The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Thump- thump-.

Bang Gitae was heading somewhere to meet someone.

Less than half an hour ago, Bang Gitae had heard that someone was looking for him.

And now, to meet that person, Bang Gitae was heading to the promised location.

Even on his way there, he couldn't erase the question from his mind.

'Why on earth has Soyeon Sang come to see me?'

The person who had business with Bang Gitae was none other than Soyeon Sang.

It hadn't even been half a month since Soyeon Sang had visited the main headquarters for his regular report, and now he was back again.

Since it hadn't been a year for the next regular report, Bang Gitae couldn't help but be puzzled.

'Could something have happened to the Young Master's well-being?'

After much thought, Bang Gitae came to that conclusion.

Otherwise, would there be any reason for Soyeon Sang to return so quickly?

Something unexpected must have happened to Cheon Myeong while Soyeon Sang was at the main headquarters for his report, and it was too big a problem for Soyeon Sang to handle alone, so he had come to see him.

In the current situation, this seemed to be the most plausible reason.

"..."

At that thought, a hint of tension appeared on Bang Gitae's face.

Escorting Cheon Myeong was Soyeon Sang's responsibility, but.

As the head of the Guardian Hall to which Soyeon Sang belonged, Bang Gitae could not say he was entirely without responsibility.

If something had truly happened to Cheon Myeong's well-being, Cheon Jin would surely hold him accountable as well.

No matter how much Cheon Myeong had been exiled from the main headquarters, he was still of the leader's bloodline, so the price for failing to protect him would by no means be light.

'I'll have to hear him out first.'

Nothing was certain yet.

Whether what he was thinking was true or not would only be clear after speaking directly with Soyeon Sang.

Maintaining his composure, Bang Gitae arrived in front of the room where Soyeon Sang was waiting.

Creak-.

Bang Gitae opened the door immediately without any announcement.

And once again, a question arose in his mind.

'Three people?'

Why were there three people in the room?

The first person he confirmed was Soyeon Sang; since he was supposed to meet Soyeon Sang, it wasn't strange for him to be here.

However, the presence of a woman and a person wearing a bamboo hat besides Soyeon Sang was an unexpected development for Bang Gitae.

'Wait, that woman is...'

At that moment, Bang Gitae's gaze turned to the woman.

A face that looked very familiar.

But since it didn't come to mind immediately, Bang Gitae stared at the woman's face for a while.

And a moment later, Bang Gitae was able to recall where he had seen that woman.

'Isn't that woman Young Master Cheon Myeong's handmaiden!'

He was certain.

Since she had been serving Cheon Myeong since he was young, Bang Gitae had seen her face often.

"..."

Realizing that, his gaze shot to the other person in surprise.

If the handmaiden was here, did that mean that person was also here?

Bang Gitae stared intently at the figure wearing the bamboo hat pulled down low.

"It's been a while."

At that moment, the person in the bamboo hat walked forward and said to Bang Gitae.

At the same time, he took off the hat he was wearing, and the face that had been hidden was revealed.

"..."

Upon confirming the face, Bang Gitae was shocked, almost to the point of horror.

Why was Cheon Myeong here right now?

This was more surprising than hearing that something had happened to Cheon Myeong's well-being.

"Y-Young Master, why are you here..."

Saying that, Bang Gitae looked at Soyeon Sang.

Although he didn't say it directly, his gaze seemed to be asking what was going on.

Soyeon Sang fidgeted and tried to avoid Bang Gitae's gaze.

"Please don't reprimand Soyeon Sang too much."

"..."

"I came here on my own insistence. He tried to stop me several times, but I came here by force, so all the fault is mine."

Cheon Myeong said words that seemed to be protecting Soyeon Sang to Bang Gitae.

But even if that was true, it didn't mean Soyeon Sang was without fault.

He had surely told Soyeon Sang that Cheon Myeong's entry into the mountain was not permitted.

Then Soyeon Sang should have prevented Cheon Myeong from coming here, no matter what.

Even if it meant using force.

Bang Gitae thought it was natural to prioritize Cheon Jin's orders over accommodating Cheon Myeong.

"..."

But what had already happened could not be undone.

Bang Gitae decided to deal with the situation at hand first.

"For now, I will think about that later."

"..."

"Young Master, are you aware that the leader has said your entry into the mountain is not permitted?"

"I am aware."

"...The leader probably doesn't know this fact yet. So I will pretend I didn't see you here."

That meant he would pretend not to know, so he should leave this place quietly.

Of course, this could also be an act of defying the leader.

But judging that the aftermath would be less severe than if Cheon Jin found out that Cheon Myeong had disobeyed his orders and come here, Bang Gitae had said this.

"I cannot do that."

However, without a moment's hesitation, Cheon Myeong said to Bang Gitae.

"...Are you saying you will disobey the leader's orders to the end?"

"Even so, I must meet the leader."

"...Are you saying you wish for an audience with the leader?"

Nod-.

Seeing Cheon Myeong nod, Bang Gitae remained silent.

As Cheon Myeong came out as if he was determined to cause trouble, it seemed he no longer knew how to deal with it.

And to the confused Bang Gitae, Cheon Myeong said.

"I have a favor to ask."

"..."

"Would you please arrange for me to meet the leader?"

Cheon Myeong had come to see Bang Gitae to say this from the beginning.

In the current situation, it would be difficult for Cheon Myeong to try and meet Cheon Jin alone.

That's why Cheon Myeong needed an accomplice to help him.

And after careful consideration, he had thought of Bang Gitae as someone who could help him.

"..."

Hearing Cheon Myeong's words, Bang Gitae couldn't easily answer.

Of course, he couldn't.

He could roughly guess what kind of reaction would come out if he told Cheon Jin that Cheon Myeong was here now.

Even Bang Gitae couldn't be sure if he could handle all of Cheon Jin's anger.

"...For what reason do you wish to meet the leader, Young Master?"

After a silence, Bang Gitae asked Cheon Myeong.

Frankly, he wanted to refuse Cheon Myeong's request.

But if he heard the reason and it was something he could accept, he was willing to do it, even considering Cheon Jin's anger.

And the decisive factor that made Bang Gitae think so was Cheon Myeong's gaze and attitude as he had been speaking to him until now.

'He's changed somehow from before.'

The Cheon Myeong that Bang Gitae originally knew was a person who couldn't even make proper eye contact with him.

But while talking with him until now, Cheon Myeong had not avoided his eyes even once, and a sense of confidence was felt in his attitude.

That appearance planted a question in Bang Gitae's mind as to whether the person in front of him was the Cheon Myeong he knew.

And since he wanted to know for sure if he had really changed, Bang Gitae had asked Cheon Myeong.

"I have returned so that I will no longer run away."

"..."

"And I want to convey this resolve to the leader directly."

I will no longer run away.

Since he knew Cheon Myeong's circumstances, Bang Gitae seemed to know what those words meant.

'He has certainly... changed.'

Seeing those words and that gaze, Bang Gitae was convinced.

Three years since Cheon Myeong had left the main headquarters.

He didn't know what kind of catalyst had changed Cheon Myeong in the meantime, but the certain fact was that the person in front of him was not the Cheon Myeong he had known before.

'It is for the leader to judge whether he has truly changed.'

In his opinion, it seemed that Cheon Myeong had changed somehow, but it would be up to Cheon Jin to judge that.

If so, his job would be to take Cheon Myeong to Cheon Jin.

Bang Gitae thought that acting that way was an act in accordance with his loyalty.

"I understand. I will speak to the leader."

As if he had finished his thoughts, Bang Gitae said.

And seeing that, Cheon Myeong smiled lightly.

It seemed he would be able to meet Cheon Jin.

Of course, whether that would turn out to be porridge or rice would only be known after opening the lid.

'Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't turn into burnt rice.'

* * *

The corridor leading to the leader's palace.

The sound echoing in the corridor with every step seemed to be exceptionally loud.

'I'm getting nervous now that I'm about to meet him.'

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt his body getting heavier as he went inside.

No, it probably wasn't just his imagination.

The person waiting for him in front was the one called the Heavenly Demon of the Nine Provinces.

The pressure that seemed to weigh down his body was probably the influence of the energy coming from him.

'He wouldn't try to kill me, his son, just for coming here without permission, right?'

Just from the energy felt in the corridor, it seemed that it was quite possible.

'Nah... no way.'

No matter how ruthless a person was, they would have some mercy for their own blood relatives.

That would be the same for Cheon Jin, who was called the Heavenly Demon of the Nine Provinces.

If he was going to kill him right away for the crime of disobeying his orders and returning to the main headquarters, he wouldn't have called him to the leader's palace like this.

"Head of the Hall, is it true that the leader said he would meet me directly?"

Still, unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Cheon Myeong asked Bang Gitae, who was walking ahead.

"Yes, he said to bring you directly."

"What was his reaction when he heard I had come?"

"Well... I don't think he showed any particular reaction."

Does that mean he wasn't angry, at least?

No, rather, no reaction could be scarier.

'Anyway, I'll have to see for myself.'

He had tried to do some preliminary investigation through Bang Gitae, but there was nothing he could gain.

In the end, Cheon Myeong walked on in silence after that.

And a moment later, the door leading to the inner palace appeared in front.

"From here, you must enter alone, Young Master."

As they approached the door, Bang Gitae said to Cheon Myeong.

Hearing those words, his gaze turned to the door without a word.

As he thought that Cheon Jin would be waiting for him as soon as he opened this door, Cheon Myeong unknowingly swallowed dryly.

"...Open it."

But he couldn't not open the door.

As if he had made up his mind, Cheon Myeong said to the gatekeeper.

Creak-.

The heavy iron door began to open.

And the inside slowly began to be seen.

The vast interior was also noticeable, but Cheon Myeong's gaze was directed at only one place.

'The Heavenly Demon of the Nine Provinces, Cheon Jin...'

A man sitting on the grand chair in the distance.

This was the first time he was seeing him directly like this.

As he thought that that man had achieved a level that he had not been able to reach in the past, Cheon Myeong felt quite complicated.

Thump-.

The moment Cheon Myeong came inside, the door closed.

And Cheon Myeong slowly began to walk towards the grand chair where Cheon Jin was sitting.

How many steps had he taken like that?

Cheon Myeong had no choice but to stop walking for a moment.

'This guy...'

It felt as if an invisible wall was blocking him.

Of course, it didn't mean there was really a wall in front of him.

Because of the enormous energy coming from Cheon Jin, Cheon Myeong could no longer move forward.

Woong-.

To be able to emit this much energy just by sitting with an expressionless face.

As expected of a Heavenly Demon.

As he received Cheon Jin's energy, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but laugh.

'This guy... is he really trying to kill me?'

All the words he had said on his way here were canceled.

The guy was serious.

Cheon Myeong decided to no longer think of the person in front of him as his parent, but as the Heavenly Demon of the Nine Provinces, Cheon Jin.

(End of Chapter)