The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 51

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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 051
The Eve
Two days later, Young Ho Bin and I met Baek So Cheong and Namgung Eon at an inn located near the heart of Chengdu.
“Sister, has anything unusual occurred?”
Baek So Cheong and I exchanged the information we had gathered separately over the past two days.
“There is one person among the merchants participating in the Merchant Conference who has drawn particular attention.”
Before Baek So Cheong could even finish speaking with that smile of hers, I already sensed what she was about to say.
After all, Young Ho Bin and I had spent these past days wandering about, hearing the merchants’ gossip until we were thoroughly sick of it.
“Rumors have spread far and wide that the Merchant Guild Master of the Cheong Yun Merchant Group’s grandson—in other words, the Minor Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult—has come to Chengdu.”
Was that all the rumors about the Minor Sect Leader’s arrival?
The Minor Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult was a once-in-a-generation genius of demonic arts, so exceptional that the renowned Cheon Ma Baek Sect Leader had marked him as his successor early on, and tales abounded of how his gaze alone could drain the blood from a person’s veins, how despite being only thirteen years old he had already slain over ten masters of the Orthodox Sects.
Considering all this, I realized that Jang Yeon Hwi’s arrangement to keep our party separate from the Cheong Yun Merchant Group had been a wise decision.
The thought of all these people coming to catch a glimpse of me after hearing such wild rumors was absolutely dreadful.
“While the Cheong Yun Merchant Group officially denies that the Minor Sect Leader is in Chengdu, how else could such rumors have spread in the first place?”
Namgung Eon’s observation was also sound.
Jang Yeon Hwi’s original request for my accompaniment was to leverage the public attention focused on the Minor Sect Leader to strengthen his own position ahead of the Merchant Conference.
Thus, it was highly likely that he had spread rumors about me behind the scenes to maximize that effect without directly revealing my presence.
“The rumors about me matter little. Have you heard anything else of importance?”
“And regarding the selection of the new Alliance Leader….”
Jang Yeon Hwi hoped to be elected as the Alliance Leader who would guide the Southwest Commercial Road Alliance for the next ten years at this Merchant Conference.
The Cheong Yun Merchant Group under his leadership was already counted among the foremost merchant guilds in the southwestern region in terms of scale and influence, so the merchants seemed to regard Jang Yeon Hwi as a strong candidate.
However, the obstruction from other merchant guilds who resented the Cheong Yun Merchant Group’s rapid rise was a variable to consider.
“If I may ask the Minor Sect Leader, do you wish for Merchant Guild Master Jang to become the Alliance Leader?”
At Namgung Eon’s question, I fell into thought for a while.
I had considered this matter many times before, and my answer remained the same.
“Of course. Whether we like it or not, the Cheong Yun Merchant Group is a force deeply connected to the Main Sect, and both its reputation and wealth will aid in strengthening the Main Sect’s power.”
This was precisely what made this mission so difficult.
I had to help Jang Yeon Hwi be elected as the merchant alliance leader while simultaneously increasing the Divine Sect’s control over him and the Cheong Yun Merchant Group.
In other words, I had to achieve two seemingly contradictory objectives simultaneously.
“And there is one more thing that troubles me. Apparently, there have been incidents where merchants were attacked and killed by mysterious men.”
At Baek So Cheong’s addition at the end of our discussion, Young Ho Bin and I suddenly locked eyes.
“Attacked?”
“Yes. The perpetrators have not been identified, but I heard that they seemed to have used poison and hidden weapons.”
The merchant attack incident that Baek So Cheong had heard about was separate from the incident we had witnessed.
In other words, within just a few days, groups of merchants had been struck down by poison techniques from the same group at least twice, resulting in deaths.
“What was the status of the dead merchants?”
“They belonged to small, nameless merchant guilds, and there was nothing particularly unusual about them.”
This point also aligned with what we had investigated.
Afterward, we continued to pool the information we had gathered over the past two days and exchanged opinions on various hypotheses, but nothing was certain—not the identities of the attackers, nor their purposes.
However, the fact that such incidents were occurring just before the Merchant Conference was something we absolutely could not overlook.
“…Something decidedly amiss is unfolding. Of that much, I am certain.”
The Merchant Conference would commence tomorrow.
For now, all I could do was prepare to respond swiftly to whatever crisis might emerge.

* * *
Pungwharu, situated in the heart of Chengdu, was the grandest establishment of its kind in the entire region.
The structure rose three magnificent stories, its interior and sprawling front courtyard ablaze with resplendent illumination.
Here, the principal Merchant Guild Masters and executives of the major merchant groups participating in the Southwest Commercial Road Alliance’s Merchant Conference had gathered for their assembly.
As a group of four youths and one young woman approached, the Martial Artist stationed at the Main Gate stepped forward to inquire about their identities.
“I am Baek Yeon. I have come to meet with the Cheong Yun Merchant Group Master.”
The boy leading the party merely stated his name, yet the eyes of the Martial Artist guarding the gate transformed instantly.
The Martial Artist hastily signaled those within, then with utmost courtesy, escorted the Minor Sect Leader and his companions into the Banquet Hall.
The interior of the establishment was adorned with lavish decorations and gilt-laden pillars, while crimson sandalwood railings enhanced the atmosphere with an air of refined elegance and splendor.
Most striking of all were the hundreds of lanterns suspended in rows, swaying gently in the breeze like blossoms dancing upon the wind.
The Minor Sect Leader’s party was guided to the expansive Main Hall on the first floor, where the Banquet Hall had been prepared.
The Banquet Hall was laden with dozens of tables, their surfaces bending beneath the weight of countless dishes and wine vessels, while serving attendants hurried back and forth carrying trays laden with fresh courses.
Jang Yeon Hwi stood amid the clamorous festivities.
“Ah! Minor Sect Leader!”
Jang Yeon Hwi, who had been conversing with someone seated across from him, set down his wine cup and sprang to his feet upon spotting the Minor Sect Leader.
His voice rang out with such volume that the Banquet Hall fell momentarily silent.
In that instant, the gazes of dozens of attendees turned simultaneously toward the young boy.
At that moment.
“Ah….”
The Minor Sect Leader’s vision swam, and his legs buckled beneath him—he nearly collapsed.
The sudden convergence of countless unfamiliar eyes had triggered a wave of vertigo.
“Are you unwell, sir?”
Steadied by Young Ho Bin’s support, the Minor Sect Leader’s expression hardened, and he glanced downward toward his feet.
Then.
Crack!
The Minor Sect Leader’s foot came down forcefully upon a slightly protruding section of the wooden floor beneath him.
The motion was graceful and dignified, yet the force contained within it was far from negligible.
“Oh!”
One of Pungwharu’s attendants gasped in alarm and shrank back in terror, but the Minor Sect Leader simply withdrew several coins from his pouch and tossed them to the man without ceremony.
“The floor is uneven. Have it repaired before any guests take a fall.”
“M-my lord, I have committed a grave offense….”
“Today is a fortunate day. Let us not speak of death.”
“Yes, sir….”
The moment the Minor Sect Leader’s expression grew stern, the Merchant Guild Masters who had been watching the brief commotion came to a realization.
‘If today were not a fortunate day, someone would have died?’
‘So the Demonic Cult’s Minor Sect Leader truly is arrogant and violent beyond measure….’
‘He’s forcing himself to hold back because there are so many eyes watching.’
‘That employee nearly breathed his last in this very place.’
The Minor Sect Leader then approached Jang Yeon Hwi with an unhurried smile, each step deliberate and measured.
This time, I steeled myself to keep my gait steady and composed.
Jang Yeon Hwi hurried forward and grasped the Minor Sect Leader’s hand eagerly.
“Forgive me for not greeting you at the entrance.”
“My Maternal Grandfather, you are far too busy with important matters to say such things.”
“Why not sit for a moment and exchange greetings with my associates?”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but given my position, it would be inappropriate for me to linger long among merchants, would it not?”
“Still, it troubles me to simply send you off like this….”
“Please, think nothing of it. I merely stopped by in passing for a brief moment.”
Jang Yeon Hwi and the Minor Sect Leader exchanged only the predetermined words, their greeting brief and choreographed.
The Minor Sect Leader’s single reference to him as “Maternal Grandfather,” as well as the complete absence of acknowledgment toward or even a glance at the merchants in the Banquet Hall—all of it had been arranged beforehand.
From the moment the Minor Sect Leader entered, every person in the Banquet Hall—from the masters of the great merchant guilds to the servants carrying wine bottles to the musicians playing instruments—held their breath, watching his every movement and straining to catch every word he spoke.
‘Did I make any mistakes?’
The Minor Sect Leader still felt the weight of so many gazes upon him, cold sweat trickling down his back, yet not a soul among them noticed.
“Then I shall take my leave. I hope for favorable results tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Please convey my regards to the Sect Leader.”
With those words, the Minor Sect Leader turned and walked out of the Banquet Hall.
The merchants gathered for the banquet watched the notorious Minor Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult depart, their eyes alight with equal parts curiosity and apprehension.
The moment the Minor Sect Leader vanished from their sight, the merchants rushed forward without hesitation to surround Jang Yeon Hwi.
“So that young man is the Minor Sect Leader of the… Sun and Moon Divine Sect we’ve only heard rumors about.”
“Indeed, one can feel the dreadful aura emanating from him.”
“Haha. Though I may call him my grandson, even I feel my spine chill when I meet the Minor Sect Leader.”
Jang Yeon Hwi spoke with pride about the relationship between the Cheong Yun Merchant Group and the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, and about his blood ties to the Sect Leader Family.

* * *
‘I’ve carelessly damaged the floor.’
Whenever I stand before people who make me uncomfortable, I inevitably make mistakes without realizing it.
Still, thanks to my quick thinking, my role for today had come to an end.
Though I still had a bit more to do at tomorrow’s Merchant Conference.
“Minor Sect Leader, you must be exhausted.”
“Ah, I did exert myself somewhat.”
“…?”
“Watching those old men huddle together and prattle on—I had to restrain myself from overturning the entire banquet hall.”
“…!!”
It was just as I was attempting to slip out of the Banquet Hall.
The face of a man passing through the corridor in the Front Courtyard outside the Banquet Hall suddenly entered my field of vision before vanishing.
In that instant, a memory flashed through my mind.
‘That man…, surely….’
On the day when a group of merchants had been ambushed by mysterious assailants.
The eyes of one masked man had seemed strangely familiar to me.
The face of the man who had passed me outside the Banquet Hall overlapped with the face of the man I had seen that day.
“Young Ho Bin.”
“Yes?”
That wasn’t all.
Now that I thought about it, I had definitely seen this man’s face before.
When we departed from the Sect Headquarters by carriage and later reunited with the rest of the Cheong Yun Merchant Group.
A martial artist who had been attending to Poong Cheong Jin, the captain of the Cheongun Escort Corps, at close range.
It was undoubtedly the same man whose gaze I had crossed several times on the journey here.
“Let’s follow him.”
“Minor Sect Leader? What is the matter?”
“My sister should return first with Namgung Eon. I’ll explain later.”
If four of us moved at once, there was too great a chance he would notice our pursuit.
Together with Young Ho Bin, I softly tailed the man, muffling my footsteps.
The man appeared to have slipped away from the Banquet Hall area and was attempting to leave through a side entrance rather than the main gate of Pungwharu.
Fortunately, since the Banquet Hall was in an uproar, no one paid attention to Young Ho Bin’s and my movements.
I quietly followed him while my thoughts churned.
‘If this man is indeed one of those who attacked the merchants….’
This would undoubtedly mean that Jang Yeon Hwi was behind the attack.
Then what was Jang Yeon Hwi plotting?
The man continued walking even after leaving Pungwharu.
We pursued him through sparsely populated streets, turning corners as he disappeared from view.
The man came to a halt in a secluded alley.
The way he looked about suggested he was searching for someone he had arranged to meet here.
And then.
“What are you doing here?”
Startled by the voice behind me, I turned to see another familiar face regarding me with curiosity.
It was Poong Cheong Jin, the captain of the Cheongun Escort Corps and a master swordsman of the first rank.

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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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