The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Cheon Myeong stopped his training midway and headed to the reception room where Hong Yeorin was waiting.

According to Mihwa, it seemed that Hong Yeorin had said she would wait until the training was over.

But since it would take quite a while for the training to end, it was somewhat uncomfortable for him to make Hong Yeorin wait until then.

Moreover, the fact that Hong Yeorin had come here meant that there was something she had found out.

Although training was also important, that was more of a priority right now, so as soon as Cheon Myeong heard from Mihwa that Hong Yeorin had come, he stopped his training and was heading to the reception room.

Creak-.

Cheon Myeong opened the door as soon as he arrived in front of the reception room.

Then, inside, there was Hong Yeorin, who was leisurely drinking tea.

"Ah, you've come?"

As soon as she discovered Cheon Myeong, Hong Yeorin said with a smile, just as she had done before.

As expected, he still wasn't used to that smile.

But perhaps because it was the second time, it felt a little more familiar to see it than the first time.

"I've kept you waiting."

"Not at all. But you've come faster than I thought, I heard from the maid that I would have to wait for an hour because you were doing something else."

"Ah, don't mind that. This is more important."

Cheon Myeong said that and sat down opposite Hong Yeorin.

And he looked at Hong Yeorin with a meaningful gaze and asked.

"The fact that you've come here means that there has been some progress, right?"

It was a tone that suggested that the atmosphere would become quite grim if she had come to see him for another reason.

As if she had sensed that, Hong Yeorin immediately gave the answer that Cheon Myeong wanted.

"Yes, that's right."

"..."

"As you said, I investigated the hidden weapons, and it seems I have obtained the information you want, Young Master."

As expected.

He had thought that if it was Hong Yeorin, she would be able to find out the information he wanted.

"Speak."

"First of all, what you are most curious about is the source of the hidden weapons, right?"

Cheon Myeong nodded his head without a word.

Seeing this, Hong Yeorin continued to speak.

"To conclude, I was not able to find out the source of some of the hidden weapons."

"On the other hand, you have found out the source of some of the hidden weapons?"

"You are sharp."

Now, this appearance of Cheon Myeong was not very surprising.

"Among the hidden weapons you gave me, there was a hidden weapon with some characteristics. I investigated by going back with that characteristic, and I was able to find out the source of the hidden weapon."

Just as a sword has characteristics, a hidden weapon also has characteristics.

Especially, the more precise and complex the use of the hidden weapon, the more pronounced the characteristics become.

For example, there is the Cheon-roe-gu of the Tang family.

Since that is a unique hidden weapon that only the Tang family can produce, if a Cheon-roe-gu is discovered, one would be able to know that the source is the Tang family.

The information that Cheon Myeong had hoped for from Hong Yeorin this time was also like that.

He was planning to find out the culprit who had sent an assassin to him with a hidden weapon with characteristics.

"Perhaps what you are interested in is this."

Hong Yeorin said that and took something out from her bosom.

At a glance, it looked like a ring, but if one looked closely, one could see that a rather sharp blade was sticking out from one place.

"..."

Cheon Myeong took what Hong Yeorin had held out and examined it closely.

Come to think of it, there was also something like this among the things he had put in the wooden box.

At first, he had thought it was just a decoration, but he remembered that he had discovered the part with the blade and had taken it off the corpse's finger and had put it in.

"It is called a Neuk-a."

"Neuk-a?"

"Yes, it is said to be a hidden weapon that is worn on the finger and is used to assassinate the opponent with the poison applied to the blade."

After hearing the explanation, Cheon Myeong examined the hidden weapon called Neuk-a again.

A hidden weapon that looks just like a ring at a glance.

That's why, even if one approached openly, wouldn't it be quite easy to kill secretly?

If it was a deadly poison, a small amount would be enough to kill a person, so even if one just pricked slightly, it could be a frightening hidden weapon.

'It doesn't seem to be poisoned now.'

Perhaps from his memory, it had been like that since he had discovered the Neuk-a.

That meant that the assassin had no intention of using this hidden weapon on him.

In other words, it would be okay to think that this was a hidden weapon that the assassin had unconsciously had.

Flash-.

Thinking so, a light flashed in Cheon Myeong's two eyes.

In fact, what Cheon Myeong had been worried about was that there might not be a hidden weapon among the hidden weapons that the assassin had that could reveal the identity of the culprit.

Since the assassin was a guy who had even committed suicide to hide the identity of the culprit, wasn't there a high probability that he did not have a hidden weapon that could be traced?

Although he had been concerned about that part, since this was the only clue, he had entrusted the investigation to Hong Yeorin.

This is good.

Cheon Myeong thought so as he looked at the Neuk-a.

'Perhaps this hidden weapon was habitually worn on the assassin's finger.'

So wasn't it that he had not been able to take it off?

The fact that it was not smeared with poison was the biggest proof of all.

And since Hong Yeorin had taken out the Neuk-a as if it were a decisive clue, it seemed that it would be good to have high expectations.

"Did you say Neuk-a... where is it used?"

"It is the Snake Jo Family."

"The Snake Jo Family..."

He had heard that name before.

A place that was surely one of the Five Great Demonic Families.

Since Cheon Myeong had thought from the beginning that the identity of the culprit was one of the Five Great Demonic Families, everything was now falling into place.

"And I found this out by chance."

As if she had more to say, Hong Yeorin said.

"It seems that Jang Hyeon and Jo Seokjin have had quite a bit of interaction with each other."

Cheon Myeong immediately knew what that meant.

And it seemed that the outline of this incident was visible.

'...I've got him.'

Cheon Myeong thought so and put the Neuk-a in his bosom.

And looking at him, Hong Yeorin said.

"Was it helpful?"

"Yes, it was."

And a lot.

If he hadn't made a request to Hong Yeorin, Cheon Myeong would not have known about the existence of the hidden weapon called Neuk-a.

No, perhaps even if he had found out, he would have come a long way to reach here.

Because he had taken the shortcut called Hong Yeorin, Cheon Myeong was able to find out the identity of the culprit within a few days.

"I'm glad it was helpful."

Hong Yeorin said that and looked at Cheon Myeong with a silent gaze.

And Cheon Myeong, who had discovered that gaze belatedly.

At first, he had thought about why Hong Yeorin was looking at him like that, but he soon realized the meaning of that gaze.

"Ah... if it's Pung-yu-hwan, I'll bring it within a few days."

"Not at all. If you tell me the deadline, I will come to receive it."

"No, that's okay. I'll go. And don't come to the Socheongak like today."

Although Hong Yeorin had come to the Socheongak herself out of consideration for Cheon Myeong.

Hearing those words, it seemed that that consideration was rather a burden to Cheon Myeong.

"Do you dislike me coming?"

"It's not that, but it's a bit much if there are people like that outside the door every time you come."

"Ah..."

"If you come to the Socheongak, people will think it's strange. So when you have business with me, send someone to call me."

Cheon Myeong did not want to reveal his relationship with Hong Yeorin to the outside.

That way, Hong Yeorin's value to him would be even higher.

Well, it seemed that it would be revealed in the near future, but the later he could delay that time, the better.

"I understand."

Hong Yeorin answered as if she had understood, even though Cheon Myeong had not given a particular explanation.

She is a woman who understands quickly, indeed.

At first, that had been a headache, but in a part like this, it is a considerable help.

'Well, then...'

He could just manufacture Pung-yu-hwan and give it to Hong Yeorin.

Since it didn't take that long to make it anyway.

The problem was, now that he had revealed the identity of the culprit, what to do from now on.

'...Should I do that, after all?'

As if he had decided on a direction, Cheon Myeong's eyes were looking ahead to the next move.

* * *

Thump- thump-.

Rather rough footsteps. And as much as those footsteps, Jo Seokjin's face was also full of anger.

"..."

The person Jo Seokjin's anger was directed at was Jo Ducheon.

It had already been ten days since he had given Jo Ducheon another chance to assassinate Cheon Myeong.

But not only was there no news that Cheon Myeong had died, but there was also no news that he was sick in bed.

'What on earth is that guy doing?'

Ten days was enough time to kill Cheon Myeong and hold a funeral.

But even now, there was no news from Jo Ducheon.

'Not even a report, is that guy looking down on me?'

If it was still being delayed, shouldn't he at least report the reason to him?

Of course, even if he had made such a report now, it was not that he could be forgiven.

Thump-.

At that moment, Jo Seokjin stopped walking.

As a thought came to his mind, he had stopped walking without realizing it.

'Could it be... he ran away?'

He hadn't thought of it until now, but that possibility also existed sufficiently.

Wouldn't it be possible that Jo Ducheon had thought that it was impossible for him to assassinate Cheon Myeong and had run away to live?

Since Jo Ducheon would also know that he would be in a rough spot if he returned empty-handed, he might think of running away from him forever if he was going to give up on the assassination.

"Ugh..."

As that thought came to him, Jo Seokjin was so angry that his teeth were chattering.

To dare to try and escape from his hands.

Although it was not yet certain, if Jo Ducheon had really made that choice, he had no intention of forgiving him.

'If he ran away from me, I will surely find him and kill him!'

Not only that, but he would also kill all of his relatives.

As a branch family had broken its fate and had run away, as an example.

It didn't seem that his anger would be completely resolved even if he did that.

'For now, I have to find Jo Ducheon.'

Jo Seokjin had no thought in his head that Jo Ducheon would have died during the assassination.

That's why he had only thought of ordering someone to bring Jo Ducheon before him.

And as he thought so, he began to move his stopped steps again.

Whoosh-.

At that moment, something passed quickly in front of Jo Seokjin.

As something suddenly popped out from the blind spot, Jo Seokjin was slightly surprised and had no choice but to stop walking again.

'What!'

What on earth had passed in front of him?

Although he hadn't seen it properly, it wasn't a bug.

Peep-!

At that moment, a cry was heard from the sky.

Jo Seokjin heard that sound and raised his head.

'...A bird?'

What was flying above his head was a bird. And it was a bird that was all white.

Since it was a bird that could not be easily found in this area, Jo Seokjin was momentarily lost in thought and looked at the bird.

Grind-.

But his face soon contorted.

It didn't matter no matter how rare a bird it was.

Jo Seokjin was in a bad mood at the thought that a mere bird had blocked his path.

'Now even a bird...'

Jo Seokjin glared at the bird with the thought of picking up a stone and throwing it to make it fall.

Then, the bird circled the sky and then slowly came down.

And Jo Seokjin, seeing this, moved his gaze, following the bird with the thought that it was a good thing.

"...?"

His gaze stopped at the place where the bird had landed.

At the same time, a question appeared on Jo Seokjin's face.

'Why is that person...'

The bird was sitting on someone's shoulder.

And Jo Seokjin's gaze was directed at the face of the owner of that shoulder, not the bird.

"Jo Seokjin?"

A short question.

Cheon Myeong, with Baekjo on his shoulder, said with a meaningful smile.

(End of Chapter)