Chapter 38
“Ah, Father!”
Jeok Wi-baek, who had almost lost his composure under Jeok I-geon’s overwhelming presence, hastily ran toward the Heavenly Demon.
He reminded me of myself from earlier.
The expression of relief on his face, as if he had been saved, was palpable even to me.
“That bastard slaughtered all my subordinates! Loyal and blameless men were killed cruelly and mercilessly! This is clearly a grave crime! In accordance with the strict laws of the Cult, punish him!”
Jeok Wi-baek, kneeling at the feet of the Heavenly Demon, pleaded desperately.
I couldn’t help but find his complaint ridiculous, as he conveniently omitted his own actions. However, I had to admit his acting was impressive.
Even to my informed eyes, Jeok Wi-baek appeared genuinely aggrieved and indignant.
The Heavenly Demon and his entourage surveyed the scene.
Some among them frowned at the gruesome sight.
Corpses littered the room, ranging from relatively clean beheadings to skulls crushed beyond recognition and bodies torn apart to the point of being unidentifiable.
Amid this slaughterhouse soaked in the stench of blood, Jeok I-geon stood alone.
Despite being accused by his brother, Jeok I-geon’s demeanor showed no emotional disturbance.
While his calmness could be seen as righteous, his indifferent attitude also felt somewhat unsettling.
Indeed, Jeok I-geon was the only one covered in blood.
If Jeok Wi-baek and Jeok Hui-gyeom, the brothers, decided to label him as the culprit, it would be hard for him to escape suspicion.
Of course, I was a witness, so the truth would come to light, but my lowly status as a maid was a concern.
People of my standing rarely had the privilege of speaking up, and even when we did, our testimony was often disregarded.
Still, since the Heavenly Demon was somewhat familiar with me, he might give me a chance to speak.
While I was quietly hoping for that opportunity, the Heavenly Demon finally addressed his second son.
“Did you really do this?”
“Yes.”
Jeok I-geon admitted it outright. What was frustrating was that he didn’t bother to explain his reasons.
This provoked Jeok Wi-baek further.
“See, Father! Look at that shameless behavior! After causing this horrendous massacre, he shows no remorse! If he were an ordinary cultist, his energy core would be destroyed, and he’d rot in the Cult Prison for ten years!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! If you go easy on him just because he is your blood, the discipline of the Cult will collapse. Please make an impartial judgment without being swayed by emotion!”
It was clear that Jeok Wi-baek was determined to use this opportunity to remove Jeok I-geon.
If I hadn’t known Jeok Wi-baek’s true nature, his righteous-sounding plea might have fooled me.
“Gong Pae-cheon, what do you think? You were the one who informed me about the situation at Geomeon Pavilion, so you must have something to say.”
Ah, so it was Gong Pae-cheon who brought the Heavenly Demon here?
If I hadn’t gone to bed early last night, I would have asked Grandmother about him.
A long time ago, I had seen Gong Pae-cheon visit the noodle shop and have a long conversation with Shin Geum.
Yet, Grandmother acted as if she didn’t know who the Master of the Ghostly Soul Pavilion was.
I needed to find out whether Gong Pae-cheon’s visit had been a coincidence or had some hidden purpose.
“As I was on my way to the Mystic Arts Academy, I received a report about a major disturbance at the First Young Master’s residence. I deemed the situation urgent enough to interrupt my meeting and bring the Cult Leader here, and I’m glad I did.”
Gong Pae-cheon looked at Jeok Wi-baek as he spoke. I could guess what he meant by “glad.”
Had they arrived a moment later, Jeok Wi-baek might not have been alive.
If that had happened, no matter who was right or wrong, Jeok I-geon would have faced severe punishment for killing his elder brother.
Thanks to Gong Pae-cheon’s quick judgment, the situation hadn’t escalated into a greater catastrophe.
“Second Young Master, may I ask why you did this?”
“Why are you even asking? He stormed in unprovoked and caused this mess! All these men died trying to protect me!”
Gong Pae-cheon’s question had been directed at Jeok I-geon, but Jeok Wi-baek interrupted, his voice filled with indignation.
“I may have refrained from using lethal techniques because of our blood ties, but that bastard showed no mercy and tried to kill me! He’s a demon with no regard for family, not even for our father!”
For all his idiocy, Jeok Wi-baek wasn’t wrong in his assessment.
Curious, I glanced at Jeok I-geon, but his expression remained unchanged.
He showed no fear, no confusion, and no satisfaction. He was simply composed and confident, as always.
“I addressed my question to the Second Young Master because I know he wouldn’t act without reason.”
“Gong Pae-cheon! Did you not hear what I just said? I told you he attacked without reason!”
“Of course, I listened. This is the Cult Leader’s presence, after all. Surely, the First Young Master wouldn’t dare to lie here.”
“…O-Of course!”
“I only wish to uncover the truth of this matter. Perhaps the Second Young Master has a reason that the First Young Master is unaware of.”
That’s right, Jeok I-geon.
It’s time for you to counter their accusations.
I know you tend to be tight-lipped, but isn’t this the perfect moment to speak up?
Jeok Wi-baek’s efforts to manipulate the situation had gone far enough.
While I couldn’t gauge how much of this the Heavenly Demon had bought into, I knew the truth would surface starting now.
“Eldest Brother kidnapped my maid.”
Jeok I-geon finally opened his mouth.
But why, of all things, did he start with me?
Sure, it was the trigger for all this, but opening with such a statement didn’t seem like the best move in this situation.
Just look at everyone’s reactions.
So what?
Are you saying all this chaos is because someone kidnapped a mere maid?
Their expressions unanimously reflected that sentiment.
“What? Kidnapped who?”
Fortunately, there was one exception: the Heavenly Demon.
The moment his gaze fell on me, he frowned at the state I was in.
With a tone that was entirely different from before, he pressed his eldest son.
“Is it true, as your brother claims? Did you really abduct Seol-ha?”
“A-Abduct, Father? I simply brought her here to ask some questions…”
Jeok Wi-baek’s voice trailed off, and he appeared entirely unaware of why his father was suddenly so enraged.
“What could you possibly need to ask Seol-ha?”
“That’s….”
“Was it also you who tore her clothes?”
“N-No, Father! I swear, I didn’t do it!”
Perhaps fearing that admitting to it would lead to his immediate death, Jeok Wi-baek vehemently shook his head and denied it.
The Heavenly Demon’s blazing eyes then shifted to his youngest son.
“Then was it you, Hui-gyeom?”
“It wasn’t me.”
Jeok Hui-gyeom was quick to deny it.
His trembling pupils revealed that he, too, was utterly shaken.
And it wasn’t just him—the members of the Heavenly Demon’s entourage were equally stunned.
From the moment the word “kidnapping” had been mentioned, the aura of their lord had shifted.
Who on earth was that maid?
Their faces seemed to silently question why a mere maid, supposedly in Jeok I-geon’s service, was causing such an uproar between father and sons.
Even I was taken aback, as I hadn’t expected the Heavenly Demon to be this angry.
“If it wasn’t either of you, are you suggesting that Seol-ha tore her own clothes with her own hands?!”
The Heavenly Demon’s thunderous roar echoed through the room.
“How dare you not only abduct someone I personally trained in martial arts but also attempt to harm her! This is nothing short of a challenge to me, the Heavenly Demon!”
What?!
Why would you say that out loud here of all places?
I distinctly remember you making me promise to keep my training a secret!
Caught off guard by his explosive revelation, I instinctively glanced at the faces of the entourage.
As expected.
“What did the Cult Leader just say?”
“Did he say he personally trained that maid in martial arts?”
“Does that make her the Cult Leader’s first disciple?”
Oh my god.
So much for quietly resigning.
The current Heavenly Demon, Jeok Yeo-gwang, had no known disciples.
Even his three sons had separate martial arts instructors, as he had shown no interest in formally mentoring anyone.
Yet now, he had just openly declared that he had taught me himself.
Although I hadn’t formally become his disciple or learned his unique techniques, this was still a monumental revelation.
The Demonic Cult would undoubtedly be in an uproar for quite some time.
And at the center of it all…was me.
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