The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Jang Hyeon was waiting for someone in the reception room.

The place where Jang Hyeon was now was a reception room located inside the Finance Hall.

He had come here himself because Hong Yeorin had called him.

"..."

In fact, Jang Hyeon was not very pleased with this call.

No matter how much she was the head of the Finance Hall, to tell him to come and go.

If he hadn't been indebted to Hong Yeorin, he wouldn't have come so obediently like this.

'For what reason did she call me?'

It seemed to be about Cheon Myeong.

As that suddenly came to mind, Jang Hyeon chuckled.

'A guy with no power dares to mess with me, he must be regretting it now because he has no money.'

If it weren't for the fact that Cheon Myeong was of the leader's bloodline, he would have drawn his sword on the spot.

No matter how much it was him, if he had cut down Cheon Myeong in that situation, it would have become a problem in some way.

So at that time, he had held back his anger and had only thought of revenge.

And what came to mind was the Finance Hall.

Since he had spent the money of that place lavishly when he had lived at the Socheongak, if he drastically reduced this quarter's budget, Cheon Myeong would naturally be short of money.

Given his position, he wouldn't be able to tell Cheon Jin about such a problem, so he would have to solve it on his own.

That was what Jang Hyeon was aiming for.

'Let's see how long he can last.'

How could a guy who had nothing but his bloodline solve a financial crisis?

Then, at that time, Jang Hyeon would go to Cheon Myeong and say.

If he knelt before him, he would solve the problem.

He was planning to pay him back exactly as he had done to Cheon Myeong at that time.

"Hehehe..."

As he imagined that moment, a laugh unknowingly came out of Jang Hyeon's mouth.

And at that moment.

The door of the reception room opened and Hong Yeorin appeared.

'Hmm...?'

As soon as the door opened, Jang Hyeon stopped laughing.

And he discovered Hong Yeorin and got up from his seat and said.

"Isn't this Head Hong?"

"..."

"You are beautiful today as well. It seems your beauty is getting better and better."

Of course, he was not sincere.

He had just made up those words to match her, since he knew that Hong Yeorin liked such compliments.

"...Thank you."

However, Hong Yeorin's reaction was extremely cold.

He had even made up words he didn't mean and had complimented her, and to think she would react like that.

Jang Hyeon was momentarily offended, but since he could not reveal his true feelings on his face, he hid his true feelings with a fake smile.

Swish-.

Hong Yeorin sat down opposite Jang Hyeon.

Then, Jang Hyeon also sat down again, and when they were both completely seated, Hong Yeorin said with an expressionless face.

"I'm sorry to have called you here so suddenly."

"Not at all. If you call, Head, of course I have to come."

Jang Hyeon said, maintaining his smile.

No matter how much Jang Hyeon was Cheon Jin's disciple and had the Blood Jang Family behind him, he was not at a level to be compared to Hong Yeorin.

Hong Yeorin was a person with the power to actually move the Demonic Cult.

Since Jang Hyeon was also well aware of that fact, he was taking a low posture towards Hong Yeorin if possible.

"Ah, and it seems you have handled the matter I requested last time well."

"..."

"This is just a small token of my sincerity."

Saying that, Jang Hyeon held out something in front of Hong Yeorin.

At a glance, it was an item that exuded a luxurious atmosphere.

"It is said to be a cosmetic used even in the imperial palace."

Jang Hyeon said in a confident voice.

Just this one phrase, that it was used even in the imperial palace, was enough to prove the value of the item.

In fact, in order to get this, Jang Hyeon had poured a considerable amount of money.

'I spent quite a bit of money to get on this woman's good side... but I'll have to think of it as an unavoidable investment.'

With Hong Yeorin's wealth, she wouldn't be satisfied with just any item.

So Jang Hyeon had gone to great lengths to get this cosmetic.

And since she was a woman who was crazy about cosmetics, he was sure that she would like it.

"..."

Hong Yeorin looked at the cosmetic that Jang Hyeon had held out with an expressionless face.

And she asked Jang Hyeon.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"As I said earlier, it is my sincerity."

"..."

"And shouldn't a cosmetic of this value be used by a woman like you, Head Hong? Only then will this cosmetic surely show its true value."

If he had praised her this much, she wouldn't be able to act so aloof anymore.

Women are weak to compliments.

Moreover, if a gift like this was added, any woman would have a smile on her face.

At least, all the women Jang Hyeon had dealt with until now had been like that, so he thought that Hong Yeorin would be the same.

However.

"I cannot accept this."

The answer that came back was extremely cold.

Jang Hyeon thought that something was wrong and looked at Hong Yeorin, but a chill was still flowing from her expression.

'W-what is it?'

This was a situation that was not in Jang Hyeon's head.

Why was Hong Yeorin refusing this cosmetic?

Since he already knew that she was crazy about cosmetics, he had deliberately prepared it to match her.

No matter how much it was Hong Yeorin, she would not be able to easily get a cosmetic of this quality...

Although Jang Hyeon was quite shaken inwardly, he forced a smile and said.

"You don't have to feel burdened. Just think of it as my small sincerity..."

"It's not that I feel burdened."

"...?"

"I cannot accept it because the reason for me to receive your gratitude has disappeared."

What on earth does that mean?

With those words from Hong Yeorin, Jang Hyeon's mind seemed to have become more confused.

"What on earth is that..."

"Since it has come to this, let's get straight to the point."

"..."

"You asked me last time, right? To reduce the Socheongak's budget."

"Yes... I did."

So isn't that why he had prepared a gift as a token of his sincerity?

Jang Hyeon still didn't understand why Hong Yeorin was saying such a thing.

"I can't do that anymore."

"You can't do it anymore... what does that mean?"

"It's just as I said. I will allocate the same budget to the Socheongak as in the last quarter."

"..."

Now Jang Hyeon understood Hong Yeorin's words.

That's why he couldn't accept what she was saying now.

Wasn't the matter of reducing the Socheongak's budget already a done deal with him?

But to suddenly change her words now, Jang Hyeon could not accept it.

"T-the reason is... what on earth..."

Jang Hyeon even stuttered, as if he was bewildered by this situation.

However, at Hong Yeorin's next words, Jang Hyeon couldn't think of anything.

"And I will cut off all the budget allocated to the Jeok-un-gak from this quarter."

"..."

The Jeok-un-gak was where Jang Hyeon lived.

Just like the Socheongak, a certain amount of money came in as a budget to the Jeok-un-gak every quarter.

And with that budget, all the work related to the Jeok-un-gak was handled.

The salaries of the servants, and the repair or extension of the Jeok-un-gak.

Since all these things were done based on the budget allocated by the Finance Hall, the words that she would cut off all that budget from now on were the same as saying that she would eliminate the Jeok-un-gak itself.

'W-what on earth is this...'

Why did the situation become like this?

As what he had intended to do to Cheon Myeong had come back to him, Jang Hyeon felt dizzy.

"I-I can't accept it!"

If this continued, the Jeok-un-gak would be ruined.

Jang Hyeon thought so and barely came to his senses and said to Hong Yeorin.

"What can't you accept?"

"Why are you cutting off the Jeok-un-gak's budget? That is money that I should rightfully receive!"

Putting the matter of the Socheongak aside, to suddenly cut off the Jeok-un-gak's budget.

As Cheon Jin's disciple, since he had the right to receive that budget, Jang Hyeon could argue that to Hong Yeorin.

However, as if she had known that Jang Hyeon would say that, Hong Yeorin said with a calm attitude.

"That's right. A budget is needed for the operation of the Jeok-un-gak."

But why is she cutting off the budget?

Before Jang Hyeon could have that question, Hong Yeorin continued to speak.

"But until now, the Jeok-un-gak has been using the budget quite arbitrarily."

"..."

"Did you think I didn't know?"

When Hong Yeorin asked, Jang Hyeon couldn't answer.

And looking at him, Hong Yeorin continued to speak.

"Unlike the report submitted to the Finance Hall, the Jeok-un-gak's budget was mostly used to satisfy your personal greed, Jang Gongja."

"T-that's..."

"Because of that, you even delayed the payment of the servants' salaries, right?"

"..."

Jang Hyeon closed his mouth again like a mute who had eaten honey.

Since all the words coming out of Hong Yeorin's mouth were true, Jang Hyeon could not refute anything.

'Is she going to touch that part now?'

Jang Hyeon had used most of the budget allocated to the Jeok-un-gak for drinking and playing with women.

Of course, in order to prevent that fact from leaking to the outside, he had not only thoroughly controlled the mouths of the servants but had also manipulated the ledgers.

And even if a rumor leaked out a little, because of his position, no one had said anything to Jang Hyeon.

But for Hong Yeorin to mention that fact now.

And to say that she would cut off the Jeok-un-gak's budget using that as a pretext, Jang Hyeon could only think that Hong Yeorin was picking a fight now.

"Head..."

A voice that barely called out to Hong Yeorin.

Jang Hyeon was now speaking while forcibly suppressing his rising anger.

"Do you really have to go this far and touch me?"

"Touch you? I am just doing my job."

"What is the reason for you to suddenly do this to me?"

When Jang Hyeon asked, Hong Yeorin did not answer.

And at that moment.

Someone came to Jang Hyeon's mind.

'Could it be... that guy?'

Come to think of it, the answer was simple.

To return the Socheongak's budget to its original state and to cut off all of the Jeok-un-gak's budget.

Who would benefit the most in a situation like this?

Recalling that fact, he could easily tell who had created this situation.

'Cheon Myeong...!'

To do the same thing that he had done to Hong Yeorin.

Because of that fact, Jang Hyeon was even more angry.

But at the same time, one fact that he could not understand.

How could someone like Cheon Myeong have changed Hong Yeorin's mind?

Moreover, if it was to the point of making her turn against him, it would not be possible with just any method.

"Cheon Myeong... did that guy instigate it?"

"..."

"By what means did that guy change your mind?"

He would surely be a worthless guy except for the fact that he was of Cheon Jin's bloodline.

Jang Hyeon did not want to admit that Hong Yeorin had chosen Cheon Myeong over him.

However.

Hong Yeorin just smiled lightly and said.

"It's an internal matter of the Finance Hall."

"..."

The moment he heard those words, Jang Hyeon realized that Hong Yeorin no longer wanted to say anything to him.

It was meaningless to be here any longer.

No matter how angry he was, since he could not reveal his hostility to Hong Yeorin, Jang Hyeon was about to leave this place in a hurry.

"I understand..."

"..."

"I will take this back."

Saying that, Jang Hyeon put the item he had held out to Hong Yeorin back into his bosom.

And he left the room without a word of greeting.

"..."

With this, she had completely become enemies with Jang Hyeon.

So if an item of that much value did not come to him, no matter how much it was Cheon Myeong, he would not be able to handle the aftermath.

"Please don't disappoint me."

In the empty room, Hong Yeorin said to Cheon Myeong.

(End of Chapter)