The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

A magnificent inner palace, compared to its vastness, its interior decoration was so sparse that it felt somewhat desolate.

However, there was one grand chair located in the center rear of the inner palace.

The splendor of the grand chair was at its peak, to the point where it felt as if the inner palace existed solely for this one chair.

And a man in a luxurious dragon robe was sitting on that grand chair.

"..."

The man did not move an inch.

His eyes were empty.

As if he was no longer interested in the secular world, a deep abyss was felt in the man's two eyes.

That man was the current leader of the Demonic Cult, Cheon Jin, also known by the title of the Heavenly Demon of the Nine Provinces.

Swish-.

However, there were a few things that could move Cheon Jin, and one of them was alcohol.

Cheon Jin, who had not moved an inch like a dead person until now, lifted the cup he was holding in his right hand.

Then, as if it had been waiting, a finely colored liquid fell on top of it.

A woman who was waiting on the side was pouring alcohol into Cheon Jin's cup.

Drip, drip-.

The alcohol being poured into the cup was a liquor called Thousand Day Drunkenness.

It was named so because once you drink it, the drunkenness does not go away for a thousand days.

It was a famous liquor that only a very small portion of alcohol lovers knew of its existence.

That's why the value of Thousand Day Drunkenness was bound to be so high that one would wonder if it was really the price of alcohol.

And even if one managed to obtain it, it was common to drink only enough to wet one's throat on a truly meaningful day.

Drip, drip-.

However, the woman poured the Thousand Day Drunkenness to the point where it filled the cup.

Even though the cup Cheon Jin was holding was much wider than a normal cup, the woman was pouring it to the brim as if it were natural.

Moreover, the beauty of the woman pouring the alcohol was also considerable.

Would there be a man who could resist if this woman seduced one in ten, no, one in a thousand?

Even if one went to a famous gisaeng house in the capital, it seemed difficult to find a woman with a more beautiful appearance than this woman.

Expensive famous liquor and a beautiful woman.

Those two things alone indirectly showed how powerful Cheon Jin's current authority was.

Clink-.

When the cup was full, the woman stopped pouring.

The amount was adjusted to fit the size of the cup.

At a glance, it was not the skill of someone who had done it once or twice.

And as the cup was filled, Cheon Jin drank all the alcohol in the cup at once.

"..."

Thousand Day Drunkenness was famous for its deep taste, but as its name suggests, it was an incredibly strong liquor.

Why else would it be named so, saying that if you drink it once, you will be drunk for a thousand days?

Even though he had drunk almost a whole bottle of such liquor at once, not a single sign of drunkenness was felt on Cheon Jin's face.

Creak-.

At that moment, the door of the inner palace opened and someone came in.

A man walked along the path in the center and approached the grand chair where Cheon Jin was sitting.

And when the distance got closer to some extent, he prostrated himself before Cheon Jin.

"Bang Gitae greets the leader."

The head of the Guardian Hall, Bang Gitae.

Once one reached the position of a head, it could by no means be called a low position within the Demonic Cult.

Moreover, if one was in charge of the Guardian Hall, one could be said to be located in the upper echelons of the Demonic Cult.

Such a person was now lowering himself before Cheon Jin.

And Cheon Jin, as if it were natural, was just looking down at Bang Gitae without a word.

"...Raise your head."

After quite a while, Cheon Jin said in a dry voice.

As soon as permission was granted, Bang Gitae barely raised his head.

And after carefully getting up from his seat, he said to Cheon Jin.

"It's a regular report."

When Bang Gitae said that, Cheon Jin's brow moved slightly.

A slight reaction that could be called a mistake.

Cheon Jin maintained his expression and opened his mouth.

"If there's nothing unusual, just leave."

"...I have something to report."

"..."

A brief silence.

And Cheon Jin put down the cup he was holding on the armrest.

Thump-.

At that moment, the woman next to him bowed to Cheon Jin and retreated somewhere.

The woman walked out, but she left the inner palace with by no means slow steps, and when only the two were left in the inner palace, Cheon Jin opened his mouth again.

"What is it?"

"Young Master Cheon Myeong wants to return to the main headquarters."

As soon as Cheon Jin asked, Bang Gitae answered immediately.

The regular report Bang Gitae was talking about was about Cheon Myeong.

Once a year, Soyeon Sang, who was assigned as Cheon Myeong's escort, would return to the main headquarters and report to Bang Gitae first. And after that, Bang Gitae would come to Cheon Jin and deliver what he had heard from Soyeon Sang as it was.

Of course, it would be possible to deliver a more detailed report if Soyeon Sang reported directly to Cheon Jin.

But there were few people who could have an audience with the leader.

No matter how much Soyeon Sang belonged to the Guardian Hall, he could not have an audience with Cheon Jin like this unless there was a very special matter.

"...The reason?"

"It seems the Young Master did not state the reason."

"..."

With Bang Gitae's words, Cheon Jin closed his mouth again.

And Bang Gitae was watching him nervously.

As the head of the Guardian Hall, he thought he was quite good at reading people's minds, but he could never read Cheon Jin's thoughts whenever he saw him.

'What kind of reaction will the leader show...'

Cheon Myeong, who had left the main headquarters about three years ago.

It was said that he had left, but it was the same as Cheon Jin having chased him away.

Bang Gitae didn't know the exact reason why Cheon Myeong was kicked out, but he wouldn't have kicked someone out for a good reason.

From the moment he heard from Soyeon Sang that Cheon Myeong wanted to return, Bang Gitae had thought that a ripple would occur.

However.

Contrary to Bang Gitae's expectations, Cheon Jin said with his usual dry expression.

"It is not permitted."

"..."

Yes, that might be better.

What would Cheon Myeong, who had lost all his internal energy due to Qi Deviation, do here even if he returned?

Before that, since Cheon Jin had said that it was not permitted at once, there was no need to ask for the reason anymore.

"I understand."

After hearing the answer, Bang Gitae carefully left the inner palace.

Cheon Jin was left alone in the inner palace.

After being still for a long time, Cheon Jin raised his empty right hand.

At that moment, the Thousand Day Drunkenness that was placed near the grand chair moved on its own and came into Cheon Jin's right hand.

Gulp, gulp-.

Without even pouring it into a cup, Cheon Jin drank the Thousand Day Drunkenness straight from the bottle.

Cheon Jin emptied all the alcohol inside at once.

And with the empty bottle in his hand, he just stood there, still.

* * *

Flap-.

Cheon Myeong was sitting in his room and reading the Medical Supplement Manual.

He had been reading the same content over and over again for dozens, no, hundreds of times recently.

Now, Cheon Myeong had firmly imprinted the Medical Supplement Manual in his mind, to the point where the content would come to him on its own even if he closed his eyes.

Thump-.

After quickly reading all the volumes, Cheon Myeong closed the book.

And he closed his eyes and sat still for a while with his head raised towards the ceiling.

"...It's done."

Cheon Myeong opened his eyes with a mumble.

After reviewing it for the last time and recalling all the contents in his mind, he was now sure that he had perfectly acquired the Medical Supplement Manual as his own knowledge.

'It took quite a while.'

He had expected it to take about half a year from the beginning, but he hadn't thought it would really take that long.

Of course, if he had focused only on the Medical Supplement Manual without training, he could have shortened the time a little more.

But Cheon Myeong had decided to learn the Medical Supplement Manual slowly while maintaining a balance.

Since he had already finished taking all the inner cores, there was no need to hurry.

After taking the Azure Heaven Pill, he had also made the inner core of the Black-spotted Python into an elixir and had finished taking it, so Cheon Myeong's internal energy had become noticeably profound.

'Now I can burn these.'

He had even checked it for the last time just in case.

Now, if he burned these books, the knowledge of Yakssobang would be his and his alone.

Since he had memorized all the contents with that plan from the beginning, Cheon Myeong was planning to dispose of all the books by today.

'Now I just have to wait for Soyeon Sang.'

Soyeon Sang was not here right now.

He had gone to the main headquarters for the regular report on Cheon Myeong that was held once a year.

And Cheon Myeong had already said something to Soyeon Sang before he left.

'What kind of answer will that person give...'

His current father and the leader, Cheon Jin.

Since Cheon Myeong only knew Cheon Jin through the memories of the previous owner of this body, he couldn't easily predict how he would react.

But now that he had finished all the preparations to return to the main headquarters, he couldn't stay here forever, could he?

It would be better in many ways for the future to return to the main headquarters as soon as possible.

'Ah, come to think of it, this guy was still left.'

Cheon Myeong suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.

He put his hand in his pocket and took something out.

A pouch that looked like a sachet at a glance was held in Cheon Myeong's hand.

"..."

When he opened the pouch, a white egg revealed itself from inside.

It was the egg that the bird of prey had been holding in Musan in the past.

'It's been half a year, but this guy doesn't seem to have any intention of being born.'

He had brought this with the intention of hatching the egg and raising it to some extent as a reward for taking the inner core...

The problem was that the egg had no intention of hatching even after half a year.

'Could it be that it lacks warmth?'

Still, he had been keeping it in his pocket like this except when he was training.

He had even slept with the egg in his pocket with the feelings of a parent.

"..."

He had put in so much effort, but there was no sign of it being born, so Cheon Myeong was just frustrated.

Even if it was born, would he be able to raise it properly at the main headquarters...

Since Cheon Myeong didn't know what kind of situations would come in the future, he had been thinking of hatching it here and then raising it and sending it away if possible.

'...Should I just boil it and eat it?'

Since it was an egg laid by a spiritual beast, wouldn't it be helpful to his internal energy to some extent even if he ate it as an egg?

Cheon Myeong had that thought for a moment, but he soon shook his head.

No one knew what this guy's fate would be in the future, but at least he should be able to choose after he was born, right?

Cheon Myeong thought so and put the egg back in the pouch and put it in his pocket.

"Young Master, are you inside?"

At that moment, a voice was heard from beyond the door.

'Is he back already?'

As soon as he heard the voice, Cheon Myeong's expression brightened.

A profound male voice.

The person outside the door was undoubtedly Soyeon Sang.

"Come in."

When Cheon Myeong said that, the door opened and Soyeon Sang came in.

And Cheon Myeong immediately asked Soyeon Sang.

"How did it go?"

Soyeon Sang would also know what he was asking.

When Cheon Myeong asked, Soyeon Sang hesitated for a moment and then said in a small voice.

"...He said it's not possible."

"Not possible?"

"Yes... the leader said that he does not permit your entry into the mountain."

"..."

Cheon Myeong remained silent after hearing Soyeon Sang's words.

'So he came out like this.'

Since the leader had said so, no one would be able to change that decision.

And if he couldn't return to the main headquarters, all of Cheon Myeong's plans would be in vain.

'This is difficult.'

The best way was, of course, for the leader's permission to be granted and for him to enter the mountain.

If it comes to this, it can't be helped.

Since he had already thought of a countermeasure in case he couldn't get permission, Cheon Myeong immediately made a decision.

"Soyeon Sang."

"Yes?"

"Tell Mihwa to prepare to leave."

"Leave... where are you going this time?"

Is he going on a trip again this time?

As Soyeon Sang asked with a puzzled face, Cheon Myeong smiled lightly and said.

"Xinjiang."

"...What?"

"You've just been there, so it might be a little tough, but it's okay to leave right away tomorrow morning, right?"

"T-that's not the problem..."

Did he not hear what he had just said?

For Cheon Myeong to say he was going to Xinjiang was the same as saying he was going there.

"What's the problem?"

"The leader just didn't give permission..."

"Is it a problem for me to go back to my own home?"

"...If you go back to the main headquarters now, Young Master, it is the same as disobeying the leader."

"It's fine."

What does he mean, it's fine?

The act of disobeying the leader was a grave sin among grave sins.

No matter how much Cheon Myeong was Cheon Jin's son, he wouldn't be able to avoid punishment...

"I have a plan."

"..."

Is that really true?

Soyeon Sang thought so as he looked at Cheon Myeong.

'But there has always been something in the Young Master's actions until now.'

Won't it be the same this time?

No, it will surely be so.

Soyeon Sang thought so and decided to follow Cheon Myeong's words.

However.

'Tomorrow's work can be left to tomorrow's me.'

Soyeon Sang had no idea, not even in his dreams, that Cheon Myeong had made this decision with that thought.

(End of Chapter)