Chapter 60
—Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Conference Hall.
Ten leaders sat solemnly on either side of a golden throne.
The one seated in the center was the Cult Leader, Wi-ji Gang, and to his right were the leaders of the ten major forces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
To his left were the masters of the Elder Council, as well as the Young Cult Leader, Wi-ji Chan.
“Is it the Heavenly Astral Corps Leader’s turn next?”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“Speak.”
“This month, I will report on the Heavenly Astral Corps’s investigation of the Jianghu’s movements. On the fifteenth day of last month, the special agents of the Heavenly Astral Corps, while investigating the strange rumors circulating in the Unorthodox Path, discovered one important fact.”
“What is it?”
“It is that a certain force is secretly consolidating the Unorthodox Path through underhanded means.”
At the Heavenly Astral Corps Leader’s words, the faces of those present showed great astonishment.
“A certain force?”
“Yes, Cult Leader. We have not yet identified them, but the minor sects of the Unorthodox Path have recently closed their gates and are secretly increasing their power, and it is presumed that this is related to a group called the ‘White Lotus Cult’ that has been spreading like a trend recently.”
“The White Lotus Cult… does anyone know of them?”
Everyone was silent at Wi-ji Gang’s question.
“Our cult’s intelligence network was once comparable to that of the Beggars’ Sect. But how did it come to this? Tsk tsk.”
Wi-ji Gang was furious and scolded them.
If it were up to him, he would have let out a roar right away, but since the masters of the Elder Council, who were his seniors, were also present, he had no choice but to suppress his anger as much as possible.
Just then, the Heavenly Astral Corps Leader spoke again.
“Cult Leader. It must be an armed group disguised as a religion.”
“That’s obvious. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be trying to consolidate the Unorthodox Path, would they?”
“The Heavenly Astral Corps is secretly investigating the truth, so please give us a little more time. We have to completely avoid their attention, so the investigation is a bit slow.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“C-Cult Leader!”
Wi-ji Gang’s gaze turned to his son, Wi-ji Chan.
“Young Cult Leader.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“This matter, you will personally lead the Heavenly Spirit Corps and investigate.”
“Cult Leader… how so?”
“Isn’t the Heavenly Spirit Corps the most specialized in stealth and infiltration in our cult? Since the Heavenly Spirit Corps is the Young Cult Leader’s direct unit, I will entrust this matter to you.”
Since it was an official occasion, his father’s voice was even more solemn than usual.
At that, Wi-ji Chan lowered his head and performed a cupped fist salute.
“I will do so, Cult Leader!”
“If an unexpected situation arises, I will order you to kill without distinction between unorthodox and orthodox.”
“I will obey your command!”
Wi-ji Chan’s heart pounded.
‘I’ll be doing some external activities for the first time in a while. Should I go see So-ah on this occasion?’
With the Heavenly Spirit Corps, any task would be a piece of cake.
Before he knew it, Wi-ji Chan was more excited about his first trip to the Jianghu in a while than he was pressured by the mission.
***
“Daddy!”
“Palace Lord!”
“Palace Lord!”
What on earth is this situation again?
Calling me this and that out of the blue.
As expected, Wang So-yeong and the people of the Ice Palace stepped forward to stop the Palace Lord.
But,
“You brat! You didn’t do anything to my daughter… to So-yeong, did you? How dare you wander the world with my daughter, who is so precious that she wouldn’t hurt even if I put her in my eye? Speak, you bastard!”
Was that it?
I thought it was something else.
Ugh…
It was really driving me crazy.
Do these people of the North Sea Ice Palace have lewd demons in their heads?
So-ah couldn’t help but think that.
“Palace Lord. I think there’s some misunderstanding. I received So-yeong’s request and was just faithful to that request. I never did anything strange.”
Although he was furious, the person in front of him was the lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.
If he confronted him, it was obvious that things would get bigger.
Moreover, even considering Wang So-yeong’s heart, who cherished her father dearly, So-ah wanted to exert the utmost patience with the Palace Lord, Wang Bang-tae.
“Can you swear?”
“To the heavens… no, I swear on the name of my Moyong Family and the title of Chief Instructor of the Martial Alliance’s White Martial Academy.”
Even after he had gone that far, Wang Bang-tae still seemed suspicious and moved his gaze to his daughter and asked.
“So-yeong-ah. Tell me for sure. Did you really not do anything with that brat…”
“Daddy! Are you really going to be like this!”
Wang So-yeong cut off Wang Bang-tae’s words and her eyes blazed.
Only then did Wang Bang-tae pout his lips and back down.
‘Really! He acts like Lu Bu to me, but to his daughter, he’s just a gentle bunny.’
So-ah was so dumbfounded that a dry laugh came out.
People without fathers will live in sorrow, is that it!
I have an uncle too, you old man.
In that moment,
“Ahem! I was rude.”
Wang Bang-tae, with a face pale from his daughter’s menacing glare, let out a dry cough.
‘Look at that change of attitude. Wow… what on earth is with people’s hearts?’
So-ah, in this ridiculous situation, fell into an unexpected philosophical contemplation and anguish.
But after thinking about it carefully, he thought that it was not something he couldn’t understand.
‘That’s right. Maybe I’ll understand that feeling when I get married and have children later. Haha.’
He knew nothing about a father’s love.
Because he had lost his father early on.
But So-ah had received plenty of love from his grandfather and uncle, and even from the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un, and had grown up under the care and affection of Grandma Hong-ryeon and Grandpa Hong In-geol.
Although he was an orphan, since his emotions and heart were warm, he had tried to understand the somewhat foolish Wang Bang-tae.
“It’s nothing, Palace Lord. I understand. Isn’t that how all fathers’ hearts are?”
At that, a strange light appeared in Wang Bang-tae’s eyes.
“The young friend is deep. Ahem!”
“It’s nothing. By the way, you don’t look well. It seems the cold ki has already invaded your bone marrow and fine meridians, so you should hurry up and boil the medicine and take it. So-yeong-ah?”
As So-ah gestured to Wang So-yeong with his eyes, she nodded.
“That’s right, Daddy. First, I’ll boil the medicine with So-ah. You have to drink it quickly and get well soon!”
“Alright, alright. Thank you, my daughter.”
***
An hour later…
When the decoction was boiled according to the prescription given by the master of Manju-jang, Yeon In-hak, the amount was enough to be taken for at least a week.
“So-ah. I’m sorry, you’re going through a hard time at the Ice Palace because of me.”
Wang So-yeong was genuinely sorry.
Although she had reprimanded him every day, in fact, hadn’t So-ah run a thousand miles to carry out her request?
“It’s okay, you brat. Why are you so down? Don’t worry. I understand.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I was so worried that you would get into a fight because your personality is so trashy… no, rough.”
“I know how to pick my battles, So-yeong-ah. If I were such a reckless brat, how could I have become the chief instructor of the White Martial Academy? At my age.”
“That’s true.”
Of course, if she had known that he had been selected through letters of recommendation (nepotism) from Abbess Hong-ryeon, Chief Hong In-geol, and the Martial Alliance Leader, Wang So-yeong would not have been convinced, but So-ah was calmly bluffing.
“But looking at the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem easy to get the money. Can you really give it to me?”
“Are you talking about the additional request fee?”
“Of course.”
“How can you only think about money in this situation?”
For some reason, Wang So-yeong’s voice was chilly.
“What’s with this reaction? They say it’s human nature to change when you go to the bathroom and when you come out, but why are you so cold?”
“Ugh! You dirty brat. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely get it for you when my father’s condition improves a little.”
“I’ll trust you.”
“I said I would!”
Although Wang So-yeong glared at So-ah with angry eyes, So-ah just scratched his innocent ear.
‘You don’t seem to mind if I just leave like this, do you?’
In fact, if she had set her mind to it, she could have told the Iron Gold Hall, which was in charge of the administration of the North Sea Ice Palace, to throw about 20 gold ingots as pocket money right away.
But for some reason, Wang So-yeong was sad to part like this.
‘I won’t be able to see him again, right?’
Since he was the first friend she had ever made, she wanted to provide So-ah with delicious food and a comfortable bed for a few days to relieve his fatigue from the long journey.
“It’s boiled nice and hot. Hurry up and serve it to the Palace Lord, So-yeong-ah.”
“Alright. I’ll get you a servant, so take a bath and rest in the guest room. I’ll let you know.”
“Yeah.”
In this way, So-ah, for the first time in a long time, enjoyed a rest in the North Sea, receiving a luxurious treatment that would not be envied by the imperial palace.
***
Three days later…
The internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp was certainly worthy of being called the number one yang-strong spiritual medicine in the world.
Wang Bang-tae’s symptoms, who had been groaning from the cold, showed a great improvement in just three days.
During that time, Wang So-yeong had nursed her father with utmost devotion.
When it was time for medicine, she would boil the decoction and serve it, and when Wang Bang-tae circulated the yang-strong energy of the internal dan in his body, she would not take her eyes off him with an anxious heart.
While doing so, she also told him the adventure stories with So-ah so that her father would not be bored.
Every time, Wang Bang-tae was surprised, laughed, worried, and then was surprised again. If he hadn’t known his daughter’s character of not lying, he wouldn’t have believed it.
“Kekeke! I really can’t believe it even after hearing it. So, Young Master Jin. Are your martial arts really that outstanding?”
Wang Bang-tae, who had entered the recovery period, called So-ah to the Palace Lord’s office.
So-ah’s heart was fluttering at the thought that he could settle the request fee.
“You’re too kind, Palace Lord. Your daughter’s lightness skill was also not to be trifled with. I dare say that So-yeong has an outstanding talent for lightness skill and footwork. If she can just supplement her ‘stamina,’ she will be able to become a great martial artist in the future.”
At So-ah’s words, Wang So-yeong snickered.
‘Pfft… another stamina talk? That damn stamina is what… ugh!’
Stamina, body training, mental strength, perseverance, endurance, etc.
For the past few months, So-ah had almost lived with those words on his lips, so Wang So-yeong couldn’t help but laugh.
Just then.
“Kuhahaha! So-yeong, you say. No one but me has ever called my daughter by her name!”
Wang Bang-tae said with a loud laugh.
“She may be a young lady in the North Sea, but to me, she’s just a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Yes. A friend.”
“Hohoho! I really like you.”
“I also like you, Palace Lord. It is an honor to meet a great senior of the Jianghu.”
“No. It’s not just that I like you as a senior.”
Huh?
What’s this now?
Really, you’re doing all sorts of things.
Just give me the gold ingots quickly.
So I can go home.
“What do you mean by that…”
“I want you to become my family.”
For a moment, the faces of everyone in the room turned pale.
But So-ah, not knowing the reason, tilted his head and asked.
“Family?”
“Tell me honestly. How do you see our So-yeong?”
“I told you, as a friend.”
“No. I mean her face. Her face!”
“Aha! What can I say about So-yeong’s face? I have some pretty friends, you know? Tang Hwa-rin of the Tang family, and Myo-seon, and even my junior sister is a great beauty. But I dare say that So-yeong is the most beautiful. I was surprised when I first saw her.”
At So-ah’s talkative words, the corners of Wang Bang-tae’s mouth were almost hooked on his ears.
Wang So-yeong’s face was flushed like a red apple and seemed about to burst, and No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc., were glaring at So-ah with blazing eyes. Just then,
“Then, the answer is out.”
“Yes?”
“Get married.”
“No… wait a minute, what do you mean by that…”
“I will give you the honor of becoming my son-in-law.”
“…”
For a moment, So-ah was at a loss for words.
‘This is a mountain beyond a mountain, a mountain beyond a mountain. Grandpa. Are you watching? Is life originally this complicated? Phew…’
(End of Chapter)