Chapter 82
“Care for a drink?”
As soon as he saw Tak Joong-hak, the Heavenly Demon offered him a drink first.
Beside him, numerous empty bottles were already piled up.
And yet, not a trace of drunkenness could be felt from the Heavenly Demon.
“How much strong liquor have you had?”
Tak Joong-hak raised his glass politely and held it forward.
Drip—clear liquid filled Tak Joong-hak’s cup.
“It’s been a long time since we last drank together.”
Tak Joong-hak felt the same. He brought the cup to his lips and emptied it in one gulp.
The warmth flowing down his throat was a sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Could you pour me one as well?”
The Heavenly Demon had lived his entire life issuing commands. Yet now, he asked Tak Joong-hak like a request.
“…Please.”
Tak Joong-hak hesitated for a moment, then willingly poured into the Heavenly Demon’s cup.
But strangely, the Heavenly Demon did not immediately drink it.
He merely stared quietly at the cup, taking no other action.
Tak Joong-hak waited silently. He too had many thoughts, and there was no reason to rush.
How long had passed like that?
“I was thinking of the day you first poured me a drink.”
The Heavenly Demon continued, immersed in reminiscence.
“I remember whining about how bitter it was. I even scolded you, wondering what on earth made this worth drinking. Do you remember what you said back then?”
“……”
“You told me that one day, the bitterness would taste sweet. And when that day comes, I’ll have become a real adult.”
Tak Joong-hak remembered that.
Back then, the Heavenly Demon had only been twelve years old.
“And yet, it’s still bitter to me. The only time alcohol ever tasted sweet in my life… was when Seonhwa was beside me.”
A forbidden name spilled from the Heavenly Demon’s lips.
Seonhwa—Tak Seon-hwa—Tak Joong-hak’s everything.
Hearing that name come from none other than the Heavenly Demon made Tak Joong-hak feel as if a burning lump was stuck in his throat.
“Perhaps that’s why I was drawn to that child…”
The Heavenly Demon finally downed the cup and murmured.
“When… did you find out?”
“Heh.”
At Tak Joong-hak’s question, the Heavenly Demon let out a soft laugh.
“You won’t believe it, but I heard today.”
So, he came to the Yeo Family as soon as he heard the news.
Tak Joong-hak found that a bit strange.
After all, Tang Hye-woon had known Seol-ha’s true identity for quite some time now.
And she had gone straight to Gong Pae-cheon, the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master, on that day.
Had Gong Pae-cheon not reported it to the Heavenly Demon right away?
“Turns out, the Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master was just as emotional as I was.”
Recalling the day’s events, the Heavenly Demon shook his head again in disbelief.
“Master! Please spare me!”
The Heavenly Demon had only blinked in confusion when Gong Pae-cheon barged in, begging for his life.
Gong Pae-cheon was someone he had personally selected for the position of Ghostly Soul Pavilion Master.
Always calm and never rushing—yet now, the Heavenly Demon was visibly bewildered.
“What is the matter?”
“I have committed a grave mistake! I should have reported it earlier, but I delayed and caused this situation. Please forgive me!”
“Then tell me clearly—what mistake did you make? It’s not like you to ramble like this!”
After a moment of hesitation, Gong Pae-cheon finally confessed as if he had made up his mind.
“It concerns the First Young Lady’s identity. In truth… she is said to be of the Tak Family’s bloodline…”
“…The Tak Family?”
“Yes. She is the daughter of Lord Tak… the one who passed away…”
He dared not say her name aloud and instead referred to her as “that person.”
The Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened like lanterns.
“Tell me everything in detail!”
From that moment until the end of the story, the Heavenly Demon clenched his fists and trembled.
He couldn’t believe it.
That Seonhwa’s daughter had been alive all this time, that Tang Hye-woon had raised her—it all felt like a lie.
“It was Lord Tak who, having suspected Lady Tang’s identity, pursued the matter and uncovered the truth. It was also Lady Tang who recovered the body and built a grave for her.”
“There’s… a grave for Seonhwa?”
A terrifying surge of internal energy burst from the Heavenly Demon.
“Urgh…”
Gong Pae-cheon mobilized all his internal energy to protect his body.
“Where is it? Take me there at once!”
Seventeen years ago, he had scoured Cheonsan mountain like a madman to find Tak Seon-hwa’s remains—and failed.
And now… there was a grave?
Like a stone thrown into a still lake, the Heavenly Demon’s heart trembled with violent ripples.
“Before that, you must first visit the Cheonhyeol Yeo Family!”
“To the Yeo Family?”
“Lord Yeo has taken the First Young Lady hostage and drawn in Lord Tak and Lady Tang! He suspects Lady Tang’s identity and wrongly believes she’s a spy from the Alliance!”
Gong Pae-cheon pleaded with desperate eyes.
“If Lady Tang’s origins are revealed to the public, she won’t survive in the Cult. No one would trust her! But you know it as well, Cult Leader—she is not a spy from the Alliance!”
“How can you be so certain? I didn’t trust Tang Hye-woon then, and I still don’t now!”
“Cult Leader! Lady Tang raised the First Young Lady as her own granddaughter for seventeen years. The First Young Lady is ‘her’ daughter! Please, for the sake of someone you once cherished—help Lady Tang!”
Gong Pae-cheon bowed and pressed his forehead to the ground in a deep plea. Sweat poured down his neck, and his limbs trembled.
“You…”
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon realized something.
In his loyal subject who was kneeling on the floor and begging for Tang Hye-woon’s mercy, he saw a reflection of his former self.
The uncharacteristic behavior of his subordinate finally made sense.
He should’ve noticed this seventeen years ago when he admitted the Thousand-Hand Fragrant Poison Tang Hye-woon into the Cult—but back then, he too was not in his right mind after losing Tak Seon-hwa.
“The Grand Strategist of the Demonic Cult is really a mess.”
Even delivering such a serious report so late—must’ve been because of that foolish devotion.
“You say Lord Tak is also at the Yeo Family?”
“Yes!”
“I can’t afford to lose two of my trusted people. Lead the way.”
“I shall obey!”
At that moment, Gong Pae-cheon officially received a promise from the Heavenly Demon to spare Tang Hye-woon’s life.
“The reason you came to find me today must be because of the Thousand-Hand Fragrant Poison, correct?”
Tak Joong-hak had never returned to the Machonjeon since the day he lost his daughter.
The Heavenly Demon knew best the integrity and steel-hearted nature of the man who had raised him.
If he says no once, he’ll never change his mind.
He had always admired that sort of uprightness.
But he was human too—he couldn’t help but feel hurt sometimes.
Sometimes, he simply wished his old master would recognize how much he missed him.
‘Because I’m a sinner… I took away what was most precious…’
Enduring it in silence was the only way he could atone.
“I won’t touch your benefactor. Don’t worry.”
Tak Joong-hak didn’t respond, but the Heavenly Demon spoke on, as though he’d received an answer.
“She protected Seol-ha, after all.”
If it hadn’t been for Tang Hye-woon, Seol-ha would’ve died alongside her mother on Cheonsan that day.
Until just today, the Heavenly Demon had believed that was the truth.
Though he hadn’t told anyone, hearing of Seol-ha’s survival had been the greatest joy he’d experienced recently.
It relieved at least a fraction of the guilt he carried.
“For now, the Yeo and Wi Families will have to restrain themselves.”
In truth, he wanted to personally punish Yeo Gong and Wi Lin for laying hands on Seol-ha.
But he was heeding Gong Pae-cheon’s words not to escalate the situation.
He knew it was clumsy advice, born of devotion toward someone he cared about.
Still, for Seol-ha’s sake, he decided to endure.
Tak Seon-hwa’s daughter.
The child of the woman who had been more precious to him than life itself.
Taking Seol-ha as his disciple had been almost impulsive—but to the Heavenly Demon, it felt like a chance at redemption granted by Seon-hwa herself.
“I will raise Seol-ha well as a disciple of the Heavenly Demon.”
Until now, most of her martial training had been overseen by his second son, Jeok I-geon.
But from now on, he intended to take the reins himself.
“As you raised me… I will treat her with the same care.”
“She may reject you.”
Tak Joong-hak, who had remained silent, finally spoke after a long time.
“I’m prepared for that.”
It was Seol-ha who had lost her mother because of his obsession.
Naturally, when she learned the truth, she might refuse to even look at him.
And that… was what he feared most.
“Still, if that child wants it, not even a god can stop her.”
She was already his disciple.
He had no intention of trying to control her under the name of grandfather.
Even if he hadn’t known, Tak Joong-hak too had become a sinner in Seol-ha’s eyes.
She should have grown up as the young lady of the Hyunma Tak Family—yet she lived as a servant.
He bore part of the blame for that.
“If you’ve said your piece, then I’ll take my leave.”
He had heard everything he needed today. He would likely never return to this place again.
“Rest well.”
Just as Tak Joong-hak stood to offer his final farewell—
“I was wrong.”
“…!”
“Don’t forgive me.”
It was something he should’ve said seventeen years ago.
No matter how young and foolish he had been—how could he have done something so cruel?
For the first time, the Heavenly Demon admitted fault in front of Tak Joong-hak.
“…Of course I won’t forgive you.”
With those words, Tak Joong-hak walked out of the Machonjeon.
Strangely, unlike that day seventeen years ago, his heart didn’t feel as heavy.
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