The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 35
Chapter 35: Just a Little More
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The expression on the Owner of White Flower House’s face was utterly calm.
Byeok Taesan trudged forward and sat in front of her.
The Heavenly Divine Healer quickly followed, taking a seat next to him.
“Don’t tell me you’re about to claim White Flower House has nothing to do with this nonsense, are you?”
At Byeok Taesan’s words, the Owner of White Flower House shook her head.
“Of course not. My life is precious too, you know.”
“Is that so? Then let me ask you a few questions.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“What makes you so confident?”
The Owner of White Flower House smiled faintly, her expression carrying an alluring quality.
“You said you’d make use of my body, did you not? I took that to mean you wouldn’t kill me.”
“I won’t kill you. But I could make you beg me to.”
Even at those words, her smile didn’t waver.
There was no way she could maintain such composure unless she had something to rely on, didn’t understand the situation, or wasn’t afraid of pain.
“Well, that’s not important. Next question.”
The Owner of White Flower House looked at him with interest, showing she wasn’t an ordinary person.
“The ones who attacked earlier wouldn’t talk no matter how much we pressed them. Who’s pulling your strings?”
“Golden Heavenly Alliance.”
She answered without the slightest hesitation.
Byeok Taesan shook his head.
“No, I know that already. I’m asking about the ones behind the Golden Heavenly Alliance.”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“I get the feeling you’d know.”
“I don’t know their exact names. But I do know someone who frequents the Golden Heavenly Alliance.”
Byeok Taesan gestured with his chin for her to continue.
“Bong Muok.”
“Bong Muok?”
It was an unfamiliar name, so Byeok Taesan turned to look at the Heavenly Divine Healer, who had traveled extensively and would know if the name was notable.
As expected, the nickname of Bong Muok immediately came out of the healer’s mouth.
“Black Moon Blade?”
“That’s correct.”
Byeok Taesan asked, “Is he famous?”
The Heavenly Divine Healer gave him an incredulous look.
“Of course. He single-handedly annihilated Blood Flame Fortress and killed the Blood Flame Warlord.”
To be honest, Byeok Taesan neither knew what Blood Flame Fortress was nor who the Blood Flame Warlord was.
“Blood Flame Fortress sounds like a bandit den. And the Blood Flame Warlord must’ve been the leader. So he got famous just for taking out a few bandits?”
“A mere bandit leader? The Blood Flame Warlord was a powerful martial artist who was on the cusp of joining the Hundred Masters. And Blood Flame Fortress wasn’t just some random bandit hideout.”
“Is that so?”
Byeok Taesan remained unimpressed.
To him, bandits were still just bandits.
Not being among the Hundred Masters meant they weren’t good enough yet.
There was no reason for the Heavenly Demon to care about such trivial figures, nor would he pay attention to someone who killed them.
But the Heavenly Divine Healer wasn’t finished.
“However, to my knowledge, the Black Moon Blade is dead.”
The word “dead” finally piqued Byeok Taesan’s interest.
“Dead? Are you sure?”
“I didn’t witness it myself, but there were many who did.”
“Many saw him die?”
Byeok Taesan turned his gaze back to the Owner of White Flower House.
“They say he’s dead.”
“No, it’s definitely Black Moon Blade Bong Muok.”
“Would you stake your spirit on it?”
“I would.”
Byeok Taesan nodded.
With that level of certainty, it had to be true.
“So, a dead man has come back to life?”
Musing over this, Byeok Taesan turned to the Heavenly Divine Healer again.
“Well, it’s possible to fake one’s death. But the one who supposedly killed the Black Moon Blade was his brother, Red Thunder Blade Manchu.”
“So, it seems we can assume Red Thunder Blade Manchu also belonged to this mysterious organization.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer tilted his head slightly.
“There was always something suspicious about it. Honestly, while Red Thunder Blade is stronger than the Blood Flame Warlord, the gap wasn’t that significant.”
“Any other possibilities?”
“By possibilities, you mean…”
“Jiangshi.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer chuckled.
“Oh, come on. Do you know how hard it is to make a Jiangshi? Plus, if someone frequents the Golden Heavenly Alliance, they’d have to conceal all signs of being one. That would mean they’re sentient Jiangshi, which… well, that’s still…”
He trailed off, hesitating to say more.
What came next wasn’t for everyone to hear.
“This is getting more and more bothersome.”
At first, Byeok Taesan had thought things would end once the Zhongli Clan and the Golden Heavenly Alliance were dealt with.
But all of them were merely pawns on a chessboard.
If he wanted to clean the house, he’d have to eliminate those moving the pawns. Yet their identities remained unknown.
Even if he finished off the Golden Heavenly Alliance, it wouldn’t be the end.
After all, he had disrupted their plans.
There was no way they would stay quiet.
“Then again, given how cautious they seem, they might just go into hiding.”
Muttering to himself, Byeok Taesan shifted his gaze back to the Owner of White Flower House.
“It’s time for you to start paying for your crimes, don’t you think?”
Though she pretended to remain unbothered, her eyes betrayed a hint of tension.
“From now on, you’re a spy.”
“Pardon?”
“Your job is to gather and deliver as much information as possible about the Golden Heavenly Alliance and the organization behind them.”
The Owner of White Flower House didn’t respond.
Byeok Taesan continued, unfazed by her silence.
“We don’t need external information. My subordinates can handle that. What I need from you is intelligence from the inside.”
The Owner of White Flower House calmly replied, “There are limits to what I can uncover.”
After pausing to collect her thoughts, she added, “I won’t be able to obtain core information. They would never show me something like that.”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“Why are you acting coy? You weren’t on their side to begin with, were you? You’re just someone they hired.”
“I’m not sure what you mean…”
“You must have discovered the truth about the Black Moon Blade on your own, which means the Golden Heavenly Alliance has no idea you’re aware of it.”
The Owner of White Flower House’s expression turned incredulous.
“You’ve been gathering information steadily ever since you were hired, haven’t you? Am I wrong?”
“I don’t understand why you’d say such things.”
Byeok Taesan nodded.
“You’re a good actor. Truly befitting someone from the Hao Clan.”
The mention of Hao Clan made the Heavenly Divine Healer’s eyes widen in surprise.
“She’s from Hao Clan?”
Byeok Taesan didn’t answer, instead fixing the Owner of White Flower House with a penetrating gaze. His confidence left her shaking her head in resignation.
Initially, she thought about denying it further, but the dangerous gleam in his eyes made her give up.
If she continued to deny it, she doubted she’d walk away unscathed.
“How did you know?”
“Face veil.”
Her face twisted in confusion.
“I’m not wearing one. What do you mean by a face veil?”
How could he have deduced her affiliation with Hao Clan from a veil she didn’t wear?
Byeok Taesan frowned.
“Why should I explain? Just pay for your crimes. Bring me all the information you’ve gathered so far, and keep gathering more.”
At last, the Owner of White Flower House was reminded of her precarious position and fell silent.
Her excitement rose slightly as her identity was discovered.
She looked at Byeok Taesan with eyes full of questions.
She had left no trace of being from Hao Clan.
How had he figured it out?
‘Unless he already knew about me…’
But if that were the case, why didn’t he react on his first day at White Flower House?
There was no way he was pretending not to know. If he had been acting, it would mean his skill surpassed hers.
The Owner of White Flower House dismissed her musings when she noticed Byeok Taesan’s gaze growing colder.
“I understand. I’ll extract as much information as I can.”
“Good. I’ll trust you to do that.”
With that, Byeok Taesan stood up.
His business at White Flower House was finished.
As he turned to leave, the Heavenly Divine Healer looked at him with a hint of urgency.
“Young Master, shouldn’t you place a restriction on her?”
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
“If she wants to run, let her run.”
“Pardon? She might actually escape.”
“Then her worth ends there.”
“What?”
The Heavenly Divine Healer looked at Byeok Taesan in confusion.
“I know where the secret manual of Shadowstep is.”
At those words, the Owner of White Flower House’s eyes widened in shock.
“You know where the Shadowstep manual is? Don’t tell me you have it, Young Master!”
Byeok Taesan glanced back at her.
“As I said earlier, why should I tell you?”
Leaving her with that remark, Byeok Taesan strode out.
The Owner of White Flower House called out urgently.
“I will carry out your orders with the utmost sincerity! My people are already embedded in every new business the Golden Heavenly Alliance has secretly started. I promise you won’t be disappointed!”
“Good, I’ll look forward to it. Oh, and clean up the mess from the ones I killed today.”
Byeok Taesan waved a hand dismissively and left the room.
The Owner of White Flower House stared blankly at his departing figure and muttered.
“Shadowstep… Should I report this to the higher-ups?”
Her face twisted in confusion.
Shadowstep was a special movement technique passed down through the Hao Clan. However, it had been lost to history.
The former leader of Hao Clan and its elders had vanished without passing down the technique.
To be precise, Shadowstep hadn’t disappeared completely.
An inferior version that was less effective than the original still existed.
This version was taught to the lower ranks of Hao Clan in the past.
But Shadowstep wasn’t just a movement technique.
It encapsulated everything about Hao Clan.
Shadowstep was the essence of the Hao Clan’s identity, and one’s mastery of it determined their position within the organization.
Without someone to learn and teach the higher levels of Shadowstep, mastering even the lower levels was impossible.
With the original technique gone, Hao Clan’s influence had significantly declined.
This was why she couldn’t dismiss Byeok Taesan’s words so easily.
After much internal conflict, the Owner of White Flower House shook her head.
“I’ll hold off for now. It’s not too late to report after confirming it.”
* * *
After leaving the Owner of White Flower House’s room, Byeok Taesan descended to the lower floor.
He nodded at the sight of the hallway, which had already been cleaned.
“Quick work.”
In front of the room he had used, Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon were waiting.
“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go.”
The two quickly fell in line behind Byeok Taesan.
Cheon Kyungwan’s face remained expressionless.
Whether that was because of the poison or his usual demeanor was unclear.
Only one person here could discern the difference.
“It seems all the poison is out of your system now. Well, after such intense movement, that’s natural. You don’t feel the need to relieve yourself, do you?”
At the Heavenly Divine Healer’s question, Cheon Kyungwan shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
“Good.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer led the way, and Cheon Kyungwan hesitated for a moment before following closely behind.
After some deliberation, he asked, “What exactly are the side effects?”
The Heavenly Divine Healer smirked.
“You already know. Why ask?”
“I don’t. I don’t understand why I acted the way I did or if the side effects will persist.”
Hearing about side effects, Yoo Seoyeon moved closer, listening attentively.
The only one who seemed disinterested was Byeok Taesan, who strolled along leisurely, heading home at his usual pace.
“It’s nothing major. Things you’ve kept suppressed inside simply burst out.”
“Suppressed… things?”
“Yes. You could say the poison amplifies your desires. What you normally wouldn’t dare to express comes rushing out. Even an enlightened monk would struggle to withstand it.”
“I can’t accept that.”
Cheon Kyungwan refused to believe it.
During the battle, he had unleashed an overwhelming surge of killing intent, fury, and madness.
Was that truly his hidden desire?
“Humans are complex creatures full of emotions and desires. Bottling them up without release only makes them grow. That’s what spilled out. It likely won’t be as severe next time.”
Having expended so much energy, the side effects would naturally diminish.
Whether there would even be a next time to use the poison was another matter.
In truth, the Heavenly Divine Healer had been impressed today.
Despite the poison’s effects, Cheon Kyungwan hadn’t crossed any irreversible lines.
In the end, he had managed to control his desires.
Cheon Kyungwan’s gaze turned introspective, his thoughts churning.
The confusion in his mind left him unsure of how to process it all.
The Heavenly Divine Healer left him to his thoughts and approached Byeok Taesan.
Yoo Seoyeon followed silently.
When the Heavenly Divine Healer noticed her suddenly at his side, he flinched.
“What?”
Yoo Seoyeon raised a finger to her lips, gesturing for silence.
The Heavenly Divine Healer glanced ahead at Byeok Taesan and back at Cheon Kyungwan behind them.
Yoo Seoyeon whispered softly.
“That poison from earlier… Give me a little of it.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer stared at her, stunned.
Her expression was utterly serious.
And the Heavenly Divine Healer found himself a little frightened.