So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 326: Shadow (1)

It wasn't that lewd thoughts came to mind. Rather, the thought that came to him was fear.

The sheer contrast between her cold, strictly professional face and the stack of dirty manuals in her arms was nothing short of deeply unsettling.

"Do you… Really need to research bedroom arts?"

When Il-mok asked cautiously, Jin Hayeon answered with an indifferent expression.

"It's to prepare for any potential emergencies."

Emergencies? What kind of emergencies?

Just as Il-mok's thoughts were tilting in a strange direction, Jin Hayeon seemed to notice something and spoke again.

"Young Master, we are maids serving both the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons and you. If either you or the Supreme One were to suffer severe internal injuries, we would do anything to help you both recover."

Only then did Il-mok recall the case of Ouyang Mun and Dam Bin.

Watching Jin Hayeon maintain her businesslike expression and tone even while bringing up bedroom arts, Il-mok found her words echoing in his mind for some reason.

'That's right. She belongs to the Hidden Guard Pavilion, so before being my maid, she was the Heavenly Demon's direct subordinate.'

What if his Eldest Brother failed to become the Heavenly Demon, and some random person became the Heavenly Demon instead?

And what if that person decided to recall Il-mok's maids to their original posts to serve him directly?

Going further, what if that person suffered severe internal injuries?

No. What if, under the pretext of increasing his internal energy, he brought Il-mok's former attendants into his chambers?

'…The others might resist, but Hayeon would undoubtedly accept it. She's a woman who prioritizes the Heavenly Demon above all else.'

As that thought crossed his mind, Il-mok felt his mood go foul.

Was it simply because she had served him for so long? Even though their relationship was strictly that of a superior and a subordinate, the mere thought made him feel inexplicably furious.

That was right. She and Il-mok were nothing more than master and servant.

If she met a man she truly loved, he would have more than enough willingness to let her go.

But this was different.

Do unpleasant imaginings always grow in scale?

For some reason, an image floated into Il-mok's mind of someone dragging away Hayeon and his four maids.

And that person wore the face of his Eldest Brother, Wi Jin-hak.

Il-mok violently shook his head to banish the thought.

'Damn senile old bastard.'

Thanks to Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang's poisonous words earlier, these paranoid thoughts kept seeping into his mind.

Perhaps the stress and his unhealed internal injuries were causing a Heart Demon to flare up.

'If only it weren't for Seon-ah.'

He had half a mind to ambush the old bastard in the dead of night, beat him to a pulp, and toss him straight into the Peach Blossom Ridge with the rest of the crazy geriatrics.

While Il-mok was trying to shake off these distracting thoughts.

"Young Master, is that book also about bedroom arts?"

"Y-yes."

When Il-mok answered hastily to hide the thoughts he'd been having, Jin Hayeon approached him and extended her hand.

Il-mok hesitated for a moment before handing over the book. She quickly skimmed through it and returned it to Il-mok.

"Young Master, you must learn the contents written in that book."

"!?"

The thoughts from moments ago vanished instantly at her ridiculous comment.

"Th-this? I was going to burn it though?"

Because it was a martial art far too harmful to women.

In fact, he was currently struggling to even comprehend why on earth such a despicable technique had been invented in the first place.

In response to Il-mok's bewilderment, Jin Hayeon replied with her usual deadpan expression.

"Young Master, no one can know what the future holds. You might suffer severe internal injuries later, or perhaps you'll need to rapidly increase your internal energy. You might have to fight against villains more skilled than yourself."

Ironically, the answer lay in her words.

The exact reason why a supposedly righteous Buddhist sect like the Potala Palace had created a martial art with such horrific side effects.

There were countless villains in the world, and like other Taoist or Buddhist sects, the Potala Palace had developed various martial arts to protect the common people and practitioners.

The world was crawling with countless monstrous people. And just like any other Daoist or Buddhist sect, the ancient monks of the Potala Palace had been forced to develop extreme martial arts in order to protect the common people and their fellow ascetics.

The only difference from other sects was that they not only accepted dual cultivation but considered it a form of spiritual practice.

Then, a villain with terrifying power disturbed Tibet, and the Potala Palace monks couldn't subdue him with their strength alone.

To eliminate him, several women voluntarily shared their strength with the monks, which became the origin of the Potala Palace's bedroom arts.

"So please learn that bedroom art. If the day comes when it's needed, feel free to call upon us." Jin Hayeon said this in an extremely businesslike tone.

Watching her treat even this matter as official business, Il-mok couldn't help but think she was truly incredible in more ways than one.

"Then I'll take my leave first."

After saying that, Jin Hayeon turned and left the library.

With her face completely flushed beet red.

As it turned out, Il-mok had only been half right about her.

She was desperately trying to think of it as 'official business.'

Because if she hadn't, her face would have turned red right in front of Il-mok.

***

After calming the rescued victims and finishing their much-needed meal, Il-mok's maids all gathered together in a single room.

It was one of the larger rooms originally used by the Potala Palace’s monks.

"Hm?"

Stepping into the room, Ju Seo-yeon stared at the central table with a visibly puzzled expression.

Several unfamiliar books were placed there.

"All of you need to study these as well. As maids sworn to the Hidden Guard Pavilion, the day may come when we will need to utilize them."

Jin Hayeon conveniently omitted any explanations, and the three women approached the table with puzzled expressions.

Since there were several books, they each picked one and opened it.

Jeong Hyeon jumped in shock and shrieked as she closed the book.

"Hiik!"

Her face instantly turned red as if it would burst.

On the other hand, Ju Seo-yeon, who had first discovered the books, closed hers with a disgusted expression. She closed the book and put it back into the table like dropping used toilet paper into the water closet.

"Senior Hayeon, do we really have to learn this?"

"It is purely to prepare for an unforeseen emergency. An incident could easily occur where either the Young Master or the Heavenly Demon suffers critical internal injuries."

"T-Then we can just send them to the Demonic Physician for treatment! Why would we ever need to do something like this..."

"What would you do if a battle occurred in a place where the Demonic Physician was absent? What if we are trapped in a dire situation without a single medicinal herb? Are you telling me you'd just stand back and watch the master you swore to serve die simply because you had no other methods?"

Battered by Jin Hayeon's flawless, strictly professional logic, Ju Seo-yeon found herself completely unable to formulate a retort.

But she really didn't want to read books depicting men and women entangled together. It might be different if there were only text. But to her horror, the ancient monks had been unnecessarily considerate enough to include highly detailed, step-by-step illustrations.

'Young Master, please hurry and grow stronger. Please get stronger so Senior Hayeon doesn't feel the need to drag us into these bizarre situations!'

As she thought this to herself, she soon lost concentration and looked around.

Just then, Jeong Hyeon screamed again and dropped her book.

"Hiik."

Likely guilt-tripped by Jin Hayeon's speech, she had desperately mustered up the courage to open the manual once more, only to be instantly ambushed by another incredibly indecent illustration.

Ju Seo-yeon watched Jeong Hyeon's reaction with an amused expression for a moment, then quickly lost concentration again and turned her head.

A strange sight entered Ju Seo-yeon's eyes.

'What is Red Cat doing by herself?'

Red Cat was a nickname Ju Seo-yeon had privately given Hyeokryeon Seon-ah.

It was partly because of the characteristics of the martial art she practiced, but more so because of her attitude.

Except when with Il-mok, she often showed a temperamental demeanor like a cat.

Of course, Ju Seo-yeon had never actually called her that pet name out loud.

Her face would obviously get scratched up by cat claws.

In any case, the Red Cat was staring intently at her book.

"Look at this sly little thing."

When Ju Seo-yeon said this teasingly, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah glared at her.

"I'm an adult now too. Besides, it might be necessary for Big Brother, right?"

Unlike when conversing with Il-mok, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah's tone was extremely businesslike.

'See, she really is just like a cat.'

While Ju Seo-yeon was thinking this to herself, Jin Hayeon took a step toward them and spoke.

"Hyeokryeon Seon-ah, no matter how much you're a direct descendant of the Hyeokryeon Family, you now formally belong to the Hidden Guard Pavilion. I clearly told you it's disrespectful to call the Young Master 'Big Brother,' didn't I?"

Jin Hayeon looked down at Hyeokryeon Seon-ah with cold eyes, and Hyeokryeon Seon-ah looked up at Jin Hayeon with red pupils.

For a brief moment, a chill cold enough to freeze the entire room violently washed over the room.

"...I understand, Senior. Ha. Yeon."

Answering as coldly as Jin Hayeon, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah turned her head sharply and began reading her book again.

Watching the power struggle between the two women, a pleased smile spread across Ju Seo-yeon's face.

'As expected, Senior Hayeon is most elegant when she's angry!'

Turning her head from the rebellious Hyeokryeon Seon-ah, Jin Hayeon's eyes caught sight of Ju Seo-yeon.

The airhead was giggling at an empty air while happily wriggling her body.

"Hiik!"

Meanwhile, Jeong Hyeon's scream rang out nearby once again.

Looking at the wildly chaotic reactions of the three women she was supposed to be leading, Jin Hayeon let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"...Haah."

***

The next morning.

"Yaaawn."

Il-mok, who had gone to sleep after treating his internal injuries and recovering his internal energy through meditation until late, stretched his limbs and left his room.

"Did you sleep well, Young Master?"

As always, the maids guarding Il-mok's room greeted him, but their vibes felt somehow different from usual.

Jin Hayeon had her usual indifferent face, but…

'Does the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art have a side effect of making faces red too?'

Hyeokryeon Seon-ah's cheeks were slightly flushed in addition to her red pupils and hair.

'In that case, Miss Jeong's Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art must be more advanced.'

Jeong Hyeon wasn't just slightly flushed; her entire face was burning so incredibly red it looked ready to burst.

She even let out a strange shriek and quickly turned her head as soon as her eyes met Il-mok's

"Hiik."

"......"

While Il-mok was standing there completely dumbfounded by the utterly chaotic, distracting circus happening right in front of his room first thing in the morning, Ju Seo-yeon marched to him with an unusually solemn face.

"I believe in you, Young Master. That you'll become stronger than anyone else in the world."

"...What nonsense is that all of a sudden?"

A highly plausible theory suddenly popped into his mind.

He genuinely began to wonder if his entire retinue of maids had collectively rummaged through the Potala Palace’s storage room and eaten something strange last night.

***

Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province.

It was the most prosperous metropolis in the southern region of the Han Dynasty, and a city boasting the most unique atmosphere.

Like other cities, countless people came and went through the streets.

From burly men to elderly people and children. From ordinary housewives to women from the massive pleasure quarters befitting a great city.

But among them, the most distinctive were the foreigners.

Various foreigners came and went through Guangzhou City, and somehow their strange appearances didn't create a sense of discord.

This was because, with the traditional desert and steppe trade routes to the west practically blocked off, Guangzhou City served as a massive metropolis built around one of the few remaining oceanic trading ports that connected the Central Plains to the outside world.

Somewhere within this chaotic city, where completely disparate groups of people mingled together in a dizzying melting pot. There stood a heavily guarded massive estate with a plaque that read [Silver Moon Trading Company].

The luxurious private quarters of the Guild Leader were located right there, and currently, perfectly concealed within the shadows of those very quarters...

'I've lost count of how many days it's been.'

Was a mysterious figure who had successfully infiltrated the manor without a single soul in the entire guild noticing their existence.

'They... they haven't all completely forgotten about me, right?'

Having done nothing but sit there hiding in the dark for days on end, a certain someone was slowly beginning to break down from severe paranoia.