The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Cheon Myeong was sitting alone in his room, deep in thought.

The person who had tried to kill him with a Musibong.

Although he had thought of catching that guy, when he actually tried to catch him, no suitable method came to mind.

'There are too few clues.'

The only clues Cheon Myeong had about the culprit were the Musibong and a few suspicions.

It is realistically impossible to single out the culprit with just this.

Because he had never heard of a place among the Five Great Demonic Families that specialized in assassination using insects.

It was surely a technique that had been secretly acquired to be used for such things.

'Even if it's Hong Yeorin, it would be impossible to single out the culprit with just this.'

And he didn't want to leak this information to the outside if possible.

Because there could be a 'what if' situation.

If he rashly leaked the information and the culprit completely disappeared, it would be more difficult to catch him in the future.

Since he was also thinking about that possibility, Cheon Myeong wanted to catch the culprit on his own if possible.

'To catch the culprit on my own...'

As he set the conditions like that, the situation became even worse.

Accordingly, Cheon Myeong's face became more serious than before.

And he sat still without moving for a while, maintaining that state.

"...Is that the only way, after all?"

After a long deliberation, Cheon Myeong muttered so.

In fact, this method had come to mind a long time ago.

But since there was a considerable risk, he had been thinking about the possibility of other methods until now.

However, no matter how many methods he thought of, nothing came to mind that had a high probability of catching the culprit as much as the first thing he had thought of.

'I will be the bait.'

If he couldn't confirm the culprit, he could just make him come.

And the culprit's purpose would be to kill Cheon Myeong.

The most attractive bait for such a guy was Cheon Myeong himself.

'Since he failed the assassination this time, he will probably try to kill me more surely next time.'

Then isn't there a high probability that the culprit himself will step forward this time?

The most certain way to kill Cheon Myeong is to directly stab Cheon Myeong's heart with a knife.

Even if that wasn't the case, since he had failed the assassination with a Musibong, Cheon Myeong thought that he would try to assassinate him through another method this time.

'I hope that guy doesn't give up on me.'

Since he had failed the assassination once, he might think that it was too dangerous and give up on the assassination itself.

Or he would watch the situation until things calmed down for a while.

If such a situation occurred, Cheon Myeong's plan to lure and catch the culprit would all be in vain.

'I can't let that happen.'

He couldn't let the culprit go like this.

If so, he had no choice but to tempt the culprit to the point where he couldn't stand it.

If this side deliberately showed a lot of openings, the culprit would try to kill him even though he knew it was dangerous.

"..."

After deliberating for a moment, Cheon Myeong got up and went outside and called Mihwa.

And after saying something to Mihwa, he came back into the room alone.

Creak-.

A moment later, the door opened and Soyeon Sang appeared.

He had come to the room after hearing from Mihwa that Cheon Myeong was looking for him.

Since he had only been told that he was looking for him, Soyeon Sang did not yet know for what reason Cheon Myeong had called him.

"I heard you were looking for me."

"Uh, come in."

When Cheon Myeong said that, Soyeon Sang closed the door and came into the room.

As Soyeon Sang stopped walking, Cheon Myeong immediately stated his business.

"Soyeon Sang, stay out of the Socheongak for a while."

"What...?"

When Cheon Myeong said that, Soyeon Sang couldn't help but be flustered.

To suddenly tell him to leave the place where he was living perfectly fine.

Since it felt like he was being kicked out, Soyeon Sang tried hard to maintain his composure and asked.

"If I am to stay out, for how long..."

"Don't come in until I tell you to."

Why is Cheon Myeong suddenly doing this to him?

Soyeon Sang said in a more cautious voice.

"Did I perhaps do something wrong to you, Young Master...?"

"Huh? What do you mean, no, no."

"..."

But why is he trying to kick him out of the Socheongak now?

Although Cheon Myeong was saying that with his words, it was certain that there was something he was upset about.

That's why he's talking like that.

Soyeon Sang began to desperately ponder what he had done wrong to Cheon Myeong recently.

'What on earth did I do wrong?'

If this continued, he might really be kicked out of the Socheongak.

Soyeon Sang thought so and desperately pondered what he had done wrong to Cheon Myeong, but nothing came to mind to the point of being unfair.

And that was natural.

Because the reason why Cheon Myeong was trying to kick Soyeon Sang out of the Socheongak was a completely different reason from what Soyeon Sang was thinking now.

'If Soyeon Sang is at the Socheongak, the culprit won't come.'

The fact that Soyeon Sang was his escort was already a known fact.

So the person the culprit was most wary of would probably be Soyeon Sang.

Although he didn't know how skilled the culprit was, Cheon Myeong thought that he had probably used a Musibong this time as well, being wary of Soyeon Sang and not stepping forward himself.

'If the culprit finds out that Soyeon Sang has left the Socheongak, the probability of the culprit appearing again becomes very high.'

Externally, it would be known that Cheon Myeong had lost all his strength due to Qi Deviation.

Since he had not shown his strength to anyone since coming to the main headquarters, the culprit would also be thinking so.

So if Soyeon Sang left and only the servants and Cheon Myeong were left at the Socheongak, what would the culprit think?

Not only was he grilling fish, but he was also gently fanning it, so it was certain that the culprit would rush in like a cat, unable to stand it.

'The fact that I hid my strength is being used in this way.'

Although Cheon Myeong was trying to send Soyeon Sang out for these reasons, would Soyeon Sang know that fact?

Soyeon Sang was still pondering what he had done wrong to Cheon Myeong.

And as a result of thinking by squeezing out even the memories he didn't have, he was barely able to recall one fact.

"Young Master... are you perhaps doing this because I secretly ate meat outside before?"

"...?"

"I'm sorry. I should have remembered that you were only eating vegetables, Young Master..."

What is this again?

Cheon Myeong's face became puzzled when he heard Soyeon Sang's words.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What? Wasn't it because of that?"

"Before... are you talking about when the Socheongak's budget was insufficient?"

"..."

Sensing something ominous, Soyeon Sang closed his mouth.

But the words he had already uttered could no longer be taken back.

And Cheon Myeong pressed Soyeon Sang with a slightly raised voice.

"You ate meat outside alone at that time? While I was only eating vegetables inside the Socheongak?"

"...The people from the Guardian Hall recommended it, so I couldn't help it."

"..."

"It was just once, just once. It's true. Please believe me."

Although Soyeon Sang said that and asked for forgiveness, Cheon Myeong couldn't hide his somewhat sad feelings.

To think that Soyeon Sang was tearing at meat outside while he was eating only vegetables like a Taoist.

Yes, he could understand.

Since Soyeon Sang had been wandering around here and there to collect information about Hong Yeorin at that time, wasn't he busy?

Unlike him, who had been staying still at the Socheongak, Soyeon Sang had to eat heartily, yes, of course.

"It's okay. You don't have to be sorry to me for something like that."

"...Are you really okay?"

"Yes, do you think I would have been sulking over something like that?"

Cheon Myeong said with a smile to Soyeon Sang.

Seeing this, Soyeon Sang was relieved inwardly.

Phew-.

That's a relief.

Seeing that, it seemed that Cheon Myeong's mood had been lifted thanks to him telling the truth.

'The Young Master is not someone who would kick me out of the Socheongak for something like this.'

It seemed that he had been thinking too sensitively.

Soyeon Sang thought so and said to Cheon Myeong with a more relaxed expression.

"Then it's okay for me to continue staying at the Socheongak, right?"

"No."

"...What?"

"As I said earlier, leave, and don't even come near the Socheongak until I say it's okay to come back."

Cheon Myeong said with a smile.

On the other hand, Soyeon Sang's face was full of despair.

"W-why? Please tell me the reason!"

Although Soyeon Sang said that as if he were wronged, Cheon Myeong could not tell him the reason.

Because if Soyeon Sang found out about the existence of the assassin, he would surely not try to leave the Socheongak.

Rather, it was certain that he would try to be by his side more than usual under the pretext of protecting Cheon Myeong.

That's why Cheon Myeong had no intention of telling Soyeon Sang the detailed circumstances.

It's true. That's really all there is to it.

"Go out and think about it on your own."

"But..."

"If you understand, will you leave right now?"

A polite tone.

Cheon Myeong was pointing at the door behind Soyeon Sang with his finger with a gentle smile.

* * *

A deep night where darkness had fallen.

Near the Socheongak, someone had been hiding and had taken a position for a long time.

"..."

Jo Ducheon was watching the Socheongak with only his eyes peeking out, with his whole body covered in black clothes.

It had already been four days since he had been secretly observing the movements of the Socheongak in this way.

In the meantime, Jo Ducheon had barely moved from his current position.

Of course, since he was like that, he could not eat properly, and he could not even relieve himself comfortably.

However.

Jo Ducheon's gaze at the Socheongak was still maintaining its sharpness.

'Is he not here today either...'

Jo Ducheon thought so to himself as he looked at the Socheongak.

Had it been about a day since he had been secretly observing the movements of the Socheongak in this way?

Suddenly, Cheon Myeong's escort, Soyeon Sang, had left the Socheongak.

Of course, Jo Ducheon had thought that Soyeon Sang had left the Socheongak for a short time.

So he had thought that he would surely return before the sun set... but unlike his expectation, Soyeon Sang had not yet returned to the Socheongak.

"..."

Jo Ducheon had been observing the situation until now, thinking that this might be a trap.

However, for some reason, Soyeon Sang had not yet returned to the Socheongak.

And as time passed in that state, Jo Ducheon's heart couldn't help but pound rapidly.

'What should I do?'

It was certain that now was the right time, with Soyeon Sang away.

However, even though he knew that fact, Jo Ducheon couldn't help but be cautious, and although he had made up his mind several times until now, he had not been able to move in the end.

'...I have to go.'

Nothing will change even if I stay like this.

If Soyeon Sang were to return while he was hesitating, when would such an opportunity come to him again?

Perhaps tonight could be the last chance to kill Cheon Myeong.

Thinking so, Jo Ducheon finally made up his mind and unfolded his crouched legs.

Swish-.

Legs that he was unfolding for the first time in a long time.

Strangely, there was no trembling in his legs.

'...Let's go.'

Muttering so to himself, Jo Ducheon quickly approached the Socheongak.

(End of Chapter)