The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 51

Chapter 51 Arrogantly

“Greetings, Lord of the Hubei Martial Alliance,” Yeon Harin said, respectfully clasping her fists in salute.

Baek Liyeop, the Lord of Hubei Martial Alliance, responded with a faint smile.

“So, you’re Yeon Harin. I’ve heard a great deal about you,” .

Baek Liyeop glanced briefly behind Yeon Harin.

“The one who came with you must be inside?”

His question implicitly carried another—why weren’t they together? Why was she alone?

Yeon Harin wore a slightly troubled expression.

“It seems… he is in the middle of something important, so I couldn’t call him out.”

“Hmm?”

Baek Liyeop tilted his head in confusion. Judging by his expression, it seemed like Yeon Harin hadn’t even checked what was keeping him so preoccupied.

‘Could it be… they’re not on good terms?’

From what he had heard, their relationship was said to be quite special.

However, Baek Liyeop brushed it off as nothing significant. When you’re young, occasional squabbles happen. It’s normal for people to stick together again after a while, isn’t it?

If the rumors he’d heard were accurate, the two of them would be back to their usual closeness soon enough.

“For now, I was thinking of meeting him. What do you plan to do?”

Yeon Harin became visibly uneasy.

She wanted to accompany Baek Liyeop and see for herself what Byeok Taesan was doing inside.

However, she also felt that Baek Liyeop disturbing him might not be a good idea.

If that was the case, she needed to advise against it. But how could she, of all people, dare to tell Baek Liyeop such a thing?

Seeing Yeon Harin’s hesitant and restless state, Baek Liyeop chuckled.

“If you’re uncomfortable, just go on your way. Why think so hard about it?”

“It’s not that…”

Yeon Harin clenched her eyes shut.

“I don’t think it would be good for you to disturb him, my Lord.”

Baek Liyeop’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected her hesitation to be over saying something like that.

“Well, well.”

A quiet exclamation escaped Baek Liyeop’s lips.

He couldn’t help but be impressed. He knew how hard it must have been for her to say such a thing to him.

It became clear that she truly cared for—Byeok Taesan.

Feeling that sincerity, Baek Liyeop found himself even more intrigued by Yeon Harin.

‘She would pair perfectly with our Muryang. What a shame.’

She was already engaged. If not for that, he would have done whatever it took to match her with his grandson, Baek Muryang. She was such an admirable young woman.

Baek Liyeop smiled gently.

“My cultivation is not shallow. I assure you, there is no chance of me disturbing him. If you think about it logically, wouldn’t my presence actually be helpful?”

“Oh…!”

Yeon Harin suddenly realized that he might be right. Baek Liyeop was a master of the highest caliber. There weren’t many in the world who could rival him.

If he sincerely intended to assist Byeok Taesan, he could indeed be of great help.

“I was too short-sighted,” she said, bowing her head slightly.

The regret in Baek Liyeop’s gaze deepened as he watched her.

“Then, go ahead and enjoy the gathering. I’ll just meet your fiancé inside for a moment and leave.”

The sudden mention of “fiancé” turned Yeon Harin’s face bright red.

She barely managed a farewell, quickly bowing before retreating.

Baek Liyeop, watching her leave with an amused expression, eventually entered the guest quarters.

He had already inquired about which room belonged to Byeok Taesan, so there was no need to wander.

Baek Liyeop approached the door to Byeok Taesan’s room.

Just as he was about to make his presence known, a strange sensation struck him.

Only then did he fully grasp the meaning behind Yeon Harin’s earlier words.

Something significant truly seemed to be happening inside. The feeling was overwhelming, warning him that any interruption would be disastrous.

‘This boy… there really is something extraordinary about him.’

Baek Liyeop steeled his resolve.

This was just an odd sensation. He wouldn’t allow it to deter his firm decision.

As he prepared to announce himself, however, someone suddenly stepped in front of him.

It was Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon.

The two greeted Baek Liyeop with respectful bows, clasping their fists.

Yet they said nothing. It was as if they had decided not to speak a single word, determined not to risk disturbing Byeok Taesan.

Seeing them, Baek Liyeop’s firm resolve instantly wavered.

He voluntarily decided to step back.

With a slight gesture toward the exit, he turned and left the guest quarters.

Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon carefully followed behind him.

Byeok Taesan slowly opened his eyes.

A considerable amount of time must have passed. After absorbing Soso’s spiritual energy, he had entered a state of selflessness.

He tried to estimate how much time had elapsed.

Usually, in a state of enlightenment, one loses all sense of time. Whether a day or ten days have passed, it feels as if only a moment has gone by.

But Byeok Taesan was different.

His perception of time was entirely unlike that of ordinary people. Even after an extended period of enlightenment, he could accurately determine how much time had passed.

This was a unique trait of those who had mastered the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.

“A little over a day, it seems.”

He had essentially let the second day slip by.

But it didn’t matter. He hadn’t planned on accomplishing much here anyway.

After all, this gathering in Hubei was for the young masters of martial families.

Byeok Taesan’s affiliation with the Golden Wall Merchants meant he wasn’t part of any martial family. Even if he were, he had no interest in mingling with them.

If Yeon Harin kept insisting, he might reluctantly join in for a meeting or two, but that would be the extent of it.

There was nothing for Byeok Taesan to gain here.

If anything, the ones present might gain something from him if they were lucky.

Regardless, Byeok Taesan rose from his seat.

Having sat still for over a day, he felt the need to stretch his body.

If his body were in perfect condition, such stretches wouldn’t be necessary, but as he was still far from full recovery, he took meticulous care to move properly.

Byeok Taesan began to walk slowly.

At times, he seemed to walk forward, only to suddenly change direction. One moment he moved backward, only to appear a few steps ahead.

As he moved, his arms, legs, and upper body never stopped shifting. His movements resembled a dance, a sword technique, or perhaps a martial art form.

After moving for a while, his entire body was drenched in sweat.

“Phew. It’s been a while since I did this. It’s quite enjoyable.”

In the past, this kind of training had felt tedious and tiresome, but now, after decades, it felt surprisingly pleasant.

Every form and flow came back to him vividly.

No, it went beyond that.

What he had just performed was a footwork technique called Heavenly Hidden Step.

Its creator was none other than the first Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult, who had also developed the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.

Despite its grandiose name, it was considered a basic skill.

But as he performed it, Byeok Taesan realized something—it was a technique that truly lived up to its name.

Reaching his current level of mastery, the fundamentals took on new significance. While the basics he had learned in the past weren’t wrong, he now saw a better path forward.

This realization was something only achievable through enlightenment. Even if he tried to teach it to others, they wouldn’t be able to comprehend it fully—it was an advanced principle of growth.

“I should do this every day or two.”

Murmuring to himself, Byeok Taesan pushed open the door.

“Soso, get a bath ready,” he ordered.

It seemed she had been anticipating his request, as a nearby door immediately swung open. Soso, Dan Yeong, and Chae Wol hurried out, springing into action.

They swiftly prepared a warm bath, thoughtfully adding herbs to gently scent the water.

Byeok Taesan leisurely bathed, stepping out of the tub feeling refreshed.

He glanced at the three maids standing politely and smirked.

“Shall I take a look at your martial skills?”

At his words, Soso’s head shot up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement, as if she were eager to show off something.

It seemed she had been practicing while Byeok Taesan was in his state of selflessness.

Seeing that expression made him want to tease her—just a little.

‘But… her face has become strangely cute, hasn’t it?’

Soso had never been unattractive to begin with. However, she had always lacked that certain something to truly be called a beauty.

Now, that missing piece had fallen perfectly into place. In short, she had become a beauty.

Most of her newfound allure stemmed from an undeniable cuteness.

Anyone who glanced her way would likely find their expression softening. Her innocent features had a way of melting even the most hardened hearts.

When she looked up at him with those sparkling eyes, she seemed even more endearing.

If it had been anyone else, they would have likely granted her every wish on the spot.

The problem, however, was that the person standing in front of her was Byeok Taesan.

“Oh, now that I think about it, I do have something I need to take care of,”

Soso’s face instantly fell into a look of disappointment.

That expression was also incredibly adorable.

Standing on either side of Soso, Dan Yeong and Chae Wol seemed unable to resist her charm, softly chuckling behind their hands.

They clearly realized that Byeok Taesan was teasing Soso.

“Should I push the task back a bit?” he asked.

Soso’s face lit up with life again. She quickly lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Though it wasn’t visible, one could almost imagine a puppy tail wagging enthusiastically behind her.

“Oh, but it’s not something that can be delayed, is it?”

Soso’s expression dropped again, sinking into visible dejection.

“But even if I decide to handle it later, who’s going to complain about it?”

By this point, even Soso couldn’t help but catch on.

“Ugh! Young Master, you’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

Byeok Taesan looked at her with a faint smile.

“So, are you planning to skip martial arts training?”

“Hehe, no way. Are you going to teach me now?” Soso asked excitedly.

“Is there a quiet place nearby suitable for training?”

Dan Yeong immediately responded, “There’s a small training hall attached to the lodging. As far as I know, no one is using it.”

It seemed that Byeok Taesan had been diligently continuing his martial arts training even while immersed in his trance-like state.

“Let’s go there,”

Soso eagerly took the lead—or at least she tried to.

She would have, if not for the sudden appearance of Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon.

The two were just entering the lodging when they spotted Byeok Taesan. Their eyes widened in shock, and they hurried over.

“Young Master, have you completed your important task?” Cheon Kyungwan asked, that being the first thing out of his mouth.

Byeok Taesan looked at him with a puzzled expression.

In truth, even in his trance-like state, he had been faintly aware of his surroundings. He had noticed that people had approached him, only to back away again.

This was possible thanks to the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art he had mastered. Even while in a trance, his spirit remained open, allowing him to faintly sense his surroundings.

What he didn’t know was that this had been out of respect for him, to avoid disrupting whatever critical process he had been undergoing.

“Have you all been waiting this entire time just to avoid disturbing me?” Byeok Taesan asked.

The five people present looked at him with affirming gazes.

For a moment, a strange emotion stirred within him.

It wasn’t unpleasant.

‘Is this sentimentality? Have I grown softer after being reborn?’

In the past, his emotions had been nearly immovable. He wasn’t devoid of feelings, but they had been dulled to the point where it was rare for anything to affect him.

But since his rebirth, things had clearly changed.

With a light yet weighted nod, Byeok Taesan acknowledged their efforts.

“Yes. Thanks to everyone staying out of my way, I was able to complete something important.”

At his words, Cheon Kyungwan respectfully clasped his fists and offered a polite bow.

“Congratulations.”

Though he didn’t know what it was, the fact that it was completed and deemed significant meant it was likely a great achievement.

The others also followed suit, offering their congratulations.

“Congratulations.”

As Byeok Taesan received their well-wishes, that strange feeling surged within him again.

The corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly.

“And where are you coming from?”

Cheon Kyungwan promptly replied, “We just returned from meeting the Hubei Martial Alliance Leader.”

“The Hubei Martial Alliance Leader?”

“Yes. The Leader sought to meet with you, but upon learning that you were unavailable, he left a message asking to be informed immediately when you were free.”

Byeok Taesan let out a small chuckle.

“He told you to inform him immediately?”

“Yes.”

Byeok Taesan glanced at Soso as he repeated those words.

Soso’s face was filled with disappointment.

“If he want to see me so badly, he can come find me themselves.”

“Pardon?”

Everyone froze, staring at Byeok Taesan in shock.

But Byeok Taesan didn’t bat an eye as he turned to Soso.

“What are you doing? Do you not intend to train in martial arts?”

“Ah…!”

Soso’s eyes widened in astonishment. A storm of emotions swept through her. It wasn’t just her; the others were experiencing similar turmoil.

Ignoring their expressions and reactions entirely, Byeok Taesan strode decisively toward the training hall.

The others could only watch his back with complicated gazes.

“Coming or going at his whim? How arrogant,” Byeok Taesan muttered under his breath.

Hearing his murmured words, the group was so startled they nearly jumped out of their skin.