The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 66

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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 066
How to Befriend the Minor Sect Leader 2
For Ha Yeon Ryeong, visiting the Back Garden to meet the Minor Sect Leader on this day could be called nothing less than an adventure.
While the Minor Sect Leader and his companions were away on their mission, Ha Yeon Ryeong had endured long hours consumed by worry and longing.
There was no denying that her affection for the Minor Sect Leader surpassed that which she held for any other soul.
Upon hearing that the Minor Sect Leader and his party had returned safely, she had suppressed the urge to rush to him before anyone else could.
She desired instead to seize an opportune moment for a private reunion with him.
Unlike other women, Ha Yeon Ryeong did not paint her face with cosmetics, yet this morning she had taken greater care with her attire and bearing than usual.
Such opportunities to meet the Minor Sect Leader when he was alone were rare indeed.
“Minor Sect Leader. I am overjoyed to see you have returned safely. I have worried greatly for you during your absence.”
“I apologize for the concern I have caused you, Miss Ha.”
The Minor Sect Leader’s greeting was brief, even somewhat stiff.
Unlike Ha Yeon Ryeong herself, whose joy, relief, and gladness could not be concealed in her smile, his expression remained as taciturn as ever.
It fell short of the warm, affectionate reunion she had envisioned.
And yet.
‘The Minor Sect Leader called me “Miss Ha” twice. He continued to meet my gaze throughout our greeting.’
Unlike other men, Ha Yeon Ryeong understood that such behavior from the Minor Sect Leader revealed a familiarity toward her.
Or rather, though she did not fully comprehend it herself, she trusted it implicitly because Baek So Cheong, the Minor Sect Leader’s sister, had told her so.
Had it been the Ha Yeon Ryeong of before, she would have seized this moment to continue the conversation, attempting various ways to draw more words from the Minor Sect Leader.
Yet Ha Yeon Ryeong now recalled the counsel she had received from Baek So Cheong.
‘The Minor Sect Leader was just taking time to think alone. I must not become a disturbance.’
The methods Baek So Cheong had shared for growing closer to the Minor Sect Leader.
The part she had emphasized most was this.
When the Minor Sect Leader was spending time alone, one must not force oneself to interrupt that solitude.
“Minor Sect Leader, if it would not trouble you, I would like to remain in the Back Garden for a while. Would that be acceptable?”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes, I shall take care not to be a burden to you.”
“Very well.”
With those words, Ha Yeon Ryeong withdrew from the Minor Sect Leader and settled herself in a distant corner of the Back Garden.
The Minor Sect Leader seemed relieved to see her distance herself from him.
And just as he had been before her arrival, he once again fell into deep contemplation.
Witnessing this, Ha Yeon Ryeong felt a surge of joy within and quietly clenched her fist.
‘It is true? Following Baek So Cheong’s advice, the Minor Sect Leader seems at ease?’
The Minor Sect Leader, who would normally have grown uncomfortable in Ha Yeon Ryeong’s presence and departed by now, paid her no mind and remained absorbed in his thoughts.
Ha Yeon Ryeong did not yet fully understand, but the methods Baek So Cheong had taught her were indeed the finest way to approach introverted individuals like the Minor Sect Leader naturally.
‘Say nothing and simply wait?’
‘You must have patience. Sister, do not show too much concern toward the Minor Sect Leader. It is better to be devoted to your own pursuits.’
Introverts were exceedingly rare among the martial artists of this world, and thus such knowledge remained largely unknown.
‘Do not force yourself upon them or initiate conversation’—this was the foremost principle for drawing close to an introvert.
Ha Yeon Ryeong continued to spend her time with patience, following the methods Baek So Cheong had taught her.
Rather than engaging the Minor Sect Leader in conversation or displaying excessive interest in him, she chose instead to concentrate on mastering the martial techniques of the Kunlun Sect.
Time continued its relentless passage.
The Minor Sect Leader appeared absorbed in deep contemplation, at times murmuring to himself, at other moments pacing briskly through the Back Garden as he immersed himself in his work.
For a full two hours, the two of them devoted themselves to their respective tasks without exchanging a single word.
And then.
‘If my senior sister continues to focus on her own pursuits like this, the Minor Sect Leader will eventually begin to show interest in her first.’
At last, just as Baek So Cheong had predicted, the Minor Sect Leader began to show signs of reaction.
“Miss Ha. Is that the inner cultivation technique of the Kunlun Sect?”
The Minor Sect Leader, who had begun to take interest in Ha Yeon Ryeong’s inner energy training, approached her and posed the question.
Ha Yeon Ryeong suppressed her joy and answered.
“Yes, Minor Sect Leader. It is a foundational inner cultivation technique called the Kunlun Heart Method.”
“Hmm.”
But this was where things became crucial.
When the Minor Sect Leader showed interest in what she was doing and opened the door to conversation.
Rather than forcing the development of personal discourse, patience remained essential.
“Compared to the inner cultivation technique of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, doesn’t it feel more restrained and pure?”
“Indeed, it does seem that way.”
“Father says that a gentle and crystalline inner cultivation technique serves as the foundation for the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts, which are characterized by their lightness and swift transitions.”
The conversation should remain confined to whatever topic the Minor Sect Leader had begun to take interest in.
According to Baek So Cheong’s words, through such exchanges, the Minor Sect Leader’s emotional barriers would gradually crumble, and affection for his conversation partner would accumulate bit by bit.
“Do the fundamental martial arts of the Kunlun Sect differ from those of other Orthodox Sects?”
The fact that the Minor Sect Leader was now showing interest in her pursuits and asking questions was itself an excellent sign.
“The lightness technique called Meteor Chasing Cloud Steps is characterized by rapid and flexible movement variations.”
“A lightness technique, you say….”
Ha Yeon Ryeong recalled that the Minor Sect Leader had not yet trained in the lightness techniques and footwork of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, and answered with a joyful voice.
“Would you like me to demonstrate it for you?”
“No, I couldn’t possibly trouble you with such a thing….”
“Trouble? It would be an unparalleled honor if the Minor Sect Leader would observe my humble martial arts.”
“Hmm. In that case, might I impose upon you for some instruction?”
“Of course!”
Ha Yeon Ryeong smiled and rose from her seat.
“The first form involves maintaining both feet parallel and executing the movement forward like this.”
As Ha Yeon Ryeong moved her feet lightly, graceful movements unfolded, and a refreshing breeze swept across her face.
In truth, the Meteor Chasing Cloud Steps that she had trained in at the Kunlun Sect had been the martial art she disliked most—tedious and uninspiring.
Yet in this moment, as she demonstrated before the Minor Sect Leader, even the technique name “Meteor Chasing Cloud Steps,” which had seemed rigid and pedantic, began to feel beautiful and lovely.
“The second form involves rotating the body clockwise like this…. Minor Sect Leader?”
“Ah, Miss Ha. Forgive me. I lost myself in thought.”
“Haha. Please, don’t mention it. Would you like to try it yourself, Minor Sect Leader?”
“No, rather than that….”
The Minor Sect Leader stepped back three paces from Ha Yeon Ryeong, then smiled at her and spoke.
“Would Ha Yeon Ryeong be willing to demonstrate your divine technique for me?”
“Ah…?”
At this moment, the Minor Sect Leader had been absorbed in the koan that “combat is much like conversation,” and the instant he glimpsed Ha Yeon Ryeong’s divine technique forms, he felt an irresistible urge to test the thought that had just surfaced in his mind.
Yet the moment Ha Yeon Ryeong heard those words, she found herself ensnared by an inexplicable sensation—something tickling pleasantly within her chest.
“I’ll give it a try, Minor Sect Leader.”
“I would appreciate it.”
Ha Yeon Ryeong suppressed her racing heartbeat and executed the footwork of the Meteor Chasing Cloud Steps without hesitation.
Her delicate feet pressed gently against the ground, and her body began to rotate smoothly, gliding across the ice as if dancing.
The hem of her pristine white jacket fluttered, and for a fleeting moment, the graceful curve of her slender waist was revealed.
At that same instant, the Minor Sect Leader, who had been observing Ha Yeon Ryeong’s divine technique from the front, began to move as well.
This was not a movement born from calculation or deliberate intent.
The Minor Sect Leader, completely immersed in the koan that Hye Woon Monk had posed, was absorbed in the thought of receiving his opponent’s forms with his entire body and spirit.
As he watched Ha Yeon Ryeong unfold her divine technique before him, his body responded first—as naturally as one answers a question posed to them—reacting to that technique.
Though this occurred by chance and unexpectedly, it was undeniable that a crucial breakthrough had been laid for the Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon’s martial cultivation.
But for now, the result created by their intertwined footsteps was far more striking to the eye.
“Oh!”
The moment Ha Yeon Ryeong rotated her form, the Minor Sect Leader’s left foot extended in perfect synchronization, creating an exquisite harmony.
However, startled by the moment, Ha Yeon Ryeong failed to extend her left foot fully, and their feet collided mid-motion, becoming entangled.
Ha Yeon Ryeong’s body tilted forward precariously, while the Minor Sect Leader stumbled backward two steps, barely managing to maintain his balance.
Ha Yeon Ryeong would have fallen forward had the Minor Sect Leader not gently extended his right arm to wrap around her waist as she rotated, allowing her to regain her footing.
When their movements ceased.
Ha Yeon Ryeong hung suspended in the Minor Sect Leader’s arms, her body tilted backward, while he leaned forward, cradling her waist.
Before Ha Yeon Ryeong could even register how close their faces had drawn—close enough to feel each other’s breath—her heart began to pound with terrifying intensity.
Even as her face flushed with heat and her vision spun, Ha Yeon Ryeong did not miss the subtle movement at the corner of the Minor Sect Leader’s lips.
“Minor Sect Leader….”
“Ah, forgive me. That was quite forward of me.”
The Minor Sect Leader, appearing embarrassed, steadied himself and helped Ha Yeon Ryeong regain her balance.
His face had already returned to its usual stern expression, but Ha Yeon Ryeong’s eyes still held that enchanted, dreamlike gleam.
She had witnessed an expression from the Minor Sect Leader that she had never seen once in the past year.
He had smiled at her—what more could she possibly desire?
It was at that very moment when Ha Yeon Ryeong was thinking such thoughts.
“My goodness?”
From the entrance of the Back Garden came a clear, crystalline voice—like silver beads rolling across a jade tray.
Someone had emerged into the Back Garden, spotted the Minor Sect Leader and Ha Yeon Ryeong, and greeted them familiarly.
And then.
“Ah, Sister!”
For the briefest moment, a smile brimming with joy bloomed across the Minor Sect Leader’s face.
In that gaze, warmth and affection overflowed in their fullest measure.
Though that smile vanished in an instant, Ha Yeon Ryeong had already come to understand with piercing clarity.
The smile the Minor Sect Leader had shown her just moments before….
Nothing compared to the smile that had crossed the Minor Sect Leader’s face the moment he laid eyes on Baek Young Lady.
“Minor Sect Leader! Sister! So you two were together!”
With each step Baek So Cheong took toward the Minor Sect Leader, his face grew brighter and brighter.
It wasn’t merely his expression—his entire being welcomed her presence.
The change was so subtle that no one else would have noticed, but Ha Yeon Ryeong, who had scrutinized the Minor Sect Leader intently for the past hour, could perceive it clearly.
In fact, the Minor Sect Leader was deliberately composing his features into a solemn expression to conceal his joy.
“I wonder if I’ve intruded upon something?”
Ha Yeon Ryeong turned her gaze toward Baek So Cheong and smiled.
Baek So Cheong’s gentle voice, serene expression, radiant smile, and the tender affection in her eyes as she looked upon the Minor Sect Leader….
The presence of all these things, which she had witnessed countless times over the past year, felt so overwhelmingly vivid in this moment that Ha Yeon Ryeong could only accept and yield to the truth.
“Sister, that’s too much.”
“Hmm? What is?”
“I was spending a quiet moment with the Minor Sect Leader, and you’re intruding like this?”
“My? Really?”
“Ha Young Lady. What do you mean by that?”
There had never been any space in the Minor Sect Leader’s heart for her to wedge herself into….
“Haha. I was only joking. Sister! Minor Sect Leader! Isn’t the sunlight particularly warm today?”

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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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