Chapter 42
The declaration of becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple left me with nowhere to go, so I ended up at the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing.
The main reason was to avoid others’ eyes, but I did have a plausible excuse.
“Cheon Gang, what am I supposed to do now?”
Cheon Gang, who had protected Jeok Wi-baek from Jeok I-geon’s attack.
As a result, he had sustained internal injuries and was currently undergoing treatment at the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing.
I was here both to escape and to visit him.
Fortunately, Cheon Gang’s internal injuries weren’t severe, and his treatment was completed with some herbal medicine and a few acupuncture sessions.
The doctor said that if he rested well for just a day, he wouldn’t have much difficulty moving around.
“Is there a way to revoke my status as a disciple?”
“……”
“Yeah, I figured there wouldn’t be. Even as I asked, I knew it was a ridiculous question.”
Cheon Gang didn’t say anything, but his expression spoke volumes.
He had been staring at me with a dumbfounded look ever since I began babbling.
“Ah… What am I going to do? I want to cry, but it’s so absurd that I can’t even shed tears.”
“…Do you hate the idea of becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple that much?”
“Of course I do! Someone like me…! Wait, Cheon Gang, did you just speak formally to me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Well, Lady Seol-ha, you are now the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
Ack!
I clutched my head and screamed internally.
I wished it were all a dream, but the pain from pulling my hair made it clear that the chances of that were close to zero.
“But why are you here?”
“I had nowhere else to go. And I was worried about you.”
He might not know this, but in the Inner City, the person I trusted and relied on the most was Cheon Gang.
His character was something I already knew well as a reader of the novel, and our shared experience traveling to Sichuan had added a sense of camaraderie.
Above all, wasn’t he my favorite character?
Unable to visit my grandmother, Cheon Gang was the only person with whom I could confide even a little.
That was why I was here.
“The Second Young Master must be looking for you.”
“He’s probably busy giving his testimony.”
Although Jeok I-geon had avoided punishment, he still needed to finish his statement about the incident.
Since I had relatively little to say, I finished earlier and came to the Demonic Cult’s Medical Wing.
“I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“You’re worried about me in the midst of all this?”
“As soon as Yang So-baek told him about the kidnapping, the Second Young Master immediately ran out. I’ve never seen him run that fast in my life.”
“…The Second Young Master did that?”
“Yes. I ran as fast as I could too, but you saw, didn’t you? I was late.”
“Late? No way! You arrived just in time to block the Second Young Master’s attack. If it weren’t for you, Jeok Wi-baek… no, the First Young Master wouldn’t be alive right now.”
If that had happened, the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t have made me his disciple.
Would it have been better if that bastard had just died?
Even as I praised Cheon Gang’s efforts, I couldn’t help but feel unsettled.
“I only did what was expected of me as the Second Young Master’s escort.”
Cheon Gang’s loyalty, to the point of not hesitating to leap into a fire for Jeok I-geon, was well known.
That was probably why even the erratic Jeok I-geon listened to him.
Cheon Gang would save many more lives in the future, so he needed to live a long, long time.
“But is there really no way?”
“Pardon?”
“To avoid becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple. I’m not joking. I’m dead serious. If you know anything, please tell me.”
Perhaps my sincerity reached him.
After a long moment of silent contemplation, Cheon Gang finally spoke.
“There is one way.”
“Please tell me! I’m prepared to do anything!”
“You’d have to risk your life.”
“…My life?”
“Yes.”
What? Do I really have to risk my life just because I don’t want to become a disciple?
As I stood there dumbfounded, Cheon Gang continued as if to gently advise me.
“Becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple is considered an incredible honor within the main sect. Not only do wealth and fame follow, but you’ll also enjoy many unimaginable benefits.”
Who doesn’t know that?
The problem is, I don’t need any of it.
“I understand the burden you feel. But Lady Seol-ha, you must know this. No matter how exceptional one’s martial talent may be, they cannot become the Heavenly Demon’s disciple. It is a position that can only be attained by being personally chosen by the Heavenly Demon. So, why not set aside your worries for a moment and try to enjoy it?”
“…Enjoy it?”
“Didn’t you say there were many things you wanted to do?”
“I did.”
During our trip to Sichuan, we ended up having quite a few personal conversations.
Spending nearly a month together naturally led to that.
“If I remember correctly, you mentioned wanting to visit many places besides Sichuan. That’s why the Heavenly Demon taught you the Demonic Phoenix Sky Art.”
“That’s right. My dream is to take my grandmother to scenic places and travel together.”
“That will be possible as a disciple.”
“Pardon?”
“As the Heavenly Demon’s disciple, what can’t you accomplish? Many of the past disciples, after reaching a certain level of mastery, have left the sect to travel the martial world. I believe that such a day will come for you as well, Lady Seol-ha.”
What? Really?
Honestly, this was a development I hadn’t considered.
I thought becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple would tie me down to the Demonic Cult, but it actually made it possible to leave freely and confidently.
Of course, there was the prerequisite of performing my duties as a disciple properly, but that didn’t seem like it would be too difficult.
The Heavenly Demon himself said I had talent, and escaping the Demonic Cult was what truly mattered, right?
Luckily, Jeok I-geon was still hiding his fangs for now.
Since the moment he reveals his true nature is far off, wouldn’t it be best to master martial arts quickly and escape?
Yes, Cheon Gang was right.
There’s even a famous saying in my country: “If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”
Right now, I have no control over anything.
I might as well live obediently and bide my time.
No despair, no self-pity, just accepting fate and waiting for the right moment.
“Cheon Gang, thank you!”
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to be persuaded by him.
I was disappointed in myself for coming here under the guise of visiting him, only to whine endlessly, but I ended up finding an answer at an unexpected moment.
“Thanks to you, I’ve gained courage! I really just wanted to run away to some far-off place, but now I feel like I’ve found some peace of mind.”
The headache that had been pounding at my temples had disappeared before I knew it.
Cheon Gang probably hadn’t intended it, but his solution had neatly swept away all my worries.
“I will repay this favor!”
Overcome with gratitude, I grabbed Cheon Gang’s hand and shook it as he lay in bed.
It was meant as a gesture of thanks, but the problem arose when Jeok I-geon walked in at that very moment.
“……”
The room’s temperature seemed to plummet to sub-zero in an instant.
Jeok I-geon’s icy gaze fixated on our clasped hands.
Startled as if I had touched fire, I quickly let go of Cheon Gang’s hand.
I understood how easily this situation could be misunderstood, but the moment I met Jeok I-geon’s gaze, I felt as though I’d been caught committing some scandalous affair.
What even were we?
Why was he looking at me like that?
Honestly, can’t two grown adults hold hands if they feel like it?
Although I had no romantic feelings toward Cheon Gang, Jeok I-geon’s fierce reaction stirred up a rebellious streak in me.
Of course, I didn’t show it outwardly.
Provoking him further felt like it would lead to something terrifying.
After all, avoiding a psychopath is always the wisest choice.
“Let’s go.”
Without saying another word, Jeok I-geon suddenly extended his hand toward me.
Was he seriously asking me to take his hand?
When I hesitated and didn’t move, he strode forward and yanked me away as if to pull me from Cheon Gang’s side.
“Ah!”
Jeok I-geon and I were holding hands!
This wasn’t the first time we had made contact, but it was the first time we were holding hands like this.
My heart shrank in fear.
Without even asking about Cheon Gang’s condition, Jeok I-geon dragged me away to somewhere unknown.
His stride was so long that I had to almost jog to keep up.
“This will be your residence from now on.”
“…Pardon?”
I had been so focused on the hand Jeok I-geon was holding that I hadn’t even realized where we were.
“I just had the plaque replaced. Would you like to read it?”
“It says ‘Yeong-eun Pavilion.’”
Only then did I look around and notice that we were standing in front of the grand entrance of a pavilion.
But was there a place called Yeong-eun Pavilion in the main sect?
As someone who had memorized the map of the sect to avoid Jeok I-geon, the name “Yeong-eun Pavilion” felt unfamiliar.
“Do you like the name?”
“Well… It seems like a good name. But why did you bring me here?”
“Didn’t I say this is where you’ll be staying from now on?”
“When you say staying…”
“I mean that you are now the master of Yeong-eun Pavilion.”
What? Excuse me?
This pavilion is mine?
As I gawked in shock, Jeok I-geon looked down at me and stifled a small laugh.
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