Chapter 97
Her sudden appearance caught me off guard.
Hadn't she already returned to the Cult yesterday?
"Hehe. I can tell from your expression that you're wondering why this lady has appeared before you."
I belatedly clasped my fists and bowed.
"I greet the Young Cult Leader of our Cult. What brings you all the way here?"
"You are the final participant in the competition. That is why this lady came to see you personally."
I'd expected as much, but I hadn't thought she'd come in person.
Normally, the participant would go to the Young Cult Leader rather than the other way around.
Could she have noticed that I followed her from Byeokho Mountain last night?
Even though the Anubis Mask had completely erased my presence, variables always existed.
Or perhaps she'd come because of what happened when I helped her yesterday.
"More importantly, where were you headed just now?"
She tilted her head.
"Isn't this usually the time you'd be at a brothel?"
Knowing her personality, I understood that there was no malice behind the question.
So I answered calmly.
"I was on my way to the family's Treasure Pavilion."
"The Treasure Pavilion.... So the First Elder finally gave you permission."
She nodded to herself.
"That explains why he looked displeased this morning when this lady told him I was coming to see you."
Traditionally, the head of the Black Heaven Family had served as the Young Cult Leader's teacher.
She must have obtained permission before I even visited the Family Head's chamber.
So that's why he handed over the access token so easily.
Not bad.
I needed to meet her again for the competition anyway.
"That aside, I have something to ask you."
She looked directly at me.
"What do you think of this lady's appearance?"
"...?"
The completely unexpected question left me speechless.
Even she seemed to realize something was wrong and quickly changed the subject.
"Ahem. Come to think of it, I heard you'll be sparring with the young masters of the other families in three days."
"You'll need martial manuals and medicinal treasures for that, won't you?"
"Yes."
A pleased smile slowly formed on her lips, as though she'd just thought of something.
Then she turned toward me as we walked side by side.
"I've decided."
"The content of your competition will be this day."
"Spend today with this lady."
"I'll personally choose martial manuals suited to you."
She looked almost proud of the idea.
Something was strange.
She was far too different from the Cheon Soyeon I remembered.
More than anything, she seemed unusually kind only toward Heuk Mujin.
And before my regression, I'd vaguely heard her mention the husband-selection competition before.
...You're curious what the competition was? What a pointless question, Disciple.
Naturally, they had to be capable of defeating this lady.
Did anyone actually win?
Of course not.
There is no one beneath the heavens capable of competing with this lady.
That is what it means to be the Heavenly Demon.
Those fools kept trying to stand above this lady despite not knowing their place, so I remember breaking their arms and legs one by one.
The young masters who had gone through the competition before me had indeed been thoroughly beaten.
Some of them had needed two full months to recover.
That was why they had laughed so hard yesterday.
They were imagining Heuk Mujin, who supposedly knew nothing about martial arts, receiving an even worse beating.
And now she's suddenly offering to help me?
What exactly is she thinking?
Was there some connection between her and Heuk Mujin that I couldn't remember?
The pairing made no sense.
And since I had never heard anything about it from her before my regression, I couldn't be certain.
Step. Step.
While I remained lost in thought, we soon arrived at the Treasure Pavilion.
It was a six-story building.
The first through fifth floors contained martial manuals and various weapons.
The sixth floor held medicinal treasures.
As a direct descendant of the Family Head and the eldest young master, I was allowed access to all six floors.
No matter how much of a delinquent Heuk Mujin was, as long as I carried the access token, they should let me inside.
And with the Young Cult Leader standing beside me, there's no reason to worry about that anyway.
"Oh."
Cheon Soyeon looked up at the building.
"This place hasn't changed."
"This lady hasn't visited since coming here as a child."
I froze.
As a child?
"...You remember coming here before?"
"Yes."
"Only once."
She glanced at me.
"Perhaps that's why you don't remember this lady."
"You were so confident back then, saying you'd never forget...."
Her voice trailed off.
She actually sounded sulky.
That was enough to confirm one thing.
There really had been something between Cheon Soyeon and Heuk Mujin.
At the entrance to the manor housing the Treasure Pavilion.
Just as Suhyeok showed the access token and tried to enter, a guard deliberately stretched out one foot to block him.
"Heh."
"..."
His expression alone made it obvious.
Even after seeing the access token, he had no intention of treating Suhyeok respectfully.
The guard chewed on a blade of grass, spat it onto the ground, then sighed.
"Haa."
"What brings you here?"
"Coming all the way to the Treasure Pavilion, even though it doesn't suit you."
He smirked.
"What, planning to fool around with some woman in here this time?"
"Kuhaha!"
No matter how disreputable he was, Heuk Mujin was still the eldest young master of the Black Heaven Family.
For a mere guard to insult him this openly meant there was someone powerful backing him.
"Stop hanging around where you don't belong and go back to your usual brothel."
"If you're that desperate, at least give me some money so I can go in your place."
"Kukuku."
Then a man opened the door and stepped outside.
He had a sly face like a common street thug and a long beard hanging from his chin.
Suhyeok remembered him.
Ma Japyo.
Leader of the Black Kill Squad, directly under the young heir.
"...Squad Leader."
Suhyeok's voice turned cold.
"What is the meaning of this disrespect?"
"I clearly showed you the access token."
Ma Japyo didn't care.
He snorted and shrugged as though he had no idea what Suhyeok was talking about.
"Hah."
"What did I do?"
"How do we know that token with the Family Head's seal isn't forged?"
The guards standing nearby snickered.
Ma Japyo had always looked down on Heuk Mujin.
Sometimes he'd deliberately bump shoulders with him.
Other times he'd spit on Heuk Mujin's shoes and claim it was an accident.
"This is unpleasant."
Cheon Soyeon's voice turned icy.
"Is this how the Black Heaven Family operates?"
"Does a mere squad leader normally behave this arrogantly?"
She leaked killing intent strong enough to kill him on the spot.
Completely unaware of who she was, Ma Japyo stroked his chin while studying her face.
"Oh?"
"Pretty decent-looking."
"Are you that girl Choa who's supposedly the most popular at White Jade Pavilion these days?"
He grinned.
"Perfect timing."
"Why don't you come into my arms instead?"
"I'll pay you well."
The area fell silent.
Cheon Soyeon glanced at Suhyeok beside her.
Then she suppressed her killing intent and spoke calmly.
