The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 42
Chapter 42: Unfamiliar Faces
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The entourage from Yeon Manor was traveling on large ships.
They had deployed five vessels.
The main figures gathered on one ship, while the others carried the escorting martial artists.
Yeon Harin rarely left her cabin.
Whenever she stepped outside, the men, desperate to attract her attention, made it impossible for her to enjoy the scenery peacefully.
It was nothing but a nuisance.
However, staying confined to her cabin didn’t mean those men simply waited.
They constantly visited her, each time trying desperately to make themselves noticed.
Still, compared to Zhongli Woong in the past, they were much better.
Zhongli Woong had blatantly revealed his lecherous intent, but these men refrained from being so overt.
“Young Lady, it’s almost time for the meal.”
One of the escorting martial artists in the room spoke.
All of Yeon Harin’s bodyguards were women.
This arrangement inevitably resulted in a slight compromise in skill, as highly capable female martial artists were still rare.
Five guards were assigned to closely protect Yeon Harin.
Two were stationed inside her room, while the other three stood watch outside the door.
In addition to guarding her, they handled other matters for her. However, Yeon Harin required little care, so they rarely had much to do beyond informing her of scheduled events or checking for potential trouble outside.
“When do you think we’ll arrive?”
Yeon Harin asked.
“The exact schedule hasn’t been decided yet. As you know, we often make stops along the way…”
Yeon Harin sighed and nodded.
These men seemed possessed by restless spirits that couldn’t bear not having fun.
They constantly docked the ship and disembarked to pass the time.
Yeon Harin had joined them a couple of times to avoid being stuck on the ship, but it had never been pleasant.
“I’ll skip lunch today.”
“You’ve been skipping meals too often lately. Should I bring you some dumplings instead?”
The guard looked at her with concern.
Though her tone seemed sincere, Yeon Harin knew it was all an act.
Among the five guards assigned to her, three had been bribed by the Seomun Clan, Gu Yang Clan, and Chu Manor respectively.
As a result, she had no choice but to keep the uncorrupted two positioned—one inside and one outside her room.
Though the guard’s words were kind, there was no telling what might have been done to those dumplings.
Perhaps nothing, but being cautious wouldn’t hurt.
“I’m fine. My stomach hasn’t been feeling well recently.”
The guard still wore a concerned expression.
“We’ll soon arrive in Xingzhou. We’ll rest there for a day or two, so perhaps it would be good for you to take some time off the ship as well.”
Yeon Harin gave her a gentle smile and nodded.
“Thank you. I’ll do that.”
Of course, she intended to truly rest—unless unavoidable circumstances arose.
••••
“Young Master, what’s that?”
Soso’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan had just received a small piece of paper from someone while passing through the marketplace.
After reading it, he immediately burned it.
He had done so openly.
The person who gave it to him handed it over boldly, and Byeok Taesan had accepted it just as boldly, read it, and set it aflame.
Naturally, Soso, who had been right beside him, noticed.
Not only her—everyone who had accompanied him saw it too.
Only the Heavenly Divine Healer recognized the person who had handed over the paper. He was a subordinate of a lower branch of the Hao Clan.
“They say it’ll arrive in half an hour.”
Soso blinked, puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
“The ship from Yeon Manor is arriving soon. I thought we might as well go take a look.”
Soso’s eyes widened like saucers.
She clasped her hands together, looking at Byeok Taesan with teary eyes.
Then she turned her head sharply toward Yoo Seoyeon, who followed behind.
Yoo Seoyeon’s expression wasn’t much different from Soso’s.
“Young Master, did you do this on purpose this time?”
Byeok Taesan frowned.
“Why would I bother with something so tedious? Don’t misunderstand. I’m simply going where I need to go.”
“Oh, of course! Who could misunderstand you, Young Master? Of course, that’s the case.”
Her words didn’t sound convincing, and Byeok Taesan turned away, heading toward the dock.
The rest of the group looked at his back with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
After a moment, they seemed to recall something, snapping out of their thoughts.
They turned their gaze toward Dan Yeong and Chae Wol, the two maids accompanying them.
The two women remained impassive, as though the situation had nothing to do with them.
“How clueless,” the Heavenly Divine Healer muttered before striding off to walk closely behind Byeok Taesan.
The others exchanged exasperated looks but didn’t say anything.
A strange atmosphere lingered.
They followed Byeok Taesan at a slight distance.
The Heavenly Divine Healer glanced back briefly before speaking to Byeok Taesan.
“The Hao Clan seems to be cooperating well.”
“They have their reasons. Besides, this much can be handled with money alone.”
“Ah, but this doesn’t feel like just a matter of money. Frankly, it seems like the Hao Clan has practically joined under you. Isn’t that right?”
“Annoying. I have no intention of managing such things.”
“Ah, as expected! Don’t worry; I’ll handle everything. Young Master, just do as you please.”
Byeok Taesan suddenly stopped walking and stared at him.
The unexpected pressure made the Heavenly Divine Healer uneasy.
“Wh-why are you looking at me like that, Young Master?”
“You’re not causing unnecessary trouble, are you?”
“Of course not! I’d never even think of such a thing. I only wish for your peace and comfort, nothing more.”
Byeok Taesan chuckled and resumed walking.
“Do as you like. Just be prepared to face the consequences if you cause me any hassle—even if it means dealing with the Heavenly Demon himself.”
“Ah, please don’t joke about such blasphemous things! I could never betray anyone, let alone you!”
Byeok Taesan stopped again and stared.
“You’re hiding something.”
“I’m not! Truly!”
“Swear it on your soul.”
“Why must you always make me swear? Didn’t you say we only had half a sichen? If we keep standing here, we’ll be late. Let’s go quickly!”
The Heavenly Divine Healer hastily moved forward, clearly flustered.
Byeok Taesan watched him for a moment, then laughed and followed.
“Don’t get into trouble. If you do, I’ll make you regret it.”
Byeok Taesan muttered softly.
Whether he heard it or not, the Heavenly Divine Healer shuddered as though sensing the weight of those words.
* * *
Yeon Harin took a deep breath and composed herself.
From now on, she planned to maintain a cold demeanor. She had no intention of giving these people any opening.
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived.”
One of the guards outside her room called out in a slightly raised voice.
Finally, they had reached Xingzhou.
They were supposed to stay here for a day or two, and Yeon Harin planned to seclude herself in the lodging until the next day.
Although she could have refused the journey outright, the circumstances of Yeon Manor had made it impossible.
One thing was certain—she had no intention of marrying any of these men.
For now, they were merely testing the waters, rather than pushing for immediate marriage.
After a final check of her appearance, Yeon Harin opened the door and stepped out.
As expected, Seomun Jehak, Gu Yangsoo, and Chu Yeonghak were waiting eagerly.
The three men brightened visibly upon seeing her.
Indeed, her presence seemed to light up the surroundings.
“You may disembark now. The lodgings have already been arranged, so let’s rest and enjoy ourselves,” Seomun Jehak said, stepping forward.
The other two glared at him disapprovingly.
“Come on, let’s go,” Gu Yangsoo interrupted before Seomun Jehak could say more, cutting him off.
The battle was fierce.
They continued to keep each other in check, vying for Yeon Harin’s attention, even as they disembarked from the ship.
Yeon Harin wanted to head to her accommodations quickly.
However, the others seemed to have no such intention.
“Since we’ve already arrived, how about taking a look around instead of heading straight to the lodgings?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
The three men looked at Yeon Harin with expressions full of anticipation.
Even her escort warriors were giving her similar glances.
In truth, the escort warriors were just as restless.
Since Yeon Harin wouldn’t move, they felt stifled.
They too wanted to seize the opportunity to stretch their legs and refresh their spirits.
Under the strange pressure of their gazes, Yeon Harin couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Those three men aside, her escort warriors hadn’t done anything to deserve being denied a brief respite.
Of course, it was their duty, but still, it weighed on her mind.
At that moment, a very familiar voice reached Yeon Harin’s ears.
“Young Lady!”
Yeon Harin whipped her head around in surprise to look in the direction of the voice.
The owner of the voice was standing there.
But Yeon Harin’s gaze didn’t linger on Yoo Seoyeon, who had called out to her.
Instead, her eyes immediately locked onto the figure standing behind her.
Byeok Taesan was there.
Yeon Harin stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
As always, he was looking her way with a calm and indifferent expression. Seeing his composed gaze, she finally came back to her senses.
“Young Master?”
An overwhelming tide of emotions surged through her—joy, fondness, gratitude, bitterness, unease…
Yeon Harin, carrying all those feelings, began to step forward.
Slowly, she approached Byeok Taesan.
As she drew closer, she began to notice the people around him.
Among them, she recognized Cheon Kyungwan, Soso, Yoo Seoyeon, and the Heavenly Divine Healer.
However, there were three unfamiliar faces.
What’s more, two of them were stunningly beautiful women—so much so that Yeon Harin found herself slightly alarmed.
Her unease deepened, and her steps faltered briefly.
Yeon Harin shook off her distracting thoughts with effort. Then, wearing a bright smile filled with joy, she spoke.
“What brings you here?”
“I had some business at the Hubei Martial Alliance.”
Yeon Harin’s eyes widened.
“At the Hubei Martial Alliance? Are you perhaps attending the gathering of Young Talents?”
Byeok Taesan chuckled softly.
“Hardly. That’s not my level.”
Of course, it wasn’t.
There was no reason for someone of his caliber to mingle with mere Young Talents.
Misunderstanding his remark, Yeon Harin hesitated, unsure how to respond.
This was the perfect time to change the subject.
“There are some unfamiliar faces here.”
Byeok Taesan regarded her quietly as she spoke.
He felt something unusual.
This was his third time meeting Yeon Harin.
Yet all three encounters—the first, the second, and now the third—were distinct.
For one thing, her beauty seemed to have grown each time they met.
He had been impressed by her looks the first time, but now she was truly stunning.
In truth, there was no pressing need for him to come to the Hubei Martial Alliance.
He could have just sent the Needle Master, or even avoided the trip entirely.
But he had come anyway, because of Yeon Harin.
There was something he wanted to confirm.
Yet now that they had met, he couldn’t quite understand his own feelings.
Why had he been so intent on meeting her?
What was he thinking when he acted this way?
What exactly was it that he wanted to confirm?
“Aren’t you going to introduce them to me?”
Glancing toward Dan Yeong and Chae Wol, Byeok Taesan replied, “These are my attendants. You know Soso, right?”
Yeon Harin nodded emphatically, though her gaze was fixed on Danyeong.
“But… she’s incredibly beautiful.”
“My attendants tend to be.”
Yeon Harin tilted her head slightly.
Something about his tone felt oddly unsettling.
“And this is a physician.”
At Byeok Taesan’s words, Yeon Harin quickly refocused her attention, this time on the Needle Master.
“A physician?”
Her gaze shifted toward the Heavenly Divine Healer.
With such a renowned physician already in their company, why would Byeok Taesan bring another?
It was hard to comprehend.
“They mentioned having business at the Hubei Martial Alliance, so I brought them along.”
“Oh… I see.”
Just then, Soso, who had been anxiously observing the exchange, suddenly whispered to Byeok Taesan.
“Young Master! That’s not the right way to say it. You should’ve said you came because you wanted to see her! You really don’t understand anything, do you? Even if it’s true you came for other reasons, you can’t say that!”
Yeon Harin, unsure how to react, stared blankly at Soso.
Byeok Taesan let out a small laugh.
“Did you say that on purpose, hoping she’d hear it?”
“Huh?”
Soso flinched, her expression turning awkward as she looked at Yeon Harin.
Of course, she hadn’t done it on purpose.
She had spoken quietly, but Yeon Harin’s martial skills were sharp enough to catch even that soft whisper.
Quickly changing the topic, Soso said, “In any case, it’s really nice to see you again, isn’t it?”
Yeon Harin smiled warmly at Soso.
The girl was always energetic, bringing a radiant light to those around her.
Meanwhile, Byeok Taesan glanced at Yeon Harin’s entourage.
From earlier, he had been sensing hostile stares.
Three men, their gazes practically shooting sparks, were glaring at him.
Byeok Taesan’s lips curved slightly.
“Just a bunch of lustful brats.”