Chapter 17: The Heavenly Demon Requests Lodging

Hyeonwol, noticing his subordinates had fallen into chaos, narrowed his eyes.

Should he just let them be?

He also objectively knew what kind of superior he was.

So it wasn’t that he didn’t understand their reactions… but their insolence was a separate matter.

They would get busier from now on; how did they plan to endure?

As he swept his subordinates with a weighty gaze, resolving to hold a company dinner to strengthen their camaraderie, Hyeonwol suddenly took in Seol Cheon-yu’s youthful face sitting before him anew.

The realization that struck him suddenly was that this child, who seemed all grown up due to the ten years that had passed, was now only eighteen.

Hyeonwol could still vividly picture the small child from back then as clear as day.

Pity added to his flowing thoughts, filling his heart in an instant.

After all, all these miraculous medicines seemed more necessary for Seol Cheon-yu than for himself….

As if guessing Hyeonwol’s inner thoughts, Seol Cheon-yu opened his mouth with a light laugh.

“It’s true that this younger brother has just come of age, but undeservedly, I obtained a stroke of fortune and gained profound internal energy, so personal medicinal tonics have almost no effect on me.”

With straightforward eyes, he continued gently.

“And… this younger brother anticipates that in hyung’s eyes, your young brother may not seem trustworthy, and I fully understand that….

But I assure you, you don’t need to worry so much.

It’s not without reason that this younger brother was selected as the head of the pursuit team chasing the culprits as a representative of my sect.

Didn’t that World-Bright Crown Prince, known as a heroic talent throughout the world, also go out to the northern battlefield at my age, defeat the nomads, and establish numerous merits?”

Hyeonwol inwardly broke out in a cold sweat listening to his fluent speech.

Not only because he knew that Seol Cheon-yu, brazenly claiming to have been chosen by his sect, was actually the head of that sect.

What Seol Cheon-yu intended to convey was probably just that skill has no relation to age….

But why did the example he happened to choose have to be about Hyeonwol himself?

He couldn’t help but suspect whether Seol Cheon-yu knew that the person before him was the World-Bright Crown Prince himself.

Throughout long history, the relationship between the imperial household and the martial world had no less awkward aspects than the conflict between orthodox and demonic sects.

In the current century, with the Empress’s brother and nephew, plus a prince who had abandoned his succession rights, all based in the martial world, it was much improved, but even they were merely maintaining a precarious line by not wielding power.

Of course, in the process of uncovering the collusion between Noble Consort Yu and the Blood Cult, and as Hyeonwol continued cooperating with Seol Cheon-yu, his identity would eventually be revealed someday.

Still, Hyeonwol thought that before that happened, Wolsigak needed time to more firmly establish its position in the martial world.

At least enough not to be helplessly swayed by a small word from the Demonic Cult.

Hyeonwol stared at Seol Cheon-yol for a moment, but since he didn’t show any particularly meaningful sign, he couldn’t judge hastily.

Soon, Hyeonwol shook his head and spoke dejectedly.

“At least I clearly understand that you have the boldness to place yourself on the same level as that ‘heroic talent.’

Still, take care of your health.

Deputy Head, please bring that out.”

“You mean what you instructed me to prepare separately… aside from the materials on the Blood Cult?”

“Yes.

Bring the materials as well while you’re at it.

Whew….

Receiving such miraculous herbs, it truly pales in comparison to what I’m offering….”

Hyeonwol received the envelope Yoon Je-eun brought with a reluctant smile.

He pushed it across the table toward Seol Cheon-yu on the opposite side.

From inside the ordinary paper envelope, a delicious fragrance and warmth that hadn’t cooled could be felt.

Seol Cheon-yu’s eyes widened slightly.

“…This is.”

With a truly embarrassed expression, Hyeonwol took a sip of tea and let out a small sigh.

“…Didn’t I promise you?

That I’d buy them once every three days.

There are so many tastier and healthier sweets and snacks, why insist on the ordinary red bean candy from the marketplace….

It’s not particularly good for you, so moderate yourself.”

“Ah.”

Rather, Seol Cheon-yu, who had requested it, wore an unexpected expression.

Amidst his embarrassment, Hyeonwol found it absurd, but soon, faced with the child’s brightly smiling face, he couldn’t help but smile back.

“Thank you, sworn brother.

I will treasure it.”

“You don’t have to go so far as to treasure it.

Just enjoy eating it.

Anyway, shouldn’t we gradually discuss the important matters of your sect?”

“Tasting the candy sworn brother gave me right now seems quite important as well.”

“…Even if I buy it every three days?”

Watching Seol Cheon-yu calmly pick up a candy and put it in his mouth, even Hyeonwol’s nonexistent tension seemed to dissolve.

Pressing his brow, he received the Blood Cult information that Deputy Head Yoon had brought.

The books compiling the information numbered only a few volumes, but each was highly valuable as they were secret histories unknown to the martial world.

In reality, few even remembered the name Blood Cult in this vast martial world.

The reason they could track their faint traces was that Hyeonwol had poured overflowing manpower and resources capable of digesting a world-spanning information network in a short time.

“In addition to the information gleaned from the Blood Cult child, these are what Wolsigak collected independently.

Take a look.”

Receiving the books, Seol Cheon-yu adjusted his attitude seriously and turned the pages.

“This is….

Indeed, the reputation of the three great information organizations of the martial world feels rather insufficient.

With the traces they’ve left currently, it would have been tight just to discern their identity, let alone uncover evidence of the Blood Cult’s activities….”

“How could a newly emerging organization dare to catch up with the history of the Beggars’ Sect and the Lower Gates?

It’s only to this extent because we’ve focused and dug deeply for a long time.”

“Those words mean, as expected, that sworn brother has been well aware of the Blood Cult’s existence for some time.”

Seol Cheon-yu wore a meaningful smile.

Hyeonwol nodded calmly and moistened his lips with tea.

He hadn’t intended to hide it from Seol Cheon-yu in the first place.

Three days ago, when he unhesitatingly supported Seol Cheon-yu’s claim that the technique used on the injured person was the Blood Cult’s doing, and in their conversation when taking Lin—though circumstances were a bit complicated—he couldn’t have been unaware.

Hyeonwol had been deliberating how to explain the circumstances of Wolsigak tracking the Blood Cult from before, but from Seol Cheon-yu’s current attitude toward him, he gained confidence that it was okay to be a bit bolder.

Setting down his cup, Hyeonwol grinned.

“You seem to want to ask how Wolsigak knew about and was tracking the Blood Cult.”

Meeting Hyeonwol’s smile, Seol Cheon-yu replied respectfully.

“I humbly request your guidance.”

“I’ve told you not to be so formal….

Anyway.

In the end, you and I are in the same boat.”

“Same boat, you say?”

“Aren’t you also tracking them ‘under orders from your sect’ in the end?

As you see, I’m also in charge of Wolsigak’s affairs like this, but originally, I’m just a mere official of the imperial household.

I’m just following orders from those above.

If I tried to fathom every reason, there’d be no end to it.”

Since both Seol Cheon-yu and Hyeonwol were actually those ‘above’ themselves, Hyeonwol was essentially returning Seol Cheon-yu’s own words to him while pretending to gloss things over.

Of course, he’d have to come up with some reason for placing Lin under Wolsigak’s protection….

Spotting Seol Cheon-yu minutely raising an eyebrow, Hyeonwol inwardly felt a thrill and wore a brazen face.

The Wolsigak members standing behind could only inwardly swallow the thought that their head was also quite impressive.

But Seol Cheon-yu, without expressing the slightest dissatisfaction, answered with his usual calm demeanor and a smile.

“Is that so?

Sworn brothers sharing the same plight—this too is ironic.”

“Indeed.

So the conclusion is, Wolsigak intends to closely cooperate in pursuing the evil enemy called the Blood Cult from now on.

How about it….

Will you convey this well to the elders of your sect?”

“Of course.

I’ll handle contacting from now on, so please don’t worry, sworn brother.

If you discover any new information, I’ll immediately report it to my sect.

By the way….”

Seol Cheon-yu trailed off with a youthful face that felt familiar.

Hyeonwol was seized by a strange unease.

Wait, didn’t he drop some enormous remark with a face like that three days ago?

As soon as his instinctive warning rang, a bomb as massive as expected dropped.

“Actually… since this younger brother and my subordinates came up to the capital, we’ve been moving from inn to inn without proper lodging.

Would it be alright if we temporarily stay and board at Wolsigak?”

Hyeonwol just smiled. I knew it!

***

“Head, the Heavenly Demon’s intentions are clear!

Isn’t this practically the same as openly surveilling us?

Threatening us like this with his personal martial prowess?”

“Bringing all kinds of miraculous herbs as gifts and then this—what kind of outrage is this?

I absolutely cannot understand.”

“At this rate, it feels like he’s harboring a bomb in the main headquarters….”

With Hyeonwol’s refreshing consent, Seol Cheon-yu ultimately obtained a room.

After he disappeared toward the inner courtyard, in the reception room where only Wolsigak executives remained, voices grew increasingly heated.

Wolsigak was such a capable information group that its reputation had spread widely throughout the martial world in the short span of five years, and accordingly, the scale of its main headquarters’ buildings was no less than that of a decent manor.

With its headquarters in the capital disguised as a small-to-medium-sized trading company, it wasn’t short of buildings for guests to stay in.

The reason they were so engulfed in complaints was different.

In this vast capital, Seol Cheon-yu’s intention to insist on staying at Wolsigak under the pretext of information exchange was transparently visible.

“Head, you weren’t yourself today.

No matter that he’s from that Demonic Cult or the Heavenly Demon, why do you keep yielding to him like this?”

“Good heavens, do you think the Head wants to do this?!”

“…….”

At Yoon Je-eun’s retort, the executives had no choice but to fall silent together.

Certainly, if it were the usual Hyeonwol, no matter how disadvantageous his position, he wouldn’t have been consistently this soft with a negotiating partner.

Amidst this chaos, Hyeonwol was just silently smoking his pipe, gazing only toward the inner courtyard where Seol Cheon-yu had gone.

Confirming his profile, lost in deep thought, from the corner of her eye, Yoon Je-eun continued.

“First of all, we should consider it fortunate that the Heavenly Demon shows this level of attitude.

Have you forgotten?

If he set his mind to it, that young man alone could turn Wolsigak into a shambles.

If he threatened with force to make us hand over information, we’d have no recourse.

In that case, rather, seeing him act so devotedly toward the Head… isn’t this fortunate?”

Yoon Je-eun finished speaking reluctantly and glanced at the pile of miraculous herbs stacked on the table and toward Hyeonwol’s feet.

The Wolsigak executives, who had momentarily forgotten about them due to Seol Cheon-yu’s bombshell declaration, gradually regained their senses and awkwardly looked that way.

Come to think of it, the Heavenly Demon’s attitude was consistently polite, not high-handed, and he hadn’t even revealed that he was the head of the Demonic Cult.

Considering those points, it was hard to see Seol Cheon-yu’s request to stay at Wolsigak as merely a silent threat.

If so, it was human nature to naturally wonder what on earth was behind his attitude.

However, the clue to resolve that question was right after they had all clearly witnessed with their own two eyes.

The Wolsigak executives dredged up from memory the gaze Seol Cheon-yu had directed at Hyeonwol and looked at each other with confused faces.

Piecing together the situation, their conjecture about the implication of Seol Cheon-yu wanting to stay at Wolsigak completely changed.

Though concerns about threat and surveillance were rapidly disappearing….

This, no matter how I look at it, isn’t it that?

They said they were sworn brothers, didn’t they?

Sworn brothers!

That must be it.

So then, what exactly is ‘that’ between sworn brothers?

Yoon Je-eun glanced with cooled eyes at the Operations Chief and the Martial Force Chief engaging in intense conversation with their gazes.

Letting out a deep sigh, she approached Hyeonwol and knelt by his feet.

Even amidst the chaos, Hyeonwol’s injury kept catching her eye.

Since it had been a situation where it was difficult for her to intervene earlier, she had been troubled that she hadn’t properly examined it.