The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 72

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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 072
Jin Seol
Upon hearing the words “Sun and Moon Divine Sect” and “Maryeom Palace,” I could not even discern what expression my own face had taken.
Maryeom Palace, as she had said, was one of the Five Palaces of the Sect Headquarters, primarily tasked with intelligence gathering, assassination, and other covert operations.
It was true that due to the nature of their duties, they often operated externally while concealing their identities, but….
That this woman was a disciple of Maryeom Palace was something I had never anticipated.
“Why do you look that way? Could it be that the benefactor…. Oh!”
Only after observing my reaction did the woman scrutinize my face intently, her eyes widening in shock as she covered her gaping mouth with her hand and let out a sharp cry.
“Could it be….”
She could not bring herself to finish her words and closed her mouth, but it was certain she had already recognized my face.
At this point, it would be difficult for me to deny it.
There was no need to do so anyway.
“I have inadvertently concealed my identity, but it appears your suspicion is correct.”
“Then, truly, the benefactor is…?!”
“My name is Baek Yeon.”
At that moment, her pupils trembled violently as if her breath had caught, her entire body seized by shock.
Then, prostrating herself flat and bowing her head, she spoke.
“I am guilty of not recognizing the Minor Sect Leader. I deserve death. Please punish me.”
Her voice trembled severely, and seeing her entire body quiver, not just her shoulders, it was clear she, like those of the Sect Headquarters, had heard the fearsome rumors about Minor Sect Leader Baek Yeon.
“That is enough. Please raise your head….”
This situation was indeed unfolding in an unexpected and troublesome direction.
I now faced the problem of having to explain to this disciple why I had even disguised myself to be there in the first place.
Moreover, I would need to adequately explain why a Minor Sect Leader without mercy or tears had saved her.
But more than that….
“What is your name, young lady?”
“This girl’s family name is Jin, and my given name is Seol.”
“Jin Seol—a fine name indeed.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Tell me, you said you belong to Maryeom Palace?”
“Yes, I do.”
Initially, I had intended to gather information about the Five Great Families from the Lower Five Gate.
But the moment I learned of Jin Seol’s affiliation, a far better method occurred to me.
The Maryeom Palace of the Il-Wol Divine Sect Headquarters possessed intelligence capabilities that were at least equal to the Lower Five Gate or the Beggar Clan.
And regarding information about the Five Great Families belonging to the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, there was no question.
It had been frustrating that even as Minor Sect Leader, I could not access Maryeom Palace’s intelligence and had no choice but to rely on the Lower Five Gate.
“Miss Jin Seol.”
“Yes, Minor Sect Leader?”
“Since we have met by fate, I wish to ask you for one favor.”
“Minor Sect Leader! This girl lives only because of your grace. You saved my life—I cannot accept a mere request. Please, command me as you will.”
For the first time in a while, I smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
Yes, a loyal disciple of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect should naturally do so.
“First, let me ask. How much do you know about the Five Great Families?”

* * *
Not long after, Jin Seol’s condition returned to normal.
Jin Seol insisted on disposing of Jwa Mak Dong’s corpse herself and sent me out of the guest room first.
I couldn’t say precisely how she intended to handle it, but for a Maryeom Palace disciple specializing in covert operations like her, such a task would be child’s play.
What mattered most to me was securing Jin Seol’s promise to gather as much information as possible about the Five Great Families.
“Young Ho Bin.”
“Yes.”
The moment I arrived at my quarters in Jeokwol Palace, I summoned Young Ho Bin and gave my instructions.
“A guest will be arriving tonight. I don’t wish to draw attention, so prepare accordingly.”
“It shall be done.”
Young Ho Bin answered without hesitation, though his eyes betrayed some surprise.
It was rare for external visitors to call upon my quarters, save for Baek So Cheong, other family members, and Namgung Eon, so his reaction was understandable.
Yet true to his nature as a loyal escort martial artist, he asked nothing further and made arrangements to ensure that maidservants and servants would not linger near my chamber’s entrance at the appointed hour.
That night, Young Ho Bin quietly knocked upon my chamber door.
“Master. Your guest has arrived.”
The figure standing before the door was Jin Seol.
“A disciple of Maryeom Palace, Jin Seol, pays respects to the Minor Sect Leader. Forgive my discourtesy in calling at such a late hour.”
“Welcome. I have been expecting you.”
Instead of the light armor she had worn at the tavern, Jin Seol now dressed in the formal silk robes that disciples wore for official occasions, and she carried a bundle of documents in her hands.
Her pale complexion and captivating beauty remained unchanged, yet her demeanor was entirely different from the sharp impression she had given before—now she appeared refined and dignified.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Young Ho Bin bowed and departed, and just before turning away, I caught him smiling at me with an expression I could only interpret as harboring some rather improper thoughts.
But since it was Young Ho Bin, he would surely refrain from mentioning anything unnecessary to my sister.
“Please be seated at that table.”
The door closed quietly, and Jin Seol walked carefully into my chamber.
Only now did I notice the complete silence of her footsteps, which made it clear she had undergone martial training, and her level was far from negligible.
Of course, it was natural that anyone working as a disciple of Maryeom Palace would possess considerable skill.
“Miss Jin, what is the matter?”
I asked, watching Jin Seol sit at the table and blink as she stared directly at me.
Jin Seol flustered and hastily averted her gaze as she answered.
Her complexion was so pale that the flush rising to her cheeks became immediately apparent.
“My apologies, Minor Sect Leader. I was recalling what happened in the guest room that day, and I couldn’t help myself…”
“Ahem, ahem. It’s fine, so please don’t concern yourself.”
At Jin Seol’s mention, I too found myself recalling that moment I had been trying to suppress.
The memory of cooling her fevered body with a damp cloth in that narrow room.
Though it was a chamber, it had happened in broad daylight, so even now, closing my eyes brought vivid recollection of how she had appeared that day.
Though my intentions had been entirely pure, it was undeniably an awkward situation, and I felt my own face growing warm as well.
For a moment, we sat in silence, avoiding each other’s gaze as an awkward stillness settled between us.
However, Jin Seol soon recovered with the composure of a seasoned professional, her expression turning serious once more as she broached the main purpose of today’s meeting.
“Minor Sect Leader. I have gathered all the materials you requested. I have disclosed nothing to anyone, as you instructed, so you may trust me completely.”
“I am grateful. To be frank, these were originally the pieces of information I intended to obtain through the Lower Five Gate. Thanks to you, Miss Jin, I have been spared considerable trouble.”
As I accepted the bundle of documents she offered, Jin Seol spoke again.
“The Maryeom Palace not only consolidates information obtained through the Lower Five Gate and the Beggar Clan, the two great information factions of Kangho, but also conducts its own intelligence operations. Therefore, I believe this will prove far more useful than information from the Lower Five Gate alone.”
I nodded with satisfaction at her words and began flipping through the documents one by one, scanning their contents.
The documents Jin Seol had placed on the table contained information about the Five Great Families.
The Eastern Family, the Lin Family, the Jiang Family, the Gongsun Family, and the Lu Family.
Everything from portraits depicting the faces of the Family Heads who led each clan, to the locations of their residences, which of the Five Palaces they commanded, and even their preferred foods and dislikes.
What immediately caught my eye, however, was not information about the Family Heads or the families themselves, but rather details about the young masters of each family whom I would face directly in four days.
I located the section containing their information and read through it carefully.
As I slowly examined the documents, Jin Seol sat across from me in silence, watching me quietly.
Time passed in this manner, and by the time I had reviewed most of the documents, the night had grown considerably deeper.
I pointed to the documents with black covers organized separately at the back of the bundle and asked Jin Seol about them.
“What are these documents?”
The reason I asked was that the contents of the final documents seemed somewhat peculiar.
While words related to the Five Great Families were listed, they were filled with meaningless text that made no sense and lacked coherence.
Jin Seol smiled faintly and replied.
“It is standard protocol for the Maryeom Palace to write information obtained directly through its own efforts in cipher for security purposes. Do not worry. I shall decode it and read it to you, Minor Sect Leader. One moment….”
“Ah, I see. Here it is.”
Jin Seol took the documents back from me and, flipping through them one by one, revealed the decoded contents of the ciphers.
“Young Master Dong Bang Heon of the Eastern Family was assessed to have martial prowess just short of breaking through to the second-class realm at fourteen years of age. Two years have passed since then, so it is highly likely he has now reached the first-class level.”
The contents of the ciphers that Jin Seol decoded were primarily of this nature.
The martial cultivation levels of the young masters of the Five Great Families who would visit the Divine Sect, the types of martial techniques they employed, and what weapons they were skilled with.
Should a fight break out with any of them, these would prove invaluable—the most essential information among all the materials I had reviewed today.
Moreover, the contents were organized with such systematic precision, and Jin Seol explained them so clearly, distinguishing between confirmed facts and unverified claims, that they were easy to understand.
“Young Master Dong Bang is said to be extremely fond of combat, but few dare to oppose him, so he is constantly searching for worthy opponents. As a result, he is reportedly spotted quite frequently throughout Kangho, though instances of him displaying his true strength in actual combat are remarkably rare. His single-handed suppression of Hwang Gang Ssang Nang, a master of the Black Path, is a prime example, and rumors of him sparring with a leading disciple of the Huashan Sect in Chang An remain unconfirmed.”

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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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