Chapter 39
“Ah, Father! What are you saying right now? Teaching martial arts? Did you truly bestow such grace upon this lowly wench?”
“Did you just say ‘lowly wench’?”
As Jeok Wi-baek knelt at Heavenly Demon’s feet, the latter extended his hand, and Jeok Wi-baek was lifted into the air.
Grabbing his son by the collar like a fiend, the Heavenly Demon coldly demanded,
“I made it very clear. I personally taught her martial arts. Say it again.”
“I-I am your first son, Jeok Wi-baek! How can you treat your own child this way?”
Even as he trembled in fear, Jeok Wi-baek couldn’t hold back his true thoughts. He looked as if he was genuinely resentful, almost choking as he asked. The Heavenly Demon responded icily,
“The only reason you are alive is because you are my son. From now on, watch your mouth. Understood?”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Wow, my knees are trembling just from watching.
To say he was spared only because he is a son… This was definitely the father of Jeok I-geon.
But I still couldn’t understand.
Why is Heavenly Demon going to such lengths for someone as insignificant as me?
The Demon Cult’s leaders, who had previously ignored my presence, were now desperately trying to meet my gaze, which was overwhelming enough to drive me crazy.
The Heavenly Demon’s disciple?
Grandmother would faint if she ever found out.
“Tell me the truth, Hui-gyeom.”
The Heavenly Demon turned to Jeok Hui-gyeom, assuming that Jeok Wi-baek was the culprit. His stern tone prompted Jeok Hui-gyeom to quickly confess what he knew.
“…So, he kidnapped Seol-ha to provoke his brother? And he used ‘Gunjasan’ in the process?”
The medicine used on me was Gunjasan?
Based on my experience reading martial arts novels, Gunjasan is a mild sedative.
Although it temporarily disables internal energy, it naturally heals over time.
Whew, that was a relief.
I’d been stressing about my inability to use my internal energy, but now I knew it would return by tonight.
“A pitiful fool! You devised such a scheme just to provoke your brother? How can you even call yourself the First Young Master of this cult?”
“I was wrong! I just meant it as a harmless prank…”
“Silence! Your mother wasn’t like this—why are you such a failure?”
When the Heavenly Demon brought up their deceased mother, Jeok Wi-baek could no longer make excuses and hung his head low.
“If you had spent your time training in martial arts instead of messing around, you might have improved! As the First Young Master, your current abilities are a disgrace, all due to your wretched temperament!”
Honestly, couldn’t you have taught him better from the beginning?
A famous child development expert once said that children are never at fault—it’s usually the parents who ruin them.
Looking at the Jeok brothers, this theory seemed spot on.
Although I appreciated him standing up for me, in my eyes, the Heavenly Demon wasn’t exactly a stellar parent either.
“You are hereby ordered to three months of secluded training in the Yeonma Cave. Should anyone dare defy my order and enter the cave to assist you, their tendons and meridians will be severed, their energy core destroyed, and they will be sent to the deepest part of the Guma Prison.”
The Heavenly Demon handed down his punishment for Jeok Wi-baek.
“We will escort him.”
Two martial artists appeared out of nowhere, grabbed Jeok Wi-baek by the arms, and whisked him away like the wind.
Though he could have begged his father for mercy, Jeok Wi-baek surprisingly allowed himself to be dragged off without resistance.
I felt a little regretful that I hadn’t dealt with him personally, but seeing him pale and trembling as he was taken away was somewhat satisfying.
Hoping for a change in three months would be overly optimistic, wouldn’t it?
“Are you all right?”
As I stared blankly at Jeok Wi-baek’s retreating figure, the Heavenly Demon approached me and spoke gently.
The stark contrast between his current demeanor and the way he had fiercely scolded his son moments ago gave me goosebumps—not just me, but everyone around us.
Although he had always been kind, this level of gentleness felt unusual.
Was my memory failing me?
I forced myself to suppress my confusion and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Heavenly Demon. Please forgive my delay in paying proper respects due to the circumstances.”
“I’ve told you before that such formalities are unnecessary.”
“I am but a humble maid. Please retract your unreasonable command.”
“Observing today, it seems your status is indeed an issue. That fool of a First Young Master failed to recognize my disciple.”
“D-disciple? Such words are preposterous!”
Please, could you stop saying such things about me?
The mere fact that I learned martial arts was already scandalous enough.
If I officially became a disciple, it was obvious that all eyes in the Demon Cult would turn to me.
That would significantly hinder my plans to leave the cult.
If I were particularly unlucky, I might end up stuck here for life.
Then, when Jeok I-geon eventually kills his father and brothers to unify the martial world, I, too, would likely be mercilessly killed.
That cannot happen.
I must leave the Demon Cult no matter what.
Becoming a disciple was absolutely out of the question.
“I’ve been thinking ever since I taught you martial arts. It started as a mere whim, but now I believe I should formally teach you.”
“H-how could I dare…”
“Don’t be so surprised. I don’t invest in those without talent.”
Does that mean I have talent?
“I’ll make an official announcement soon, so prepare yourself. Gong Pae-cheon.”
“Yes, Lord Heavenly Demon.”
Gong Pae-cheon stepped forward at the Heavenly Demon’s command.
“From today onward, I declare Seol-ha as my direct disciple. Treat her with the same respect accorded to the Third Young Master. I finally have a disciple worth nurturing.”
“Understood, Lord Heavenly Demon.”
Despite the absurdity of promoting a former maid to the position of a direct disciple, no one objected.
Even though it was the Heavenly Demon’s order, shouldn’t someone have questioned this decision?
And shouldn’t they at least ask me, the person involved?
Of course, I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t refuse.
If he got upset and lashed out, it would mean a one-way trip to the afterlife. How could someone like me possibly say no?
Being kidnapped by Jeok Wi-baek was better than this.
Becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple felt like an even greater catastrophe than being assigned as Jeok I-geon’s personal maid.
Grandma, what do I do now?
Why is this novel taking such a strange turn?
“And Jeok I-geon. Are you aware of your sins?”
Huh?
While I was drowning in despair, the Heavenly Demon suddenly reprimanded Jeok I-geon.
“I am aware. I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”
What do you mean you’re aware? Jeok I-geon, what exactly did you do wrong?
“How could you have been so negligent of Seol-ha that this happened? Have you already forgotten the warnings I gave you?”
“I deeply apologize.”
“You are to enter seclusion for a month! Fix your rotten mindset and return only after you’ve sorted yourself out!”
“My Lord, I…”
“That is unjust! The Second Young Master has done nothing wrong! He was the one who saved me!”
I don’t know why I spoke up at that moment.
I had been silently observing, but when I came to my senses, I found myself confronting the Heavenly Demon.
Was I crazy?
Had I become blind to everything just because he called me his disciple?
I could feel the Heavenly Demon’s gaze shift toward me.
This brat… daring to talk back so fiercely… just like someone I know.
“Huh? What was that just now?”
The Heavenly Demon hadn’t spoken, but it felt as though I heard his words.
Was this some kind of hallucination born of fear?
I hoped that he’d see my boldness as disrespectful and decide not to make me his disciple after all.
If it were Jeok I-geon, he might have lopped off my head already, but I had a feeling the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t go that far.
“Do you truly believe he saved you?”
“Yes! And I was kidnapped outside the city walls. The Second Young Master knew nothing about it!”
“That’s the point. He failed to foresee such an eventuality. As a result, dozens of warriors lost their lives. Do you still claim he is blameless?”
“Well, but… he was just trying to save me… there was no other choice…”
The Heavenly Demon’s words brought the gruesome pile of corpses into sharp focus.
It felt like a hollow argument, but ultimately, too many lives were lost.
If responsibility had to be assigned, who should bear it?
The first in line would undoubtedly be Jeok Wi-baek, but next in line would be Jeok I-geon for carrying out the massacre.
Perhaps the Heavenly Demon was questioning whether Jeok I-geon’s extreme response had been justified.
After all, Jeok I-geon had slaughtered far beyond what was necessary.
“Fine. I will pardon you today. After all, I’ve gained a precious disciple.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled at me.
I had no idea why he suddenly changed his decision, but I was relieved that Jeok I-geon wouldn’t be punished.
“I’ll see you again soon.”
The Heavenly Demon looked over Jeok I-geon and me before leaving Geomeon Pavilion.
Gong Pae-cheon and the rest of the leaders hurriedly followed.
Just as I thought everything was over and began to relax—
“…?”
I noticed one of the leaders following the Heavenly Demon couldn’t take their eyes off me.
They kept glancing back as if they recognized me from somewhere.
Was it so surprising that I was declared the Heavenly Demon’s disciple?
Damn it. I’m the Heavenly Demon’s disciple now.
As I stood there, unable to believe this new reality, I closed my eyes in quiet despair.
—
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