The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room turned cold.

The chill was so palpable that even the women in the room could feel it.

And Jang Hyeon, the person directly involved, was feeling that chill from the closest distance.

'What is this...?'

Jang Hyeon knew this feeling very well.

Because it was a feeling he had always felt from his opponents in life-and-death duels.

However, the reason why Jang Hyeon was dazed now was why that feeling was coming from Cheon Myeong.

'This seems to be a completely different person from what I heard in the rumors.'

The Cheon Myeong that Jang Hyeon knew was a person who could never speak in such a way.

It was quite famous within the Demonic Cult that he was so gentle and timid by nature that he would use honorifics and take a low posture even to people of lower status than himself.

But for such a Cheon Myeong to call him that way just now.

Moreover, the gaze he was looking at him with was as sharp as that of a beast that had gone through a fierce battle.

"..."

Feeling that something was unusual from Cheon Myeong's tone and face, Jang Hyeon's face had also become serious.

A face that seemed to have completely sobered up.

And with that face, Jang Hyeon said to the women behind him.

"...You guys leave."

The women also did not want to be in a place where they didn't know what kind of sparks would fly.

Just in time, as Jang Hyeon told them to leave on their own, the women grabbed their outer garments and fled out the door in a hurry.

Thump-.

The door closed, and only the two were left in the room.

The chill still lingered.

Jang Hyeon, maintaining his tension, smiled lightly and said to Cheon Myeong.

"It seems I have offended you, Young Master."

"..."

"Are you perhaps very upset?"

At a glance, it seemed as if he was asking for forgiveness, but looking at his tone, no such feeling was felt at all.

Rather, it was a feeling of 'who are you to get so worked up?'.

Cheon Myeong sighed inwardly as he still looked at Jang Hyeon with sharp eyes.

'This bastard still isn't saying he's sorry.'

Cheon Myeong had no intention of clashing with Jang Hyeon like this from the beginning.

That's why he had been maintaining a smile on his lips from the moment he entered the room.

However, seeing Jang Hyeon openly provoking him, he could no longer stand it.

This was a level where even a renowned Taoist master would not be able to stand it and would slap him.

If a ruffian like this was left alone, he would surely climb up even more, so it seemed better to completely cut off his sprouts at this opportunity.

'To think things would turn out like this as soon as I entered the main headquarters.'

He had been trying to maintain his past appearance and watch for an opportunity as much as possible.

But in that state, it seemed that he would never be able to kick this guy out of the Socheongak.

'It can't be helped.'

Even if it deviated a little from the original plan, he had no choice but to firmly correct this guy's habit.

Of course, he would try to kill his temper as much as possible, but if the guy continued to act like this, it seemed that he could not guarantee it.

"It seems I also made a mistake."

"..."

"It seems I was a little sensitive."

Cheon Myeong returned to his original gaze and said.

"But the act of putting your arm around my shoulder, frankly, I can only think that you were looking down on me."

"That was not my intention, but I acted that way without realizing it. It seems I committed a rudeness because I had a little to drink."

"..."

"I will apologize for that part."

Jang Hyeon said, bowing his head.

However, it was a bow that was almost a nod.

But still, since it was true that he had apologized, Jang Hyeon thought that Cheon Myeong would let it go with this.

'Still, seeing him talk like that, it seems he doesn't want to cause any more trouble with me.'

That would be natural.

Who was he?

Not only was the Blood Jang Family firmly supporting him from behind, but he also currently held the status of the leader's disciple.

Especially since Cheon Myeong had lost all his internal energy due to Qi Deviation, the prestige of the Five Great Demonic Families had risen to the point where it pierced the sky.

Accordingly, Jang Hyeon's pride had also risen.

'It seems he has recovered his strength by hiding somewhere after that, but in the end, it will be a level that can't even reach the past.'

Even before he fell into Qi Deviation, Cheon Myeong's skills were by no means comparable to his.

So no matter how much he had built up his strength for three years, it would not reach his current self.

Even if time passes, a dunce is just a dunce.

Since the gap in talent was remarkable, Jang Hyeon looked down on Cheon Myeong as being below him.

"Do you sincerely feel sorry for me?"

At that moment, Cheon Myeong asked Jang Hyeon.

Although Jang Hyeon didn't know the reason why he was suddenly asking him that.

Thinking that there was nothing Cheon Myeong could do to him, he answered with a smiling face.

"Of course."

"Then that's not enough."

"...?"

"If you kneel, I will accept your apology and forgive you."

What is this guy saying right now?

Jang Hyeon asked Cheon Myeong with a cold face for a moment.

"What did you just say?"

"I said to kneel and ask for my forgiveness."

"..."

Ha-.

A laugh burst out from Jang Hyeon's mouth for a moment.

Although Jang Hyeon was laughing as if it were absurd, Cheon Myeong was still looking at Jang Hyeon with a serious gaze.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I didn't know you were such a good joker, Young Master."

"Do you think it's a joke?"

When Cheon Myeong asked, the smile disappeared from Jang Hyeon's lips.

And with a serious face like Cheon Myeong, he said.

"Do you sincerely want me to kneel and ask for your forgiveness, Young Master?"

"I'm sure I said so."

"..."

"I hate jokes very much."

Cheon Myeong was serious.

And Jang Hyeon also realized that Cheon Myeong was seriously saying that to him.

'Is he going to see this through with me to the end?'

To think he would come out like that.

Is it that rumors and reality are different?

However, Jang Hyeon had no intention of kneeling to Cheon Myeong.

No matter how much Cheon Myeong was superior in status, his pride would not allow him to kneel to an empty shell with no power.

Especially now, since he thought that the Five Great Demonic Families were the rising sun and the leader was the setting sun, Jang Hyeon thought that Cheon Myeong was not in a position to say such a thing to him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

"..."

"I think an apology to the point of kneeling for just putting my arm around your shoulder is excessive."

"Just putting your arm around my shoulder..."

Grin-.

Cheon Myeong muttered and burst out laughing.

And Jang Hyeon looked at him with a puzzled face.

"Do you really think I said that just for that?"

Suddenly, Cheon Myeong's tone and atmosphere changed.

"I said to kneel, including the fact that you tried to steal the Socheongak from me."

"Steal? I said I was just borrowing it while you were away, Young Master..."

"In the so-called secular world, that's called theft. And a very vicious theft at that."

"...Your words seem a bit excessive."

"Then I'll ask. Who gave you permission to come into the Socheongak and live here?"

"..."

When Cheon Myeong asked, Jang Hyeon couldn't answer.

Because he hadn't received permission from anyone.

In the first place, since he knew that Cheon Myeong had been kicked out of the main headquarters and would not return, and he thought that Cheon Jin would not be interested in such things, Jang Hyeon had occupied the Socheongak on his own.

'There is no one who can touch me.'

Especially after becoming the leader's disciple, that thought had become stronger for Jang Hyeon.

That's why he had dared to think of occupying the place where Cheon Myeong had lived.

And while living in the Socheongak, he had been enjoying that sense of superiority until now.

"Did I give you permission?"

"...No."

"Then the leader must have given you permission."

"...That's right."

For a moment, Jang Hyeon answered Cheon Myeong.

Because he thought that if he could just get through this moment, he wouldn't have to kneel to Cheon Myeong.

But the moment he saw Cheon Myeong's face, Jang Hyeon immediately realized that he had made a slip of the tongue.

"The leader gave you permission?"

"Y-yes."

"If that's true, then I would have been wrong until now."

"..."

"If it's really true, that is."

"What do you mean by that..."

"I will check with the leader directly."

"..."

Jang Hyeon couldn't hide his expression.

Seeing this, Cheon Myeong became sure.

"What's wrong?"

"T-that's..."

"Are you in trouble?"

"..."

"I don't know why you're like that. I'm just trying to confirm the truth."

The more Cheon Myeong said that, the more anxious Jang Hyeon became.

No matter how high his status had become, it was not good to face the leader like this.

The fact that he had been living in the Socheongak without permission until now, and the lie that Cheon Jin had permitted it.

If those two things entered Cheon Jin's ears, no matter how much it was him, he would not be able to avoid his anger.

No matter how much of a ruffian he was, he could figure that much out.

"Young Master... it doesn't seem like it would be good for either of us to make things bigger, so wouldn't it be better to end it here?"

"..."

Swish-.

When Jang Hyeon said that, Cheon Myeong silently pointed down with his finger.

Jang Hyeon immediately realized what that action meant.

And he gritted his teeth and barely opened his mouth.

"Do you really have to go that far?"

"If you want to stop here, I think it's only right that you show me that much courtesy."

"...You will regret it later."

Even if Jang Hyeon said that, Cheon Myeong maintained his expressionless face.

In the end, Jang Hyeon had no choice but to slowly bend one knee.

And soon, both of his knees were on the floor.

"...Will you accept my forgiveness?"

Jang Hyeon said, bowing his head as if to hide his expression.

Cheon Myeong looked at him and said in a relaxed voice.

"Seeing that, I will refrain from going to the leader."

"..."

"Now, won't you please leave? It seems there are many things to clean since I've returned home after a long time."

When Cheon Myeong said that, Jang Hyeon slowly got up from his seat.

And still with his head bowed, he passed by Cheon Myeong without even a greeting.

Thwack-.

Jang Hyeon opened the door roughly and went outside.

As he walked down the corridor, Jang Hyeon raised the head he had been bowing.

"..."

Seeing Jang Hyeon's face, the servant in the corridor turned pale and bowed his head.

Jang Hyeon's face was contorted like a fierce god of evil.

Just by looking, a killing intent that felt like death was felt, so everyone hurriedly avoided Jang Hyeon's eyes.

'Cheon Myeong...!'

And the servants' choice was right.

Jang Hyeon was now feeling an anger that made him want to kill anyone.

If there was anyone who got on his nerves even a little, he felt that he would kill them on the spot.

'An empty shell dares to look down on me with the leader on his back?'

This was the first time he had felt so humiliated.

No one had ever been so arrogant to him like this.

Especially since a guy he had thought was infinitely lacking had given him a sense of humiliation, it felt several times greater.

'I will definitely remember today's events.'

Cheon Myeong.

At this moment, those two characters were clearly engraved in Jang Hyeon's head.

(End of Chapter)