world called the Heavenly Demon and the Great Demonic Lord.
“It is exceedingly difficult to explain what manner of person my father is through words alone. You will understand once you meet him directly.”
“Do not worry. Father will surely take a liking to you, Miss Ha.”
Ha Yeon Ryeong seemed somewhat reassured by Baek So Cheong’s encouragement.
Yet I too could not help but be concerned about how the Sect Leader would react to this matter and to Ha Yeon Ryeong herself.
‘Hmm. What will the Sect Leader think?’
I had become a benefactor to the Kunlun Sect by rescuing the Sect Master’s daughter, and now I was bringing that daughter to the Sect Headquarters.
If the Sect Leader was a person who valued practical benefits, there was no reason for him to disapprove.
…At least, that is what I believed.
In the process, I had deceived Yu Gwan Ji, one of the Protective Dharma Kings, and nearly caused his death…
The Sect Leader would not take issue with it.
…Or would he not take issue with it?
That’s how it should be.

* * *
The Sect Leader’s Hall of the Il-Wol Divine Sect Headquarters.
The Sect Leader sat upon a high platform, gazing down at the wisps of steam rising from a cup of hot tea.
The moment the Sect Leader heard that the Minor Sect Leader’s party had arrived, he summoned them at once.
The Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon, his eldest daughter Baek So Cheong, and a young girl he had never seen before entered the Sect Leader’s Hall and bowed respectfully.
“Father. We have completed our pilgrimage to the Sacred Site and have returned.”
The Sect Leader remained seated, turning only his gaze to examine each of their faces intently.
At that moment, the Minor Sect Leader’s eyes fell upon a man sitting in a wooden chair beside the platform in the Sect Leader’s Hall.
Was he a guest of the Sect Leader?
The man was a middle-aged guest dressed with meticulous care, his face unfamiliar, yet his bearing and demeanor radiated nobility and grace.
He merely glanced sideways at the Minor Sect Leader’s party before turning his gaze back to empty space, offering no further greeting.
The Sect Leader, too, seemed to have no intention of introducing the man to the Minor Sect Leader’s party.
As the Minor Sect Leader pondered this, the Sect Leader’s lips finally parted.
“And the young lady?”
“I am Ha Yeon Ryeong, a disciple of the Kunlun Sect, and I offer my respects to the Sect Leader of the Il-Wol Divine Sect. I have long heard of your illustrious reputation, and it is an unparalleled honor to meet you in person.”
The Sect Leader showed no particular reaction to Ha Yeon Ryeong’s courteous greeting.
“Father, this young lady is the only daughter of Ha Seung Ji, the Sect Master of the Kunlun Sect.”
After Baek So Cheong added this explanation, Ha Yeon Ryeong withdrew a letter from her bosom—neatly folded and sealed in an envelope—and approached the Sect Leader, kneeling before him and presenting it with both hands.
“My father, the Kunlun Sect Master, instructed me to deliver this directly to you.”
Upon hearing this, the Sect Leader slowly rose from his seat.
He walked forward several steps and took the letter from Ha Yeon Ryeong’s hands.
After examining the seal on the envelope for a moment, he opened it and withdrew a single sheet of pristine white paper inscribed with black characters.
It was indeed a personal letter written in the hand of the Kunlun Sect Master.
The Sect Leader stood in place and read through the letter.
Neither Ha Yeon Ryeong nor the Minor Sect Leader knew what contents were written in that letter.
They could only surmise that this single sheet held the weight of many things.
The relationship between the Il-Wol Divine Sect and the Kunlun Sect.
The Sect Leader’s assessment of the Minor Sect Leader, who had drawn the Kunlun Sect deeply into their affairs without the Sect Leader’s permission.
And the future of Ha Yeon Ryeong and the Minor Sect Leader as well….
To the Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon, the time the Sect Leader spent reading that single sheet seemed to stretch like an eternity.
After standing in place for a considerable time, examining the letter, the Sect Leader finally folded it.
And then.
The Minor Sect Leader saw the corners of the Sect Leader’s mouth twist upward into a smile.
“Minor Sect Leader, and young lady Ha.”
At last, the Sect Leader spoke.
“You have labored greatly, and your visit is most welcome. As the Sect Leader of the Il-Wol Divine Sect, I am delighted beyond measure to have formed this bond of friendship with the esteemed Kunlun Sect Master, even if only through correspondence.”
The Minor Sect Leader had never once witnessed the Sect Leader express his joy with such candid and genuine language.
“Father. Regarding the matters that transpired with the Kunlun Sect, I would like to provide you with further explanation….”
“We shall discuss the details later, Minor Sect Leader. For now, ensure that our guest Ha Yeon Ryeong, who has traveled such a great distance, receives the utmost hospitality and is allowed to recover from her journey.”
As the Sect Leader’s words fell, the Minor Sect Leader stood dumbfounded, unable to muster any response.
“Thank you for welcoming me, Sect Leader.”
Ha Yeon Ryeong’s smile carried an unmistakable satisfaction, and Baek So Cheong’s expression mirrored her own.
After the Minor Sect Leader and his entourage departed.
Only the Sect Leader and a middle-aged man of unknown identity remained in the Sect Leader’s Hall.
The Sect Leader sat upon his throne, smiling as he spoke.
“So that girl is the one you mentioned….”
The middle-aged man clicked his tongue before responding.
“Indeed, it is.”
“According to what you told me, the Minor Sect Leader risked great danger to save that child, yet he treated you as a madman while doing so….”
“Yes. I could not comprehend it at the time. It occurred right after the Kunlun Sect attempted to abduct the Minor Sect Leader, so I believed he had betrayed our sect.”
“And what do you think now?”
The Sect Leader handed the letter he had been holding to the man.
As the man read through the letter carefully, his expression shifted to one of great shock.
He respectfully returned the letter to the Sect Leader and spoke.
“I had no idea the Kunlun Sect was being subjected to such coercion by the Martial Alliance.”
“Neither did you, nor did I.”
For decades, the Kunlun Sect had proudly held its place among the ten great sects of Kangho.
However, due to its remote location from the center of Kangho and its proximity to the Il-Wol Divine Sect Headquarters, suspicions about the Kunlun Sect had recently arisen within and outside the Martial Alliance.
At a time when the struggle against the Demonic Cult was at its height, the Kunlun Sect’s role seemed ambiguous.
The major sects were fighting the Demonic Cult on the front lines at the center of Kangho.
Was the Kunlun Sect simply standing idle and watching?
Or had they already made a pact with the Demonic Cult?
“What kind of vile creatures demand such exorbitant membership fees, threatening to remove a sect from the ten great sects if they refuse to pay?”
“It is understandable that the Kunlun Sect would resort to reckless action.”
The membership fee demanded by the Martial Alliance was an astronomical sum that the Kunlun Sect could not afford.
Yet they were forced to take action under the Martial Alliance’s coercion.
When the anonymous letter arrived, it incited the Kunlun Sect, and they hoped that by capturing the Minor Sect Leader and handing him over to the Martial Alliance, they could solidify their position.
“Had they harmed the Kunlun Sect Leader and his daughter, the Minor Sect Leader’s retaliation would have been sufficient. But after that, a full-scale war would have erupted between the Kunlun Sect and us. We would have won, certainly, but at great cost. Our strength would have been depleted before we could even properly face the Martial Alliance. That would have been far from amusing.”
The Sect Leader continued speaking.
“But what was the actual outcome? The Minor Sect Leader became the benefactor of the Kunlun Sect Leader instead…, and after the Kunlun Sect grew weary of the Martial Alliance’s cunning schemes, they now marvel at how much righteousness and compassion our Sun and Moon Divine Sect—whom the world calls the Demonic Cult—possesses.”
The Sect Leader read aloud a passage from the letter sent by Ha Seung Ji.
“‘Our Kunlun Sect has resolved to withdraw from the Martial Alliance. We shall discard the false honor of being among the ten great sects of Kangho. Henceforth, the Kunlun Sect shall participate in the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s struggle against the Martial Alliance and in the great endeavor of bringing peace and prosperity to the world. This is not merely the decision of I alone as Sect Leader, but the unanimous resolve of all the elders and disciples of Kunlun.’ Is it not a masterpiece?”
One of the ten great sects of Kangho, which had nearly become an enemy, had been transformed into a reliable anti-Martial Alliance ally.
Even if coincidence had played a role, this was something the Minor Sect Leader had accomplished alone.
But was all of this truly mere coincidence?
From the beginning, the Minor Sect Leader’s insistence on making a pilgrimage to the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Site had seemed unusual.
Perhaps he had harbored such intentions from the start.
The Sect Leader tilted his head back and laughed, while the man bowed his head, his embarrassment evident.
“I never imagined the Minor Sect Leader would think that far ahead.”
“Did I not tell you? This child thinks differently from others. Do not underestimate him for his youth. He always looks one step ahead and moves accordingly. Did you see the expression of the young girl you sought to kill?”
“…?”
“How would you understand a woman’s heart? The young girl’s eyes were full of affection as she glanced sideways at the Minor Sect Leader. Though the Minor Sect Leader himself seems to show little interest…. Now the Kunlun Sect supports the Sun and Moon Divine Sect not merely with intellect, but with heart. What say you?”
“….”
“For the hardship one man endured, we have gained such considerable advantage. Do you still believe the Minor Sect Leader made a poor judgment?”
“It is no mere hardship, Sect Leader. Must I not abandon the alias Gwangheosan, which I have used these past five years? Along with all the reputation I have built?”
“Status and reputation can be rebuilt anew through merit and accomplishment.”
A man with a clean impression—his neat eyebrows and gentle gaze lending him an orderly appearance—opened his eyes slightly and met the Sect Leader’s gaze.
After a moment lost in thought, he began to laugh with his mouth open wide enough to reveal his Adam’s apple.
“Hahaha! You are right, Sect Leader. I too have greatly broadened my perspective this time.”
But his laughter did not last long.
“However, Sect Leader. What do you make of the Minor Sect Leader’s reluctance to stain his own hands with blood?”
“Hmm.”
“The outcome was favorable this time. But if the Minor Sect Leader continues to avoid killing at crucial moments and prioritize benevolence and righteousness…, will it be possible to achieve the great enterprise our Main Sect pursues?”
The man’s words, spoken with a completely altered expression, drew a faint smile from the Sect Leader.
“It is understandable to misinterpret thus, Yu Gwan Ji. But at least I know the truth about that child.”
“The truth, you say?”
“Practical thinking, foresight that always looks one step ahead, and beneath that surface lies….”
The Sect Leader fell silent for a moment.
He was thinking of the Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon’s actions from childhood, and above all, the Cheon Ma nature he had revealed early on.
And the unwavering philosophy regarding the Demonic Path that the Minor Sect Leader had demonstrated not long ago….
“It is that child who suppresses a cruelty more savage than anyone else’s. Incomparably more than either I or you.”
At the Sect Leader’s words spoken with absolute certainty, Yu Gwan Ji felt a chill run down his spine.

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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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