The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 91

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 091
The Little Merchant Master
A faint, enigmatic smile appeared on the Sect Leader’s face before vanishing swiftly.
In that moment, I felt as though I were witnessing a side of the Sect Leader I had never seen before.
‘So he is capable of such an expression.’
Returning to his impassive countenance, the Sect Leader rose from his seat and turned toward the Altar where the ancestral tablets of the founding masters were enshrined.
He then opened a small wooden chest placed beneath it.
Slowly, he withdrew a thick tome from the wooden chest and began walking back toward where I stood.
He extended toward me a book whose appearance seemed hauntingly familiar—one I felt certain I had seen before.
“As Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, I hereby grant you, Minor Sect Leader, permission to cultivate the Sun and Moon Dual Extreme Divine Art.”
“…!!”
One of the three sacred treasures I had discovered in the Yeongseong Cave Innermost Chamber beneath the Sect Headquarters roughly a year and a half ago—the Sun and Moon Dual Extreme Divine Art.
The First Sect Leader of the Divine Sect had sealed it away, for its power was so formidable that it could only be entrusted to one deemed worthy….
“Ever since you recovered this, I have devoted myself to studying it in solitude. I once considered having you master the Heavenly Demon Heart Method first before transmitting this to you, but… as befits one of the three great treasures, it contains the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Demon Heart Method while advancing to an even higher realm of martial arts. Therefore, from this moment forward, you shall cultivate this.”
“I… thank you, Father.”
Of course, since I was the one who discovered this martial scripture, it was only fitting that I possess it, considering the intentions of whoever had hidden this treasure.
Yet I must confess, I had not anticipated the Sect Leader would yield it to me so readily.
At minimum, I had expected him to cultivate it himself first before passing it to me.
“The cultivation of the Sun and Moon Dual Extreme Divine Art will be the first in the three-hundred-year history of the Main Sect, so it will not be easy. There is no separate master to transmit the teachings to you… but I believe you are capable of achieving it.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Now that you have reached the First Tier, you must advance ceaselessly toward the next realm. You understand what must be done, do you not?”
“Yes, of course.”
Since reaching the First Tier, this has been my constant preoccupation—how could I not understand?
To open the Gate of Life and Death by unblocking the Governing and Conception Vessels, and to form the Inner Elixir through cultivating the ascending inner force method.
This was the path from the First Tier toward the transcendent realm known as the Pinnacle—the realm of the superhuman.
Though it sounded simple, the vast majority of Martial Artists who reached the First Tier never attained this realm, even across their entire lifespans.
Yet possessing this supreme divine art that surpassed even the Heavenly Demon Heart Method, I could not imagine it being absolutely impossible for me.
Though I knew not how many years it would take, I found myself anticipating the cultivation ahead.
Moreover… introverts like myself possessed particular strength in such endeavors.

* * *
As the air grew crisp and autumn leaves began to paint the forests around Cheon San in crimson hues,
this day arrived—one I had long awaited—and a welcome visitor sought me out in my chamber.
“Elder brother, would you speak to Father on my behalf?”
“Speak to him about what?”
These words came from Baek Hyeon, Baek Yeon’s half-brother.
After meeting Baek Hyeon for the first time in ages and indulging his affectionate pleas, he released a sigh so heavy it seemed the very ground might collapse beneath us.
“I wish to ask that the merchant affairs be entrusted to the general manager, and that I be permitted to remain at Gwangmyeong Hall.”
Baek Hyeon had returned to the Sect Headquarters roughly a year and a half ago.
Hyeon Yi, who had assumed the position of Little One Merchant Master of the Cheong Yun Merchant Group, had departed for the Sichuan Capital where the Cheong Yun Merchant Group’s headquarters was located to learn the ways of commerce.
Though Jang Su Ryeon, Baek Hyeon’s birth mother, had wished to accompany Hyeon Yi, the Sect Leader’s Wife could not abandon her duties at the headquarters, and Hyeon Yi was still too young, so Baek Hyeon had endured his solitary life abroad, separated from his family.
“All the important decisions are made by the general manager and the executives anyway—I merely affix my seal to documents. Beyond that, I simply meet with people, exchange greetings, and share pleasantries. Surely these are tasks I could accomplish here as well? I wish to remain at the headquarters with Mother and the rest of our family. If you speak on my behalf, Father will surely listen to you, won’t he?”
Watching Baek Hyeon plead with such a dejected expression, I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Hyeon Yi had grown to thirteen years old, his frame noticeably taller than before, and his manner of speech and bearing were no longer those of the Child I had once known.
Yet in my eyes, he remained a Little One who had not yet shed his youthful innocence.
‘How lonely must this boy have been, standing alone in that distant place, to speak such words?’
His circumstances and mine were not so different.
Both of us carried heavy responsibilities and burdens upon our young shoulders.
Moreover, the fact that Hyeon Yi had suddenly become the Cheong Yun Merchant Master was, in a sense, my doing—and this weighed upon my conscience.
After all, by removing my Maternal Grandfather Jang Yeon Hwi from his position as Cheong Yun Merchant Master, Baek Hyeon had become collateral damage in my actions.
Of course, I could not presume to tell the Sect Leader what to do regarding Baek Hyeon’s circumstances.
Yet offering words of encouragement was hardly a difficult task.
“Hyeon…”
“Yes, elder brother.”
But then my gaze fell upon Baek So Cheong, who stood beside Baek Hyeon, observing both him and me with quiet attention.
The way she had looked at him with such concern when he spoke of his hardship.
I steeled my wavering resolve, tightened my abdomen, and called out to Baek Hyeon with renewed firmness.
“Baek Hyeon!”
“Hic!”
I could not forget my position as Minor Sect Leader, even before my own brother.
“The role Father entrusted to you is not to idle away your days. Do you not understand how vital the Cheong Yun Merchant Group’s role is to the prosperity of the Main Sect?”
“Elder brother… I merely…”
“This boy still cannot come to his senses!”
“Hic…”
He had sought to act spoiled before his elder brother, only to receive a stern rebuke instead—a bitter reversal indeed.
Watching Baek Hyeon begin to weep in fear, I too felt taken aback, and yet…
My firm response was not merely an act to maintain the appearance of Minor Sect Leader.
Considering Baek Hyeon’s circumstances and position, this stern approach was what truly served him best.
“Sob… sob…”
Still, seeing him weep like this, my heart could not help but soften, though…
‘Sister.’
I averted my gaze from Hyeon Yi and subtly gestured toward So Cheong.
The stern older brother had spoken his piece; now it was the compassionate sister’s turn to console.
So Cheong, understanding my signal perfectly, nodded in acknowledgment.
“Hyeon? Your brother is only saying this for your sake. So don’t cry, alright?”
“Sister… *sniffle*.”
“There, there. How difficult this must have been for you.”
“Brother and Sister… *hiccup*. You’re always together, so you don’t understand. *sniffle*. How lonely it is to be apart, *hiccup*.”
Hyeon Yi finally collapsed into So Cheong’s embrace, bursting into tears.
The sorrow he had been suppressing while maintaining his composed merchant master’s demeanor before others came pouring out.
So Cheong, looking flustered, gently stroked Hyeon Yi’s hair to soothe him.
Then she caught my eye and whispered to me, her lips moving softly.
‘You did well, Minor Sect Leader.’
After weeping in his sister’s arms for a time, Baek Hyeon regained his composure and wiped away his tears.
Watching Baek Hyeon return to his usual cheerful demeanor, I asked him a question.
“Is something troubling you?”
“…Yes, actually, brother.”
“Tell me about it.”
Baek Hyeon hesitated for a moment, but soon seemed to steel himself and opened his heart.
“The Ho Rim Escort Agency is trying to sever their business dealings with the Cheong Yun Merchant Group.”
Baek Hyeon’s voice grew heavy as he spoke the name of the Ho Rim Escort Agency.
In this world, escort agencies are private organizations that provide transportation and security services for goods throughout Kangho.
Due to the nature of their work, the escorts employed by such agencies possess considerable martial prowess, making the agencies themselves equivalent to martial sects.
The Ho Rim Escort Agency was the most renowned escort agency in the Sichuan region where the Cheong Yun Merchant Group’s headquarters was located, and I knew they had maintained a long-standing business relationship.
“The Ho Rim Escort Agency must consider the Cheong Yun Merchant Group their most important client. What do you mean by severing their dealings?”
“That’s why I’m so confused too. As far as I know, there hasn’t been any incident that would cause a rift between the Cheong Yun Merchant Group and the Ho Rim Escort Agency.”
“Hmm…”
“The truth is, merchants, farm owners, and mine proprietors have been coming forward one by one, wanting to sever their dealings with the Cheong Yun Merchant Group without any clear reason. It’s become a very troubling situation… Brother, do you think it’s because I’m young and lack ability?”
“Hyeon, that’s not it. Don’t blame yourself so much. You’re doing your best.”
“Sister… *sniffle*. I want to lead the merchant group well and earn Father’s recognition like you do, but it’s not working out.”
Watching Hyeon Yi speak with tears welling up again, I felt a pang of sympathy.
I was also surprised to learn that the Cheong Yun Merchant Group was facing such difficulties recently.
As for the reason behind it, I had my suspicions, though nothing concrete…
“Minor Sect Leader, is there any way you could help Hyeon?”
“This is a difficult matter.”
Unfortunately, from my position, there was little I could do to help Hyeon Yi and So Cheong.
From where I stood, perfecting my martial arts, including the Sun and Moon Dual Extremes Divine Art, was more urgent, and even setting that aside, my duties as Minor Sect Leader took priority.
Moreover, even if I stepped in, I had no clear solution to offer.
“For now, it seems your only option is to discuss this with the merchant group’s senior managers.”
“Sigh… Yes, brother. I’ll do that.”
Baek Hyeon, who had been sighing with an unusual lack of energy for someone so young, seemed to remember something belatedly and shifted the conversation.
“Oh right, Gang Leader. Please take this.”
What Hyeon Yi pulled from his bosom was a letter enclosed in an envelope.
“What is this?”
“On the morning I arrived at Sect Headquarters, a young Martial Artist gave me this letter and asked me to deliver it to you without fail.”
“To me?”
“Yes. He said he knew you well, but he never revealed his own name.”
Puzzled, I opened the letter and found a brief, enigmatic message written in neat handwriting.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————