Chapter 107
Clatter. Clatter.
A carriage moved roughly through the valley.
An escort unit surrounded it on all sides.
Inside sat Suhyeok and Cheon Soyeon.
"Look over there."
Cheon Soyeon pointed toward the window.
"It seems we'll reach the border sometime today."
Suhyeok glanced outside.
Through the gaps between the trees, he could see silhouettes in the distance.
Kunlun Mountain.
The scenery there was completely different from this side.
By now, the Taoists of the Kunlun Sect and the forces dispatched by the Martial Alliance were probably already stationed near the border.
The other three should be there too.
[ Yaaawn. Are we finally going to see them, nya? ]
[ I've been so bored this whole time, nya. ]
[ I never thought I'd actually look forward to seeing those three idiots this much, nya. ]
Leon sat comfortably on Seong-a's lap in spirit form.
[ Me too. ]
[ I want to see them soon. At this rate, I might forget what they look like. ]
It had been a while since either of them had seen the three.
Both looked surprisingly excited.
Of course...
They weren't the only ones.
"Whoa, Young Master! Look over there!"
Hyeon Doun was outside the carriage, talking nonstop as he stared around in fascination.
"Why are there so many people gathered like that? They're spread all over the border!"
Normally, Suhyeok would've never brought him along.
But Hyeon Doun had insisted that, as his servant, he had to accompany him.
He'd practically clung to Suhyeok's legs until there was no choice but to bring him.
"I brought you along because you said you'd serve me."
Suhyeok rested his chin against the carriage window.
"But I'm starting to wonder if that was true."
"If someone saw you right now, they'd think I brought a child on a field trip."
Hyeon Doun grinned shamelessly.
"Oh, don't be like that."
"I'm taking care of you while doing a little sightseeing on the side."
He shook his head.
"Ever since you changed, you've gotten way too strict."
Cheon Soyeon watched the two of them and smiled faintly.
"You two seem very close."
"That servant appears to be the only person who speaks to you without any distance."
"Hahaha, you're too kind, Young Cult Leader."
Hyeon Doun laughed.
"The Young Master and I go way back."
"He may act cold like this, but I've served him for more than fifteen years."
"This much is nothing."
"I see."
Cheon Soyeon nodded.
"Then continue looking after him from now on."
"There will be many things you'll need to help with."
"Leave it to me, Young Cult Leader!"
"If there's anything you're curious about, just ask."
"Except for the things I don't know, I know everything about the Young Master."
What does "I know everything except what I don't know" even mean lol
This guy talks like a complete idiot lmao
Are they really master and servant? He's been talking nonstop for an entire week.
Somehow he's not annoying though lol. He's growing on me.
Even the Constellations seemed to like him.
A few had even sent sponsorships because of Hyeon Doun.
Suhyeok silently glanced at him.
...Strange.
For some reason, he felt almost no wariness toward Hyeon Doun.
It was as though every warning signal in his body had been switched off.
This had never happened before.
It wasn't simply because Hyeon Doun was likable or easygoing.
Suhyeok hadn't even felt this level of complete ease around Bong Taesu.
What is it?
"Hmm?"
Hyeon Doun noticed his stare.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Is there something on my face?"
"If you keep staring so openly, even I'll get embarrassed."
Other than that strange lack of caution, Suhyeok couldn't sense anything unusual.
Hyeon Doun was completely ordinary.
After staring for another moment, Suhyeok turned his head away.
...Right.
Maybe it's because I'm still inside Heuk Mujin's body.
To Heuk Mujin, he's practically the only person who's always been on his side.
More importantly...
An entire week had already passed.
They had left by carriage immediately after Suhyeok's private meeting with the Cult Leader.
Even then, the Cult Leader had looked dangerously unstable.
He was probably in even worse condition now.
Suhyeok couldn't stop thinking about the final warning the Cult Leader had given him before he left.
This Lord doesn't know the details either...
But the strange martial art that man uses does not belong to our Cult.
He may appear before you soon.
Be careful.
Not a martial art of the Demonic Cult.
That meant it might belong to the orthodox side.
Could the Martial Alliance be responsible?
No.
That made no sense.
If they could already control the Cult Leader, the negotiations themselves would've been pointless.
What the Martial Alliance feared most was the Cult Leader's personal strength.
If they already had a way to control him, there'd be no reason to go through all this trouble.
Which means....
There was a third party.
Someone watching everything unfold.
Someone controlling the situation from behind the scenes.
If Suhyeok's guess was correct, that person probably knew he was heading toward Kunlun too.
The fact that they hadn't tried to stop him meant they also wanted something from Suhyeok and Cheon Soyeon.
"Dear."
"...Ah."
Suhyeok looked over.
"Did you call me, Young Cult Leader?"
"No."
"You merely seemed lost in thought, so this lady called you."
"There is nothing to apologize for."
She tilted her head.
"More importantly..."
"Did you think about what this lady mentioned yesterday?"
For a moment, Suhyeok didn't know what she meant.
Then he remembered.
Before they left, she had told him to think about something.
Namely...
"For reference, this lady prefers a son."
Cheon Soyeon spoke completely seriously.
"He would surely be handsome if he resembles you."
"For some reason, a daughter would make this lady terribly uneasy."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"I already feel like tearing apart whatever man might one day become her husband."
"..."
Everyone inside and around the carriage suddenly became very interested in pretending they hadn't heard anything.
Hyeon Doun turned away and desperately suppressed his laughter.
Leon covered his mouth and snickered.
[ Pfft! Your situation is terrible, nya. ]
[ You haven't even married yet and you're already deciding your child's gender, nya. Kyahaha! ]
Seong-a's eyes lit up.
[ Then am I getting a little sibling? ]
[ I don't care if it's a boy or girl! I'll play with them a lot! ]
[ Kyahaha! This great Leon will personally play with them too, nya. ]
"..."
Cheon Soyeon stared at Suhyeok.
"So."
"Which would you prefer?"
She clearly had no intention of letting the matter go without an answer.
Suhyeok finally gave in.
"...A son would be good."
Cheon Soyeon smiled in satisfaction.
"I knew you would want a son as well."
"As expected."
"You are perfectly suited to be this lady's husband."
While they talked, the carriage finally approached the border.
Kunlun's Sect Leader and several Elders were already waiting outside to greet them.
And beside them...
Were three familiar faces.
[To Players, your original appearance is displayed.]
"Oh, Hyu-"
CRUNCH!
Lee Yumi brought her heel down hard on Bong Taesu's foot.
He'd almost greeted Suhyeok the way he usually did.
Yumi had immediately realized they couldn't reveal that they knew each other yet.
Suhyeok exchanged brief glances with the three of them.
Then he clasped his fists.
"I am Heuk Mujin, eldest young master of the Black Heaven Family."
"I have come as an envoy of our Cult alongside the Young Cult Leader."
The Kunlun Sect Leader and Elders looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Their gazes openly looked down on Suhyeok.
"The eldest young master of the Black Heaven Family was not listed among the envoys."
"Why has the envoy suddenly changed?"
"Is this not an act of deception against us?"
In other words...
Why had they sent some notorious delinquent here?
Their reaction wasn't entirely unreasonable.
They didn't know about the recent events inside the Demonic Cult.
Then...
CRACK.
"How utterly disrespectful."
Cheon Soyeon's killing intent exploded outward.
"He is this lady's husband."
"Show him the proper respect."
