The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 50
Chapter 50: Soso is a Little Different
────────────────────────────────────
The Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master were meeting with the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord.
In truth, they thought they wouldn’t meet him for a few more days.
They had expected to interact with minor figures first and then briefly meet the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord at a later point.
But, for some reason, this man seemed to be in such a hurry that he asked to meet them shortly after their arrival, which was surprising.
It seemed like he had postponed his own affairs to prioritize this meeting.
When they arrived here, they noticed that the expressions of the scribes weren’t particularly pleasant—likely because things weren’t going smoothly for them.
“It is an honor to meet such renowned physicians,” said the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord with a polite greeting.
In response, the Needle Master and the Heavenly Divine Healer also bowed in return.
“It’s just an undeserved reputation. Rather, it is we who are honored to meet a figure who commands the martial world of Hubei.”
“Haha. Commanding the martial world? No, I’m just a worker dealing with one headache after another with all the recent complications.”
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord feigned modesty while exchanging a few customary pleasantries.
The Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master, having dealt with numerous high-ranking individuals, followed along with ease.
“I’ve heard that you two are currently with the Golden Wall Merchants… is that true?”
“It is,” the Heavenly Divine Healer answered.
The Needle Master nodded in agreement, without adding further words.
“I must admit, I found it quite surprising. The two of you are famously known for not affiliating yourselves with any group. In fact, I heard there were many attempts to recruit you both.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer nodded.
“Indeed, even the Namgung Clan and the Zhuge Clan extended their offers.”
As if feeling a sense of rivalry, the Needle Master added, “The Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus also sent people.”
“Wow. The Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus? That’s truly impressive.”
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord felt a chill in his chest.
What would have happened if the Needle Master had joined the Black Lotus?
Thinking about it only fueled his desire further.
If these two could be brought under Hubei Murim Alliance’s banner, they might go beyond their current status as a smaller faction within the Martial Alliance.
The power of great physicians is immense.
Not only were these two extraordinary themselves, but they could also train other talented physicians.
Additionally, their medical expertise meant they could produce superior medicines.
Even if it was something as basic as improving the efficacy of wound medicine or internal injury remedies, it would significantly bolster Hubei Martial Alliance’s strength.
However, broaching this topic now was premature.
The groundwork had not yet been sufficiently laid.
Such discussions required a gradual, long-term approach.
“That’s why I’m so curious. How did such extraordinary figures come to join the Golden Wall Merchants? What kind of place is it that could achieve such a remarkable feat?”
The Heavenly Divine Healer smirked inwardly.
Wasn’t he essentially asking them to spill information?
What kind of benefit did the Golden Wall Merchants offer to convince them to settle there?
“In my case… I simply decided to work for someone who truly recognized me.”
This was the absolute truth.
There wasn’t even a hint of deception in his words.
If Byeok Taesan hadn’t completely seen through his identity, the Heavenly Divine Healer would never have settled with the Golden Wall Merchants.
Whether this sincerity was evident in his expression and eyes, the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord flinched slightly.
“There seem to be many people in the world who would recognize your abilities…”
The Heavenly Divine Healer smiled faintly.
“They may see my outward abilities, but the only person who acknowledged my deeper self was our Young Master.”
“Ah!”
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord was genuinely impressed.
He could feel that the Heavenly Divine Healer was sincerely loyal to the second son of the Golden Wall Merchants.
The evaluation of Byeok Taesan, previously mentioned by Seomun Deok, suddenly resurfaced in his mind.
Now, the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord turned his attention to the Needle Master.
After a brief hesitation, the Needle Master said, “I was caught up in a bet.”
“A bet?”
“Yes. I don’t know how much people know about me, but… I do enjoy gambling quite a bit.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, I got caught up in a bet. Though, to be honest, even without the bet, I feel like it would have ended up this way regardless.”
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord cautiously asked, “So… does that mean you, too, are following the second son of the Golden Wall Merchants rather than the group itself?”
“Exactly. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about the Golden Wall Merchants. As long as our Young Master is safe, that’s all that matters to me.”
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord’s mind spun in confusion.
If this was the case, there might be no need to investigate the Golden Wall Merchants further. Then again, these two could be creating a smokescreen, so investigation was still necessary.
But something even more critical emerged in his mind.
‘They called him Byeok Taesan, didn’t they?’
The Hubei Martial Alliance Lord made up his mind to meet Byeok Taesan personally.
•••
Soso looked around, turning her head this way and that. Then, she crouched like a cat and tiptoed quietly.
It was late at night, but the bright moonlight made moving around manageable.
Her face was tense with nerves.
Tonight, she needed to go to Byeok Taesan’s room.
The way Yeon Harin had looked at her earlier kept bothering her, but there was no other choice.
For Soso, Byeok Taesan was above Yeon Harin.
And truthfully, she couldn’t deny she had certain expectations.
Though she felt deeply embarrassed and guilty toward Yeon Harin, she forcibly suppressed those feelings.
Quietly walking step by step, she eventually reached Byeok Taesan’s room.
Standing in front of the door, unsure of whether to knock or leave, she heard a voice from inside.
“You’re being noisy. Come in if you’re coming, or just leave.”
The tone was cold and indifferent, almost dismissive at first glance. But Soso knew very well that this wasn’t his true intention.
“You always say such mean things,” she murmured before carefully opening the door and slipping inside.
Byeok Taesan sat cross-legged on the bed. Seeing him, Soso involuntarily gulped.
“Lie down here. It’d be better if you undress, but it’s fine if you don’t.”
Soso’s face turned crimson.
How could he say such things without a hint of change in his expression?
She didn’t let herself dwell on it for too long. Hastily, Soso shuffled to the bed, climbed on, covered herself with a blanket, and lay down.
Byeok Taesan glanced down at her and smirked.
The mischievous grin on his face made Soso want to retort, but before she could say anything, he placed his hand on her crown.
Then, he drew out her soul.
Before dawn, Soso returned to her own room from Byeok Taesan’s.
She shared her room with Dan Yeong and Chae Wol, but surprisingly, the two women hadn’t gone to sleep and were waiting for her.
Soso’s eyes widened in shock.
“Uh… Sisters, um, I… well…”
Her mind was a tangled mess, and she couldn’t tell what she should say or even what she was trying to say.
DanYeong approached her and gently embraced her.
Feeling an indescribable sense of comfort, Soso closed her eyes.
Once she calmed down a bit, Dan Yeong and Chae Wol sat with her.
The two women’s eyes sparkled as they stared at Soso.
Soso avoided their gazes, fidgeting nervously.
“So, how was it?”
Chae Wol’s question made Soso flinch. But seeing the playful look in Chae Wol’s eyes and expression, Soso burst into a shy smile.
Her skin seemed to glow as if it were radiating light.
“As I thought,” Dan Yeong nodded, satisfied with her observation.
For some reason, any woman who spent the night with Byeok Taesan ended up looking more beautiful.
The degree of change varied, but it always happened.
Soso was on the extreme end of the spectrum.
Her skin became noticeably smoother, her facial features sharper, and she exuded a newfound sense of ease.
“Seeing this much change already… imagine how much she’ll shine later,” Chae Wol remarked with sparkling eyes.
Unlike Dan Yeong, Chae Wol had heard more rumors about Byeok Taesan and witnessed the effects of his activities in courtesan houses for longer.
Every woman who spent the night with Byeok Taesan saw their appearance improve. But the transformation wasn’t immediate—it occurred gradually over several days.
For most, the change took around five days, though it could vary from three to ten days.
The longer the transformation period, the more remarkable the result.
Dan Yeong and Chae Wol had experienced such changes themselves, as had all the women who came to serve Byeok Taesan.
And the extent of the initial change usually indicated the final result.
When looking at Soso through that lens, it seemed she wouldn’t change for a long time.
Moreover, she would undoubtedly become incredibly beautiful.
“Judging by her current transformation… it feels like the cute side will stand out much more, though.”
Chae Wol softly smiled as she asked, “By the look on your face, you must’ve really liked it, huh?”
Soso took a moment to organize her thoughts before slowly opening her mouth.
“I’m not exactly sure how to put it into words… but it felt indescribably warm and comforting.”
“Warm and comforting?”
At those words, Dan Yeong and Chae Wol widened their eyes as they exchanged glances.
This was completely different from their own experiences.
When the two of them had spent a night with Byeok Taesan, they had been completely immersed in a pleasure so overwhelming that it felt as though their entire beings were drowning and then resurfacing again.
That was why it seemed no sounds had reached them at all.
Frankly, they had been somewhat worried. Based on experience, they’d thought that most people nearby would find it nearly impossible to sleep due to the constant moans that bordered on screams.
“Your memory? Do you remember what happened?”
Soso weakly shook her head.
“No. Unfortunately…”
This part was the same as their own experiences.
Only the sensations and feelings remained, while the actual memories were entirely gone.
Dan Yeong suddenly found herself thinking that something was strange.
Up until now, everyone who had spent a night with Byeok Taesan had experienced the same thing.
Only the sensation of writhing in unimaginable pleasure lingered, while all memories disappeared.
Yet everyone accepted it as if it were completely natural.
Almost as if it was to be expected.
Even those who weren’t directly involved, such as people around them, felt the same way.
But wasn’t this far from a normal or ordinary situation?
What was truly fascinating was that, even when such doubts arose, the situation itself seemed so natural that the doubts faded away.
Even if questions arose, they were quickly replaced by a sense of acceptance.
Just like now.
“That’s a shame. It really… felt like something that could never be experienced again,” Chae Wol remarked.
Soso shook her head vigorously.
“No. I truly felt amazing. It was a feeling I’ve never experienced before in my life. I doubt… I’ll ever feel it again, though.”
Dan Yeong and Chae Wol looked at Soso with curious eyes.
While their experiences had differed, the outcome was the same.
And they weren’t the only ones feeling this sense of wonder.
Byeok Taesan calmly absorbed the power of the spirit he had gained through Soso.
Soso was a little different from others.
For one thing, there were no eerie wails of spirits echoing through the surroundings when the remnants of their spirits were burned, as there had been with the courtesans.
Throughout the process of burning the spirit, Soso had seemed genuinely at peace.
It was as if someone was tenderly taking care of her with the utmost devotion.
There were occasional groans, but they seemed to stem from relief rather than pain.
No one else had ever shown such a reaction before.
He had once jokingly told Soso that her soul was “unstained,” but it hadn’t been a complete joke.
In truth, Soso was a very pure individual.
It was clear that her spirit had fewer impurities.
But when her spirit was burned through the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art, it turned out to yield far more energy than he had anticipated.
To the extent that it surpassed the amount he’d gathered when he first captured and burned one of the men from Fragrant Flower House.
Moreover, it wasn’t the kind of inflated, mixed energy that came from impure spirits, which often turned out to be largely useless.
Instead, it was pure energy.
It was superior to any spirit he had burned so far.
Naturally, Byeok Taesan directed Soso’s energy toward healing his meridians.
And then, something remarkable happened.
His mind became tranquil, and his body and spirit were at ease.
At the same time, the meridians he had been treating solidified further.
Byeok Taesan instinctively realized that today’s treatment would mark a significant turning point.
While his previous treatments had been somewhat haphazard, today’s session served as a solid foundation.
In martial arts terms, it was like someone who had been recklessly training in advanced techniques suddenly taking the time to solidify their basics.
The resulting sense of stability was indescribable.
“Truly… a remarkable technique.”
The more he practiced it, the more profound it became.
Just when he thought he had reached the end, it revealed new depths; just when he thought he was starting, it turned out he hadn’t even truly begun.
It might even lead him to insights that would overturn everything he thought he knew.
Ultimately, though, today’s session would prove beneficial.
The Soul Augmenting Demonic Art that he had mastered during his time as the Heavenly Demon had been completely redefined through the enlightenment he had gained from his death.
Yet, the fact that he had learned it in the first place was proving to be a significant advantage.
Byeok Taesan calmly immersed himself in Soso’s energy, allowing it to flow through his entire being.
A pleasant smile lingered on his lips.
The real exchanges had begun.
The entirety of Hubei Martial Alliance was bustling with activity.
The reasons for holding gatherings for the younger generation were manifold.
The primary purpose was to gradually foster connections among the martial families affiliated with Hubei Martial Alliance from an early age.
Additionally, seeing one another’s progress often served as motivation for growth.
The gatherings also provided practical opportunities for individual improvement.
During this period, everyone within the Hubei Martial Alliance offered their full support to the younger generation.
It was easy to find elders throughout the Corps sincerely answering the questions of younger participants.
Whether it was about martial arts, the workings of the world, or general knowledge, discussions and questions took place everywhere.
Sometimes, these discussions even led to sparring matches if things went well.
The growth of Hubei Martial Alliance, to the point where it was now called a smaller version of the Martial Alliance, was largely due to such efforts.
So how precious would this time be for the younger participants?
With only a limited amount of time, they had to make the most of it.
That was why Yeon Harin wore a slightly gloomy expression as she gazed at Byeok Taesan’s room.
It was the morning of the third day since they had arrived at Hubei Martial Alliance.
The first and second days had been for resting, but today marked the official start of activities. Yet, Byeok Taesan hadn’t even stepped out of his room since the second day.
Yeon Harin couldn’t bring herself to call for Byeok Taesan.
It felt as though he was at an incredibly crucial moment.
Logically, it made no sense for someone who didn’t even practice martial arts to experience such a moment, yet that was genuinely how she felt.
Simply approaching Byeok Taesan’s room was enough to convince her.
And it wasn’t just Yeon Harin.
The rest of their party felt the same way.
Even Yoo Seoyeon, who had rolled up her sleeves and steeled her resolve, experienced the same phenomenon.
“I wanted us to stick together…”
Yeon Harin muttered softly before turning around and leaving the accommodations.
As she exited, she spotted someone approaching from a distance.
Her eyes grew wide when she recognized who it was.
“Lord Hubei Martial Alliance?”
Surprisingly, the Hubei Martial Alliance Lord was approaching with hurried steps.