The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Thump- thump-.

Cheon Myeong was walking down the corridor inside the Small Azure Pavilion.

A few servants he encountered while walking down the corridor.

They were all people he didn't know.

'Did everyone except Songhwa leave?'

Since he hadn't met everyone yet, it was possible that the servants who had worked here before were still here.

But now, rather than being interested in that, he had something to take care of first.

"Excuse me... I don't know who you are, but you can't just come in here."

At that moment, a man approached Cheon Myeong and said.

It seemed that he had come and said that because a stranger was confidently walking around the house.

But since that was not the case, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but feel a little offended by those words.

However, since the servant was not directly at fault, Cheon Myeong suppressed his anger and said.

"I am Cheon Myeong."

"Cheon Myeong...?"

Although Cheon Myeong had revealed his name, the man did not seem to recognize Cheon Myeong immediately.

And for good reason, since he had not been seen at the main headquarters for three years, his name had become faint in people's memories.

While Cheon Myeong was thinking about whether he should reveal that he was the son of the leader, the man's two eyes widened.

"Y-Young Master Cheon Myeong!"

The man did not know Cheon Myeong's face.

However, since he knew the name, he was able to recognize Cheon Myeong's identity immediately.

Thud-.

As soon as he recognized Cheon Myeong's identity, the man immediately prostrated himself on the floor.

He did not think that the person in front of him was impersonating Cheon Myeong's name.

Impersonating the name of the leader and his bloodline was a grave sin that would lead to the extermination of three generations.

Since he thought that there was no one in the world who would commit such a grave sin, he did not doubt Cheon Myeong.

"I heard there is a person named Jang Hyeon here."

"..."

"Where is he?"

"T-that's..."

The man knew that the Small Azure Pavilion was originally the place where Cheon Myeong had lived.

Moreover, since Cheon Myeong's voice was by no means bright, it was certain that a bad situation would occur if the two met.

If this answer became the cause of such a situation, the sparks might fly to him.

That's why the man couldn't easily answer Cheon Myeong's question.

"Speak."

A short but firm voice, as if he would not ask twice.

The man had no choice but to answer Cheon Myeong's question.

"H-he's in the innermost room..."

"..."

Swish-.

At the man's answer, Cheon Myeong raised his head towards the inside of the corridor.

According to his memory, the inside was where the room he had lived in in the past was.

As he thought that he had not only stolen his house but also taken his room, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but feel even worse.

Thump- thump-.

After hearing the man's answer, Cheon Myeong moved his steps inside without a word.

The closer he got to the inside, the louder the noisy voices became.

When Cheon Myeong stopped in front of a door, the sound became clearer.

'A woman's voice?'

A thin voice was also heard from inside the room.

This was clearly a woman's voice.

It seemed that a man and a woman were talking excitedly while laughing with each other.

"..."

A situation where a man and a woman were laughing as if they were having fun.

Cheon Myeong could roughly imagine what was happening beyond this.

Grab-.

Hearing the sound, Cheon Myeong grabbed the door with an even colder face.

And.

He opened the door roughly with a tremendous force.

"Kyaa-!"

As Cheon Myeong opened the door roughly, a woman screamed in the room as if she was surprised.

Cheon Myeong, who was staring at the inside of the room without a word, as if he didn't care.

As expected, the appearance inside was not much different from Cheon Myeong's expectations.

'He's having a proper drinking party.'

All kinds of delicacies were laid out on the table, and empty bottles were scattered on the floor.

Moreover, there were even half-naked women on both sides.

Just by looking at this scene, it was impossible to tell whether this was a gisaeng house or the Small Azure Pavilion.

"...Huh?"

At that moment, the man who had women on both sides looked at Cheon Myeong.

His two eyes were almost about to close, as if he was very drunk.

Cheon Myeong immediately recognized that the man who was looking at him was Jang Hyeon of the Blood Jang Family.

'Is this guy Jang Hyeon of the Blood Jang Family?'

And is he a person who could become the young leader in the future?

Thinking so, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

'If a guy like this becomes the young leader, he'll ruin our cult.'

Just by looking, he could roughly figure out what kind of guy he was.

The sun hadn't even set yet, and he was having a drinking party with women.

Moreover, seeing him act as if he didn't care that all the family members were watching, his actions were no different from those of a ruffian.

And Cheon Myeong's anger boiled at the fact that such a ruffian was now occupying his house.

"What are you, the guy who brought the alcohol?"

"..."

"If it's alcohol, put it in a suitable place and get lost quickly."

Jang Hyeon, who seemed to have mistaken Cheon Myeong for a servant, said that and turned his face to the woman next to him again.

But the woman next to him, as if she had realized that something was strange about the situation, cautiously said to Jang Hyeon.

"Young Master Jang Hyeon... it doesn't seem like he brought alcohol."

"What?"

When the woman said that, Jang Hyeon's gaze turned to Cheon Myeong again.

Cheon Myeong, who was still standing there and silently looking at Jang Hyeon.

Jang Hyeon released the arm he had put on the woman's shoulder and said to Cheon Myeong.

"Looking again, I haven't seen your face before."

"..."

"Who are you?"

"...It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

A smile appeared on Cheon Myeong's cold lips.

"I am Cheon Myeong."

"Cheon Myeong?"

When Cheon Myeong revealed his name, Jang Hyeon chewed on that name inwardly.

And he realized where he had heard that name.

And he said to Cheon Myeong in a voice that seemed to have sobered up a little.

"Cheon Myeong... are you Young Master Cheon Myeong?"

"..."

"You really are Young Master Cheon Myeong!"

Saying that, Jang Hyeon began to laugh as if he was excited.

Even though he was caught having a drinking party at the Small Azure Pavilion by Cheon Myeong, he did not feel flustered or embarrassed at all.

Rather, he was looking at Cheon Myeong with a surprised look, as if it was unexpected that he was here now.

"I thought you had left the main headquarters, but you were here."

"..."

"Or did you leave and come back?"

"I couldn't show myself for a while due to circumstances."

When Cheon Myeong said that, Jang Hyeon let out a cry of admiration as if he had realized something.

"By the way, are you okay? I heard you suffered a lot because of Qi Deviation."

"Fortunately, I'm fine."

"Hahaha, is that so? I'm glad."

At some point, Jang Hyeon had gotten up from his seat and had come close to Cheon Myeong.

As Jang Hyeon came close, the thick smell of alcohol wafted to his nose.

Just by smelling it, he could tell how drunk Jang Hyeon was.

And Cheon Myeong, still maintaining a smile on his lips, said to Jang Hyeon, who had come close to him.

"By the way, I came back to the Small Azure Pavilion after a long time, and I heard that someone else is already living here."

His voice was soft, but there were thorns in his words.

And Jang Hyeon, hearing Cheon Myeong's words, smiled awkwardly and said.

"I just thought you had completely vacated this place and was planning to stay for a while, but are you planning on coming back here?"

"That's right. The Small Azure Pavilion was originally the place where I lived."

"Ah, then of course I have to move out. If you had given me a heads-up, I would have vacated the house before that."

"It's okay. If you move out now."

"Hmm... it seems difficult to do so right now."

Jang Hyeon said with a troubled face, crossing his arms.

"I also have no particular place to stay if I leave here."

"..."

"If you had given me a heads-up, I would have found another place to stay. What should I do about this?"

Jang Hyeon, who was pondering with his arms crossed, clapped his hands as if a good idea had come to him and said to Cheon Myeong.

"Would it be okay if I stayed here until I find another place to stay?"

"...Didn't you just say you would vacate the house?"

"That's true, but it seems impossible to leave right away because I have no place to stay."

"I also have no place to stay."

"Then let's stay together at the Small Azure Pavilion for the time being. Ah, that would work."

Saying that, Jang Hyeon looked at the women behind him.

And as if what he had just said was a very great thing, he sought agreement from the women.

"Isn't that right? Isn't it a really good idea?"

When Jang Hyeon said that, the women began to look at each other.

And as if they had judged that it was better to follow Jang Hyeon, they smiled a little awkwardly and agreed.

"T-that's right! That would work!"

"That's a really good idea!"

When the women said that, Jang Hyeon smiled with satisfaction.

And he looked at Cheon Myeong again and said.

"How about it? Don't you think it's a good idea too, Young Master?"

"..."

Although Jang Hyeon had asked, Cheon Myeong did not answer.

Moreover, the smile had already disappeared from Cheon Myeong's lips.

Seeing the change in Cheon Myeong's face, Jang Hyeon's two eyes narrowed slightly.

'Is he finally getting angry?'

In fact, although he was acting drunk on the outside, Jang Hyeon had been sober for a long time.

Although he had really been drunk when he hadn't recognized Cheon Myeong at first.

After recognizing Cheon Myeong, he had immediately operated his internal energy and had blown away all the drunkenness.

The reason why he was acting drunk like this was to probe the person named Cheon Myeong.

'According to rumors, he has lost all his internal energy and has a very timid personality.'

He didn't know why Cheon Myeong, who had been kicked out of the main headquarters, was here.

However, just because Cheon Myeong had appeared, Jang Hyeon did not feel scared at all.

After all, Cheon Myeong was a being that the leader had kicked out of the main headquarters.

He was just an empty shell with nothing but the bloodline of the leader flowing in him.

So Jang Hyeon could provoke Cheon Myeong like this.

Because he, a person of the Blood Jang Family and selected as the leader's disciple, did not think that he was in any way inferior to Cheon Myeong.

How would an empty shell that had lost everything react? To Jang Hyeon, Cheon Myeong was just a source of amusement.

"..."

Cheon Myeong, who was still maintaining his silence.

Seeing this, Jang Hyeon felt that it was boring.

'What, can't he say anything?'

Was the rumor that he was timid true?

If not, was he scared of his authority?

If he had been in Cheon Myeong's position, it wouldn't have been strange at all if he had drawn his sword.

'Should I provoke him a little more?'

Thinking so, Jang Hyeon approached Cheon Myeong.

And he put his arm around Cheon Myeong's shoulder and said.

"Do you perhaps dislike it, Young Master?"

"..."

"Come on, didn't I tell you my situation? Or let's sit over there and have a drink and talk."

Jang Hyeon said that and was about to take Cheon Myeong to the drinking table.

However.

"...?"

Cheon Myeong's body did not move an inch.

Although he hadn't put much strength into it, when Cheon Myeong didn't move an inch, Jang Hyeon looked at Cheon Myeong with slightly widened eyes.

"Hey."

Cheon Myeong, who had been maintaining his silence until now, said.

A cold voice.

Realizing that the person Cheon Myeong had called was him, Jang Hyeon's two eyes widened even more.

And looking at Jang Hyeon, Cheon Myeong said.

"Do I look like your friend?"

(End of Chapter)